The conversation might not have taken a very amicable turn had M’Lauchlan heard the latter part of this speech; but, as happily he was engaged unpacking a small canteen which he had placed in the wagon, it passed unnoticed. “You’ll nae dislike a toothfu’ of something warm, Major,” said he, presenting a glass to O’Shaughnessy; “and if ye’ll permit me, Mr. O’Mealey, to help you--” “A thousand thanks, Doctor; but I fear a broken arm--” “There’s naething in the whiskey to prevent the proper formation of callus.” “By the rock of Cashel, it never made any one callous,” said O’Shaughnessy, mistaking the import of the phrase. “Ye are nae drinking frae the flask?” said the doctor, turning in some agitation towards Quill. “Devil a bit, my darling. I’ve a little horn convaniency here, that holds half-a-pint, nice measure.” I don’t imagine that our worthy friend participated in Quill’s admiration of the “convaniency,” for he added, in a dry tone:-- “Ye may as weel tak your liquor frae a glass, like a Christian, as stick your nose in a coo’s horn.” “By my conscience, you’re no small judge of spirits, wherever you learned it,” said the major; “it’s like Islay malt!” “I was aye reckoned a gude ane,” said the doctor, “and my mither’s brither Caimbogie had na his like in the north country. Ye may be heerd tell what he aince said to the Duchess of Argyle, when she sent for him to taste her claret.” “Never heard of it,” quoth Quill; “let’s have it by all means. I’d like to hear what the duchess said to him.” “It was na what the duchess said to him, but what he said to the duchess, ye ken. The way of it was this: My uncle Caimbogie was aye up at the castle, for besides his knowledge of liquor, there was nae his match for deer-stalking, or spearing a salmon, in those parts. He was a great, rough carle, it’s true; but ane ye’d rather crack wi’ than fight wi’. “Weel, ae day they had a grand dinner at the duke’s, and there were plenty o’ great southern lords and braw leddies in velvets and satin; and vara muckle surprised they were at my uncle, when he came in wi’ his tartan kilt, in full Highland dress, as the head of a clan ought to do. Caimbogie, however, pe’d nae attention to them; but he eat his dinner, and drank his wine, and talked away about fallow and red deer, and at last the duchess, for she was aye fond o’ him, addressed him frae the head o’ the table:-- “‘Cambogie,’ quoth she, ‘I’d like to hae your opinion about that wine. It’s some the duke has just received, and we should like to hear what you think of it.’ “‘It’s nae sae bad, my leddy,’ said my uncle; for ye see he was a man of few words, and never flattered onybody. “‘Then you don’t approve much of it?’ said the duchess. “‘I’ve drank better, and I’ve drank waur,’ quo’ he. “‘I’m sorry you don’t like it, Caimbogie,’ said the duchess, ‘for it can never be popular now,--we have such a dependence upon your taste.’