Catriona

to; fifteen flights of it, no less; and when I had come to his door, and a clerk had opened

I, took the money bag out of his

ng on a deed, from which he scarce raised his eyes on my entrance; indeed, he still kept his finger in the place, as though prepared to show me out and fall a

s Mr. Charles St

f the question is equally fa

well," I repeated, lowering my voice, "but maybe are not just so keen to hear from at this present being. And the bits of business

r like a man ill-pleased, sent forth his clerk of

t, "I tell you mine misgives me! I tell you beforehand, ye're either a Stewart or a Stewart sent ye. A good

ur of Shaws. As for him that sent me, I will let

name no names. The deevil's buckie, I ken the b

hought he had) about the north side, where he was to lie until a ship

ily of mine," he cried, "and, dod! I believe the day's come now! Get

id I. "Here is a bag of good money, and if more

k your politi

, smiling, "for I'm a

traffic is this that I find ye out in, Mr. Whig? Here is a forfeited rebel and an accused murderer, with two hundred pounds on his life, and

my friend. I can only wish he had been better guided. And an accused

say so," s

so, before long," said I. "Alan Br

s hang together. If Alan is

have now the whole train of these events," I went on, "and can see for yourself how I come to be so much mingled up with the affairs of your family and friends, which (for all of our sakes) I wish had been plainer and l

an's button, the choice is scarcely left me," said he. "W

n forth of this country," said I,

ely to forget it

ld be ill for me to find a conveyance, but that should be no stick to you

oted

t I would like well to get some snuff into the hands of; and, as I daresay you keep touch wit

ff are we to

ng of two pou

" sai

e Forth. I was thinking if I could get her a good Sunday gown, such as she could wear with decency i

thrifty, Mr. Balfour," s

if I could get some spending-money back. It's not that I grudge the whole of it to get Alan safe; it's not that I lack more; but having drawn so much the one day, I th

oo," said the Writer. "But I think ye take a ris

is with a

rect me to a lodging, for I have no roof to my head. But it must be a lodging I may seem to have hit up

me your name, sir; and it's my belief the Advocate is still so mu

to the wrong s

for he'll have to learn of it on the deaf side of hi

. Stewart. "Am I daft, or are you!

give myself

cried, "are ye mak

self some such freedom with myself. But I give you to un

sorts of propositions, which will put me in a train of very doubtful acts and bring me among very undesirable persons this many a day to come. And then you tell me you'r

another; and if you could, I could never deny but what I would be rather relieved. For I think my traffic with his lordship is little likely to agree with my health. Ther

nd then, "My man," said he, "you'll ne

t that," said I; "I'm s

g-Alan, too, if they could catch him-but James whatever! Go near the Advoca

f the Advocate th

ill the Advocate too, poor body! It's extraordinar ye cannot see where ye stand! If there's no fair way to stop your gab, the

t same no further back than t

sked Stewart, "He s

or he was a decent stout old Whig, and had

to be mixed up in it!" cries

between Rankeillor and mysel

he. "Ye'll hang beside James Ste

that," said I; "but I could

it. But I warn you that you're wading deep. I wouldn't put myself in your place (me that's a Stewart born!) for all the Stewarts that ever there were since Noah. Risk? ay, I take over-m

suppose," said I; "I was brought up

over-sorely. My case is dooms hard. See, sir, ye tell me ye're a Whig: I wonder what I am. No Whig to

"It's what I would think of

for King James, God bless him! he does very well for me across the water. I'm a lawyer, ye see: fond of my books and my bottle, a good plea, a well-drawn deed, a cra

fact ye have little of

re have I been moving one for young Ardsheil, my cousin; claimed the estate under the marriage contract-a forfeited estate! I told them it was nonsense: muckle they cared! And there was I cocking behind a yadvocate that liked the business as little as myself, for it was fair ruin to the pair of us-a black mark, disaffected, branded on our hurdies, like folk's names upon their kye! And what can I do? I'm a Stewart, ye see, and must

a hard posi

ye-you that's no Stewart-to stick your head so deep in Stewart busi

will be tha

s. When that's done, I'll give you the direction of a very decent man, that'll be very fain to have you for a lodger. And I'll fill y

that his clerk w

t more French recruits and trafficking Papists than what he has hairs upon his face. Why, it's

ms he's wanting the ship. Then there'll be Tam Stobo; but I'm none so sure of Tam. I've seen him col

wo hundred pounds,

o be Alan Breck!

n," said

" cried Robin. "I'll try Andie

uite a big busin

ere's no end to

"Hoseason. That must be my man, I think: Hoseason, o

he man in general is rather otherwise. If he had taken Alan on board his ship on

d the clerk. "I would lippen to [5] Eli's word-ay,

ought the doctor, wasna

very man," s

ook the doctor ba

ull!" cried Robin. "And

's hard to ken fol

got when ye came in, Mr.