castle rackrent-第22章

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'The　balance　has　been　running　on　too　long；'　says　Jason；　sticking　to　him　as　I　could　not　have　done　at　the　time；　if　you'd　have　given　both　the　Indies　and　Cork　to　boot；　'the　balance　has　been　running　on　too　long；　and　I'm　distressed　myself　on　your　account；　Sir　Condy；　for　money；　and　the　thing　must　be　settled　now　on　the　spot；　and　the　balance　cleared　off；'　says　Jason。

'I'll　thank　you　if　you'll　only　show　me　how；'　says　Sir　Condy。

'There's　but　one　way；'　says　Jason；　'and　that's　ready　enough。　When　there's　no　cash；　what　can　a　gentleman　do　but　go　to　the　land？'

'How　can　you　go　to　the　land；　and　it　under　custodiam　to　yourself　already？'　　says　Sir　Condy；　'and　another　custodiam　hanging　over　it？　　And　no　one　at　all　can　touch　it；　you　know；　but　the　custodees。'

'Sure；　can't　you　sell；　though　at　a　loss？　　Sure　you　can　sell；　and　I've　a　purchaser　ready　for　you；'　says　Jason。

'Have　you　so？'　　says　Sir　Condy。　　'That's　a　great　point　gained。　But　there's　a　thing　now　beyond　all；　that　perhaps　you　don't　know　yet；　barring　Thady　has　let　you　into　the　secret。'

'Sarrah　bit　of　a　secret；　or　anything　at　all　of　the　kind；　has　he　learned　from　me　these　fifteen　weeks　come　St。　John's　Eve；'　says　I；　'for　we　have　scarce　been　upon　speaking　terms　of　late。　　But　what　is　it　your　honour　means　of　a　secret？'

'Why；　the　secret　of　the　little　keepsake　I　gave　my　Lady　Rackrent　the　morning　she　left　us；　that　she　might　not　go　back　empty…handed　to　her　friends。'

'My　Lady　Rackrent；　I'm　sure；　has　baubles　and　keepsakes　enough；　as　those　bills　on　the　table　will　show；'　says　Jason；　'but　whatever　it　is；'　says　he；　taking　up　his　pen；　'we　must　add　it　to　the　balance；　for　to　be　sure　it　can't　be　paid　for。'

'No；　nor　can't　till　after　my　decease；'　says　Sir　Condy；　'that's　one　good　thing。'　　Then　colouring　up　a　good　deal；　he　tells　Jason　of　the　memorandum　of　the　five　hundred　a…year　jointure　he　had　settled　upon　my　lady；　at　which　Jason　was　indeed　mad；　and　said　a　great　deal　in　very　high　words；　that　it　was　using　a　gentleman　who　had　the　management　of　his　affairs；　and　was；　moreover；　his　principal　creditor；　extremely　ill　to　do　such　a　thing　without　consulting　him；　and　against　his　knowledge　and　consent。　　To　all　which　Sir　Condy　had　nothing　to　reply；　but　that；　upon　his　conscience；　it　was　in　a　hurry　and　without　a　moment's　thought　on　his　part；　and　he　was　very　sorry　for　it；　but　if　it　was　to　do　over　again　he　would　do　the　same；　and　he　appealed　to　me；　and　I　was　ready　to　give　my　evidence；　if　that　would　do；　to　the　truth　of　all　he　said。

So　Jason　with　much　ado　was　brought　to　agree　to　a　compromise。

'The　purchaser　that　I　have　ready；'　says　he；　'will　be　much　displeased；　to　be　sure；　at　the　encumbrance　on　the　land；　but　I　must　see　and　manage　him。　　Here's　a　deed　ready　drawn　up；　we　have　nothing　to　do　but　to　put　in　the　consideration　money　and　our　names　to　it。'

'And　how　much　am　I　going　to　sell！the　lands　of　O'Shaughlin's　Town；　and　the　lands　of　Gruneaghoolaghan；　and　the　lands　of　Crookagnawaturgh；'　says　he；　just　reading　to　himself。　　'Andoh；　murder；　Jason！　　sure　you　won't　put　this　inthe　castle；　stable；　and　appurtenances　of　Castle　Rackrent？'

'Oh；　murder！'　　says　I；　clapping　my　hands；　'this　is　too　bad；　Jason。'

'Why　so？'　　said　Jason。　　'When　it's　all；　and　a　great　deal　more　to　the　back　of　it；　lawfully　mine；　was　I　to　push　for　it。'

'Look　at　him；'　says　I；　pointing　to　Sir　Condy；　who　was　just　leaning　back　in　his　arm…chair；　with　his　arms　falling　beside　him　like　one　stupefied；　'is　it　you；　Jason；　that　can　stand　in　his　presence；　and　recollect　all　he　has　been　to　us；　and　all　we　have　been　to　him；　and　yet　use　him　so　at　the　last？'

'Who　will　you　find　to　use　him　better；　I　ask　you？'　　said　Jason；　'if　he　can　get　a　better　purchaser；　I'm　content；　I　only　offer　to　purchase；　to　make　things　easy；　and　oblige　him；　though　I　don't　see　what　compliment　I　am　under；　if　you　come　to　that。　　I　have　never　had；　asked；　or　charged　more　than　sixpence　in　the　pound；　receiver's　fees；　and　where　would　he　have　got　an　agent　for　a　penny　less？'

'Oh；　Jason！　　Jason！　　how　will　you　stand　to　this　in　the　face　of　the　county；　and　all　who　know　you？'　says　I；　'and　what　will　people　think　and　say　when　they　see　you　living　here　in　Castle　Rackrent；　and　the　lawful　owner　turned　out　of　the　seat　of　his　ancestors；　without　a　cabin　to　put　his　head　into；　or　so　much　as　a　potato　to　eat？'

Jason；　whilst　I　was　saying　this；　and　a　great　deal　more；　made　me　signs；　and　winks；　and　frowns；　but　I　took　no　heed；　for　I　was　grieved　and　sick　at　heart　for　my　poor　master；　and　couldn't　but　speak。

'Here's　the　punch；'　says　Jason；　for　the　door　opened；　'here's　the　punch！'

Hearing　that；　my　master　starts　up　in　his　chair；　and　recollects　himself；　and　Jason　uncorks　the　whisky。

'Set　down　the　jug　here；'　says　he；　making　room　for　it　beside　the　papers　opposite　to　Sir　Condy；　but　still　not　stirring　the　deed　that　was　to　make　over　all。

Well；　I　was　in　great　hopes　he　had　some　touch　of　mercy　about　him　when　I　saw　him　making　the　punch；　and　my　master　took　a　glass；　but　Jason　put　it　back　as　he　was　going　to　fill　again；　saying：　　'No；　Sir　Condy；　it　shan't　be　said　of　me　I　got　your　signature　to　this　deed　when　you　were　half…seas　over：　you　know　your　name　and　handwriting　in　that　condition　would　not；　if　brought　before　the　courts；　benefit　me　a　straw；　wherefore；　let　us　settle　all　before　we　go　deeper　into　the　punch…bowl。'

'Settle　all　as　you　will；'　said　Sir　Condy；　clapping　his　hands　to　his　ears；　'but　let　me　hear　no　more。　　I'm　bothered　to　death　this　night。'

'You've　only　to　sign；'　said　Jason；　putting　the　pen　to　him。

'Take　all；　and　be　content；'　said　my　master。　　So　he　signed；　and　the　man　who　brought　in　the　punch　witnessed　it；　for　I　was　not　able；　but　crying　like　a　child；　and　besides；　Jason　said；　which　I　was　glad　of；　that　I　was　no　fit　witness；　being　so　old　and　doting。　It　was　so　bad　with　me；　I　could　not　taste　a　drop　of　the　punch　itself；　though　my　master　himself；　God　bless　him！　　in　the　midst　of　his　trouble；　poured　out　a　glass　for　me；　and　brought　it　up　to　my　lips。

'Not　a　drop；　I　thank　your　honour's　honour　as　much　as　if　I　took　it；　though。'　　And　I　just　set　down　the　glass　as　it　was；　and　went　out；　and　when　I　got　to　the　street　door　the　neighbours'　childer；　who　were　playing　at　marbles　there；　seeing　me　in　great　trouble；　left　their　play；　and　gathered　about　me　to　know　what　ailed　me；　and　I　told　them　all；　for　it　was　a　great　relief　to　me　to　speak　to　these　poor　childer；　that　seemed　to　have　some　natural　feeling　left　in　them；　and　when　they　were　made　sensible　that　Sir　Condy　was　going　to　leave　Castle　Rackrent　for　good　and　all；　they　set　up　a　whillaluh　that　could　be　heard　to　the　farthest　end　of　the　street；　and　onefine　boy　he　wasthat　my　master　had　given　an　apple　to　that　morning；　cried　the　loudest；　but　they　all　were　the　same　sorry；　for　Sir　Condy　was　greatly　beloved　amongst　the　childer；　for　letting　them　go　a…nutting　in　the　demesne；　without　saying　a　word　to　them；　though　my　lady　objected　to　them。　　The　people　in　the　town；　who　were　the　most　of　them　standing　at　their　doors；　hearing　the　childer　cry；　would　know　the　reason　of　it；　and　when　the　report　was　made　known；　the　people　one　and　all　gathered　in　great　anger　against　my　son　Jason；　and　terror　at　the　notion　of　his　coming　to　be　landlord　over　them；　and　they　cried；　'No　Jason！　　no　Jason！　　Sir　Condy！　　Sir　Condy！　　Sir　Condy　Rackrent　for　ever！'　　And　the　mob　grew　so　great　and　so　loud；　I　was　frightened；　and　made　my　way　back　to　the　house　to　warn　my　son　to　make　his　escape；　or　hide　himself　for　fear　of　the　consequences。　　Jason　would　not　believe　me　till　they　came　all　round　the　house；　and　to　the　windows　with　great　shouts。　　Then　he　grew　quite　pale；　and　asked　Sir　Condy　what　had　he　best　do？

'I'll　tell　you　what　you　had　best　do；'　said　Sir　Condy；　who　was　laughing　to　see　his　fright；　'finish　your　glass　first；　then　let's　go　to　the　window　and　show　ourselves；　and　I'll　tell　'emor　you　shall；　if　you　pleasethat　I'm　going　to　the　Lodge　for　change　of　air　for　my　health；　and　by　my　own　desire；　for　the　rest　of　my　days。'

'Do　so；'　said　Jason；　who　never　meant　it　should　have　been　so　but　could　not　refuse　him　the　Lodge　at　this　unseasonable　time：　Accordingly；　Sir　Condy　threw　up　the　sash　and　explained　matters；　and　thanked　all　his　friends；　and　bid　them　look　in　at　the　punch…　bowl；　and　observe　that　Jason　and　he　had　been　sitting　over　it　very　good　friends；　s