Only,' drawing the lawyer a little aside, and turning his eye towards Sampson, 'my worthy friend there in the reverie is a little helpless and abstracted, and my servant, Barnes, who is his pilot in ordinary, cannot well assist him here, especially as he has expressed his determination of going to some of your darker and more remote places of worship.' The lawyer's eye glanced at Dominie Sampson.

'A curiosity worth preserving; and I'll find you a fit custodier.

Here you, sir (to the waiter), go to Luckie Finlayson's in the Cowgate for Miles Macfin the cadie, he'll be there about this time, and tell him I wish to speak to him.' The person wanted soon arrived.

'I will commit your friend to this man's charge,' said Pleydell; 'he'll attend him, or conduct him, wherever he chooses to go, with a happy indifference as to kirk or market, meeting or court of justice, or any other place whatever; and bring him safe home at whatever hour you appoint; so that Mr.Barnes there may be left to the freedom of his own will.' This was easily arranged, and the Colonel committed the Dominie to the charge of this man while they should remain in Edinburgh.
'And now, sir, if you please, we shall go to the Grey-friars church, to hear our historian of Scotland, of the Continent, and of America.' They were disappointed: he did not preach that morning.

'Never mind,' said the Counsellor, 'have a moment's patience and we shall do very well.' The colleague of Dr.Robertson ascended the pulpit.