Guy Mannering, Or, the Astrologer — Complete

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XLII

  Bring in the evidence. Thou robed man of justice, take thy place, And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity, Bench by his side; you are of the commission, Sit you too.

  King Lear.

  While the carriage was getting ready, Glossin had a letter to compose,about which he wasted no small time. It was to his neighbour, as he wasfond of calling him, Sir Robert Hazlewood of Hazlewood, the head of anancient and powerful interest in the county, which had in the decadenceof the Ellangowan family gradually succeeded to much of their authorityand influence. The present representative of the family was an elderlyman, dotingly fond of his own family, which was limited to an only sonand daughter, and stoically indifferent to the fate of all mankindbesides. For the rest, he was honourable in his general dealingsbecause he was afraid to suffer the censure of the world, and just froma better motive. He was presumptuously over-conceited on the score offamily pride and importance, a feeling considerably enhanced by hislate succession to the title of a Nova Scotia baronet; and he hated thememory of the Ellangowan family, though now a memory only, because acertain baron of that house was traditionally reported to have causedthe founder of the Hazlewood family hold his stirrup until he mountedinto his saddle. In his general deportment he was pompous andimportant, affecting a species of florid elocution, which often becameridiculous from his misarranging the triads and quaternions with whichhe loaded his sentences.

  To this personage Glossin was now to write in such a conciliatory styleas might be most acceptable to his vanity and family pride, and thefollowing was the form of his note:--

  'Mr. Gilbert Glossin' (he longed to add of Ellangowan, but prudenceprevailed, and he suppressed that territorial designation)--'Mr.Gilbert Glossin has the honour to offer his most respectful complimentsto Sir Robert Hazlewood, and to inform him that he has this morningbeen fortunate enough to secure the person who wounded Mr. C.Hazlewood. As Sir Robert Hazlewood may probably choose to conduct theexamination of this criminal himself, Mr. G. Glossin will cause the manto be carried to the inn at Kippletringan or to Hazlewood House, as SirRobert Hazlewood may be pleased to direct. And, with Sir RobertHazlewood's permission, Mr. G. Glossin will attend him at either ofthese places with the proofs and declarations which he has been sofortunate as to collect respecting this atrocious business.'

  Addressed,

  'Sir ROBERT HAZLEWOOD of Hazlewood, Bart. 'Hazlewood House, etc. etc.

  'ELLN GN.

  'Tuesday.'

  This note he despatched by a servant on horseback, and having given theman some time to get ahead, and desired him to ride fast, he orderedtwo officers of justice to get into the carriage with Bertram; and hehimself, mounting his horse, accompanied them at a slow pace to thepoint where the roads to Kippletringan and Hazlewood House separated,and there awaited the return of his messenger, in order that hisfarther route might be determined by the answer he should receive fromthe Baronet. In about half an hour, his servant returned with thefollowing answer, handsomely folded, and sealed with the Hazlewoodarms, having the Nova Scotia badge depending from the shield:--

  'Sir Robert Hazlewood of Hazlewood returns Mr. G. Glossin'scompliments, and thanks him for the trouble he has taken in a matteraffecting the safety of Sir Robert's family. Sir R.H. requests Mr. G.G.will have the goodness to bring the prisoner to Hazlewood House forexamination, with the other proofs or declarations which he mentions.And after the business is over, in case Mr. G.G. is not otherwiseengaged, Sir R. and Lady Hazlewood request his company to dinner.'

  Addressed,

  'Mr. GILBERT GLOSSIN, etc. 'HAZLEWOOD HOUSE, Tuesday.'

  'Soh!' thought Mr. Glossin, 'here is one finger in at least, and that Iwill make the means of introducing my whole hand. But I must first getclear of this wretched young fellow. I think I can manage Sir Robert.He is dull and pompous, and will be alike disposed to listen to mysuggestions upon the law of the case and to assume the credit of actingupon them as his own proper motion. So I shall have the advantage ofbeing the real magistrate, without the odium of responsibility.'

  As he cherished these hopes and expectations, the carriage approachedHazlewood House through a noble avenue of old oaks, which shrouded theancient abbey-resembling building so called. It was a large edifice,built at different periods, part having actually been a priory, uponthe suppression of which, in the time of Queen Mary, the first of thefamily had obtained a gift of the house and surrounding lands from thecrown. It was pleasantly situated in a large deer-park, on the banks ofthe river we have before mentioned. The scenery around was of a dark,solemn, and somewhat melancholy cast, according well with thearchitecture of the house. Everything appeared to be kept in thehighest possible order, and announced the opulence and rank of theproprietor.

  As Mr. Glossin's carriage stopped at the door of the hall, Sir Robertreconnoitred the new vehicle from the windows. According to hisaristocratic feelings, there was a degree of presumption in this novushomo, this Mr. Gilbert Glossin, late writer in---, presuming to set upsuch an accommodation at all; but his wrath was mitigated when heobserved that the mantle upon the panels only bore a plain cipher ofG.G. This apparent modesty was indeed solely owing to the delay of Mr.Gumming of the Lyon Office, who, being at that time engaged indiscovering and matriculating the arms of two commissaries from NorthAmerica, three English-Irish peers, and two great Jamaica traders, hadbeen more slow than usual in finding an escutcheon for the new Laird ofEllangowan. But his delay told to the advantage of Glossin in theopinion of the proud Baronet.

  While the officers of justice detained their prisoner in a sort ofsteward's room, Mr. Glossin was ushered into what was called the greatoak-parlour, a long room, panelled with well-varnished wainscot, andadorned with the grim portraits of Sir Robert Hazlewood's ancestry. Thevisitor, who had no internal consciousness of worth to balance that ofmeanness of birth, felt his inferiority, and by the depth of his bowand the obsequiousness of his demeanour showed that the Laird ofEllangowan was sunk for the time in the old and submissive habits ofthe quondam retainer of the law. He would have persuaded himself,indeed, that he was only humouring the pride of the old Baronet for thepurpose of turning it to his own advantage, but his feelings were of amingled nature, and he felt the influence of those very prejudiceswhich he pretended to flatter.

  The Baronet received his visitor with that condescending parade whichwas meant at once to assert his own vast superiority, and to show thegenerosity and courtesy with which he could waive it, and descend tothe level of ordinary conversation with ordinary men. He thankedGlossin for his attention to a matter in which 'young Hazlewood' was sointimately concerned, and, pointing to his family pictures, observed,with a gracious smile, 'Indeed, these venerable gentlemen, Mr. Glossin,are as much obliged as I am in this case for the labour, pains, care,and trouble which you have taken in their behalf; and I have no doubt,were they capable of expressing themselves, would join me, sir, inthanking you for the favour you have conferred upon the house ofHazlewood by taking care, and trouble, sir, and interest in behalf ofthe young gentleman who is to continue their name and family.'

  Thrice bowed Glossin, and each time more profoundly than before; oncein honour of the knight who stood upright before him, once in respectto the quiet personages who patiently hung upon the wainscot, and athird time in deference to the young gentleman who was to carry on thename and family. Roturier as he was, Sir Robert was gratified by thehomage which he rendered, and proceeded in a tone of graciousfamiliarity: 'And now, Mr. Glossin, my exceeding good friend, you mustallow me to avail myself of your knowledge of law in our proceedings inthis matter. I am not much in the habit of acting as a justice of thepeace; it suits better with other gentlemen, whose domestic and familyaffairs require less constant superintendence, attention, andmanagement than mine.'

  Of course, whatever small assistance Mr. Glossin could render wasentirely at Sir Robert Hazlewood's service; but, as Sir RobertHazlewood's name stood high
in the list of the faculty, the said Mr.Glossin could not presume to hope it could be either necessary oruseful.

  'Why, my good sir, you will understand me only to mean that I amsomething deficient in the practical knowledge of the ordinary detailsof justice business. I was indeed educated to the bar, and might boastperhaps at one time that I had made some progress in the speculativeand abstract and abstruse doctrines of our municipal code; but there isin the present day so little opportunity of a man of family and fortunerising to that eminence at the bar which is attained by adventurers whoare as willing to plead for John a' Nokes as for the first noble of theland, that I was really early disgusted with practice. The first case,indeed, which was laid on my table quite sickened me: it respected abargain, sir, of tallow between a butcher and a candlemaker; and Ifound it was expected that I should grease my mouth not only with theirvulgar names, but with all the technical terms and phrases and peculiarlanguage of their dirty arts. Upon my honour, my good sir, I have neverbeen able to bear the smell of a tallow-candle since.'

  Pitying, as seemed to be expected, the mean use to which the Baronet'sfaculties had been degraded on this melancholy occasion, Mr. Glossinoffered to officiate as clerk or assessor, or in any way in which hecould be most useful. 'And with a view to possessing you of the wholebusiness, and in the first place, there will, I believe, be nodifficulty in proving the main fact, that this was the person who firedthe unhappy piece. Should he deny it, it can be proved by Mr.Hazlewood, I presume?'

  'Young Hazlewood is not at home to-day, Mr. Glossin.'

  'But we can have the oath of the servant who attended him,' said theready Mr. Glossin; 'indeed, I hardly think the fact will be disputed. Iam more apprehensive that, from the too favourable and indulgent mannerin which I have understood that Mr. Hazlewood has been pleased torepresent the business, the assault may be considered as accidental,and the injury as unintentional, so that the fellow may be immediatelyset at liberty to do more mischief.'

  'I have not the honour to know the gentleman who now holds the officeof king's advocate,' replied Sir Robert, gravely; 'but I presume,sir--nay, I am confident, that he will consider the mere fact of havingwounded young Hazlewood of Hazlewood, even by inadvertency, to take thematter in its mildest and gentlest, and in its most favourable andimprobable, light, as a crime which will be too easily atoned byimprisonment, and as more deserving of deportation.'

  'Indeed, Sir Robert,' said his assenting brother in justice, 'I amentirely of your opinion; but, I don't know how it is, I have observedthe Edinburgh gentlemen of the bar, and even the officers of the crown,pique themselves upon an indifferent administration of justice, withoutrespect to rank and family; and I should fear---'

  'How, sir, without respect to rank and family? Will you tell me THATdoctrine can be held by men of birth and legal education? No, sir; if atrifle stolen in the street is termed mere pickery, but is elevatedinto sacrilege if the crime be committed in a church, so, according tothe just gradations of society, the guilt of an injury is enhanced bythe rank of the person to whom it is offered, done, or perpetrated,sir.'

  Glossin bowed low to this declaration ex cathedra, but observed, thatin the case of the very worst, and of such unnatural doctrines beingactually held as he had already hinted, 'the law had another hold onMr. Vanbeest Brown.'

  'Vanbeest Brown! is that the fellow's name? Good God! that youngHazlewood of Hazlewood should have had his life endangered, theclavicle of his right shoulder considerably lacerated and dislodged,several large drops or slugs deposited in the acromion process, as theaccount of the family surgeon expressly bears, and all by an obscurewretch named Vanbeest Brown!'

  'Why, really, Sir Robert, it is a thing which one can hardly bear tothink of; but, begging ten thousand pardons for resuming what I wasabout to say, a person of the same name is, as appears from thesepapers (producing Dirk Hatteraick's pocket-book), mate to the smugglingvessel who offered such violence at Woodbourne, and I have no doubtthat this is the same individual; which, however, your acutediscrimination will easily be able to ascertain.'

  'The same, my good sir, he must assuredly be; it would be injusticeeven to the meanest of the people to suppose there could be found amongthem TWO persons doomed to bear a name so shocking to one's ears asthis of Vanbeest Brown.' 'True, Sir Robert; most unquestionably; therecannot be a shadow of doubt of it. But you see farther, that thiscircumstance accounts for the man's desperate conduct. You, Sir Robert,will discover the motive for his crime--you, I say, will discover itwithout difficulty on your giving your mind to the examination; for mypart, I cannot help suspecting the moving spring to have been revengefor the gallantry with which Mr. Hazlewood, with all the spirit of hisrenowned forefathers, defended the house at Woodbourne against thisvillain and his lawless companions.'

  'I will inquire into it, my good sir,' said the learned Baronet. 'Yeteven now I venture to conjecture that I shall adopt the solution orexplanation of this riddle, enigma, or mystery which you have in somedegree thus started. Yes! revenge it must be; and, good Heaven!entertained by and against whom? entertained, fostered, cherishedagainst young Hazlewood of Hazlewood, and in part carried into effect,executed, and implemented by the hand of Vanbeest Brown! These aredreadful days indeed, my worthy neighbour (this epithet indicated arapid advance in the Baronet's good graces)--days when the bulwarks ofsociety are shaken to their mighty base, and that rank which forms, asit were, its highest grace and ornament is mingled and confused withthe viler parts of the architecture. O, my good Mr. Gilbert Glossin, inmy time, sir, the use of swords and pistols, and such honourable arms,was reserved by the nobility and gentry to themselves, and the disputesof the vulgar were decided by the weapons which nature had given them,or by cudgels cut, broken, or hewed out of the next wood. But now, sir,the clouted shoe of the peasant galls the kibe of the courtier. Thelower ranks have their quarrels, sir, and their points of honour, andtheir revenges, which they must bring, forsooth, to fatal arbitrament.But well, well! it will last my time. Let us have in this fellow, thisVanbeest Brown, and make an end of him, at least for the present.'