Archie saw the cod's mouth and the blunt lips of Glenkindie gape at him for a moment, and the recognition twinkle in his eyes.
"Who's this ?" said he.

"What?
is this possibly you, Don Quickshot?
And how are ye?
And how's your father?
And what's all this we hear of you?
It seems you're a most extraordinary leveller, by all tales.

No king, no parliaments, and your gorge rises at the macers, worthy men! Hoot, toot! Dear, dear me! Your father's son too! Most rideeculous!" Archie was on his feet, flushing a little at the reappearance of his unhappy figure of speech, but perfectly self-possessed.

"My lord--and you, Lord Glenalmond, my dear friend," he began, "this is a happy chance for me, that I can make my confession and offer my apologies to two of you at once." "Ah, but I don't know about that.

Confession?
It'll be judeecial, my young friend," cried the jocular Glenkindie.