Guy Mannering, Or, the Astrologer — Complete

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XLIII

  'Twas he Gave heat unto the injury, which returned, Like a petard ill lighted, into the bosom Of him gave fire to't. Yet I hope his hurt Is not so dangerous but he may recover

  Fair Maid of the Inn.

  The prisoner was now presented before the two worshipful magistrates.Glossin, partly from some compunctious visitings, and partly out of hiscautious resolution to suffer Sir Robert Hazlewood to be the ostensiblemanager of the whole examination, looked down upon the table, andbusied himself with reading and arranging the papers respecting thebusiness, only now and then throwing in a skilful catchword asprompter, when he saw the principal, and apparently most active,magistrate stand in need of a hint. As for Sir Robert Hazlewood, heassumed on his part a happy mixture of the austerity of the justicecombined with the display of personal dignity appertaining to thebaronet of ancient family.

  'There, constables, let him stand there at the bottom of the table. Beso good as look me in the face, sir, and raise your voice as you answerthe questions which I am going to put to you.'

  'May I beg, in the first place, to know, sir, who it is that takes thetrouble to interrogate me?' said the prisoner; 'for the honestgentlemen who have brought me here have not been pleased to furnish anyinformation upon that point.'

  'And pray, sir,' answered Sir Robert, 'what has my name and quality todo with the questions I am about to ask you?'

  'Nothing, perhaps, sir,' replied Bertram; 'but it may considerablyinfluence my disposition to answer them.'

  'Why, then, sir, you will please to be informed that you are inpresence of Sir Robert Hazlewood of Hazlewood, and another justice ofpeace for this county--that's all.'

  As this intimation produced a less stunning effect upon the prisonerthan he had anticipated, Sir Robert proceeded in his investigation withan increasing dislike to the object of it.

  'Is your name Vanbeest Brown, sir?'

  'It is,' answered the prisoner.

  'So far well; and how are we to design you farther, sir?' demanded theJustice.

  'Captain in his Majesty's---regiment of horse,' answered Bertram.

  The Baronet's ears received this intimation with astonishment; but hewas refreshed in courage by an incredulous look from Glossin, and byhearing him gently utter a sort of interjectional whistle, in a note ofsurprise and contempt. 'I believe, my friend,' said Sir Robert, 'weshall find for you, before we part, a more humble title.'

  'If you do, sir,' replied his prisoner, 'I shall willingly submit toany punishment which such an imposture shall be thought to deserve.'

  'Well, sir, we shall see,' continued Sir Robert. 'Do you know youngHazlewood of Hazlewood?'

  'I never saw the gentleman who I am informed bears that name exceptingonce, and I regret that it was under very unpleasant circumstances.'

  'You mean to acknowledge, then,' said the Baronet, 'that you inflictedupon young Hazlewood of Hazlewood that wound which endangered his life,considerably lacerated the clavicle of his right shoulder, anddeposited, as the family surgeon declares, several large drops or slugsin the acromion process?'

  'Why, sir,' replied Bertram, 'I can only say I am equally ignorant ofand sorry for the extent of the damage which the young gentleman hassustained. I met him in a narrow path, walking with two ladies and aservant, and before I could either pass them or address them, thisyoung Hazlewood took his gun from his servant, presented it against mybody, and commanded me in the most haughty tone to stand back. I wasneither inclined to submit to his authority nor to leave him inpossession of the means to injure me, which he seemed disposed to usewith such rashness. I therefore closed with him for the purpose ofdisarming him; and, just as I had nearly effected my purpose, the piecewent off accidentally, and, to my regret then and since, inflicted uponthe young gentleman a severer chastisement than I desired, though I amglad to understand it is like to prove no more than his unprovokedfolly deserved.'

  'And so, sir,' said the Baronet, every feature swoln with offendeddignity, 'you, sir, admit, sir, that it was your purpose, sir, and yourintention, sir, and the real jet and object of your assault, sir, todisarm young Hazlewood of Hazlewood of his gun, sir, or hisfowling-piece, or his fuzee, or whatever you please to call it, sir,upon the king's highway, sir? I think this will do, my worthyneighbour! I think he should stand committed?'

  'You are by far the best judge, Sir Robert,' said Glossin, in his mostinsinuating tone; 'but if I might presume to hint, there was somethingabout these smugglers.'

  'Very true, good sir. And besides, sir, you, Vanbeest Brown, who callyourself a captain in his Majesty's service, are no better or worsethan a rascally mate of a smuggler!'

  'Really, sir,' said Bertram, 'you are an old gentleman, and actingunder some strange delusion, otherwise I should be very angry with you.'

  'Old gentleman, sir! strange delusion, sir!' said Sir Robert, colouringwith indignation. 'I protest and declare--Why, sir, have you any papersor letters that can establish your pretended rank and estate andcommission?'

  'None at present, sir,' answered Bertram; 'but in the return of a postor two---'

  'And how do you, sir,' continued the Baronet, 'if you are a captain inhis Majesty's service--how do you chance to be travelling in Scotlandwithout letters of introduction, credentials, baggage, or anythingbelonging to your pretended rank, estate, and condition, as I saidbefore?'

  'Sir,' replied the prisoner, 'I had the misfortune to be robbed of myclothes and baggage.'

  'Oho! then you are the gentleman who took a post-chaise from---toKippletringan, gave the boy the slip on the road, and sent two of youraccomplices to beat the boy and bring away the baggage?'

  'I was, sir, in a carriage, as you describe, was obliged to alight inthe snow, and lost my way endeavouring to find the road toKippletringan. The landlady of the inn will inform you that on myarrival there the next day, my first inquiries were after the boy.'

  'Then give me leave to ask where you spent the night, not in the snow,I presume? You do not suppose that will pass, or be taken, credited,and received?'

  'I beg leave,' said Bertram, his recollection turning to the gipsyfemale and to the promise he had given her--'I beg leave to declineanswering that question.'

  'I thought as much,' said Sir Robert. 'Were you not during that nightin the ruins of Derncleugh?--in the ruins of Derncleugh, sir?'

  'I have told you that I do not intend answering that question,' repliedBertram.

  'Well, sir, then you will stand committed, sir,' said Sir Robert, 'andbe sent to prison, sir, that's all, sir. Have the goodness to look atthese papers; are you the Vanbeest Brown who is there mentioned?'

  It must be remarked that Glossin had shuffled among the papers somewritings which really did belong to Bertram, and which had been foundby the officers in the old vault where his portmanteau was ransacked.

  'Some of these papers,' said Bertram, looking over them, 'are mine, andwere in my portfolio when it was stolen from the post-chaise. They arememoranda of little value, and, I see, have been carefully selected asaffording no evidence of my rank or character, which many of the otherpapers would have established fully. They are mingled withship-accounts and other papers, belonging apparently to a person of thesame name.'

  'And wilt thou attempt to persuade me, friend,' demanded Sir Robert,'that there are TWO persons in this country at the same time of thyvery uncommon and awkwardly sounding name?'

  'I really do not see, sir, as there is an old Hazlewood and a youngHazlewood, why there should not be an old and a young Vanbeest Brown.And, to speak seriously, I was educated in Holland, and I know thatthis name, however uncouth it may sound in British ears---'

  Glossin, conscious that the prisoner was now about to enter upondangerous ground, interfered, though the interruption was unnecessary,for the purpose of diverting the attention of Sir Robert Hazlewood, whowas speechless and motionless with indignation at the presumptuouscomparison implied in Bertram's last speech. In fact, the veins of histhroat and
of his temples swelled almost to bursting, and he sat withthe indignant and disconcerted air of one who has received a mortalinsult from a quarter to which he holds it unmeet and indecorous tomake any reply. While, with a bent brow and an angry eye, he wasdrawing in his breath slowly and majestically, and puffing it forthagain with deep and solemn exertion, Glossin stepped in to hisassistance. 'I should think now, Sir Robert, with great submission,that this matter may be closed. One of the constables, besides thepregnant proof already produced, offers to make oath that the sword ofwhich the prisoner was this morning deprived (while using it, by theway, in resistance to a legal warrant) was a cutlass taken from him ina fray between the officers and smugglers just previous to their attackupon Woodbourne. And yet,' he added, 'I would not have you form anyrash construction upon that subject; perhaps the young man can explainhow he came by that weapon.'

  'That question, sir,' said Bertram, 'I shall also leave unanswered.'

  'There is yet another circumstance to be inquired into, always underSir Robert's leave,' insinuated Glossin. 'This prisoner put into thehands of Mrs. MacCandlish of Kippletringan a parcel containing avariety of gold coins and valuable articles of different kinds.Perhaps, Sir Robert, you might think it right to ask how he came byproperty of a description which seldom occurs?'

  'You, sir, Mr. Vanbeest Brown, sir, you hear the question, sir, whichthe gentleman asks you?'

  'I have particular reasons for declining to answer that question,'answered Bertram.

  'Then I am afraid, sir,' said Glossin, who had brought matters to thepoint he desired to reach, 'our duty must lay us under the necessity tosign a warrant of committal.'

  'As you please, sir,' answered Bertram; 'take care, however, what youdo. Observe that I inform you that I am a captain in hisMajesty's---regiment, and that I am just returned from India, andtherefore cannot possibly be connected with any of those contrabandtraders you talk of; that my lieutenant-colonel is now at Nottingham,the major, with the officers of my corps, at Kingston-upon-Thames. Ioffer before you both to submit to any degree of ignominy if, withinthe return of the Kingston and Nottingham posts, I am not able toestablish these points. Or you may write to the agent for the regimentif you please, and---'

  'This is all very well, sir,' said Glossin, beginning to fear lest thefirm expostulation of Bertram should make some impression on SirRobert, who would almost have died of shame at committing such asolecism as sending a captain of horse to jail--'this is all very well,sir; but is there no person nearer whom you could refer to?'

  'There are only two persons in this country who know anything of me,'replied the prisoner. 'One is a plain Liddesdale sheep-farmer, calledDinmont of Charlie's Hope; but he knows nothing more of me than what Itold him, and what I now tell you.'

  'Why, this is well enough, Sir Robert!' said Glossin. 'I suppose hewould bring forward this thick-skulled fellow to give his oath ofcredulity, Sir Robert, ha, ha, ha!'

  'And what is your other witness, friend?' said the Baronet.

  'A gentleman whom I have some reluctance to mention because of certainprivate reasons, but under whose command I served some time in India,and who is too much a man of honour to refuse his testimony to mycharacter as a soldier and gentleman.'

  'And who is this doughty witness, pray, sir?' said Sir Robert,' somehalf-pay quartermaster or sergeant, I suppose?'

  'Colonel Guy Mannering, late of the---regiment, in which, as I toldyou, I have a troop.'

  'Colonel Guy Mannering!' thought Glossin, 'who the devil could haveguessed this?'

  'Colonel Guy Mannering?' echoed the Baronet, considerably shaken in hisopinion. 'My good sir,' apart to Glossin, 'the young man with adreadfully plebeian name and a good deal of modest assurance hasnevertheless something of the tone and manners and feeling of agentleman, of one at least who has lived in good society; they do givecommissions very loosely and carelessly and inaccurately in India. Ithink we had better pause till Colonel Mannering shall return; he isnow, I believe, at Edinburgh.'

  'You are in every respect the best judge, Sir Robert,' answeredGlossin--'in every possible respect. I would only submit to you that weare certainly hardly entitled to dismiss this man upon an assertionwhich cannot be satisfied by proof, and that we shall incur a heavyresponsibility by detaining him in private custody, without committinghim to a public jail. Undoubtedly, however, you are the best judge, SirRobert; and I would only say, for my own part, that I very latelyincurred severe censure by detaining a person in a place which Ithought perfectly secure, and under the custody of the proper officers.The man made his escape, and I have no doubt my own character forattention and circumspection as a magistrate has in some degreesuffered. I only hint this: I will join in any step you, Sir Robert,think most advisable.' But Mr. Glossin was well aware that such a hintwas of power sufficient to decide the motions of his self-important butnot self-relying colleague. So that Sir Robert Hazlewood summed up thebusiness in the following speech, which proceeded partly upon thesupposition of the prisoner being really a gentleman, and partly uponthe opposite belief that he was a villain and an assassin:--

  'Sir, Mr. Vanbeest Brown--I would call you Captain Brown if there wasthe least reason or cause or grounds to suppose that you are a captain,or had a troop in the very respectable corps you mention, or indeed inany other corps in his Majesty's service, as to which circumstance Ibeg to be understood to give no positive, settled, or unalterablejudgment, declaration, or opinion,--I say, therefore, sir, Mr. Brown,we have determined, considering the unpleasant predicament in which younow stand, having been robbed, as you say, an assertion as to which Isuspend my opinion, and being possessed of much and valuable treasure,and of a brass-handled cutlass besides, as to your obtaining which youwill favour us with no explanation,--I say, sir, we have determined andresolved and made up our minds to commit you to jail, or rather toassign you an apartment therein, in order that you may be forthcomingupon Colonel Mannering's return from Edinburgh.'

  'With humble submission, Sir Robert,' said Glossin, 'may I inquire ifit is your purpose to send this young gentleman to the county jail? Forif that were not your settled intention, I would take the liberty tohint that there would be less hardship in sending him to the bridewellat Portanferry, where he can be secured without public exposure, acircumstance which, on the mere chance of his story being really true,is much to be avoided.'

  'Why, there is a guard of soldiers at Portanferry, to be sure, forprotection of the goods in the custom-house; and upon the whole,considering everything, and that the place is comfortable for such aplace, I say, all things considered, we will commit this person, Iwould rather say authorise him to be detained, in the workhouse atPortanferry.'

  The warrant was made out accordingly, and Bertram was informed he wasnext morning to be removed to his place of confinement, as Sir Roberthad determined he should not be taken there under cloud of night, forfear of rescue. He was during the interval to be detained at HazlewoodHouse.

  'It cannot be so hard as my imprisonment by the looties in India,' hethought; 'nor can it last so long. But the deuce take the old formaldunderhead, and his more sly associate, who speaks always under hisbreath; they cannot understand a plain man's story when it is toldthem.'

  In the meanwhile Glossin took leave of the Baronet with a thousandrespectful bows and cringing apologies for not accepting his invitationto dinner, and venturing to hope he might be pardoned in paying hisrespects to him, Lady Hazlewood, and young Mr. Hazlewood on some futureoccasion.

  'Certainly, sir,' said the Baronet, very graciously. 'I hope our familywas never at any time deficient in civility to our neighbours; and whenI ride that way, good Mr. Glossin, I will convince you of this bycalling at your house as familiarly as is consistent--that is, as canbe hoped or expected.'

  'And now,' said Glossin to himself, 'to find Dirk Hatteraick and hispeople, to get the guard sent off from the custom-house; and then forthe grand cast of the dice. Everything must depend upon speed. Howlucky that Mannering has betaken himself to Edin
burgh! His knowledge ofthis young fellow is a most perilous addition to my dangers.' Here hesuffered his horse to slacken his pace. 'What if I should try tocompound with the heir? It's likely he might be brought to pay a roundsum for restitution, and I could give up Hatteraick. But no, no, no!there were too many eyes on me--Hatteraick himself, and the gipsysailor, and that old hag. No, no! I must stick to my original plan.'And with that he struck his spurs against his horse's flanks, and rodeforward at a hard trot to put his machines in motion.