Викрадений
Chapter 16
“Iamverymuchaffronted,”hesaid;“andthisisnotthewaythatoneshentlemanshouldbehavetoanotheratall.ThemanyouaskforisinFrance;butifhewasinmysporran,”sayshe,“andyourbellyfullofshillings,Iwouldnothurtahairuponhisbody.”
IsawIhadgonethewrongwaytowork,andwithoutwastingtimeuponapologies,showedhimthebuttonlyinginthehollowofmypalm.
“Aweel,aweel,”saidNeil;“andIthinkyemighthavebegunwiththatendofthestick,whatever!Butifyearetheladwiththesilverbutton,alliswell,andIhavethewordtoseethatyecomesafe.Butifyewillpardonmetospeakplainly,”sayshe,“thereisanamethatyoushouldnevertakeintoyourmouth,andthatisthenameofAlanBreck;andthereisathingthatyewouldneverdo,andthatistoofferyourdirtymoneytoaHielandshentleman.”
Itwasnotveryeasytoapologise;forIcouldscarcetellhim(whatwasthetruth)thatIhadneverdreamedhewouldsetuptobeagentlemanuntilhetoldmeso.Neilonhisparthadnowishtoprolonghisdealingswithme,onlytofulfilhisordersandbedonewithit;andhemadehastetogivememyroute.ThiswastoliethenightinKinlochalineinthepublicinn;tocrossMorventhenextdaytoArdgour,andliethenightinthehouseofoneJohnoftheClaymore,whowaswarnedthatImightcome;thethirdday,tobesetacrossonelochatCorranandanotheratBalachulish,andthenaskmywaytothehouseofJamesoftheGlens,atAucharninDurorofAppin.
