I remembered the warning I had received in the church, and hesitated to address this person, though I could not allege to myself any rational ground of dislike or suspicion.
I was yet in suspense, when Andrew, who mistook my hesitation for bashfulness, proceeded to exhort me to lay it aside.

"Speak till him--speak till him, Mr.Francis--he's no provost yet, though they say he'll be my lord neist year.

Speak till him, then--he'll gie ye a decent answer for as rich as he is, unless ye were wanting siller frae him--they say he's dour to draw his purse." It immediately occurred to me, that if this merchant were really of the churlish and avaricious disposition which Andrew intimated, there might be some caution necessary in making myself known, as I could not tell how accounts might stand between my father and him.

This consideration came in aid of the mysterious hint which I had received, and the dislike which I had conceived at the man's countenance.

Instead of addressing myself directly to him, as I had designed to have done, I contented myself with desiring Andrew to inquire at Mr.MacVittie's house the address of Mr.
Owen, an English gentleman; and I charged him not to mention the person from whom he received the commission, but to bring me the result to the small inn where we lodged.