"And the morn's Sabbath too," said the querist "I dinna ken what will be done."
By this time Mannering appeared, and found a tall strong countryman, clad in a coat of pepper-and-salt coloured mixture, with huge metal buttons, a glazed hat and boots, and a large horsewhip beneath his arm, in colloquy with a slipshod damsel--I, who had in one hand the lock of the door, and in the other a pail of whiting, or camstane, as it is called, mixed with water--a circumstance which indicates Saturday night in Edinburgh.
"So Mr. Pleydell is not at home, my good girl?" said Mannering.
"Ay, sir, he's at hame, but he's no in the house: he's aye out on Saturday at e'en."
"But, try good girl, I am a stranger, and my business express--Will you tell me where I can find him?"
"His honour," said the chairman, "will be at Clerihugh's about this time--Hersell could hae tell'd ye that, but she thought ye wanted to see his house."
"Well, then, show me to this tavern--I suppose he will see me, as I come on business of some consequence?"
"I dinna ken, sir," said the girl; "he disna like to be disturbed on Saturdays wi' business--but he's aye civil to strangers."
