will make it forthcoming; I ken something about an escape
from Ellangowan. Ay, ay, he'll be glad to carry me through, and be
neighbour-like.'

'Well, sir,' replied Bertram, 'if I am not furnished in a day or two
otherwise, you shall have such an order.'

'Weel, weel, then ye shall be put up like a prince,' said Mac-Guffog.
'But mark ye me, friend, that we may have nae colly-shangie afterhend,
these are the fees that I always charge a swell that must have his
lib-ken to himsell:--Thirty shillings a week for lodgings, and a guinea
for garnish; half a guinea a week for a single bed; and I dinna get the
whole of it, for I must gie half a crown out of it to Donald Laider
that's in for sheep-stealing, that should sleep with you by rule, and
he'll expect clean strae, and maybe some whisky beside. So I make little
upon that.'

'Well, sir, go on.'

'Then for meat and liquor, ye may have the best, and I never charge abune
twenty per cent ower tavern price for pleasing a gentleman that way; and
that's little eneugh for sending in and sending out, and wearing the
lassie's shoon out. And then if ye're dowie I will sit wi' you a gliff in
the evening mysell, man, and help ye out wi' your bottle. I have drank
mony a glass wi' Glossin, man, that did you up, though he's a justice
now. And then I'se warrant ye'll be for fire thir cauld nights, or if ye
want candle, that's an expensive article, for it's against the rules. And
now I've tell'd ye the head articles of the charge, and I dinna think
there's muckle mair, though there will aye be some odd expenses ower and
abune.'

'Well, sir, I must trust to your conscience, if ever you happened to hear
of such a thing; I cannot help myself.'

'Na, na, sir,' answered the cautious jailor, 'I'll no permit you to be
saying that. I'm forcing naething upon ye; an ye dinna like the price, ye
needna take the article. I force no man; I was only explaining what
civility was. But if ye like to take the common run of the house, it's a'
ane to me; I'll be saved trouble, that's a'.'

'Nay, my friend, I have, as I suppose you may easily guess, no
inclination to dispute your terms upon such a penalty,' answered Bertram.
'Come, show me where I am to be, for I would fain be alone for a little
while.'

'Ay, ay, come along then, Captain,' said the fellow, with a contortion of
visage which he intended to be a smile; 'and I'll tell you now--to show
you that I HAVE a conscience, as ye ca't--d--n me if I ch