redgauntlet-第86部分

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'Alas！'　　said　Darsie；　'and　is　it　upon　such　vague　hopes　as　these；　the　inconstant　humour　of　a　crowd　or　of　a　disbanded　soldiery；　that　men　of　honour　are　invited　to　risk　their　families；　their　property；　their　life？'

'Men　of　honour；　boy；'　said　Redgauntlet；　his　eyes　glancing　with　impatience；　'set　life；　property；　family；　and　all　at　stake；　when　that　honour　commands　it！　　We　are　not　now　weaker　than　when　seven　men；　landing　in　the　wilds　of　Moidart；　shook　the　throne　of　the　usurper　till　it　totteredwon　two　pitched　fields；　besides　overrunning　one　kingdom　and　the　half　of　another；　and；　but　for　treachery；　would　have　achieved　what　their　venturous　successors　are　now　to　attempt　in　their　turn；'

'And　will　such　an　attempt　be　made　in　serious　earnest？'　　said　Darsie。　　'Excuse　me；　my　uncle；　if　I　can　scarce　believe　a　fact　so　extraordinary。　　Will　there　really　be　found　men　of　rank　and　consequence　sufficient　to　renew　the　adventure　of　1745？'

'I　will　not　give　you　my　confidence　by　halves；　Sir　Arthur；'　replied　his　uncle'Look　at　that　scrollwhat　say　you　to　these　names？Are　they　not　the　flower　of　the　western　shiresof　Wales　of　Scotland？'

'The　paper　contains　indeed　the　names　of　many　that　are　great　and　noble；'　replied　Darsie；　after　perusing　it；　'but'

'But　what？'　　asked　his　uncle；　impatiently；　'do　you　doubt　the　ability　of　those　nobles　and　gentlemen　to　furnish　the　aid　in　men　and　money　at　which　they　are　rated？'

'Not　their　ability　certainly；'　said　Darsie；　'for　of　that　I　am　no　competent　judge；　but　I　see　in　this　scroll　the　name　of　Sir　Arthur　Darsie　Redgauntlet　of　that　Ilk；　rated　at　a　hundred　men　and　upwardsI　certainly　am　ignorant　how　he　is　to　redeem　that　pledge。'

'I　will　be　responsible　for　the　men；'　replied　Hugh　Redgauntlet。

'But；　my　dear　uncle；'　added　Darsie；　'I　hope　for　your　sake　that　the　other　individuals　whose　names　are　here　written；　have　had　more　acquaintance　with　your　plan　than　I　have　been　indulged　with。'

'For　thee　and　thine　I　can　be　myself　responsible；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'for　if　thou　hast　not　the　courage　to　head　the　force　of　thy　house；　the　leading　shall　pass　to　other　hands；　and　thy　inheritance　shall　depart　from　thee　like　vigour　and　verdure　from　a　rotten　branch。　　For　these　honourable　persons；　a　slight　condition　there　is　which　they　annex　to　their　friendshipsomething　so　trifling　that　it　is　scarce　worthy　of　mention。　　This　boon　granted　to　them　by　him　who　is　most　interested；　there　is　no　question　they　will　take　the　field　in　the　manner　there　stated。'

Again　Darsie　perused　the　paper；　and　felt　himself　still　less　inclined　to　believe　that　so　many　men　of　family　and　fortune　were　likely　to　embark　in　an　enterprise　so　fatal。　　It　seemed　as　if　some　rash　plotter　had　put　down　at　a　venture　the　names　of　all　whom　common　report　tainted　with　Jacobitism；　or　if　it　was　really　the　act　of　the　individuals　named；　he　suspected　that　they　must　be　aware　of　some　mode　of　excusing　themselves　from　compliance　with　its　purport。　　It　was　impossible；　he　thought；　that　Englishmen；　of　large　fortune；　who　had　failed　to　join　Charles　when　he　broke　into　England　at　the　head　of　a　victorious　army；　should　have　the　least　thoughts　of　encouraging　a　descent　when　circumstances　were　so　much　less　propitious。　　He　therefore　concluded　the　enterprise　would　fall　to　pieces　of　itself；　and　that　his　best　way　was；　in　the　meantime；　to　remain　silent；　unless　the　actual　approach　of　a　crisis　（which　might；　however；　never　arrive）　should　compel　him　to　give　a　downright　refusal　to　his　uncle's　proposition；　and　if；　in　the　interim；　some　door　for　escape　should　be　opened；　he　resolved　within　himself　not　to　omit　availing　himself　of　it。

Hugh　Redgauntlet　watched　his　nephew's　looks　for　some　time；　and　then；　as　if　arriving　from　some　other　process　of　reasoning　at　the　same　conclusion；　he　said；　'I　have　told　you；　Sir　Arthur；　that　I　do　not　urge　your　immediate　accession　to　my　proposal；　indeed　the　consequences　of　a　refusal　would　be　so　dreadful　to　yourself；　so　destructive　to　all　the　hopes　which　I　have　nursed；　that　I　would　not　risk；　by　a　moment's　impatience；　the　object　of　my　whole　life。　Yes；　Arthur；　I　have　been　a　self…denying　hermit　at　one　timeat　another；　the　apparent　associate　of　outlaws　and　desperadoesat　another；　the　subordinate　agent　of　men　whom　I　felt　in　every　way　my　inferiorsnot　for　any　selfish　purpose　of　my　own；　no；　not　even　to　win　for　myself　the　renown　of　being　the　principal　instrument　in　restoring　my　king　and　freeing　my　country。　　My　first　wish　on　earth　is　for　that　restoration　and　that　freedommy　next；　that　my　nephew；　the　representative　of　my　house　and　of　the　brother　of　my　love；　may　have　the　advantage　and　the　credit　of　all　my　efforts　in　the　good　cause。　　But；'　he　added；　darting　on　Darsie　one　of　his　withering　frowns；　'if　Scotland　and　my　father's　house　cannot　stand　and　flourish　together；　then　perish　the　very　name　of　Redgauntlet！　perish　the　son　of　my　brother；　with　every　recollection　of　the　glories　of　my　family；　of　the　affections　of　my　youth；　rather　than　my　country's　cause　should　be　injured　in　the　tithing　of　a　barley…　corn！　　The　spirit　of　Sir　Alberick　is　alive　within　me　at　this　moment；'　he　continued；　drawing　up　his　stately　form　and　sitting　erect　in　his　saddle；　while　he　pressed　his　finger　against　his　forehead；　'and　if　you　yourself　crossed　my　path　in　opposition；　I　swear；　by　the　mark　that　darkens　my　brow；　that　a　new　deed　should　be　donea　new　doom　should　be　deserved！'

He　was　silent；　and　his　threats　were　uttered　in　a　tone　of　voice　so　deeply　resolute；　that　Darsie's　heart　sank　within　him；　when　he　reflected　on　the　storm　of　passion　which　he　must　encounter；　if　he　declined　to　join　his　uncle　in　a　project　to　which　prudence　and　principle　made　him　equally　adverse。　　He　had　scarce　any　hope　left　but　in　temporizing　until　he　could　make　his　escape；　and　resolved　to　avail　himself　for　that　purpose　of　the　delay　which　his　uncle　seemed　not　unwilling　to　grant。　　The　stern；　gloomy　look　of　his　companion　became　relaxed　by　degrees；　and　presently　afterwards　he　made　a　sign　to　Miss　Redgauntlet　to　join　the　party；　and　began　a　forced　conversation　on　ordinary　topics；　in　the　course　of　which　Darsie　observed　that　his　sister　seemed　to　speak　under　the　most　cautious　restraint；　weighing　every　word　before　she　uttered　it；　and　always　permitting　her　uncle　to　give　the　tone　to　the　conversation；　though　of　the　most　trifling　kind。　　This　seemed　to　him　（such　an　opinion　had　he　already　entertained　of　his　sister's　good　sense　and　firmness）　the　strongest　proof　he　had　yet　received　of　his　uncle's　peremptory　character；　since　he　saw　it　observed　with　so　much　deference　by　a　young　person　whose　sex　might　have　given　her　privileges；　and　who　seemed　by　no　means　deficient　either　in　spirit　or　firmness。

The　little　cavalcade　was　now　approaching　the　house　of　Father　Crackenthorp；　situated；　as　the　reader　knows；　by　the　side　of　the　Solway；　and　not　far　distant　front　a　rude　pier；　near　which　lay　several　fishing…boats；　which　frequently　acted　in　a　different　capacity。　　The　house　of　the　worthy　publican　was　also　adapted　to　the　various　occupations　which　he　carried　on；　being　a　large　scrambling　assemblage　of　cottages　attached　to　a　house　of　two　stories；　roofed　with　flags　of　sandstonethe　original　mansion；　to　which　the　extensions　of　Mr。　Crackenthorp's　trade　had　occasioned　his　making　many　additions。　　Instead　of　the　single　long　watering…　trough　which　usually　distinguishes　the　front　of　the　English　public…house　of　the　second　class；　there　were　three　conveniences　of　that　kind；　for　the　use；　as　the　landlord　used　to　say；　of　the　troop…horses　when　the　soldiers　came　to　search　his　house；　while　a　knowing　leer　and　a　nod　let　you　understand　what　species　of　troops　he　was　thinking　of。　　A　huge　ash…tree　before　the　door；　which　had　reared　itself　to　a　great　size　and　height；　in　spite　of　the　blasts　from　the　neighbouring　Solway；　overshadowed；　as　usual；　the　ale…　bench；　as　our　ancestors　called　it；　where；　though　it　was　still　early　in　the　day；　several　fellows；　who　seemed　to　be　gentlemen's　servants；　were　drinking　beer　and　smoking。　　One　or　two　of　them　wore　liveries　which　seemed　known　to　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　for　he　muttered　between　his　teeth；　'Fools；　fools！　were　they　on　a　march　to　hell；　they　must　have　their　rascals　in　livery　with　them；　that　the　whole　world　might　know　who　were　going　to　be　damned。'

As　he　thus　muttered；　he　drew　bridle　before　the　door　of　the　place；　from　which　several　other　lounging　guests　began　to　issue；　to　look　with　indolent　curiosity　as　usual；　upon　an　ARRIVAL。

Redgauntlet　sprang　from　his　horse；　and　assisted　his　niece　to　dismount；　but；　forgetting；　perhaps；　his　nephew's　disguise；　he　did　not　pay　him　the　attention　which　his　female　dress　demanded。

The　situation　of　Darsie　was　indeed　something　awkward；　for　Cristal　Nixon；　out　of　caution　perhaps　to　prevent　escape；　had　muffled　the　extreme　folds　of　the　riding…skirt　with　which　he　was　accoutred；　around　his　ankles　and　under　his　feet；　and　there　secured　it　with　large　corking…pins。　　We　presume　that　gentlemen…cavaliers　may　sometimes　cast　their　eyes　to　that　part　of　the　person　of　the　fair　equestrians　whom　they　chance　occasionally　to　escort；　and　if　they　will　conceive　their　own　feet；　like　Darsie's；　muffled　in　such　a　labyrinth　of　folds　and　amplitude　of　robe；　as　modesty　doubtless　induces　the　fair　creatures　to　assume　upon　such　occasions；　they　will　allow　that；　on　a　first　attempt；　they　might　find　some　awkwardness　in　dismounting。　　Darsie；　at　least；　was　in　such　a　predicament；　for；　not　receiving　adroit　assistance　from　the　attendant　of　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　he　stumbled　as　he　dismounted　from　the　horse；　and　might　have　had　a　bad　fall；　had　it　not　been　broken　by　the　gallant　interposition　of　a　gentleman；　who　probably　was；　on　his　part；　a　little　surprised　at　the　solid　weight　of　the　distressed　fair　one　whom　he　had　the　honour　to　receive　in　his　embrace。　　But　what　was　his　surprise　to　that　of　Darsie；　when　the　hurry　of　the　moment　and　of　the　accident；　permitted　him　to　see　that　it　was　his　friend　Alan　Fairford　in　whose　arms　he　found　himself！　　A　thousand　apprehensions　rushed　on　him；　mingled　with　the　full　career　of　hope　and　joy；　inspired　by　the　unexpected　appearance　of　his　beloved　friend　at　the　very　crisis；　it　seemed；　of　his　fate。

He　was　about　to　whisper　in　his　ear；　cautioning　him　at　the　same　time　to　be　silent；　yet　he　hesitated　for　a　second　or　two　to　effect　his　purpose；　since；　should　Redgauntlet　take　the　alarm　from　any　sudden　exclamation　on　the　part　of　Alan；　the