With such discourse, and the intervening topics of business, the time passed until dinner, Macwheeble meanwhile promising to devise some mode of introducing Edward at the Duchran, where Rose at present resided, without risk of danger or suspicion; which seemed no very easy task, since the laird was a very zealous friend to Government.—­The poultry-yard had been laid under requisition, and cockyleeky and Scotch collops soon reeked in the Bailie’s little parlour.  The landlord’s corkscrew was just introduced into the muzzle of a pint-bottle of claret (cribbed possibly from the cellars of Tully-Veolan), when the sight of the grey pony, passing the window at full trot, induced the Bailie, but with due precaution, to place it aside for the moment.  Enter Jock Scriever with a packet for Mr. Stanley:  it is Colonel Talbot’s seal; and Edward’s fingers tremble as he undoes it.  Two official papers, folded, signed, and sealed in all formality, drop out.  They were hastily picked up by the Bailie, who had a natural respect for everything resembling a deed, and, glancing slily on their titles, his eyes, or rather spectacles, are greeted with ’Protection by His Royal Highness to the person of Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine, Esq. of that ilk, commonly called Baron of Bradwardine, forfeited for his accession to the late rebellion.’  The other proves to be a protection of the same tenor in favour of Edward Waverley, Esq.  Colonel Talbot’s letter was in these words:—­

’My dear Edward,

’I am just arrived here, and yet I have finished my business; it has cost me some trouble though, as you shall hear.  I waited upon his Royal Highness immediately on my arrival, and found him in no very good humour for my purpose.  Three or four Scotch gentlemen were just leaving his levee.  After he had expressed himself to me very courteously; “Would you think it,” he said, “Talbot? here have been half a dozen of the most respectable gentlemen, and best friends to Government north of the Forth,—­Major Melville of Cairnvreckan, Rubrick of Duchran, and others,—­who have fairly wrung from me, by their downright importunity, a present protection, and the promise of a future pardon, for that stubborn old rebel whom they call Baron of Bradwardine.  They allege that his high personal character, and the clemency which he showed to such of our people as fell into the rebels’ hands, should weigh in his favour; especially as the loss of his estate is likely to be a severe enough punishment.  Rubrick has undertaken to keep him at his own house till things are settled in the country; but it’s a little hard to be forced in a manner to pardon such a mortal enemy to the House of Brunswick.”  This was no favourable moment for opening my business:—­however, I said I was rejoiced to learn that his Royal Highness was in the course of granting such requests, as it emboldened me to present one of the like nature in my own name.  He was very angry, but I persisted;—­I