Redgauntlet: A Tale Of The Eighteenth Century

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER VII

  LATIMER'S JOURNAL, IN CONTINUATION

  Sheet 2.

  I have rarely in my life, till the last alarming days, known what itwas to sustain a moment's real sorrow. What I called such, was, I amnow well convinced, only the weariness of mind which, having nothingactually present to complain of, turns upon itself and becomes anxiousabout the past and the future; those periods with which human life hasso little connexion, that Scripture itself hath said, 'Sufficient forthe day is the evil thereof.'

  If, therefore, I have sometimes abused prosperity, by murmuring atmy unknown birth and uncertain rank in society, I will make amends bybearing my present real adversity with patience and courage, and, if Ican, even with gaiety. What can they--dare they-do to me? Foxley, I ampersuaded, is a real Justice of Peace, and country gentleman of estate,though (wonderful to tell!) he is an ass notwithstanding; andhis functionary in the drab coat must have a shrewd guess at theconsequences of being accessory to an act of murder or kidnapping. Meninvite not such witnesses to deeds of darkness. I have also--Alan, Ihave hopes, arising out of the family of the oppressor himself. I amencouraged to believe that G.M. is likely again to enter on the field.More I dare not here say; nor must I drop a hint which another eye thanthine might be able to construe. Enough, my feelings are lighter thanthey have been; and, though fear and wonder are still around me, theyare unable entirely to overcloud the horizon.

  Even when I saw the spectral form of the old scarecrow of the ParliamentHouse rush into the apartment where I had undergone so singular anexamination, I thought of thy connexion with him, and could almost haveparodied Lear--

  Death!--nothing could have thus subdued nature To such a lowness, but his 'learned lawyers.'

  He was e'en as we have seen him of yore, Alan, when, rather to keep theecompany than to follow my own bent, I formerly frequented the halls ofjustice. The only addition to his dress, in the capacity of a traveller,was a pair of boots, that seemed as if they might have seen the fieldof Sheriffmoor; so large and heavy that, tied as they were to thecreature's wearied hams with large bunches of worsted tape of variouscolours, they looked as if he had been dragging them along, either for awager or by way of penance.

  Regardless of the surprised looks of the party on whom he thus intrudedhimself, Peter blundered into the middle of the apartment, with his headcharged like a ram's in the act of butting, and saluted them thus:--

  'Gude day to ye, gude day to your honours. Is't here they sell the fugiewarrants?'

  I observed that on his entrance, my friend--or enemy--drew himselfback, and placed himself as if he would rather avoid attracting theobservation of the new-comer. I did the same myself, as far as I wasable; for I thought it likely that Mr. Peebles might recognize me, asindeed I was too frequently among the group of young juridical aspirantswho used to amuse themselves by putting cases for Peter's solution, andplaying him worse tricks; yet I was uncertain whether I had better availmyself of our acquaintance to have the advantage, such as it mightbe, of his evidence before the magistrate, or whether to make him,if possible, bearer of a letter which might procure me more effectualassistance. I resolved, therefore, to be guided by circumstances, andto watch carefully that nothing might escape me. I drew back as far asI could, and even reconnoitred the door and passage, to consider whetherabsolute escape might not be practicable. But there paraded CristalNixon, whose little black eyes, sharp as those of a basilisk, seemed,the instant when they encountered mine, to penetrate my purpose.

  I sat down, as much out of sight of all parties as I could, and listenedto the dialogue which followed--a dialogue how much more interesting tome than any I could have conceived, in which Peter Peebles was to be oneof the dramatis personae!

  'Is it here where ye sell the warrants--the fugies, ye ken?' said Peter.

  'Hey--eh--what!' said Justice Foxley; 'what the devil does the fellowmean?--What would you have a warrant for?'

  'It is to apprehend a young lawyer that is IN MEDITATIONE FUGAE; for hehas ta'en my memorial and pleaded my cause, and a good fee I gavehim, and as muckle brandy as he could drink that day at his father'shouse--he loes the brandy ower weel for sae youthful a creature.'

  'And what has this drunken young dog of a lawyer done to you, thatyou are come to me--eh--ha? Has he robbed you? Not unlikely if he be alawyer--eh--Nick--ha?' said Justice Foxley.

  'He has robbed me of himself, sir,' answered Peter; 'of his help,comfort, aid, maintenance, and assistance, whilk, as a counsel to aclient, he is bound to yield me RATIONE OFFICII--that is it, ye see. Hehas pouched my fee, and drucken a mutchkin of brandy, and now he's owerthe march, and left my cause, half won half lost--as dead a heat as e'erwas run ower the back-sands. Now, I was advised by some cunning laddiesthat are used to crack a bit law wi' me in the House, that the bestthing I could do was to take heart o' grace and set out after him; so Ihave taken post on my ain shanks, forby a cast in a cart, or the like. Igot wind of him in Dumfries, and now I have run him ower to the Englishside, and I want a fugie warrant against him.'

  How did my heart throb at this information, dearest Alan! Thou art nearme then, and I well know with what kind purpose; thou hast abandoned allto fly to my assistance; and no wonder that, knowing thy friendship andfaith, thy sound sagacity and persevering disposition, 'my bosom'slord should now sit lightly on his throne'; that gaiety should almostinvoluntarily hover on my pen; and that my heart should beat like thatof a general, responsive to the drums of his advancing ally, withoutwhose help the battle must have been lost.

  I did not suffer myself to be startled by this joyous surprise, butcontinued to bend my strictest attention to what followed among thissingular party. That Poor Peter Peebles had been put on this wildgoosechase by some of his juvenile advisers in the Parliament House, hehimself had intimated; but he spoke with much confidence, and theJustice, who seemed to have some secret apprehension of being put totrouble in the matter, and, as sometimes occurs on the English frontier,a jealousy lest the superior acuteness of their northern neighboursmight overreach their own simplicity, turned to his clerk with aperplexed countenance.

  'Eh--oh--Nick--d--n thee--Hast thou got nothing to say? This is moreScots law, I take it, and more Scotsmen.' (Here he cast a side-glance atthe owner of the mansion, and winked to his clerk.) 'I would Solway wereas deep as it is wide, and we had then some chance of keeping of themout.'

  Nicholas conversed an instant aside with the supplicant, and thenreported:--

  'The man wants a border-warrant, I think; but they are only granted fordebt--now he wants one to catch a lawyer.'

  'And what for no?' answered Peter Peebles, doggedly; 'what for no, Iwould be glad to ken? If a day's labourer refuse to work, ye'll grant awarrant to gar him do out his daurg--if a wench quean rin away fromher hairst, ye'll send her back to her heuck again--if sae mickle as acollier or a salter make a moonlight flitting, ye will cleek him by theback-spaul in a minute of time--and yet the damage canna amount to mairthan a creelfu' of coals, and a forpit or twa of saut; and here is achield taks leg from his engagement, and damages me to the tune of saxthousand punds sterling; that is, three thousand that I should win, andthree thousand mair that I am like to lose; and you that ca' yourself ajustice canna help a poor man to catch the rinaway? A bonny like justiceI am like to get amang ye!'

  'The fellow must be drunk,' said the clerk.

  'Black fasting from all but sin,' replied the supplicant; 'I havena hadmair than a mouthful of cauld water since I passed the Border, and deila ane of ye is like to say to me, "Dog, will ye drink?"'

  The Justice seemed moved by this appeal. 'Hem---tush, man,' replied he;'thou speak'st to us as if thou wert in presence of one of thine ownbeggarly justices--get downstairs--get something to eat, man (withpermission of my friend to make so free in his house), and a mouthful todrink, and I warrant we get ye such justice as will please ye.'

  'I winna refuse your neighbourly offer,' said Poor Peter Peebles, makinghis bow; 'muckle grace be wi' your honour
, and wisdom to guide you inthis extraordinary cause.'

  When I saw Peter Peebles about to retire from the room, I could notforbear an effort to obtain from him such evidence as might give me somecredit with the Justice. I stepped forward, therefore, and, salutinghim, asked him if he remembered me?

  After a stare or two, and a long pinch of snuff, recollection seemedsuddenly to dawn on Peter Peebles. 'Recollect ye!' he said; 'by my trothdo I.---Haud him a grip, gentlemen!--constables, keep him fast! wherethat ill-deedie hempy is, ye are sure that Alan Fairford is not far off.Haud him fast, Master Constable; I charge ye wi' him, for I am mista'enif he is not at the bottom of this rinaway business. He was aye gettingthe silly callant Alan awa wi' gigs, and horse, and the like of that, toRoslin, and Prestonpans, and a' the idle gates he could think of. He's arinaway apprentice, that ane.'

  'Mr. Peebles,' I said, 'do not do me wrong. I am sure you can say noharm of me justly, but can satisfy these gentlemen, if you will, that Iam a student of law in Edinburgh--Darsie Latimer by name.'

  'Me satisfy! how can I satisfy the gentlemen,' answered Peter, 'that amsae far from being satisfied mysell? I ken naething about your name, andcan only testify, NIHIL NOVIT IN CAUSA.'

  'A pretty witness you have brought forward in your favour,' said Mr.Foxley. 'But--ha--aye---I'll ask him a question or two. Pray, friend,will you take your oath to this youth being a runaway apprentice?'

  'Sir,' said Peter, 'I will make oath to onything in reason; when a casecomes to my oath it's a won cause: But I am in some haste to prie yourworship's good cheer;' for Peter had become much more respectful inhis demeanour towards the Justice since he had heard some intimation ofdinner.

  'You shall have--eh--hum--aye--a bellyful, if it be possible to fill it.First let me know if this young man be really what he pretends. Nick,make his affidavit.'

  'Ow, he is just a wud harum-scarum creature, that wad never take to hisstudies; daft, sir, clean daft.'

  'Deft!' said the Justice; 'what d'ye mean by deft--eh?'

  'Just Fifish,' replied Peter; 'wowf--a wee bit by the East Nook or sae;it's a common case--the ae half of the warld thinks the tither daft. Ihave met with folk in my day that thought I was daft mysell; and, for mypart, I think our Court of Session clean daft, that have had the greatcause of Peebles against Plainstanes before them for this score ofyears, and have never been able to ding the bottom out of it yet.'

  'I cannot make out a word of his cursed brogue,' said the Cumbrianjustice; 'can you, neighbour--eh? What can he mean by DEFT?'

  'He means MAD,' said the party appealed to, thrown off his guard byimpatience of this protracted discussion.

  'Ye have it--ye have it,' said Peter; 'that is, not clean skivie, but--'

  Here he stopped, and fixed his eye on the person he addressed with anair of joyful recognition.--'Aye, aye, Mr. Herries of Birrenswork, isthis your ainsell in blood and bane? I thought ye had been hanged atKennington Common, or Hairiebie, or some of these places, after thebonny ploy ye made in the Forty-five.'

  'I believe you are mistaken, friend,' said Herries, sternly, with whosename and designation I was thus made unexpectedly acquainted.

  'The deil a bit,' answered the undaunted Peter Peebles; I mind ye weel,for ye lodged in my house the great year of Forty-five, for a greatyear it was; the Grand Rebellion broke out, and my cause--the greatcause--Peebles against Plainstanes, ET PER CONTRA--was called in thebeginning of the winter session, and would have been heard, but thatthere was a surcease of justice, with your plaids, and your piping, andyour nonsense.'

  'I tell you, fellow,' said Herries, yet more fiercely, 'you haveconfused me with some of the other furniture of your crazy pate.'

  'Speak like a gentleman, sir,' answered Peebles; 'these are not legalphrases, Mr. Herries of Birrenswork. Speak in form of law, or I sall bidye gude day, sir. I have nae pleasure in speaking to proud folk, thoughI am willing to answer onything in a legal way; so if you are fora crack about auld langsyne, and the splores that you and CaptainRedgimlet used to breed in my house, and the girded cask of brandy thatye drank and ne'er thought of paying for it (not that I minded it mucklein thae days, though I have felt a lack of it sin syne), why I willwaste an hour on ye at ony time.--and where is Captain Redgimlet now?he was a wild chap, like yoursell, though they arena sae keen after youpoor bodies for these some years bygane; the heading and hanging is weelower now--awful job--awful job--will ye try my sneeshing?'

  He concluded his desultory speech by thrusting out his large bony paw,filled with a Scottish mull of huge dimensions, which Herries, who hadbeen standing like one petrified by the assurance of this unexpectedaddress, rejected with a contemptuous motion of his hand, which spilledsome of the contents of the box.

  'Aweel, aweel,' said Peter Peebles, totally unabashed by the repulse,'e'en as ye like, a wilful man maun hae his way; but,' he added,stooping down and endeavouring to gather the spilled snuff from thepolished floor, 'I canna afford to lose my sneeshing for a' that ye aregumple-foisted wi' me.'

  My attention had been keenly awakened, during this extraordinary andunexpected scene. I watched, with as much attention as my own agitationpermitted me to command, the effect produced on the parties concerned.It was evident that our friend, Peter Peebles, had unwarily let outsomething which altered the sentiments of Justice Foxley and his clerktowards Mr. Herries, with whom, until he was known and acknowledgedunder that name, they had appeared to be so intimate. They talked witheach other aside, looked at a paper or two which the clerk selectedfrom the contents of a huge black pocket-book, and seemed, under theinfluence of fear and uncertainty, totally at a loss what line ofconduct to adopt.

  Herries made a different, and far more interesting figure. Howeverlittle Peter Peebles might resemble the angel Ithuriel, the appearanceof Herries, his high and scornful demeanour, vexed at what seemeddetection yet fearless of the consequences, and regarding the whisperingmagistrate and his clerk with looks in which contempt predominated overanger or anxiety, bore, in my opinion, no slight resemblance to

  the regal port And faded splendour wan

  with which the poet has invested the detected King of the powers of theair.

  As he glanced round, with a look which he had endeavoured to compose tohaughty indifference, his eye encountered mine, and, I thought, atthe first glance sank beneath it. But he instantly rallied his naturalspirit, and returned me one of those extraordinary looks, by which hecould contort so strangely the wrinkles on his forehead. I started; but,angry at myself for my pusillanimity, I answered him by a look of thesame kind, and catching the reflection of my countenance in a largeantique mirror which stood before me, I started again at the real orimaginary resemblance which my countenance, at that moment, bore to thatof Herries. Surely my fate is somehow strangely interwoven with that ofthis mysterious individual. I had no time at present to speculate uponthe subject, for the subsequent conversation demanded all my attention.

  The Justice addressed Herries, after a pause of about five minutes, inwhich, all parties seemed at some loss how to proceed. He spoke withembarrassment, and his faltering voice, and the long intervals whichdivided his sentences, seemed to indicate fear of him whom he addressed.

  'Neighbour,' he said, 'I could not have thought this; or, if I--eh--DIDthink--in a corner of my own mind as it were--that you, I say--that youmight have unluckily engaged in--eh--the matter of the Forty-five--therewas still time to have forgot all that.'

  'And is it so singular that a man should have been out in theForty-five?' said Herries, with contemptuous composure;--'your father, Ithink, Mr. Foxley, was out with Derwentwater in the Fifteen.'

  'And lost half of his estate,' answered Foxley, with more rapidity thanusual; 'and was very near--hem--being hanged into the boot. But thisis--another guess job--for--eh--Fifteen is not Forty-five; and my fatherhad a remission, and you, I take it, have none.'

  'Perhaps I have,' said Herries indifferently; 'or if I have not, I ambut in the case of half a dozen others whom government d
o not thinkworth looking after at this time of day, so they give no offence ordisturbance.'

  'But you have given both, sir,' said Nicholas Faggot, the clerk, who,having some petty provincial situation, as I have since understood,deemed himself bound to be zealous for government, 'Mr. Justice Foxleycannot be answerable for letting you pass free, now your name andsurname have been spoken plainly out. There are warrants out against youfrom the Secretary of State's office.'

  'A proper allegation, Mr. Attorney! that, at the distance of somany years, the Secretary of State should trouble himself about theunfortunate relics of a ruined cause,' answered Mr. Herries.

  'But if it be so,' said the clerk, who seemed to assume more confidenceupon the composure of Herries's demeanour; 'and if cause has been givenby the conduct of a gentleman himself, who hath been, it isalleged, raking up old matters, and mixing them with new subjects ofdisaffection--I say, if it be so, I should advise the party, in hiswisdom, to surrender himself quietly into the lawful custody of the nextJustice of Peace--Mr. Foxley, suppose--where, and by whom, the mattershould be regularly inquired into. I am only putting a case,' he added,watching with apprehension the effect which his words were likely toproduce upon the party to whom they were addressed.

  'And were I to receive such advice,' said Herries, with the samecomposure as before--'putting the case, as you say, Mr. Faggot--Ishould request to see the warrant which countenanced such a scandalousproceeding.'

  Mr. Nicholas, by way of answer, placed in his hand a paper, and seemedanxiously to expect the consequences which were to ensue. Mr. Herrieslooked it over with the same equanimity as before, and then continued,'And were such a scrawl as this presented to me in my own house, I wouldthrow it into the chimney, and Mr. Faggot upon the top of it.'

  Accordingly, seconding the word with the action, he flung the warrantinto the fire with one hand, and fixed the other, with a stern andirresistible grip, on the breast of the attorney, who, totally unable tocontend with him, in either personal strength or mental energy, trembledlike a chicken in the raven's clutch. He got off, however, for thefright; for Herries, having probably made him fully sensible of thestrength of his grasp, released him, with a scornful laugh.

  'Deforcement--spulzie-stouthrief--masterful rescue!' exclaimed PeterPeebles, scandalized at the resistance offered to the law in the personof Nicholas Faggot. But his shrill exclamations were drowned in thethundering voice of Herries, who, calling upon Cristal Nixon, orderedhim to take the bawling fool downstairs, fill his belly, and then givehim a guinea, and thrust him out of doors. Under such injunctions, Petereasily suffered himself to be withdrawn from the scene.

  Herries then turned to the Justice, whose visage, wholly abandoned bythe rubicund hue which so lately beamed upon it, hung out the same palelivery as that of his dismayed clerk. 'Old friend and acquaintance,'he said, 'you came here at my request on a friendly errand, to convincethis silly young man of the right which I have over his person for thepresent. I trust you do not intend to make your visit the pretext ofdisquieting me about other matters? All the world knows that I have beenliving at large, in these northern counties, for some months, not to sayyears, and might have been apprehended at any time, had the necessitiesof the state required, or my own behaviour deserved it. But no Englishmagistrate has been ungenerous enough to trouble a gentleman undermisfortune, on account of political opinions and disputes which havebeen long ended by the success of the reigning powers. I trust, my goodfriend, you will not endanger yourself by taking any other view of thesubject than you have done ever since we were acquainted?'

  The Justice answered with more readiness, as well as more spirit thanusual, 'Neighbour Ingoldsby--what you say--is--eh--in some sorttrue; and when you were coming and going at markets, horse-races,and cock-fights, fairs, hunts, and such-like--it was--eh--neither mybusiness nor my wish to dispel--I say--to inquire into and dispel themysteries which hung about you; for while you were a good companionin the field, and over a bottle now and then--I did not--eh--thinkit necessary to ask--into your private affairs. And if I thoughtyou were--ahem--somewhat unfortunate in former undertakings, andenterprises, and connexions, which might cause you to live unsettledlyand more private, I could have--eh--very little pleasure--to aggravateyour case by interfering, or requiring explanations, which are oftenmore easily asked than given. But when there are warrants and witnessesto names--and those names, christian and surname, belong to--eh--anattainted person--charged--I trust falsely--with--ahem-taking advantageof modern broils and heart-burnings to renew our civil disturbances, thecase is altered; and I must--ahem--do my duty.'

  The Justice, got on his feet as he concluded this speech, and lookedas bold as he could. I drew close beside him and his clerk, Mr. Faggot,thinking the moment favourable for my own liberation, and intimatedto Mr. Foxley my determination to stand by him. But Mr. Herries onlylaughed at the menacing posture which we assumed. 'My good neighbour,'said he, 'you talk of a witness. Is yon crazy beggar a fit witness in anaffair of this nature?'

  'But you do not deny that you are Mr. Herries of Birrenswork, mentionedin the Secretary of State's warrant?' said Mr. Foxley.

  'How can I deny or own anything about it?' said Herries, with a sneer.'There is no such warrant in existence now; its ashes, like the poortraitor whose doom it threatened, have been dispersed to the four windsof heaven. There is now no warrant in the world.'

  'But you will not deny,' said the Justice, 'that you were the personnamed in it; and that--eh--your own act destroyed it?'

  'I will neither deny my name nor my actions, Justice,' replied Mr.Herries, 'when called upon by competent authority to avow or defendthem. But I will resist all impertinent attempts either to intrude intomy private motives, or to control my person. I am quite well prepared todo so; and I trust that you, my good neighbour and brother sportsman,in your expostulation, and my friend Mr. Nicholas Faggot here, in hishumble advice and petition that I should surrender myself, will consideryourselves as having amply discharged your duty to King George andgovernment.'

  The cold and ironical tone in which he made this declaration; the lookand attitude, so nobly expressive of absolute confidence in his ownsuperior strength and energy, seemed to complete the indecision whichhad already shown itself on the side of those whom he addressed.

  The Justice looked to the clerk--the clerk to the Justice; the formerHA'D, EH'D, without bringing forth an articulate syllable; the latteronly said, 'As the warrant is destroyed, Mr. Justice, I presume you donot mean to proceed with the arrest?'

  'Hum--aye--why, no--Nicholas--it would not be quite advisable--and asthe Forty-five was an old affair--and--hem--as my friend here will,I hope, see his error--that is, if he has not seen it already--andrenounce the Pope, the Devil, and the Pretender--I mean no harm,neighbour--I think we--as we have no POSSE, or constables, or thelike--should order our horses--and, in one word, look the matter over.'

  'Judiciously resolved,' said the person whom this decision affected;'but before you go, I trust you will drink and be friends?'

  'Why,' said the Justice, rubbing his brow, 'our business hasbeen--hem--rather a thirsty one.'

  'Cristal Nixon,' said Mr. Herries, 'let us have a cool tankardinstantly, large enough to quench the thirst of the whole commission.'

  While Cristal was absent on this genial errand, there was a pause, ofwhich I endeavoured to avail myself by bringing back the discourse tomy own concerns. 'Sir,' I said to Justice Foxley, 'I have no directbusiness with your late discussion with Mr. Herries, only just thusfar--You leave me, a loyal subject of King George, an unwilling prisonerin the hands of a person whom you have reason to believe unfriendly tothe king's cause. I humbly submit that this is contrary to your dutyas a magistrate, and that you ought to make Mr. Herries aware of theillegality of his proceedings, and take steps for my rescue, either uponthe spot, or, at least, as soon as possible after you have left thiscase'--

  'Young man,' said Mr. Justice Foxley, 'I would have you remember you areunder the power, the l
awful power--ahem--of your guardian.'

  'He calls himself so, indeed,' I replied; 'but he has shown no evidenceto establish so absurd a claim; and if he had, his circumstances, as anattainted traitor excepted from pardon, would void such a right if itexisted. I do therefore desire you, Mr. Justice, and you, his clerk, toconsider my situation, and afford me relief at your peril.'

  'Here is a young fellow now,' said the Justice, with much-embarrassedlooks, 'thinks that I carry the whole statute law of England in my head,and a POSSE COMITATUS to execute them in my pocket! Why, what good wouldmy interference do?--but--hum--eh--I will speak to your guardian in yourfavour.'

  He took Mr. Herries aside, and seemed indeed to urge something upon himwith much earnestness; and perhaps such a species of intercession wasall which, in the circumstances, I was entitled to expect from him.

  They often looked at me as they spoke together; and as Cristal Nixonentered with a huge four-pottle tankard, filled with the beveragehis master had demanded, Herries turned away from Mr. Foxley somewhatimpatiently, saying with emphasis, 'I give you my word of honour, thatyou have not the slightest reason to apprehend anything on his account.'He then took up the tankard, and saying aloud in Gaelic, 'SLAINT ANREY,' [The King's health.] just tasted the liquor, and handed thetankard to Justice Foxley, who, to avoid the dilemma of pledging him towhat might be the Pretender's health, drank to Mr. Herries's own, withmuch pointed solemnity, but in a draught far less moderate.

  The clerk imitated the example of his principal, and I was fain tofollow their example, for anxiety and fear are at least as thirsty assorrow is said to be. In a word, we exhausted the composition of ale,sherry, lemon-juice, nutmeg, and other good things, stranded upon thesilver bottom of the tankard the huge toast, as well as the roastedorange, which had whilom floated jollily upon the brim, and renderedlegible Dr. Byrom's celebrated lines engraved thereon--

  God bless the King!--God bless the Faith's defender! God bless--No harm in blessing--the Pretender. Who that Pretender is, and who that King,-- God bless us all!--is quite another thing.

  I had time enough to study this effusion of the Jacobite muse, while theJustice was engaged in the somewhat tedious ceremony of taking leave.That of Mr. Faggot was less ceremonious; but I suspect something besidesempty compliment passed betwixt him and Mr. Herries; for I remarked thatthe latter slipped a piece of paper into the hand of the former, whichmight perhaps be a little atonement for the rashness with which he hadburnt the warrant, and imposed no gentle hand on the respectable minionof the law by whom it was exhibited; and I observed that he made thispropitiation in such a manner as to be secret from the worthy clerk'sprincipal.

  When this was arranged, the party took leave of each other with muchformality on the part of Squire Foxley, amongst whose adieus thefollowing phrase was chiefly remarkable: 'I presume you do not intend tostay long in these parts?'

  'Not for the present, Justice, you may be sure; there are good reasonsto the contrary. But I have no doubt of arranging my affairs so that weshall speedily have sport together again.'

  He went to wait upon the Justice to the courtyard; and, as he didso, commanded Cristal Nixon to see that I returned into my apartment.Knowing it would be to no purpose to resist or tamper with that stubbornfunctionary, I obeyed in silence, and was once more a prisoner in myformer quarters.