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?”
“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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收听单词发音
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1
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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2
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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tryst
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| n.约会；v.与…幽会 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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7
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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8
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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9
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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monkish
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| adj.僧侣的，修道士的，禁欲的 | |
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hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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12
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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15
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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16
lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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17
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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18
probation
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| n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期) | |
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19
skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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20
counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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21
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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avow
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| v.承认，公开宣称 | |
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23
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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24
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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espouse
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| v.支持，赞成，嫁娶 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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29
honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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30
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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31
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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32
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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33
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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34
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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35
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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36
importunity
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| n.硬要，强求 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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