protect; and you talk to me of your gratitude, which I think (if

you push me) is not ill-deserved. There are a great many different

considerations all pointing the same way; and I will never be

persuaded that you could not help us (if you chose) to put salt on

Alan's tail."

"My lord," said I, "I give you my word I do not so much as guess

where Alan is."

He paused a breath. "Nor how he might be found?" he asked.

I sat before him like a log of wood.

"And so much for your gratitude, Mr. David!" he observed. Again

there was a piece of silence. "Well," said he, rising, "I am not

fortunate, and we are a couple at cross purposes. Let us speak of

it no more; you will receive notice when, where, and by whom, we

are to take your precognition. And in the meantime, my misses must

be waiting you. They will never forgive me if I detain their

cavalier."

Into the hands of these Graces I was accordingly offered up, and

found them dressed beyond what I had thought possible, and looking

fair as a posy.

As we went forth from the doors a small circumstance occurred which

came afterwards to look extremely big. I heard a whistle sound

loud and brief like a signal, and looking all about, spied for one

moment the red head of Neil of the Tom, the son of Duncan. The

next moment he was gone again, nor could I see so much as the

skirt-tail of Catriona, upon whom I naturally supposed him to be

then attending.

My three keepers led me out by Bristo and the Bruntsfield Links;

whence a path carried us to Hope Park, a beautiful pleasance, laid

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