character; and besides, said he, 'I am bound not to open them

before the year 1889.' You may fancy if these words struck me: I

instituted a hunt through all the M'Brair repositories; and at last

hit upon that packet which (if you have had enough wine) I propose

to show you at once."

In the smoking-room, to which my host now led me, was a packet,

fastened with many seals and enclosed in a single sheet of strong

paper thus endorsed:

Papers relating to the lives and lamentable deaths of the late Lord

Durisdeer, and his elder brother James, commonly called Master of

Ballantrae, attainted in the troubles: entrusted into the hands of

John M'Brair in the Lawnmarket of Edinburgh, W.S.; this 20th day of

September Anno Domini 1789; by him to be kept secret until the

revolution of one hundred years complete, or until the 20th day of

September 1889: the same compiled and written by me, EPHRAIM

MACKELLAR,

For near forty years Land Steward on the estates of his Lordship.

As Mr. Thomson is a married man, I will not say what hour had

struck when we laid down the last of the following pages; but I

will give a few words of what ensued.

"Here," said Mr. Thomson, "is a novel ready to your hand: all you

have to do is to work up the scenery, develop the characters, and

improve the style."

"My dear fellow," said I, "they are just the three things that I

would rather die than set my hand to. It shall be published as it

stands."

"But it's so bald," objected Mr. Thomson.

"I believe there is nothing so noble as baldness," replied I, "and

I am sure there in nothing so interesting. I would have all

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>