"Wow, man, but ye're an ill-mannered graceless loon as ever I saw atween the twa een. The greatest person in the land, man, is mair humble and respectfu' than you, when he's gaun about the country as ye're doin, and micht weel be an example to you and the like o' you." "What mean ye, laird?--of whom do ye speak?" said the sturdy beggar, evidently somewhat disconcerted by the former's remark. "Mean!" replied the laird, sharply--"I mean, sirrah, that the king himsel, when he ca's at ony decent man's house for a nicht's quarters, in his rambles through the country, is far mair civil and discreet than ye are." "Indeed," said the mendicant. "Dost know the king personally, Whinny? Didst ever see him in the guise thou allud'st to?" "Wad ye be the better if ye kent?" replied the laird, angrily; then adding, in better humour, as if recollecting it was something to boast of--"To be sure I do, sirrah! and weel I may, seein that he sleepit here a' last nicht, and's no three hours awa yet." "What, Whinny!--the king! The king here last night!" exclaimed the mendicant, now exhibiting in his turn, symptoms of surprise and amazement. "Surely you are jesting, laird?" "Jestin, sir! I'm jestin nane," said Whinnyhill, angrily. "The king _was_ here last nicht, sirrah!" "Impossible, Whinny!" "Confound ye, sir!--wad ye make me a leear to my face?" "Oh, no, no, laird," replied the former, laughing; "but you may be mistaken in your man. At any rate, if it is not impossible, it is certainly odd, Whinny." "Odd, sir. What's odd about it? Do ye think the king wad think himsel demeaned by takin a nicht's quarters frae me?" "Nay, nay; not at all--by no means, laird," replied the mendicant eagerly, as if anxious to do away the offensive impression--"by no means. The man would be unworthy of being a king who should think there was any degradation in sitting beneath the roof-tree, and partaking of the hospitality, of an honest and respectable man like you, Whinny. My surprise, laird, was at finding that the king had been here; for I was informed that he was in an entirely different part of the country. Pray, Whinny, what like a fellow was this king you speak of?" "What like a _fellow_, sir!" replied the laird, in extreme wrath. "My feth, ye're no blate to speak o' yer sovereign in thae disrespectfu' terms. Fellow, in troth! Repeat that word again, sir, in the same breath wi' the king's name, and if I dinna teach ye better manners, blame me! Ye've muckle need o' a lesson, at ony rate." "Very good, Whinny--very good," said the sturdy beggar, laughing heartily at the angry earnestness of the laird. "I meant no offence, man--none whatever. I've as great a respect for the king as you can possibly have." "It doesna look like it," interrupted the laird. "But it is so, nevertheless, I assure you," replied the former; "and I like you all the better, believe me, for your loyalty."