the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第34节
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measures which you seem disposed to adopt for removing them。 I can
easily suppose much of what has been spoken may have arisen out of the
heat of the moment； or have been said perhaps in jest。 But there are
some jests of a nature very apt to transpire； and you ought to remember；
gentlemen； that stone…walls have ears。〃
〃Stone…walls may have ears；〃 returned Ellieslaw； eyeing him with a
look of triumphant malignity； 〃but domestic spies； Mr。 Ratcliffe； will soon
find themselves without any； if any such dares to continue his abode in a
family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion； where his
conduct has been that of a presumptuous meddler； and from which his exit
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shall be that of a baffled knave； if he does not know how to take a hint。〃
〃Mr。 Vere；〃 returned Ratcliffe； with calm contempt； 〃I am fully aware；
that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you； which it must through
the rash step you are about to adopt； it will immediately become unsafe to
myself； as it has always been hateful to you。 But I have one protection；
and it is a strong one； for you would not willingly hear me detail before
gentlemen； and men of honour； the singular circumstances in which our
connexion took its rise。 As to the rest； I rejoice at its conclusion； and as I
think that Mr。 Mareschal and some other gentlemen will guarantee the
safety of my ears and of my throat （for which last I have more reason to be
apprehensive） during the course of the night； I shall not leave your castle
till to…morrow morning。〃
〃Be it so； sir；〃 replied Mr。 Vere； 〃you are entirely safe from my
resentment； because you are beneath it； and not because I am afraid of
your disclosing my family secrets； although； for your own sake； I warn
you to beware how you do so。 Your agency and intermediation can be of
little consequence to one who will win or lose all； as lawful right or unjust
usurpation shall succeed in the struggle that is about to ensue。 Farewell；
sir。〃
Ratcliffe arose； and cast upon him a look； which Vere seemed to
sustain with difficulty； and； bowing to those around him； left the room。
This conversation made an impression on many of the company； which
Ellieslaw hastened to dispel； by entering upon the business of the day。
Their hasty deliberations went to organize an immediate insurrection。
Ellieslaw； Mareschal； and Sir Frederick Langley were chosen leaders； with
powers to direct their farther measures。 A place of rendezvous was
appointed； at which all agreed to meet early on the ensuing day； with such
followers and friends to the cause as each could collect around him。
Several of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations； and
Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others； who； with Westburnflat and
the old smuggler； continued to ply the bottle stanchly； for leaving the head
of the table； as he must necessarily hold a separate and sober conference
with the coadjutors whom they had associated with him in the command。
The apology was the more readily accepted； as he prayed them； at the
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same time； to continue to amuse themselves with such refreshments as the
cellars of the castle afforded。 Shouts of applause followed their retreat；
and the names of Vere； Langley； and； above all； of Mareschal； were
thundered forth in chorus； and bathed with copious bumpers repeatedly；
during the remainder of the evening。
When the principal conspirators had retired into a separate apartment；
they gazed on each other for a minute with a sort of embarrassment； which；
in Sir Frederick's dark features； amounted to an expression of discontented
sullenness。 Mareschal was the first to break the pause； saying； with a
loud burst of laughter； 〃Well！ we are fairly embarked now； gentlemen
VOGUE LA GALERE！〃
〃We may thank you for the plunge；〃 said Ellieslaw。
〃Yes； but I don't know how far you will thank me；〃 answered
Mareschal； 〃when I show you this letter which I received just before we
sat down。 My servant told me it was delivered by a man he had never
seen before； who went off at the gallop； after charging him to put it into
my own hand。〃
Ellieslaw impatiently opened the letter； and read aloud
EDINBURGH
HOND。 SIR； Having obligations to your family； which shall be
nameless； and learning that you are one of the company of； adventurers
doing business for the house of James and Company； late merchants in
London； now in Dunkirk； I think it right to send you this early and private
information； that the vessels you expected have been driven off the coast；
without having been able to break bulk； or to land any part of their cargo；
and that the west…country partners have resolved to withdraw their name
from the firm； as it must prove a losing concern。 Having good hope you
will avail yourself of this early information； to do what is needful for your
own security； I rest your humble servant； NIHIL NAMELESS。
FOR RALPH MARESCHAL； OF MARESCHAL…WELLS THESE
WITH CARE AND SPEED。
Sir Frederick's jaw dropped； and his countenance blackened； as the
letter was read； and Ellieslaw exclaimed；〃Why； this affects the very
mainspring of our enterprise。 If the French fleet； with the king on board；
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has been chased off by the English； as this dd scrawl seems to intimate；
where are we？〃
〃Just where we were this morning； I think；〃 said Mareschal； still
laughing。
〃Pardon me； and a truce to your ill…timed mirth； Mr。 Mareschal； this
morning we were not committed publicly； as we now stand committed by
your own mad act； when you had a letter in your pocket apprizing you that
our undertaking was desperate。〃
〃Ay； ay； I expected you would say so。 But； in the first place； my
friend Nihil Nameless and his letter may be all a flam； and； moreover； I
would have you know that I am tired of a party that does nothing but form
bold resolutions overnight； and sleep them away with their wine before
morning。 The government are now unprovided of men and ammunition；
in a few weeks they will have enough of both： the country is now in a
flame against them； in a few weeks； betwixt the effects of self…interest； of
fear； and of lukewarm indifference； which are already so visible； this first
fervour will be as cold as Christmas。 So； as I was determined to go the
vole； I have taken care you shall dip as deep as I； it signifies nothing
plunging。 You are fairly in the bog； and must struggle through。〃
〃You are mistaken with respect to one of us； Mr。 Mareschal；〃 said Sir
Frederick Langley； and； applying himself to the bell； he desired the person
who entered to order his servants and horses instantly。
〃You must not leave us； Sir Frederick；〃 said Ellieslaw； it we have our
musters to go over。〃
〃I will go to…night； Mr。 Vere；〃 said Sir Frederick； 〃and write you my
intentions in this matter when I am at home。〃
〃Ay；〃 said Mareschal； 〃and send them by a troop of horse from Carlisle
to make us prisoners？ Look ye； Sir Frederick； I for one will neither be
deserted nor betrayed； and if you leave Ellieslaw Castle to…night； it shall
be by passing over my dead body。〃
〃For shame！ Mareschal；〃 said Mr。 Vere； 〃how can you so hastily
misinterpret our friend's intentions？ I am sure Sir Frederick can only be
jesting with us； for； were he not too honourable to dream of deserting the
cause； he cannot but remember the full proofs we have of his accession to
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it； and his eager activity in advancing it。 He cannot but be conscious；
besides； that the first information w
