He next, looking joyously round, laid a grasp on his wig, which he perhaps would have sent after the beaver, had not Edie stopped his hand, exclaiming "Lordsake! he's gaun gyte!--mind Caxon's no here to repair the damage." Every person now assailed the Antiquary, clamouring to know the cause of so sudden a transport, when, somewhat ashamed of his rapture, he fairly turned tail, like a fox at the cry of a pack of hounds, and ascending the stair by two steps at a time, gained the upper landing-place, where, turning round, he addressed the astonished audience as follows:-- [Illustration: My Good Friends, 'favete Linguis'] "My good friends, _favete linguis_--To give you information, I must first, according to logicians, be possessed of it myself; and, therefore, with your leaves, I will retire into the library to examine these papers--Sir Arthur and Miss Wardour will have the goodness to step into the parlour--Mr.Sweepclean, secede paulisper, or, in your own language, grant us a supersedere of diligence for five minutes--Hector, draw off your forces, and make your bear-garden flourish elsewhere--and, finally, be all of good cheer till my return, which will be instanter." The contents of the packet were indeed so little expected, that the Antiquary might be pardoned, first his ecstasy, and next his desire of delaying to communicate the intelligence they conveyed, until it was arranged and digested in his own mind.
Within the envelope was a letter addressed to Jonathan Oldbuck, Esq.

of Monkbarns, of the following purport:-- "Dear Sir,--To you, as my father's proved and valued friend, I venture to address myself, being detained here by military duty of a very pressing nature.

You must by this time be acquainted with the entangled state of our affairs; and I know it will give you great pleasure to learn, that I am as fortunately as unexpectedly placed in a situation to give effectual assistance for extricating them.

I understand Sir Arthur is threatened with severe measures by persons who acted formerly as his agents; and, by advice of a creditable man of business here, I have procured the enclosed writing, which I understand will stop their proceedings until their claim shall be legally discussed, and brought down to its proper amount.

I also enclose bills to the amount of one thousand pounds to pay any other pressing demands, and request of your friendship to apply them according to your discretion.