like that singin' at siccan a time o' the nicht.

BRODIE. I must go.

LAWSON. Not one foot o' ye. I'm ower glad to find ye in guid hands. Ay,
ye dinna ken how glad.

BRODIE (_aside to LESLIE_). Get me out of this. There's a man there will
stick at nothing.

LESLIE. Mr. Lawson, Brodie has done his shift. Why should we keep him?
(_JEAN appears at the door, and signs to BRODIE._)

LAWSON. Hoots! this is my trade. That's a bit o' "Wanderin' Willie."
I've had it before me in precognitions; that same stave has been used
for a signal by some o' the very warst o' them.

BRODIE (_aside to LESLIE_). Get me out of this. I'll never forget
to-night. (_JEAN at door again._)

LESLIE. Well, good-night, Brodie. When shall we meet again?

LAWSON. Not one foot o' him. (_JEAN at door._) I tell you, Mr.
Leslie----

SCENE VI

_To these, JEAN_

JEAN (_from the door_). Wullie, Wullie!

LAWSON. Guid guide us, Mrs. Watt! A dacent wumman like yoursel'! Whatten
a time o' nicht is this to come to folks' doors?

JEAN (_to BRODIE_). Hawks, Wullie, hawks!

BRODIE. I suppose you know what you've done, Jean?

JEAN. I _had_ to come, Wullie; he wadna wait another minit. He wad have
come himsel'.

BRODIE. This is my mistress.

LAWSON. William, dinna tell me nae mair.

BRODIE. I have told you so much. You may as well know all. That good
man knows it already. Have you issued a warrant for me ... yet?

LAWSON. No, no, man: not another word.

BRODIE (_pointing to the window_). That is my work. I am the man. Have
you drawn the warrant?

LAWSON (_breaking down_). Your father's son!

LESLIE (_to LAWSON_). My good friend! Brodie, you might have spared the
old man this.

BRODIE. I might have spared him years ago; and you and my sister, and
myself. I might ... would God I had! (_Weeping himself._) Don't weep, my
good old friend; I was lost long since; don't think of me; don't pity
me; don't shame me with your pity! I began this when I was a boy. I
bound the millstone round my neck; (it is irrevocable now), and you must
all suffer ... all suffer for me!... (for this suffering remnant of what
was once a man). O God, that I can have fallen to stand here as I do
now. My friend lying to save me from the gallows; my second father
weeping tears of blood for my disgrace! And all for what? Ay what?
Because I had an open hand, because I was a selfish dog, because I loved
this woman.

JEAN. O Wullie, and she lo'ed ye weel! But come near