Guy Mannering [214]
is next to be done?"
"We must get hold of Mac-Morlan, and look out for more proof."
"Proof!" said the Colonel, "the thing is as clear as daylight; here are Mr. Sampson and Miss Bertram, and you yourself, at once recognise the young gentleman as his father's image; and he himself recollects all the very peculiar circumstances preceding his leaving this country--What else is necessary to conviction?"
"To moral conviction nothing more, perhaps," said the experienced lawyer, "but for legal proof a great deal. Mr. Bertram's recollections are his own recollections merely, and therefore are not evidence in his own favour; Miss Bertram, the learned Mr. Sampson, and I, can only say, what every one who knew the late Ellangowan will readily agree in, that this gentleman is his very picture--But that will not make him Ellangowan's son, and give him the estate."
"And what will do so?" said the Colonel.
"Why, we must have a distinct probation. There are these gipsies,--but then, alas! they are almost infamous in the eye of law--scarce capable of bearing evidence, and Meg Merrilies utterly so, by the various accounts which she formerly gave of the matter, and her impudent denial of all knowledge of the fact when I myself examined her respecting it."
"What must be done then?" asked Mannering.
"We must try," answered the legal sage, "what proof can be got at in Holland, among the persons by whom our young friend was educated.--But then the fear of being called in question for the murder of the gauger may make them silent; or if they speak, they are either foreigners, or outlawed smugglers. In short, I see doubts."
"Under favour, most learned and honoured sir," said the Dominie, "I trust HE, who hath restored little Harry Bertram to his friends, will not leave His own work imperfect."
"I trust so too, Mr. Sampson," said Pleydell; "but we must use the means; and I am afraid we shall have more difficulty in procuring them than I at first thought.--But a faint heart never won a fair lady--and, by the way (apart to Miss Mannering, while Bertram was engaged with his sister), there's a vindication of Holland for you! what smart fellows do you think Leyden and Utrecht must send forth, when such a very genteel and handsome young man comes from the paltry schools of Middleburgh?"
"Of a verity," said the Dominie, jealous of the reputation of the Dutch seminary,--"of a verity, Mr. Pleydell, but I make it known to you that I myself laid the foundation of his education."
"True, my dear Dominie," answered the advocate, "that accounts for his proficiency in the graces, without question--but here comes your carriage, Colonel. Adieu, young folks: Miss Julia, keep your heart till I come back again--let there be nothing done to prejudice my right, whilst I am non volens agere."
Their reception at Hazlewood House was more cold and formal than usual; for in general the Baronet expressed great respect for Colonel Mannering, and Mr. Pleydell, besides being a man of good family and of high general estimation, was Sir Robert's old friend. But now he seemed dry and embarrassed in his manner. "He would willingly," he said, "receive bail, notwithstanding that the offence had been directly perpetrated, committed, and done, against young Hazlewood of Hazlewood; but the young man had given himself a fictitious description, and was altogether that sort of person, who should not be liberated, discharged, or let loose upon society; and therefore--"
"I hope, Sir Robert Hazlewood," said the Colonel, you do not mean to doubt my word, when I assure you that he served under me as a cadet in India?"
"By no means or account whatsoever. But you call him a cadet; now he says, avers, and upholds, that he was a captain, or held a troop in your regiment."
"He was promoted since I gave up the command."
"But you must have heard of it?"
"No. I returned on account of family circumstances from India, and have not since been solicitous to hear particular news from the regiment; the name of Brown, too, is so common, that I might have seen his
"We must get hold of Mac-Morlan, and look out for more proof."
"Proof!" said the Colonel, "the thing is as clear as daylight; here are Mr. Sampson and Miss Bertram, and you yourself, at once recognise the young gentleman as his father's image; and he himself recollects all the very peculiar circumstances preceding his leaving this country--What else is necessary to conviction?"
"To moral conviction nothing more, perhaps," said the experienced lawyer, "but for legal proof a great deal. Mr. Bertram's recollections are his own recollections merely, and therefore are not evidence in his own favour; Miss Bertram, the learned Mr. Sampson, and I, can only say, what every one who knew the late Ellangowan will readily agree in, that this gentleman is his very picture--But that will not make him Ellangowan's son, and give him the estate."
"And what will do so?" said the Colonel.
"Why, we must have a distinct probation. There are these gipsies,--but then, alas! they are almost infamous in the eye of law--scarce capable of bearing evidence, and Meg Merrilies utterly so, by the various accounts which she formerly gave of the matter, and her impudent denial of all knowledge of the fact when I myself examined her respecting it."
"What must be done then?" asked Mannering.
"We must try," answered the legal sage, "what proof can be got at in Holland, among the persons by whom our young friend was educated.--But then the fear of being called in question for the murder of the gauger may make them silent; or if they speak, they are either foreigners, or outlawed smugglers. In short, I see doubts."
"Under favour, most learned and honoured sir," said the Dominie, "I trust HE, who hath restored little Harry Bertram to his friends, will not leave His own work imperfect."
"I trust so too, Mr. Sampson," said Pleydell; "but we must use the means; and I am afraid we shall have more difficulty in procuring them than I at first thought.--But a faint heart never won a fair lady--and, by the way (apart to Miss Mannering, while Bertram was engaged with his sister), there's a vindication of Holland for you! what smart fellows do you think Leyden and Utrecht must send forth, when such a very genteel and handsome young man comes from the paltry schools of Middleburgh?"
"Of a verity," said the Dominie, jealous of the reputation of the Dutch seminary,--"of a verity, Mr. Pleydell, but I make it known to you that I myself laid the foundation of his education."
"True, my dear Dominie," answered the advocate, "that accounts for his proficiency in the graces, without question--but here comes your carriage, Colonel. Adieu, young folks: Miss Julia, keep your heart till I come back again--let there be nothing done to prejudice my right, whilst I am non volens agere."
Their reception at Hazlewood House was more cold and formal than usual; for in general the Baronet expressed great respect for Colonel Mannering, and Mr. Pleydell, besides being a man of good family and of high general estimation, was Sir Robert's old friend. But now he seemed dry and embarrassed in his manner. "He would willingly," he said, "receive bail, notwithstanding that the offence had been directly perpetrated, committed, and done, against young Hazlewood of Hazlewood; but the young man had given himself a fictitious description, and was altogether that sort of person, who should not be liberated, discharged, or let loose upon society; and therefore--"
"I hope, Sir Robert Hazlewood," said the Colonel, you do not mean to doubt my word, when I assure you that he served under me as a cadet in India?"
"By no means or account whatsoever. But you call him a cadet; now he says, avers, and upholds, that he was a captain, or held a troop in your regiment."
"He was promoted since I gave up the command."
"But you must have heard of it?"
"No. I returned on account of family circumstances from India, and have not since been solicitous to hear particular news from the regiment; the name of Brown, too, is so common, that I might have seen his