Catriona · Chapter
The Tee'd Ball explained
David hears the verdict and judgment against James Stewart, noting the Duke of Argyle's controversial speech.
What happens
David hears the verdict and judgment against James Stewart, noting the Duke of Argyle's controversial speech. He travels with Prestongrange to Glasgow, where he reflects on the corruption he has witnessed. Prestongrange informs David that Catriona has helped her father James More escape from prison, and David insists on visiting her in captivity, offering to give up Prestongrange's patronage.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Injustice
The chapter highlights the corruption and bias in the trial of James Stewart, with the Duke's prejudicial speech and the improper use of James More's testimony.
Loyalty and Betrayal
David struggles with his loyalty to Prestongrange versus his duty to Catriona; James More's betrayal of James Stewart for his own freedom is exposed.
Gender Roles and Independence
Catriona's daring disguise and prison break challenge traditional gender roles, earning admiration from both Miss Grant and the town.
Characters to notice
- David Balfour
Narrates the chapter; hears the verdict against James Stewart, travels with Prestongrange, and resolves to visit Catriona in prison.
- Lord Advocate Prestongrange
Travels with David to Glasgow, informs him of Catriona's prison break and her imprisonment, and tests David's loyalty.
- Catriona Drummond
Helps her father James More escape from Edinburgh Castle by disguising herself as a cobbler; is now in prison herself.
- James More Macgregor
Escapes from prison with Catriona's help; his testimony in the Appin case is revealed to have been used improperly.
- Barbara Grant
Writes a letter to Prestongrange describing Catriona's exploit in freeing her father.
- James Stewart
Convicted and sentenced in the Appin murder case; the verdict is delivered in this chapter.
Key passages
“If you had been successful in that rebellion, you might have been giving the law where you have now received the judgment of it; we, who are this day your judges, might have been tried before one of your mock courts of judicature; and then you might have been satiated with the blood of any name or clan to which you had an aversion.”
The Duke of Argyle told James Stewart that if the Jacobites had won, Stewart would be the judge and the Campbells the defendants, implying the verdict was based on political revenge.
This speech was widely mocked and seen as revealing the bias of the court.
“James was as fairly murdered as though the Duke had got a fowling-piece and stalked him.”
David believes James Stewart was judicially murdered, as surely as if the Duke had shot him himself.
David's strong condemnation of the trial's outcome.
“I drank Catriona’s health this night in public. Indeed, the whole town admires her; and I think the beaux would wear bits of her garters in their buttonholes if they could only get them.”
Miss Grant writes that she publicly toasted Catriona, and the entire town admires her so much that young men would treasure any token from her.
Shows the public admiration for Catriona's daring escape.