redgauntlet-第94部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



'But；　apparently；　our　humble　expostulation　has　produced　no　effect。　　This　lady；　who　has　crept　into　his　bosom；　has　a　sister　in　the　Elector　of　Hanover's　court；　and　yet　we　are　well　assured　that　our　most　private　communication　is　placed　in　her　keeping。'

'VARIUM　ET　MUTABILE　SEMPER　FEMINA；'　said　Dr。　Grumball。

'She　puts　his　secrets　into　her　work…bag；'　said　Maxwell；　'and　out　they　fly　whenever　she　opens　it。　　If　I　must　hang；　I　would　wish　it　to　be　in　somewhat　a　better　rope　than　the　string　of　a　lady's　hussey。'

'Are　you；　too；　turning　dastard；　Maxwell？'　　said　Redgauntlet；　in　a　whisper。

'Not　I；'　said　Maxwell；　'let　us　fight　for　it；　and　let　them　win　and　wear　us；　but　to　be　betrayed　by　a　brimstone　like　that'

'Be　temperate；　gentlemen；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'the　foible　of　which　you　complain　so　heavily　has　always　been　that　of　kings　and　heroes；　which　I　feel　strongly　confident　the　king　will　surmount；　upon　the　humble　entreaty　of　his　best　servants；　and　when　he　sees　them　ready　to　peril　their　all　in　his　cause；　upon　the　slight　condition　of　his　resigning　the　society　of　a　female　favourite；　of　whom　I　have　seen　reason　to　think　he　hath　been　himself　for　some　time　wearied。　　But　let　us　not　press　upon　him　rashly　with　our　well…meant　zeal。　　He　has　a　princely　will　as　becomes　his　princely　birth；　and　we；　gentlemen；　who　are　royalists；　should　be　the　last　to　take　advantage　of　circumstances　to　limit　its　exercise。　　I　am　as　much　surprised　and　hurt　as　you　can　be；　to　find　that　he　has　made　her　the　companion　of　this　journey；　increasing　every　chance　of　treachery　and　detection。　　But　do　not　let　us　insist　upon　a　sacrifice　so　humiliating；　while　he　has　scarce　placed　a　foot　upon　the　beach　of　his　kingdom。　　Let　us　act　generously　by　our　sovereign；　and　when　we　have　shown　what　we　will　do　for　him；　we　shall　be　able；　with　better　face；　to　state　what　it　is　we　expect　him　to　concede。'

'Indeed；　I　think　it　is　but　a　pity；'　said　MacKellar；　'when　so　many　pretty　gentlemen　are　got　together；　that　they　should　part　without　the　flash　of　a　sword　among　them'

'I　should　be　of　that　gentleman's　opinion；'　said　Lord　；　'had　I　nothing　to　lose　but　my　life；　but　I　frankly　own；　that　the　conditions　on　which　our　family　agreed　to　join　having　been；　in　this　instance；　left　unfulfilled；　I　will　not　peril　the　whole　fortunes　of　our　house　on　the　doubtful　fidelity　of　an　artful　woman。'

'I　am　sorry　to　see　your　lordship；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'take　a　course　which　is　more　likely　to　secure　your　house's　wealth　than　to　augment　its　honours。'

'How　am　I　to　understand　your　language；　sir？'　　said　the　young　nobleman；　haughtily。

'Nay；　gentlemen；'　said　Dr　Grumball；　interposing；　'do　not　let　friends　quarrel；　we　are　all　zealous　for　the　causebut　truly；　although　I　know　the　license　claimed　by　the　great　in　such　matters；　and　can；　I　hope；　make　due　allowance；　there　is；　I　may　say；　an　indecorum　in　a　prince　who　comes　to　claim　the　allegiance　of　the　Church　of　England；　arriving　on　such　an　errand　with　such　a　companionSI　NON　CASTE；　CAUTE　TAMEN。'

'I　wonder　how　the　Church　of　England　came　to　be　so　heartily　attached　to　his　merry　old　namesake；'　said　Redgauntlet。

Sir　Richard　Glendale　then　took　up　the　question；　as　one　whose　authority　and　experience　gave　him　right　to　speak　with　much　weight。

'We　have　no　leisure　for　hesitation；'　he　said；　'it　is　full　time　that　we　decide　what　course　we　are　to　hold。　　I　feel　as　much　as　you；　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　the　delicacy　of　capitulating　with　our　sovereign　in　his　present　condition。　　But　I　must　also　think　of　the　total　ruin　of　the　cause；　the　confiscation　and　bloodshed　which　will　take　place　among　his　adherents；　and　all　through　the　infatuation　with　which　he　adheres　to　a　woman　who　is　the　pensionary　of　the　present　minister；　as　she　was　for　years　Sir　Robert　Walpole's。　　Let　his　Majesty　send　her　back　to　the　continent；　and　the　sword　on　which　I　now　lay　my　hand　shall　instantly　be　unsheathed；　and；　I　trust；　many　hundred　others　at　the　same　moment。'

The　other　persons　present　testified　their　unanimous　acquiescence　in　what　Sir　Richard　Glendale　had　said。

'I　see　you　have　taken　your　resolutions；　gentlemen；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'unwisely　I　think；　because　I　believe　that；　by　softer　and　more　generous　proceedings；　you　would　have　been　more　likely　to　carry　a　point　which　I　think　as　desirable　as　you　do。　　But　what　is　to　be　done　if　Charles　should　refuse；　with　the　inflexibility　of　his　grandfather；　to　comply　with　this　request　of　yours？　　Do　you　mean　to　abandon　him　to　his　fate？'

'God　forbid！'　　said　Sir　Richard；　hastily；　'and　God　forgive　you；　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　for　breathing　such　a　thought。　　No！　　I　for　one　will；　with　all　duty　and　humility；　see　him　safe　back　to　his　vessel；　and　defend　him　with　my　life　against　whosoever　shall　assail　him。　　But　when　I　have　seen　his　sails　spread；　my　next　act　will　be　to　secure；　if　I　can；　my　own　safety；　by　retiring　to　my　house；　or；　if　I　find　our　engagement；　as　is　too　probable；　has　taken　wind；　by　surrendering　myself　to　the　next　Justice　of　Peace；　and　giving　security　that　hereafter　I　shall　live　quiet；　and　submit　to　the　ruling　powers。'

Again　the　rest　of　the　persons　present　intimated　their　agreement　in　opinion　with　the　speaker。

'Well；　gentlemen；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'it　is　not　for　me　to　oppose　the　opinion　of　every　one；　and　I　must　do　you　the　justice　to　say；　that　the　king　has；　in　the　present　instance；　neglected　a　condition　of　your　agreement　which　was　laid　before　him　in　very　distinct　terms。　　The　question　now　is；　who　is　to　acquaint　him　with　the　result　of　this　conference；　for　I　presume　you　would　not　wait　on　him　in　a　body　to　make　the　proposal　that　he　should　dismiss　a　person　from　his　family　as　the　price　of　your　allegiance。'

'I　think　Mr。　Redgauntlet　should　make　the　explanation；　said　Lord　。　　'As　he　has；　doubtless；　done　justice　to　our　remonstrances　by　communicating　them　to　the　king；　no　one　can；　with　such　propriety　and　force；　state　the　natural　and　inevitable　consequence　of　their　being　neglected。'

'Now；　I　think；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'that　those　who　make　the　objection　should　state　it；　for　I　am　confident　the　king　will　hardly　believe；　on　less　authority　than　that　of　the　heir　of　the　loyal　House　of　B；　that　he　is　the　first　to　seek　an　evasion　of　his　pledge　to　join　him。'

'An　evasion；　sir！'　　repeated　Lord　；　fiercely；　'I　have　borne　too　much　from　you　already；　and　this　I　will　not　endure。　　Favour　me　with　your　company　to　the　downs。'

Redgauntlet　laughed　scornfully；　and　was　about　to　follow　the　fiery　young　man；　when　Sir　Richard　again　interposed。　　'Are　we　to　exhibit；'　he　said；　'the　last　symptoms　of　the　dissolution　of　our　party；　by　turning　our　swords　against　each　other？　　Be　patient；　Lord　；　in　such　conferences　as　this；　much　must　pass　unquestioned　which　might　brook　challenge　elsewhere。　　There　is　a　privilege　of　party　as　of　parliamentmen　cannot；　in　emergency；　stand　upon　picking　phrases。　　Gentlemen；　if　you　will　extend　your　confidence　in　me　so　far；　I　will　wait　upon　his　Majesty；　and　I　hope　my　Lord　　and　Mr。　Redgauntlet　will　accompany　me。　　I　trust　the　explanation　of　this　unpleasant　matter　will　prove　entirely　satisfactory；　and　that　we　shall　find　ourselves　at　liberty　to　render　our　homage　to　our　sovereign　without　reserve；　when　I　for　one　will　be　the　first　to　peril　all　in　his　just　quarrel。'

Redgauntlet　at　once　stepped　forward。　　'My　lord；'　he　said；　'if　my　zeal　made　me　say　anything　in　the　slightest　degree　offensive；　I　wish　it　unsaid；　and　ask　your　pardon。　　A　gentleman　can　do　no　more。'

'I　could　not　have　asked　Mr。　Redgauntlet　to　do　so　much；'　said　the　young　nobleman；　willingly　accepting　the　hand　which　Redgauntlet　offered。　　'I　know　no　man　living　from　whom　I　could　take　so　much　reproof　without　a　sense　of　degradation　as　from　himself。'

'Let　me　then　hope；　my　lord；　that　you　will　go　with　Sir　Richard　and　me　to　the　presence。　　Your　warm　blood　will　heat　our　zealour　colder　resolves　will　temper　yours。

The　young　lord　smiled；　and　shook　his　head。　　'Alas！　　Mr。　Redgauntlet；'　he　said；　'I　am　ashamed　to　say；　that　in　zeal　you　surpass　us　all。　　But　I　will　not　refuse　this　mission；　provided　you　will　permit　Sir　Arthur；　your　nephew；　also　to　accompany　us。'

'My　nephew？'　　said　Redgauntlet；　and　seemed　to　hesitate；　then　added；　'Most　certainly。　　I　trust；'　he　said；　looking　at　Darsie；　'he　will　bring　to　his　prince's　presence　such　sentiments　as　fit　the　occasion。'

It　seemed　however　to　Darsie；　that　his　uncle　would　rather　have　left　him　behind；　had　he　not　feared　that　he　might　in　that　case　have　been　influenced　by；　or　might　perhaps　himself　influence；　the　unresolved　confederates　with　whom　he　must　have　associated　during　his　absence。

'I　will　go；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'and　request　admission。'

In　a　moment　after　he　returned；　and　without　speaking；　motioned　for　the　young　nobleman　to　advance。　　He　did　so；　followed　by　Sir　Richard　Glendale　and　Darsie；　Redgauntlet　himself　bringing　up　the　rear。　　A　short　passage；　and　a　few　steps；　brought　them　to　the　door　of　the　temporary　presence…chamber；　in　which　the　Royal　Wanderer　was　to　receive　their　homage。　　It　was　the　upper　loft　of　one　of　those　cottages　which　made　additions　to　the　old　inn；　poorly　furnished；　dusty；　and　in　disorder；　for；　rash　as　the　enterprise　might　be　considered；　they　had　been　still　careful　not　to　draw　the　attention　of　strangers　by　any　particular　attentions　to　the　personal　accommodation　of　the　prince。　　He　was　seated；　when　the　deputies；　as　they　might　be　termed；　of　his　remaining　adherents　entered；　and　as　he　rose；　and　came　forward　and　bowed；　in　acceptance　of　their　salutation；　it　was　with　a　dignified　courtesy　which　at　once　supplied　whatever　was　deficient　in　external　pomp；　and　converted　the　wretched　garret　into　a　saloon　worthy　of　the　occasion。

It　is　needless　to　add　that　he　was　the　same　personage　already　introduced　in　the　character　of　Father　Buonaventure；　by　which　name　he　was　distinguished　at　Fairladies。　　His　dress　was　not　different　from　what　he　then　wore；　excepting　that　he　had　a　loose　riding…coat　of　camlet；　under　which　he　carried　an　efficient　cut…and…thrust　sword；　instead　of　his　walking　rapier；　and　also　a　pair　of　pistols。

Redgauntlet　presented　to　him　successively　the　young　Lord　；　and　his　kinsman；　Sir　Arthur　Darsie　Redgauntlet；　who　trembled　as；　bowing　and　kissing　his　hand；　he　found　himself　surprised　into　what　might　be　construed　an　act　of　high　treason；　which　yet　he　saw　no　safe　means　to　avoid。

Sir　Richard　Glendale　seemed　personally　known　to　Charles　Edward；　who　rece