mary stuart-第16章
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face was pale and showed traces of tears; and finally; her clothes
were covered with dust and mud。 As she proceeded through the town;
the hootings of the people and the curses of the crowd followed her。
At last; half dead with fatigue; worn out with grief; bowed down with
shame; she reached the house of the Lord Provost; but scarcely had
she got there when the entire population of Edinburgh crowded into
the square; with cries that from time to time assumed a tone of
terrifying menace。 Several times; then; Mary wished to go to the
window; hoping that the sight of her; of which she had so often
proved the influence; would disarm this multitude; but each time she
saw this banner unfurling itself like a bloody curtain between
herself and the peoplea terrible rendering of their feelings。
However; all this hatred was meant still more for Bothwell than for
her: they were pursuing Bothwell in Darnley's widow。 The curses were
for Bothwell: Bothwell was the adulterer; Bothwell was the murderer;
Bothwell was the coward; while Mary was the weak; fascinated woman;
who; that same evening; gave afresh proof of her folly。
In fact; directly the falling night had scattered the crowd and a
little quiet was regained; Mary; ceasing to be uneasy on her own
account; turned immediately to Bothwell; whom she had been obliged to
abandon; and who was now proscribed and fleeing; while she; as she
believed; was about to reassume her title and station of queen。 With
that eternal confidence of the woman in her own love; by which she
invariably measures the love of another; she thought that Bothwell's
greatest distress was to have lost; not wealth and power; but to have
lost herself。 So she wrote him a long letter; in which; forgetful of
herself; she promised him with the most tender expressions of love
never to desert him; and to recall him to her directly the breaking
up of the Confederate lords should give her power to do so; then;
this letter written; she called a soldier; gave him a purse of gold;
and charged him to take this letter to Dunbar; where Bothwell ought
to be; and if he were already gone; to follow him until he came up
with him。
Then she went to bed and slept more calmly; for; unhappy as she was;
she believed she had just sweetened misfortunes still greater than
hers。
Next day the queen was awakened by the step of an armed man who
entered her room。 Both astonished and frightened at this neglect of
propriety; which could augur nothing good; Mary sat up in bed; and
parting the curtains; saw standing before her Lord Lindsay of Byres:
she knew he was one of her oldest friends; so she asked him in a
voice which she vainly tried to make confident; what he wanted of her
at such a time。
〃Do you know this writing; madam?〃 Lord Lindsay asked in a rough
voice; presenting to the queen the letter she had written to Bothwell
at night; which the soldier had carried to the Confederate lords;
instead of taking to its address。
〃Yes; doubtless; my lord;〃 the queen answered; 〃but am I already a
prisoner; then; that my correspondence is intercepted? or is it no
longer allowed to a wife to write to her husband?〃
〃When the husband is a traitor;〃 replied Lindsay; 〃no; madam; it is
no longer allowed to a wife to write to her husbandat least;
however; if this wife have a part in his treason; which seems to me;
besides; quite proved by the promise you make to this wretch to
recall him to you。〃
〃My lord;〃 cried Mary; interrupting Lindsay; 〃do you forget that you
are speaking to your queen。〃
〃There was a time; madam;〃 Lindsay replied; 〃when I should have
spoken to you in a more gentle voice; and bending the knee; although
it is not in the nature of us old Scotch to model ourselves on your
French courtiers; but for some time; thanks to your changing loves;
you have kept us so often in the field; in harness; that our voices
are hoarse from the cold night air; and our stiff knees can no longer
bend in our armour: you must then take me just as I am; madam; since
to…day; for the welfare of Scotland; you are no longer at liberty to
choose your favourites。〃
Mary grew frightfully pale at this want of respect; to which she was
not yet accustomed; but quickly containing her anger; as far as
possible
〃But still; my lord;〃 said she; 〃however disposed I may be to take
you as you are; I must at least know by what right you come here。
That letter which you are holding in your hand would lead me to think
it is as a spy; if the ease with which you enter my room without
being asked did not make me believe it is as a gaoler。 Have the
goodness; then; to inform me by which of these two names I must call
you。〃
〃Neither by one nor the other; madam; for I am simply your fellow…
traveller; chef of the escort which is to take you to Lochleven
Castle; your future residence。 And yet; scarcely have I arrived
there than I shall be obliged to leave you to go and assist the
Confederate lords choose a regent for the kingdom。〃
〃So;〃 said Mary; 〃it was as prisoner and not as queen that I
surrendered to Lord Kirkcaldy。 It seems to me that things were
agreed upon otherwise; but I am glad to see how much time Scotch
noblemen need to betray their sworn undertakings〃。
〃Your Grace forgets that these engagements were made on one
condition;〃 Lindsay answered。
〃On which?〃 Mary asked。
〃That you should separate for ever from your husband's murderer; and
there is the proof;〃 he added; showing the letter; 〃that you had
forgotten your promise before we thought of revoking ours。〃
〃And at what o'clock is my departure fixed?〃 said Mary; whom this
discussion was beginning to fatigue。
〃At eleven o'clock; madam。〃
〃It is well; my lord; as I have no desire to make your lordship wait;
you will have the goodness; in withdrawing; to send me someone to
help me dress; unless I am reduced to wait upon myself。〃
And; in pronouncing these words; Mary made a gesture so imperious;
that whatever may have been Lindsay's wish to reply; he bowed and
went out。 Behind him entered Mary Seyton。
CHAPTER V
At the time appointed the queen was ready: she had suffered so much
at Edinburgh that she left it without any regret。 Besides; whether
to spare her the humiliations of the day before; or to conceal her
departure from any partisans who might remain to her; a litter had
been made ready。 Mary got into it without any resistance; and after
two hours' journey she reached Duddington; there a little vessel was
waiting for her; which set sail directly she was on board; and next
day at dawn she disembarked on the other side of the Firth of Forth
in the county of Fife。
Mary halted at Rosythe Castle only just long enough to breakfast; and
immediately recommenced her journey; for Lord Lindsay had declared
that he wished to reach his destination that same evening。 Indeed;
as the sun was setting; Mary perceived gilded with his last rays the
high towers of Lochleven Castle; situated on an islet in the midst of
the lake of the same name。
No doubt the royal prisoner was already expected at Lochleven Castle;
for; on reaching the lake side; Lord Lindsay's equerry unfurled his
banner; which till then had remained in its case; and waved it from
right to left; while his master blew a little hunting bugle which he
wore hanging from his neck。 A boat immediately put off from the
island and came towards the arrivals; set in motion by four vigorous
oarsmen; who had soon propelled it across the space which separated
it from the bank。 Mary silently got into it; and sat down at the
stern; while Lord Lindsay and his equerry stood up before her; and as
her guide did not seem any more inclined to speak than she was
herself to respond; she had plenty of time to examine her future
dwelling。
The castle; or rather the fortress of Lochleven; already somewhat
gloomy in its situation and