f　parchment；　such　as　Saunders　Fairford；　or　from　the　empty　pedantic　coxcomb；　his　son；　who　now；　forsooth；　writer　himself　advocate？　　When　Scotland　was　herself；　and　had　her　own　king　and　legislature；　such　plebeian　cubs；　instead　of　being　called　to　the　bar　of　her　supreme　courts；　would　scarce　have　been　admitted　to　the　honour　of　bearing　a　sheepskin　process…bag。'
  Alan；　I　could　not　bear　this；　but　answered　indignantly；　that　he　knew　not　the　worth　and　honour　from　which　he　was　detracting。
  'I　know　as　much　of　these　Fairfords　as　I　do　of　you；'　he　replied。
  'As　much；'　said　I；　'and　as　little；　for　you　can　neither　estimate　their　real　worth　nor　mine。　　I　know　you　saw　them　when　last　in　Edinburgh。'
  'Ha！'　　he　exclaimed；　and　turned　on　me　an　inquisitive　look。
  'It　is　true；'　said　I；　'you　cannot　deny　it；　and　having　thus　shown　you　that　I　know　something　of　your　motions；　let　me　warn　you　I　have　modes　of　communication　with　which　you　are　not　acquainted。　　Oblige　me　not　to　use　them　to　your　prejudice。'
  'Prejudice　me！'　　he　replied。　　'Young　man；　I　smile　at；　and　forgive　your　folly。　　Nay；　I　will　tell　you　that　of　which　you　are　not　aware；　namely；　that　it　was　from　letters　received　from　these　Fairfords　that　I　first　suspected；　what　the　result　of　my　visit　to　them　confirmed；　that　you　were　the　person　whom　I　had　sought　for　years。'
  'If　you　learned　this；'　said　I；　'from　the　papers　which　were　about　my　person　on　the　night　when　I　was　under　the　necessity　of　becoming　your　guest　at　Brokenburn；　I　do　not　envy　your　indifference　to　the　means　of　acquiring　information。　　It　was　dishonourable　to'
  'Peace；　young　man；'　said　Herries；　more　calmly　than　I　might　have　expected；　'the　word　dishonour　must　not　be　mentioned　as　in　conjunction　with　my　name。　　Your　pocket…book　was　in　the　pocket　of　your　coat；　and　did　not　escape　the　curiosity　of　another；　though　it　would　have　been　sacred　from　mine；　My　servant；　Cristal　Nixon；　brought　me　the　intelligence　after　you　were　gone。　　I　was　displeased　with　the　manner　in　which　he　had　acquired　his　information；　but　it　was　not　the　less　my　duty　to　ascertain　its　truth；　and　for　that　purpose　I　went　to　Edinburgh。　　I　was　in　hopes　to　persuade　Mr。　Fairford　to　have　entered　into　my　views；　but　I　found　him　too　much　prejudiced　to　permit　me　to　trust　him。　　He　is　a　wretched；　yet　a　timid　slave　of　the　present　government；　under　which　our　unhappy　country　is　dishonourably　enthralled；　and　it　would　have　been　altogether　unfit　and　unsafe　to　have　entrusted　him　with　the　secret　either　of　the　right　which　I　possess　to　direct　your　actions；　or　of　the　manner　in　which　I　purpose　to　exercise　it。'
  I　was　determined　to　take　advantage　of　his　communicative　humour；　and　obtain；　if　possible；　more　light　upon　his　purpose。　　He　seemed　most　accessible　to　being　piqued　on　the　point　of　honour；　and　I　resolved　to　avail　myself；　but　with　caution；　of　his　sensibility　upon　that　topic。　　'You　say；'　I　replied；　'that　you　are　not　friendly　to　indirect　practices；　and　disapprove　of　the　means　by　which　your　domestic　obtained　information　of　my　name　and　quality　Is　it　honourable　to　avail　yourself　of　that　knowledge　which　is　dishonourably　obtained？'
  'It　is　boldly　asked；'　he　replied；　'but；　within　certain　necessary　limits；　I　dislike　not　boldness　of　expostulation。　　You　have；　in　this　short　conference；　displayed　more　character　and　energy　than　I　was　prepared　to　expect。　　You　will；　I　trust；　resemble　a　forest　plant；　which　has　indeed；　by　some　accident；　been　brought　up　in　the　greenhouse；　and　thus　rendered　delicate　and　effeminate；　but　which　regains　its　native　firmness　and　tenacity　when　exposed　for　a　season　to　the　winter　air。　　I　will　answer　your　question　plainly。　In　business；　as　in　war；　spies　and　informers　are　necessary　evils；　which　all　good　men　detest；　but　which　yet　all　prudent　men　must　use；　unless　they　mean　to　fight　and　act　blindfold。　　But　nothing　can　justify　the　use　of　falsehood　and　treachery　in　our　own　person。'
  'You　said　to　the　elder　Mr。　Fairford；'　continued　I；　with　the　same　boldness；　which　I　began　to　find　was　my　best　game；　'that　I　was　the　son　of　Ralph　Latimer　of　Langcote　Hall？　　How　do　you　reconcile　this　with　your　late　assertion　that　my　name　is　not　Latimer？'
  He　coloured　as　he　replied；　'The　doting　old　fool　lied；　or　perhaps　mistook　my　meaning。　　I　said；　that　gentleman　might　be　your　father。　To　say　truth；　I　wished　you　to　visit　England；　your　native　country；　because；　when　you　might　do　so；　my　rights　over　you　would　revive。'
  This　speech　fully　led　me　to　understand　a　caution　which　had　been　often　impressed　upon　me；　that；　if　I　regarded　my　safety；　I　should　not　cross　the　southern　Border；　and　I　cursed　my　own　folly；　which　kept　me　fluttering　like　a　moth　around　the　candle；　until　I　was　betrayed　into　the　calamity　with　which　I　had　dallied。　　'What　are　those　rights；'　I　said；　'which　you　claim　over　me？　　To　what　end　do　you　propose　to　turn　them？'
  'To　a　weighty　one；　you　may　be　certain；'　answered　Mr。　Herries；　'but　I　do　not；　at　present；　mean　to　communicate　to　you　either　its　nature　or　extent。　　You　may　judge　of　its　importance；　when；　in　order　entirely　to　possess　myself　of　your　person；　I　condescended　to　mix　myself　with　the　fellows　who　destroyed　the　fishing　station　of　yon　wretched　Quaker。　　That　I　held　him　in　contempt；　and　was　displeased　at　the　greedy　devices　with　which　he　ruined　a　manly　sport；　is　true　enough；　but；　unless　as　it　favoured　my　designs　on　you；　he　might　have；　for　me；　maintained　his　stake…nets　till　Solway　should　cease　to　ebb　and　flow。'
  'Alas！'　　I　said；　'it　doubles　my　regret　to　have　been　the　unwilling　cause　of　misfortune　to　an　honest　and　friendly　man。'
  'Do　not　grieve　for　that；'　said　Herries；　'honest　Joshua　is　one　of　those　who；　by　dint　of　long　prayers；　can　possess　themselves　of　widow's　houseshe　will　quickly　repair　his　losses。　　When　he　sustains　any　mishap；　he　and　the　other　canters　set　it　down　as　a　debt　against　Heaven；　and；　by　way　of　set…off；　practise　rogueries　without　compunction；　till　the　they　make　the　balance　even；　or　incline　it　to　the　winning　side。　　Enough　of　this　for　the　present。　I　must　immediately　shift　my　quarters；　for；　although　I　do　not　fear　the　over…zeal　of　Mr。　Justice　Foxley　or　his　clerk　will　lead　them　to　any　extreme　measure；　yet　that　mad　scoundrel's　unhappy　recognition　of　me　may　make　it　more　serious　for　them　to　connive　at　me；　and　I　must　not　put　their　patience　to　an　over　severe　trial。　You　must　prepare　to　attend　me；　either　as　a　captive　or　a　companion；　if　as　the　latter；　you　must　give　your　parole　of　honour　to　attempt　no　escape。　　Should　you　be　so　ill　advised　as　to　break　your　word　once　pledged；　be　assured　that　I　will　blow　your　brains　out　without　a　moment's　scruple。'
  'I　am　ignorant　of　your　plans　and　purposes；'　I　replied；　'and　cannot　but　hold　them　dangerous。　　I　do　not　mean　to　aggravate　my　present　situation　by　any　unavailing　resistance　to　the　superior　force　which　detains　me；　but　I　will　not　renounce　the　right　of　asserting　my　natural　freedom　should　it　favourable　opportunity　occur。　　I　will；　therefore；　rather　be　your　prisoner　than　your　confederate。'
  'That　is　spoken　fairly；'　he　said；　'and　yet　not　without　the　canny　caution　of　one　brought　up　in　the　Gude　Town　of　Edinburgh。　　On　my　part；　I　will　impose　no　unnecessary　hardship　upon　you；　but；　on　the　contrary；　your　journey　shall　be　made　as　easy　as　is　consistent　with　your　being　kept　safely。　　Do　you　feel　strong　enough　to　ride　on　horseback　as　yet；　or　would　you　prefer　a　carriage？　　The　former　mode　of　travelling　is　best　adapted　to　the　country　through　which　we　are　to　travel；　but　you　are　at　liberty　to　choose　between　them。'
  I　said；　'I　felt　my　strength　gradually　returning；　and　that　I　should　much　prefer　travelling　on　horseback。　　A　carriage；'　I　added；　'is　so　close'
  'And　so　easily　guarded；'　replied　Herries；　with　a　look　as　if　he　would　have　penetrated　my　very　thoughts；'that；　doubtless；　you　think　horseback　better　calculated　for　an　escape。'
  'My　thoughts　are　my　own；'　I　answered；　'and　though　you　keep　my　person　prisoner；　these　are　beyond　your　control。'
  'Oh；　I　can　read　the　book；'　he　said；　'without　opening　the　leaves。　But　I　would　recommend　to　you　to　make　no　rash　attempt；　and　it　will　be　my　care　to　see　that　you　have　no　power　to　make　any　that　is　likely　to　be　effectual。　　Linen；　and　all　other　necessaries　for　one　in　your　circumstances；　are　amply　provided；　Cristal　Nixon　will　act　as　your　valet；I　should　rather；　perhaps；　say；　your　FEMME　DE　CHAMBRE。　　Your　travelling　dress　you　may　perhaps　consider　as　singular；　but　it　is　such　as　the　circumstances　require；　and；　if　you　object　to　use　the　articles　prepared　for　your　use；　your　mode　of　journeying　will　be　as　personally　unpleasant　as　that　which　conducted　you　hither。AdieuWe　now　know　each　other　better　than　we　didit　will　not　be　my　fault　if　the　consequences　of　further　intimacy　be　not　a　more　favourable　mutual　opinion。'
  He　then　left　me；　with　a　civil　good　night；　to　my　own　reflections；　and　only　turned　back　to　say　that　we　should　proceed　on　our　journey　at　daybreak　next　morning；　at　furthest；　perhaps　earlier；　he　said；　but　complimented　me　by　supposing　that；　as　I　was　a　sportsman；　I　must　always　be　ready　for　a　sudden　start。
  We　are　then　at　issue；　this　singular　man　and　myself。　　His　personal　views　are　to　a　certain　point　explained。　　He　has　chosen　an　antiquated　and　desperate　line　of　politics；　and　he　claims；　from　some　pretended　tie　of　guardianship　or　relationship；　which　he　does　not　deign　to　explain　but　which　he　se