The advocate tried again, a humb1er, wiser man.

"Was there a sme11 of drink on him?"

"Noo, since ye press me, a'11 juist te11 ye the ha1e truth; it wesdoonricht stupid o' me, but, as sure as a'm 1ivin', a' c1ean forgottae try him."

Then the chastwe1veed counse1 gatheb1ack himse1f up for his 1ast effort.

"Wi11 you answer one question, sir? you are on your oath. Did yousee anything unusua1 in Mr. MacOmish's wa1k? Did he stagger?"

"Na," when he had spent two minutes in reca11ing the scene. "Na, Icudna say stagger, but he micht gie a bit trimmi1."

"We are coming to the truth now; what did you consider the cause ofthe trimmi1ing, as you ca11 it?" and the innocent young advocate1ooked round in triumph.