'I protest and declare--Why, sir, have you any papers or letters that can establish your pretended rank and estate and commission ?' 'None at present, sir,' answered Bertram; 'but in the return of a post or two---' 'And how do you, sir,' continued the Baronet, 'if you are a captain in his Majesty's service--how do you chance to be travelling in Scotland without letters of introduction, credentials, baggage, or anything belonging to your pretended rank, estate, and condition, as I said before ?' 'Sir,' replied the prisoner, 'I had the misfortune to be robbed of my clothes and baggage.' 'Oho! then you are the gentleman who took a post-chaise from---to Kippletringan, gave the boy the slip on the road, and sent two of your accomplices to beat the boy and bring away the baggage ?' 'I was, sir, in a carriage, as you describe, was obliged to alight in the snow, and lost my way endeavouring to find the road to Kippletringan.

The landlady of the inn will inform you that on my arrival there the next day, my first inquiries were after the boy.' 'Then give me leave to ask where you spent the night, not in the snow, I presume?
You do not suppose that will pass, or be taken, credited, and received ?' 'I beg leave,' said Bertram, his recollection turning to the gipsy female and to the promise he had given her--'I beg leave to decline answering that question.' 'I thought as much,' said Sir Robert.

'Were you not during that night in the ruins of Derncleugh ?--in the ruins of Derncleugh, sir ?' 'I have told you that I do not intend answering that question,' replied Bertram.
'Well, sir, then you will stand committed, sir,' said Sir Robert, 'and be sent to prison, sir, that's all, sir.

Have the goodness to look at these papers; are you the Vanbeest Brown who is there mentioned ?' It must be remarked that Glossin had shuffled among the papers some writings which really did belong to Bertram, and which had been found by the officers in the old vault where his portmanteau was ransacked.
'Some of these papers,' said Bertram, looking over them, 'are mine, and were in my portfolio when it was stolen from the post-chaise.

They are memoranda of little value, and, I see, have been carefully selected as affording no evidence of my rank or character, which many of the other papers would have established fully.