'
'And who, then, in the name of Haven, has bought this property?'
'That,' said the Colonel,' it is this gentleman's profession to
explain.'
The Bailie, whom this reference regarded, and who had all this while
shifted from one foot to another with great impatience, 'like a hen,'
as he afterwards said, 'upon a het girdle'; and chuckling, he might have
added, like the said hen in all the glory of laying an egg--now pushed
forward: 'That I can, that I can, your Honour,' drawing from his pocket
a budget of papers, and untying the red tape with a hand trembling
with eagerness. 'Here is the disposition and assignation, by Malcolm
Bradwardine of Inch-Grabbit, regularly signed and tested in terms of
the statute, whereby, for a certain sum of sterling money presently
contented and paid to him, he has disponed, alienated, and conveyed the
whole estate and barony of Bradwardine, Tully-Veolan, and others, with
the fortalice and manor-place--'
'For God's sake, to the point, sir--I have all that by heart,' said the
Colonel.
'To Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine, Esq.' pursued the Bailie, 'his heirs and
assignees, simply and irredeemably--to be held either A ME VEL DE ME--'
'Pray read short, sir.
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