come in Couvrefew Street again, why, in my simple mind, we were
best to thank our stout townsman, and the town having the honour
and these rakehells the loss, that we should hush the matter up
and say no more about it."

These pacific counsels had their effect with some of the citizens,
who began to nod and look exceedingly wise upon the advocate
of acquiescence, with whom, notwithstanding the offence so lately
given, Simon Glover seemed also to agree in opinion. But not so
Henry Smith, who, seeing the consultation at a stand, took up the
speech in his usual downright manner.

"I am neither the oldest nor the richest among you, neighbours, and
I am not sorry for it. Years will come, if one lives to see them;
and I can win and spend my penny like another, by the blaze of the
furnace and the wind of the bellows. But no man ever saw me sit down
with wrong done in word or deed to our fair town, if man's tongue
and man's hand could right it. Neither will I sit down with this
outrage, if I can help it. I will go to the provost myself, if no
one will go with me; he is a knight, it is true, and a gentleman
of free and true born blood, as we all know, since Wallace's time,
who settled his great grandsire amongst us. But if he were the
proudest nobleman in the land, he is the Provost of Perth, and for
his own honour must see the freedoms and immunities of the burgh
preserved--ay, and I know he will. I have made a steel doublet
for him, and have a good guess at the kind of heart that it was
meant to cover."

"Surely," said Bailie Craigdallie, "it would be to no purpose
to stir at court without Sir Patrick Charteris's countenance: the