invaded　them　…　in　their　citadel；　so　to　speak；　counted　the　bunks　and
  the　sleepers；　proposed　to　put　me　in　bed　to　one　of　the　lasses；
  proposed　to　have　one　of　the　lasses　out　to　make　room　for　me；　fell
  over　chairs；　and　made　noise　enough　to　waken　the　dead：　the　whole
  illuminated　by　the　same　young　torch…bearer；　but　now　with　two
  candles；　and　rapidly　beginning　to　look　like　a　man　in　a　snowstorm。
  At　last　a　bed　was　found　for　me；　my　clothes　were　hung　out　to　dry
  before　the　parlour　fire；　and　I　was　mercifully　left　to　my　repose。
  I　awoke　about　nine　with　the　sun　shining　in　my　eyes。　　The　landlord
  came　at　my　summons；　brought　me　my　clothes　dried　and　decently
  brushed；　and　gave　me　the　good　news　that　the　Six…Feet…High　Club　were
  all　abed　and　sleeping　off　their　excesses。　　Where　they　were　bestowed
  was　a　puzzle　to　me　until　（as　I　was　strolling　about　the　garden　patch
  waiting　for　breakfast）　I　came　on　a　barn　door；　and；　looking　in；　saw
  all　the　red　face　mixed　in　the　straw　like　plums　in　a　cake。　　Quoth
  the　stalwart　maid　who　brought　me　my　porridge　and　bade　me　'eat　them
  while　they　were　hot；'　'Ay；　they　were　a'　on　the　ran…dan　last　nicht！
  Hout！　they're　fine　lads；　and　they'll　be　nane　the　waur　of　it。　　Forby
  Farbes's　coat。　　I　dinna　see　wha's　to　get　the　creish　off　that！'　she
  added；　with　a　sigh；　in　which；　identifying　Forbes　as　the　torch…
  bearer；　I　mentally　joined。
  It　was　a　brave　morning　when　I　took　the　road；　the　sun　shone；　spring
  seemed　in　the　air；　it　smelt　like　April　or　May；　and　some　over…
  venturous　birds　sang　in　the　coppices　as　I　went　by。　　I　had　plenty　to
  think　of；　plenty　to　be　grateful　for；　that　gallant　morning；　and　yet
  I　had　a　twitter　at　my　heart。　　To　enter　the　city　by　daylight　might
  be　compared　to　marching　on　a　battery；　every　face　that　I　confronted
  would　threaten　me　like　the　muzzle　of　a　gun；　and　it　came　into　my
  head　suddenly　with　how　much　better　a　countenance　I　should　be　able
  to　do　it　if　I　could　but　improvise　a　companion。　　Hard　by　Merchiston
  I　was　so　fortunate　as　to　observe　a　bulky　gentleman　in　broadcloth
  and　gaiters；　stooping　with　his　head　almost　between　his　knees；
  before　a　stone　wall。　　Seizing　occasion　by　the　forelock；　I　drew　up
  as　I　came　alongside　and　inquired　what　he　had　found　to　interest　him。
  He　turned　upon　me　a　countenance　not　much　less　broad　than　his　back。
  'Why；　sir；'　he　replied；　'I　was　even　marvelling　at　my　own
  indefeasible　stupeedity：　that　I　should　walk　this　way　every　week　of
  my　life；　weather　permitting；　and　should　never　before　have　NOTTICED
  that　stone；'　touching　it　at　the　same　time　with　a　goodly　oak　staff。
  I　followed　the　indication。　　The　stone；　which　had　been　built
  sideways　into　the　wall；　offered　traces　of　heraldic　sculpture。　　At
  once　there　came　a　wild　idea　into　my　mind：　his　appearance　tallied
  with　Flora's　description　of　Mr。　Robbie；　a　knowledge　of　heraldry
  would　go　far　to　clinch　the　proof；　and　what　could　be　more　desirable
  than　to　scrape　an　informal　acquaintance　with　the　man　whom　I　must
  approach　next　day　with　my　tale　of　the　drovers；　and　whom　I　yet
  wished　to　please？　　I　stooped　in　turn。
  'A　chevron；'　I　said；　'on　a　chief　three　mullets？　　Looks　like
  Douglas；　does　it　not？'
  'Yes；　sir；　it　does；　you　are　right；'　said　he：　'it　DOES　look　like
  Douglas；　though；　without　the　tinctures；　and　the　whole　thing　being
  so　battered　and　broken　up；　who　shall　venture　an　opinion？　　But　allow
  me　to　be　more　personal；　sir。　　In　these　degenerate　days　I　am
  astonished　you　should　display　so　much　proficiency。'
  'O；　I　was　well　grounded　in　my　youth　by　an　old　gentleman；　a　friend
  of　my　family；　and　I　may　say　my　guardian；'　said　I；　'but　I　have
  forgotten　it　since。　　God　forbid　I　should　delude　you　into　thinking
  me　a　herald；　sir！　　I　am　only　an　ungrammatical　amateur。'
  'And　a　little　modesty　does　no　harm　even　in　a　herald；'　says　my　new
  acquaintance　graciously。
  In　short；　we　fell　together　on　our　onward　way；　and　maintained　very
  amicable　discourse　along　what　remained　of　the　country　road；　past
  the　suburbs；　and　on　into　the　streets　of　the　New　Town；　which　was　as
  deserted　and　silent　as　a　city　of　the　dead。　　The　shops　were　closed；
  no　vehicle　ran；　cats　sported　in　the　midst　of　the　sunny　causeway；
  and　our　steps　and　voices　re…echoed　from　the　quiet　houses。　　It　was
  the　high…water；　full　and　strange；　of　that　weekly　trance　to　which
  the　city　of　Edinburgh　is　subjected：　the　apotheosis　of　the　SAWBATH；
  and　I　confess　the　spectacle　wanted　not　grandeur；　however　much　it
  may　have　lacked　cheerfulness。　　There　are　few　religious　ceremonies
  more　imposing。　　As　we　thus　walked　and　talked　in　a　public　seclusion
  the　bells　broke　out　ringing　through　all　the　bounds　of　the　city；　and
  the　streets　began　immediately　to　be　thronged　with　decent　church…
  goers。
  'Ah！'　said　my　companion；　'there　are　the　bells！　　Now；　sir；　as　you
  are　a　stranger　I　must　offer　you　the　hospitality　of　my　pew。　　I　do
  not　know　whether　you　are　at　all　used　with　our　Scottish　form；　but　in
  case　you　are　not　I　will　find　your　places　for　you；　and　Dr。　Henry
  Gray；　of　St。　Mary's　（under　whom　I　sit）；　is　as　good　a　preacher　as　we
  have　to　show　you。'
  This　put　me　in　a　quandary。　　It　was　a　degree　of　risk　I　was　scarce
  prepared　for。　　Dozens　of　people；　who　might　pass　me　by　in　the　street
  with　no　more　than　a　second　look；　would　go　on　from　the　second　to　the
  third；　and　from　that　to　a　final　recognition；　if　I　were　set　before
  them；　immobilised　in　a　pew；　during　the　whole　time　of　service。　　An
  unlucky　turn　of　the　head　would　suffice　to　arrest　their　attention。
  'Who　is　that？'　they　would　think：　'surely　I　should　know　him！'　and；　a
  church　being　the　place　in　all　the　world　where　one　has　least　to
  think　of；　it　was　ten　to　one　they　would　end　by　remembering　me　before
  the　benediction。　　However；　my　mind　was　made　up：　I　thanked　my
  obliging　friend；　and　placed　myself　at　his　disposal。
  Our　way　now　led　us　into　the　north…east　quarter　of　the　town；　among
  pleasant　new　faubourgs；　to　a　decent　new　church　of　a　good　size；
  where　I　was　soon　seated　by　the　side　of　my　good　Samaritan；　and
  looked　upon　by　a　whole　congregation　of　menacing　faces。　　At　first
  the　possibility　of　danger　kept　me　awake；　but　by　the　time　I　had
  assured　myself　there　was　none　to　be　apprehended；　and　the　service
  was　not　in　the　least　likely　to　be　enlivened　by　the　arrest　of　a
  French　spy；　I　had　to　resign　myself　to　the　task　of　listening　to　Dr。
  Henry　Gray。
  As　we　moved　out；　after　this　ordeal　was　over；　my　friend　was　at　once
  surrounded　and　claimed　by　his　acquaintances　of　the　congregation；
  and　I　was　rejoiced　to　hear　him　addressed　by　the　expected　name　of
  Robbie。
  So　soon　as　we　were　clear　of　the　crowd　…　'Mr。　Robbie？'　said　I；
  bowing。
  'The　very　same；　sir；'　said　he。
  'If　I　mistake　not；　a　lawyer？'
  'A　writer　to　His　Majesty's　Signet；　at　your　service。'
  'It　seems　we　were　predestined　to　be　acquaintances！'　I　exclaimed。
  'I　have　here　a　card　in　my　pocket　intended　for　you。　　It　is　from　my
  family　lawyer。　　It　was　his　last　word；　as　I　was　leaving；　to　ask　to
  be　remembered　kindly；　and　to　trust　you　would　pass　over　so　informal
  an　introduction。'
  And　I　offered　him　the　card。
  'Ay；　ay；　my　old　friend　Daniel！'　says　he；　looking　on　the　card。　　'And
  how　does　my　old　friend　Daniel？'
  I　gave　a　favourable　view　of　Mr。　Romaine's　health。
  'Well；　this　is　certainly　a　whimsical　incident；'　he　continued。　　'And
  since　we　are　thus　met　already　…　and　so　much　to　my　advantage！　…　the
  simplest　thing　will　be　to　prosecute　the　acquaintance　instantly。
  Let　me　propose　a　snack　between　sermons；　a　bottle　of　my　particular
  green　seal　…　and　when　nobody　is　looking　we　can　talk　blazons；　Mr。
  Ducie！'　…　which　was　the　name　I　then　used　and　had　already
  incidentally　mentioned；　in　the　vain　hope　of　provoking　a　return　in
  kind。
  'I　beg　your　pardon；　sir：　do　I　understand　you　to　invite　me　to　your
  house？'　said　I。
  'That　was　the　idea　I　was　trying　to　convey；'　said　he。　　'We　have　the
  name　of　hospitable　people　up　here；　and　I　would　like　you　to　try
  mine。'
  'Mr。　Robbie；　I　shall　hope　to　try　it　some　day；　but　not　yet；'　I
  replied。　　'I　hope　you　will　not　misunderstand　me。　　My　business；
  which　brings　me　to　your　city；　is　of　a　peculiar　kind。　　Till　you
  shall　have　heard　it；　and；　indeed；　till　its　issue　is　known；　I　should
  feel　as　if　I　had　stolen　your　invitation。'
  'Well；　well；'　said　he；　a　little　sobered；　'it　must　be　as　you　wish；
  though　you　would　hardly　speak　otherwise　if　you　had　committed
  homicide！　　Mine　is　the　loss。　　I　must　eat　alone；　a　very　pernicious
  thing　for　a　person　of　my　habit　of　body；　content　myself　with　a　pint
  of　skinking　claret；　and　meditate　the　discourse。　　But　about　this
  business　of　yours：　if　it　is　so　particular　as　all　that；　it　will
  doubtless　admit　of　no　delay。'
  'I　must　confess；　sir；　it　presses；'　I　acknowledged。
  'Then；　let　us　say　to…morrow　at　half…past　eight　in　the　morning；'
  said　he；　'and　I　hope；　when　your　mind　is　at　rest　（and　it　does　you
  much　honour　to　take　it　as　you