第 9 节
作者:精灵王      更新:2024-12-10 17:43      字数:9320
  anything is safe in such a nasty business; you might apply to the
  man Fenn。  You might even; I think; use the Viscount's name; and
  the little trick of family resemblance might come in。  How; for
  instance; if you were to call yourself his brother?'
  'It might be done;' said I。  'But look here a moment?  You propose
  to me a very difficult game: I have apparently a devil of an
  opponent in my cousin; and; being a prisoner of war; I can scarcely
  be said to hold good cards。  For what stakes; then; am I playing?'
  'They are very large;' said he。  'Your great…uncle is immensely
  rich … immensely rich。  He was wise in time; he smelt the
  revolution long before; sold all that he could; and had all that
  was movable transported to England through my firm。  There are
  considerable estates in England; Amersham Place itself is very
  fine; and he has much money; wisely invested。  He lives; indeed;
  like a prince。  And of what use is it to him?  He has lost all that
  was worth living for … his family; his country; he has seen his
  king and queen murdered; he has seen all these miseries and
  infamies;' pursued the lawyer; with a rising inflection and a
  heightening colour; and then broke suddenly off; … 'In short; sir;
  he has seen all the advantages of that government for which his
  nephew carries arms; and he has the misfortune not to like them。'
  'You speak with a bitterness that I suppose I must excuse;' said I;
  'yet which of us has the more reason to be bitter?  This man; my
  uncle; M。 de Keroual; fled。  My parents; who were less wise
  perhaps; remained。  In the beginning; they were even republicans;
  to the end they could not be persuaded to despair of the people。
  It was a glorious folly; for which; as a son; I reverence them。
  First one and then the other perished。  If I have any mark of a
  gentleman; all who taught me died upon the scaffold; and my last
  school of manners was the prison of the Abbaye。  Do you think you
  can teach bitterness to a man with a history like mine?'
  'I have no wish to try;' said he。  'And yet there is one point I
  cannot understand: I cannot understand that one of your blood and
  experience should serve the Corsican。  I cannot understand it: it
  seems as though everything generous in you must rise against that …
  domination。'
  'And perhaps;' I retorted; 'had your childhood passed among wolves;
  you would have been overjoyed yourself to see the Corsican
  Shepherd。'
  'Well; well;' replied Mr。 Romaine; 'it may be。  There are things
  that do not bear discussion。'
  And with a wave of his hand he disappeared abruptly down a flight
  of steps and under the shadow of a ponderous arch。
  CHAPTER V … ST。 IVES IS SHOWN A HOUSE
  THE lawyer was scarce gone before I remembered many omissions; and
  chief among these; that I had neglected to get Mr。 Burchell Fenn's
  address。  Here was an essential point neglected; and I ran to the
  head of the stairs to find myself already too late。  The lawyer was
  beyond my view; in the archway that led downward to the castle
  gate; only the red coat and the bright arms of a sentry glittered
  in the shadow; and I could but return to my place upon the
  ramparts。
  I am not very sure that I was properly entitled to this corner。
  But I was a high favourite; not an officer; and scarce a private;
  in the castle would have turned me back; except upon a thing of
  moment; and whenever I desired to be solitary; I was suffered to
  sit here behind my piece of cannon unmolested。  The cliff went down
  before me almost sheer; but mantled with a thicket of climbing
  trees; from farther down; an outwork raised its turret; and across
  the valley I had a view of that long terrace of Princes Street
  which serves as a promenade to the fashionable inhabitants of
  Edinburgh。  A singularity in a military prison; that it should
  command a view on the chief thoroughfare!
  It is not necessary that I should trouble you with the train of my
  reflections; which turned upon the interview I had just concluded
  and the hopes that were now opening before me。  What is more
  essential; my eye (even while I thought) kept following the
  movement of the passengers on Princes Street; as they passed
  briskly to and fro … met; greeted; and bowed to each other … or
  entered and left the shops; which are in that quarter; and; for a
  town of the Britannic provinces; particularly fine。  My mind being
  busy upon other things; the course of my eye was the more random;
  and it chanced that I followed; for some time; the advance of a
  young gentleman with a red head and a white great…coat; for whom I
  cared nothing at the moment; and of whom it is probable I shall be
  gathered to my fathers without learning more。  He seemed to have a
  large acquaintance: his hat was for ever in his hand; and I daresay
  I had already observed him exchanging compliments with half a
  dozen; when he drew up at last before a young man and a young lady
  whose tall persons and gallant carriage I thought I recognised。
  It was impossible at such a distance that I could be sure; but the
  thought was sufficient; and I craned out of the embrasure to follow
  them as long as possible。  To think that such emotions; that such a
  concussion of the blood; may have been inspired by a chance
  resemblance; and that I may have stood and thrilled there for a
  total stranger!  This distant view; at least; whether of Flora or
  of some one else; changed in a moment the course of my reflections。
  It was all very well; and it was highly needful; I should see my
  uncle; but an uncle; a great…uncle at that; and one whom I had
  never seen; leaves the imagination cold; and if I were to leave the
  castle; I might never again have the opportunity of finding Flora。
  The little impression I had made; even supposing I had made any;
  how soon it would die out! how soon I should sink to be a phantom
  memory; with which (in after days) she might amuse a husband and
  children!  No; the impression must be clenched; the wax impressed
  with the seal; ere I left Edinburgh。  And at this the two interests
  that were now contending in my bosom came together and became one。
  I wished to see Flora again; and I wanted some one to further me in
  my flight and to get me new clothes。  The conclusion was apparent。
  Except for persons in the garrison itself; with whom it was a point
  of honour and military duty to retain me captive; I knew; in the
  whole country of Scotland; these two alone。  If it were to be done
  at all; they must be my helpers。  To tell them of my designed
  escape while I was still in bonds; would be to lay before them a
  most difficult choice。  What they might do in such a case; I could
  not in the least be sure of; for (the same case arising) I was far
  from sure what I should do myself。  It was plain I must escape
  first。  When the harm was done; when I was no more than a poor
  wayside fugitive; I might apply to them with less offence and more
  security。  To this end it became necessary that I should find out
  where they lived and how to reach it; and feeling a strong
  confidence that they would soon return to visit me; I prepared a
  series of baits with which to angle for my information。  It will be
  seen the first was good enough。
  Perhaps two days after; Master Ronald put in an appearance by
  himself。  I had no hold upon the boy; and pretermitted my design
  till I should have laid court to him and engaged his interest。  He
  was prodigiously embarrassed; not having previously addressed me
  otherwise than by a bow and blushes; and he advanced to me with an
  air of one stubbornly performing a duty; like a raw soldier under
  fire。  I laid down my carving; greeted him with a good deal of
  formality; such as I thought he would enjoy; and finding him to
  remain silent; branched off into narratives of my campaigns such as
  Goguelat himself might have scrupled to endorse。  He visibly thawed
  and brightened; drew more near to where I sat; forgot his timidity
  so far as to put many questions; and at last; with another blush;
  informed me he was himself expecting a commission。
  'Well;' said I; 'they are fine troops; your British troops in the
  Peninsula。  A young gentleman of spirit may well be proud to be
  engaged at the head of such soldiers。'
  'I know that;' he said; 'I think of nothing else。  I think shame to
  be dangling here at home and going through with this foolery of
  education; while others; no older than myself; are in the field。'
  'I cannot blame you;' said I。  'I have felt the same myself。'
  'There are … there are no troops; are there; quite so good as
  ours?' he asked。
  'Well;' said I; 'there is a point about them: they have a defect; …
  they are not to be trusted in a retreat。  I have seen them behave
  very ill in a retreat。'
  'I believe that is our national character;' he said … God forgive