If he chose to play this part of ignorance, it was no matter of mine; so I smiled, said it was no very Highland-sounding name, and consented.

Through all the rest of my story Alan was Mr.Thomson; which amused me the more, as it was a piece of policy after his own heart.

James Stewart, in like manner, was mentioned under the style of Mr.Thomson's kinsman; Colin Campbell passed as a Mr.Glen; and to Cluny, when I came to that part of my tale, I gave the name of "Mr.Jameson, a Highland chief." It was truly the most open farce, and I wondered that the lawyer should care to keep it up; but, after all, it was quite in the taste of that age, when there were two parties in the state, and quiet persons, with no very high opinions of their own, sought out every cranny to avoid offence to either.
"Well, well," said the lawyer, when I had quite done, "this is a great epic, a great Odyssey of yours.

You must tell it, sir, in a sound Latinity when your scholarship is riper; or in English if you please, though for my part I prefer the stronger tongue.

You have rolled much; quae regio in terris--what parish in Scotland (to make a homely translation) has not been filled with your wanderings?
You have shown, besides, a singular aptitude for getting into false positions; and, yes, upon the whole, for behaving well in them.