Borthwick gave him one of his sour and sinister smiles. "Men must live," said he; "but what do your lordships desire?"
"Simply this. Within the last hour a seaman landed from the ship of Admiral Wood, and he hath in his gaberdine——"
"Nay," said Blackcastle, "you said before, his pouch."
"Well, well, his pouch—a letter addressed we know not to whom; but this letter we must have, and if you will procure it by fair means or foul, we shall pay you bravely."
"You will easily discover him, for all in Leith know and love the shipmates of Wood; we had made short work with him else," said Home, haughtily, "for we have lances enough to level the burgh, but seek not a feud with the Logans of Restalrig; thus I was half forced by Angus to hang a pikeman yesterday, in defiance of the law of Burdingseck which sayeth that no man shall be 'hanged for stealing so much as he can bear on his bark in a poke.'"
"The devil seize all laws!" said Blackcastle.
"So say I," added Borthwick. "But what manner of man is this sailor?"
"Short and square set," said Home.
"With thick mustachios, a beard, and grey gaberdine?"
"The same—a calfskin girdle and long boots like a horseman's gambadoes."