"Gentlemen," said the Master of Ravenswood, "I am sorry if I have occasioned you any inconvenience, but I must claim the right of judging what is best for my own affairs, without rendering any explanations to any one. I have altered my mind, and do not design to leave the country this season."
"Not to leave the country, Master!" exclaimed Craigengelt. "Not to go over, after all the trouble and expence I have incurred—after all the risk of discovery, and the expence of freight and demurrage!"
"Sir," replied the Master of Ravenswood, "when I designed to leave this country in this haste, I made use of your obliging offer to procure me means of conveyance; but I do not recollect that I pledged myself to go off, if I found occasion to alter my mind. For your trouble on my account, I am sorry, and I thank you; your expence," he added, putting his hand into his pocket, "admits a more solid compensation—freight and demurrage are matters
