Bring in the evidence.
Thou robed man of justice, take thy place,
And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity1,
Bench by his side; you are of the commission,
Sit you too.
King Lear.
While the carriage was getting ready, Glossin had a letter to compose, about which he wasted no small time. It was to his neighbour, as he was fond of calling him, Sir Robert Hazlewood of Hazlewood, the head of an ancient and powerful interest in the county, which had in the decadence2 of the Ellangowan family gradually succeeded to much of their authority and influence. The present representative of the family was an elderly man, dotingly fond of his own family, which was limited to an only son and daughter, and stoically indifferent to the fate of all mankind besides. For the rest, he was honourable3 in his general dealings because he was afraid to suffer the censure4 of the world, and just from a better motive5. He was presumptuously6 over-conceited on the score of family pride and importance, a feeling considerably7 enhanced by his late succession to the title of a Nova Scotia baronet; and he hated the memory of the Ellangowan family, though now a memory only, because a certain baron8 of that house was traditionally reported to have caused the founder9 of the Hazlewood family hold his stirrup until he mounted into his saddle. In his general deportment he was pompous10 and important, affecting a species of florid elocution, which often became ridiculous from his misarranging the triads and quaternions with which he loaded his sentences.
To this personage Glossin was now to write in such a conciliatory style as might be most acceptable to his vanity and family pride, and the following was the form of his note:—
‘Mr. Gilbert Glossin’ (he longed to add of Ellangowan, but prudence11 prevailed, and he suppressed that territorial12 designation) — ‘Mr. Gilbert Glossin has the honour to offer his most respectful compliments to Sir Robert Hazlewood, and to inform him that he has this morning been fortunate enough to secure the person who wounded Mr. C. Hazlewood. As Sir Robert Hazlewood may probably choose to conduct the examination of this criminal himself, Mr. G. Glossin will cause the man to be carried to the inn at Kippletringan or to Hazlewood House, as Sir Robert Hazlewood may be pleased to direct. And, with Sir Robert Hazlewood’s permission, Mr. G. Glossin will attend him at either of these places with the proofs and declarations which he has been so fortunate as to collect respecting this atrocious business.’
Addressed,
‘Sir Robert Hazlewood of Hazlewood, Bart. ‘Hazlewood House, etc. etc.
‘Elln Gn.
‘Tuesday.’
This note he despatched by a servant on horseback, and having given the man some time to get ahead, and desired him to ride fast, he ordered two officers of justice to get into the carriage with Bertram; and he himself, mounting his horse, accompanied them at a slow pace to the point where the roads to Kippletringan and Hazlewood House separated, and there awaited the return of his messenger, in order that his farther route might be determined13 by the answer he should receive from the Baronet. In about half an hour, his servant returned with the following answer, handsomely folded, and sealed with the Hazlewood arms, having the Nova Scotia badge depending from the shield:—
‘Sir Robert Hazlewood of Hazlewood returns Mr. G. Glossin’s compliments, and thanks him for the trouble he has taken in a matter affecting the safety of Sir Robert’s family. Sir R.H. requests Mr, G.G. will have the goodness to bring the prisoner to Hazlewood House for examination, with the other proofs or declarations which he mentions. And after the business is over, in case Mr. G.G. is not otherwise engaged, Sir R. and Lady Hazlewood request his company to dinner.’
Addressed,
‘Mr. Gilbert Glossin, etc. ‘Hazlewood House, Tuesday.’
‘Soh!’ thought Mr. Glossin, ‘here is one finger in at least, and that I will make the means of introducing my whole hand. But I must first get clear of this wretched young fellow. I think I can manage Sir Robert. He is dull and pompous, and will be alike disposed to listen to my suggestions upon the law of the case and to assume the credit of acting15 upon them as his own proper motion. So I shall have the advantage of being the real magistrate16, without the odium of responsibility.’
As he cherished these hopes and expectations, the carriage approached Hazlewood House through a noble avenue of old oaks, which shrouded17 the ancient abbey-resembling building so called. It was a large edifice18, built at different periods, part having actually been a priory, upon the suppression of which, in the time of Queen Mary, the first of the family had obtained a gift of the house and surrounding lands from the crown. It was pleasantly situated19 in a large deer-park, on the banks of the river we have before mentioned. The scenery around was of a dark, solemn, and somewhat melancholy20 cast, according well with the architecture of the house. Everything appeared to be kept in the highest possible order, and announced the opulence21 and rank of the proprietor22.
As Mr. Glossin’s carriage stopped at the door of the hall, Sir Robert reconnoitred the new vehicle from the windows. According to his aristocratic feelings, there was a degree of presumption23 in this novus homo, this Mr. Gilbert Glossin, late writer in ——, presuming to set up such an accommodation at all; but his wrath24 was mitigated25 when he observed that the mantle26 upon the panels only bore a plain cipher27 of G.G. This apparent modesty28 was indeed solely29 owing to the delay of Mr. Gumming of the Lyon Office, who, being at that time engaged in discovering and matriculating the arms of two commissaries from North America, three English-Irish peers, and two great Jamaica traders, had been more slow than usual in finding an escutcheon for the new Laird of Ellangowan. But his delay told to the advantage of Glossin in the opinion of the proud Baronet.
While the officers of justice detained their prisoner in a sort of steward’s room, Mr. Glossin was ushered30 into what was called the great oak-parlour, a long room, panelled with well-varnished wainscot, and adorned31 with the grim portraits of Sir Robert Hazlewood’s ancestry32. The visitor, who had no internal consciousness of worth to balance that of meanness of birth, felt his inferiority, and by the depth of his bow and the obsequiousness33 of his demeanour showed that the Laird of Ellangowan was sunk for the time in the old and submissive habits of the quondam retainer of the law. He would have persuaded himself, indeed, that he was only humouring the pride of the old Baronet for the purpose of turning it to his own advantage, but his feelings were of a mingled34 nature, and he felt the influence of those very prejudices which he pretended to flatter.
The Baronet received his visitor with that condescending35 parade which was meant at once to assert his own vast superiority, and to show the generosity37 and courtesy with which he could waive38 it, and descend36 to the level of ordinary conversation with ordinary men. He thanked Glossin for his attention to a matter in which ‘young Hazlewood’ was so intimately concerned, and, pointing to his family pictures, observed, with a gracious smile, ‘Indeed, these venerable gentlemen, Mr. Glossin, are as much obliged as I am in this case for the labour, pains, care, and trouble which you have taken in their behalf; and I have no doubt, were they capable of expressing themselves, would join me, sir, in thanking you for the favour you have conferred upon the house of Hazlewood by taking care, and trouble, sir, and interest in behalf of the young gentleman who is to continue their name and family.’
Thrice bowed Glossin, and each time more profoundly than before; once in honour of the knight39 who stood upright before him, once in respect to the quiet personages who patiently hung upon the wainscot, and a third time in deference40 to the young gentleman who was to carry on the name and family. Roturier as he was, Sir Robert was gratified by the homage41 which he rendered, and proceeded in a tone of gracious familiarity: ‘And now, Mr. Glossin, my exceeding good friend, you must allow me to avail myself of your knowledge of law in our proceedings42 in this matter. I am not much in the habit of acting as a justice of the peace; it suits better with other gentlemen, whose domestic and family affairs require less constant superintendence, attention, and management than mine.’
Of course, whatever small assistance Mr. Glossin could render was entirely43 at Sir Robert Hazlewood’s service; but, as Sir Robert Hazlewood’s name stood high in the list of the faculty44, the said Mr. Glossin could not presume to hope it could be either necessary or useful.
‘Why, my good sir, you will understand me only to mean that I am something deficient45 in the practical knowledge of the ordinary details of justice business. I was indeed educated to the bar, and might boast perhaps at one time that I had made some progress in the speculative46 and abstract and abstruse47 doctrines49 of our municipal code; but there is in the present day so little opportunity of a man of family and fortune rising to that eminence50 at the bar which is attained51 by adventurers who are as willing to plead for John a’ Nokes as for the first noble of the land, that I was really early disgusted with practice. The first case, indeed, which was laid on my table quite sickened me: it respected a bargain, sir, of tallow between a butcher and a candlemaker; and I found it was expected that I should grease my mouth not only with their vulgar names, but with all the technical terms and phrases and peculiar52 language of their dirty arts. Upon my honour, my good sir, I have never been able to bear the smell of a tallow-candle since.’
Pitying, as seemed to be expected, the mean use to which the Baronet’s faculties53 had been degraded on this melancholy occasion, Mr. Glossin offered to officiate as clerk or assessor, or in any way in which he could be most useful. ‘And with a view to possessing you of the whole business, and in the first place, there will, I believe, be no difficulty in proving the main fact, that this was the person who fired the unhappy piece. Should he deny it, it can be proved by Mr. Hazlewood, I presume?’
‘Young Hazlewood is not at home to-day, Mr. Glossin.’
‘But we can have the oath of the servant who attended him,’ said the ready Mr. Glossin; ‘indeed, I hardly think the fact will be disputed. I am more apprehensive54 that, from the too favourable55 and indulgent manner in which I have understood that Mr. Hazlewood has been pleased to represent the business, the assault may be considered as accidental, and the injury as unintentional, so that the fellow may be immediately set at liberty to do more mischief56.’
‘I have not the honour to know the gentleman who now holds the office of king’s advocate,’ replied Sir Robert, gravely; ‘but I presume, sir — nay57, I am confident, that he will consider the mere58 fact of having wounded young Hazlewood of Hazlewood, even by inadvertency, to take the matter in its mildest and gentlest, and in its most favourable and improbable, light, as a crime which will be too easily atoned59 by imprisonment60, and as more deserving of deportation61.’
‘Indeed, Sir Robert,’ said his assenting62 brother in justice, ‘I am entirely of your opinion; but, I don’t know how it is, I have observed the Edinburgh gentlemen of the bar, and even the officers of the crown, pique63 themselves upon an indifferent administration of justice, without respect to rank and family; and I should fear — ’
‘How, sir, without respect to rank and family? Will you tell me that doctrine48 can be held by men of birth and legal education? No, sir; if a trifle stolen in the street is termed mere pickery, but is elevated into sacrilege if the crime be committed in a church, so, according to the just gradations of society, the guilt64 of an injury is enhanced by the rank of the person to whom it is offered, done, or perpetrated, sir.’
Glossin bowed low to this declaration ex cathedra, but observed, that in the case of the very worst, and of such unnatural65 doctrines being actually held as he had already hinted, ‘the law had another hold on Mr. Vanbeest Brown.’
‘Vanbeest Brown! is that the fellow’s name? Good God! that young Hazlewood of Hazlewood should have had his life endangered, the clavicle of his right shoulder considerably lacerated and dislodged, several large drops or slugs deposited in the acromion process, as the account of the family surgeon expressly bears, and all by an obscure wretch14 named Vanbeest Brown!’
‘Why, really, Sir Robert, it is a thing which one can hardly bear to think of; but, begging ten thousand pardons for resuming what I was about to say, a person of the same name is, as appears from these papers (producing Dirk Hatteraick’s pocket-book), mate to the smuggling66 vessel67 who offered such violence at Woodbourne, and I have no doubt that this is the same individual; which, however, your acute discrimination will easily be able to ascertain68.’
‘The same, my good sir, he must assuredly be; it would be injustice69 even to the meanest of the people to suppose there could be found among them two persons doomed70 to bear a name so shocking to one’s ears as this of Vanbeest Brown.’ ‘True, Sir Robert; most unquestionably; there cannot be a shadow of doubt of it. But you see farther, that this circumstance accounts for the man’s desperate conduct. You, Sir Robert, will discover the motive for his crime — you, I say, will discover it without difficulty on your giving your mind to the examination; for my part, I cannot help suspecting the moving spring to have been revenge for the gallantry with which Mr. Hazlewood, with all the spirit of his renowned71 forefathers72, defended the house at Woodbourne against this villain73 and his lawless companions.’
‘I will inquire into it, my good sir,’ said the learned Baronet. ‘Yet even now I venture to conjecture74 that I shall adopt the solution or explanation of this riddle75, enigma76, or mystery which you have in some degree thus started. Yes! revenge it must be; and, good Heaven! entertained by and against whom? entertained, fostered, cherished against young Hazlewood of Hazlewood, and in part carried into effect, executed, and implemented77 by the hand of Vanbeest Brown! These are dreadful days indeed, my worthy78 neighbour (this epithet79 indicated a rapid advance in the Baronet’s good graces) — days when the bulwarks80 of society are shaken to their mighty81 base, and that rank which forms, as it were, its highest grace and ornament82 is mingled and confused with the viler83 parts of the architecture. O, my good Mr. Gilbert Glossin, in my time, sir, the use of swords and pistols, and such honourable arms, was reserved by the nobility and gentry84 to themselves, and the disputes of the vulgar were decided85 by the weapons which nature had given them, or by cudgels cut, broken, or hewed86 out of the next wood. But now, sir, the clouted87 shoe of the peasant galls88 the kibe of the courtier. The lower ranks have their quarrels, sir, and their points of honour, and their revenges, which they must bring, forsooth, to fatal arbitrament. But well, well! it will last my time. Let us have in this fellow, this Vanbeest Brown, and make an end of him, at least for the present.’
收听单词发音 |
1
equity
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| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
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2
decadence
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| n.衰落，颓废 | |
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3
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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4
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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5
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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6
presumptuously
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| adv.自以为是地，专横地，冒失地 | |
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7
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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8
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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9
Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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11
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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12
territorial
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| adj.领土的，领地的 | |
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13
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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14
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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15
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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16
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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17
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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18
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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19
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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20
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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21
opulence
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| n.财富，富裕 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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23
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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24
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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mitigated
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| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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27
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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28
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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29
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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30
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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32
ancestry
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| n.祖先，家世 | |
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33
obsequiousness
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| 媚骨 | |
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34
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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35
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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36
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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37
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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38
waive
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| vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等) | |
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39
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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40
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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41
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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42
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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43
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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44
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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abstruse
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| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
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48
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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51
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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56
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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57
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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58
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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59
atoned
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| v.补偿，赎（罪）( atone的过去式和过去分词 )；补偿，弥补，赎回 | |
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60
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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61
deportation
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| n.驱逐，放逐 | |
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62
assenting
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| 同意，赞成( assent的现在分词 ) | |
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pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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64
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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65
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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66
smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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68
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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69
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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70
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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71
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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72
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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73
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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74
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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75
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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77
implemented
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| v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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78
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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79
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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80
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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81
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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82
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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83
viler
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| adj.卑鄙的( vile的比较级 )；可耻的；极坏的；非常讨厌的 | |
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84
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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85
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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86
hewed
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的过去式和过去分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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87
clouted
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| adj.缀补的，凝固的v.（尤指用手）猛击，重打( clout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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galls
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的第三人称单数 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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