If the Advocate knew of her and of our acquaintance--if I should please him by some of that "discretion" at which his letter pointed--to what might not this lead?
_In vain is the net spread in the sight of any fowl_, the scripture says.

Well, fowls must be wiser than folk! For I thought I perceived the policy, and yet fell in with it.
I was in this frame, my heart beating, the grey eyes plain before me like two stars, when Andie broke in upon my musing.
"I see ye hae gotten guid news," said he.
I found him looking curiously in my face; with that, there came before me like a vision of James Stewart and the court of Inverary; and my mind turned at once like a door upon its hinges.

Trials, I reflected, sometimes draw out longer than is looked for.

Even if I came to Inverary just too late, something might yet be attempted in the interests of James--and in those of my own character, the best would be accomplished.
In a moment, it seemed without thought, I had a plan devised.
"Andie," said I, "is it still to be to-morrow ?" He told me nothing was changed.
"Was anything said about the hour ?" I asked.
He told me it was to be two o'clock afternoon.
"And about the place ?" I pursued.
"Whatten place ?" says Andie.
"The place I'm to be landed at," said I.
He owned there was nothing as to that.
"Very well, then," I said, "this shall be mine to arrange.

The wind is in the east, my road lies westward; keep your boat, I hire it; let us work up the Forth all day; and land me at two o'clock to-morrow at the westmost we'll can have reached." "Ye daft callant!" he cried, "ye would try for Inverary after a'!" "Just that, Andie," says I.
"Weel, ye're ill to beat!" says he.