by Walter Scott
CHAPTER LVI
EXERTION
When Colonel Talbot entered the breakfast-parlour next morning, helearned from Waverley's servant that our hero had been abroad at anearly hour, and was not yet returned. The morning was well advancedbefore he again appeared, He arrived out of breath, but with an air ofjoy that astonished Colonel Talbot.
'There,' said he, throwing a paper on the table, 'there is my morning'swork.--Alick, pack up the Colonel's clothes. Make haste, make haste.'
The Colonel examined the paper with astonishment. It was a pass from theChevalier to Colonel Talbot, to repair to Leith, or any other portin possession of his Royal Highness's troops, and there to embark forEngland or elsewhere, at his free pleasure; he only giving his parole ofhonour not to bear arms against the house of Stuart for the space of atwelvemonth.
'In the name of God,' said the Colonel, his eyes sparkling witheagerness, 'how did you obtain this?'
'I was at the Chevalier's levee as soon as he usually rises. He was goneto the camp at Duddingston. I pursued him thither; asked and obtained anaudience--but I will tell you not a word more, unless I see you begin topack.'
'Before I know whether I can avail myself of this passport, or how itwas obtained?'
'Oh, you can take out the things again, you know.--Now I see you busy,I will go on. When I first mentioned your name, his eyes sparkled almostas bright as yours did two minutes since. "Had you," he earnestly asked,"shown any sentiments favourable to his cause?"
"Not in the least, nor was there any hope you would do so." Hiscountenance fell. I requested your freedom. "Impossible," hesaid;--"your importance, as a friend and confidant of such and suchpersonages, made my request altogether extravagant." I told him my ownstory and yours and asked him to judge what my feelings must be by hisown. He has a heart, and a kind one, Colonel Talbot, you may say whatyou please. He took a sheet of paper, and wrote the pass with his ownhand. "I will not-trust myself with my council," he said "they willargue me out of what is right. I will not endure that a friend, valuedas I value you, should be loaded with the painful reflections which mustafflict you in ease of further misfortune in Colonel Talbot's family;nor will I keep a brave enemy a prisoner under such circumstances.Besides," said he, "I think I can justify myself to my prudent advisers,by pleading the good effect such lenity will produce on the minds of thegreat English families with whom Colonel Talbot is connected."'
'There the politician peeped out,' said the Colonel.
'Well, at least he concluded like a king's son--"Take the passport; Ihave added a condition for form's sake; but if the Colonel objects toit, let him depart without giving any parole whatever. I come here towar with men, but not to distress or endanger women."'
'Well, I never thought to have been so much indebted to the Pretend--'
'To the Prince,' said Waverley, smiling.
'To the Chevalier,' said the Colonel; 'it is a good travelling name, andwhich we may both freely use. Did he say anything more?'
'Only asked if there was anything else he could oblige me in; and whenI replied in the negative, he shook me by the hand, and wished all hisfollowers were as considerate, since some friends of mine not only askedall he had to bestow, but many things which were entirely out of hispower, or that of the greatest sovereign upon earth. Indeed, he said,no prince seemed, in the eyes of his followers, so like the Deity ashimself, if you were to judge from the extravagant requests which theydaily preferred to him.'
'Poor young gentleman!' said the Colonel 'I suppose he begins to feelthe difficulties of his situation. Well, dear Waverley, this is morethan kind, and shall not be forgotten while Philip Talbot can rememberanything. My life--pshaw--let Emily thank you for that--this is afavour worth fifty lives. I cannot hesitate on giving my parole in thecircumstances: there it is--(he wrote it out in form)--and now, how am Ito get off?'
'All that is settled: your baggage is packed, my horses wait, and a boathas been engaged, by the Prince's permission, to put you on board theFox frigate. I sent a messenger down to Leith on purpose.'
'That will do excellently well. Captain Beaver is my particular friend:he will put me ashore at Berwick or Shields, from whence I can ride postto London;--and you must entrust me with the packet of papers which yourecovered by means of your Miss Bean Lean. I may have an opportunityof using them to your advantage.--But I see your Highland friend,Glen--what do you call his barbarous name? and his orderly with him--Imust not call him his orderly cut-throat any more, I suppose. See how hewalks as if the world were his own, with the bonnet on one side of hishead, and his plaid puffed out across his breast! I should like now tomeet that youth where my hands were not tied: I would tame his pride, orhe should tame mine,'
'For shame, Colonel Talbot! you swell at sight of tartan, as the bullis said to do at scarlet. You and Mac-Ivor have some points not muchunlike, so far as national prejudice is concerned.'
The latter part of this discourse took place in the street. They passedthe Chief, the Colonel and he sternly and punctiliously greeting eachother, like two duellists before they take their ground. It was evidentthe dislike was mutual. 'I never see that surly fellow that dogs hisheels,' said the Colonel, after he had mounted his horse, 'but hereminds me of lines I have somewhere heard--upon the stage, I think:
--Close behind him Stalks sullen Bertram, like a sorcerer's fiend, Pressing to be employed.'
'I assure you, Colonel,' said Waverley,' that you judge too harshly ofthe Highlanders.'
'Not a whit, not a whit; I cannot spare them a jot--I cannot bate theman ace. Let them stay in their own barren mountains, and puff and swell,and hang their bonnets on the horns of the moon, if they have a mind;but what business have they to come where people wear breeches, andspeak an intelligible language? I mean intelligible in comparison withtheir gibberish, for even the Lowlanders talk a kind of English littlebetter than the negroes in Jamaica. I could pity the Pr--, I mean theChevalier himself, for having so many desperadoes about him. And theylearn their trade so early. There is a kind of subaltern imp, forexample, a sort of sucking devil, whom your friend Glenna--Glennamuckthere, has sometimes in his train. To look at him, he is about fifteenyears; but he is a century old in mischief and villany. He was playingat quoits the other day in the court; a gentleman--a decent-lookingperson enough--came past, and as a quoit hit his shin, he lifted hiscane: but my young brave whips out his pistol, like Beau Clincher in theTRIP TO THE JUBILEE and had not a scream of GARDEZ L'EAU from anupper window set all parties a-scampering for fear of the inevitableconsequences, the poor gentleman would have lost his life by the handsof that little cockatrice.'
'A fine character you'll give of Scotland upon your return, ColonelTalbot.'
'Oh, Justice Shallow,' said the Colonel, 'will save me thetrouble--"Barren, barren--beggars all, beggars all. Marry, goodair,"--and that only when you are fairly out of Edinburgh, and not yetcome to Leith, as is our case at present.'
In a short time they arrived at the seaport:
The boat rocked at the pier of Leith, Full loud the wind blew down the ferry; The ship rode at the Berwick Law--
'Farewell, Colonel; may you find all as you would wish it! Perhaps wemay meet sooner than you expect: they talk of an immediate route toEngland.'
Tell me nothing of that,' said Talbot 'I wish to carry no news of yourmotions.'
'Simply then, adieu. Say, with a thousand kind greetings, all that isdutiful and affectionate to Sir Everard and Aunt Rachel. Think of me askindly as you can--speak of me as indulgently as your conscience willpermit, and once more adieu.'
'And adieu, my dear Waverley!--many, many thanks for your kindness.Unplaid yourself on the first opportunity. I shall ever think onyou with gratitude, and the worst of my censure shall be, QUE DIABLEALLOIT-IL FAIRE DANS CETTE GALERE?'
And thus they parted, Colonel Talbot going on board of the boat, andWaverley returning to Edinburgh.