I awoke about nine with the sun shining in my eyes.  The landlord came at my summons, brought me my clothes dried and decently brushed, and gave me the good news that the Six-Feet-High Club were all abed and sleeping off their excesses.  Where they were bestowed was a puzzle to me until (as I was strolling about the garden patch waiting for breakfast) I came on a barn door, and, looking in, saw all the red face mixed in the straw like plums in a cake.  Quoth the stalwart maid who brought me my porridge and bade me ’eat them while they were hot,’ ‘Ay, they were a’ on the ran-dan last nicht!  Hout! they’re fine lads, and they’ll be nane the waur of it.  Forby Farbes’s coat.  I dinna see wha’s to get the creish off that!’ she added, with a sigh; in which, identifying Forbes as the torch-bearer, I mentally joined.

It was a brave morning when I took the road; the sun shone, spring seemed in the air, it smelt like April or May, and some over-venturous birds sang in the coppices as I went by.  I had plenty to think of, plenty to be grateful for, that gallant morning; and yet I had a twitter at my heart.  To enter the city by daylight might be compared to marching on a battery; every face that I confronted would threaten me like the muzzle of a gun; and it came into my head suddenly with how much better a countenance I should be able to do it if I could but improvise a companion.  Hard by Merchiston I was so fortunate as to observe a bulky gentleman in broadcloth and gaiters, stooping with his head almost between his knees, before a stone wall.  Seizing occasion by the forelock, I drew up as I came alongside and inquired what he had found to interest him.

He turned upon me a countenance not much less broad than his back.

‘Why, sir,’ he replied, ’I was even marvelling at my own indefeasible stupeedity:  that I should walk this way every week of my life, weather permitting, and should never before have NOTTICED that stone,’ touching it at the same time with a goodly oak staff.

I followed the indication.  The stone, which had been built sideways into the wall, offered traces of heraldic sculpture.  At once there came a wild idea into my mind:  his appearance tallied with Flora’s description of Mr. Robbie; a knowledge of heraldry would go far to clinch the proof; and what could be more desirable than to scrape an informal acquaintance with the man whom I must approach next day with my tale of the drovers, and whom I yet wished to please?  I stooped in turn.

‘A chevron,’ I said; ’on a chief three mullets?  Looks like Douglas, does it not?’

‘Yes, sir, it does; you are right,’ said he:  ’it does look like Douglas; though, without the tinctures, and the whole thing being so battered and broken up, who shall venture an opinion?  But allow me to be more personal, sir.  In these degenerate days I am astonished you should display so much proficiency.’

’O, I was well grounded in my youth by an old gentleman, a friend of my family, and I may say my guardian,’ said I; ’but I have forgotten it since.  God forbid I should delude you into thinking me a herald, sir!  I am only an ungrammatical amateur.’