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bottom。 Once at the bottom I am helpless。'
'And perhaps it is just then that I could step in；' returned the
lawyer。 'Suppose by some contingency； at which I make no guess；
and on which I offer no opinion … '
But here I interrupted him。 'One word ere you go further。 I am
under no parole；' said I。
'I understood so much；' he replied； 'although some of you French
gentry find their word sit lightly on them。'
'Sir； I am not one of those；' said I。
'To do you plain justice； I do not think you one；' said he。
'Suppose yourself； then； set free and at the bottom of the rock；'
he continued； 'although I may not be able to do much； I believe I
can do something to help you on your road。 In the first place I
would carry this； whether in an inside pocket or my shoe。' And he
passed me a bundle of bank notes。
'No harm in that；' said I； at once concealing them。
'In the second place；' he resumed； 'it is a great way from here to
where your uncle lives … Amersham Place； not far from Dunstable；
you have a great part of Britain to get through； and for the first
stages； I must leave you to your own luck and ingenuity。 I have no
acquaintance here in Scotland； or at least' （with a grimace） 'no
dishonest ones。 But further to the south； about Wakefield； I am
told there is a gentleman called Burchell Fenn； who is not so
particular as some others； and might be willing to give you a cast
forward。 In fact； sir； I believe it's the man's trade： a piece of
knowledge that burns my mouth。 But that is what you get by
meddling with rogues； and perhaps the biggest rogue now extant； M。
de Saint…Yves； is your cousin； M。 Alain。'
'If this be a man of my cousin's；' I observed； 'I am perhaps better
to keep clear of him？'
'It was through some paper of your cousin's that we came across his
trail；' replied the lawyer。 'But I am inclined to think； so far as
anything is safe in such a nasty business； you might apply to the
man Fenn。 You might even； I think； use the Viscount's name； and
the little trick of family resemblance might come in。 How； for
instance； if you were to call yourself his brother？'
'It might be done；' said I。 'But look here a moment？ You propose
to me a very difficult game： I have apparently a devil of an
opponent in my cousin； and； being a prisoner of war； I can scarcely
be said to hold good cards。 For what stakes； then； am I playing？'
'They are very large；' said he。 'Your great…uncle is immensely
rich … immensely rich。 He was wise in time； he smelt the
revolution long before； sold all that he could； and had all that
was movable transported to England through my firm。 There are
considerable estates in England； Amersham Place itself is very
fine； and he has much money； wisely invested。 He lives； indeed；
like a prince。 And of what use is it to him？ He has lost all that
was worth living for … his family； his country； he has seen his
king and queen murdered； he has seen all these miseries and
infamies；' pursued the lawyer； with a rising inflection and a
heightening colour； and then broke suddenly off； … 'In short； sir；
he has seen all the advantages of that government for which his
nephew carries arms； and he has the misfortune not to like them。'
'You speak with a bitterness that I suppose I must excuse；' said I；
'yet which of us has the more reason to be bitter？ This man； my
uncle； M。 de Keroual； fled。 My parents； who were less wise
perhaps； remained。 In the beginning； they were even republicans；
to the end they could not be persuaded to despair of the people。
It was a glorious folly； for which； as a son； I reverence them。
First one and then the other perished。 If I have any mark of a
gentleman； all who taught me died upon the scaffold； and my last
school of manners was the prison of the Abbaye。 Do you think you
can teach bitterness to a man with a history like mine？'
'I have no wish to try；' said he。 'And yet there is one point I
cannot understand： I cannot understand that one of your blood and
experience should serve the Corsican。 I cannot understand it： it
seems as though everything generous in you must rise against that …
domination。'
'And perhaps；' I retorted； 'had your childhood passed among wolves；
you would have been overjoyed yourself to see the Corsican
Shepherd。'
'Well； well；' replied Mr。 Romaine； 'it may be。 There are things
that do not bear discussion。'
And with a wave of his hand he disappeared abruptly down a flight
of steps and under the shadow of a ponderous arch。
CHAPTER V … ST。 IVES IS SHOWN A HOUSE
THE lawyer was scarce gone before I remembered many omissions； and
chief among these； that I had neglected to get Mr。 Burchell Fenn's
address。 Here was an essential point neglected； and I ran to the
head of the stairs to find myself already too late。 The lawyer was
beyond my view； in the archway that led downward to the castle
gate； only the red coat and the bright arms of a sentry glittered
in the shadow； and I could but return to my place upon the
ramparts。
I am not very sure that I was properly entitled to this corner。
But I was a high favourite； not an officer； and scarce a private；
in the castle would have turned me back； except upon a thing of
moment； and whenever I desired to be solitary； I was suffered to
sit here behind my piece of cannon unmolested。 The cliff went down
before me almost sheer； but mantled with a thicket of climbing
trees； from farther down； an outwork raised its turret； and across
the valley I had a view of that long terrace of Princes Street
which serves as a promenade to the fashionable inhabitants of
Edinburgh。 A singularity in a military prison； that it should
command a view on the chief thoroughfare！
It is not necessary that I should trouble you with the train of my
reflections； which turned upon the interview I had just concluded
and the hopes that were now opening before me。 What is more
essential； my eye （even while I thought） kept following the
movement of the passengers on Princes Street； as they passed
briskly to and fro … met； greeted； and bowed to each other … or
entered and left the shops； which are in that quarter； and； for a
town of the Britannic provinces； particularly fine。 My mind being
busy upon other things； the course of my eye was the more random；
and it chanced that I followed； for some time； the advance of a
young gentleman with a red head and a white great…coat； for whom I
cared nothing at the moment； and of whom it is probable I shall be
gathered to my fathers without learning more。 He seemed to have a
large acquaintance： his hat was for ever in his hand； and I daresay
I had already observed him exchanging compliments with half a
dozen； when he drew up at last before a young man and a young lady
whose tall persons and gallant carriage I thought I rec