A touch of Blue Ruin, now?
Or, come: it's early, but is man the slave of hours?
what do you say to a chop and a bottle in Dumbreck's Hotel ?' I refused all false comfort; but when he went on to remind me that this was the day when the University of Cramond met; and to propose a five-mile walk into the country and a dinner in the company of young asses like himself, I began to think otherwise.

I had to wait until to-morrow evening, at any rate; this might serve as well as anything else to bridge the dreary hours.

The country was the very place for me: and walking is an excellent sedative for the nerves.

Remembering poor Rowley, feigning a cold in our lodgings and immediately under the guns of the formidable and now doubtful Bethiah, I asked if I might bring my servant.

'Poor devil! it is dull for him,' I explained.
'The merciful man is merciful to his ass,' observed my sententious friend.