"Ye were going to say Morris," said Rob Roy coolly, for he was too much accustomed to deeds of violence for the agitation he had at first expressed to be of long continuance. "I used to laugh heartily at that reik; but I'll hardly hae the heart to do't again, since the ill-far'd accident at the Loch. Na, na--his Excellency ken'd nought o' that ploy--it was a' managed atween Rashleigh and mysell. But the sport that came after--and Rashleigh's shift o' turning the suspicion aff himself upon you, that he had nae grit favour to frae the beginning--and then Miss Die, she maun hae us sweep up a' our spiders' webs again, and set you out o' the Justice's claws--and then the frightened craven Morris, that was scared out o' his seven senses by seeing the real man when he was charging the innocent stranger--and the gowk of a clerk--and the drunken carle of a justice--Ohon! ohon!--mony a laugh that job's gien me--and now, a' that I can do for the puir devil is to get some messes said for his soul." "May I ask," said I, "how Miss Vernon came to have so much influence over Rashleigh and his accomplices as to derange your projected plan?" "Mine! it was none of mine. No man can say I ever laid my burden on other folk's shoulders--it was a' Rashleigh's doings. But, undoubtedly, she had great influence wi' us baith on account of his Excellency's affection, as weel as that she ken'd far ower mony secrets to be lightlied in a matter o' that kind.--Deil tak him," he ejaculated, by way of summing up, "that gies women either secret to keep or power to abuse--fules shouldna hae chapping-sticks."