in the provost of this most flourishing and loyal town to associate with Redgauntlet; and for me it would be NOSCITUR A SOCIO.

There would be post to London, with the tidings that two such Jacobites as Redgauntlet and I had met on a braeside--the Habeas Corpus would be suspended--Fame would sound a charge from Carlisle to the Land's End--and who knows but the very wind of the rumour might blow my estate from between my fingers, and my body over Errickstane-brae again?
No, no; bide a gliff--I will go into the provost's closet, and write a letter to Redgauntlet, and direct you how to deliver it.' 'There is pen and ink in the office,' said the provost, pointing to the door of an inner apartment, in which he had his walnut-tree desk and east-country cabinet.
'A pen that can write, I hope ?' said the old laird.
'It can write and spell baith in right hands,' answered the provost, as the laird retired and shut the door behind him..