And upon his body, as the Bailie of Dumfries would often feelingly recall, he bore the memory, if not the marks, of the disciplining of Henry Ogilvy, Master in Arts--a wholesome custom, too much neglected by the present regents of the college, as he would add.
"This is an excellent affair for us," said Ninian Halliburton, standing with his hands folded placidly over his ample stomach, only occasionally allowing them to wander in order to feel and approve the pile of the brown velvet out of which the sober gown was constructed.
"A good thing for us, I say, that there are great lords like the Earl of Douglas to keep up the expense of such days as this." "It were still better," answered his companion, dryly, "if the great nobles would pay poor merchants according to their promises, instead of threatening them with the dule tree if they so much as venture to ask for their money.

Neither you nor I, Bailie, can buy in the lowlands of Holland without a goodly provision of the broad gold pieces that are so hard to drag from the nobles of Scotland." The rosy-gilled Bailie of Dumfries looked up at his friend with a quick expression of mingled hope and anxiety.
"Does the Earl o' Douglas owe you ony siller ?" he asked in a hushed whisper, "for if he does, I am willing to take over the debt--for a consideration." "Nay," said Semple, "I only wish he did.

The Douglases of the Black were never ill debtors.

They keep their hand in every man's meal ark, but as they are easy in taking, they are also quick in paying." "Siller in hand is the greatest virtue of a buyer," said the Bailie, with unction.

"But, Robert Semple, though I was willing to oblige ye as a friend by taking over your debt, I'll no deny that ye gied me a fricht.