Викрадений

           Now,thetenantsofAppinhavetopayarenttoKingGeorge;buttheirheartsarestaunch,theyaretruetotheirchief;andwhatwithloveandabitofpressure,andmaybeathreatortwo,thepoorfolkscrapeupasecondrentforArdshiel.Well,David,I’mthehandthatcarriesit.”Andhestruckthebeltabouthisbody,sothattheguineasrang.

           “Dotheypayboth?”criedI.

           “Ay,David,both,”sayshe.

           “What!tworents?”Irepeated.

           “Ay,David,”saidhe.“Itoldadifferenttaletoyoncaptainman;butthisisthetruthofit.Andit’swonderfultomehowlittlepressureisneeded.Butthat’sthehandiworkofmygoodkinsmanandmyfather’sfriend,JamesoftheGlens:JamesStewart,thatis:Ardshiel’shalf-brother.Heitisthatgetsthemoneyin,anddoesthemanagement.”

           ThiswasthefirsttimeIheardthenameofthatJamesStewart,whowasafterwardssofamousatthetimeofhishanging.ButItooklittleheedatthemoment,forallmymindwasoccupiedwiththegenerosityofthesepoorHighlanders.

           “Icallitnoble,”Icried.“I’maWhig,orlittlebetter;butIcallitnoble.”

           “Ay”saidhe,“ye’reaWhig,butye’reagentleman;andthat’swhatdoesit.Now,ifyewereoneofthecursedraceofCampbell,yewouldgnashyourteethtoheartellofit.IfyeweretheRedFox...”Andatthatname,histeethshuttogether,andheceasedspeaking.Ihaveseenmanyagrimface,butneveragrimmerthanAlan’swhenhehadnamedtheRedFox.

           “AndwhoistheRedFox?”Iasked,daunted,butstillcurious.