"And if they do not, you can do that for them, eh, Mrs Mac-Candlish?–ha, ha, ha!–But this young man that I enquire after had a dark frock, with metal buttons, light-brown hair unpowdered, blue eyes, and a straight nose, travelled on foot, had no servant or baggage—you surely can remember having seen such a traveller?"
"Indeed, sir, I canna charge my memory about the matter—there's mair to do in a house like this, I trow, than to look after passengers' hair, or their e'en, or noses, either."
"Then, Mrs Mac-Candlish; I must tell you in plain terms, that this person is suspected of having been guilty of a crime, and it is in consequence of these suspicions that I, as a magistrate, require this information from you,—and if you refuse to answer my questions, I must put you upon your oath."
"Troth, sir, I am no free to swear—we aye gaed to the Antiburgher meeting—it's
