yelled, and was staggering towards the exit,
when he was collared by two policemen, attracted by the noise. He
embraced one of them, murmuring 'ma bonny Jean!' and then doubled up, his
head lolling on his shoulder. His legs and arms jerked convulsively, and
he had at last to be carried off, in the manner known as 'The Frog's
March,' by four members of the force. The roughs followed, like chief
mourners, Merton thought, at the head of the attendant crowd.

'There's an end o' your clash about the English gentleman,' Merton heard
the quieter of his late companions observe to the obstinate inquirer.
'But he's a bonny singer. And noo, wull ye tell me hoo we're to win back
to Drem the nicht?'

'Dod, we'll make a nicht o't,' said the other, as Merton was carried into
the police-station.

He permitted himself to be lifted into one of the cells, and then
remarked, in the most silvery tones:

'Very many thanks, my good men. I need not give you any more trouble,
except by asking you, if possible, to get me some hot water and soap, and
to invite the inspector to favour me with his company.'

The men nearly dropped Merton, but, finding his feet, he stood up and
smiled blandly.

'Pray make no apologies,' he said. 'It is rather I who ought to
apologise.'

'He's no drucken, and he's no Scotch,' remarked one of the policemen.

'But he'll pass the nicht here, and maybe apologise to the Baillie in the
morning,' said another.

'Oh, pardon me, you mistake me,' said Merton. 'This is not a stupid
practical joke.'

'It's no a very gude ane,' said the policeman.

Merton took out a handful of gold. 'I wish to pay for the broken window
at once,' he said. 'It was a necessary part of the _mise en scene_, of
the stage effect, you know. To call your attention.'

'Ye'll settle wi' the Baillie in the morning,' said the policeman.

Things were looking untoward.

'Look here,' said Merton, 'I quite understand your point of view, it does
credit to your intelligence. You take me for an English tourist,
behaving as I have done by way of a joke, or for a bet?'

'That's it, sir,' said the spokesman.

'Well, it does look like that. But which of you is the senior officer
here?'

'Me, sir,' said the last speaker.

'Very well, if you can be so kind as to call the officer in charge of the
station, or even one of senior standing--the higher the better--I can
satisfy him as to my identity, and as to my reasons for behaving as I
hav