asthmatic gallipot! thou poisoner by profession! if I thought that
the puff of vile breath thou hast left could blight for the tenth
part of a minute the fair fame of Catharine Glover, I would pound
thee, quacksalver! in thine own mortar, and beat up thy wretched
carrion with flower of brimstone, the only real medicine in thy
booth, to make a salve to rub mangy hounds with!"

"Hold, son Henry--hold!" cried the glover, in a tone of authority,
"no man has title to speak of this matter but me. Worshipful Bailie
Craigdallie, since such is the construction that is put upon my
patience, I am willing to pursue this riot to the uttermost; and
though the issue may prove that we had better have been patient,
you will all see that my Catharine hath not by any lightness or
folly of hers afforded grounds for this great scandal."

The bailie also interposed. "Neighbour Henry," said he, "we came
here to consult, and not to quarrel. As one of the fathers of the
Fair City, I command thee to forego all evil will and maltalent
you may have against Master Pottingar Dwining."

"He is too poor a creature, bailie," said Henry Gow, "for me to
harbour feud with--I that could destroy him and his booth with
one blow of my forehammer."

"Peace, then, and hear me," said the official. "We all are as much
believers in the honour of the Fair Maiden of Perth as in that of
our Blessed Lady." Here he crossed himself devoutly. "But touching
our appeal to our provost, are you agreed, neighbours, to put matter
like this into our provost's hand, being against a powerful noble,
as is to be feared?"