bank-porter. It was plain, if I did so, I should but set folk

laughing, and (what was worse in my case) set them asking

questions. So that I behooved to come by some clothes of my own,

and in the meanwhile to walk by the porter's side, and put my hand

on his arm as though we were a pair of friends.

At a merchant's in the Luckenbooths I had myself fitted out: none

too fine, for I had no idea to appear like a beggar on horseback;

but comely and responsible, so that servants should respect me.

Thence to an armourer's, where I got a plain sword, to suit with my

degree in life. I felt safer with the weapon, though (for one so

ignorant of defence) it might be called an added danger. The

porter, who was naturally a man of some experience, judged my

accoutrement to be well chosen.

"Naething kenspeckle," {1} said he; "plain, dacent claes. As for

the rapier, nae doubt it sits wi' your degree; but an I had been

you, I would has waired my siller better-gates than that." And he

proposed I should buy winter-hosen from a wife in the Cowgate-back,

that was a cousin of his own, and made them "extraordinar

endurable."

But I had other matters on my hand more pressing. Here I was in

this old, black city, which was for all the world like a rabbit-

warren, not only by the number of its indwellers, but the

complication of its passages and holes. It was, indeed, a place

where no stranger had a chance to find a friend, let be another

stranger. Suppose him even to hit on the right close, people dwelt

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