the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第31节
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Earnscliff； haughtily；〃than I； who had the satisfaction this morning to
liberate her from the dungeon in which I found her confined； and who am
now escorting her back to the Castle of Ellieslaw？〃
〃Is this so； Miss Vere？〃 said Mareschal。
〃It is；〃 answered Isabella； eagerly；〃it is so； for Heaven's sake
sheathe your swords。 I will swear by all that is sacred； that I was carried
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off by ruffians； whose persons and object were alike unknown to me； and
am now restored to freedom by means of this gentleman's gallant
interference。〃
〃By whom； and wherefore； could this have been done？〃 pursued
Mareschal。〃Had you no knowledge of the place to which you were
conveyed？Earnscliff； where did you find this lady？〃
But ere either question could be answered； Ellieslaw advanced； and；
returning his sword to the scabbard； cut short the conference。
〃When I know；〃 he said； 〃exactly how much I owe to Mr。 Earnscliff；
he may rely on suitable acknowledgments； meantime；〃 taking the bridle of
Miss Vere's horse； 〃thus far I thank him for replacing my daughter in the
power of her natural guardian。〃
A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equal
haughtiness； and Ellieslaw； turning back with his daughter upon the road
to his own house； appeared engaged with her in a conference so earnest；
that the rest of the company judged it improper to intrude by approaching
them too nearly。 In the meantime； Earnscliff； as he took leave of the
other gentlemen belonging to Ellieslaw's party； said aloud； 〃Although I am
unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that can authorize such a
suspicion； I cannot but observe； that Mr。 Vere seems to believe that I have
had some hand in the atrocious violence which has been offered to his
daughter。 I request you； gentlemen； to take notice of my explicit denial
of a charge so dishonourable； and that； although I can pardon the
bewildering feelings of a father in such a moment； yet； if any other
gentleman〃 （he looked hard at Sir Frederick Langley） 〃thinks my word
and that of Miss Vere； with the evidence of my friends who accompany me；
too slight for my exculpation； I will be happymost happyto repel the
charge； as becomes a man who counts his honour dearer than his life。〃
〃And I'll be his second；〃 said Simon of Hackburn； 〃and take up ony
twa o' ye； gentle or semple； laird or loon； it's a' ane to Simon。〃
〃Who is that rough…looking fellow？〃 said Sir Frederick Langley；
〃and what has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen？〃
〃I'se be a lad frae the Hie Te'iot；〃 said Simon； 〃and I'se quarrel wi' ony
body I like； except the king； or the laird I live under。〃
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〃Come；〃 said； Mareschal； 〃let us have no brawls。Mr。 Earnscliff；
although we do not think alike in some things； I trust we may be
opponents； even enemies； if fortune will have it so； without losing our
respect for birth； fair…play； and each other。 I believe you as innocent of
this matter as I am myself； and I will pledge myself that my cousin
Ellieslaw； as soon as the perplexity attending these sudden events has left
his judgment to its free exercise； shall handsomely acknowledge the very
important service you have this day rendered him。〃
〃To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself Good
evening； gentlemen；〃 continued Earnscliff； 〃I see most of your party are
already on their way to Ellieslaw。〃
Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy； and the rest of the party with
indifference； Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towards the Heugh…foot；
to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for farther researches after his
bride； of whose restoration to her friends he was still ignorant。
〃There he goes；〃 said Mareschal； 〃he is a fine； gallant young fellow；
upon my soul； and yet I should like well to have a thrust with him on the
green turf。 I was reckoned at college nearly his equal with the foils； and I
should like to try him at sharps。〃
〃In my opinion；〃 answered Sir Frederick Langley； 〃we have done very
ill in having suffered him； and those men who are with him； to go off
without taking away their arms； for the Whigs are very likely to draw to a
head under such a sprightly young fellow as that。〃
〃For shame； Sir Frederick！〃 exclaimed Mareschal； 〃do you think that
Ellieslaw could； in honour； consent to any violence being offered to
Earnscliff； when he entered his bounds only to bring back his daughter？
or； if he were to be of your opinion； do you think that I； and the rest of
these gentlemen； would disgrace ourselves by assisting in such a
transaction？ No； no； fair play and auld Scotland for ever！ When the
sword is drawn； I will be as ready to use it as any man； but while it is in
the sheath； let us behave like gentlemen and neighbours。〃
Soon after this colloquy they reached the castle； when Ellieslaw； who
had been arrived a few minutes before； met them in the court… yard。
〃How is Miss Vere？ and have you learned the cause of her being
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carried off？〃 asked Mareschal hastily。
〃She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued； and I cannot expect
much light upon her adventure till her spirits are somewhat recruited；〃
replied her father。 〃She and I were not the less obliged to you； Mareschal；
and to my other friends； for their kind enquiries。 But I must suppress the
father's feelings for a while to give myself up to those of the patriot。 You
know this is the day fixed for our final decisiontime pressesour friends
are arriving； and I have opened house； not only for the gentry； but for the
under spur…leathers whom we must necessarily employ。 We have；
therefore； little time to prepare to meet them。Look over these lists；
Marchie （an abbreviation by which Mareschal…Wells was known among
his friends）。 Do you； Sir Frederick； read these letters from Lothian and
the westall is ripe for the sickle； and we have but to summon out the
reapers。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said Mareschal； 〃the more mischief the better
sport。〃
Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted。
〃Walk aside with me； my good friend；〃 said Ellieslaw to the sombre
baronet； 〃I have something for your private ear； with which I know you
will be gratified。〃
They walked into the house； leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal standing
together in the court。
〃And so；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃the gentlemen of your political persuasion
think the downfall of this government so certain； that they disdain even to
throw a decent disguise over the machinations of their party？〃
〃Faith； Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 answered Mareschal； 〃the actions and
sentiments YOUR friends may require to be veiled； but I am better pleased
that ours can go barefaced。〃
〃And is it possible；〃 continued Ratcliffe； 〃that you； who；
notwithstanding pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper （I beg pardon；
Mr。 Mareschal； I am a plain man）that you； who； notwithstanding these
constitutional defects； possess natural good sense and acquired
information； should be infatuated enough to embroil yourself in such
desperate proceedings？ How does your head feel when you are engaged
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in these dangerous conferences？〃
〃Not quite so secure on my shoulders；〃 answered Mareschal； 〃as if I
were talking of hunting and hawking。 I am not of so indifferent a mould
as my cousin Ellieslaw； who speaks treason as if it were a child's nursery
rhymes； and loses and rec
