When Lord Vincent had read this confession through he knew that all was forever over with him; he knew that at that very hour hundreds of people were reading that confession, shuddering at his guilt, scorning his baseness, and anticipating his conviction; he knew as well as if he had just heard the sentence of the court what that sentence would be. Penal servitude for life! Deep groans burst from his bosom. "Me laird, me laird, you are surely ill," said the old man anxiously, coming forward. "Yes, Cuthbert, I am ill; in pain." "Will I call a doctor?" "No, Cuthbert; a doctor is not necessary; but attend to me a moment. They let you bring me anything you like unquestioned, do they not?" "Aye, surely, me laird; for you are no under condemnation yet; but only waiting for your honorable acquittal." "Cuthbert, I think you have a brother who is a chemist in town, have you not?" "Ou, aye, me laird. Joost Randy, honest man." The viscount sat down and wrote a line on a scrap of paper and gave it to the old man. "Now, Cuthbert, take this to your brother. Be sure that you let no one see that bit of paper, and when you get the medicine that I have written for, put it in your bosom and don't take it out until you come back to me and we are alone. Now, Cuthbert, I hope you will be more canny over this affair than you were over the affair of the note I sent to Frisbie, which you permitted to fall into the hands of Philistines." "Ah, puir Frisbie, puir lad! Gude hae mercy on him! I'll be carfu', me laird; though it was no me, but puir Frisbie himsel', that let the bit note drap. But I'll be carefu', me laird, though 'deed I dinna see the use o' concealment, sin' naebody ever interferes wi' onything I am bringing your lairdship." "But they might interfere with this because it is medicine; for they might think that no one but the prison doctor has a right to give medicine here." "Ou, aye--I comprehend, me laird, that sic might be the case where the medicament is dangerous. But will this be dangerous?" "Why, no; it is nothing but simple laudanum. You know how good laudanum is to allay pain; and that there is no danger at all in it." "No, me laird, gin ane doesna tak' an ower muckle dose." "Certainly, if one does not take an overdose; but I have knowledge enough not to do that, Cuthbert." "Surely, me laird. I'll gae noo and get it," replied the old man, taking up his hat, and knocking at the door to be released. The turnkey opened promptly, and Cuthbert departed on his errand. When the viscount was left alone he resumed his restless pacing up and down the narrow limits of his cell and continued it for a while. Then he sat down to his little table, drew a sheet of paper before him, and began to write a letter. He was interrupted by the unlocking of his cell door. Hastily he turned the paper with the blank side up and looked around. It was Mr. Bruce, his counsel. The lawyer looked unusually grave.