redgauntlet-第108节

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Into　this；　Joe；　with　little　ceremony；　and　a　good　deal　of　noise；　introduced　the　Quaker　and　Fairford；　the　first　descanting　on　the　immorality；　the　other　on　the　illegality；　of　his　proceedings；　and　he　turned　a　deaf　ear　both　to　the　one　and　the　other。　　Next　he　pushed　in；　almost　in　headlong　fashion；　the　unfortunate　litigant；　who；　having　made　some　resistance　at　the　threshold；　had　received　a　violent　thrust　in　consequence；　and　came　rushing　forward；　like　a　ram　in　the　act　of　charging；　with　such　impetus　as　must　have　carried　him　to　the　top　of　the　room；　and　struck　the　cocked　hat　which　sat　perched　on　the　top　of　his　tow　wig　against　Miss　Redgauntlet's　person；　had　not　the　honest　Quaker　interrupted　his　career　by　seizing　him　by　the　collar；　and　bringing　him　to　a　stand。　'Friend；'　said　he；　with　the　real　good…breeding　which　so　often　subsists　independently　of　ceremony；　'thou　art　no　company　for　that　young　person；　she　is；　thou　seest；　frightened　at　our　being　so　suddenly　thrust　in　hither；　and　although　that　be　no　fault　of　ours；　yet　it　will　become　us　to　behave　civilly　towards　her。　　Wherefore　come　thou　with　me　to　this　window；　and　I　will　tell　thee　what　it　concerns　thee　to　know。'

'And　what　for　should　I　no　speak　to　the　Leddy；　friend？'　　said　Peter；　who　was　now　about　half　seas　over。　　'I　have　spoke　to　leddies　before　now；　man。　　What　for　should　she　be　frightened　at　me？　　I　am　nae　bogle；　I　ween。　　What　are　ye　pooin'　me　that　gate　for？　　Ye　will　rive　my　coat；　and　I　will　have　a　good　action　for　having　myself　made　SARTUM　ATQUE　TECTUM　at　your　expenses。'

Notwithstanding　this　threat；　Mr。　Geddes；　whose　muscles　were　as　strong　as　his　judgement　was　sound　and　his　temper　sedate；　led　Poor　Peter　under　the　sense　of　a　control　against　which　he　could　not　struggle；　to　the　farther　corner　of　the　apartment；　where；　placing　him；　whether　he　would　or　no；　in　a　chair；　he　sat　down　beside　him；　and　effectually　prevented　his　annoying　the　young　lady；　upon　whom　he　had　seemed　bent　upon　conferring　the　delights　of　his　society。

If　Peter　had　immediately　recognized　his　counsel　learned　in　the　law；　it　is　probable　that　not　even　the　benevolent　efforts　of　the　Quaker　could　have　kept　him　in　a　state　of　restraint；　but　Fairford's　back　was　turned　towards　his　client；　whose　optics；　besides　being　somewhat　dazzled　with　ale　and　brandy；　were　speedily　engaged　in　contemplating　a　half…crown　which　Joshua　held　between　his　finger　and　his　thumb；　saying；　at　the　same　time；　'Friend；　thou　art　indigent　and　improvident。　　This　will；　well　employed；　procure　thee　sustentation　of　nature　for　more　than　a　single　day；　and　I　will　bestow　it　on　thee　if　thou　wilt　sit　here　and　keep　me　company；　for　neither　thou　nor　I；　friend；　are　fit　company　for　ladies。'

'Speak　for　yourself；　friend；'　said　Peter；　scornfully；　'I　was　ay　kend　to　be　agreeable　to　the　fair　sex；　and　when　I　was　in　business　I　served　the　ladies　wi'　anither　sort　of　decorum　than　Plainstanes；　the　dd　awkward　scoundrel！　　It　was　one　of　the　articles　of　dittay　between　us。'

'Well；　but；　friend；'　said　the　Quaker；　who　observed　that　the　young　lady　still　seemed　to　fear　Peter's　intrusion；　'I　wish　to　hear　thee　speak　about　this　great　lawsuit　of　thine；　which　has　been　matter　of　such　celebrity。'

'Celebrity！　　Ye　may　swear　that；'　said　Peter；　for　the　string　was　touched　to　which　his　crazy　imagination　always　vibrated。　　'And　I　dinna　wonder　that　folk　that　judge　things　by　their　outward　grandeur；　should　think　me　something　worth　their　envying。　　It's　very　true　that　it　is　grandeur　upon　earth　to　hear　ane's　name　thunnered　out　along　the　long…arched　roof　of　the　Outer　House；　〃Poor　Peter　Peebles　against　Plainstanes　ET　PER　CONTRA；〃　a'　the　best　lawyers　in　the　house　fleeing　like　eagles　to　the　prey；　some　because　they　are　in　the　cause；　and　some　because　they　want　to　be　thought　engaged　（for　there　are　tricks　in　other　trades　by　selling　muslins）to　see　the　reporters　mending　their　pens　to　take　down　the　debatethe　Lords　themselves　pooin'　in　their　chairs；　like　folk　sitting　down　to　a　gude　dinner；　and　crying　on　the　clerks　for　parts　and　pendicles　of　the　process；　who；　puir　bodies；　can　do　little　mair　than　cry　on　their　closet…keepers　to　help　them。　　To　see　a'　this；'　continued　Peter；　in　a　tone　of　sustained　rapture；　'and　to　ken　that　naething　will　be　said　or　dune　amang　a'　thae　grand　folk；　for　maybe　the　feck　of　three　hours；　saving　what　concerns　you　and　your　businessOh；　man；　nae　wonder　that　ye　judge　this　to　be　earthly　glory！　　And　yet；　neighbour；　as　I　was　saying；　there　be　unco　drawbacksI　whiles　think　of　my　bit　house；　where　dinner；　and　supper；　and　breakfast；　used　to　come　without　the　crying　for；　just　as　if　fairies　had　brought　itand　the　gude　bed　at　e'enand　the　needfu'　penny　in　the　pouch。　　And　then　to　see　a'　ane's　warldly　substance　capering　in　the　air　in　a　pair　of　weighbauks；　now　up；　now　down；　as　the　breath　of　judge　or　counsel　inclines　it　for　pursuer　or　defender；troth；　man；　there　are　times　I　rue　having　ever　begun　the　plea　wark；　though；　maybe；　when　ye　consider　the　renown　and　credit　I　have　by　it；　ye　will　hardly　believe　what　I　am　saying。'

'Indeed；　friend；'　said　Joshua；　with　a　sigh；　'I　am　glad　thou　hast　found　anything　in　the　legal　contention　which　compensates　thee　for　poverty　and　hunger；　but　I　believe；　were　other　human　objects　of　ambition　looked　upon　as　closely；　their　advantages　would　be　found　as　chimerical　as　those　attending　thy　protracted　litigation。'

'But　never　mind；　friend；'　said　Peter；　'I'll　tell　you　the　exact　state　of　the　conjunct　processes；　and　make　you　sensible　that　I　can　bring　mysell　round　with　a　wet　finger；　now　I　have　my　finger　and　my　thumb　on　this　loup…the…dike　loon；　the　lad　Fairford。'

Alan　Fairford　was　in　the　act　of　speaking　to　the　masked　lady　（for　Miss　Redgauntlet　had　retained　her　riding　vizard）　endeavouring　to　assure　her；　as　he　perceived　her　anxiety；　of　such　protection　as　he　could　afford；　when　his　own　name；　pronounced　in　a　loud　tone；　attracted　his　attention。　　He　looked　round；　and　seeing　Peter　Peebles；　as　hastily　turned　to　avoid　his　notice；　in　which　he　succeeded；　so　earnest　was　Peter　upon　his　colloquy　with　one　of　the　most　respectable　auditors　whose　attention　he　had　ever　been　able　to　engage。　　And　by　this　little　motion；　momentary　as　it　was；　Alan　gained　an　unexpected　advantage；　for　while　he　looked　round；　Miss　Lilias；　I　could　never　ascertain　why；　took　the　moment　to　adjust　her　mask；　and　did　it　so　awkwardly；　that　when　her　companion　again　turned　his　head；　he　recognized　as　much　of　her　features　as　authorized　him　to　address　her　as　his　fair　client；　and　to　press　his　offers　of　protection　and　assistance　with　the　boldness　of　a　former　acquaintance。

Lilias　Redgauntlet　withdrew　the　mask　from　her　crimsoned　cheek。　'Mr。　Fairford；'　she　said；　in　a　voice　almost　inaudible；　'you　have　the　character　of　a　young　gentleman　of　sense　and　generosity；　but　we　have　already　met　in　one　situation　which　you　must　think　singular；　and　I　must　be　exposed　to　misconstruction；　at　least；　for　my　forwardness；　were　it　not　in　a　cause　in　which　my　dearest　affections　were　concerned。'

'Any　interest　in　my　beloved　friend　Darsie　Latimer；'　said　Fairford；　stepping　a　little　back；　and　putting　a　marked　restraint　upon　his　former　advances；　'gives　me　a　double　right　to　be　useful　to'He　stopped　short。

'To　his　sister；　your　goodness　would　say；'　answered　Lilias。

'His　sister；　madam！'　　replied　Alan；　in　the　extremity　of　astonishment'Sister；　I　presume；　in　affection　only？'

'No；　sir；　my　dear　brother　Darsie　and　I　are　connected　by　the　bonds　of　actual　relationship；　and　I　am　not　sorry　to　be　the　first　to　tell　this　to　the　friend　he　most　values。'

Fairford's　first　thought　was　on　the　violent　passion　which　Darsie　had　expressed　towards　the　fair　unknown。　　'Good　God！'　　he　exclaimed；　'how　did　he　bear　the　discovery？'

'With　resignation；　I　hope；'　said　Lilias；　smiling。　　'A　more　accomplished　sister　he　might　easily　have　come　by；　but　scarcely　could　have　found　one　who　could　love　him　more　than　I　do。'

'I　meantI　only　meant　to　say；'　said　the　young　counsellor；　his　presence　of　mind　failing　him　for　an　instant'that　is；　I　meant　to　ask　where　Darsie　Latimer　is　at　this　moment。'

'In　this　very　house；　and　under　the　guardianship　of　his　uncle；　whom　I　believe　you　knew　as　a　visitor　of　your　father；　under　the　name　of　Mr。　Herries　of　Birrenswork。'

'Let　me　hasten　to　him；'　said　Fairford；　'I　have　sought　him　through　difficulties　and　dangersI　must　see　him　instantly。'

'You　forget　you　are　a　prisoner；'　said　the　young　lady。

'Truetrue；　but　I　cannot　be　long　detainedthe　cause　alleged　is　too　ridiculous。'

'Alas！'　　said　Lilias；　'our　fatemy　brother's　and　mine；　at　least　must　turn　on　the　deliberations　perhaps　of　less　than　an　hour。　For　you；　sir；　I　believe　and　apprehend　nothing；　but　some　restraint；　my　uncle　is　neither　cruel　nor　unjust；　though　few　will　go　further　in　the　cause　which　he　has　adopted。'

'Which　is　that　of　the　Pretend'

'For　God's　sake　speak　lower！'　　said　Lilias；　approaching　her　hand；　as　if　to　stop　him。　　'The　word　may　cost　you　your　life。　　You　do　not　knowindeed　you　do　notthe　terrors　of　the　situation　in　which　we　at　present　stand；　and　in　which　I　fear　you　also　are　involved　by　your　friendship　for　my　brother。'

'I　do　not　indeed　know　the　particulars　of　our　situation；'　said　Fairford；　'but；　be　the　danger　what　it　may；　I　shall　not　grudge　my　share　of　it　for　the　sake　of　my　friend；　or；'　he　added；　with　more　timidity；　'of　my　friend's　sister。　　Let　me