BRODIE (WITH A QUICK LOOK AT LESLIE). A dilettante interest,
doubtless! See what it is to be idle.

LESLIE. Faith, Brodie, I hardly know how to style it.

BRODIE. At any rate, 'tis not the interest of a victim, or we
should certainly have known of it before; nor a practical tool-
mongering interest, like my own; nor an interest professional and
official, like the Procurator's. You can answer for that, I
suppose?

LESLIE. I think I can; if for no more. It's an interest of my
own, you see, and is best described as indescribable, and of no
manner of moment to anybody. [It will take no hurt if we put off
its discussion till a month of Sundays.]

BRODIE. You are more fortunate than you deserve. What do you
say, Procurator?

LAWSON. Ay is he! There is no a house in Edinburgh safe. The
law is clean helpless, clean helpless! A week syne it was auld
Andra Simpson's in the Lawnmarket. Then, naething would set the
catamarans but to forgather privily wi' the Provost's ain butler,
and tak' unto themselves the Provost's ain plate. And the day,
information was laid before me offeecially that the limmers had
made infraction, VI ET CLAM, into Leddy Mar'get Dalziel's, and
left her leddyship wi' no sae muckle's a spune to sup her
parritch wi'. It's unbelievable, it's awful, it's
anti-christian!