 - and he couldna
tak care o' the siller when he had gotten it neither, but flung it a' into yon
idle quean's lap at Edinburgh - but light come light gane. For my part, I never
wish to see a kilt in the country again, nor a red-coat, nor a gun, for that
matter, unless it were to shoot a paitrick: - they're a' tarr'd wi' ae stick.
And when they have done ye wrang, even when ye hae gotten decreet of spulzie,
oppression, and violent profits against them, what better are ye? - they hae na
a plack to pay ye; ye need never extract it.«
    With such discourse, and the intervening topics of business, the time passed
until dinner, Macwheeble meanwhile promising to devise some mode of introducing
Edward at the Duchran, where Rose at present resided, without risk of danger or
suspicion; which seemed no very easy task, since the laird was a very zealous
friend to Government. - The poultry-yard had been laid under requisition and
cockyleeky and Scotch collops soon reeked in the Bailie's little parlour. The
landlord's corkscrew was just introduced into the muzzle of a pint-bottle of
claret (cribbed possibly from the cellars of Tully-Veolan), when the sight of
the grey pony, passing the window at full trot, induced the Bailie, but with due
precaution, to place it aside for the moment. Enter Jock Scriever with a packet
for Mr. Stanley: it is Colonel Talbot's seal; and Edward's fingers tremble as he
undoes it. Two official papers, folded, signed, and sealed in all formality,
drop out. They were hastily picked up by the Bailie, who had a natural respect
for everything resembling a deed, and, glancing slyly on their titles, his eyes,
or rather spectacles, are greeted with »Protection by his Royal Highness to the
person of Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine, Esq. of that ilk, commonly called Baron of
Bradwardine, forfeited for his accession to the late rebellion.« The other
proves to be a protection of the same tenor in favour of Edward Waverley, Esq.
Colonel Talbot's letter was in these words: -
 
        »My Dear Edward,
            I am just arrived here, and yet I have finished my business; it has
        cost me some trouble though, as you shall hear. I waited upon his Royal
        Highness immediately on my arrival, and found him in no very good humour
        for my purpose. Three or four Scotch gentlemen were just leaving
