You may answer if they address you, but, being on duty, your answer must be brief; and you must neither address them in your turn, nor engage in any prolonged discourse.

But hearken to what they say.

Thine ears as well as thy hands are mine--I have bought thee, body and soul.

Therefore, if thou hearest aught of their conversation, thou must retain it in memory until it is communicated to me, and then forget it.

And, now I think better on it, it will be best that thou pass for a Scottish recruit, who hath come straight down from his mountains, and hath not yet acquired our most Christian language .-- Right .-- So, if they speak to thee, thou wilt not answer--this will free you from embarrassment, and lead them to converse without regard to your presence.