managed. In his business, he was originally by trade a baker in
Glasgow, where he made a little money, and came to settle among us
with his wife, who was a native of the town, and had her relations
here. Being therefore an idle man, living on his money, and of a
soft and quiet nature, he was for the reason aforesaid chosen into
the council, where he always voted on the provost's side; for in
controverted questions every one is beholden to take a part, and he
thought it was his duty to side with the chief magistrate.

Having convinced the bailie that Mr Pittle had already, as it were,
a sort of infeoffment in the kirk, I called in the evening on my old
predecessor in the guildry, Bailie M'Lucre, who was not a hand to be
so easily dealt with; but I knew his inclinations, and therefore I
resolved to go roundly to work with him. So I asked him out to take
a walk, and I led him towards the town-moor, conversing loosely
about one thing and another, and touching softly here and there on
the vacancy.

When we were well on into the middle of the moor, I stopped, and,
looking round me, said, "Bailie, surely it's a great neglec of the
magistrates and council to let this braw broad piece of land, so
near the town, lie in a state o' nature, and giving pasturage to
only twa-three of the poor folk's cows. I wonder you, that's now a
rich man, and with eyne worth pearls and diamonds, that ye dinna
think of asking a tack of this land; ye might make a great thing
o't."

The fish nibbled, and told me that he had for some time entertained
a thought on the subject; but he was afraid that I would be overly
extortionate.