denial is not a bad one in general," said my
attorney. "But at present there is no occasion for it. You do not deny
your own hand?"

"I deny everything connected with the business," cried I. "I disclaim
it in toto, and declare that I know no more about it than the child
unborn."

"That is exceedingly good!" exclaimed he. "I like your pertinacity
vastly! I have three of your letters, and three of your signatures;
that part is all settled, and I hope so is the whole affair; for here
is the original grant to your father, which he has never thought proper
to put in requisition. Simple gentleman! But here have I, Lawyer
Linkum, in one hundredth part of the time that any other notary,
writer, attorney, or writer of the signet in Britain would have done
it, procured the signature of His Majesty's commissioner, and thereby
confirmed the charter to you and your house, sir, for ever and
ever--Begging your pardon, madam." The lady, as well as myself, tried
several times to interrupt the loquacity of Linkum, but in vain: he
only raised his hand with a quick flourish, and went on:

"Here it is:

JAMES, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland,
to his right trusty cousin, sendeth greeting: And whereas his right
leal and trust-worthy cousin, George Colwan, of Dalcastle and
Balgrennan, hath suffered great losses, and undergone much hardship, on
behalf of his Majesty's rights and titles; he therefore, for himself,
and as prince and steward of Scotland, and by the consent of his right
trusty cousins and councillors hereby grants to the said George Colwan,
his heirs and assignees whatsomever, heritably and irrevocably, all and
haill the lands and others underwritten: To wit, All and haill, the
five merk land of Kipplerig; the five pound land of Easter Knockward,
with all the towers, fortalices, manor-places, houses, biggings, yards,
orchards, tofts, crofts, mills, woods, fishings, mosses, muirs,
meadows, commonties, pasturages, coals, coal-heughs, tennants,
tenantries, services of free tenants, annexes, connexes, dependencies,
parts, pendicles, and pertinents of the same whatsomever; to be
peaceably brooked, joysed, set, used, and disposed of by him and his
aboves, as specified, heritably and irrevocably, in all time coming:
And, in testimony thereof, his Majesty, for himself, and as prince
steward of Scotland, with the advice and consent of his foresaids,
knowledge, proper motive, and kingly power, makes, ere