I'd like to hear what the duchess said to him." "It was na what the duchess said to him, but what he said to the duchess, ye ken.

The way of it was this: My uncle Caimbogie was aye up at the castle, for besides his knowledge of liquor, there was nae his match for deer-stalking, or spearing a salmon, in those parts.

He was a great, rough carle, it's true; but ane ye'd rather crack wi' than fight wi'.
"Weel, ae day they had a grand dinner at the duke's, and there were plenty o' great southern lords and braw leddies in velvets and satin; and vara muckle surprised they were at my uncle, when he came in wi' his tartan kilt, in full Highland dress, as the head of a clan ought to do.

Caimbogie, however, pe'd nae attention to them; but he eat his dinner, and drank his wine, and talked away about fallow and red deer, and at last the duchess, for she was aye fond o' him, addressed him frae the head o' the table:-- "'Cambogie,' quoth she, 'I'd like to hae your opinion about that wine.

It's some the duke has just received, and we should like to hear what you think of it.' "'It's nae sae bad, my leddy,' said my uncle; for ye see he was a man of few words, and never flattered onybody.
"'Then you don't approve much of it ?' said the duchess.
"'I've drank better, and I've drank waur,' quo' he.
"'I'm sorry you don't like it, Caimbogie,' said the duchess, 'for it can never be popular now,--we have such a dependence upon your taste.' "'I cauna say ower muckle for my _taste_, my leddy, but ae thing I _will_ say,--I've a most damnable _smell!_' "I hear that never since the auld walls stood was there ever the like o' the laughing that followed; the puir duke himsel' was carried away, and nearly had a fit, and a' the grand lords and leddies a'most died of it.