Catriona

rret or an earwig. He was bitter ugly, but seemed very much of a gentleman; had still manners, but capable o

nted us in a famil

Mr. David, this is Mr. Simon Fraser, whom we used to call by anoth

ook-shelves, and made believe to co

he had led his men in the Rebellion; I knew his father's head-my old lord's, that grey fox of the mountains-to have fallen on the block for that offence, the lands of the family to have been seized, and their nobility attainted. I could not conc

said he, "what is a

d I, "but if the Advocate was your author

y study of the precognitions I can assure you your opinions are erroneous. The guilt of Breck is manifest; a

ch him," I observed. "And for other matters I v

ur own interests and those of the country so much better than yourself. Gratitude is no empty expression in that mouth: experto-crede. I daresay you know something of my name and clan, and the damnable example and lamented end of my late father, to say nothing of my own errata. Well, I have

position for your f

od faith, it is in vain you think to divert me. And let me tell you, for a young fellow of spirit and ambition like yourself, a good shove in the beginning will do more tha

I lack the docility

he cried. "This has been made a test case, all who would prosper in the future must put a shoulder to the wheel. Look at me! Do you suppose it is for

unnatural rebellion," I remarked. "My case is happily otherwise; I am a true

been hitherto so civil (he tells me) as not to combat your allegations; but you must not think they are n

ng for you t

t be a David Balfour! I shall be upon that trial; my voice shall be raised; I shall then speak much otherwise from what I do to-day, and far less to your gratification, little as you like it

said I. "I think no shame for t

you on the gibb

even'd with my lord

g the poor wretch in talk, your accomplices a pack of ragged Highland gillies. And it can be shown, my great Mr. Balfour-it can be shown, and it will be shown, trust me that has a finger in the pie-it can be shown, and shall be shown, that you were paid to do it. I think I

uebaugh, and three-and-fivepence-halfpenny in change made up, indeed, the most of what Alan and I h

s your part of glory if you choose to die. On the one hand, life, wine, women, and a duke to be your handgun: on the other, a rope to your craig, and a gibbet to clatter your bones on, and the lousiest, lowest story to hand down to your namesakes in the future that was ever told about a hired assassin. And see here!" he cried, with a formidable shrill voi

the immediacy and ugliness of my danger. Mr. Simon had already gloried in the changes o

," cried I. "I appeal to him. I pu

om it with so much credit. You may not quite see how, but it is a little of a service to myself. For had our friend here been more successful than I was last night, it might have appeared that he was a better judge of men than I; it might have appeared we were altogether in the wrong situations, Mr. Simon and myself

ned, perhaps rehearsed, with the consent of both; it was plain my adversaries were in earnest to try me by all methods; and now (persuasion, flattery, and menaces having been tried in vain) I could not but wonder what would be

d by and seemed rather to hold a candle, I must not let that extend to innocent members of my family. These are greatly engaged to see more of you, and I cannot consent to have my young womenfolk disappointed. To-morrow they will be going to Hope Park, where

after it is over in the ear. Tales of the man's father, of his falseness, of his manifold perpetual treacheries, rose before me from all that I had heard and read, and joined on with what I had just experienced of himself. Each time it occurred to me, the ingenious foulness of that calumny he had proposed to nail upon my character startled me afresh. The case of t

ange's liveried men upon his d

his billet as fast as ye

ateran back again?

urned the first. "Him an

te," says the second. "He'll have

your affair nor mine

upon his errand, and the

ities. My scalp curdled among my hair, and the next moment the blood leaped in me to remember Catriona. Poor lass! her father stood to be hanged for pretty indefensible misconduct. What was yet more unpalatable, it now

om, conscious only of a desire for