He that had four hundred swords at his whistle , I have seen , with these eyes of mine , buying butter in the market-place , and taking it home in a kale-leaf . This is not only a pain but a disgrace to us of his family and clan . There are the bairns forby , the children and the hope of Appin , that must be learned their letters and how to hold a sword , in that far country . Now , the tenants of Appin have to pay a rent to King George ; but their hearts are staunch , they are true to their chief ; and what with love and a bit of pressure , and maybe a threat or two , the poor folk scrape up a second rent for Ardshiel . Well , David , I 'm the hand that carries it . '' And he struck the belt about his body , so that the guineas rang . `` Do they pay both ? '' cried I. `` Ay , David , both , '' says he . `` What ! two rents ? '' I repeated . `` Ay , David , '' said he . `` I told a different tale to yon captain man ; but this is the truth of it . And it 's wonderful to me how little pressure is needed . But that 's the handiwork of my good kinsman and my father 's friend , James of the Glens : James Stewart , that is : Ardshiel 's half-brother . He it is that gets the money in , and does the management . '' This was the first time I heard the name of that James Stewart , who was afterwards so famous at the time of his hanging . But I took little heed at the moment , for all my mind was occupied with the generosity of these poor Highlanders . `` I call it noble , '' I cried . `` I 'm a Whig , or little better ; but I call it noble . ''
`` Ay '' said he , `` ye 're a XXXXX , but ye 're a gentleman ; and that 's what does it .
David George Glens Highlanders James Stewart Whig first guineas kinsman