‘Quite an authority in law!’ sneered the Sheriff.

’Yes, I have been three times before the court of session and won each time.  I knew your father, who was a decent shoemaker in Cupar, and when he sent you to learn to be a lawyer he little thought he was making a tool for those he despised.  Pick a man from the plow, clap on his back a black coat, send him to college, and in five years he is a Conservative, and puckers his mouth at anything so vulgar as a Reformer, booing and clawing to the gentry and nobility.  Dod, set a beggar on horseback and he will ride over his own father, and your father was no lick-the-ladle like you, but a Liberal who stood up for his rights.’  The bitterness and force with which the stranger spoke cowed his hearers.

‘These insults are too much,’ stammered the Bailie.

The stranger at once turned upon him.  ’O, this is you McSweem, to whom I have sold many a box of soap and tea when you wore an apron and kept a grocer’s shop.  Set you up and push you forward, indeed.  You have got a bit of an estate with your wife’s money and call yourself a laird!  The grand folk having taken you under their wing, you forget that you once sat, cheek-by-jowl, with Joseph Gerrald, and now you sit in judgment on a better man than a dozen like you.’

‘Mr Sheriff,’ shouted his lordship.  ‘Remove this man to the cells.’

‘I dare you to put a finger on me,’ and he grasped a chair ready to knock down the officer who advanced to obey the order.  ’I am within my lawful rights.  Dod, wee Henderson would ask nothing better than to prosecute you before the lords of session were you to keep me in jail even for an hour.  Release this innocent man Kerr, and let us go.’

‘You are a vulgar bully,’ exclaimed his lordship haughtily.

The stranger dropped his bitter tone, and asked smoothly, ’May I ask your lordship a question?  Will you condescend to say how many of your lordship’s relatives are in government offices, and is it true your wife’s mother draws a pension, all of them living out of taxes paid by the commonalty whom you despise?’

His lordship affected not to hear him, and beckoning the Sheriff to draw near, he conferred with the magistrates in whispers.  I overheard Bailie McSweem say, ’I know him, he’s a perfect devil to fight; better have nothing to do with him,’ and the Sheriff’s remark, ’He has got a legal catch to work on.’  When the Sheriff went back to his seat, h is lordship said curtly, ‘The accused is discharged,’ and he and McSweem hurriedly left.  The stranger gripped Kerr by the shoulder and pushed him before him until we reached the street.  ’Now, I must leave you, for I must see what my customers are out of.’

‘Tell me your name?’ asked Kerr, ’that I may know who has done me such service.’

’Never mind; you are under no obligation to me.  A wee bird told me you were in trouble and I am glad to have been in time to serve you.’