Waverley then detailed at length the circumstances with which the reader is already acquainted, to which Fergus listened with great attention.  By this time they had reached the door of his quarters, which he had taken up in a small paved court, retiring from the street called the Canongate, at the house of a buxom widow of forty, who seemed to smile very graciously upon the handsome young Chief, she being a person with whom good looks and good humour were sure to secure an interest, whatever might be the party’s political opinions.  Here Callum Beg received them with a smile of recognition.  ‘Callum,’ said the Chief, ‘call Shemus an Snachad’ (James of the Needle).  This was the hereditary tailor of Vich Ian Vohr.  ’Shemus, Mr. Waverley is to wear the CATH DATH (battle colour, or tartan); his trews must be ready in four hours.  You know the measure of a well-made man:  two double nails to the small of the leg’—­

’Eleven from haunch to heel, seven round the waist—­I give your honour leave to hang Shemus, if there’s a pair of sheers in the Highlands that has a baulder sneck than her’s ain at the CUMADH an TRUAIS’ (shape of the trews).

‘Get a plaid of Mac-Ivor tartan, and sash,’ continued the Chieftain, ’and a blue bonnet of the Prince’s pattern, at Mr. Mouat’s in the Crames.  My short green coat, with silver lace and silver buttons, will fit him exactly, and I have never worn it.  Tell Ensign Maccombich to pick out a handsome target from among mine.  The Prince has given Mr. Waverley broadsword and pistols, I will furnish him with a dirk and purse; add but a pair of low-heeled shoes, and then, my dear Edward (turning to him), you will be a complete son of Ivor.

These necessary directions given, the Chieftain resumed the subject of Waverley’s adventures.  ‘It is plain,’ he said, ’that you have been in the custody of Donald Bean Lean.  You must know, that when I marched away my clan to join the Prince, I laid my injunctions on that worthy member of society to perform a certain piece of service, which done, he was to join me with all the force he could muster.  But instead of doing so, the gentleman, finding the coast clear, thought it better to make war on his own account, and has scoured the country, plundering, I believe, both friend and foe, under pretence of levying blackmail, sometimes as if by my authority, and sometimes (and be cursed to his consummate impudence) in his own great name!  Upon my honour, if I live to see the cairn of Benmore again, I shall be tempted to hang that fellow!  I recognize his hand particularly in the mode of your rescue from that canting rascal Gilfillan, and I have little doubt that Donald himself played the part of the pedlar on that occasion; but how he should not have plundered you, or put you to ransom, or availed himself in some way or other of your captivity for his own advantage, passes my judgement.’

‘When and how did you hear the intelligence of my confinement?’ asked Waverley.