CHAPTER XXV. "I would I might entreat your honour OTHELLO. THE anxieties of the day, the steep streets, and Mistress Marjory's high stairs, had, in the words of the town-clerk, made our hero so" exhoust and forefoughten," that he required some recruiting stimulus, and accordingly gave orders to prepare a stoup of hippocras. When it was ready Baldy brought it into the room, leaving the door accidentally open, by which Hughoc was seen listening on the outside, concealed, but looking from time to time in. "I'm thinking," said Baldy, as he placed the flagon on the table," that the Laird will find this savoury drink. I wish a' the Queen's lieges had as gude comfort. As for Knockwhinnie, our auld fellow-traveller, he stands I'm thinking, but little in need o't. It's comfort enough in a'e day for an outlaw to get his pardon. He's well off; but Auchenbrae's to be ends of the earth as if he were na'e betWill the drink do ?" pitied; hunted to the ter than a tod lowry. Hughoc during this speech looked in from the lobby, and shook his forefinger in an admonitory manner to his master. Baldy continued, "Some folks say, Laird, that ye ha'e been instrumental in getting Knockwhinnie's pardon, and I'll no deny that ye may therein ha'e done a merciful almous; but surely a man that would take anither's life wi' cauld iron, is a far blacker malefactor than a free-hearted gentleman giving a slap on the back wi' only the butt end o' his whip to a doited carle, tho' he was birsling his shins at his ain fire-side. If I might be sae bold, Laird, I would make an intercession for a help o' your hand to relieve Auchenbrae." Hughoc had stepped full in front of the door, and when he heard this he raised his hands, and looked with amazement, as if each particular orifice in his countenance had been an organ of sight. His master could not, without a struggle, prevent himself from laughing at the droll physiognomy of the boy; and Baldy, seeing the smile struggling through, attributed it to the progress of compassion and sympathy. "I'm sure, Laird," said he, "ye'll no refuse the sma' favour o' interceding wi' the Queen's Majesty for Auchenbrae. I dinna say he's a clear innocent man; hut far waur' than him ha'e before now been spared to a gude auld age without fear o' the wuddy." Hughoc could not stand this; so he came into the room, and lifting the flagon with the hippocras, not knowing what other pretext to make for his intrusion, carried it off. "What do you mean by that? come back with it!" exclamed Southennan. Hughoc replaced it on the table, and looking with the fierceness of a terrier at Baldy, sullenly retired to the lobby again. "That laddie," said Baldy, "is either gain aff at the head, or growing a Protestant; for he has nae mair reverence for me now, sic is the corruption o' the court and the city, than if I were a broom besom. Wherever I gang, if he's no on duty wi' you, he follows me like a messin, and lays his lug to every word that's said, just like a filler in the mouth o' a Rotterdam graybeard; nae drap, nae word of speech can fa' past it.' The wrath of Hughoc at this backbiting was neither to hold nor to bind; he sprung into the room, and shaking his fist at Baldy, said, "Ah, ye crab, ye leeing scouther! Ye're a black neb." Southennan, to keep peace, ordered the boy to retire, and to shut the door, and to show more respect to his elder. This decision was duly appreciated by Baldy, who proceeded to urge more and more distinctly and decidedly the kindness that would be conferred by procuring remission of Auchenbrae's offence. It appeared to Southennan somewhat extraordinary, that Baldy, so much of a sudden, should have interfered so strongly on behalf of Auchenbrae, especially as he well knew that their acquaintance was very slight indeed, and that Knockwhinnie, his own particular friend, (for by this time he so considered him), had been vitally injured by that delinquent. Doubtless the reports which Hughoc had made of the intrigues of Baldy and Father Jerome had not been without effect on his mind, and he recollected also with some degree of heat, that he was supposed to be circumvented by his servant. He, however, said nothing, but allowed Baldy to finish his exhortation, at the VOL. II.-3 end of which he looked at him steadily, and then said, with unusual emphasis, "You have been long a faithful servant in my family; but you must not attempt to render me subservient to any plan in which you are concerned, whether it be for religion, policy, or interest. I will not interfere on behalf of Auchenbrae, and you will remember never to speak in his behalf to me again." Baldy instantly retired, and presently a yelling was heard in the house, caused by the crusty old man indemnifying himself for the reproof he had received at the expense of Hughoc. Soon after, Baldy went out, and the time being near when the frequenters of the Unicorn were in the practice of assembling in the evening, Southennan went to join them. On entering the room he was surprised, and uneasily so, at seeing Knockwhinnie and Chatelard sitting together, seemingly in serious confidential conversation. He was still more struck on perceiving, that when they observed him they changed their topic, and addressed him as if they intended he should think there was nothing particular in the matter of their whispered discussion. Among other guests who subsequently came in was Rizzio, whose air and demeanour towards Chatelard surprised him still more. It had never occurred to him, that there had been any such misconduct in the cause of Chatelard's dismissal as to impose a change in the manner of his friends; but Rizzio was conspicuously reserved, and scarcely seemed to recognise him. His look was so dry and cold, that he seemed as if he had endured some offence at his hands; indeed, his whole behaviour was so estranged, that it repressed the wish which our hero felt to inquire what occurrence had so ruptured their former intimacy. On the part of Chatelard the alienation was not so obvious; but he seemed to feel no annoyance at the manner in which he was treated by Rizzio; on the contrary, he appeared not only as if he were acquainted with the cause, but that he attached no importance to it. Indeed, he so far appeared to forget it that, in the course of a few minutes, he rose and attempted to take hold of Rizzio's arm in his old familiar manner; but the Italian turned sharply round, and with an impressive look, made him desist. In this there was something so like mystery that it did not satisfy our hero; and he could not resist the suspicion of some arrangement having been secretly concerted between them. Nor, after the crafty conversation which he had held on the preceding day with the Italian in the same room, was it without warranty. Chatelard having resumed his seat beside Knockwhinnie, Southennan joined Rizzio, and inquired in a friendly tone, what had happened to cause so great a change in his demeanour towards the Frenchman. "The nature of Chatelard's imputed offence," said he, "renders it necessary that the confidential servants of the Queen should separate themselves entirely from him; it may else be supposed that we have been privy to his presumption, and ought to have informed the Chancellor, or the prior of St. Andrews, of what we had observed." Southennan stepped back in astonishment at this ex post facto prudence, and said, "How is this? You observed how much he was enamoured of the Queen as early as I did, and the fault of concealment has already been committed." The Italian not being well prepared for this home-thrust, looked confused. "Come, come," exclaimed Southennan, "no masquerading with me; there is something going on between you. I hope it has no other object than to procure his restoration to the Queen's service." Rizzio bit his lips with vexation; for the deepest cunning cannot always provide against the plain dealing of simplicity and honour. His answer, however, was firmly delivered, and was irresistibly plausible. "Until it has been seen how such things thrive, it is not wise to blab of what one may know. Had Chatelard prospered in his bold passion, where should I have been now, had I betrayed my suspicions; for after all they were but suspicions. Courts are epitomes of the world; nothing is bad in them until it is known. The Spartan law is that also of all courts-it is the discovery that makes the crime; and I would advise you, as a candidate for public employments, to study the lesson." This speech grated the hearing of Southennan, and made him feel something like distaste against Rizzio. He had often before experienced the same repugnance, but in this instance it was tinctured with dread, and he was awed by the too evident craft and capacity of his character. While they were speaking apart, Knock whinnie and Chatelard left the room somewhat abruptly together. Their evasion was, no doubt, intended to appear an incidental occurrence, but it was done in such haste and hurry, that it attracted the attention of several gentlemen, and occasioned a temporary suspension of their conversation. Rizzio, whose quick eye allowed nothing to escape unobserved, said "What has so suddenly affected your friends? They appear to have been roused on the instant to some undertaking, and it is a grave one; for neither of them have art of countenance enough to hide the indications of their thoughts. It cannot be that Knockwhinnie has consented to give him his daughter?" This suggestion was so much in unison with the apprehensions of our hero, that it seemed as probable as it was alarming. Finding himself in consequence uuable to conceal his emotion, he turned round to Cornylees, who had just entered, and taking him by the arm, requested him to walk into the air with him, as the room was close, and it was yet a full half-hour to supper time. CHAPTER VII. "Good things of day begin to droop and drouze, MACBETH. THE subject of the conversation of Knock whinnie with Chatelard was an effect of the suggestions of Rizzio in the Park. The Frenchman was determined to make an effort to see the Queen; he had but that night left to accomplish his purpose, and when Knockwhinnie was expressing his sorrow in being the unconscious cause of his dismissal, he adroitly represented, that if he could possibly obtain an audience of her Majesty, he was covinced that he would be immediately reinstated in his employments. Knockwhinnie had as yet heard but few particulars of the story. The representation was plausible, and he voluntarily proposed that they should at once proceed to the palace, and endeavour, by the means of Adelaide, to obtain a secret interview with her Majesty. This occasioned their sudden departure from the Unicorn. On reaching Holyrood House, Chatelard, who was acquainted with the private passages and back stairs, conducted Knockwhinnie to the special apartment of Adelaide, and they deemed themselves fortunate in finding her there alone. 1 .) |