got to hang--Alan, too, if they could catch him--but James

whatever! Go near the Advocate with any such business, and you'll

see! he'll find a way to muzzle, ye."

"I think better of the Advocate than that," said I.

"The Advocate be dammed!" cries he. "It's the Campbells, man!

You'll have the whole clanjamfry of them on your back; and so will

the Advocate too, poor body! It's extraordinar ye cannot see where

ye stand! If there's no fair way to stop your gab, there's a foul

one gaping. They can put ye in the dock, do ye no see that?" he

cried, and stabbed me with one finger in the leg.

"Ay," said I, "I was told that same no further back than this

morning by another lawyer."

"And who was he?" asked Stewart, "He spoke sense at least."

I told I must be excused from naming him, for he was a decent stout

old Whig, and had little mind to be mixed up in such affairs.

"I think all the world seems to be mixed up in it!" cries Stewart.

"But what said you?"

"I told him what had passed between Rankeillor and myself before

the house of Shaws.

"Well, and so ye will hang!" said he. "Ye'll hang beside James

Stewart. There's your fortune told."

"I hope better of it yet than that," said I; "but I could never

deny there was a risk."

"Risk!" says he, and then sat silent again. "I ought to thank you

for you staunchness to my friends, to whom you show a very good

spirit," he says, "if you have the strength to stand by it. But I

warn you that you're wading deep. I wouldn't put myself in your

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