Here's a red stream beneath this coarse blue doublet,
From the far source of old Assyrian kings.
Who first made mankind subject to their sway.
Old Play.
The sounds to which we alluded4 in our last, were no other than the grumbling5 tones of Richie Moniplies's voice.
This worthy6, like some other persons who rank high in their own opinion, was very apt, when he could have no other auditor7, to hold conversation with one who was sure to be a willing listener—I mean with himself. He was now brushing and arranging Lord Glenvarloch's clothes, with as much composure and quiet assiduity as if he had never been out of his service, and grumbling betwixt whiles to the following purpose:—“Hump—ay, time cloak and jerkin were through my hands—I question if horsehair has been passed over them since they and I last parted. The embroidery8 finely frayed9 too—and the gold buttons of the cloak—By my conscience, and as I am an honest man, there is a round dozen of them gane! This comes of Alsatian frolics—God keep us with his grace, and not give us over to our own devices!—I see no sword—but that will be in respect of present circumstances.”
Nigel for some time could not help believing that he was still in a dream, so improbable did it seem that his domestic, whom he supposed to be in Scotland, should have found him out, and obtained access to him, in his present circumstances. Looking through the curtains, however, he became well assured of the fact, when he beheld10 the stiff and bony length of Richie, with a visage charged with nearly double its ordinary degree of importance, employed sedulously12 in brushing his master's cloak, and refreshing13 himself with whistling or humming, from interval14 to interval, some snatch of an old melancholy15 Scottish ballad-tune. Although sufficiently16 convinced of the identity of the party, Lord Glenvarloch could not help expressing his surprise in the superfluous17 question—“In the name of Heaven, Richie, is this you?”
“And wha else suld it be, my lord?” answered Richie; “I dreamna that your lordship's levee in this place is like to be attended by ony that are not bounded thereto by duty.”
“I am rather surprised,” answered Nigel, “that it should be attended by any one at all—especially by you, Richie; for you know that we parted, and I thought you had reached Scotland long since.”
“I crave18 your lordship's pardon, but we have not parted yet, nor are soon likely so to do; for there gang twa folk's votes to the unmaking of a bargain, as to the making of ane. Though it was your lordship's pleasure so to conduct yourself that we were like to have parted, yet it was not, on reflection, my will to be gone. To be plain, if your lordship does not ken19 when you have a good servant, I ken when I have a kind master; and to say truth, you will be easier served now than ever, for there is not much chance of your getting out of bounds.”
“I am indeed bound over to good behaviour,” said Lord Glenvarloch, with a smile; “but I hope you will not take advantage of my situation to be too severe on my follies20, Richie?”
“God forbid, my lord—God forbid!” replied Richie, with an expression betwixt a conceited22 consciousness of superior wisdom and real feeling—“especially in consideration of your lordship's having a due sense of them. I did indeed remonstrate24, as was my humble25 duty, but I scorn to cast that up to your lordship now—Na, na, I am myself an erring26 creature—very conscious of some small weaknesses—there is no perfection in man.”
“But, Richie,” said Lord Glenvarloch, “although I am much obliged to you for your proffered27 service, it can be of little use to me here, and may be of prejudice to yourself.”
“Your lordship shall pardon me again,” said Richie, whom the relative situation of the parties had invested with ten times his ordinary dogmatism; “but as I will manage the matter, your lordship shall be greatly benefited by my service, and I myself no whit29 prejudiced.”
“I see not how that can be, my friend,” said Lord Glenvarloch, “since even as to your pecuniary30 affairs—”
“Touching my pecuniars, my lord,” replied Richie, “I am indifferently weel provided; and, as it chances, my living here will be no burden to your lordship, or distress31 to myself. Only I crave permission to annex32 certain conditions to my servitude with your lordship.”
“Annex what you will,” said Lord Glenvarloch, “for you are pretty sure to take your own way, whether you make any conditions or not. Since you will not leave me, which were, I think, your wisest course, you must, and I suppose will, serve me only on such terms as you like yourself.”
“All that I ask, my lord,” said Richie, gravely, and with a tone of great moderation, “is to have the uninterrupted command of my own motions, for certain important purposes which I have now in hand, always giving your lordship the solace33 of my company and attendance, at such times as may be at once convenient for me, and necessary for your service.”
“Of which, I suppose, you constitute yourself sole judge,” replied Nigel, smiling.
“Unquestionably, my lord,” answered Richie, gravely; “for your lordship can only know what yourself want; whereas I, who see both sides of the picture, ken both what is the best for your affairs, and what is the most needful for my own.”
“Richie, my good friend,” said Nigel, “I fear this arrangement, which places the master much under the disposal of the servant, would scarce suit us if we were both at large; but a prisoner as I am, I may be as well at your disposal as I am at that of so many other persons; and so you may come and go as you list, for I suppose you will not take my advice, to return to your own country, and leave me to my fate.”
“The deil be in my feet if I do,” said Moniplies,—“I am not the lad to leave your lordship in foul34 weather, when I followed you and fed upon you through the whole summer day, And besides, there may be brave days behind, for a' that has come and gane yet; for
“It's hame, and it's hame, and it's hame we fain would be, Though the cloud is in the lift, and the wind is on the lea; For the sun through the mirk blinks blithe35 on mine ee, Says,—'I'll shine on ye yet in our ain country!”
Having sung this stanza36 in the manner of a ballad-singer, whose voice has been cracked by matching his windpipe against the bugle37 of the north blast, Richie Moniplies aided Lord Glenvarloch to rise, attended his toilet with every possible mark of the most solemn and deferential38 respect, then waited upon him at breakfast, and finally withdrew, pleading that he had business of importance, which would detain him for some hours.
Although Lord Glenvarloch necessarily expected to be occasionally annoyed by the self-conceit23 and dogmatism of Richie Moniplies's character, yet he could not but feel the greatest pleasure from the firm and devoted39 attachment40 which this faithful follower41 had displayed in the present instance, and indeed promised himself an alleviation42 of the ennui43 of his imprisonment44, in having the advantage of his services. It was, therefore, with pleasure that he learned from the warder, that his servant's attendance would be allowed at all times when the general rules of the fortress45 permitted the entrance of strangers.
In the meanwhile, the magnanimous Richie Moniplies had already reached Tower Wharf46. Here, after looking with contempt on several scullers by whom he was plied21, and whose services he rejected with a wave of his hand, he called with dignity, “First oars1!” and stirred into activity several lounging Tritons of the higher order, who had not, on his first appearance, thought it worth while to accost47 him with proffers48 of service. He now took possession of a wherry, folded his arms within his ample cloak, and sitting down in the stern with an air of importance, commanded them to row to Whitehall Stairs. Having reached the Palace in safety, he demanded to see Master Linklater, the under-clerk of his Majesty49's kitchen. The reply was, that he was not to be spoken withal, being then employed in cooking a mess of cock-a-leekie for the king's own mouth.
“Tell him,” said Moniplies, “that it is a dear countryman of his, who seeks to converse51 with him on matter of high import.”
“A dear countryman?” said Linklater, when this pressing message was delivered to him. “Well, let him come in and be d—d, that I should say sae! This now is some red-headed, long-legged, gillie-white-foot frae the West Port, that, hearing of my promotion52, is come up to be a turn-broche, or deputy scullion, through my interest. It is a great hinderance to any man who would rise in the world, to have such friends to hang by his skirts, in hope of being towed up along with him.—Ha! Richie Moniplies, man, is it thou? And what has brought ye here? If they should ken thee for the loon53 that scared the horse the other day!—”
“No more o' that, neighbour,” said Richie,—“I am just here on the auld54 errand—I maun speak with the king.”
“The king? Ye are red wud,” said Linklater; then shouted to his assistant in the kitchen, “Look to the broches, ye knaves56—pisces purga—Salsamenta fac macerentur pulchre—I will make you understand Latin, ye knaves, as becomes the scullions of King James.” Then in a cautious tone, to Richie's private ear, he continued, “Know ye not how ill your master came off the other day?—I can tell you that job made some folk shake for their office.”
“Weel, but, Laurie, ye maun befriend me this time, and get this wee bit sifflication slipped into his Majesty's ain most gracious hand. I promise you the contents will be most grateful to him.”
“Richie,” answered Linklater, “you have certainly sworn to say your prayers in the porter's lodge57, with your back bare; and twa grooms58, with dog-whips, to cry amen to you.”
“Na, na, Laurie, lad,” said Richie, “I ken better what belangs to sifflications than I did yon day; and ye will say that yoursell, if ye will but get that bit note to the king's hand.”
“I will have neither hand nor foot in the matter,” said the cautious Clerk of the Kitchen; “but there is his Majesty's mess of cock-a-leekie just going to be served to him in his closet—I cannot prevent you from putting the letter between the gilt59 bowl and the platter; his sacred Majesty will see it when he lifts the bowl, for he aye drinks out the broth60.”
“Enough said,” replied Richie, and deposited the paper accordingly, just before a page entered to carry away the mess to his Majesty.
“Aweel, aweel, neighbour,” said Laurence, when the mess was taken away, “if ye have done ony thing to bring yoursell to the withy, or the scourging61 post, it is your ain wilful62 deed.”
“I will blame no other for it,” said Richie; and with that undismayed pertinacity63 of conceit, which made a fundamental part of his character, he abode64 the issue, which was not long of arriving.
In a few minutes Maxwell himself arrived in the apartment, and demanded hastily who had placed a writing on the king's trencher, Linklater denied all knowledge of it; but Richie Moniplies, stepping boldly forth66, pronounced the emphatical confession68, “I am the man.”
“Follow me, then,” said Maxwell, after regarding him with a look of great curiosity.
They went up a private staircase,—even that private staircase, the privilege of which at Court is accounted a nearer road to power than the grandes entrees69 themselves. Arriving in what Richie described as an “ill redd-up” ante-room, the usher70 made a sign to him to stop, while he went into the king's closet. Their conference was short, and as Maxwell opened the door to retire, Richie heard the conclusion of it.
“Ye are sure he is not dangerous?—I was caught once.—Bide within call, but not nearer the door than within three geometrical cubits. If I speak loud, start to me like a falcon—If I speak loun, keep your lang lugs71 out of ear-shot—and now let him come in.”
Richie passed forward at Maxwell's mute signal, and in a moment found himself in the presence of the king. Most men of Richie's birth and breeding, and many others, would have been abashed72 at finding themselves alone with their Sovereign. But Richie Moniplies had an opinion of himself too high to be controlled by any such ideas; and having made his stiff reverence73, he arose once more into his perpendicular74 height, and stood before James as stiff as a hedge-stake.
“Have ye gotten them, man? have ye gotten them?” said the king, in a fluttered state, betwixt hope and eagerness, and some touch of suspicious fear. “Gie me them—gie me them—before ye speak a word, I charge you, on your allegiance.”
Richie took a box from his bosom75, and, stooping on one knee, presented it to his Majesty, who hastily opened it, and having ascertained76 that it contained a certain carcanet of rubies77, with which the reader was formerly78 made acquainted, he could not resist falling into a sort of rapture79, kissing the gems80, as if they had been capable of feeling, and repeating again and again with childish delight, “Onyx cum prole, silexque—-Onyx cum prole! Ah, my bright and bonny sparklers, my heart loups light to see you again.” He then turned to Richie, upon whose stoical countenance81 his Majesty's demeanour had excited something like a grim smile, which James interrupted his rejoicing to reprehend82, saying, “Take heed83, sir, you are not to laugh at us—we are your anointed Sovereign.”
“God forbid that I should laugh!” said Richie, composing his countenance into its natural rigidity84. “I did but smile, to bring my visage into coincidence and conformity85 with your Majesty's physiognomy.”
“Ye speak as a dutiful subject, and an honest man,” said the king; “but what deil's your name, man?”
“Even Richie Moniplies, the son of auld Mungo Moniplies, at the West Port of Edinburgh, who had the honour to supply your Majesty's mother's royal table, as weel as your Majesty's, with flesh and other vivers, when time was.”
“Aha!” said the king, laughing,—for he possessed86, as a useful attribute of his situation, a tenacious87 memory, which recollected88 every one with whom he was brought into casual contact,—“Ye are the self-same traitor89 who had weelnigh coupit us endlang on the causey of our ain courtyard? but we stuck by our mare90. Equam memento91 rebus92 in arduis servare. Weel, be not dismayed, Richie; for, as many men have turned traitors93, it is but fair that a traitor, now and then, suld prove to be, contra expectanda, a true man. How cam ye by our jewels, man?—cam ye on the part of George Heriot?”
“In no sort,” said Richie. “May it please your Majesty, I come as Harry94 Wynd fought, utterly95 for my own hand, and on no man's errand; as, indeed, I call no one master, save Him that made me, your most gracious Majesty who governs me, and the noble Nigel Olifaunt, Lord of Glenvarloch, who maintained me as lang as he could maintain himself, poor nobleman!”
“Glenvarlochides again!” exclaimed the king; “by my honour, he lies in ambush96 for us at every corner!—Maxwell knocks at the door. It is George Heriot come to tell us he cannot find these jewels.—Get thee behind the arras, Richie—stand close, man—sneeze not—cough not—breathe not!—Jingling97 Geordie is so damnably ready with his gold-ends of wisdom, and sae accursedly backward with his gold-ends of siller, that, by our royal saul, we are glad to get a hair in his neck.”
Richie got behind the arras, in obedience98 to the commands of the good-natured king, while the Monarch99, who never allowed his dignity to stand in the way of a frolic, having adjusted, with his own hand, the tapestry100, so as to complete the ambush, commanded Maxwell to tell him what was the matter without. Maxwell's reply was so low as to be lost by Richie Moniplies, the peculiarity101 of whose situation by no means abated102 his curiosity and desire to gratify it to the uttermost.
“Let Geordie Heriot come in,” said the king; and, as Richie could observe through a slit103 in the tapestry, the honest citizen, if not actually agitated104, was at least discomposed. The king, whose talent for wit, or humour, was precisely105 of a kind to be gratified by such a scene as ensued, received his homage106 with coldness, and began to talk to him with an air of serious dignity, very different from the usual indecorous levity107 of his behaviour. “Master Heriot,” he said, “if we aright remember, we opignorated in your hands certain jewels of the Crown, for a certain sum of money—Did we, or did we not?”
“My most gracious Sovereign,” said Heriot, “indisputably your Majesty was pleased to do so.”
“The property of which jewels and cimelia remained with us,” continued the king, in the same solemn tone, “subject only to your claim of advance thereupon; which advance being repaid, gives us right to repossession of the thing opignorated, or pledged, or laid in wad. Voetius, Vinnius, Groenwigeneus, Pagenstecherus,—all who have treated de Contractu Opignerationis, consentiunt in eundem,—gree on the same point. The Roman law, the English common law, and the municipal law of our ain ancient kingdom of Scotland, though they split in mair particulars than I could desire, unite as strictly108 in this as the three strands109 of a twisted rope.”
“May it please your Majesty,” replied Heriot, “it requires not so many learned authorities to prove to any honest man, that his interest in a pledge is determined110 when the money lent is restored.”
“Weel, sir, I proffer28 restoration of the sum lent, and I demand to be repossessed of the jewels pledged with you. I gave ye a hint, brief while since, that this would be essential to my service, for, as approaching events are like to call us into public, it would seem strange if we did not appear with those ornaments111, which are heirlooms of the Crown, and the absence whereof is like to place us in contempt and suspicion with our liege subjects.”
Master George Heriot seemed much moved by this address of his Sovereign, and replied with emotion, “I call Heaven to witness, that I am totally harmless in this matter, and that I would willingly lose the sum advanced, so that I could restore those jewels, the absence of which your Majesty so justly laments112. Had the jewels remained with me, the account of them would be easily rendered; but your Majesty will do me the justice to remember, that, by your express order, I transferred them to another person, who advanced a large sum, just about the time of my departure for Paris. The money was pressingly wanted, and no other means to come by it occurred to me. I told your Majesty, when I brought the needful supply, that the man from whom the monies were obtained, was of no good repute; and your most princely answer was, smelling to the gold—Non olet, it smells not of the means that have gotten it.”
“Weel, man,” said the king, “but what needs a' this din11? If ye gave my jewels in pledge to such a one, suld ye not, as a liege subject, have taken care that the redemption was in our power? And are we to suffer the loss of our cimelia by your neglect, besides being exposed to the scorn and censure113 of our lieges, and of the foreign ambassadors?”
“My lord and liege king,” said Heriot, “God knows, if my bearing blame or shame in this matter would keep it from your Majesty, it were my duty to endure both, as a servant grateful for many benefits; but when your Majesty considers the violent death of the man himself, the disappearance114 of his daughter, and of his wealth, I trust you will remember that I warned your Majesty, in humble duty, of the possibility of such casualties, and prayed you not to urge me to deal with him on your behalf.”
“But you brought me nae better means,” said the king—“Geordie, ye brought me nae better means. I was like a deserted115 man; what could I do but grip to the first siller that offered, as a drowning man grasps to the willow-wand that comes readiest?—And now, man, what for have ye not brought back the jewels? they are surely above ground, if ye wad make strict search.”
“All strict search has been made, may it please your Majesty,” replied the citizen; “hue and cry has been sent out everywhere, and it has been found impossible to recover them.”
“Difficult, ye mean, Geordie, not impossible,” replied the king; “for that whilk is impossible, is either naturally so, exempli gratia, to make two into three; or morally so, as to make what is truth falsehood; but what is only difficult may come to pass, with assistance of wisdom and patience; as, for example, Jingling Geordie, look here!” And he displayed the recovered treasure to the eyes of the astonished jeweller, exclaiming, with great triumph, “What say ye to that, Jingler116?—By my sceptre and crown, the man stares as if he took his native prince for a warlock! us that are the very malleus maleficarum, the contunding and contriturating hammer of all witches, sorcerers, magicians, and the like; he thinks we are taking a touch of the black art outsells!—But gang thy way, honest Geordie; thou art a good plain man, but nane of the seven sages117 of Greece; gang thy way, and mind the soothfast word which you spoke50, small time syne118, that there is one in this land that comes near to Solomon, King of Israel, in all his gifts, except in his love to strange women, forby the daughter of Pharaoh.”
If Heriot was surprised at seeing the jewels so unexpectedly produced at the moment the king was upbraiding119 him for the loss of them, this allusion120 to the reflection which had escaped him while conversing121 with Lord Glenvarloch, altogether completed his astonishment122; and the king was so delighted with the superiority which it gave him at the moment, that he rubbed his hands, chuckled123, and finally, his sense of dignity giving way to the full feeling of triumph, he threw himself into his easy-chair, and laughed with unconstrained violence till he lost his breath, and the tears ran plentifully124 down his cheeks as he strove to recover it. Meanwhile, the royal cachinnation was echoed out by a discordant126 and portentous127 laugh from behind the arras, like that of one who, little accustomed to give way to such emotions, feels himself at some particular impulse unable either to control or to modify his obstreperous128 mirth. Heriot turned his head with new surprise towards the place, from which sounds so unfitting the presence of a monarch seemed to burst with such emphatic67 clamour.
The king, too, somewhat sensible of the indecorum, rose up, wiped his eyes, and calling,—“Todlowrie, come out o' your den,” he produced from behind the arras the length of Richie Moniplies, still laughing with as unrestrained mirth as ever did gossip at a country christening. “Whisht, man, whisht, man,” said the king; “ye needna nicher that gait, like a cusser at a caup o' corn, e'en though it was a pleasing jest, and our ain framing. And yet to see Jingling Geordie, that bauds himself so much the wiser than other folk—to see him, ha! ha! ha!—in the vein129 of Euclio apud Plautum, distressing130 himself to recover what was lying at his elbow—'Peril, interii, occidi—quo curram? quo non curram?—Tene, tene—quem? quis? nescio—nihil video.”
“Ah! Geordie, your een are sharp enough to look after gowd and silver, gems, rubies, and the like of that, and yet ye kenna how to come by them when they are lost.—Ay, ay—look at them, man—look at them—they are a' right and tight, sound and round, not a doublet crept in amongst them.”
George Heriot, when his first surprise was over, was too old a courtier to interrupt the king's imaginary triumph, although he darted131 a look of some displeasure at honest Richie, who still continued on what is usually termed the broad grin. He quietly examined the stones, and finding them all perfect, he honestly and sincerely congratulated his Majesty on the recovery of a treasure which could not have been lost without some dishonour132 to the crown; and asked to whom he himself was to pay the sums for which they had been pledged, observing, that he had the money by him in readiness.
“Ye are in a deevil of a hurry, when there is paying in the case, Geordie,” said the king.—“What's a' the haste, man? The jewels were restored by an honest, kindly countryman of ours. There he stands, and wha kens133 if he wants the money on the nail, or if he might not be as weel pleased wi' a bit rescript on our treasury134 some six months hence? Ye ken that our Exchequer135 is even at a low ebb136 just now, and ye cry pay, pay, pay, as if we had all the mines of Ophir.”
“Please your Majesty,” said Heriot, “if this man has the real right to these monies, it is doubtless at his will to grant forbearance, if he will. But when I remember the guise137 in which I first saw him, with a tattered138 cloak and a broken head, I can hardly conceive it.—Are not you Richie Moniplies, with the king's favour?”
“Even sae, Master Heriot—of the ancient and honourable139 house of Castle Collop, near to the West Port of Edinburgh,” answered Richie.
“Why, please your Majesty, he is a poor serving-man,” said Heriot. “This money can never be honestly at his disposal.”
“What for no?” said the king. “Wad ye have naebody spraickle up the brae but yoursell, Geordie? Your ain cloak was thin enough when ye cam here, though ye have lined it gay and weel. And for serving-men, there has mony a red-shank cam over the Tweed wi' his master's wallet on his shoulders, that now rustles140 it wi' his six followers141 behind him. There stands the man himsell; speer at him, Geordie.”
“His may not be the best authority in the case,” answered the cautious citizen.
“Tut, tut, man,” said the king, “ye are over scrupulous142. The knave55 deer-stealers have an apt phrase, Non est inquirendum unde venit VENISON. He that brings the gudes hath surely a right to dispose of the gear.—Hark ye, friend, speak the truth and shame the deil. Have ye plenary powers to dispose on the redemption-money as to delay of payments, or the like, ay or no?”
“Full power, an it like your gracious Majesty,” answered Richie Moniplies; “and I am maist willing to subscrive to whatsoever143 may in ony wise accommodate your Majesty anent the redemption-money, trusting your Majesty's grace will be kind to me in one sma' favour.”
“Ey, man,” said the king, “come ye to me there? I thought ye wad e'en be like the rest of them.—One would think our subjects' lives and goods were all our ain, and holden of us at our free will; but when we stand in need of ony matter of siller from them, which chances more frequently than we would it did, deil a boddle is to be had, save on the auld terms of giff-gaff. It is just niffer for niffer.—Aweel, neighbour, what is it that ye want—some monopoly, I reckon? Or it may be a grant of kirk-lands and teinds, or a knighthood, or the like? Ye maun be reasonable, unless ye propose to advance more money for our present occasions.”
“My liege,” answered Richie Moniplies, “the owner of these monies places them at your Majesty's command, free of all pledge or usage as long as it is your royal pleasure, providing your Majesty will condescend144 to show some favour to the noble Lord Glenvarloch, presently prisoner in your royal Tower of London.”
“How, man—how,—man—how, man!” exclaimed the king, reddening and stammering145, but with emotions more noble than those by which he was sometimes agitated—“What is that you dare to say to us?—Sell our justice!—sell our mercy!—and we a crowned king, sworn to do justice to our subjects in the gate, and responsible for our stewardship146 to Him that is over all kings?”—Here he reverently147 looked up, touched his bonnet148, and continued, with some sharpness,—“We dare not traffic in such commodities, sir; and, but that ye are a poor ignorant creature, that have done us this day some not unpleasant service, we wad have a red iron driven through your tongue, in terrorem of others.—Awa with him, Geordie,—pay him, plack and bawbee, out of our monies in your hands, and let them care that come ahint.”
Richie, who had counted with the utmost certainty upon the success of this master-stroke of policy, was like an architect whose whole scaffolding at once gives way under him. He caught, however, at what he thought might break his fall. “Not only the sum for which the jewels were pledged,” he said, “but the double of it, if required, should be placed at his Majesty's command, and even without hope or condition of repayment149, if only—”
But the king did not allow him to complete the sentence, crying out with greater vehemence150 than before, as if he dreaded151 the stability of his own good resolutions,—“Awa wi' him—swith awa wi' him! It is time he were gane, if he doubles his bode65 that gate. And, for your life, letna Steenie, or ony of them, hear a word from his mouth; for wha kens what trouble that might bring me into! Ne inducas in tentationem—Vade retro, Sathanas!—Amen.”
In obedience to the royal mandate152, George Heriot hurried the abashed petitioner153 out of the presence and out of the Palace; and, when they were in the Palace-yard, the citizen, remembering with some resentment154 the airs of equality which Richie had assumed towards him in the commencement of the scene which had just taken place, could not forbear to retaliate155, by congratulating him with an ironical156 smile on his favour at Court, and his improved grace in presenting a supplication157.
“Never fash your beard about that, Master George Heriot,” said Richie, totally undismayed; “but tell me when and where I am to sifflicate you for eight hundred pounds sterling158, for which these jewels stood engaged?”
“The instant that you bring with you the real owner of the money,” replied Heriot; “whom it is important that I should see on more accounts than one.”
“Then will I back to his Majesty,” said Richie Moniplies, stoutly159, “and get either the money or the pledge back again. I am fully125 commissionate to act in that matter.”
“It may be so, Richie,” said the citizen, “and perchance it may not be so neither, for your tales are not all gospel; and, therefore, be assured I will see that it is so, ere I pay you that large sum of money. I shall give you an acknowledgment for it, and I will keep it prestable at a moment's warning. But, my good Richard Moniplies, of Castle Collop, near the West Port of Edinburgh, in the meantime I am bound to return to his Majesty on matters of weight.” So speaking, and mounting the stair to re-enter the Palace, he added, by way of summing up the whole,—“George Heriot is over old a cock to be caught with chaff160.”
Richie stood petrified161 when he beheld him re-enter the Palace, and found himself, as he supposed, left in the lurch162.—“Now, plague on ye,” he muttered, “for a cunning auld skinflint! that, because ye are an honest man yoursell, forsooth, must needs deal with all the world as if they were knaves. But deil be in me if ye beat me yet!—Gude guide us! yonder comes Laurie Linklater next, and he will be on me about the sifflication.—I winna stand him, by Saint Andrew!”
So saying, and changing the haughty163 stride with which he had that morning entered the precincts of the Palace, into a skulking164 shamble, he retreated for his wherry, which was in attendance, with speed which, to use the approved phrase on such occasions, greatly resembled a flight.
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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4
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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6
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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7
auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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8
embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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9
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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11
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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12
sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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13
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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14
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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15
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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16
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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17
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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18
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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19
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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20
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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21
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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22
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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23
conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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24
remonstrate
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| v.抗议，规劝 | |
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25
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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26
erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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27
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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29
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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30
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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31
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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32
annex
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| vt.兼并，吞并；n.附属建筑物 | |
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33
solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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34
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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35
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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36
stanza
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| n.（诗）节，段 | |
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37
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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38
deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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39
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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40
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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41
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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42
alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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43
ennui
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| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
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44
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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45
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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46
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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47
accost
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| v.向人搭话，打招呼 | |
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48
proffers
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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50
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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51
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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52
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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53
loon
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| n.狂人 | |
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54
auld
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| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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55
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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56
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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57
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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58
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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59
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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60
broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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61
scourging
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| 鞭打( scourge的现在分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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62
wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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63
pertinacity
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| n.执拗，顽固 | |
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64
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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65
bode
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| v.预示 | |
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66
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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67
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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68
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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69
entrees
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| n.入场权( entree的名词复数 )；主菜 | |
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70
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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71
lugs
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| 钎柄 | |
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72
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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74
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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75
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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76
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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78
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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79
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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80
gems
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|
| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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81
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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82
reprehend
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| v.谴责，责难 | |
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83
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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84
rigidity
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| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
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85
conformity
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| n.一致，遵从，顺从 | |
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86
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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87
tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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88
recollected
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|
| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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90
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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91
memento
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| n.纪念品，令人回忆的东西 | |
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92
rebus
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| n.谜,画谜 | |
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93
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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94
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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95
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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96
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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97
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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98
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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99
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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100
tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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101
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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102
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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103
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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104
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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105
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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106
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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107
levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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108
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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109
strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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110
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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111
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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112
laments
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| n.悲恸，哀歌，挽歌( lament的名词复数 )v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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113
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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114
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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115
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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116
jingler
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| 喝醉酒的人 | |
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117
sages
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| n.圣人( sage的名词复数 )；智者；哲人；鼠尾草（可用作调料） | |
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118
syne
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| adv.自彼时至此时，曾经 | |
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119
upbraiding
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| adj.& n.谴责（的）v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的现在分词 ) | |
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120
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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121
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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122
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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123
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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124
plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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125
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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126
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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127
portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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128
obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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129
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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130
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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131
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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132
dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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133
kens
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| vt.知道（ken的第三人称单数形式） | |
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134
treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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135
exchequer
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| n.财政部；国库 | |
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136
ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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137
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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138
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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139
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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140
rustles
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| n.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的名词复数 )v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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141
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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142
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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143
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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144
condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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145
stammering
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的现在分词 ) | |
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146
stewardship
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| n. n. 管理工作；管事人的职位及职责 | |
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147
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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148
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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149
repayment
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| n.偿还，偿还款；报酬 | |
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150
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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151
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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152
mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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153
petitioner
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| n.请愿人 | |
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154
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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155
retaliate
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| v.报复，反击 | |
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156
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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157
supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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158
sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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159
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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160
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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161
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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162
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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163
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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164
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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