ard
upon myself; and while my lord, out of a parly-voo politess, was egging
them on, one after another, to drink deeper and deeper of his old wines,
to the manifest detriment of their own senses, I kept myself in a degree
as sober as a judge, warily noting all things that came to pass.

The earl had really a commendable share of common sense for a lord, and
the discretion of my conduct was not unnoticed by him; in so much, that
after the major part of the council had become, as it may be said, out o'
the body, cracking their jokes with one another, just as if all present
had been carousing at the Cross-Keys, his lordship wised to me to come
and sit beside him, where we had a very private and satisfactory
conversation together; in the which conversation, I said, that it was a
pity he would not allow himself to be nominated our provost. Nobody had
ever minted to him a thought of the thing before; so it was no wonder
that his lordship replied, with a look of surprise, saying, "That so far
from refusing, he had never heard of any such proposal."

"That is very extraordinary, my lord," said I; "for surely it is for your
interests, and would to a certainty be a great advantage to the town,
were your lordship to take upon you the nominal office of provost; I say
nominal, my lord, because being now used to the duties, and somewhat
experienced therein, I could take all the necessary part of the trouble
off your lordship's hands, and so render the provostry in your lordship's
name a perfect nonentity." Whereupon, he was pleased to say, if I would
do so, and he commended my talents and prudence, he would have no
objection to be made the provost at the ensuing election. Something more
explicit might have ensued at that time; but Bailie M'Lucre and Mr
Sharpset, who was the dean of guild, had been for about the space of half
an hour carrying on a vehement argument anent some concern of the
guildry, in which, coming to high words, and both being beguiled and
ripened into folly by the earl's wine, they came into such a manifest
quarrel, that Mr Sharpset pulled off the bailie's best wig, and flung it
with a damn into the fire: the which stramash caused my lord to end the
sederunt; but none of the magistrates, save myself, was in a condition to
go with his lordship to My Lady in the drawing-room.

CHAPTER XII--THE SPY

Soon after the foregoing transaction, a thing happened that, in a manner,
I would fain conceal and suppres