"’And now, Hector, a word in your lug. You’re supposed to be a guid King’s man, and I have no direct evidence that you are not; but it’s a queer thing that when you drop a hint to the King’s representatives aboot some hill-man’s nest and the troopers gang to harry it, there are nae eggs in it’; and he glowered at me savagely. ’Have a care,’ he growled, ’have a care!’ "I thocht it was time to change the subject, and lookin’ doon frae his face to his bandaged feet I said: ’I would coont it a high honour if ye wad permit me to try some o’ my magical salve on your feet. I can assure ye, sir, it has powers o’ a high order; it’s used in the Court o’ His Majesty the King himsel’.’ Wi’ that I produced a wee pot o’ it oot o’ my pocket. ’It will,’ I said, ’produce instant relief and ensure for ye a guid nicht’s rest. May I ha’e the honour o’ tryin’ it, sir?’ "’Well,’ says Lag, ’I’m ready to try anything. Nobody but mysel’ kens the torment I have been suffering. It’s fair damnable.’ "Withoot anither word I dropped down on my knees beside him and took off the cauld water bandages wi’ as much gentleness as I could; and when they were off and I saw his feet, I kent hoo he maun ha’e suffered. They were the colour o’ half-ripe plums and that swollen that if ye put yer finger on them ye left a dint as though they had been clay. I said to mysel’, says I, ’Hector, here’s a test for yer salve,’ so I talked to Lag cheerily o’ the wonderfu’ cures I had made afore, and a’ the while, as gently as I could, I was rubbin’ his feet wi’ it. When I had been rubbin’ for the better pairt o’ half an ’oor, he said: ’Man, Hector, ye’re nae fule. Ye’ve gi’en me greater ease than I’ve had a’ day. Did ye say ye made this saw yoursel’?’ I told him it was my ain discovery and that nane but me could supply it, but if he would dae me the honour o’ acceptin’ a pot or twa, he would mak’ me a prood man. Then I bandaged his feet and washed my hands. "’That’s fine,’ he said. ’Now, Hector, one good turn deserves another,’ and taking up a wee bell that stood on a table beside him he rang it, and his body-servant came back into the room. ’Bring a couple o’ bottles o’ Malvoisie,’ he ordered. ’And at the same time fetch that soldier of Sir Thomas Dalzell’s wha brought the message this morning.’ "’In a few minutes back came the servant wi’ a couple o’ bottles in his hand and behind him a trooper wi’ a bandage roond his heid. I recognised him at aince. He was the fourth that we laid oot in the wood. When I saw him I maun say I got an awfu’ fricht; for if ye mind he was the ane that had a chance o’ seein’ you and me. I thocht tae masel’--Noo, Hector, ye’re in a bonnie hole, but neither by act or word did I let on that I was perturbed, and I waited for what should happen next. Lag ordered his man to open ane o’ the bottles. Then he poured oot a glass for me and anither for himsel’, and turnin’ to Dalzell’s man, he said: