bject, for which he
had expressly introduced him to Mr. Maxwell of Summertrees.

Apparently the provost had forgot his promise, or at least was in no
great haste to fulfil it. He debated with great earnestness upon the
Stamp Act, which was then impending over the American colonies, and upon
other political subjects of the day, but said not a word of Redgauntlet.
Alan soon saw that the investigation he meditated must advance, if at
all, on his own special motion, and determined to proceed accordingly.

Acting upon this resolution, he took the first opportunity afforded by
a pause in the discussion of colonial politics, to say, 'I must remind
you, Provost Crosbie, of your kind promise to procure some intelligence
upon the subject I am so anxious about.'

'Gadso!' said the provost, after a moment's hesitation, 'it is very
true.--Mr. Maxwell, we wish to consult you on a piece of important
business. You must know indeed I think you must have heard, that the
fishermen at Brokenburn, and higher up the Solway, have made a raid upon
Quaker Geddes's stake-nets, and levelled all with the sands.'

'In troth I heard it, provost, and I was glad to hear the scoundrels had
so much pluck left as to right themselves against a fashion which would
make the upper heritors a sort of clocking-hens, to hatch the fish that
folk below them were to catch and eat.'

'Well, sir,' said Alan, 'that is not the present point. But a young
friend of mine was with Mr. Geddes at the time this violent procedure
took place, and he has not since been heard of. Now, our friend, the
provost, thinks that you may be able to advise'--

Here he was interrupted by the provost and Summertrees speaking out
both at once, the first endeavouring to disclaim all interest in the
question, and the last to evade giving an answer.

'Me think!' said the provost; 'I never thought twice about it, Mr.
Fairford; it was neither fish, nor flesh, nor salt herring of mine.'

'And I "able to advise"!' said Mr. Maxwell of Summertrees; 'what the
devil can I advise you to do, excepting to send the bellman through the
town to cry your lost sheep, as they do spaniel dogs or stray ponies?'

'With your pardon,' said Alan, calmly, but resolutely, 'I must ask a
more serious answer.'

'Why, Mr. Advocate,' answered Summertrees, 'I thought it was your
business to give advice to the lieges, and not to take it from poor
stupid country gentlemen.'

'If not exactly advice, it is sometimes