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A Legend of Montrose-Part27_WALTER SCOTT(1771-1832)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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may be thought M'Callum More would be private--and now let me



make a reconnaissance for the private passage."

By looking behind the tapestry in various places, the Captain at



length discovered a private door, and behind that a winding

passage, terminated by another door, which doubtless entered the



chapel. But what was his disagreeable surprise to hear, on the

other side of this second door, the sonorous voice of a divine in



the act of preaching.

"This made the villain," he said, "recommend this to us as a



private passage. I am strongly tempted to return and cut his

throat."



He then opened very gently the door, which led into a latticed

gallery used by the Marquis himself, the curtains of which were



drawn, perhaps with the purpose of having it supposed that he was

engaged in attendance upon divineworship, when, in fact, he was



absent upon his secular affairs. There was no other person in

the seat; for the family of the Marquis,--such was the high state



maintained in those days,--sate during service in another

gallery, placed somewhat lower than that of the great man



himself. This being the case, Captain Dalgetty ventured to

ensconce himself in the gallery, of which he carefully secured



the door.

Never (although the expression be a bold one) was a sermon



listened to with more impatience, and less edification, on the

part of one, at least, of the audience. The Captain heard



SIXTEENTHLY-SEVENTEENTHLY-EIGHTEENTHLY and TO CONCLUDE, with a

sort of feeling like protracted despair. But no man can lecture



(for the service was called a lecture) for ever; and the

discourse was at length closed, the clergyman not failing to make



a profound bow towards the latticed gallery, little suspecting

whom he honoured by that reverence. To judge from the haste with



which they dispersed, the domestics of the Marquis were scarce

more pleased with their late occupation than the anxious Captain



Dalgetty; indeed, many of them being Highlandmen, had the excuse

of not understanding a single word which the clergyman spoke,



although they gave their attendance on his doctrine by the

special order of M'Callum More, and would have done so had the



preacher been a Turkish Imaum.

But although the congregation dispersed thus rapidly, the divine



remained behind in the chapel, and, walking up and down its

Gothic precincts, seemed either to be meditating on what he had



just been delivering, or preparing a fresh discourse for the next

opportunity. Bold as he was, Dalgetty hesitated what he ought to



do. Time, however, pressed, and every moment increased the

chance of their escape being discovered by the jailor visiting



the dungeon perhaps before his wonted time, and discovering the

exchange which had been made there. At length, whispering



Ranald, who watched all his motions, to follow him and preserve

his countenance, Captain Dalgetty, with a very composed air,



descended a flight of steps which led from the gallery into the

body of the chapel. A less experiencedadventurer would have



endeavoured to pass the worthyclergyman rapidly, in hopes to

escape unnoticed. But the Captain, who foresaw the manifest



danger of failing in such an attempt, walked gravely to meet the

divine upon his walk in the midst of the chancel, and, pulling



off his cap, was about to pass him after a formalreverence. But

what was his surprise to view in the preacher the very same



person with whom he had dined in the castle of Ardenvohr! Yet he

speedily recovered his composure; and ere the clergyman could



speak, was the first to address him. "I could not," he said,

"leave this mansion without bequeathing to you, my very reverend



sir, my humble thanks for the homily with which you have this

evening favoured us."



"I did not observe, sir," said the clergyman, "that you were in

the chapel."



"It pleased the honourable Marquis," said Dalgetty, modestly, "to

grace me with a seat in his own gallery." The divine bowed low






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