And his being superseded, in consequence of his apparent neglect of this last command, was so far from being a harsh or severe proceeding, that it was plainly inevitable.The next letter he unfolded was from the Major of the regiment, acquainting him that a report, to the disadvantage of his reputation, was public in the country, stating, that one Mr.Falconer of Ballihopple, or some such name, had proposed, in his presence, a treasonable toast, which he permitted to pass in silence, although it was so gross an affront to the royal family, that a gentleman in company, not remarkable for his zeal for government, had nevertheless taken the matter up; and that, supposing the account true, Captain Waverley had thus suffered another, comparatively unconcerned, to resent an affront directed against him personally as an officer, and to go out with the person by whom it was offered.The Major concluded, that no one of Captain Waverley's brother-officers could believe this scandalous story, but it was necessarily their joint opinion, that his own honour, equally with that of the regiment, depended upon its being instantly contradicted by his authority, etc.etc.etc.
``What do you think of all this?'' said Colonel Talbot, to whom Waverley handed the letters after he had perused them.
``Think! it renders thought impossible.It is enough to drive me mad.''
``Be calm, my young friend; let us see what are these dirty scrawls that follow.''
The first was addressed, ``For Master W.Ruffin These,''---``Dear sur, sum of our yong gulpins will not bite, thof I tuold them you shoed me the squoires own seel.But Tims will deliver you the lettrs as desired, and tell ould Addem he gave them to squoir's hond, as to be sure yours is the same, and shall be ready for signal, and hoy for Hoy Church and Sachefrel, as fadur sings at harvest-whome.
Yours, deer sur, H.H.
``Poscriff.Do'e tell squoire we longs to heer from him, and has dootings about his not writing himself, and Lieftenant Bottler is smoky.''
``This Ruffin, I suppose, then, is your Donald of the Cavern, who has intercepted your letters, and carried on a correspondence with the poor devil Houghton, as if under your authority?''
``It seems too true.But who can Addem be?''
``Possibly Adam, for poor Gardiner, a sort of pun on his name.''
The other letters were to the same purpose, and they soon received yet more complete light upon Donald Bean's machinations.
John Hodges, one of Waverley's servants, who had remained with the regiment, and had been taken at Preston, now made his appearance.He had sought out his master, with the purpose of again entering his service.From this fellow they learned, that, some time after Waverley had gone from the headquarters of the regiment, a pedlar, called Ruthven, Ruffin, or Rivane, known among the soldiers by the name of Wily Will, had made frequent visits to the town of Dundee.He appeared to possess plenty of money, sold his commodities very cheap, seemed always willing to treat his friends at the ale-house, and easily ingratiated himself with many of Waverley's troop, particularly Sergeant Houghton, and one Tims, also a non-commissioned officer.To these he unfolded, in Waverley's name, a plan for leaving the regiment, and joining him in the Highlands, where report said the clans had already taken arms in great numbers.