WhileDalgettyranoninthisway,histeethkepttimewithhistongue,andhespeedilyfinishedtheprovisionswhichthebenevolenceorindifferenceofhiscompanioninmisfortunehadabandonedtohisvoracity。Whenthistaskwasaccomplished,hewrappedhimselfinhiscloak,andseatinghimselfinacornerofthedungeoninwhichhecouldobtainasupportoneachside（forhehadalwaysbeenanadmirerofelbow—chairs,heremarked,evenfromhisyouthupward）,hebegantoquestionhisfellow—captive。
　　"Minehonestfriend,"saidhe,"youandI,beingcomradesatbedandboard,shouldbebetteracquainted。IamDugaldDalgettyofDrumthwacket,andsoforth,MajorinaregimentofloyalIrishes,andEnvoyExtraordinaryofaHighandMightyLord,JamesEarlofMontrose。——Pray,whatmayyournamebe？"
　　"Itwillavailyoulittletoknow,"repliedhismoretaciturncompanion。
　　"Letmejudgeofthatmatter,"answeredthesoldier。
　　"Well,then——RanaldMacEaghismyname——thatis,RanaldSonoftheMist。"
　　"SonoftheMist！"ejaculatedDalgetty。"Sonofutterdarkness,sayI。But,Ranald,sincethatisyourname,howcameyouinpossessionoftheprovost'scourtofguard？whatthedevilbroughtyouhere,thatistosay？"
　　"Mymisfortunesandmycrimes,"answeredRanald。"KnowyetheKnightofArdenvohr？"
　　"Idoknowthathonourableperson,"repliedDalgetty。
　　"Butknowyewherehenowis？"repliedRanald。
　　"FastingthisdayatArdenvohr,"answeredtheEnvoy,"thathemayfeastto—morrowatInverary;inwhichlastpurposeifhechancetofail,myleaseofhumanservicewillbesomethingprecarious。"
　　"Thenlethimknow,oneclaimshisintercession,whoishisworstfoeandhisbestfriend,"answeredRanald。
　　"TrulyIshalldesiretocarryalessquestionablemessage,"
　　answeredDalgetty,"SirDuncanisnotapersontoplayatreadingriddleswith。"
　　"CravenSaxon,"saidtheprisoner,"tellhimIamtheraventhat,fifteenyearssince,stoopedonhistowerofstrengthandthepledgeshehadleftthere——Iamthehunterthatfoundoutthewolfsdenontherock,anddestroyedhisoffspring——IamtheleaderofthebandwhichsurprisedArdenvohryesterdaywasfifteenyears,andgavehisfourchildrentothesword。"
　　"Truly,myhonestfriend,"saidDalgetty,"ifthatisyourbestrecommendationtoSirDuncan'sfavour,Iwouldpretermitmypleadingthereupon,inrespectIhaveobservedthateventheanimalcreationareincensedagainstthosewhointromitwiththeiroffspringforcibly,muchmoreanyrationalandChristiancreatures,whohavehadviolencedoneupontheirsmallfamily。
　　ButIprayyouincourtesytotellme,whetheryouassailedthecastlefromthehillockcalledDrumsnab,whilkIupholdtobethetruepointofattack,unlessitweretobeprotectedbyasconce。"
　　"Weascendedthecliffbyladdersofwithiesorsaplings,"saidtheprisoner,"drawnupbyanaccompliceandclansman,whohadservedsixmonthsinthecastletoenjoythatonenightofunlimitedvengeance。Theowlwhoopedaroundusaswehungbetwixtheavenandearth;thetideroaredagainstthefootoftherock,anddashedasunderourskiff。yetnoman'sheartfailedhim。Inthemorningtherewasbloodandashes,wheretherehadbeenpeaceandjoyatthesunset。"
　　"Itwasaprettycamisade,Idoubtnot,RanaldMacEagh,averysufficientonslaught,andnotunworthilydischarged。
　　Nevertheless,IwouldhavepressedthehousefromthatlittlehillockcalledDrumsnab。ButyoursisaprettyirregularScythianfashionofwarfare,Ranald,muchresemblingthatofTurks,Tartars,andotherAsiaticpeople。——Butthereason,myfriend,thecauseofthiswar——theTETERRIMACAUSA,asImaysay？
　　Delivermethat,Ranald。"
　　"WehadbeenpushedatbytheM'Aulays,andotherwesterntribes,"saidRanald,"tillourpossessionsbecameunsafeforus。"
　　"Ahha！"saidDalgetty;"Ihavefaintremembranceofhavingheardofthatmatter。Didyounotputbreadandcheeseintoaman'smouth,whenhehadneverastomachwhereuntototransmitthesame？"
　　"Youhaveheard,then,"saidRanald,"thetaleofourrevengeonthehaughtyforester？"
　　"IbethinkmethatIhave,"saidDalgetty,"andthatnotofanolddate。Itwasamerryjestthat,ofcrammingthebreadintothedeadman'smouth,butsomewhattoowildandsalvageforcivilizedacceptation,besideswastingthegoodvictuals。Ihaveseenwhenatasiegeoraleaguer,Ranald,alivingsoldierwouldhavebeenthebetter,Ranald,forthatcrustofbread,whilkyouthrewawayonadeadpow。"
　　"WewereattackedbySirDuncan,"continuedMacEagh,"andmybrotherwasslain——hisheadwaswitheringonthebattlementswhichwescaled——Ivowedrevenge,anditisavowIhaveneverbroken。"
　　"Itmaybeso,"saidDalgetty;"andeverythorough—bredsoldierwillconfessthatrevengeisasweetmorsel;butinwhatmannerthisstorywillinterestSirDuncaninyourjustification,unlessitshouldmovehimtointercedewiththeMarquistochangethemannerthereoffromhanging,orsimplesuspension,tobreakingyourlimbsontheroueorwheel,withthecoulterofaplough,orotherwiseputtingyoutodeathbytorture,surpassesmycomprehension。WereIyou,Ranald,IwouldbeformiskenningSirDuncan,keepingmyownsecret,anddepartingquietlybysuffocation,likeyourancestorsbeforeyou。"
　　"Yethearken,stranger,"saidtheHighlander。"SirDuncanofArdenvohrhadfourchildren。Threediedunderourdirks,butthefourthsurvives;andmorewouldhegivetodandleonhiskneethefourthchildwhichremains,thantoracktheseoldbones,whichcarelittlefortheutmostindulgenceofhiswrath。Oneword,ifIlisttospeakit,couldturnhisdayofhumiliationandfastingintoadayofthankfulnessandrejoicing,andbreakingofbread。
　　O,Iknowitbymyownheart？DearertomeisthechildKenneth,whochaseththebutterflyonthebanksoftheAven,thantensonswhoaremoulderinginearth,orarepreyedonbythefowlsoftheair。"
　　"Ipresume,Ranald,"continuedDalgetty,"thatthethreeprettyfellowswhomIsawyonderinthemarket—place,strungupbytheheadlikerizzer'dhaddocks,claimedsomeinterestinyou？"
　　TherewasabriefpauseeretheHighlanderreplied,inatoneofstrongemotion,——"Theyweremysons,stranger——theyweremysons！——bloodofmyblood——boneofmybone！——fleetoffoot——
　　unerringinaim——unvanquishedbyfoementillthesonsofDiarmidovercamethembynumbers！WhydoIwishtosurvivethem？Theoldtrunkwilllessfeeltherendingupofitsroots,thanithasfelttheloppingoffofitsgracefulboughs。ButKennethmustbetrainedtorevenge——theyoungeaglemustlearnfromtheoldhowtostooponhisfoes。Iwillpurchaseforhissakemylifeandmyfreedom,bydiscoveringmysecrettotheKnightofArdenvohr。"
　　"Youmayattainyourendmoreeasily,"saidathirdvoice,minglingintheconference,"byentrustingittome。"
　　AllHighlandersaresuperstitious。"TheEnemyofMankindisamongus！"saidRanaldMacEagh,springingtohisfeet。Hischainsclatteredasherose,whilehedrewhimselfasfarastheypermittedfromthequarterwhencethevoiceappearedtoproceed。
　　HisfearinsomedegreecommunicateditselftoCaptainDalgetty,whobegantorepeat,inasortofpolyglotgibberish,alltheexorcismshehadeverheardof,withoutbeingabletoremembermorethanawordortwoofeach。
　　"INNOMINEDOMINI,aswesaidatMareschal—College——SANTISSMA
　　MADREDIDIOS,astheSpaniardhasit——ALLEGUTENGEISTERLOBEN
　　DENHERRN,saiththeblessedPsalmist,inDr。Luther'stranslation——"
　　"Atrucewithyourexorcisms,"saidthevoicetheyhadheardbefore;"thoughIcomestrangelyamongyou,Iammortallikeyourselves,andmyassistancemayavailyouinyourpresentstreight,ifyouarenottooproudtobecounselled。"
　　Whilethestrangerthusspoke,hewithdrewtheshadeofadarklantern,bywhosefeeblelightDalgettycouldonlydiscernthatthespeakerwhohadthusmysteriouslyunitedhimselftotheircompany,andmixedintheirconversation,wasatallman,dressedinaliverycloakoftheMarquis。Hisfirstglancewastohisfeet,buthesawneithertheclovenfootwhichScottishlegendsassigntothefoulfiend,northehorse'shoofbywhichheisdistinguishedinGermany。Hisfirstenquirywas,howthestrangerhadcomeamongthem？
　　"For,"saidhe,"thecreakoftheserustybarswouldhavebeenheardhadthedoorbeenmadepatent;andifyoupassedthroughthekeyhole,truly,sir,putwhatfaceyouwillonit,youarenotfittobeenrolledinaregimentoflivingmen。"
　　"Ireservemysecret,"answeredthestranger,"untilyoushallmeritthediscoverybycommunicatingtomesomeofyours。ItmaybethatIshallbemovedtoletyououtwhereImyselfcamein。"
　　"Itcannotbethroughthekeyhole,then,"saidCaptainDalgetty,"formycorsletwouldstickinthepassage,wereitpossiblethatmyhead—piececouldgetthrough。Asforsecrets,Ihavenoneofmyown,andbutfewappertainingtoothers。Butimparttouswhatsecretsyoudesiretoknow;or,asProfessorSnufflegreekusedtosayattheMareschal—College,Aberdeen,speakthatImayknowthee。"
　　"ItisnotwithyouIhavefirsttodo,"repliedthestranger,turninghislightfullonthemildandwastedfeatures,andthelargelimbsoftheHighlander,RanaldMacEagh,who,closedrawnupagainstthewallsofthedungeon,seemedyetuncertainwhetherhisguestwasalivingbeing。
　　"Ihavebroughtyousomething,myfriend,"saidthestranger,inamoresoothingtone,"tomendyourfare;ifyouaretodieto—
　　morrow,itisnoreasonwhereforeyoushouldnotliveto—night。"
　　"Noneatall——noreasoninthecreation,"repliedthereadyCaptainDalgetty,whoforthwithbegantounpackthecontentsofasmallbasketwhichthestrangerhadbroughtunderhiscloak,whiletheHighlander,eitherinsuspicionordisdain,paidnoattentiontothegoodcheer。
　　"Here'stothee,myfriend,"saidtheCaptain,who,havingalreadydispatchedahugepieceofroastedkid,wasnowtakingapullatthewine—flask。"Whatisthyname,mygoodfriend？"
　　"MurdochCampbell,sir,"answeredtheservant,"alackeyoftheMarquisofArgyle,andoccasionallyactingasunder—warden。"
　　"Thenhereistotheeoncemore,Murdoch,"saidDalgetty,"drinkingtoyoubyyourpropernameforthebetterlucksake。
　　ThiswineItaketobeCalcavella。Well,honestMurdoch,Itakeitonmetosay,thoudeservesttobeupper—warden,sincethoushowestthyselftwentytimesbetteracquaintedwiththewayofvictuallinghonestgentlementhatareundermisfortune,thanthyprincipal。Breadandwater？outuponhim！Itwasenough,Murdoch,todestroythecreditoftheMarquis'sdungeon。ButI
　　seeyouwouldconversewithmyfriend,RanaldMacEaghhere。Nevermindmypresence;I'llgetmeintothiscornerwiththebasket,andIwillwarrantmyjawsmakenoiseenoughtopreventmyearsfromhearingyou。"
　　Notwithstandingthispromise,however,theveteranlistenedwithalltheattentionhecouldtogathertheirdiscourse,or,ashedescribedithimself,"laidhisearsbackinhisneck,likeGustavus,whenheheardthekeyturninthegirnell—kist。"Hecould,therefore,owingtothenarrownessofthedungeon,easilyoverhearthefollowingdialogue。
　　"Areyouaware,SonoftheMist,"saidtheCampbell,"thatyouwillneverleavethisplaceexceptingforthegibbet？"
　　"Thosewhoaredearesttome,"answeredMacEagh,"havetrodethatpathbeforeme。"
　　"Thenyouwoulddonothing,"askedthevisitor,"toshunfollowingthem？"
　　Theprisonerwrithedhimselfinhischainsbeforereturningananswer。
　　"Iwoulddomuch,"atlengthhesaid;"notformyownlife,butforthesakeofthepledgeintheglenofStrath—Aven。"
　　"Andwhatwouldyoudototurnawaythebitternessofthehour？"
　　againdemandedMurdoch;"Icarenotforwhatcauseyemeantoshunit。"
　　"Iwoulddowhatamanmightdo,andstillcallhimselfaman。"
　　"Doyoucallyourselfaman,"saidtheinterrogator,"whohavedonethedeedsofawolf？"
　　"Ido,"answeredtheoutlaw;"Iamamanlikemyforefathers——
　　whilewraptinthemantleofpeace,wewerelambs——itwasrentfromus,andyenowcalluswolves。Giveusthehutsyehaveburned,ourchildrenwhomyehavemurdered,ourwidowswhomyehavestarved——collectfromthegibbetandthepolethemangledcarcasses,andwhitenedskullsofourkinsmen——bidthemliveandblessus,andwewillbeyourvassalsandbrothers——tillthen,letdeath,andblood,andmutualwrong,drawadarkveilofdivisionbetweenus。"
　　"Youwillthendonothingforyourliberty,"saidtheCampbell。
　　"Anything——butcallmyselfthefriendofyourtribe,"answeredMacEagh。
　　"Wescornthefriendshipofbandittiandcaterans,"retortedMurdoch,"andwouldnotstooptoacceptit。——WhatIdemandtoknowfromyou,inexchangeforyourliberty,is,wherethedaughterandheiressoftheKnightofArdenvohrisnowtobefound？"
　　"Thatyoumaywedhertosomebeggarlykinsmanofyourgreatmaster,"saidRanald,"afterthefashionoftheChildrenofDiarmid！DoesnotthevalleyofGlenorquhy,tothisveryhour,cryshameontheviolenceofferedtoahelplessinfantwhomherkinsmenwereconveyingtothecourtoftheSovereign？Werenotherescortcompelledtohideherbeneathacauldron,roundwhichtheyfoughttillnotoneremainedtotellthetale？andwasnotthegirlbroughttothisfatalcastle,andafterwardsweddedtothebrotherofM'CallumMore,andallforthesakeofherbroadlands？"[SuchastoryistoldoftheheiressoftheclanofCalder,whowasmadeprisonerinthemannerdescribed,andafterwardsweddedtoSirDuncanCampbell,fromwhichuniontheCampbellsofCawdorhavetheirdescent。]
　　"Andifthetalebetrue,"saidMurdoch,"shehadaprefermentbeyondwhattheKingofScotswouldhaveconferredonher。Butthisisfarfromthepurpose。ThedaughterofSirDuncanofArdenvohrisofourownblood,notastranger;andwhohassogoodarighttoknowherfateasM'CallumMore,thechiefofherclan？"
　　"Itisonhispart,then,thatyoudemandit！"saidtheoutlaw。
　　ThedomesticoftheMarquisassented。
　　"Andyouwillpractisenoevilagainstthemaiden？——Ihavedoneherwrongenoughalready。"
　　"Noevil,uponthewordofaChristianman,"repliedMurdoch。
　　"Andmyguerdonistobelifeandliberty？"saidtheChildoftheMist。
　　"Suchisourpaction,"repliedtheCampbell。
　　"Thenknow,thatthechildwhomIsavedourofcompassionatthespoilingofherfather'stowerofstrength,wasbredasanadopteddaughterofourtribe,untilwewereworstedatthepassofBallenduthil,bythefiendincarnateandmortalenemyofourtribe,AllanM'AulayoftheBloodyhand,andbythehorsemenofLennox,undertheheirofMenteith。"
　　"FellsheintothepowerofAllanoftheBloodyhand,"saidMurdoch,"andsheareputeddaughterofthytribe？Thenherbloodhasgildedthedirk,andthouhastsaidnothingtorescuethineownforfeitedlife。"
　　"Ifmyliferestonhers,"answeredtheoutlaw,"itissecure,forshestillsurvives;butithasamoreinsecurereliance——thefrailpromiseofasonofDiarmid。"
　　"Thatpromiseshallnotfailyou,"saidtheCampbell,"ifyoucanassuremethatshesurvives,andwheresheistobefound。"
　　"IntheCastleofDarlinvarach,"saidRanaldMacEagh,"underthenameofAnnotLyle。Ihaveoftenheardofherfrommykinsmen,whohaveagainapproachedtheirnativewoods,anditisnotlongsincemineoldeyesbeheldher。"
　　"You！"saidMurdoch,inastonishment,"you,achiefamongtheChildrenoftheMist,andventuredsonearyourmortalfoe？"
　　"SonofDiarmid,Ididmore,"repliedtheoutlaw;"Iwasinthehallofthecastle,disguisedasaharperfromthewildshoresofSkianach。MypurposewastohaveplungedmydirkinthebodyoftheM'AulaywiththeBloodyhand,beforewhomourracetrembles,andtohavetakenthereafterwhatfateGodshouldsendme。ButI
　　sawAnnotLyle,evenwhenmyhandwasonthehiltofmydagger。
　　Shetouchedherclairshach[Harp]toasongoftheChildrenoftheMist,whichshehadlearnedwhenherdwellingwasamongstus。
　　Thewoodsinwhichwehaddweltpleasantly,rustledtheirgreenleavesinthesong,andourstreamsweretherewiththesoundofalltheirwaters。Myhandforsookthedagger;thefountainsofmineeyeswereopened,andthehourofrevengepassedaway。——Andnow,SonofDiarmid,haveInotpaidtheransomofmyhead？"
　　"Ay,"repliedMurdoch,"ifyourtalebetrue;butwhatproofcanyouassignforit？"
　　"Bearwitness,heavenandearth,"exclaimedtheoutlaw,"healreadylookshowhemaystepoverhisword！"
　　"Notso,"repliedMurdoch;"everypromiseshallbekepttoyouwhenIamassuredyouhavetoldmethetruth。——ButImustspeakafewwordswithyourcompanionincaptivity。"
　　"Fairandfalse——everfairandfalse,"mutteredtheprisoner,ashethrewhimselfoncemoreonthefloorofhisdungeon。
　　Meanwhile,CaptainDalgetty,whohadattendedtoeverywordofthisdialogue,wasmakinghisownremarksonitinprivate。
　　"WhattheHENKERcanthisslyfellowhavetosaytome？Ihavenochild,eitherofmyown,sofarasIknow,orofanyotherperson,totellhimataleabout。Butlethimcomeon——hewillhavesomemanoeuvringereheturntheflankoftheoldsoldier。"
　　Accordingly,asifhehadstoodpikeinhandtodefendabreach,hewaitedwithcaution,butwithoutfear,thecommencementoftheattack。
　　"Youareacitizenoftheworld,CaptainDalgetty,"saidMurdochCampbell,"andcannotbeignorantofouroldScotchproverb,GIF—
　　GAF,[InoldEnglish,KAMEKATHEE,i。e。mutuallyservingeachother。]whichgoesthroughallnationsandallservices。"
　　"ThenIshouldknowsomethingofit,"saidDalgetty;"for,excepttheTurks,therearefewpowersinEuropewhomIhavenotserved;
　　andIhavesometimesthoughtoftakingaturneitherwithBethlemGabor,orwiththeJanizaries。"
　　"Amanofyourexperienceandunprejudicedideas,then,willunderstandmeatonce,"saidMurdoch,"whenIsay,Imeanthatyourfreedomshalldependonyourtrueanduprightanswertoafewtriflingquestionsrespectingthegentlemenyouhaveleft;
　　theirstateofpreparation;thenumberoftheirmen,andnatureoftheirappointments;andasmuchasyouchancetoknowabouttheirplanofoperations。"
　　"Justtosatisfyyourcuriosity,"saidDalgetty,"andwithoutanyfartherpurpose？"
　　"Noneintheworld,"repliedMurdoch;"whatinterestshouldapoordevillikemetakeintheiroperations？"
　　"Makeyourinterrogations,then,"saidtheCaptain,"andIwillanswerthemPREREMTORIE。"
　　"HowmanyIrishmaybeontheirmarchtojoinJamesGrahamthedelinquent？"
　　"Probablytenthousand,"saidCaptainDalgetty。
　　"Tenthousand！"repliedMurdochangrily;"weknowthatscarcetwothousandlandedatArdnamurchan。"
　　"ThenyouknowmoreaboutthemthanIdo,"answeredCaptainDalgetty,withgreatcomposure。"Ineversawthemmusteredyet,orevenunderarms。"
　　"Andhowmanymenoftheclansmaybeexpected？"demandedMurdoch。
　　"Asmanyastheycanmake,"repliedtheCaptain。
　　"Youareansweringfromthepurpose,sir,"saidMurdoch"speakplainly,willtherebefivethousandmen？"
　　"Thereandthereabouts,"answeredDalgetty。
　　"Youareplayingwithyourlife,sir,ifyoutriflewithme,"
　　repliedthecatechist;"onewhistleofmine,andinlessthantenminutesyourheadhangsonthedrawbridge。"
　　"Buttospeakcandidly,Mr。Murdoch,"repliedtheCaptain"doyouthinkitisareasonablethingtoaskmeafterthesecretsofourarmy,andIengagedtoserveforthewholecampaign？IfItaughtyouhowtodefeatMontrose,whatbecomesofmypay,arrears,andchanceofbooty？"
　　"Itellyou,"saidCampbell,"thatifyoubestubborn,yourcampaignshallbeginandendinamarchtotheblockatthecastle—gate,whichstandsreadyforsuchland—laufers;butifyouanswermyquestionsfaithfully,Iwillreceiveyouintomy——intotheserviceofM'CallumMore。"
　　"Doestheserviceaffordgoodpay？"saidCaptainDalgetty。
　　"Hewilldoubleyours,ifyouwillreturntoMontroseandactunderhisdirection。"
　　"IwishIhadseenyou,sir,beforetakingonwithhim,"saidDalgetty,appearingtomeditate。
　　"Onthecontrary,Icanaffordyoumoreadvantageoustermsnow,"
　　saidtheCampbell;"alwayssupposingthatyouarefaithful。"
　　"Faithful,thatis,toyou,andatraitortoMontrose,"answeredtheCaptain。
　　"Faithfultothecauseofreligionandgoodorder,"answeredMurdoch,"whichsanctifiesanydeceptionyoumayemploytoserveit。"
　　"AndtheMarquisofArgyle——shouldIinclinetoenterhisservice,isheakindmaster？"demandedDalgetty。
　　"Nevermankinder,"quothCampbell。
　　"Andbountifultohisofficers？"pursuedtheCaptain。
　　"ThemostopenhandinScotland,"repliedMurdoch。
　　"Trueandfaithfultohisengagements？"continuedDalgetty。
　　"Ashonourableanoblemanasbreathes,"saidtheclansman。
　　"Ineverheardsomuchgoodofhimbefore,"saidDalgetty;"youmustknowtheMarquiswell,——orratheryoumustbetheMarquishimself！——LordofArgyle,"headded,throwinghimselfsuddenlyonthedisguisednobleman,"IarrestyouinthenameofKingCharles,asatraitor。Ifyouventuretocallforassistance,I
　　willwrenchroundyourneck。"
　　TheattackwhichDalgettymadeuponArgyle'spersonwassosuddenandunexpected,thatheeasilyprostratedhimonthefloorofthedungeon,andheldhimdownwithonehand,whilehisright,graspingtheMarquis'sthroat,wasreadytostranglehimontheslightestattempttocallforassistance。
　　"LordofArgyle,"hesaid,"itisnowmyturntolaydownthetermsofcapitulation。Ifyoulisttoshowmetheprivatewaybywhichyouenteredthedungeon,youshallescape,onconditionofbeingmyLOCUMTENENS,aswesaidattheMareschal—College,untilyourwardervisitshisprisoners。Butifnot,Iwillfirststrangleyou——IlearnedtheartfromaPolonianheyduck,whohadbeenaslaveintheOttomanseraglio——andthenseekoutamodeofretreat。"
　　"Villain！youwouldnotmurdermeformykindness,"murmuredArgyle。
　　"Notforyourkindness,mylord,"repliedDalgetty:"butfirst,toteachyourlordshiptheJUSGENTIUMtowardscavalierswhocometoyouundersafe—conduct;andsecondly,towarnyouofthedangerofproposingdishonourabletermstoanyworthysoldado,inordertotempthimtobecomefalsetohisstandardduringthetermofhisservice。"
　　"Sparemylife,"saidArgyle,"andIwilldoasyourequire。"
　　DalgettymaintainedhisgripeupontheMarquis'sthroat,compressingitalittlewhileheaskedquestions,andrelaxingitsofarastogivehimthepowerofansweringthem。
　　"Whereisthesecretdoorintothedungeon？"hedemanded。
　　"Holdupthelanterntothecorneronyourrighthand,youwilldiscerntheironwhichcoversthespring,"repliedtheMarquis。
　　"Sofarsogood。——Wheredoesthepassageleadto？"
　　"Tomyprivateapartmentbehindthetapestry,"answeredtheprostratenobleman。
　　"FromthencehowshallIreachthegateway？"
　　"Throughthegrandgallery,theanteroom,thelackeys'waitinghall,thegrandguardroom——"
　　"Allcrowdedwithsoldiers,factionaries,andattendants？——thatwillneverdoforme,mylord;——haveyounosecretpassagetothegate,asyouhavetoyourdungeons？IhaveseensuchinGermany。"
　　"Thereisapassagethroughthechapel,"saidtheMarquis,"openingfrommyapartment。"
　　"Andwhatisthepass—wordatthegate？"
　　"TheswordofLevi,"repliedtheMarquis;"butifyouwillreceivemypledgeofhonour,Iwillgowithyou,escortyouthrougheveryguard,andsetyouatfulllibertywithapassport。"
　　"Imighttrustyou,mylord,wereyourthroatnotalreadyblackwiththegraspofmyfingers——asitis,BESOLOSMANOSAUSTED,astheSpaniardsays。Yetyoumaygrantmeapassport;——aretherewritingmaterialsinyourapartment？"
　　"Surely;andblankpassportsreadytobesigned。Iwillattendyouthere,"saidtheMarquis,"instantly。"
　　"Itweretoomuchhonourforthelikeofme,"saidDalgetty;
　　"yourlordshipshallremainunderchargeofminehonestfriendRanaldMacEagh;therefore,pritheeletmedragyouwithinreachofhischain。——HonestRanald,youseehowmattersstandwithus。
　　Ishallfindthemeans,Idoubtnot,ofsettingyouatfreedom。