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Chapter 25
HewasbrothertoBalfourofBaith;andifyouareinanyreasonabledegreeofnearnessoneofthatgentleman’skin,Ihavecometoputmyselfandmypeopleatyourcommand.”
YouaretorememberthatIknewnomoreofmydescentthananycadger’sdog;myuncle,tobesure,hadpratedofsomeofourhighconnections,butnothingtothepresentpurpose;andtherewasnothingleftmebutthatbitterdisgraceofowningthatIcouldnottell.
Robintoldmeshortlyhewassorryhehadputhimselfabout,turnedhisbackuponmewithoutasignofsalutation,andashewenttowardsthedoor,IcouldhearhimtellingDuncanthatIwas“onlysomekinlessloonthatdidn’tknowhisownfather.”AngryasIwasatthesewords,andashamedofmyownignorance,Icouldscarcekeepfromsmilingthatamanwhowasunderthelashofthelaw(andwasindeedhangedsomethreeyearslater)shouldbesoniceastothedescentofhisacquaintances.
Justinthedoor,hemetAlancomingin;andthetwodrewbackandlookedateachotherlikestrangedogs.Theywereneitherofthembigmen,buttheyseemedfairlytoswelloutwithpride.Eachworeasword,andbyamovementofhishaunch,thrustclearthehiltofit,sothatitmightbethemorereadilygraspedandthebladedrawn.
“Mr.Stewart,Iamthinking,”saysRobin.
“Troth,Mr.Macgregor,it’snotanametobeashamedof,”answeredAlan.
“Ididnotknowyewereinmycountry,sir,”saysRobin.
“ItsticksinmymindthatIaminthecountryofmyfriendstheMaclarens,”saysAlan.
