第158章

``Troth, I fear there may be too much reason for it, Monkbarns;--and yet let us hope the best.The accident is said to have happened in the Rattray reef of rocks, about twenty miles to the northward, near Dirtenalan Bay--I have sent to inquire about it--and your nephew run out himself as if he had been flying to get the Gazette of a victory.''

Here Hector entered, exclaiming as he came in, ``I believe it's all a damned lie--I can't find the least authority for it, but general rumour.''

``And pray, Mr.Hector,'' said his uncle, ``if it had been true, whose fault would it have been that Lovel was on board?''

``Not mine, I am sure,'' answered Hector; ``it would have been only my misfortune.''

``Indeed!'' said his uncle, ``I should not have thought of that.''

``Why, sir, with all your inclination to find me in the wrong,''

replied the young soldier, ``I suppose you will own my intention was not to blame in this case.I did my best to hit Lovel, and if I had been successful, 'tis clear my scrape would have been his, and his scrape would have been mine.''

``And whom or what do you intend to hit now, that you are lugging with you that leathern magazine there, marked Gunpowder?''

``I must be prepared for Lord Glenallan's moors on the twelfth, sir,'' said M`Intyre.

``Ah, Hector! thy great _chasse,_ as the French call it, would take place best--Omne cum Proteus pecus egit altos Visere montes --Could you meet but with a martial _phoca,_ instead of an unwarlike heath-bird.''

``The devil take the seal, sir, or _phoca,_ if you choose to call it so! It's rather hard one can never hear the end of a little piece of folly like that.''

``Well, well,'' said Oldbuck, ``I am glad you have the grace to be ashamed of it--as I detest the whole race of Nimrods, Iwish them all as well matched.Nay, never start off at a jest, man--I have done with the _phoca_--though, I dare say, the Bailie could tell us the value of seal-skins just now.''

``They are up,'' said the magistrate, ``they are well up--the fishing has been unsuccessful lately.''

``We can bear witness to that,'' said the tormenting Antiquary, who was delighted with the hank this incident had given him over the young sportsman: One word more, Hector, and We'll hang a seal-skin on thy recreant limbs.

Aha, my boy! Come, never mind it; I must go to business.--Bailie, a word with you: you must take bail--moderate bail, you understand--for old Ochiltree's appearance.''

``You don't consider what you ask,'' said the Bailie; ``the offence is assault and robbery.''

``Hush! not a word about it,'' said the Antiquary.``I gave you a hint before--I will possess you more fully hereafter--Ipromise you, there is a secret.''

``But, Mr.Oldbuck, if the state is concerned, I, who do the whole drudgery business here, really have a title to be consulted, and until I am''--``Hush! hush!'' said the Antiquary, winking and putting his finger to his nose,--``you shall have the full credit, the entire management, whenever matters are ripe.But this is an obstinate old fellow, who will not hear of two people being as yet let into his mystery, and he has not fully acquainted me with the clew to Dousterswivel's devices.''

``Aha! so we must tip that fellow the alien act, I suppose?''

``To say truth, I wish you would.''

``Say no more,'' said the magistrate; ``it shall forthwith be done--he shall be removed _tanquam suspect_--I think that's one of your own phrases, Monkbarns?''

``It is classical, Bailie--you improve.''

``Why, public business has of late pressed upon me so much, that I have been obliged to take my foreman into partnership.

I have had two several correspondences with the Under Secretary of State--one on the proposed tax on Riga hemp-seed, and the other on putting down political societies.So you might as well communicate to me as much as you know of this old fellow's discovery of a plot against the state.''

``I will, instantly, when I am master of it,'' replied Oldbuck --``I hate the trouble of managing such matters myself.

Remember, however, I did not say decidedly a plot against the state I only say I hope to discover, by this man's means, a foul plot.''

``If it be a plot at all, there must be treason in it, or sedition at least,'' said the Bailie--``Will you bail him for four hundred merks?''

``Four hundred merks for an old Blue-Gown! Think on the act 1701 regulating bail-bonds!--Strike off a cipher from the sum--I am content to bail him for forty merks.''

``Well, Mr.Oldbuck, everybody in Fairport is always willing to oblige you--and besides, I know that you are a prudent man, and one that would be as unwilling to lose forty, as four hundred merks.So I will accept your bail, _meo periculo_--what say you to that law phrase again? I had it from a learned counsel.Iwill vouch it, my lord, he said, _meo periculo._''

``And I will vouch for Edie Ochiltree, _meo periculo,_ in like manner,'' said Oldbuck.``So let your clerk draw out the bail-bond, and I will sign it.''

When this ceremony had been performed, the Antiquary communicated to Edie the joyful tidings that he was once more at liberty, and directed him to make the best of his way to Monkbarns House, to which he himself returned with his nephew, after having perfected their good work.