Похищенный
Chapter 25
Therewasonepinnednearthefootofmybed,whereIcouldreadmyownnotveryflatteringportraitand,inlargercharacters,theamountofthebloodmoneythathadbeensetuponmylife.DuncanDhuandtherestthatknewthatIhadcomethereinAlan’scompany,couldhaveentertainednodoubtofwhoIwas;andmanyothersmusthavehadtheirguess.ForthoughIhadchangedmyclothes,Icouldnotchangemyageorperson;andLowlandboysofeighteenwerenotsorifeinthesepartsoftheworld,andaboveallaboutthattime,thattheycouldfailtoputonethingwithanother,andconnectmewiththebill.Soitwas,atleast.Otherfolkkeepasecretamongtwoorthreenearfriends,andsomehowitleaksout;butamongtheseclansmen,itistoldtoawholecountryside,andtheywillkeepitforacentury.
Therewasbutonethinghappenedworthnarrating;andthatisthevisitIhadofRobinOig,oneofthesonsofthenotoriousRobRoy.HewassoughtuponallsidesonachargeofcarryingayoungwomanfromBalfronandmarryingher(aswasalleged)byforce;yethesteppedaboutBalquhidderlikeagentlemaninhisownwalledpolicy.ItwashewhohadshotJamesMaclarenattheploughstilts,aquarrelneversatisfied;yethewalkedintothehouseofhisbloodenemiesasaridermightintoapublicinn.Commercialtraveller.
Duncanhadtimetopassmewordofwhoitwas;andwelookedatoneanotherinconcern.
