the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第25章
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expected from France； which Scotland； between the defenceless state of its
garrisons and fortified places； and the general disaffection of the
inhabitants； was rather prepared to welcome than to resist。 Ratcliffe； who
neither sought to assist at their consultations on this subject； nor was
invited to do so； had； in the meanwhile； retired to his own apartment。
Miss Ilderton was sequestered from society in a sort of honourable
confinement； 〃until；〃 said Mr。 Vere； 〃she should be safely conveyed home
to her father's house；〃 an opportunity for which occurred on the following
day。
The domestics could not help thinking it remarkable how soon the loss
of Miss Vere； and the strange manner in which it had happened； seemed to
be forgotten by the other guests at the castle。 They knew not； that those
the most interested in her fate were well acquainted with the cause of her
being carried off； and the place of her retreat； and that the others； in the
anxious and doubtful moments which preceded the breaking forth of a
conspiracy； were little accessible to any feelings but what arose
immediately out of their own machinations。
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CHAPTER XII。
Some one way； some anotherDo you know Where we may
apprehend her？
The researches after Miss Vere were （for the sake of appearances；
perhaps） resumed on the succeeding day； with similar bad success； and the
party were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening。
〃It is singular；〃 said Mareschal to Ratcliffe； 〃that four horsemen and a
female prisoner should have passed through the country without leaving
the slightest trace of their passage。 One would think they had traversed the
air； or sunk through the ground。〃
〃Men may often；〃 answered Ratcliffe； 〃arrive at the knowledge of that
which is； from discovering that which is not。 We have now scoured
every road； path； and track leading from the castle； in all the various points
of the compass； saving only that intricate and difficult pass which leads
southward down the Westburn； and through the morasses。〃
〃And why have we not examined that？〃 said Mareschal。
〃O； Mr。 Vere can best answer that question；〃 replied his companion；
dryly。
〃Then I will ask it instantly；〃 said Mareschal； and； addressing Mr。 Vere；
〃I am informed； sir；〃 said he； 〃there is a path we have not examined；
leading by Westburnflat。〃
〃O；〃 said Sir Frederick； laughing； 〃we know the owner of Westburnflat
wella wild lad； that knows little difference between his neighbour's
goods and his own； but； withal； very honest to his principles： he would
disturb nothing belonging to Ellieslaw。〃
〃Besides；〃 said Mr。 Vere； smiling mysteriously； 〃he had other tow on
his distaff last night。 Have you not heard young Elliot of the Heugh…foot
has had his house burnt； and his cattle driven away； because he refused to
give up his arms to some honest men that think of starting for the king？〃
The company smiled upon each other； as at hearing of an exploit
which favoured their own views。
〃Yet； nevertheless；〃 resumed Mareschal； 〃I think we ought to ride in
this direction also； otherwise we shall certainly be blamed for our
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negligence。〃
No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal； and the
party turned their horses' heads towards Westburnflat。
They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the trampling
of horses was heard； and a small body of riders were perceived advancing
to meet them。
〃There comes Earnscliff；〃 said Mareschal； 〃I know his bright bay with
the star in his front。〃
〃And there is my daughter along with him；〃 exclaimed Vere； furiously。
〃Who shall call my suspicions false or injurious now？ Gentlemenfriends…
…lend me the assistance of your swords for the recovery of my child。〃
He unsheathed his weapon； and was imitated by Sir Frederick and
several of the party； who prepared to charge those that were advancing
towards them。 But the greater part hesitated。
〃They come to us in all peace and security；〃 said Mareschal… Wells；
〃let us first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair。 If
Miss Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff； I will
be first to revenge her； but let us hear what they say。〃
〃You do me wrong by your suspicions； Mareschal；〃 continued Vere；
〃you are the last I would have expected to hear express them。〃
〃You injure yourself； Ellieslaw； by your violence； though the cause
may excuse it。〃
He then advanced a little before the rest； and called out； with a loud
voice；〃Stand； Mr。 Earnscliff； or do you and Miss Vere advance alone to
meet us。 You are charged with having carried that lady off from her
father's house； and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for her
recovery； and for bringing to justice those who have injured her。〃
〃And who would do that more willingly than I； Mr。 Mareschal？〃 said
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 F
