"Well, fellow," said he, "art thou appointed to attend me?"
"Ay, sir."
"Then what is thy name, for I must know it?"
"What would ye be the better of knowing?" he asked, cautiously.
"Very much; as we may see each other often; but, doubtless, thou art ashamed of it."
"Ashamed o' my name? Deil choke sic impudence. No, faith! It is as gude as your ain, and better, maybe. My name is Tam Trotter, and I am forester up bye at Kinleith, where my father (God rest him!) was forester before me, though folk did ca' him uncanny."
"Well, friend Tam, couldst get me a razor, in addition to this splendid toilet apparatus? I have a fancy for shaving off my beard this morning."
"Aha!" laughed Tam, with a knowing Scots wink, as he seated himself on the table, with his Jedwood axe under his arm; "I can see as far into a millstone as you, my quick gentleman; so keep on your beard, it will be a warm ruff for you in the winter nights."
"Winter nights! What the devil dost thou tell me? Thy master cannot think of keeping me here till the winter nights come on."
"No here, maybe, but out at Redhall. This morning I rode in with ten braw fellows, with axe and spear, to take ye out there to the auld tower; but lo! his lordship, our master, came home not an hour syne, wi' his doublet drookit in bluid, and his body run through by——"