ree-leggit stool that stood
fornent Mr. Weft's desk, and was turning ower the leaves of his
ledger, wi' a look which, for auld-fashioned sagaciousness, was
wonderfu' to behold. I was sae tickled at the sight that I paid nae
sort of attention to the Heelandman, but continued looking frae the
back shop at Nosey, lauching a' the time in my sleeve--for I jealoused
that some queer scene would tak' place between the twa. And I wasna
far wrang, for the stranger, takin' out a pound frae his spleuchan,
handed it ower to the monkey, and speered at him, in his droll norlan
deealect, if he could change a note. When I heard this I thocht I
would hae lauched outricht; and naething but sheer curiosity to see
how the thing would end made me keep my gravity. It was plain that
Donald had ta'en Nosey for ane of his ain countrymen--and the thing
after a' wasna greatly to be wondered at, and that for three
reasons:--

Firstly, the shop was rather darkish.

Secondly, the Heelandman had on specks, as I hae just said; and it was
likely on this account that he was rather short-sighted; and

Thirdly, Nosey, wi' his kilt, and bannet, and red coat, was, to a'
intents and purposes, as like a human creatur as a monkey could weel
be.

Nae sooner, then, had he got the note, than he opened it out, and
lookit at it wi' his wee glowrin', restless een, as if to see that it
wasna a forgery. He then shook his head like a doctor, when he's no
very sure what's wrang wi' a person, but wants to mak' it appear that
he kens a' about it--and continued in this style till the Heelandman's
patience began to get exhausted.

"Can ye no change the note, old shentleman?" quo' Donald. Nosey gi'ed
his head anither shake, and looked uncommon wise.

"Is the note no goot, sir?"' spak the Heelandman, a second time; but
the cratur, instead of answering him, only gi'ed anither of his wise
shakes, as much as to say, "I'm no very sure about it." At this Donald
lost temper. "If the note doesna please ye, sir," quo' he, "I'll thank
ye to gie me it back again, and I'll gang to some ither place." And he
stretchit out his hand to tak hand o't, when my frien' wi' the tail,
lifting up his stick, lent him sic a whack ower the fingers as made
him pu' back in the twinkling of an ee.

"Got tamn ye, ye auld scounrel," said the man; "do ye mean to tak my
money frae me?" And he lifted up a rung big eneuch to fell a stot, and
let flee at the monkey; but Nosey was ower quick for him, and