you listen to what the Dominicans say of him, he is--Benedicite!
--(here the glover crossed himself on brow and bosom)--a foul
heretic, who ought by means of earthly flames to be sent to those
which burn eternally."

The smith also crossed himself, and exclaimed: "St. Mary! father
Simon, and do you, who are so good and prudent that you have been
called the Wise Glover of Perth, let your daughter attend the
ministry of one who--the saints preserve us!--may be in league
with the foul fiend himself! Why, was it not a priest who raised
the devil in the Meal Vennel, when Hodge Jackson's house was blown
down in the great wind? Did not the devil appear in the midst of
the Tay, dressed in a priest's scapular, gambolling like a pellack
amongst the waves, the morning when our stately bridge was swept
away?"

"I cannot tell whether he did or no," said the glover; "I only know
I saw him not. As to Catharine, she cannot be said to use Father
Clement's ministry, seeing her confessor is old Father Francis
the Dominican, from whom she had her shrift today. But women will
sometimes be wilful, and sure enough she consults with Father
Clement more than I could wish; and yet when I have spoken with
him myself, I have thought him so good and holy a man that I could
have trusted my own salvation with him. There are bad reports of
him among the Dominicans, that is certain. But what have we laymen
to do with such things, my son? Let us pay Mother Church her dues,
give our alms, confess and do our penances duly, and the saints
will bear us out."

"Ay, truly; and they will have consideration," said the smith, "for