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the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第31部分

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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 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… 



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…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
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