Запретный лес
XVII. Woodilee and Calidon
Shewasdoomedtodie,assurelyasifshehadstoodinthedoomster’scart....ButIhavefoundoutanotherthing.OurneighbourChasehopeisaKing-Deil."
"WhatinHeaven’snameisthat?"
"Youmaywellspeir.Heisthepriestofthecoven,butheismore,forheisakindofDeilonhisownaccount.ThatiswhyyousawthemintheWoodbowingbeforehimandnozzlinghimlikedogs.There’sbeenKing-DeilsbeforethisinScotland.FrancieStuartwasone--himthatwasEarlofBothwellinthedaysofJamestheSaxt,andhehadabrawcovendownbyDunbarandtheBass."
"AndthemananelderoftheKirk!"Davidexclaimed."ThewordsofScriptureareneveroffhislips,andmorethanoncehehasreprovedmeforsin."
"That’sthelad.There’saholypleasuretobegottenoutofhypocrisy.Andyet--andyet!I’llwagerthatChasehopehasnodoubtbutthatheisaredeemedsoul,andwillgetanabundantentranceatthehinderend.ThatKirkofyourshassocunninglytwistedreligionthatamancangrowfatinhisownsinsandyetspendhistimedenouncingthefaultsofothers,forheiselectedintograce,astheycallit,andhasgotsomekindofatitletoHeaven.I’maplainbodythatcannaseehowGodandtheDevilcanbeservedattheonetime,butthere’smanyachielmakesatradeofit.They’vegottenonecreelthatholdstheirtreasureinHeaven,andonefullofthelustsoftheflesh,andthoughtheyettletocoupthelatterbeforethedayofdeath,theyareconfidentthatitwinnacankerwhat’sintheothercreel.
