Fiction > Serialisations > London, 1893 - David Balfour

DAVID BALFOUR.
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Miller, and a Mr. David Balfour. Mr. I)a\id
Balfour has a very good ground of complaint,
and I think, gentlemen, if his story was properly
read out, there would be a number of wigs on the
green."
The whole table turned on him with a common
movement.
" Properlv handled and carefully read out, his is
a story that could scarcely fail to have some conse-
quence," he continued. "The whole administration
of justice, from its highest ofificer downward, would
be totally discredited; and it looks to me as if they
•would need to be replaced." He seemed to shine
with cunning as he said it. '•And I need not point
out to ye that this of Mr. Balfour's would be a re-
markably bonny cause to appear in," he added.
\\'ell, there they all were started on another hare:
Mr. Balfour's cause, and what kind of speeches
could be there delivered, and what officials could
be thus turned out, and who would succeed to their
posiiions. I shall give but the two specimens. It
was proposed to approach Simon Fraser, whose
testimony, if it could be obtained, would prove
certainly fatal to Argyle and Prestongrange. Miller
highly approved of the attempt. 'MVe have here
before us a dreeping roast," said he, "here is cut-
and-come-again for all." And methought all licked
their lips. The other was already near the end.
Stewart the \\'riter was out of the body with delight,
smelling vengeance on his chief enemy, the Duke.
"Gentlemen,'' cried he, changing his glass, "here
is to Sheriff Miller. His legal abilitities are known
to all. His culinary, this bowl in front of us is
here to speak for. But when it comes to be
political ! " — cries he, and drains the glass.
" Ay, but it will hardly prove politics in your
meaning, mv friend,'' said the gratified Miller.
" A revoluticjn if you like, and I think I can
promise vou that historical writers shall date from
Mr. Balfour's cause. But properly guided, Mr.
Stewart, tenderlv guided, it shall prove a peaceful
revolution."'
" And if the Campbells get their ears rubbed,
what care I ? '' cries Stewart, smiting down his fist.
It will be thought I was not very well pleased
with all this, though I could scarcely forbear smil-
ing at a kind of innocency in these old intriguers.
But it was not my view to have undergone so
many sorrows as to make a revolution in the
Parliament House, for the advancement of Sheriff
.Miller : and I interposed accordingly with as much
simplicity of manner as I could assume.
" I have to thank vou, gentlemen, for your
advice," said I. ''And now I would like, by your
leave, to set you two or three questions. There is
one thing that has fallen rather on one side, for
instance: Will tliis cause do any good to our friend
James of the Glens ? "
They seemed all a hair set back, and gave
various answers, but concurring practically in one
point, that James had now no hope but in the
King's mercy.
"To proceed, then." said I, "will it do any good
to Scotland? We have a saying that it is an ill
bird that fouls his own nest. I remember hearing
we had a riot in Edinburgh when I was an infant
child, which gave occasion to the late Queen to
call this country barbarous ; and I always under-
stood that we had rather lost than gained by that.
Then came the year 'Forty-five, which made Scot-
land to be talked of everywhere; but I never heard
it said we had anyway gained by the 'Forty-five.
And now we come to this cause of Mr. Balfour's,
as you call it. Sheriff Miller tells us historical
writers arc to date from it, and I would not wonder.
It is only my fear they vnouM date from it as a
period of calamity and public reproach."
The nimble -witted Miller had already smelt
where I was tra\elling to, and made haste to get
on the same road. " Forcibly put, Mr. Balfour,"
says he. " A weighty observe, sir."
" Wt ha\e next to ask ourselves if it will be good
for King George," I pursued. "Sheriff Miller
appears pretty easy upon this ; but I doubt you
will scarce be able to pull down the house from
under him, without his Majesty coming by a knock
or two, one of which might easily prove fatal."
I gave them a chance to answer, but none
volunteered.
•' Of those for whom the case was to be profit-
able," I went on, " Sheriff Miller gave us th£ names
of several, among the which he was good enough
to mention mine. I hope he will pardon me if I
think otherwise. I believe I hung not the least
back in this affair while there was life to be saved ;
but I own I thought myself extremely hazarded,
and I own I think it would be a pity for a young
man, with some idea of coming to the bar, to in-
grain upon himself the character of a turbulent,
factious fellow before he was yet twenty. As for