A
thousand thousand blends. Be wise and tolerant--or to be wise be
tolerant!" He pushed the bottle.
Ian smiled. "I take that, sir, to mean that you find _God save King
James!_ not wholly harsh and unmusical--"
"Perhaps not wholly so," said the lawyer. "I am Whig and Presbyterian
and I prefer _God save King George!_ But I do not look for the world
to end, whether for King George or King James. I did not have in mind
just this public occasion."
His tone was dry. Ian kept his gold-brown eyes upon him. "Tell me what
you have heard from Black Hill."
"I was there late in May. Mr. Touris learned at that time that you had
quitted France."
"May I ask how he learned it?"
"The laird of Glenfernie, who had been in the Low Countries, told him.
Apparently Glenfernie had acquaintances, agents, who traced it out for
him that you had sailed from Dunkirk for Beauly Firth, under the name
of Robert Bonshaw."
"_So he was there, pacing the beach_," thought Ian. He lifted his
glass and drank Mr. Wotherspoon's very good wine. That gentleman went
on.
"It was surmised at Black Hill that you were helping on the event--the
great event, perhaps--that has occurred. Indeed, in July, Mr. Touris,
writing to me, mentioned that you had been seen beyond Inverness. But
the Highlands are deep and you traveled rapidly. Of course, when it
was known that the Prince had landed, your acquaintance assumed your
joining him and becoming, as you have become, an officer in his army.
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