little novels-第58章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


！　And　it　did　just　what　I　wanted　of　it。　It　brought　the　spy　up　from　the　kitchen；　suspecting　that　something　might　be　wrong。

〃What　did　the　wretch　see　when　he　got　into　the　hall？　His　master；　in　traveling　costume；　running　out。　What　did　he　find　when　he　reached　the　garden？　His　master　escaping；　in　a　post…chaise；　on　the　road　to　London。　What　did　he　do；　the　born　blackguard　that　he　was？　Jumped　up　behind　the　chaise　to　make　sure　of　his　prisoner。　It　was　dark　when　we　got　to　London。　In　a　hop；　skip；　and　jump；　I　was　out　of　the　carriage；　and　in　at　my　own　door；　before　he　could　l　ook　me　in　the　face。

〃The　date　of　the　warrant；　you　must　know；　obliged　him　to　wait　till　the　morning。　All　that　night；　he　and　the　Bow　Street　runners　kept　watch　They　came　in　with　the　sunriseand　who　did　they　find？　Major　Mulvany　snug　in　his　bed；　and　as　innocent　as　the　babe　unborn。　Oh；　they　did　their　duty！　Searched　the　place　from　the　kitchen　to　the　garretsand　gave　it　up。　There's　but　one　thing　I　regretI　let　the　spy　off　without　a　good　thrashing。　No　matter。　I'll　do　it　yet；　one　of　these　days。

〃Let　me　know　the　first　good　news　of　our　darling　fugitives；　and　I　shall　be　more　than　rewarded　for　what　little　I　have　done。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　always　devoted；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃TERENCE　MULVANY。〃


CHAPTER　XI。

PURSUIT　AND　DISCOVERY。

FEELING　himself　hurried　away　on　the　road　to　Dover；　as　fast　as　four　horses　could　carry　him；　Mr。　Bowmore　had　leisure　to　criticise　Percy's　conduct；　from　his　own　purely　selfish　point　of　view。

〃If　you　had　listened　to　my　advice；〃　he　said；　〃you　would　have　treated　that　man　Bervie　like　the　hypocrite　and　villain　that　he　is。　But　no！　you　trusted　to　your　own　crude　impressions。　Having　given　him　your　hand　after　the　duel　（I　would　have　given　him　the　contents　of　my　pistol！）　you　hesitated　to　withdraw　it　again；　when　that　slanderer　appealed　to　your　friendship　not　to　cast　him　off。　Now　you　see　the　consequence！〃

〃Wait　till　we　get　to　Paris！〃　All　the　ingenuity　of　Percy's　traveling　companion　failed　to　extract　from　him　any　other　answer　than　that。

Foiled　so　far；　Mr。　Bowmore　began　to　start　difficulties　next。　Had　they　money　enough　for　the　journey？　Percy　touched　his　pocket；　and　answered　shortly；　〃Plenty。〃　Had　they　passports？　Percy　sullenly　showed　a　letter。　〃There　is　the　necessary　voucher　from　a　magistrate；〃　he　said。　〃The　consul　at　Dover　will　give　us　our　passports。　Mind　this！〃　he　added；　in　warning　tones；　〃I　have　pledged　my　word　of　honor　to　Justice　Bervie　that　we　have　no　political　object　in　view　in　traveling　to　France。　Keep　your　politics　to　yourself；　on　the　other　side　of　the　Channel。〃

Mr。　Bowmore　listened　in　blank　amazement。　Charlotte's　lover　was　appearing　in　a　new　characterthe　character　of　a　man　who　had　lost　his　respect　for　Charlotte's　father！

It　was　useless　to　talk　to　him。　He　deliberately　checked　any　further　attempts　at　conversation　by　leaning　back　in　the　carriage；　and　closing　his　eyes。　The　truth　is；　Mr。　Bowmore's　own　language　and　conduct　were　insensibly　producing　the　salutary　impression　on　Percy's　mind　which　Bervie　had　vainly　tried　to　convey；　under　the　disadvantage　of　having　Charlotte's　influence　against　him。　Throughout　the　journey；　Percy　did　exactly　what　Bervie　had　once　entreated　him　to　dohe　kept　Mr。　Bowmore　at　a　distance。

At　every　stage；　they　inquired　after　the　fugitives。　At　every　stage；　they　were　answered　by　a　more　or　less　intelligible　description　of　Bervie　and　Charlotte；　and　of　the　lady　who　accompanied　them。　No　disguise　had　been　attempted；　no　person　had　in　any　case　been　bribed　to　conceal　the　truth。

When　the　first　tumult　of　his　emotions　had　in　some　degree　subsided；　this　strange　circumstance　associated　itself　in　Percy's　mind　with　the　equally　unaccountable　conduct　of　Justice　Bervie；　on　his　arrival　at　the　manor　house。

The　old　gentleman　met　his　visitor　in　the　hall；　without　expressing；　and　apparently　without　feeling；　any　indignation　at　his　son's　conduct。　It　was　even　useless　to　appeal　to　him　for　information。　He　only　said；　〃I　am　not　in　Arthur's　confidence；　he　is　of　age；　and　my　daughter　（who　has　volunteered　to　accompany　him）　is　of　age。　I　have　no　claim　to　control　them。　I　believe　they　have　taken　Miss　Bowmore　to　Paris；　and　that　is　all　I　know　about　it。〃

He　had　shown　the　same　dense　insensibility　in　giving　his　official　voucher　for　the　passports。　Percy　had　only　to　satisfy　him　on　the　question　of　politics；　and　the　document　was　drawn　out　as　a　matter　of　course。　Such　had　been　the　father's　behavior；　and　the　conduct　of　the　son　now　exhibited　the　same　shameless　composure。　To　what　conclusion　did　this　discovery　point？　Percy　abandoned　the　attempt　to　answer　that　question　in　despair。

They　reached　Dover　toward　two　o'clock　in　the　morning。

At　the　pier…head　they　found　a　coast…guardsman　on　duty；　and　received　more　information。

In　1817　the　communication　with　France　was　still　by　sailing…vessels。　Arriving　long　after　the　departure　of　the　regular　packet；　Bervie　had　hired　a　lugger；　and　had　sailed　with　the　two　ladies　for　Calais；　having　a　fresh　breeze　in　his　favor。　Percy's　first　angry　impulse　was　to　follow　him　instantly。　The　next　moment　he　remembered　the　insurmountable　obstacle　of　the　passports。　The　Consul　would　certainly　not　grant　those　essentially　necessary　documents　at　two　in　the　morning！

The　only　alternative　was　to　wait　for　the　regular　packet；　which　sailed　some　hours　laterbetween　eight　and　nine　o'clock　in　the　forenoon。　In　this　case；　they　might　apply　for　their　passports　before　the　regular　office　hours；　if　they　explained　the　circumstances；　backed　by　the　authority　of　the　magistrate's　letter。

Mr。　Bowmore　followed　Percy　to　the　nearest　inn　that　was　open；　sublimely　indifferent　to　the　delays　and　difficulties　of　the　journey。　He　ordered　refreshments　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　was　performing　a　melancholy　duty　to　himself；　in　the　name　of　humanity。

〃When　I　think　of　my　speech；〃　he　said；　at　supper；　〃my　heart　bleeds　for　the　people。　In　a　few　hours　more；　they　will　assemble　in　their　thousands；　eager　to　hear　me。　And　what　will　they　see？　Joskin　in　my　place！　Joskin　with　a　manuscript　in　his　hand！　Joskin；　who　drops　his　voice　at　the　ends　of　his　sentences！　I　will　never　forgive　Charlotte。　Waiter；　another　glass　of　brandy　and　water。　〃

After　an　unusually　quick　passage　across　the　Channel；　the　travelers　landed　on　the　French　coast；　before　the　defeated　spy　had　returned　from　London　to　Dartford　by　stage…coach。　Continuing　their　journey　by　post　as　far　as　Amiens；　they　reached　that　city　in　time　to　take　their　places　by　the　diligence　to　Paris。

Arrived　in　Paris；　they　encountered　another　incomprehensible　proceeding　on　the　part　of　Captain　Bervie。

Among　the　persons　assembled　in　the　yard　to　see　the　arrival　of　the　diligence　was　a　man　with　a　morsel　of　paper　in　his　hand；　evidently　on　the　lookout　for　some　person　whom　he　expected　to　discover　among　the　travelers。　After　consulting　his　bit　of　paper；　he　looked　with　steady　attention　at　Percy　and　Mr。　Bowmore；　and　suddenly　approached　them。　〃If　you　wish　to　see　the　Captain；〃　he　said；　in　broken　English；　〃you　will　find　him　at　that　hotel。〃　He　handed　a　printed　card　to　Percy；　and　disappeared　among　the　crowd　before　it　was　possible　to　question　him。

Even　Mr。　Bowmore　gave　way　to　human　weakness；　and　condescended　to　feel　astonished　in　the　face　of　such　an　event　as　this。　〃What　next？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Wait　till　we　get　to　the　hotel；〃　said　Percy。

In　half　an　hour　more　the　landlord　had　received　them；　and　the　waiter　had　led　them　to　the　right　door。　Percy　pushed　the　man　aside；　and　burst　into　the　room。

Captain　Bervie　was　alone；　reading　a　newspaper。　Before　the　first　furious　words　had　escaped　Percy's　lips；　Bervie　silenced　him　by　pointing　to　a　closed　door　on　the　right　of　the　fireplace。

〃She　is　in　that　room；〃　he　said；　〃speak　quietly；　or　you　may　frighten　her。　I　know　what　you　are　going　to　say；〃　he　added；　as　Percy　stepped　nearer　to　him。　〃Will　you　hear　me　in　my　own　defense；　and　then　decide　whether　I　am　the　greatest　scoundrel　living；　or　the　best　friend　you　ever　had？〃

He　put　the　question　kindly；　with　something　that　was　at　once　grave　and　tender　in　his　look　and　manner。　The　extraordinary　composure　with　which　he　acted　and　spoke　had　its　tranquilizing　influence　over　Percy。　He　felt　himself　surprised　into　giving　Bervie　a　hearing。

〃I　will　tell　you　first　what　I　have　done；〃　the　Captain　proceeded；　〃and　next　why　I　did　it。　I　have　taken　it　on　myself；　Mr。　Linwood；　to　make　an　alteration　in　your　wedding　arrangements。　Instead　of　being　married　at　Dartford　church；　you　will　be　married　（if　you　see　no　objection）　at　the　chapel　of　the　embassy　in　Paris；　by　my　old　college　friend　the　chaplain。〃

This　was　too　much　for　Percy's　self…control。　〃Your　audacity　is　beyond　belief；〃　he　broke　out。

〃And　beyond　endurance；〃　Mr。　Bowmore　added。　〃Understand　this；　sir！　Whatever　your　defense　may　be；　I　ob　ject；　under　any　circumstances；　to　be　made　the　victim　of　a　trick。〃

〃You　are　the　victim　of　your　own　obstinate　refusal　to　profit　by　a　plain　warning；〃　Bervie　rejoined。　〃At　the　eleventh　hour；　I　entreated　you；　and　I　entreated　Mr。　Linwood；　to　provide　for　your　own　safety；　and　I　spoke　in　vain。〃

Percy's　patience　gave　way　once　more。

〃To　use　your　own　language；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　still　to　decide　whether　you　have　behaved　toward　me　like　a　scoundrel　or　a　friend。　You　have　said　nothing　to　justify　yourself　yet。〃

〃Very　well　put！〃　Mr。　Bowmore　chimed　in。　〃Come　to　the　point；　sir！　My　daughter's　reputation　is　in　question。〃

〃Miss　Bowmore's　reputation　is　not　in　question　for　a　single　instant；〃　Bervie　answered。　〃My　sister　has　been　the　companion　of　her　journey　from　first　to　last。〃

〃Journey？〃　Mr。　Bowmore　repeated；　indignantly。　〃I　want　to　know；　sir；　what　the　journey　means。　As　an　outraged　father；　I　ask　one　plain　question。　Why　did　you　run　away　with　my　daughter？〃

Bervie　took　a　slip　of　paper　from　his　pocket；　and　handed　it　to　Percy　with　a　smile。

It　was　a　copy　of　the　warrant　which　Justice　Bervie's　duty　had　compelled　him　to　issue　for　the　〃arrest　of　Orlando　Bowmore　and　Percy　Linwood。〃　There　was　no　danger　in　divulging　the　secret　now。　British　warrants　were　waste…paper　in　France；　in　those　days。

〃I　ran　away　with　the　bride；〃　Bervie　said　coolly；　〃in　the　certain　knowledge　that　you　and　Mr。　Bowmore　would　run　after　me。　If　I　had　not　forced　you　both　to　follow　me　out　of　England　on　the　first　of　April；　you　would　have　been　made　State　prisoners　on　the　second。　What　do　you　say　to　my　conduct　now？〃

〃Wait；　Percy；　before　you　answer　him；〃　Mr。　Bowmore　interposed。　〃He　is　ready　enough　at　excusing　himself。　But；　observehe　hasn't　a　word　to　say　in　justification　of　my　daughter's　readiness　to　run　away　with　him。〃

〃Have　you　quite　done？〃　Bervie　asked；　as　quietly　as　ever。〃

Mr。　Bowmore　reserved　the　right　of　all　others　which　he　most　prized；　the　right　of　using　his　tongue。　〃For　the　present；〃　he　answered　in　his　loftiest　manner；　〃I　have　done。〃

Bervie　proceeded：　〃Your　daughter　consented　to　run　away　with　me；　because　I　took　her　to　my　father's　house；　and　prevailed　upon　him　to　trust　her　with　the　secret　of　the　coming　arrests。　She　had　no　choice　left　but　to　let　her　obstinate　father　and　her　misguided　lover　go　to　prisonor　to　take　her　place　with　my　sister　and　me　in　the　traveling…carriage。〃　He　appealed　once　more　to　Percy。　〃My　friend；　you　remember　the　day　when　you　spared　my　life。　Have　I　remembered　it；　too？〃

For　once；　there　was　an　Englishman　who　was　not　cont