'Come, sit down to your glass, Mr.Fairford; we have laid our heads thegither, and you shall see it will not be our fault if you are not quite pleased, and Mr.
Darsie Latimer let loose to take his fiddle under his neck again.

But Summertrees thinks it will require you to put yourself into some bodily risk, which maybe you may not be so keen of.' 'Gentlemen,' said Fairford, 'I will not certainly shun any risk by which my object may be accomplished; but I bind it on your consciences--on yours, Mr.Maxwell, as a man of honour and a gentleman; and on yours, provost, as a magistrate and a loyal subject, that you do not mislead me in this matter.' 'Nay, as for me,' said Summertrees, 'I will tell you the truth at once, and fairly own that I can certainly find you the means of seeing Redgauntlet, poor man; and that I will do, if you require it, and conjure him also to treat you as your errand requires; but poor Redgauntlet is much changed--indeed, to say truth, his temper never was the best in the world; however, I will warrant you from any very great danger.' 'I will warrant myself from such,' said Fairford, 'by carrying a proper force with me.' 'Indeed,' said Summertrees, 'you will, do no such thing; for, in the first place, do you think that we will deliver up the poor fellow into the hands of the Philistines, when, on the contrary, my only reason for furnishing you with the clue I am to put into your hands, is to settle the matter amicably on all sides?
And secondly, his intelligence is so good, that were you coming near him with soldiers, or constables, or the like, I shall answer for it, you will never lay salt on his tail.' Fairford mused for a moment.

He considered that to gain sight of this man, and knowledge of his friend's condition, were advantages to be purchased at every personal risk; and he saw plainly, that were he to take the course most safe for himself, and call in the assistance of the law, it was clear he would either be deprived of the intelligence necessary to guide him, or that Redgauntlet would be apprised of his danger, and might probably leave the country, carrying his captive along with him.

He therefore repeated, 'I put myself on your honour, Mr.
Maxwell; and I will go alone to visit your friend.

I have little; doubt I shall find him amenable to reason; and that I shall receive from him a satisfactory account of Mr.Latimer.' 'I have little doubt that you will,' said Mr.Maxwell of Summertrees; 'but still I think it will be only in the long run, and after having sustained some delay and inconvenience.