Though he had been startled on discovering his mistake, he now felt comforted by it, for, being unknown to Ferrier, he was much safer with him than he would have been with James. He raised his head and tried to get an idea of his companion's face, but the darkness of the close was too great to let him distinguish his features. He had discovered where he lived by accident, but though a description of the man was in the little box now reposing on the tester of his bed at Balnillo, he did not know him by sight. These things were going through his mind as the woman returned from her lodger's errand, and the door had just been made fast again when there was a step at the close's mouth and another man came quickly in, stopping short as he found it occupied. Ferrier coughed. "Ferrier?" said James's voice softly. "What is this?" he asked as his foot came in contact with Archie. "It's a drunken brute who came roaring in here a minute syne and fell head over heels at my door," replied the other. "The town is full of them to-night." He stooped down and took Flemington by the shoulder. "Up you get!" he cried, shaking him. Archie breathed heavily and let his whole weight hang on Ferrier's hand. "Haud awa' frae me, lassie!" he expostulated thickly. Logie laughed. "He must be far gone indeed to take you for a lass," he observed. Ferrier gave Archie a stronger shake. "A'll no gang hame wantin' Annie!" continued Flemington, whose humour was beginning to find some pleasure in the situation. The raw vernacular that he had mastered with absolute success in childhood was at his tongue's end still. "Come, come," said James. Ferrier moved forward, but Archie had reached out a limp hand and taken him by the ankle. "Annie!" he muttered, "ma bonnie, bonnie Annie!" Ferrier, who had nearly fallen forward, tried to strike out with his foot, but Archie's grip, nerveless yet clinging as a limpet, held him fast. "A' tell ye, a'll nae gang hame wantin' Annie!" he repeated more loudly. "He has me by the foot, damn him!" said Ferrier. James swore quietly but distinctly. "Annie! _Annie!_" roared Archie, making the silent close echo again. "Great heavens!" exclaimed the exasperated James, "we shall have the whole town out of bed if this goes on! Shake him off, man, and let us be going." He bent down as he spoke and groping in the darkness, found Flemington's heels. He seized them and began to drag him backwards as a man drags a fighting dog. He had a grip of iron. The effect of the sudden pull on Ferrier was to make him lose his balance. He staggered against the side of the close, calling to Logie to desist.