Faa was in hospital, grievously sick, and warrants were out for the arrest of Sim and Candlish.

These two men had shown themselves very loyal to me.

This trouble emerging, the least I could do was to be guided by a similar loyalty to them.
Suppose my visit to my uncle crowned with some success, and my finances re-established, I determined I should immediately return to Edinburgh, put their case in the hands of a good lawyer, and await events.

So my mind was very lightly made up to what proved a mighty serious matter.
Candlish and Sim were all very well in their way, and I do sincerely trust I should have been at some pains to help them, had there been nothing else.

But in truth my heart and my eyes were set on quite another matter, and I received the news of their tribulation almost with joy.