.
Here was a state of things, indeed, that called upon all the powers of
the resourceful landlord.

"All the folk in Edinburgh will be coming, and the poor woman be deaved
with their spiering." And then he began to laugh. "Did you ever hear o'
sic a thing as poetic justice, Sergeant? Nae, it's no' the kind you'll
get in the courts of law. Weel, it's poetic justice for a birkie
soldier, wha claims the airth and the fullness thereof, to have to tak'
his orders from a sma' shopkeeper. Go up to the police office in St.
Gila now and ask for an officer to stand at the gate here to answer
questions, and to keep the folk awa' from the lodge."

He stood guard himself, and satisfied a score of visitors before the
sergeant came back, and there was another instance of poetic justice, in
the crestfallen Burgh policeman who had been sent with instructions to
take his orders from the delighted landlord.

"Eh, Davie, it's a lang lane that has nae turning. Ye're juist to stand
here a' the day an' say to ilka body wha spiers for the dog: 'Ay, sir,
Greyfriars Bobby's been leevin' i' the kirkyaird aucht years an' mair,
an' Maister Traill's aye fed 'im i' the dining-rooms. Ay, the case was
dismissed i' the Burgh coort. The Laird Provost gied a collar to the bit
Skye because there's a meddlin' fule or twa amang the Burgh police wha'd
be takin' 'im up. The doggie's i' the lodge wi' the caretaker, wha's
fair ill, an' he canna be seen the day. But gang aroond the kirk an' ye
can see Auld Jock's grave that he's aye guarded. There's nae stave to
it, but it's neist to the fa'en table-tomb o' Mistress Jean Grant. A
gude day to ye.' Hae ye got a' that, man? Weel, cheer up. Yell hae to
say it nae mair than a thousand times or twa, atween noo an' nichtfa'."

He went away laughing at the penance that was laid upon his foe. The
landlord felt so well satisfied with the world that he took another
jaunty crack at the sergeant: "By richts, man, you ought to go to gaol,
but I'll just fine you a shulling a month for Bobby's natural lifetime,
to give the wee soldier a treat of a steak or a chop once a week."

Hands were struck heartily on the bargain, and the two men parted good
friends. Now, finding Ailie dropping tears in the dish-water, Mr. Traill
sent her flying down to the lodge with instructions to make herself
useful to Mrs. Brown. Then he was himself besieged in his place of
business by folk of high and low degree who were disappointed by their
fa