the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第39章
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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 necessary to protect my daughter
against her father？ Depend upon it； she has no repugnance to Sir
Frederick Langley。〃
〃Or rather to be called Lady Langley？ faith； like enoughthere are
many women might be of her mind； and I beg your pardon； but these
sudden demands and concessions alarmed me a little on her account。〃
〃It is only the suddenness of the proposal that embarrasses me；〃 said
Ellieslaw； 〃but perhaps if she is found intractable； Sir Frederick will
consider〃
〃I will consider nothing； Mr。 Vereyour daughter's hand to… night； or I
depart； were it at midnightthere is my ultimatum。〃
〃I embrace it；〃 said Ellieslaw； 〃and I will leave you to talk upon our
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military preparations； while I go to prepare my daughter for so sudden a
change of condition。〃
So saying； he left the company。
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CHAPTER XIV。
He brings Earl Osmond to receive my vows。 O dreadful change！
for Tancred； haughty Osmond。 TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA。
Mr。 Vere； whom long practice of dissimulation had enabled to model
his very gait and footsteps to aid the purposes of deception； walked along
the stone passage； and up the first flight of steps towards Miss Vere's
apartment； with the alert； firm； and steady pace of one who is bound；
indeed； upon important business； but who entertains no doubt he can
terminate his affairs satisfactorily。 But when out of hearing of the
gentlemen whom he had left； his step became so slow and irresolute
