It would please me none the worse , if -LRB- with all his merits -RRB- he were soused in the North Sea , for the man , Mr. David , is a sore embarrassment . But you are doubtless quite right to adhere to him ; indubitably , he adhered to you . It comes -- we may say -- he was your true companion ; nor less paribus curis vestigia figit , for I dare say you would both take an orra thought upon the gallows . Well , well , these days are fortunately by ; and I think -LRB- speaking humanly -RRB- that you are near the end of your troubles . '' As he thus moralised on my adventures , he looked upon me with so much humour and benignity that I could scarce contain my satisfaction . I had been so long wandering with lawless people , and making my bed upon the hills and under the bare sky , that to sit once more in a clean , covered house , and to talk amicably with a gentleman in broadcloth , seemed mighty elevations . Even as I thought so , my eye fell on my unseemly tatters , and I was once more plunged in confusion . But the lawyer saw and understood me . He rose , called over the stair to lay another plate , for Mr. Balfour would stay to dinner , and led me into a bedroom in the upper part of the house . Here he set before me water and soap , and a comb ; and laid out some clothes that belonged to his son ; and here , with another apposite tag , he left me to my toilet . CHAPTER XXVIII I GO IN QUEST OF MY INHERITANCE I made what change I could in my appearance ; and blithe was I to look in the glass and find the beggarman a thing of the past , and David Balfour come to life again . And yet I was ashamed of the change too , and , above all , of the borrowed clothes . When I had done , Mr. Rankeillor caught me on the stair , made me his compliments , and had me again into the cabinet . `` Sit ye down , Mr. David , '' said he , `` and now that you are looking a little more like yourself , let me see if I can find you any news . You will be wondering , no doubt , about your father and your uncle ? To be sure it is a singular tale ; and the explanation is one that I blush to have to offer you . For , '' says he , really with embarrassment , `` the matter hinges on a love affair . '' `` Truly , '' said I , `` I can not very well join that notion with my uncle . '' `` But your uncle , Mr. David , was not always old , '' replied the lawyer , `` and what may perhaps surprise you more , not always ugly . He had a fine , gallant air ; people stood in their doors to look after him , as he went by upon a mettle horse .
I have seen it with these eyes , and I ingenuously confess , not altogether without envy ; for I was a plain lad myself and a plain man 's son ; and in those XXXXX it was a case of Odi te , qui bellus es , Sabelle . ''
Balfour Rankeillor XXVIII benignity days elevations figit left orra tatters