The first impulse was to preserve the dignity of his usual equanimity—­“Francis, I am glad to see you.”  The next was to embrace me tenderly—­“my dear, dear son!”

When the tumult of our joy was over, I learnt that my father had arrived from Holland shortly after Owen had set off for Scotland.  By his extensive resources, with funds enlarged and credit fortified, he easily put right what had befallen only, perhaps, through his absence, and set out for Scotland to exact justice from Rashleigh Osbaldistone.

The full extent of my cousin Rashleigh’s villainy I had yet to learn.  In the rebellion of 1715, when in an ill-omened hour the standard of the Stuart was set up, to the ruin of many honourable families, Rashleigh, with more than another Jacobite agent, revealed the plot to the Government.  My poor uncle, Sir Hildebrand, was easily persuaded to join the standard of the Stuarts, and was soon taken and lodged in Newgate.  He died in prison, but before he died he spoke with great bitterness against Rashleigh, now his only surviving child, and declared that neither he nor his sons who had perished would have plunged into political intrigue but for that very member of his family who had been the first to desert them.  By his will, Sir Hildebrand devised his estates at Osbaldistone Hall to me as his next heir, cutting off Rashleigh with a shilling.

Rashleigh had yet one more card to play.  The villain was aware that Diana’s father, Sir Frederick Vernon, whose life had been forfeited for earlier Jacobite plots, lived in hiding at Osbaldistone Hall, and this had given him power over Miss Vernon.

Some time after I had returned to my father’s office, I decided to visit Osbaldistone and take possession.  On my arrival, Diana met me in the dining hall with her father.

“We are your suppliants, Mr. Osbaldistone,” said the old knight; “we claim the refuge and protection of your roof till we can pursue a journey where dungeons and death gape for me at every step.”

“Surely,” I articulated, “Miss Vernon cannot suppose me capable of betraying anyone, much less you?”

But scarcely had they retired to rest that night, when Rashleigh arrived with officers of the law, and exhibited his warrant, not only against Frederick Vernon, an attainted traitor, but also against Diana Vernon, spinster, and Francis Osbaldistone, accused of connivance at treason.  He provided a coach for his prisoners, but in the park a number of Highlanders had gathered.

“Claymore!” cried the leader of the Highlanders, as the coach appeared, and a scuffle instantly commenced.  The officers of the law, surprised at so sudden an attack, conceived themselves surrounded, and galloped off in different directions.

Rashleigh fell, mortally wounded by the leader of the band, who the next instant was at the carriage door.  It was Rob Roy, who handed out Miss Vernon, and assisted her father and me to alight.