Sir Arthur is a good honourable gentleman; but, as you may see from his loose ideas concerning the Pikish language, he is by no means very strong in the understanding.

His estate is strictly entailed, and he has been always an embarrassed man.

This rapparee promised him mountains of wealth, and an English company was found to advance large sums of money--I fear on Sir Arthur's guarantee.

Some gentlemen--I was ass enough to be one--took small shares in the concern, and Sir Arthur himself made great outlay; we were trained on by specious appearances and more specious lies; and now, like John Bunyan, we awake, and behold it is a dream!" "I am surprised that you, Mr.Oldbuck, should have encouraged Sir Arthur by your example." "Why," said Oldbuck, dropping his large grizzled eyebrow, "I am something surprised and ashamed at it myself; it was not the lucre of gain--nobody cares less for money (to be a prudent man) than I do--but I thought I might risk this small sum.

It will be expected (though I am sure I cannot see why) that I should give something to any one who will be kind enough to rid me of that slip of womankind, my niece, Mary M'Intyre; and perhaps it may be thought I should do something to get that jackanapes, her brother, on in the army.