Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 4 - 1819.djvu/189

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A LEGEND OF MONTROSE.
177

to trust your lordship has not forgotten my pay as well as my person?"

"My good friend, Major Dalgetty," said Montrose, who by this time perfectly recollected his man, "you must consider what important things have happened to put my friends' faces out of my memory, besides this imperfect light; but all conditions shall be kept. And what news from Argyleshire, my good Major? We have long given you up for lost, and I was now preparing to take the most signal vengeance upon the old fox who infringed the law of arms in your person."

"Truly, my noble lord," said Dalgetty, "I have no desire that my return should put any stop to so proper and becoming an intention; verily, it is in no shape in the Earl of Argyle's favour or mercy that I now stand before you, and I shall be no intercessor for him.—But my escape is, under heaven, and the excellent dexterity which, as an old and accomplished cavalier, I displayed in effecting the same,—I say, under these, it