Mr. Ebenezer admitted having seen you ; declared -LRB- what seemed improbable -RRB- that he had given you considerable sums ; and that you had started for the continent of Europe , intending to fulfil your education , which was probable and praiseworthy . Interrogated how you had come to send no word to Mr. Campbell , he deponed that you had expressed a great desire to break with your past life . Further interrogated where you now were , protested ignorance , but believed you were in Leyden . That is a close sum of his replies . I am not exactly sure that any one believed him , '' continued Mr. Rankeillor with a smile ; `` and in particular he so much disrelished me expressions of mine that -LRB- in a word -RRB- he showed me to the door . We were then at a full stand ; for whatever shrewd suspicions we might entertain , we had no shadow of probation . In the very article , comes Captain Hoseason with the story of your drowning ; whereupon all fell through ; with no consequences but concern to Mr. Campbell , injury to my pocket , and another blot upon your uncle 's character , which could very ill afford it . And now , Mr. Balfour , '' said he , `` you understand the whole process of these matters , and can judge for yourself to what extent I may be trusted . '' Indeed he was more pedantic than I can represent him , and placed more scraps of Latin in his speech ; but it was all uttered with a fine geniality of eye and manner which went far to conquer my distrust . Moreover , I could see he now treated me as if I was myself beyond a doubt ; so that first point of my identity seemed fully granted . `` Sir , '' said I , `` if I tell you my story , I must commit a friend 's life to your discretion . Pass me your word it shall be sacred ; and for what touches myself , I will ask no better guarantee than just your face . '' He passed me his word very seriously . `` But , '' said he , `` these are rather alarming prolocutions ; and if there are in your story any little jostles to the law , I would beg you to bear in mind that I am a lawyer , and pass lightly . '' Thereupon I told him my story from the first , he listening with his spectacles thrust up and his eyes closed , so that I sometimes feared he was asleep . But no such matter ! he heard every word -LRB- as I found afterward -RRB- with such quickness of hearing and precision of memory as often surprised me . Even strange outlandish Gaelic names , heard for that time only , he remembered and would remind me of , years after . Yet when I called Alan Breck in full , we had an odd scene . The name of Alan had of course rung through Scotland , with the news of the Appin murder and the offer of the reward ; and it had no sooner escaped me than the lawyer moved in his seat and opened his eyes .
`` I would name no unnecessary names , Mr. XXXXX , '' said he ; `` above all of Highlanders , many of whom are obnoxious to the law . ''
Alan Balfour Breck Campbell Europe Hoseason Leyden geniality prolocutions years