第 104 节
作者:片片      更新:2021-02-27 00:52      字数:9322
  distance had regarded the proposed enterprise as hopeful; trembled when the moment of actually embarking in it was thus unexpectedly and almost inevitably precipitated。
  'How now; my lords and gentlemen!'  said Redgauntlet; is it delight and rapture that keep you thus silent?  where are the eager welcomes that should be paid to your rightful king; who a second time confides his person to the care of his subjects; undeterred by the hairbreadth escapes and severe privations of his former expedition?  I hope there  is no gentleman here that is not ready to redeem; in his prince's presence; the pledge of fidelity which he offered in his absence。'
  'I; at least;' said the young nobleman resolutely; and laying his hand on his sword; 'will not be that coward。  If Charles is come to these shores; I will be the first to give him welcome; and to devote my life and fortune to his service。'
  'Before Cot;' said Mr。 Meredith; 'I do not see that Mr。 Redgauntlet has left us anything else to do。'
  'Stay;' said Summertrees; 'there is yet one other question。  Has he brought any of those Irish rapparees with him; who broke the neck of our last glorious affair?'
  'Not a man of them;' said Redgauntlet。
  'I trust;' said Dr。 Grumball; 'that there are no Catholic priests in his company。  I would not intrude on the private conscience of my sovereign; but; as an unworthy son of the Church of England; it is my duty to consider her security。'
  'Not a Popish dog or cat is there; to bark or mew about his Majesty;' said Redgauntlet。  'Old Shaftesbury himself could not wish a prince's person more secure from Poperywhich may not be the worst religion in the world; notwithstanding。  Any more doubts; gentlemen?  can no more plausible reasons be discovered for postponing the payment of our duty; and discharge of our oaths and engagements?  Meantime your king waits your declarationby my faith he hath but a frozen reception!'
  'Redgauntlet;' said Sir Richard Glendale; calmly; 'your reproaches shall not goad me into anything of which my reason disapproves。  That I respect my engagement as much as you do; is evident; since I am here; ready to support it with the best blood in my veins。  But has the king really come hither entirely unattended?'
  'He has no man with him but young ; as aide de camp; and a single valet de chambre。'
  'No MANbut; Redgauntlet; as you are a gentleman; has he no woman with him?'
  Redgauntlet cast his eyes on the ground and replied; 'I am sorry to sayhe has。'
  The company looked at each other; and remained silent for a moment。  At length Sir Richard proceeded。  'I need not repeat to you; Mr。 Redgauntlet; what is the well…grounded opinion of his Majesty's friends concerning that most unhappy connexion there is but one sense and feeling amongst us upon the subject。  I must conclude that our humble remonstrances were communicated by you; sir; to the king?'
  'In the same strong terms in which they were couched;' replied Redgauntlet。  'I love his Majesty's cause more than I fear his displeasure。'
  'But; apparently; our humble expostulation has produced no effect。  This lady; who has crept into his bosom; has a sister in the Elector of Hanover's court; and yet we are well assured that our most private communication is placed in her keeping。'
  'VARIUM ET MUTABILE SEMPER FEMINA;' said Dr。 Grumball。
  'She puts his secrets into her work…bag;' said Maxwell; 'and out they fly whenever she opens it。  If I must hang; I would wish it to be in somewhat a better rope than the string of a lady's hussey。'
  'Are you; too; turning dastard; Maxwell?'  said Redgauntlet; in a whisper。
  'Not I;' said Maxwell; 'let us fight for it; and let them win and wear us; but to be betrayed by a brimstone like that'
  'Be temperate; gentlemen;' said Redgauntlet; 'the foible of which you complain so heavily has always been that of kings and heroes; which I feel strongly confident the king will surmount; upon the humble entreaty of his best servants; and when he sees them ready to peril their all in his cause; upon the slight condition of his resigning the society of a female favourite; of whom I have seen reason to think he hath been himself for some time wearied。  But let us not press upon him rashly with our well…meant zeal。  He has a princely will as becomes his princely birth; and we; gentlemen; who are royalists; should be the last to take advantage of circumstances to limit its exercise。  I am as much surprised and hurt as you can be; to find that he has made her the companion of this journey; increasing every chance of treachery and detection。  But do not let us insist upon a sacrifice so humiliating; while he has scarce placed a foot upon the beach of his kingdom。  Let us act generously by our sovereign; and when we have shown what we will do for him; we shall be able; with better face; to state what it is we expect him to concede。'
  'Indeed; I think it is but a pity;' said MacKellar; 'when so many pretty gentlemen are got together; that they should part without the flash of a sword among them'
  'I should be of that gentleman's opinion;' said Lord ; 'had I nothing to lose but my life; but I frankly own; that the conditions on which our family agreed to join having been; in this instance; left unfulfilled; I will not peril the whole fortunes of our house on the doubtful fidelity of an artful woman。'
  'I am sorry to see your lordship;' said Redgauntlet; 'take a course which is more likely to secure your house's wealth than to augment its honours。'
  'How am I to understand your language; sir?'  said the young nobleman; haughtily。
  'Nay; gentlemen;' said Dr Grumball; interposing; 'do not let friends quarrel; we are all zealous for the causebut truly; although I know the license claimed by the great in such matters; and can; I hope; make due allowance; there is; I may say; an indecorum in a prince who comes to claim the allegiance of the Church of England; arriving on such an errand with such a companionSI NON CASTE; CAUTE TAMEN。'
  'I wonder how the Church of England came to be so heartily attached to his merry old namesake;' said Redgauntlet。
  Sir Richard Glendale then took up the question; as one whose authority and experience gave him right to speak with much weight。
  'We have no leisure for hesitation;' he said; 'it is full time that we decide what course we are to hold。  I feel as much as you; Mr。 Redgauntlet; the delicacy of capitulating with our sovereign in his present condition。  But I must also think of the total ruin of the cause; the confiscation and bloodshed which will take place among his adherents; and all through the infatuation with which he adheres to a woman who is the pensionary of the present minister; as she was for years Sir Robert Walpole's。  Let his Majesty send her back to the continent; and the sword on which I now lay my hand shall instantly be unsheathed; and; I trust; many hundred others at the same moment。'
  The other persons present testified their unanimous acquiescence in what Sir Richard Glendale had said。
  'I see you have taken your resolutions; gentlemen;' said Redgauntlet; 'unwisely I think; because I believe that; by softer and more generous proceedings; you would have been more likely to carry a point which I think as desirable as you do。  But what is to be done if Charles should refuse; with the inflexibility of his grandfather; to comply with this request of yours?  Do you mean to abandon him to his fate?'
  'God forbid!'  said Sir Richard; hastily; 'and God forgive you; Mr。 Redgauntlet; for breathing such a thought。  No!  I for one will; with all duty and humility; see him safe back to his vessel; and defend him with my life against whosoever shall assail him。  But when I have seen his sails spread; my next act will be to secure; if I can; my own safety; by retiring to my house; or; if I find our engagement; as is too probable; has taken wind; by surrendering myself to the next Justice of Peace; and giving security that hereafter I shall live quiet; and submit to the ruling powers。'
  Again the rest of the persons present intimated their agreement in opinion with the speaker。
  'Well; gentlemen;' said Redgauntlet; 'it is not for me to oppose the opinion of every one; and I must do you the justice to say; that the king has; in the present instance; neglected a condition of your agreement which was laid before him in very distinct terms。  The question now is; who is to acquaint him with the result of this conference; for I presume you would not wait on him in a body to make the proposal that he should dismiss a person from his family as the price of your allegiance。'
  'I think Mr。 Redgauntlet should make the explanation; said Lord 。  'As he has; doubtless; done justice to our remonstrances by communicating them to the king; no one can; with such propriety and force; state the natural and inevitable consequence of their being neglected。'
  'Now; I think;' said Redgauntlet; 'that those who make the objection should state it; for I am confident the king will hardly believe; on less authority than that of the heir of the loyal House of B; that he is the first to seek an evasion of his pledge to join him。'
  'An evasion; sir!'  repeated Lord ; fiercely; 'I have borne too much from you alrea