'And no red-coated rivals—eh?'
'Look here, Balderstone, I don't like chaff; but I can tell you that Sir Piers did me a deuced lot of mischief by bringing that fellow here from Dumbarton, and petting him, egad! as if he had been his own son. He is a regular old fool, Sir Piers!'
'I can hear nothing said against him, Mr. Hew.'
'At all events, I may indulge in a few bitter thoughts of this base-born interloper, who has caused so much turmoil.'
'Base-born—how know you that he is so?'
'Bah! I heard all about him in Edinburgh.'
'Not all, surely?'
'Yes, as sure as I am the heir to Eaglescraig! What are you laughing at?' demanded Hew, who had been in Tunley's pantry, sharply.
'I do laugh, and heartily too; but pardon me,' said old John Balderstone, whose paunch, enfolded in a deep corduroy waistcoat, was actually shaking, while Hew, by some intuition of coming mischief, he knew not why, eyed him dubiously, even savagely.
'By the way, have you ever heard aught of that unfortunate young gentleman?' asked the factor.