BailieMacwheebleenteredimmediatelyafterwards，andbyhisreportofarmsandammunitionconfirmedthisstatement，informingtheBaron，inamelancholyvoice，thatthoughthepeoplewouldcertainlyobeyhishonour’sorders，yettherewasnochanceoftheirfollowingthegeartoonyguidpurpose，inrespecttherewereonlyhishonour’sbodyservantswhohadswordsandpistols，andthedepredatorsweretwelveHighlanders，completelyarmedafterthemanneroftheircountry-Havingdeliveredthisdolefulannunciation，heassumedapostureofsilentdejection，shakinghisheadslowlywiththemotionofapendulumwhenitisceasingtovibrate，andthenremainedstationary，hisbodystoopingatamoreacuteanglethanusual，andthelatterpartofhispersonprojectinginproportion。
TheBaron，meanwhile，pacedtheroominsilentindignation，andatlengthfixinghiseyeuponanoldportrait，whosepersonwascladinarmour，andwhosefeaturesglaredgrimlyoutofahugebushofhair，partofwhichdescendedfromhisheadtohisshoulders，andpartfromhischinandupper-liptohisbreast-plate，-Thatgentleman，CaptainWaverley，mygrand-sire，’’
hesaid，withtwohundredhorse，whomheleviedwithinhisownbounds，discomfitedandputtotheroutmorethanfivehundredoftheseHighlandreivers，whohavebeenever_lapisoffensionis，etpetrascandali，_astumbling-blockandarockofoffencetotheLowlandvicinage-hediscomfitedthem，Isay，whentheyhadthetemeritytodescendtoharrythiscountryinthetimeofthecivildissensions，intheyearofgracesixteenhundredfortyandtwo。Andnow，sir，I，hisgrandson，amthususedatsuchunworthyhands！’’
Heretherewasanawfulpause；afterwhichallthecompany，asisusualincasesofdifficulty，begantogiveseparateandinconsistentcounsel。AlexanderabAlexandroproposedtheyshouldsendsomeonetocompoundwiththeCaterans，whowouldreadily，hesaid，giveuptheirpreyforadollara-head。TheBailieopinedthatthistransactionwouldamounttotheft-boot，orcompositionoffelony；andherecommendedthatsome_cannyhand_shouldbesentuptotheglenstomakethebestbargainhecould，asitwereforhimself，sothatthelairdmightnotbeseeninsuchatransaction。Edwardproposedtosendofftothenearestgarrisonforapartyofsoldiersandamagistrate’swarrant；andRose，asfarasshedared，endeavouredtoinsinuatethecourseofpayingthearrearsoftributemoneytoFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr，who，theyallknew，couldeasilyprocurerestorationofthecattle，ifhewereproperlypropitiated。
NoneoftheseproposalsmettheBaron’sapprobation。Theideaofcomposition，directorimplied，wasabsolutelyignominious；
thatofWaverleyonlyshowedthathedidnotunderstandthestateofthecountry，andofthepoliticalpartieswhichdividedit；and，standingmattersastheydidwithFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr，theBaronwouldmakenoconcessiontohim，wereit，hesaid，toprocurerestitution_inintegrum_ofeverystirkandstotthatthechief，hisforefathers，andhisclan，hadstolensincethedaysofMalcolmCanmore。’’
Infact，hisvoicewasstillforwar，andheproposedtosendexpressestoBalmawhapple，Killancureit，Tulliellum，andotherlairds，whowereexposedtosimilardepredations，invitingthemtojoininthepursuit；andthen，sir，shallthese_nebulonesnequissimi，_asLesluscallsthem，bebroughttothefateoftheirpredecessorCacus。
`Elisosoculos，etsiccumsanguineguttur。’’’
TheBailie，whobynomeansrelishedthesewarlikecounsels，herepulledforthanimmensewatch，ofthecolour，andnearlyofthesize，ofapewterwarming-pan，andobserveditwasnowpastnoon，andthattheCateranshadbeenseeninthepassofBally-Broughsoonaftersunrise；sothatbeforethealliedforcescouldassemble，theyandtheirpreywouldbefarbeyondthereachofthemostactivepursuit，andshelteredinthosepathlessdesertswhereitwasneitheradvisabletofollow，norindeedpossibletotracethem。
Thispropositionwasundeniable。Thecouncilthereforebrokeupwithoutcomingtoanyconclusion，ashasoccurredtocouncilsofmoreimportance；onlyitwasdeterminedthattheBailieshouldsendhisownthreemilk-cowsdowntotheMainsfortheuseoftheBaron’sfamily，andbrewsmallale，asasubstituteformilk，inhisown。Tothisarrangement，whichwassuggestedbySaunderson，theBailiereadilyassented，bothfromhabitualdeferencetothefamily，andaninternalconsciousnessthathiscourtesywould，insomemodeorother，berepaidten-fold。
TheBaronhavingalsoretiredtogivesomenecessarydirections，Waverleyseizedtheopportunitytoask，whetherthisFergus，withtheunpronounceablename，wasthechiefthief-takerofthedistrict。
Thief-taker！’’answeredRose，laughing；heisagentlemanofgreathonourandconsequence；thechieftainofanindependentbranchofapowerfulHighlandclan，andismuchrespected，bothforhisownpower，andthatofhiskith，kin，andallies。’’
Andwhathashetodowiththethieves，then？isheamagistrate，orinthecommissionofthepeace？’’askedWaverley。
Thecommissionofwarrather，iftherebesuchathing，’’
saidRose；forheisaveryunquietneighbourtohisun-friends，andkeepsagreater_following_onfootthanmanythathavethricehisestate。Astohisconnectionwiththethieves，thatI
cannotwellexplain；buttheboldestofthemwillneverstealahooffromanyonethatpaysblack-mailtoVichIanVohr。’’
Andwhatisblack-mail？’’
Asortofprotection-moneythatLow-countrygentlemenandheritors，lyingneartheHighlands，paytosomeHighlandchief，thathemayneitherdothemharmhimself，norsufferittobedonetothembyothers；andthen，ifyourcattlearestolen，youhaveonlytosendhimword，andhewillrecoverthem；oritmaybe，hewilldriveawaycowsfromsomedistantplace，wherehehasaquarrel，andgivethemtoyoutomakeupyourloss。’’
AndisthissortofHighlandJonathanWildadmittedintosociety，andcalledagentleman？’’
Somuchso，’’saidRose，thatthequarrelbetweenmyfatherandFergusMac-Ivorbeganatacountymeeting，wherehewantedtotakeprecedenceofalltheLowlandgentlementhenpresent，onlymyfatherwouldnotsufferit。Andthenheupbraidedmyfatherthathewasunderhisbanner，andpaidhimtribute；andmyfatherwasinatoweringpassion，forBailieMacwheeble，whomanagessuchthingshisownway，hadcontrivedtokeepthisblack-mailasecretfromhim，andpasseditinhisaccountforcess-money。Andtheywouldhavefought；
butFergusMac-Ivorsaid，verygallantly，hewouldneverraisehishandagainstagreyheadthatwassomuchrespectedasmyfather’s。Oh，Iwish，Iwishtheyhadcontinuedfriends！’’
AnddidyoueverseethisMr。Mac-Ivor，ifthatbehisname，MissBradwardine？’’
No，thatisnothisname；andhewouldconsider_master_
asasortofaffront，onlythatyouareanEnglishman，andknownobetter。ButtheLowlanderscallhim，likeothergentlemen，bythenameofhisestate，Glennaquoich；andtheHighlanderscallhimVichIanVohr，thatis，thesonofJohntheGreat；
andweuponthebraesherecallhimbybothnamesindifferently。’’
IamafraidIshallneverbringmyEnglishtonguetocallhimbyeitheroneorother。’’
Butheisaverypolite，handsomeman，’’continuedRose；
andhissisterFloraisoneofthemostbeautifulandaccomplishedyoungladiesinthiscountry；shewasbredinaconventinFrance，andwasagreatfriendofminebeforethisunhappydispute。DearCaptainWaverley，tryyourinfluencewithmyfathertomakemattersup。Iamsurethisisbutthebeginningofourtroubles；forTully-VeolanhasneverbeenasafeorquietresidencewhenwehavebeenatfeudwiththeHighlanders。
WhenIwasagirlaboutten，therewasaskirmishfoughtbetweenapartyoftwentyofthem，andmyfatherandhisservants，behindtheMains；andthebulletsbrokeseveralpanesinthenorthwindows，theyweresonear。ThreeoftheHighlanderswerekilled，andtheybroughtthemin，wrappedintheirplaids，andlaidthemonthestonefloorofthehall；andnextmorning，theirwivesanddaughterscame，clappingtheirhands，andcryingthecoronach，andshrieking，andcarriedawaythedeadbodies，withthepipesplayingbeforethem。I
couldnotsleepforsixweekswithoutstarting，andthinkingI
heardtheseterriblecries，andsawthebodieslyingonthesteps，allstiffandswathedupintheirbloodytartans。ButsincethattimetherecameapartyfromthegarrisonatStirling，withawarrantfromtheLordJustice-Clerk，orsomesuchgreatman，andtookawayallourarms；andnow，howarewetoprotectourselvesiftheycomedowninanystrength？’’
Waverleycouldnothelpstartingatastorywhichboresomuchresemblancetooneofhisownday-dreams。Herewasagirlscarceseventeen，thegentlestofhersex，bothintemperandappearance，whohadwitnessedwithherowneyessuchasceneashehadusedtoconjureupinhisimagination，asonlyoccurringinancienttimes，andspokeofitcoolly，asoneverylikelytorecur。Hefeltatoncetheimpulseofcuriosity，andthatslightsenseofdangerwhichonlyservestoheightenitsinterest。HemighthavesaidwithMalvolio，`Idonotnowfoolmyself，toletimaginationjademe！’Iamactuallyinthelandofmilitaryandromanticadventures，anditonlyremainstobeseenwhatwillbemyownshareinthem。’’
ThewholecircumstancesnowdetailedconcerningtheStateofthecountry，seemedequallynovelandextraordinary。HehadindeedoftenheardofHighlandthieves，buthadnoideaofthesystematicmodeinwhichtheirdepredationswereconducted；
andthatthepracticewasconnivedat，andevenencouragedby，manyoftheHighlandchieftains，whonotonlyfoundthecreaghs，orforays，usefulforthepurposeoftrainingindividualsoftheirclantothepracticeofarms，butalsoofmaintainingawholesometerroramongtheirLowlandneighbours，andlevying，aswehaveseen，atributefromthem，undercolourofprotection-money。
BailieMacwheeble，whosoonafterwardsentered，expatiatedstillmoreatlengthuponthesametopic。Thishonestgentleman’sconversationwassoformeduponhisprofessionalpractice，thatDavieGellatleyoncesaidhisdiscoursewaslikeachargeofhorning。’’Heassuredourhero，thatfromthemaistancienttimesofrecord，thelawlessthieves，limmers，andbrokenmenoftheHighlands，hadbeeninfellowshiptogetherbyreasonoftheirsurnames，forthecommittingofdiversthefts，reifs，andhershipsuponthehonestmenoftheLowCountry，whentheynotonlyintromittedwiththeirwholegoodsandgear，corn，cattle，horse，nolt，sheep，outsightandinsightplenishing，attheirwickedpleasure，butmoreovermadeprisoners，ransomedthem，orconcussedthemintogivingborrowspledgestoenterintocaptivityagain：allwhichwasdirectlyprohibitedindiverspartsoftheStatuteBook，bothbytheactonethousandfivehundredandsixty-seven，andvariousothers；thewhilkstatutes，withallthathadfollowedandmightfollowthereupon，wereshamefullybrokenandvilipendedbythesaidsorners，limmers，andbrokenmen，associatedintofellowships，fortheaforesaidpurposesoftheft，stouthreef，fire-raising，murther，raptusmulierum，orforcibleabductionofwomen，andsuchlikeasaforesaid。’’
ItseemedlikeadreamtoWaverleythatthesedeedsofviolenceshouldbefamiliartomen’sminds，andcurrentlytalkedof，asfallingwithinthecommonorderofthings，andhappeningdailyintheimmediatevicinity，withouthishavingcrossedtheseas，andwhilehewasyetintheotherwisewell-orderedislandofGreatBritain。
NoteF。Black-mailCHAPTERSIXTEENTH。
ANUNEXPECTEDALLYAPPEARS。
TheBaronreturnedatthedinner-hour，andhadinagreatmeasurerecoveredhiscomposureandgoodhumour。HenotonlyconfirmedthestorieswhichEdwardhadheardfromRoseandBailieMacwheeble，butaddedmanyanecdotesfromhisownexperience，concerningthestateoftheHighlandsandtheirinhabitants。Thechiefshepronouncedtobe，ingeneral，gentlemenofgreathonourandhighpedigree，whosewordwasaccountedasalawbyallthoseoftheirownsept，orclan。Itdidnot，indeed，’’hesaid，becomethem，ashadoccurredinlateinstances，toproponetheir_prosapia，_alineagewhichrestedforthemostpartonthevainandfondrhymesoftheirSeannachiesorBhairds，asquiponderatewiththeevidenceofancientchartersandroyalgrantsofantiquity，conferredupondistinguishedhousesintheLowCountrybydiversScottishmonarchs；nevertheless，suchwastheir_outrecuidance_andpresumptionastoundervaluethosewhopossessedsuchevidents，asiftheyheldtheirlandsinasheep’sskin。’’