第43章

Thatyouaretoexplain；-butdidyounot，forexample，sendtohimforsomebooks？’’ Youremindmeofatriflingcommission，’’saidWaverley，whichIgaveSergeantHoughtonbecausemysergeantcouldnotread。IdorecollectIbadehimbyletterselectsomebooks，ofwhichIsenthimalist，andsendthemtomeatTully-Veolan。’’ Andofwhatdescriptionwerethosebooks？’’ Theyrelatedalmostentirelytoelegantliterature；theyweredesignedforalady’sperusal。’’ Weretherenot，Mr。Waverley，treasonabletractsandpamphletsamongthem？’’ Thereweresomepoliticaltreatises，intowhichIhardlylooked。Theyhadbeensenttomebytheofficiousnessofakindfriend，whoseheartismoretobeesteemedthanhisprudenceorpoliticalsagacity；theyseemedtobedullcompositions。’’ Thatfriend，’’continuedtheperseveringinquirer，wasaMr。Pembroke，anon-juringclergyman，theauthoroftwotreasonableworks，ofwhichthemanuscriptswerefoundamongyourbaggage？’’ Butofwhich，Igiveyoumyhonourasagentleman，’’ repliedWaverley，Ineverreadsixpages。’’ “Iamnotyourjudge，Mr。Waverley；yourexaminationwillbetransmittedelsewhere。Andnowtoproceed-DoyouknowapersonthatpassesbythenameofWilyWill，orWillRuthven？’’ Ineverheardofsuchanametillthismoment。’’ Didyouneverthroughsuchaperson，oranyotherperson，communicatewithSergeantHumphryHoughton，instigatinghimtodesertwithasmanyofhiscomradesashecouldseducetojoinhim，andunitewiththeHighlandersandotherrebelsnowinarmsunderthecommandoftheyoungPretender？’’ IassureyouIamnotonlyentirelyguiltlessoftheplotyouhavelaidtomycharge，butIdetestitfromtheverybottomofmysoul，norwouldIbeguiltyofsuchtreacherytogainathroneeitherformyselforanyothermanalive。’’ YetwhenIconsiderthisenvelope，inthehandwritingofoneofthosemisguidedgentlemenwhoarenowinarmsagainsttheircountry，andtheverseswhichitenclosed，IcannotbutfindsomeanalogybetweentheenterpriseIhavementionedandtheexploitofWogan，whichthewriterseemstoexpectyoushouldimitate。’’ Waverleywasstruckwiththecoincidence，butdeniedthatthewishesorexpectationsoftheletter-writerweretoberegardedasproofsofachargeotherwisechimerical。 But，ifIamrightlyinformed，yourtimewasspent，duringyourabsencefromtheregiment，betweenthehouseofthisHighlandChieftainandthatofMr。BradwardineofBradwardine，alsoinarmsforthisunfortunatecause？’’ Idonotmeantodisguiseit，butIdodeny，mostresolutely，beingprivytoanyoftheirdesignsagainsttheGovernment。’’ Youdonot，however，Ipresume，intendtodenythatyouattendedyourhostGlennaquoichtoarendezvous，where，underapretenceofageneralhunting-match，mostoftheaccomplicesofhistreasonwereassembledtoconcertmeasuresfortakingarms？’’ Iacknowledgehavingbeenatsuchameeting，’’saidWaverley； butIneitherheardnorsawanythingwhichcouldgiveitthecharacteryouaffixtoit。’’ Fromthenceyouproceeded，’’continuedthemagistrate，withGlennaquoichandapartofhisclantojointhearmyoftheyoungPretender，andreturned，afterhavingpaidyourhomagetohim，todisciplineandarmtheremainder，andunitethemtohisbandsontheirwaysouthward？’’ IneverwentwithGlennaquoichonsuchanerrand。I neversomuchasheardthatthepersonwhomyoumentionwasinthecountry。’’ Hethendetailedthehistoryofhismisfortuneatthehunting-match，andadded，thatonhisreturnhefoundhimselfsuddenlydeprivedofhiscommission，anddidnotdenythathethen，forthefirsttime，observedsymptomswhichindicatedadispositionintheHighlanderstotakearms；butadded，thathavingnoinclinationtojointheircause，andnolongeranyreasonforremaininginScotland，hewasnowonhisreturntohisnativecountry，towhichhehadbeensummonedbythosewhohadarighttodirecthismotions，asMajorMelvillewouldperceivefromthelettersonthetable。 MajorMelvilleaccordinglyperusedthelettersofRichardWaverley，ofSirEverard，andofAuntRachel；buttheinferenceshedrewfromthemweredifferentfromwhatWaverleyexpected。TheyheldthelanguageofdiscontentwithGovernment，threwoutnoobscurehintsofrevenge；andthatofpoorAuntRachel，whichplainlyassertedthejusticeoftheStuartcause，washeldtocontaintheopenavowalofwhattheotheronlyventuredtoinsinuate。 Permitmeanotherquestion，Mr。Waverley，’’saidMajorMelville。Didyounotreceiverepeatedlettersfromyourcommanding-officerwarningyouandcommandingyoutoreturntoyourpost，andacquaintingyouwiththeusemadeofyournametospreaddiscontentamongyoursoldiers？’’ Ineverdid，MajorMelville。Oneletter，indeed，Ireceivedfromhim，containingacivilintimationofhiswishthatIwouldemploymyleaveofabsenceotherwisethaninconstantresidenceatBradwardine，astowhich，Iown，Ithoughthewasnotcalledontointerfere；andfinally，Ireceived，onthesamedayonwhichIobservedmyselfsupersededintheGazette，asecondletterfromColonelGardiner，commandingmetojointheregiment- anorderwhich，owingtomyabsence，alreadymentionedandaccountedfor，Ireceivedtoolatetobeobeyed。Iftherewereanyintermediateletters-andcertainlyfromtheColonel’shighcharacterIthinkitprobablethattherewere-theyhaveneverreachedme。’’ Ihaveomitted，Mr。Waverley，’’continuedMajorMelville，toinquireafteramatteroflessconsequence，butwhichhas，nevertheless，beenpubliclytalkedoftoyourdisadvantage。Itissaidthatatreasonabletoasthavingbeenproposedinyourhearingandpresence，you，holdinghisMajesty’scommission，sufferedthetaskofresentingittodevolveuponanothergentlemanofthecompany。This，sir，cannotbechargedagainstyouinacourtofjustice；butif，asIaminformed，theofficersofyourregimentrequestedanexplanationofsucharumour，asagentlemanandsoldier，Icannotbutbesurprisedthatyoudidnotaffordittothem。’’ Thiswastoomuch。Besetandpressedoneveryhandbyaccusations，inwhichgrossfalsehoodswereblendedwithsuchcircumstancesoftruthascouldnotfailtoprocurethemcredit-alone，unfriended，andinastrangeland，Waverleyalmostgaveuphislifeandhonourforlost，andleaninghisheaduponhishand，resolutelyrefusedtoansweranyfurtherquestions，sincethefairandcandidstatementhehadalreadymadehadonlyservedtofurnisharmsagainsthim。 WithoutexpressingeithersurpriseordispleasureatthechangeinWaverley’smanner，MajorMelvilleproceededcomposedlytoputseveralotherqueriestohim。Whatdoesitavailmetoansweryou？’’saidEdwardsullenly。Youappearconvincedofmyguilt，andwresteveryreplyIhavemadetosupportyourownpreconceivedopinion。Enjoyyoursupposedtriumph，then，andtormentmenofurther。IfIamcapableofthecowardiceandtreacheryyourchargeburdensmewith，IamnotworthytobebelievedinanyreplyIcanmaketoyou。IfIamnotdeservingofyoursuspicion-andGodandmyownconsciencebearevidencewithmethatitisso-thenIdonotseewhyIshouldbymycandourlendmyaccusersarmsagainstmyinnocence。ThereisnoreasonIshouldanswerawordmore，andIamdeterminedtoabidebythisresolution。’’Andagainheresumedhispostureofsullenanddeterminedsilence。 Allowme，’’saidthemagistrate，toremindyouofonereasonthatmaysuggesttheproprietyofacandidandopenconfession。 Theinexperienceofyouth，Mr。Waverley，laysitopentotheplansofthemoredesigningandartful；andoneofyourfriendsatleast-ImeanMac-IvorofGlennaquoich-rankshighinthelatterclass，asfromyourapparentingenuousness，youth，andunacquaintancewiththemannersoftheHighlands，I shouldbedisposedtoplaceyouamongtheformer。Insuchacase，afalsesteporerrorlikeyours，whichIshallbehappytoconsiderasinvoluntary，maybeatonedfor，andIwouldwillinglyactasintercessor。Butasyoumustnecessarilybeacquaintedwiththestrengthoftheindividualsinthiscountrywhohaveassumedarms，withtheirmeans，andwiththeirplans，Imustexpectyouwillmeritthismediationonmypartbyafrankandcandidavowalofallthathascometoyourknowledgeupontheseheads。Inwhichcase，IthinkIcanventuretopromisethataveryshortpersonalrestraintwillbetheonlyillconsequencethatcanarisefromyouraccessiontotheseunhappyintrigues。’’ Waverleylistenedwithgreatcomposureuntiltheendofthisexhortation，when，springingfromhisseat，withanenergyhehadnotyetdisplayed，hereplied，MajorMelville，sincethatisyourname，Ihavehithertoansweredyourquestionswithcandour，ordeclinedthemwithtemper，becausetheirimportconcernedmyselfalone；butasyoupresumetoesteemmemeanenoughtocommenceinformeragainstothers，whoreceivedme，whatevermaybetheirpublicmisconduct，asaguestandfriend，-IdeclaretoyouthatIconsideryourquestionsasaninsultinfinitelymoreoffensivethanyourcalumnioussuspicions；andthat，sincemyhardfortunepermitsmenoothermodeofresentingthemthanbyverbaldefiance，youshouldsoonerhavemyheartoutofmybosom，thanasinglesyllableofinformationonsubjectswhichIcouldonlybecomeacquaintedwithinthefullconfidenceofunsuspectinghospitality。’’ Mr。MortonandtheMajorlookedateachother；andtheformer，who，inthecourseoftheexamination，hadbeenrepeatedlytroubledwithasorryrheum，hadrecoursetohissnuff-boxandhishandkerchief。 Mr。Waverley，’’saidtheMajor，mypresentsituationprohibitsmealikefromgivingorreceivingoffence，andIwillnotprotractadiscussionwhichapproachestoeither。IamafraidImustsignawarrantfordetainingyouincustody，butthishouseshallforthepresentbeyourprison。IfearIcannotpersuadeyoutoacceptashareofoursupper？-(Edwardshookhishead)-butIwillorderrefreshmentsinyourapartment。’’ Ourherobowedandwithdrew，underguardoftheofficersofjustice，toasmallbuthandsomeroom，where，decliningalloffersoffoodorwine，heflunghimselfonthebed，andstupifiedbytheharassingeventsandmentalfatigueofthismiserableday，hesunkintoadeepandheavyslumber。Thiswasmorethanhehimselfcouldhaveexpected；butitismentionedoftheNorthAmericanIndians，whenatthestakeoftorture，thatontheleastintermissionofagony，theywillsleepuntilthefireisappliedtoawakenthem。 CHAPTERTHIRTY-SECOND。 ACONFERENCEANDTHECONSEQUENCE。 MajorMelvillehaddetainedMr。MortonduringhisexaminationofWaverley，bothbecausehethoughthemightderiveassistancefromhispracticalgoodsenseandapprovedloyalty，andalsobecauseitwasagreeabletohaveawitnessofunimpeachedcandourandveracitytoproceedingswhichtouchedthehonourandsafetyofayoungEnglishmanofhighrankandfamily，andtheexpectantheirofalargefortune。Everystepheknewwouldberigorouslycanvassed，anditwashisbusinesstoplacethejusticeandintegrityofhisownconductbeyondthelimitsofquestion。 WhenWaverleyretired，thelairdandclergymanofCairnvreckansatdowninsilencetotheireveningmeal。Whiletheservantswereinattendance，neitherchosetosayanythingonthecircumstanceswhichoccupiedtheirminds，andneitherfeltiteasytospeakuponanyother。TheyouthandapparentfranknessofWaverleystoodinstrongcontrasttotheshadesofsuspicionwhichdarkenedaroundhim，andhehadasortofnaivetandopennessofdemeanour，thatseemedtobelongtooneunhackneyedinthewaysofintrigue，andwhichpleadedhighlyinhisfavour。