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CHAPTER V—EARL RISINGHAM
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 Earl Risingham, although by far the most important person then in Shoreby, was poorly lodged1 in the house of a private gentleman upon the extreme outskirts2 of the town.  Nothing but the armed men at the doors, and the mounted messengers that kept arriving and departing, announced the temporary residence of a great lord.
 
Thus it was that, from lack of space, Dick and Lawless were clapped into the same apartment.
 
“Well spoken, Master Richard,” said the outlaw3; “it was excellently well spoken, and, for my part, I thank you cordially.  Here we are in good hands; we shall be justly tried, and, some time this evening, decently hanged on the same tree.”
 
“Indeed, my poor friend, I do believe it,” answered Dick.
 
“Yet have we a string to our bow,” returned Lawless.  “Ellis Duckworth is a man out of ten thousand; he holdeth you right near his heart, both for your own and for your father’s sake; and knowing you guiltless of this fact, he will stir earth and heaven to bear you clear.”
 
“It may not be,” said Dick.  “What can he do?  He hath but a handful.  Alack, if it were but to-morrow—could I but keep a certain tryst5 an hour before noon to-morrow—all were, I think, otherwise.  But now there is no help.”
 
“Well,” concluded Lawless, “an ye will stand to it for my innocence6, I will stand to it for yours, and that stoutly7.  It shall naught8 avail us; but an I be to hang, it shall not be for lack of swearing.”
 
And then, while Dick gave himself over to his reflections, the old rogue9 curled himself down into a corner, pulled his monkish10 hood11 about his face, and composed himself to sleep.  Soon he was loudly snoring, so utterly12 had his long life of hardship and adventure blunted the sense of apprehension13.
 
It was long after noon, and the day was already failing, before the door was opened and Dick taken forth14 and led up-stairs to where, in a warm cabinet, Earl Risingham sat musing15 over the fire.
 
On his captive’s entrance he looked up.
 
“Sir,” he said, “I knew your father, who was a man of honour, and this inclineth me to be the more lenient16; but I may not hide from you that heavy charges lie against your character.  Ye do consort17 with murderers and robbers; upon a clear probation18 ye have carried war against the king’s peace; ye are suspected to have piratically seized upon a ship; ye are found skulking19 with a counterfeit20 presentment in your enemy’s house; a man is slain21 that very evening—”
 
“An it like you, my lord,” Dick interposed, “I will at once avow22 my guilt4, such as it is.  I slew23 this fellow Rutter; and to the proof”—searching in his bosom—“here is a letter from his wallet.”
 
Lord Risingham took the letter, and opened and read it twice.
 
“Ye have read this?” he inquired.
 
“I have read it,” answered Dick.
 
“Are ye for York or Lancaster?” the earl demanded.
 
“My lord, it was but a little while back that I was asked that question, and knew not how to answer it,” said Dick; “but having answered once, I will not vary.  My lord, I am for York.”
 
The earl nodded approvingly.
 
“Honestly replied,” he said.  “But wherefore, then, deliver me this letter?”
 
“Nay, but against traitors24, my lord, are not all sides arrayed?” cried Dick.
 
“I would they were, young gentleman,” returned the earl; “and I do at least approve your saying.  There is more youth than guile25 in you, I do perceive; and were not Sir Daniel a mighty26 man upon our side, I were half-tempted to espouse27 your quarrel.  For I have inquired, and it appears ye have been hardly dealt with, and have much excuse.  But look ye, sir, I am, before all else, a leader in the queen’s interest; and though by nature a just man, as I believe, and leaning even to the excess of mercy, yet must I order my goings for my party’s interest, and, to keep Sir Daniel, I would go far about.”
 
“My lord,” returned Dick, “ye will think me very bold to counsel you; but do ye count upon Sir Daniel’s faith?  Methought he had changed sides intolerably often.”
 
“Nay, it is the way of England.  What would ye have?” the earl demanded.  “But ye are unjust to the knight28 of Tunstall; and as faith goes, in this unfaithful generation, he hath of late been honourably29 true to us of Lancaster.  Even in our last reverses he stood firm.”
 
“An it pleased you, then,” said Dick, “to cast your eye upon this letter, ye might somewhat change your thought of him;” and he handed to the earl Sir Daniel’s letter to Lord Wensleydale.
 
The effect upon the earl’s countenance30 was instant; he lowered like an angry lion, and his hand, with a sudden movement, clutched at his dagger31.
 
“Ye have read this also?” he asked.
 
“Even so,” said Dick.  “It is your lordship’s own estate he offers to Lord Wensleydale?”
 
“It is my own estate, even as ye say!” returned the earl.  “I am your bedesman for this letter.  It hath shown me a fox’s hole.  Command me, Master Shelton; I will not be backward in gratitude32, and to begin with, York or Lancaster, true man or thief, I do now set you at freedom.  Go, a Mary’s name!  But judge it right that I retain and hang your fellow, Lawless.  The crime hath been most open, and it were fitting that some open punishment should follow.”
 
“My lord, I make it my first suit to you to spare him also,” pleaded Dick.
 
“It is an old, condemned33 rogue, thief, and vagabond, Master Shelton,” said the earl.  “He hath been gallows-ripe this score of years.  And, whether for one thing or another, whether to-morrow or the day after, where is the great choice?”
 
“Yet, my lord, it was through love to me that he came hither,” answered Dick, “and I were churlish and thankless to desert him.”
 
“Master Shelton, ye are troublesome,” replied the earl, severely34.  “It is an evil way to prosper35 in this world.  Howbeit, and to be quit of your importunity36, I will once more humour you.  Go, then, together; but go warily37, and get swiftly out of Shoreby town.  For this Sir Daniel (whom may the saints confound!) thirsteth most greedily to have your blood.”
 
“My lord, I do now offer you in words my gratitude, trusting at some brief date to pay you some of it in service,” replied Dick, as he turned from the apartment.

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1 lodged cbdc6941d382cc0a87d97853536fcd8d     
v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 );暂住;埋入;(权利、权威等)归属
参考例句:
  • The certificate will have to be lodged at the registry. 证书必须存放在登记处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us with the police. 我们的邻居向警方控告我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 outskirts gmDz7W     
n.郊外,郊区
参考例句:
  • Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
  • They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。
3 outlaw 1J0xG     
n.歹徒,亡命之徒;vt.宣布…为不合法
参考例句:
  • The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。
  • The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。
4 guilt 9e6xr     
n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责
参考例句:
  • She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
  • Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。
5 tryst lmowP     
n.约会;v.与…幽会
参考例句:
  • It has been said that art is a tryst,for in the joy of it maker and beholder meet.有人说艺术是一种幽会,因为艺术家和欣赏者可在幽会的乐趣中相遇在一起。
  • Poor Mr. Sanford didn't stand a chance of keeping his tryst secret.可怜的桑福德根本不可能会守住自己幽会的秘密。
6 innocence ZbizC     
n.无罪;天真;无害
参考例句:
  • There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
  • The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。
7 stoutly Xhpz3l     
adv.牢固地,粗壮的
参考例句:
  • He stoutly denied his guilt.他断然否认自己有罪。
  • Burgess was taxed with this and stoutly denied it.伯杰斯为此受到了责难,但是他自己坚决否认有这回事。
8 naught wGLxx     
n.无,零 [=nought]
参考例句:
  • He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
  • I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。
9 rogue qCfzo     
n.流氓;v.游手好闲
参考例句:
  • The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
  • They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。
10 monkish e4888a1e93f16d98f510bfbc64b62979     
adj.僧侣的,修道士的,禁欲的
参考例句:
  • There was an unconquerable repulsion for her in that monkish aspect. 她对这副猴子样的神气有一种无法克制的厌恶。 来自辞典例句
11 hood ddwzJ     
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖
参考例句:
  • She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
  • The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。
12 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地,绝对地
参考例句:
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民,把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
13 apprehension bNayw     
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑
参考例句:
  • There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑,于是她越来越担心。
  • She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。
14 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
15 musing musing     
n. 沉思,冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • "At Tellson's banking-house at nine," he said, with a musing face. “九点在台尔森银行大厦见面,”他想道。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
  • She put the jacket away, and stood by musing a minute. 她把那件上衣放到一边,站着沉思了一会儿。
16 lenient h9pzN     
adj.宽大的,仁慈的
参考例句:
  • The judge was lenient with him.法官对他很宽大。
  • It's a question of finding the means between too lenient treatment and too severe punishment.问题是要找出处理过宽和处罚过严的折中办法。
17 consort Iatyn     
v.相伴;结交
参考例句:
  • They went in consort two or three together.他们三三两两结伴前往。
  • The nurses are instructed not to consort with their patients.护士得到指示不得与病人交往。
18 probation 41zzM     
n.缓刑(期),(以观后效的)察看;试用(期)
参考例句:
  • The judge did not jail the young man,but put him on probation for a year.法官没有把那个年轻人关进监狱,而且将他缓刑察看一年。
  • His salary was raised by 800 yuan after his probation.试用期满以后,他的工资增加了800元。
19 skulking 436860a2018956d4daf0e413ecd2719c     
v.潜伏,偷偷摸摸地走动,鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • There was someone skulking behind the bushes. 有人藏在灌木后面。
  • There were half a dozen foxes skulking in the undergrowth. 在林下灌丛中潜伏着五六只狐狸。 来自辞典例句
20 counterfeit 1oEz8     
vt.伪造,仿造;adj.伪造的,假冒的
参考例句:
  • It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
  • The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远,实际是最近的一幅赝品。
21 slain slain     
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
  • His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。
22 avow auhzg     
v.承认,公开宣称
参考例句:
  • I must avow that I am innocent.我要公开声明我是无罪的。
  • The senator was forced to avow openly that he had received some money from that company.那个参议员被迫承认曾经收过那家公司的一些钱。
23 slew 8TMz0     
v.(使)旋转;n.大量,许多
参考例句:
  • He slewed the car against the side of the building.他的车滑到了大楼的一侧,抵住了。
  • They dealt with a slew of other issues.他们处理了大量的其他问题。
24 traitors 123f90461d74091a96637955d14a1401     
卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 ); 叛徒; 背叛者; 背信弃义的人
参考例句:
  • Traitors are held in infamy. 叛徒为人所不齿。
  • Traitors have always been treated with contempt. 叛徒永被人们唾弃。
25 guile olNyJ     
n.诈术
参考例句:
  • He is full of guile.他非常狡诈。
  • A swindler uses guile;a robber uses force.骗子用诈术;强盗用武力。
26 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
27 espouse jn1xx     
v.支持,赞成,嫁娶
参考例句:
  • Today,astronomers espouse the theory that comets spawn the swarms.如今,天文学家们支持彗星产生了流星团的说法。
  • Some teachers enthusiastically espouse the benefits to be gained from educational software.有些教师热烈赞同可以从教学软件中得到好处的观点。
28 knight W2Hxk     
n.骑士,武士;爵士
参考例句:
  • He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
  • A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。
29 honourably 0b67e28f27c35b98ec598f359adf344d     
adv.可尊敬地,光荣地,体面地
参考例句:
  • Will the time never come when we may honourably bury the hatchet? 难道我们永远不可能有个体面地休战的时候吗? 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The dispute was settled honourably. 争议体面地得到解决。 来自《简明英汉词典》
30 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
31 dagger XnPz0     
n.匕首,短剑,剑号
参考例句:
  • The bad news is a dagger to his heart.这条坏消息刺痛了他的心。
  • The murderer thrust a dagger into her heart.凶手将匕首刺进她的心脏。
32 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激,感谢
参考例句:
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
33 condemned condemned     
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
  • The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。
34 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
参考例句:
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
35 prosper iRrxC     
v.成功,兴隆,昌盛;使成功,使昌隆,繁荣
参考例句:
  • With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管,公司开始兴旺起来。
  • It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。
36 importunity aqPzcS     
n.硬要,强求
参考例句:
  • They got only blushes, ejaculations, tremors, and titters, in return for their importunity. 她们只是用脸红、惊叫、颤抖和傻笑来回答他们的要求。 来自辞典例句
  • His importunity left me no alternative but to agree. 他的强硬要求让我只能答应而没有别的选择。 来自互联网
37 warily 5gvwz     
adv.留心地
参考例句:
  • He looked warily around him,pretending to look after Carrie.他小心地看了一下四周,假装是在照顾嘉莉。
  • They were heading warily to a point in the enemy line.他们正小心翼翼地向着敌人封锁线的某一处前进。


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