Crime & punishment > Peveril of the peak, or, The days of Charles II

20 PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. Act II.
should pretend to understand it. His worship the
justice don’t understand it, as he said when he com¬
mitted Giles Clodpate for a share in it last week. "
But, thank heaven, this is a free country, and we
all have a right to believe though we mayn’t under¬
stand.
Her. Undoubtedly.
Mat. Ay, ay, it will soon be over with the pole-
star of Peveril.
Ber. The pole-star of Peveril! what mean you ? ;
Mat. A beacon which is nightly kindled on the
Warder’s Turret, and burns till sun-rise; never j
being omitted save during the space intervening be- ;
tween the death of a lord of the castle and his inter- ■
ment. But, if Sir Geoffry be found plotting against I
the state, good night to his bonfire—they’ll soon
clap an extinguisher upon his candlestick.
(A knocking at the door.)
Dame. (Going to the door.) Who’s there ?
Jul. (Without.) It is I, Dame! I—Julian Pe- :
veril. Tell your husband to come to me directly.
(When Bertram hears Julian announce him-
self, he rises, and, cautiously going towards .
the door, listens attentively to what passes.) :
Dame. Now, Mat, counsel me, an ye be a man.
Here’s Master Julian’s own self, calling about him,
as in the olden time, when the Peveril ruled all.
Mat. Let him be jogging while his boots are
green. This is no world to scald our fingers in other
folks’ broth. So drop latch, draw bolt, and let him
tramp—(Going to the door)—We undo no doors at
this hour of the night. Martindale Castle lies
straight before you, and you know the road as well
as we do.
(Bertram leaves the Stage unnoticed by Ma¬
thew and his wife.)
Jul. (Without.) And 1 know you for a rascally, i