The boy, who saw their eyes fixed on him as they spoke, seemed embarrassed, slid rather desirous of making his escape; but at a signal from Redgauntlet he advanced, assuming the sheepish look and rustic manner with which the jackanapes covered much acuteness and roguery.
‘How long have you been with the party, sirrah?’ said Redgauntlet.
‘Since the raid on the stake-nets,’ said Benjie, with his finger in his mouth.
‘And what made you follow us?’
‘I dauredna stay at hame for the constables,’ replied the boy.
‘And what have you been doing all this time?’
‘Doing, sir? I dinna ken what ye ca’ doing—I have been doing naething,’ said Benjie; then seeing something in Redgauntlet’s eye which was not to be trifled with, he added, ‘Naething but waiting on Maister Cristal Nixon.’
‘Hum!—aye—indeed?’ muttered Redgauntlet. ‘Must Master Nixon bring his own retinue into the field? This must be seen to.’
He was about to pursue his inquiry, when Nixon himself came to him with looks of anxious haste, ‘The Father is come,’ he whispered, ‘and the gentlemen are getting together in the largest room of the house, and they desire to see you. Yonder is your nephew, too, making a noise like a man in Bedlam.’
‘I will look to it all instantly,’ said Redgauntlet. ‘Is the Father lodged as I directed?’