CHAPTER XXIII And Sheriff I will engage my word to you, That I will by to morrow dinner time, Send him to answer thee or any man, For anything he shall be charged withal
Henry IV Part I
When the several by-plays, as they may be termed, had taken place amongthe individuals of the Woodbourne family, as we have intimated in thepreceding chapter, the breakfast party at length assembled, Dandieexcepted, who had consulted his taste in viands, and perhaps in society,by partaking of a cup of tea with Mrs. Allan, just laced with twoteaspoonfuls of cogniac, and reinforced with various slices from a hugeround of beef. He had a kind of feeling that he could eat twice as much,and speak twice as much, with this good dame and Barnes as with the grandfolk in the parlour. Indeed, the meal of this less distinguished partywas much more mirthful than that in the higher circle, where there was anobvious air of constraint on the greater part of the assistants. Juliadared not raise her voice in asking Bertram if he chose another cup oftea. Bertram felt embarrassed while eating his toast and butter under theeye of Mannering. Lucy, while she indulged to the uttermost her affectionfor her recovered brother, began to think of the quarrel betwixt him andHazlewood. The Colonel felt the painful anxiety natural to a proud mindwhen it deems its slightest action subject for a moment to the watchfulconstruction of others. The Lawyer, while sedulously buttering his roll,had an aspect of unwonted gravity, arising perhaps from the severity ofhis morning studies. As for the Dominie, his state of mind was ecstatic!He looked at Bertram--he looked at Lucy--he whimpered--he sniggled--hegrinned--he committed all manner of solecisms in point of form: pouredthe whole cream (no unlucky mistake) upon the plate of porridge which washis own usual breakfast, threw the slops of what he called his 'crowningdish of tea' into the sugar-dish instead of the slop-basin, and concludedwith spilling the scalding liquor upon old Plato, the Colonel's favouritespaniel, who received the libation with a howl that did little honour tohis philosophy.
The Colonel's equanimity was rather shaken by this last blunder. 'Upon myword, my good friend, Mr. Sampson, you forget the difference betweenPlato and Zenocrates.'
'The former was chief of the Academics, the latter of the Stoics,' saidthe Dominie, with some scorn of the supposition.
'Yes, my dear sir, but it was Zenocrates, not Plato, who denied that painwas an evil.'
'I should have thought,' said Pleydell, 'that very respectable quadrupedwhich is just now limping out of the room upon three of his four legs wasrather of the Cynic school.'
'Very well hit off. But here comes an answer from Mac-Morlan.'
It was unfavourable. Mrs. Mac-Morlan sent her respectful compliments, andher husband had been, and was, detained by some alarming disturbanceswhich had taken place the preceding night at Portanferry, and thenecessary investigation which they had occasioned.
'What's to be done now. Counsellor?' said the Colonel to Pleydell.
'Why, I wish we could have seen Mac-Morlan,' said the Counsellor, 'who isa sensible fellow himself, and would besides have acted under my advice.But there is little harm. Our friend here must be made sui juris. He isat present an escaped prisoner, the law has an awkward claim upon him; hemust be placed rectus in curia, that is the first object; for whichpurpose, Colonel, I will accompany you in your carriage down to HazlewoodHouse. The distance is not great; we will offer our bail, and I amconfident I can easily show Mr.--I beg his pardon--Sir Robert Hazlewood,the necessity of receiving it.'
'With all my heart,' said the Colonel; and, ringing the bell, gave thenecessary orders. 'And what is next to be done?'
'We must get hold of Mac-Morlan, and look out for more proof.'
'Proof!' said the Colonel, 'the thing is as clear as daylight: here areMr. Sampson and Miss Bertram, and you yourself at once recognise theyoung gentleman as his father's image; and he himself recollects all thevery peculiar circumstances preceding his leaving this country. What elseis necessary to conviction?'
'To moral conviction nothing more, perhaps,' said the experienced lawyer,'but for legal proof a great deal. Mr. Bertram's recollections are hisown recollections merely, and therefore are not evidence in his ownfavour. Miss Bertram, the learned Mr. Sampson, and I can only say, whatevery one who knew the late Ellangowan will readily agree in, that thisgentleman is his very picture. But that will not make him Ellangowan'sson and give him the estate.'
'And what will do so?' said the Colonel.
'Why, we must have a distinct probation. There are these gipsies; butthen, alas! they are almost infamous in the eye of law, scarce capable ofbearing evidence, and Meg Merrilies utterly so, by the various accountswhich she formerly gave of the matter, and her impudent denial of allknowledge of the fact when I myself examined her respecting it.'
'What must be done then?' asked Mannering.
'We must try,' answered the legal sage, 'what proof can be got at inHolland among the persons by whom our young friend was educated. But thenthe fear of being called in question for the murder of the gauger maymake them silent; or, if they speak, they are either foreigners oroutlawed smugglers. In short, I see doubts.'
'Under favour, most learned and honoured sir,' said the Dominie, 'I trustHE who hath restored little Harry Bertram to his friends will not leaveHis own work imperfect.'
'I trust so too, Mr. Sampson,' said Pleydell; 'but we must use the means;and I am afraid we shall have more difficulty in procuring them than I atfirst thought. But a faint heart never won a fair lady; and, by the way(apart to Miss Mannering, while Bertram was engaged with his sister),there's a vindication of Holland for you! What smart fellows do you thinkLeyden and Utrecht must send forth, when such a very genteel and handsomeyoung man comes from the paltry schools of Middleburgh?'
'Of a verity,' said the Dominie, jealous of the reputation of the Dutchseminary--'of a verity, Mr. Pleydell, but I make it known to you that Imyself laid the foundation of his education.'
'True, my dear Dominie,' answered the Advocate, 'that accounts for hisproficiency in the graces, without question. But here comes yourcarriage, Colonel. Adieu, young folks. Miss Julia, keep your heart till Icome back again; let there be nothing done to prejudice my right whilst Iam non valens agere.'
Their reception at Hazlewood House was more cold and formal than usual;for in general the Baronet expressed great respect for Colonel Mannering,and Mr. Pleydell, besides being a man of good family and of high generalestimation, was Sir Robert's old friend. But now he seemed dry andembarrassed in his manner. 'He would willingly,' he said, 'receive bail,notwithstanding that the offence had been directly perpetrated,committed, and done against young Hazlewood of Hazlewood; but the youngman had given himself a fictitious description, and was altogether thatsort of person who should not be liberated, discharged, or let loose uponsociety; and therefore--'
'I hope, Sir Robert Hazlewood,' said the Colonel, 'you do not mean todoubt my word when I assure you that he served under me as cadet inIndia?'
'By no means or account whatsoever. But you call him a cadet; now hesays, avers, and upholds that he was a captain, or held a troop in yourregiment.'
'He was promoted since I gave up the command.'
'But you must have heard of it?'
'No. I returned on account of family circumstances from India, and havenot since been solicitous to hear particular news from the regiment; thename of Brown, too, is so common that I might have seen his promotion inthe "Gazette" without noticing it. But a day or two will bring lettersfrom his commanding officer.'
'But I am told and informed, Mr. Pleydell,' answered Sir Robert, stillhesitating, 'that he does not mean to abide by this name of Brown, but isto set up a claim to the estate of Ellangowan, under the name ofBertram.'
'Ay, who says that?' said the Counsellor.
'Or,' demanded the soldier, 'whoever says so, does that give a right tokeep him in prison?'
'Hush, Colonel,' said the Lawyer; 'I am sure you would not, any more thanI, countenance him if he prove an impostor. And, among
friends, whoinformed you of this, Sir Robert?'
'Why, a person, Mr. Pleydell,' answered the Baronet, 'who is peculiarlyinterested in investigating, sifting, and clearing out this business tothe bottom; you will excuse my being more particular.'
'O, certainly,' replied Pleydell; 'well, and he says--?'
'He says that it is whispered about among tinkers, gipsies, and otheridle persons that there is such a plan as I mentioned to you, and thatthis young man, who is a bastard or natural son of the late Ellangowan,is pitched upon as the impostor from his strong family likeness.'
'And was there such a natural son, Sir Robert?' demanded the Counsellor.
'O, certainly, to my own positive knowledge. Ellangowan had him placed ascabin-boy or powder-monkey on board an armed sloop or yacht belonging tothe revenue, through the interest of the late Commissioner Bertram, akinsman of his own.'
'Well, Sir Robert,' said the Lawyer, taking the word out of the mouth ofthe impatient soldier, 'you have told me news. I shall investigate them,and if I find them true, certainly Colonel Mannering and I will notcountenance this young man. In the meanwhile, as we are all willing tomake him forthcoming to answer all complaints against him, I do assureyou, you will act most illegally, and incur heavy responsibility, if yourefuse our bail.'
'Why, Mr. Pleydell,' said Sir Robert, who knew the high authority of theCounsellor's opinion, 'as you must know best, and as you promise to giveup this young man--'
'If he proves an impostor,' replied the Lawyer, with some emphasis.
'Ay, certainly. Under that condition I will take your bail; though I mustsay an obliging, well-disposed, and civil neighbour of mine, who washimself bred to the law, gave me a hint or caution this morning againstdoing so. It was from him I learned that this youth was liberated and hadcome abroad, or rather had broken prison. But where shall we find one todraw the bail-bond?'
'Here,' said the Counsellor, applying himself to the bell, 'send up myclerk, Mr. Driver; it will not do my character harm if I dictate theneedful myself.' It was written accordingly and signed, and, the Justicehaving subscribed a regular warrant for Bertram alias Brown's discharge,the visitors took their leave.
Each threw himself into his own corner of the post-chariot, and saidnothing for some time. The Colonel first broke silence: 'So you intend togive up this poor young fellow at the first brush?'
'Who, I?' replied the Counsellor. 'I will not give up one hair of hishead, though I should follow them to the court of last resort in hisbehalf; but what signified mooting points and showing one's hand to thatold ass? Much better he should report to his prompter, Glossin, that weare indifferent or lukewarm in the matter. Besides, I wished to have apeep at the enemies' game.'
'Indeed!' said the soldier. 'Then I see there are stratagems in law aswell as war. Well, and how do you like their line of battle?'
'Ingenious,' said Mr. Pleydell, 'but I think desperate; they arefinessing too much, a common fault on such occasions.'
During this discourse the carriage rolled rapidly towards Woodbournewithout anything occurring worthy of the reader's notice, excepting theirmeeting with young Hazlewood, to whom the Colonel told the extraordinaryhistory of Bertram's reappearance, which he heard with high delight, andthen rode on before to pay Miss Bertram his compliments on an event sohappy and so unexpected.
We return to the party at Woodbourne. After the departure of Mannering,the conversation related chiefly to the fortunes of the Ellangowanfamily, their domains, and their former power. 'It was, then, under thetowers of my fathers,' said Bertram, 'that I landed some days since, incircumstances much resembling those of a vagabond! Its mouldering turretsand darksome arches even then awakened thoughts of the deepest interest,and recollections which I was unable to decipher. I will now visit themagain with other feelings, and, I trust, other and better hopes.'
'Do not go there now,' said his sister. 'The house of our ancestors is atpresent the habitation of a wretch as insidious as dangerous, whose artsand villainy accomplished the ruin and broke the heart of our unhappyfather.'
'You increase my anxiety,' replied her brother, 'to confront thismiscreant, even in the den he has constructed for himself; I think I haveseen him.'
'But you must consider,' said Julia, 'that you are now left under Lucy'sguard and mine, and are responsible to us for all your motions, consider,I have not been a lawyer's mistress twelve hours for nothing, and Iassure you it would be madness to attempt to go to Ellangowan just now.The utmost to which I can consent is, that we shall walk in a body to thehead of the Woodbourne avenue, and from that perhaps we may indulge youwith our company as far as a rising ground in the common, whence youreyes may be blessed with a distant prospect of those gloomy towers whichstruck so strongly your sympathetic imagination.'
The party was speedily agreed upon; and the ladies, having taken theircloaks, followed the route proposed, under the escort of Captain Bertram.It was a pleasant winter morning, and the cool breeze served only tofreshen, not to chill, the fair walkers. A secret though unacknowledgedbond of kindness combined the two ladies, and Bertram, now hearing theinteresting accounts of his own family, now communicating his adventuresin Europe and in India, repaid the pleasure which he received. Lucy feltproud of her brother, as well from the bold and manly turn of hissentiments as from the dangers he had encountered, and the spirit withwhich he had surmounted them. And Julia, while she pondered on herfather's words, could not help entertaining hopes that the independentspirit which had seemed to her father presumption in the humble andplebeian Brown would have the grace of courage, noble bearing, and highblood in the far-descended heir of Ellangowan.
They reached at length the little eminence or knoll upon the highest partof the common, called Gibbie's Knowe--a spot repeatedly mentioned in thishistory as being on the skirts of the Ellangowan estate. It commanded afair variety of hill and dale, bordered with natural woods, whose nakedboughs at this season relieved the general colour of the landscape with adark purple hue; while in other places the prospect was more formallyintersected by lines of plantation, where the Scotch firs displayed theirvariety of dusky green. At the distance of two or three miles lay the bayof Ellangowan, its waves rippling under the influence of the westernbreeze. The towers of the ruined castle, seen high over every object inthe neighbourhood, received a brighter colouring from the wintry sun.
'There,' said Lucy Bertram, pointing them out in the distance, 'there isthe seat of our ancestors. God knows, my dear brother, I do not covet inyour behalf the extensive power which the lords of these ruins are saidto have possessed so long, and sometimes to have used so ill. But, O thatI might see you in possession of such relics of their fortune as shouldgive you an honourable independence, and enable you to stretch your handfor the protection of the old and destitute dependents of our family,whom our poor father's death--'
'True, my dearest Lucy,' answered the young heir of Ellangowan; 'and Itrust, with the assistance of Heaven, which has so far guided us, andwith that of these good friends, whom their own generous hearts haveinterested in my behalf, such a consummation of my hard adventures is nownot unlikely. But as a soldier I must look with some interest upon thatworm-eaten hold of ragged stone; and if this undermining scoundrel who isnow in possession dare to displace a pebble of it--'
He was here interrupted by Dinmont, who came hastily after them up theroad, unseen till he was near the party: 'Captain, Captain! ye're wanted.Ye're wanted by her ye ken o'.'
And immediately Meg Merrilies, as if emerging out of the earth, ascendedfrom the hollow way and stood before them. 'I sought ye at the house,'she said, 'and found but him (pointing to Dinmont). But ye are right, andI was wrang; it is HERE we should meet, on this very spot, where my eyeslast saw your father. Remember your promise and follow me.'