Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2Scott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
The reader has long since understood that Donald Bean Lean played
the part of tempter on this occasion. His motives were shortly
these. Of an active and intriguing spirit, he had been long
employed as a subaltern agent and spy by those in the confidence
of the Chevalier, to an extent beyond what was suspected even by
Fergus Mac-Ivor, whom, though obliged to him for protection, he
regarded with fear and dislike. To success in this political
department he naturally looked for raising himself by some bold
stroke above his present hazardous and precarious trade of rapine.
He was particularly employed in learning the strength of the
regiments in Scotland, the character of the officers, etc., and
had long had his eye upon Waverley's troop as open to temptation.
Donald even believed that Waverley himself was at bottom in the
Stuart interest, which seemed confirmed by his long visit to the
Jacobite Baron of Bradwardine. When, therefore, he came to his
cave with one of Glennaquoich's attendants, the robber, who could
never appreciate his real motive, which was mere curiosity, was so
sanguine as to hope that his own talents were to be employed in
some intrigue of consequence, under the auspices of this wealthy
young Englishman. Nor was he undeceived by Waverley's neglecting
all hints and openings afforded for explanation. His conduct
passed for prudent reserve, and somewhat piqued Donald Bean, who,
supposing himself left out of a secret where confidence promised
to be advantageous, determined to have his share in the drama,
whether a regular part were assigned him or not. For this purpose
during Waverley's sleep he possessed himself of his seal, as a
token to be used to any of the troopers whom he might discover to
be possessed of the captain's confidence. His first journey to
Dundee, the town where the regiment was quartered, undeceived him
in his original supposition, but opened to him a new field of
action. He knew there would be no service so well rewarded by the
friends of the Chevalier as seducing a part of the regular army to
his standard. For this purpose he opened the machinations with
which the reader is already acquainted, and which form a clue to
all the intricacies and obscurities of the narrative previous to
Waverley's leaving Glennaquoich.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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