'Hush, recreant! It is
God's work which you are commissioned to execute, and it must be done.
But, if you positively decline it, I will do it myself, and do you
beware of the consequences.'

"'Oh, I will, I will!' cried the other in black clothes, in a wretched
beseeching tone. 'You shall instruct me in this, as in all things else.'

"I thought all this while I was closely concealed from them, and
wondered not a little when he in tartans gave me a sly nod, as much as
to say, 'What do you think of this?' or, 'Take note of what you see,'
or something to that effect; from which I perceived that, whatever he
was about, he did not wish it to be kept a secret. For all that, I was
impressed with a terror and anxiety that I could not overcome, but it
only made me mark every event with the more intense curiosity. The
Highlander, whom I still could not help regarding as the evil genius of
Thomas Drummond, performed every action as with the quickness of
thought. He concealed the youth in black in a narrow entry, a little to
the westward of my windows, and, as he was leading him across the
moonlight green by the shoulder, I perceived, for the first time, that
both of them were armed with rapiers. He pushed him without resistance
into the dark shaded close, made another signal to me, and hasted up
the close to Lucky Sudds' door. The city and the morning were so still
that I heard every word that was uttered, on putting my head out a
little. He knocked at the door sharply, and, after waiting a
considerable space, the bolt was drawn, and the door, as I conceived,
edged up as far as the massy chain would let it. 'Is young Dalcastle
still in the house?' said he sharply.

"I did not hear the answer, but I heard him say, shortly after, 'If he
is, pray tell him to speak with me for a few minutes.' He then withdrew
from the door, and came slowly down the close, in a lingering manner,
looking oft behind him. Dalcastle came out; advanced a few steps after
him, and then stood still, as if hesitating whether or not he should
call out a friend to accompany him; and that instant the door behind
him was closed, chained, and the iron bolt drawn; on hearing of which,
he followed his adversary without further hesitation. As he passed
below my window, I heard him say, 'I beseech you, Tom, let us do
nothing in this matter rashly'; but I could not hear the answer of the
other, who had turned the corner.

"I roused up my drowsy companion, who was lea