Викрадений
Chapter 24
Stewart,”saidI,inavoicethatquiveredlikeafiddle-string,“youareolderthanIam,andshouldknowyourmanners.Doyouthinkiteitherverywiseorverywittytocastmypoliticsinmyteeth?Ithought,wherefolkdiffered,itwasthepartofgentlementodiffercivilly;andifIdidnot,ImaytellyouIcouldfindabettertauntthansomeofyours.”
Alanhadstoppedoppositetome,hishatcocked,hishandsinhisbreechespockets,hisheadalittleononeside.Helistened,smilingevilly,asIcouldseebythestarlight;andwhenIhaddonehebegantowhistleaJacobiteair.ItwastheairmadeinmockeryofGeneralCope’sdefeatatPrestonPans:
“Hey,JohnnieCope,areyewaukin’yet?
Andareyourdrumsa-beatin’yet?”
AnditcameinmymindthatAlan,onthedayofthatbattle,hadbeenengagedupontheroyalside.
“Whydoyetakethatair,Mr.Stewart?”saidI.“Isthattoremindmeyouhavebeenbeatenonbothsides?”
TheairstoppedonAlan’slips.“David!”saidhe.
“Butit’stimethesemannersceased,”Icontinued;“andImeanyoushallhenceforthspeakcivillyofmyKingandmygoodfriendstheCampbells.”
“IamaStewart—”beganAlan.
“O!”saysI,“Ikenyebearaking’sname.Butyouaretoremember,sinceIhavebeenintheHighlands,Ihaveseenagoodmanyofthosethatbearit;andthebestIcansayofthemisthis,thattheywouldbenonetheworseofwashing.”
“Doyouknowthatyouinsultme?”saidAlan,verylow.
