fly and hide yourself, for
your mother's found, an' as sure as you're a living soul, the blame is
gaun to fa' on you!"

"My mother found!" said I. "And, pray, where has she been all this
while?" In the meantime, I was terribly discomposed at the thoughts of
her return.

"Been, sir! Been? Why, she has been where ye pat her, it seems--lying
buried in the sands o' the linn. I can tell you, ye will see her a
frightsome figure, sic as I never wish to see again. An' the young lady
is found too, sir: an' it is said the Devil--I beg pardon, sir, your
friend, I mean--it is said your friend has made the discovery, an' the
folk are away to raise officers, an' they will be here in an hour or
two at the farthest, sir; an' sae you hae not a minute to lose, for
there's proof, sir, strong proof, an' sworn proof, that ye were last
seen wi' them baith; sae, unless ye can gie a' the better an account o'
baith yoursel an' them either hide or flee for your bare life."

"I will neither hide nor fly," said I, "for I am as guiltless of the
blood of these women as the child unborn."

"The country disna think sae, master; an' I can assure you that, should
evidence fail, you run a risk o' being torn limb frae limb. They are
bringing the corpse here, to gar ye touch them baith afore witnesses,
an' plenty o' witnesses there will be!"

"They shall not bring them here," cried I, shocked beyond measure at
the experiment about to be made. "Go, instantly and debar them from
entering my gate with their bloated and mangled carcases!"

"The body of your own mother, sir!" said the fellow emphatically. I was
in terrible agitation; and, being driven to my wits' end, I got up and
strode furiously round and round the room. Samuel wist not what to do,
but I saw by his staring he deemed me doubly guilty. A tap came to the
chamber door: we both started like guilty creatures; and as for Samuel,
his hairs stood all on end with alarm, so that, when I motioned to him,
he could scarcely advance to open the door. He did so at length, and
who should enter but my illustrious friend, manifestly in the utmost
state of alarm. The moment that Samuel admitted him, the former made
his escape by the prince's side as he entered, seemingly in a state of
distraction. I was little better, when I saw this dreaded personage
enter my chamber, which he had never before attempted; and, being
unable to ask his errand, I suppose I stood and gazed on him like a
statue.

"I come wit