14
KING JAMES AND THE ROBBERS,
wild sort of fashion; and, above all, what induced you to flourish your well-filled purse in the eyes of those who love gold better than anything else, save blood?'
'Whim—chance—fate, I thought at one time. It is long since cunning men have told me that I shall die for a woman, and, by the Bruce's soul, I thought the hour had come. As for my Jacobuses, I rejoice I saved them from the filching crew, as they will serve for an earnest, a poor one to be sure, of my thankfulness to my brave deliverer;' and, so saying, he drew from his bosom the purse which had excited the fatal cupidity of the Egyptians, and gracefully proffered it to the youth.
Arthur had all along suspected, nay felt assured, that his companion was of a rank superior to his appearance; and, had it not been so, his present conduct would have convinced him.
'Whoever you are, sir,' said he, 'that in this lowly disguise speak the language and sentiments of a noble born, your own heart will, I know, convince you that I dare not accept your gold. The service I rendered you I would have rendered to the poorest, carle in Fife, but were it ten times greater than it was, it must not be repaid with coin.'
'All are not carles who wear hodden-grey and blue bonnets with you, I find,' replied the stranger, smiling approvingly, ‘But come, if gold cannot repay the service you have done me, tell me what can.'
'Nothing in your power to perform,' replied Arthur, calmly.
'Try,' continued the stranger; I bear with me a talisman which can command all objects which men in general desire—Choose then—wealth, worship, or a fair wife.'
There was something so frank, open, yet condescending in the tone and appearance of this extraordinary stranger, that Arthur could not resist their fascinating influence; and, although he could not imagine that any interference on the part of his new friend would produce the slightest change in the unalterable sentence of Walter Colville, he communicated to him a general outline of his present situation.
The stranger listened attentively to the detail—then demanded how far distant the dwelling of Colville was; and, on being informed of its near vicinity to the spot on which they then stood, declared his intention of immediately proceeding thither, and using his influence on Arthur's behalf.
The latter opposed this resolution but faintly; for, though he was, as we have said, utterly at a loss to conceive how his ca(illegible text) be benefited by the proffered kindness of the
