"Why, a person, Mr. Pleydell," answered the Baronet, "who is peculiarly interested in investigating, sifting, and clearing out this business to the bottom--you will excuse my being more particular." "Oh, certainly," replied Pleydell--"well, and he says--" "He says that it is whispered about among tinkers, gipsies, and other idle persons, that there is such a plan as I mentioned to you, and that this young man, who is a bastard or natural son of the late Ellangowan, is pitched upon as the impostor, from his strong family likeness." "And was there such a natural son, Sir Robert?" demanded the counsellor. "Oh, certainly, to my own positive knowledge. Ellangowan had him placed as cabin-boy or powder-monkey on board an armed sloop or yacht belonging to the revenue, through the interest of the late Commissioner Bertram, a kinsman of his own." "Well, Sir Robert," said the lawyer, taking the word out of the mouth of the impatient soldier--"you have told me news, I shall investigate them, and it I find them true, certainly Colonel Mannering and I will not countenance this young man. In the meanwhile, as we are all willing to make him forthcoming, to answer all complaints against him, I do assure you, you will act most illegally, and incur heavy responsibility, if you refuse our bail." "Why, Mr. Pleydell," said Sir Robert, who knew the high authority of the counsellor's opinion, "as you must know best, and as you promise to give up this young man--" "If he proves an impostor," replied the lawyer, with some emphasis. "Ay, certainly--under that condition I will take your bail; though I must say, an obliging, well-disposed, and civil neighbour of mine, who was himself bred to the law, gave me a hint or caution this morning against doing so. It was from him I learned that this youth was liberated and had come abroad, or rather had broken prison.--But where shall we find one to draw the bail-bond?" "Here," said the counsellor, applying himself to the bell, "send up my clerk, Mr. Driver--it will not do my character harm if I dictate the needful myself." It was written accordingly and signed, and, the justice having subscribed a regular warrant for Bertram alias Brown's discharge, the visitors took their leave. Each threw himself into his own corner of the post-chariot, and said nothing for some time. The Colonel first broke silence : "So you intend to give up this poor young fellow at the first brush?" "Who, I?" replied the counsellor "I will not give up one hair of his head, though I should follow them to the court of last resort in his behalf--but what signified mooting points and showing one's hand to that old ass? Much better he should report to his prompter, Glossin, that we are indifferent or lukewarm in the matter. Besides, I wished to have a peep at the enemies' game." "Indeed!" said the soldier. "Then I see there are stratagems in law as well as war. Well, and how do you like their line of battle?"