He accosted Ravenswood very politely, but not without some embarrassment.
"You seem a gallant young gentleman, sir," he said, "and yet appear as indifferent to this brave sport as if you had my load of years on your shoulders." "I have followed the sport with more spirit on other occasions," replied the Master; "at present, late events in my family must be my apology; and besides," he added, "I was but indifferently mounted at the beginning of the sport." "I think," said the stranger, "one of my attendants had the sense to accommodate your friend with a horse." "I was much indebted to his politeness and yours," replied Ravenswood.
"My friend is Mr.Hayston of Bucklaw, whom I dare say you will be sure to find in the thick of the keenest sportsmen.

He will return your servant's horse, and take my pony in exchange; and will add," he concluded, turning his horse's head from the stranger, "his best acknowledgments to mine for the accommodation." The Master of Ravenswood, having thus expressed himself, began to move homeward, with the manner of one who has taken leave of his company.
But the stranger was not so to be shaken off.

He turned his horse at the same time, and rode in the same direction, so near to the Master that, without outriding him, which the formal civility of the time, and the respect due to the stranger's age and recent civility, would have rendered improper, he could not easily escape from his company.
The stranger did not long remain silent.

"This, then," he said, "is the ancient Castle of Wolf's Crag, often mentioned in the Scottish records," looking to the old tower, then darkening under the influence of a stormy cloud, that formed its background; for at the distance of a short mile, the chase, having been circuitous, had brought the hunters nearly back to the point which they had attained when Ravenswood and Bucklaw had set forward to join them.
Ravenswood answered this observation with a cold and distant assent.
"It was, as I have heard," continued the stranger, unabashed by his coldness, "one of the most early possessions of the honourable family of Ravenswood." "Their earliest possession," answered the Master, "and probably their latest." "I--I--I should hope not, sir," answered the stranger, clearing his voice with more than one cough, and making an effort to overcome a certain degree of hesitation; "Scotland knows what she owes to this ancient family, and remembers their frequent and honourable achievements.

I have little doubt that, were it properly represented to her Majesty that so ancient and noble a family were subjected to dilapidation--I mean to decay--means might be found, ad re-aedificandum antiquam domum----" "I will save you the trouble, sir, of discussing this point farther," interrupted the Master, haughtily.