He was a great favourite with
some of the west country gentlemen of that faction, by reason of
his unbending impudence. No opposition could for a moment
cause him either to blush, or retract one item that he had
advanced. Therefore the Duke of Argyle and his friends made
such use of him as sportsmen often do of terriers, to start the
game, and make a great yelping noise to let them know whither
the chase is proceeding. They often did this out of sport, in order
to tease their opponent; for of all pesterers that ever fastened on
man he was the most insufferable: knowing that his coat
protected him from manual chastisement, he spared no acrimony,
and delighted in the chagrin and anger of those with whom he
contended. But he was sometimes likewise of real use to the
heads of the Presbyterian faction, and therefore was admitted to
their tables, and of course conceived himself a very great man.
His ward accompanied him; and, very shortly after their arrival in
Edinburgh, Robert, for the first time, met with the young laird his
brother, in a match at tennis. The prowess and agility of the
young squire drew forth the loudest plaudits of approval from his
associates, and his own exertion alone carried the game every
time on the one side, and that so far as all I along to count three
for their one.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49