Похищенный
Chapter 12
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“Youthataresowastefulofyourbuttons,”saidI,“Icanhardlythinkyouwouldbeagoodjudgeofbusiness.”
“Ah!”sayshe,fallingagaintosmiling,“IgotmywastefulnessfromthesamemanIgotthebuttonsfrom;andthatwasmypoorfather,DuncanStewart,gracebetohim!Hewastheprettiestmanofhiskindred;andthebestswordsmanintheHielands,David,andthatisthesameastosay,inalltheworld,Ishouldken,foritwashimthattaughtme.HewasintheBlackWatch,whenfirstitwasmustered;and,likeothergentlemenprivates,hadagillieathisbacktocarryhisfirelockforhimonthemarch.Well,theKing,itappears,waswishfultoseeHielandswordsmanship;andmyfatherandthreemorewerechosenoutandsenttoLondontown,tolethimseeitatthebest.Sotheywerehadintothepalaceandshowedthewholeartoftheswordfortwohoursatastretch,beforeKingGeorgeandQueenCarline,andtheButcherCumberland,andmanymoreofwhomIhavenaemind.Andwhentheywerethrough,theKing(forallhewasarankusurper)spokethemfairandgaveeachmanthreeguineasinhishand.Now,astheyweregoingoutofthepalace,theyhadaporter’slodgetogoby;anditcameinonmyfather,ashewasperhapsthefirstprivateHielandgentlemanthathadevergonebythatdoor,itwasrightheshouldgivethepoorporterapropernotionoftheirquality.
