It is true, his course was facilitated by knowing exactly where certain stepping-places and holdfasts were placed, of which Fairford could not so readily avail himself; but, after a difficult and somewhat perilous progress along the roofs of two or three houses, they at length descended by a skylight into a garret room, and from thence by the stairs into a public-house; for such it appeared, by the ringing of bells, whistling for waiters and attendance, bawling of 'House, house, here!' chorus of sea songs, and the like noises.
Having descended to the second story, and entered a room there in which there was a light, old Mr.Trumbull rang the bell of the apartment thrice, with an interval betwixt each, during which he told deliberately the number twenty.

Immediately after the third ringing the landlord appeared, with stealthy step, and an appearance of mystery on his buxom visage.

He greeted Mr.Trumbull, who was his landlord as it proved, with great respect, and expressed some surprise at seeing him so late, as he termed it, 'on Saturday e'en.' 'And I, Robin Hastie,' said the landlord to the tenant, am more surprised than pleased, to hear sae muckle din in your house, Robie, so near the honourable Sabbath; and I must mind you that it is contravening the terms of your tack, whilk stipulates that you should shut your public on Saturday at nine o'clock, at latest.' 'Yes, sir,' said Robin Hastie, no way alarmed at the gravity of the rebuke, 'but you must take tent that I have admitted naebody but you, Mr.Trumbull (who by the way admitted yoursell), since nine o'clock for the most of the folk have been here for several hours about the lading, and so on, of the brig.

It is not full tide yet, and I cannot put the men out into the street.

If I did, they would go to some other public, and their souls would be nane the better, and my purse muckle the waur; for how am I to pay the rent if I do not sell the liquor ?' 'Nay, then,' said Thomas Trumbull, 'if it is a work of necessity, and in the honest independent way of business, no doubt there is balm in Gilead.