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'Why； my dear madam！ I only … ' I began。
'You shouldnae jest in sairious maitters；' she interrupted。
On the whole； she entered into what I chose to tell her of our
idyll with avidity； like a cat licking her whiskers over a dish of
cream； and； strange to say … and so expansive a passion is that of
love！ … that I derived a perhaps equal satisfaction from confiding
in that breast of iron。 It made an immediate bond： from that hour
we seemed to be welded into a family…party； and I had little
difficulty in persuading her to join us and to preside over our
tea…table。 Surely there was never so ill…matched a trio as Rowley；
Mrs。 McRankine； and the Viscount Anne！ But I am of the Apostle's
way； with a difference： all things to all women！ When I cannot
please a woman； hang me in my cravat！
CHAPTER XXVIII … EVENTS OF MONDAY： THE LAWYER'S PARTY
BY half…past eight o'clock on the next morning； I was ringing the
bell of the lawyer's office in Castle Street； where I found him
ensconced at a business table； in a room surrounded by several
tiers of green tin cases。 He greeted me like an old friend。
'Come away； sir； come away！' said he。 'Here is the dentist ready
for you； and I think I can promise you that the operation will be
practically painless。'
'I am not so sure of that； Mr。 Robbie；' I replied； as I shook hands
with him。 'But at least there shall be no time lost with me。'
I had to confess to having gone a…roving with a pair of drovers and
their cattle； to having used a false name； to having murdered or
half…murdered a fellow…creature in a scuffle on the moors； and to
having suffered a couple of quite innocent men to lie some time in
prison on a charge from which I could have immediately freed them。
All this I gave him first of all； to be done with the worst of it；
and all this he took with gravity； but without the least appearance
of surprise。
'Now； sir；' I continued； 'I expect to have to pay for my unhappy
frolic； but I would like very well if it could be managed without
my personal appearance or even the mention of my real name。 I had
so much wisdom as to sail under false colours in this foolish jaunt
of mine； my family would be extremely concerned if they had wind of
it； but at the same time； if the case of this Faa has terminated
fatally； and there are proceedings against Todd and Candlish； I am
not going to stand by and see them vexed； far less punished； and I
authorise you to give me up for trial if you think that best … or；
if you think it unnecessary； in the meanwhile to make preparations
for their defence。 I hope； sir； that I am as little anxious to be
Quixotic； as I am determined to be just。'
'Very fairly spoken；' said Mr。 Robbie。 'It is not much in my line；
as doubtless your friend； Mr。 Romaine； will have told you。 I
rarely mix myself up with anything on the criminal side； or
approaching it。 However； for a young gentleman like you； I may
stretch a point； and I dare say I may be able to accomplish more
than perhaps another。 I will go at once to the Procurator Fiscal's
office and inquire。'
'Wait a moment； Mr。 Robbie；' said I。 'You forget the chapter of
expenses。 I had thought； for a beginning； of placing a thousand
pounds in your hands。'
'My dear sir； you will kindly wait until I render you my bill；'
said Mr。 Robbie severely。'
'It seemed to me；' I protested； 'that coming to you almost as a
stranger； and placing in your hands a piece of business so contrary
to your habits； some substantial guarantee of my good faith … '
'Not the way that we do business in Scotland； sir；' he interrupted；
with an air of closing the dispute。
'And yet； Mr。 Robbie；' I continued； 'I must ask you to allow me to
proceed。 I do not merely refer to the expenses of the case。 I
have my eye besides on Todd and Candlish。 They are thoroughly
deserving fellows； they have been subjected through me to a
considerable term of imprisonment； and I suggest； sir； that you
should not spare money for their indemnification。 This will
explain；' I added smiling； 'my offer of the thousand pounds。 It
was in the nature of a measure by which you should judge the scale
on which I can afford to have this business carried through。'
'I take you perfectly； Mr。 Ducie；' said he。 'But the sooner I am
off； the better this affair is like to be guided。 My clerk will
show you into the waiting…room and give you the day's CALEDONIAN
MERCURY and the last REGISTER to amuse yourself with in the
interval。'
I believe Mr。 Robbie was at least three hours gone。 I saw him
descend from a cab at the door； and almost immediately after I was
shown again into his study； where the solemnity of his manner led
me to augur the worst。 For some time he had the inhumanity to read
me a lecture as to the incredible silliness； 'not to say
immorality；' of my behaviour。 'I have the satisfaction in telling
you my opinion； because it appears that you are going to get off
scot free；' he continued； where； indeed； I thought he might have
begun。
'The man； Faa； has been discharged cured； and the two men； Todd and
Candlish； would have been leeberated lone ago if it had not been
for their extraordinary loyalty to yourself； Mr。 Ducie … or Mr。 St。
Ivey； as I believe I should now call you。 Never a word would
either of the two old fools volunteer that in any manner pointed at
the existence of such a person； and when they were confronted with
Faa's version of the affair； they gave accounts so entirely
discrepant with their own former declarations； as well as with each
other； that the Fiscal was quite nonplussed； and imaigined there
was something behind it。 You may believe I soon laughed him out of
that！ And I had the satisfaction of seeing your two friends set
free； and very glad to be on the causeway again。'
'Oh； sir；' I cried； 'you should have brought them here。'
'No instructions； Mr。 Ducie！' said he。 'How did I know you wished
to renew an acquaintance which you had just terminated so
fortunately？ And； indeed； to be frank with you； I should have set
my face against it； if you had！ Let them go！ They are paid and
contented； and have the highest possible opinion of Mr。 St。 Ivey！
When I gave them fifty pounds apiece … which was rather more than
enough； Mr。 Ducie； whatever you may think … the man Todd； who has
the only tongue of the party； struck his staff on the ground。
〃Weel；〃 says he； 〃I aye said he was a gentleman！〃 〃Man； Todd；〃
said I； 〃that was just what Mr St。 Ivey said of yourself！〃'
'So it was a case of 〃Compliments fly when gentlefolk meet。〃'
'No； no； Mr。 Ducie； man Todd and man Candlish are gone out of your
life； and a good riddance！ They are fine fellows in their way； but
no proper associates for the like of yourself； and do you finally
agree to be done with all eccentricity … take