Many of the names of the officers are well known to me, and two or three of the captains were at Glasgow College with Jock and myself.

It will be like old times, to have four or five of us talking over the wild doings we had together." The supper over, the children were sent off to bed.

Allan Ramsay lit a long pipe.

A bottle of wine and two glasses were placed on the table, and Mrs.Ramsay withdrew, to see after domestic matters, and prepare a room for Charlie.
"Now, lad, tell me all about it," Allan Ramsay said.

"Jock tells me you are here on a mission, which he would leave it to yourself to explain; but it is no business of mine, and, if you would rather keep it to yourself, I will ask no questions." "There is no secret about it, as far as you are concerned, Mr.
Ramsay, for it is to you and to other merchants here that I have come to talk it over;" and he then went fully into the subject.
The Scotchman sat, smoking his pipe in silence, for some minutes after he had concluded.
"We do not much meddle with politics here.