About midnight
The poor farmer made a virtue of necessity , told his story , and surrendered his gold to Jean 's custody . She made him put a few shillings in his pocket , observing , it would excite suspicion should he be found travelling altogether penniless . ` This arrangement being made , the farmer lay down on a sort of shake-down , as the Scotch call it , or bed-clothes disposed upon some straw , but , as will easily be believed , slept not . ` About midnight the gang returned , with various articles of plunder , and talked over their exploits in language which made the farmer tremble . They were not long in discovering they had a guest , and demanded of Jean whom she had got there . ``` E'en the winsome gudeman of Lochside , poor body , '' replied Jean ; `` he 's been at Newcastle seeking for siller to pay his rent , honest man , but deil-be-lickit he 's been able to gather in , and sae he 's gaun e ' en hame wi ' a toom purse and a sair heart . '' ``` That may be , Jean , '' replied one of the banditti , `` but we maun ripe his pouches a bit , and see if the tale be true or no . ''