Now there's four places where a person can be summoned: at his dwelling-house; at a place where he has resided forty days; at the head burgh of the shire where he ordinarily resorts; or lastly (if there be ground to think him forth of Scotland), _at the cross of Edinburgh, and the pier and shore of Leith, for sixty days_.

The purpose of which last provision is evident upon its face: being that outgoing ships may have time to carry news of the transaction, and the summonsing be something other than a form.

Now take the case of Alan.

He has no dwelling-house that ever I could hear of; I would be obliged if anyone would show me where he has lived forty days together since the '45; there is no shire where he resorts whether ordinarily or extraordinarily; if he has a domicile at all, which I misdoubt, it must be with his regiment in France; and if he is not yet forth of Scotland (as we happen to know and they happen to guess) it must be evident to the most dull it's what he's aiming for.

Where, then, and what way should he be summoned?
I ask it at yourself, a layman." "You have given the very words," said I."Here at the cross, and at the pier and shore of Leith, for sixty days." "Ye're a sounder Scots lawyer than Prestongrange, then!" cries the Writer.