"Ay, the caretaker has been his gude friend, but Mr.Brown is ill of rheumatism, and can no' come out.Nae doubt, if necessary, his deposeetion could be tak'n.Permission for the bit dog to live in the kirkyard was given by the meenister of Greyfriars auld kirk, but Doctor Lee is in failing health and has gone to the south of France.The tenement children and the Heriot laddies have aye made a pet of Bobby, but they would no' be competent witnesses.""You should have counsel.There are some legal difficulties here.""I'm no' needing a lawyer.The law in sic a matter can no' be so complicated, and I have a tongue in my ain head that has aye served me, your Honor." The magistrate smiled, and the spectators moved to the nearer benches to enjoy this racy man.The room began to fill by that kind of telepathy that causes crowds to gather around the human drama.One man stood, unnoticed, in the doorway.Mr.Traill went on, quietly:
"If the court permits me to do so, I shall be glad to pay for Bobby's license, but I'm thinking that carries responsibeelity for the bit dog.""You are quite right, Mr.Traill.You would have to assume responsibility.Masterless dogs have become a serious nuisance in the city.""I could no' tak' responsibeelity.The dog is no' with me more than a couple of hours out of the twenty-four.I understand that most of his time is spent in the kirkyard, in weel-behaving, usefu' ways, but I could no' be sure.""But why have you fed him for so many years? Was his master a friend?""Nae, just a customer, your Honor; a simple auld shepherd who ate his market-day dinner in my place.He aye had the bit dog with him, and I was the last man to see the auld body before he went awa' to his meeserable death in a Cowgate wynd.Bobby came to me, near starved, to be fed, two days after his master's burial.Iwas tak'n by the wee Highlander's leal spirit."And that was all the landlord would say.He had no mind to wear his heart upon his sleeve for this idle crowd to gape at.
After a moment the magistrate spoke warmly: "It appears, then, that the payment of the license could not be accepted from you.
Your humanity is commendable, Mr.Traill, but technically you are in fault.The minimum fine should be imposed and remitted."At this utterly unlooked-for conclusion Mr.Traill seemed to gather his lean shoulders together for a spring, and his gray eyes narrowed to blades.
"With due respect to your Honor, I must tak' an appeal against sic a deceesion, to the Lord Provost and a' the magistrates, and then to the Court of Sessions.""You would get scant attention, Mr.Traill.The higher judiciary have more important business than reviewing dog cases.You would be laughed out of court."The dry tone stung him to instant retort."And in gude company I'd be.Fifty years syne Lord Erskine was laughed down in Parliament for proposing to give legal protection to dumb animals.But we're getting a bit more ceevilized.""Tut, tut, Mr.Traill, you are making far too much of a small matter.""It's no' a sma' matter to be entered in the records of the Burgh court as a petty law-breaker.And if I continued to feed the dog I would be in contempt of court."The magistrate was beginning to feel badgered."The fine carries the interdiction with it, Mr.Traill, if you are asking for information.""It was no' for information, but just to mak' plain my ain line of conduct.I'm no' intending to abandon the dog.I am commended here for my humanity, but the bit dog I must let starve for a technicality." Instantly, as the magistrate half rose from the bench, the landlord saw that he had gone too far, and put the court on the defensive.In an easy, conversational tone, as if unaware of the point he had scored, he asked if he might address his accuser on a personal matter."We knew each other weel as laddies.Davie, when you're in my neeborhood again on a wet day, come in and dry yoursel' by my fire and tak' another cup o'
kindness for auld lang syne.You'll be all the better man for a lesson in morals the bit dog can give you: no' to bite the hand that feeds you."The policeman turned purple.A ripple of merriment ran through the room.The magistrate put his hand up to his mouth, and the clerk began to drop pens.Before silence was restored a messenger laddie ran up with a note for the bench.The magistrate read it with a look of relief, and nodded to the man who had been listening from the doorway, but who disappeared at once.
"The case is ordered continued.The defendant will be given time to secure witnesses, and notified when to appear.The next case is called."Somewhat dazed by this sudden turn, and annoyed by the delayed settlement of the affair, Mr.Traill hastened from the court-room.As he gained the street he was overtaken by the messenger with a second note.And there was a still more surprising turn that sent the landlord off up swarming High Street, across the bridge, and on to his snug little place of business, with the face and the heart of a school-boy.When Bobby, draggled by three days of wet weather, came in for his dinner, Mr.Traill scanned him critically and in some perplexity.
At the end of the day's work, as Ailie was dropping her quaint curtsy and giving her adored employer a shy "gude nicht," he had a sudden thought that made him call her back.
"Did you ever give a bit dog a washing, lassie?""Ye mean Bobby, Maister Traill? Nae, I didna." Her eyes sparkled.
"But Tammy's hauded 'im for Maister Brown, an' he says it's sonsie to gie the bonny wee a washin'.""Weel, Mr.Brown is fair ill, and there has been foul weather.
Bobby's getting to look like a poor 'gaen aboot' dog.Have him at the kirkyard gate at a quarter to eight o'clock the morn looking like a leddy's pet and I'll dance a Highland fling at your wedding.""Are ye gangin' to tak' Bobby on a picnic, Maister Traill?"He answered with a mock solemnity and a twinkle in his eyes that mystified the little maid."Nae, lassie; I'm going to tak' him to a meeting in a braw kirk."
