redgauntlet-第77部分

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our　and　your　own。　　We　further　wish　to　converse　with　you；　with　as　small　loss　of　time　as　may　be；　having　matters　of　the　utmost　confidence　to　impart。　　For　this　purpose　we　desire　you　to　repair　hither　with　all　haste；　and　thereupon　we　bid　you　heartily　farewell。　P。　B。'

'You　will　understand；　sir；'　said　the　father；　when　he　saw　that　Alan　had　perused　his　letter；　'that；　by　accepting　charge　of　this　missive；　you　bind　yourself　to　try　the　effect　of　it　before　having　recourse　to　any　legal　means；　as　you　term　them；　for　your　friend's　release。'

'There　are　a　few　ciphers　added　to　this　letter；'　said　Fairford；　when　he　had　perused　the　paper　attentively；'may　I　inquire　what　their　import　is？'

'They　respect　my　own　affairs；'　answered　the　father；　briefly；　'and　have　no　concern　whatever　with　yours。'

'It　seems　to　me；　however；'　replied　Alan；　'natural　to　suppose'

'Nothing　must　be　supposed　incompatible　with　my　honour；'　replied　the　priest；　interrupting　him；　'when　such　as　I　am　confer　favours；　we　expect　that　they　shall　be　accepted　with　gratitude；　or　declined　with　thankful　respectnot　questioned　or　discussed。'

'I　will　accept　your　letter；　then；'　said　Fairford；　after　a　minute's　consideration；　'and　the　thanks　you　expect　shall　be　most　liberally　paid；　if　the　result　answer　what　you　teach　me　to　expect。'

'God　only　commands　the　issue；'　said　Father　Buonaventure。　　'Man　uses　means。　　You　understand　that；　by　accepting　this　commission；　you　engage　yourself　in　honour　to　try　the　effect　of　my　letter　upon　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　before　you　have　recourse　to　informations　or　legal　warrants？'

'I　hold　myself　bound；　as　a　man　of　good　faith　and　honour；　to　do　so；'　said　Fairford。

'Well；　I　trust　you；'　said　the　father。　　'I　will　now　tell　you　that　an　express；　dispatched　by　me　last　night；　has；　I　hear；　brought　Redgauntlet　to　a　spot　many　miles　nearer　this　place；　where　he　will　not　find　it　safe　to　attempt　any　violence　on　your　friend；　should　he　be　rash　enough　to　follow　the　advice　of　Mr。　Maxwell　of　Summertrees　rather　than　my　commands。　　We　now　understand　each　other。'

He　extended　his　hand　towards　Alan；　who　was　about　to　pledge　his　faith　in　the　usual　form　by　grasping　it　with　his　own；　when　the　father　drew　back　hastily。　　Ere　Alan　had　time　to　comment　upon　this　repulse；　a　small　side…door；　covered　with　tapestry；　was　opened；　the　hangings　were　drawn　aside；　and　a　lady；　as　if　by　sudden　apparition；　glided　into　the　apartment。　　It　was　neither　of　the　Misses　Arthuret；　but　a　woman　in　the　prime　of　life；　and　in　the　full…blown　expansion　of　female　beauty；　tall；　fair；　and　commanding　in　her　aspect。　　Her　locks；　of　paly　gold；　were　taught　to　fall　over　a　brow；　which；　with　the　stately　glance　of　the　large；　open；　blue　eyes；　might　have　become　Juno　herself；　her　neck　and　bosom　were　admirably　formed；　and　of　a　dazzling　whiteness。　　She　was　rather　inclined　to　EMBONPOINT；　but　not　more　than　became　her　age；　of　apparently　thirty　years。　　Her　step　was　that　of　a　queen；　but　it　was　of　Queen　Vashti；　not　Queen　Estherthe　bold　and　commanding；　not　the　retiring　beauty。

Father　Buonaventure　raised　himself　on　the　couch；　angrily；　as　if　displeased　by　this　intrusion。　　'How　now；　madam；'　he　said；　with　some　sternness；　'why　have　we　the　honour　of　your　company？'

'Because　it　is　my　pleasure；'　answered　the　lady；　composedly。

'Your　pleasure；　madam！'　　he　repeated　in　the　same　angry　tone。

'My　pleasure；　sir；'　she　continued；　'which　always　keeps　exact　pace　with　my　duty。　　I　had　heard　you　were　unwelllet　me　hope　it　is　only　business　which　produces　this　seclusion。'

'I　am　well；'　he　replied；　'perfectly　well；　and　I　thank　you　for　your　carebut　we　are　not　alone；　and　this　young　man'

'That　young　man？'　　she　said；　bending　her　large　and　serious　eye　on　Alan　Fairford；　as　if　she　had　been　for　the　first　time　aware　of　his　presence；'may　I　ask　who　he　is？'

'Another　time；　madam；　you　shall　learn　his　history　after　he　is　gone。　　His　presence　renders　it　impossible　for　me　to　explain　further。'

'After　he　is　gone　may　be　too　late；'　said　the　lady；　'and　what　is　his　presence　to　me；　when　your　safety　is　at　stake？　　He　is　the　heretic　lawyer　whom　those　silly　fools；　the　Arthurets；　admitted　into　this　house　at　a　time　when　they　should　have　let　their　own　father　knock　at　the　door　in　vain；　though　the　night　had　been　a　wild　one。　　You　will　not　surely　dismiss　him？'

'Your　own　impatience　can　alone　make　that　step　perilous；'　said　the　father；　'I　have　resolved　to　take　itdo　not　let　your　indiscreet　zeal；　however　excellent　its　motive；　add　any　unnecessary　risk　to　the　transaction。'

'Even　so？'　　said　the　lady；　in　a　tone　of　reproach；　yet　mingled　with　respect　and　apprehension。　　'And　thus　you　will　still　go　forward；　like　a　stag　upon　the　hunter's　snares；　with　undoubting　confidence；　after　all　that　has　happened？'

'Peace；　madam；'　said　Father　Buonaventure；　rising　up；　'be　silent；　or　quit　the　apartment；　my　designs　do　not　admit　of　female　criticism。'

To　this　peremptory　command　the　lady　seemed　about　to　make　a　sharp　reply；　but　she　checked　herself；　and　pressing　her　lips　strongly　together；　as　if　to　secure　the　words　from　bursting　from　them　which　were　already　formed　upon　her　tongue；　she　made　a　deep　reverence；　partly　as　it　seemed　in　reproach；　partly　in　respect；　and　left　the　room　as　suddenly　as　she　had　entered　it。

The　father　looked　disturbed　at　this　incident；　which　he　seemed　sensible　could　not　but　fill　Fairford's　imagination　with　an　additional　throng　of　bewildering　suspicions；　he　bit　his　lip　and　muttered　something　to　himself　as　he　walked　through　the　apartment；　then　suddenly　turned　to　his　visitor　with　a　smile　of　much　sweetness；　and　a　countenance　in　which　every　rougher　expression　was　exchanged　for　those　of　courtesy　and　kindness。

'The　visit　we　have　been　just　honoured　with；　my　young　friend；　has　given　you；'　he　said；　'more　secrets　to　keep　than　I　would　have　wished　you　burdened　with。　　The　lady　is　a　person　of　conditionof　rank　and　fortunebut　nevertheless　is　so　circumstanced　that　the　mere　fact　of　her　being　known　to　be　in　this　country　would　occasion　many　evils。　　I　should　wish　you　to　observe　secrecy　on　this　subject；　even　to　Redgauntlet　or　Maxwell；　however　much　I　trust　them　in　all　that　concerns　my　own　affairs。'

'I　can　have　no　occasion；'　replied　Fairford；　'for　holding　any　discussion　with　these　gentlemen；　or　with　any　others；　on　the　circumstance　which　I　have　just　witnessedit　could　only　have　become　the　subject　of　my　conversation　by　mere　accident；　and　I　will　now　take　care　to　avoid　the　subject　entirely。'

'You　will　do　well；　sir；　and　I　thank　you；'　said　the　father；　throwing　much　dignity　into　the　expression　of　obligation　which　he　meant　to　convey。　　'The　time　may　perhaps　come　when　you　will　learn　what　it　is　to　have　obliged　one　of　my　condition。　　As　to　the　lady；　she　has　the　highest　merit；　and　nothing　can　be　said　of　her　justly　which　would　not　redound　to　her　praise。　　Neverthelessin　short；　sir；　we　wander　at　present　as　in　a　morning　mistthe　sun　will；　I　trust；　soon　rise　and　dispel　it；　when　all　that　now　seems　mysterious　will　be　fully　revealedor　it　will　sink　into　rain；'　he　added；　in　a　solemn　tone；　'and　then　explanation　will　be　of　little　consequence。Adieu；　sir；　I　wish　you　well。'

He　made　a　graceful　obeisance；　and　vanished　through　the　same　side…　door　by　which　the　lady　had　entered；　and　Alan　thought　he　heard　their　voices　high　in　dispute　in　the　adjoining　apartment。

Presently　afterwards；　Ambrose　entered；　and　told　him　that　a　horse　and　guide　waited　him　beneath　the　terrace。

'The　good　Father　Buonaventure；'　added　the　butler；　'has　been　graciously　pleased　to　consider　your　situation；　and　desired　me　to　inquire　whether　you　have　any　occasion　for　a　supply　of　money？'

'Make　my　respects　to　his　reverence；'　answered　Fairford；　'and　assure　him　I　am　provided　in　that　particular。　　I　beg　you　also　to　make　my　acknowledgements　to　the　Misses　Arthuret；　and　assure　them　that　their　kind　hospitality；　to　which　I　probably　owe　my　life；　shall　be　remembered　with　gratitude　as　long　as　that　life　lasts。　You　yourself；　Mr。　Ambrose；　must　accept　of　my　kindest　thanks　for　your　skill　and　attention。'

Mid　these　acknowledgements　they　left　the　house；　descended　the　terrace；　and　reached　the　spot　where　the　gardener；　Fairford's　old　acquaintance；　waited　for　him；　mounted　upon　one　horse　and　leading　another。

Bidding　adieu　to　Ambrose；　our　young　lawyer　mounted；　and　rode　down　the　avenue；　often　looking　back　to　the　melancholy　and　neglected　dwelling　in　which　he　had　witnessed　such　strange　scenes；　and　musing　upon　the　character　of　its　mysterious　inmates；　especially　the　noble　and　almost　regal…seeming　priest；　and　the　beautiful　but　capricious　dame；　who；　if　she　was　really　Father　Buonaventure's　penitent；　seemed　less　docile　to　the　authority　of　the　church　than；　as　Alan　conceived；　the　Catholic　discipline　permitted。　　He　could　not　indeed　help　being　sensible　that　the　whole　deportment　of　these　persons　differed　much　from　his　preconceived　notions　of　a　priest　and　devotee。　　Father　Buonaventure；　in　particular；　had　more　natural　dignify　and　less　art　and　affectation　in　his　manner；　than　accorded　with　the　idea　which　Calvinists　were　taught　to　entertain　of　that　wily　and　formidable　person；　a　Jesuitical　missionary。

While　reflecting　on　these　things；　he　looked　back　so　frequently　at　the　house；　that　Dick　Gardener；　a　forward；　talkative　fellow；　who　began　to　tire　of　silence；　at　length　said　to　him；　'I　think　you　will　know　Fairladies　when　you　see　it　again；　sir？'

'I　dare　say　I　shall；　Richard；'　answered　Fairford　good…humouredly。　'I　wish　I　knew　as　well　where　I　am　to　go　next。　　But　you　can　tell　me；　perhaps？'

'Your　worship　should　know　better　than　I；'　said　Dick　Gardener；　'nevertheless；　I　have　a　notion　you　are　going　where　all　you　Scotsmen　should　be　sent；　whether　you　will　or　no。'

'Not　to　the　devil；　I　hope；　good　Dick？'　　said　Fairford。

'Why；　no。　　That　is　a　road　which　you　may　travel　as　heretics；　but　as　Scotsmen；　I　would　only　send　you　three…fourths　of　the　wayand　that　is　back　to　Scotland　againalways　craving　your　honour's　pardon。'

'Does　our　journey　lie　that　way？'　　said　Fairford。

'As　far　as　the　waterside；'　said　Richard。　　'I　am　to　carry　you　to　old　Father　Crackenthorp's；　and　then　you　are　within　a　spit　and　a　stride　of　Scotland；　as　the　saying　is。　　But　mayhap　you　may　think　twice　of　going　thither；　for　all　that；　for　Old　England　is　fat　feeding…ground　for　north…country　cattle。'




CHAPTER　XVII

NARRATIVE　OF　DARSIE　LATIMER

Our　history　must　no