Похищенный
Chapter 29
“Idaresaythat,”saidAlan;“butthepointis,WouldIgo?NowIwilltellyouwhatIamthinking.Iamthinkingthatitishereuponthisdoorstepthatwemustconferuponthisbusiness;anditshallbehereornowhereatallwhatever;forIwouldhaveyoutounderstandthatIamasstiffneckedasyoursel’,andagentlemanofbetterfamily.”
ThischangeofnotedisconcertedEbenezer;hewasalittlewhiledigestingit,andthensayshe,“Weel,weel,whatmustbemust,”andshutthewindow.Butittookhimalongtimetogetdown-stairs,andastilllongertoundothefastenings,repenting(Idaresay)andtakenwithfreshclapsoffearateverysecondstepandeveryboltandbar.Atlast,however,weheardthecreakofthehinges,anditseemsmyuncleslippedgingerlyoutand(seeingthatAlanhadsteppedbackapaceortwo)satehimdownonthetopdoorstepwiththeblunderbussreadyinhishands.
“And,now”sayshe,“mindIhavemyblunderbush,andifyetakeastepnearerye’reasgoodasdeid.”
“Andaverycivilspeech,”saysAlan,“tobesure.”
“Na,”saysmyuncle,“butthisisnoaverychantykindofaproceeding,andI’mboundtobeprepared.Andnowthatweunderstandeachother,ye’llcannameyourbusiness.”
“Why,”saysAlan,“youthatareamanofsomuchunderstanding,willdoubtlesshaveperceivedthatIamaHielandgentleman.Mynamehasnaebusinessinmystory;butthecountyofmyfriendsisnoveryfarfromtheIsleofMull,ofwhichyewillhaveheard.
