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Chapter 27
“Sir,”saidI,“ifItellyoumystory,Imustcommitafriend’slifetoyourdiscretion.Passmeyourworditshallbesacred;andforwhattouchesmyself,Iwillasknobetterguaranteethanjustyourface.”
Hepassedmehiswordveryseriously.“But,”saidhe,“theseareratheralarmingprolocutions;andifthereareinyourstoryanylittlejostlestothelaw,IwouldbegyoutobearinmindthatIamalawyer,andpasslightly.”
ThereuponItoldhimmystoryfromthefirst,helisteningwithhisspectaclesthrustupandhiseyesclosed,sothatIsometimesfearedhewasasleep.Butnosuchmatter!heheardeveryword(asIfoundafterward)withsuchquicknessofhearingandprecisionofmemoryasoftensurprisedme.EvenstrangeoutlandishGaelicnames,heardforthattimeonly,herememberedandwouldremindmeof,yearsafter.YetwhenIcalledAlanBreckinfull,wehadanoddscene.ThenameofAlanhadofcourserungthroughScotland,withthenewsoftheAppinmurderandtheofferofthereward;andithadnosoonerescapedmethanthelawyermovedinhisseatandopenedhiseyes.
“Iwouldnamenounnecessarynames,Mr.Balfour,”saidhe;“aboveallofHighlanders,manyofwhomareobnoxioustothelaw.”
“Well,itmighthavebeenbetternot,”saidI,“butsinceIhaveletitslip,Imayaswellcontinue.”
“Notatall,”saidMr.Rankeillor.“Iamsomewhatdullofhearing,asyoumayhaveremarked;andIamfarfromsureIcaughtthenameexactly.Wewillcallyourfriend,ifyouplease,Mr.
