ummond."

"You're welcome, sir!" said he. "As for the young leddy (my respec's to
her!), he'll just have clean forgotten her. I ken the man, ye see; I
have lost siller by him ere now. He thinks of naebody but just himsel';
clan, king, or dauchter, if he can get his wameful, he would give them
a' the go-by! ay, or his correspondent either. For there is a sense in
whilk I may be nearly almost said to be his correspondent. The fact is,
we are employed thegither in a business affair, and I think it's like to
turn out a dear affair for Sandie Sprott. The man's as guid's my
pairtner, and I give ye my mere word I ken naething by where he is. He
micht be coming here to Helvoet; he micht come here the morn, he michtna
come for a twalmonth; I would wonder at naething--or just at the ae
thing, and that's if he was to pay me my siller. Ye see what way I stand
with it; and it's clear I'm no' very likely to meddle up with the young
leddy, as ye ca' her. She canna stop here, that's ae thing certain
sure. Dod, sir, I'm a lone man! If I was to tak' her in, it's highly
possible the hellicat would try and gar me marry her when he turned up."

"Enough of this talk," said I. "I will take the young lady among better
friends. Give me pen, ink, and paper, and I will leave here for James
More the address of my correspondent in Leyden. He can inquire from me
where he is to seek his daughter."

This word I wrote and sealed; which while I was doing, Sprott of his own
motion made a welcome offer, to charge himself with Miss Drummond's
mails, and even send a porter for them to the inn. I advanced him to
that effect a dollar or two to be a cover, and he gave me an
acknowledgment in writing of the sum.

Whereupon (I giving my arm to Catriona) we left the house of this
unpalatable rascal. She had said no word throughout, leaving me to judge
and speak in her place; I, upon my side, had been careful not to
embarrass her by a glance; and even now, although my heart still glowed
inside of me with shame and anger, I made it my affair to seem quite
easy.

"Now," said I, "let us get back to yon same inn where they can speak the
French, have a piece of dinner, and inquire for conveyances to
Rotterdam. I will never be easy till I have you safe again in the hands
of Mrs. Gebbie."

"I suppose it will have to be," said Catriona, "though, whoever will be
pleased, I do not think it will be her. And I will remind you this once
again, that I have but one shilli