George Dobson took the thing most amiss. He had been the first taken in all along, and he thought a good deal about it. He was, moreover, a very honest man, and in order to make up the boots to the full value of the money he had received, he had shod them with silver, which took two Spanish dollars, and he had likewise put four silver tassels to the tops, so that they were splendid boots, and likely to remain on his hand. In short, though he did not care about the loss, he took the hoax very sore to heart. Shortly after this, he was sitting in his shop, working away, and not singing a word, when in comes a fat gentleman, with fair curled hair, and red cheeks, but they were _not_ hanging over his cravat; and he says, "Good morning, Dobson. You are very quiet and contemplative this morning." "Ay, sir; folk canna be aye alike merry." "Have you any stomach for taking measure of a pair of boots this morning?" "Nah! I'll take measure o' nae mae boots to strangers; I'll stick by my auld customers."--He is very like my late customer, thought George, but his tongue is not the same. If I thought it were he, I would nick him! "I have heard the story of the boots, George," said the visitor, "and never heard a better one. I have laughed very heartily at it; and I called principally to inform you, that if you will call at Widow Wilson's, in Hawick, you will get the price of your boots." "Thank you, sir," said George; and the gentleman went away; Dobson being now persuaded he was _not_ the Duke of Northumberland, though astonishingly like him. George had not sewed a single yerking, ere the gentleman came again into the shop, and said, "You had better measure me for these boots, Dobson. I intend to be your customer in future." "Thank you, sir, but I would rather not, just now." "Very well; call then at Widow Wilson's, in Hawick, and you shall get _double_ payment for the boots you have made."--George thanked him again, and away he went; but in a very short space he entered the shop again, and again requested George to measure him for a pair of boots. George became suspicious of the gentleman, and rather uneasy, as he continued to haunt him like a ghost; and so, merely to be quit of him, he took the measure of his leg and foot. "It is very near the measure of these fine silver-mounted ones, sir," said George; "you had better just take them." "Well, so be it," said the stranger. "Call at Widow Wilson's, in Hawick, and you shall have _triple_ payment for your boots. Good day." "O, this gentleman is undoubtedly wrong in his mind," said George to himself. "This beats all the customers I ever met with! Ha--ha--ha! Come to Widow Wilson's, and you shall have payment for your boots,--double payment for your boots,--_triple_ payment for your boots! Oh! the man's as mad as a March hare! He--he--he--he!" "Hilloa, George," cried a voice close at his ear, "what's the matter wi' ye? Are ye gane daft? Are ye no gaun to rise to your wark the day?"