st naething of ony account; but I just
happen speak what I saw yestreen under the castle wa', and doctor here,
he wad hae me come my ways and tell your honor; its naething just,"
replied Cuddie McGill, scratching his shock head.

"But tell us what you saw."

"Aweel, then, your worship, I had been hard at wark a' the day, and could
na get awa to see the wedding deecorations. But after my wark was dune
and I had my bit aitmeal cake and parritch, I e'en cam' my way over the
brig to hae a luke at them."

"Well, and what did you see besides the decorations?"

"An it please your worship, as I cam through the thick shrubbery I spied
a lassie, standing under the balcony on the east side o' the castle wa'."

"At what hour was this?"

"I dinna ken preceesely. It may hae been ten o'clock; for I ken the moon
was about twa hours high."

"Ay, well; go on."

"I hid mysel' in the firs and watchit the lassie; for I said to mysel' it
wair a tryste wi' her lad, and I behoove to find out wha they were. Sae I
watchit the lassie. And presently a tall gallant cam' up till her, and
they spake thegither. I could na hear what they said. But anon the tall
mon went his ways, and the lassie bided her lane under the balcony. I
wondered at that. And I waited to see the end. I waited, it seemed to me,
full twa hour. The moon was weel nigh overhead, when at lang last the
gallant cam' on wi' anither tall mon. And they passed sae nigh that I
heard their talk. Spake the gallant: 'I would na hae had it happened for
a' we hae gained.' Said the ither ane: 'It could na be helpit. The auld
mon skreekit. He would hae brocht the house upon us, and we hadna stappit
his mouth.' And the twa passit out o' hearing, and sune cam' to the
lassie under the balcony. And the three talkit thegither, but I just
couldna hear a word they spake. And sae I went my ways home, wondering
what it a' meant. But I thocht nae muckle harm until the morn when I
heerd o' the murder."

"Would you know the tall man again if you were to see him?" inquired the
coroner.

"Na, for ye ken I could na see a feature o' his face."

"Would you know the girl again?"

"Na. I could na see the lass ony mair than the gallant."

"Nor the third man?"

"Na, nor the ither ane."

"Did you hear any name or any place spoken of between the parties?"

"Na, na name, na pleece. I hae tuld your honor all I heerd. I heerd no
mair than I hae said," replied the witness.

And the severest cross-exam