"And for other matters I very willingly leave you to your own
impressions."
"The Duke has been informed," he went on. "I have just come from
his Grace, and he expressed himself before me with an honest
freedom like the great nobleman he is. He spoke of you by name,
Mr. Balfour, and declared his gratitude beforehand in case you
would be led by those who understand your own interests and those
of the country so much better than yourself. Gratitude is no empty
expression in that mouth: experto-crede. I daresay you know
something of my name and clan, and the damnable example and
lamented end of my late father, to say nothing of my own errata.
Well, I have made my peace with that good Duke; he has intervened
for me with our friend Prestongrange; and here I am with my foot in
the stirrup again and some of the responsibility shared into my
hand of prosecuting King George's enemies and avenging the late
daring and barefaced insult to his Majesty."
"Doubtless a proud position for your father's son," says I.
He wagged his bald eyebrows at me. "You are pleased to make
experiments in the ironical, I think," said he.
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