It is best to inquire first exactly where we stand.
So I call upon Mr. John Gourlay, who has been the foremost man in the
town for mainy years--at least he used to be that--I call upon Mr.
Gourlay as the first to express an opinion on the subjeck."

Wilson's hint to the Provost placed Gourlay in a fine dilemma. Stupid as
he was, he was not so stupid as not to perceive the general advantage of
the railway. If he approved it, however, he would seem to support Wilson
and the Provost, whom he loathed. If he disapproved, his opposition
would be set down to a selfish consideration for his own trade, and he
would incur the anger of the meeting, which was all for the coming of
the railway, Wilson had seized the chance to put him in a false
position. He knew Gourlay could not put forty words together in public,
and that in his dilemma he would blunder and give himself away.

Gourlay evaded the question.

"It would be better to convene a meeting," he bawled to the Provost, "to
consider the state of some folk's back doors."--That was a nipper to
Wilson!--"There's a stink at the Cross that's enough to kill a cuddy!"

"Evidently not," yelled Wilson, "since you're still alive!"

A roar went up against Gourlay. All he could do was to scowl before him,
with hard-set mouth and gleaming eyes, while they bellowed him to scorn.

"I would like to hear what Templandmuir has to say on the subject," said
Wilson, getting up. "But no doubt he'll follow his friend Mr. Gourlay."

"No, I don't follow Mr. Gourlay," bawled Templandmuir with unnecessary
loudness. The reason of his vehemence was twofold. He was nettled (as
Wilson meant he should) by the suggestion that he was nothing but
Gourlay's henchman. And being eager to oppose Gourlay, yet a coward, he
yelled to supply in noise what he lacked in resolution.

"I don't follow Mr. Gourlay at all," he roared; "I follow nobody but
myself! Every man in the district's in support of this petition. It
would be absurd to suppose anything else. I'll be glad to sign't among
the first, and do everything I can in its support."

"Verra well," said the Provost; "it seems we're agreed after all. We'll
get some of our foremost men to sign the petition at this end of the
hall, and then it'll be placed in the anteroom for the rest to sign as
they go out."

"Take it across to Gourlay," whispered Wilson to the two men who were
carrying the enormous tome. They took it over to the grain merchant, and
one of t