redgauntlet-第76部分

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ladactive　for　his　friendand　I　have　pledged　my　honour　he　shall　have　no　personal　ill…usage。　　Pledged　my　honour；　remark　these　words；　and　remember　I　can　be　rugged　and　dangerous　as　well；　as　my　neighbours。　　But　I　have　not　ensured　him　against　a　short　captivity；　and　as　he　is　a　stirring　active　fellow；　I　see　no　remedy　but　keeping　him　out　of　the　way　till　this　business　of　the　good　Father　B　is　safely　blown　over；　which　God　send　it　were！Always　thine；　even　should　I　be　once　more　CRAIG…IN…PERIL。'

'What　think　you；　young　man；　of　the　danger　you　have　been　about　to　encounter　so　willingly？'

'As　strangely；'　replied　Alan　Fairford；　'as　of　the　extraordinary　means　which　you　have　been　at　present　pleased　to　use　for　the　discovery　of　Mr。　Maxwell's　purpose。

'Trouble　not　yourself　to　account　for　my　conduct；'　said　the　father；　'I　have　a　warrant　for　what　I　do；　and　fear　no　responsibility。　　But　tell　me　what　is　your　present　purpose。'

'I　should　not　perhaps　name　it　to　you；　whose　own　safety　may　be　implicated。'

'I　understand　you；'　answered　the　father；　'you　would　appeal　to　the　existing　government？　　That　can　at　no　rate　be　permittedwe　will　rather　detain　you　at　Fairladies　by　compulsion。'

'You　will　probably；'　said　Fairford；　'first　weigh　the　risk　of　such　a　proceeding　in　a　free　country。'

'I　have　incurred　more　formidable　hazard；'　said　the　priest；　smiling；　'yet　I　am　willing　to　find　a　milder　expedient。　　Come；　let　us　bring　the　matter　to　a　compromise。'　　And　he　assumed　a　conciliating　graciousness　of　manner；　which　struck　Fairford　as　being　rather　too　condescending　for　the　occasion；　'I　presume　you　will　be　satisfied　to　remain　here　in　seclusion　for　a　day　or　two　longer；　provided　I　pass　my　solemn　word　to　you　that　you　shall　meet　with　the　person　whom　you　seek　aftermeet　with　him　in　perfect　safety；　and；　I　trust；　in　good　health；　and　be　afterwards　both　at　liberty　to　return　to　Scotland；　or　dispose　of　yourselves　as　each　of　you　may　be　minded？'

'I　respect　the　VERBUM　SACERDOTIS　as　much　as　can　reasonably　be　expected　from　a　Protestant；'　answered　Fairford；　'but　methinks；　you　can　scarce　expect　me　to　repose　so　much　confidence　in　the　word　of　an　unknown　person　as　is　implied　in　the　guarantee　which　you　offer　me。'

'I　am　not　accustomed；　sir；'　said　the　father；　in　a　very　haughty　tone；　'to　have　my　word　disputed。　　But；'　he　added；　while　the　angry　hue　passed　from　his　cheek；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　'you　know　me　not；　and　ought　to　be　excused。　　I　will　repose　more　confidence　in　your　honour　than　you　seem　willing　to　rest　upon　mine；　and；　since　we　are　so　situated　that　one　must　rely　upon　the　other's　faith；　I　will　cause　you　to　be　set　presently　at　liberty；　and　furnished　with　the　means　of　delivering　your　letter　as　addressed；　provided　that　now；　knowing　the　contents；　you　think　it　safe　for　yourself　to　execute　the　commission。'

Alan　Fairford　paused。　　'I　cannot　see；'　he　at　length　replied；　'how　I　can　proceed　with　respect　to　the　accomplishment　of　my　sole　purpose；　which　is　the　liberation　of　my　friend；　without　appealing　to　the　law　and　obtaining　the　assistance　of　a　magistrate。　　If　I　present　this　singular　letter　of　Mr。　Maxwell；　with　the　contents　of　which　I　have　become　so　unexpectedly　acquainted；　I　shall　only　share　his　captivity。'

'And　if　you　apply　to　a　magistrate；　young　man；　you　will　bring　ruin　on　these　hospitable　ladies；　to　whom；　in　all　human　probability；　you　owe　your　life。　　You　cannot　obtain　a　warrant　for　your　purpose；　without　giving　a　clear　detail　of　all　the　late　scenes　through　which　you　have　passed。　　A　magistrate　would　oblige　you　to　give　a　complete　account　of　yourself；　before　arming　you　with　his　authority　against　a　third　party；　and　in　giving　such　an　account；　the　safety　of　these　ladies　will　necessarily　be　compromised。　　A　hundred　spies　have　had；　and　still　have；　their　eyes　upon　this　mansion；　but　God　will　protect　his　own。'He　crossed　himself　devoutly；　and　then　proceeded；'You　can　take　an　hour　to　think　of　your　best　plan；　and　I　will　pledge　myself　to　forward　it　thus　far；　provided　it　be　not　asking　you　to　rely　more　on　my　word　than　your　prudence　can　warrant。　　You　shall　go　to　Redgauntlet；I　name　him　plainly；　to　show　my　confidence　in　you；and　you　shall　deliver　him　this　letter　of　Mr。　Maxwell's；　with　one　from　me；　in　which　I　will　enjoin　him　to　set　your　friend　at　liberty；　or　at　least　to　make　no　attempts　upon　your　own　person；　either　by　detention　or　otherwise。　If　you　can　trust　me　thus　far；'　he　said；　with　a　proud　emphasis　on　the　words　'I　will　on　my　side　see　you　depart　from　this　place　with　the　most　perfect　confidence　that　you　will　not　return　armed　with　powers　to　drag　its　inmates　to　destruction。　　You　are　young　and　inexperiencedbred　to　a　profession　also　which　sharpens　suspicion；　and　gives　false　views　of　human　nature。　　I　have　seen　much　of　the　world；　and　have　known　better　than　most　men　how　far　mutual　confidence　is　requisite　in　managing　affairs　of　consequence。'

He　spoke　with　an　air　of　superiority；　even　of　authority；　by　which　Fairford；　notwithstanding　his　own　internal　struggles；　was　silenced　and　overawed　so　much；　that　it　was　not　till　the　father　had　turned　to　leave　the　apartment　that　he　found　words　to　ask　him　what　the　consequences　would　be；　should　he　decline　to　depart　on　the　terms　proposed。

'You　must　then；　for　the　safety　of　all　parties；　remain　for　some　days　an　inhabitant　of　Fairladies；　where　we　have　the　means　of　detaining　you；　which　self…preservation　will　in　that　case　compel　us　to　make　use　of。　　Your　captivity　will　be　short；　for　matters　cannot　long　remain　as　they　are。　　The　cloud　must　soon　rise；　or　it　must　sink　upon　us　for　ever。　　BENEDICITE！'

With　these　words　he　left　the　apartment。

Fairford；　upon　his　departure；　felt　himself　much　at　a　loss　what　course　to　pursue。　　His　line　of　education；　as　well　as　his　father's　tenets　in　matters　of　church　and　state；　had　taught　him　a　holy　horror　for　Papists；　and　a　devout　belief　in　whatever　had　been　said　of　the　Punic　faith　of　Jesuits；　and　of　the　expedients　of　mental　reservation　by　which　the　Catholic　priests　in　general　were　supposed　to　evade　keeping　faith　with　heretics。　　Yet　there　was　something　of　majesty；　depressed　indeed　and　overclouded；　but　still　grand　and　imposing；　in　the　manner　and　words　of　Father　Buonaventure；　which　it　was　difficult　to　reconcile　with　those　preconceived　opinions　which　imputed　subtlety　and　fraud　to　his　sect　and　order。　　Above　all；　Alan　was　aware　that　if　he　accepted　not　his　freedom　upon　the　terms　offered　him；　he　was　likely　to　be　detained　by　force；　so　that；　in　every　point　of　view；　he　was　a　gainer　by　accepting　them。

A　qualm；　indeed；　came　across　him；　when　he　considered；　as　a　lawyer；　that　this　father　was　probably；　in　the　eye　of　law；　a　traitor；　and　that　there　was　an　ugly　crime　on　the　Statute　Book；　called　misprision　of　treason。　　On　the　other　hand；　whatever　he　might　think　or　suspect；　he　could　not　take　upon　him　to　say　that　the　man　was　a　priest；　whom　he　had　never　seen　in　the　dress　of　his　order；　or　in　the　act　of　celebrating　mass；　so　that　he　felt　himself　at　liberty　to　doubt　of　that　respecting　which　he　possessed　no　legal　proof。　　He　therefore　arrived　at　the　conclusion；　that　he　would　do　well　to　accept　his　liberty；　and　proceed　to　Redgauntlet　under　the　guarantee　of　Father　Buonaventure；　which　he　scarce　doubted　would　be　sufficient　to　save　him　from　personal　inconvenience。　　Should　he　once　obtain　speech　of　that　gentleman；　he　felt　the　same　confidence　as　formerly；　that　he　might　be　able　to　convince　him　of　the　rashness　of　his　conduct；　should　he　not　consent　to　liberate　Darsie　Latimer。　　At　all　events；　he　should　learn　where　his　friend　was；　and　how　circumstanced。

Having　thus　made　up　his　mind；　Alan　waited　anxiously　for　the　expiration　of　the　hour　which　had　been　allowed　him　for　deliberation。　　He　was　not　kept　on　the　tenter…hooks　of　impatience　an　instant　longer　than　the　appointed　moment　arrived；　for；　even　as　the　clock　struck；　Ambrose　appeared　at　the　door　of　the　gallery；　and　made　a　sign　that　Alan　should　follow　him。　　He　did　so；　and　after　passing　through　some　of　the　intricate　avenues　common　in　old　houses；　was　ushered　into　a　small　apartment；　commodiously　fitted　up；　in　which　he　found　Father　Buonaventure　reclining　on　a　couch；　in　the　attitude　of　a　man　exhausted　by　fatigue　or　indisposition。　On　a　small　table　beside　him；　a　silver　embossed　salver　sustained　a　Catholic　book　of　prayer；　a　small　flask　of　medicine；　a　cordial；　and　a　little　tea…cup　of　old　china。　　Ambrose　did　not　enter　the　roomhe　only　bowed　profoundly；　and　closed　the　door　with　the　least　possible　noise；　so　soon　as　Fairford　had　entered。

'Sit　down；　young　man；'　said　the　father；　with　the　same　air　of　condescension　which　had　before　surprised；　and　rather　offended　Fairford。　　'You　have　been　ill；　and　I　know　too　well　by　my　own　case　that　indisposition　requires　indulgence。　　Have　you；'　he　continued；　so　soon　as　he　saw　him　seated；　'resolved　to　remain；　or　to　depart？'

'To　depart；'　said　Alan；　'under　the　agreement　that　you　will　guarantee　my　safety　with　the　extraordinary　person　who　has　conducted　himself　in　such　a　lawless　manner　toward　my　friend；　Darsie　Latimer。'

'Do　not　judge　hastily；　young　man；'　replied　the　father。　'Redgauntlet　has　the　claims　of　a　guardian　over　his　ward；　in　respect　to　the　young　gentleman；　and　a　right　to　dictate　his　place　of　residence；　although　he　may　have　been　injudicious　in　selecting　the　means　by　which　he　thinks　to　enforce　his　authority。'

'His　situation　as　an　attainted　person　abrogates　such　rights；'　said　Fairford；　hastily。

'Surely；'　replied　the　priest；　smiling　at　the　young　lawyer's　readiness；　'in　the　eye　of　those　who　acknowledge　the　justice　of　the　attainderbut　that　do　not　I。　　However；　sir；　here　is　the　guaranteelook　at　its　contents；　and　do　not　again　carry　the　letters　of　Uriah。'

Fairford　read　these　words：

'GOOD　FRIEND；　'We　send　you　hither　a　young　man　desirous　to　know　the　situation　of　your　ward；　since　he　came　under　your　paternal　authority；　and　hopeful　of　dealing　with　you　for　having　your　relative　put　at　large。　　This　we　recommend　to　your　prudence；　highly　disapproving；　at　the　same　time；　of　any　force　or　coercion　when　such　can　be　avoided；　and　wishing；　therefore；　that　the　bearer's　negotiation　may　be　successful。　　At　all　rates；　however；　the　bearer　hath　our　pledged　word　for　his　safety　and　freedom；　which；　therefore；　you　are　to　see　strictly　observed；　as　you　value　our　honour　and　your　own。　　We　further　wish　to　converse　with　you；　with　as　small　loss　of　time　as　may　be；　havin