Mind ye, colonel or no colonel, I'll break ye first chance ye gie
me."
Maclachan was, I must say, very obliging and complimentary over my
promotion. He gave me Donald to be my sergeant and personal servant,
finding him, how I knew not, a horse strong enough to carry him easily.
"It is ferra guid," said Donald to his chief. "Er shall pe lookit to as
if her were ma mither's own son."
To me, Captain Wheatman, clinking about in the corridor waiting for the
Colonel, comes William, suave and confidential as ever.
"Well, William," said I. "Any more coincidences?"
"Yes, sir," said he, and began his hand-washing.
"You'll die a rich man, William."
"No, sir. This particular coincidence made me the poorer by, I should
say," suspending his washing to calculate, "some five shillings."
"The devil it did! How was that?"
"Your honour's clothes that you left behind, sir, when you were
transmuted, as my lord would say, were stolen."
"And you value them at five shillings! I ought to crack your head for you."
"Yes, sir. Cast-offs sells very cheap, sir. But the coincidence, sir!
I've not really come to that yet.
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