Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/336

326 With these we need not trouble our readers. They were of an evasive nature, calculated to meet a proposal which Montrose considered to have been made only for the purpose of gaining time. When he had put Captain Dalgetty in complete possession of his instructions, and when that worthy, making his military obeisance, was near the door of his apartment, Montrose made him a sign to return.

"I presume," said he, "I need not remind an officer who has served under the Great Gustavus, that a little more is required of a person sent with a flag of truce than mere discharge of his instructions, and that his general will expect from him on his return some account of the state of the enemies affairs, as far as they come under his observation. In short, Captain Dalgettv, you must be un peu clair-voyant."

"Ah ha! your Excellency," said the Captain, twisting his hard features into an inimitable expression of cunning and intel-