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。