understand 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 do), that you will sit down with me to the postponed
meal, not forgetting the bottle. You have my address?" he added, and
gave it me--which was the only thing I wanted.

At last, at the level of York Place, we parted with mutual civilities,
and I was free to pursue my way, through the mobs of people returning
from church, to my lodgings in St. James' Square.

Almost at the house door whom should I overtake but my landlady in a
dress of gorgeous severity, and dragging a prize in her wake: no less
than Rowley, with the cockade in his hat, and a smart pair of tops to
his boots! When I said he was in the lady's wake I spoke but in
metaphor. As a matter of fact he was squiring her, with the utmost
dignity, on his arm; and I followed them up the stairs, smiling to
myself.

Both were quick to salute me as soon as I was perceived, and Mrs.
McRankine inquired where I had been. I told her boastfully, giving her
the name of the church and the divine, and ignorantly supposing I should
have gained caste. But she soon opened my eyes. In the roots of the
Scottish character there are knots and contortions that not only no
stranger can understand, but no stranger can follow; he walks among
explosives; and his best course is to throw himself upon their
mercy--"Just as I am, without one plea," a citation from one of the
lady's favourite hymns.

The sound she made was unmistakable in meaning, though it was impossible
to be written down; and I at once executed the manoeuvre I have
recommended.

"You must remember I am a perfect stranger in your city," said I. "If I
have done wrong, it was in mere ignorance, my dear lady