Redgauntlet: A Tale Of The Eighteenth Century

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XXI

  NARRATIVE OF ALAN FAIRFORD

  Our readers may recollect that Fairford had been conducted by DickGardener from the house of Fairladies to the inn of old FatherCrackenthorp, in order, as he had been informed by the mysterious FatherBuonaventure, that he might have the meeting which he desired with Mr.Redgauntlet, to treat with him for the liberty of his friend Darsie. Hisguide, by the special direction of Mr. Ambrose, had introduced him intothe public-house by a back-door, and recommended to the landlord toaccommodate him with a private apartment, and to treat him with allcivility; but in other respects to keep his eye on him, and even tosecure his person, if he saw any reason to suspect him to be a spy. Hewas not, however, subjected to any direct restraint, but was usheredinto an apartment where he was requested to await the arrival ofthe gentleman with whom he wished to have an interview, and who, asCrackenthorp assured, him with a significant nod, would be certainlythere in the course of an hour. In the meanwhile, he recommended to him,with another significant sign, to keep his apartment, 'as there werepeople in the house who were apt to busy themselves about other folk'smatters.'

  Alan Fairford complied with the recommendation, so long as he thoughtit reasonable; but when, among a large party riding up to the house, hediscerned Redgauntlet, whom he had seen under the name of Mr. Herriesof Birrenswork, and whom, by his height and strength, he easilydistinguished from the rest, he thought it proper to go down to thefront of the house, in hopes that, by more closely reconnoitring theparty, he might discover if his friend Darsie was among them.

  The reader is aware that, by doing so, he had an opportunity of breakingDarsie's fall from his side-saddle, although his disguise and maskprevented his recognizing his friend. It may be also recollected thatwhile Nixon hurried Miss Redgauntlet and her brother into the house,their uncle, somewhat chafed at an unexpected and inconvenientinterruption, remained himself in parley with Fairford, who had alreadysuccessively addressed him by the names of Herries and Redgauntlet;neither of which, any more than the acquaintance of the young lawyer,he seemed at the moment willing to acknowledge, though an air of haughtyindifference, which he assumed, could not conceal his vexation andembarrassment.

  'If we must needs be acquainted, sir,' he said at last--'for which Iam unable to see any necessity, especially as I am now particularlydisposed to be private--I must entreat you will tell me at once what youhave to say, and permit me to attend to matters of more importance.'

  'My introduction,' said Fairford, 'is contained in thisletter.--(Delivering that of Maxwell.)--I am convinced that, underwhatever name it may be your pleasure for the present to be known, it isinto your hands, and yours only, that it should be delivered.'

  Redgauntlet turned the letter in his hand--then read the contents thenagain looked upon the letter, and sternly observed, 'The seal of theletter has been broken. Was this the case, sir, when it was deliveredinto your hand?'

  Fairford despised a falsehood as much as any man,--unless, perhaps, asTom Turnpenny might have said, 'in the way of business.' He answeredreadily and firmly, 'The seal was whole when the letter was delivered tome by Mr. Maxwell of Summertrees.'

  'And did you dare, sir, to break the seal of a letter addressed to me?'said Redgauntlet, not sorry, perhaps, to pick a quarrel upon a pointforeign to the tenor of the epistle.

  'I have never broken the seal of any letter committed to my charge,'said Alan; 'not from fear of those to whom such letter might beaddressed, but from respect to myself.'

  'That is well worded,' said Redgauntlet; 'and yet, young Mr. Counsellor,I doubt whether your delicacy prevented your reading my letter, orlistening to the contents as read by some other person after it wasopened.'

  'I certainly did hear the contents read over,' said Fairford; 'and theywere such as to surprise me a good deal.'

  'Now that,' said Redgauntlet, 'I hold to be pretty much the same, INFORO CONSCIENTIAE, as if you had broken the seal yourself. I shall holdmyself excused from entering upon further discourse with a messengerso faithless; and you may thank yourself if your journey has beenfruitless.'

  'Stay, sir,' said Fairford; 'and know that I became acquainted with thecontents of the paper without my consent--I may even say, against mywill; for Mr. Buonaventure'--

  'Who?' demanded Redgauntlet, in a wild and alarmed manner--'WHOM was ityou named?'

  'Father Buonaventure,' said Alan,--'a Catholic priest, as I apprehend,whom I saw at the Misses Arthuret's house, called Fairladies.'

  'Misses Arthuret!--Fairladies!--A Catholic priest!--FatherBuonaventure!' said Redgauntlet, repeating the words of Alan withastonishment.--'Is it possible that human rashness can reach such apoint of infatuation? Tell me the truth, I conjure you, sir. I havethe deepest interest to know whether this is more than an idle legend,picked up from hearsay about the country. You are a lawyer, and know therisk incurred by the Catholic clergy, whom the discharge of their dutysends to these bloody shores.'

  'I am a lawyer, certainly,' said Fairford; 'but my holding such arespectable condition in life warrants that I am neither an informernor a spy. Here is sufficient evidence that I have seen FatherBuonaventure.'

  He put Buonaventure's letter into Redgauntlet's hand, and watched hislooks closely while he read it. 'Double-dyed infatuation!' he muttered,with looks in which sorrow, displeasure, and anxiety were mingled.'"Save me from the indiscretion of my friends," says the Spaniard; "Ican save myself from the hostility of my enemies."'

  He then read the letter attentively, and for two or three minuteswas lost in thought, while some purpose of importance seemed to havegathered and sit brooding upon his countenance. He held up his fingertowards his satellite, Cristal Nixon, who replied to his signal with aprompt nod; and with one or two of the attendants approached Fairford insuch a manner as to make him apprehensive they were about to lay hold ofhim.

  At this moment a noise was heard from withinside of the house, andpresently rushed forth Peter Peebles, pursued by Nanty Ewart with hisdrawn hanger, and the worthy Quaker, who was endeavouring to preventmischief to others, at some risk of bringing it on himself.

  A wilder and yet a more absurd figure can hardly be imagined, than thatof Poor Peter clattering along as fast as his huge boots would permithim, and resembling nothing so much as a flying scarecrow; while thethin emaciated form of Nanty Ewart, with the hue of death on his cheek,and the fire of vengeance glancing from his eye, formed a ghastlycontrast with the ridiculous object of his pursuit.

  Redgauntlet threw himself between them. 'What extravagant folly isthis?' he said. 'Put up your weapon, captain. Is this a time to indulgein drunken brawls, or is such a miserable object as that a fittingantagonist for a man of courage?'

  'I beg pardon,' said the captain, sheathing his weapon--'I was a littlebit out of the way, to be sure; but to know the provocation, a man mustread my heart, and that I hardly dare to do myself. But the wretch issafe from me. Heaven has done its own vengeance on us both.'

  While he spoke in this manner, Peter Peebles, who had at first creptbehind Redgauntlet in bodily fear, began now to reassume his spirits.Pulling his protector by the sleeve, 'Mr. Herries--Mr. Herries,' hewhispered, eagerly, 'ye have done me mair than ae gude turn, and if yewill but do me anither at this dead pinch, I'll forgie the girded keg ofbrandy that you and Captain Sir Harry Redgimlet drank out yon time. Yesall hae an ample discharge and renunciation, and, though I should seeyou walking at the Cross of Edinburgh, or standing at the bar of theCourt of Justiciary, no the very thumbikins themselves should bring tomy memory that ever I saw you in arms yon day.'

  He accompanied this promise by pulling so hard at Redgauntlet's cloak,that he at last turned round. 'Idiot! speak in a word what you want.'

  'Aweel, aweel. In a word, then,' said Peter Peebles, 'I have a warranton me to apprehend that man that stands there, Alan Fairford by name,and advocate by calling. I bought it from Maister Justice Foxley'sclerk, Maister Nicholas Faggot, wi' the guinea that you gied me.

  'Ha!' said Redgauntl
et, 'hast thou really such a warrant? let me see it.Look sharp that no one escape, Cristal Nixon.'

  Peter produced a huge, greasy, leathern pocketbook, too dirty topermit its original colour to be visible, filled with scrolls of notes,memorials to counsel, and Heaven knows what besides. From amongst thisprecious mass he culled forth a paper, and placed it in the hands ofRedgauntlet, or Herries, as he continued to call him, saying, at thesame time, 'It's a formal and binding warrant, proceeding on my affidavymade, that the said Alan Fairford, being lawfully engaged in my service,had slipped the tether and fled over the Border, and was now lurkingthere and thereabouts, to elude and evite the discharge of his boundenduty to me; and therefore granting warrant to constables and others,to seek for, take, and apprehend him, that he may be brought beforethe Honourable Justice Foxley for examination, and, if necessary, forcommitment. Now, though a' this be fairly set down, as I tell ye, yetwhere am I to get an officer to execute this warrant in sic a country asthis, where swords and pistols flee out at a word's speaking, and folkcare as little for the peace of King George as the peace of Auld KingCoul? There's that drunken skipper, and that wet Quaker, enticed me intothe public this morning, and because I wadna gie them' as much brandy aswad have made them blind-drunk, they baith fell on me, and were in theway of guiding me very ill.'

  While Peter went on in this manner, Redgauntlet glanced his eye over thewarrant, and immediately saw that it must be a trick passed by NicholasFaggot, to cheat the poor insane wretch out of his solitary guinea. Butthe Justice had actually subscribed it, as he did whatever his clerkpresented to him, and Redgauntlet resolved to use it for his ownpurposes.

  Without making any direct answer, therefore, to Peter Peebles, he walkedup gravely to Fairford, who had waited quietly for the termination ofa scene in which he was not a little surprised to find his client, Mr.Peebles, a conspicuous actor.

  'Mr. Fairford,' said Redgauntlet, 'there are many reasons which mightinduce me to comply with the request, or rather the injunctions, of theexcellent Father Buonaventure, that I should communicate with you uponthe present condition of my ward, whom you know under the name ofDarsie Latimer; but no man is better aware than you that the law must beobeyed, even in contradiction to our own feelings; now this poor manhas obtained a warrant for carrying you before a magistrate, and, I amafraid, there is a necessity of your yielding to it, although to thepostponement of the business which you may have with me.'

  'A warrant against me!' said Alan, indignantly; 'and at that poormiserable wretch's instance?--why, this is a trick, a mere and mostpalpable trick.'

  'It may be so,' replied Redgauntlet, with great equanimity; 'doubtlessyou know best; only the writ appears regular, and with that respectfor the law which has been,' he said, with hypocritical formality, 'aleading feature of my character through life, I cannot dispense withgiving my poor aid to the support of a legal warrant. Look at ityourself, and be satisfied it is no trick of mine.'

  Fairford ran over the affidavit and the warrant, and then exclaimed oncemore, that it was an impudent imposition, and that he would hold thosewho acted upon such a warrant liable in the highest damages. 'I guessat your motive, Mr. Redgauntlet,' he said, 'for acquiescing in soridiculous a proceeding. But be assured you will find that, in thiscountry, one act of illegal violence will not be covered or atoned forby practising another. You cannot, as a man of sense and honour, pretendto say you regard this as a legal warrant.'

  'I am no lawyer, sir,' said Redgauntlet; 'and pretend not to know whatis or is not law--the warrant is quite formal, and that is enough forme.'

  'Did ever any one hear,' said Fairford, 'of an advocate being compelledto return to his task, like a collier or a salter [See Note 10.] who hasdeserted his master?'

  'I see no reason why he should not,' said Redgauntlet, dryly, 'unlesson the ground that the services of the lawyer are the most expensive andleast useful of the two.'

  'You cannot mean this in earnest,' said Fairford; 'you cannot reallymean to avail yourself of so poor a contrivance, to evade the wordpledged by your friend, your ghostly father, in my behalf. I may havebeen a fool for trusting it too easily, but think what you must be ifyou can abuse my confidence in this manner. I entreat you to reflectthat this usage releases me from all promises of secrecy or connivanceat what I am apt to think are very dangerous practices, and that'--

  'Hark ye, Mr. Fairford,' said Redgauntlet; 'I must here interrupt youfor your own sake. One word of betraying what you may have seen, or whatyou may have suspected, and your seclusion is like to have either a verydistant or a very brief termination; in either case a most undesirableone. At present, you are sure of being at liberty in a very fewdays--perhaps much sooner.'

  'And my friend,' said Alan Fairford, 'for whose sake I have run myselfinto this danger, what is to become of him? Dark and dangerous man!' heexclaimed, raising his voice, I will not be again cajoled by deceitfulpromises'--

  'I give you my honour that your friend is well,' interruptedRedgauntlet; 'perhaps I may permit you to see him, if you will butsubmit with patience to a fate which is inevitable.'

  But Alan Fairford, considering his confidence as having been abused,first by Maxwell, and next by the priest, raised his voice, and appealedto all the king's lieges within hearing, against the violence withwhich he was threatened. He was instantly seized on by Nixon and twoassistants, who, holding down his arms, and endeavouring to stop hismouth, were about to hurry him away.

  The honest Quaker, who had kept out of Redgauntlet's presence, now cameboldly forward.

  'Friend,' said he, 'thou dost more than thou canst answer. Thou knowestme well, and thou art aware that in me thou hast a deeply injuredneighbour, who was dwelling beside thee in the honesty and simplicity ofhis heart.'

  'Tush, Jonathan,' said Redgauntlet; 'talk not to me, man; it is neitherthe craft of a young lawyer, nor the SIMPLICITY of an old hypocrite, candrive me from my purpose.

  'By my faith,' said the captain, coming forward in his turn, 'this ishardly fair, general; and I doubt,' he added, 'whether the will of myowners can make me a party to such proceedings. Nay, never fumble withyour sword-hilt, but out with it like a man, if you are for a tilting.'He unsheathed his hanger, and continued--'I will neither see my comradeFairford, nor the old Quaker, abused. D----n all warrants, false ortrue--curse the justice--confound the constable!--and here stands littleNanty Ewart to make good what he says against gentle and simple, inspite of horse-shoe or horse-radish either.'

  The cry of 'Down with all warrants!' was popular in the ears of themilitia of the inn, and Nanty Ewart was no less so. Fishers, ostlers,seamen, smugglers, began to crowd to the spot. Crackenthorp endeavouredin vain to mediate. The attendants of Redgauntlet began to handle theirfirearms; but their master shouted to them to forbear, and, unsheathinghis sword as quick as lightning, he rushed on Ewart in the midst ofhis bravado, and struck his weapon from his hand with such address andforce, that it flew three yards from him. Closing with him at the samemoment, he gave him a severe fall, and waved his sword over his head, toshow he was absolutely at his mercy.

  'There, you drunken vagabond,' he said, 'I give you your life--you areno bad fellow if you could keep from brawling among your friends. Butwe all know Nanty Ewart,' he said to the crowd around, with a forgivinglaugh, which, joined to the awe his prowess had inspired, entirelyconfirmed their wavering allegiance.

  They shouted, 'The laird for ever!' while poor Nanty, rising from theearth, on whose lap he had been stretched so rudely, went in quest ofhis hanger, lifted it, wiped it, and, as he returned the weapon to thescabbard, muttered between his teeth, 'It is true they say of him, andthe devil will stand his friend till his hour come; I will cross him nomore.'

  So saying, he slunk from the crowd, cowed and disheartened by hisdefeat.

  'For you, Joshua Geddes,' said Redgauntlet, approaching the Quaker, who,with lifted hands and eyes, had beheld the scene of violence, 'l shalltake the liberty to arrest thee for a breach of the peace, altogetherunbecoming thy
pretended principles; and I believe it will go hard withthee both in a court of justice and among thine own Society of Friends,as they call themselves, who will be but indifferently pleased tosee the quiet tenor of their hypocrisy insulted by such violentproceedings.'

  'I violent!' said Joshua; 'I do aught unbecoming the principles of theFriends! I defy thee, man, and I charge thee, as a Christian, to forbearvexing my soul with such charges: it is grievous enough to me to haveseen violences which I was unable to prevent.'

  'O Joshua, Joshua!' said Redgauntlet, with a sardonic smile; 'thou lightof the faithful in the town of Dumfries and the places adjacent, wiltthou thus fall away from the truth? Hast thou not, before us all,attempted to rescue a man from the warrant of law? Didst thou notencourage that drunken fellow to draw his weapon--and didst thou notthyself flourish thy cudgel in the cause? Think'st thou that the oathsof the injured Peter Peebles, and the conscientious Cristal Nixon,besides those of such gentlemen as look on this strange scene, who notonly put on swearing as a garment, but to whom, in Custom House matters,oaths are literally meat and drink,--dost thou not think, I say, thatthese men's oaths will go further than thy Yea and Nay in this matter?'

  'I will swear to anything,' said Peter. 'All is fair when it comes to anoath AD LITEM.'

  'You do me foul wrong,' said the Quaker, undismayed by the generallaugh. 'I encouraged no drawing of weapons, though I attempted to movean unjust man by some use of argument--I brandished no cudgel, althoughit may be that the ancient Adam struggled within me, and caused my handto grasp mine oaken staff firmer than usual, when I saw innocence bornedown with violence. But why talk I what is true and just to thee, whohast been a man of violence from thy youth upwards? Let me rather speakto thee such language as thou canst comprehend. Deliver these young menup to me,' he said, when he had led Redgauntlet a little apart from thecrowd, 'and I will not only free thee from the heavy charge of damageswhich thou hast incurred by thine outrage upon my property, but I willadd ransom for them and for myself. What would it profit thee to do theyouths wrong, by detaining them in captivity?'

  'Mr. Geddes,' said Redgauntlet, in a tone more respectful than he hadhitherto used to the Quaker, 'your language is disinterested, and Irespect the fidelity of your friendship. Perhaps we have mistaken eachother's principles and motives; but if so, we have not at present timefor explanation. Make yourself easy. I hope to raise your friendDarsie Latimer to a pitch of eminence which you will witness withpleasure;--nay, do not attempt to answer me. The other young man shallsuffer restraint a few days, probably only a few hours,--it is not morethan due for his pragmatical interference in what concerned him not.Do you, Mr. Geddes, be so prudent as to take your horse and leave thisplace, which is growing every moment more unfit for the abode of a manof peace. You may wait the event in safety at Mount Sharon.'

  'Friend,' replied Joshua, 'I cannot comply with thy advice; I willremain here, even as thy prisoner, as thou didst but now threaten,rather than leave the youth who hath suffered by and through me and mymisfortunes, in his present state of doubtful safety. Wherefore I willnot mount my steed Solomon; neither will I turn his head towards MountSharon, until I see an end of this matter.'

  'A prisoner, then, you must be,' said Redgauntlet. 'I have no time todispute the matter further with you. But tell me for what you fix youreyes so attentively on yonder people of mine.'

  'To speak the truth,' said the Quaker, 'I admire to behold among thema little wretch of a boy called Benjie, to whom I think Satan has giventhe power of transporting himself wheresoever mischief is going forward;so that it may be truly said, there is no evil in this land wherein hehath not a finger, if not a whole hand.'

  The boy, who saw their eyes fixed on him as they spoke, seemedembarrassed, slid rather desirous of making his escape; but at a signalfrom Redgauntlet he advanced, assuming the sheepish look and rusticmanner with which the jackanapes covered much acuteness and roguery.

  'How long have you been with the party, sirrah?' said Redgauntlet.

  'Since the raid on the stake-nets,' said Benjie, with his finger in hismouth.

  'And what made you follow us?'

  'I dauredna stay at hame for the constables,' replied the boy.

  'And what have you been doing all this time?'

  'Doing, sir? I dinna ken what ye ca' doing--I have been doing naething,'said Benjie; then seeing something in Redgauntlet's eye which was notto be trifled with, he added, 'Naething but waiting on Maister CristalNixon.'

  'Hum!--aye--indeed?' muttered Redgauntlet. 'Must Master Nixon bring hisown retinue into the field? This must be seen to.'

  He was about to pursue his inquiry, when Nixon himself came to him withlooks of anxious haste, 'The Father is come,' he whispered, 'and thegentlemen are getting together in the largest room of the house, andthey desire to see you. Yonder is your nephew, too, making a noise likea man in Bedlam.'

  'I will look to it all instantly,' said Redgauntlet. 'Is the Fatherlodged as I directed?'

  Cristal nodded.

  'Now, then, for the final trial,' said Redgauntlet. He folded hishands--looked upwards--crossed himself--and after this act of devotion(almost the first which any one had observed him make use of) hecommanded Nixon to keep good watch--have his horses and men ready forevery emergence--look after the safe custody of the prisoners--but treatthem at the same time well and civilly. And, these orders given, hedarted hastily into the house.