He was staying at the Quharity Arms, a Thrums inn, where he called himself McLean.

It had gone through the town like wildfire that he had written to someone in Redlintie to send him on another suit of clothes and four dickies.

No one suspected his real character, but all noted that he went to the unhappy Ailie's house daily, and there was a town about it.

Ailie was but a woman, and women could not defend themselves "(Boatswain, put Grizel in irons if she opens her mouth)," and so the poor thing had been forced to speak to him, and even to go walks with him.

Her life was in danger, and before now Mr.Sandys would have taken him prisoner, but the queen had said these words, "Noble Sandys, destroy the Lair," and the best way to discover this horrid spot was to follow Stroke night and day until he went to it.