And, first, see you, sir--ye shall approach the presence of majesty
thus,--shadowing your eyes with your hand, to testify that you are in
the presence of the Vice-gerent of Heaven.--Vera weel, George, that is
done in a comely manner.--Then, sir, ye sail kneel, and make as if ye
would kiss the hem of our garment, the latch of our shoe, or such
like.--Very weel enacted--whilk we, as being willing to be debonair
and pleasing towards our lieges, prevent thus,--and motion to you to
rise;--whilk, having a boon to ask, as yet you obey not, but, gliding
your hand into your pouch, bring forth your Supplication, and place it
reverentially in our open palm." The goldsmith, who had complied with
great accuracy with all the prescribed points of the ceremonial, here
completed it, to James's no small astonishment, by placing in his hand
the petition of the Lord of Glenvarloch. "What means this, ye fause
loon?" said he, reddening and sputtering; "hae I been teaching you the
manual exercise, that ye suld present your piece at our ain royal
body?--Now, by this light, I had as lief that ye had bended a real
pistolet against me, and yet this hae ye done in my very cabinet,
where nought suld enter but at my ain pleasure."
"I trust your Majesty," said Heriot, as he continued to kneel, "will
forgive my exercising the lesson you condescended to give me in the
behalf of a friend?"
"Of a friend!" said the king; "so much the waur--so much the waur, I
tell you.
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