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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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