"It may be asked by the severer antiquary of the present day, why an editor, thinking it necessary to introduce such alterations in order to bring forth a new, beautiful, and interesting sense from a meagre or corrupted original, did not in good faith to his readers acquaint them with the liberties he had taken and make them judge whether in so doing he transgressed his limits.

We answer that unquestionably such would be the express duty of a modern editor, but such were not the rules of the service when Dr.
Percy first opened the campaign."[55] One wonders whether the "rules of the service" did not in Scott's opinion occasionally permit a little wilful mystification.

The case of _Kinmont Willie_ tempts one to such an explanation.

Besides the capital instance of his anonymity as regards the novels, Scott several times seemed to amuse himself in perplexing the public.

There was the case of the _Bridal of Triermain_, which he tried by means of various careful devices to pass off as the work of a friend.