L--t to give it to me, as he had so
many things of literature and law to attend to that he would never
think more of it. He replied that either of us were heartily
welcome to it, for that he had thought of returning it into the
grave, if he could have made out but a line or two, to have seen
what was its tendency.
"Grave, man!" exclaimed L--w, who speaks excellent strong
broad Scotch. "My truly, but ye grave weel! I wad esteem the
contents o' that spleuchan as the most precious treasure. I'll tell
you what it is, sir: I hae often wondered how it was that this
man's corpse has been miraculously preserved frae decay, a
hunder times langer than any other body's, or than ever a tanner's.
But now I could wager a guinea it has been for the preservation o'
that little book. And Lord kens what may be in't! It will maybe
reveal some mystery that mankind disna ken naething about yet."
"If there be any mysteries in it," returned the other, "it is not for
your handling, my dear friend, who are too much taken up about
mysteries already." And with these words he presented the
mysterious pamphlet to me. With very little trouble, save that of a
thorough drying, I unrolled it all with ease, and found the very
tract which I have here ventured to lay before the public, part of it
in small bad print, and the remainder in manuscript.
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