Rob Roy | Chapter 26 Summary

Frank arrives at Jarvie’s for dinner (a bit late), with Owen also in attendance. Frank, from his European travels, is used to unusual food, but Owen is nonplused at the fare.

Frank relates his adventures with Rashleigh to Jarvie, who tells him that dueling is a very serious offense, so it is lucky that they did not get caught. Frank asks Jarvie for more information about Campbell, who is a relative of Jarvie’s.

Jarvie describes the poor conditions of many of the residents of Scotland. A large part of the population lives on subsistence farming, and that not very well. There are some wealthy landowners, however. Through blackmail, Campbell manages to charge them for protection, and thus gives the money to the poverty-stricken, making him a kind of Robin Hood of Scotland.

When Frank asks what connection Campbell has with this business of his father, he learns that Campbell was indeed the highway robber who took Morris’s portmanteau. Furthermore, Rashleigh himself cheated Frank’s father out of the money and bills for the sole purpose of creating an uprising in Scotland, by causing distress to the men to whom those bills had been granted. Jarvie hopes that Campbell can be compelled to return the money so as not to ruin Frank’s father.

Frank is grateful to Jarvie for his opening up about the situation, since it clears up several questions Frank had. He also agrees with Mr. Jarvie’s proposal that the two of them go to see Campbell the next day.