As he kept shuffling over his papers, now reading a few words from one, then throwing it down, and mixing a dozen others up in hopeless confusion, now writing a bit, and then frowning and waving his pen, I felt still more assured, for it all went to show he was only an ordinary human creature under all his titles and dignities, and was no more free from little affectations than any other mortal might be. At length he ceased his pretence of work, for it was nothing else, and took notice of us. "Ladies, I ask your pardon--your pardon. Yes, yes, let me see, you have some appointment with me. Eh, what was it again? Oh, I remember, you are Lady Enderby. Yes, yes--" "No, your Grace; I am Lady Jane Drummond; this is my ward, Miss Margaret Nairn, and this my cousin, Captain Geraldine; our business is to implore your Grace's assistance towards the release of her brother, Captain Nairn, arrested in error, and now confined in Fort William." "Awkward, eh? Mistakes like that might be very awkward--very awkward indeed. No doubt he is one of these pestilent rebels--eh?" "Indeed, your Grace, he has never drawn sword in the matter at all; and what is more, he is an officer in the French service, holding his full commission therein." "Oh, I have no doubt he is the most innocent creature in the world! but will you explain, madam, what he was doing in Scotland just when the rebels happened to be in full swing--eh?" "Indeed, your Grace, he never put foot in Scotland until this unhappy business was ended at Culloden." "That's a pity, now, a great pity. As the vulgar say, he came 'just a day too late for the fair.' Had he only come in time, his Majesty might have had one rebel less to deal with, and--" But he was cut short by poor Margaret, who, unable to stand the torture any longer, wailed out: "Oh, your Grace, do not say that! My father was buried only a few months before my brother was arrested, and he is the only one near to me now left." Even the abominable flippancy of the man before us was arrested by the sight of the anguish of this dear soul, and with some approach to sensibility he said: "There, there, my dear! We cannot mend matters now." And for some minutes he heard and questioned Lady Jane with some shew of decency, but evidently with an effort, for it was not long before he broke out again: "How much simpler it would all be if you did not interfere, madam!" This angered her beyond control, and she replied: "Your Grace may have no feeling for the sorrow that breaks the hearts of others, but this is only a case for common justice." "You, you, you have a keen sense of justice, madam," he stammered, much nettled. "You are not wanting in courage, either; 'tis a pity you could not have turned your talents to some account."