XVII: The Memorial explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Justice and Injustice

  The trial of James Stewart is portrayed as a foregone conclusion, with clan politics overriding legal fairness; the memorial is a desperate attempt to sway the Crown.

• Loyalty and Betrayal

  David struggles between loyalty to James Stewart and gratitude to Prestongrange, who saved his life but now seeks his complicity.

• Deception and Manipulation

  Prestongrange manipulates David by appealing to his gratitude and presenting the memorial as a countercheck; the lawyers craft the memorial to serve their own ambitions.

Characters to notice

• David Balfour

  Narrates his kidnapping and captivity to the lawyers; insists on showing the memorial to Prestongrange; agrees to ride with Prestongrange as a countercheck to the memorial.

• Charles Stewart

  Urgently pulls David from church; excitedly discusses the trial and clan politics; hosts the lawyers' dinner and helps draft the memorial.

• Lord Advocate Prestongrange

  Meets David privately; acknowledges the memorial's danger to himself; admits he spared David's life and now seeks David's help in return.

• James More Macgregor

  Mentioned as the condemned man; his fate is considered sealed by Prestongrange and the lawyers.

• Alan Breck Stewart

  Mentioned in David's testimony as having menaced Glenure and assisted the escape; his actions are part of the chain of evidence against James.

• Brown of Colstoun

  One of James Stewart's counsel; analyzes David's testimony as damaging; sighs over lost chance to become Lord Advocate.

• Sheriff Miller

  One of James Stewart's counsel; suggests the memorial plan; drafts the document with the others.

• Glenure

  Mentioned as the victim of the murder; Alan Breck had menaced him before the killing.

Key passages

• “The case is over; the jury is enclosed, and will be so kind as let us ken their view of it tomorrow in the morning, the same as I could have told it my own self three days ago before the play began.”

  The trial is finished; the jury has been locked away and will announce their verdict tomorrow, which I could have predicted three days ago.

  Charles Stewart expresses his certainty about the guilty verdict, highlighting the predetermined nature of the trial.

• “To sum up, you prove that Alan was on the spot; you have heard him proffer menaces against Glenure; and though you assure us he was not the man who fired, you leave a strong impression that he was in league with him, and consenting, perhaps immediately assisting, in the act.”

  In short, your testimony shows Alan was present and threatened Glenure, and even though you say he didn't fire the shot, it seems he was involved in the murder.

  Colstoun summarizes how David's evidence actually harms James Stewart's case by linking Alan to the crime.

• “This is in the nature of a countercheck to the memorial?”

  Is this your way of countering the memorial?

  David shrewdly perceives that Prestongrange's invitation to ride with him is a political move to undermine the memorial's impact.

• “My tenderness for you has brought me in this difficulty. I wish to know if your tenderness to your own conscience is too great to let you help me out of it?”

  My leniency toward you has caused my current trouble. I want to know if your scruples will prevent you from helping me.

  Prestongrange appeals to David's sense of gratitude and guilt, framing his own actions as merciful and David's refusal as ungrateful.