in length any speech which Mannering had yet heard him utter. The
tea, which of course belonged to the noble Captain Hatteraick's
trade, was pronounced excellent. Still Mannering hinted, though
with due delicacy, at the risk of encouraging such desperate
characters. 'Were it but in justice to the revenue, I should have
supposed--'

'Ah, the revenue lads'--for Mr. Bertram never embraced a general
or abstract idea, and his notion of the revenue was personified in
the commissioners, surveyors, comptrollers, and riding officers
whom he happened to know--'the revenue lads can look sharp eneugh
out for themselves, no ane needs to help them; and they have a'
the soldiers to assist them besides; and as to justice--you'll be
surprised to hear it, Mr. Mannering, but I am not a justice of
peace!'

Mannering assumed the expected look of surprise, but thought
within himself that the worshipful bench suffered no great
deprivation from wanting the assistance of his good-humoured
landlord. Mr. Bertram had now hit upon one of the few subjects on
which he felt sore, and went on with some energy.

'No, sir, the name of Godfrey Bertram of Ellangowan is not in the
last commission, though there's scarce a carle in the country that
has a plough-gate of land, but what he must ride to quarter-
sessions and write J.P. after his name. I ken fu' weel whom I am
obliged to--Sir Thomas Kittlecourt as good as tell'd me he would
sit in my skirts if he had not my interest at the last election;
and because I chose to go with my own blood and third cousin, the
Laird of Balruddery, they keepit me off the roll of freeholders;