‘Walter,’ said she, ‘I would not advise you to go near the house while the two lawyers are there,--for who knows what they may do to you? But go as fast as ye can to Glasgow, and tell Mr. Keelevin what has happened; and say that I have some reason to fear it’s a visit that bodes you no good, and therefore ye’ll stand in need of his advice and assistance.’ The natural, who had an instinctive horror of the law, made no reply, but, with a strong expression of terror in his countenance, immediately left her, and went straight to Glasgow. CHAPTER LIII During the journey of George and Pitwinnoch to Edinburgh, a Brief of Chancery had been quietly obtained, directing the Sheriff of the county to summon a jury, to examine into the alleged fatuity of Walter; and the visit of the latter with Mr. Threeper, the advocate, to Grippy, was to meet George, for the purpose of determining with respect to the evidence that it might be requisite to adduce before the inquest. All this was conducted, as it was intended to appear, in a spirit of the greatest delicacy towards the unfortunate _fatuus_, consistent with the administration of public justice. ‘I can assure you,’ said our friend Gabriel to Mr. Threeper, as they walked towards the house--the advocate perusing the ground as he poked his way along with his cane, and occasionally taking snuff; ‘I can assure you, that nothing but the most imperious necessity could have induced Mr. George Walkinshaw to institute these proceedings; for he is a gentleman of the utmost respectability; and to my knowledge has been long and often urged in vain to get his brother cognost; but, until the idiot’s conduct became so intolerable, that his mother could no longer endure it, he was quite inexorable.’ ‘Is Mr. George in affluent circumstances?’ said the advocate, dryly. ‘He is but a young man; the house, however, in which he is a partner is one of the most flourishing in Glasgow,’ was the answer. ‘He has, perhaps, a large family?’ ‘O dear no; only one daughter; and his wife,’ said Gabriel, ‘is, I understand, not likely to have any more.’ ‘She may, however, have sons, Pitwinnoch,’ rejoined the advocate, wittily--at the same time taking snuff. ‘But you say it is the mother that has chiefly incited Mr. Walkinshaw to this action.’ ‘So he told me,’ replied the writer. ‘Her evidence will be most important; for it is not natural that a mother would urge a process of such a nature, without very strong grounds indeed, unless she has some immediate or distinct prospective interest in the result. Have you any idea that such is the case?’ ‘I should think not,’ said Gabriel. ‘Do you imagine that such allowance as the Court might grant for the custody of the _fatuus_ would have any influence with her?’ inquired Mr. Threeper, without raising his eyes from the road.