my arrival was forgotten. I would have gone away a dozen times,

only for this strong drawing to have done with my declaration out

of hand and be able to lay me down to sleep with a free conscience.

At first I read, for the little cabinet where I was left contained

a variety of books. But I fear I read with little profit; and the

weather falling cloudy, the dusk coming up earlier than usual, and

my cabinet being lighted with but a loophole of a window, I was at

last obliged to desist from this diversion (such as it was), and

pass the rest of my time of waiting in a very burthensome vacuity.

The sound of people talking in a near chamber, the pleasant note of

a harpsichord, and once the voice of a lady singing, bore me a kind

of company.

I do not know the hour, but the darkness was long come, when the

door of the cabinet opened, and I was aware, by the light behind

him, of a tall figure of a man upon the threshold. I rose at once.

"Is anybody there?" he asked. "Who in that?"

"I am bearer of a letter from the laird of Pilrig to the Lord

Advocate," said I.

"Have you been here long?" he asked.

"I would not like to hazard an estimate of how many hours," said I.

"It is the first I hear of it," he replied, with a chuckle. "The

lads must have forgotten you. But you are in the bit at last, for

I am Prestongrange."

So saying, he passed before me into the next room, whither (upon

his sign) I followed him, and where he lit a candle and took his

place before a business-table. It was a long room, of a good

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