kind; for the paper which Mackinlay had so stupidly put into the hands of the spy was neither more nor less than a copy of the oath which we have already seen so impressively administered in the smoky back chamber of Neil Jorum. This was, indeed, a step in the process of discovery. Richmond pricked up his ears like a hound when the fox has broken cover; for neither Campbell nor Makane, loose-tongued as the latter was, had made any reference to the oath. The spy now scanned the paper with a greater manifestation of interest, and then said, as if well pleased:

'Upon my word, Mackinlay, if anything could be, that is a most convincing document. To tell you the truth, I did not think that there was such spirit in your society.'

'Spirit! that's naething, man. If courage could win, the Government wadna staun twa days.'

'Why, it's quite heroic!'

'Ye may weel say't; and it's a true and faithfu' representation o' the spirit that animates us a'. Ye can hae nae excuse now for no making up your mind on the subject.'

'Very true, Andrew; and I must see about it before another day is over.'

That's richt; ye speak like yoursel at last, and I'm glad I hae been the means o' opening your een.'

Richmond determined to possess himself of the document, which bore Mackinlay's name. But how was this to be done? A simple expedient served the purpose. As it lay before him on the table, he began to examine it once more, refilling his pipe at the same time. Then, taking from his pocket a piece of paper, as if to procure a light, he dexterously folded it, and while Mackinlay was ringing the bell to order the parting dram, he thrust the copy of the oath into his pocket, and presented the blank paper to his companion, bidding him hide it before the landlord appeared. This Mackinlay did with precipitation, having sufficient caution left to know that such a document was safest out of sight.

Both men were thoroughly satisfied with the result of the meeting - Andrew that he had, as he imagined, converted Richmond to a belief in the sincerity and valour of the Cromwell Club; and Richmond, that he had tricked the fatuous conspirator out of the most damning evidence of his guilt and the guilt of his colleagues.

CHAPTER III.

A VISIT.

ANY common man would have been satisfied with this single achievement as a good day's work. Rich

mond felt, however, that the acquisition of the oath was a lucky hit rather than the result of any special cunning or diplomacy on his part. Resolving, therefore, to make some attempt to increase or confirm his success, he walked straight to Campbell's house before proceeding to the house of Mr. Reddie, where he was to meet Mr. Finlay by appointment.

His visit was so far unsuccessful. Campbell had not yet come home; but, unexpectedly, he found Pate Fox sitting by the fire, with Willie Campbell between his knees. Richmond and Fox were slightly acquainted, but they had not met for a considerable time.

Why, Pate!' he said, in a tone of surprise, 'you are a stranger!'

6

And so are you, Sandy Richmond,' answered Pate, familiarly; but I hae heard o' ye, though it's no likely that ye've heard o' me.'

'You're wrong for once, Pate. I heard that you were almost butchered by a rheumatic fever. Is that true? You look thin and white.'

'Owre true, I can tell ye; I can hardly twist twa thrums yet. But, thank Gude and some ither friens, I hae jinked the Pale Rider ance mair, although he's gey ill to jink.'

'Ill to jink, indeed,' said Richmond impressively; 'there's been a good deal of death in the city lately; and I was sorry to hear, Mrs. Campbell, that you have lost Norman.'

Mrs. Campbell was softened.

'Wee Norrie!' muttered Pate, communing with himself. Then he said aloud, 'There's aye ae consolation in sic a case; it was a stroke frae a kindly haun.' 'Nae doubt,' answered Mrs. Campbell quietly; 'but the kindest strokes frae the haun o' the Almichty are aften ill, ill to dree.'

As she spoke, she pressed her side with both hands, as if trying to keep down her insurgent feelings. Her words were human nature's mild, and no way impious, protest, if it was such, against the inscrutable decrees of Providence.

'Some o' them are gey ill to thole at first,' said Pate; but we soon come to see them in a safter and mair pleasing licht, when the darkness o' grief is past. It canna be ill wi' the dead, if it was God's will that they should dee; and as for the living, why should they compleen? But it's easy to be wise about sorrows that are no our ain. It was a queer sicht to see my frien' John Makane, when my very banes were a' thrawn like shinties wi' the rheumatics, sitting by my bedside preaching patience, when I kent brawly that he was himsel the warst tholer o' pain or distress in a' the Calton. Wad ye believe't, I had the greatest ado ance to keep him frae thrappling a puir cat?'

'A cat! and what for?' asked Richmond.

'For nae reason ava, except that the beastie had

the misfortune to belang to a bit body o' a Tory. Jock canna bide the Tories, nor their cattle either.'

'He is certainly a queer fish,' said the spy, smiling, remembering how he had hooked Makane.

'Ye may say that, Sandy; and what's mair, he's like different fish at different times. When he plunges into the waves o' politics, o' a' the creatures that soom the saut sea, he maist resembles a whalemair blubber than brain, mair wind than wut, and mair water than wisdom. When he taks to personalities, he's a very shark-a' teeth and nae bowels. For some time past he's been playing the part o' the eel-boring and wurbling in the mud. Gude kens what'll come o't-I expect nae guid.'

'It's maybe no for me to speak,' said Mrs. Campbell, but I think it wad be for their ain guid if baith Jock and Jamie wad bide at hame, and gang less about thae Club meetings. Jamie's no the same man; he's mair restless and discontented, and he speaks and starts in his very sleep.'

'For my pairt,' remarked Pate, 'I hope that Jamie's nae waur than ye say. It's the common state o' weaverdom the now to be discontented. Nae wark or sma' wark, that brings nae siller or sma' siller, when there's a wheen hungry wames to fill, wad blin the een or break the heart o' a saunt. But Club meetings and het words winna fill the mealpock nor sweeten the cup.'