The Colonel was still in Edinburgh, and proposed to wait there for some
months upon business confided to him by the Duke of Cumberland. He was to
be joined by Lady Emily, to whom easy travelling and goat's whey were
recommended, and who was to journey northward under the escort of Francis
Stanley. Edward, therefore, met the Colonel at Edinburgh, who wished him
joy in the kindest manner on his approaching happiness, and cheerfully
undertook many commissions which our hero was necessarily obliged to
delegate to his charge. But on the subject of Fergus he was inexorable.
He satisfied Edward, indeed, that his interference would be unavailing;
but, besides, Colonel Talbot owned that he could not conscientiously use
any influence in favour of that unfortunate gentleman. 'Justice,' he
said, 'which demanded some penalty of those who had wrapped the whole
nation in fear and in mourning, could not perhaps have selected a fitter
victim. He came to the field with the fullest light upon the nature of
his attempt. He had studied and understood the subject. His father's fate
could not intimidate him; the lenity of the laws which had restored to
him his father's property and rights could not melt him.
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