第8章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Legend of Montrose",免费读到尾

  \"ThaneofMenteith,\"hesaid,\"youhavewellspoken;noristhereoneofusinwhosebosomthesamesentimentsdonotburnlikefire。Butitisnotstrengthalonethatwinsthefight;itistheheadofthecommander,aswellasthearmofthesoldier,thatbringsvictory。Iaskofyouwhoistoraiseandsustainthebannerunderwhichweareinvitedtoriseandmusterourselves?Willitbeexpectedthatweshouldriskourchildren,andtheflowerofourkinsmen,ereweknowtowhoseguidancetheyaretobeintrusted?Thiswereleadingthosetoslaughter,whom,bythelawsofGodandman,itisourdutytoprotect。Whereistheroyalcommission,underwhichtheliegesaretobeconvocatedinarms?Simpleandrudeaswemaybedeemed,weknowsomethingoftheestablishedrulesofwar,aswellasofthelawsofourcountry;norwillwearmourselvesagainstthegeneralpeaceofScotland,unlessbytheexpresscommandsoftheKing,andunderaleaderfittocommandsuchmenasarehereassembled。\"

  \"Wherewouldyoufindsuchaleader,\"saidanotherChief,startingup,\"savingtherepresentativeoftheLordoftheIsles,entitledbybirthandhereditarydescenttoleadforththearrayofeveryclanoftheHighlands;andwhereisthatdignitylodged,saveinthehouseofVichAlisterMore?\"

  \"Iacknowledge,\"saidanotherChief,eagerlyinterruptingthespeaker,\"thetruthinwhathasbeenfirstsaid,butnottheinference。IfVichAlisterMoredesirestobeheldrepresentativeoftheLordoftheIsles,lethimfirstshowhisbloodisredderthanmine。\"

  \"Thatissoontried,\"saidVichAlisterMore,layinghishanduponthebaskethiltofhisclaymore。LordMenteiththrewhimselfbetweenthem,entreatingandimploringeachtorememberthattheinterestsofScotland,thelibertyoftheircountry,andthecauseoftheirKing,oughttobesuperiorintheireyestoanypersonaldisputesrespectingdescent,rank,andprecedence。

  SeveraloftheHighlandChiefs,whohadnodesiretoadmittheclaimsofeitherchieftain,interferedtothesamepurpose,andnonewithmoreemphasisthanthecelebratedEvanDhu。

  \"Ihavecomefrommylakes,\"hesaid,\"asastreamdescendsfromthehills,nottoturnagain,buttoaccomplishmycourse。ItisnotbylookingbacktoourownpretensionsthatweshallserveScotlandorKingCharles。MyvoiceshallbeforthatgeneralwhomtheKingshallname,whowilldoubtlesspossessthosequalitieswhicharenecessarytocommandmenlikeus。High—bornhemustbe,orweshallloseourrankinobeyinghim——wiseandskilful,orweshallendangerthesafetyofourpeople——bravestamongthebrave,orweshallperilourownhonour——temperate,firm,andmanly,tokeepusunited。Suchisthemanthatmustcommandus。Areyouprepared,ThaneofMenteith,tosaywheresuchageneralistobefound?\"

  \"ThereisbutONE,\"saidAllanM\'Aulay;\"andhere,\"hesaid,layinghishandupontheshoulderofAnderson,whostoodbehindLordMenteith,\"herehestands!\"

  Thegeneralsurpriseofthemeetingwasexpressedbyanimpatientmurmur;whenAnderson,throwingbackthecloakinwhichhisfacewasmuffled,andsteppingforward,spokethus:——\"Ididnotlongintendtobeasilentspectatorofthisinterestingscene,althoughmyhastyfriendhasobligedmetodisclosemyselfsomewhatsoonerthanwasmyintention。WhetherIdeservethehonourreposedinmebythisparchmentwillbestappearfromwhatIshallbeabletodofortheKing\'sservice。Itisacommissionunderthegreatseal,toJamesGraham,EarlofMontrose,tocommandthoseforceswhicharetobeassembledfortheserviceofhisMajestyinthiskingdom。\"

  Aloudshoutofapprobationburstfromtheassembly。Therewas,infact,nootherpersontowhom,inpointofrank,theseproudmountaineerswouldhavebeendisposedtosubmit。HisinveterateandhereditaryhostilitytotheMarquisofArgyleinsuredhisengaginginthewarwithsufficientenergy,whilehiswell—knownmilitarytalents,andhistriedvalour,affordedeveryhopeofhisbringingittoafavourableconclusion。

  CHAPTERVIII。

  Ourplotisagoodplotaseverwaslaid;ourfriendstrueandconstant:agoodplot,goodfriends,andfullofexpectation:

  anexcellentplot,verygoodfriends。HENRYIVPartI。

  Nosoonerhadthegeneralacclamationofjoyfulsurprisesubsided,thansilencewaseagerlydemandedforreadingtheroyalcommission;andthebonnets,whichhithertoeachChiefhadworn,probablybecauseunwillingtobethefirsttouncover,werenowatoncevailedinhonouroftheroyalwarrant。Itwascouchedinthemostfullandampleterms,authorizingtheEarlofMontrosetoassemblethesubjectsinarms,fortheputtingdownthepresentrebellion,whichdiverstraitorsandseditiouspersonshadleviedagainsttheKing,tothemanifestforfaulture,asitstated,oftheirallegiance,andtothebreachofthepacificationbetweenthetwokingdoms。ItenjoinedallsubordinateauthoritiestobeobedientandassistingtoMontroseinhisenterprise;gavehimthepowerofmakingordinancesandproclamations,punishingmisdemeanours,pardoningcriminals,placinganddisplacinggovernorsandcommanders。Infine,itwasaslargeandfullacommissionasanywithwhichaprincecouldintrustasubject。Assoonasitwasfinished,ashoutburstfromtheassembledChiefs,intestimonyoftheirreadysubmissiontothewilloftheirsovereign。Notcontentedwithgenerallythankingthemforareceptionsofavourable,Montrosehastenedtoaddresshimselftoindividuals,ThemostimportantChiefshadalreadybeenlongpersonallyknowntohim,buteventothoseofinferiorconsequencehenowintroducedhimselfandbytheacquaintancehedisplayedwiththeirpeculiardesignations,andthecircumstancesandhistoryoftheirclans,heshowedhowlonghemusthavestudiedthecharacterofthemountaineers,andpreparedhimselfforsuchasituationashenowheld。

  Whilehewasengagedintheseactsofcourtesy,hisgracefulmanner,expressivefeatures,anddignityofdeportment,madeasingularcontrastwiththecoarsenessandmeannessofhisdress。

  Montrosepossessedthatsortofformandface,inwhichthebeholder,atthefirstglance,seesnothingextraordinary,butofwhichtheinterestbecomesmoreimpressivethelongerwegazeuponthem。Hisstaturewasverylittleabovethemiddlesize,butinpersonhewasuncommonlywell—built,andcapablebothofexertinggreatforce,andenduringmuchfatigue。Infact,heenjoyedaconstitutionofiron,withoutwhichhecouldnothavesustainedthetrialsofhisextraordinarycampaigns,throughallofwhichhesubjectedhimselftothehardshipsofthemeanestsoldier。Hewasperfectinallexercises,whetherpeacefulormartial,andpossessed,ofcourse,thatgracefuleaseofdeportmentpropertothosetowhomhabithasrenderedallpostureseasy。

  Hislongbrownhair,accordingtothecustomofmenofqualityamongtheRoyalists,waspartedonthetopofhishead,andtrainedtohangdownoneachsideincurledlocks,oneofwhich,descendingtwoorthreeincheslowerthantheothers,intimatedMontrose\'scompliancewiththatfashionagainstwhichitpleasedMr。Prynne,thepuritan,towriteatreatise,entitled,THE

  UNLOVELINESSOFLOVE—LOCKS。Thefeatureswhichthesetressesenclosed,wereofthatkindwhichderivetheirinterestfromthecharacteroftheman,ratherthanfromtheregularityoftheirform。Butahighnose,afull,decided,well—opened,quickgreyeye,andasanguinecomplexion,madeamendsforsomecoarsenessandirregularityinthesubordinatepartsoftheface;sothat,altogether,Montrosemightbetermedratherahandsome,thanahard—featuredman。Butthosewhosawhimwhenhissoullookedthroughthoseeyeswithalltheenergyandfireofgenius——thosewhoheardhimspeakwiththeauthorityoftalent,andtheeloquenceofnature,wereimpressedwithanopinionevenofhisexternalform,moreenthusiasticallyfavourablethantheportraitswhichstillsurvivewouldentitleustoascribetoit。

  Such,atleast,wastheimpressionhemadeupontheassembledChiefsofthemountaineers,overwhom,asuponallpersonsintheirstateofsociety,personalappearancehasnosmallinfluence。

  Inthediscussionswhichfollowedhisdiscoveringhimself,Montroseexplainedthevariousriskswhichhehadruninhispresentundertaking。HisfirstattempthadbeentoassembleabodyofloyalistsinthenorthofEngland,who,inobediencetotheordersoftheMarquisofNewcastle,heexpectedwouldhavemarchedintoScotland;butthedisinclinationoftheEnglishtocrosstheBorder,andthedelayoftheEarlofAntrim,whowastohavelandedintheSolwayFrithwithhisIrisharmy,preventedhisexecutingthisdesign。Otherplanshavinginlikemannerfailed,hestatedthathefoundhimselfunderthenecessityofassumingadisguisetorenderhispassagesecurethroughtheLowlands,inwhichhehadbeenkindlyassistedbyhiskinsmanofMenteith。BywhatmeansAllanM\'Aulayhadcometoknowhim,hecouldnotpretendtoexplain。ThosewhoknewAllan\'spropheticpretensions,smiledmysteriously;buthehimselfonlyreplied,that\"theEarlofMontroseneednotbesurprisedifhewasknowntothousands,ofwhomhehimselfcouldretainnomemory。\"

  \"Bythehonourofacavalier,\"saidCaptainDalgetty,findingatlengthanopportunitytothrustinhisword,\"Iamproudandhappyinhavinganopportunityofdrawingaswordunderyourlordship\'scommand;andIdoforgiveallgrudge,malecontent,andmaliceofmyheart,toMr。AllanM\'Aulay,forhavingthrustmedowntothelowestseatoftheboardyestreen。Certes,hehaththisdayspokensolikeamanhavingfullcommandofhissenses,thatIhadresolvedinmysecretpurposethathewasnowayentitledtoclaimtheprivilegeofinsanity。ButsinceIwasonlypostponedtoanobleearl,myfuturecommander—in—chief,I

  do,beforeyouall,recognisethejusticeofthepreference,andheartilysaluteAllanasonewhoistobehisBON—CAMARADO。\"

  Havingmadethisspeech,whichwaslittleunderstoodorattendedto,withoutputtingoffhismilitaryglove,heseizedonAllan\'shand,andbegantoshakeitwithviolence,whichAllan,withagripelikeasmith\'svice,returnedwithsuchforce,astodrivetheironsplentsofthegauntletintothehandofthewearer。

  CaptainDalgettymighthaveconstruedthisintoanewaffront,hadnothisattention,ashestoodblowingandshakingtheinjuredmember,beensuddenlycalledbyMontrosehimself。

  \"Hearthisnews,\"hesaid,\"CaptainDalgetty——IshouldsayMajorDalgetty,——theIrish,whoaretoprofitbyyourmilitaryexperience,arenowwithinafewleaguesofus。\"

  \"Ourdeer—stalkers,\"saidAngusM\'Aulay,\"whowereabroadtobringinvenisonforthishonourableparty,haveheardofabandofstrangers,speakingneitherSaxonnorpureGaelic,andwithdifficultymakingthemselvesunderstoodbythepeopleofthecountry,whoaremarchingthiswayinarms,undertheleading,itissaid,ofAlasterM\'Donald,whoiscommonlycalledYoungColkitto。\"

  \"Thesemustbeourmen,\"saidMontrose;\"wemusthastentosendmessengersforward,bothtoactasguidesandtorelievetheirwants。\"

  \"Thelast,\"saidAngusM\'Aulay,\"willbenoeasymatter;forIaminformed,that,exceptingmusketsandaverylittleammunition,theywanteverythingthatsoldiersshouldhave;andtheyareparticularlydeficientinmoney,inshoes,andinraiment。\"

  \"Thereisatleastnouseinsayingso,\"saidMontrose,\"insoloudatone。ThepuritanweaversofGlasgowshallprovidethemplentyofbroad—cloth,whenwemakeadescentfromtheHighlands;

  andiftheministerscouldformerlypreachtheoldwomenoftheScottishboroughsoutoftheirwebsofnapery,tomaketentstothefellowsonDunseLaw,[TheCovenantersencampedonDunseLaw,duringthetroublesof1639。]IwilltrywhetherIhavenotalittleinterestbothtomakethesegodlydamesrenewtheirpatrioticgift,andtheprick—earedknaves,theirhusbands,opentheirpurses。\"

  \"Andrespectingarms,\"saidCaptainDalgetty,\"ifyourlordshipwillpermitanoldcavaliertospeakhismind,sothattheone—

  thirdhavemuskets,mydarlingweaponwouldbethepikefortheremainder,whetherforresistingachargeofhorse,orforbreakingtheinfantry。Acommonsmithwillmakeahundredpike—

  headsinaday;hereisplentyofwoodforshafts;andIwilluphold,that,accordingtothebestusagesofwar,astrongbattalionofpikes,drawnupinthefashionoftheLionoftheNorth,theimmortalGustavus,wouldbeattheMacedonianphalanx,ofwhichIusedtoreadintheMareschal—College,whenIstudiedintheancienttownofBon—accord;andfurther,Iwillventuretopredicate——\"

  TheCaptain\'slectureupontacticswasheresuddenlyinterruptedbyAllanM\'Aulay,whosaid,hastily,——\"Roomforanunexpectedandunwelcomeguest!\"

  Atthesamemoment,thedoorofthehallopened,andagrey—

  hairedman,ofaverystatelyappearance,presentedhimselftotheassembly。Therewasmuchdignity,andevenauthority,inhismanner。Hisstaturewasabovethecommonsize,andhislookssuchaswereusedtocommand。Hecastasevere,andalmoststernglanceupontheassemblyofChiefs。Thoseofthehigherrankamongthemreturneditwithscornfulindifference;butsomeofthewesterngentlemenofinferiorpower,lookedasiftheywishedthemselveselsewhere。

  \"Towhichofthisassembly,\"saidthestranger,\"amItoaddressmyselfasleader?orhaveyounotfixeduponthepersonwhoistoholdanofficeatleastasperilousasitishonourable?\"

  \"Addressyourselftome,SirDuncanCampbell,\"saidMontrose,steppingforward。

  \"Toyou!\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,withsomescorn。

  \"Yes,——tome,\"repeatedMontrose,——\"totheEarlofMontrose,ifyouhaveforgothim。\"

  \"Ishouldnow,atleast,\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,\"havehadsomedifficultyinrecognisinghiminthedisguiseofagroom。

  ——andyetImighthaveguessedthatnoevilinfluenceinferiortoyourlordship\'s,distinguishedasonewhotroublesIsrael,couldhavecollectedtogetherthisrashassemblyofmisguidedpersons。\"

  \"Iwillansweruntoyou,\"saidMontrose,\"inthemannerofyourownPuritans。IhavenottroubledIsrael,butthouandthyfather\'shouse。Butletusleaveanaltercation,whichisoflittleconsequencebuttoourselves,andhearthetidingsyouhavebroughtfromyourChiefofArgyle;forImustconcludethatitisinhisnamethatyouhavecometothismeeting。\"

  \"ItisinthenameoftheMarquisofArgyle,\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,——\"inthenameoftheScottishConventionofEstates,thatIdemandtoknowthemeaningofthissingularconvocation。

  Ifitisdesignedtodisturbthepeaceofthecountry,itwerebutactinglikeneighbours,andmenofhonour,togiveussomeintimationtostanduponourguard。\"

  \"Itisasingular,andnewstateofaffairsinScotland,\"saidMontrose,turningfromSirDuncanCampbelltotheassembly,\"whenScottishmenofrankandfamilycannotmeetinthehouseofacommonfriendwithoutaninquisitorialvisitanddemand,onthepartofourrulers,toknowthesubjectofourconference。

  MethinksourancestorswereaccustomedtoholdHighlandhuntings,orotherpurposesofmeeting,withoutaskingtheleaveeitherofthegreatM\'CallumMorehimself,oranyofhisemissariesordependents。\"

  \"ThetimeshavebeensuchinScotland,\"answeredoneoftheWesternChiefs,\"andsuchtheywillagainbe,whentheintrudersonourancientpossessionsareagainreducedtobeLairdsofLochowinsteadofoverspreadinguslikeabandofdevouringlocusts。\"

  \"AmItounderstand,then,\"saidSirDuncan,thatitisagainstmynamealonethatthesepreparationsaredirected?oraretheraceofDiarmidonlytobesufferersincommonwiththewholeofthepeacefulandorderlyinhabitantsofScotland?\"

  \"Iwouldask,\"saidawild—lookingChief,startinghastilyup,\"onequestionoftheKnightofArdenvohr,ereheproceedsfartherinhisdaringcatechism。——Hashebroughtmorethanonelifetothiscastle,thatheventurestointrudeamongusforthepurposesofinsult?\"

  \"Gentlemen,\"saidMontrose,\"letmeimploreyourpatience;amessengerwhocomesamongusforthepurposeofembassy,isentitledtofreedomofspeechandsafe—conduct。AndsinceSirDuncanCampbellissopressing,IcarenotifIinformhim,forhisguidance,thatheisinanassemblyoftheKing\'sloyalsubjects,convokedbyme,inhisMajesty\'snameandauthority,andasempoweredbyhisMajesty\'sroyalcommission。\"

  \"Wearetohave,then,Ipresume,\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,\"acivilwarinallitsforms?Ihavebeentoolongasoldiertoviewitsapproachwithanxiety;butitwouldhavebeenformyLordofMontrose\'shonour,if,inthismatter,hehadconsultedhisownambitionless,andthepeaceofthecountrymore。\"

  \"Thoseconsultedtheirownambitionandself—interest,SirDuncan,\"answeredMontrose,\"whobroughtthecountrytothepassinwhichitnowstands,andrenderednecessarythesharpremedieswhichwearenowreluctantlyabouttouse。\"

  \"Andwhatrankamongtheseself—seekers,\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,\"weshallassigntoanobleEarl,soviolentlyattachedtotheCovenant,thathewasthefirst,in1639,tocrosstheTyne,wadingmiddledeepattheheadofhisregiment,tochargetheroyalforces?Itwasthesame,Ithink,whoimposedtheCovenantupontheburgessesandcollegesofAberdeen,atthepointofswordandpike。\"

  \"Iunderstandyoursneer,SirDuncan,\"saidMontrose,temperately;\"andIcanonlyadd,thatifsincererepentancecanmakeamendsforyouthfulerror,andforyieldingtotheartfulrepresentationofambitioushypocrites,Ishallbepardonedforthecrimeswithwhichyoutauntme。Iwillatleastendeavourtodeserveforgiveness,forIamhere,withmyswordinmyhand,willingtospendthebestbloodofmybodytomakeamendsformyerror;andmortalmancandonomore。\"

  \"Well,mylord,\"saidSirDuncan,\"IshallbesorrytocarrybackthislanguagetotheMarquisofArgyle。IhaditinfartherchargefromtheMarquis,that,topreventthebloodyfeudswhichmustnecessarilyfollowaHighlandwar,hislordshipwillbecontentediftermsoftrucecouldbearrangedtothenorthoftheHighlandline,asthereisgroundenoughinScotlandtofightupon,withoutneighboursdestroyingeachother\'sfamiliesandinheritances。\"

  \"Itisapeacefulproposal,\"saidMontrose,smiling,\"suchasitshouldbe,comingfromonewhosepersonalactionshavealwaysbeenmorepeacefulthanhismeasures。Yet,ifthetermsofsuchatrucecouldbeequallyfixed,andifwecanobtainsecurity,forthat,SirDuncan,isindispensable,——thatyourMarquiswillobservethesetermswithstrictfidelity,I,formypart,shouldbecontenttoleavepeacebehindus,sincewemustneedscarrywarbeforeus。But,SirDuncan,youaretoooldandexperiencedasoldierforustopermityoutoremaininourleaguer,andwitnessourproceedings;weshalltherefore,whenyouhaverefreshedyourself,recommendyourspeedyreturntoInverary,andweshallsendwithyouagentlemanonourparttoadjustthetermsoftheHighlandarmistice,incasetheMarquisshallbefoundseriousinproposingsuchameasure。\"SirDuncanCampbellassentedbyabow。

  \"MyLordofMenteith,\"continuedMontrose,\"willyouhavethegoodnesstoattendSirDuncanCampbellofArdenvohr,whilewedeterminewhoshallreturnwithhimtohisChief?M\'Aulaywillpermitustorequestthathebeentertainedwithsuitablehospitality。\"

  \"Iwillgiveordersforthat,\"saidAllanM\'Aulay,risingandcomingforward。\"IloveSirDuncanCampbell;wehavebeenjointsufferersinformerdays,andIdonotforgetitnow。\"

  \"MyLordofMenteith,\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,\"Iamgrievedtoseeyou,atyourearlyage,engagedinsuchdesperateandrebelliouscourses。\"

  \"Iamyoung,\"answeredMenteith,\"yetoldenoughtodistinguishbetweenrightandwrong,betweenloyaltyandrebellion;andthesooneragoodcourseisbegun,thelongerandthebetterhaveIachanceofrunningit。\"

  \"Andyoutoo,myfriend,AllanM\'Aulay,\"saidSirDuncan,takinghishand,\"mustwealsocalleachotherenemies,thathavebeensooftenalliedagainstacommonfoe?\"Thenturningroundtothemeeting,hesaid,\"Farewell,gentlemen;therearesomanyofyoutowhomIwishwell,thatyourrejectionofalltermsofmediationgivesmedeepaffliction。MayHeaven,\"hesaid,lookingupwards,\"judgebetweenourmotives,andthoseofthemoversofthiscivilcommotion!\"

  \"Amen,\"saidMontrose;\"tothattribunalweallsubmitus。\"

  SirDuncanCampbellleftthehall,accompaniedbyAllanM\'AulayandLordMenteith。\"Theregoesatrue—bredCampbell,\"saidMontrose,astheenvoydeparted,\"fortheyareeverfairandfalse。\"

  \"Pardonme,mylord,\"saidEvanDhu;\"hereditaryenemyasIamtotheirname,IhaveeverfoundtheKnightofArdenvohrbraveinwar,honestinpeace,andtrueincouncil。\"

  \"Ofhisowndisposition,\"saidMontrose,\"suchheisundoubtedly;

  buthenowactsastheorganormouth—pieceofhisChief,theMarquis,thefalsestmanthateverdrewbreath。And,M\'Aulay,\"

  hecontinuedinawhispertohishost,\"lestheshouldmakesomeimpressionupontheinexperienceofMenteith,orthesingulardispositionofyourbrother,youhadbettersendmusicintotheirchamber,topreventhisinveiglingthemintoanyprivateconference。\"

  \"ThedevilamusicianhaveI,\"answeredM\'Aulay,\"exceptingthepiper,whohasnearlybrokehiswindbyanambitiouscontentionforsuperioritywiththreeofhisowncraft;butIcansendAnnotLyleandherharp。\"Andhelefttheapartmenttogiveordersaccordingly。

  Meanwhileawarmdiscussiontookplace,whoshouldundertaketheperiloustaskofreturningwithSirDuncantoInverary。Tothehigherdignitaries,accustomedtoconsiderthemselvesuponanequalityevenwithM\'CallumMore,thiswasanofficenottobeproposed;untootherswhocouldnotpleadthesameexcuse,itwasaltogetherunacceptable。OnewouldhavethoughtInveraryhadbeentheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,theinferiorchiefsshowedsuchreluctancetoapproachit。Afteraconsiderablehesitation,theplainreasonwasatlengthspokenout,namely,thatwhateverHighlandershouldundertakeanofficesodistastefultoM\'CallumMore,hewouldbesuretotreasuretheoffenceinhisremembrance,andonedayorothertomakehimbitterlyrepentofit。

  Inthisdilemma,Montrose,whoconsideredtheproposedarmisticeasamerestratagemonthepartofArgyle,althoughhehadnotventuredbluntlytorejectitinpresenceofthosewhomitconcernedsonearly,resolvedtoimposethedangeranddignityuponCaptainDalgetty,whohadneitherclannorestateintheHighlandsuponwhichthewrathofArgylecouldwreakitself。

  \"ButIhaveaneckthough,\"saidDalgetty,bluntly;\"andwhatifhechoosestoavengehimselfuponthat?Ihaveknownacasewhereanhonourableambassadorhasbeenhangedasaspybeforenow。NeitherdidtheRomansuseambassadorsmuchmoremercifullyatthesiegeofCapua,althoughIreadthattheyonlycutofftheirhandsandnoses,putouttheireyes,andsufferedthemtodepartinpeace。\"

  \"BymyhonourCaptainDalgetty,\"saidMontrose,\"shouldtheMarquis,contrarytotherulesofwar,daretopractiseanyatrocityagainstyou,youmaydependuponmytakingsuchsignalvengeancethatallScotlandshallringofit。\"

  \"ThatwilldobutlittleforDalgetty,\"returnedtheCaptain;

  \"butcorragio!astheSpaniardsays。WiththeLandofPromisefullinview,theMoorofDrumthwacket,MEAPAUPERAREGNA,aswesaidatMareschal—College,IwillnotrefuseyourExcellency\'scommission,beingconsciousitbecomesacavalierofhonourtoobeyhiscommander\'sorders,indefiancebothofgibbetandsword。\"

  \"Gallantlyresolved,\"saidMontrose;\"andifyouwillcomeapartwithme,IwillfurnishyouwiththeconditionstobelaidbeforeM\'CallumMore,uponwhichwearewillingtogranthimatruceforhisHighlanddominions。\"

  Withtheseweneednottroubleourreaders。Theywereofanevasivenature,calculatedtomeetaproposalwhichMontroseconsideredtohavebeenmadeonlyforthepurposeofgainingtime。WhenhehadputCaptainDalgettyincompletepossessionofhisinstructions,andwhenthatworthy,makinghismilitaryobeisance,wasnearthedoorofhisapartment,Montrosemadehimasigntoreturn。

  \"Ipresume,\"saidhe,\"IneednotremindanofficerwhohasservedunderthegreatGustavus,thatalittlemoreisrequiredofapersonsentwithaflagoftrucethanmeredischargeofhisinstructions,andthathisgeneralwillexpectfromhim,onhisreturn,someaccountofthestateoftheenemy\'saffairs,asfarastheycomeunderhisobservation。Inshort,CaptainDalgetty,youmustbeUNPEUCLAIR—VOYANT。\"

点击下载App,搜索"A Legend of Montrose",免费读到尾