The Firebrand

idered that he had made a personal point here, but

his case?" he said, bo

n stole the feed from under my horse's nose so soon as my back was turned, and then to-night, upon my complaining, set his rascal scullions on to vilify my country, or at least a country which, if not mine, is yet no

d at the statement of the Scot, nodded in acknowledgment, and turned with equal gravity and disti

wood and drawers of water, "this man for these ten days past hath given all in the Venta bad money and wor

money, good or bad. All I had remains here in my belt. If I gave bad money, let him produce it.

glishman, who had been following wit

of his words, which carried stings, we challenged him to fight, and he f

ilian, "there was no question of mon

counter where he had taken refuge, "because he threatened to

stilian, "you ought to have borne in mind that for that

d deals round what he calls 'cartels of defiance' as if he dealt a hand at ombre. Then, after some give and take of ill words, as your honour knows the custom is, he pulls his blade upon us, and makes play as you saw. We are poor fellows, and know n

icencio. Listen to me. My finding is this. You will all shake hands, after an apology given and received in the matter of the stranger's country, and since he has paid no

behalf of myself and my companions, that we ever said aught to the discredit of

French manner, but nevertheless held ou

day when Rollo Blair of Castle Blair, in the good shire of Fife, sits still with his hands in his pockets

t and thrust or go off with a bang, are not in my way. But if my knuckles are any good against the bridge of a man's nose, they

g to the practice of the best modern schools. Sergeant McPherson, his orderly, gave me instruction in the sabre and bayonet. I was intended for a commission in the 77th, my father's old regime

bluff manner, as he examined the article in question; "n

and laid his hand

not permit you to understand how grea

ed. Our manager down at Barcelona is a very particular man; but the

he Scot, haughtily. "I have not yet been reduced

thing for you," quoth the Engl

he door, not exactly taking the Englishman's meaning, "Oh, you were speaking of a mercantile career. Yes, I am

hough," said the

for money," said Rollo B

d the Englishman, looking at him keenly (though apparently int

niggering and whispering in a neighbouring archway. The Gallegan and his companions sat crossing their legs and gossiping watchfully, darting inquisitive glances under their brows at their

the hues of the young man's complexion. The son of the house of Blair of Blair was manifest

e," suggested the landlord wickedly; "sh

Englishman who had meantime never ceased from his study of a fly upon th

d. It was my grandfather's, and he fought well with it at

oice. "God knows, I would rather sel

glishman, looking at him coolly, and taking no notice of the young m

was a young French lord here who out-faced me first at the cards and then at the drin

n empty purse," said the Englishman, not movi

"I will go to the Castilian over yonder. He looks as if he might have the bowels of a man. At leas

the shoulder. With the other hand he drew a well-filled wallet, w

s worth a score of reckonings to hear a Scotsman speak

ndmother was of that--" Rollo Blair was beginning a genealogical

er. I am plain John Mortimer of Chorley at your service. I think you are an honest lad, sorely led astray by whimsies in the brain, but you are honest, and in a fa

to inform you that I have had an ill opinion of your nation-an opinion to which, in spite of y

man nodded

mer, shaking his head; "you should try the foreign wine trade fo

t at gaze, manifestly

said. "I assure you it is worth enough to

with a knowledge of languages to help sell my father's grey cloth! You are as welcome as my brother

his spirits with a bound. "Here, landlord, can you change this g

hes, in which were empty mangers and the rings of head-stalls, so that the pat

d, but a French Jew of Roussillon, "what can I have t

Scot imperiously. "We are going up to the

of steps, and the two serving men ceased

son! There will be fine doings out of this night's wor

t of one servitor in the ear

the monks are adverse, we are sped. Our pipe is as go

ll his lips almost to

y! Would that I were safe back again in min

Scot had quite recovered his military demeanour, and again twirled his moustache with an air. The sil

olded. The young men took not the faintest notice

throat. The Scot cast a single scornful glance

ning will not prevent this house from having your honours' custom in the future, and

as we are round the corner we will forget that such a refu

is was his idea of the way a gentleman should s

to the Abbey?" said the landlord, preparing to take

the Scot, no whit abashed, "ah-in pu

ing an obeisance that was

our uncle?" inquired the E

same we shall dine with him, or my name is not R

ly; "perhaps in that case he will part with hi