But an unexpected visit from Sir Arthur soon gave the Antiquary other matters to think about. The Baronet came, so he said, to ask his old friend's advice about the disposal of a sum of money. The Antiquary drew from a right-hand corner of his desk a red-covered book, of which Sir Arthur hated the very sight, and suggested that if he had money to dispose of, it might be as well to begin by clearing off encumbrances, of which the debt marked in his own red book accounted for no less than eleven hundred and thirteen pounds. But Sir Arthur put away the red book as if Monkbarns had offered him so much physic, and hastened to say that if the Antiquary would wait a few days, he would have the sum in full--that is, if he would take it in bullion. The Antiquary inquired from what Eldorado this treasure was forthcoming. "Not far from here," said Sir Arthur, confidently, "and now I think of it, you shall see the whole process in working, on one small condition." "And what is that?" inquired the Antiquary. "That it will be necessary to give me your friendly assistance, by advancing the small sum of one hundred pounds." The Antiquary, who had been rejoicing in the hope of getting both principal and interest of a debt which he had long thought desperate, could only gasp out the words, "Advance one hundred pounds!" "Yes, my good sir," said Sir Arthur, "but upon the best possible security of having it repaid in the course of a few days." To this the Antiquary said nothing. He had heard the like before from Sir Arthur's lips. So the Baronet went on to explain. "Mr. Dousterswivel having discovered--" But the Antiquary would not listen. His eyes sparkled with indignation. "Sir Arthur," he said, "I have so often warned you against that rascally quack, that I wonder you quote him to me!" But this time Sir Arthur had something to show for his faith in the expert. He placed a large ram's horn with a copper cover in his friend's hand. It contained Scottish, English, and foreign coins of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Most were silver but some were of gold, and, as even the Antiquary allowed, of exceeding rarity. "These," said the Baronet, "were found at midnight, at the last full moon, in the ruins of St. Ruth's Priory, in the course of an experiment of which I was myself the witness." "Indeed," said Oldbuck, "and what means of discovery did you employ?" "Only a simple suffumigation," said the Baronet, "accompanied by availing ourselves of a suitable planetary hour." "Simple suffumigation! Simple nonsensification! Planetary hour--planetary fiddlestick! My dear Sir Arthur, the fellow has made a gull of you under ground, and now he would make a gull of you above ground!" "Well, Mr. Oldbuck," said the Baronet, "I am obliged to you for your opinion of my discernment, but you will at least give me credit for seeing what I say I saw!" "I will give you credit for saying that you saw what you _thought_ you saw!"