Redgauntlet: A Tale Of The Eighteenth Century

  LETTER VIII

  ALAN FAIRFORD TO DARSIE LATIMER

  Thou mayst clap thy wings and crow as thou pleasest. You go in searchof adventures, but adventures come to me unsought for; and oh! in what apleasing shape came mine, since it arrived in the form of a client--anda fair client to boot! What think you of that, Darsie! you who are sucha sworn squire of dames? Will this not match my adventures with thine,that hunt salmon on horseback, and will it not, besides, eclipsethe history of a whole tribe of Broadbrims?--But I must proceedmethodically.

  When I returned to-day from the College, I was surprised to see a broadgrin distending the adust countenance of the faithful James Wilkinson,which, as the circumstance seldom happens above once a year, was matterof some surprise. Moreover, he had a knowing glance with his eye,which I should have as soon expected from a dumb-waiter--an articleof furniture to which James, in his usual state, may be happilyassimilated. 'What the devil is the matter, James?'

  'The devil may be in the matter, for aught I ken,' said James, withanother provoking grin; 'for here has been a woman calling for you,Maister Alan.'

  'A woman calling for me?' said I in surprise; for you know well, thatexcepting old Aunt Peggy, who comes to dinner of a Sunday, and thestill older Lady Bedrooket, who calls ten times a year for thequarterly payment of her jointure of four hundred merks, a female scarceapproaches our threshold, as my father visits all his female clients attheir own lodgings. James protested, however, that there had been alady calling, and for me. 'As bonny a lass as I have seen,' added James,'since I was in the Fusileers, and kept company with Peg Baxter.' Thouknowest all James's gay recollections go back to the period of hismilitary service, the years he has spent in ours having probably beendull enough.

  'Did the lady leave no name nor place of address?'

  'No,' replied James; 'but she asked when you wad be at hame, and Iappointed her for twelve o'clock, when the house wad be quiet, and yourfather at the Bank.'

  'For shame, James! how can you think my father's being at home or abroadcould be of consequence?--The lady is of course a decent person?'

  'I'se uphaud her that, sir--she is nane of your--WHEW'--(Here Jamessupplied a blank with a low whistle)--'but I didna ken--my maister makesan unco wark if a woman comes here.'

  I passed into my own room, not ill-pleased that my father was absent,notwithstanding I had thought it proper to rebuke James for having socontrived it, I disarranged my books, to give them the appearance of agraceful confusion on the table, and laying my foils (useless since yourdeparture) across the mantelpiece, that the lady might see I was TAMMARTE QUAM MERCURIO--I endeavoured to dispose my dress so as to resemblean elegant morning deshabille--gave my hair the general shade of powderwhich marks the gentleman--laid my watch and seals on the table, tohint that I understood the value of time;--and when I had made all thesearrangements, of which I am a little ashamed when I think of them, I hadnothing better to do than to watch the dial-plate till the indexpointed to noon. Five minutes elapsed, which. I allowed for variationof clocks--five minutes more rendered me anxious and doubtful--and fiveminutes more would have made me impatient.

  Laugh as thou wilt; but remember, Darsie, I was a lawyer, expecting hisfirst client--a young man, how strictly bred up I need not remind you,expecting a private interview with a young and beautiful woman. But erethe third term of five minutes had elapsed, the door-bell was heard totinkle low and modestly, as if touched by some timid hand.

  James Wilkinson, swift in nothing, is, as thou knowest, peculiarly slowin answering the door-bell; and I reckoned on five minutes good, ere hissolemn step should have ascended the stair. Time enough, thought I, fora peep through the blinds, and was hastening to the window accordingly.But I reckoned without my host; for James, who had his own curiosityas well as I, was lying PERDU in the lobby, ready to open at the firsttinkle; and there was, 'This way, ma'am--Yes, ma'am--The lady, Mr.Alan,' before I could get to the chair in which I proposed to bediscovered, seated in all legal dignity. The consciousness of beinghalf-caught in the act of peeping, joined to that native air of awkwardbashfulness of which I am told the law will soon free me, kept mestanding on the floor in some confusion; while the lady, disconcertedon her part, remained on the threshold of the room. James Wilkinson, whohad his senses most about him, and was perhaps willing to prolong hisstay in the apartment, busied himself in setting a chair for the lady,and recalled me to my good-breeding by the hint. I invited her to takepossession of it, and bid James withdraw.

  My visitor was undeniably a lady, and probably considerably above theordinary rank--very modest, too, judging from the mixture of grace andtimidity with which she moved, and at my entreaty sat down. Her dresswas, I should suppose, both handsome and fashionable; but it was muchconcealed by a walking-cloak of green silk, fancifully embroidered; inwhich, though heavy for the season, her person was enveloped, and which,moreover, was furnished with a hood.

  The devil take that hood, Darsie! for I was just able to distinguishthat, pulled as it was over the face, it concealed from me, as I wasconvinced, one of the prettiest countenances I have seen, and which,from a sense of embarrassment, seemed to be crimsoned with a deep blush.I could see her complexion was beautiful--her chin finely turned--herlips coral--and her teeth rivals to ivory. But further the deponentsayeth not; for a clasp of gold, ornamented with it sapphire, closedthe envious mantle under the incognita's throat, and the cursed hoodconcealed entirely the upper part of the face.

  I ought to have spoken first, that is certain; but ere I could get myphrases well arranged, the young lady, rendered desperate I suppose bymy hesitation opened the conversation herself.

  'I fear I am an intruder, sir--I expected to meet an elderly gentleman.'

  This brought me to myself. 'My father, madam, perhaps. But you inquiredfor Alan Fairford--my father's name is Alexander.'

  'It is Mr. Alan Fairford, undoubtedly, with whom I wished to speak,' shesaid, with greater confusion; 'but I was told that he was advanced inlife.'

  'Some mistake, madam, I presume, betwixt my father and myself--ourChristian names have the same initials, though the terminations aredifferent. I--I--I would esteem it a most fortunate mistake if I couldhave the honour of supplying my father's place in anything that could beof service to you.'

  'You are very obliging, sir,' A pause, during which she seemedundetermined whether to rise or sit still.

  'I am just about to be called to the bar, madam,' said I, in hopes toremove her scruples to open her case to me; 'and if my advice or opinioncould be of the slightest use, although I cannot presume to say thatthey are much to be depended upon, yet'--

  The lady arose. 'I am truly sensible of your kindness, sir; and I haveno doubt of your talents. I will be very plain with you--it is you whomI came to visit; although, now that we have met, I find it will be muchbetter that I should commit my communication to writing.'

  'I hope, madam, you will not be so cruel--so tantalizing, I wouldsay. Consider, you are my first client--your business my firstconsultation--do not do me the displeasure of withdrawing yourconfidence because I am a few years younger than you seem to haveexpected. My attention shall make amends for my want of experience.'

  'I have no doubt of either,' said the lady, in a grave tone, calculatedto restrain the air of gallantry with which I had endeavoured to addressher. 'But when you have received my letter you will find good reasonsassigned why a written communication will best suit my purpose. I wishyou, sir, a good morning.' And she left the apartment, her poor baffledcounsel scraping, and bowing, and apologizing for anything that mighthave been disagreeable to her, although the front of my offence seems tobe my having been discovered to be younger than my father.

  The door was opened--out she went--walked along the pavement, turneddown the close, and put the sun, I believe, into her pocket when shedisappeared, so suddenly did dullness and darkness sink down on thesquare, when she was no longer visible. I stood for a moment as if Ihad been senseless, not recollecting what a fund of e
ntertainment I musthave supplied to our watchful friends on the other side of the green.Then it darted on my mind that I might dog her, and ascertain at leastwho or what she was. Off I set--ran down the close, where she was nolonger to be seen, and demanded of one of the dyer's lads whether he hadseen a lady go down the close, or had observed which way she turned.

  'A leddy!'--said the dyer, staring at me with his rainbow countenance.'Mr. Alan, what takes you out, rinning like daft, without your hat?'

  'The devil take my hat!' answered I, running back, however, in quest ofit; snatched it up, and again sallied forth. But as I reached the headof the close once more, I had sense enough to recollect that all pursuitwould be now in vain. Besides, I saw my friend, the journeyman dyer, inclose confabulation with a pea-green personage of his own profession,and was conscious, like Scrub, that they talked of me, because theylaughed consumedly. I had no mind, by a second sudden appearance, toconfirm the report that Advocate Fairford was 'gaen daft,' which hadprobably spread from Campbell's Close-foot to the Meal-market Stairs;and so slunk back within my own hole again.

  My first employment was to remove all traces of that elegant andfanciful disposition of my effects, from which I had hoped for so muchcredit; for I was now ashamed and angry at having thought an instantupon the mode of receiving a visit which had commenced so agreeably,but terminated in a manner so unsatisfactory. I put my folios in theirplaces--threw the foils into the dressing-closet--tormenting myself allthe while with the fruitless doubt, whether I had missed an opportunityor escaped a stratagem, or whether the young person had been reallystartled, as she seemed to intimate, by the extreme youth of herintended legal adviser. The mirror was not unnaturally called in to aid;and that cabinet-counsellor pronounced me rather short, thick-set,with a cast of features fitter, I trust, for the bar than the ball--nothandsome enough for blushing virgins to pine for my sake, or even toinvent sham cases to bring them to my chambers--yet not ugly enougheither to scare those away who came on real business--dark, to be sure,but--NIGRI SUNT HYACINTHI--there are pretty things to be said in favourof that complexion.

  At length--as common sense will get the better in all cases when a manwill but give it fair play--I began to stand convicted in my own mind,as an ass before the interview, for having expected too much--an assduring the interview, for having failed to extract the lady's realpurpose--and an especial ass, now that it was over, for thinking so muchabout it. But I can think of nothing else, and therefore I am determinedto think of this to some good purpose.

  You remember Murtough O'Hara's defence of the Catholic doctrine ofconfession; because, 'by his soul, his sins were always a great burdento his mind, till he had told them to the priest; and once confessed, henever thought more about them.' I have tried his receipt, therefore; andhaving poured my secret mortification into thy trusty ear, I will thinkno more about this maid of the mist,

  Who, with no face, as 'twere, outfaced me.

  --Four o'clock. Plague on her green mantle, she can be nothingbetter than a fairy; she keeps possession of my head yet! All duringdinner-time I was terribly absent; but, luckily, my father gave thewhole credit of my reverie to the abstract nature of the doctrine, VINCOVINCENTEM, ERGO VINCO TE; upon which brocard of law the professor thismorning lectured. So I got an early dismissal to my own crib, and heream I studying, in one sense, VINCERE VINCENTEM, to get the better ofthe silly passion of curiosity--I think--I think it amounts to nothingelse--which has taken such possession of my imagination, and isperpetually worrying me with the question--will she write or no? Shewill not--she will not! So says Reason, and adds, Why should she takethe trouble to enter into correspondence with one who, instead of abold, alert, prompt gallant, proved a chicken-hearted boy, and left herthe whole awkwardness of explanation, which he should have met half-way?But then, says Fancy, she WILL write, for she was not a bit that sortof person whom you, Mr. Reason, in your wisdom, take her to be. She wasdisconcerted enough, without my adding to her distress by any impudentconduct on my part. And she will write, for--By Heaven, she HAS written,Darsie, and with a vengeance! Here is her letter, thrown into thekitchen by a caddie, too faithful to be bribed, either by money orwhisky, to say more than that he received it, with sixpence, from anordinary-looking woman, as he was plying on his station near the Cross.

  'FOR ALAN FAIRFORD, ESQUIRE, BARRISTER.

  'SIR,

  'Excuse my mistake of to-day. I had accidentally learnt that Mr. DarsieLatimer had an intimate friend and associate in Mr. A. Fairford. When Iinquired for such a person, he was pointed out to me at the Cross (asI think the Exchange of your city is called) in the character of arespectable elderly man--your father, as I now understand. On inquiry atBrown's Square, where I understood he resided, I used the full name ofAlan, which naturally occasioned you the trouble of this day's visit.Upon further inquiry, I am led to believe that you are likely to be theperson most active in the matter to which I am now about to direct yourattention; and I regret much that circumstances, arising out of my ownparticular situation, prevent my communicating to you personally what Inow apprise you of in this matter.

  'Your friend, Mr. Darsie Latimer, is in a situation of considerabledanger. You are doubtless aware that he has been cautioned not to trusthimself in England. Now, if he has not absolutely transgressed thisfriendly injunction, he has at least approached as nearly to the menaceddanger as he could do, consistently with the letter of the prohibition.He has chosen his abode in a neighbourhood very perilous to him; andit is only by a speedy return to Edinburgh, or at least by a removal tosome more remote part of Scotland, that he can escape the machinationsof those whose enmity he has to fear. I must speak in mystery, but mywords are not the less certain; and, I believe, you know enough of yourfriend's fortunes to be aware that I could not write this much withoutbeing even more intimate with them than you are.

  'If he cannot, or will not, take the advice here given, it is my opinionthat you should join him, if possible, without delay, and use, byyour personal presence and entreaty, the arguments which may proveineffectual in writing. One word more, and I implore of your candour totake it as it is meant. No one supposes that Mr. Fairford's zeal in hisfriend's service needs to be quickened by mercenary motives. 'But reportsays, that Mr. Alan Fairford, not having yet entered on his professionalcareer, may, in such a case as this, want the means, though he cannotwant the inclination, to act with promptitude. The enclosed note Mr.Alan Fairford must be pleased to consider as his first professionalemolument; and she who sends it hopes it will be the omen of unboundedsuccess, though the fee comes from a hand so unknown as that of 'GREENMANTLE'.

  A bank-note of L20 was the enclosure, and the whole incident left mespeechless with astonishment. I am not able to read over the beginningof my own letter, which forms the introduction to this extraordinarycommunication. I only know that, though mixed with a quantity of foolery(God knows very much different from my present feelings), it gives anaccount sufficiently accurate, of the mysterious person from whom thisletter comes, and that I have neither time nor patience to separate theabsurd commentary from the text, which it is so necessary you shouldknow.

  Combine this warning, so strangely conveyed, with the caution impressedon you by your London correspondent, Griffiths, against your visitingEngland--with the character of your Laird of the Solway Lakes--with thelawless habits of the people on that frontier country, where warrantsare not easily executed owing to the jealousy entertained by eithercountry of the legal interference of the other; remember, that even SirJohn Fielding said to my father that he could never trace a rogue beyondthe Briggend of Dumfries--think that the distinctions of Whig andTory, Papist and Protestant, still keep that country in a loose andcomparatively lawless state--think of all this, my dearest Darsie, andremember that, while at this Mount Sharon of yours, you are residingwith a family actually menaced with forcible interference, and who,while their obstinacy provokes violence, are by principle bound toabstain from resistance.

  Nay, let me tell you, professi
onally, that the legality of the mode offishing practised by your friend Joshua is greatly doubted by ourbest lawyers; and that, if the stake-nets be considered as actually anunlawful obstruction raised in the channel of the estuary, an assemblyof persons who shall proceed, VIA FACTI, to pull dawn and destroy them,would not, in the eye of the law, be esteemed guilty of a riot. So, byremaining where you are, YOU are likely to be engaged in a quarrel withwhich you have nothing to do, and thus to enable your enemies, whoeverthese may be, to execute, amid the confusion of a general hubbub,whatever designs they may have against your personal safety.Black-fishers, poachers, and smugglers are a sort of gentry that willnot be much checked, either by your Quaker's texts, or by your chivalry.If you are Don Quixote enough to lay lance in rest, in defence of thoseof the stake-net, and of the sad-coloured garment, I pronounce you buta lost knight; for, as I said before, I doubt if these potent redressersof wrongs, the justices and constables, will hold themselves warrantedto interfere. In a word, return, my dear Amadis; the adventure of theSolway-nets is not reserved for your worship. Come back, and I will beyour faithful Sancho Panza upon a more hopeful quest. We will beatabout together, in search of this Urganda, the Unknown She of the GreenMantle, who can read this, the riddle of thy fate, better than wiseEppie of Buckhaven, [Well known in the Chap-Book, called the History ofBuckhaven.] or Cassandra herself.

  I would fain trifle, Darsie; for, in debating with you, jests willsometimes go farther than arguments; but I am sick at heart and cannotkeep the ball up. If you have a moment's regard for the friendship wehave so often vowed to each other, let my wishes for once prevail overyour own venturous and romantic temper. I am quite serious in thinkingthat the information communicated to my father by this Mr. Herries, andthe admonitory letter of the young lady, bear upon each other; and that,were you here, you might learn something from one or other, or fromboth, that; might throw light on your birth and parentage. You will not,surely, prefer an idle whim to the prospect which is thus held out toyou?

  I would, agreeably to the hint I have received in the young lady'sletter (for I am confident that such is her condition), have ere nowbeen with you to urge these things, instead of pouring them out uponpaper. But you know that the day for my trials is appointed; I havealready gone through the form of being introduced to the examinators,and have gotten my titles assigned me. All this should not keep me athome, but my father would view any irregularity upon this occasion as amortal blow to the hopes which he has cherished most fondly during hislife; viz. my being called to the bar with some credit. For my ownpart, I know there is no great difficulty in passing these formalexaminations, else how have some of our acquaintance got through them?But, to my father, these formalities compose an august and serioussolemnity, to which he has long looked forward, and my absenting myselfat this moment would wellnigh drive him distracted. Yet I shall goaltogether distracted myself, if I have not an instant assurance fromyou that you are hastening hither. Meanwhile I have desired Hannah toget your little crib into the best order possible. I cannot learnthat my father has yet written to you; nor has he spoken more of hiscommunication with Birrenswork; but when I let him have some inklingof the dangers you are at present incurring, I know my request that youwill return immediately will have his cordial support.

  Another reason yet--I must give a dinner, as usual, upon my admission,to our friends; and my father, laying aside all his usual considerationsof economy, has desired it may be in the best style possible.Come hither then, dear Darsie! or, I protest to you, I shall sendexamination, admission-dinner, and guests to the devil, and come, inperson, to fetch you with a vengeance. Thine, in much anxiety, A. F.