the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第30节
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Ellieslaw。〃
〃And you argue； from this romantic letter of a very romantic young
lady； Mr。 Vere；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃that young Earnscliff has carried off your
daughter； and committed a very great and criminal act of violence； on no
better advice and assurance than that of Miss Lucy Ilderton？〃
〃What else can I think？〃 said Ellieslaw。
〃What else CAN you think？〃 said Sir Frederick； 〃or who else could
have any motive for committing such a crime？〃
〃Were that the best mode of fixing the guilt；〃 said Mr。 Ratcliffe； calmly；
〃there might easily be pointed out persons to whom such actions are more
congenial； and who have also sufficient motives of instigation。
Supposing it were judged advisable to remove Miss Vere to some place in
which constraint might be exercised upon her inclinations to a degree
which cannot at present be attempted under the roof of Ellieslaw Castle
What says Sir Frederick Langley to that supposition？〃
〃I say；〃 returned Sir Frederick； 〃that although Mr。 Vere may choose to
endure in Mr。 Ratcliffe freedoms totally inconsistent with his situation in
life； I will not permit such license of innuendo； by word or look； to be
extended to me； with impunity。〃
〃And I say；〃 said young Mareschal of Mareschal…Wells； who was also
a guest at the castle； 〃that you are all stark mad to be standing wrangling
here； instead of going in pursuit of the ruffians。〃
〃I have ordered off the domestics already in the track most likely to
overtake them；〃 said Mr。 Vere 〃if you will favour me with your company；
we will follow them； and assist in the search。〃
The efforts of the party were totally unsuccessful； probably because
Ellieslaw directed the pursuit to proceed in the direction of Earnscliff
Tower； under the supposition that the owner would prove to be the author
of the violence； so that they followed a direction diametrically opposite to
that in which the ruffians had actually proceeded。 In the evening they
returned； harassed and out of spirits。 But other guests had； in the
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meanwhile； arrived at the castle； and； after the recent loss sustained by the
owner had been related； wondered at； and lamented； the recollection of it
was； for the present； drowned in the discussion of deep political intrigues；
of which the crisis and explosion were momentarily looked for。
Several of the gentlemen who took part in this divan were Catholics；
and all of them stanch Jacobites； whose hopes were at present at the
highest pitch； as an invasion； in favour of the Pretender； was daily
expected from France； which Scotland； between the defenceless state of its
garrisons and fortified places； and the general disaffection of the
inhabitants； was rather prepared to welcome than to resist。 Ratcliffe； who
neither sought to assist at their consultations on this subject； nor was
invited to do so； had； in the meanwhile； retired to his own apartment。
Miss Ilderton was sequestered from society in a sort of honourable
confinement； 〃until；〃 said Mr。 Vere； 〃she should be safely conveyed home
to her father's house；〃 an opportunity for which occurred on the following
day。
The domestics could not help thinking it remarkable how soon the loss
of Miss Vere； and the strange manner in which it had happened； seemed to
be forgotten by the other guests at the castle。 They knew not； that those
the most interested in her fate were well acquainted with the cause of her
being carried off； and the place of her retreat； and that the others； in the
anxious and doubtful moments which preceded the breaking forth of a
conspiracy； were little accessible to any feelings but what arose
immediately out of their own machinations。
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CHAPTER XII。
Some one way； some anotherDo you know Where we may
apprehend her？
The researches after Miss Vere were （for the sake of appearances；
perhaps） resumed on the succeeding day； with similar bad success； and the
party were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening。
〃It is singular；〃 said Mareschal to Ratcliffe； 〃that four horsemen and a
female prisoner should have passed through the country without leaving
the slightest trace of their passage。 One would think they had traversed the
air； or sunk through the ground。〃
〃Men may often；〃 answered Ratcliffe； 〃arrive at the knowledge of that
which is； from discovering that which is not。 We have now scoured
every road； path； and track leading from the castle； in all the various points
of the compass； saving only that intricate and difficult pass which leads
southward down the Westburn； and through the morasses。〃
〃And why have we not examined that？〃 said Mareschal。
〃O； Mr。 Vere can best answer that question；〃 replied his companion；
dryly。
〃Then I will ask it instantly；〃 said Mareschal； and； addressing Mr。 Vere；
〃I am informed； sir；〃 said he； 〃there is a path we have not examined；
leading by Westburnflat。〃
〃O；〃 said Sir Frederick； laughing； 〃we know the owner of Westburnflat
wella wild lad； that knows little difference between his neighbour's
goods and his own； but； withal； very honest to his principles： he would
disturb nothing belonging to Ellieslaw。〃
〃Besides；〃 said Mr。 Vere； smiling mysteriously； 〃he had other tow on
his distaff last night。 Have you not heard young Elliot of the Heugh…foot
has had his house burnt； and his cattle driven away； because he refused to
give up his arms to some honest men that think of starting for the king？〃
The company smiled upon each other； as at hearing of an exploit
which favoured their own views。
〃Yet； nevertheless；〃 resumed Mareschal； 〃I think we ought to ride in
this direction also； otherwise we shall certainly be blamed for our
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negligence。〃
No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal； and the
party turned their horses' heads towards Westburnflat。
They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the trampling
of horses was heard； and a small body of riders were perceived advancing
to meet them。
〃There comes Earnscliff；〃 said Mareschal； 〃I know his bright bay with
the star in his front。〃
〃And there is my daughter along with him；〃 exclaimed Vere； furiously。
〃Who shall call my suspicions false or injurious now？ Gentlemenfriends…
…lend me the assistance of your swords for the recovery of my child。〃
He unsheathed his weapon； and was imitated by Sir Frederick and
several of the party； who prepared to charge those that were advancing
towards them。 But the greater part hesitated。
〃They come to us in all peace and security；〃 said Mareschal… Wells；
〃let us first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair。 If
Miss Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff； I will
be first to revenge her； but let us hear what they say。〃
〃You do me wrong by your suspicions； Mareschal；〃 continued Vere；
〃you are the last I would have expected to hear express them。〃
〃You injure yourself； Ellieslaw； by your violence； though the cause
may excuse it。〃
He then advanced a little before the rest； and called out； with a loud
voice；〃Stand； Mr。 Earnscliff； or do you and Miss Vere advance alone to
meet us。 You are charged with having carried that lady off from her
father's house； and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for her
recovery； and for bringing to justice those who have injured her。〃
〃And who would do that more willingly than I； Mr。 Mareschal？〃 said
Earnscliff； haughtily；〃than I； who had the satisfaction this morning to
liberate her from the dungeon in which I fou
