I had stumbled into a hornet's nest with a vengeance. They were mad as March hares, most of them. For five minutes I sat amazed, listening to the wildest talk it had ever been my lot to hear. The Guelphs would be driven out. The good old days would be restored; there would be no more whiggery and Walpolism; with much more of the same kind of talk. There was drinking of wine and pledging of toasts to the King across the water, and all the while I sat by the side of Balmerino with a face like whey. For I was simmering with anger. I foresaw the moment when discovery was inevitable, and in those few minutes while I hung back in the shadow and wished myself a thousand miles away hard things were thought of Arthur Elphinstone Lord Balmerino. He had hoped to fling me out of my depths and sweep me away with the current, but I resolved to show him another ending to it. Presently Mr. James Brown came up and offered me a frank hand of welcome. Balmerino introduced him as Captain Donald Roy Macdonald. I let my countenance express surprise. "Surely you are mistaken, my Lord. This gentleman and I have met before, and I think his name is Brown." Macdonald laughed a little sheepishly. "The air of London is not just exactly healthy for Highland Jacobite gentlemen at present. I wouldna wonder but one might catch the scarlet fever gin he werena carefu', so I just took a change of names for a bit while." "You did not disguise the Highland slogan you flung out last night," I laughed. "Did I cry it?" he asked. "It would be just from habit then. I didna ken that I opened my mouth." Then he turned to my affairs. "And I suppose you will be for striking a blow for the cause like the rest of us. Well then, the sooner the better. I am fair wearying for a certain day that is near at hand." With which he began to hum "The King shall have his own again." I flushed, and boggled at the "No!" that stuck in my throat. Creagh, standing near, slewed round his head at the word. "Eh, what's that? Say that again, Montagu!" I took the bull by the horns and answered bluntly, "There has been a mistake made. George is a good enough king for me." I saw Macdonald stiffen, and angry amazement leap to the eyes of the two Irishmen. "'Sblood! What the devil! Why are you here then?" cried Creagh. His words, and the excitement in his raised voice, rang the bell for a hush over the noisy room. Men dropped their talk and turned to us. A score of fierce suspicious eyes burnt into me. My heart thumped against my ribs like a thing alive, but I answered--steadily and quietly enough, I dare say--"You will have to ask Lord Balmerino that. I did not know where he was bringing me." "Damnation!" cried one Leath. "What cock and bull tale is this? Not know where he was bringing you! 'Slife, I do not like it!"