“That, when they saw me there, they would fit their words to my ears.”
“I ken them better nor ony black-coat atween Cromarty an’ Peterheid; an’ I can tell yer lordship there winna be ae word o’ differ for your bein’ there.”
“If only I could be there and not there both at once! There’s no other sure mode of testing your assertion. What a pity the only thorough way should be an impossible one!”
“To a’ practical purpose, it’s easy eneuch, my lord. Jist gang ohn be seen the first nicht, an’ the neist gang in a co’ch an’ fower. Syne compaur.”
“Quite satisfactory, no doubt, if I could bring myself to do it; but, though I said I would, I don’t like to interfere so far even as to go at all.”
“At ony public meetin’, my lord, ye hae as guid a richt to be present, as the puirest body i’ the lan’. An’ forbye that, as lord o’ the place, ye hae a richt to ken what’s gaein’ on: I dinna ken hoo far the richt o’ interferin’ gangs; that’s anither thing a’thegither.”
“I see you’re a thorough-going rebel yourself.”
“Naething o’ the kind, my lord. I’m only sae far o’ yer lordship’s min’ ’at I like fair play—gien a body could only be aye richt sure what was fair play!”
“Yes, there’s the very point!—certainly, at least, when the question comes to be of eaves-dropping—not to mention that I could never condescend to play the spy.”
“What a body has a richt to hear, he may hear as he likes—either shawin’ himsel’ or hidin’ himsel’. An’ it’s the only plan ’at’s fair to them, my lord. It’s no ’s gien yer lordship was lyin’ in wait to du them a mischeef: ye want raither to du them a kin’ness, an’ tak their pairt.”