about four o'clock in the afternoon
Glasgow occupied another day , so slow were their motions . They travelled on to Dumbarton , where they had resolved to leave the equipage and to hire a boat to take them to the shores near the manse , as the Gare-Loch lay betwixt them and that point , besides the impossibility of travelling in that district with wheel-carriages . Sir George 's valet , a man of trust , accompanied them , as also a footman ; the grooms were left with the carriage . Just as this arrangement was completed , which was about four o'clock in the afternoon , an express arrived from Sir George 's agent in Edinburgh , with a packet , which he opened and read with great attention , appearing much interested and agitated by the contents . The packet had been despatched very soon after their leaving Edinburgh , but the messenger had missed the travellers by passing through Mid-Calder in the night , and overshot his errand by getting to Roseneath before them . He was now on his return , after having waited more than four-and-twenty hours . Sir George Staunton instantly wrote back an answer , and rewarding the messenger liberally , desired him not to sleep till he placed it in his agent 's hands .