to be nominated our provost. Nobody had ever minted to him a
thought of the thing before; so it was no wonder that his lordship
replied, with a look of surprise, saying, "That so far from
refusing, he had never heard of any such proposal."

"That is very extraordinary, my lord," said I; "for surely it is for
your interests, and would to a certainty be a great advantage to the
town, were your lordship to take upon you the nominal office of
provost; I say nominal, my lord, because being now used to the
duties, and somewhat experienced therein, I could take all the
necessary part of the trouble off your lordship's hands, and so
render the provostry in your lordship's name a perfect nonentity."
Whereupon, he was pleased to say, if I would do so, and he commended
my talents and prudence, he would have no objection to be made the
provost at the ensuing election. Something more explicit might have
ensued at that time; but Bailie M'Lucre and Mr Sharpset, who was the
dean of guild, had been for about the space of half an hour carrying
on a vehement argument anent some concern of the guildry, in which,
coming to high words, and both being beguiled and ripened into folly
by the earl's wine, they came into such a manifest quarrel, that Mr
Sharpset pulled off the bailie's best wig, and flung it with a damn
into the fire: the which stramash caused my lord to end the
sederunt; but none of the magistrates, save myself, was in a
condition to go with his lordship to My Lady in the drawing-room.



CHAPTER XII--THE SPY