第12章

WhileDalgettyranoninthisway,histeethkepttimewithhistongue,andhespeedilyfinishedtheprovisionswhichthebenevolenceorindifferenceofhiscompanioninmisfortunehadabandonedtohisvoracity。Whenthistaskwasaccomplished,hewrappedhimselfinhiscloak,andseatinghimselfinacornerofthedungeoninwhichhecouldobtainasupportoneachside（forhehadalwaysbeenanadmirerofelbow—chairs,heremarked,evenfromhisyouthupward）,hebegantoquestionhisfellow—captive。

"Minehonestfriend,"saidhe,"youandI,beingcomradesatbedandboard,shouldbebetteracquainted。IamDugaldDalgettyofDrumthwacket,andsoforth,MajorinaregimentofloyalIrishes,andEnvoyExtraordinaryofaHighandMightyLord,JamesEarlofMontrose。——Pray,whatmayyournamebe？"

"Itwillavailyoulittletoknow,"repliedhismoretaciturncompanion。

"Letmejudgeofthatmatter,"answeredthesoldier。

"Well,then——RanaldMacEaghismyname——thatis,RanaldSonoftheMist。"

"SonoftheMist！"ejaculatedDalgetty。"Sonofutterdarkness,sayI。But,Ranald,sincethatisyourname,howcameyouinpossessionoftheprovost"scourtofguard？whatthedevilbroughtyouhere,thatistosay？"

"Mymisfortunesandmycrimes,"answeredRanald。"KnowyetheKnightofArdenvohr？"

"Idoknowthathonourableperson,"repliedDalgetty。

"Butknowyewherehenowis？"repliedRanald。

"FastingthisdayatArdenvohr,"answeredtheEnvoy,"thathemayfeastto—morrowatInverary;inwhichlastpurposeifhechancetofail,myleaseofhumanservicewillbesomethingprecarious。"

"Thenlethimknow,oneclaimshisintercession,whoishisworstfoeandhisbestfriend,"answeredRanald。

"TrulyIshalldesiretocarryalessquestionablemessage,"

answeredDalgetty,"SirDuncanisnotapersontoplayatreadingriddleswith。"

"CravenSaxon,"saidtheprisoner,"tellhimIamtheraventhat,fifteenyearssince,stoopedonhistowerofstrengthandthepledgeshehadleftthere——Iamthehunterthatfoundoutthewolfsdenontherock,anddestroyedhisoffspring——IamtheleaderofthebandwhichsurprisedArdenvohryesterdaywasfifteenyears,andgavehisfourchildrentothesword。"

"Truly,myhonestfriend,"saidDalgetty,"ifthatisyourbestrecommendationtoSirDuncan"sfavour,Iwouldpretermitmypleadingthereupon,inrespectIhaveobservedthateventheanimalcreationareincensedagainstthosewhointromitwiththeiroffspringforcibly,muchmoreanyrationalandChristiancreatures,whohavehadviolencedoneupontheirsmallfamily。

ButIprayyouincourtesytotellme,whetheryouassailedthecastlefromthehillockcalledDrumsnab,whilkIupholdtobethetruepointofattack,unlessitweretobeprotectedbyasconce。"

"Weascendedthecliffbyladdersofwithiesorsaplings,"saidtheprisoner,"drawnupbyanaccompliceandclansman,whohadservedsixmonthsinthecastletoenjoythatonenightofunlimitedvengeance。Theowlwhoopedaroundusaswehungbetwixtheavenandearth;thetideroaredagainstthefootoftherock,anddashedasunderourskiff。yetnoman"sheartfailedhim。Inthemorningtherewasbloodandashes,wheretherehadbeenpeaceandjoyatthesunset。"

"Itwasaprettycamisade,Idoubtnot,RanaldMacEagh,averysufficientonslaught,andnotunworthilydischarged。

Nevertheless,IwouldhavepressedthehousefromthatlittlehillockcalledDrumsnab。ButyoursisaprettyirregularScythianfashionofwarfare,Ranald,muchresemblingthatofTurks,Tartars,andotherAsiaticpeople。——Butthereason,myfriend,thecauseofthiswar——theTETERRIMACAUSA,asImaysay？

Delivermethat,Ranald。"

"WehadbeenpushedatbytheM"Aulays,andotherwesterntribes,"saidRanald,"tillourpossessionsbecameunsafeforus。"

"Ahha！"saidDalgetty;"Ihavefaintremembranceofhavingheardofthatmatter。Didyounotputbreadandcheeseintoaman"smouth,whenhehadneverastomachwhereuntototransmitthesame？"

"Youhaveheard,then,"saidRanald,"thetaleofourrevengeonthehaughtyforester？"

"IbethinkmethatIhave,"saidDalgetty,"andthatnotofanolddate。Itwasamerryjestthat,ofcrammingthebreadintothedeadman"smouth,butsomewhattoowildandsalvageforcivilizedacceptation,besideswastingthegoodvictuals。Ihaveseenwhenatasiegeoraleaguer,Ranald,alivingsoldierwouldhavebeenthebetter,Ranald,forthatcrustofbread,whilkyouthrewawayonadeadpow。"

"WewereattackedbySirDuncan,"continuedMacEagh,"andmybrotherwasslain——hisheadwaswitheringonthebattlementswhichwescaled——Ivowedrevenge,anditisavowIhaveneverbroken。"

"Itmaybeso,"saidDalgetty;"andeverythorough—bredsoldierwillconfessthatrevengeisasweetmorsel;butinwhatmannerthisstorywillinterestSirDuncaninyourjustification,unlessitshouldmovehimtointercedewiththeMarquistochangethemannerthereoffromhanging,orsimplesuspension,tobreakingyourlimbsontheroueorwheel,withthecoulterofaplough,orotherwiseputtingyoutodeathbytorture,surpassesmycomprehension。WereIyou,Ranald,IwouldbeformiskenningSirDuncan,keepingmyownsecret,anddepartingquietlybysuffocation,likeyourancestorsbeforeyou。"

"Yethearken,stranger,"saidtheHighlander。"SirDuncanofArdenvohrhadfourchildren。Threediedunderourdirks,butthefourthsurvives;andmorewouldhegivetodandleonhiskneethefourthchildwhichremains,thantoracktheseoldbones,whichcarelittlefortheutmostindulgenceofhiswrath。Oneword,ifIlisttospeakit,couldturnhisdayofhumiliationandfastingintoadayofthankfulnessandrejoicing,andbreakingofbread。

O,Iknowitbymyownheart？DearertomeisthechildKenneth,whochaseththebutterflyonthebanksoftheAven,thantensonswhoaremoulderinginearth,orarepreyedonbythefowlsoftheair。"

"Ipresume,Ranald,"continuedDalgetty,"thatthethreeprettyfellowswhomIsawyonderinthemarket—place,strungupbytheheadlikerizzer"dhaddocks,claimedsomeinterestinyou？"

TherewasabriefpauseeretheHighlanderreplied,inatoneofstrongemotion,——"Theyweremysons,stranger——theyweremysons！——bloodofmyblood——boneofmybone！——fleetoffoot——

unerringinaim——unvanquishedbyfoementillthesonsofDiarmidovercamethembynumbers！WhydoIwishtosurvivethem？Theoldtrunkwilllessfeeltherendingupofitsroots,thanithasfelttheloppingoffofitsgracefulboughs。ButKennethmustbetrainedtorevenge——theyoungeaglemustlearnfromtheoldhowtostooponhisfoes。Iwillpurchaseforhissakemylifeandmyfreedom,bydiscoveringmysecrettotheKnightofArdenvohr。"

"Youmayattainyourendmoreeasily,"saidathirdvoice,minglingintheconference,"byentrustingittome。"

AllHighlandersaresuperstitious。"TheEnemyofMankindisamongus！"saidRanaldMacEagh,springingtohisfeet。Hischainsclatteredasherose,whilehedrewhimselfasfarastheypermittedfromthequarterwhencethevoiceappearedtoproceed。

HisfearinsomedegreecommunicateditselftoCaptainDalgetty,whobegantorepeat,inasortofpolyglotgibberish,alltheexorcismshehadeverheardof,withoutbeingabletoremembermorethanawordortwoofeach。

"INNOMINEDOMINI,aswesaidatMareschal—College——SANTISSMA

MADREDIDIOS,astheSpaniardhasit——ALLEGUTENGEISTERLOBEN

DENHERRN,saiththeblessedPsalmist,inDr。Luther"stranslation——"

"Atrucewithyourexorcisms,"saidthevoicetheyhadheardbefore;"thoughIcomestrangelyamongyou,Iammortallikeyourselves,andmyassistancemayavailyouinyourpresentstreight,ifyouarenottooproudtobecounselled。"

Whilethestrangerthusspoke,hewithdrewtheshadeofadarklantern,bywhosefeeblelightDalgettycouldonlydiscernthatthespeakerwhohadthusmysteriouslyunitedhimselftotheircompany,andmixedintheirconversation,wasatallman,dressedinaliverycloakoftheMarquis。Hisfirstglancewastohisfeet,buthesawneithertheclovenfootwhichScottishlegendsassigntothefoulfiend,northehorse"shoofbywhichheisdistinguishedinGermany。Hisfirstenquirywas,howthestrangerhadcomeamongthem？

"For,"saidhe,"thecreakoftheserustybarswouldhavebeenheardhadthedoorbeenmadepatent;andifyoupassedthroughthekeyhole,truly,sir,putwhatfaceyouwillonit,youarenotfittobeenrolledinaregimentoflivingmen。"

"Ireservemysecret,"answeredthestranger,"untilyoushallmeritthediscoverybycommunicatingtomesomeofyours。ItmaybethatIshallbemovedtoletyououtwhereImyselfcamein。"

"Itcannotbethroughthekeyhole,then,"saidCaptainDalgetty,"formycorsletwouldstickinthepassage,wereitpossiblethatmyhead—piececouldgetthrough。Asforsecrets,Ihavenoneofmyown,andbutfewappertainingtoothers。Butimparttouswhatsecretsyoudesiretoknow;or,asProfessorSnufflegreekusedtosayattheMareschal—College,Aberdeen,speakthatImayknowthee。"

"ItisnotwithyouIhavefirsttodo,"repliedthestranger,turninghislightfullonthemildandwastedfeatures,andthelargelimbsoftheHighlander,RanaldMacEagh,who,closedrawnupagainstthewallsofthedungeon,seemedyetuncertainwhetherhisguestwasalivingbeing。

"Ihavebroughtyousomething,myfriend,"saidthestranger,inamoresoothingtone,"tomendyourfare;ifyouaretodieto—

morrow,itisnoreasonwhereforeyoushouldnotliveto—night。"

"Noneatall——noreasoninthecreation,"repliedthereadyCaptainDalgetty,whoforthwithbegantounpackthecontentsofasmallbasketwhichthestrangerhadbroughtunderhiscloak,whiletheHighlander,eitherinsuspicionordisdain,paidnoattentiontothegoodcheer。

"Here"stothee,myfriend,"saidtheCaptain,who,havingalreadydispatchedahugepieceofroastedkid,wasnowtakingapullatthewine—flask。"Whatisthyname,mygoodfriend？"

"MurdochCampbell,sir,"answeredtheservant,"alackeyoftheMarquisofArgyle,andoccasionallyactingasunder—warden。"

"Thenhereistotheeoncemore,Murdoch,"saidDalgetty,"drinkingtoyoubyyourpropernameforthebetterlucksake。

ThiswineItaketobeCalcavella。Well,honestMurdoch,Itakeitonmetosay,thoudeservesttobeupper—warden,sincethoushowestthyselftwentytimesbetteracquaintedwiththewayofvictuallinghonestgentlementhatareundermisfortune,thanthyprincipal。Breadandwater？outuponhim！Itwasenough,Murdoch,todestroythecreditoftheMarquis"sdungeon。ButI

seeyouwouldconversewithmyfriend,RanaldMacEaghhere。Nevermindmypresence;I"llgetmeintothiscornerwiththebasket,andIwillwarrantmyjawsmakenoiseenoughtopreventmyearsfromhearingyou。"

Notwithstandingthispromise,however,theveteranlistenedwithalltheattentionhecouldtogathertheirdiscourse,or,ashedescribedithimself,"laidhisearsbackinhisneck,likeGustavus,whenheheardthekeyturninthegirnell—kist。"Hecould,therefore,owingtothenarrownessofthedungeon,easilyoverhearthefollowingdialogue。

"Areyouaware,SonoftheMist,"saidtheCampbell,"thatyouwillneverleavethisplaceexceptingforthegibbet？"

"Thosewhoaredearesttome,"answeredMacEagh,"havetrodethatpathbeforeme。"

"Thenyouwoulddonothing,"askedthevisitor,"toshunfollowingthem？"

Theprisonerwrithedhimselfinhischainsbeforereturningananswer。

"Iwoulddomuch,"atlengthhesaid;"notformyownlife,butforthesakeofthepledgeintheglenofStrath—Aven。"

"Andwhatwouldyoudototurnawaythebitternessofthehour？"

againdemandedMurdoch;"Icarenotforwhatcauseyemeantoshunit。"

"Iwoulddowhatamanmightdo,andstillcallhimselfaman。"

"Doyoucallyourselfaman,"saidtheinterrogator,"whohavedonethedeedsofawolf？"

"Ido,"answeredtheoutlaw;"Iamamanlikemyforefathers——

whilewraptinthemantleofpeace,wewerelambs——itwasrentfromus,andyenowcalluswolves。Giveusthehutsyehaveburned,ourchildrenwhomyehavemurdered,ourwidowswhomyehavestarved——collectfromthegibbetandthepolethemangledcarcasses,andwhitenedskullsofourkinsmen——bidthemliveandblessus,andwewillbeyourvassalsandbrothers——tillthen,letdeath,andblood,andmutualwrong,drawadarkveilofdivisionbetweenus。"

"Youwillthendonothingforyourliberty,"saidtheCampbell。

"Anything——butcallmyselfthefriendofyourtribe,"answeredMacEagh。

"Wescornthefriendshipofbandittiandcaterans,"retortedMurdoch,"andwouldnotstooptoacceptit。——WhatIdemandtoknowfromyou,inexchangeforyourliberty,is,wherethedaughterandheiressoftheKnightofArdenvohrisnowtobefound？"

"Thatyoumaywedhertosomebeggarlykinsmanofyourgreatmaster,"saidRanald,"afterthefashionoftheChildrenofDiarmid！DoesnotthevalleyofGlenorquhy,tothisveryhour,cryshameontheviolenceofferedtoahelplessinfantwhomherkinsmenwereconveyingtothecourtoftheSovereign？Werenotherescortcompelledtohideherbeneathacauldron,roundwhichtheyfoughttillnotoneremainedtotellthetale？andwasnotthegirlbroughttothisfatalcastle,andafterwardsweddedtothebrotherofM"CallumMore,andallforthesakeofherbroadlands？"[SuchastoryistoldoftheheiressoftheclanofCalder,whowasmadeprisonerinthemannerdescribed,andafterwardsweddedtoSirDuncanCampbell,fromwhichuniontheCampbellsofCawdorhavetheirdescent。]

"Andifthetalebetrue,"saidMurdoch,"shehadaprefermentbeyondwhattheKingofScotswouldhaveconferredonher。Butthisisfarfromthepurpose。ThedaughterofSirDuncanofArdenvohrisofourownblood,notastranger;andwhohassogoodarighttoknowherfateasM"CallumMore,thechiefofherclan？"

"Itisonhispart,then,thatyoudemandit！"saidtheoutlaw。

ThedomesticoftheMarquisassented。

"Andyouwillpractisenoevilagainstthemaiden？——Ihavedoneherwrongenoughalready。"

"Noevil,uponthewordofaChristianman,"repliedMurdoch。

"Andmyguerdonistobelifeandliberty？"saidtheChildoftheMist。

"Suchisourpaction,"repliedtheCampbell。

"Thenknow,thatthechildwhomIsavedourofcompassionatthespoilingofherfather"stowerofstrength,wasbredasanadopteddaughterofourtribe,untilwewereworstedatthepassofBallenduthil,bythefiendincarnateandmortalenemyofourtribe,AllanM"AulayoftheBloodyhand,andbythehorsemenofLennox,undertheheirofMenteith。"

"FellsheintothepowerofAllanoftheBloodyhand,"saidMurdoch,"andsheareputeddaughterofthytribe？Thenherbloodhasgildedthedirk,andthouhastsaidnothingtorescuethineownforfeitedlife。"

"Ifmyliferestonhers,"answeredtheoutlaw,"itissecure,forshestillsurvives;butithasamoreinsecurereliance——thefrailpromiseofasonofDiarmid。"

"Thatpromiseshallnotfailyou,"saidtheCampbell,"ifyoucanassuremethatshesurvives,andwheresheistobefound。"

"IntheCastleofDarlinvarach,"saidRanaldMacEagh,"underthenameofAnnotLyle。Ihaveoftenheardofherfrommykinsmen,whohaveagainapproachedtheirnativewoods,anditisnotlongsincemineoldeyesbeheldher。"

"You！"saidMurdoch,inastonishment,"you,achiefamongtheChildrenoftheMist,andventuredsonearyourmortalfoe？"

"SonofDiarmid,Ididmore,"repliedtheoutlaw;"Iwasinthehallofthecastle,disguisedasaharperfromthewildshoresofSkianach。MypurposewastohaveplungedmydirkinthebodyoftheM"AulaywiththeBloodyhand,beforewhomourracetrembles,andtohavetakenthereafterwhatfateGodshouldsendme。ButI

sawAnnotLyle,evenwhenmyhandwasonthehiltofmydagger。

Shetouchedherclairshach[Harp]toasongoftheChildrenoftheMist,whichshehadlearnedwhenherdwellingwasamongstus。

Thewoodsinwhichwehaddweltpleasantly,rustledtheirgreenleavesinthesong,andourstreamsweretherewiththesoundofalltheirwaters。Myhandforsookthedagger;thefountainsofmineeyeswereopened,andthehourofrevengepassedaway。——Andnow,SonofDiarmid,haveInotpaidtheransomofmyhead？"

"Ay,"repliedMurdoch,"ifyourtalebetrue;butwhatproofcanyouassignforit？"

"Bearwitness,heavenandearth,"exclaimedtheoutlaw,"healreadylookshowhemaystepoverhisword！"

"Notso,"repliedMurdoch;"everypromiseshallbekepttoyouwhenIamassuredyouhavetoldmethetruth。——ButImustspeakafewwordswithyourcompanionincaptivity。"

"Fairandfalse——everfairandfalse,"mutteredtheprisoner,ashethrewhimselfoncemoreonthefloorofhisdungeon。

Meanwhile,CaptainDalgetty,whohadattendedtoeverywordofthisdialogue,wasmakinghisownremarksonitinprivate。

"WhattheHENKERcanthisslyfellowhavetosaytome？Ihavenochild,eitherofmyown,sofarasIknow,orofanyotherperson,totellhimataleabout。Butlethimcomeon——hewillhavesomemanoeuvringereheturntheflankoftheoldsoldier。"

Accordingly,asifhehadstoodpikeinhandtodefendabreach,hewaitedwithcaution,butwithoutfear,thecommencementoftheattack。

"Youareacitizenoftheworld,CaptainDalgetty,"saidMurdochCampbell,"andcannotbeignorantofouroldScotchproverb,GIF—

GAF,[InoldEnglish,KAMEKATHEE,i。e。mutuallyservingeachother。]whichgoesthroughallnationsandallservices。"

"ThenIshouldknowsomethingofit,"saidDalgetty;"for,excepttheTurks,therearefewpowersinEuropewhomIhavenotserved;

andIhavesometimesthoughtoftakingaturneitherwithBethlemGabor,orwiththeJanizaries。"

"Amanofyourexperienceandunprejudicedideas,then,willunderstandmeatonce,"saidMurdoch,"whenIsay,Imeanthatyourfreedomshalldependonyourtrueanduprightanswertoafewtriflingquestionsrespectingthegentlemenyouhaveleft;

theirstateofpreparation;thenumberoftheirmen,andnatureoftheirappointments;andasmuchasyouchancetoknowabouttheirplanofoperations。"

"Justtosatisfyyourcuriosity,"saidDalgetty,"andwithoutanyfartherpurpose？"

"Noneintheworld,"repliedMurdoch;"whatinterestshouldapoordevillikemetakeintheiroperations？"

"Makeyourinterrogations,then,"saidtheCaptain,"andIwillanswerthemPREREMTORIE。"

"HowmanyIrishmaybeontheirmarchtojoinJamesGrahamthedelinquent？"

"Probablytenthousand,"saidCaptainDalgetty。

"Tenthousand！"repliedMurdochangrily;"weknowthatscarcetwothousandlandedatArdnamurchan。"

"ThenyouknowmoreaboutthemthanIdo,"answeredCaptainDalgetty,withgreatcomposure。"Ineversawthemmusteredyet,orevenunderarms。"

"Andhowmanymenoftheclansmaybeexpected？"demandedMurdoch。

"Asmanyastheycanmake,"repliedtheCaptain。

"Youareansweringfromthepurpose,sir,"saidMurdoch"speakplainly,willtherebefivethousandmen？"

"Thereandthereabouts,"answeredDalgetty。

"Youareplayingwithyourlife,sir,ifyoutriflewithme,"

repliedthecatechist;"onewhistleofmine,andinlessthantenminutesyourheadhangsonthedrawbridge。"

"Buttospeakcandidly,Mr。Murdoch,"repliedtheCaptain"doyouthinkitisareasonablethingtoaskmeafterthesecretsofourarmy,andIengagedtoserveforthewholecampaign？IfItaughtyouhowtodefeatMontrose,whatbecomesofmypay,arrears,andchanceofbooty？"

"Itellyou,"saidCampbell,"thatifyoubestubborn,yourcampaignshallbeginandendinamarchtotheblockatthecastle—gate,whichstandsreadyforsuchland—laufers;butifyouanswermyquestionsfaithfully,Iwillreceiveyouintomy——intotheserviceofM"CallumMore。"

"Doestheserviceaffordgoodpay？"saidCaptainDalgetty。

"Hewilldoubleyours,ifyouwillreturntoMontroseandactunderhisdirection。"

"IwishIhadseenyou,sir,beforetakingonwithhim,"saidDalgetty,appearingtomeditate。

"Onthecontrary,Icanaffordyoumoreadvantageoustermsnow,"

saidtheCampbell;"alwayssupposingthatyouarefaithful。"

"Faithful,thatis,toyou,andatraitortoMontrose,"answeredtheCaptain。

"Faithfultothecauseofreligionandgoodorder,"answeredMurdoch,"whichsanctifiesanydeceptionyoumayemploytoserveit。"

"AndtheMarquisofArgyle——shouldIinclinetoenterhisservice,isheakindmaster？"demandedDalgetty。

"Nevermankinder,"quothCampbell。

"Andbountifultohisofficers？"pursuedtheCaptain。

"ThemostopenhandinScotland,"repliedMurdoch。

"Trueandfaithfultohisengagements？"continuedDalgetty。

"Ashonourableanoblemanasbreathes,"saidtheclansman。

"Ineverheardsomuchgoodofhimbefore,"saidDalgetty;"youmustknowtheMarquiswell,——orratheryoumustbetheMarquishimself！——LordofArgyle,"headded,throwinghimselfsuddenlyonthedisguisednobleman,"IarrestyouinthenameofKingCharles,asatraitor。Ifyouventuretocallforassistance,I

willwrenchroundyourneck。"

TheattackwhichDalgettymadeuponArgyle"spersonwassosuddenandunexpected,thatheeasilyprostratedhimonthefloorofthedungeon,andheldhimdownwithonehand,whilehisright,graspingtheMarquis"sthroat,wasreadytostranglehimontheslightestattempttocallforassistance。

"LordofArgyle,"hesaid,"itisnowmyturntolaydownthetermsofcapitulation。Ifyoulisttoshowmetheprivatewaybywhichyouenteredthedungeon,youshallescape,onconditionofbeingmyLOCUMTENENS,aswesaidattheMareschal—College,untilyourwardervisitshisprisoners。Butifnot,Iwillfirststrangleyou——IlearnedtheartfromaPolonianheyduck,whohadbeenaslaveintheOttomanseraglio——andthenseekoutamodeofretreat。"

"Villain！youwouldnotmurdermeformykindness,"murmuredArgyle。

"Notforyourkindness,mylord,"repliedDalgetty:"butfirst,toteachyourlordshiptheJUSGENTIUMtowardscavalierswhocometoyouundersafe—conduct;andsecondly,towarnyouofthedangerofproposingdishonourabletermstoanyworthysoldado,inordertotempthimtobecomefalsetohisstandardduringthetermofhisservice。"

"Sparemylife,"saidArgyle,"andIwilldoasyourequire。"

DalgettymaintainedhisgripeupontheMarquis"sthroat,compressingitalittlewhileheaskedquestions,andrelaxingitsofarastogivehimthepowerofansweringthem。

"Whereisthesecretdoorintothedungeon？"hedemanded。

"Holdupthelanterntothecorneronyourrighthand,youwilldiscerntheironwhichcoversthespring,"repliedtheMarquis。

"Sofarsogood。——Wheredoesthepassageleadto？"

"Tomyprivateapartmentbehindthetapestry,"answeredtheprostratenobleman。

"FromthencehowshallIreachthegateway？"

"Throughthegrandgallery,theanteroom,thelackeys"waitinghall,thegrandguardroom——"

"Allcrowdedwithsoldiers,factionaries,andattendants？——thatwillneverdoforme,mylord;——haveyounosecretpassagetothegate,asyouhavetoyourdungeons？IhaveseensuchinGermany。"

"Thereisapassagethroughthechapel,"saidtheMarquis,"openingfrommyapartment。"

"Andwhatisthepass—wordatthegate？"

"TheswordofLevi,"repliedtheMarquis;"butifyouwillreceivemypledgeofhonour,Iwillgowithyou,escortyouthrougheveryguard,andsetyouatfulllibertywithapassport。"

"Imighttrustyou,mylord,wereyourthroatnotalreadyblackwiththegraspofmyfingers——asitis,BESOLOSMANOSAUSTED,astheSpaniardsays。Yetyoumaygrantmeapassport;——aretherewritingmaterialsinyourapartment？"

"Surely;andblankpassportsreadytobesigned。Iwillattendyouthere,"saidtheMarquis,"instantly。"

"Itweretoomuchhonourforthelikeofme,"saidDalgetty;

"yourlordshipshallremainunderchargeofminehonestfriendRanaldMacEagh;therefore,pritheeletmedragyouwithinreachofhischain。——HonestRanald,youseehowmattersstandwithus。

Ishallfindthemeans,Idoubtnot,ofsettingyouatfreedom。