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第63章

st. ives-第63章

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the stalwart maid who brought me my porridge and bade me 'eat them 

while they were hot;' 'Ay; they were a' on the ran…dan last nicht!  

Hout! they're fine lads; and they'll be nane the waur of it。  Forby 

Farbes's coat。  I dinna see wha's to get the creish off that!' she 

added; with a sigh; in which; identifying Forbes as the torch…

bearer; I mentally joined。



It was a brave morning when I took the road; the sun shone; spring 

seemed in the air; it smelt like April or May; and some over…

venturous birds sang in the coppices as I went by。  I had plenty to 

think of; plenty to be grateful for; that gallant morning; and yet 

I had a twitter at my heart。  To enter the city by daylight might 

be compared to marching on a battery; every face that I confronted 

would threaten me like the muzzle of a gun; and it came into my 

head suddenly with how much better a countenance I should be able 

to do it if I could but improvise a companion。  Hard by Merchiston 

I was so fortunate as to observe a bulky gentleman in broadcloth 

and gaiters; stooping with his head almost between his knees; 

before a stone wall。  Seizing occasion by the forelock; I drew up 

as I came alongside and inquired what he had found to interest him。



He turned upon me a countenance not much less broad than his back。



'Why; sir;' he replied; 'I was even marvelling at my own 

indefeasible stupeedity: that I should walk this way every week of 

my life; weather permitting; and should never before have NOTTICED 

that stone;' touching it at the same time with a goodly oak staff。



I followed the indication。  The stone; which had been built 

sideways into the wall; offered traces of heraldic sculpture。  At 

once there came a wild idea into my mind: his appearance tallied 

with Flora's description of Mr。 Robbie; a knowledge of heraldry 

would go far to clinch the proof; and what could be more desirable 

than to scrape an informal acquaintance with the man whom I must 

approach next day with my tale of the drovers; and whom I yet 

wished to please?  I stooped in turn。



'A chevron;' I said; 'on a chief three mullets?  Looks like 

Douglas; does it not?'



'Yes; sir; it does; you are right;' said he: 'it DOES look like 

Douglas; though; without the tinctures; and the whole thing being 

so battered and broken up; who shall venture an opinion?  But allow 

me to be more personal; sir。  In these degenerate days I am 

astonished you should display so much proficiency。'



'O; I was well grounded in my youth by an old gentleman; a friend 

of my family; and I may say my guardian;' said I; 'but I have 

forgotten it since。  God forbid I should delude you into thinking 

me a herald; sir!  I am only an ungrammatical amateur。'



'And a little modesty does no harm even in a herald;' says my new 

acquaintance graciously。



In short; we fell together on our onward way; and maintained very 

amicable discourse along what remained of the country road; past 

the suburbs; and on into the streets of the New Town; which was as 

deserted and silent as a city of the dead。  The shops were closed; 

no vehicle ran; cats sported in the midst of the sunny causeway; 

and our steps and voices re…echoed from the quiet houses。  It was 

the high…water; full and strange; of that weekly trance to which 

the city of Edinburgh is subjected: the apotheosis of the SAWBATH; 

and I confess the spectacle wanted not grandeur; however much it 

may have lacked cheerfulness。  There are few religious ceremonies 

more imposing。  As we thus walked and talked in a public seclusion 

the bells broke out ringing through all the bounds of the city; and 

the streets began immediately to be thronged with decent church…

goers。



'Ah!' said my companion; 'there are the bells!  Now; sir; as you 

are a stranger I must offer you the hospitality of my pew。  I do 

not know whether you are at all used with our Scottish form; but in 

case you are not I will find your places for you; and Dr。 Henry 

Gray; of St。 Mary's (under whom I sit); is as good a preacher as we 

have to show you。'



This put me in a quandary。  It was a degree of risk I was scarce 

prepared for。  Dozens of people; who might pass me by in the street 

with no more than a second look; would go on from the second to the 

third; and from that to a final recognition; if I were set before 

them; immobilised in a pew; during the whole time of service。  An 

unlucky turn of the head would suffice to arrest their attention。  

'Who is that?' they would think: 'surely I should know him!' and; a 

church being the place in all the world where one has least to 

think of; it was ten to one they would end by remembering me before 

the benediction。  However; my mind was made up: I thanked my 

obliging friend; and placed myself at his disposal。



Our way now led us into the north…east quarter of the town; among 

pleasant new faubourgs; to a decent new church of a good size; 

where I was soon seated by the side of my good Samaritan; and 

looked upon by a whole congregation of menacing faces。  At first 

the possibility of danger kept me awake; but by the time I had 

assured myself there was none to be apprehended; and the service 

was not in the least likely to be enlivened by the arrest of a 

French spy; I had to resign myself to the task of listening to Dr。 

Henry Gray。



As we moved out; after this ordeal was over; my friend was at once 

surrounded and claimed by his acquaintances of the congregation; 

and I was rejoiced to hear him addressed by the expected name of 

Robbie。



So soon as we were clear of the crowd … 'Mr。 Robbie?' said I; 

bowing。



'The very same; sir;' said he。



'If I mistake not; a lawyer?'



'A writer to His Majesty's Signet; at your service。'



'It seems we were predestined to be acquaintances!' I exclaimed。  

'I have here a card in my pocket intended for you。  It is from my 

family lawyer。  It was his last word; as I was leaving; to ask to 

be remembered kindly; and to trust you would pass over so informal 

an introduction。'



And I offered him the card。



'Ay; ay; my old friend Daniel!' says he; looking on the card。  'And 

how does my old friend Daniel?'



I gave a favourable view of Mr。 Romaine's health。



'Well; this is certainly a whimsical incident;' he continued。  'And 

since we are thus met already … and so much to my advantage! … the 

simplest thing will be to prosecute the acquaintance instantly。  

Let me propose a snack between sermons; a bottle of my particular 

green seal … and when nobody is looking we can talk blazons; Mr。 

Ducie!' … which was the name I then used and had already 

incidentally mentioned; in the vain hope of provoking a return in 

kind。



'I beg your pardon; sir: do I understand you to invite me to your 

house?' said I。



'That was the idea I was trying to convey;' said he。  'We have the 

name of hospitable people up here; and I would like you to try 

mine。'



'Mr。 Robbie; I shall hope to try it some day; but not yet;' I 

replied。  'I hope you will not misunderstand me。  My business; 

which brings me to your city; is of a peculiar kind。  Till you 

shall have heard it; and; indeed; till its issue is known; I should 

feel as if I had stolen your invitation。'



'Well; well;' said he; a little sobered; 'it must be as you wish; 

though you would hardly speak otherwise if you had committed 

homicide!  Mine is the loss。  I must eat alone; a very pernicious 

thing for a person of my habit of body; content myself with a pint 

of skinking claret; and meditate the discourse。  But about this 

business of yours: if it is so particular as all that; it will 

doubtless admit of no delay。'



'I must confess; sir; it presses;' I acknowledged。



'Then; let us say to…morrow at half…past eight in the morning;' 

said he; 'and I hope; when your mind is at rest (and it does you 

much honour to take it as you do); that you wil

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