'Troth, I kenna, unless ye like to gae down and speer for quarters
at the Place. I'se warrant they'll tak ye in, whether ye be gentle
or semple.'

'Simple enough, to be wandering here at such a time of night,'
thought Mannering, who was ignorant of the meaning of the phrase;
'but how shall I get to the PLACE, as you call it?'

'Ye maun baud wessel by the end o' the loan, and take tent o' the
jaw-hole.'

'O, if ye get to eassel and wessel again, I am undone! Is there
nobody that could guide me to this Place? I will pay him
handsomely.'

The word pay operated like magic. 'Jock, ye villain,' exclaimed
the voice from the interior, 'are ye lying routing there, and a
young gentleman seeking the way to the Place? Get up, ye fause
loon, and show him the way down the muckle loaning. He'll show you
the way, sir, and I'se warrant ye'll be weel put up; for they
never turn awa naebody frae the door; and ye'll be come in the
canny moment, I'm thinking, for the laird's servant--that's no to
say his body-servant, but the helper like--rade express by this
e'en to fetch the houdie, and he just staid the drinking o' twa
pints o' tippenny to tell us how my leddy was ta'en wi' her
pains.'

'Perhaps,' said Mannering, 'at such a time a stranger's arrival
might be inconvenient?'