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           Thomson—thattheremaybenoreflections.Andinfuture,IwouldtakesomesuchwaywithanyHighlanderthatyoumayhavetomention—deadoralive.”

           Bythis,Isawhemusthaveheardthenamealltooclearly,andhadalreadyguessedImightbecomingtothemurder.Ifhechosetoplaythispartofignorance,itwasnomatterofmine;soIsmiled,saiditwasnoveryHighland-soundingname,andconsented.ThroughalltherestofmystoryAlanwasMr.Thomson;whichamusedmethemore,asitwasapieceofpolicyafterhisownheart.JamesStewart,inlikemanner,wasmentionedunderthestyleofMr.Thomson’skinsman;ColinCampbellpassedasaMr.Glen;andtoCluny,whenIcametothatpartofmytale,Igavethenameof“Mr.Jameson,aHighlandchief.”Itwastrulythemostopenfarce,andIwonderedthatthelawyershouldcaretokeepitup;but,afterall,itwasquiteinthetasteofthatage,whenthereweretwopartiesinthestate,andquietpersons,withnoveryhighopinionsoftheirown,soughtouteverycrannytoavoidoffencetoeither.

           “Well,well,”saidthelawyer,whenIhadquitedone,“thisisagreatepic,agreatOdysseyofyours.Youmusttellit,sir,inasoundLatinitywhenyourscholarshipisriper;orinEnglishifyouplease,thoughformypartIpreferthestrongertongue.