redgauntlet-第84部分

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d　when　I　turned　on　him　with　the　anger　and　contempt　he　merited；　the　wretch　grumbled　out　something；　as　if　he　held　the　destiny　of　our　family　in　his　hand。'

'I　thank　you；　Lilias；'　said　Darsie；　eagerly；'I　thank　you　with　all　my　heart　for　this　communication。　　I　have　blamed　myself　as　a　Christian　man　for　the　indescribable　longing　I　felt　from　the　first　moment　I　saw　that　rascal；　to　send　a　bullet　through　his　head；　and　now　you　have　perfectly　accounted　for　and　justified　this　very　laudable　wish。　　I　wonder　my　uncle；　with　the　powerful　sense　you　describe　him　to　be　possessed　of；　does　not　see　through　such　a　villain。'

'I　believe　he　knows　him　to　be　capable　of　much　evil；'　answered　Lilias'selfish；　obdurate；　brutal；　and　a　man…hater。　　But　then　he　conceives　him　to　possess　the　qualities　most　requisite　for　a　conspiratorundaunted　courage；　imperturbable　coolness　and　address；　and　inviolable　fidelity。　　In　the　last　particular　he　may　be　mistaken。　　I　have　heard　Nixon　blamed　for　the　manner　in　which　our　poor　father　was　taken　after　Culloden。'

'Another　reason　for　my　innate　aversion；'　said　Darsie；　but　I　will　be　on　my　guard　with　him。'

'See；　he　observes　us　closely；'　said　Lilias。　　'What　a　thing　is　conscience！　　He　knows　we　are　now　speaking　of　him；　though　he　cannot　have　heard　a　word　that　we　have　said。'

It　seemed　as　if　she　had　guessed　truly；　for　Cristal　Nixon　at　that　moment　rode　up　to　them；　and　said；　with　an　affectation　of　jocularity；　which　sat　very　ill　on　his　sullen　features；　'Come；　young　ladies；　you　have　had　time　enough　for　your　chat　this　morning；　and　your　tongues；　I　think；　must　be　tired。　　We　are　going　to　pass　a　village；　and　I　must　beg　you　to　separateyou；　Miss　Lilias；　to　ride　a　little　behindand　you；　Mrs。；　or　Miss；　or　Master；　whichever　you　choose　to　be　called；　to　be　jogging　a　little　before。'

Lilias　checked　her　horse　without　speaking；　but　not　until　she　had　given　her　brother　an　expressive　look；　recommending　caution；　to　which　he　replied　by　a　signal　indicating　that　he　understood　and　would　comply　with　her　request。




CHAPTER　XIX

NARRATTVE　OF　DARSIE　LATIMER；　CONTINUED

Left　to　his　solitary　meditations；　Darsie　（for　we　will　still　term　Sir　Arthur　Darsie　Redgauntlet　of　that　Ilk　by　the　name　to　which　the　reader　is　habituated）　was　surprised　not　only　at　the　alteration　of　his　own　state　and　condition；　but　at　the　equanimity　with　which　he　felt　himself　disposed　to　view　all　these　vicissitudes。

His　feverfit　of　love　had　departed　like　a　morning's　dream；　and　left　nothing　behind　but　a　painful　sense　of　shame；　and　a　resolution　to　be　more　cautious　ere　he　again　indulged　in　such　romantic　visions。　　His　station　in　society　was　changed　from　that　of　a　wandering；　unowned　youth；　in　whom　none　appeared　to　take　an　interest　excepting　the　strangers　by　whom　he　had　been　educated；　to　the　heir　of　a　noble　house；　possessed　of　such　influence　and　such　property；　that　it　seemed　as　if　the　progress　or　arrest　of　important　political　events　were　likely　to　depend　upon　his　resolution。　　Even　this　sudden　elevation；　the　more　than　fulfilment　of　those　wishes　which　had　haunted　him　ever　since　he　was　able　to　form　a　wish　on　the　subject；　was　contemplated　by　Darsie；　volatile　as　his　disposition　was；　without　more　than　a　few　thrills　of　gratified　vanity。

It　is　true；　there　were　circumstances　in　his　present　situation　to　counterbalance　such　high　advantages。　　To　be　a　prisoner　in　the　hands　of　a　man　so　determined　as　his　uncle；　was　no　agreeable　consideration；　when　he　was　calculating　how　he　might　best　dispute　his　pleasure　and　refuse　to　join　him　in　the　perilous　enterprise　which　he　seemed　to　meditate。　　Outlawed　and　desperate　himself；　Darsie　could　not　doubt　that　his　uncle　was　surrounded　by　men　capable　of　anythingthat　he　was　restrained　by　no　personal　considerationsand　therefore　what　degree　of　compulsion　he　might　apply　to　his　brother's　son；　or　in　what　manner　he　might　feel　at　liberty　to　punish　his　contumacy；　should　he　disavow　the　Jacobite　cause；　must　depend　entirely　upon　the　limits　of　his　own　conscience；　and　who　was　to　answer　for　the　conscience　of　a　heated　enthusiast　who　considers　opposition　to　the　party　he　has　espoused；　as　treason　to　the　welfare　of　his　country？　　After　a　short　interval；　Cristal　Nixon　was　pleased　to　throw　some　light　upon　the　subject　which　agitated　him。

When　that　grim　satellite　rode　up　without　ceremony　close　to　Darsie's　side；　the　latter　felt　his　very　flesh　creep　with　abhorrence；　so　little　was　he　able　to　endure　his　presence；　since　the　story　of　Lilias　had　added　to　his　instinctive　hatred　of　the　man。

His　voice；　too；　sounded　like　that　of　a　screech…owl；　as　he　said；　'So；　my　young　cock　of　the　north；　you　now　know　it　all；　and　no　doubt　are　blessing　your　uncle　for　stirring　you　up　to　such　an　honourable　action。'

'I　will　acquaint　my　uncle　with　my　sentiments　on　the　subject；　before　I　make　them　known　to　any　one　else；'　said　Darsie；　scarcely　prevailing　on　his　tongue　to　utter　even　these　few　words　in　a　civil　manner。

'Umph；'　murmured　Cristal　betwixt　his　teeth。　　'Close　as　wax；　I　see；　and　perhaps　not　quite　so　pliable。　　But　take　care；　my　pretty　youth；'　he　added；　scornfully；　'Hugh　Redgauntlet　will　prove　a　rough　colt…breakerhe　will　neither　spare　whipcord　nor　spur…　rowel；　I　promise　you。'

'I　have　already　said；　Mr。　Nixon；　answered　Darsie；　'that　I　will　canvass　those　matters　of　which　my　sister　has　informed　me；　with　my　uncle　himself；　and　with　no　other　person。'

'Nay；　but　a　word　of　friendly　advice　would　do　you　no　harm；　young　master；'　replied　Nixon。　　'Old　Redgauntlet　is　apter　at　a　blow　than　a　wordlikely　to　bite　before　he　barksthe　true　man　for　giving　Scarborough　warning；　first　knock　you　down；　then　bid　you　stand。　So；　methinks；　a　little　kind　warning　as　to　consequences　were　not　amiss；　lest　they　come　upon　you　unawares。'

'If　the　warning　is　really　kind；　Mr。　Nixon；'　said　the　young　man；　'I　will　hear　it　thankfully；　and　indeed；　if　otherwise；　I　must　listen　to　it　whether　I　will　or　no；　since　I　have　at　present　no　choice　of　company　or　of　conversation。'

'Nay；　I　have　but　little　to　say；'　said　Nixon；　affecting　to　give　to　his　sullen　and　dogged　manner　the　appearance　of　an　honest　bluntness；　'I　am　as　little　apt　to　throw　away　words　as　any　one。　But　here　is　the　questionWill　you　join　heart　and　hand　with　your　uncle；　or　no？'

'What　if　I　should　say　Aye？'　　said　Darsie；　determined；　if　possible；　to　conceal　his　resolution　from　this　man。

'Why；　then；'　said　Nixon；　somewhat　surprised　at　the　readiness　of　his　answer；　'all　will　go　smooth；　of　courseyou　will　take　share　in　this　noble　undertaking；　and；　when　it　succeeds；　you　will　exchange　your　open　helmet　for　an　earl's　coronet　perhaps。'

'And　how　if　it　fails？'　　said　Darsie。

'Thereafter　as　it　may　be；'　said　Nixon；　'they　who　play　at　bowls　must　meet　with　rubbers。'

'Well；　but　suppose；　then；　I　have　some　foolish　tenderness　for　my　windpipe；　and　that　when　my　uncle　proposes　the　adventure　to　me　I　should　say　Nohow　then；　Mr。　Nixon？'

'Why；　then；　I　would　have　you　look　to　yourself；　young　master。　There　are　sharp　laws　in　France　against　refractory　pupilsLETTRES　DE　CACHET　are　easily　come　by　when　such　men　as　we　are　concerned　with　interest　themselves　in　the　matter。'

'But　we　are　not　in　France；'　said　poor　Darsie；　through　whose　blood　ran　a　cold　shivering　at　the　idea　of　a　French　prison。

'A　fast…sailing　lugger　will　soon　bring　you　there　though；　snug　stowed　under　hatches；　like　a　cask　of　moonlight。'

'But　the　French　are　at　peace　with　us；'　said　Darsie；　'and　would　not　dare'

'Why；　who　would　ever　hear　of　you？'　　interrupted　Nixon；　'do　you　imagine　that　a　foreign　court　would　call　you　up　for　judgement；　and　put　the　sentence　of　imprisonment　in　the　COURRIER　DE　L'EUROPE；　as　they　do　at　the　Old　Bailey？　　No；　no；　young　gentlemanthe　gates　of　the　Bastille；　and　of　Mont　Saint　Michel；　and　the　Castle　of　Vincennes；　move　on　dd　easy　hinges　when　they　let　folk　innot　the　least　jar　is　heard。　　There　are　cool　cells　there　for　hot　headsas　calm；　and　quiet；　and　dark；　as　you　could　wish　in　Bedlam　and　the　dismissal　comes　when　the　carpenter　brings　the　prisoner's　coffin；　and　not　sooner。'

'Well；　Mr。　Nixon；'　said　Darsie；　affecting　a　cheerfulness　which　he　was　far　from　feeling；　'mine　is　a　hard　casea　sort　of　hanging　choice；　you　will　allowsince　I　must　either　offend　our　own　government　here　and　run　the　risk　of　my　life　for　doing　so；　or　be　doomed　to　the　dungeons　of　another　country；　whose　laws　I　have　never　offended　since　I　have　never　trod　its　soilTell　me　what　you　would　do　if　you　were　in　my　place。

'I'll　tell　you　that　when　I　am　there；'　said　Nixon；　and；　checking　his　horse；　fell　back　to　the　rear　of　the　little　party。

'It　is　evident；'　thought　the　young　man；　'that　the　villain　believes　me　completely　noosed；　and　perhaps　has　the　ineffable　impudence　to　suppose　that　my　sister　must　eventually　succeed　to　the　possessions　which　have　occasioned　my　loss　of　freedom；　and　that　his　own　influence　over　the　destinies　of　our　unhappy　family　may　secure　him　possession　of　the　heiress；　but　he　shall　perish　by　my　hand　first！I　must　now　be　on　the　alert　to　make　my　escape；　if　possible；　before　I　am　forced　on　shipboard。　　Blind　Willie　will　not；　I　think；　desert　me　without　an　effort　on　my　behalf；　especially　if　he　has　learned　that　I　am　the　son　of　his　late　unhappy　patron。　　What　a　change　is　mine！　　Whilst　I　possessed　neither　rank　nor　fortune；　I　lived　safely　and　unknown；　under　the　protection　of　the　kind　and　respectable　friends　whose　hearts　Heaven　had　moved　towards　me。　　Now　that　I　am　the　head　of　an　honourable　house；　and　that　enterprises　of　the　most　daring　character　await　my　decision；　and　retainers　and　vassals　seem　ready　to　rise　at　my　beck；　my　safety　consists　chiefly　in　the　attachment　of　a　blind　stroller！'

While　he　was　revolving　these　things　in　his　mind；　and　preparing　himself　for　the　interview　with　his　uncle　which　could　not　but　be　a　stormy　one；　he　saw　Hugh　Redgauntlet　come　riding　slowly　back　to　meet　them　without　any　attendants。　　Cristal　Nixon　rode　up　as　he　approached；　and；　as　they　met；　fixed　on　him　a　look　of　inquiry。

'The　fool；　Crackenthorp；'　said　Redgauntlet；　has　let　strangers　into　his　house。　　Some　of　his　smuggling　comrades；　I　believe；　we　must　ride　slowly　to　give　him　time　to　send　them　packing。'

'Did　you　see　any　of　your　friends？'　　said　Cristal。

'Three；　and　have　letters　from　many　more。　　They　are　unanimous　on　the　subject　you　wot　ofand　the　point　must　be　conceded　to　them；　or；　far　as　the　matter　has　gone；　it　will　go　no　f