the provost-第22部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
at 〃The Theatre Royal；〃 and the consequence was； that the Tappit…hen's house； both but and ben； was； at the conclusion； filled to overflowing。
The actress that played Queen Elizabeth； was a little…worth termagant woman； and； in addition to other laxities of conduct； was addicted to the immorality of taking more than did her good； and when in her cups； she would rant and ring fiercer than old Queen Elizabeth ever could do herself。 Queen Mary's part was done by a bonny genty young lady； that was said to have run away from a boarding…school； and； by all accounts； she acted wonderful well。 But she too was not altogether without a flaw； so that there was a division in the town between their admirers and visiters； some maintaining； as I was told； that Mrs Beaufort； if she would keep herself sober； was not only a finer woman； but more of a lady； and a better actress； than Miss Scarborough； while others considered her as a vulgar regimental virago。
The play of Mary Queen of Scots； causing a great congregation of the rival partizans of the two ladies to meet in the Tappit…hen's public； some contention took place about the merits of their respective favourites； and； from less to more； hands were raised； and blows given； and the trades'…lads； being as hot in their differences as the gentlemen； a dreadful riot ensued。 Gillstoups； porter bottles； and penny pies flew like balls and bomb…shells in battle。 Mrs Fenton； with her mutch off； and her hair loose； with wide and wild arms； like a witch in a whirlwind； was seen trying to sunder the challengers； and the champions。 Finding； however； her endeavours unavailing； and fearing that murder would be committed； she ran like desperation into the streets； crying for help。 I was just at the time stepping into my bed； when I heard the uproar； and； dressing myself again； I went out to the street； for the sound and din of the riot came raging through the silence of the midnight； like the tearing and swearing of the multitude at a house on fire； and I thought no less an accident could be the cause。
On going into the street； I met several persons running to the scene of action； and； among others； Mrs Beaufort； with a gallant of her own； and both of them no in their sober senses。 It's no for me to say who he was； but assuredly； had the woman no been doited with drink； she never would have seen any likeness between him and me； for he was more than twenty years my junior。 However； onward we all ran to Mrs Fenton's house； where the riot； like a raging caldron boiling o'er； had overflowed into the street。
The moment I reached the door； I ran forward with my stick raised； but not with any design of striking man； woman； or child； when a ramplor devil； the young laird of Swinton； who was one of the most outstrapolous rakes about the town； wrenched it out of my grip； and would have； I dare say； made no scruple of doing me some dreadful bodily harm； when suddenly I found myself pulled out of the crowd by a powerful…handed woman； who cried； 〃Come； my love； love； come：〃 and who was this but that scarlet strumpet； Mrs Beaufort； who having lost her gallant in the crowd； and being； as I think； blind fou； had taken me for him； insisting before all present that I was her dear friend； and that she would die for mewith other siclike fantastical and randy ranting； which no queen in a tragedy could by
any possibility surpass。 At first I was confounded and overtaken； and could not speak； and the worst of all was； that； in a moment； the mob seemed to forget their quarrel； and to turn in derision on me。 What might have ensued it would not be easy to say； but just at this very critical juncture； and while the drunken latheron was casting herself into antic shapes of distress； and flourishing with her hands and arms to the heavens at my imputed cruelty； two of the town…officers came up； which gave me courage to act a decisive part； so I gave over to them Mrs Beaufort； with all her airs； and； going myself to the guardhouse； brought a file of soldiers； and so quelled the riot。 But from that night I thought it prudent to eschew every allusion to Mrs Fenton； and tacitly to forgive even Swinton for the treatment I had received from him； by seeming as if I had not noticed him； although I had singled him out by name。
Mrs Pawkie； on hearing what I had suffered from Mrs Beaufort； was very zealous that I should punish her to the utmost rigour of the law； even to drumming her out of the town； but forbearance was my best policy； so I only persuaded my colleagues to order the players to decamp； and to give the Tappit…hen notice； that it would be expedient for the future sale of her pies and porter； at untimeous hours； and that she should flit her howff from our town。 Indeed； what pleasure would it have been to me to have dealt unmercifully； either towards the one or the other？ for surely the gentle way of keeping up a proper respect for magistrates； and others in authority； should ever be preferred； especially； as in cases like this； where there had been no premeditated wrong。 And I say this with the greater sincerity； for in my secret conscience； when I think of the affair at this distance of time； I am pricked not a little in reflecting how I had previously crowed and triumphed over poor Mr Hickery； in the matter of his mortification at the time of Miss Peggy Dainty's false step。
CHAPTER XXXVIITHE DUEL
Heretofore all my magisterial undertakings and concerns had thriven in a very satisfactory manner。 I was； to be sure； now and then； as I have narrated； subjected to opposition； and squibs； and a jeer； and envious and spiteful persons were not wanting in the world to call in question my intents and motives； representing my best endeavours for the public good as but a right…handed method to secure my own interests。 It would be a vain thing of me to deny； that； at the beginning of my career； I was misled by the wily examples of the past times； who thought that； in taking on them to serve the community； they had a privilege to see that they were full…handed for what benefit they might do the public； but as I gathered experience； and saw the rising of the sharp…sighted spirit that is now abroad among the affairs of men； I clearly discerned that it would be more for the advantage of me and mine to act with a conformity thereto； than to seek； by any similar wiles or devices； an immediate and sicker advantage。 I may therefore say； without a boast； that the two or three years before my third provostry were as renowned and comfortable to myself； upon the whole； as any reasonable man could look for。 We cannot； however； expect a full cup and measure of the sweets of life； without some adulteration of the sour and bitter； and it was my lot and fate to prove an experience of this truth； in a sudden and unaccountable falling off from all moral decorum in a person of my brother's only son； Richard； a lad that was a promise of great ability in his youth。
He was just between the tyning and the winning； as the saying is； when the playactors； before spoken off； came to the town； being then in his eighteenth year。 Naturally of a light…hearted and funny disposition； and possessing a jocose turn for mimickry； he was a great favourite among his companions； and getting in with the players； it seems drew up with that little…worth； demure daffodel； Miss Scarborough； through the instrumentality of whose condisciples and the randy Mrs Beaufort； that riot at Widow Fenton's began； which ended in expurgating the town of the whole gang； bag and baggage。 Some there were； I shall here mention； who said that the expulsion of the players was owing to what I had heard anent the intromission of my nephew； but； in verity； I had not the least spunk or spark of suspicion of what was going on between him and the miss； till one night； some time after； Richard and the young laird of Swinton； with others of their comrades； forgathered； and came to high words on the subject； the two being rivals； or rather； as was said； equally in esteem and favour with the lady。
Young Swinton was； to say the truth of him； a fine bold rattling lad； warm in the temper； and ready with the hand； and no man's foe so much as his own； for he was a spoiled bairn； through the partiality of old Lady Bodikins； his grandmother； who lived in the turreted house at the town…end； by whose indulgence he grew to be of a dressy and rakish inclination； and； like most youngsters of the kind； was vain of his shames； the which cost Mr Pittle's session no little trouble。 Butnot to dwell on his faultsmy nephew and he quarrelled； and nothing less would serve them than to fight a duel； which they did with pistols next morning； and Richard received from the laird's first shot a bullet in the left arm； that disabled him in that member for life。 He was left for dead on the green where they foughtSwinton and the two seconds making； as was supposed； their escape。
When Richard was found faint and bleeding by Tammy Tout； the town… herd； as he drove out the cows in the morning； the hobleshow is not to be described； and my brother came to me； and insisted that I should give him a warrant to apprehend all concerned。 I was grieved for my brother； and very much distressed to think of what had happened to blithe Dicky； as I was wont to call my nephew when he was a laddie； and I would fain have gratified the spirit of revenge in myself； but I brought to mind his roving and wanton pranks； and I counselled his father first to abide the upshot of the wound； representing to him； in the best manner I could； that it was but the quarrel of the young men； and that maybe his son was as muckle in fault as Swinton。
My brother was； however； of a hasty temper； and upbraided me with my slackness； on account； as he tauntingly insinuated； of the young laird being one of my best customers； which was a harsh and unrighteous doing； but it was not the severest trial which the accident occasioned to me； for the same night； at a late hour； a line was brought to me by a lassie； requesting I would come to a certain placeand when I went there； who was it from but Swinton and the two other young lads that had been the seconds at the duel。
〃Bailie；〃 said the laird on behalf of himself and friends； 〃though you are the un
