Fiction > Book editions > New York, 1893 - David Balfour

DAVID BALFOUR 19
He said this with a plain sueer.
" I'll have to run the hazard," I replied. " 0,
and there's another service I would ask, and that's to
direct me to a lodging, for I have no roof to my head.
But it must be a lodging I may seem to have hit upon
by accident, for it would never do if the Lord Advocate
were to get any jealousy of our acquaintance."
•'Ye may set your weary spirit at rest," said he. " I
will never name your name, sir ; and it's my belief the
Advocate is still so much to be sympathised with that
he doesnae ken of your existence."
I saw I had got to the wrong side of the man,
" There's a braw day coming for him, then," said I,
*■' for he'll have to learn of it on the deaf side of his
head no later than to-morrow, when I call on him."
" When ye call on him ! " repeated Mr. Stewart.
" Am I daft, or are you ? What takes ye near the
Advocate ? ''
" 0, just to give myself up," said I.
"Mr. Balfour," he cried, "are ye making a mock of
me ? ''
" No, sir," said I, " though I think you have allowed
yourself some such freedom with myself. But I give
you to understand once and for all that I am in no
jesting spirit."
"Nor yet mo." says Stewart. " And I give you to
understand (if that's to be the word) that I like the
looks of your behaviour less and less. You come here to