"
Maclachlan had paid not the slightest attention to me and, while ready
enough to deal with him, I paid none to him, and began to think him
somewhat of an ass to be standing in the market-place of Derby airing his
passions. Fortunately, perhaps, Lord George Murray, striding by towards
Exeter House, caught sight of us and stopped abruptly.
"Ha' ye made a' right at the bridge yonder, Maclachlan?"
The young Chief's face supplied the answer.
"Ye havenae!" stormed Murray. "By gad, sir," lugging out his watch, "if
you don't, in two hours from now, report all arrangements made, I'll hae
ye shot by a squad of the Manchester ragabushes. Aff wi' ye, ye jawthering
young fule!"
Maclachlan went off without so much as a bow to Margaret.
"Have you taken out your commission, sir?" said Murray to me, snapping
the words out as though he would have them shear my head off.
"I have, my lord," I answered, forestalling the words with a correct
military salute.
"Then what the blazes are you doing here?"
"My lord," I answered firmly, "by the direct commission of His Royal
Highness, given to me personally, I am escorting this lady to jail.
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