Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 2 - 1819.djvu/166

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156
TALES OF MY LANDLORD.

they understand the noble art of defence! Now, when I was at Rouen in the year 1695, there was a Chevalier de Chapon and I went to the Opera, where we found three bits of English birkies——"

"Is it a long story you are going to tell?" said Bucklaw, interrupting him without ceremony.

"Just as you like," answered the parasite, "for we made short work of it."

"Then I like it short," said Bucklaw; "is it serious or merry?"

"Devilish serious, I assure you, and so they found it; for the chevalier and I"——

"Then I don't like it at all," said Bucklaw; "so fill a brimmer of my auld auntie's claret, rest her heart! And, as the Hielandman says, Skioch dock na skiaill."[1]

"That was what tough old Sir Evan Dhu used to say to me when I was out


  1. "Cut a drink with a tale;" equivalent to the English adage of "boon companions, don't preach over your liquor."