redgauntlet-第99部分

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Alan　Fairford　did　not　hesitate　to　read　the　little　scrap　of　paper；　on　which　was　written；　'All　is　preparedkeep　them　in　play　until　I　come　up。　　You　may　depend　on　your　reward。C。　C。'

'Alas；　my　unclemy　poor　uncle！'　　said　Lilias；　'this　is　the　result　of　his　confidence。　　Methinks；　to　give　him　instant　notice　of　his　confidant's　treachery；　is　now　the　best　service　we　can　render　all　concernedif　they　break　up　their　undertaking；　as　they　must　now　do；　Darsie　will　be　at　liberty。'

In　the　same　breath；　they　were　both　at　the　half…opened　door　of　the　room；　Fairford　entreating　to　speak　with　the　Father　Buonaventure；　and　Lilias；　equally　vehemently；　requesting　a　moment's　interview　with　her　uncle。　　While　the　sentinel　hesitated　what　to　do；　his　attention　was　called　to　a　loud　noise　at　the　door；　where　a　crowd　had　been　assembled　in　consequence　of　the　appalling　cry；　that　the　enemy　were　upon　them；　occasioned；　as　it　afterwards　proved；　by　some　stragglers　having　at　length　discovered　the　dead　bodies　of　Nanty　Ewart　and　of　Nixon。

Amid　the　confusion　occasioned　by　this　alarming　incident；　the　sentinel　ceased　to　attend；　to　his　duty；　and　accepting　Alan　Fairford's　arm；　Lilias　found　no　opposition　in　penetrating　even　to　the　inner　apartment；　where　the　principal　persons　in　the　enterprise；　whose　conclave　had　been　disturbed　by　this　alarming　incident；　were　now　assembled　in　great　confusion；　and　had　been　joined　by　the　Chevalier　himself。

'Only　a　mutiny　among　these　smuggling　scoundrels；'　said　Redgauntlet。

ONLY　a　mutiny；　do　you　say？'　　said　Sir　Richard　Glendale；　'and　the　lugger；　the　last　hope　of　escape　for；'he　looked　towards　Charles；'stands　out　to　sea　under　a　press　of　sail！'

'Do　not　concern　yourself　about　me；'　said　the　unfortunate　prince；　'this　is　not　the　worst　emergency　in　which　it　has　been　my　lot　to　stand；　and　if　it　were；　I　fear　it　not。　　Shift　for　yourselves；　my　lords　and　gentlemen。'

'No；　never！'　　said　the　young　Lord　。　　'Our　only　hope　now　is　in　an　honourable　resistance。'

'Most　true；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'let　despair　renew　the　union　amongst　us　which　accident　disturbed。　　I　give　my　voice　for　displaying　the　royal　banner　instantly；　andHow　now！'　　he　concluded；　sternly；　as　Lilias；　first　soliciting　his　attention　by　pulling　his　cloak；　put　into　his　hand　the　scroll；　and　added；　it　was　designed　for　that　of　Nixon。

Redgauntlet　readand；　dropping　it　on　the　ground；　continued　to　stare　upon　the　spot　where　it　fell；　with　raised　hands　and　fixed　eyes。　　Sir　Richard　Glendale　lifted　the　fatal　paper；　read　it；　and　saying；　'Now　all　is　indeed　over；'　handed　it　to　Maxwell；　who　said　aloud；　'Black　Colin　Campbell；　by　Gd！　　I　heard　he　had　come　post　from　London　last　night。'

As　if　in　echo　to　his　thoughts；　the　violin　of　the　blind　man　was　heard；　playing　with　spirit；　The　Campbells　are　coming；'　a　celebrated　clan…march。

'The　Campbells　are　coming　in　earnest；'　said　MacKellar；　they　are　upon　us　with　the　whole　battalion　from　Carlisle。'

There　was　a　silence　of　dismay；　and　two　or　three　of　the　company　began　to　drop　out　of　the　room。

Lord　　spoke　with　the　generous　spirit　of　a　young　English　nobleman。　　'If　we　have　been　fools；　do　not　let　us　be　cowards。　　We　have　one　here　more　precious　than　us　all；　and　come　hither　on　our　warrantylet　us　save　him　at　least；'

'True；　most　true；'　answered　Sir　Richard　Glendale。　　'Let　the　king　be　first　cared　for。'

'That　shall　be　my　business；'　said　Redgauntlet　'if　we　have　but　time　to　bring　back　the　brig；　all　will　be　wellI　will　instantly　dispatch　a　party　in　a　fishing　skiff　to　bring　her　to。'　　He　gave　his　commands　to　two　or　three　of　the　most　active　among　his　followers。　'Let　him　be　once　on　board；'　he　said；　'and　there　are　enough　of　us　to　stand　to　arms　and　cover　his　retreat。'

'Right；　right；'　said　Sir　Richard；　'and　I　will　look　to　points　which　can　be　made　defensible；　and　the　old　powder…plot　boys　could　not　have　made　a　more　desperate　resistance　than　we　shall。　Redgauntlet；'　continued　he；　'I　see　some　of　our　friends　are　looking　pale；　but　methinks　your　nephew　has　more　mettle　in　his　eye　now　than　when　we　were　in　cold　deliberation；　with　danger　at　a　distance。'

'It　is　the　way　of　our　house；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'our　courage　ever　kindles　highest　on　the　losing　side。　　I；　too；　feel　that　the　catastrophe　I　have　brought　on　must　not　be　survived　by　its　author。　Let　me　first；'　he　said；　addressing　Charles；　'see　your　Majesty's　sacred　person　in　such　safety　as　can　now　be　provided　for　it；　and　then'

'You　may　spare　all　considerations　concerning　me；　gentlemen；'　again　repeated　Charles；　'yon　mountain　of　Criffel　shall　fly　as　soon　as　I　will。'

Most　threw　themselves　at　his　feet　with　weeping　and　entreaty；　some　one　or　two　slunk　in　confusion　from　the　apartment；　and　were　heard　riding　off。　　Unnoticed　in　such　a　scene；　Darsie；　his　sister；　and　Fairford；　drew　together；　and　held　each　other　by　the　hands；　as　those　who；　when　a　vessel　is　about　to　founder　in　the　storm；　determine　to　take　their　chance　of　life　and　death　together。

Amid　this　scene　of　confusion；　a　gentleman；　plainly　dressed　in　a　riding…habit；　with　a　black　cockade　in　his　hat；　but　without　any　arms　except　a　COUTEAU…DE…CHASSE；　walked　into　the　apartment　without　ceremony。　　He　was　a　tall；　thin；　gentlemanly　man；　with　a　look　and　bearing　decidedly　military。　　He　had　passed　through　their　guards；　if　in　the　confusion　they　now　maintained　any；　without　stop　or　question；　and　now　stood；　almost　unarmed；　among　armed　men；　who　nevertheless；　gazed　on　him　as　on　the　angel　of　destruction。

'You　look　coldly　on　me；　gentlemen；'　he　said。　　'Sir　Richard　Glendalemy　Lord　；　we　were　not　always　such　strangers。　　Ha；　Pate…in…Peril；　how　is　it　with　you？　　and　you；　too；　IngoldsbyI　must　not　call　you　by　any　other　namewhy　do　you　receive　an　old　friend　so　coldly？　　But　you　guess　my　errand。'

'And　are　prepared　for　it；　general；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'we　are　not　men　to　be　penned　up　like　sheep　for　the　slaughter。'


'Pshaw！　　you　take　it　too　seriouslylet　me　speak　but　one　word　with　you。'

'No　words　can　shake　our　purpose；'　said　Redgauntlet；　were　your　whole　command；　as　I　suppose　is　the　case；　drawn　round　the　house。'

'I　am　certainly　not　unsupported；'　said　the　general；　'but　if　you　would　hear　me'

'Hear　ME；　sir；'　said　the　Wanderer；　stepping　forward；　'I　suppose　I　am　the　mark　you　aim　atI　surrender　myself　willingly；　to　save　these　gentlemen's　dangerlet　this　at　least　avail　in　their　favour。'

An　exclamation　of　'Never；　never！'　　broke　from　the　little　body　of　partisans；　who　threw　themselves　round　the　unfortunate　prince；　and　would　have　seized　or　struck　down　Campbell；　had　it　not　been　that　he　remained　with　his　arms　folded；　and　a　look；　rather　indicating　impatience　because　they　would　not　hear　him；　than　the　least　apprehension　of　violence　at　their　hand。

At　length　he　obtained　a　moment's　silence。　　'I　do　not；'　he　said；　'know　this　gentleman'（making　a　profound　bow　to　the　unfortunate　prince）'I　do　not　wish　to　know　him；　it　is　a　knowledge　which　would　suit　neither　of　us。'

'Our　ancestors；　nevertheless；　have　been　well　acquainted；'　said　Charles；　unable　to　suppress；　even　at　that　hour　of　dread　and　danger；　the　painful　recollections　of　fallen　royalty。

'In　one　word；　General　Campbell；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'is　it　to　be　peace　or　war？　　You　are　a　man　of　honour；　and　we　can　trust　you。'

'I　thank　you；　sir；'　said　the　general；　'and　I　reply；　that　the　answer　to　your　question　rests　with　yourself。　　Come；　do　not　be　fools；　gentlemen；　there　was　perhaps　no　great　harm　meant　or　intended　by　your　gathering　together　in　this　obscure　corner；　for　a　bear…bait　or　a　cock…fight；　or　whatever　other　amusement　you　may　have　intended；　but　it　was　a　little　imprudent；　considering　how　you　stand　with　government；　and　it　has　occasioned　some　anxiety。　Exaggerated　accounts　of　your　purpose　have　been　laid　before　government　by　the　information　of　a　traitor　in　your　own　counsels；　and　I　was　sent　down　post　to　take　the　command　of　a　sufficient　number　of　troops；　in　case　these　calumnies　should　be　found　to　have　any　real　foundation。　　I　have　come　here；　of　course；　sufficiently　supported　both　with　cavalry　and　infantry；　to　do　whatever　might　be　necessary；　but　my　commands　areand　I　am　sure　they　agree　with　my　inclinationto　make　no　arrests；　nay；　to　make　no　further　inquiries　of　any　kind；　if　this　good　assembly　will　consider　their　own　interest　so　far　as　to　give　up　their　immediate　purpose；　and　return　quietly　home　to　their　own　houses。'

'What！all？'　　exclaimed　Sir　Richard　Glendale'all；　without　exception？'

'ALL；　without　one　single　exception'　said　the　general；　'such　are　my　orders。　　If　you　accept　my　terms；　say　so；　and　make　haste；　for　things　may　happen　to　interfere　with　his　Majesty's　kind　purposes　towards　you　all。'

'Majesty's　kind　purposes！'　　said　the　Wanderer。　　'Do　I　hear　you　aright；　sir？'

'I　speak　the　king's　very　words；　from　his　very　lips；'　replied　the　general。　　'〃I　will；〃　said　his　Majesty；　〃deserve　the　confidence　of　my　subjects　by　reposing　my　security　in　the　fidelity　of　the　millions　who　acknowledge　my　titlein　the　good　sense　and　prudence　of　the　few　who　continue；　from　the　errors　of　education；　to　disown　it。〃　　His　Majesty　will　not　even　believe　that　the　most　zealous　Jacobites　who　yet　remain　can　nourish　a　thought　of　exciting　a　civil　war；　which　must　be　fatal　to　their　families　and　themselves；　besides　spreading　bloodshed　and　ruin　through　a　peaceful　land。　　He　cannot　even　believe　of　his　kinsman；　that　he　would　engage　brave　and　generous　though　mistaken　men；　in　an　attempt　which　must　ruin　all　who　have　escaped　former　calamities；　and　he　is　convinced；　that；　did　curiosity　or　any　other　motive　lead　that　person　to　visit　this　country；　he　would　soon　see　it　was　his　wisest　course　to　return　to　the　continent；　and　his　Majesty　compassionates　his　situation　too　much　to　offer　any　obstacle　to　his　doing　so。'

'Is　this　real？'　　said　Redgauntlet。　　'Can　you　mean　this？　　Am　I　are　all；　are　any　of　these　gentlemen　at　liberty；　without　interruption；　to　embark　in　yonder　brig；　which；　I　see；　is　now　again　approaching　the　shore？'

'You；　sirallany　of　the　gentlemen　present；'　said　the　general；　'all　whom　the　vessel　can　contain；　are　at　liberty　to　embark　uninterrupted　by　me；　but　I　advise　none　to　go　off　who　have　not　powerful　reasons　unconnected　with　the　present　meeting；　for　this　will　be　remembered　against　no　one。'

'Then；　gentlemen；'　said　Redgauntlet；　clasping　his　hands　together　as　the　words　burst　from　him；　'the　cause　is　lost　for　ever！'

General　Campbell　turned　away