Let me see,' continued he, taking a sheet of gilt paper 'how we are to draw our answers.' Ere his pen had touched the paper, James was in the room again.
'What now, James ?' 'Lord Bladderskate's lad is come to ask how Mr.Alan is, as he left; the court'-- 'Aye, aye, aye,' answered Saunders, bitterly; 'he has e'en made a moonlight flitting, like my lord's ain nevoy.' 'Shall I say sae, sir ?' said James, who, as an old soldier, was literal in all things touching the service.
'The devil! no, no!--Bid the lad sit down and taste our ale.

I will write his lordship an answer.' Once more the gilt paper was resumed, and once more the door was opened by James.
'Lord ------ sends his servitor to ask after Mr.Alan.' 'Oh, the deevil take their civility!' said poor Saunders, set him down to drink too--I will write to his lordship.' 'The lads will bide your pleasure, sir, as lang as I keep the bicker fou; but this ringing is like to wear out the bell, I think; there are they at it again.' He answered the fresh summons accordingly, and came back to inform Mr.
Fairford that the Dean of Faculty was below, inquiring for Mr.Alan.
'Will I set him down to drink, too ?' said James.
'Will you be an idiot, sir ?' said Mr.Fairford.

'Show Mr.Dean into the parlour.' In going slowly downstairs, step by step, the perplexed man of business had time enough to reflect, that if it be possible to put a fair gloss upon a true story, the verity always serves the purpose better than any substitute which ingenuity can devise.

He therefore told his learned visitor, that although his son had been incommoded by the heat of the court, and the long train of hard study, by day and night, preceding his exertions, yet he had fortunately so far recovered, as to be in condition to obey upon the instant a sudden summons which had called him to the country, on a matter of life and death.
'It should be a serious matter indeed that takes my young friend away at this moment,' said the good-natured dean.

'I wish he had stayed to finish his pleading, and put down old Tough.