"I _am_ a stranger, sir," said he, "that is certain; though methinks,
that, being such, I have been somewhat familiarly treated in this town
of yours; but, as for my being poor, I think I need not be charged
with poverty, till I seek siller of somebody."
"The dear country all over," said Master George, in a whisper, to
David Ramsay, "pride and poverty."
But David had taken out his tablets and silver pen, and, deeply
immersed in calculations, in which he rambled over all the terms of
arithmetic, from the simple unit to millions, billions, and trillions,
neither heard nor answered the observation of his friend, who, seeing
his abstraction, turned again to the Scot.
"I fancy now, Jockey, if a stranger were to offer you a noble, you
would chuck it back at his head?"
"Not if I could do him honest service for it, sir," said the Scot; "I
am willing to do what I may to be useful, though I come of an
honourable house, and may be said to be in a sort indifferently weel
provided for."
"Ay!" said the interrogator, "and what house may claim the honour of
your descent?"
"An ancient coat belongs to it, as the play says," whispered Vincent
to his companion.
"Come, Jockey, out with it," continued Master George, observing that
the Scot, as usual with his countrymen, when asked a blunt,
straightforward question, took a little time before answering it.
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