"Where do you come from?" asked Kind impatiently, as he had no patience with these maunderings.
"Ye may weel ask that. I've been walking up an' doon the arth like Satan in Holy Writ, but wi' less success, I'm theenking. Nae siller in ma pocket, and a price,--as ye may say,--on the heid o' me."
"You know that you are wanted then," said Elspeth with eagerness.
"Aye, but no for daeing wrang, dear. Losh me," he chuckled, being revived by the drink, "there's fame for ye, me being asked for in a' the papers o' the three kingdoms.
"How is it you never turned up before?" asked Kind.
"Weel!" said Gowrie, winking one eye and holding out his glass to be replenished, "I wisnae very sure it wud be wise tae gang tae those in authority. The reward wudnae gang into ma pockets. I lay low in Great Babylon, the which ye ken is London, and got ma bite an sup fra the few shullings I got----"
"From Mr. Herries' pockets," finished Elspeth. "Father, you acted shamefully, robbing Angus."
"Angus is it," snapped the old man, ignoring the accusation, "and for why dae ye, ma ain child, ca' him Angus?"
"That's my business," retorted the girl, flushing. Gowrie watched her cunningly.
"Aye, aye, young life and young luve, ma dearie. Weel, and shall nae a wumon depart fra her faither and be one wi' her husband an'----"