"Then you might go on to say that I sought his lordship on a matter of

great moment, connected with His Majesty's service and the



administration of justice," I suggested.

"As I am not to hear the matter," says the laird, "I will not take upon



myself to qualify its weight. 'Great moment' therefore falls, and

'moment' along with it. For the rest I might express myself much as



you propose."

"And then, sir," said I, and rubbed my neck a little with my thumb,



"then I would be very desirous if you could slip in a word that might

perhaps tell for my protection."



"Protection?" says he, "for your protection! Here is a phrase that

somewhat dampens me. If the matter be so dangerous, I own I would be a



little loath to move in it blindfold."

"I believe I could indicate in two words where the thing sticks," said



I.

"Perhaps that would be the best," said he.



"Well, it's the Appin murder," said I.

He held up both his hands. "Sirs! sirs!" cried he.



I thought by the expression of his face and voice that I had lost my

helper.



"Let me explain. . ." I began.

"I thank you kindly, I will hear no more of it," says he. "I decline



IN TOTO to hear more of it. For your name's sake and Rankeillor's, and

perhaps a little for your own, I will do what I can to help you; but I



will hear no more upon the facts. And it is my first clear duty to

warn you. These are deep waters, Mr. David, and you are a young man.



Be cautious and think twice."

"It is to be supposed I will have thought oftener than that, Mr.



Balfour," said I, "and I will direct your attention again to

Rankeillor's letter, where (I hope and believe) he has registered his



approval of that which I design."

"Well, well," said he; and then again, "Well, well! I will do what I



can for you." There with he took a pen and paper, sat a while in

thought, and began to write with much consideration. "I understand



that Rankeillor approved of what you have in mind?" he asked presently.

"After some discussion, sir, he bade me to go forward in God's name,"



said I.

"That is the name to go in," said Mr. Balfour, and resumed his writing.



Presently, he signed, re-read what he had written, and addressed me

again. "Now here, Mr. David," said he, "is a letter of introduction,



which I will seal without closing, and give into your hands open, as

the form requires. But, since I am acting in the dark, I will just



read it to you, so that you may see if it will secure your end -

"PILRIG, AUGUST 26th, 1751.



"MY LORD, - This is to bring to your notice my namesake and cousin,

David Balfour Esquire of Shaws, a young gentleman of unblemished



descent and good estate. He has enjoyed, besides, the more valuable

advantages of a godly training, and his political principles are all



that your lordship can desire. I am not in Mr. Balfour's confidence,

but I understand him to have a matter to declare, touching His



Majesty's service and the administration of justice; purposes for which

your Lordship's zeal is known. I should add that the young gentleman's



intention is known to and approved by some of his friends, who will

watch with hopefulanxiety the event of his success or failure.



"Whereupon," continued Mr. Balfour, "I have subscribed myself with the

usual compliments. You observe I have said 'some of your friends'; I



hope you can justify my plural?"

"Perfectly, sir; my purpose is known and approved by more than one,"



said I. "And your letter, which I take a pleasure to thank you for, is

all I could have hoped."



"It was all I could squeeze out," said he; "and from what I know of the

matter you design to meddle in, I can only pray God that it may prove



sufficient."

CHAPTER IV - LORD ADVOCATE PRESTONGRANGE



MY kinsman kept me to a meal, "for the honour of the roof," he said;

and I believe I made the better speed on my return. I had no thought



but to be done with the next stage, and have myself fully committed; to

a person circumstanced as I was, the appearance of closing a door on



hesitation and temptation was itself extremelytempting; and I was the

more disappointed, when I came to Prestongrange's house, to be informed



he was abroad. I believe it was true at the moment, and for some hours

after; and then I have no doubt the Advocate came home again, and



enjoyed himself in a neighbouring chamber among friends, while perhaps

the very fact of my arrival was forgotten. I would have gone away a



dozen times, only for this strong drawing to have done with my

• vanity [´væniti] n.虚荣；自负；空虚 (初中英语单词)


• encounter [in´kauntə] vt.&n.偶然相遇；冲突 (初中英语单词)


• argument [´ɑ:gjumənt] n.辩论；争论；论证 (初中英语单词)


• ashamed [ə´ʃeimd] a.惭愧；不好意思 (初中英语单词)


• stumble [´stʌmbəl] v.摔倒；失足；弄错 (初中英语单词)


• running [´rʌniŋ] a.奔跑的；流动的 (初中英语单词)


• altitude [´æltitju:d] n.高度；海拨 (初中英语单词)


• wrought [rɔ:t] work 的过去式(分词) (初中英语单词)


• illustration [,ilə´streiʃən] n.插图，图解，例证 (初中英语单词)


• scarce [skeəs, skers] a.缺乏的；稀有的 (初中英语单词)


• pointed [´pɔintid] a.尖(锐)的；中肯的 (初中英语单词)


• blessing [´blesiŋ] n.祝福 (初中英语单词)


• agriculture [´ægrikʌltʃə] n.农业；农事 (初中英语单词)


• musical [´mju:zikəl] a.音乐的；悦耳的 (初中英语单词)


• charge [tʃɑ:dʒ] v.收费；冲锋 n.费用 (初中英语单词)


• suspicion [sə´spiʃən] n.怀(猜)疑；嫌疑 (初中英语单词)


• assist [ə´sist] v.协助；援助；搀扶 (初中英语单词)


• reasonable [´rizənəbəl] a.合理的；有理智的 (初中英语单词)


• therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)


• phrase [freiz] n.短语；词组；措词 (初中英语单词)


• supposed [sə´pəuzd] a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词)


• consideration [kən,sidə´reiʃən] n.考虑；原因；体谅 (初中英语单词)


• discussion [di´skʌʃən] n.讨论；辩论 (初中英语单词)


• acting [´æktiŋ] a.代理的 n.演戏 (初中英语单词)


• estate [i´steit] n.财产；庄园；等级 (初中英语单词)


• administration [əd,minis´treiʃən] n.管理(事务等)；经营 (初中英语单词)


• anxiety [æŋ´zaiəti] n.挂念；渴望；焦虑的事 (初中英语单词)


• advocate [´ædvəkit] n.辩护者 (初中英语单词)


• extremely [ik´stri:mli] ad.极端地；非常地 (初中英语单词)


• abroad [ə´brɔ:d] ad.海外；到处；广泛 (初中英语单词)


• arrival [ə´raivəl] n.到达；到达的人(物) (初中英语单词)


• declaration [,deklə´reiʃən] n.宣布；宣言；申报 (高中英语单词)


• ridiculous [ri´dikjuləs] a.荒谬的；可笑的 (高中英语单词)


• reasoning [´ri:zəniŋ] n.推理，评理 a.推理的 (高中英语单词)


• ladder [´lædə] n.梯子；阶梯 (高中英语单词)


• customary [´kʌstəməri] a.通常的；惯例的 (高中英语单词)


• pickle [´pikəl] n.盐汁；腌菜 v.腌渍 (高中英语单词)


• learned [´lə:nid] a.有学问的，博学的 (高中英语单词)


• philosopher [fi´lɔsəfə] n.哲学家；思想家；哲人 (高中英语单词)


• musician [mju:´ziʃən] n.音乐家，作曲家 (高中英语单词)


• reproach [ri´prəutʃ] vt.&n.责备；指责；耻辱 (高中英语单词)


• lordship [´lɔ:dʃip] n.贵族权力；阁下 (高中英语单词)


• esquire [i´skwaiə] n.先生 (高中英语单词)


• squeeze [skwi:z] v.&n.压榨，榨取 (高中英语单词)


• meddle [´medl] vi.干涉(预)；乱弄 (高中英语单词)


• temptation [temp´teiʃən] n.引诱，诱惑(物) (高中英语单词)


• chamber [´tʃeimbə] n.房间；议院；会议室 (高中英语单词)


• unjust [ʌn´dʒʌst] a.不公平(正)的 (英语四级单词)


• unlucky [ʌn´lʌki] a.倒霉的，不幸的 (英语四级单词)


• resolved [ri´zɔlvd] a.决心的；坚定的 (英语四级单词)


• gallows [´gæləuz] n.绞刑架 (英语四级单词)


• countryside [´kʌntrisaid] n.乡下，农村 (英语四级单词)


• corruption [kə´rʌpʃən] n.腐化；贪污；贿赂 (英语四级单词)


• befallen [bi´fɔ:lən] befall的过去分词 (英语四级单词)


• complication [,kɔmpli´keiʃən] n.复杂；混乱；纠纷 (英语四级单词)


• churchman [´tʃə:tʃmən] n.教士；牧师；国教教徒 (英语四级单词)


• desirous [di´zaiərəs] a.渴望的；想往的 (英语四级单词)


• cautious [´kɔ:ʃəs] a.小心的；谨慎的 (英语四级单词)


• touching [´tʌtʃiŋ] a.动人的 prep.提到 (英语四级单词)


• hopeful [´həupfəl] a.有希望的，激励人的 (英语四级单词)


• tempting [´temptiŋ] a.引诱人的，吸引人的 (英语四级单词)


• drawing [´drɔ:iŋ] n.画图；制图；图样 (英语四级单词)


• cowardice [´kauədis] n.懦弱，胆怯 (英语六级单词)


• wanting [´wɔntiŋ, wɑ:n-] a.短缺的；不足的 (英语六级单词)


• wayside [´weisaid] n.&a.路边(的) (英语六级单词)


• discomfort [dis´kʌmfət] n.不适；不安；困难 (英语六级单词)


• causeway [´kɔ:zwei] n.堤道；砌道 (英语六级单词)


• rampart [´ræmpɑ:t] n.壁垒 vt.防护 (英语六级单词)


• righteousness [raitʃəsnis] n.正直；正当；正义 (英语六级单词)


• august [ɔ:´gʌst] a.尊严的；威严的 (英语六级单词)