The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900 ... - Gredos

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
"No, Mr. Renshaw," responded Simon sternly, "I have not brought her home. For the
rest, you will hear it all, no doubt, in good time. Has not Mr. Charnock told you how
matters stand?"
"I have not seen Mr. Charnock since yesterday' afternoon," responded the other; "he was
then in such a state of mind between wrath and grief that I was obliged to send Mr.
Richmond to cup him. He told me some queer things, I must own, being ready to blab
anything in his angry mood. Now I understand, Master Simon, your motive in making
what I took to be such a one-sided treaty with the Squire. Faith, you fly high, young
man, but apparently you do not fly far."
The lawyer paused to cackle drily at his own joke, and then continued:
"When you did take wing, I wonder you did not make more speed. The Squire, poor
man, was too much undone to fly after you; but he informed me that, on his nephew's
arrival, he at once despatched him in pursuit of you. Did he then come up with you?"
"Yes," said Simon, "and carried his cousin with him to London."
“And you let her go like that?" exclaimed the lawyer involuntarily. "Pooh! when you
had gone so far you might as well have stuck to her. No, no, I don't mean that, of
course. It was very well done of you, my young
[306]
friend, and I — I am rejoiced that you should have shown yourself so sensible and
amenable."
He paused, took another pinch of snuff, and suddenly leaning forward and clapping his
hands upon his knees, broke out again:—
"But what beats me is how the mischief you ever came to do such a thing at all — such
inconceivable folly! And you, Simon, whom I thought a very rock of sense. What in the
name of fortune made you forget yourself thus? You must have been mad!"
"Yes," agreed Simon, "I must have been mad. I suppose I was mad."
Mr. Renshaw slowly straightened himself, and cast another sidelong look at him.
Simon's worn, dejected face and dull, lifeless voice touched him. "Well, since you