the conversation with intent.

'Ye haena telt 's yet, Cocker,' he said, 'what that maister o' yours
is duin' here at this time o' the year. I wad ken that, gin ye
please.'

'How should I know, Mr. MacGregor?' returned the factor, taking no
notice of the offensive manner in which the question was put.

'He's no a hair better nor ane o' thae Algerine pirates 'at Lord
Exmooth's het the hips o'--and that's my opingon.'

'He's nae amo' your feet, MacGregor,' said the banker. 'Ye micht
jist lat him lie.'

'Gin I had him doon, faith gin I wadna lat him lie! I'll jist tell
ye ae thing, gentlemen, that cam' to my knowledge no a hunner year
ago. An' it's a' as true 's gospel, though I hae aye held my tongue
aboot it till this verra nicht. Ay! ye'll a' hearken noo; but it's
no lauchin', though there was sculduddery eneuch, nae doobt, afore
it cam' that len'th. And mony a het drap did the puir lassie greet,
I can tell ye. Faith! it was no lauchin' to her. She was a servan'
o' oors, an' a ticht bonnie lass she was. They ca'd her the
weyver's bonny Mary--that's the name she gaed by. Weel, ye see--'

MacGregor was interrupted by a sound from the further end of the
room. The stranger, whom most of them had by this time forgotten,
had risen, and was approaching the table where they sat.

'Guid guide us!' interrupted several under their breaths, as all