Catriona

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"And if the damned Campbells get their ears rubbed, what care I?" cries
Stewart, smiting down his fist.

It will be thought I was not very well pleased with all this, though I
could scarce forbear smiling at a kind of innocency in these old
intriguers. But it was not my view to have undergone so many sorrows
for the advancement of Sheriff Miller or to make a revolution in the
Parliament House: and I interposed accordingly with as much simplicity
of manner as I could assume.

"I have to thank you, gentlemen, for your advice," said I. "And now I
would like, by your leave, to set you two or three questions. There is
one thing that has fallen rather on one aide, for instance: Will this
cause do any good to our friend James of the Glens?"

They seemed all a hair set back, and gave various answers, but
concurring practically in one point, that James had now no hope but in
the King's mercy.

"To proceed, then," said I, "will it do any good to Scotland? We have
a saying that it is an ill bird that fouls his own nest. I remember
hearing we had a riot in Edinburgh when I was an infant child, which
gave occasion to the late Queen to call this country barbarous; and I
always understood that we had rather lost than gained by that. Then
came the year 'Forty-five, which made Scotland to be talked of
everywhere; but I never heard it said we had anyway gained by the
'Forty-five. And now we come to this cause of Mr. Balfour's, as you
call it. Sheriff Miller tells us historical writers are to date from
it, and I would not wonder. It is only my fear they would date from it
as a period of calamity and public reproach."

The nimble-witted Miller had already smelt where I was travelling to,
and made haste to get on the same road. "Forcibly put, Mr. Balfour,"
says he. "A weighty observe, sir."

"We have next to ask ourselves if it will be good for King George," I
pursued. "Sheriff Miller appears pretty easy upon this; but I doubt
you will scarce be able to pull down the house from under him, without
his Majesty coming by a knock or two, one of which might easily prove
fatal."

I have them a chance to answer, but none volunteered.

"Of those for whom the case was to be profitable," I went on, "Sheriff
Miller gave us the names of several, among the which he was good enough
to mention mine. I hope he will pardon me if I think otherwise. I
believe I hung not the least back in this affair while there was life
to be saved; but I own I thought myself extremely hazarded, and I own I
think it would be a pity for a young man, with some idea of coming to
the Bar, to ingrain upon himself the character of a turbulent, factious
fellow before he was yet twenty. As for James, it seems - at this date
of the proceedings, with the sentence as good as pronounced - he has no
hope but in the King's mercy. May not his Majesty, then, be more
pointedly addressed, the characters of these high officers sheltered
from the public, and myself kept out of a position which I think spells
ruin for me?"

They all sat and gazed into their glasses, and I could see they found
my attitude on the affair unpalatable. But Miller was ready at all
events.

"If I may be allowed to put my young friend's notion in more formal
shape," says he, "I understand him to propose that we should embody the
fact of his sequestration, and perhaps some heads of the testimony he
was prepared to offer, in a memorial to the Crown. This plan has
elements of success. It is as likely as any other (and perhaps
likelier) to help our client. Perhaps his Majesty would have the
goodness to feel a certain gratitude to all concerned in such a
memorial, which might be construed into an expression of a very
delicate loyalty; and I think, in the drafting of the same, this view
might be brought forward."

They all nodded to each other, not without sighs, for the former
alternative was doubtless more after their inclination.

"Paper, then, Mr. Stewart, if you please," pursued Miller; "and I think
it might very fittingly be signed by the five of us here present, as
procurators for the condemned man."'

"It can do none of us any harm, at least," says Colstoun, heaving
another sigh, for he had seen himself Lord Advocate the last ten
minutes.

Thereupon they set themselves, not very enthusiastically, to draft the
memorial - a process in the course of which they soon caught fire; and
I had no more ado but to sit looking on and answer an occasional
question. The paper was very well expressed; beginning with a
recitation of the facts about myself, the reward offered for my
apprehension, my surrender, the pressure brought to bear upon me; my
sequestration; and my arrival at Inverary in time to be too late; going
on to explain the reasons of loyalty and public interest for which it
was agreed to waive any right of action; and winding up with a forcible
appeal to the King's mercy on behalf of James.

Methought I was a good deal sacrificed, and rather represented in the
light of a firebrand of a fellow whom my cloud of lawyers had
restrained with difficulty from extremes. But I let it pass, and made
but the one suggestion, that I should be described as ready to deliver
my own evidence and adduce that of others before any commission of
inquiry - and the one demand, that I should be immediately furnished
with a copy.

Colstoun hummed and hawed. "This is a very confidential document,"
said he.

"And my position towards Prestongrange is highly peculiar," I replied.
"No question but I must have touched his heart at our first interview,
so that he has since stood my friend consistently. But for him,
gentlemen, I must now be lying dead or awaiting my sentence alongside
poor James. For which reason I choose to communicate to him the fact
of this memorial as soon as it is copied. You are to consider also
that this step will make for my protection. I have enemies here
accustomed to drive hard; his Grace is in his own country, Lovat by his
side; and if there should hang any ambiguity over our proceedings I
think I might very well awake in gaol."

Not finding any very ready answer to these considerations, my company
of advisers were at the last persuaded to consent, and made only this
condition that I was to lay the paper before Prestongrange with the
express compliments of all concerned.

The Advocate was at the castle dining with his Grace. By the hand of
one of Colstoun's servants I sent him a billet asking for an interview,
and received a summons to meet him at once in a private house of the
town. Here I found him alone in a chamber; from his face there was
nothing to be gleaned; yet I was not so unobservant but what I spied
some halberts in the hall, and not so stupid but what I could gather he
was prepared to arrest me there and then, should it appear advisable.

"So, Mr. David, this is you?" said he.

"Where I fear I am not overly welcome, my lord," said I. "And I would
like before I go further to express my sense of your lordship's good
offices, even should they now cease."

"I have heard of your gratitude before," he replied drily, "and I think
this can scarce be the matter you called me from my wine to listen to.
I would remember also, if I were you, that you still stand on a very
boggy foundation."

"Not now, my lord, I think," said I; "and if your lordship will but
glance an eye along this, you will perhaps think as I do."

He read it sedulously through, frowning heavily; then turned back to
one part and another which he seemed to weigh and compare the effect
of. His face a little lightened.

"This is not so bad but what it might be worse," said he; "though I am
still likely to pay dear for my acquaintance with Mr. David Balfour."

"Rather for your indulgence to that unlucky young man, my lord," said
I.

He still skimmed the paper, and all the while his spirits seemed to
mend.

"And to whom am I indebted for this?" he asked presently. "Other
counsels must have been discussed, I think. Who was it proposed this
private method? Was it Miller?"

"My lord, it was myself," said I. "These gentlemen have shown me no
such consideration, as that I should deny myself any credit I can
fairly claim, or spare them any responsibility they should properly
bear. And the mere truth is, that they were all in favour of a process
which should have remarkable consequences in the Parliament House, and
prove for them (in one of their own expressions) a dripping roast.
Before I intervened, I think they were on the point of sharing out the
different law appointments. Our friend Mr. Simon was to be taken in
upon some composition."

Prestongrange smiled. "These are our friends," said he. "And what
were your reasons for dissenting, Mr. David?"

I told them without concealment, expressing, however, with more force
and volume those which regarded Prestongrange himself.

"You do me no more than justice," said he. "I have fought as hard in
your interest as you have fought against mine. And how came you here
to-day?" he asked. "As the case drew out, I began to grow uneasy that
I had clipped the period so fine, and I was even expecting you to-
morrow. But to-day - I never dreamed of it."

I was not of course, going to betray Andie.

"I suspect there is some very weary cattle by the road," said I

"If I had known you were such a mosstrooper you should have tasted
longer of the Bass," says he.

"Speaking of which, my lord, I return your letter." And I gave him the
enclosure in the counterfeit hand.

"There was the cover also with the seal," said he.

"I have it not," said I. "It bore not even an address, and could not
compromise a cat. The second enclosure I have, and with your
permission, I desire to keep it."

I thought he winced a little, but he said nothing to the point. "To-
morrow," he resumed, "our business here is to be finished, and I
proceed by Glasgow. I would be very glad to have you of my party, Mr
David."

"My lord . . ." I began.

"I do not deny it will be of service to me," he interrupted. "I desire
even that, when we shall come to Edinburgh, you should alight at my
house. You have very warm friends in the Miss Grants, who will be
overjoyed to have you to themselves. If you think I have been of use
to you, you can thus easily repay me, and so far from losing, may reap
some advantage by the way. It is not every strange young man who is
presented in society by the King's Advocate."

Often enough already (in our brief relations) this gentleman had caused
my head to spin; no doubt but what for a moment he did so again now.
Here was the old fiction still maintained of my particular favour with
his daughters, one of whom had been so good as to laugh at me, while
the other two had scarce deigned to remark the fact of my existence.
And now I was to ride with my lord to Glasgow; I was to dwell with him
in Edinburgh; I was to be brought into society under his protection!
That he should have so much good-nature as to forgive me was surprising
enough; that he could wish to take me up and serve me seemed
impossible; and I began to seek some ulterior meaning. One was plain.
If I became his guest, repentance was excluded; I could never think
better of my present design and bring any action. And besides, would
not my presence in his house draw out the whole pungency of the
memorial? For that complaint could not be very seriously regarded, if
the person chiefly injured was the guest of the official most
incriminated. As I thought upon this I could not quite refrain from
smiling.

"This is in the nature of a countercheck to the memorial?" said I.

"You are cunning, Mr. David," said he, "and you do not wholly guess
wrong the fact will be of use to me in my defence. Perhaps, however,
you underrate friendly sentiments, which are perfectly genuine. I have
a respect for you, David, mingled with awe," says he, smiling.

"I am more than willing, I am earnestly desirous to meet your wishes,"
said I. "It is my design to be called to the Bar, where your
lordship's countenance would be invaluable; and I am besides sincerely
grateful to yourself and family for different marks of interest and of
indulgence. The difficulty is here. There is one point in which we
pull two ways. You are trying to hang James Stewart, I am trying to
save him. In so far as my riding with you would better your lordship's
defence, I am at your lordships orders; but in so far as it would help
to hang James Stewart, you see me at a stick."

I thought he swore to himself. "You should certainly be called; the
Bar is the true scene for your talents," says he, bitterly, and then
fell a while silent. "I will tell you," he presently resumed, "there
is no question of James Stewart, for or against, James is a dead man;
his life is given and taken - bought (if you like it better) and sold;
no memorial can help - no defalcation of a faithful Mr. David hurt him.
Blow high, blow low, there will be no pardon for James Stewart: and
take that for said! The question is now of myself: am I to stand or
fall? and I do not deny to you that I am in some danger. But will Mr.
David Balfour consider why? It is not because I pushed the case unduly
against James; for that, I am sure of condonation. And it is not
because I have sequestered Mr. David on a rock, though it will pass
under that colour; but because I did not take the ready and plain path,
to which I was pressed repeatedly, and send Mr. David to his grave or
to the gallows. Hence the scandal - hence this damned memorial,"
striking the paper on his leg. "My tenderness for you has brought me
in this difficulty. I wish to know if your tenderness to your own
conscience is too great to let you help me out of it."

No doubt but there was much of the truth in what he said; if James was
past helping, whom was it more natural that I should turn to help than
just the man before me, who had helped myself so often, and was even
now setting me a pattern of patience? I was besides not only weary,
but beginning to be ashamed, of my perpetual attitude of suspicion and
refusal

"If you will name the time and place, I will be punctually ready to
attend your lordship," said I.

He shook hands with me. "And I think my misses have some news for
you," says he, dismissing me.

I came away, vastly pleased to have my peace made, yet a little
concerned in conscience; nor could I help wondering, as I went back,
whether, perhaps, I had not been a scruple too good-natured. But there
was the fact, that this was a man that might have been my father, an
able man, a great dignitary, and one that, in the hour of my need, had
reached a hand to my assistance. I was in the better humour to enjoy
the remainder of that evening, which I passed with the advocates, in
excellent company no doubt, but perhaps with rather more than a
sufficiency of punch: for though I went early to bed I have no clear
mind of how I got there.

CHAPTER XVIII - THE TEE'D BALL

ON the morrow, from the justices' private room, where none could see
me, I heard the verdict given in and judgment rendered upon James. The
Duke's words I am quite sure I have correctly; and since that famous
passage has been made a subject of dispute, I may as well commemorate
my version. Having referred to the year '45, the chief of the
Campbells, sitting as Justice-General upon the bench, thus addressed
the unfortunate Stewart before him: "If you had been successful in
that rebellion, you might have been giving the law where you have now
received the judgment of it; we, who are this day your judges, might
have been tried before one of your mock courts of judicature; and then
you might have been satiated with the blood of any name or clan to
which you had an aversion."

"This is to let the cat out of the bag, indeed," thought I. And that
was the general impression. It was extraordinary how the young
advocate lads took hold and made a mock of this speech, and how scarce
a meal passed but what someone would get in the words: "And then you
might have been satiated." Many songs were made in time for the hour's
diversion, and are near all forgot. I remember one began:

"What do ye want the bluid of, bluid of?
Is it a name, or is it a clan,
Or is it an aefauld Hielandman,
That ye want the bluid of, bluid of?"

Another went to my old favourite air, THE HOUSE OF AIRLIE, and began
thus:

"It fell on a day when Argyle was on the bench,
That they served him a Stewart for his denner."

And one of the verses ran:

"Then up and spak' the Duke, and flyted on his cook,
I regard it as a sensible aspersion,
That I would sup ava', an' satiate my maw,
With the bluid of ony clan of my aversion."

James was as fairly murdered as though the Duke had got a fowling-piece
and stalked him. So much of course I knew: but others knew not so
much, and were more affected by the items of scandal that came to light
in the progress of the cause. One of the chief was certainly this
sally of the justice's. It was run hard by another of a juryman, who
had struck into the midst of Coulston's speech for the defence with a
"Pray, sir, cut it short, we are quite weary," which seemed the very
excess of impudence and simplicity. But some of my new lawyer friends
were still more staggered with an innovation that had disgraced and
even vitiated the proceedings. One witness was never called. His
name, indeed, was printed, where it may still be seen on the fourth
page of the list: "James Drummond, ALIAS Macgregor, ALIAS James More,
late tenant in Inveronachile"; and his precognition had been taken, as
the manner is, in writing. He had remembered or invented (God help
him) matter which was lead in James Stewart's shoes, and I saw was like
to prove wings to his own. This testimony it was highly desirable to
bring to the notice of the jury, without exposing the man himself to
the perils of cross-examination; and the way it was brought about was a
matter of surprise to all. For the paper was handed round (like a
curiosity) in court; passed through the jury-box, where it did its
work; and disappeared again (as though by accident) before it reached
the counsel for the prisoner. This was counted a most insidious
device; and that the name of James More should be mingled up with it
filled me with shame for Catriona and concern for myself.

The following day, Prestongrange and I, with a considerable company,
set out for Glasgow, where (to my impatience) we continued to linger
some time in a mixture of pleasure and affairs. I lodged with my lord,
with whom I was encouraged to familiarity; had my place at
entertainments; was presented to the chief guests; and altogether made
more of than I thought accorded either with my parts or station; so
that, on strangers being present, I would often blush for
Prestongrange. It must be owned the view I had taken of the world in
these last months was fit to cast a gloom upon my character. I had met
many men, some of them leaders in Israel whether by their birth or
talents; and who among them all had shown clean hands? As for the
Browns and Millers, I had seen their self-seeking, I could never again
respect them. Prestongrange was the best yet; he had saved me, spared
me rather, when others had it in their minds to murder me outright; but
the blood of James lay at his door; and I thought his present
dissimulation with myself a thing below pardon. That he should affect
to find pleasure in my discourse almost surprised me out of my
patience. I would sit and watch him with a kind of a slow fire of
anger in my bowels. "Ah, friend, friend," I would think to myself, "if
you were but through with this affair of the memorial, would you not
kick me in the streets?" Here I did him, as events have proved, the
most grave injustice; and I think he was at once far more sincere, and
a far more artful performer, than I supposed.

But I had some warrant for my incredulity in the behaviour of that
court of young advocates that hung about in the hope of patronage. The
sudden favour of a lad not previously heard of troubled them at first
out of measure; but two days were not gone by before I found myself
surrounded with flattery and attention. I was the same young man, and
neither better nor bonnier, that they had rejected a month before; and
now there was no civility too fine for me! The same, do I say? It was
not so; and the by-name by which I went behind my back confirmed it.
Seeing me so firm with the Advocate, and persuaded that I was to fly
high and far, they had taken a word from the golfing green, and called
me THE TEE'D BALL. I was told I was now "one of themselves"; I was to
taste of their soft lining, who had already made my own experience of
the roughness of the outer husk; and one, to whom I had been presented
in Hope Park, was so aspired as even to remind me of that meeting. I
told him I had not the pleasure of remembering it.

"Why" says he, "it was Miss Grant herself presented me! My name is so-
and-so."

"It may very well be, sir," said I; "but I have kept no mind of it."

At which he desisted; and in the midst of the disgust that commonly
overflowed my spirits I had a glisk of pleasure.

But I have not patience to dwell upon that time at length. When I was
in company with these young politics I was borne down with shame for
myself and my own plain ways, and scorn for them and their duplicity.
Of the two evils, I thought Prestongrange to be the least; and while I
was always as stiff as buckram to the young bloods, I made rather a
dissimulation of my hard feelings towards the Advocate, and was (in old
Mr. Campbell's word) "soople to the laird." Himself commented on the
difference, and bid me be more of my age, and make friends with my
young comrades.

I told him I was slow of making friends.

"I will take the word back," said he. "But there is such a thing as
FAIR GUDE S'EN AND FAIR GUDE DAY, Mr. David. These are the same young
men with whom you are to pass your days and get through life: your
backwardness has a look of arrogance; and unless you can assume a
little more lightness of manner, I fear you will meet difficulties in
the path."

"It will be an ill job to make a silk purse of a sow's ear," said I.

On the morning of October 1st I was awakened by the clattering in of an
express; and getting to my window almost before he had dismounted, I
saw the messenger had ridden hard. Somewhile after I was called to
Prestongrange, where he was sitting in his bedgown and nightcap, with
his letters round him.

"Mr. David," add he, "I have a piece of news for you. It concerns some
friends of yours, of whom I sometimes think you are a little ashamed,
for you have never referred to their existence."

I suppose I blushed.

"See you understand, since you make the answering signal," said he.
"And I must compliment you on your excellent taste in beauty. But do
you know, Mr. David? this seems to me a very enterprising lass. She
crops up from every side. The Government of Scotland appears unable to
proceed for Mistress Katrine Drummond, which was somewhat the case (no
great while back) with a certain Mr. David Balfour. Should not these
make a good match? Her first intromission in politics - but I must not
tell you that story, the authorities have decided you are to hear it
otherwise and from a livelier narrator. This new example is more
serious, however; and I am afraid I must alarm you with the
intelligence that she is now in prison."

I cried out.

"Yes," said he, "the little lady is in prison. But I would not have
you to despair. Unless you (with your friends and memorials) shall
procure my downfall, she is to suffer nothing."

"But what has she done? What is her offence?" I cried.

"It might be almost construed a high treason," he returned, "for she
has broke the king's Castle of Edinburgh."

"The lady is much my friend," I said. "I know you would not mock me if
the thing were serious."

"And yet it is serious in a sense," said he; "for this rogue of a
Katrine - or Cateran, as we may call her - has set adrift again upon
the world that very doubtful character, her papa."

Here was one of my previsions justified: James More was once again at
liberty. He had lent his men to keep me a prisoner; he had volunteered
his testimony in the Appin case, and the same (no matter by what
subterfuge) had been employed to influence the jury. Now came his
reward, and he was free. It might please the authorities to give to it
the colour of an escape; but I knew better - I knew it must be the
fulfilment of a bargain. The same course of thought relieved me of the
least alarm for Catriona. She might be thought to have broke prison
for her father; she might have believed so herself. But the chief hand
in the whole business was that of Prestongrange; and I was sure, so far
from letting her come to punishment, he would not suffer her to be even
tried. Whereupon thus came out of me the not very politic ejaculation:

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