, at
leaving his farm to join the Chevalier's army, made it his petition to her to
have some sort of credentials to the Adventurer, from whom he hoped to obtain a
commission.
    The letter reached Charles Edward on his descent to the Lowlands, and, aware
of the political importance of having it supposed that he was in correspondence
with the English Jacobites, he caused the most positive orders to be transmitted
to Donald Bean Lean, to transmit Waverley, safe and uninjured in person or
effects, to the governor of Doune Castle. The freebooter durst not disobey, for
the army of the Prince was now so near him that punishment might have followed;
besides, he was a politician as well as a robber, and was unwilling to cancel
the interest created through former secret services, by being refractory on this
occasion. He therefore made a virtue of necessity, and transmitted orders to his
lieutenant to convey Edward to Doune, which was safely accomplished in the mode
mentioned in a former chapter. The governor of Doune was directed to send him to
Edinburgh as a prisoner, because the Prince was apprehensive that Waverley, if
set at liberty, might have resumed his purpose of returning to England, without
affording him an opportunity of a personal interview. In this, indeed he acted
by the advice of the Chieftain of Glennaquoich, with whom it may be remembered
the Chevalier communicated upon the mode of disposing of Edward, though without
telling him how he came to learn the place of his confinement.
    This, indeed, Charles Edward considered as a lady's secret; for although
Rose's letter was couched in the most cautious and general terms, and professed
to be written merely from motives of humanity, and zeal for the Prince's
service, yet she expressed so anxious a wish that she should not be known to
have interfered, that the Chevalier was induced to suspect the deep interest
which she took in Waverley's safety. This conjecture, which was well founded,
led, however, to false inferences. For the emotion which Edward displayed on
approaching Flora and Rose at the ball of Holyrood, was placed by the Chevalier
to the account of the latter; and he concluded that the Baron's views about the
settlement of his property, or some such obstacle, thwarted their mutual
inclinations. Common fame, it is true, frequently gave Waverley to Miss
Mac-Ivor; but the Prince knew that common fame is very prodigal in such gifts;
and, watching attentively the behaviour of the ladies towards Waverley, he had
no doubt that the young Englishman had no interest with Flora,