catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第23节
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cruel advantage that the latter took； and that called for the sternest
reprisals。
The other gentlemen concerned were strangers to Mr。 Brock； who felt
little inclined to trust either of them upon such a message； or with such a
large sum to bring back。 They had； strange to say； a similar mistrust on
their side； but Mr。 Brock lugged out five guineas； which he placed in the
landlady's hand as security for his comrade's return； and Ensign Macshane；
being mounted on poor Hayes's own horse； set off to visit the parents of
that unhappy young man。 It was a gallant sight to behold our thieves'
ambassador； in a faded sky…blue suit with orange facings； in a pair of huge
jack…boots unconscious of blacking； with a mighty basket…hilted sword by
his side； and a little shabby beaver cocked over a large tow…periwig； ride
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out from the inn of the 〃Three Rooks〃 on his mission to Hayes's paternal
village。
It was eighteen miles distant from Worcester； but Mr。 Macshane
performed the distance in safety； and in sobriety moreover （for such had
been his instructions）； and had no difficulty in discovering the house of
old Hayes： towards which； indeed； John's horse trotted incontinently。 Mrs。
Hayes； who was knitting at the house…door； was not a little surprised at the
appearance of the well…known grey gelding； and of the stranger mounted
upon it。
Flinging himself off the steed with much agility； Mr。 Macshane； as
soon as his feet reached the ground； brought them rapidly together； in
order to make a profound and elegant bow to Mrs。 Hayes； and slapping his
greasy beaver against his heart； and poking his periwig almost into the
nose of the old lady； demanded whether he had the 〃shooprame honour of
adthressing Misthriss Hees？〃
Having been answered in the affirmative； he then proceeded to ask
whether there was a blackguard boy in the house who would take 〃the
horse to the steeble；〃 whether 〃he could have a dthrink of small…beer or
buthermilk； being； faith； uncommon dthry；〃 and whether； finally； 〃he could
be feevored with a few minutes' private conversation with her and Mr。
Hees； on a matther of consitherable impartance。〃 All these preliminaries
were to be complied with before Mr。 Macshane would enter at all into the
subject of his visit。 The horse and man were cared for； Mr。 Hayes was
called in； and not a little anxious did Mrs。 Hayes grow； in the meanwhile；
with regard to the fate of her darling son。 〃Where is he？ How is he？ Is he
dead？〃 said the old lady。 〃Oh yes； I'm sure he's dead ！〃
〃Indeed； madam； and you're misteeken intirely： the young man is
perfectly well in health。〃
〃Oh； praised be Heaven！〃
〃But mighty cast down in sperrits。 To misfortunes； madam； look you；
the best of us are subject； and a trifling one has fell upon your son。〃
And herewith Mr。 Macshane produced a letter in the handwriting of
young Hayes； of which we have had the good luck to procure a copy。 It
ran thus：
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Catherine： A Story
〃HONORED FATHER AND MOTHER；The bearer of this is a kind
gentleman； who has left me in a great deal of trouble。 Yesterday； at this
towne； I fell in with some gentlemen of the queene's servas； after drinking
with whom； I accepted her Majesty's mony to enliste。 Repenting thereof； I
did endeavour to escape； and； in so doing； had the misfortune to strike my
superior officer； whereby I made myself liable to Death； according to the
rules of warr。 If； however； I pay twenty ginnys； all will be wel。 You must
give the same to the barer； els I shall be shott without fail on Tewsday
morning。 And so no more from your loving son；
〃JOHN HAYES。
〃From my prison at Bristol； this unhappy Monday。〃
When Mrs。 Hayes read this pathetic missive； its success with her was
complete； and she was for going immediately to the cupboard； and
producing the money necessary for her darling son's release。 But the
carpenter Hayes was much more suspicious。 〃I don't know you； sir；〃 said
he to the ambassador。
〃Do you doubt my honour； sir？〃 said the Ensign； very fiercely。
〃Why； sir；〃 replied Mr。 Hayes 〃I know little about it one way or other；
but shall take it for granted； if you will explain a little more of this
business。〃
〃I sildom condescind to explean；〃 said Mr。 Macshane； 〃for it's not the
custom in my rank； but I'll explean anything in reason。〃
〃Pray； will you tell me in what regiment my son is enlisted？〃
〃In coorse。 In Colonel Wood's fut； my dear； and a gallant corps it is as
any in the army。〃
〃And you left him？〃
〃On me soul； only three hours ago； having rid like a horse…jockey ever
since； as in the sacred cause of humanity； curse me； every man should。〃
As Hayes's house was seventy miles from Bristol； the old gentleman
thought this was marvellous quick riding； and so； cut the conversation
short。 〃You have said quite enough； sir；〃 said he； 〃to show me there is
some roguery in the matter； and that the whole story is false from
beginning to end。〃
At this abrupt charge the Ensign looked somewhat puzzled； and then
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spoke with much gravity。 〃Roguery；〃 said he； 〃Misthur Hees； is a sthrong
term； and which； in consideration of my friendship for your family； I shall
pass over。 You doubt your son's honour； as there wrote by him in black and
white？〃
〃You have forced him to write；〃 said Mr。 Hayes。
〃The sly old divvle's right；〃 muttered Mr。 Macshane； aside。 〃Well； sir；
to make a clean breast of it； he HAS been forced to write it。 The story
about the enlistment is a pretty fib； if you will； from beginning to end。 And
what then； my dear？ Do you think your son's any better off for that？〃
〃Oh； where is he？〃 screamed Mrs。 Hayes； plumping down on her
knees。 〃We WILL give him the money； won't we； John？〃
〃I know you will； madam； when I tell you where he is。 He is in the
hands of some gentlemen of my acquaintance； who are at war with the
present government； and no more care about cutting a man's throat than
they do a chicken's。 He is a prisoner； madam； of our sword and spear。 If
you choose to ransom him； well and good； if not； peace be with him！ for
never more shall you see him。〃
〃And how do I know you won't come back to…morrow for more
money？〃 asked Mr。 Hayes。
〃Sir； you have my honour； and I'd as lieve break my neck as my
word；〃 said Mr。 Macshane； gravely。 〃Twenty guineas is the bargain。 Take
ten minutes to talk of ittake it then； or leave it； it's all the same to me； my
dear。〃 And it must be said of our friend the Ensign； that he meant every
word he said； and that he considered the embassy on which he had come
as perfectly honourable and regular。
〃And pray； what prevents us；〃 said Mr。 Hayes； starting up in a rage；
〃from taking hold of you； as a surety for him？〃
〃You wouldn't fire on a flag of truce； would ye； you dishonourable
ould civilian？〃 replied Mr。 Macshane。 〃Besides；〃 says he； 〃there's more
reasons to prevent you： the first is this；〃 pointing to his sword； 〃here are
two more〃and these were pistols； 〃and the last and the best of all is； that
you might hang me and dthraw me and quarther me； an yet never see so
much as the tip of your son's nose again。 Look you； sir； we run mighty
risks in our professionit's not all play； I can tell you。 We're obliged to be
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punctual； too； or it's all up with the thrade。 If I promise that your son will
die as sure as fate to…morrow morning； unless I return home safe； our
people MUST keep my promise； or else what chance is there for me？ You
would be down upon me in a moment with a posse of cons
