“In this affair,” he supplemented; adding, “It’s not always so easy to tell what is right!”
“It’s no aye easy to luik for ’t wi’ baith yer een,” said Miss Horn.
“This woman Catanach—we must get her to give credible testimony. Whatever the fact may be, we must have strong evidence. And there comes the difficulty, that she has already made an altogether different statement.”
“It gangs for naething, my lord. It was never made afore a justice o’ the peace.”
“I wish you would go to her, and see how she is inclined.”
“Me gang to Bawbie Catanach!” exclaimed Miss Horn. “I wad as sune gang an’ kittle Sawtan’s nose wi’ the p’int o’ ’s tail. Na, na, my lord! Gien onybody gang till her wi’ my wull, it s’ be a limb o’ the law. I s’ hae nae cognostin’ wi’ her.”
“You would have no objection, however, to my seeing her, I presume —just to let her know that we have an inkling of the truth?” said the marquis.
Now all this was the merest talk, for of course Miss Horn could not long remain in ignorance of the declaration fury had, the night previous, forced from Mrs Catanach; but he must, he thought, put her off and keep her quiet, if possible, until he had come to an understanding with Malcolm, after which he would no doubt have his trouble with her.
“Ye can du as yer lordship likes,” answered Miss Horn; “but I wadna hae ’t said o’ me ’at I had ony dealin’s wi’ her. Wha kens but she micht say ye tried to bribe her? There’s naething she wad bogle at gien she thoucht it worth her while. No ’at I’m feart at her. Lat her lee! I’m no sae blate but——! Only dinna lippen till a word she says, my lord.”
The marquis meditated.