n, which is more than a Bailie any day. Is it a deal,
Bailie? Ye won't, won't ye, and I ought to be ashamed of myself, ought
I? And a prizefight would be a disgrace to Muirtown, would it? Muirtown
is pretty easy disgraced, then. Who's speaking about a prizefight, ye
haverin' old body? But I see how the wind blows. If the other man stands
a bare five feet, and ye can get at him before he's ready, ye're mighty
handy with yir fists. Ye cowardly old sneak? But when ye're offered the
chance of facing a man about yir own size, ye count it a disgrace. My
opinion is, ye havna the spirit of a mouse in yir body! I'm ashamed to
think ye're a magistrate of Muirtown! Dinna speak to me, MacConachie,
for I might lose control and send ye out of the stable-yard, with my
foot followin'! My advice is to be off as quick as ye can, for if some
of the grooms got hold of ye they would make an awful mess of
ye--they're not just particularly fond of magistrates, and they've a
great notion of Peter.

"One word before we part, Bailie," and the Bailie took that word
walking, "So far as I understand, ye might be arrested for assault, and
I might prosecute ye for damages; but I will let ye off just this once
with a word of solemn advice. Ye're a Bailie of Muirtown, and ye're an
elder in the Kirk, and ye're an Italian warehouse-man; but for all that,
MacConachie, remember ye're just a man. Ye're swollen up and fozzy with
pride and vanity, and ye pace down the streets like an elephant let
loose from a menagerie; but, MacConachie, consider ye're just a man.
Ye're wily and cunning and pawky and long-headed, and ye're got yir own
way in this town for many a year; but lay it to heart, ye're just a man.
Ye've sat on the Bench and laid down the law, and when ye wagged yir
head everybody kept quiet, and when ye've scrapit yir throat they
thought it was Gospel; but, MacConachie, dinna forget it, ye're just a
man. Ye needna hurry," and Mr. McGuffie, standing in the gateway of the
stable-yard, pursued the Bailie along the street with exhortations.
"I've said all I wanted to say, and I've just one word more. Ye've
fought with the Tories and ye've fought with the Publicans, ye've fought
with this body and with that body, and ye've beaten them, and ye thought
ye were cock of the roost in Muirtown; but ye meddled with the laddies,
and they've licket ye once, Bailie, and they've licket ye twice, Bailie,
and if ye dinna cry 'Peace,' they'll lick ye again, and that'll