“All the shops in the town,” says Chambers, “were then shut at eight o’clock, and from that hour until ten--when the drum of the Town Guard announced at once a sort of licence for the deluging of the streets with nuisances, and a warning of the inhabitants home to their beds--unrestrained scope was given to the delights of the table.” At the latter hour the more reputable roysterers sought their homes; but it was then that the clubs, which formed so prominent a feature of the old city life, began the business of the evening. Fergusson, who has given us in his incomparable “Auld Reikie” a glowing picture of the Edinburgh of his day, thus alludes to the subject-- Now Night, that’s cunzied chief for fun, Is wi’ her usual rites begun; Thro’ ilka gate the torches blaze, And globes send out their blinking rays. Now some to porter, some to punch, Some to their wife, and some their wench, Retire, while noisy ten-hours drum Gars a’ your trades gae dandring home. Now mony a club, jocose and free, Gi’e a’ to merriment and glee; Wi’ sang and glass, they fley the pow’r O’ care that wad harass the hour. But chief, O Cape! we crave thy aid, To get our cares and poortith laid: Sincerity, and genius true, Of Knights have ever been the due: Mirth, music, porter deepest dy’d, Are never here to worth deny’d; And health, o’ happiness the queen, Blinks bonny, wi’ her smile serene. Of this, the most famous of the Edinburgh social clubs, Brodie was admitted a member on 25th February, 1775. The Cape Club usually held its festivals in James Mann’s tavern, facetiously known as “The Isle of Man Arms,” situated in Craig’s Close. The roll of the Knights Companions of the Cape contains many celebrated names, including those of David Herd, the antiquarian; Robert Fergusson, the poet; Alexander Runciman, the painter; and Sir Henry Raeburn--William Brodie’s election occurring four months after Fergusson’s death. Each member was required to assume some fanciful title, Brodie taking that of “Sir Lluyd.” On the margin of the roll prefixed to the minute-book an ingenious member has drawn a representation of his last public appearance on the new drop, some thirteen years later. The insignia of the Sovereign of the Cape are in the possession of the Society of Antiquaries, together with the club records, excerpts from which relating to Deacon Brodie will be found in the Appendix. Had young Brodie been satisfied with the legitimate and very ample convivialities afforded by the Cape Club it would have been better for himself. But he became a frequenter of a disreputable tavern kept by James Clark, vintner, at the head of the Fleshmarket Close, where gambling by means of [Illustration: Cock-fighting Match between the Counties of Lanark and Haddington in 1785, at which Deacon Brodie was present. (_After Kay._)]