redgauntlet-第88部分

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inbow；　gave　many　hints　that　they　were　not　people　to　serve　any　but　men　of　first…rate　consequence。　　These　gentlemen；　who　had　come　thither　chiefly　for　the　purpose　of　meeting　with　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　seemed　moody　and　anxious；　conversed　and　walked　together　apparently　in　deep　conversation；　and　avoided　any　communication　with　the　chance　travellers　whom　accident　brought　that　morning　to　the　same　place　of　resort。

As　if　Fate　had　set　herself　to　confound　the　plans　of　the　Jacobite　conspirators；　the　number　of　travellers　was　unusually　great；　their　appearance　respectable；　and　they　filled　the　public　tap…room　of　the　inn；　where　the　political　guests　had　already　occupied　most　of　the　private　apartments。

Amongst　others；　honest　Joshua　Geddes　had　arrived；　travelling；　as　he　said；　in　the　sorrow　of　the　soul；　and　mourning　for　the　fate　of　Darsie　Latimer　as　he　would　for　his　first…born　child。　　He　had　skirted　the　whole　coast　of　the　Solway；　besides　making　various　trips　into　the　interior；　not　shunning；　on　such　occasions；　to　expose　himself　to　the　laugh　of　the　scorner；　nay；　even　to　serious　personal　risk；　by　frequenting　the　haunts　of　smugglers；　horse…　jockeys；　and　other　irregular　persons；　who　looked　on　his　intrusion　with　jealous　eyes；　and　were　apt　to　consider　him　as　an　exciseman　in　the　disguise　of　a　Quaker。　　All　this　labour　and　peril；　however；　had　been　undergone　in　vain。　　No　search　he　could　make　obtained　the　least　intelligence　of　Latimer；　so　that　he　began　to　fear　the　poor　lad　had　been　spirited　abroadfor　the　practice　of　kidnapping　was　then　not　infrequent；　especially　on　the　western　coasts　of　Britain　if　indeed　he　had　escaped　a　briefer　and　more　bloody　fate。

With　a　heavy　heart；　he　delivered　his　horse；　even　Solomon；　into　the　hands　of　the　ostler；　and　walking　into　the　inn；　demanded　from　the　landlord　breakfast　and　a　private　room。　　Quakers；　and　such　hosts　as　old　Father　Crackenthorp；　are　no　congenial　spirits；　the　latter　looked　askew　over　his　shoulder；　and　replied；　'If　you　would　have　breakfast　here；　friend；　you　are　like　to　eat　it　where　other　folk　eat　theirs。'

'And　wherefore　can　I　not；'　said　the　Quaker；　'have　an　apartment　to　myself；　for　my　money？'

'Because；　Master　Jonathan；　you　must　wait　till　your　betters　be　served；　or　else　eat　with　your　equals。'

Joshua　Geddes　argued　the　point　no　further；　but　sitting　quietly　down　on　the　seat　which　Crackenthorp　indicated　to　him；　and　calling　for　a　pint　of　ale；　with　some　bread；　butter；　and　Dutch　cheese；　began　to　satisfy　the　appetite　which　the　morning　air　had　rendered　unusually　alert。

While　the　honest　Quaker　was　thus　employed；　another　stranger　entered　the　apartment；　and　sat　down　near　to　the　table　on　which　his　victuals　were　placed。　　He　looked　repeatedly　at　Joshua；　licked　his　parched　and　chopped　lips　as　he　saw　the　good　Quaker　masticate　his　bread　and　cheese；　and　sucked　up　his　thin　chops　when　Mr。　Geddes　applied　the　tankard　to　his　mouth；　as　if　the　discharge　of　these　bodily　functions　by　another　had　awakened　his　sympathies　in　an　uncontrollable　degree。　　At　last；　being　apparently　unable　to　withstand　his　longings；　he　asked；　in　a　faltering　tone；　the　huge　landlord；　who　was　tramping　through　the　room　in　all　corpulent　impatience；　whether　he　could　have　a　plack…pie？'

'Never　heard　of　such　a　thing；　master；'　said　the　landlord；　and　was　about　to　trudge　onward；　when　the　guest；　detaining　him；　said；　in　a　strong　Scottish　tone；　'Ya　will　maybe　have　nae　whey　then；　nor　buttermilk；　nor　ye　couldna　exhibit　a　souter's　clod？'

'Can't　tell　what　ye　are　talking　about；　master；'　said　Crackenthorp。

'Then　ye　will　have　nae　breakfast　that　will　come　within　'the　compass　of　a　shilling　Scots？'

'Which　is　a　penny　sterling；'　answered　Crackenthorp；　with　a　sneer。　'Why；　no；　Sawney；　I　can't　say　as　we　havewe　can't　afford　it；　But　you　shall　have　a　bellyful　for　love；　as　we　say　in　the　bull…ring。'

'I　shall　never　refuse　a　fair　offer；'　said　the　poverty…stricken　guest；　'and　I　will　say　that　for　the　English；　if　they　were　deils；　that　they　are　a　ceeveleesed　people　to　gentlemen　that　are　under　a　cloud。'

'Gentlemen！humph！'　　said　Crackenthorp'not　a　blue…cap　among　them　but　halts　upon　that　foot。'　　Then　seizing　on　a　dish　which　still　contained　a　huge　cantle　of　what　had　been　once　a　princely　mutton　pasty；　he　placed　it　on　the　table　before　the　stranger；　saying；　'There；　master　gentleman；　there　is　what　is　worth　all　the　black　pies；　as　you　call　them；　that　were　ever　made　of　sheep's　head。'

'Sheep's　head　is　a　gude　thing；　for　a'　that；'　replied　the　guest；　but　not　being　spoken　so　loud　as　to　offend　his　hospitable　entertainer；　the　interjection　might　pass　for　a　private　protest　against　the　scandal　thrown　out　against　the　standing　dish　of　Caledonia。

This　premised；　he　immediately　began　to　transfer　the　mutton　and　pie…crust　from　his　plate　to　his　lips；　in　such　huge　gobbets；　as　if　he　was　refreshing　after　a　three　days'　fast；　and　laying　in　provisions　against　a　whole　Lent　to　come。

Joshua　Geddes　in　his　turn　gazed　on　him　with　surprise；　having　never；　he　thought；　beheld　such　a　gaunt　expression　of　hunger　in　the　act　of　eating。　　'Friend；'　he　said；　after　watching　him　for　some　minutes；　'if　thou　gorgest　thyself　in　this　fashion；　thou　wilt　assuredly　choke。　　Wilt　thou　not　take　a　draught　out　of　my　cup　to　help　down　all　that　dry　meat？'

'Troth；'　said　the　stranger；　stopping　and　looking　at　the　friendly　propounder；　'that's　nae　bad　overture；　as　they　say　in　the　General　Assembly。　　I　have　heard　waur　motions　than　that　frae　wiser　counsel。'

Mr。　Geddes　ordered　a　quart　of　home…brewed　to　be　placed　before　our　friend　Peter　Peebles；　for　the　reader　must　have　already　conceived　that　this　unfortunate　litigant　was　the　wanderer　in　question。

The　victim　of　Themis　had　no　sooner　seen　the　flagon；　than　he　seized　it　with　the　same　energy　which　he　had　displayed　in　operating　upon　the　piepuffed　off　the　froth　with　such　emphasis；　that　some　of　it　lighted　on　Mr。　Geddes's　headand　then　said；　as　if　with　it　sudden　recollection　of　what　was　due　to　civility；　'Here's　to　ye；　friend。　　What！　　are　ye　ower　grand　to　give　me　an　answer；　or　are　ye　dull　o'　hearing？'

'I　prithee　drink　thy　liquor；　friend；'　said　the　good　Quaker；　'thou　meanest　it　in　civility；　but　we　care　not　for　these　idle　fashions。'

'What！　　ye　are　a　Quaker；　are　ye？'　　said　Peter；　and　without　further　ceremony　reared　the　flagon　to　his　head；　from　which　he　withdrew　it　not　while　a　single　drop　of　'barley…broo'　remained。　'That's　done　you　and　me　muckle　gude；'　he　said；　sighing　as　he　set　down　his　pot；　'but　twa　mutchkins　o'　yill　between　twa　folk　is　a　drappie　ower　little　measure。　　What　say　ye　to　anither　pot？　　or　shall　we　cry　in　a　blithe　Scots　pint　at　ance？　　The　yill　is　no　amiss。'

'Thou　mayst　call　for　what　thou　wilt　on　thine　own　charges；　friend；'　said　Geddes；　'for　myself；　I　willingly　contribute　to　the　quenching　of　thy　natural　thirst；　but　I　fear　it　were　no　such　easy　matter　to　relieve　thy　acquired　and　artificial　drought。'

'That　is　to　say；　in　plain　terms；　ye　are　for　withdrawing　your　caution　with　the　folk　of　the　house？　　You　Quaker　folk　are　but　fause　comforters；　but　since　ye　have　garred　me　drink　sae　muckle　cauld　yillme　that　am　no　used　to　the　like　of　it　in　the　forenoon　I　think　ye　might　as　weel　have　offered　me　a　glass　of　brandy　or　usquabaeI'm　nae　nice　bodyI　can　drink　onything　that's　wet　and　toothsome。'

'Not　a　drop　at　my　cost；　friend；'　quoth　Geddes。　　'Thou　art　an　old　man；　and　hast　perchance　a　heavy　and　long　journey　before　thee。　Thou　art；　moreover；　my　countryman；　as　I　judge　from　thy　tongue；　and　I　will　not　give　thee　the　means　of　dishonouring　thy　grey　hairs　in　a　strange　land。'

'Grey　hairs；　neighbour！'　　said　Peter；　with　a　wink　to　the　bystanders；　whom　this　dialogue　began　to　interest；　and　who　were　in　hopes　of　seeing　the　Quaker　played　off　by　the　crazed　beggar；　for　such　Peter　Peebles　appeared　to　be。　　'Grey　hairs！　　The　Lord　mend　your　eyesight；　neighbour；　that　disna　ken　grey　hairs　frae　a　tow　wig！'

This　jest　procured　a　shout　of　laughter；　and；　what　was　still　more　acceptable　than　dry　applause；　a　man　who　stood　beside　called　out；　'Father　Crackenthorp；　bring　a　nipperkin　of　brandy。　　I'll　bestow　a　dram　on　this　fellow；　were　it　but　for　that　very　word。'

The　brandy　was　immediately　brought　by　a　wench　who　acted　as　barmaid；　and　Peter；　with　a　grin　of　delight；　filled　a　glass；　quaffed　it　off；　and　then　saying；　'God　bless　me！　　I　was　so　unmannerly　as　not　to　drink　to　yeI　think　the　Quaker　has　smitten　me　wi'　his　ill…bred　havings；'he　was　about　to　fill　another；　when　his　hand　was　arrested　by　his　new　friend；　who　said　at　the　same　time；　'No；　no；　friendfair　play's　a　jeweltime　about；　if　you　please。'　　And　filling　a　glass　for　himself；　emptied　it　as　gallantly　as　Peter　could　have　done。　　'What　say　you　to　that；　friend？'　　he　continued；　addressing　the　Quaker。

'Nay；　friend；'　answered　Joshua；　'it　went　down　thy　throat；　not　mine；　and　I　have　nothing　to　say　about　what　concerns　me　not；　but　if　thou　art　a　man　of　humanity；　thou　wilt　not　give　this　poor　creature　the　means　of　debauchery。　　Bethink　thee　that　they　will　spurn　him　from　the　door；　as　they　would　do　a　houseless　and　masterless　dog；　and　that　he　may　die　on　the　sands　or　on　the　common。　　And　if　he　has　through　thy　means　been　rendered　incapable　of　helping　himself；　thou　shalt　not　be　innocent　of　his　blood。'

'Faith；　Broadbrim；　I　believe　thou　art　right；　and　the　old　gentleman　in　the　flaxen　jazy　shall　have　no　more　of　the　comforter。　Besides；　we　have　business　in　hand　to…day；　and　this　fellow；　for　as　mad　as　he　looks；　may　have　a　nose　on　his　face　after　all。　　Hark　ye；　father；what　is　your　name；　and　what　brings　you　into　such　an　out…　of…the…way　corner？'

'I　am　not　just　free　to　condescend　on　my　name；'　said　Peter；　'and　as　for　my　businessthere　is　a　wee　dribble　of　brandy　in　the　stoupit　would　be　wrang　to　leave　it　to　the　lassit　is　learning　her　bad　usages。'

'Well；　thou　shalt　have　the　brandy；　and　be　dd　to　thee；　if　thou　wilt　tell　me　what　you　are　making　here。'

'Seeking　a　young　advocate　chap　that　they　ca'　Alan　Fairford；　that　has　played　me　a　slippery　trick；　and　ye　maun　ken　a'　about　the　cause；'　said　Peter。

'An　advocate；　man！'　　answered　the　captain　of　the　JUMPING　JENNY　for　it　was　he；　and　no　other；　who　had　taken　compassion　on　Peter's　drought；　'why；　Lord　help　thee；　thou　art　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　Firth　to　seek　advocates；　whom　I　take　to　be　Scottish　lawyers；　not　English。'

'English　lawyers；　man！'　　exclaimed　Peter；　'the　deil　a　lawyer's　in　a'　Engl