redgauntlet-第45节
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was heard in answer to the opening counsel。 Deep…mouthed； long…breathed； and pertinacious； taking a pinch of snuff betwixt every sentence； which otherwise seemed interminablethe veteran pleader prosed over all the themes which had been treated so luminously by Fairford： he quietly and imperceptibly replaced all the rubbish which the other had cleared away； and succeeded in restoring the veil of obscurity and unintelligibility which had for many years darkened the case of Peebles against Plainstanes； and the matter was once more hung up by a remit to an accountant； with instruction to report before answer。 So different a result from that which the public had been led to expect from Alan's speech gave rise to various speculations。
The client himself opined； that it was entirely owing； first； to his own absence during the first day's pleading； being； as he said； deboshed with brandy； usquebaugh； and other strong waters； at John's Coffee…house； PER AMBAGES of Peter Drudgeit； employed to that effect by and through the device； counsel； and covyne of Saunders Fairford； his agent； or pretended agent。 Secondly by the flight and voluntary desertion of the younger Fairford； the advocate； on account of which； he served both father and son with a petition and complaint against them； for malversation in office。 So that the apparent and most probable issue of this cause seemed to menace the melancholy Mr。 Saunders Fairford； with additional subject for plague and mortification； which was the more galling； as his conscience told him that the case was really given away； and that a very brief resumption of the former argument； with reference to the necessary authorities and points of evidence； would have enabled Alan； by the mere breath； as it were； of his mouth； to blow away the various cobwebs with which Mr。 Tough had again invested the proceedings。 But it went； he said； just like a decreet in absence； and was lost for want of a contradictor。
In the meanwhile； nearly a week passed over without Mr。 Fairford hearing a word directly from his son。 He learned； indeed； by a letter from Mr。 Crosbie； that the young counsellor had safely reached Dumfries； but had left that town upon some ulterior researches； the purpose of which he had not communicated。 The old man； thus left to suspense； and to mortifying recollections； deprived also of the domestic society to which he had been habituated； began to suffer in body as well as in mind。 He had formed the determination of setting out in person for Dumfriesshire； when； after having been dogged； peevish； and snappish to his clerks and domestics； to an unusual and almost intolerable degree； the acrimonious humours settled in a hissing… hot fit of the gout； which is a well…known tamer of the most froward spirits； and under whose discipline we shall； for the present； leave him； as the continuation of this history assumes； with the next division； a form somewhat different from direct narrative and epistolary correspondence； though partaking of the character of both。
CHAPTER III
JOURNAL OF DARSIE LATIMER （The following address is written on the inside of the envelope which contained the Journal。）
Into what hands soever these leaves may fall； they will instruct him； during a certain time at least； in the history of the life of an unfortunate young man； who； in the heart of a free country； and without any crime being laid to his charge； has been； and is； subjected to a course of unlawful and violent restraint。 He who opens this letter； is therefore conjured to apply to the nearest magistrate； and； following such indications as the papers may afford； to exert himself for the relief of one； who； while he possesses every claim to assistance which oppressed innocence can give； has； at the same time； both the inclination and the means of being grateful to his deliverers。 Or； if the person obtaining these letters shall want courage or means to effect the writer's release； he is； in that case； conjured； by every duty of a man to his fellow mortals； and of a Christian towards one who professes the same holy faith； to take the speediest measures for conveying them with speed and safety to the hands of Alan Fairford； Esq。； Advocate； residing in the family of his father； Alexander Fairford； Esq。； Writer to the Signet； Brown's Square； Edinburgh。 He may be assured of a liberal reward； besides the consciousness of having discharged a real duty to humanity。
MY DEAREST ALAN； Feeling as warmly towards you in doubt and in distress； as I ever did in the brightest days of our intimacy； it is to you whom I address a history which may perhaps fall into very different hands。 A portion of my former spirit descends to my pen when I write your name； and indulging the happy thought that you may be my deliverer from my present uncomfortable and alarming situation； as you have been my guide and counsellor on every former occasion； I will subdue the dejection which would otherwise overwhelm me。 Therefore； as； Heaven knows； I have time enough to write； I will endeavour to pour my thoughts out； as fully and freely as of old； though probably without the same gay and happy levity。
If the papers should reach other hands than yours； still I will not regret this exposure of my feelings； for； allowing for an ample share of the folly incidental to youth and inexperience； I fear not that I have much to be ashamed of in my narrative； nay； I even hope that the open simplicity and frankness with which I am about to relate every singular and distressing circumstance； may prepossess even a stranger in my favour； and that； amid the multitude of seemingly trivial circumstances which I detail at length； a clue may be found to effect my liberation。
Another chance certainly remainsthe Journal； as I may call it； may never reach the hands； either of the dear friend to whom it is addressed； or those of an indifferent stranger； but may become the prey of the persons by whom I am at present treated as a prisoner。 Let it be sothey will learn from it little but what they already know； that； as a man and an Englishman； my soul revolts at the usage which I have received； that I am determined to essay every possible means to obtain my freedom； that captivity has not broken my spirit； and that； although they may doubtless complete their oppression by murder； I am still willing to bequeath my cause to the justice of my country。 Undeterred； therefore； by the probability that my papers may be torn from me； and subjected to the inspection of one in particular； who； causelessly my enemy already； may be yet further incensed at me for recording the history of my wrongs； I proceed to resume the history of events which have befallen me since the conclusion of my last letter to my dear Alan Fairford； dated； if I mistake not； on the 5th day of this still current month of August。
Upon the night preceding the date of that letter； I had been present； for the purpose of an idle frolic； at a dancing party at the village of Brokenburn； about six miles from Dumfries； many persons must have seen me there； should the fact appear of importance sufficient to require investigation。 I danced； played on the violin； and took part in the festivity till about midnight； when my servant； Samuel Owen； brought me my horses； and I rode back to a small inn called Shepherd's Bush； kept by Mrs。 Gregson； which had been occasionally my residence for about a fortnight past。 I spent the earlier part of the forenoon in writing a letter； which I have already mentioned； to you； my dear Alan； and which； I think； you must have received in safety。 Why did I not follow your advice； so often given me？ Why did I linger in the neighbourhood of a danger； of which a kind voice had warned me？ These are now unavailing questions； I was blinded by a fatality； and remained； fluttering like a moth around the candle； until I have been scorched to some purpose。
The greater part of the day had passed； and time hung heavy on my hands。 I ought； perhaps； to blush at recollecting what has been often objected to me by the dear friend to whom this letter is addressed； viz。 the facility with which I have； in moments of indolence； suffered my motions to be； directed by any person who chanced to be near me； instead of taking the labour of thinking or deciding for myself。 I had employed for some time； as a sort of guide and errand…boy； a lad named Benjamin； the son of one widow Coltherd； who lives near the Shepherd's Bush； and I cannot but remember that； upon several occasions； I had of late suffered him to possess more influence over my motions than at all became the difference of our age and condition。 At present； he exerted himself to persuade me that it was the finest possible sport to see the fish taken out from the nets placed in the Solway at the reflux of the tide； and urged my going thither this evening so much； that； looking back on the whole circumstances； I cannot but think he had some especial motive for his conduct。 These particulars I have mentioned； that if these papers fall into friendly hands； the boy may be sought after and submitted to examination。
His eloquence being unable to persuade me that I should take any pleasure in seeing the fruitless struggles of the fish when le
