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Chapter 12
Now,thetenantsofAppinhavetopayarenttoKingGeorge;buttheirheartsarestaunch,theyaretruetotheirchief;andwhatwithloveandabitofpressure,andmaybeathreatortwo,thepoorfolkscrapeupasecondrentforArdshiel.Well,David,I’mthehandthatcarriesit.”Andhestruckthebeltabouthisbody,sothattheguineasrang.
“Dotheypayboth?”criedI.
“Ay,David,both,”sayshe.
“What!tworents?”Irepeated.
“Ay,David,”saidhe.“Itoldadifferenttaletoyoncaptainman;butthisisthetruthofit.Andit’swonderfultomehowlittlepressureisneeded.Butthat’sthehandiworkofmygoodkinsmanandmyfather’sfriend,JamesoftheGlens:JamesStewart,thatis:Ardshiel’shalf-brother.Heitisthatgetsthemoneyin,anddoesthemanagement.”
ThiswasthefirsttimeIheardthenameofthatJamesStewart,whowasafterwardssofamousatthetimeofhishanging.ButItooklittleheedatthemoment,forallmymindwasoccupiedwiththegenerosityofthesepoorHighlanders.
“Icallitnoble,”Icried.“I’maWhig,orlittlebetter;butIcallitnoble.”
“Ay”saidhe,“ye’reaWhig,butye’reagentleman;andthat’swhatdoesit.Now,ifyewereoneofthecursedraceofCampbell,yewouldgnashyourteethtoheartellofit.IfyeweretheRedFox...”Andatthatname,histeethshuttogether,andheceasedspeaking.Ihaveseenmanyagrimface,butneveragrimmerthanAlan’swhenhehadnamedtheRedFox.
“AndwhoistheRedFox?”Iasked,daunted,butstillcurious.