By this time Mannering appeared, and found a tall, strong
countryman, clad in a coat of pepper-and-salt-coloured mixture,
with huge metal buttons, a glazed hat and boots, and a large
horsewhip beneath his arm, in colloquy with a slipshod damsel, who
had in one hand the lock of the door, and in the other a pail of
whiting, or camstane, as it is called, mixed with water--a
circumstance which indicates Saturday night in Edinburgh.

'So Mr. Pleydell is not at home, my good girl?' said Mannering.

'Ay, sir, he's at hame, but he's no in the house; he's aye out on
Saturday at e'en.'

'But, my good girl, I am a stranger, and my business express. Will
you tell me where I can find him?'

'His honour,' said the chairman, 'will be at Clerihugh's about
this time. Hersell could hae tell'd ye that, but she thought ye
wanted to see his house.'

'Well, then, show me to this tavern. I suppose he will see me, as
I come on business of some consequence?'

'I dinna ken, sir,' said the girl; 'he disna like to be disturbed
on Saturdays wi' business; but he's aye civil to strangers.'

'I'll gang to the tavern too,' said our friend Dinmont, 'for I am
a stranger also, and on business e'en sic like.'