I told him I was come to the Queensferry on business, and taking heart
of grace, asked him to direct me to the house of Mr. Rankeillor.

"Why," said he, "that is his house that I have just come out of; and for
a rather singular chance, I am that very man."

"Then, sir," said I, "I have to beg the favour of an interview."

"I do not know your name," said he, "nor yet your face."

"My name is David Balfour," said I.

"David Balfour?" he repeated, in rather a high tone, like one surprised.
"And where have you come from, Mr. David Balfour?" he asked, looking me
pretty drily in the face.

"I have come from a great many strange places, sir," said I; "but I
think it would be as well to tell you where and how in a more private
manner."

He seemed to muse awhile, holding his lip in his hand, and looking now
at me and now upon the causeway of the street.

"Yes," says he, "that will be the best, no doubt." And he led me back
with him into his house, cried out to some one whom I could not see
that he would be engaged all morning, and brought me into a little dusty
chamber full of books and documents. Here he sate down, and bade me
be seated; though I thought he looked a little ruefully from his clean
chair to my muddy rags. "And now," says he, "if you have any business,
pray be brief and come swiftly to the point. Nec gemino bellum Trojanum
orditur ab ovo--do you understand that?" says he, with a keen look.

"I will even do as Horace says, sir," I answered, smiling, "and carry
you in medias res." He nodded as if he was well pleased, and indeed his
scrap of Latin had been set to test me. For all that, and though I was
somewhat encouraged, the blood came in my face when I added: "I have
reason to believe myself some rights on the estate of Shaws."

He got a paper book out of a drawer and set it before him open. "Well?"
said he.

But I had shot my bolt and sat speechless.

"Come, come, Mr. Balfour," said he, "you must continue. Where were you
born?"

"In Essendean, sir," said I, "the year 1733, the 12th of March."

He seemed to follow this statement in his paper book; but what that
meant I knew not. "Your father and mother?" said he.

"My father was Alexander Balfour, schoolmaster of that place," said I,
"and my mother Grace Pitarrow; I think her people were from Angus."

"Have you any papers proving your identity?" asked Mr. Rankeillor.

"No, sir," said I, "but they are in the hands of Mr. Campbell, the
ministe