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！
morning to Mr。 Hayes； informing him how a person had lain at their inn
who had ridden thither mounted upon young Hayes's horse。 Off set John
Ostler at earliest dawn； but on his way he woke up Mr。 Justice's clerk； and
communicated his suspicions to him； and Mr。 Clerk consulted with the
village baker； who was always up early； and the clerk； the baker； the
butcher with his cleaver； and two gentlemen who were going to work； all
adjourned to the inn。
Accordingly； when Ensign Macshane was in a truckle…bed； plunged in
that deep slumber which only innocence and drunkenness enjoy in this
world； and charming the ears of morn by the regular and melodious music
of his nose； a vile plot was laid against him； and when about seven of the
clock he woke； he found； on sitting up in his bed； three gentlemen on each
side of it； armed； and looking ominous。 One held a constable's staff； and
albeit unprovided with a warrant； would take upon himself the
responsibility of seizing Mr。 Macshane and of carrying him before his
worship at the hall。
〃Taranouns； man！〃 said the Ensign； springing up in bed； and abruptly
breaking off a loud sonorous yawn； with which he had opened the
business of the day； 〃you won't deteen a gentleman who's on life and death？
I give ye my word； an affair of honour。〃
〃How came you by that there horse？〃 said the baker。
〃How came you by these here fifteen guineas？〃 said the landlord； in
whose hands； by some process； five of the gold pieces had disappeared。
〃What is this here idolatrous string of beads？〃 said the clerk。
Mr。 Macshane； the fact is； was a Catholic； but did not care to own it：
for in those days his religion was not popular。
85
… Page 86…
Catherine： A Story
〃Baids？ Holy Mother of saints！ give me back them baids；〃 said Mr。
Macshane； clasping his hands。 〃They were blest； I tell you； by his holiness
the popsha！ I mane they belong to a darling little daughter I had that's in
heaven now： and as for the money and the horse； I should like to know
how a gentleman is to travel in this counthry without them。〃
〃Why； you see； he may travel in the country to GIT 'em；〃 here
shrewdly remarked the constable； 〃and it's our belief that neither horse nor
money is honestly come by。 If his worship is satisfied； why so； in course；
shall we be； but there is highwaymen abroad； look you； and； to our notion；
you have very much the cut of one。〃
Further remonstrances or threats on the part of Mr。 Macshane were
useless。 Although he vowed that he was first cousin to the Duke of
Leinster； an officer in Her Majesty's service； and the dearest friend Lord
Marlborough had； his impudent captors would not believe a word of his
statement （which； further； was garnished with a tremendous number of
oaths）； and he was； about eight o'clock； carried up to the house of Squire
Ballance； the neighbouring justice of the peace。
When the worthy magistrate asked the crime of which the prisoner had
been guilty； the captors looked somewhat puzzled for the moment； since；
in truth； it could not be shown that the Ensign had committed any crime at
all； and if he had confined himself to simple silence； and thrown upon
them the onus of proving his misdemeanours； Justice Ballance must have
let him loose； and soundly rated his clerk and the landlord for detaining an
honest gentleman on so frivolous a charge。
But this caution was not in the Ensign's disposition； and though his
accusers produced no satisfactory charge against him； his own words were
quite enough to show how suspicious his character was。 When asked his
name； he gave it in as Captain Geraldine； on his way to Ireland； by Bristol；
on a visit to his cousin the Duke of Leinster。 He swore solemnly that his
friends； the Duke of Marlborough and Lord Peterborough； under both of
whom he had served； should hear of the manner in which he had been
treated； and when the justice；a sly old gentleman； and one that read the
Gazettes； asked him at what battles he had been present； the gallant Ensign
pitched on a couple in Spain and in Flanders； which had been fought
86
… Page 87…
Catherine： A Story
within a week of each other； and vowed that he had been desperately
wounded at both； so that； at the end of his examination； which had been
taken down by the clerk； he had been made to acknowledge as follows：
Captain Geraldine； six feet four inches in height； thin； with a very long red
nose； and red hair； grey eyes； and speaks with a strong Irish accent； is the
first…cousin of the Duke of Leinster； and in constant communication with
him： does not know whether his Grace has any children； does not know
whereabouts he lives in London； cannot say what sort of a looking man his
Grace is： is acquainted with the Duke of Marlborough； and served in the
dragoons at the battle of Ramillies； at which time he was with my Lord
Peterborough before Barcelona。 Borrowed the horse which he rides from a
friend in London； three weeks since。 Peter Hobbs； ostler； swears that it
was in his master's stable four days ago； and is the property of John Hayes；
carpenter。 Cannot account for the fifteen guineas found on him by the
landlord； says there were twenty； says he won them at cards； a fortnight
since； at Edinburgh； says he is riding about the country for his amusement：
afterwards says he is on a matter of life and death； and going to Bristol；
declared last night； in the hearing of several witnesses； that he was going
to York； says he is a man of independent property； and has large estates in
Ireland； and a hundred thousand pounds in the Bank of England。 Has no
shirt or stockings； and the coat he wears is marked 〃S。S。〃 In his boots is
written 〃Thomas Rodgers；〃 and in his hat is the name of the 〃Rev。 Doctor
Snoffler。〃
Doctor Snoffler lived at Worcester； and had lately advertised in the
Hue and Cry a number of articles taken from his house。 Mr。 Macshane
said； in reply to this； that his hat had been changed at the inn； and he was
ready to take his oath that he came thither in a gold…laced one。 But this fact
was disproved by the oaths of many persons who had seen him at the inn。
And he was about to be imprisoned for the thefts which he had not
committed （the fact about the hat being； that he had purchased it from a
gentleman at the 〃Three Rooks〃 for two pints of beer）he was about to be
remanded； when； behold； Mrs。 Hayes the elder made her appearance； and
to her it was that the Ensign was indebted for his freedom。
Old Hayes had gone to work before the ostler arrived； but when his
87
… Page 88…
Catherine： A Story
wife heard the lad's message； she instantly caused her pillion to be placed
behind the saddle； and mounting the grey horse； urged the stable…boy to
gallop as hard as ever he could to the justice's house。
She entered panting and alarmed。 〃Oh； what is your honour going to
do to this honest gentleman？〃 said she。 〃In the name of Heaven； let him go！
His time is precioushe has important businessbusiness of life and
death。〃
〃I tould the jidge so；〃 said the Ensign； 〃but he refused to take my
wordthe sacred wurrd of honour of Captain Geraldine。〃
Macshane was good at a single lie； though easily flustered on an
examination； and this was a very creditable stratagem to acquaint Mrs。
Hayes with the name that he bore。
〃What！ you know Captain Geraldine？〃 said Mr。 Ballance； who was
perfectly well acquainted with the carpenter's wife。
〃In coorse she does。 Hasn't she known me these tin years？ Are we not
related？ Didn't she give me the very horse which I rode； and； to make
belave； tould you I'd bought in London？〃
〃Let her tell her own story。 Are you related to Captain Geraldine； Mrs。
Hayes？〃
〃Yesoh； yes！〃
〃A very elegant connection！ And you gave him the horse； did you； of
your own free…will？〃
〃Oh yes！ of my own willI would give him an