A curious story of John’s volatile nature and indiscreet vivacity is related in the second volume of Mrs. Charles Mathews’ life of her husband, the well-known humorist and actor. At a dinner-party where Constable, Terry, and John Ballantyne were present, he closed a speech he had been making about some books with the startling announcement: “I shall soon send you Scott’s new novel!” Mrs. Mathews goes on to say: “I shall never forget the consternation of Messrs. Constable and Terry, and, indeed, we were as much embarrassed. Constable looked daggers—and Terry used some—for, with a stern brow and a correcting tone, he cried out ‘John!’ adding, with a growl resembling what is generally made to check or reprove a mischievous dog,—‘Ah! what are you about?’ which made us drop our eyes in pain for the indiscreet tattler; while Wee Johnny looked like an impersonation of Fear, startled at the sound himself had made. Not another word was said; but our little good-natured friend’s lapse was sacred with us, and the secret was never divulged while it was important to preserve it.” John Ballantyne visited the Continent shortly after Waterloo, and published an account of his travels, in which the “long-bow” did good service. Being on one occasion rebuked by a lady for having stated as facts what were transparent fictions, his reply to the censure was in these few words: “Very true, madam, what you say; but truth is a great hamperer of genius.”[22] During the earlier and perhaps most interesting years in the career of the “Great Unknown,” John Ballantyne managed all the business connected with the communication of the author’s works to the public. When Scott began “The Bride of Lammermoor,” his amanuenses were William Laidlaw and John Ballantyne, “of whom he preferred the latter, when he could be at Abbotsford, on account of the superior rapidity of his pen, and also because John kept his pen to the paper without interruption; and, though with many an arch twinkle in his eyes, and now and then an audible smack of his lips, had resolution to work on like a well-trained clerk; whereas good Laidlaw entered with such keen zest into the interest of the story as it flowed from the author’s lips, that he could not suppress exclamations of surprise and delight—‘Gude keep us a’!—the like o’ that!—eh sirs!’ and so forth, which did not promote despatch.”[23]