It was not a cough negative, but a cough dubious, and as such Glossin felt it; but it was not his cue to take offence.
'Have there been brisk doings on the road, Mrs.Mac-Candlish?
Plenty of company, I suppose ?' 'Pretty weel, sir,--but I believe I am wanted at the bar.' 'No, no; stop one moment, cannot you, to oblige an old customer?
Pray, do you remember a remarkably tall young man who lodged one night in your house last week ?' 'Troth, sir, I canna weel say; I never take heed whether my company be lang or short, if they make a lang bill.' 'And if they do not, you can do that for them, eh, Mrs.Mac-Candlish?
ha, ha, ha! But this young man that I inquire after was upwards of six feet high, 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,' answered Mrs.Mac-Candlish, bent on baffling his inquiries, '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 een, 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; [Footnote: Some of the strict dissenters decline taking an oath before a civil magistrate.] we ay gaed to the Antiburgher meeting.

It's very true, in Bailie Mac-Candlish's time (honest man) we keepit the kirk, whilk was most seemly in his station, as having office; but after his being called to a better place than Kippletringan I hae gaen back to worthy Maister Mac-Grainer.

And so ye see, sir, I am no clear to swear without speaking to the minister, especially against ony sackless puir young thing that's gaun through the country, stranger and freendless like.' 'I shall relieve your scruples, perhaps, without troubling Mr.
Mac-Grainer, when I tell you that this fellow whom I inquire after is the man who shot your young friend Charles Hazlewood.' 'Gudeness! wha could hae thought the like o' that o' him?
Na, if it had been for debt, or e'en for a bit tuilzie wi' the gauger, the deil o' Nelly Mac-Candlish's tongue should ever hae wranged him.

But if he really shot young Hazlewood--but I canna think it, Mr.Glossin; this will be some o' your skits now.

I canna think it o' sae douce a lad; na, na, this is just some o' your auld skits.