The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

THE HEART OF MID-LOTHIAN. 399
the Sabbath. I cannot think the preacher himsell wad be heading the
mob, though the time has been, they hae been as forward in a bruilzie as
their neighbours."
"But these times are lang by," said Mr. Sharpitlaw. "In my father's
time, there was mair search for silenced ministers about the Bow-head and
Covenant-close, and all the tents of Kedar, as they ca'd the dwellings o' the
godly in those days, than there's now for thieves and vagabonds in the
Laigh Calton and the back o' the Canongate. But that time's weel by, an it
bide. And if the Bailie will get me directions and authority from the Provost, I'll speak wi' Daddie Rat mysell; for I'm thinking I'll make mair out
o' him than ye'll do."
Mr. Sharpitlaw, being necessarily a man of high trust, was accordingly
empowered, in the course of the day, to make such arrangements as might
seem in the emergency most advantageous for the Good Town. He went to
the jail accordingly, and saw Ratcliffe in private.
The relative positions of a police-officer and a professed thief bear a
different complexion, according to circumstances. The most obvious simile
of a hawk pouncing upon his prey is often least applicable. Sometimes
the guardian of justice has the air of a cat watching a mouse, and, while he
suspends his purpose of springing upon the pilferer, takes care so to calculate his motions that he shall not get beyond his power. Sometimes, more
passive still, he uses the art of fascination ascribed to the rattlesnake, and
contents himself with glaring on the victim, through all his devious flutterings; certain that his terror, confusion, and disorder of ideas, will bring
him into his jaws at last. The interview between Ratcliffe and Sharpitlaw
had an aspect different from all these. They sat for five minutes silent, on
opposite sides of a small table, and looked fixedly at each other, with a
sharp, knowing, and alert cast of countenance, not unmingled with an inclination to laugh, and resembled, more than any thing else, two dogs, who,
preparing for a game at romps, are seen to couch down, and remain in that
posture for a little time, watching each other's movements, and waiting
which shall begin the game.
"So, Mr. Ratcliffe," said the officer, conceiving it suited his dignity'to
speak first, " you give up business, I find?"
"Yes, sir," replied Ratcliffe; " I shall be on that lay nae mair-and(I
think that will save your folk some trouble, Mr. Sharpitlaw?"
" Which Jock Dalgleish " (then finisher of the law in the Scottish metropolis) "wad save them as easily," returned the procurator-fiscal.
" Ay; if I waited in the Tolbooth here to have him fit my cravat -but
that's an idle way o' speaking, Mr. Sharpitlaw."
"Why, I suppose you know you are under sentence of death, Mr. Ratcliffe?" replied Mr. Sharpitlaw.
Ay, so are a', as that worthy minister said in the Tolbooth Kirk the day
Robertson wan off; but naebody kens when it will be executed. Gude faith,
he had better reason to say sae than he dreamed of, before the play was
played out that morning I"
"This Robertson," said Sharpitlaw, in a lower and something like a confidential tone, " d'ye ken, Rat -that is, can ye gie us ony inkling where he
is to be heard tell o'?"
"Troth, Mr. Sharpitlaw, I'll be frank wi' ye; Robertson is rather a cut
abune me- a wild deevil he was, and mony a daft prank he played; but
except the Collector's job that Wilson led him into, and some tuilzies about
run goods wi' the gaugers and the waiters, he never did onything that came
near our line o' business."
" Umph! that's singular, considering the company he kept."
"Fact, upon my honour and credit," said Ratcliffe, gravely. " Ie keepit
out o' our little bits of affairs, and that's mair than Wilson did; I hae dune
business wi' Wilson afore now. But the lad will come on in time; there's