But the rest were in a different case.

Not only was the visit to Appin's agent, in the midst of the cry about the Appin murder, dangerous in itself, but it was highly inconsistent with the other.

I was like to have a bad enough time of it with my Lord Advocate Grant, the best of ways; but to go to him hot-foot from Appin's agent, was little likely to mend my own affairs, and might prove the mere ruin of friend Alan's.

The whole thing, besides, gave me a look of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds that was little to my fancy.

I determined, therefore, to be done at once with Mr.Stewart and the whole Jacobitical side of my business, and to profit for that purpose by the guidance of the porter at my side.