The Fortunes of Nigel - Вальтер Скотт 10 стр.

See, then, that you give no one notice of our lodging, said the young nobleman; those with whom I have business I can meet at Pauls, or in the Court of Requests.

This is steeking the stable-door when the steed is stolen, thought Richie to himself; but I must put him on another pin.

So thinking, he asked the young lord what was in the Proclamation which he still held folded in his hand; for, having little time to spell at it, said he, your lordship well knows I ken nought about it but the grand blazon at the tap the lion has gotten a claught of our auld Scottish shield now, but it was as weel upheld when it had a unicorn on ilk side of it.

Lord Nigel read the Proclamation, and he coloured deep with shame and indignation as he read; for the purport was, to his injured feelings, like the pouring of ardent spirits upon a recent wound.

What deils in the paper, my lord? said Richie, unable to suppress his curiosity as he observed his master change colour; I wadna ask such a thing, only the Proclamation is not a private thing, but is meant for a mens hearing.

It is indeed meant for all mens hearing, replied Lord Nigel, and it proclaims the shame of our country, and the ingratitude of our Prince.

Now the Lord preserve us! and to publish it in London, too! ejaculated Moniplies.

Hark ye, Richard, said Nigel Olifaunt, in this paper the Lords of the Council set forth, that, in consideration of the resort of idle persons of low condition forth from his Majestys kingdom of Scotland to his English Court filling the same with their suits and supplications, and dishonouring the royal presence with their base, poor, and beggarly persons, to the disgrace of their country in the estimation of the English; these are to prohibit the skippers, masters of vessels and others, in every part of Scotland, from bringing such miserable creatures up to Court under pain of fine and impisonment.

I marle the skipper took us on board, said Richie.

Then you need not marvel how you are to get back again, said Lord Nigel, for here is a clause which says, that such idle suitors are to be transported back to Scotland at his Majestys expense, and punished for their audacity with stripes, stocking, or incarceration, according to their demerits that is to say, I suppose, according to the degree of their poverty, for I see no other demerit specified.

This will scarcely, said Richie, square with our old proverb

But what says the paper farther, my lord?

O, only a small clause which especially concerns us, making some still heavier denunciations against those suitors who shall be so bold as to approach the Court, under pretext of seeking payment of old debts due to them by the king, which, the paper states, is, of all species of importunity, that which is most odious to his Majesty.

The king has neighbours in that matter, said Richie; but it is not every one that can shift off that sort of cattle so easily as he does.

Their conversation was here interrupted by a knocking at the door. Olifaunt looked out at the window, and saw an elderly respectable person whom he knew not. Richie also peeped, and recognised, but, recognising, chose not to acknowledge, his friend of the preceding evening. Afraid that his share in the visit might be detected, he made his escape out of the apartment under pretext of going to his breakfast; and left their landlady the task of ushering Master George into Lord Nigels apartment, which she performed with much courtesy.

CHAPTER IV

The young Scottish nobleman received the citizen with distant politeness, expressing that sort of reserve by which those of the higher ranks are sometimes willing to make a plebeian sensible that he is an intruder. But Master George seemed neither displeased nor disconcerted. He assumed the chair, which, in deference to his respectable appearance, Lord Nigel offered to him, and said, after a moments pause, during which he had looked attentively at the young man, with respect not unmingled with emotion You will forgive me for this rudeness, my lord; but I was endeavouring to trace in your youthful countenance the features of my good old lord, your excellent father.

There was a moments pause ere young Glenvarloch replied, still with a reserved manner,  I have been reckoned like my father, sir; and am happy to see any one that respects his memory. But the business which calls me to this city is of a hasty as well as a private nature, and

I understand the hint, my lord, said Master George, and would not be guilty of long detaining you from business, or more agreeable conversation. My errand is almost done when I have said that my name is George Heriot, warmly befriended, and introduced into the employment of the Royal Family of Scotland, more than twenty years since, by your excellent father; and that, learning from a follower of yours that your lordship was in this city in prosecution of some business of importance, it is my duty,  it is my pleasure,  to wait on the son of my respected patron; and, as I am somewhat known both at the Court, and in the city, to offer him such aid in the furthering of his affairs as my credit and experience may be able to afford.

I have no doubt of either, Master Heriot, said Lord Nigel, and I thank you heartily for the good-will with which you have placed them at a strangers disposal; but my business at Court is done and ended, and I intend to leave London and, indeed, the island, for foreign travel and military service. I may add, that the suddenness of my departure occasions my having little time at my disposal.

Master Heriot did not take the hint, but sat fast, with an embarrassed countenance however, like one who had something to say that he knew not exactly how to make effectual. At length he said, with a dubious smile, You are fortunate, my lord, in having so soon dispatched your business at Court. Your talking landlady informs me you have been but a fortnight in this city. It is usually months and years ere the Court and a suitor shake hands and part.

My business, said Lord Nigel, with a brevity which was intended to stop further discussion, was summarily dispatched.

Still Master Heriot remained seated, and there was a cordial good-humour added to the reverence of his appearance, which rendered it impossible for Lord Nigel to be more explicit in requesting his absence.

Your lordship has not yet had time, said the citizen, still attempting to sustain the conversation, to visit the places of amusement,  the playhouses, and other places to which youth resort. But I see in your lordships hand one of the new-invented plots of the piece, [Footnote: Meaning, probably, playbills.] which they hand about of late May I ask what play?

Oh! a well-known piece, said Lord Nigel, impatiently throwing down the Proclamation, which he had hitherto been twisting to and fro in his hand,  an excellent and well-approved piece A New Way to Pay Old Debts.

Master Heriot stooped down, saying, Ah! my old acquaintance, Philip Massinger; but, having opened the paper and seen the purport, he looked at Lord Nigel with surprise, saying, I trust your lordship does not think this prohibition can extend either to your person or your claims?

Master Heriot stooped down, saying, Ah! my old acquaintance, Philip Massinger; but, having opened the paper and seen the purport, he looked at Lord Nigel with surprise, saying, I trust your lordship does not think this prohibition can extend either to your person or your claims?

I should scarce have thought so myself, said the young nobleman; but so it proves. His Majesty, to close this discourse at once, has been pleased to send me this Proclamation, in answer to a respectful Supplication for the repayment of large loans advanced by my father for the service of the State, in the kings utmost emergencies.

It is impossible! said the citizen it is absolutely impossible!  If the king could forget what was due to your fathers memory, still he would not have wished would not, I may say, have dared to be so flagrantly unjust to the memory of such a man as your father, who, dead in the body, will long live in the memory of the Scottish people.

I should have been of your opinion, answered Lord Nigel, in the same tone as before; but there is no fighting with facts.

What was the tenor of this Supplication? said Heriot; or by whom was it presented? Something strange there must have been in the contents, or else

You may see my original draught, said the young lord, taking it out of a small travelling strong-box; the technical part is by my lawyer in Scotland, a skilful and sensible man; the rest is my own, drawn, I hope, with due deference and modesty.

Master Heriot hastly cast his eye over the draught. Nothing, he said, can be more well-tempered and respectful. Is it possible the king can have treated this petition with contempt?

He threw it down on the pavement, said the Lord of Glenvarloch, and sent me for answer that Proclamation, in which he classes me with the paupers and mendicants from Scotland, who disgrace his Court in the eyes of the proud English that is all. Had not my father stood by him with heart, sword, and fortune, he might never have seen the Court of England himself.

But by whom was this Supplication presented, my lord? said Heriot; for the distaste taken at the messenger will sometimes extend itself to the message.

By my servant, said the Lord Nigel; by the man you saw, and, I think, were kind to.

By your servant, my lord? said the citizen; he seems a shrewd fellow, and doubtless a faithful; but surely

You would say, said Lord Nigel, he is no fit messenger to a kings presence?  Surely he is not; but what could I do? Every attempt I had made to lay my case before the king had miscarried, and my petitions got no farther than the budgets of clerks and secretaries; this fellow pretended he had a friend in the household that would bring him to the kings presence,  and so

I understand, said Heriot; but, my lord, why should you not, in right of your rank and birth, have appeared at Court, and required an audience, which could not have been denied to you?

The young lord blushed a little, and looked at his dress, which was very plain; and, though in perfect good order, had the appearance of having seen service.

I know not why I should be ashamed of speaking the truth, he said, after a momentary hesitation,  I had no dress suitable for appearing at Court. I am determined to incur no expenses which I cannot discharge; and I think you, sir, would not advise me to stand at the palace-door, in person, and deliver my petition, along with those who are in very deed pleading their necessity, and begging an alms.

That had been, indeed, unseemly, said the citizen; but yet, my lord, my mind runs strangely that there must be some mistake.  Can I speak with your domestic?

I see little good it can do, answered the young lord, but the interest you take in my misfortunes seems sincere, and therefore He stamped on the floor, and in a few seconds afterwards Moniplies appeared, wiping from his beard and mustaches the crumbs of bread, and the froth of the ale-pot, which plainly showed how he had been employed.  Will your lordship grant permission, said Heriot, that I ask your groom a few questions?

His lordships page, Master George, answered Moniplies, with a nod of acknowledgment, if you are minded to speak according to the letter.

Hold your saucy tongue, said his master, and reply distinctly to the questions you are to be asked.

And truly, if it like your pageship, said the citizen, for you may remember I have a gift to discover falset.

Weel, weel, weel, replied the domestic, somewhat embarrassed, in spite of his effrontery though I think that the sort of truth that serves my master, may weel serve ony ane else.

Pages lie to their masters by right of custom, said the citizen; and you write yourself in that band, though I think you be among the oldest of such springalds; but to me you must speak truth, if you would not have it end in the whipping-post.

And thats een a bad resting-place, said the well-grown page; so come away with your questions, Master George.

Well, then, demanded the citizen, I am given to understand that you yesterday presented to his Majestys hand a Supplication, or petition, from this honourable lord, your master.

Troth, theres nae gainsaying that, sir, replied Moniplies; there were enow to see it besides me.

And you pretend that his Majesty flung it from him with contempt? said the citizen. Take heed, for I have means of knowing the truth; and you were better up to the neck in the Nor-Loch, which you like so well, than tell a leasing where his Majestys name is concerned.

There is nae occasion for leasing-making about the matter, answered Moniplies, firmly; his Majesty een flung it frae him as if it had dirtied his fingers.

You hear, sir, said Olifaunt, addressing Heriot.

Hush! said the sagacious citizen; this fellow is not ill named he has more plies than one in his cloak. Stay, fellow, for Moniplies, muttering somewhat about finishing his breakfast, was beginning to shamble towards the door, answer me this farther question When you gave your masters petition to his Majesty, gave you nothing with it?

Ou, what should I give wi it, ye ken, Master George?

That is what I desire and insist to know, replied his interrogator.

Weel, then I am not free to say, that maybe I might not just slip into the kings hand a wee bit Sifflication of mine ain, along with my lords just to save his Majesty trouble and that he might consider them baith at ance.

A supplication of your own, you varlet! said his master.

Ou dear, ay, my lord, said Richie puir bodies hae their bits of sifflications as weel as their betters.

And pray, what might your worshipful petition import? said Master Heriot.  Nay, for Heavens sake, my lord, keep your patience, or we shall never learn the truth of this strange matter.  Speak out, sirrah, and I will stand your friend with my lord.

Its a lang story to tell but the upshot is, that its a scrape of an auld accompt due to my fathers yestate by her Majesty the kings maist gracious mother, when she lived in the Castle, and had sundry providings and furnishings forth of our booth, whilk nae doubt was an honour to my father to supply, and whilk, doubtless, it will be a credit to his Majesty to satisfy, as it will be grit convenience to me to receive the saam.