Part 2 (1/2)
”I needn't ask your politics,” said he
”Ye need not,” said I, srows”
”Stop a bit, stop a bit,” says Mr Stewart ”What's all this? A Whig? Then why are you here with Alan's button? and what kind of a black-foot 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 ye ask ! I have no h I've kent plenty of them”
”He's a forfeited rebel, the more's the pity,” said I, ”for the uided And an accused fully accused”
”I hear you say so,” said Stewart
”More than you are to hear ,” said I ”Alan Breck is innocent, and so is Jaether If Alan is out, James can never be in”
Hereupon I told him briefly of ht es of our escape a the heather, and my recovery of my estate ”So, sir, you have now the whole train of these events,” I went on, ”and can see for yourself how I coled up with the affairs of your family and friends, which (for all of our sakes) I wish had been plainer and less bloody You can see for yourself, too, that I have certain pieces of business depending, which were scarcely fit to lay before a lawyer chosen at random No more remains, but to ask if you will undertakeas you do with Alan's button, the choice is scarcely left me,” said he ”What are your instructions?” he added, and took up his pen
”The first point is to sle Alan forth of this country,” said I, ”but I need not be repeating that”
”I aet it,” said Stewart
”The next thing is the bitto Cluny,” I went on ”It would be ill for me to find a conveyance, but that should be no stick to you It o pounds five shi+llings and three-halfpence farthing sterling”
He noted it
”Then,” said I, ”there's a Mr Henderland, a licensed preacher and et some snuff into the hands of; and, as I daresay you keep touch with your friends in Appin (so near by), it's a job you could doubtless overtake with the other”
”Howof two pounds,” said I
”Two,” said he
”Then there's the lass Alison Hastie, in Lime Kilns,” said I ”Her that helped Alan and ood Sunday gown, such as she could ith decency in her degree, it would be an ease to my conscience; for the lad so see you are thrifty, Mr Balfour,” says he,his notes
”I would think shame to be otherwise the first day of my fortune,” said I ”And now, if you will colad to know if I could get soe the whole of it to get Alan safe; it's not that I lackdrawn so much the one day, I think it would have a very ill appearance if I was back again seeking, the next Only be sure you have enough,” I added, ”for I aain”
”Well, and I'm pleased to see you're cautious, too,” said the Writer ”But I think ye take a risk to lay so considerable a sum at my discretion”
He said this with a plain sneer
”I'll have to run the hazard,” I replied ”O, and there's another service I would ask, and that's to direct , for I have no roof toI may seem to have hit upon by accident, for it would never do if the Lord Advocate were to get any jealousy of our acquaintance”
”Ye may set your weary spirit at rest,” said he ”I will never name your name, sir; and it's my belief the Advocate is still so much to be sympathised with that he doesnae ken of your existence”
I saw I had got to the wrong side of thefor him, then,” said I, ”for he'll have to learn of it on the deaf side of his head no later than to-morrohen I call on him”