友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第31部分
快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
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
116
… Page 117…
THE BLACK DWARF
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;
117
… Page 118…
THE BLACK DWARF
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
118
… Page 119…
THE BLACK DWARF
it; and his eager activity in advancing it。 He cannot but be conscious;
besides; that the first information will be readily received by government;
and that if the question be; which can first lodge intelligence of the affair;
we can easily save a few hours on him。〃
〃You should say you; and not we; when you talk of priorities in such a
race of treachery; for my part; I won't enter my horse for such a plate;〃
said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth; 〃A pretty pair of fellows to
trust a man's neck with!〃
〃I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper;〃 said Sir
Frederick Langley; 〃and my first step shall be to leave Ellieslaw。 I have
no reason to keep faith with one〃 (looking at Vere) 〃who has kept none
with me。〃
〃In what respect;〃 said Ellieslaw; silencing; with a motion of his hand;
his impetuous kinsman〃how have I disappointed you; Sir Frederick?〃
〃In the nearest and most tender pointyou have trifled with me
concerning our proposed alliance; which you well knew was the gage of
our political undertaking。 This carrying off and this bringing back of
Miss Vere;the cold reception I have met with from her; and the excuses
with which you cover it; I believe to be mere evasions; that you may
yourself retain possession of the estates which are hers by right; and make
me; in the meanwhile; a tool in your desperate enterprise; by holding out
hopes and expectations which you are resolved never to realize。〃
〃Sir Frederick; I protest; by all that is sacred〃
〃I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them too
long;〃 answered Sir Frederick。
〃If you leave us;〃 said Ellieslaw; 〃you cannot but know both your ruin
and ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together。〃
〃Leave me to take care of myself;〃 returned the knight; 〃but were what
you say true; I would rather perish than be fooled any farther。〃
〃Can nothingno surety convince you of my sincerity?〃 said Ellieslaw;
anxiously; 〃this morning I should have repelled your unjust suspicions as
an insult; but situated as we now are〃
〃You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?〃 retorted Sir Frederick。
〃If you would have me think so; there is but one way to convince me of it…
119
… Page 120…
THE BLACK DWARF
…let your daughter bestow her hand on me this evening。〃
〃So soon?impossible;〃 answered Vere; 〃think of her late alarm of
our present undertaking。〃
〃I will listen to nothing but to her consent; plighted at the altar。 You
have a chapel in the castleDoctor Hobbler is present among the
company…this proof of your good faith to…night; and we are again joined in
heart and hand。 If you refuse me when it is so much for your advantage
to consent; how shall I trust you to…morrow; when I shall stand committed
in your undertaking; and unable to retract?〃
〃And I am to understand; that; if you can be made my son…in…law to…
night; our friendship is renewed?〃 said Ellieslaw。
〃Most infallibly; and most inviolably;〃 replied Sir Frederick。
〃Then;〃 said Vere; 〃though what you ask is premature; indelicate; and
unjust towards my character; yet; Sir Frederick; give me your handmy
daughter shall be your wife。〃
〃This night?〃
〃This very night;〃 replied Ellieslaw; 〃before the clock strikes twelve。〃
〃With her own consent; I trust;〃 said Mareschal; 〃for I promise you
both; gentlemen; I will not stand tamely by; and see any violence put on
the will of my pretty kinswoman。〃
〃Another pest in this hot…headed fellow;〃 muttered Ellieslaw; and then
aloud; 〃With her own consent? For what do you take me; Mareschal; that
you should suppose your interference neces
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!