"O, just to give myself up," said I.

"Mr. Balfour," he cried, "are ye making a mock of me?"

"No, sir," said I, "though I think you have allowed yourself some

such freedom with myself. But I give you to understand once and

for all that I am in no jesting spirit."

"Nor yet me," says Stewart. "And I give yon to understand (if

that's to be the word) that I like the looks of your behaviour less

and less. You come here to me with all sorts of propositions,

which will put me in a train of very doubtful acts and bring me

among very undesirable persons this many a day to come. And then

you tell me you're going straight out of my office to make your

peace with the Advocate! Alan's button here or Alan's button

there, the four quarters of Alan wouldnae bribe me further in."

"I would take it with a little more temper," said I, "and perhaps

we can avoid what you object to. I can see no way for it but to

give myself up, but perhaps you can see another; and if you could,

I could never deny but what I would be rather relieved. For I

think my traffic with his lordship is little likely to agree with

my health. There's just the one thing clear, that I have to give

my evidence; for I hope it'll save Alan's character (what's left of

it), and James's neck, which is the more immediate."

He was silent for a breathing-space, and then, "My man," said he,

"you'll never be allowed to give such evidence."

"We'll have to see about that," said I; "I'm stiff-necked when I

like."

"Ye muckle ass!" cried Stewart, "it's James they want; James has

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