"I too, have a clan," said the old man sombrely, "I have never forgotten that. There is also my son."
They had in common courtesy to acknowledge that he was as deeply involved as any.
"It is our duty to prevent Cumberland taking a ruthless vengeance on our people," he continued; "rather than leave them to Hanoverian justice, we should be prepared to die sword in hand."
Murray of Broughton stirred uneasily.
"I fear your lordship does not know how scattered our forces are—the Prince flying for his life—the clans unwilling to mobilize again."
Very slowly Lovat raised his face, and stared Murray down. Then turning to Lochiel he said: "Is that not true?" as though the Prince's secretary had not spoken at all.
"I am ready to sacrifice everything if we can make a stand," replied the chief of the Camerons simply.
"I think your lordship did not catch my meaning," broke in Murray in a fluster.
"I think," corrected Lovat with composure, "I caught it finely."
"Your lordship's pardon if I seem to take a liberty," said Roy Stuart, "but what can we do more than we have done during the last few months? We have been promised French aid—none has come. We have looked for French gold—there has been little enough of that. The English Jacobites have lain like rats in a hole."