酷兔英语
    当前位置:
  1. 首页
  2. 文章
  3. 娱乐英语
  4. 原版小说
  5. 正文

Catriona-Part22_ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON(1850-1894)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页
the Glens.



Through all this Mr. Miller sat quiet. He was a slip of an oldish

gentleman, ruddy and twinkling; he spoke in a smooth rich voice, with



an infinite effect of pawkiness, dealing out each word the way an actor

does, to give the most expression possible; and even now, when he was



silent, and sat there with his wig laid aside, his glass in both hands,

his mouth funnily pursed, and his chin out, he seemed the mere picture



of a merry slyness. It was plain he had a word to say, and waited for

the fit occasion.



It came presently. Colstoun had wound up one of his speeches with some

expression of their duty to their client. His brother sheriff was



pleased, I suppose, with the transition. He took the table in his

confidence with a gesture and a look.



"That suggests to me a consideration which seems overlooked," said he.

"The interest of our client goes certainly before all, but the world



does not come to an end with James Stewart." Whereat he cocked his eye.

"I might condescend, EXEMPLI GRATIA, upon a Mr. George Brown, a Mr.



Thomas Miller, and a Mr. David Balfour. Mr. David Balfour has a very

good ground of complaint, and I think, gentlemen - if his story was



properly redd out - I think there would be a number of wigs on the

green."



The whole table turned to him with a common movement.

"Properly handled and carefully redd out, his is a story that could



scarcely fail to have some consequence," he continued. "The whole

administration of justice, from its highest officer downward, would be



totally discredited; and it looks to me as if they would need to be

replaced." He seemed to shine with cunning as he said it. "And I need



not point out to ye that this of Mr. Balfour's would be a remarkable

bonny cause to appear in," he added.



Well, there they all were started on another hare; Mr. Balfour's cause,

and what kind of speeches could be there delivered, and what officials



could be thus turned out, and who would succeed to their positions. I

shall give but the two specimens. It was proposed to approach Simon



Fraser, whose testimony, if it could be obtained, would prove certainly

fatal to Argyle and to Prestongrange. Miller highly approved of the



attempt. "We have here before us a dreeping roast," said he, "here is

cut-and-come-again for all." And methought all licked their lips. The



other was already near the end. Stewart the Writer was out of the body

with delight, smelling vengeance on his chief enemy, the Duke.



"Gentlemen," cried he, charging his glass, "here is to Sheriff Miller.

His legal abilities are known to all. His culinary, this bowl in front



of us is here to speak for. But when it comes to the poleetical!" -

cries he, and drains the glass.



"Ay, but it will hardly prove politics in your meaning, my friend,"

said the gratified Miller. "A revolution, if you like, and I think I



can promise you that historicalwriters shall date from Mr. Balfour's

cause. But properly guided, Mr. Stewart, tenderly guided, it shall



prove a peaceful revolution."

"And if the damned Campbells get their ears rubbed, what care I?" cries



Stewart, smiting down his fist.

It will be thought I was not very well pleased with all this, though I



could scarceforbear smiling at a kind of innocency in these old

intriguers. But it was not my view to have undergone so many sorrows



for the advancement of Sheriff Miller or to make a revolution in the

Parliament House: and I interposed accordingly with as much simplicity



of manner as I could assume.

"I have to thank you, gentlemen, for your advice," said I. "And now I



would like, by your leave, to set you two or three questions. There is

one thing that has fallen rather on one aide, for instance: Will this



cause do any good to our friend James of the Glens?"

They seemed all a hair set back, and gave various answers, but



concurring practically in one point, that James had now no hope but in

the King's mercy.



"To proceed, then," said I, "will it do any good to Scotland? We have

a saying that it is an ill bird that fouls his own nest. I remember



hearing we had a riot in Edinburgh when I was an infant child, which

gave occasion to the late Queen to call this country barbarous; and I



always understood that we had rather lost than gained by that. Then




文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文
Copyright © 2023 Qeto All rights reserved.
商务合作 | 联系我们 | 关于我们 | 版权声明 | 隐私条款 | 如果智培

京ICP备05059198号-1 京公网安备 11011202003401号