to me not to have drawn the same conclusion. We'll follow this
business up instantly. Here, hark ye, waiter, go down to Luckie
Wood's in the Cowgate; ye'll find my clerk Driver; he'll be set
down to high jinks by this time--for we and our retainers,
Colonel, are exceedingly regular in our irregularities--tell him
to come here instantly and I will pay his forfeits.'

'He won't appear in character, will he?' said Mannering.

'Ah! "no more of that, Hal, an thou lovest me,"' said Pleydell.
'But we must have some news from the land of Egypt, if possible.
O, if I had but hold of the slightest thread of this complicated
skein, you should see how I would unravel it! I would work the
truth out of your Bohemian, as the French call them, better than a
monitoire or a plainte de Tournelle; I know how to manage a
refractory witness.'

While Mr. Pleydell was thus vaunting his knowledge of his
profession, the waiter reentered with Mr. Driver, his mouth still
greasy with mutton pies, and the froth of the last draught of
twopenny yet unsubsided on his upper lip, with such speed had he
obeyed the commands of his principal. 'Driver, you must go
instantly and find out the woman who was old Mrs. Margaret
Bertram's maid. Inquire for her everywhere, but if you find it
necessary to have recourse to Protocol, Quid the tobacconist, or
any other of these folks, you will take care not to appear
yourself, but send some woman of your acquaintance; I daresay you
know enough that may be so condescending as to oblige you. When
you have found her out, engage her to come to my chambers tomorrow
at eight o'clock precisely.'