uld very ill afford it. And now, Mr.
Balfour," said he, "you understand the whole process of these matters,
and can judge for yourself to what extent I may be trusted."

Indeed, he was more pedantic than I can represent him, and placed more
scraps of Latin in his speech; but it was all uttered with a fine
geniality of eye and manner which went far to conquer my distrust.
Moreover, I could see he now treated me as if I was myself beyond a
doubt; so that first point of my identity seemed fully granted.

"Sir," said I, "if I tell you my story, I must commit a friend's life to
your discretion. Pass me your word it shall be sacred; and for what
touches myself I will ask no better guarantee than just your face."

He passed me his word very seriously. "But," said he, "these are rather
alarming prolocutions; and if there are in your story any little jostles
to the law, I would beg you to bear in mind that I am a lawyer, and pass
lightly."

Thereupon I told him my story from the first, he listening with his
spectacles thrust up and his eyes closed, so that I sometimes feared he
was asleep. But no such matter! he heard every word (as I found
afterward) with such quickness of hearing and precision of memory as
often surprised me. Even strange outlandish Gaelic names, heard for that
time only, he remembered, and would remind me of, years after. Yet when
I called Alan Breck in full, we had an odd scene. The name of Alan had
of course rung through Scotland, with the news of the Appin murder and
the offer of the reward; and it had no sooner escaped me than the lawyer
moved in his seat and opened his eyes.

"I would name no unnecessary names, Mr. Balfour," said he; "above all of
Highlanders, many of whom are obnoxious to the law."

"Well, it might have been better not," said I, "but, since I have let it
slip, I may as well continue."

"Not at all," said Mr. Rankeillor. "I am somewhat dull of hearing, as
you may have remarked; and I am far from sure I caught the name exactly.
We will call your friend, if you please, Mr. Thomson--that there may be
no reflections. And in future, I would take some such way with any
Highlander that you may have to mention--dead or alive."

By this I saw he must have heard the name all too clearly, and had
already guessed I might be coming to the murder. If he chose to play
this part of ignorance, it was no matter of mine; so I smiled, said it
was no very Highland-sounding name, and consented. Throug