I extended my hand once more. Mine ancient friend bowed over it, but I prevented him. I stepped toward him. Indeed, I overtowered him quite on account of his diminutive stature and his lameness, so that I bent my head and kissed him on the forehead without ceremony or hesitation. "Good-bye, true friend," I said. He was mightily touched by this mark of condescension. His thin face flushed. "I would to God," he cried, "that I were young and strong and whole that I might ride for you or with you. 'Tis I who play the woman's part." "Nay," said I, touched in turn by his generous words. "Without you this could not be. Will you have access to my father?" "Yes, by the favour of the Lord Chief Justice, who is well affected toward me. What shall I tell him?" "Tell him everything. Tell him, on the faith of the last Clanranald, I will have the warrant, or..." I paused. "Or what, your ladyship?" "Or I will await him on the other side," I answered, looking away. "God forbid!" earnestly protested the old man, sinking down and burying his head in his hands by the table. "Look for me with the warrant to-morrow night," said I, forcing a smile lest I should break down, with my hand on the door. "Wait!" he cried. "Don't think of bringing me the warrant. Destroy it instantly, tear it up when you get your hands upon it, or, better still, burn it. Here!" He drew from his pocket a flint and steel in a little case. He was one of the few who practised the new-fangled habit of smoking the Virginia weed. I never could see what pleasure he got from it. "Take these. You can kindle fire with them. Burn the warrant, should you be fortunate enough to lay hands upon it. Scraps may be pieced; ashes tell no tales. You understand the use of these things?" I had often seen him light his pipe. "Entirely," said I. "You shall see me, then, to-morrow night, with the statement that the warrant is destroyed." "I pray so, I pray so!" cried the old man as I passed out of the room. Now, I had--I suppose I should say it to my shame--often ridden astride at home. While I ordinarily rode as was the habit of my sex, sometimes, in wild mountain excursions through the forest glens or on hunting trips and adventurous journeys in the Highlands with my father and some faithful servitors, I had perforce and of necessity been compelled to ride astride. Therefore, it was no novelty for me to have between my legs a good horse. Advocate learned in the law though he might be, Master Dunner was a rare judge of horse-flesh, I thought, or else he had wit enough to employ unquestioned talent for that purpose, for I never saw a sweeter, better-bred steed than that led by a horse-boy in the alley. He was perhaps a trifle undersized for a full-grown man's charger, but for my weight and build he was admirable: a deep French bay in exquisite condition. The saddle and mails behind were new, and the horse was equipped _point device_.