_Sir Per_. Odswunds and death! Plausible, you are clever,--devilish
clever.--By the blood, you have hit upon the vary string that has made aw
thjs discord.--Oh! I see it,--I see it now.--But hauld--hauld--bide a wee
bit--a wee bit, man;--I have a thought come intill my head--yes--I think,
Plausible, that with a little twist in our negotiation that this vary
string, properly tuned, may be still made to produce the vary harmony we
wish for.--Yes, yes! I have it: this serjeant, I see, understands
business--and, if I am not. mistaken, knows how to take a hint.

_Plaus_. O! nobody better, Sir Pertinax.

_Sir Per_. Why then, Plausible, the short road is always the best with sic
a man.--You. must even come up till his mark at once, and assure him from
me--that I will secure him a seat for one of these vary boroughs.

_Plaus_. O! that will do, Sir Pertinax--that will do, I'll answer for't.

_Sir Per_. And further--I beg you will let him know that I think myself
obliged to consider him in this affair, as acting for me as weel as for my
lord,--as a common friend till baith:--and for the services he has already
done us, make my special compliments till him--and pray let this amicable
bit of paper be my faithful advocate to convince him of what my gratitude
further intends for his great [_Gives him a bank-bill._] equity in
adjusting this agreement betwixt my lord and me.

_Plaus_. Ha, ha, ha!--upon my word, Sir Pertinax, this is noble.--Ay, ay!
this is an eloquent bit of paper indeed.

_Sir Per_. Maister Plausible, in aw human dealings the most effectual
method is that of ganging at once till the vary bottom of a man's