desperately mortal.

--Measure for Measure.


Glossin had made careful minutes of the information derived from
these examinations. They threw little light upon the story, so far
as he understood its purport; but the better-informed reader has
received through means of this investigation an account of Brown's
proceedings, between the moment when we left him upon his walk to
Kippletringan and the time when, stung by jealousy, he so rashly
and unhappily presented himself before Julia Mannering, and well-
nigh brought to a fatal termination the quarrel which his
appearance occasioned.

Glossin rode slowly back to Ellangowan, pondering on what he had
heard, and more and more convinced that the active and successful
prosecution of this mysterious business was an opportunity of
ingratiating himself with Hazlewood and Mannering to be on no
account neglected. Perhaps, also, he felt his professional
acuteness interested in bringing it to a successful close. It was,
therefore, with great pleasure that, on his return to his house
from Kippletringan, he heard his servants announce hastily, 'that
Mac-Guffog, the thief-taker, and twa or three concurrents, had a
man in hands in the kitchen waiting for his honour.'

He instantly jumped from horseback, and hastened into the house.
'Send my clerk here directly, ye'll find him copying the survey of
the estate in the little green parlour. Set things to rights in my
study, and wheel the great leathern chair up to the writing-table;