“Stop. I want to know about this Pretender. Why did you not tell us sooner? Why not the moment you knew?”
“I considered it was the steward’s business to tell what he thought proper: but I have no objection to give all the particulars. I know he whom they call Prince Charlie is in yonder vessel, which carries eighteen guns. It cannot hold many soldiers; and Sir Alexander does not believe that he will be joined by any from his islands. He is thought to have a good many officers with him—”
“How many?”
“Some say twenty; some say forty. It is pretty sure that Glengarry will join him—”
“Glengarry! Then all is lost.”
“Sir Alexander thinks not. He and Macleod have written to the Lord President, that not a man from these islands will join.”
“They have written to Duncan Forbes! Now, if they were wise, they would send me to him— You need not look so surprised. He is a friend of mine; and glad enough he would be at this moment to know what I could tell him of the Edinburgh Jacobites. Where is the Lord President at this time?”
“In the north, I think, preparing against the rising.”
“Ay; at his own place near Inverness. If I could but get a letter to him— Perhaps he knows already that I am not dead. If I could see Sir Alexander! Oh! there are so many ways opening, if I had but the least help from anybody to use the opportunity! Sir Alexander ought to know that I am a loyal subject of King George; and that my enemies are not.”
“True,” said Annie. “I will endeavour to speak to the steward again before he sails, and tell him that.”