1 88 ikin^s of the 1Rob, IRifle, atto (Bun 



certainly a most unbecoming position for a professor ; 

 yet he was sorry to say that, having heard the whole 

 story from an eye-witness, it was but too true. 

 Dexterously turning the subject, he very soon banished 

 all further discussion about the Professor, and held the 

 delighted lads enchained in the interest of his con- 

 versation until they reached the end of the journey. 

 On getting out of the coach, they politely asked him, 

 as he seemed ^to know Edinburgh well, if he would 

 direct them to a hotel. * With pleasure, my young 

 friends ; we shall go to a hotel together ; no doubt 

 you are hungry and ready for dinner, and you shall 

 dine with me.' A coach was called ; Wilson ordered 

 the luggage to be placed outside, and gave directions 

 to the driver, who in a short time pulled up at a very 

 nice-looking house, with a small garden in front. The 

 situation was rural, and there was so little of the aspect 

 of a hotel about the place, that on alighting, the lads 

 asked once or twice, if they had come to the right place ? 

 ' All right, gentlemen ; walk in ; leave your trunks in 

 the lobby. I have settled with the driver, and now I 

 shall order dinner.' No time was lost, and very soon 

 the two youths were conversing freely with their 

 unknown friend, and enjoying themselves extremely in 

 the satisfactory position of having thus accidentally 

 fallen into such good company and good quarters. The 

 deception, however, could not be kept up much longer ; 

 and, in the course of the evening, Wilson let them know 

 where they were, telling them they could now judge for 

 themselves what sort of a fellow ' the Professor ' was." 

 So long as he had any strength left the Professor 



