the trail. He has fairly caught
up with us. He and this Bow Street man have come together, I would
swear. And now here is the whole field, quarry, hounds and hunters, all
together in this city of Edinburgh."

"And wot are you goin' to do now, sir? Tell you wot, let me take it in
'and, please! Gimme a minute, and I'll disguise myself, and go out to
this Dum--to this hotel, leastways, sir--and see wot he's up to. You put
your trust in me, Mr. Anne: I'm fly, don't you make no mistake about it.
I'm all a-growing and a-blowing, I am."

"Not one foot of you," said I. "You are a prisoner, Rowley, and make up
your mind to that. So am I, or next door to it. I showed it you for a
caution; if you go on the streets, it spells death to me, Rowley."

"If you please, sir," says Rowley.

"Come to think of it," I continued, "you must take a cold, or something.
No good of awakening Mrs. McRankine's suspicions."

"A cold?" he cried, recovering immediately from his depression. "I can
do it, Mr. Anne."

And he proceeded to sneeze and cough and blow his nose, till I could not
restrain myself from smiling.

"O, I tell you, I know a lot of them dodges," he observed proudly.

"Well, they come in very handy," said I.

"I'd better go at once and show it to the old gal, 'adn't I?" he asked.

I told him, by all means; and he was gone upon the instant, gleeful as
though to a game of football.

I took up the paper and read carelessly on, my thoughts engaged with my
immediate danger, till I struck on the next paragraph:--

"In connection with the recent horrid murder in the Castle, we are
desired to make public the following intelligence. The soldier,
Champdivers, is supposed to be in the neighbourhood of this city. He is
about the middle height, or rather under, of a pleasing appearance and
highly genteel address. When last heard of he wore a fashionable suit of
pearl-grey, and boots with fawn-coloured tops. He is accompanied by a
servant about sixteen years of age, speaks English without any accent,
and passed under the _alias_ of Ramornie. A reward is offered for his
apprehension."

In a moment I was in the next room, stripping from me the pearl-coloured
suit!

I confess I was now a good deal agitated. It is difficult to watch the
toils closing slowly and surely about you, and to retain your composure;
and I was glad that Rowley was not present to spy on my confusion. I was
flushed, my breath came thick; I cannot remember a time w