'"
"I hope I may say so indeed."
"There now! I tauld you how it was! But, d'ye hear, maister. Here
stands the poor sinner, John Barnet, your beadle an' servantman,
wha wadna change chances wi' you in the neist world, nor
consciences in this, for ten times a' that you possess--your
justification by faith an' awthegither."
"You are extremely audacious and impertinent, John; but the
language of reprobation cannot affect me: I came only to ask you
one question, which I desire you to answer candidly. Did you
ever say to anyone that I was the boy Robert's natural father?"
"Hout na, sir! Ha-ha-ha! Aih, fie, na, sir! I durst-na say that for
my life. I doubt the black stool, an' the sack gown, or maybe the
juggs wad hae been my portion had I said sic a thing as that.
Hout, hout! Fie, fie! Unco-like doings thae for a Melchizedek or a
Saint Paul!"
"John, you are a profane old man, and I desire that you will not
presume to break your jests on me. Tell me, dare you say, or dare
you think, that I am the natural father of that boy?"
"Ye canna hinder me to think whatever I like, sir, nor can I hinder
mysel."
"But did you ever say to anyone that he resembled me, and
fathered himself well enough?"
"I hae said mony a time that he resembled you, sir.
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