of investigation properly belonged, and who would certainly suffer in public opinion should the voluntary exertions of Glossin be more successful than his own. Actuated by motives so stimulating, and well acquainted with the lower retainers of the law, Glossin set every spring in motion to detect and apprehend, if possible, some of the gang who had attacked Woodbourne, and more particularly the individual who had wounded Charles Hazlewood. He promised high rewards, he suggested various schemes, and used his personal interest among his old acquaintances who favoured the trade, urging that they had better make sacrifice of an understrapper or two than incur the odium of having favoured such atrocious proceedings. But for some time all these exertions were in vain. The common people of the country either favoured or feared the smugglers too much to afford any evidence against them. At length, this busy magistrate obtained information, that a man, having the dress and appearance of the person who had wounded Hazlewood, had lodged on the evening before the rencontre at the Gordon Arms in Kippletringan. Thither Mr. Glossin immediately went, for the purpose of interrogating our old acquaintance, Mrs. Mac-Candlish. The reader may remember that Mr. Glossin did not, according to this good woman's phrase, stand high in her books. She therefore attended his summons to the parlour slowly and reluctantly, and, on entering the room, paid her respects in the coldest possible manner. The dialogue then proceeded as follows:- "A fine frosty morning, Mrs. Mac-Candlish." "Ay, sir; the morning's weel eneugh," answered the landlady dryly. "Mrs. Mac-Candlish, I wish to know if the justices are to dine here as usual after the business of the court on Tuesday?" "I believe--fancy sae, sir--as usual"--(about to leave the room). "Stay a moment, Mrs. Mac-Candlish--why, you are in a prodigious hurry, my good friend!--I have been thinking a club dining here once a month would be a very pleasant thing." "Certainly, sir; a club of respectable gentlemen." "True, true," said Glossin, "I mean landed proprietors and gentlemen of weight in the county; and I should like to set such a thing a-going." The short dry cough with which Mrs. Mac-Candlish received this proposal, by no means indicated any dislike to the overture abstractedly considered, but inferred much doubt how far it would succeed under the auspices of the gentleman by whom it was proposed. It was not a cough negative, but a cough dubious, and as such Glossin felt it; but it was not his cue to take offence. "Have there been brisk doings on the road, Mrs. Mac-Candlish? plenty of company, I suppose?" "Pretty weel, sir,--but I believe I am wanted at the bar." "No, no,--stop one moment, cannot you, to oblige an old customer?--Pray, do you remember a remarkably tall young man, who lodged one night in your House last week?"