Thus speaking,he seized with one hand a bundle of Argyle's most private papers,and with the other a purse of gold,both of which lay in a drawer of a rich cabinet,which stood invitingly open.
Neither did he neglect to possess himself of a sword and pistols,with powder-flask and balls,which hung in the apartment.
"Intelligence and booty,"said the veteran,as he pouched the spoils,"each honourable cavalier should look to,the one on his general's behalf,and the other on his own.This sword is an Andrew Ferrara,and the pistols better than mine own.But a fair exchange is no robbery.Soldados are not to be endangered,and endangered gratuitously,my Lord of Argyle.--But soft,soft,Ranald;wise Man of the Mist,whither art thou bound?"
It was indeed full time to stop MacEagh's proceedings;for,not finding the private passage readily,and impatient,it would seem,of farther delay,he had caught down a sword and target,and was about to enter the great gallery,with the purpose,doubtless,of fighting his way through all opposition.
"Hold,while you live,"whispered Dalgetty,laying hold on him.
"We must be perdue,if possible.So bar we this door,that it 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 divine worship,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 experienced adventurer would have endeavoured to pass the worthy clergyman 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 formal reverence.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 at this intimation,knowing that such an honour was only vouchsafed to persons of very high rank."It has been my fate,sir,"said the Captain,"in the sort of wandering life which I have led,to have heard different preachers of different religions--as for example,Lutheran,Evangelical,Reformed,Calvinistical,and so forth,but never have I listened to such a homily as yours."
"Call it a lecture,worthy sir,"said the divine,"such is the phrase of our church."
"Lecture or homily,"said Dalgetty,"it was,as the High Germans say,GANZ FORTRE FLICH;and I could not leave this place without testifying unto you what inward emotions I have undergone during your edifying prelection;and how I am touched to the quick,that I should yesterday,during the refection,have seemed to infringe on the respect due to such a person as yourself."
