CHAPTER XVI.
A slight note I have about me for you, for the delivery of which you must excuse me. It is an offer that friendship calls upon me to do, and no way offensive to you, since I desire nothing but right upon both sides.
King and no King.
WHEN Ravenswood and his guest met in the morning, the gloom of theMaster's spirit had in part returned. He, also, had passed a nightrather of reflection that of slumber; and the feelings which he couldnot but entertain towards Lucy Ashton had to support a severe conflictagainst those which he had so long nourished against her father. Toclasp in friendship the hand of the enemy of his house, to entertain himunder his roof, to exchange with him the courtesies and the kindness ofdomestic familiarity, was a degradation which his proud spirit could notbe bent to without a struggle.
But the ice being once broken, the Lord Keeper was resolved it shouldnot have time against to freeze. It had been part of his plan to stunand confuse Ravenswood's ideas, by a complicated and technical statementof the matters which had been in debate betwixt their families, justlythinking that it would be difficult for a youth of his age to followthe expositions of a practical lawyer, concerning actions of compt andreckoning, and of multiplepoindings, and adjudications and wadsets,proper and improper, and poindings of the ground, and declarations ofthe expiry of the legal. "Thus," thought Sir William, "I shall haveall the grace of appearing perfectly communicative, while my party willderive very little advantage from anything I may tell him." He thereforetook Ravenswood aside into the deep recess of a window in the hall, andresuming the discourse of the proceeding evening, expressed a hope thathis young friend would assume some patience, in order to hear him enterin a minute and explanatory detail of those unfortunate circumstancesin which his late honourable father had stood at variance with the LordKeeper. The Master of Ravenswood coloured highly, but was silent; andthe Lord Keeper, though not greatly approving the sudden heighteningof his auditor's complexion, commenced the history of a bond for twentythousand merks, advanced by his father to the father of Allan LordRavenswood, and was proceeding to detail the executorial proceedingsby which this large sum had been rendered a debitum fundi, when he wasinterrupted by the Master.
"It is not in this place," he said, "that I can hear Sir WilliamAshton's explanation of the matters in question between us. It is nothere, where my father died of a broken heart, that I can with decencyor temper investigate the cause of his distress. I might remember that Iwas a son, and forget the duties of a host. A time, however, there mustcome, when these things shall be discussed, in a place and in a presencewhere both of us will have equal freedom to speak and to hear."
"Any time," the Lord Keeper said, "any place, was alike to those whosought nothing but justice. Yet it would seem he was, in fairness,entitled to some premonition respecting the grounds upon which theMaster proposed to impugn the whole train of legal proceedings, whichhad been so well and ripely advised in the only courts competent."
"Sir William Ashton," answered the Master, with warmth, "the lands whichyou now occupy were granted to my remote ancestor for services done withhis sword against the English invaders. How they have glided from us bya train of proceedings that seem to be neither sale, nor mortgage, noradjudication for debt, but a nondescript and entangled mixture of allthese rights; how annual rent has been accumulated upon principal, andno nook or coign of legal advantage left unoccupied, until our interestin our hereditary property seems to have melted away like an icicle inthaw--all this you understand better than I do. I am willing, however,to suppose, from the frankness of your conduct towards me, that I may ina great measure have mistaken your personal character, and that thingsmay have appeared right and fitting to you, a skilful and practisedlawyer, which to my ignorant understanding seem very little short ofinjustice and gross oppression."
"And you, my dear Master," answered Sir William--"you, permit me to say,have been equally misrepresented to me. I was taught to believe youa fierce, imperious, hot-headed youth, ready, at the slightestprovocation, to throw your sword into the scales of justice, and toappeal to those rude and forcible measures from which civil polity haslong protected the people of Scotland. Then, since we were mutuallymistaken in each other, why should not the young nobleman be willingto listen to the old lawyer, while, at least, he explains the points ofdifference betwixt them?"
"No, my lord," answered Ravenswood; "it is in the House of BritishPeers, whose honour must be equal to their rank--it is in the court oflast resort that we must parley together. The belted lords of Britain,her ancient peers, must decide, if it is their will that a house,not the least noble of their members, shall be stripped of theirpossessions, the reward of the patriotism of generations, as the pawn ofa wretched mechanic becomes forfeit to the usurer the instant the hourof redemption has passed away. If they yield to the grasping severity ofthe creditor, and to the gnawing usury that eats into our lands as mothsinto a raiment, it will be of more evil consequence to them and theirposterity than to Edgar Ravenswood. I shall still have my sword and mycloak, and can follow the profession of arms wherever a trumpet shallsound."
As he pronounced these words, in a firm yet melancholy tone, he raisedhis eyes, and suddenly encountered those of Lucy Ashton, who had stolenunawares on their interview, and observed her looks fastened on themwith an expression of enthusiastic interest and admiration, which hadwrapt her for the moment beyond the fear of discovery. The noble formand fine features of Ravenswood, fired with the pride of birth and senseof internal dignity, the mellow and expressive tones of his voice,the desolate state of his fortunes, and the indifference with which heseemed to endure and to dare the worst that might befall, rendered him adangerous object of contemplation for a maiden already too muchdisposed to dwell upon recollections connected with him. When their eyesencountered each other, both blushed deeply, conscious of some stronginternal emotion, an shunned again to meet each other's looks. SirWilliam Ashton had, of course, closely watched the expression of theircountenances. "I need fear," said he internally, "neither Parliament norprotestation I have an effectual mode of reconciling myself with thishot-tempered young fellow, in case he shall become formidable. Thepresent object is, at all events, to avoid committing ourselves. Thehook is fixed; we will nto strain the line too soon: it is as well toreserve the privilege of slipping it loose, if we do not find the fishworth landing."
In this selfish and cruel calculation upon the supposed attachment ofRavenswood to Lucy, he was so far from considering the pain he mightgive to the former, by thus dallying with his affections, that he evendid not think upon the risk of involving his own daughter in the perilsof an unfortunate passion as if her predilection, which could notescape his attention, were like the flame of a taper which might belighted or extinguished at pleasure. But Providence had prepared adreadful requital for this keen observer of human passions, who hadspent his life in securing advantages to himself by artfully workingupon the passions of others.
Caleb Balderstone now came to announce that breakfast was prepared; forin those days of substantial feeding, the relics of the supper simplyfurnished forth the morning meal. Neither did he forget to present tothe Lord Keeper, with great reverence, a morning draught in a largepewter cup, garnished with leaves of parsley and scurvy-grass. He cravedpardon, of course, for having omitted to serve it in the great silverstanding cup as behoved, being that it was at present in a silversmith'sin Edinburgh, for the purpose of being overlaid with gilt.
"In Edinburgh like enough," said Ravenswood; "but in what place, or forwhat purpose, I am afraid neither you nor I know."
"Aweel!" said Caleb, peevishly, "there's a man standing at the gatealready this morning--that's ae thing that I ken. Does your honour kenwhether ye will speak wi' him or no?"
"Does he wish to speak with me, Caleb?"
"Less will no serve him," said Caleb; "but ye had best take a visie ofhim through the wicket before opening the gate; it's no every ane wesuld let into this castle."
> "What! do you suppose him to be a messenger come to arrest me for debt?"said Ravenswood.
"A messenger arrest your honour for debt, and in your Castle of Wolf'sCrag! Your honour is jesting wi' auld Caleb this morning." However, hewhispered in his ear, as he followed him out, "I would be loth to do onydecent man a prejudice in your honour's gude opinion but I would taktwa looks o' that chield before I let him within these walls."
He was not an officer of the law, however; being no less a person thanCaptain Craigengelt, with his nose as red as a comfortable cup of brandycould make it, his laced cocked hat set a little aside upon the topof his black riding periwig, a sword by his side and pistols at hisholsters, and his person arrayed in a riding suit, laid over withtarnished lace--the very moral of one who would say, "Stand to a trueman."
When the Master had recognised him, he ordered the gates to be opened."I suppose," he said, "Captain Craigengelt, there are no such weightymatters betwixt you and me, but may be discussed in this place. I havecompany in the castle at present, and the terms upon which we lastparted must excuse my asking you to make part of them."
Craigengelt, although possessing the very perfection of impudence, wassomewhat abashed by this unfavourable reception. "He had no intention,"he said, "to force himself upon the Master of Ravenswood's hospitality;he was in the honourable service of bearing a message to him from afriend, otherwise the Master of Ravenswood should not have had reason tocomplain of this intrusion."
"Let it be short, sir," said the Master, "for that will be the bestapology. Who is the gentleman who is so fortunate as to have yourservices as a messenger?"
"My friend, Mr. Hayston of Bucklaw," answered Craigengelt, withconscious importance, and that confidence which the acknowledged courageof his principal inspired, "who conceives himself to have been treatedby you with something much short of the respect which he had reason todemand, and, therefore is resolved to exact satisfaction. I bring withme," said he, taking a piece of paper out of his pocket, "the preciselength of his sword; and he requests you will meet him, accompanied bya friend, and equally armed, at any place within a mile of the castle,when I shall give attendance as umpire, or second, on his behoof."
"Satisfaction! and equal arms!" repeated Ravenswood, who, the readerwill recollect, had no reason to suppose he had given the slightestoffence to his late intimate; "upon my word, Captain Craigengelt, eitheryou have invented the most improbable falsehood that ever came into themind of such a person, or your morning draught has been somewhat of thestrongest. What could persuade Bucklaw to send me such a message?"
"For that, sir," replied Craigengelt, "I am desired to refer you towhat, in duty to my friend, I am to term your inhospitality in excludinghim from your house, without reasons assigned."
"It is impossible," replied the Master; "he cannot be such a fool as tointerpret actual necessity as an insult. Nor do I believe that, knowingmy opinion of you, Captain, he would have employed the services of soslight and inconsiderable a person as yourself upon such an errand, as Icertainly could expect no man of honour to act with you in the office ofumpire."
"I slight and inconsiderable?" said Craigengelt, raising his voice, andlaying his hand on his cutlass; "if it were not that the quarrel ofmy friend craves the precedence, and is in dependence before my own, Iwould give you to understand----"
"I can understand nothing upon your explanation, Captain Craigengelt. Besatisfied of that, and oblige me with your departure."
"D----n!" muttered the bully; "and is this the answer which I am tocarry back to an honourable message?"
"Tell the Laird of Bucklaw," answered Ravenswood, "if you are reallysent by him, that, when he sends me his cause of grievance by a personfitting to carry such an errand betwixt him and me, I will eitherexplain it or maintain it."
"Then, Master, you will at least cause to be returned to Hayston, by myhands, his property which is remaining in your possession."
"Whatever property Bucklaw may have left behind him, sir," replied theMaster, "shall be returned to him by my servant, as you do not show meany credentials from him which entitle you to receive it."
"Well, Master," said Captain Craigengelt, with malice which even hisfear of the consequences could not suppress, "you have this morning doneme an egregious wrong adn dishonour, but far more to yourself. A castleindeed!" he continued, looking around him; "why, this is worse thana coupe-gorge house, where they receive travellers to plunder them oftheir property."
"You insolent rascal," said the Master, raising his cane, and making agrasp at the Captain's bridle, "if you do not depart without utteringanother syllable, I will batoon you to death!"
At the motion of the Master towards him, the bully turned so rapidlyround, that with some difficulty he escaped throwing down his horse,whose hoofs struck fire from the rocky pavement in every direction.Recovering him, however, with the bridle, he pushed for the gate, androde sharply back again in the direction of the village.
As Ravenswood turned round to leave the courtyard after this dialogue,he found that the Lord Keeper had descended from the hall, andwitnessed, though at the distance prescribed by politeness, hisinterview with Craigengelt.
"I have seen," said the Lord Keeper, "that gentleman's face, and at nogreat distance of time; his name is Craig--Craig--something, is it not?"
"Craigengelt is the fellow's name," said the Master, "at least that bywhich he passes at present."
"Craig-in-guilt," said Caleb, punning upon the word "craig," which inScotch signifies throat; "if he is Craig-in-guilt just now, he is aslikely to be Craig-in-peril as ony chield I ever saw; the loon haswoodie written on his very visnomy, and I wad wager twa and a plack thathemp plaits his cravat yet."
"You understand physiognomy, good Mr. Caleb," said the Keeper, smiling;"I assure you the gentleman has been near such a consummation beforenow; for I most distinctly recollect that, upon occasion of a journeywhich I made about a fortnight ago to Edinburgh, I saw Mr. Craigengelt,or whatever is his name, undergo a severe examination before the privycouncil."
"Upon what account?" said the Master of Ravenswood, with some interest.
The question led immediately to a tale which the Lord Keeper had beenvery anxious to introduce, when he could find a graceful and fittingopportunity. He took hold of the Master's arm, and led him back towardsthe hall. "The answer to your question," he said, "though it is aridiculous business, is only fit for your own ear."
As they entered the hall, he again took the Master apart into one ofthe recesses of the window, where it will be easily believed that MissAshton did not venture again to intrude upon their conference.