Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 4).djvu/21

 tended by those who convoked the council. The first question was put by Macbriar, the sharp eagerness of whose zeal urged him to the van on all occasions. He desired to know by whose authority the malignant, called Lord Evandale, had been freed from the doom of death justly denounced against him.

"By my authority and Mr Morton's," replied Poundtext, who, besides being anxious to give his companion a good opinion of his courage, confided heartily in his support, and, moreover, had much less fear of encountering one of his own profession, and who confined himself to the weapons of theological controversy, in which Poundtext feared no man, than of entering into debate with the stern homicide Balfour.

"And who, brother," said Kettledrummle, "who gave you commission to interpose in such a high matter?matter?" [sic]

"The tenor of our commission," answered Poundtext, "gives us authority to bind and to loose. If Lord Evandale was just-