Page:Guy Mannering Vol 3.djvu/70

60 strate  magisstratemagistrate [sic] stand in need of a hint. As for Sir Robert Hazlewood, he assumed on his part a happy mixture of the austerity of the justice, combined with the display of personal dignity appertaining to the baronet of ancient family.

"There, constables, let him stand there at the bottom of the table—Be so good as look me in the face, sir, and raise your voice as you answer the questions which I am going to put to you."

"May I beg, in the first place, to know, sir, who it is that takes the trouble to interrogate me? for the honest gentlemen who have brought me here have not been pleased to furnish any information upon that point."

"And pray, sir, what has my name and quality to do with the questions I am about to ask you?"

"Nothing perhaps, sir; but it may considerably influence my disposition to answer them."

"Why, then, sir, you will please to be