“To a’ practical purpose, it’s easy eneuch, my lord. Jist gang ohn be seen the first nicht, an’ the neist gang in a co’ch an’ fower. Syne compaur.” “Quite satisfactory, no doubt, if I could bring myself to do it; but, though I said I would, I don’t like to interfere so far even as to go at all.” “At ony public meetin’, my lord, ye hae as guid a richt to be present, as the puirest body i’ the lan’. An’ forbye that, as lord o’ the place, ye hae a richt to ken what’s gaein’ on: I dinna ken hoo far the richt o’ interferin’ gangs; that’s anither thing a’thegither.” “I see you’re a thorough-going rebel yourself.” “Naething o’ the kind, my lord. I’m only sae far o’ yer lordship’s min’ ’at I like fair play--gien a body could only be aye richt sure what was fair play!” “Yes, there’s the very point!--certainly, at least, when the question comes to be of eaves-dropping--not to mention that I could never condescend to play the spy.” “What a body has a richt to hear, he may hear as he likes--either shawin’ himsel’ or hidin’ himsel’. An’ it’s the _only_ plan ’at’s fair to them, my lord. It’s no ’s gien yer lordship was lyin’ in wait to du them a mischeef: ye want raither to du them a kin’ness, an’ tak their pairt.” “I don’t know that, Malcolm. It depends.” “It’s plain yer lordship’s prejudeezed i’ their fawvour. Ony gait, I’m sartin it’s fair play ye want; an’ I canna for the life o’ me see a hair o’ wrang i’ yer lordship’s gaein’ _in a cogue_, as auld Tammy Dyster ca’s ’t; for, at the warst, ye cud only interdick them, an’ that ye cud du a’ the same, whether ye gaed or no. An’, gien ye be sae wulled, I can tak you an’ my leddy whaur ye’ll hear ilka word ’at’s uttered, an’ no a body get a glimp o’ ye, mair nor gien ye was sittin’ at yer ain fireside as ye are the noo.” “That does make a difference!” said the marquis, a great part of whose unwillingness arose from the dread of discovery.--“It would be very amusing.” “I’ll no promise ye that,” returned Malcolm. “I dinna ken aboot that.--There’s jist ae objection hooever: ye wad hae to gang a guid hoor afore they begoud to gaither.--An’ there’s aye laadies aboot the place sin’ they turned it intill a kirk!” he added thoughtfully. “--But,” he resumed, “we cud manage them.” “How?” “I wad get my gran’father to strik’ up wi’ a spring upo’ the pipes, o’ the ither side o’ the bored craig--or lat aff a shot of the sweevil: they wad a’ rin to see, an’ i’ the meantime we cud lan’ ye frae the cutter. We wad hae ye in an’ oot o’ sicht in a moment --Blue Peter an’ me--as quaiet as gien ye war ghaists, an’ the hoor midnicht.” The marquis was persuaded, but objected to the cutter. They would walk there, he said. So it was arranged that Malcolm should take him and Lady Florimel to the Baillies’ Barn the very next time the fishermen had a meeting. CHAPTER XLVI. THE BAILLIES’ BARN.