ther fools at Deep Moat Grange, at
that time the property of the late Mr. H. Stennis.

Nothing can be more generally useless than the practice of going back
on old transactions, the gain of which has long gone to your banker, or
the loss been written off. But as, on this occasion, you represent to
me that a few notanda from me might aid your book to sell, I comply
with your desire. Your proposition, kindly but speculative, that I
should receive ten per cent. (10%) of the proceeds, is one to which I
cannot accede. The venture is your own, and though I reply as a
father, I desire to rest absolutely disinterested in the business. I
have made my success in life, such as it is, by never touching anything
of a doubtful or gambling nature. And I am creditably informed the
publication of books of thrilling adventure such as you propose
undoubtedly falls under the latter category.

But the facts, nevertheless, are at your service. All that I ask of
you is that you should allow them to remain facts. I once lifted a
page of your MS., which had been blown from your desk, and I grieve to
say that it contained such twaddle about love, together with other
intangible and inappreciable articles, that I came very near to
discharging you on the spot. But I remembered the solid qualities and
aptitudes you had shown (I give you so much credit, but I trust you do
not strike me for a rise on the strength of it) on the occasion of my
late disappearance.

Well, on Monday, the sixth of December, at 8.59 I received a letter
bearing the Edinburgh postmark, stating that a certain Mr. Stephen
Cairney, who has owed me over three hundred pounds for a number of
years (L329, to be exact) would be selling a large parcel of cattle at
Longtown Tryst. The writer of the note was Mr. H. Stennis, of Deep
Moat Grange, and he informed me that he had successfully adopted a
similar course at Falkirk some years ago. He had been able to give his
lawyer due notice, and had "riested" the money in the hands of the
auctioneer.

Now there is no reason why Hobby Stennis should go out of his way to
put money into my pocket. On the contrary! If it had been the other
way about I should have seen him farther first before I meddled.
Still, the sum was a considerable one, and Mr. Dealer Stephen Cairney
certainly a slippery customer, whom I might never be able to make
anything off of again. It was just possible that old Hobby, as
spiteful an old ruffian as live