The country must be full of such, both able and eager to support me, or Lovat and the Duke and Prestongrange had not been nosing for expedients; and it made me rage to think that I might brush against my champions in the street and be no wiser.
And just then (like an answer) a gentleman brushed against me going by, gave me a meaning look, and turned into a close.

I knew him with the tail of my eye--it was Stewart the Writer; and, blessing my good fortune, turned in to follow him.

As soon as I had entered the close I saw him standing in the mouth of a stair, where he made me a signal and immediately vanished.

Seven storeys up, there he was again in a house door, the which he locked behind us after we had entered.

The house was quite dismantled, with not a stick of furniture; indeed, it was one of which Stewart had the letting in his hands.
"We'll have to sit upon the floor," said he; "but we're safe here for the time being, and I've been wearying to see ye, Mr.Balfour." "How's it with Alan ?'" I asked.
"Brawly," said he.