Викрадений
Chapter 15
AtTorosay,ontheSoundofMullandlookingovertothemainlandofMorven,therewasaninnwithaninnkeeper,whowasaMaclean,itappeared,ofaveryhighfamily;fortokeepaninnisthoughtevenmoregenteelintheHighlandsthanitiswithus,perhapsaspartakingofhospitality,orperhapsbecausethetradeisidleanddrunken.HespokegoodEnglish,andfindingmetobesomethingofascholar,triedmefirstinFrench,whereheeasilybeatme,andthenintheLatin,inwhichIdon’tknowwhichofusdidbest.Thispleasantrivalryputusatonceuponfriendlyterms;andIsatupanddrankpunchwithhim(ortobemorecorrect,satupandwatchedhimdrinkit),untilhewassotipsythatheweptuponmyshoulder.
Itriedhim,asifbyaccident,withasightofAlan’sbutton;butitwasplainhehadneverseenorheardofit.Indeed,heboresomegrudgeagainstthefamilyandfriendsofArdshiel,andbeforehewasdrunkhereadmealampoon,inverygoodLatin,butwithaveryillmeaning,whichhehadmadeinelegiacversesuponapersonofthathouse.
WhenItoldhimofmycatechist,heshookhishead,andsaidIwasluckytohavegotclearoff.“Thatisaverydangerousman,”hesaid;“DuncanMackieghishisname;hecanshootbytheearatseveralyards,andhasbeenoftenaccusedofhighwayrobberies,andonceofmurder.”
“Thecreamofitis,”saysI,“thathecalledhimselfacatechist.”
“Andwhyshouldhenot?”sayshe,“whenthatiswhatheis.ItwasMacleanofDuartgaveittohimbecausehewasblind
