Doctor Who: The Highlanders Read Online Free PDF

corner of the cottage, followed by Perkins. ‘One moment,’ he called. He came over, brought out a lorgnette and looked Ben over carefully.
    ‘Who the devil may you be?’ asked the Sergeant.
    Grey ignored him and finished his examination of Ben.
    ‘Perkins,’ he called over his shoulder.
    Perkins reached in his pocket and pulled out a large parchment commission sealed with a red seal. He handed it to the Sergeant. ‘This,’ he said importantly, ‘is Solicitor Grey of Lincolns Inn Fields, his Majesty’s Commissioner for the disposal of rebel prisoners.’
    The Sergeant took the commission a little suspiciously and looked at it, holding it upside down. He obviously was unable to read.
    The Doctor, stretching his bound hands, leaned over and took it from him, looking at it. ‘Perhaps I can help,’ he said.
    Grey turned to the soldiers. ‘Take the noose off and set this young man down.’
    ‘Set him down,’ echoed Perkins, who had a habit of repeating his master’s orders.
    The soldiers paused irresolutely, looking from Grey to the Sergeant. The Sergeant, his authority challenged, flushed angrily.
    ‘I don’t care who you are,’ he said, ‘you’ve no charge over my men.’
    Grey turned, his voice a whiplash. ‘Can you not read, Sergeant? I have charge over all rebel prisoners, and you and your men are ordered to give me every assistance.’
    ‘Of course he has,’ Perkins burst in self-importantly.
    ‘Appointed by the Chief Justice of England, Mr Grey is.
    All prisoners,’ he repeated.
    The Sergeant turned uncertainly and started blustering.
    ‘Not these, he ain’t!’
    Grey looked at him for a moment, then turned back to Perkins. ‘Perkins,’ he said, ‘the other pocket, I think.’
    Perkins nodded, felt in a pocket, and brought out a handful of silver coins which he proceeded to count out from one hand to the other. Grey turned back to the Sergeant.
    ‘I admit a prior claim, Sergeant, but I think you are a reasonable man.’ The Sergeant was watching the coins. A sergeant’s pay at that time was five shillings a week. He watched, fascinated, as Perkins counted out ten silver coins, then stopped.
    ‘I’m not sure,’ he said as Perkins looked up at him.
    ‘Continue, Perkins,’ instructed Grey. Perkins shrugged his shoulders a little unwillingly, and began to count out another handful.
    ‘Of course, I regret any trouble,’ continued Grey,
    ‘encountered by you and’ – indicating the other soldiers –
    ‘these fine fellows. But if this will help...’ Perkins finished counting out a handful of silver coins and held it toward the Sergeant.
    The Sergeant nodded, took the money and placed it in a pouch hanging at his belt. He turned back to his men. ‘You heard the Commissioner, get him down smart like.’ The men took the noose from Ben’s neck and released him.
    Ben turned to the Solicitor. ‘Phew, that feels better.
    Thanks a lot, mate.’
    Grey gave him a slight bow. ‘A trifle, I assure you.’ He reached in and took out a snuffbox, delicately taking a small pinch of snuff between finger and thumb and sniffing it. He gave a dainty sneeze, and then continued.
    ‘Strong ruffians like you and’ – he looked at the other three and nodded towards Jamie – ‘this young rebel here are needed at His Majesty’s colonies.’ He turned to look at the wounded Laird. ‘You can dispatch this one, Sergeant, and’
    –he turned and raised his lorgnette to look at the Doctor–
    ‘this strange looking scoundrel here.’
    Perkins snatched the commission from the Doctor’s hand. The Doctor gave a slight bow. ‘Article XVII, Aliens Act 1730,’ he said.
    ‘Pardon?’ asked Grey.
    ‘Ah, I thought you vere a gentleman of the law.’
    Perkins elbowed him back. ‘How dare you speak to Mr Grey like that.’
    Grey gave a slight smile, amused. ‘I am a lawyer.’
    ‘Then you are doubtless familiar with Article XVII,’
    said the Doctor. ‘You cannot hang a citizen of a foreign power vithout