I had not a moment's doubt that he meant to extricate himself from his embarrassment, whatever might be the cause of it, by springing full upon those who should appear when the doors opened, and forcing his way through all opposition into the street;--and such was the appearance of strength and agility displayed in his frame, and of determination in his look and manner, that I did not doubt a moment but that he might get clear through his opponents, unless they employed fatal means to stop his purpose.

It was a period of awful suspense betwixt the opening of the outward gate and that of the door of the apartment, when there appeared--no guard with bayonets fixed, or watch with clubs, bills, or partisans, but a good-looking young woman, with grogram petticoats, tucked up for trudging through the streets, and holding a lantern in her hand.

This female ushered in a more important personage, in form, stout, short, and somewhat corpulent; and by dignity, as it soon appeared, a magistrate, bob-wigged, bustling, and breathless with peevish impatience.
My conductor, at his appearance, drew back as if to escape observation; but he could not elude the penetrating twinkle with which this dignitary reconnoitered the whole apartment.
"A bonny thing it is, and a beseeming, that I should be kept at the door half an hour, Captain Stanchells," said he, addressing the principal jailor, who now showed himself at the door as if in attendance on the great man, "knocking as hard to get into the tolbooth as onybody else wad to get out of it, could that avail them, poor fallen creatures!--And how's this ?--how's this ?--strangers in the jail after lock-up hours, and on the Sabbath evening!--I shall look after this, Stanchells, you may depend on't--Keep the door locked, and I'll speak to these gentlemen in a gliffing--But first I maun hae a crack wi' an auld acquaintance here .-- Mr.Owen, Mr.Owen, how's a' wi' ye, man ?" "Pretty well in body, I thank you, Mr.Jarvie," drawled out poor Owen, "but sore afflicted in spirit." "Nae doubt, nae doubt--ay, ay--it's an awfu' whummle--and for ane that held his head sae high too--human nature, human nature--Ay ay, we're a' subject to a downcome.

Mr.Osbaldistone is a gude honest gentleman; but I aye said he was ane o' them wad make a spune or spoil a horn, as my father the worthy deacon used to say.

The deacon used to say to me, 'Nick--young Nick' (his name was Nicol as weel as mine; sae folk ca'd us in their daffin', young Nick and auld Nick)--'Nick,' said he, 'never put out your arm farther than ye can draw it easily back again.' I hae said sae to Mr.Osbaldistone, and he didna seem to take it a'thegither sae kind as I wished--but it was weel meant--weel meant." This discourse, delivered with prodigious volubility, and a great appearance of self-complacency, as he recollected his own advice and predictions, gave little promise of assistance at the hands of Mr.
Jarvie.