There was nothing to be feared in that quarter, for to them all in authority were idolaters and George no worse than James.
In those moorland sojournings, too, he had got light on other matters, for he had the numbers of Kenmure's levies in his head, had visited my lord Stair at his grim Galloway castle, and had had a long midnight colloquy with Roxburghe on Tweedside.

He had a pretty tale for his master, once he could get to him.

But with Northumberland up and the Highlanders at Jedburgh and Kenmure coming from the west, it had been a ticklish business to cross the Border.

Yet by cunning and a good horse it had been accomplished, and he found himself in Cumberland with the road open southward to the safe Lowther country.

Wherefore Mr.Lovel had relaxed, and taken his ease in an inn.
He would not have admitted that he was drunk, but he presently confessed that he was not clear about his road.