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！
my lord began to abound in matter of offence； Archie drew himself up； his
brow grew dark； his share of the talk expired； but my lord would faithfully
and cheerfully continue to pour out the worst of himself before his silent
and offended son。
〃Well； it's a poor hert that never rejoices！〃 he would say； at the
conclusion of such a nightmare interview。 〃But I must get to my plew…
stilts。〃 And he would seclude himself as usual in his back room； and
20
… Page 21…
Weir of Hermiston
Archie go forth into the night and the city quivering with animosity and
scorn。
21
… Page 22…
Weir of Hermiston
CHAPTER III … IN THE MATTER
OF THE HANGING OF DUNCAN
JOPP
IT chanced in the year 1813 that Archie strayed one day into the
Justiciary Court。 The macer made room for the son of the presiding judge。
In the dock； the centre of men's eyes； there stood a whey… coloured；
misbegotten caitiff； Duncan Jopp； on trial for his life。 His story； as it was
raked out before him in that public scene； was one of disgrace and vice
and cowardice； the very nakedness of crime； and the creature heard and it
seemed at times as though he understood … as if at times he forgot the
horror of the place he stood in； and remembered the shame of what had
brought him there。 He kept his head bowed and his hands clutched upon
the rail； his hair dropped in his eyes and at times he flung it back； and now
he glanced about the audience in a sudden fellness of terror； and now
looked in the face of his judge and gulped。 There was pinned about his
throat a piece of dingy flannel； and this it was perhaps that turned the scale
in Archie's mind between disgust and pity。 The creature stood in a
vanishing point； yet a little while； and he was still a man； and had eyes and
apprehension； yet a little longer； and with a last sordid piece of pageantry；
he would cease to be。 And here； in the meantime； with a trait of human
nature that caught at the beholder's breath； he was tending a sore throat。
Over against him； my Lord Hermiston occupied the bench in the red
robes of criminal jurisdiction； his face framed in the white wig。 Honest all
through； he did not affect the virtue of impartiality； this was no case for
refinement； there was a man to be hanged； he would have said； and he was
hanging him。 Nor was it possible to see his lordship； and acquit him of
gusto in the task。 It was plain he gloried in the exercise of his trained
faculties； in the clear sight which pierced at once into the joint of fact； in
the rude； unvarnished gibes with which he demolished every figment of
defence。 He took his ease and jested； unbending in that solemn place with
22
… Page 23…
Weir of Hermiston
some of the freedom of the tavern； and the rag of man with the flannel
round his neck was hunted gallowsward with jeers。
Duncan had a mistress； scarce less forlorn and greatly older than
himself； who came up； whimpering and curtseying； to add the weight of
her betrayal。 My lord gave her the oath in his most roaring voice； and
added an intolerant warning。
〃Mind what ye say now； Janet；〃 said he。 〃I have an e'e upon ye； I'm ill
to jest with。〃
Presently； after she was tremblingly embarked on her story； 〃And what
made ye do this； ye auld runt？〃 the Court interposed。 〃Do ye mean to tell
me ye was the panel's mistress？〃
〃If you please； ma loard；〃 whined the female。
〃Godsake！ ye made a bonny couple；〃 observed his lordship； and there
was something so formidable and ferocious in his scorn that not even the
galleries thought to laugh。
The summing up contained some jewels。
〃These two peetiable creatures seem to have made up thegither； it's not
for us to explain why。〃 … 〃The panel； who （whatever else he may be）
appears to be equally ill set…out in mind and boady。〃 … 〃Neither the panel
nor yet the old wife appears to have had so much common sense as even
to tell a lie when it was necessary。〃 And in the course of sentencing； my
lord had this OBITER DICTUM： 〃I have been the means； under God； of
haanging a great number； but never just such a disjaskit rascal as
yourself。〃 The words were strong in themselves； the light and heat and
detonation of their delivery； and the savage pleasure of the speaker in his
task； made them tingle in the ears。
When all was over； Archie came forth again into a changed world。 Had
there been the least redeeming greatness in the crime； any obscurity； any
dubiety； perhaps he might have understood。 But the culprit stood； with his
sore throat； in the sweat of his mortal agony； without defence or excuse： a
thing to cover up with blushes： a being so much sunk beneath the zones of
sympathy that pity might seem harmless。 And the judge had pursued him
with a monstrous； relishing gaiety； horrible to be conceived； a trait for
nightmares。 It is one thing to spear a tiger； another to crush a toad； there
23
… Page 24…
Weir of Hermiston
are aesthetics even of the slaughter… house； and the loathsomeness of
Duncan Jopp enveloped and infected the image of his judge。
Archie passed by his friends in the High Street with incoherent words
and gestures。 He saw Holyrood in a dream； remembrance of its romance
awoke in him and faded； he had a vision of the old radiant stories； of
Queen Mary and Prince Charlie； of the hooded stag； of the splendour and
crime； the velvet and bright iron of the past； and dismissed them with a cry
of pain。 He lay and moaned in the Hunter's Bog； and the heavens were
dark above him and the grass of the field an offence。 〃This is my father；〃
he said。 〃I draw my life from him； the flesh upon my bones is his； the
bread I am fed with is the wages of these horrors。〃 He recalled his mother；
and ground his forehead in the earth。 He thought of flight； and where was
he to flee to？ of other lives； but was there any life worth living in this den
of savage and jeering animals？
The interval before the execut