Athol assented, and undertook to bring a great body of his clansmen from the Highlands to protect the deliberations of the Royalist Convention.

Every thing was arranged for the secession; but, in a few hours, the tardiness of one man and the haste of another ruined the whole plan.
The Monday came.

The Jacobite lords and gentlemen were actually taking horse for Stirling, when Athol asked for a delay of twenty-four hours.
He had no personal reason to be in haste.

By staying he ran no risk of being assassinated.

By going he incurred the risks inseparable from civil war.