guy mannering-第56节
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!
int of the left eye; began; after various contortions by way of courtesy to the justice; to tell his story; eking it out by sundry sly nods and knowing winks; which appeared to bespeak an intimate correspondence of ideas between the narrator and his principal auditor。 〃Your honour sees I went down to yon place that your honour spoke o'; that's kept by her that your honour kens o'; by the sea…side。 So; says she; what are you wanting here? Ye'll be come wi' a broom in your pocket frae Ellangowan?So; says I; deil a broom will come frae there awa; for ye ken; says I; his honour Ellangowan himself in former times〃
〃Well; well;〃 said Glossin; 〃no occasion to be particular; tell the essentials。〃
〃Weel; so we sat niffering '*Bargaining' about some brandy that I said I wanted; till he came in。〃
〃Who?〃
〃He!〃 pointing with his thumb inverted to the kitchen; where the prisoner was in custody。 〃So he had his griego wrapped close round him; and I judged he was not dry…handed '*Unarmed'so I thought it was best to speak proper; and so he believed I was a Manks man; and I kept aye between him and her; for fear she had whistled。 '*Given information to the party concerned' And then we began to drink about; and then I betted he would not drink out a quartern of Hollands without drawing breathand then he tried itand just then Slounging Jock and Dick Spur'em came in; and we clinked the darbies '*Handcuffs' on him; took him as quiet as a lamband now he's had his bit sleep out; and is as fresh as a May gowan; to answer what your honour likes to speer。〃 '*Inquire' This narrative; delivered with a wonderful quantity of gesture and grimace; received at the conclusion the thanks and praises which the narrator expected。
〃Had he no arms?〃 asked the Justice。
〃Ay; ay; they are never without barkers and slashers。〃
〃Any papers?〃
〃This bundle;〃 delivering a dirty pocket…book。 〃Go downstairs; then; Mac…Guffog;。 and be in waiting。〃 The officer left the room。
The clink of irons was immediately afterwards heard upon the stair; and in two or three minutes a man was introduced; handcuffed and fettered。 He was thick; brawny; and muscular; and although his shagged and grizzled hair marked an age somewhat advanced; and his stature was rather low; he appeared; nevertheless; a person whom few would have chosen to cope with in personal conflict。 His coarse and savage features were still flushed; and his eye still reeled under the influence of the strong potation which had proved the immediate cause of his seizure。 But the sleep; though short; which MacGuffog had allowed him; and still more a sense of the peril of his situation; had restored to him the full use of his faculties。 The worthy judge; and the no less estimable captive; looked at each other steadily for a long time without speaking。 Glossin apparently recognised his prisoner; but seemed at a loss how to proceed with his investigation。 At length he broke silence。
〃Soh; Captain; this is you?you have been a stranger on this coast for some years。〃
〃Stranger?〃 replied the other; 〃strange enough; I thinkfor hold me der deyvil; if I been ever here before。〃
〃That won't pass; Mr。 Captain。〃
〃That must pass; Mr。 Justicesapperment!〃
〃And who will you be pleased to call yourself; then; for the present;〃 said Glossin; 〃just until I shall bring some other folks to refresh your memory; concerning who you are; or at least who you have been?〃
〃What bin I?donner and blitzen! I bin Jans Janson; from Cuxhavenwhat sall lch bin?〃
Glossin took from a case which was in the apartment a pair of small pocket pistols; which he loaded with ostentatious care。 〃You may retire; 〃said he to his clerk;〃 and carry the people with You; Scrowbut wait in the lobby within call。〃
The clerk would have offered some remonstrances to his patron on the danger of remaining alone with such a desperate character; although ironed beyond the possibility of active exertion; but Glossin waved him off impatiently。 When he had left the room; the justice took two short turns through the apartment; then drew his chair opposite to the prisoner; so as to confront him fully; placed the pistols before him in readiness; and said in a steady voice; 〃You are Dirk Hatteraick of Flushing; are you not?〃
The prisoner turned his eye instinctively to the door; as if he apprehended some one was listening。 Glossin rose; opened the door; so that from the chair in which his prisoner sat he might satisfy himself there was no eavesdropper within hearing; then shut it; resumed his seat; and repeated his question; 〃You are Dirk Hatteraick; formerly of the Yungfrauw Haagenslaapen are you not?〃
〃Tousand deyvils!and if you know that; why ask me?〃 said the prisoner。
〃Because I am surprised to see you in the very last place where you ought to be; if you regard your safety;〃 observed Glossin coolly。
〃Der deyvil!no man regards his own safety that speaks so to me!〃
〃What? unarmed; and in irons!well said; Captain!〃 replied Glossin ironically。 〃But; Captain; bullying won't doyou'll hardly get out of this country without accounting for a little accident that happened at Warroch Point a few years ago。〃
Hatteraick's looks grew black as midnight。
〃For my part;〃 continued Glossin; 〃I have no particular wish to be hard upon an old acquaintancebut I must do my dutyI shall send you off to Edinburgh in a post…chaise and four this very day。〃
〃Poz donner! you would not do that?〃 said Hatteraick;in a lower and more humbled tone; 〃why; you had the matter of half a cargo in bills on Vanbeest and Vanbruggen。〃
〃It is so long since; Captain Hatteraick;〃 answered Glossin superciliously; 〃that I really forget how I was recompensed for my trouble。〃
〃Your trouble? your silence; you mean。〃
〃It was an affair in the course of business;〃 said Glossin; 〃and I have retired from business for some time。〃
〃Ay; but I have a notion that I could make you go steady about; and try the old course again;〃 answered Dirk Hatteraick。 〃Why; man; hold me der deyvil; but I meant to visit you; and tell you something that concerns you。〃
〃Of the boy?〃 said Glossin eagerly。
〃Yaw; Mynheer;〃 replied the Captain coolly。
〃He does not live; does he?〃
〃As lifelich as you or I;〃 said Hatteraick。
〃Good God!But in India?〃 exclaimed Glossin。
〃No; tousand deyvils; here on this dirty coast of yours;〃 rejoined the prisoner。
〃But; Hatteraick; this;that is; if it be true; which I do not believe;this will ruin us both; for he cannot but remember your neat job; and for meit will be productive of the worst consequences。 It will ruin us both; I tell you。〃
〃I tell you;〃 said the seaman; 〃it will ruin none but youfor I am done up already; and if I must strap for it; all shall out。〃
〃Zounds!〃 said the justice impatiently; 〃what brought you back to this coast like a madman?〃
〃Why; all the gelt was gone; and the house was shaking; and I thought the job was clayed over and forgotten;〃 answered the worthy skipper。
〃Staywhat can be done?〃 said Glossin anxiously。 I dare not discharge youbut might you not be rescued in the wayay surea word to Lieutenant Brown;and I would send the people with you by the coast…road。〃
〃No; no! that won't doBrown's dead…shotlaid in the locker; manthe devil has the picking of him。〃
〃Dead?shot?at Woodbourne; I suppose?〃 replied Glossin。
〃Yaw; Mynheer。〃
Glossin pausedthe sweat broke upon his brow with the agony of his feelings; while the hard…featured miscreant who sat opposite; coolly rolled his tobacco in his cheek; and squirted the juice into the fire…grate。 〃It would be ruin;〃 said Glossin to himself; 〃absolute ruin; if the heir should reappearand then what might be the consequence of conniving with these men?yet there is so little time to take measuresHark you; Hatteraick; I can't set you at libertybut I can put you where you may set yourself at libertyI always like to assist an old friend。 I shall confine you in the old castle for tonight; and give these people double allowance of grog。 Mac…Guffog will fall in the trap in which he caught you。 The stanchions on the window of the strong room; as they call it; are wasted to pieces; and it is not above twelve feet from the level of the ground without; and the snow lies thick。〃
〃But the darbies;〃 said Hatteraick; looking upon his fetters。
〃Hark ye;〃 said Glossin; going to a tool…chest; and taking out a small file; 〃there's a friend for you; and you know the road to the sea by the stairs。〃 Hatteraick shook his chains in ecstasy; as if he were already at liberty; and strove to extend his lettered hand towards his protector。 Glossin laid his finger upon his lips with a cautious glance at the door; and then proceeded in his instructions。 〃When you escape; you had better go to the Kaim of Dernecleugh。〃
〃Donner! that howff is blown。〃
〃The devil!well; then; you may steal my skiff that lies on the beach there; and away。 But you must remain snug at the Point of Warroch till I come to see you。〃
〃The Point of Warroch?〃 said Hatteraick; his countenance again falling; 〃what; in the cave; I suppose?I would rather it were anywhere else;es spuckt da!they say for certain that he walksBut; donner and blitzen! I never shunned him alive; and I won't shun him deadStrafe mich helle! it