Викрадений
Chapter 9
“Ihavetoldyesir,”saidhe,“thatnotonedoitofitbelongstome.Itbelongstomychieftain,”andherehetouchedhishat,“andwhileIwouldbebutasillymessengertogrudgesomeofitthattherestmightcomesafe,IshouldshowmyselfahoundindeedifIboughtmyowncarcaseanytoodear.Thirtyguineasonthesea-side,orsixtyifyesetmeontheLinnheLoch.Takeit,ifyewill;ifnot,yecandoyourworst.”
“Ay,”saidHoseason.“AndifIgiveyeovertothesoldiers?”
“Yewouldmakeafool’sbargain,”saidtheother.“Mychief,letmetellyou,sir,isforfeited,likeeveryhonestmaninScotland.HisestateisinthehandsofthemantheycallKingGeorge;anditishisofficersthatcollecttherents,ortrytocollectthem.ButforthehonourofScotland,thepoortenantbodiestakeathoughtupontheirchieflyinginexile;andthismoneyisapartofthatveryrentforwhichKingGeorgeislooking.Now,sir,yeseemtometobeamanthatunderstandsthings:bringthismoneywithinthereachofGovernment,andhowmuchofit’llcometoyou?”
“Littleenough,tobesure,”saidHoseason;andthen,“iftheyknew,”headded,drily.“ButIthink,ifIwastotry,thatIcouldholdmytongueaboutit.”
“Ah,butI’llbegowkyethere!”criedthegentleman.“Playmefalse,andI’llplayyoucunning.Ifahandislaiduponme,theyshallkenwhatmoneyitis.”
“Well,”returnedthecaptain,“whatmustbemust.Sixtyguineas,anddone.Here’smyhanduponit.
