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 jumping aside, he lichted on a shelf before ane could say Jock Robinson.  Here he rowed up the note like a baw in his hand, and put it into his coat pouch like any rational cratur.  Not only this, but he mockit the Heelandman by a’ manner of means, shooting out his tongue at him, spitting at him, and girning at him wi’ his queer outlandish physiognomy.  Then he would tak haud of his tail in his twa hands, and wag it at Donald, and steeking his nieves, he would seem to threaten him wi’ a leatherin’.  A’thegither he was desperate impudent, and eneuch to try the patience of a saunt, no to spak o’ a het-bluided Heelandman.  It was gude for sair een to see how Donald behavit on this occasion.  He raged like ane demented, misca’ing the monkey beyond measure, and swearing as mony Gaelic aiths as micht hae sair’d an ordinar man for a twalmonth.  During this time, I never sterr’d a foot, but keepit keeking frae the back shop upon a’ that was ganging on.  I was highly delighted; and jealousing that Nosey was ower supple to be easily catched, I had nae apprehension for the event, and remained snug in my birth to see the upshot.

In a short time, in comes Mr. Weft wi’ a piece of lowing paper in his hand that he had got frae the next door to licht the shop; and nae sooner did Donald see him than he ax’d him for his note.

“What note, honest man?” said Mr. Weft.