The Baronet's ears received this intimation with astonishment; but he was refreshed in courage by an incredulous look from Glossin, and by hearing him gently utter a sort of interjectional whistle, in a note of surprise and contempt. "I believe, my friend," said Sir Robert, "we shall find for you, before we part, a more humble title.""If you do, sir," replied his prisoner, "I shall willingly submit to any punishment which such an imposture shall be thought to deserve.""Well, sir, we shall see," continued Sir Robert. "Do you know young Hazlewood of Hazlewood?""I never saw the gentleman who I am informed bears that name excepting once, and I regret that it was under very unpleasant circumstances.""You mean to acknowledge, then," said the Baronet, "that you inflicted upon young Hazlewood of Hazlewood that wound which endangered his life, considerably lacerated the clavicle of his right shoulder, and deposited, as the family surgeon declares, several large drops. or slugs in the acromion process?""Why, sir," replied Bertram, "I can only say I am equally ignorant of and sorry for the extent of the damage which the young gentleman has sustained. I met him in a narrow path, walking with two ladies and a servant, and before I could either pass them or address them, this young Hazlewood took his gun from his servant, presented it against my body, and commanded me in the most haughty tone to stand back. I was neither inclined to submit to his authority, nor to leave him in possession of the means to injure me, which he seemed disposed to use with such rashness. I therefore closed with him for the purpose of disarming him; and just as I had nearly effected my purpose, the piece went off accidentally, and, to my regret then and since, inflicted upon the young gentleman a severer chastisement than I desired, though I am glad to understand it is like to prove no more than his unprovoked folly deserved.""And so, sir," said the Baronet, every feature swollen with offended dignity,--"You, sir, admit, sir, that it was your purpose, sir, and your intention, sir, and the real jet and object of your assault, sir, to disarm young Hazlewood of Hazlewood of his gun, sir, or his fowling-piece, or his fuzee, or whatever you please to call it, sir, upon the king's highway, sir?--I think this will do, my worthy neighbour! I think he should stand committed?""You are by far the best judge, Sir Robert," said Glossin, in his most insinuating tone; "but if I might presume to hint, there was something about these smugglers.""Very true, good sir.--And besides, sir, you, Vanbeest Brown, who call yourself a captain in his Majesty's service, are no better or worse than a rascally mate of a smuggler!""Really, sir," said Bertram, "you are an old gentleman, and acting under some strange delusion, otherwise I should be very angry with you.""Old gentleman, sir! strange delusion, sir!" said Sir Robert, colouring with indignation. "I protest and declare--Why, sir, have you any papers or letters that can establish your pretended rank, and estate, and commission?""None at present, sir," answered Bertram; "but in the return of a post or two--""And how do you, sir," continued the Baronet, "if you are a captain in his Majesty's service, how do you chance to be travelling in Scotland without letters of introduction, credentials, baggage, or anything belonging to your pretended rank, estate, and condition, as I said before?""Sir," replied the prisoner, "I had the misfortune to be robbed of my clothes and baggage.""Oho! then you are the gentleman who took a post-chaise from--to Kippletringan, gave the boy the slip on the road, and sent two of your accomplices to beat the boy and bring away the baggage?""I was, sir, in a carriage as you describe, was obliged to alight in the snow, and lost my way endeavouring to find the road to Kippletringan. The landlady of the inn will inform you that on my arrival there the next day, my first inquiries were after the boy.""Then give me leave to ask where you spent the night--not in the snow, I presume? you do not suppose that will pass, or be taken, credited, and received?""I beg leave," said Bertram, his recollection turning to the gipsy female, and to the promise he had given her, "I beg leave to decline answering that question.""I thought as much," said Sir Robert.--"Were you not during that night in the ruins of Derncleugh?--in the ruins of Derncleugh, sir?""I have told you that I do not intend answering that question,"replied Bertram.
"Well, sir, then you will stand committed, sir." said Sir Robert, "and be sent to prison, sir, that's all, sir.--Have the goodness to look at these papers; are you the Vanbeest Brown who is there mentioned?"It must be remarked that Glossin had shuffled among the papers some writings which really did belong to Bertram, and which had been found by the officers in the old vault where his portmanteau was ransacked.
"Some of these papers," said Bertram, looking over them, "are mine, and were in my portfolio when it was stolen from the post-chaise.