“In that case the only conclusion I can come to is that the king is unaware of your presence here.”
“He is well aware of it.”
“You speak in riddles, my friend. However, I had no real wish to detain you, and you might have gone where you pleased any time this fortnight or more.”
“So you say now.”
“It’s true enough, and if you wish to visit the fleet one of my boats will be ready to carry you the moment you give the order. I told you the first day that if you were a friend of the king’s, or an emissary of his, you could go on your way unchecked. Did I not, MacDonald?”
“You said something of that sort, sir.”
“You denied being a friend of the king’s,” persisted MacLeod, “and said you were but a small farmer near Stirling.”
“I deny yet that I am a friend of the king. On the contrary, I don’t mind confessing to you that I am the greatest enemy he has in the world, and it’s well he knows it.”
“You amaze me. Then you do not wish to meet the fleet.”
“On the contrary, I do, and I ask you to order a suitable boat for me.”