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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Fortunes of Nigel + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + + +Release Date: June, 2004 [EBook #5950] +This file was first posted on September 24, 2002 +Last Updated: July 25, 2014 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL *** + + + + +Text file produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL + </h1> + <h2> + By Sir Walter Scott + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h4> + A Tale Which Holdeth Children From Play & <br /> Old Men From The + Chimney Corner —Sir Philip Sidney + </h4> +<div class="fig" style="width:65%;"> + <img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> INTRODUCTORY EPISTLE </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> <b>THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0023"> CHAPTER XXIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XXVII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XXVIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XXIX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0030"> CHAPTER XXX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0031"> CHAPTER XXXI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0032"> CHAPTER XXXII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0033"> CHAPTER XXXIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0034"> CHAPTER XXXIV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0035"> CHAPTER XXXV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0036"> CHAPTER XXXVI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0037"> CHAPTER XXXVII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_NOTE"> NOTES </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + But why should lordlings all our praise engross? + Rise, honest man, and sing the Man of Ross. + + Pope +</pre> + <p> + Having, in the tale of the Heart of Mid-Lothian, succeeded in some degree + in awakening an interest in behalf of one devoid of those accomplishments + which belong to a heroine almost by right, I was next tempted to choose a + hero upon the same unpromising plan; and as worth of character, goodness + of heart, and rectitude of principle, were necessary to one who laid no + claim to high birth, romantic sensibility, or any of the usual + accomplishments of those who strut through the pages of this sort of + composition, I made free with the name of a person who has left the most + magnificent proofs of his benevolence and charity that the capital of + Scotland has to display. + </p> + <p> + To the Scottish reader little more need be said than that the man alluded + to is George Heriot. But for those south of the Tweed, it may be necessary + to add, that the person so named was a wealthy citizen of Edinburgh, and + the King's goldsmith, who followed James to the English capital, and was + so successful in his profession, as to die, in 1624, extremely wealthy for + that period. He had no children; and after making a full provision for + such relations as might have claims upon him, he left the residue of his + fortune to establish an hospital, in which the sons of Edinburgh freemen + are gratuitously brought up and educated for the station to which their + talents may recommend them, and are finally enabled to enter life under + respectable auspices. The hospital in which this charity is maintained is + a noble quadrangle of the Gothic order, and as ornamental to the city as a + building, as the manner in which the youths are provided for and educated, + renders it useful to the community as an institution. To the honour of + those who have the management, (the Magistrates and Clergy of Edinburgh), + the funds of the Hospital have increased so much under their care, that it + now supports and educates one hundred and thirty youths annually, many of + whom have done honour to their country in different situations. + </p> + <p> + The founder of such a charity as this may be reasonably supposed to have + walked through life with a steady pace, and an observant eye, neglecting + no opportunity of assisting those who were not possessed of the experience + necessary for their own guidance. In supposing his efforts directed to the + benefit of a young nobleman, misguided by the aristocratic haughtiness of + his own time, and the prevailing tone of selfish luxury which seems more + peculiar to ours, as well as the seductions of pleasure which are + predominant in all, some amusement, or even some advantage, might, I + thought, be derived from the manner in which I might bring the exertions + of this civic Mentor to bear in his pupil's behalf. I am, I own, no great + believer in the moral utility to be derived from fictitious compositions; + yet, if in any case a word spoken in season may be of advantage to a young + person, it must surely be when it calls upon him to attend to the voice of + principle and self-denial, instead of that of precipitate passion. I could + not, indeed, hope or expect to represent my prudent and benevolent citizen + in a point of view so interesting as that of the peasant girl, who nobly + sacrificed her family affections to the integrity of her moral character. + Still however, something I hoped might be done not altogether unworthy the + fame which George Heriot has secured by the lasting benefits he has + bestowed on his country. + </p> + <p> + It appeared likely, that out of this simple plot I might weave something + attractive; because the reign of James I., in which George Heriot + flourished, gave unbounded scope to invention in the fable, while at the + same time it afforded greater variety and discrimination of character than + could, with historical consistency, have been introduced, if the scene had + been laid a century earlier. Lady Mary Wortley Montague has said, with + equal truth and taste, that the most romantic region of every country is + that where the mountains unite themselves with the plains or lowlands. For + similiar reasons, it may be in like manner said, that the most picturesque + period of history is that when the ancient rough and wild manners of a + barbarous age are just becoming innovated upon, and contrasted, by the + illumination of increased or revived learning, and the instructions of + renewed or reformed religion. The strong contrast produced by the + opposition of ancient manners to those which are gradually subduing them, + affords the lights and shadows necessary to give effect to a fictitious + narrative; and while such a period entitles the author to introduce + incidents of a marvellous and improbable character, as arising out of the + turbulent independence and ferocity, belonging to old habits of violence, + still influencing the manners of a people who had been so lately in a + barbarous state; yet, on the other hand, the characters and sentiments of + many of the actors may, with the utmost probability, be described with + great variety of shading and delineation, which belongs to the newer and + more improved period, of which the world has but lately received the + light. + </p> + <p> + The reign of James I. of England possessed this advantage in a peculiar + degree. Some beams of chivalry, although its planet had been for some time + set, continued to animate and gild the horizon, and although probably no + one acted precisely on its Quixotic dictates, men and women still talked + the chivalrous language of Sir Philip Sydney's Arcadia; and the ceremonial + of the tilt-yard was yet exhibited, though it now only flourished as a + Place de Carrousel. Here and there a high-spirited Knight of the Bath, + witness the too scrupulous Lord Herbert of Cherbury, was found devoted + enough to the vows he had taken, to imagine himself obliged to compel, by + the sword's-point, a fellow-knight or squire to restore the top-knot of + ribbon which he had stolen from a fair damsel;[Footnote: See Lord Herbert + of Cherbury's Memoirs.] but yet, while men were taking each other's lives + on such punctilios of honour, the hour was already arrived when Bacon was + about to teach the world that they were no longer to reason from authority + to fact, but to establish truth by advancing from fact to fact, till they + fixed an indisputable authority, not from hypothesis, but from experiment. + </p> + <p> + The state of society in the reign of James I. was also strangely + disturbed, and the license of a part of the community was perpetually + giving rise to acts of blood and violence. The bravo of the Queen's day, + of whom Shakspeare has given us so many varieties, as Bardolph, Nym, + Pistol, Peto, and the other companions of Falstaff, men who had their + humours, or their particular turn of extravaganza, had, since the + commencement of the Low Country wars, given way to a race of sworders, who + used the rapier and dagger, instead of the far less dangerous sword and + buckler; so that a historian says on this subject, "that private quarrels + were nourished, but especially between the Scots and English; and duels in + every street maintained; divers sects and peculiar titles passed + unpunished and unregarded, as the sect of the Roaring Boys, Bonaventors, + Bravadors, Quarterors, and such like, being persons prodigal, and of great + expense, who, having run themselves into debt, were constrained to run + next into factions, to defend themselves from danger of the law. These + received countenance from divers of the nobility; and the citizens, + through lasciviousness consuming their estates, it was like that the + number [of these desperadoes] would rather increase than diminish; and + under these pretences they entered into many desperate enterprizes, and + scarce any durst walk in the street after nine at night."[Footnote: + history of the First Fourteen Years of King James's Reign. See Somers's + Tracts, edited by Scott, vol. ii. p.266.] + </p> + <p> + The same authority assures us farther, that "ancient gentlemen, who had + left their inheritance whole and well furnished with goods and chattels + (having thereupon kept good houses) unto their sons, lived to see part + consumed in riot and excess, and the rest in possibility to be utterly + lost; the holy state of matrimony made but a May-game, by which divers + families had been subverted; brothel houses much frequented, and even + great persons, prostituting their bodies to the intent to satisfy their + lusts, consumed their substance in lascivious appetites. And of all sorts, + such knights and gentlemen, as either through pride or prodigality—had + consumed their substance, repairing to the city, and to the intent to + consume their virtue also, lived dissolute lives; many of their ladies and + daughters, to the intent to maintain themselves according to their + dignity, prostituting their bodies in shameful manner. Ale-houses, + dicing-houses, taverns, and places of iniquity, beyond manner abounding in + most places." + </p> + <p> + Nor is it only in the pages of a puritanical, perhaps a satirical writer, + that we find so shocking and disgusting a picture of the coarseness of the + beginning of the seventeenth century. On the contrary, in all the comedies + of the age, the principal character for gaiety and wit is a young heir, + who has totally altered the establishment of the father to whom he has + succeeded, and, to use the old simile, who resembles a fountain, which + plays off in idleness and extravagance the wealth which its careful + parents painfully had assembled in hidden reservoirs. + </p> + <p> + And yet, while that spirit of general extravagance seemed at work over a + whole kingdom, another and very different sort of men were gradually + forming the staid and resolved characters, which afterwards displayed + themselves during the civil wars, and powerfully regulated and affected + the character of the whole English nation, until, rushing from one extreme + to another, they sunk in a gloomy fanaticism the splendid traces of the + reviving fine arts. + </p> + <p> + From the quotations which I have produced, the selfish and disgusting + conduct of Lord Dalgarno will not perhaps appear overstrained; nor will + the scenes in Whitefriars and places of similar resort seem too highly + coloured. This indeed is far from being the case. It was in James I.'s + reign that vice first appeared affecting the better classes in its gross + and undisguised depravity. The entertainments and amusements of + Elizabeth's time had an air of that decent restraint which became the + court of a maiden sovereign; and, in that earlier period, to use the words + of Burke, vice lost half its evil by being deprived of all its grossness. + In James's reign, on the contrary, the coarsest pleasures were publicly + and unlimitedly indulged, since, according to Sir John Harrington, the men + wallowed in beastly delights; and even ladies abandoned their delicacy and + rolled about in intoxication. After a ludicrous account of a mask, in + which the actors had got drunk, and behaved themselves accordingly, he + adds, "I have much marvelled at these strange pageantries, and they do + bring to my recollection what passed of this sort in our Queen's days, in + which I was sometimes an assistant and partaker: but never did I see such + lack of good order and sobriety as I have now done. The gunpowder fright + is got out of all our heads, and we are going on hereabout as if the devil + was contriving every man should blow up himself by wild riot, excess, and + devastation of time and temperance. The great ladies do go well masqued; + and indeed, it be the only show of their modesty to conceal their + countenance, but alack, they meet with such countenance to uphold their + strange doings, that I marvel not at aught that happens."[Footnote: + Harrington's Nugae Antique, vol. ii. p. 352. For the gross debauchery of + the period, too much encouraged by the example of the monarch, who was, in + other respects, neither without talent nor a good-natured disposition, see + Winwood's Memorials, Howell's Letters, and other Memorials of the time; + but particularly, consult the Private Letters and Correspondence of + Steenie, <i>alias</i> Buckingham, with his reverend Dad and Gossip, King + James, which abound with the grossest as well as the most childish + language. The learned Mr. D'Israeli, in an attempt to vindicate the + character of James, has only succeeded in obtaining for himself the + character of a skilful and ingenious advocate, without much advantage to + his royal client] + </p> + <p> + Such being the state of the court, coarse sensuality brought along with it + its ordinary companion, a brutal degree of undisguised selfishness, + destructive alike of philanthropy and good breeding; both of which, in + their several spheres, depend upon the regard paid by each individual to + the interest as well as the feelings of others. It is in such a time that + the heartless and shameless man of wealth and power may, like the supposed + Lord Dalgarno, brazen out the shame of his villainies, and affect to + triumph in their consequences, so long as they were personally + advantageous to his own pleasures or profit. + </p> + <p> + Alsatia is elsewhere explained as a cant name for Whitefriars, which, + possessing certain privileges of sanctuary, became for that reason a nest + of those mischievous characters who were generally obnoxious to the law. + These privileges were derived from its having been an establishment of the + Carmelites, or White Friars, founded says Stow, in his Survey of London, + by Sir Patrick Grey, in 1241. Edward I. gave them a plot of ground in + Fleet Street, to build their church upon. The edifice then erected was + rebuilt by Courtney, Earl of Devonshire, in the reign of Edward. In the + time of the Reformation the place retained its immunities as a sanctuary, + and James I. confirmed and added to them by a charter in 1608. Shadwell + was the first author who made some literary use of Whitefriars, in his + play of the Squire of Alsatia, which turns upon the plot of the Adelphi of + Terence. + </p> + <p> + In this old play, two men of fortune, brothers, educate two young men, + (sons to the one and nephews to the other,) each under his own separate + system of rigour and indulgence. The elder of the subjects of this + experiment, who has been very rigidly brought up, falls at once into all + the vices of the town, is debauched by the cheats and bullies of + Whitefriars, and, in a word, becomes the Squire of Alsatia. The poet + gives, as the natural and congenial inhabitants of the place, such + characters as the reader will find in the note. [Footnote: "Cheatly, a + rascal, who by reason of debts dares not stir out of Whitefriars, but + there inveigles young heirs of entail, and helps them to goods and money + upon great disadvantages, is bound for them, and shares with them till he + undoes them. A lewd, impudent, debauched fellow, very expert in the cant + about town. + </p> + <p> + "Shamwell, cousin to the Belfords, who, being ruined by Cheatly, is made a + decoy-duck for others, not daring to stir out of Alsatia, where he lives. + Is bound with Cheatly for heirs, and lives upon them a dissolute debauched + life. + </p> + <p> + "Captain Hackum, a blockheaded bully of Alsatia, a cowardly, impudent, + blustering fellow, formerly a sergeant in Flanders, who has run from his + colours, and retreated into Whitefriars for a very small debt, where by + the Alsatians he is dubb'd a captain, marries one that lets lodgings, + sells cherry-brandy, and is a bawd. + </p> + <p> + "Scrapeall a hypocritical, repeating, praying, psalm-singing, precise + fellow, pretending to great piety; a godly knave, who joins with Cheatly, + and supplies young heirs with goods, and money."—Dramatis Personae + to the Squire of Alsatia, SHADWELL'S Works, vol. iv.] The play, as we + learn from the dedication to the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, was + successful above the author's expectations, "no comedy these many years + having filled the theatre so long together. And I had the great honour," + continues Shadwell, "to find so many friends, that the house was never so + full since it was built as upon the third day of this play, and vast + numbers went away that could not be admitted." [Footnote: Dedication to + the Squire of Alsatia, Shadwell's Works, vol. iv.] From the Squire of + Alsatia the author derived some few hints, and learned the footing on + which the bullies and thieves of the Sanctuary stood with their + neighbours, the fiery young students of the Temple, of which some + intimation is given in the dramatic piece. + </p> + <p> + Such are the materials to which the author stands indebted for the + composition of the Fortunes of Nigel, a novel, which may be perhaps one of + those that are more amusing on a second perusal, than when read a first + time for the sake of the story, the incidents of which are few and meagre. + </p> + <p> + The Introductory Epistle is written, in Lucio's phrase, "according to the + trick," and would never have appeared had the writer meditated making his + avowal of the work. As it is the privilege of a masque or incognito to + speak in a feigned voice and assumed character, the author attempted, + while in disguise, some liberties of the same sort; and while he continues + to plead upon the various excuses which the introduction contains, the + present acknowledgment must serve as an apology for a species of "hoity + toity, whisky frisky" pertness of manner, which, in his avowed character, + the author should have considered as a departure from the rules of + civility and good taste. + </p> + <p> + ABBOTSFORD. + </p> + <p> + 1st July, 1831. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTORY EPISTLE + </h2> + <h3> + CAPTAIN CLUTTERBUCK TO THE REVEREND DR. DRYASDUST + </h3> + <p> + DEAR SIR, + </p> + <p> + I readily accept of, and reply to the civilities with which you have been + pleased to honour me in your obliging letter, and entirely agree with your + quotation, of <i>"Quam bonum et quam jucundum!"</i> We may indeed esteem + ourselves as come of the same family, or, according to our country + proverb, as being all one man's bairns; and there needed no apology on + your part, reverend and dear sir, for demanding of me any information + which I may be able to supply respecting the subject of your curiosity. + The interview which you allude to took place in the course of last winter, + and is so deeply imprinted on my recollection, that it requires no effort + to collect all its most minute details. + </p> + <p> + You are aware that the share which I had in introducing the Romance, + called THE MONASTERY, to public notice, has given me a sort of character + in the literature of our Scottish metropolis. I no longer stand in the + outer shop of our bibliopolists, bargaining for the objects of my + curiosity with an unrespective shop-lad, hustled among boys who come to + buy Corderies and copy-books, and servant girls cheapening a pennyworth of + paper, but am cordially welcomed by the bibliopolist himself, with, "Pray, + walk into the back-shop, Captain. Boy, get a chair for Captain + Clutterbuck. There is the newspaper, Captain—to-day's paper;" or, + "Here is the last new work—there is a folder, make free with the + leaves;" or, "Put it in your pocket and carry it home;" or, "We will make + a bookseller of you, sir, and you shall have it at trade price." Or, + perhaps if it is the worthy trader's own publication, his liberality may + even extend itself to—"Never mind booking such a trifle to <i>you</i>, + sir—it is an over-copy. Pray, mention the work to your reading + friends." I say nothing of the snug well-selected literary party arranged + round a turbot, leg of five-year-old mutton, or some such gear, or of the + circulation of a quiet bottle of Robert Cockburn's choicest black—nay, + perhaps, of his new ones. All these are comforts reserved to such as are + freemen of the corporation of letters, and I have the advantage of + enjoying them in perfection. But all things change under the sun; and it + is with no ordinary feelings of regret, that, in my annual visits to the + metropolis, I now miss the social and warm-hearted welcome of the + quick-witted and kindly friend who first introduced me to the public; who + had more original wit than would have set up a dozen of professed sayers + of good things, and more racy humour than would have made the fortune of + as many more. To this great deprivation has been added, I trust for a time + only, the loss of another bibliopolical friend, whose vigorous intellect, + and liberal ideas, have not only rendered his native country the mart of + her own literature, but established there a Court of Letters, which must + command respect, even from those most inclined to dissent from many of its + canons. The effect of these changes, operated in a great measure by the + strong sense and sagacious calculations of an individual, who knew how to + avail himself, to an unhoped-for extent, of the various kinds of talent + which his country produced, will probably appear more clearly to the + generation which shall follow the present. + </p> + <p> + I entered the shop at the Cross, to enquire after the health of my worthy + friend, and learned with satisfaction, that his residence in the south had + abated the rigour of the symptoms of his disorder. Availing myself, then, + of the privileges to which I have alluded, I strolled onward in that + labyrinth of small dark rooms, or <i>crypts</i>, to speak our own + antiquarian language, which form the extensive back-settlements of that + celebrated publishing-house. Yet, as I proceeded from one obscure recess + to another, filled, some of them with old volumes, some with such as, from + the equality of their rank on the shelves, I suspected to be the less + saleable modern books of the concern, I could not help feeling a holy + horror creep upon me, when I thought of the risk of intruding on some + ecstatic bard giving vent to his poetical fury; or it might be, on the yet + more formidable privacy of a band of critics, in the act of worrying the + game which they had just run down. In such a supposed case, I felt by + anticipation the horrors of the Highland seers, whom their gift of + deuteroscopy compels to witness things unmeet for mortal eye; and who, to + use the expression of Collins, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ——"heartless, oft, like moody madness, stare, + To see the phantom train their secret work prepare." +</pre> + <p> + Still, however, the irresistible impulse of an undefined curiosity drove + me on through this succession of darksome chambers, till, like the + jeweller of Delhi in the house of the magician Bennaskar, I at length + reached a vaulted room, dedicated to secrecy and silence, and beheld, + seated by a lamp, and employed in reading a. blotted <i>revise</i>, + [Footnote: The uninitiated must be informed, that a second proof-sheet is + so called.] the person, or perhaps I should rather say the Eidolon, or + representative Vision of the AUTHOR OF WAVERLEY! You will not be surprised + at the filial instinct which enabled me at once to acknowledge the + features borne by this venerable apparition, and that I at once bended the + knee, with the classical salutation of, <i>Salve, magne parens!</i> The + vision, however, cut me short, by pointing to a seat, intimating at the + same time, that my presence was not expected, and that he had something to + say to me. + </p> + <p> + I sat down with humble obedience, and endeavoured to note the features of + him with whom I now found myself so unexpectedly in society. But on this + point I can give your reverence no satisfaction; for, besides the + obscurity of the apartment, and the fluttered state of my own nerves, I + seemed to myself overwhelmed by a sense of filial awe, which prevented my + noting and recording what it is probable the personage before me might + most desire to have concealed. Indeed, his figure was so closely veiled + and wimpled, either with a mantle, morning-gown, or some such loose garb, + that the verses of Spenser might well have been applied— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Yet, certes, by her face and physnomy, + Whether she man or woman only were, + That could not any creature well descry." +</pre> + <p> + I must, however, go on as I have begun, to apply the masculine gender; + for, notwithstanding very ingenious reasons, and indeed something like + positive evidence, have been offered to prove the Author of Waverley to be + two ladies of talent, I must abide by the general opinion, that he is of + the rougher sex. There are in his writings too many things + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Quae maribus sola tribuuntur," +</pre> + <p> + to permit me to entertain any doubt on that subject. I will proceed, in + the manner of dialogue, to repeat as nearly as I can what passed betwixt + us, only observing, that in the course of the conversation, my timidity + imperceptibly gave way under the familiarity of his address; and that, in + the concluding part of our dialogue, I perhaps argued with fully as much + confidence as was beseeming. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author of Waverley.</i> I was willing to see you, Captain Clutterbuck, + being the person of my family whom I have most regard for, since the death + of Jedediah Cleishbotham; and I am afraid I may have done you some wrong, + in assigning to you The Monastery as a portion of my effects. I have some + thoughts of making it up to you, by naming you godfather to this yet + unborn babe—(he indicated the proof-sheet with his finger)—But + first, touching The Monastery—How says the world—you are + abroad and can learn? + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain Clutterbuck.</i> Hem! hem!—The enquiry is delicate—I + have not heard any complaints from the Publishers. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> That is the principal matter; but yet an indifferent work + is sometimes towed on by those which have left harbour before it, with the + breeze in their poop.—What say the Critics? + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> There is a general—feeling—that the White Lady + is no favourite. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> I think she is a failure myself; but rather in execution + than conception. Could I have evoked an <i>esprit follet</i>, at the same + time fantastic and interesting, capricious and kind; a sort of wildfire of + the elements, bound by no fixed laws, or motives of action; faithful and + fond, yet teazing and uncertain—— + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> If you will pardon the interruption, sir, I think you are + describing a pretty woman. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> On my word, I believe I am. I must invest my elementary + spirits with a little human flesh and blood—they are too fine-drawn + for the present taste of the public. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> They object, too, that the object of your Nixie ought to + have been more uniformly noble—Her ducking the priest was no + Naiad-like amusement. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Ah! they ought to allow for the capriccios of what is, + after all, but a better sort of goblin. The bath into which Ariel, the + most delicate creation of Shakspeare's imagination, seduces our jolly + friend Trinculo, was not of amber or rose-water. But no one shall find me + rowing against the stream. I care not who knows it—I write for + general amusement; and, though I never will aim at popularity by what I + think unworthy means, I will not, on the other hand, be pertinacious in + the defence of my own errors against the voice of the public. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> You abandon, then, in the present work—(looking, in + my turn, towards the proof-sheet)—the mystic, and the magical, and + the whole system of signs, wonders, and omens? There are no dreams, or + presages, or obscure allusions to future events? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Not a Cock-lane scratch, my son—not one bounce on the + drum of Tedworth—not so much as the poor tick of a solitary + death-watch in the wainscot. All is clear and above board—a Scots + metaphysician might believe every word of it. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> And the story is, I hope, natural and probable; commencing + strikingly, proceeding naturally, ending happily—like the course of + a famed river, which gushes from the mouth of some obscure and romantic + grotto—then gliding on, never pausing, never precipitating its + course, visiting, as it were, by natural instinct, whatever worthy + subjects of interest are presented by the country through which it passes—widening + and deepening in interest as it flows on; and at length arriving at the + final catastrophe as at some mighty haven, where ships of all kinds strike + sail and yard? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Hey! hey! what the deuce is all this? Why,'tis Ercles' + vein, and it would require some one much more like Hercules than I, to + produce a story which should gush, and glide, and never pause, and visit, + and widen, and deepen, and all the rest on't. I should be chin-deep in the + grave, man, before I had done with my task; and, in the meanwhile, all the + quirks and quiddities which I might have devised for my reader's + amusement, would lie rotting in my gizzard, like Sancho's suppressed + witticisms, when he was under his master's displeasure.—There never + was a novel written on this plan while the world stood. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Pardon me—Tom Jones. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> True, and perhaps Amelia also. Fielding had high notions of + the dignity of an art which he may be considered as having founded. He + challenges a comparison between the Novel and the Epic. Smollett, Le Sage, + and others, emancipating themselves from the strictness of the rules he + has laid down, have written rather a history of the miscellaneous + adventures which befall an individual in the course of life, than the plot + of a regular and connected epopeia, where every step brings us a point + nearer to the final catastrophe. These great masters have been satisfied + if they amused the reader upon the road; though the conclusion only + arrived because the tale must have an end—just as the traveller + alights at the inn, because it is evening. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> A very commodious mode of travelling, for the author at + least. In short, sir, you are of opinion with Bayes—"What the devil + does the plot signify, except to bring in fine things?" + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Grant that I were so, and that I should write with sense + and spirit a few scenes unlaboured and loosely put together, but which had + sufficient interest in them to amuse in one corner the pain of body; in + another, to relieve anxiety of mind; in a third place, to unwrinkle a brow + bent with the furrows of daily toil; in another, to fill the place of bad + thoughts, or to suggest better; in yet another, to induce an idler to + study the history of his country; in all, save where the perusal + interrupted the discharge of serious duties, to furnish harmless + amusement,—might not the author of such a work, however + inartificially executed, plead for his errors and negligences the excuse + of the slave, who, about to be punished for having spread the false report + of a victory, saved himself by exclaiming—"Am I to blame, O + Athenians, who have given you one happy day?" + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Will your goodness permit me to mention an anecdote of my + excellent grandmother? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> I see little she can have to do with the subject, Captain + Clutterbuck. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> It may come into our dialogue on Bayes's plan.—The + sagacious old lady—rest her soul!—was a good friend to the + church, and could never hear a minister maligned by evil tongues, without + taking his part warmly. There was one fixed point, however, at which she + always abandoned the cause of her reverend <i>protege</i>—it was so + soon as she learned he had preached a regular sermon against slanderers + and backbiters. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> And what is that to the purpose? + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Only that I have heard engineers say, that one may betray + the weak point to the enemy, by too much ostentation of fortifying it. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> And, once more I pray, what is that to the purpose? + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Nay, then, without farther metaphor, I am afraid this new + production, in which your generosity seems willing to give me some + concern, will stand much in need of apology, since you think proper to + begin your defence before the case is on trial.-The story is hastily + huddled up, I will venture a pint of claret. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> A pint of port, I suppose you mean? + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> I say of claret—good claret of the Monastery. Ah, + sir, would you but take the advice of your friends, and try to deserve at + least one-half of the public favour you have met with, we might all drink + Tokay! + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> I care not what I drink, so the liquor be wholesome. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Care for your reputation, then,—for your fame. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> My fame?—I will answer you as a very ingenious, able, + and experienced friend, being counsel for the notorious Jem MacCoul, + replied to the opposite side of the bar, when they laid weight on his + client's refusing to answer certain queries, which they said any man who + had a regard for his reputation would not hesitate to reply to. "My + client," said he-by the way, Jem was standing behind him at the time, and + a rich scene it was-"is so unfortunate as to have no regard for his + reputation; and I should deal very uncandidly with the Court, should I say + he had any that was worth his attention."-I am, though from very different + reasons, in Jem's happy state of indifference. Let fame follow those who + have a substantial shape. A shadow-and an impersonal author is nothing + better-can cast no shade. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> You are not now, perhaps, so impersonal as here-tofore. + These Letters to the Member for the University of Oxford—<i>Author.</i> + Show the wit, genius, and delicacy of the author, which I heartily wish to + see engaged on a subject of more importance; and show, besides, that the + preservation of my character of <i>incongnito</i> has engaged early talent + in the discussion of a curious question of evidence. But a cause, however + ingeniously pleaded, is not therefore gained. You may remember, the + neatly-wrought chain of circumstantial evidence, so artificially brought + forward to prove Sir Philip Francis's title to the Letters of Junius, + seemed at first irrefragable; yet the influence of the reasoning has + passed away, and Junius, in the general opinion, is as much unknown as + ever. But on this subject I will not be soothed or provoked into saying + one word more. To say who I am not, would be one step towards saying who I + am; and as I desire not, any more than a certain justice of peace + mentioned by Shenstone, the noise or report such things make in the world, + I shall continue to be silent on a subject, which, in my opinion, is very + undeserving the noise that has been made about it, and still more unworthy + of the serious employment of such ingenuity as has been displayed by the + young letter-writer. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> But allowing, my dear sir, that you care not for your + personal reputation, or for that of any literary person upon whose + shoulders your faults may be visited, allow me to say, that common + gratitude to the public, which has received you so kindly, and to the + critics, who have treated you so leniently, ought to induce you to bestow + more pains on your story. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> I do entreat you, my son, as Dr. Johnson would have said, + "free your mind from cant." For the critics, they have their business, and + I mine; as the nursery proverb goes— + </p> + <p> + "The children in Holland take pleasure in making What the children in + England take pleasure in breaking." + </p> + <p> + I am their humble jackal, too busy in providing food for them, to have + time for considering whether they swallow or reject it.—To the + public, I stand pretty nearly in the relation of the postman who leaves a + packet at the door of an individual. If it contains pleasing intelligence, + a billet from a mistress, a letter from an absent son, a remittance from a + correspondent supposed to be bankrupt,—the letter is acceptably + welcome, and read and re-read, folded up, filed, and safely deposited in + the bureau. If the contents are disagreeable, if it comes from a dun or + from a bore, the correspondent is cursed, the letter is thrown into the + fire, and the expense of postage is heartily regretted; while all the time + the bearer of the dispatches is, in either case, as little thought on as + the snow of last Christmas. The utmost extent of kindness between the + author and the public which can really exist, is, that the world are + disposed to be somewhat indulgent to the succeeding works of an original + favourite, were it but on account of the habit which the public mind has + acquired; while the author very naturally thinks well of <i>their</i> + taste, who have so liberally applauded <i>his</i> productions. But I deny + there is any call for gratitude, properly so called, either on one side or + the other. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Respect to yourself, then, ought to teach caution. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Ay, if caution could augment the chance of my success. But, + to confess to you the truth, the works and passages in which I have + succeeded, have uniformly been written with the greatest rapidity; and + when I have seen some of these placed in opposition with others, and + commended as more highly finished, I could appeal to pen and standish, + that the parts in which I have come feebly off, were by much the more + laboured. Besides, I doubt the beneficial effect of too much delay, both + on account of the author and the public. A man should strike while the + iron is hot, and hoist sail while the wind is fair. If a successful author + keep not the stage, another instantly takes his ground. If a writer lie by + for ten years ere he produces a second work, he is superseded by others; + or, if the age is so poor of genius that this does not happen, his own + reputation becomes his greatest obstacle. The public will expect the new + work to be ten times better than its predecessor; the author will expect + it should be ten times more popular, and 'tis a hundred to ten that both + are disappointed. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain</i>. This may justify a certain degree of rapidity in + publication, but not that which is proverbially said to be no speed. You + should take time at least to arrange your story. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author</i>. That is a sore point with me, my son. Believe me, I have + not been fool enough to neglect ordinary precautions. I have repeatedly + laid down my future work to scale, divided it into volumes and chapters, + and endeavoured to construct a story which I meant should evolve itself + gradually and strikingly, maintain suspense, and stimulate curiosity; and + which, finally, should terminate in a striking catastrophe. But I think + there is a demon who seats himself on the feather of my pen when I begin + to write, and leads it astray from the purpose. Characters expand under my + hand; incidents are multiplied; the story lingers, while the materials + increase; my regular mansion turns out a Gothic anomaly, and the work is + closed long before I have attained the point I proposed. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain</i>. Resolution and determined forbearance might remedy that + evil. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author</i>. Alas! my dear sir, you do not know the force of paternal + affection. When I light on such a character as Bailie Jarvie, or Dalgetty, + my imagination brightens, and my conception becomes clearer at every step + which I take in his company, although it leads me many a weary mile away + from the regular road, and forces me leap hedge and ditch to get back into + the route again. If I resist the temptation, as you advise me, my thoughts + become prosy, flat, and dull; I write painfully to myself, and under a + consciousness of flagging which makes me flag still more; the sunshine + with which fancy had invested the incidents, departs from them, and leaves + every thing dull and gloomy. I am no more the same author I was in my + better mood, than the dog in a wheel, condemned to go round and round for + hours, is like the same dog merrily chasing his own tail, and gambolling + in all the frolic of unrestrained freedom. In short, sir, on such + occasions, I think I am bewitched. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain</i>. Nay, sir, if you plead sorcery, there is no more to be + said—he must needs go whom the devil drives. And this, I suppose, + sir, is the reason why you do not make the theatrical attempt to which you + have been so often urged? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author</i>. It may pass for one good reason for not writing a play, + that I cannot form a plot. But the truth is, that the idea adopted by too + favourable judges, of my having some aptitude for that department of + poetry, has been much founded on those scraps of old plays, which, being + taken from a source inaccessible to collectors, they have hastily + considered the offspring of my mother-wit. Now, the manner in which I + became possessed of these fragments is so extraordinary, that I cannot + help telling it to you. + </p> + <p> + You must know, that, some twenty years since, I went down to visit an old + friend in Worcestershire, who had served with me in the——Dragoons. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Then you <i>have</i> served, sir? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> I have—or I have not, which signifies the same thing—Captain + is a good travelling name.—I found my friend's house unexpectedly + crowded with guests, and, as usual, was condemned—the mansion being + an old one—to the <i>haunted apartment.</i> I have, as a great + modern said, seen too many ghosts to believe in them, so betook myself + seriously to my repose, lulled by the wind rustling among the lime-trees, + the branches of which chequered the moonlight which fell on the floor + through the diamonded casement, when, behold, a darker shadow interposed + itself, and I beheld visibly on the floor of the apartment— + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> The White Lady of Avenel, I suppose?—You have told + the very story before. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> No—I beheld a female form, with mob-cap, bib, and + apron, sleeves tucked up to the elbow, a dredging-box in the one hand, and + in the other a sauce-ladle. I concluded, of course, that it was my + friend's cook-maid walking in her sleep; and as I knew he had a value for + Sally, who could toss a pancake with any girl in the country, I got up to + conduct her safely to the door. But as I approached her, she said,—"Hold, + sir! I am not what you take me for;"—words which seemed so opposite + to the circumstances, that I should not have much minded them, had it not + been for the peculiarly hollow sound in which they were uttered.—"Know, + then," she said, in the same unearthly accents, "that I am the spirit of + Betty Barnes."—"Who hanged herself for love of the stage-coachman," + thought I; "this is a proper spot of work!"—"Of that unhappy + Elizabeth or Betty Barnes, long cook-maid to Mr. Warburton, the painful + collector, but ah! the too careless custodier, of the largest collection + of ancient plays ever known—of most of which the titles only are + left to gladden the Prolegomena of the Variorum Shakspeare. Yes, stranger, + it was these ill-fated hands That consigned to grease and conflagration + the scores of small quartos, which, did they now exist, would drive the + whole Roxburghe Club out of their senses—it was these unhappy + pickers and stealers that singed fat fowls and wiped dirty trenchers with + the lost works of Beaumont and Fletcher, Massinger, Jonson, Webster—what + shall I say?—even of Shakspeare himself!" + </p> + <p> + Like every dramatic antiquary, my ardent curiosity after some play named + in the Book of the Master of Revels, had often been checked by finding the + object of my research numbered amongst the holocaust of victims which this + unhappy woman had sacrificed to the God of Good Cheer. It is no wonder + then, that, like the Hermit of Parnell, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "I broke the bands of fear, and madly cried, + 'You careless jade!'—But scarce the words began, + When Betty brandish'd high her saucing-pan." +</pre> + <p> + "Beware," she said, "you do not, by your ill-timed anger, cut off the + opportunity I yet have to indemnify the world for the errors of my + ignorance. In yonder coal-hole, not used for many a year, repose the few + greasy and blackened fragments of the elder Drama which were not totally + destroyed. Do thou then"—Why, what do you stare at, Captain? By my + soul, it is true; as my friend Major Longbow says, "What should I tell you + a lie for?" + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Lie, sir! Nay, Heaven forbid I should apply the word to a + person so veracious. You are only inclined to chase your tail a little + this morning, that's all. Had you not better reserve this legend to form + an introduction to "Three Recovered Dramas," or so? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> You are quite right—habit's a strange thing, my son. + I had forgot whom I was speaking to. Yes, Plays for the closet, not for + the stage— + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Right, and so you are sure to be acted; for the managers, + while thousands of volunteers are desirous of serving them, are + wonderfully partial to pressed men. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> I am a living witness, having been, like a second Laberius, + made a dramatist whether I would or not. I believe my muse would be <i>Terry</i>-fied + into treading the stage, even if I should write a sermon. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Truly, if you did, I am afraid folks might make a farce of + it; and, therefore, should you change your style, I still advise a volume + of dramas like Lord Byron's. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> No, his lordship is a cut above me—I won't run my + horse against his, if I can help myself. But there is my friend Allan has + written just such a play as I might write myself, in a very sunny day, and + with one of Bramah's extra-patent pens. I cannot make neat work without + such appurtenances. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Do you mean Allan Ramsay? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> No, nor Barbara Allan either. I mean Allan Cunningham, who + has just published his tragedy of Sir Marmaduke Maxwell, full of + merry-making and murdering, kissing and cutting of throats, and passages + which lead to nothing, and which are very pretty passages for all that. + Not a glimpse of probability is there about the plot, but so much + animation in particular passages, and such a vein of poetry through the + whole, as I dearly wish I could infuse into my Culinary Remains, should I + ever be tempted to publish them. With a popular impress, people would read + and admire the beauties of Allan—as it is, they may perhaps only + note his defects—or, what is worse, not note him at all.—But + never mind them, honest Allan; you are a credit to Caledonia for all that.—There + are some lyrical effusions of his, too, which you would do well to read, + Captain. "It's hame, and it's hame," is equal to Burns. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> I will take the hint. The club at Kennaquhair are turned + fastidious since Catalan! visited the Abbey. My "Poortith Cauld" has been + received both poorly and coldly, and "the Banks of Bonnie Doon" have been + positively coughed down—<i>Tempora mutantur.</i> + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> They cannot stand still, they will change with all of us. + What then? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "A man's a man for a' that." +</pre> + <p> + But the hour of parting approaches. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> You are determined to proceed then in your own system? Are + you aware that an unworthy motive may be assigned for this rapid + succession of publication? You will be supposed to work merely for the + lucre of gain. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Supposing that I did permit the great advantages which must + be derived from success in literature, to join with other motives in + inducing me to come more frequently before the public,—that + emolument is the voluntary tax which the public pays for a certain species + of literary amusement—it is extorted from no one, and paid, I + presume, by those only who can afford it, and who receive gratification in + proportion to the expense. If the capital sum which these volumes have put + into circulation be a very large one, has it contributed to my indulgences + only? or can I not say to hundreds, from honest Duncan the + paper-manufacturer, to the most snivelling of the printer's devils, "Didst + thou not share? Hadst thou not fifteen pence?" I profess I think our + Modern Athens much obliged to me for having established such an extensive + manufacture; and when universal suffrage comes in fashion, I intend to + stand for a seat in the House on the interest of all the unwashed + artificers connected with literature. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> This would be called the language of a + calico-manufacturer. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Cant again, my dear son—there is lime in this sack, + too—nothing but sophistication in this world! I do say it, in spite + of Adam Smith and his followers, that a successful author is a productive + labourer, and that his works constitute as effectual a part of the public + wealth, as that which is created by any other manufacture. If a new + commodity, having an actually intrinsic and commercial value, be the + result of the operation, why are the author's bales of books to be + esteemed a less profitable part of the public stock than the goods of any + other manufacturer? I speak with reference to the diffusion of the wealth + arising to the public, and the degree of industry which even such a + trifling work as the present must stimulate and reward, before the volumes + leave the publisher's shop. Without me it could not exist, and to this + extent I am a benefactor to the country. As for my own emolument, it is + won by my toil, and I account myself answerable to Heaven only for the + mode in which I expend it. The candid may hope it is not all dedicated to + selfish purposes; and, without much pretensions to merit in him who + disburses it, a part may "wander, heaven-directed, to the poor." + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Yet it is generally held base to write from the mere + motives of gain. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> It would be base to do so exclusively, or even to make it a + principal motive for literary exertion. Nay, I will venture to say, that + no work of imagination, proceeding from the mere consideration of a + certain sum of copy-money, ever did, or ever will, succeed. So the lawyer + who pleads, the soldier who fights, the physician who prescribes, the + clergyman—if such there be—who preaches, without any zeal for + his profession, or without any sense of its dignity, and merely on account + of the fee, pay, or stipend, degrade themselves to the rank of sordid + mechanics. Accordingly, in the case of two of the learned faculties at + least, their services are considered as unappreciable, and are + acknowledged, not by any exact estimate of the services rendered, but by a + <i>honorarium,</i> or voluntary acknowledgment. But let a client or + patient make the experiment of omitting this little ceremony of the + honorarium, which is <i>cense</i> to be a thing entirely out of + consideration between them, and mark how the learned gentleman will look + upon his case. Cant set apart, it is the same thing with literary + emolument. No man of sense, in any rank of life, is, or ought to be, above + accepting a just recompense for his time, and a reasonable share of the + capital which owes its very existence to his exertions. When Czar Peter + wrought in the trenches, he took the pay of a common soldier; and nobles, + statesmen, and divines, the most distinguished of their time, have not + scorned to square accounts with their bookseller. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain. (Sings.</i>) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "O if it were a mean thing, + The gentles would not use it; + And if it were ungodly, + The clergy would refuse it." +</pre> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> You say well. But no man of honour, genius, or spirit, + would make the mere love of gain, the chief, far less the only, purpose of + his labours. For myself, I am not displeased to find the game a winning + one; yet while I pleased the public, I should probably continue it merely + for the pleasure of playing; for I have felt as strongly as most folks + that love of composition, which is perhaps the strongest of all instincts, + driving the author to the pen, the painter to the pallet, often without + either the chance of fame or the prospect of reward. Perhaps I have said + too much of this. I might, perhaps, with as much truth as most people, + exculpate myself from the charge of being either of a greedy or mercenary + disposition; but I am not, therefore, hypocrite enough to disclaim the + ordinary motives, on account of which the whole world around me is toiling + unremittingly, to the sacrifice of ease, comfort, health, and life. I do + not affect the disinterestedness of that ingenious association of + gentlemen mentioned by Goldsmith, who sold their magazine for sixpence + a-piece, merely for their own amusement. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> I have but one thing more to hint.—The world say you + will run yourself out. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> The world say true: and what then? When they dance no + longer, I will no longer pipe; and I shall not want flappers enough to + remind me of the apoplexy. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> And what will become of us then, your poor family? We + shall fall into contempt and oblivion. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Like many a poor fellow, already overwhelmed with the + number of his family, I cannot help going on to increase it—"'Tis my + vocation, Hal."—Such of you as deserve oblivion—perhaps the + whole of you—may be consigned to it. At any rate, you have been read + in your day, which is more than can be said of some of your + contemporaries, of less fortune and more merit. They cannot say but that + you <i>had</i> the crown. It is always something to have engaged the + public attention for seven years. Had I only written Waverley, I should + have long since been, according to the established phrase, "the ingenious + author of a novel much admired at the time." I believe, on my soul, that + the reputation of Waverley is sustained very much by the praises of those, + who may be inclined to prefer that tale to its successors. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> You are willing, then, to barter future reputation for + present popularity? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author. Meliora spero.</i> Horace himself expected not to survive in + all his works—I may hope to live in some of mine;—<i>non omnis + moriar.</i> It is some consolation to reflect, that the best authors in + all countries have been the most voluminous; and it has often happened, + that those who have been best received in their own time, have also + continued to be acceptable to posterity. I do not think so ill of the + present generation, as to suppose that its present favour necessarily + infers future condemnation. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Were all to act on such principles, the public would be + inundated. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author</i> Once more, my dear son, beware of cant. You speak as if the + public were obliged to read books merely because they are printed—your + friends the booksellers would thank you to make the proposition good. The + most serious grievance attending such inundations as you talk of, is, that + they make rags dear. The multiplicity of publications does the present age + no harm, and may greatly advantage that which is to succeed us. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> I do not see how that is to happen. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> The complaints in the time of Elizabeth and James, of the + alarming fertility of the press, were as loud as they are at present—yet + look at the shore over which the inundation of that age flowed, and it + resembles now the Rich Strand of the Faery Queen— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ——"Besrrew'd all with rich array, + Of pearl and precious stones of great assay; + And all the gravel mix'd with golden ore." +</pre> + <p> + Believe me, that even in the most neglected works of the present age, the + next may discover treasures. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Some books will defy all alchemy. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> They will be but few in number; since, as for the writers, + who are possessed of no merit at all, unless indeed they publish their + works at their own expense, like Sir Richard Blackmore, their power of + annoying the public will be soon limited by the difficulty of finding + undertaking booksellers. + </p> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> You are incorrigible. Are there no bounds to your + audacity? + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> There are the sacred and eternal boundaries of honour and + virtue. My course is like the enchanted chamber of Britomart— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Where as she look'd about, she did behold + How over that same door was likewise writ, + <i>Be Bold—Be Bold,</i> and everywhere <i>Be Bold.</i> + Whereat she mused, and could not construe it; + At last she spied at that room's upper end + Another iron door, on which was writ— + BE NOT TOO BOLD." +</pre> + <p> + <i>Captain.</i> Well, you must take the risk of proceeding on your own + principles. + </p> + <p> + <i>Author.</i> Do you act on yours, and take care you do not stay idling + here till the dinner hour is over.—I will add this work to your + patrimony, <i>valeat quantum.</i> + </p> + <p> + Here our dialogue terminated; for a little sooty-faced Apollyon from the + Canongate came to demand the proof-sheet on the part of Mr. M'Corkindale; + and I heard Mr. C. rebuking Mr. F. in another compartment of the same + labyrinth I have described, for suffering any one to penetrate so far into + the <i>penetralia</i> of their temple. + </p> + <p> + I leave it to you to form your own opinion concerning the import of this + dialogue, and I cannot but believe I shall meet the wishes of our common + parent in prefixing this letter to the work which it concerns. + </p> + <p> + I am, reverend and dear Sir, + </p> + <p> + Very sincerely and affectionately + </p> + <p> + Yours, + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + <i>Knifegrinder.</i> Story? Lord bless you! I have none to tell, sir. + <i>Poetry of the Antijacobin.</i> +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Now Scot and English are agreed, + And Saunders hastes to cross the Tweed, + Where, such the splendours that attend him, + His very mother scarce had kend him. + His metamorphosis behold, + From Glasgow frieze to cloth of gold; + His back-sword, with the iron hilt, + To rapier, fairly hatch'd and gilt; + Was ever seen a gallant braver! + His very bonnet's grown a beaver. + <i>The Reformation.</i> +</pre> + <p> + The long-continued hostilities which had for centuries separated the south + and the north divisions of the Island of Britain, had been happily + terminated by the succession of the pacific James I. to the English Crown. + But although the united crown of England and Scotland was worn by the same + individual, it required a long lapse of time, and the succession of more + than one generation, ere the inveterate national prejudices which had so + long existed betwixt the sister kingdoms were removed, and the subjects of + either side of the Tweed brought to regard those upon the opposite bank as + friends and as brethren. + </p> + <p> + These prejudices were, of course, most inveterate during the reign of King + James. The English subjects accused him of partiality to those of his + ancient kingdom; while the Scots, with equal injustice, charged him with + having forgotten the land of his nativity, and with neglecting those early + friends to whose allegiance he had been so much indebted. + </p> + <p> + The temper of the king, peaceable even to timidity, inclined him + perpetually to interfere as mediator between the contending factions, + whose brawls disturbed the Court. But, notwithstanding all his + precautions, historians have recorded many instances, where the mutual + hatred of two nations, who, after being enemies for a thousand years, had + been so very recently united, broke forth with a fury which menaced a + general convulsion; and, spreading from the highest to the lowest classes, + as it occasioned debates in council and parliament, factions in the court, + and duels among the gentry, was no less productive of riots and brawls + amongst the lower orders. + </p> + <p> + While these heart-burnings were at the highest, there flourished in the + city of London an ingenious but whimsical and self opinioned mechanic, + much devoted to abstract studies, David Ramsay by name, who, whether + recommended by his great skill in his profession, as the courtiers + alleged, or, as was murmured among the neighbours, by his birthplace, in + the good town of Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, held in James's household the + post of maker of watches and horologes to his Majesty. He scorned not, + however, to keep open shop within Temple Bar, a few yards to the eastward + of Saint Dunstan's Church. + </p> + <p> + The shop of a London tradesman at that time, as it may be supposed, was + something very different from those we now see in the same locality. The + goods were exposed to sale in cases, only defended from the weather by a + covering of canvass, and the whole resembled the stalls and booths now + erected for the temporary accommodation of dealers at a country fair, + rather than the established emporium of a respectable citizen. But most of + the shopkeepers of note, and David Ramsay amongst others, had their booth + connected with a small apartment which opened backward from it, and bore + the same resemblance to the front shop that Robinson Crusoe's cavern did + to the tent which he erected before it. + </p> + <p> + To this Master Ramsay was often accustomed to retreat to the labour of his + abstruse calculations; for he aimed at improvements and discoveries in his + own art, and sometimes pushed his researches, like Napier, and other + mathematicians of the period, into abstract science. When thus engaged, he + left the outer posts of his commercial establishment to be maintained by + two stout-bodied and strong-voiced apprentices, who kept up the cry of, + "What d'ye lack? what d'ye lack?" accompanied with the appropriate + recommendations of the articles in which they dealt. + </p> + <p> + This direct and personal application for custom to those who chanced to + pass by, is now, we believe, limited to Monmouth Street, (if it still + exists even in that repository of ancient garments,) under the + guardianship of the scattered remnant of Israel. But at the time we are + speaking of, it was practised alike by Jew and Gentile, and served, + instead of all our present newspaper puffs and advertisements, to solicit + the attention of the public in general, and of friends in particular, to + the unrivalled excellence of the goods, which they offered to sale upon + such easy terms, that it might fairly appear that the venders had rather a + view to the general service of the public, than to their own particular + advantage. + </p> + <p> + The verbal proclaimers of the excellence of their commodities, had this + advantage over those who, in the present day, use the public papers for + the same purpose, that they could in many cases adapt their address to the + peculiar appearance and apparent taste of the passengers. [This, as we + have said, was also the case in Monmouth Street in our remembrance. We + have ourselves been reminded of the deficiencies of our femoral + habiliments, and exhorted upon that score to fit ourselves more + beseemingly; but this is a digression.] This direct and personal mode of + invitation to customers became, however, a dangerous temptation to the + young wags who were employed in the task of solicitation during the + absence of the principal person interested in the traffic; and, confiding + in their numbers and civic union, the 'prentices of London were often + seduced into taking liberties with the passengers, and exercising their + wit at the expense of those whom they had no hopes of converting into + customers by their eloquence. If this were resented by any act of + violence, the inmates of each shop were ready to pour forth in succour; + and in the words of an old song which Dr. Johnson was used to hum,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Up then rose the 'prentices all, + Living in London, both proper and tall." +</pre> + <p> + Desperate riots often arose on such occasions, especially when the + Templars, or other youths connected with the aristocracy, were insulted, + or conceived themselves to be so. Upon such occasions, bare steel was + frequently opposed to the clubs of the citizens, and death sometimes + ensued on both sides. The tardy and inefficient police of the time had no + other resource than by the Alderman of the ward calling out the + householders, and putting a stop to the strife by overpowering numbers, as + the Capulets and Montagues are separated upon the stage. + </p> + <p> + At the period when such was the universal custom of the most respectable, + as well as the most inconsiderable, shopkeepers in London, David Ramsay, + on the evening to which we solicit the attention of the reader, retiring + to more abstruse and private labours, left the administration of his outer + shop, or booth, to the aforesaid sharp-witted, active, able-bodied, and + well-voiced apprentices, namely, Jenkin Vincent and Frank Tunstall. + </p> + <p> + Vincent had been educated at the excellent foundation of Christ's Church + Hospital, and was bred, therefore, as well as born, a Londoner, with all + the acuteness, address, and audacity which belong peculiarly to the youth + of a metropolis. He was now about twenty years old, short in stature, but + remarkably strong made, eminent for his feats upon holidays at foot-ball, + and other gymnastic exercises; scarce rivalled in the broad-sword play, + though hitherto only exercised in the form of single-stick. He knew every + lane, blind alley, and sequestered court of the ward, better than his + catechism; was alike active in his master's affairs, and in his own + adventures of fun and mischief; and so managed matters, that the credit he + acquired by the former bore him out, or at least served for his apology, + when the latter propensity led him into scrapes, of which, however, it is + but fair to state, that they had hitherto inferred nothing mean or + discreditable. Some aberrations there were, which David Ramsay, his + master, endeavoured to reduce to regular order when he discovered them, + and others which he winked at—supposing them to answer the purpose + of the escapement of a watch, which disposes of a certain quantity of the + extra power of that mechanical impulse which puts the whole in motion. + </p> + <p> + The physiognomy of Jin Vin—by which abbreviation he was familiarly + known through the ward—corresponded with the sketch we have given of + his character. His head, upon which his 'prentice's flat cap was generally + flung in a careless and oblique fashion, was closely covered with thick + hair of raven black, which curled naturally and closely, and would have + grown to great length, but for the modest custom enjoined by his state in + life and strictly enforced by his master, which compelled him to keep it + short-cropped,—not unreluctantly, as he looked with envy on the + flowing ringlets, in which the courtiers, and aristocratic students of the + neighbouring Temple, began to indulge themselves, as marks of superiority + and of gentility. + </p> + <p> + Vincent's eyes were deep set in his head, of a strong vivid black, full of + fire, roguery, and intelligence, and conveying a humorous expression, even + while he was uttering the usual small-talk of his trade, as if he + ridiculed those who were disposed to give any weight to his commonplaces. + He had address enough, however, to add little touches of his own, which + gave a turn of drollery even to this ordinary routine of the booth; and + the alacrity of his manner—his ready and obvious wish to oblige—his + intelligence and civility, when he thought civility necessary, made him a + universal favourite with his master's customers. + </p> + <p> + His features were far from regular, for his nose was flattish, his mouth + tending to the larger size, and his complexion inclining to be more dark + than was then thought consistent with masculine beauty. But, in despite of + his having always breathed the air of a crowded city, his complexion had + the ruddy and manly expression of redundant health; his turned-up nose + gave an air of spirit and raillery to what he said, and seconded the laugh + of his eyes; and his wide mouth was garnished with a pair of well-formed + and well-coloured lips, which, when he laughed, disclosed a range of teeth + strong and well set, and as white as the very pearl. Such was the elder + apprentice of David Ramsay, Memory's Monitor, watchmaker, and constructor + of horologes, to his Most Sacred Majesty James I. + </p> + <p> + Jenkin's companion was the younger apprentice, though, perhaps, he might + be the elder of the two in years. At any rate, he was of a much more staid + and composed temper. Francis Tunstall was of that ancient and proud + descent who claimed the style of the "unstained;" because, amid the + various chances of the long and bloody wars of the Roses, they had, with + undeviating faith, followed the House of Lancaster, to which they had + originally attached themselves. The meanest sprig of such a tree attached + importance to the root from which it derived itself; and Tunstall was + supposed to nourish in secret a proportion of that family pride, which had + exhorted tears from his widowed and almost indigent mother, when she saw + herself obliged to consign him to a line of life inferior, as her + prejudices suggested, to the course held by his progenitors. Yet, with all + this aristocratic prejudice, his master found the well-born youth more + docile, regular, and strictly attentive to his duty, than his far more + active and alert comrade. Tunstall also gratified his master by the + particular attention which he seemed disposed to bestow on the abstract + principles of science connected with the trade which he was bound to + study, the limits of which were daily enlarged with the increase of + mathematical science. + </p> + <p> + Vincent beat his companion beyond the distance-post, in every thing like + the practical adaptation of thorough practice, in the dexterity of hand + necessary to execute the mechanical branches of the art, and + doubled-distanced him in all respecting the commercial affairs of the + shop. Still David Ramsay was wont to say, that if Vincent knew how to do a + thing the better of the two, Tunstall was much better acquainted with the + principles on which it ought to be done; and he sometimes objected to the + latter, that he knew critical excellence too well ever to be satisfied + with practical mediocrity. + </p> + <p> + The disposition of Tunstall was shy, as well as studious; and, though + perfectly civil and obliging, he never seemed to feel himself in his place + while he went through the duties of the shop. He was tall and handsome, + with fair hair, and well-formed limbs, good features, well-opened + light-blue eyes, a straight Grecian nose, and a countenance which + expressed both good-humour and intelligence, but qualified by a gravity + unsuitable to his years, and which almost amounted to dejection. He lived + on the best of terms with his companion, and readily stood by him whenever + he was engaged in any of the frequent skirmishes, which, as we have + already observed, often disturbed the city of London about this period. + But though Tunstall was allowed to understand quarter-staff (the weapon of + the North country) in a superior degree, and though he was naturally both + strong and active, his interference in such affrays seemed always matter + of necessity; and, as he never voluntarily joined either their brawls or + their sports, he held a far lower place in the opinion of the youth of the + ward than his hearty and active friend Jin Vin. Nay, had it not been for + the interest made for his comrade, by the intercession of Vincent, + Tunstall would have stood some chance of being altogether excluded from + the society of his contemporaries of the same condition, who called him, + in scorn, the Cavaliero Cuddy, and the Gentle Tunstall. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, the lad himself, deprived of the fresh air in which he + had been brought up, and foregoing the exercise to which he had formerly + been accustomed, while the inhabitant of his native mansion, lost + gradually the freshness of his complexion, and, without showing any formal + symptoms of disease, grew more thin and pale as he grew older, and at + length exhibited the appearance of indifferent health, without any thing + of the habits and complaints of an invalid, excepting a disposition to + avoid society, and to spend his leisure time in private study, rather than + mingle in the sports of his companions, or even resort to the theatres, + then the general rendezvous of his class; where, according to high + authority, they fought for half-bitten apples, cracked nuts, and filled + the upper gallery with their clamours. + </p> + <p> + Such were the two youths who called David Ramsay master; and with both of + whom he used to fret from morning till night, as their peculiarities + interfered with his own, or with the quiet and beneficial course of his + traffic. + </p> + <p> + Upon the whole, however, the youths were attached to their master, and he, + a good-natured, though an absent and whimsical man, was scarce less so to + them; and when a little warmed with wine at an occasional junketing, he + used to boast, in his northern dialect, of his "twa bonnie lads, and the + looks that the court ladies threw at them, when visiting his shop in their + caroches, when on a frolic into the city." But David Ramsay never failed, + at the same time, to draw up his own tall, thin, lathy skeleton, extend + his lean jaws into an alarming grin, and indicate, by a nod of his + yard-long visage, and a twinkle of his little grey eye, that there might + be more faces in Fleet Street worth looking at than those of Frank and + Jenkin. His old neighbour, Widow Simmons, the sempstress, who had served, + in her day, the very tip-top revellers of the Temple, with ruffs, cuffs, + and bands, distinguished more deeply the sort of attention paid by the + females of quality, who so regularly visited David Ramsay's shop, to its + inmates. "The boy Frank," she admitted, "used to attract the attention of + the young ladies, as having something gentle and downcast in his looks; + but then he could not better himself, for the poor youth had not a word to + throw at a dog. Now Jin Vin was so full of his jibes and jeers, and so + willing, and so ready, and so serviceable, and so mannerly all the while, + with a step that sprung like a buck's in Epping Forest, and his eye that + twinkled as black as a gipsy's, that no woman who knew the world would + make a comparison betwixt the lads. As for poor neighbour Ramsay himself, + the man," she said, "was a civil neighbour, and a learned man, doubtless, + and might be a rich man if he had common sense to back his learning; and + doubtless, for a Scot, neighbour Ramsay was nothing of a bad man, but he + was so constantly grimed with smoke, gilded with brass filings, and + smeared with lamp-black and oil, that Dame Simmons judged it would require + his whole shopful of watches to induce any feasible woman to touch the + said neighbour Ramsay with any thing save a pair of tongs." + </p> + <p> + A still higher authority, Dame Ursula, wife to Benjamin Suddlechop, the + barber, was of exactly the same opinion. + </p> + <p> + Such were, in natural qualities and public estimation, the two youths, + who, in a fine April day, having first rendered their dutiful service and + attendance on the table of their master and his daughter, at their dinner + at one o'clock,—Such, O ye lads of London, was the severe discipline + undergone by your predecessors!—and having regaled themselves upon + the fragments, in company with two female domestics, one a cook, and maid + of all work, the other called Mistress Margaret's maid, now relieved their + master in the duty of the outward shop; and agreeably to the established + custom, were soliciting, by their entreaties and recommendations of their + master's manufacture, the attention and encouragement of the passengers. + </p> + <p> + In this species of service it may be easily supposed that Jenkin Vincent + left his more reserved and bashful comrade far in the background. The + latter could only articulate with difficulty, and as an act of duty which + he was rather ashamed of discharging, the established words of form—"What + d'ye lack?—What d'ye lack?—Clocks—watches—barnacles? + —What d'ye lack?—Watches—clocks—barnacles?—What + d'ye lack, sir? What d'ye lack, madam?—Barnacles—watches—clocks?" + </p> + <p> + But this dull and dry iteration, however varied by diversity of verbal + arrangement, sounded flat when mingled with the rich and recommendatory + oratory of the bold-faced, deep-mouthed, and ready-witted Jenkin Vincent.—"What + d'ye lack, noble sir?—What d'ye lack, beauteous madam?" he said, in + a tone at once bold and soothing, which often was so applied as both to + gratify the persons addressed, and to excite a smile from other hearers.—"God + bless your reverence," to a beneficed clergyman; "the Greek and Hebrew + have harmed your reverence's eyes—Buy a pair of David Ramsay's + barnacles. The King—God bless his Sacred Majesty!—never reads + Hebrew or Greek without them." + </p> + <p> + "Are you well avised of that?" said a fat parson from the Vale of Evesham. + "Nay, if the Head of the Church wears them,—God bless his Sacred + Majesty!—I will try what they can do for me; for I have not been + able to distinguish one Hebrew letter from another, since—I cannot + remember the time—when I had a bad fever. Choose me a pair of his + most Sacred Majesty's own wearing, my good youth." + </p> + <p> + "This is a pair, and please your reverence," said Jenkin, producing a pair + of spectacles which he touched with an air of great deference and respect, + "which his most blessed Majesty placed this day three weeks on his own + blessed nose; and would have kept them for his own sacred use, but that + the setting being, as your reverence sees, of the purest jet, was, as his + Sacred Majesty was pleased to say, fitter for a bishop than for a secular + prince." + </p> + <p> + "His Sacred Majesty the King," said the worthy divine, "was ever a very + Daniel in his judgment. Give me the barnacles, my good youth, and who can + say what nose they may bestride in two years hence?—our reverend + brother of Gloucester waxes in years." He then pulled out his purse, paid + for the spectacles, and left the shop with even a more important step than + that which had paused to enter it. + </p> + <p> + "For shame," said Tunstall to his companion; "these glasses will never + suit one of his years." + </p> + <p> + "You are a fool, Frank," said Vincent, in reply; "had the good doctor + wished glasses to read with, he would have tried them before buying. He + does not want to look through them himself, and these will serve the + purpose of being looked at by other folks, as well as the best magnifiers + in the shop.—What d'ye lack?" he cried, resuming his solicitations. + "Mirrors for your toilette, my pretty madam; your head-gear is something + awry—pity, since it is so well fancied." The woman stopped and + bought a mirror.—"What d'ye lack?—a watch, Master Sergeant—a + watch that will go as long as a lawsuit, as steady and true as your own + eloquence?" + </p> + <p> + "Hold your peace, sir," answered the Knight of the Coif, who was disturbed + by Vin's address whilst in deep consultation with an eminent attorney; + "hold your peace! You are the loudest-tongued varlet betwixt the Devil's + Tavern and Guildhall." + </p> + <p> + "A watch," reiterated the undaunted Jenkin, "that shall not lose thirteen + minutes in a thirteen years' lawsuit.—He's out of hearing—A + watch with four wheels and a bar-movement—a watch that shall tell + you, Master Poet, how long the patience of the audience will endure your + next piece at the Black Bull." The bard laughed, and fumbled in the pocket + of his slops till he chased into a corner, and fairly caught, a small + piece of coin. + </p> + <p> + "Here is a tester to cherish thy wit, good boy," he said. + </p> + <p> + "Gramercy," said Vin; "at the next play of yours I will bring down a set + of roaring boys, that shall make all the critics in the pit, and the + gallants on the stage, civil, or else the curtain shall smoke for it." + </p> + <p> + "Now, that I call mean," said Tunstall, "to take the poor rhymer's money, + who has so little left behind." + </p> + <p> + "You are an owl, once again," said Vincent; "if he has nothing left to buy + cheese and radishes, he will only dine a day the sooner with some patron + or some player, for that is his fate five days out of the seven. It is + unnatural that a poet should pay for his own pot of beer; I will drink his + tester for him, to save him from such shame; and when his third night + comes round, he shall have penniworths for his coin, I promise you.—But + here comes another-guess customer. Look at that strange fellow—see + how he gapes at every shop, as if he would swallow the wares.—O! + Saint Dunstan has caught his eye; pray God he swallow not the images. See + how he stands astonished, as old Adam and Eve ply their ding-dong! Come, + Frank, thou art a scholar; construe me that same fellow, with his blue cap + with a cock's feather in it, to show he's of gentle blood, God wot—his + grey eyes, his yellow hair, his sword with a ton of iron in the handle—his + grey thread-bare cloak—his step like a Frenchman—his look like + a Spaniard—a book at his girdle, and a broad dudgeon-dagger on the + other side, to show him half-pedant, half-bully. How call you that + pageant, Frank?" + </p> + <p> + "A raw Scotsman," said Tunstall; "just come up, I suppose, to help the + rest of his countrymen to gnaw old England's bones; a palmerworm, I + reckon, to devour what the locust has spared." + </p> + <p> + "Even so, Frank," answered Vincent; "just as the poet sings sweetly,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'In Scotland he was born and bred, + And, though a beggar, must be fed.'" +</pre> + <p> + "Hush!" said Tunstall, "remember our master." + </p> + <p> + "Pshaw!" answered his mercurial companion; "he knows on which side his + bread is buttered, and I warrant you has not lived so long among + Englishmen, and by Englishmen, to quarrel with us for bearing an English + mind. But see, our Scot has done gazing at St. Dunstan's, and comes our + way. By this light, a proper lad and a sturdy, in spite of freckles and + sun-burning.—He comes nearer still, I will have at him." + </p> + <p> + "And, if you do," said his comrade, "you may get a broken head—he + looks not as if he would carry coals." + </p> + <p> + "A fig for your threat," said Vincent, and instantly addressed the + stranger. "Buy a watch, most noble northern Thane—buy a watch, to + count the hours of plenty since the blessed moment you left Berwick behind + you.—Buy barnacles, to see the English gold lies ready for your + gripe.—Buy what you will, you shall have credit for three days; for, + were your pockets as bare as Father Fergus's, you are a Scot in London, + and you will be stocked in that time." The stranger looked sternly at the + waggish apprentice, and seemed to grasp his cudgel in rather a menacing + fashion. "Buy physic," said the undaunted Vincent, "if you will buy + neither time nor light—physic for a proud stomach, sir;—there + is a 'pothecary's shop on the other side of the way." + </p> + <p> + Here the probationary disciple of Galen, who stood at his master's door in + his flat cap and canvass sleeves, with a large wooden pestle in his hand, + took up the ball which was flung to him by Jenkin, with, "What d'ye lack, + sir?—Buy a choice Caledonian salve, <i>Flos sulphvr. cum butyro + quant. suff.</i>" + </p> + <p> + "To be taken after a gentle rubbing-down with an English oaken towel," + said Vincent. + </p> + <p> + The bonny Scot had given full scope to the play of this small artillery of + city wit, by halting his stately pace, and viewing grimly, first the one + assailant, and then the other, as if menacing either repartee or more + violent revenge. But phlegm or prudence got the better of his indignation, + and tossing his head as one who valued not the raillery to which he had + been exposed, he walked down Fleet Street, pursued by the horse-laugh of + his tormentors. + </p> + <p> + "The Scot will not fight till he see his own blood," said Tunstall, whom + his north of England extraction had made familiar with all manner of + proverbs against those who lay yet farther north than himself. + </p> + <p> + "Faith, I know not," said Jenkin; "he looks dangerous, that fellow—he + will hit some one over the noddle before he goes far.—Hark!—hark!—they + are rising." + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, the well-known cry of, "'Prentices—'prentices—Clubs—clubs!" + now rang along Fleet Street; and Jenkin, snatching up his weapon, which + lay beneath the counter ready at the slightest notice, and calling to + Tunstall to take his bat and follow, leaped over the hatch-door which + protected the outer-shop, and ran as fast as he could towards the affray, + echoing the cry as he ran, and elbowing, or shoving aside, whoever stood + in his way. His comrade, first calling to his master to give an eye to the + shop, followed Jenkin's example, and ran after him as fast as he could, + but with more attention to the safety and convenience of others; while old + David Ramsay, with hands and eyes uplifted, a green apron before him, and + a glass which he had been polishing thrust into his bosom, came forth to + look after the safety of his goods and chattels, knowing, by old + experience, that, when the cry of "Clubs" once arose, he would have little + aid on the part of his apprentices. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + This, sir, is one among the Seignory, + Has wealth at will, and will to use his wealth, + And wit to increase it. Marry, his worst folly + Lies in a thriftless sort of charity, + That goes a-gadding sometimes after objects, + Which wise men will not see when thrust upon them. + <i>The Old Couple.</i> +</pre> + <p> + The ancient gentleman bustled about his shop, in pettish displeasure at + being summoned hither so hastily, to the interruption of his more abstract + studies; and, unwilling to renounce the train of calculation which he had + put in progress, he mingled whimsically with the fragments of the + arithmetical operation, his oratory to the passengers, and angry + reflections on his idle apprentices. "What d'ye lack, sir? Madam, what + d'ye lack—clocks for hall or table—night-watches—day + watches?—<i>Locking wheel being 48—the power of retort 8—the + striking pins are 48</i>—What d'ye lack, honoured sir?—<i>The + quotient—the multiplicand</i>—That the knaves should have gone + out this blessed minute!—<i>the acceleration being at the rate of 5 + minutes, 55 seconds, 53 thirds, 59 fourths</i>—I will switch them + both when they come back—I will, by the bones of the immortal + Napier!" + </p> + <p> + Here the vexed philosopher was interrupted by the entrance of a grave + citizen of a most respectable appearance, who, saluting him familiarly by + the name of "Davie, my old acquaintance," demanded what had put him so + much out of sorts, and gave him at the same time a cordial grasp of his + hand. + </p> + <p> + The stranger's dress was, though grave, rather richer than usual. His + paned hose were of black velvet, lined with purple silk, which garniture + appeared at the slashes. His doublet was of purple cloth, and his short + cloak of black velvet, to correspond with his hose; and both were adorned + with a great number of small silver buttons richly wrought in filigree. A + triple chain of gold hung round his neck; and, in place of a sword or + dagger, he wore at his belt an ordinary knife for the purpose of the + table, with a small silver case, which appeared to contain writing + materials. He might have seemed some secretary or clerk engaged in the + service of the public, only that his low, flat, and unadorned cap, and his + well-blacked, shining shoes, indicated that he belonged to the city. He + was a well-made man, about the middle size, and seemed in firm health, + though advanced in years. His looks expressed sagacity and good-humour: + and the air of respectability which his dress announced, was well + supported by his clear eye, ruddy cheek, and grey hair. He used the + Scottish idiom in his first address, but in such a manner that it could + hardly be distinguished whether he was passing upon his friend a sort of + jocose mockery, or whether it was his own native dialect, for his ordinary + discourse had little provincialism. + </p> + <p> + In answer to the queries of his respectable friend, Ramsay groaned + heavily, answering by echoing back the question, "What ails me, Master + George? Why, every thing ails me! I profess to you that a man may as well + live in Fairyland as in the Ward of Farringdon-Without. My apprentices are + turned into mere goblins—they appear and disappear like spunkies, + and have no more regularity in them than a watch without a scapement. If + there is a ball to be tossed up, or a bullock to be driven mad, or a quean + to be ducked for scolding, or a head to be broken, Jenkin is sure to be at + the one end or the other of it, and then away skips Francis Tunstall for + company. I think the prize-fighters, bear-leaders, and mountebanks, are in + a league against me, my dear friend, and that they pass my house ten times + for any other in the city. Here's an Italian fellow come over, too, that + they call Punchinello; and, altogether——" + </p> + <p> + "Well," interrupted Master George, "but what is all this to the present + case?" + </p> + <p> + "Why," replied Ramsay, "here has been a cry of thieves or murder, (I hope + that will prove the least of it amongst these English pock-pudding swine!) + and I have been interrupted in the deepest calculation ever mortal man + plunged into, Master George." + </p> + <p> + "What, man!" replied Master George, "you must take patience—You are + a man that deals in time, and can make it go fast and slow at pleasure; + you, of all the world, have least reason to complain, if a little of it be + lost now and then.—But here come your boys, and bringing in a slain + man betwixt them, I think—here has been serious mischief, I am + afraid." + </p> + <p> + "The more mischief the better sport," said the crabbed old watchmaker. "I + am blithe, though, that it's neither of the twa loons themselves.—What + are ye bringing a corpse here for, ye fause villains?" he added, + addressing the two apprentices, who, at the head of a considerable mob of + their own class, some of whom bore evident marks of a recent fray, were + carrying the body betwixt them. + </p> + <p> + "He is not dead yet, sir," answered Tunstall. + </p> + <p> + "Carry him into the apothecary's, then," replied his master. "D'ye think I + can set a man's life in motion again, as if he were a clock or a + timepiece?" + </p> + <p> + "For godsake, old friend," said his acquaintance, "let us have him here at + the nearest—he seems only in a swoon." + </p> + <p> + "A swoon?" said Ramsay, "and what business had he to swoon in the streets? + Only, if it will oblige my friend Master George, I would take in all the + dead men in St. Dunstan's parish. Call Sam Porter to look after the shop." + So saying, the stunned man, being the identical Scotsman who had passed a + short time before amidst the jeers of the apprentices, was carried into + the back shop of the artist, and there placed in an armed chair till the + apothecary from over the way came to his assistance. This gentleman, as + sometimes happens to those of the learned professions, had rather more + lore than knowledge, and began to talk of the sinciput and occiput, and + cerebrum and cerebellum, until he exhausted David Ramsay's brief stock of + patience. + </p> + <p> + "Bell-um! bell-ell-um!" he repeated, with great indignation; "What signify + all the bells in London, if you do not put a plaster on the child's + crown?" + </p> + <p> + Master George, with better-directed zeal, asked the apothecary whether + bleeding might not be useful; when, after humming and hawing for a moment, + and being unable, upon the spur of the occasion, to suggest any thing + else, the man of pharmacy observed, that it would, at all events, relieve + the brain or cerebrum, in case there was a tendency to the depositation of + any extravasated blood, to operate as a pressure upon that delicate organ. + </p> + <p> + Fortunately he was adequate to performing this operation; and, being + powerfully aided by Jenkin Vincent (who was learned in all cases of broken + heads) with plenty of cold water, and a little vinegar, applied according + to the scientific method practised by the bottle-holders in a modern ring, + the man began to raise himself on his chair, draw his cloak tightly around + him, and look about like one who struggles to recover sense and + recollection. + </p> + <p> + "He had better lie down on the bed in the little back closet," said Mr. + Ramsay's visitor, who seemed perfectly familiar with the accommodations + which the house afforded. + </p> + <p> + "He is welcome to my share of the truckle," said Jenkin,—for in the + said back closet were the two apprentices accommodated in one truckle-bed,—"I + can sleep under the counter." + </p> + <p> + "So can I," said Tunstall, "and the poor fellow can have the bed all + night." + </p> + <p> + "Sleep," said the apothecary, "is, in the opinion of Galen, a restorative + and febrifuge, and is most naturally taken in a truckle-bed." + </p> + <p> + "Where a better cannot be come by,"—said Master George; "but these + are two honest lads, to give up their beds so willingly. Come, off with + his cloak, and let us bear him to his couch—I will send for Dr. + Irving, the king's chirurgeon—he does not live far off, and that + shall be my share of the Samaritan's duty, neighbour Ramsay." + </p> + <p> + "Well, sir," said the apothecary, "it is at your pleasure to send for + other advice, and I shall not object to consult with Dr. Irving or any + other medical person of skill, neither to continue to furnish such drugs + as may be needful from my pharmacopeia. However, whatever Dr. Irving, who, + I think, hath had his degrees in Edinburgh, or Dr. Any-one-beside, be he + Scottish or English, may say to the contrary, sleep, taken timeously, is a + febrifuge, or sedative, and also a restorative." + </p> + <p> + He muttered a few more learned words, and concluded by informing Ramsay's + friend in English far more intelligible than his Latin, that he would look + to him as his paymaster, for medicines, care, and attendance, furnished, + or to be furnished, to this party unknown. + </p> + <p> + Master George only replied by desiring him to send his bill for what he + had already to charge, and to give himself no farther trouble unless he + heard from him. The pharmacopolist, who, from discoveries made by the + cloak falling a little aside, had no great opinion of the faculty of this + chance patient to make reimbursement, had no sooner seen his case espoused + by a substantial citizen, than he showed some reluctance to quit + possession of it, and it needed a short and stern hint from Master George, + which, with all his good-humour, he was capable of expressing when + occasion required, to send to his own dwelling this Esculapius of Temple + Bar. + </p> + <p> + When they were rid of Mr. Raredrench, the charitable efforts of Jenkin and + Francis, to divest the patient of his long grey cloak, were firmly + resisted on his own part.—"My life suner—my life suner," he + muttered in indistinct murmurs. In these efforts to retain his upper + garment, which was too tender to resist much handling, it gave way at + length with a loud rent, which almost threw the patient into a second + syncope, and he sat before them in his under garments, the looped and + repaired wretchedness of which moved at once pity and laughter, and had + certainly been the cause of his unwillingness to resign the mantle, which, + like the virtue of charity, served to cover so many imperfections. + </p> + <p> + The man himself cast his eyes on his poverty-struck garb, and seemed so + much ashamed of the disclosure, that, muttering between his teeth, that he + would be too late for his appointment, he made an effort to rise and leave + the shop, which was easily prevented by Jenkin Vincent and his comrade, + who, at the nod of Master George, laid hold of and detained him in his + chair. + </p> + <p> + The patient next looked round him for a moment, and then said faintly, in + his broad northern language—"What sort of usage ca' ye this, + gentlemen, to a stranger a sojourner in your town? Ye hae broken my head—ye + hae riven my cloak, and now ye are for restraining my personal liberty! + They were wiser than me," he said, after a moment's pause, "that + counselled me to wear my warst claithing in the streets of London; and, if + I could have got ony things warse than these mean garments,"—("which + would have been very difficult," said Jin Vin, in a whisper to his + companion,)—"they would have been e'en ower gude for the grips o' + men sae little acquented with the laws of honest civility." + </p> + <p> + "To say the truth," said Jenkin, unable to forbear any longer, although + the discipline of the times prescribed to those in his situation a degree + of respectful distance and humility in the presence of parents, masters, + or seniors, of which the present age has no idea—"to say the truth, + the good gentleman's clothes look as if they would not brook much + handling." + </p> + <p> + "Hold your peace, young man," said Master George, with a tone of + authority; "never mock the stranger or the poor—the black ox has not + trod on your foot yet—you know not what lands you may travel in, or + what clothes you may wear, before you die." + </p> + <p> + Vincent held down his head and stood rebuked, but the stranger did not + accept the apology which was made for him. + </p> + <p> + "I <i>am</i> a stranger, sir," said he, "that is certain; though methinks, + that, being such, I have been somewhat familiarly treated in this town of + yours; but, as for my being poor, I think I need not be charged with + poverty, till I seek siller of somebody." + </p> + <p> + "The dear country all over," said Master George, in a whisper, to David + Ramsay, "pride and poverty." + </p> + <p> + But David had taken out his tablets and silver pen, and, deeply immersed + in calculations, in which he rambled over all the terms of arithmetic, + from the simple unit to millions, billions, and trillions, neither heard + nor answered the observation of his friend, who, seeing his abstraction, + turned again to the Scot. + </p> + <p> + "I fancy now, Jockey, if a stranger were to offer you a noble, you would + chuck it back at his head?" + </p> + <p> + "Not if I could do him honest service for it, sir," said the Scot; "I am + willing to do what I may to be useful, though I come of an honourable + house, and may be said to be in a sort indifferently weel provided for." + </p> + <p> + "Ay!" said the interrogator, "and what house may claim the honour of your + descent?" + </p> + <p> + "An ancient coat belongs to it, as the play says," whispered Vincent to + his companion. + </p> + <p> + "Come, Jockey, out with it," continued Master George, observing that the + Scot, as usual with his countrymen, when asked a blunt, straightforward + question, took a little time before answering it. + </p> + <p> + "I am no more Jockey, sir, than you are John," said the stranger, as if + offended at being addressed by a name, which at that time was used, as + Sawney now is, for a general appellative of the Scottish nation. "My name, + if you must know it, is Richie Moniplies; and I come of the old and + honourable house of Castle Collop, weel kend at the West-Port of + Edinburgh." + </p> + <p> + "What is that you call the West-Port?" proceeded the interrogator. + </p> + <p> + "Why, an it like your honour," said Richie, who now, having recovered his + senses sufficiently to observe the respectable exterior of Master George, + threw more civility into his manner than at first, "the West-Port is a + gate of our city, as yonder brick arches at Whitehall form the entrance of + the king's palace here, only that the West-Port is of stonern work, and + mair decorated with architecture and the policy of bigging." + </p> + <p> + "Nouns, man, the Whitehall gateways were planned by the great Holbein," + answered Master George; "I suspect your accident has jumbled your brains, + my good friend. I suppose you will tell me next, you have at Edinburgh as + fine a navigable river as the Thames, with all its shipping?" + </p> + <p> + "The Thames!" exclaimed Richie, in a tone of ineffable contempt—"God + bless your honour's judgment, we have at Edinburgh the Water-of-Leith and + the Nor-loch!" + </p> + <p> + "And the Pow-Burn, and the Quarry-holes, and the Gusedub, ye fause loon!" + answered Master George, speaking Scotch with a strong and natural + emphasis; "it is such land-loupers as you, that, with your falset and fair + fashions, bring reproach on our whole country." + </p> + <p> + "God forgie me, sir," said Richie, much surprised at finding the supposed + southron converted into a native Scot, "I took your honour for an + Englisher! But I hope there was naething wrang in standing up for ane's + ain country's credit in a strange land, where all men cry her down?" + </p> + <p> + "Do you call it for your country's credit, to show that she has a lying, + puffing rascal, for one of her children?" said Master George. "But come, + man, never look grave on it,—as you have found a countryman, so you + have found a friend, if you deserve one—and especially if you answer + me truly." + </p> + <p> + "I see nae gude it wad do me to speak ought else but truth," said the + worthy North Briton. + </p> + <p> + "Well, then—to begin," said Master George, "I suspect you are a son + of old Mungo Moniplies, the flesher, at the West-Port." + </p> + <p> + "Your honour is a witch, I think," said Richie, grinning. + </p> + <p> + "And how dared you, sir, to uphold him for a noble?" + </p> + <p> + "I dinna ken, sir," said Richie, scratching his head; "I hear muckle of an + Earl of Warwick in these southern parts,—Guy, I think his name was,—and + he has great reputation here for slaying dun cows, and boars, and such + like; and I am sure my father has killed more cows and boars, not to + mention bulls, calves, sheep, ewes, lambs, and pigs, than the haill + Baronage of England." + </p> + <p> + "Go to! you are a shrewd knave," said Master George; "charm your tongue, + and take care of saucy answers. Your father was an honest burgher, and the + deacon of his craft: I am sorry to see his son in so poor a coat." + </p> + <p> + "Indifferent, sir," said Richie Moniplies, looking down on his garments—"very + indifferent; but it is the wonted livery of poor burghers' sons in our + country—one of Luckie Want's bestowing upon us—rest us + patient! The king's leaving Scotland has taken all custom frae Edinburgh; + and there is hay made at the Cross, and a dainty crop of fouats in the + Grass-market. There is as much grass grows where my father's stall stood, + as might have been a good bite for the beasts he was used to kill." + </p> + <p> + "It is even too true," said Master George; "and while we make fortunes + here, our old neighbours and their families are starving at home. This + should be thought upon oftener.—And how came you by that broken + head, Richie?—tell me honestly." + </p> + <p> + "Troth, sir, I'se no lee about the matter," answered Moniplies. "I was + coming along the street here, and ilk ane was at me with their jests and + roguery. So I thought to mysell, ye are ower mony for me to mell with; but + let me catch ye in Barford's Park, or at the fit of the Vennel, I could + gar some of ye sing another sang. Sae ae auld hirpling deevil of a potter + behoved just to step in my way and offer me a pig, as he said, just to put + my Scotch ointment in, and I gave him a push, as but natural, and the + tottering deevil coupit ower amang his ain pigs, and damaged a score of + them. And then the reird raise, and hadna these twa gentlemen helped me + out of it, murdered I suld hae been, without remeid. And as it was, just + when they got haud of my arm to have me out of the fray, I got the lick + that donnerit me from a left-handed lighterman." + </p> + <p> + Master George looked to the apprentices as if to demand the truth of this + story. + </p> + <p> + "It is just as he says, sir," replied Jenkin; "only I heard nothing about + pigs.—The people said he had broke some crockery, and that—I + beg pardon, sir—nobody could thrive within the kenning of a Scot." + </p> + <p> + "Well, no matter what they said, you were an honest fellow to help the + weaker side.—And you, sirrah," continued Master George, addressing + his countryman, "will call at my house to-morrow morning, agreeable to + this direction." + </p> + <p> + "I will wait upon your honour," said the Scot, bowing very low; "that is, + if my honourable master will permit me." + </p> + <p> + "Thy master?" said George,—"Hast thou any other master save Want, + whose livery you say you wear?" + </p> + <p> + "Troth, in one sense, if it please your honour, I serve twa masters," said + Richie; "for both my master and me are slaves to that same beldam, whom we + thought to show our heels to by coming off from Scotland. So that you see, + sir, I hold in a sort of black ward tenure, as we call it in our country, + being the servant of a servant." + </p> + <p> + "And what is your master's name?" said Master George; and observing that + Richie hesitated, he added, "Nay, do not tell me, if it is a secret." + </p> + <p> + "A secret that there is little use in keeping," said Richie; "only ye ken + that our northern stomachs are ower proud to call in witnesses to our + distress. No that my master is in mair than present pinch, sir," he added, + looking towards the two English apprentices, "having a large sum in the + Royal Treasury—that is," he continued, in a whisper to Master + George,—"the king is owing him a lot of siller; but it's ill getting + at it, it's like.—My master is the young Lord Glenvarloch." + </p> + <p> + Master George testified surprise at the name.—"<i>You</i> one of the + young Lord Glenvarloch's followers, and in such a condition?" + </p> + <p> + "Troth, and I am all the followers he has, for the present that is; and + blithe wad I be if he were muckle better aff than I am, though I were to + bide as I am." + </p> + <p> + "I have seen his father with four gentlemen and ten lackeys at his heels," + said Master George, "rustling in their laces and velvets. Well, this is a + changeful world, but there is a better beyond it.—The good old house + of Glenvarloch, that stood by king and country five hundred years!" + </p> + <p> + "Your honour may say a thousand," said the follower. + </p> + <p> + "I will say what I know to be true, friend," said the citizen, "and not a + word more.—You seem well recovered now—can you walk?" + </p> + <p> + "Bravely, sir," said Richie; "it was but a bit dover. I was bred at the + West-Port, and my cantle will stand a clour wad bring a stot down." + </p> + <p> + "Where does your master lodge?" + </p> + <p> + "We pit up, an it like your honour," replied the Scot, "in a sma' house at + the fit of ane of the wynds that gang down to the water-side, with a + decent man, John Christie, a ship-chandler, as they ca't. His father came + from Dundee. I wotna the name of the wynd, but it's right anent the mickle + kirk yonder; and your honour will mind, that we pass only by our + family-name of simple Mr. Nigel Olifaunt, as keeping ourselves retired for + the present, though in Scotland we be called the Lord Nigel." + </p> + <p> + "It is wisely done of your master," said the citizen. "I will find out + your lodgings, though your direction be none of the clearest." So saying, + and slipping a piece of money at the same time into Richie Moniplies's + hand, he bade him hasten home, and get into no more affrays. + </p> + <p> + "I will take care of that now, sir," said Richie, with a look of + importance, "having a charge about me. And so, wussing ye a' weel, with + special thanks to these twa young gentlemen——" + </p> + <p> + "I am no gentleman," said Jenkin, flinging his cap on his head; "I am a + tight London 'prentice, and hope to be a freeman one day. Frank may write + himself gentleman, if he will." + </p> + <p> + "I <i>was</i> a gentleman once," said Tunstall, "and I hope I have done + nothing to lose the name of one." + </p> + <p> + "Weel, weel, as ye list," said Richie Moniplies; "but I am mickle beholden + to ye baith—and I am not a hair the less like to bear it in mind + that I say but little about it just now.—Gude-night to you, my kind + countryman." So saying, he thrust out of the sleeve of his ragged doublet + a long bony hand and arm, on which the muscles rose like whip-cord. Master + George shook it heartily, while Jenkin and Frank exchanged sly looks with + each other. + </p> + <p> + Richie Moniplies would next have addressed his thanks to the master of the + shop, but seeing him, as he afterwards said, "scribbling on his bit + bookie, as if he were demented," he contented his politeness with "giving + him a hat," touching, that is, his bonnet, in token of salutation, and so + left the shop. + </p> + <p> + "Now, there goes Scotch Jockey, with all his bad and good about him," said + Master George to Master David, who suspended, though unwillingly, the + calculations with which he was engaged, and keeping his pen within an inch + of the tablets, gazed on his friend with great lack-lustre eyes, which + expressed any thing rather than intelligence or interest in the discourse + addressed to him.—"That fellow," proceeded Master George, without + heeding his friend's state of abstraction, "shows, with great liveliness + of colouring, how our Scotch pride and poverty make liars and braggarts of + us; and yet the knave, whose every third word to an Englishman is a + boastful lie, will, I warrant you, be a true and tender friend and + follower to his master, and has perhaps parted with his mantle to him in + the cold blast, although he himself walked <i>in cuerpo,</i> as the Don + says.—Strange! that courage and fidelity—for I will warrant + that the knave is stout—should have no better companion than this + swaggering braggadocio humour.—But you mark me not, friend Davie." + </p> + <p> + "I do—I do, most heedfully," said Davie.—"For, as the sun + goeth round the dial-plate in twenty-four hours, add, for the moon, fifty + minutes and a half——" + </p> + <p> + "You are in the seventh heavens, man," said his companion. + </p> + <p> + "I crave your pardon," replied Davie.—"Let the wheel A go round in + twenty-four hours—I have it—and the wheel B in twenty-four + hours, fifty minutes and a half—fifty-seven being to fifty-four, as + fifty-nine to twenty-four hours, fifty minutes and a half, or very nearly,—I + crave your forgiveness, Master George, and heartily wish you good-even." + </p> + <p> + "Good-even?" said Master George; "why, you have not wished me good-day + yet. Come, old friend, lay by these tablets, or you will crack the inner + machinery of <i>your</i> skull, as our friend yonder has got the + outer-case of his damaged.—Good-night, quotha! I mean not to part + with you so easily. I came to get my four hours' nunchion from you, man, + besides a tune on the lute from my god-daughter, Mrs. Marget." + </p> + <p> + "Good faith! I was abstracted, Master George—but you know me. + Whenever I get amongst the wheels," said Mr. Ramsay, "why, 'tis——" + </p> + <p> + "Lucky that you deal in small ones," said his friend; as, awakened from + his reveries and calculations, Ramsay led the way up a little back-stair + to the first storey, occupied by his daughter and his little household. + </p> + <p> + The apprentices resumed their places in the front-shop, and relieved Sam + Porter; when Jenkin said to Tunstall—"Didst see, Frank, how the old + goldsmith cottoned in with his beggarly countryman? When would one of his + wealth have shaken hands so courteously with a poor Englishman?—Well, + I'll say that for the best of the Scots, that they will go over head and + ears to serve a countryman, when they will not wet a nail of their finger + to save a Southron, as they call us, from drowning. And yet Master George + is but half-bred Scot neither in that respect; for I have known him do + many a kind thing to the English too." + </p> + <p> + "But hark ye, Jenkin," said Tunstall, "I think you are but half-bred + English yourself. How came you to strike on the Scotsman's side after + all?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, you did so, too," answered Vincent. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, because I saw you begin; and, besides, it is no Cumberland fashion to + fall fifty upon one," replied Tunstall. + </p> + <p> + "And no Christ Church fashion neither," said Jenkin. "Fair play and Old + England for ever!—Besides, to tell you a secret, his voice had a + twang in it—in the dialect I mean—reminded me of a little + tongue, which I think sweeter—sweeter than the last toll of St. + Dunstan's will sound, on the day that I am shot of my indentures—Ha!—you + guess who I mean, Frank?" + </p> + <p> + "Not I, indeed," answered Tunstall.—"Scotch Janet, I suppose, the + laundress." + </p> + <p> + "Off with Janet in her own bucking-basket!—No, no, no!—You + blind buzzard,—do you not know I mean pretty Mrs. Marget?" + </p> + <p> + "Umph!" answered Tunstall, dryly. + </p> + <p> + A flash of anger, not unmingled with suspicion, shot from Jenkin's keen + black eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Umph!—and what signifies umph? I am not the first 'prentice has + married his master's daughter, I suppose?" + </p> + <p> + "They kept their own secret, I fancy," said Tunstall, "at least till they + were out of their time." + </p> + <p> + "I tell you what it is, Frank," answered Jenkin, sharply, "that may be the + fashion of you gentlefolks, that are taught from your biggin to carry two + faces under the same hood, but it shall never be mine." + </p> + <p> + "There are the stairs, then," said Tunstall, coolly; "go up and ask Mrs. + Marget of our master just now, and see what sort of a face he will wear + under <i>his</i> hood." + </p> + <p> + "No, I wonnot," answered Jenkin; "I am not such a fool as that neither. + But I will take my own time; and all the Counts in Cumberland shall not + cut my comb, and this is that which you may depend upon." + </p> + <p> + Francis made no reply; and they resumed their usual attention to the + business of the shop, and their usual solicitations to the passengers. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + <i>Bobadil.</i> I pray you, possess no gallant of your acquaintance with a + knowledge of my lodging. <i>Master Matthew.</i> Who, I, sir?—Lord, + sir! <i>Ben Jonson.</i> + </p> + <p> + The next morning found Nigel Olifaunt, the young Lord of Glenvarloch, + seated, sad and solitary, in his little apartment, in the mansion of John + Christie, the ship-chandler; which that honest tradesman, in gratitude + perhaps to the profession from which he derived his chief support, + appeared to have constructed as nearly as possible upon the plan of a + ship's cabin. + </p> + <p> + It was situated near to Paul's Wharf, at the end of one of those intricate + and narrow lanes, which, until that part of the city was swept away by the + Great Fire in 1666, constituted an extraordinary labyrinth of small, dark, + damp, and unwholesome streets and alleys, in one corner or other of which + the plague was then as surely found lurking, as in the obscure corners of + Constantinople in our own time. But John Christie's house looked out upon + the river, and had the advantage, therefore, of free air, impregnated, + however, with the odoriferous fumes of the articles in which the + ship-chandler dealt, with the odour of pitch, and the natural scent of the + ooze and sludge left by the reflux of the tide. + </p> + <p> + Upon the whole, except that his dwelling did not float with the + flood-tide, and become stranded with the ebb, the young lord was nearly as + comfortably accommodated as he was while on board the little trading brig + from the long town of Kirkaldy, in Fife, by which he had come a passenger + to London. He received, however, every attention which could be paid him + by his honest landlord, John Christie; for Richie Moniplies had not + thought it necessary to preserve his master's <i>incognito</i> so + completely, but that the honest ship-chandler could form a guess that his + guest's quality was superior to his appearance. + </p> + <p> + As for Dame Nelly, his wife, a round, buxom, laughter-loving dame, with + black eyes, a tight well-laced bodice, a green apron, and a red petticoat + edged with a slight silver lace, and judiciously shortened so as to show + that a short heel, and a tight clean ankle, rested upon her well-burnished + shoe,—she, of course, felt interest in a young man, who, besides + being very handsome, good-humoured, and easily satisfied with the + accommodations her house afforded, was evidently of a rank, as well as + manners, highly superior to the skippers (or Captains, as they called + themselves) of merchant vessels, who were the usual tenants of the + apartments which she let to hire; and at whose departure she was sure to + find her well-scrubbed floor soiled with the relics of tobacco, (which, + spite of King James's Counterblast, was then forcing itself into use,) and + her best curtains impregnated with the odour of Geneva and strong waters, + to Dame Nelly's great indignation; for, as she truly said, the smell of + the shop and warehouse was bad enough without these additions. + </p> + <p> + But all Mr. Olifaunt's habits were regular and cleanly, and his address, + though frank and simple, showed so much of the courtier and gentleman, as + formed a strong contrast with the loud halloo, coarse jests, and + boisterous impatience of her maritime inmates. Dame Nelly saw that her + guest was melancholy also, notwithstanding his efforts to seem contented + and cheerful; and, in short, she took that sort of interest in him, + without being herself aware of the extent, which an unscrupulous gallant + might have been tempted to improve to the prejudice of honest John, who + was at least a score of years older than his helpmate. Olifaunt, however, + had not only other matters to think of, but would have regarded such an + intrigue, had the idea ever occurred to him, as an abominable and + ungrateful encroachment upon the laws of hospitality, his religion having + been by his late father formed upon the strict principles of the national + faith, and his morality upon those of the nicest honour. He had not + escaped the predominant weakness of his country, an overweening sense of + the pride of birth, and a disposition to value the worth and consequence + of others according to the number and the fame of their deceased + ancestors; but this pride of family was well subdued, and in general + almost entirely concealed, by his good sense and general courtesy. + </p> + <p> + Such as we have described him, Nigel Olifaunt, or rather the young Lord + Glenvarloch, was, when our narrative takes him up, under great perplexity + respecting the fate of his trusty and only follower, Richard Moniplies, + who had been dispatched by his young master, early the preceding morning, + as far as the court at Westminster, but had not yet returned. His evening + adventures the reader is already acquainted with, and so far knows more of + Richie than did his master, who had not heard of him for twenty-four + hours. + </p> + <p> + Dame Nelly Christie, in the meantime, regarded her guest with some + anxiety, and a great desire to comfort him, if possible. She placed on the + breakfast-table a noble piece of cold powdered beef, with its usual guards + of turnip and carrot, recommended her mustard as coming direct from her + cousin at Tewkesbury, and spiced the toast with her own hands—and + with her own hands, also, drew a jug of stout and nappy ale, all of which + were elements of the substantial breakfast of the period. + </p> + <p> + When she saw that her guest's anxiety prevented him from doing justice to + the good cheer which she set before him, she commenced her career of + verbal consolation with the usual volubility of those women in her + station, who, conscious of good looks, good intentions, and good lungs, + entertain no fear either of wearying themselves or of fatiguing their + auditors. + </p> + <p> + "Now, what the good year! are we to send you down to Scotland as thin as + you came up?—I am sure it would be contrary to the course of nature. + There was my goodman's father, old Sandie Christie, I have heard he was an + atomy when he came up from the North, and I am sure he died, Saint Barnaby + was ten years, at twenty stone weight. I was a bare-headed girl at the + time, and lived in the neighbourhood, though I had little thought of + marrying John then, who had a score of years the better of me—but he + is a thriving man and a kind husband—and his father, as I was + saying, died as fat as a church-warden. Well, sir, but I hope I have not + offended you for my little joke—and I hope the ale is to your + honour's liking,—and the beef—and the mustard?" + </p> + <p> + "All excellent—all too good," answered Olifaunt; "you have every + thing so clean and tidy, dame, that I shall not know how to live when I go + back to my own country—if ever I go back there." + </p> + <p> + This was added as it seemed involuntarily, and with a deep sigh. + </p> + <p> + "I warrant your honour go back again if you like it," said the dame: + "unless you think rather of taking a pretty well-dowered English lady, as + some of your countryfolk have done. I assure you, some of the best of the + city have married Scotsmen. There was Lady Trebleplumb, Sir Thomas + Trebleplumb the great Turkey merchant's widow, married Sir Awley Macauley, + whom your honour knows, doubtless; and pretty Mistress Doublefee, old + Sergeant Doublefee's daughter, jumped out of window, and was married at + May-fair to a Scotsman with a hard name; and old Pitchpost the timber + merchant's daughters did little better, for they married two Irishmen; and + when folks jeer me about having a Scotsman for lodger, meaning your + honour, I tell them they are afraid of their daughters and their + mistresses; and sure I have a right to stand up for the Scots, since John + Christie is half a Scotsman, and a thriving man, and a good husband, + though there is a score of years between us; and so I would have your + honour cast care away, and mend your breakfast with a morsel and a + draught." + </p> + <p> + "At a word, my kind hostess, I cannot," said Olifaunt; "I am anxious about + this knave of mine, who has been so long absent in this dangerous town of + yours." + </p> + <p> + It may be noticed in passing that Dame Nelly's ordinary mode of + consolation was to disprove the existence of any cause for distress; and + she is said to have carried this so far as to comfort a neighbour, who had + lost her husband, with the assurance that the dear defunct would be better + to-morrow, which perhaps might not have proved an appropriate, even if it + had been a possible, mode of relief. + </p> + <p> + On this occasion she denied stoutly that Richie had been absent altogether + twenty hours; and as for people being killed in the streets of London, to + be sure two men had been found in Tower-ditch last week, but that was far + to the east, and the other poor man that had his throat cut in the fields, + had met his mishap near by Islington; and he that was stabbed by the young + Templar in a drunken frolic, by Saint Clement's in the Strand, was an + Irishman. All which evidence she produced to show that none of these + casualties had occurred in a case exactly parallel with that of Richie, a + Scotsman, and on his return from Westminster. + </p> + <p> + "My better comfort is, my good dame," answered Olifaunt, "that the lad is + no brawler or quarreller, unless strongly urged, and that he has nothing + valuable about him to any one but me." + </p> + <p> + "Your honour speaks very well," retorted the inexhaustible hostess, who + protracted her task of taking away, and putting to rights, in order that + she might prolong her gossip. "I'll uphold Master Moniplies to be neither + reveller nor brawler, for if he liked such things, he might be visiting + and junketing with the young folks about here in the neighbourhood, and he + never dreams of it; and when I asked the young man to go as far as my + gossip's, Dame Drinkwater, to taste a glass of aniseed, and a bit of the + groaning cheese,—for Dame Drinkwater has had twins, as I told your + honour, sir,—and I meant it quite civilly to the young man, but he + chose to sit and keep house with John Christie; and I dare say there is a + score of years between them, for your honour's servant looks scarce much + older than I am. I wonder what they could have to say to each other. I + asked John Christie, but he bid me go to sleep." + </p> + <p> + "If he comes not soon," said his master, "I will thank you to tell me what + magistrate I can address myself to; for besides my anxiety for the poor + fellow's safety, he has papers of importance about him." + </p> + <p> + "O! your honour may be assured he will be back in a quarter of an hour," + said Dame Nelly; "he is not the lad to stay out twenty-four hours at a + stretch. And for the papers, I am sure your honour will pardon him for + just giving me a peep at the corner, as I was giving him a small cup, not + so large as my thimble, of distilled waters, to fortify his stomach + against the damps, and it was directed to the King's Most Excellent + Majesty; and so doubtless his Majesty has kept Richie out of civility to + consider of your honour's letter, and send back a fitting reply." + </p> + <p> + Dame Nelly here hit by chance on a more available topic of consolation + than those she had hitherto touched upon; for the youthful lord had + himself some vague hopes that his messenger might have been delayed at + Court until a fitting and favourable answer should be dispatched back to + him. Inexperienced, however, in public affairs as he certainly was, it + required only a moment's consideration to convince him of the + improbability of an expectation so contrary to all he had heard of + etiquette, as well as the dilatory proceedings in a court suit, and he + answered the good-natured hostess with a sigh, that he doubted whether the + king would even look on the paper addressed to him, far less take it into + his immediate consideration. + </p> + <p> + "Now, out upon you for a faint-hearted gentleman!" said the good dame; + "and why should he not do as much for us as our gracious Queen Elizabeth? + Many people say this and that about a queen and a king, but I think a king + comes more natural to us English folks; and this good gentleman goes as + often down by water to Greenwich, and employs as many of the barge-men and + water-men of all kinds; and maintains, in his royal grace, John Taylor, + the water-poet, who keeps both a sculler and a pair of oars. And he has + made a comely Court at Whitehall, just by the river; and since the king is + so good a friend to the Thames, I cannot see, if it please your honour, + why all his subjects, and your honour in specialty, should not have + satisfaction by his hands." + </p> + <p> + "True, dame—true,—let us hope for the best; but I must take my + cloak and rapier, and pray your husband in courtesy to teach me the way to + a magistrate." + </p> + <p> + "Sure, sir," said the prompt dame, "I can do that as well as he, who has + been a slow man of his tongue all his life, though I will give him his due + for being a loving husband, and a man as well to pass in the world as any + betwixt us and the top of the lane. And so there is the sitting alderman, + that is always at the Guildhall, which is close by Paul's, and so I + warrant you he puts all to rights in the city that wisdom can mend; and + for the rest there is no help but patience. But I wish I were as sure of + forty pounds as I am that the young man will come back safe and sound." + </p> + <p> + Olifaunt, in great and anxious doubt of what the good dame so strongly + averred, flung his cloak on one shoulder, and was about to belt on his + rapier, when first the voice of Richie Moniplies on the stair, and then + that faithful emissary's appearance in the chamber, put the matter beyond + question. Dame Nelly, after congratulating Moniplies on his return, and + paying several compliments to her own sagacity for having foretold it, was + at length pleased to leave the apartment. The truth was, that, besides + some instinctive feelings of good breeding which combated her curiosity, + she saw there was no chance of Richie's proceeding in his narrative while + she was in the room, and she therefore retreated, trusting that her own + address would get the secret out of one or other of the young men, when + she should have either by himself. + </p> + <p> + "Now, in Heaven's name, what is the matter?" said Nigel Olifaunt.—"Where + have you been, or what have you been about? You look as pale as death. + There is blood on your hand, and your clothes are torn. What + barns-breaking have you been at? You have been drunk, Richard, and + fighting." + </p> + <p> + "Fighting I have been," said Richard, "in a small way; but for being + drunk, that's a job ill to manage in this town, without money to come by + liquor; and as for barns-breaking, the deil a thing's broken but my head. + It's not made of iron, I wot, nor my claithes of chenzie-mail; so a club + smashed the tane, and a claught damaged the tither. Some misleard rascals + abused my country, but I think I cleared the causey of them. However, the + haill hive was ower mony for me at last, and I got this eclipse on the + crown, and then I was carried, beyond my kenning, to a sma' booth at the + Temple Port, whare they sell the whirligigs and mony-go-rounds that + measure out time as a man wad measure a tartan web; and then they bled me, + wold I nold I, and were reasonably civil, especially an auld country-man + of ours, of whom more hereafter." + </p> + <p> + "And at what o'clock might this be?" said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "The twa iron carles yonder, at the kirk beside the Port, were just + banging out sax o' the clock." + </p> + <p> + "And why came you not home as soon as you recovered?" said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "In troth, my lord, every <i>why</i> has its <i>wherefore</i>, and this + has a gude ane," answered his follower. "To come hame, I behoved to ken + whare hame was; now, I had clean tint the name of the wynd, and the mair I + asked, the mair the folk leugh, and the farther they sent me wrang; sae I + gave it up till God should send daylight to help me; and as I saw mysell + near a kirk at the lang run, I e'en crap in to take up my night's quarters + in the kirkyard." + </p> + <p> + "In the churchyard?" said Nigel—"But I need not ask what drove you + to such a pinch." + </p> + <p> + "It wasna sae much the want o' siller, my Lord Nigel," said Richie, with + an air of mysterious importance, "for I was no sae absolute without means, + of whilk mair anon; but I thought I wad never ware a saxpence sterling on + ane of their saucy chamberlains at a hostelry, sae lang as I could sleep + fresh and fine in a fair, dry, spring night. Mony a time, when I hae come + hame ower late, and faund the West-Port steekit, and the waiter ill-willy, + I have garr'd the sexton of Saint Cuthbert's calf-ward serve me for my + quarters. But then there are dainty green graffs in Saint Cuthbert's + kirkyard, whare ane may sleep as if they were in a down-bed, till they + hear the lavrock singing up in the air as high as the Castle; whereas, and + behold, these London kirkyards are causeyed with through-stanes, panged + hard and fast thegither; and my cloak being something threadbare, made but + a thin mattress, so I was fain to give up my bed before every limb about + me was crippled. Dead folks may sleep yonder sound enow, but deil haet + else." + </p> + <p> + "And what became of you next?" said his master. + </p> + <p> + "I just took to a canny bulkhead, as they ca' them here; that is, the + boards on the tap of their bits of outshots of stalls and booths, and + there I sleepit as sound as if I was in a castle. Not but I was disturbed + with some of the night-walking queans and swaggering billies, but when + they found there was nothing to be got by me but a slash of my Andrew + Ferrara, they bid me good-night for a beggarly Scot; and I was e'en weel + pleased to be sae cheap rid of them. And in the morning, I cam daikering + here, but sad wark I had to find the way, for I had been east as far as + the place they ca' Mile-End, though it is mair like sax-mile-end." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Richie," answered Nigel, "I am glad all this has ended so well—go + get something to eat. I am sure you need it." + </p> + <p> + "In troth do I, sir," replied Moniplies; "but, with your lordship's leave—" + </p> + <p> + "Forget the lordship for the present, Richie, as I have often told you + before." + </p> + <p> + "Faith," replied Richie, "I could weel forget that your honour was a lord, + but then I behoved to forget that I am a lord's man, and that's not so + easy. But, however," he added, assisting his description with the thumb + and the two forefingers of his right hand, thrust out after the fashion of + a bird's claw, while the little finger and ring-finger were closed upon + the palm, "to the Court I went, and my friend that promised me a sight of + his Majesty's most gracious presence, was as gude as his word, and carried + me into the back offices, where I got the best breakfast I have had since + we came here, and it did me gude for the rest of the day; for as to what I + have eaten in this accursed town, it is aye sauced with the disquieting + thought that it maun be paid for. After a', there was but beef banes and + fat brose; but king's cauff, your honour kens, is better than ither folk's + corn; at ony rate, it was a' in free awmous.—But I see," he added, + stopping short, "that your honour waxes impatient." + </p> + <p> + "By no means, Richie," said the young nobleman, with an air of + resignation, for he well knew his domestic would not mend his pace for + goading; "you have suffered enough in the embassy to have a right to tell + the story in your own way. Only let me pray for the name of the friend who + was to introduce you into the king's presence. You were very mysterious on + the subject, when you undertook, through his means, to have the + Supplication put into his Majesty's own hands, since those sent + heretofore, I have every reason to think, went no farther than his + secretary's." + </p> + <p> + "Weel, my lord," said Richie, "I did not tell you his name and quality at + first, because I thought you would be affronted at the like of him having + to do in your lordship's affairs. But mony a man climbs up in Court by + waur help. It was just Laurie Linklater, one of the yeomen of the kitchen, + that was my father's apprentice lang syne." + </p> + <p> + "A yeoman in the kitchen—a scullion!" exclaimed Lord Nigel, pacing + the room in displeasure. + </p> + <p> + "But consider, sir," said Richie, composedly, "that a' your great friends + hung back, and shunned to own you, or to advocate your petition; and then, + though I am sure I wish Laurie a higher office, for your lordship's sake + and for mine, and specially for his ain sake, being a friendly lad, yet + your lordship must consider, that a scullion, if a yeoman of the king's + most royal kitchen may be called a scullion, may weel rank with a + master-cook elsewhere; being that king's cauff, as I said before, is + better than—" + </p> + <p> + "You are right, and I was wrong," said the young nobleman. "I have no + choice of means of making my case known, so that they be honest." + </p> + <p> + "Laurie is as honest a lad as ever lifted a ladle," said Richie; "not but + what I dare to say he can lick his fingers like other folk, and reason + good. But, in fine, for I see your honour is waxing impatient, he brought + me to the palace, where a' was astir for the king going out to hunt or + hawk on Blackheath, I think they ca'd it. And there was a horse stood with + all the quarries about it, a bonny grey as ever was foaled; and the saddle + and the stirrups, and the curb and bit, o' burning gowd, or silver gilded + at least; and down, sir, came the king, with all his nobles, dressed out + in his hunting-suit of green, doubly laced, and laid down with gowd. I + minded the very face o' him, though it was lang since I saw him. But my + certie, lad, thought I, times are changed since ye came fleeing down the + back stairs of auld Holyrood House, in grit fear, having your breeks in + your hand without time to put them on, and Frank Stewart, the wild Earl of + Bothwell, hard at your haunches; and if auld Lord Glenvarloch hadna cast + his mantle about his arm, and taken bluidy wounds mair than ane in your + behalf, you wald not have craw'd sae crouse this day; and so saying, I + could not but think your lordship's Sifflication could not be less than + most acceptable; and so I banged in among the crowd of lords. Laurie + thought me mad, and held me by the cloak-lap till the cloth rave in his + hand; and so I banged in right before the king just as he mounted, and + crammed the Sifflication into his hand, and he opened it like in amaze; + and just as he saw the first line, I was minded to make a reverence, and I + had the ill luck to hit his jaud o' a beast on the nose with my hat, and + scaur the creature, and she swarved aside, and the king, that sits na + mickle better than a draff-pock on the saddle, was like to have gotten a + clean coup, and that might have cost my craig a raxing-and he flung down + the paper amang the beast's feet, and cried, 'Away wi' the fause loon that + brought it!' And they grippit me, and cried treason; and I thought of the + Ruthvens that were dirked in their ain house, for, it may be, as small a + forfeit. However, they spak only of scourging me, and had me away to the + porter's lodge to try the tawse on my back, and I was crying mercy as loud + as I could; and the king, when he had righted himself on the saddle, and + gathered his breath, cried to do me nae harm; for, said he, he is ane of + our ain Norland stots, I ken by the rowt of him,—and they a' laughed + and rowted loud eneugh. And then he said, 'Gie him a copy of the + Proclamation, and let him go down to the North by the next light collier, + before waur come o't.' So they let me go, and rode out, a sniggering, + laughing, and rounding in ilk ither's lugs. A sair life I had wi' Laurie + Linklater; for he said it wad be the ruin of him. And then, when I told + him it was in your matter, he said if he had known before he would have + risked a scauding for you, because he minded the brave old lord, your + father. And then he showed how I suld have done,—and that I suld + have held up my hand to my brow, as if the grandeur of the king and his + horse-graith thegither had casten the glaiks in my een, and mair jackanape + tricks I suld hae played, instead of offering the Sifflication, he said, + as if I had been bringing guts to a bear." [Footnote: I am certain this + prudential advice is not original on Mr. Linklater's part, but I am not at + present able to produce my authority. I think it amounted to this, that + James flung down a petition presented by some supplicant who paid no + compliments to his horse, and expressed no admiration at the splendour of + his furniture, saying, "Shall a king cumber himself about the petition of + a beggar, while the beggar disregards the king's splendour?" It is, I + think, Sir John Harrington who recommends, as a sure mode to the king's + favour, to praise the paces of the royal palfrey.] + </p> + <p> + 'For,' said he, 'Richie, the king is a weel-natured and just man of his + ain kindly nature, but he has a wheen maggots that maun be cannily guided; + and then, Richie,' says he, in a very laigh tone, 'I would tell it to nane + but a wise man like yoursell, but the king has them about him wad corrupt + an angel from heaven; but I could have gi'en you avisement how to have + guided him, but now it's like after meat mustard.'—'Aweel, aweel, + Laurie,' said I, 'it may be as you say', but since I am clear of the tawse + and the porter's lodge, sifflicate wha like, deil hae Richie Moniplies if + he come sifflicating here again.'—And so away I came, and I wasna + far by the Temple Port, or Bar, or whatever they ca' it, when I met with + the misadventure that I tauld you of before." + </p> + <p> + "Well, my honest Richie," said Lord Nigel, "your attempt was well meant, + and not so ill conducted, I think, as to have deserved so bad an issue; + but go to your beef and mustard, and we'll talk of the rest afterwards." + </p> + <p> + "There is nae mair to be spoken, sir," said his follower, "except that I + met ane very honest, fair-spoken, weel-put-on gentleman, or rather + burgher, as I think, that was in the whigmaleery man's back-shop; and when + he learned wha I was, behold he was a kindly Scot himsell, and, what is + more, a town's-bairn o' the gude town, and he behoved to compel me to take + this Portugal piece, to drink, forsooth—my certie, thought I, we ken + better, for we will eat it—and he spoke of paying your lordship a + visit." + </p> + <p> + "You did not tell him where I lived, you knave?" said the Lord Nigel, + angrily. "'Sdeath! I shall have every clownish burgher from Edinburgh come + to gaze on my distress, and pay a shilling for having seen the motion of + the Poor Noble!" + </p> + <p> + "Tell him where you lived?" said Richie, evading the question; "How could + I tell him what I kendna mysell? If I had minded the name of the wynd, I + need not have slept in the kirkyard yestreen." + </p> + <p> + "See, then, that you give no one notice of our lodging," said the young + nobleman; "those with whom I have business I can meet at Paul's, or in the + Court of Requests." + </p> + <p> + "This is steeking the stable-door when the steed is stolen," thought + Richie to himself; "but I must put him on another pin." + </p> + <p> + So thinking, he asked the young lord what was in the Proclamation which he + still held folded in his hand; "for, having little time to spell at it," + said he, "your lordship well knows I ken nought about it but the grand + blazon at the tap—the lion has gotten a claught of our auld Scottish + shield now, but it was as weel upheld when it had a unicorn on ilk side of + it." + </p> + <p> + Lord Nigel read the Proclamation, and he coloured deep with shame and + indignation as he read; for the purport was, to his injured feelings, like + the pouring of ardent spirits upon a recent wound. + </p> + <p> + "What deil's in the paper, my lord?" said Richie, unable to suppress his + curiosity as he observed his master change colour; "I wadna ask such a + thing, only the Proclamation is not a private thing, but is meant for a' + men's hearing." + </p> + <p> + "It is indeed meant for all men's hearing," replied Lord Nigel, "and it + proclaims the shame of our country, and the ingratitude of our Prince." + </p> + <p> + "Now the Lord preserve us! and to publish it in London, too!" ejaculated + Moniplies. + </p> + <p> + "Hark ye, Richard," said Nigel Olifaunt, "in this paper the Lords of the + Council set forth, that, 'in consideration of the resort of idle persons + of low condition forth from his Majesty's kingdom of Scotland to his + English Court—filling the same with their suits and supplications, + and dishonouring the royal presence with their base, poor, and beggarly + persons, to the disgrace of their country in the estimation of the + English; these are to prohibit the skippers, masters of vessels and + others, in every part of Scotland, from bringing such miserable creatures + up to Court under pain of fine and impisonment."' + </p> + <p> + "I marle the skipper took us on board," said Richie. + </p> + <p> + "Then you need not marvel how you are to get back again," said Lord Nigel, + "for here is a clause which says, that such idle suitors are to be + transported back to Scotland at his Majesty's expense, and punished for + their audacity with stripes, stocking, or incarceration, according to + their demerits—that is to say, I suppose, according to the degree of + their poverty, for I see no other demerit specified." + </p> + <p> + "This will scarcely," said Richie, "square with our old proverb— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A King's face + Should give grace— +</pre> + <p> + But what says the paper farther, my lord?" + </p> + <p> + "O, only a small clause which especially concerns us, making some still + heavier denunciations against those suitors who shall be so bold as to + approach the Court, under pretext of seeking payment of old debts due to + them by the king, which, the paper states, is, of all species of + importunity, that which is most odious to his Majesty." + </p> + <p> + "The king has neighbours in that matter," said Richie; "but it is not + every one that can shift off that sort of cattle so easily as he does." + </p> + <p> + Their conversation was here interrupted by a knocking at the door. + Olifaunt looked out at the window, and saw an elderly respectable person + whom he knew not. Richie also peeped, and recognised, but, recognising, + chose not to acknowledge, his friend of the preceding evening. Afraid that + his share in the visit might be detected, he made his escape out of the + apartment under pretext of going to his breakfast; and left their landlady + the task of ushering Master George into Lord Nigel's apartment, which she + performed with much courtesy. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Ay, sir, the clouted shoe hath oft times craft in't, + As says the rustic proverb; and your citizen, + In's grogram suit, gold chain, and well-black'd shoes, + Bears under his flat cap ofttimes a brain + Wiser than burns beneath the cap and feather, + Or seethes within the statesman's velvet nightcap. + <i>Read me my Riddle.</i> +</pre> + <p> + The young Scottish nobleman received the citizen with distant politeness, + expressing that sort of reserve by which those of the higher ranks are + sometimes willing to make a plebeian sensible that he is an intruder. But + Master George seemed neither displeased nor disconcerted. He assumed the + chair, which, in deference to his respectable appearance, Lord Nigel + offered to him, and said, after a moment's pause, during which he had + looked attentively at the young man, with respect not unmingled with + emotion—"You will forgive me for this rudeness, my lord; but I was + endeavouring to trace in your youthful countenance the features of my good + old lord, your excellent father." + </p> + <p> + There was a moment's pause ere young Glenvarloch replied, still with a + reserved manner,—"I have been reckoned like my father, sir; and am + happy to see any one that respects his memory. But the business which + calls me to this city is of a hasty as well as a private nature, and—" + </p> + <p> + "I understand the hint, my lord," said Master George, "and would not be + guilty of long detaining you from business, or more agreeable + conversation. My errand is almost done when I have said that my name is + George Heriot, warmly befriended, and introduced into the employment of + the Royal Family of Scotland, more than twenty years since, by your + excellent father; and that, learning from a follower of yours that your + lordship was in this city in prosecution of some business of importance, + it is my duty,—it is my pleasure,—to wait on the son of my + respected patron; and, as I am somewhat known both at the Court, and in + the city, to offer him such aid in the furthering of his affairs as my + credit and experience may be able to afford." + </p> + <p> + "I have no doubt of either, Master Heriot," said Lord Nigel, "and I thank + you heartily for the good-will with which you have placed them at a + stranger's disposal; but my business at Court is done and ended, and I + intend to leave London and, indeed, the island, for foreign travel and + military service. I may add, that the suddenness of my departure occasions + my having little time at my disposal." + </p> + <p> + Master Heriot did not take the hint, but sat fast, with an embarrassed + countenance however, like one who had something to say that he knew not + exactly how to make effectual. At length he said, with a dubious smile, + "You are fortunate, my lord, in having so soon dispatched your business at + Court. Your talking landlady informs me you have been but a fortnight in + this city. It is usually months and years ere the Court and a suitor shake + hands and part." + </p> + <p> + "My business," said Lord Nigel, with a brevity which was intended to stop + further discussion, "was summarily dispatched." + </p> + <p> + Still Master Heriot remained seated, and there was a cordial good-humour + added to the reverence of his appearance, which rendered it impossible for + Lord Nigel to be more explicit in requesting his absence. + </p> + <p> + "Your lordship has not yet had time," said the citizen, still attempting + to sustain the conversation, "to visit the places of amusement,—the + playhouses, and other places to which youth resort. But I see in your + lordship's hand one of the new-invented plots of the piece, [Footnote: + Meaning, probably, playbills.] which they hand about of late—May I + ask what play?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! a well-known piece," said Lord Nigel, impatiently throwing down the + Proclamation, which he had hitherto been twisting to and fro in his hand,—"an + excellent and well-approved piece—<i>A New Way to Pay Old Debts.</i>" + </p> + <p> + Master Heriot stooped down, saying, "Ah! my old acquaintance, Philip + Massinger;" but, having opened the paper and seen the purport, he looked + at Lord Nigel with surprise, saying, "I trust your lordship does not think + this prohibition can extend either to <i>your</i> person or your claims?" + </p> + <p> + "I should scarce have thought so myself," said the young nobleman; "but so + it proves. His Majesty, to close this discourse at once, has been pleased + to send me this Proclamation, in answer to a respectful Supplication for + the repayment of large loans advanced by my father for the service of the + State, in the king's utmost emergencies." + </p> + <p> + "It is impossible!" said the citizen—"it is absolutely impossible!—If + the king could forget what was due to your father's memory, still he would + not have wished—would not, I may say, have dared—to be so + flagrantly unjust to the memory of such a man as your father, who, dead in + the body, will long live in the memory of the Scottish people." + </p> + <p> + "I should have been of your opinion," answered Lord Nigel, in the same + tone as before; "but there is no fighting with facts." + </p> + <p> + "What was the tenor of this Supplication?" said Heriot; "or by whom was it + presented? Something strange there must have been in the contents, or else—" + </p> + <p> + "You may see my original draught," said the young lord, taking it out of a + small travelling strong-box; "the technical part is by my lawyer in + Scotland, a skilful and sensible man; the rest is my own, drawn, I hope, + with due deference and modesty." + </p> + <p> + Master Heriot hastly cast his eye over the draught. "Nothing," he said, + "can be more well-tempered and respectful. Is it possible the king can + have treated this petition with contempt?" + </p> + <p> + "He threw it down on the pavement," said the Lord of Glenvarloch, "and + sent me for answer that Proclamation, in which he classes me with the + paupers and mendicants from Scotland, who disgrace his Court in the eyes + of the proud English—that is all. Had not my father stood by him + with heart, sword, and fortune, he might never have seen the Court of + England himself." + </p> + <p> + "But by whom was this Supplication presented, my lord?" said Heriot; "for + the distaste taken at the messenger will sometimes extend itself to the + message." + </p> + <p> + "By my servant," said the Lord Nigel; "by the man you saw, and, I think, + were kind to." + </p> + <p> + "By your servant, my lord?" said the citizen; "he seems a shrewd fellow, + and doubtless a faithful; but surely—" + </p> + <p> + "You would say," said Lord Nigel, "he is no fit messenger to a king's + presence?—Surely he is not; but what could I do? Every attempt I had + made to lay my case before the king had miscarried, and my petitions got + no farther than the budgets of clerks and secretaries; this fellow + pretended he had a friend in the household that would bring him to the + king's presence,—and so—" + </p> + <p> + "I understand," said Heriot; "but, my lord, why should you not, in right + of your rank and birth, have appeared at Court, and required an audience, + which could not have been denied to you?" + </p> + <p> + The young lord blushed a little, and looked at his dress, which was very + plain; and, though in perfect good order, had the appearance of having + seen service. + </p> + <p> + "I know not why I should be ashamed of speaking the truth," he said, after + a momentary hesitation,—"I had no dress suitable for appearing at + Court. I am determined to incur no expenses which I cannot discharge; and + I think you, sir, would not advise me to stand at the palace-door, in + person, and deliver my petition, along with those who are in very deed + pleading their necessity, and begging an alms." + </p> + <p> + "That had been, indeed, unseemly," said the citizen; "but yet, my lord, my + mind runs strangely that there must be some mistake.—Can I speak + with your domestic?" + </p> + <p> + "I see little good it can do," answered the young lord, "but the interest + you take in my misfortunes seems sincere, and therefore——" He + stamped on the floor, and in a few seconds afterwards Moniplies appeared, + wiping from his beard and mustaches the crumbs of bread, and the froth of + the ale-pot, which plainly showed how he had been employed.—"Will + your lordship grant permission," said Heriot, "that I ask your groom a few + questions?" + </p> + <p> + "His lordship's page, Master George," answered Moniplies, with a nod of + acknowledgment, "if you are minded to speak according to the letter." + </p> + <p> + "Hold your saucy tongue," said his master, "and reply distinctly to the + questions you are to be asked." + </p> + <p> + "And <i>truly,</i> if it like your pageship," said the citizen, "for you + may remember I have a gift to discover falset." + </p> + <p> + "Weel, weel, weel," replied the domestic, somewhat embarrassed, in spite + of his effrontery—"though I think that the sort of truth that serves + my master, may weel serve ony ane else." + </p> + <p> + "Pages lie to their masters by right of custom," said the citizen; "and + you write yourself in that band, though I think you be among the oldest of + such springalds; but to me you must speak truth, if you would not have it + end in the whipping-post." + </p> + <p> + "And that's e'en a bad resting-place," said the well-grown page; "so come + away with your questions, Master George." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then," demanded the citizen, "I am given to understand that you + yesterday presented to his Majesty's hand a Supplication, or petition, + from this honourable lord, your master." + </p> + <p> + "Troth, there's nae gainsaying that, sir," replied Moniplies; "there were + enow to see it besides me." + </p> + <p> + "And you pretend that his Majesty flung it from him with contempt?" said + the citizen. "Take heed, for I have means of knowing the truth; and you + were better up to the neck in the Nor-Loch, which you like so well, than + tell a leasing where his Majesty's name is concerned." + </p> + <p> + "There is nae occasion for leasing-making about the matter," answered + Moniplies, firmly; "his Majesty e'en flung it frae him as if it had + dirtied his fingers." + </p> + <p> + "You hear, sir," said Olifaunt, addressing Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "Hush!" said the sagacious citizen; "this fellow is not ill named—he + has more plies than one in his cloak. Stay, fellow," for Moniplies, + muttering somewhat about finishing his breakfast, was beginning to shamble + towards the door, "answer me this farther question—When you gave + your master's petition to his Majesty, gave you nothing with it?" + </p> + <p> + "Ou, what should I give wi' it, ye ken, Master George?" + </p> + <p> + "That is what I desire and insist to know," replied his interrogator. + </p> + <p> + "Weel, then—I am not free to say, that maybe I might not just slip + into the king's hand a wee bit Sifflication of mine ain, along with my + lord's—just to save his Majesty trouble—and that he might + consider them baith at ance." + </p> + <p> + "A supplication of your own, you varlet!" said his master. + </p> + <p> + "Ou dear, ay, my lord," said Richie—"puir bodies hae their bits of + sifflications as weel as their betters." + </p> + <p> + "And pray, what might your worshipful petition import?" said Master + Heriot.—"Nay, for Heaven's sake, my lord, keep your patience, or we + shall never learn the truth of this strange matter.—Speak out, + sirrah, and I will stand your friend with my lord." + </p> + <p> + "It's a lang story to tell—but the upshot is, that it's a scrape of + an auld accompt due to my father's yestate by her Majesty the king's maist + gracious mother, when she lived in the Castle, and had sundry providings + and furnishings forth of our booth, whilk nae doubt was an honour to my + father to supply, and whilk, doubtless, it will be a credit to his Majesty + to satisfy, as it will be grit convenience to me to receive the saam." + </p> + <p> + "What string of impertinence is this?" said his master. + </p> + <p> + "Every word as true as e'er John Knox spoke," said Richie; "here's the bit + double of the Sifflication." + </p> + <p> + Master George took a crumpled paper from the fellow's hand, and said, + muttering betwixt his teeth—"'Humbly showeth—um—um—his + Majesty's maist gracious mother—um—um—justly addebted + and owing the sum of fifteen merks—the compt whereof followeth—Twelve + nowte's feet for jellies—ane lamb, being Christmas—ane roasted + capin in grease for the privy chalmer, when my Lord of Bothwell suppit + with her Grace.'—I think, my lord, you can hardly be surprised that + the king gave this petition a brisk reception; and I conclude, Master + Page, that you took care to present your own Supplication before your + master's?" + </p> + <p> + "Troth did I not," answered Moniplies. "I thought to have given my lord's + first, as was reason gude; and besides that, it wad have redd the gate for + my ain little bill. But what wi' the dirdum an' confusion, an' the loupin + here and there of the skeigh brute of a horse, I believe I crammed them + baith into his hand cheek-by-jowl, and maybe my ain was bunemost; and say + there was aught wrang, I am sure I had a' the fright and a' the risk—" + </p> + <p> + "And shall have all the beating, you rascal knave," said Nigel; "am I to + be insulted and dishonoured by your pragmatical insolence, in blending + your base concerns with mine?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay, nay, my lord," said the good-humoured citizen, interposing, "I + have been the means of bringing the fellow's blunder to light—allow + me interest enough with your lordship to be bail for his bones. You have + cause to be angry, but still I think the knave mistook more out of conceit + than of purpose; and I judge you will have the better service of him + another time, if you overlook this fault—Get you gone, sirrah—I'll + make your peace." + </p> + <p> + "Na, na," said Moniplies, keeping his ground firmly, "if he likes to + strike a lad that has followed him for pure love, for I think there has + been little servant's fee between us, a' the way frae Scotland, just let + my lord be doing, and see the credit he will get by it—and I would + rather (mony thanks to you though, Master George) stand by a lick of his + baton, than it suld e'er be said a stranger came between us." + </p> + <p> + "Go, then," said his master, "and get out of my sight." + </p> + <p> + "Aweel I wot that is sune done," said Moniplies, retiring slowly; "I did + not come without I had been ca'd for—and I wad have been away half + an hour since with my gude will, only Maister George keepit me to answer + his interrogation, forsooth, and that has made a' this stir." + </p> + <p> + And so he made his grumbling exit, with the tone much rather of one who + has sustained an injury, than who has done wrong. + </p> + <p> + "There never was a man so plagued as I am with a malapert knave!—The + fellow is shrewd, and I have found him faithful—I believe he loves + me, too, and he has given proofs of it—but then he is so uplifted in + his own conceit, so self-willed, and so self-opinioned, that he seems to + become the master and I the man; and whatever blunder he commits, he is + sure to make as loud complaints, as if the whole error lay with me, and in + no degree with himself." + </p> + <p> + "Cherish him, and maintain him, nevertheless," said the citizen; "for + believe my grey hairs, that affection and fidelity are now rarer qualities + in a servitor, than when the world was younger. Yet, trust him, my good + lord, with no commission above his birth or breeding, for you see yourself + how it may chance to fall." + </p> + <p> + "It is but too evident, Master Heriot," said the young nobleman; "and I am + sorry I have done injustice to my sovereign, and your master. But I am, + like a true Scotsman, wise behind hand—the mistake has happened—my + Supplication has been refused, and my only resource is to employ the rest + of my means to carry Moniplies and myself to some counter-scarp, and die + in the battle-front like my ancestors." + </p> + <p> + "It were better to live and serve your country like your noble father, my + lord," replied Master George. "Nay, nay, never look down or shake your + head—the king has not refused your Supplication, for he has not seen + it—you ask but justice, and that his place obliges him to give to + his subjects—ay, my lord, and I will say that his natural temper + doth in this hold bias with his duty." + </p> + <p> + "I were well pleased to think so, and yet——" said Nigel + Olifaunt,—"I speak not of my own wrongs, but my country hath many + that are unredressed." + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said Master Heriot, "I speak of my royal master, not only with + the respect due from a subject—the gratitude to be paid by a + favoured servant, but also with the frankness of a free and loyal + Scotsman. The king is himself well disposed to hold the scales of justice + even; but there are those around him who can throw without detection their + own selfish wishes and base interests into the scale. You are already a + sufferer by this, and without your knowing it." + </p> + <p> + "I am surprised, Master Heriot," said the young lord, "to hear you, upon + so short an acquaintance, talk as if you were familiarly acquainted with + my affairs." + </p> + <p> + "My lord," replied the goldsmith, "the nature of my employment affords me + direct access to the interior of the palace; I am well known to be no + meddler in intrigues or party affairs, so that no favourite has as yet + endeavoured to shut against me the door of the royal closet; on the + contrary, I have stood well with each while he was in power, and I have + not shared the fall of any. But I cannot be thus connected with the Court, + without hearing, even against my will, what wheels are in motion, and how + they are checked or forwarded. Of course, when I choose to seek such + intelligence, I know the sources in which it is to be traced. I have told + you why I was interested in your lordship's fortunes. It was last night + only that I knew you were in this city, yet I have been able, in coming + hither this morning, to gain for you some information respecting the + impediments to your suit." + </p> + <p> + "Sir, I am obliged by your zeal, however little it may be merited," + answered Nigel, still with some reserve; "yet I hardly know how I have + deserved this interest." + </p> + <p> + "First let me satisfy you that it is real," said the citizen; "I blame you + not for being unwilling to credit the fair professions of a stranger in my + inferior class of society, when you have met so little friendship from + relations, and those of your own rank, bound to have assisted you by so + many ties. But mark the cause. There is a mortgage over your father's + extensive estate, to the amount of 40,000 merks, due ostensibly to + Peregrine Peterson, the Conservator of Scottish Privileges at Campvere." + </p> + <p> + "I know nothing of a mortgage," said the young lord; "but there is a + wadset for such a sum, which, if unredeemed, will occasion the forfeiture + of my whole paternal estate, for a sum not above a fourth of its value—and + it is for that very reason that I press the king's government for a + settlement of the debts due to my father, that I may be able to redeem my + land from this rapacious creditor." + </p> + <p> + "A wadset in Scotland," said Heriot, "is the same with a mortgage on this + side of the Tweed; but you are not acquainted with your real creditor. The + Conservator Peterson only lends his name to shroud no less a man than the + Lord Chancellor of Scotland, who hopes, under cover of this debt, to gain + possession of the estate himself, or perhaps to gratify a yet more + powerful third party. He will probably suffer his creature Peterson to + take possession, and when the odium of the transaction shall be forgotten, + the property and lordship of Glenvarloch will be conveyed to the great man + by his obsequious instrument, under cover of a sale, or some similar + device." + </p> + <p> + "Can this be possible?" said Lord Nigel; "the Chancellor wept when I took + leave of him—called me his cousin—even his son—furnished + me with letters, and, though I asked him for no pecuniary assistance, + excused himself unnecessarily for not pressing it on me, alleging the + expenses of his rank and his large family. No, I cannot believe a nobleman + would carry deceit so far." + </p> + <p> + "I am not, it is true, of noble blood," said the citizen; "but once more I + bid you look on my grey hairs, and think what can be my interest in + dishonouring them with falsehood in affairs in which I have no interest, + save as they regard the son of my benefactor. Reflect also, have you had + any advantage from the Lord Chancellor's letters?" + </p> + <p> + "None," said Nigel Olifaunt, "except cold deeds and fair words. I have + thought for some time, their only object was to get rid of me—one + yesterday pressed money on me when I talked of going abroad, in order that + I might not want the means of exiling myself." + </p> + <p> + "Right," said Heriot; "rather than you fled not, they would themselves + furnish wings for you to fly withal." + </p> + <p> + "I will to him this instant," said the incensed youth, "and tell him my + mind of his baseness." + </p> + <p> + "Under your favour," said Heriot, detaining him, "you shall not do so. By + a quarrel you would become the ruin of me your informer; and though I + would venture half my shop to do your lordship a service, I think you + would hardly wish me to come by damage, when it can be of no service to + you." + </p> + <p> + The word <i>shop</i> sounded harshly in the ear of the young nobleman, who + replied hastily—"Damage, sir?—so far am I from wishing you to + incur damage, that I would to Heaven you would cease your fruitless offers + of serving one whom there is no chance of ultimately assisting!" + </p> + <p> + "Leave me alone for that," said the citizen: "you have now erred as far on + the bow-hand. Permit me to take this Supplication—I will have it + suitably engrossed, and take my own time (and it shall be an early one) + for placing it, with more prudence, I trust, than that used by your + follower, in the king's hand—I will almost answer for his taking up + the matter as you would have him—but should he fail to do so, even + then I will not give up the good cause." + </p> + <p> + "Sir," said the young nobleman, "your speech is so friendly, and my own + state so helpless, that I know not how to refuse your kind proffer, even + while I blush to accept it at the hands of a stranger." + </p> + <p> + "We are, I trust, no longer such," said the goldsmith; "and for my + guerdon, when my mediation proves successful, and your fortunes are + re-established, you shall order your first cupboard of plate from George + Heriot." + </p> + <p> + "You would have a bad paymaster, Master Heriot," said Lord Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "I do not fear that," replied the goldsmith; "and I am glad to see you + smile, my lord—methinks it makes you look still more like the good + old lord your father; and it emboldens me, besides, to bring out a small + request—that you would take a homely dinner with me to-morrow. I + lodge hard by in Lombard Street. For the cheer, my lord, a mess of white + broth, a fat capon well larded, a dish of beef collops for auld Scotland's + sake, and it may be a cup of right old wine, that was barrelled before + Scotland and England were one nation—Then for company, one or two of + our own loving countrymen—and maybe my housewife may find out a + bonny Scots lass or so." + </p> + <p> + "I would accept your courtesy, Master Heriot," said Nigel, "but I hear the + city ladies of London like to see a man gallant—I would not like to + let down a Scottish nobleman in their ideas, as doubtless you have said + the best of our poor country, and I rather lack the means of bravery for + the present." + </p> + <p> + "My lord, your frankness leads me a step farther," said Master George. "I—I + owed your father some monies; and—nay, if your lordship looks at me + so fixedly, I shall never tell my story—and, to speak plainly, for I + never could carry a lie well through in my life—it is most fitting, + that, to solicit this matter properly, your lordship should go to Court in + a manner beseeming your quality. I am a goldsmith, and live by lending + money as well as by selling plate. I am ambitious to put an hundred pounds + to be at interest in your hands, till your affairs are settled." + </p> + <p> + "And if they are never favourably settled?" said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Then, my lord," returned the citizen, "the miscarriage of such a sum will + be of little consequence to me, compared with other subjects of regret." + </p> + <p> + "Master Heriot," said the Lord Nigel, "your favour is generously offered, + and shall be frankly accepted. I must presume that you see your way + through this business, though I hardly do; for I think you would be + grieved to add any fresh burden to me, by persuading me to incur debts + which I am not likely to discharge. I will therefore take your money, + under the hope and trust that you will enable me to repay you punctually." + </p> + <p> + "I will convince you, my lord," said the goldsmith, "that I mean to deal + with you as a creditor from whom I expect payment; and therefore, you + shall, with your own good pleasure, sign an acknowledgment for these + monies, and an obligation to content and repay me." + </p> + <p> + He then took from his girdle his writing materials, and, writing a few + lines to the purport he expressed, pulled out a small bag of gold from a + side-pouch under his cloak, and, observing that it should contain an + hundred pounds, proceeded to tell out the contents very methodically upon + the table. Nigel Olifaunt could not help intimating that this was an + unnecessary ceremonial, and that he would take the bag of gold on the word + of his obliging creditor; but this was repugnant to the old man's forms of + transacting business. + </p> + <p> + "Bear with me," he said, "my good lord,—we citizens are a wary and + thrifty generation; and I should lose my good name for ever within the + toll of Paul's, were I to grant quittance, or take acknowledgment, without + bringing the money to actual tale. I think it be right now—and, body + of me," he said, looking out at the window, "yonder come my boys with my + mule; for I must Westward Hoe. Put your monies aside, my lord; it is not + well to be seen with such goldfinches chirping about one in the lodgings + of London. I think the lock of your casket be indifferent good; if not, I + can serve you at an easy rate with one that has held thousands;—it + was the good old Sir Faithful Frugal's;—his spendthrift son sold the + shell when he had eaten the kernel—and there is the end of a + city-fortune." + </p> + <p> + "I hope yours will make a better termination, Master Heriot," said the + Lord Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "I hope it will, my lord," said the old man, with a smile; "but," to use + honest John Bunyan's phrase—'therewithal the water stood in his + eyes,' "it has pleased God to try me with the loss of two children; and + for one adopted shild who ives—Ah! woe is me! and well-a-day!—But + I am patient and thankful; and for the wealth God has sent me, it shall + not want inheritors while there are orphan lads in Auld Reekie.—I + wish you good-morrow, my lord." + </p> + <p> + "One orphan has cause to thank you already," said Nigel, as he attended + him to the door of his chamber, where, resisting further escort, the old + citizen made his escape. + </p> + <p> + As, in going downstairs, he passed the shop where Dame Christie stood + becking, he made civil inquiries after her husband. The dame of course + regretted his absence; but he was down, she said, at Deptford, to settle + with a Dutch ship-master. + </p> + <p> + "Our way of business, sir," she said, "takes him much from home, and my + husband must be the slave of every tarry jacket that wants but a pound of + oakum." + </p> + <p> + "All business must be minded, dame," said the goldsmith. "Make my + remembrances—George Heriot, of Lombard Street's remembrances—to + your goodman. I have dealt with him—he is just and punctual—true + to time and engagements;—be kind to your noble guest, and see he + wants nothing. Though it be his pleasure at present to lie private and + retired, there be those that care for him, and I have a charge to see him + supplied; so that you may let me know by your husband, my good dame, how + my lord is, and whether he wants aught." + </p> + <p> + "And so he <i>is</i> a real lord after all?" said the good dame. "I am + sure I always thought he looked like one. But why does he not go to + Parliament, then?" + </p> + <p> + "He will, dame," answered Heriot, "to the Parliament of Scotland, which is + his own country." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! he is but a Scots lord, then," said the good dame; "and that's the + thing makes him ashamed to take the title, as they say." + </p> + <p> + "Let him not hear <i>you</i> say so, dame," replied the citizen. + </p> + <p> + "Who, I, sir?" answered she; "no such matter in my thought, sir. Scot or + English, he is at any rate a likely man, and a civil man; and rather than + he should want any thing, I would wait upon him myself, and come as far as + Lombard Street to wait upon your worship too." + </p> + <p> + "Let your husband come to me, good dame," said the goldsmith, who, with + all his experience and worth, was somewhat of a formalist and + disciplinarian. "The proverb says, 'House goes mad when women gad;' and + let his lordship's own man wait upon his master in his chamber—it is + more seemly. God give ye good-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Good-morrow to your worship," said the dame, somewhat coldly; and, so + soon as the adviser was out of hearing, was ungracious enough to mutter, + in contempt of his council, "Marry quep of your advice, for an old Scotch + tinsmith, as you are! My husband is as wise, and very near as old, as + yourself; and if I please him, it is well enough; and though he is not + just so rich just now as some folks, yet I hope to see him ride upon his + moyle, with a foot-cloth, and have his two blue-coats after him, as well + as they do." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> + <p> + Wherefore come ye not to court? Certain 'tis the rarest sport; There are + silks and jewels glistening, Prattling fools and wise men listening, + Bullies among brave men justling, Beggars amongst nobles bustling; + Low-breath'd talkers, minion lispers, Cutting honest throats by whispers; + Wherefore come ye not to court? Skelton swears 'tis glorious sport. <i>Skelton + Skeltonizeth.</i> + </p> + <p> + It was not entirely out of parade that the benevolent citizen was mounted + and attended in that manner, which, as the reader has been informed, + excited a gentle degree of spleen on the part of Dame Christie, which, to + do her justice, vanished in the little soliloquy which we have recorded. + The good man, besides the natural desire to maintain the exterior of a man + of worship, was at present bound to Whitehall in order to exhibit a piece + of valuable workmanship to King James, which he deemed his Majesty might + be pleased to view, or even to purchase. He himself was therefore mounted + upon his caparisoned mule, that he might the better make his way through + the narrow, dirty, and crowded streets; and while one of his attendants + carried under his arm the piece of plate, wrapped up in red baize, the + other two gave an eye to its safety; for such was then the state of the + police of the metropolis, that men were often assaulted in the public + street for the sake of revenge or of plunder; and those who apprehended + being beset, usually endeavoured, if their estate admitted such expense, + to secure themselves by the attendance of armed followers. And this + custom, which was at first limited to the nobility and gentry, extended by + degrees to those citizens of consideration, who, being understood to + travel with a charge, as it was called, might otherwise have been selected + as safe subjects of plunder by the street-robber. + </p> + <p> + As Master George Heriot paced forth westward with this gallant attendance, + he paused at the shop door of his countryman and friend, the ancient + horologer, and having caused Tunstall, who was in attendance, to adjust + his watch by the real time, he desired to speak with his master; in + consequence of which summons, the old Time-meter came forth from his den, + his face like a bronze bust, darkened with dust, and glistening here and + there with copper filings, and his senses so bemused in the intensity of + calculation, that he gazed on his friend the goldsmith for a minute before + he seemed perfectly to comprehend who he was, and heard him express his + invitation to David Ramsay, and pretty Mistress Margaret, his daughter, to + dine with him next day at noon, to meet with a noble young countrymen, + without returning any answer. + </p> + <p> + "I'll make thee speak, with a murrain to thee," muttered Heriot to + himself; and suddenly changing his tone, he said aloud,—"I pray you, + neighbour David, when are you and I to have a settlement for the bullion + wherewith I supplied you to mount yonder hall-clock at Theobald's, and + that other whirligig that you made for the Duke of Buckingham? I have had + the Spanish house to satisfy for the ingots, and I must needs put you in + mind that you have been eight months behind-hand." + </p> + <p> + There is something so sharp and <i>aigre</i> in the demand of a peremptory + dun, that no human tympanum, however inaccessible to other tones, can + resist the application. David Ramsay started at once from his reverie, and + answered in a pettish tone, "Wow, George, man, what needs aw this din + about sax score o' pounds? Aw the world kens I can answer aw claims on me, + and you proffered yourself fair time, till his maist gracious Majesty and + the noble Duke suld make settled accompts wi' me; and ye may ken, by your + ain experience, that I canna gang rowting like an unmannered Highland stot + to their doors, as ye come to mine." + </p> + <p> + Heriot laughed, and replied, "Well, David, I see a demand of money is like + a bucket of water about your ears, and makes you a man of the world at + once. And now, friend, will you tell me, like a Christian man, if you will + dine with me to-morrow at noon, and bring pretty Mistress Margaret, my + god-daughter, with you, to meet with our noble young countryman, the Lord + of Glenvarloch?" + </p> + <p> + "The young Lord of Glenvarloch!" said the old mechanist; "wi' aw my heart, + and blithe I will be to see him again. We have not met these forty years—he + was twa years before me at the humanity classes—he is a sweet + youth." + </p> + <p> + "That was his father—his father—his father!—you old + dotard Dot-and-carry-one that you are," answered the goldsmith. "A sweet + youth he would have been by this time, had he lived, worthy nobleman! This + is his son, the Lord Nigel." + </p> + <p> + "His son!" said Ramsay; "maybe he will want something of a chronometer, or + watch—few gallants care to be without them now-a-days." + </p> + <p> + "He may buy half your stock-in-trade, if ever he comes to his own, for + what I know," said his friend; "but, David, remember your bond, and use me + not as you did when my housewife had the sheep's-head and the cock-a-leeky + boiling for you as late as two of the clock afternoon." + </p> + <p> + "She had the more credit by her cookery," answered David, now fully awake; + "a sheep's-head over-boiled, were poison, according to our saying." + </p> + <p> + "Well," answered Master George, "but as there will be no sheep's-head + to-morrow, it may chance you to spoil a dinner which a proverb cannot + mend. It may be you may forgather with your friend, Sir Mungo + Malagrowther, for I purpose to ask his worship; so, be sure and bide + tryste, Davie." + </p> + <p> + "That will I—I will be true as a chronometer," said Ramsay. + </p> + <p> + "I will not trust you, though," replied Heriot.—"Hear you, Jenkin + boy, tell Scots Janet to tell pretty Mistress Margaret, my god-child, she + must put her father in remembrance to put on his best doublet to-morrow, + and to bring him to Lombard Street at noon. Tell her they are to meet a + brave young Scots lord." + </p> + <p> + Jenkin coughed that sort of dry short cough uttered by those who are + either charged with errands which they do not like, or hear opinions to + which they must not enter a dissent. + </p> + <p> + "Umph!" repeated Master George—who, as we have already noticed, was + something of a martinet in domestic discipline—"what does <i>umph</i> + mean? Will you do mine errand or not, sirrah?" + </p> + <p> + "Sure, Master George Heriot," said the apprentice, touching his cap, "I + only meant, that Mistress Margaret was not likely to forget such an + invitation." + </p> + <p> + "Why, no," said Master George; "she is a dutiful girl to her god-father, + though I sometimes call her a jill-flirt.—And, hark ye, Jenkin, you + and your comrade had best come with your clubs, to see your master and her + safely home; but first shut shop, and loose the bull-dog, and let the + porter stay in the fore-shop till your return. I will send two of my + knaves with you; for I hear these wild youngsters of the Temple are broken + out worse and lighter than ever." + </p> + <p> + "We can keep their steel in order with good handbats," said Jenkin; "and + never trouble your servants for the matter." + </p> + <p> + "Or, if need be," said Tunstall, "we have swords as well as the Templars." + </p> + <p> + "Fie upon it—fie upon it, young man," said the citizen;—"An + apprentice with a sword!—Marry, heaven forefend! I would as soon see + him in a hat and feather." + </p> + <p> + "Well, sir," said Jenkin—"we will find arms fitting to our station, + and will defend our master and his daughter, if we should tear up the very + stones of the pavement." + </p> + <p> + "There spoke a London 'prentice bold," said the citizen; "and, for your + comfort, my lads, you shall crush a cup of wine to the health of the + Fathers of the City. I have my eye on both of you—you are thriving + lads, each in his own way.—God be wi' you, Davie. Forget not + to-morrow at noon." And, so saying, he again turned his mule's head + westward, and crossed Temple Bar, at that slow and decent amble, which at + once became his rank and civic importance, and put his pedestrian + followers to no inconvenience to keep up with him. + </p> + <p> + At the Temple gate he again paused, dismounted, and sought his way into + one of the small booths occupied by scriveners in the neighbourhood. A + young man, with lank smooth hair combed straight to his ears, and then + cropped short, rose, with a cringing reverence, pulled off a slouched hat, + which he would upon no signal replace on his head, and answered with much + demonstration of reverence, to the goldsmith's question of, "How goes + business, Andrew?"—"Aw the better for your worship's kind + countenance and maintenance." + </p> + <p> + "Get a large sheet of paper, man, and make a new pen, with a sharp neb, + and fine hair-stroke. Do not slit the quill up too high, it's a wastrife + course in your trade, Andrew—they that do not mind corn-pickles, + never come to forpits. I have known a learned man write a thousand pages + with one quill." [Footnote: A biblical commentary by Gill, which (if the + author's memory serves him) occupies between five and six hundred printed + quarto pages, and must therefore have filled more pages of manuscript than + the number mentioned in the text, has this quatrain at the end of the + volume— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "With one good pen I wrote this book, + Made of a grey goose quill; + A pen it was when it I took, + And a pen I leave it still."] +</pre> + <p> + "Ah! sir," said the lad, who listened to the goldsmith, though instructing + him in his own trade, with an air of veneration and acquiescence, "how + sune ony puir creature like mysell may rise in the world, wi' the + instruction of such a man as your worship!" + </p> + <p> + "My instructions are few, Andrew, soon told, and not hard to practise. Be + honest—be industrious—be frugal—and you will soon win + wealth and worship.—Here, copy me this Supplication in your best and + most formal hand. I will wait by you till it is done." + </p> + <p> + The youth lifted not his eye from the paper, and laid not the pen from his + hand, until the task was finished to his employer's satisfaction. The + citizen then gave the young scrivener an angel; and bidding him, on his + life, be secret in all business intrusted to him, again mounted his mule, + and rode on westward along the Strand. + </p> + <p> + It may be worth while to remind our readers, that the Temple Bar which + Heriot passed, was not the arched screen, or gateway, of the present day; + but an open railing, or palisade, which, at night, and in times of alarm, + was closed with a barricade of posts and chains. The Strand also, along + which he rode, was not, as now, a continued street, although it was + beginning already to assume that character. It still might be considered + as an open road, along the south side of which stood various houses and + hotels belonging to the nobility, having gardens behind them down to the + water-side, with stairs to the river, for the convenience of taking boat; + which mansions have bequeathed the names of their lordly owners to many of + the streets leading from the Strand to the Thames. The north side of the + Strand was also a long line of houses, behind which, as in Saint Martin's + Lane, and other points, buildings, were rapidly arising; but Covent Garden + was still a garden, in the literal sense of the word, or at least but + beginning to be studded with irregular buildings. All that was passing + around, however, marked the rapid increase of a capital which had long + enjoyed peace, wealth, and a regular government. Houses were rising in + every direction; and the shrewd eye of our citizen already saw the period + not distant, which should convert the nearly open highway on which he + travelled, into a connected and regular street, uniting the Court and the + town with the city of London. + </p> + <p> + He next passed Charing Cross, which was no longer the pleasant solitary + village at which the judges were wont to breakfast on their way to + Westminster Hall, but began to resemble the artery through which, to use + Johnson's expression "pours the full tide of London population." The + buildings were rapidly increasing, yet certainly gave not even a faint + idea of its present appearance. + </p> + <p> + At last Whitehall received our traveller, who passed under one of the + beautiful gates designed by Holbein, and composed of tesselated + brick-work, being the same to which Moniplies had profanely likened the + West-Port of Edinburgh, and entered the ample precincts of the palace of + Whitehall, now full of all the confusion attending improvement. It was + just at the time when James,—little suspecting that he was employed + in constructing a palace, from the window of which his only son was to + pass in order that he might die upon a scaffold before it,—was + busied in removing the ancient and ruinous buildings of De Burgh, Henry + VIII., and Queen Elizabeth, to make way for the superb architecture on + which Inigo Jones exerted all his genius. The king, ignorant of futurity, + was now engaged in pressing on his work; and, for that purpose, still + maintained his royal apartments at Whitehall, amidst the rubbish of old + buildings, and the various confusion attending the erection of the new + pile, which formed at present a labyrinth not easily traversed. + </p> + <p> + The goldsmith to the Royal Household, and who, if fame spoke true, + oftentimes acted as their banker,—for these professions were not as + yet separated from each other,—was a person of too much importance + to receive the slightest interruption from sentinel or porter; and, + leaving his mule and two of his followers in the outer-court, he gently + knocked at a postern-gate of the building, and was presently admitted, + while the most trusty of his attendants followed him closely, with the + piece of plate under his arm. This man also he left behind him in an + ante-room,—where three or four pages in the royal livery, but + untrussed, unbuttoned, and dressed more carelessly than the place, and + nearness to a king's person, seemed to admit, were playing at dice and + draughts, or stretched upon benches, and slumbering with half-shut eyes. A + corresponding gallery, which opened from the ante-room, was occupied by + two gentlemen-ushers of the chamber, who gave each a smile of recognition + as the wealthy goldsmith entered. + </p> + <p> + No word was spoken on either side; but one of the ushers looked first to + Heriot, and then to a little door half-covered by the tapestry, which + seemed to say, as plain as a look could, "Lies your business that way?" + The citizen nodded; and the court-attendant, moving on tiptoe, and with as + much caution as if the floor had been paved with eggs, advanced to the + door, opened it gently, and spoke a few words in a low tone. The broad + Scottish accent of King James was heard in reply,—"Admit him + instanter, Maxwell. Have you hairboured sae lang at the Court, and not + learned, that gold and silver are ever welcome?" + </p> + <p> + The usher signed to Heriot to advance, and the honest citizen was + presently introduced into the cabinet of the Sovereign. + </p> + <p> + The scene of confusion amid which he found the king seated, was no bad + picture of the state and quality of James's own mind. There was much that + was rich and costly in cabinet pictures and valuable ornaments; but they + were arranged in a slovenly manner, covered with dust, and lost half their + value, or at least their effect, from the manner in which they were + presented to the eye. The table was loaded with huge folios, amongst which + lay light books of jest and ribaldry; and, amongst notes of unmercifully + long orations, and essays on king-craft, were mingled miserable roundels + and ballads by the Royal 'Prentice, as he styled himself, in the art of + poetry, and schemes for the general pacification of Europe, with a list of + the names of the king's hounds, and remedies against canine madness. + </p> + <p> + The king's dress was of green velvet, quilted so full as to be + dagger-proof—which gave him the appearance of clumsy and ungainly + protuberance; while its being buttoned awry, communicated to his figure an + air of distortion. Over his green doublet he wore a sad-coloured + nightgown, out of the pocket of which peeped his hunting-horn. His + high-crowned grey hat lay on the floor, covered with dust, but encircled + by a carcanet of large balas rubies; and he wore a blue velvet nightcap, + in the front of which was placed the plume of a heron, which had been + struck down by a favourite hawk in some critical moment of the flight, in + remembrance of which the king wore this highly honoured feather. + </p> + <p> + But such inconsistencies in dress and appointments were mere outward types + of those which existed in the royal character, rendering it a subject of + doubt amongst his contemporaries, and bequeathing it as a problem to + future historians. He was deeply learned, without possessing useful + knowledge; sagacious in many individual cases, without having real wisdom; + fond of his power, and desirous to maintain and augment it, yet willing to + resign the direction of that, and of himself, to the most unworthy + favourites; a big and bold asserter of his rights in words, yet one who + tamely saw them trampled on in deeds; a lover of negotiations, in which he + was always outwitted; and one who feared war, where conquest might have + been easy. He was fond of his dignity, while he was perpetually degrading + it by undue familiarity; capable of much public labour, yet often + neglecting it for the meanest amusement; a wit, though a pedant; and a + scholar, though fond of the conversation of the ignorant and uneducated. + Even his timidity of temper was not uniform; and there were moments of his + life, and those critical, in which he showed the spirit of his ancestors. + He was laborious in trifles, and a trifler where serious labour was + required; devout in his sentiments, and yet too often profane in his + language; just and beneficent by nature, he yet gave way to the iniquities + and oppression of others. He was penurious respecting money which he had + to give from his own hand, yet inconsiderately and unboundedly profuse of + that which he did not see. In a word, those good qualities which displayed + themselves in particular cases and occasions, were not of a nature + sufficiently firm and comprehensive to regulate his general conduct; and, + showing themselves as they occasionally did, only entitled James to the + character bestowed on him by Sully—that he was the wisest fool in + Christendom. + </p> + <p> + That the fortunes of this monarch might be as little of apiece as his + character, he, certainly the least able of the Stewarts, succeeded + peaceably to that kingdom, against the power of which his predecessors + had, with so much difficulty, defended his native throne; and, lastly, + although his reign appeared calculated to ensure to Great Britain that + lasting tranquillity and internal peace which so much suited the king's + disposition, yet, during that very reign, were sown those seeds of + dissension, which, like the teeth of the fabulous dragon, had their + harvest in a bloody and universal civil war. + </p> + <p> + Such was the monarch, who, saluting Heriot by the name of Jingling + Geordie, (for it was his well-known custom to give nicknames to all those + with whom he was on terms of familiarity,) inquired what new clatter-traps + he had brought with him, to cheat his lawful and native Prince out of his + siller. + </p> + <p> + "God forbid, my liege," said the citizen, "that I should have any such + disloyal purpose. I did but bring a piece of plate to show to your most + gracious Majesty, which, both for the subject and for the workmanship, I + were loath to put into the hands of any subject until I knew your + Majesty's pleasure anent it." + </p> + <p> + "Body o' me, man, let's see it, Heriot; though, by my saul, Steenie's + service o' plate was sae dear a bargain, I had 'maist pawned my word as a + Royal King, to keep my ain gold and silver in future, and let you, + Geordie, keep yours." + </p> + <p> + "Respecting the Duke of Buckingham's plate," said the goldsmith, "your + Majesty was pleased to direct that no expense should be spared, and—" + </p> + <p> + "What signifies what I desired, man? when a wise man is with fules and + bairns, he maun e'en play at the chucks. But you should have had mair + sense and consideration than to gie Babie Charles and Steenie their ain + gate; they wad hae floored the very rooms wi' silver, and I wonder they + didna." + </p> + <p> + George Heriot bowed, and said no more. He knew his master too well to + vindicate himself otherwise than by a distant allusion to his order; and + James, with whom economy was only a transient and momentary twinge of + conscience, became immediately afterwards desirous to see the piece of + plate which the goldsmith proposed to exhibit, and dispatched Maxwell to + bring it to his presence. In the meantime he demanded of the citizen + whence he had procured it. + </p> + <p> + "From Italy, may it please your Majesty," replied Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "It has naething in it tending to papistrie?" said the king, looking + graver than his wont. + </p> + <p> + "Surely not, please your Majesty," said Heriot; "I were not wise to bring + any thing to your presence that had the mark of the beast." + </p> + <p> + "You would be the mair beast yourself to do so," said the king; "it is + weel kend that I wrestled wi' Dagon in my youth, and smote him on the + groundsill of his own temple; a gude evidence that I should be in time + called, however unworthy, the Defender of the Faith.—But here comes + Maxwell, bending under his burden, like the Golden Ass of Apuleius." + </p> + <p> + Heriot hastened to relieve the usher, and to place the embossed salver, + for such it was, and of extraordinary dimensions, in a light favourable + for his Majesty's viewing the sculpture. + </p> + <p> + "Saul of my body, man," said the king, "it is a curious piece, and, as I + think, fit for a king's chalmer; and the subject, as you say, Master + George, vera adequate and beseeming—being, as I see, the judgment of + Solomon—a prince in whose paths it weel becomes a' leeving monarchs + to walk with emulation." + </p> + <p> + "But whose footsteps," said Maxwell, "only one of them—if a subject + may say so much—hath ever overtaken." + </p> + <p> + "Haud your tongue for a fause fleeching loon!" said the king, but with a + smile on his face that showed the flattery had done its part. "Look at the + bonny piece of workmanship, and haud your clavering tongue.—And + whase handiwork may it be, Geordie?" + </p> + <p> + "It was wrought, sir," replied the goldsmith, "by the famous Florentine, + Benvenuto Cellini, and designed for Francis the First of France; but I + hope it will find a fitter master." + </p> + <p> + "Francis of France!" said the king; "send Solomon, King of the Jews, to + Francis of France!—Body of me, man, it would have kythed Cellini + mad, had he never done ony thing else out of the gate. Francis!—why, + he was a fighting fule, man,—a mere fighting fule,—got himsell + ta'en at Pavia, like our ain David at Durham lang syne;—if they + could hae sent him Solomon's wit, and love of peace, and godliness, they + wad hae dune him a better turn. But Solomon should sit in other gate + company than Francis of France." + </p> + <p> + "I trust that such will be his good fortune," said Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "It is a curious and very artificial sculpture," said the king, in + continuation; "but yet, methinks, the carnifex, or executioner there, is + brandishing his gully ower near the king's face, seeing he is within reach + of his weapon. I think less wisdom than Solomon's wad have taught him that + there was danger in edge-tools, and that he wad have bidden the smaik + either sheath his shabble, or stand farther back." + </p> + <p> + George Heriot endeavoured to alleviate this objection, by assuring the + king that the vicinity betwixt Solomon and the executioner was nearer in + appearance than in reality, and that the perspective should be allowed + for. + </p> + <p> + "Gang to the deil wi' your prospective, man," said the king; "there canna + be a waur prospective for a lawful king, wha wishes to reign in luve, and + die in peace and honour, than to have naked swords flashing in his een. I + am accounted as brave as maist folks; and yet I profess to ye I could + never look on a bare blade without blinking and winking. But a'thegither + it is a brave piece;—and what is the price of it, man?" + </p> + <p> + The goldsmith replied by observing, that it was not his own property, but + that of a distressed countryman. + </p> + <p> + "Whilk you mean to mak your excuse for asking the double of its worth, I + warrant?" answered the king. "I ken the tricks of you burrows-town + merchants, man." + </p> + <p> + "I have no hopes of baffling your Majesty's sagacity," said Heriot; "the + piece is really what I say, and the price a hundred and fifty pounds + sterling, if it pleases your Majesty to make present payment." + </p> + <p> + "A hundred and fifty punds, man! and as mony witches and warlocks to raise + them!" said the irritated Monarch. "My saul, Jingling Geordie, ye are + minded that your purse shall jingle to a bonny tune!—How am I to + tell you down a hundred and fifty punds for what will not weigh as many + merks? and ye ken that my very household servitors, and the officers of my + mouth, are sax months in arrear!" + </p> + <p> + The goldsmith stood his ground against all this objurgation, being what he + was well accustomed to, and only answered, that, if his Majesty liked the + piece, and desired to possess it, the price could be easily settled. It + was true that the party required the money, but he, George Heriot, would + advance it on his Majesty's account, if such were his pleasure, and wait + his royal conveniency for payment, for that and other matters; the money, + meanwhile, lying at the ordinary usage. + </p> + <p> + "By my honour," said James, "and that is speaking like an honest and + reasonable tradesman. We maun get another subsidy frae the Commons, and + that will make ae compting of it. Awa wi' it, Maxwell—awa wi' it, + and let it be set where Steenie and Babie Charles shall see it as they + return from Richmond.—And now that we are secret, my good auld + friend Geordie, I do truly opine, that speaking of Solomon and ourselves, + the haill wisdom in the country left Scotland, when we took our travels to + the Southland here." + </p> + <p> + George Heriot was courtier enough to say, that "the wise naturally follow + the wisest, as stags follow their leader." + </p> + <p> + "Troth, I think there is something in what thou sayest," said James; "for + we ourselves, and those of our Court and household, as thou thyself, for + example, are allowed by the English, for as self-opinioned as they are, to + pass for reasonable good wits; but the brains of those we have left behind + are all astir, and run clean hirdie-girdie, like sae mony warlocks and + witches on the Devil's Sabbath e'en." + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to hear this, my liege," said Heriot. "May it please your + Grace to say what our countrymen have done to deserve such a character?" + </p> + <p> + "They are become frantic, man—clean brain-crazed," answered the + king. "I cannot keep them out of the Court by all the proclamations that + the heralds roar themselves hoarse with. Yesterday, nae farther gane, just + as we were mounted, and about to ride forth, in rushed a thorough + Edinburgh gutterblood—a ragged rascal, every dud upon whose back was + bidding good-day to the other, with a coat and hat that would have served + a pease-bogle, and without havings or reverence, thrusts into our hands, + like a sturdy beggar, some Supplication about debts owing by our gracious + mother, and siclike trash; whereat the horse spangs on end, and, but for + our admirable sitting, wherein we have been thought to excel maist + sovereign princes, as well as subjects, in Europe, I promise you we would + have been laid endlang on the causeway." + </p> + <p> + "Your Majesty," said Heriot, "is their common father, and therefore they + are the bolder to press into your gracious presence." + </p> + <p> + "I ken I am <i>pater patriae</i> well enough," said James; "but one would + think they had a mind to squeeze my puddings out, that they may divide the + inheritance, Ud's death, Geordie, there is not a loon among them can + deliver a Supplication, as it suld be done in the face of majesty." + </p> + <p> + "I would I knew the most fitting and beseeming mode to do so," said + Heriot, "were it but to instruct our poor countrymen in better fashions." + </p> + <p> + "By my halidome," said the king, "ye are a ceevileezed fellow, Geordie, + and I carena if I fling awa as much time as may teach ye. And, first, see + you, sir—ye shall approach the presence of majesty thus,—shadowing + your eyes with your hand, to testify that you are in the presence of the + Vice-gerent of Heaven.—Vera weel, George, that is done in a comely + manner.—Then, sir, ye sail kneel, and make as if ye would kiss the + hem of our garment, the latch of our shoe, or such like.—Very weel + enacted—whilk we, as being willing to be debonair and pleasing + towards our lieges, prevent thus,—and motion to you to rise;—whilk, + having a boon to ask, as yet you obey not, but, gliding your hand into + your pouch, bring forth your Supplication, and place it reverentially in + our open palm." The goldsmith, who had complied with great accuracy with + all the prescribed points of the ceremonial, here completed it, to James's + no small astonishment, by placing in his hand the petition of the Lord of + Glenvarloch. "What means this, ye fause loon?" said he, reddening and + sputtering; "hae I been teaching you the manual exercise, that ye suld + present your piece at our ain royal body?—Now, by this light, I had + as lief that ye had bended a real pistolet against me, and yet this hae ye + done in my very cabinet, where nought suld enter but at my ain pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "I trust your Majesty," said Heriot, as he continued to kneel, "will + forgive my exercising the lesson you condescended to give me in the behalf + of a friend?" + </p> + <p> + "Of a friend!" said the king; "so much the waur—so much the waur, I + tell you. If it had been something to do <i>yoursell</i> good there would + have been some sense in it, and some chance that you wad not have come + back on me in a hurry; but a man may have a hundred friends, and petitions + for every ane of them, ilk ane after other." + </p> + <p> + "Your Majesty, I trust," said Heriot, "will judge me by former experience, + and will not suspect me of such presumption." + </p> + <p> + "I kenna," said the placable monarch; "the world goes daft, I think—<i>sed + semel insanivimus omnes</i>—thou art my old and faithful servant, + that is the truth; and, were't any thing for thy own behoof, man, thou + shouldst not ask twice. But, troth, Steenie loves me so dearly, that he + cares not that any one should ask favours of me but himself.—Maxwell," + (for the usher had re-entered after having carried off the plate,) "get + into the ante-chamber wi' your lang lugs.—In conscience, Geordie, I + think as that thou hast been mine ain auld fiduciary, and wert my + goldsmith when I might say with the Ethnic poet—<i>Non mea renidet + in domo lacunar</i>—for, faith, they had pillaged my mither's auld + house sae, that beechen bickers, and treen trenchers, and latten platters, + were whiles the best at our board, and glad we were of something to put on + them, without quarrelling with the metal of the dishes. D'ye mind, for + thou wert in maist of our complots, how we were fain to send sax of the + Blue-banders to harry the Lady of Loganhouse's dowcot and poultry-yard, + and what an awfu' plaint the poor dame made against Jock of Milch, and the + thieves of Annandale, wha were as sackless of the deed as I am of the sin + of murder?" + </p> + <p> + "It was the better for Jock," said Heriot; "for, if I remember weel, it + saved him from a strapping up at Dumfries, which he had weel deserved for + other misdeeds." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, man, mind ye that?" said the king; "but he had other virtues, for he + was a tight huntsman, moreover, that Jock of Milch, and could hollow to a + hound till all the woods rang again. But he came to an Annandale end at + the last, for Lord Torthorwald run his lance out through him.—Cocksnails, + man, when I think of those wild passages, in my conscience, I am not sure + but we lived merrier in auld Holyrood in those shifting days, than now + when we are dwelling at heck and manger. <i>Cantabit vacuus</i>—we + had but little to care for." + </p> + <p> + "And if your Majesty please to remember," said the goldsmith, "the awful + task we had to gather silver-vessail and gold-work enough to make some + show before the Spanish Ambassador." + </p> + <p> + "Vera true," said the king, now in a full tide of gossip, "and I mind not + the name of the right leal lord that helped us with every unce he had in + his house, that his native Prince might have some credit in the eyes of + them that had the Indies at their beck." + </p> + <p> + "I think, if your Majesty," said the citizen, "will cast your eye on the + paper in your hand, you will recollect his name." + </p> + <p> + "Ay!" said the king, "say ye sae, man?—Lord Glenvarloch, that was + his name indeed—<i>Justus et tenax propositi</i>—A just man, + but as obstinate as a baited bull. He stood whiles against us, that Lord + Randal Olifaunt of Glenvarloch, but he was a loving and a leal subject in + the main. But this supplicator maun be his son—Randal has been long + gone where king and lord must go, Geordie, as weel as the like of you—and + what does his son want with us?" + </p> + <p> + "The settlement," answered the citizen, "of a large debt due by your + Majesty's treasury, for money advanced to your Majesty in great State + emergency, about the time of the Raid of Ruthven." + </p> + <p> + "I mind the thing weel," said King James—"Od's death, man, I was + just out of the clutches of the Master of Glamis and his complices, and + there was never siller mair welcome to a born prince,—the mair the + shame and pity that crowned king should need sic a petty sum. But what + need he dun us for it, man, like a baxter at the breaking? We aught him + the siller, and will pay him wi' our convenience, or make it otherwise up + to him, whilk is enow between prince and subject—We are not <i>in + meditatione fugae,</i> man, to be arrested thus peremptorily." + </p> + <p> + "Alas! an it please your Majesty," said the goldsmith, shaking his head, + "it is the poor young nobleman's extreme necessity, and not his will, that + makes him importunate; for he must have money, and that briefly, to + discharge a debt due to Peregrine Peterson, Conservator of the Privileges + at Campvere, or his haill hereditary barony and estate of Glenvarloch will + be evicted in virtue of an unredeemed wadset." + </p> + <p> + "How say ye, man—how say ye?" exclaimed the king, impatiently; "the + carle of a Conservator, the son of a Low-Dutch skipper, evict the auld + estate and lordship of the house of Olifaunt?—God's bread, man, that + maun not be—we maun suspend the diligence by writ of favour, or + otherwise." + </p> + <p> + "I doubt that may hardly be," answered the citizen, "if it please your + Majesty; your learned counsel in the law of Scotland advise, that there is + no remeid but in paying the money." + </p> + <p> + "Ud's fish," said the king, "let him keep haud by the strong hand against + the carle, until we can take some order about his affairs." + </p> + <p> + "Alas!" insisted the goldsmith, "if it like your Majesty, your own pacific + government, and your doing of equal justice to all men, has made main + force a kittle line to walk by, unless just within the bounds of the + Highlands." + </p> + <p> + "Well—weel—weel, man," said the perplexed monarch, whose ideas + of justice, expedience, and convenience, became on such occasions + strangely embroiled; "just it is we should pay our debts, that the young + man may pay his; and he must be paid, and <i>in verbo regis</i> he shall + be paid—but how to come by the siller, man, is a difficult chapter—ye + maun try the city, Geordie." + </p> + <p> + "To say the truth," answered Heriot, "please your gracious Majesty, what + betwixt loans and benevolences, and subsidies, the city is at this present——" + </p> + <p> + "Donna tell me of what the city is," said King James; "our Exchequer is as + dry as Dean Giles's discourses on the penitentiary psalms—<i>Ex + nihilo nihil fit</i>—It's ill taking the breeks aff a wild + Highlandman—they that come to me for siller, should tell me how to + come by it—the city ye maun try, Heriot; and donna think to be + called Jingling Geordie for nothing—and <i>in verbo regis</i> I will + pay the lad if you get me the loan—I wonnot haggle on the terms; + and, between you and me, Geordie, we will redeem the brave auld estate of + Glenvarloch.—But wherefore comes not the young lord to Court, Heriot—is + he comely—is he presentable in the presence?" + </p> + <p> + "No one can be more so," said George Heriot; "but——" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, I understand ye," said his Majesty—"I understand ye—<i>Res + angusta domi</i>—puir lad-puir lad!—and his father a right + true leal Scots heart, though stiff in some opinions. Hark ye, Heriot, let + the lad have twa hundred pounds to fit him out. And, here—here"—(taking + the carcanet of rubies from his old hat)—"ye have had these in + pledge before for a larger sum, ye auld Levite that ye are. Keep them in + gage, till I gie ye back the siller out of the next subsidy." + </p> + <p> + "If it please your Majesty to give me such directions in writing," said + the cautious citizen. + </p> + <p> + "The deil is in your nicety, George," said the king; "ye are as preceese + as a Puritan in form, and a mere Nullifidian in the marrow of the matter. + May not a king's word serve ye for advancing your pitiful twa hundred + pounds?" + </p> + <p> + "But not for detaining the crown jewels," said George Heriot. + </p> + <p> + And the king, who from long experience was inured to dealing with + suspicious creditors, wrote an order upon George Heriot, his well-beloved + goldsmith and jeweller, for the sum of two hundred pounds, to be paid + presently to Nigel Olifaunt, Lord of Glenvarloch, to be imputed as so much + debts due to him by the crown; and authorizing the retention of a carcanet + of balas rubies, with a great diamond, as described in a Catalogue of his + Majesty's Jewels, to remain in possession of the said George Heriot, + advancer of the said sum, and so forth, until he was lawfully contented + and paid thereof. By another rescript, his Majesty gave the said George + Heriot directions to deal with some of the monied men, upon equitable + terms, for a sum of money for his Majesty's present use, not to be under + 50,000 merks, but as much more as could conveniently be procured. + </p> + <p> + "And has he ony lair, this Lord Nigel of ours?" said the king. + </p> + <p> + George Heriot could not exactly answer this question; but believed "the + young lord had studied abroad." + </p> + <p> + "He shall have our own advice," said the king, "how to carry on his + studies to maist advantage; and it may be we will have him come to Court, + and study with Steenie and Babie Charles. And, now we think on't, away—away, + George—for the bairns will be coming hame presently, and we would + not as yet they kend of this matter we have been treating anent. <i>Propera + fedem,</i> O Geordie. Clap your mule between your boughs, and god-den with + you." + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the conference betwixt the gentle King Jamie and his benevolent + jeweller and goldsmith. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + O I do know him—tis the mouldy lemon + Which our court wits will wet their lips withal, + When they would sauce their honied conversation + With somewhat sharper flavour—Marry sir, + That virtue's wellnigh left him—all the juice + That was so sharp and poignant, is squeezed out, + While the poor rind, although as sour as ever, + Must season soon the draff we give our grunters, + For two legg'd things are weary on't. + <i>The Chamberlain—A Comedy</i> +</pre> + <p> + The good company invited by the hospitable citizen assembled at his house + in Lombard Street at the "hollow and hungry hour" of noon, to partake of + that meal which divides the day, being about the time when modern persons + of fashion, turning themselves upon their pillow, begin to think, not + without a great many doubts and much hesitation, that they will by and by + commence it. Thither came the young Nigel, arrayed plainly, but in a + dress, nevertheless, more suitable to his age and quality than he had + formerly worn, accompanied by his servant Moniplies, whose outside also + was considerably improved. His solemn and stern features glared forth from + under a blue velvet bonnet, fantastically placed sideways on his head—he + had a sound and tough coat of English blue broad-cloth, which, unlike his + former vestment, would have stood the tug of all the apprentices in Fleet + Street. The buckler and broadsword he wore as the arms of his condition, + and a neat silver badge, bearing his lord's arms, announced that he was an + appendage of aristocracy. He sat down in the good citizen's buttery, not a + little pleased to find his attendance upon the table in the hall was + likely to be rewarded with his share of a meal such as he had seldom + partaken of. + </p> + <p> + Mr. David Ramsay, that profound and ingenious mechanic, was safely + conducted to Lombard Street, according to promise, well washed, brushed, + and cleaned, from the soot of the furnace and the forge. His daughter, who + came with him, was about twenty years old, very pretty, very demure, yet + with lively black eyes, that ever and anon contradicted the expression of + sobriety, to which silence, reserve, a plain velvet hood, and a cambric + ruff, had condemned Mistress Marget, as the daughter of a quiet citizen. + </p> + <p> + There were also two citizens and merchants of London, men ample in cloak, + and many-linked golden chain, well to pass in the world, and experienced + in their craft of merchandise, but who require no particular description. + There was an elderly clergyman also, in his gown and cassock, a decent + venerable man, partaking in his manners of the plainness of the citizens + amongst whom he had his cure. + </p> + <p> + These may be dismissed with brief notice; but not so Sir Mungo + Malagrowther, of Girnigo Castle, who claims a little more attention, as an + original character of the time in which he flourished. + </p> + <p> + That good knight knocked at Master Heriot's door just as the clock began + to strike twelve, and was seated in his chair ere the last stroke had + chimed. This gave the knight an excellent opportunity of making sarcastic + observations on all who came later than himself, not to mention a few rubs + at the expense of those who had been so superfluous as to appear earlier. + </p> + <p> + Having little or no property save his bare designation, Sir Mungo had been + early attached to Court in the capacity of whipping-boy, as the office was + then called, to King James the Sixth, and, with his Majesty, trained to + all polite learning by his celebrated preceptor, George Buchanan. The + office of whipping-boy doomed its unfortunate occupant to undergo all the + corporeal punishment which the Lord's Anointed, whose proper person was of + course sacred, might chance to incur, in the course of travelling through + his grammar and prosody. Under the stern rule, indeed, of George Buchanan, + who did not approve of the vicarious mode of punishment, James bore the + penance of his own faults, and Mungo Malagrowther enjoyed a sinecure; but + James's other pedagogue, Master Patrick Young, went more ceremoniously to + work, and appalled the very soul of the youthful king by the floggings + which he bestowed on the whipping-boy, when the royal task was not + suitably performed. And be it told to Sir Mungo's praise, that there were + points about him in the highest respect suited to his official situation. + He had even in youth a naturally irregular and grotesque set of features, + which, when distorted by fear, pain, and anger, looked like one of the + whimsical faces which present themselves in a Gothic cornice. His voice + also was high-pitched and querulous, so that, when smarting under Master + Peter Young's unsparing inflictions, the expression of his grotesque + physiognomy, and the superhuman yells which he uttered, were well suited + to produce all the effects on the Monarch who deserved the lash, that + could possibly be produced by seeing another and an innocent individual + suffering for his delict. + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo Malagrowther, for such he became, thus got an early footing at + Court, which another would have improved and maintained. But, when he grew + too big to be whipped, he had no other means of rendering himself + acceptable. A bitter, caustic, and backbiting humour, a malicious wit, and + an envy of others more prosperous than the possessor of such amiable + qualities, have not, indeed, always been found obstacles to a courtier's + rise; but then they must be amalgamated with a degree of selfish cunning + and prudence, of which Sir Mungo had no share. His satire ran riot, his + envy could not conceal itself, and it was not long after his majority till + he had as many quarrels upon his hands as would have required a cat's nine + lives to answer. In one of these rencontres he received, perhaps we should + say fortunately, a wound, which served him as an excuse for answering no + invitations of the kind in future. Sir Rullion Rattray, of Ranagullion, + cut off, in mortal combat, three of the fingers of his right hand, so that + Sir Mungo never could hold sword again. At a later period, having written + some satirical verses upon the Lady Cockpen, he received so severe a + chastisement from some persons employed for the purpose, that he was found + half dead on the spot where they had thus dealt with him, and one of his + thighs having been broken, and ill set, gave him a hitch in his gait, with + which he hobbled to his grave. The lameness of his leg and hand, besides + that they added considerably to the grotesque appearance of this original, + procured him in future a personal immunity from the more dangerous + consequences of his own humour; and he gradually grew old in the service + of the Court, in safety of life and limb, though without either making + friends or attaining preferment. Sometimes, indeed, the king was amused + with his caustic sallies, but he had never art enough to improve the + favourable opportunity; and his enemies (who were, for that matter, the + whole Court) always found means to throw him out of favour again. The + celebrated Archie Armstrong offered Sir Mungo, in his generosity, a skirt + of his own fool's coat, proposing thereby to communicate to him the + privileges and immunities of a professed jester—"For," said the man + of motley, "Sir Mungo, as he goes on just now, gets no more for a good + jest than just the king's pardon for having made it." + </p> + <p> + Even in London, the golden shower which fell around him did not moisten + the blighted fortunes of Sir Mungo Malagrowther. He grew old, deaf, and + peevish—lost even the spirit which had formerly animated his + strictures—and was barely endured by James, who, though himself + nearly as far stricken in years, retained, to an unusual and even an + absurd degree, the desire to be surrounded by young people. + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo, thus fallen into the yellow leaf of years and fortune, showed + his emaciated form and faded embroidery at Court as seldom as his duty + permitted; and spent his time in indulging his food for satire in the + public walks, and in the aisles of Saint Paul's, which were then the + general resort of newsmongers and characters of all descriptions, + associating himself chiefly with such of his countrymen as he accounted of + inferior birth and rank to himself. In this manner, hating and contemning + commerce, and those who pursued it, he nevertheless lived a good deal + among the Scottish artists and merchants, who had followed the Court to + London. To these he could show his cynicism without much offence; for some + submitted to his jeers and ill-humour in deference to his birth and + knighthood, which in those days conferred high privileges—and + others, of more sense, pitied and endured the old man, unhappy alike in + his fortunes and his temper. + </p> + <p> + Amongst the latter was George Heriot, who, though his habits and education + induced him to carry aristocratical feelings to a degree which would now + be thought extravagant, had too much spirit and good sense to permit + himself to be intruded upon to an unauthorized excess, or used with the + slightest improper freedom, by such a person as Sir Mungo, to whom he was, + nevertheless, not only respectfully civil, but essentially kind, and even + generous. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, this appeared from the manner in which Sir Mungo Malagrowther + conducted himself upon entering the apartment. He paid his respects to + Master Heriot, and a decent, elderly, somewhat severe-looking female, in a + coif, who, by the name of Aunt Judith, did the honours of his house and + table, with little or no portion of the supercilious acidity, which his + singular physiognomy assumed when he made his bow successively to David + Ramsay and the two sober citizens. He thrust himself into the conversation + of the latter, to observe he had heard in Paul's, that the bankrupt + concern of Pindivide, a great merchant,—who, as he expressed it, had + given the crows a pudding, and on whom he knew, from the same authority, + each of the honest citizens has some unsettled claim,—was like to + prove a total loss—"stock and block, ship and cargo, keel and + rigging, all lost, now and for ever." + </p> + <p> + The two citizens grinned at each other; but, too prudent to make their + private affairs the subject of public discussion, drew their heads + together, and evaded farther conversation by speaking in a whisper. + </p> + <p> + The old Scots knight next attacked the watchmaker with the same + disrespectful familiarity.—"Davie," he said,—"Davie, ye + donnard auld idiot, have ye no gane mad yet, with applying your + mathematical science, as ye call it, to the book of Apocalypse? I expected + to have heard ye make out the sign of the beast, as clear as a tout on a + bawbee whistle." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Sir Mungo," said the mechanist, after making an effort to recall to + his recollection what had been said to him, and by whom, "it may be, that + ye are nearer the mark than ye are yoursell aware of; for, taking the ten + horns o' the beast, ye may easily estimate by your digitals—" + </p> + <p> + "My digits! you d—d auld, rusty, good-for-nothing time-piece!" + exclaimed Sir Mungo, while, betwixt jest and earnest, he laid on his hilt + his hand, or rather his claw, (for Sir Rullion's broadsword has abridged + it into that form,)—"D'ye mean to upbraid me with my mutilation?" + </p> + <p> + Master Heriot interfered. "I cannot persuade our friend David," he said, + "that scriptural prophecies are intended to remain in obscurity, until + their unexpected accomplishment shall make, as in former days, that + fulfilled which was written. But you must not exert your knightly valour + on him for all that." + </p> + <p> + "By my saul, and it would be throwing it away," said Sir Mungo, laughing. + "I would as soon set out, with hound and horn, to hunt a sturdied sheep; + for he is in a doze again, and up to the chin in numerals, quotients, and + dividends.—Mistress Margaret, my pretty honey," for the beauty of + the young citizen made even Sir Mungo Malagrowther's grim features relax + themselves a little, "is your father always as entertaining as he seems + just now?" + </p> + <p> + Mistress Margaret simpered, bridled, looked to either side, then straight + before her; and, having assumed all the airs of bashful embarrassment and + timidity which were necessary, as she thought, to cover a certain shrewd + readiness which really belonged to her character, at length replied: "That + indeed her father was very thoughtful, but she had heard that he took the + habit of mind from her grandfather." + </p> + <p> + "Your grandfather!" said Sir Mungo,—after doubting if he had heard + her aright,—"Said she her grandfather! The lassie is distraught!—I + ken nae wench on this side of Temple Bar that is derived from so distant a + relation." + </p> + <p> + "She has got a godfather, however, Sir Mungo," said George Heriot, again + interfering; "and I hope you will allow him interest enough with you, to + request you will not put his pretty godchild to so deep a blush." + </p> + <p> + "The better—the better," said Sir Mungo. "It is a credit to her, + that, bred and born within the sound of Bow-bell, she can blush for any + thing; and, by my saul, Master George," he continued, chucking the + irritated and reluctant damsel under the chin, "she is bonny enough to + make amends for her lack of ancestry—at least, in such a region as + Cheapside, where, d'ye mind me, the kettle cannot call the porridge-pot—" + </p> + <p> + The damsel blushed, but not so angrily as before. Master George Heriot + hastened to interrupt the conclusion of Sir Mungo's homely proverb, by + introducing him personally to Lord Nigel. + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo could not at first understand what his host said,—"Bread + of Heaven, wha say ye, man?" + </p> + <p> + Upon the name of Nigel Olifaunt, Lord Glenvarloch, being again hollowed + into his ear, he drew up, and, regarding his entertainer with some + austerity, rebuked him for not making persons of quality acquainted with + each other, that they might exchange courtesies before they mingled with + other folks. He then made as handsome and courtly a congee to his new + acquaintance as a man maimed in foot and hand could do; and, observing he + had known my lord, his father, bid him welcome to London, and hoped he + should see him at Court. + </p> + <p> + Nigel in an instant comprehended, as well from Sir Mungo's manner, as from + a strict compression of their entertainer's lips, which intimated the + suppression of a desire to laugh, that he was dealing with an original of + no ordinary description, and accordingly, returned his courtesy with + suitable punctiliousness. Sir Mungo, in the meanwhile, gazed on him with + much earnestness; and, as the contemplation of natural advantages was as + odious to him as that of wealth, or other adventitious benefits, he had no + sooner completely perused the handsome form and good features of the young + lord, than like one of the comforters of the man of Uz, he drew close up + to him, to enlarge on the former grandeur of the Lords of Glenvarloch, and + the regret with which he had heard, that their representative was not + likely to possess the domains of his ancestry. Anon, he enlarged upon the + beauties of the principal mansion of Glenvarloch—the commanding site + of the old castle—the noble expanse of the lake, stocked with + wildfowl for hawking—the commanding screen of forest, terminating in + a mountain-ridge abounding with deer—and all the other advantages of + that fine and ancient barony, till Nigel, in spite of every effort to the + contrary, was unwillingly obliged to sigh. + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo, skilful in discerning when the withers of those he conversed + with were wrung, observed that his new acquaintance winced, and would + willingly have pressed the discussion; but the cook's impatient knock upon + the dresser with the haft of his dudgeon-knife, now gave a signal loud + enough to be heard from the top of the house to the bottom, summoning, at + the same time, the serving-men to place the dinner upon the table, and the + guests to partake of it. + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo, who was an admirer of good cheer,—a taste which, by the + way, might have some weight in reconciling his dignity to these city + visits,—was tolled off by the sound, and left Nigel and the other + guests in peace, until his anxiety to arrange himself in his due place of + pre-eminence at the genial board was duly gratified. Here, seated on the + left hand of Aunt Judith, he beheld Nigel occupy the station of yet higher + honour on the right, dividing that matron from pretty Mistress Margaret; + but he saw this with the more patience, that there stood betwixt him and + the young lord a superb larded capon. + </p> + <p> + The dinner proceeded according to the form of the times. All was excellent + of the kind; and, besides the Scottish cheer promised, the board displayed + beef and pudding, the statutory dainties of Old England. A small cupboard + of plate, very choicely and beautifully wrought, did not escape the + compliments of some of the company, and an oblique sneer from Sir Mungo, + as intimating the owner's excellence in his own mechanical craft. + </p> + <p> + "I am not ashamed of the workmanship, Sir Mungo," said the honest citizen. + "They say, a good cook knows how to lick his own fingers; and, methinks, + it were unseemly that I, who have furnished half the cupboards in broad + Britain, should have my own covered with paltry pewter." + </p> + <p> + The blessing of the clergyman now left the guests at liberty to attack + what was placed before them; and the meal went forward with great decorum, + until Aunt Judith, in farther recommendation of the capon, assured her + company that it was of a celebrated breed of poultry, which she had + herself brought from Scotland. + </p> + <p> + "Then, like some of his countrymen, madam," said the pitiless Sir Mungo, + not without a glance towards his landlord, "he has been well larded in + England." + </p> + <p> + "There are some others of his countrymen," answered Master Heriot, "to + whom all the lard in England has not been able to render that good + office." + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo sneered and reddened, the rest of the company laughed; and the + satirist, who had his reasons for not coming to extremity with Master + George, was silent for the rest of the dinner. + </p> + <p> + The dishes were exchanged for confections, and wine of the highest quality + and flavour; and Nigel saw the entertainments of the wealthiest + burgomasters, which he had witnessed abroad, fairly outshone by the + hospitality of a London citizen. Yet there was nothing ostentatious, or + which seemed inconsistent with the degree of an opulent burgher. + </p> + <p> + While the collation proceeded, Nigel, according to the good-breeding of + the time, addressed his discourse principally to Mrs. Judith, whom he + found to be a woman of a strong Scottish understanding, more inclined + towards the Puritans than was her brother George, (for in that relation + she stood to him, though he always called her aunt,) attached to him in + the strongest degree, and sedulously attentive to all his comforts. As the + conversation of this good dame was neither lively nor fascinating, the + young lord naturally addressed himself next to the old horologer's very + pretty daughter, who sat upon his left hand. From her, however, there was + no extracting any reply beyond the measure of a monosyllable; and when the + young gallant had said the best and most complaisant things which his + courtesy supplied, the smile that mantled upon her pretty mouth was so + slight and evanescent, as scarce to be discernible. + </p> + <p> + Nigel was beginning to tire of his company, for the old citizens were + speaking with his host of commercial matters in language to him totally + unintelligible, when Sir Mungo Malagrowther suddenly summoned their + attention. + </p> + <p> + That amiable personage had for some time withdrawn from the company into + the recess of a projecting window, so formed and placed as to command a + view of the door of the house, and of the street. This situation was + probably preferred by Sir Mungo on account of the number of objects which + the streets of a metropolis usually offer, of a kind congenial to the + thoughts of a splenetic man. What he had hitherto seen passing there, was + probably of little consequence; but now a trampling of horse was heard + without, and the knight suddenly exclaimed,—"By my faith, Master + George, you had better go look to shop; for here comes Knighton, the Duke + of Buckingham's groom, and two fellows after him, as if he were my Lord + Duke himself." + </p> + <p> + "My cash-keeper is below," said Heriot, without disturbing himself, "and + he will let me know if his Grace's commands require my immediate + attention." + </p> + <p> + "Umph!—cash-keeper?" muttered Sir Mungo to himself; "he would have + had an easy office when I first kend ye.—But," said he, speaking + aloud, "will you not come to the window, at least? for Knighton has + trundled a piece of silver-plate into your house—ha! ha! ha!—trundled + it upon its edge, as a callan' would drive a hoop. I cannot help laughing—ha! + ha! ha!—at the fellow's impudence." + </p> + <p> + "I believe you could not help laughing," said George Heriot, rising up and + leaving the room, "if your best friend lay dying." + </p> + <p> + "Bitter that, my lord—ha?" said Sir Mungo, addressing Nigel. "Our + friend is not a goldsmith for nothing—he hath no leaden wit. But I + will go down, and see what comes on't." + </p> + <p> + Heriot, as he descended the stairs, met his cash-keeper coming up, with + some concern in his face.—"Why, how now, Roberts," said the + goldsmith, "what means all this, man?" + </p> + <p> + "It is Knighton, Master Heriot, from the Court—Knighton, the Duke's + man. He brought back the salver you carried to Whitehall, flung it into + the entrance as if it had been an old pewter platter, and bade me tell you + the king would have none of your trumpery." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, indeed," said George Heriot—"None of my trumpery!—Come + hither into the compting-room, Roberts.—Sir Mungo," he added, bowing + to the knight, who had joined, and was preparing to follow them, "I pray + your forgiveness for an instant." + </p> + <p> + In virtue of this prohibition, Sir Mungo, who, as well as the rest of the + company, had overheard what passed betwixt George Heriot and his + cash-keeper, saw himself condemned to wait in the outer business-room, + where he would have endeavoured to slake his eager curiosity by + questioning Knighton; but that emissary of greatness, after having added + to the uncivil message of his master some rudeness of his own, had again + scampered westward, with his satellites at his heels. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, the name of the Duke of Buckingham, the omnipotent + favourite both of the king and the Prince of Wales, had struck some + anxiety into the party which remained in the great parlour. He was more + feared than beloved, and, if not absolutely of a tyrannical disposition, + was accounted haughty, violent, and vindictive. It pressed on Nigel's + heart, that he himself, though he could not conceive how, nor why, might + be the original cause of the resentment of the Duke against his + benefactor. The others made their comments in whispers, until the sounds + reached Ramsay, who had not heard a word of what had previously passed, + but, plunged in those studies with which he connected every other incident + and event, took up only the catchword, and replied,—"The Duke—the + Duke of Buckingham—George Villiers—ay—I have spoke with + Lambe about him." + </p> + <p> + "Our Lord and our Lady! Now, how can you say so, father?" said his + daughter, who had shrewdness enough to see that her father was touching + upon dangerous ground. + </p> + <p> + "Why, ay, child," answered Ramsay; "the stars do but incline, they cannot + compel. But well you wot, it is commonly said of his Grace, by those who + have the skill to cast nativities, that there was a notable conjunction of + Mars and Saturn—the apparent or true time of which, reducing the + calculations of Eichstadius made for the latitude of Oranienburgh, to that + of London, gives seven hours, fifty-five minutes, and forty-one seconds——" + </p> + <p> + "Hold your peace, old soothsayer," said Heriot, who at that instant + entered the room with a calm and steady countenance; "your calculations + are true and undeniable when they regard brass and wire, and mechanical + force; but future events are at the pleasure of Him who bears the hearts + of kings in his hands." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, but, George," answered the watchmaker, "there was a concurrence of + signs at this gentleman's birth, which showed his course would be a + strange one. Long has it been said of him, he was born at the very meeting + of night and day, and under crossing and contending influences that may + affect both us and him. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Full moon and high sea, + Great man shalt thou be; + Red dawning, stormy sky, + Bloody death shalt thou die.'" +</pre> + <p> + "It is not good to speak of such things," said Heriot, "especially of the + great; stone walls have ears, and a bird of the air shall carry the + matter." + </p> + <p> + Several of the guests seemed to be of their host's opinion. The two + merchants took brief leave, as if under consciousness that something was + wrong. Mistress Margaret, her body-guard of 'prentices being in readiness, + plucked her father by the sleeve, and, rescuing him from a brown study, + (whether referring to the wheels of Time, or to that of Fortune, is + uncertain,) wished good-night to her friend Mrs. Judith, and received her + godfather's blessing, who, at the same time, put upon her slender finger a + ring of much taste and some value; for he seldom suffered her to leave him + without some token of his affection. Thus honourably dismissed, and + accompanied by her escort, she set forth on her return to Fleet Street. + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo had bid adieu to Master Heriot as he came out from the back + compting-room, but such was the interest which he took in the affairs of + his friend, that, when Master George went upstairs, he could not help + walking into that sanctum sanctorum, to see how Master Roberts was + employed. The knight found the cash-keeper busy in making extracts from + those huge brass-clasped leathern-bound manuscript folios, which are the + pride and trust of dealers, and the dread of customers whose year of grace + is out. The good knight leant his elbows on the desk, and said to the + functionary in a condoling tone of voice,—"What! you have lost a + good customer, I fear, Master Roberts, and are busied in making out his + bill of charges?" + </p> + <p> + Now, it chanced that Roberts, like Sir Mungo himself, was a little deaf, + and, like Sir Mungo, knew also how to make the most of it; so that he + answered at cross purposes,—"I humbly crave your pardon, Sir Mungo, + for not having sent in your bill of charge sooner, but my master bade me + not disturb you. I will bring the items together in a moment." So saying, + he began to turn over the leaves of his book of fate, murmuring, + "Repairing ane silver seal-new clasp to his chain of office—ane + over-gilt brooch to his hat, being a Saint Andrew's cross, with thistles—a + copper gilt pair of spurs,—this to Daniel Driver, we not dealing in + the article." + </p> + <p> + He would have proceeded; but Sir Mungo, not prepared to endure the recital + of the catalogue of his own petty debts, and still less willing to satisfy + them on the spot, wished the bookkeeper, cavalierly, good-night, and left + the house without farther ceremony. The clerk looked after him with a + civil city sneer, and immediately resumed the more serious labours which + Sir Mungo's intrusion had interrupted. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Things needful we have thought on; but the thing + Of all most needful—that which Scripture terms, + As if alone it merited regard, + The ONE thing needful—that's yet unconsider'd. + <i>The Chamberlain.</i> +</pre> + <p> + When the rest of the company had taken their departure from Master + Heriot's house, the young Lord of Glenvarloch also offered to take leave; + but his host detained him for a few minutes, until all were gone excepting + the clergyman. + </p> + <p> + "My lord," then said the worthy citizen, "we have had our permitted hour + of honest and hospitable pastime, and now I would fain delay you for + another and graver purpose, as it is our custom, when we have the benefit + of good Mr. Windsor's company, that he reads the prayers of the church for + the evening before we separate. Your excellent father, my lord, would not + have departed before family worship—I hope the same from your + lordship." + </p> + <p> + "With pleasure, sir," answered Nigel; "and you add in the invitation an + additional obligation to those with which you have loaded me. When young + men forget what is their duty, they owe deep thanks to the friend who will + remind them of it." + </p> + <p> + While they talked together in this manner, the serving-men had removed the + folding-tables, brought forward a portable reading-desk, and placed chairs + and hassocks for their master, their mistress, and the noble stranger. + Another low chair, or rather a sort of stool, was placed close beside that + of Master Heriot; and though the circumstance was trivial, Nigel was + induced to notice it, because, when about to occupy that seat, he was + prevented by a sign from the old gentleman, and motioned to another of + somewhat more elevation. The clergyman took his station behind the + reading-desk. The domestics, a numerous family both of clerks and + servants, including Moniplies, attended, with great gravity, and were + accommodated with benches. + </p> + <p> + The household were all seated, and, externally at least, composed to + devout attention, when a low knock was heard at the door of the apartment; + Mrs. Judith looked anxiously at her brother, as if desiring to know his + pleasure. He nodded his head gravely, and looked to the door. Mrs. Judith + immediately crossed the chamber, opened the door, and led into the + apartment a beautiful creature, whose sudden and singular appearance might + have made her almost pass for an apparition. She was deadly pale-there was + not the least shade of vital red to enliven features, which were + exquisitely formed, and might, but for that circumstance, have been termed + transcendently beautiful. Her long black hair fell down over her shoulders + and down her back, combed smoothly and regularly, but without the least + appearance of decoration or ornament, which looked very singular at a + period when head-gear, as it was called, of one sort or other, was + generally used by all ranks. Her dress was of white, of the simplest + fashion, and hiding all her person excepting the throat, face, and hands. + Her form was rather beneath than above the middle size, but so justly + proportioned and elegantly made, that the spectator's attention was + entirely withdrawn from her size. In contradiction of the extreme + plainness of all the rest of her attire, she wore a necklace which a + duchess might have envied, so large and lustrous were the brilliants of + which it was composed; and around her waist a zone of rubies of scarce + inferior value. + </p> + <p> + When this singular figure entered the apartment, she cast her eyes on + Nigel, and paused, as if uncertain whether to advance or retreat. The + glance which she took of him seemed to be one rather of uncertainty and + hesitation, than of bashfulness or timidity. Aunt Judith took her by the + hand, and led her slowly forward—her dark eyes, however, continued + to be fixed on Nigel, with an expression of melancholy by which he felt + strangely affected. Even when she was seated on the vacant stool, which + was placed there probably for her accommodation, she again looked on him + more than once with the same pensive, lingering, and anxious expression, + but without either shyness or embarrassment, not even so much as to call + the slightest degree of complexion into her cheek. + </p> + <p> + So soon as this singular female had taken up the prayer-book, which was + laid upon her cushion, she seemed immersed in devotional duty; and + although Nigel's attention to the service was so much disturbed by this + extraordinary apparition, that he looked towards her repeatedly in the + course of the service, he could never observe that her eyes or her + thoughts strayed so much as a single moment from the task in which she was + engaged. Nigel himself was less attentive, for the appearance of this lady + seemed so extraordinary, that, strictly as he had been bred up by his + father to pay the most reverential attention during performance of divine + service, his thoughts in spite of himself were disturbed by her presence, + and he earnestly wished the prayers were ended, that his curiosity might + obtain some gratification. When the service was concluded, and each had + remained, according to the decent and edifying practice of the church, + concentrated in mental devotion for a short space, the mysterious visitant + arose ere any other person stirred; and Nigel remarked that none of the + domestics left their places, oreven moved, until she had first kneeled on + one knee to Heriot, who seemed to bless her with his hand laid on her + head, and a melancholy solemnity of look and action. She then bended her + body, but without kneeling, to Mrs. Judith, and having performed these two + acts of reverence, she left the room; yet just in the act of her + departure, she once more turned her penetrating eyes on Nigel with a fixed + look, which compelled him to turn his own aside. When he looked towards + her again, he saw only the skirt of her white mantle as she left the + apartment. + </p> + <p> + The domestics then rose and dispersed themselves—wine, and fruit, + and spices, were offered to Lord Nigel and to the clergyman, and the + latter took his leave. The young lord would fain have accompanied him, in + hope to get some explanation of the apparition which he had beheld, but he + was stopped by his host, who requested to speak with him in his + compting-room. + </p> + <p> + "I hope, my lord," said the citizen, "that your preparations for attending + Court are in such forwardness that you can go thither the day after + to-morrow. It is, perhaps, the last day, for some time, that his Majesty + will hold open Court for all who have pretensions by birth, rank, or + office to attend upon him. On the subsequent day he goes to Theobald's, + where he is so much occupied with hunting and other pleasures, that he + cares not to be intruded on." + </p> + <p> + "I shall be in all outward readiness to pay my duty," said the young + nobleman, "yet I have little heart to do it. The friends from whom I ought + to have found encouragement and protection, have proved cold and false—I + certainly will not trouble <i>them</i> for their countenance on this + occasion—and yet I must confess my childish unwillingness to enter + quite alone upon so new a scene." + </p> + <p> + "It is bold of a mechanic like me to make such an offer to a nobleman," + said Heriot; "but I must attend at Court to-morrow. I can accompany you as + far as the presence-chamber, from my privilege as being of the household. + I can facilitate your entrance, should you find difficulty, and I can + point out the proper manner and time of approaching the king. But I do not + know," he added, smiling, "whether these little advantages will not be + overbalanced by the incongruity of a nobleman receiving them from the + hands of an old smith." + </p> + <p> + "From the hands rather of the only friend I have found in London," said + Nigel, offering his hand. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, if you think of the matter in that way," replied the honest citizen, + "there is no more to be said—I will come for you to-morrow, with a + barge proper to the occasion.—But remember, my good young lord, that + I do not, like some men of my degree, wish to take opportunity to step + beyond it, and associate with my superiors in rank, and therefore do not + fear to mortify my presumption, by suffering me to keep my distance in the + presence, and where it is fitting for both of us to separate; and for what + remains, most truly happy shall I be in proving of service to the son of + my ancient patron." + </p> + <p> + The style of conversation led so far from the point which had interested + the young nobleman's curiosity, that there was no returning to it that + night. He therefore exchanged thanks and greetings with George Heriot, and + took his leave, promising to be equipped and in readiness to embark with + him on the second successive morning at ten o'clock. + </p> + <p> + The generation of linkboys, celebrated by Count Anthony Hamilton, as + peculiar to London, had already, in the reign of James I., begun their + functions, and the service of one of them with his smoky torch, had been + secured to light the young Scottish lord and his follower to their + lodgings, which, though better acquainted than formerly with the city, + they might in the dark have run some danger of missing. This gave the + ingenious Mr. Moniplies an opportunity of gathering close up to his + master, after he had gone through the form of slipping his left arm into + the handles of his buckler, and loosening his broadsword in the sheath, + that he might be ready for whatever should befall. + </p> + <p> + "If it were not for the wine and the good cheer which we have had in + yonder old man's house, my lord," said this sapient follower, "and that I + ken him by report to be a just living man in many respects, and a real + Edinburgh gutterblood, I should have been well pleased to have seen how + his feet were shaped, and whether he had not a cloven cloot under the braw + roses and cordovan shoon of his." + </p> + <p> + "Why, you rascal," answered Nigel, "you have been too kindly treated, and + now that you have filled your ravenous stomach, you are railing on the + good gentleman that relieved you." + </p> + <p> + "Under favour, no, my lord," said Moniplies,—"I would only like to + see something mair about him. I have eaten his meat, it is true—more + shame that the like of him should have meat to give, when your lordship + and me could scarce have gotten, on our own account, brose and a bear + bannock—I have drunk his wine, too." + </p> + <p> + "I see you have," replied his master, "a great deal more than you should + have done." + </p> + <p> + "Under your patience, my lord," said Moniplies, "you are pleased to say + that, because I crushed a quart with that jolly boy Jenkin, as they call + the 'prentice boy, and that was out of mere acknowledgment for his former + kindness—I own that I, moreover, sung the good old song of Elsie + Marley, so as they never heard it chanted in their lives——" + </p> + <p> + And withal (as John Bunyan says) as they went on their way, he sung— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "O, do ye ken Elsie Marley, honey— + The wife that sells the barley, honey? + For Elsie Marley's grown sae fine, + She winna get up to feed the swine.— + O, do ye ken——" +</pre> + <p> + Here in mid career was the songster interrupted by the stern gripe of his + master, who threatened to baton him to death if he brought the city-watch + upon them by his ill-timed melody. + </p> + <p> + "I crave pardon, my lord—I humbly crave pardon—only when I + think of that Jen Win, as they call him, I can hardly help humming—'O, + do ye ken'—But I crave your honour's pardon, and will be totally + dumb, if you command me so." + </p> + <p> + "No, sirrah!" said Nigel, "talk on, for I well know you would say and + suffer more under pretence of holding your peace, than when you get an + unbridled license. How is it, then? What have you to say against Master + Heriot?" + </p> + <p> + It seems more than probable, that in permitting this license, the young + lord hoped his attendant would stumble upon the subject of the young lady + who had appeared at prayers in a manner so mysterious. But whether this + was the case, or whether he merely desired that Moniplies should utter, in + a subdued and under tone of voice, those spirits which might otherwise + have vented themselves in obstreperous song, it is certain he permitted + his attendant to proceed with his story in his own way. + </p> + <p> + "And therefore," said the orator, availing himself of his immunity, "I + would like to ken what sort of carle this Maister Heriot is. He hath + supplied your lordship with wealth of gold, as I can understand; and if he + has, I make it for certain he hath had his ain end in it, according to the + fashion of the world. Now, had your lordship your own good lands at your + guiding, doubtless this person, with most of his craft—goldsmiths + they call themselves—I say usurers—wad be glad to exchange so + many pounds of African dust, by whilk I understand gold, against so many + fair acres, and hundreds of acres, of broad Scottish land." + </p> + <p> + "But you know I have no land," said the young lord, "at least none that + can be affected by any debt which I can at present become obliged for—I + think you need not have reminded me of that." + </p> + <p> + "True, my lord, most true; and, as your lordship says, open to the meanest + capacity, without any unnecessary expositions. Now, therefore, my lord, + unless Maister George Heriot has something mair to allege as a motive for + his liberality, vera different from the possession of your estate—and + moreover, as he could gain little by the capture of your body, wherefore + should it not be your soul that he is in pursuit of?" + </p> + <p> + "My soul, you rascal!" said the young lord; "what good should my soul do + him?" + </p> + <p> + "What do I ken about that?" said Moniplies; "they go about roaring and + seeking whom they may devour—doubtless, they like the food that they + rage so much about—and, my lord, they say," added Moniplies, drawing + up still closer to his master's side, "they say that Master Heriot has one + spirit in his house already." + </p> + <p> + "How, or what do you mean?" said Nigel; "I will break your head, you + drunken knave, if you palter with me any longer." + </p> + <p> + "Drunken?" answered his trusty adherent, "and is this the story?—why, + how could I but drink your lordship's health on my bare knees, when Master + Jenkin began it to me?—hang them that would not—I would have + cut the impudent knave's hams with my broadsword, that should make scruple + of it, and so have made him kneel when he should have found it difficult + to rise again. But touching the spirit," he proceeded, finding that his + master made no answer to his valorous tirade, "your lordship has seen her + with your own eyes." + </p> + <p> + "I saw no spirit," said Glenvarloch, but yet breathing thick as one who + expects some singular disclosure, "what mean you by a spirit?" + </p> + <p> + "You saw a young lady come in to prayers, that spoke not a word to any + one, only made becks and bows to the old gentleman and lady of the house—ken + ye wha she is?" + </p> + <p> + "No, indeed," answered Nigel; "some relation of the family, I suppose." + </p> + <p> + "Deil a bit—deil a bit," answered Moniplies, hastily, "not a + blood-drop's kin to them, if she had a drop of blood in her body—I + tell you but what all human beings allege to be truth, that swell within + hue and cry of Lombard Street—that lady, or quean, or whatever you + choose to call her, has been dead in the body these many a year, though + she haunts them, as we have seen, even at their very devotions." + </p> + <p> + "You will allow her to be a good spirit at least," said Nigel Olifaunt, + "since she chooses such a time to visit her friends?" + </p> + <p> + "For that I kenna, my lord," answered the superstitious follower; "I ken + no spirit that would have faced the right down hammer-blow of Mess John + Knox, whom my father stood by in his very warst days, bating a chance time + when the Court, which my father supplied with butcher-meat, was against + him. But yon divine has another airt from powerful Master Rollock, and + Mess David Black, of North Leith, and sic like.—Alack-a-day! wha can + ken, if it please your lordship, whether sic prayers as the Southron read + out of their auld blethering black mess-book there, may not be as powerful + to invite fiends, as a right red-het prayer warm fraw the heart, may be + powerful to drive them away, even as the Evil Spirit was driven by he + smell of the fish's liver from the bridal-chamber of Sara, the daughter of + Raguel? As to whilk story, nevertheless, I make scruple to say whether it + be truth or not, better men than I am having doubted on that matter." + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, well," said his master, impatiently, "we are now near home, + and I have permitted you to speak of this matter for once, that we may + have an end to your prying folly, and your idiotical superstitions, for + ever. For whom do you, or your absurd authors or informers, take this + lady?" + </p> + <p> + "I can sae naething preceesely as to that," answered Moniplies; "certain + it is her body died and was laid in the grave many a day since, + notwithstanding she still wanders on earth, and chiefly amongst Maister + Heriot's family, though she hath been seen in other places by them that + well knew her. But who she is, I will not warrant to say, or how she + becomes attached, like a Highland Brownie, to some peculiar family. They + say she has a row of apartments of her own, ante-room, parlour, and + bedroom; but deil a bed she sleeps in but her own coffin, and the walls, + doors, and windows are so chinked up, as to prevent the least blink of + daylight from entering; and then she dwells by torchlight—" + </p> + <p> + "To what purpose, if she be a spirit?" said Nigel Olifaunt. + </p> + <p> + "How can I tell your lordship?" answered his attendant. "I thank God I + know nothing of her likings, or mislikings—only her coffin is there; + and I leave your lordship to guess what a live person has to do with a + coffin. As little as a ghost with a lantern, I trow." + </p> + <p> + "What reason," repeated Nigel, "can a creature, so young and so beautiful, + have already habitually to contemplate her bed of last-long rest?" + </p> + <p> + "In troth, I kenna, my lord," answered Moniplies; "but there is the + coffin, as they told me who have seen it: it is made of heben-wood, with + silver nails, and lined all through with three-piled damask, might serve a + princess to rest in." + </p> + <p> + "Singular," said Nigel, whose brain, like that of most active young + spirits, was easily caught by the singular and the romantic; "does she not + eat with the family?" + </p> + <p> + "Who!—she!"—exclaimed Moniplies, as if surprised at the + question; "they would need a lang spoon would sup with her, I trow. Always + there is something put for her into the Tower, as they call it, whilk is a + whigmaleery of a whirling-box, that turns round half on the tae side o' + the wa', half on the tother." + </p> + <p> + "I have seen the contrivance in foreign nunneries," said the Lord of + Glenvarloch. "And is it thus she receives her food?" + </p> + <p> + "They tell me something is put in ilka day, for fashion's sake," replied + the attendant; "but it's no to be supposed she would consume it, ony mair + than the images of Bel and the Dragon consumed the dainty vivers that were + placed before them. There are stout yeomen and chamber-queans in the + house, enow to play the part of Lick-it-up-a', as well as the threescore + and ten priests of Bel, besides their wives and children." + </p> + <p> + "And she is never seen in the family but when the hour of prayer arrives?" + said the master. + </p> + <p> + "Never, that I hear of," replied the servant. + </p> + <p> + "It is singular," said Nigel Olifaunt, musing. "Were it not for the + ornaments which she wears, and still more for her attendance upon the + service of the Protestant Church, I should know what to think, and should + believe her either a Catholic votaress, who, for some cogent reason, was + allowed to make her cell here in London, or some unhappy Popish devotee, + who was in the course of undergoing a dreadful penance. As it is, I know + not what to deem of it." + </p> + <p> + His reverie was interrupted by the linkboy knocking at the door of honest + John Christie, whose wife came forth with "quips, and becks, and wreathed + smiles," to welcome her honoured guest on his return to his apartment. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Ay! mark the matron well—and laugh not, Harry, + At her old steeple-hat and velvet guard— + I've call'd her like the ear of Dionysius; + I mean that ear-form'd vault, built o'er his dungeon, + To catch the groans and discontented murmurs + Of his poor bondsmen—Even so doth Martha + Drink up, for her own purpose, all that passes, + Or is supposed to pass, in this wide city— + She can retail it too, if that her profit + Shall call on her to do so; and retail it + For your advantage, so that you can make + Your profit jump with hers. + The Conspiracy. +</pre> + <p> + We must now introduce to the reader's acquaintance another character, busy + and important far beyond her ostensible situation in society—in a + word, Dame Ursula Suddlechop, wife of Benjamin Suddlechop, the most + renowned barber in all Fleet Street. This dame had her own particular + merits, the principal part of which was (if her own report could be + trusted) an infinite desire to be of service to her fellow-creatures. + Leaving to her thin half-starved partner the boast of having the most + dexterous snap with his fingers of any shaver in London, and the care of a + shop where starved apprentices flayed the faces of those who were boobies + enough to trust them, the dame drove a separate and more lucrative trade, + which yet had so many odd turns and windings, that it seemed in many + respects to contradict itself. + </p> + <p> + Its highest and most important duties were of a very secret and + confidential nature, and Dame Ursula Suddlechop was never known to betray + any transaction intrusted to her, unless she had either been indifferently + paid for her service, or that some one found it convenient to give her a + double douceur to make her disgorge the secret; and these contingencies + happened in so few cases, that her character for trustiness remained as + unimpeached as that for honesty and benevolence. + </p> + <p> + In fact, she was a most admirable matron, and could be useful to the + impassioned and the frail in the rise, progress, and consequences of their + passion. She could contrive an interview for lovers who could show proper + reasons for meeting privately; she could relieve the frail fair one of the + burden of a guilty passion, and perhaps establish the hopeful offspring of + unlicensed love as the heir of some family whose love was lawful, but + where an heir had not followed the union. More than this she could do, and + had been concerned in deeper and dearer secrets. She had been a pupil of + Mrs. Turner, and learned from her the secret of making the yellow starch, + and, it may be, two or three other secrets of more consequence, though + perhaps none that went to the criminal extent of those whereof her + mistress was accused. But all that was deep and dark in her real character + was covered by the show of outward mirth and good-humour, the hearty laugh + and buxom jest with which the dame knew well how to conciliate the elder + part of her neighbours, and the many petty arts by which she could + recommend herself to the younger, those especially of her own sex. + </p> + <p> + Dame Ursula was, in appearance, scarce past forty, and her full, but not + overgrown form, and still comely features, although her person was plumped + out, and her face somewhat coloured by good cheer, had a joyous expression + of gaiety and good-humour, which set off the remains of beauty in the + wane. Marriages, births, and christenings were seldom thought to be + performed with sufficient ceremony, for a considerable distance round her + abode, unless Dame Ursley, as they called her, was present. She could + contrive all sorts of pastimes, games, and jests, which might amuse the + large companies which the hospitality of our ancestors assembled together + on such occasions, so that her presence was literally considered as + indispensable in the families of all citizens of ordinary rank, at such + joyous periods. So much also was she supposed to know of life and its + labyrinths, that she was the willing confidant of half the loving couples + in the vicinity, most of whom used to communicate their secrets to, and + receive their counsel from, Dame Ursley. The rich rewarded her services + with rings, owches, or gold pieces, which she liked still better; and she + very generously gave her assistance to the poor, on the same mixed + principles as young practitioners in medicine assist them, partly from + compassion, and partly to keep her hand in use. + </p> + <p> + Dame Ursley's reputation in the city was the greater that her practice had + extended beyond Temple Bar, and that she had acquaintances, nay, patrons + and patronesses, among the quality, whose rank, as their members were much + fewer, and the prospect of approaching the courtly sphere much more + difficult, bore a degree of consequence unknown to the present day, when + the toe of the citizen presses so close on the courtier's heel. Dame + Ursley maintained her intercourse with this superior rank of customers, + partly by driving a small trade in perfumes, essences, pomades, head-gears + from France, dishes or ornaments from China, then already beginning to be + fashionable; not to mention drugs of various descriptions, chiefly for the + use of the ladies, and partly by other services, more or less connected + with the esoteric branches of her profession heretofore alluded to. + </p> + <p> + Possessing such and so many various modes of thriving, Dame Ursley was + nevertheless so poor, that she might probably have mended her own + circumstances, as well as her husband's, if she had renounced them all, + and set herself quietly down to the care of her own household, and to + assist Benjamin in the concerns of his trade. But Ursula was luxurious and + genial in her habits, and could no more have endured the stinted economy + of Benjamin's board, than she could have reconciled herself to the bald + chat of his conversation. + </p> + <p> + It was on the evening of the day on which Lord Nigel Olifaunt dined with + the wealthy goldsmith, that we must introduce Ursula Suddlechop upon the + stage. She had that morning made a long tour to Westminster, was fatigued, + and had assumed a certain large elbow-chair, rendered smooth by frequent + use, placed on one side of her chimney, in which there was lit a small but + bright fire. Here she observed, betwixt sleeping and waking, the simmering + of a pot of well-spiced ale, on the brown surface of which bobbed a small + crab-apple, sufficiently roasted, while a little mulatto girl watched, + still more attentively, the process of dressing a veal sweetbread, in a + silver stewpan which occupied the other side of the chimney. With these + viands, doubtless, Dame Ursula proposed concluding the well spent day, of + which she reckoned the labour over, and the rest at her own command. She + was deceived, however; for just as the ale, or, to speak technically, the + lamb's-wool, was fitted for drinking, and the little dingy maiden + intimated that the sweetbread was ready to be eaten, the thin cracked + voice of Benjamin was heard from the bottom of the stairs. + </p> + <p> + "Why, Dame Ursley—why, wife, I say—why, dame—why, love, + you are wanted more than a strop for a blunt razor—why, dame—" + </p> + <p> + "I would some one would draw a razor across thy windpipe, thou bawling + ass!" said the dame to herself, in the first moment of irritation against + her clamorous helpmate; and then called aloud,—"Why, what is the + matter, Master Suddlechop? I am just going to slip into bed; I have been + daggled to and fro the whole day." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, sweetheart, it is not me," said the patient Benjamin, "but the Scots + laundry-maid from neighbour Ramsay's, who must speak with you + incontinent." + </p> + <p> + At the word sweetheart, Dame Ursley cast a wistful look at the mess which + was stewed to a second in the stewpan, and then replied, with a sigh,—"Bid + Scots Jenny come up, Master Suddlechop. I shall be very happy to hear what + she has to say;" then added in a lower tone, "and I hope she will go to + the devil in the flame of a tar-barrel, like many a Scots witch before + her!" + </p> + <p> + The Scots laundress entered accordingly, and having heard nothing of the + last kind wish of Dame Suddlechop, made her reverence with considerable + respect, and said, her young mistress had returned home unwell, and wished + to see her neighbour, Dame Ursley, directly. + </p> + <p> + "And why will it not do to-morrow, Jenny, my good woman?" said Dame + Ursley; "for I have been as far as Whitehall to-day already, and I am + well-nigh worn off my feet, my good woman." + </p> + <p> + "Aweel!" answered Jenny, with great composure, "and if that sae be sae, I + maun take the langer tramp mysell, and maun gae down the waterside for + auld Mother Redcap, at the Hungerford Stairs, that deals in comforting + young creatures, e'en as you do yoursell, hinny; for ane o' ye the bairn + maun see before she sleeps, and that's a' that I ken on't." + </p> + <p> + So saying, the old emissary, without farther entreaty, turned on her heel, + and was about to retreat, when Dame Ursley exclaimed,—"No, no—if + the sweet child, your mistress, has any necessary occasion for good advice + and kind tendance, you need not go to Mother Redcap, Janet. She may do + very well for skippers' wives, chandlers' daughters, and such like; but + nobody shall wait on pretty Mistress Margaret, the daughter of his most + Sacred Majesty's horologer, excepting and saving myself. And so I will but + take my chopins and my cloak, and put on my muffler, and cross the street + to neighbour Ramsay's in an instant. But tell me yourself, good Jenny, are + you not something tired of your young lady's frolics and change of mind + twenty times a-day?" + </p> + <p> + "In troth, not I," said the patient drudge, "unless it may be when she is + a wee fashious about washing her laces; but I have been her keeper since + she was a bairn, neighbour Suddlechop, and that makes a difference." + </p> + <p> + "Ay," said Dame Ursley, still busied putting on additional defences + against the night air; "and you know for certain that she has two hundred + pounds a-year in good land, at her own free disposal?" + </p> + <p> + "Left by her grandmother, heaven rest her soul!" said the Scotswoman; "and + to a daintier lassie she could not have bequeathed it." + </p> + <p> + "Very true, very true, mistress; for, with all her little whims, I have + always said Mistress Margaret Ramsay was the prettiest girl in the ward; + and, Jenny, I warrant the poor child has had no supper?" + </p> + <p> + Jenny could not say but it was the case, for, her master being out, the + twa 'prentice lads had gone out after shutting shop, to fetch them home, + and she and the other maid had gone out to Sandy MacGivan's, to see a + friend frae Scotland. + </p> + <p> + "As was very natural, Mrs. Janet," said Dame Ursley, who found her + interest in assenting to all sorts of propositions from all sorts of + persons. + </p> + <p> + "And so the fire went out, too,"—said Jenny. + </p> + <p> + "Which was the most natural of the whole," said Dame Suddlechop; "and so, + to cut the matter short, Jenny, I'll carry over the little bit of supper + that I was going to eat. For dinner I have tasted none, and it may be my + young pretty Mistress Marget will eat a morsel with me; for it is mere + emptiness, Mistress Jenny, that often puts these fancies of illness into + young folk's heads." So saying, she put the silver posset-cup with the ale + into Jenny's hands and assuming her mantle with the alacrity of one + determined to sacrifice inclination to duty, she hid the stewpan under its + folds, and commanded Wilsa, the little mulatto girl, to light them across + the street. + </p> + <p> + "Whither away, so late?" said the barber, whom they passed seated with his + starveling boys round a mess of stockfish and parsnips, in the shop below. + </p> + <p> + "If I were to tell you, Gaffer," said the dame, with most contemptuous + coolness, "I do not think you could do my errand, so I will e'en keep it + to myself." Benjamin was too much accustomed to his wife's independent + mode of conduct, to pursue his inquiry farther; nor did the dame tarry for + farther question, but marched out at the door, telling the eldest of the + boys "to sit up till her return, and look to the house the whilst." + </p> + <p> + The night was dark and rainy, and although the distance betwixt the two + shops was short, it allowed Dame Ursley leisure enough, while she strode + along with high-tucked petticoats, to embitter it by the following + grumbling reflections—"I wonder what I have done, that I must needs + trudge at every old beldam's bidding, and every young minx's maggot! I + have been marched from Temple Bar to Whitechapel, on the matter of a + pinmaker's wife having pricked her fingers—marry, her husband that + made the weapon might have salved the wound.—And here is this + fantastic ape, pretty Mistress Marget, forsooth—such a beauty as I + could make of a Dutch doll, and as fantastic, and humorous, and conceited, + as if she were a duchess. I have seen her in the same day as changeful as + a marmozet and as stubborn as a mule. I should like to know whether her + little conceited noddle, or her father's old crazy calculating + jolter-pate, breeds most whimsies. But then there's that two hundred + pounds a-year in dirty land, and the father is held a close chuff, though + a fanciful—he is our landlord besides, and she has begged a late day + from him for our rent; so, God help me, I must be comfortable—besides, + the little capricious devil is my only key to get at Master George + Heriot's secret, and it concerns my character to find that out; and so, + ANDIAMOS, as the lingua franca hath it." + </p> + <p> + Thus pondering, she moved forward with hasty strides until she arrived at + the watchmaker's habitation. The attendant admitted them by means of a + pass-key. Onward glided Dame Ursula, now in glimmer and now in gloom, not + like the lovely Lady Cristabelle through Gothic sculpture and ancient + armour, but creeping and stumbling amongst relics of old machines, and + models of new inventions in various branches of mechanics with which + wrecks of useless ingenuity, either in a broken or half-finished shape, + the apartment of the fanciful though ingenious mechanist was continually + lumbered. + </p> + <p> + At length they attained, by a very narrow staircase, pretty Mistress + Margaret's apartment, where she, the cynosure of the eyes of every bold + young bachelor in Fleet Street, sat in a posture which hovered between the + discontented and the disconsolate. For her pretty back and shoulders were + rounded into a curve, her round and dimpled chin reposed in the hollow of + her little palm, while the fingers were folded over her mouth; her elbow + rested on a table, and her eyes seemed fixed upon the dying charcoal, + which was expiring in a small grate. She scarce turned her head when Dame + Ursula entered, and when the presence of that estimable matron was more + precisely announced in words by the old Scotswoman, Mistress Margaret, + without changing her posture, muttered some sort of answer that was wholly + unintelligible. + </p> + <p> + "Go your ways down to the kitchen with Wilsa, good Mistress Jenny," said + Dame Ursula, who was used to all sorts of freaks, on the part of her + patients or clients, whichever they might be termed; "put the stewpan and + the porringer by the fireside, and go down below—I must speak to my + pretty love, Mistress Margaret, by myself—and there is not a + bachelor betwixt this and Bow but will envy me the privilege." + </p> + <p> + The attendants retired as directed, and Dame Ursula, having availed + herself of the embers of charcoal, to place her stewpan to the best + advantage, drew herself as close as she could to her patient, and began in + a low, soothing, and confidential tone of voice, to inquire what ailed her + pretty flower of neighbours. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing, dame," said Margaret somewhat pettishly, and changing her + posture so as rather to turn her back upon the kind inquirer. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing, lady-bird!" answered Dame Suddlechop; "and do you use to send + for your friends out of bed at this hour for nothing?" + </p> + <p> + "It was not I who sent for you, dame," replied the malecontent maiden. + </p> + <p> + "And who was it, then?" said Ursula; "for if I had not been sent for, I + had not been here at this time of night, I promise you!" + </p> + <p> + "It was the old Scotch fool Jenny, who did it out of her own head, I + suppose," said Margaret; "for she has been stunning me these two hours + about you and Mother Redcap." + </p> + <p> + "Me and Mother Redcap!" said Dame Ursula, "an old fool indeed, that + couples folk up so.—But come, come, my sweet little neighbour, Jenny + is no such fool after all; she knows young folks want more and better + advice than her own, and she knows, too, where to find it for them; so you + must take heart of grace, my pretty maiden, and tell me what you are + moping about, and then let Dame Ursula alone for finding out a cure." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, an ye be so wise, Mother Ursula," replied the girl, "you may guess + what I ail without my telling you." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, child," answered the complaisant matron, "no one can play better + than I at the good old game of What is my thought like? Now I'll warrant + that little head of yours is running on a new head-tire, a foot higher + than those our city dames wear—or you are all for a trip to + Islington or Ware, and your father is cross and will not consent—or——" + </p> + <p> + "Or you are an old fool, Dame Suddlechop," said Margaret, peevishly, "and + must needs trouble yourself about matters you know nothing of." + </p> + <p> + "Fool as much as you will, mistress," said Dame Ursula, offended in her + turn, "but not so very many years older than yourself, mistress." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! we are angry, are we?" said the beauty; "and pray, Madam Ursula, how + come you, that are not so many years older than me, to talk about such + nonsense to me, who am so many years younger, and who yet have too much + sense to care about head-gears and Islington?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, young mistress," said the sage counsellor, rising, "I + perceive I can be of no use here; and methinks, since you know your own + matters so much better than other people do, you might dispense with + disturbing folks at midnight to ask their advice." + </p> + <p> + "Why, now you are angry, mother," said Margaret, detaining her; "this + comes of your coming out at eventide without eating your supper—I + never heard you utter a cross word after you had finished your little + morsel.—Here, Janet, a trencher and salt for Dame Ursula;—and + what have you in that porringer, dame?—Filthy clammy ale, as I would + live—Let Janet fling it out of the window, or keep it for my + father's morning draught; and she shall bring you the pottle of sack that + was set ready for him—good man, he will never find out the + difference, for ale will wash down his dusty calculations quite as well as + wine." + </p> + <p> + "Truly, sweetheart, I am of your opinion," said Dame Ursula, whose + temporary displeasure vanished at once before these preparations for good + cheer; and so, settling herself on the great easy-chair, with a + three-legged table before her, she began to dispatch, with good appetite, + the little delicate dish which she had prepared for herself. She did not, + however, fail in the duties of civility, and earnestly, but in vain, + pressed Mistress Margaret to partake her dainties. The damsel declined the + invitation. + </p> + <p> + "At least pledge me in a glass of sack," said Dame Ursula; "I have heard + my grandame say, that before the gospellers came in, the old Catholic + father confessors and their penitents always had a cup of sack together + before confession; and you are my penitent." + </p> + <p> + "I shall drink no sack, I am sure," said Margaret; "and I told you before, + that if you cannot find out what ails me, I shall never have the heart to + tell it." + </p> + <p> + So saying, she turned away from Dame Ursula once more, and resumed her + musing posture, with her hand on her elbow, and her back, at least one + shoulder, turned towards her confidant. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, then," said Dame Ursula, "I must exert my skill in good earnest.—You + must give me this pretty hand, and I will tell you by palmistry, as well + as any gipsy of them all, what foot it is you halt upon." + </p> + <p> + "As if I halted on any foot at all," said Margaret, something scornfully, + but yielding her left hand to Ursula, and continuing at the same time her + averted position. + </p> +<div class="fig" style="width:65%;"> + <img src="images/0618m.jpg" alt="0618m " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/0618.jpg"><i>Original</i></a> + </h5> + <p> + "I see brave lines here," said Ursula, "and not ill to read neither—pleasure + and wealth, and merry nights and late mornings to my Beauty, and such an + equipage as shall shake Whitehall. O, have I touched you there?—and + smile you now, my pretty one?—for why should not he be Lord Mayor, + and go to Court in his gilded caroch, as others have done before him?" + </p> + <p> + "Lord Mayor? pshaw!" replied Margaret. + </p> + <p> + "And why pshaw at my Lord Mayor, sweetheart? or perhaps you pshaw at my + prophecy; but there is a cross in every one's line of life as well as in + yours, darling. And what though I see a 'prentice's flat cap in this + pretty palm, yet there is a sparking black eye under it, hath not its + match in the Ward of Farringdon-Without." + </p> + <p> + "Whom do you mean, dame?" said Margaret coldly. + </p> + <p> + "Whom should I mean," said Dame Ursula, "but the prince of 'prentices, and + king of good company, Jenkin Vincent?" + </p> + <p> + "Out, woman—Jenkin Vincent?—a clown—a Cockney!" + exclaimed the indignant damsel. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, sets the wind in that quarter, Beauty!" quoth the dame; "why, it has + changed something since we spoke together last, for then I would have + sworn it blew fairer for poor Jin Vin; and the poor lad dotes on you too, + and would rather see your eyes than the first glimpse of the sun on the + great holiday on May-day." + </p> + <p> + "I would my eyes had the power of the sun to blind his, then," said + Margaret, "to teach the drudge his place." + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said Dame Ursula, "there be some who say that Frank Tunstall is as + proper a lad as Jin Vin, and of surety he is third cousin to a knighthood, + and come of a good house; and so mayhap you may be for northward ho!" + </p> + <p> + "Maybe I may"—answered Margaret, "but not with my father's 'prentice—I + thank you, Dame Ursula." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, then, the devil may guess your thoughts for me," said Dame Ursula; + "this comes of trying to shoe a filly that is eternally wincing and + shifting ground!" + </p> + <p> + "Hear me, then," said Margaret, "and mind what I say.—This day I + dined abroad—" + </p> + <p> + "I can tell you where," answered her counsellor,—"with your + godfather the rich goldsmith—ay, you see I know something—nay, + I could tell you, as I would, with whom, too." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed!" said Margaret, turning suddenly round with an accent of strong + surprise, and colouring up to the eyes. + </p> + <p> + "With old Sir Mungo Malagrowther," said the oracular dame,—"he was + trimmed in my Benjamin's shop in his way to the city." + </p> + <p> + "Pshaw! the frightful old mouldy skeleton!" said the damsel. + </p> + <p> + "Indeed you say true, my dear," replied the confidant,—"it is a + shame to him to be out of Saint Pancras's charnel-house, for I know no + other place he is fit for, the foul-mouthed old railer. He said to my + husband—" + </p> + <p> + "Somewhat which signifies nothing to our purpose, I dare say," interrupted + Margaret. "I must speak, then.—There dined with us a nobleman—" + </p> + <p> + "A nobleman! the maiden's mad!" said Dame Ursula. + </p> + <p> + "There dined with us, I say," continued Margaret, without regarding the + interruption, "a nobleman—a Scottish nobleman." + </p> + <p> + "Now Our Lady keep her!" said the confidant, "she is quite frantic!—heard + ever any one of a watchmaker's daughter falling in love with a nobleman—and + a Scots nobleman, to make the matter complete, who are all as proud as + Lucifer, and as poor as Job?—A Scots nobleman, quotha? I had lief + you told me of a Jew pedlar. I would have you think how all this is to + end, pretty one, before you jump in the dark." + </p> + <p> + "That is nothing to you, Ursula—it is your assistance," said + Mistress Margaret, "and not your advice, that I am desirous to have, and + you know I can make it worth your while." + </p> + <p> + "O, it is not for the sake of lucre, Mistress Margaret," answered the + obliging dame; "but truly I would have you listen to some advice—bethink + you of your own condition." + </p> + <p> + "My father's calling is mechanical," said Margaret, "but our blood is not + so. I have heard my father say that we are descended, at a distance + indeed, from the great Earls of Dalwolsey." [Footnote: The head of the + ancient and distinguished house of Ramsay, and to whom, as their chief, + the individuals of that name look as their origin and source of gentry. + Allan Ramsay, the pastoral poet, in the same manner, makes + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Dalhousie of an auld descent, + My chief, my stoup, my ornament."] +</pre> + <p> + "Ay, ay," said Dame Ursula; "even so—I never knew a Scot of you but + was descended, as ye call it, from some great house or other; and a + piteous descent it often is—and as for the distance you speak of, it + is so great as to put you out of sight of each other. Yet do not toss your + pretty head so scornfully, but tell me the name of this lordly northern + gallant, and we will try what can be done in the matter." + </p> + <p> + "It is Lord Glenvarloch, whom they call Lord Nigel Olifaunt," said + Margaret in a low voice, and turning away to hide her blushes. + </p> + <p> + "Marry, Heaven forefend!" exclaimed Dame Suddlechop; "this is the very + devil, and something worse!" + </p> + <p> + "How mean you?" said the damsel, surprised at the vivacity of her + exclamation. + </p> + <p> + "Why, know ye not," said the dame, "what powerful enemies he has at Court? + know ye not—But blisters on my tongue, it runs too fast for my wit—enough + to say, that you had better make your bridal-bed under a falling house, + than think of young Glenvarloch." + </p> + <p> + "He IS unfortunate then?" said Margaret; "I knew it—I divined it—there + was sorrow in his voice when he said even what was gay—there was a + touch of misfortune in his melancholy smile—he had not thus clung to + my thoughts had I seen him in all the mid-day glare of prosperity." + </p> + <p> + "Romances have cracked her brain!" said Dame Ursula; "she is a castaway + girl—utterly distraught—loves a Scots lord—and likes him + the better for being unfortunate! Well, mistress, I am sorry this is a + matter I cannot aid you in—it goes against my conscience, and it is + an affair above my condition, and beyond my management;—but I will + keep your counsel." + </p> + <p> + "You will not be so base as to desert me, after having drawn my secret + from me?" said Margaret, indignantly; "if you do, I know how to have my + revenge; and if you do not, I will reward you well. Remember the house + your husband dwells in is my father's property." + </p> + <p> + "I remember it but too well, Mistress Margaret," said Ursula, after a + moment's reflection, "and I would serve you in any thing in my condition; + but to meddle with such high matters—I shall never forget poor + Mistress Turner, my honoured patroness, peace be with her!—she had + the ill-luck to meddle in the matter of Somerset and Overbury, and so the + great earl and his lady slipt their necks out of the collar, and left her + and some half-dozen others to suffer in their stead. I shall never forget + the sight of her standing on the scaffold with the ruff round her pretty + neck, all done up with the yellow starch which I had so often helped her + to make, and that was so soon to give place to a rough hempen cord. Such a + sight, sweetheart, will make one loath to meddle with matters that are too + hot or heavy for their handling." + </p> + <p> + "Out, you fool!" answered Mistress Margaret; "am I one to speak to you + about such criminal practices as that wretch died for? All I desire of you + is, to get me precise knowledge of what affair brings this young nobleman + to Court." + </p> + <p> + "And when you have his secret," said Ursula, "what will it avail you, + sweetheart?—and yet I would do your errand, if you could do as much + for me." + </p> + <p> + "And what is it you would have of me?" said Mistress Margaret. + </p> + <p> + "What you have been angry with me for asking before," answered Dame + Ursula. "I want to have some light about the story of your godfather's + ghost, that is only seen at prayers." + </p> + <p> + "Not for the world," said Mistress Margaret, "will I be a spy on my kind + godfather's secrets—No, Ursula—that I will never pry into, + which he desires to keep hidden. But thou knowest that I have a fortune, + of my own, which must at no distant day come under my own management—think + of some other recompense." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, that I well know," said the counsellor—"it is that two hundred + per year, with your father's indulgence, that makes you so wilful, + sweetheart." + </p> + <p> + "It may be so,"—said Margaret Ramsay; "meanwhile, do you serve me + truly, and here is a ring of value in pledge, that when my fortune is in + my own hand, I will redeem the token with fifty broad pieces of gold." + </p> + <p> + "Fifty broad pieces of gold!" repeated the dame; "and this ring, which is + a right fair one, in token you fail not of your word!—Well, + sweetheart, if I must put my throat in peril, I am sure I cannot risk it + for a friend more generous than you; and I would not think of more than + the pleasure of serving you, only Benjamin gets more idle every day, and + our family——" + </p> + <p> + "Say no more of it," said Margaret; "we understand each other. And now, + tell me what you know of this young man's affairs, which made you so + unwilling to meddle with them?" + </p> + <p> + "Of that I can say no great matter as yet," answered Dame Ursula; "only I + know, the most powerful among his own countrymen are against him, and also + the most powerful at the Court here. But I will learn more of it; for it + will be a dim print that I will not read for your sake, pretty Mistress + Margaret. Know you where this gallant dwells?" + </p> + <p> + "I heard by accident," said Margaret, as if ashamed of the minute + particularity of her memory upon such an occasion,—"he lodges, I + think—at one Christie's—if I mistake not—at Paul's Wharf—a + ship-chandler's." + </p> + <p> + "A proper lodging for a young baron!—Well, but cheer you up, + Mistress Margaret—If he has come up a caterpillar, like some of his + countrymen, he may cast his slough like them, and come out a butterfly.—So + I drink good-night, and sweet dreams to you, in another parting cup of + sack; and you shall hear tidings of me within four-and-twenty hours. And, + once more, I commend you to your pillow, my pearl of pearls, and + Marguerite of Marguerites!" + </p> + <p> + So saying, she kissed the reluctant cheek of her young friend, or + patroness, and took her departure with the light and stealthy pace of one + accustomed to accommodate her footsteps to the purposes of dispatch and + secrecy. + </p> + <p> + Margaret Ramsay looked after her for some time, in anxious silence. "I did + ill," she at length murmured, "to let her wring this out of me; but she is + artful, bold and serviceable—and I think faithful—or, if not, + she will be true at least to her interest, and that I can command. I would + I had not spoken, however—I have begun a hopeless work. For what has + he said to me, to warrant my meddling in his fortunes?—Nothing but + words of the most ordinary import—mere table-talk, and terms of + course. Yet who knows"—she said, and then broke off, looking at the + glass the while, which, as it reflected back a face of great beauty, + probably suggested to her mind a more favourable conclusion of the + sentence than she cared to trust her tongue withal. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + So pitiful a thing is suitor's state! + Most miserable man, whom wicked fate + Hath brought to Court to sue, for <i>had I wist</i>, + That few have found, and many a one hath miss'd! + Full little knowest thou, that hast not tried, + What hell it is, in sueing long to bide: + To lose good days that might be better spent; + To waste long nights in pensive discontent; + To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow; + To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow; + To have thy Prince's grace, yet want her Peers'; + To have thy asking, yet wait many years; + To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares— + To eat thy heart through comfortless despairs. + To fawn, to crouch, to wait, to ride, to run, + To spend, to give, to want, to be undone. + <i>Mother Hubbard's Tale.</i> +</pre> + <p> + On the morning of the day on which George Heriot had prepared to escort + the young Lord of Glenvarloch to the Court at Whitehall, it may be + reasonably supposed, that the young man, whose fortunes were likely to + depend on this cast, felt himself more than usually anxious. He rose + early, made his toilette with uncommon care, and, being enabled, by the + generosity of his more plebeian countryman, to set out a very handsome + person to the best advantage, he obtained a momentary approbation from + himself as he glanced at the mirror, and a loud and distinct plaudit from + his landlady, who declared at once, that, in her judgment, he would take + the wind out of the sail of every gallant in the presence—so much + had she been able to enrich her discourse with the metaphors of those with + whom her husband dealt. + </p> + <p> + At the appointed hour, the barge of Master George Heriot arrived, + handsomely manned and appointed, having a tilt, with his own cipher, and + the arms of his company, painted thereupon. + </p> + <p> + The young Lord of Glenvarloch received the friend, who had evinced such + disinterested attachment, with the kind courtesy which well became him. + </p> + <p> + Master Heriot then made him acquainted with the bounty of his sovereign; + which he paid over to his young friend, declining what he had himself + formerly advanced to him. Nigel felt all the gratitude which the citizen's + disinterested friendship had deserved, and was not wanting in expressing + it suitably. + </p> + <p> + Yet, as the young and high-born nobleman embarked to go to the presence of + his prince, under the patronage of one whose best, or most distinguished + qualification, was his being an eminent member of the Goldsmiths' + Incorporation, he felt a little surprised, if not abashed, at his own + situation; and Richie Moniplies, as he stepped over the gangway to take + his place forward in the boat, could not help muttering,—"It was a + changed day betwixt Master Heriot and his honest father in the Kraemes;—but, + doubtless, there was a difference between clinking on gold and silver, and + clattering upon pewter." + </p> + <p> + On they glided, by the assistance of the oars of four stout watermen, + along the Thames, which then served for the principal high-road betwixt + London and Westminster; for few ventured on horseback through the narrow + and crowded streets of the city, and coaches were then a luxury reserved + only for the higher nobility, and to which no citizen, whatever was his + wealth, presumed to aspire. The beauty of the banks, especially on the + northern side, where the gardens of the nobility descended from their + hotels, in many places, down to the water's edge, was pointed out to Nigel + by his kind conductor, and was pointed out in vain. The mind of the young + Lord of Glenvarloch was filled with anticipations, not the most pleasant, + concerning the manner in which he was likely to be received by that + monarch, in whose behalf his family had been nearly reduced to ruin; and + he was, with the usual mental anxiety of those in such a situation, + framing imaginary questions from the king, and over-toiling his spirit in + devising answers to them. + </p> + <p> + His conductor saw the labour of Nigel's mind, and avoided increasing it by + farther conversation; so that, when he had explained to him briefly the + ceremonies observed at Court on such occasions of presentation, the rest + of their voyage was performed in silence. + </p> + <p> + They landed at Whitehall Stairs, and entered the Palace after announcing + their names,—the guards paying to Lord Glenvarloch the respect and + honours due to his rank. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +The young man's heart beat high and thick within him as he came into the +royal apartments. His education abroad, conducted, as it had been, on +a narrow and limited scale, had given him but imperfect ideas of the +grandeur of a Court; and the philosophical reflections which taught him +to set ceremonial and exterior splendour at defiance, proved, like other +maxims of mere philosophy, ineffectual, at the moment they were weighed +against the impression naturally made on the mind of an inexperienced +youth, by the unusual magnificence of the scene. The splendid apartments +through which they passed, the rich apparel of the grooms, guards, and + apartments, had something in it, trifling and commonplace as it might +appear to practised courtiers, embarrassing, and even alarming, to one, +who went through these forms for the first time, and who was doubtful +what sort of reception was to accompany his first appearance before his +sovereign. +</pre> + <p> + Heriot, in anxious attention to save his young friend from any momentary + awkwardness, had taken care to give the necessary password to the warders, + grooms of the chambers, ushers, or by whatever name they were designated; + so they passed on without interruption. + </p> + <p> + In this manner they passed several ante-rooms, filled chiefly with guards, + attendants of the Court, and their acquaintances, male and female, who, + dressed in their best apparel, and with eyes rounded by eager curiosity to + make the most of their opportunity, stood, with beseeming modesty, ranked + against the wall, in a manner which indicated that they were spectators, + not performers, in the courtly exhibition. + </p> + <p> + Through these exterior apartments Lord Glenvarloch and his city friend + advanced into a large and splendid withdrawing-room, communicating with + the presence-chamber, into which ante-room were admitted those only who, + from birth, their posts in the state or household, or by the particular + grant of the kings, had right to attend the Court, as men entitled to pay + their respects to their sovereign. + </p> + <p> + Amid this favoured and selected company, Nigel observed Sir Mungo + Malagrowther, who, avoided and discountenanced by those who knew how low + he stood in Court interest and favour, was but too happy in the + opportunity of hooking himself upon a person of Lord Glenvarloch's rank, + who was, as yet, so inexperienced as to feel it difficult to shake off an + intruder. + </p> + <p> + The knight forthwith framed his grim features to a ghastly smile, and, + after a preliminary and patronising nod to George Heriot, accompanied with + an aristocratic wave of the hand, which intimated at once superiority and + protection, he laid aside altogether the honest citizen, to whom he owed + many a dinner, to attach himself exclusively to the young lord, although + he suspected he might be occasionally in the predicament of needing one as + much as himself. And even the notice of this original, singular and + unamiable as he was, was not entirely indifferent to Lord Glenvarloch, + since the absolute and somewhat constrained silence of his good friend + Heriot, which left him at liberty to retire painfully to his own agitating + reflections, was now relieved; while, on the other hand, he could not help + feeling interest in the sharp and sarcastic information poured upon him by + an observant, though discontented courtier, to whom a patient auditor, and + he a man of title and rank, was as much a prize, as his acute and + communicative disposition rendered him an entertaining companion to Nigel + Olifaunt. Heriot, in the meantime, neglected by Sir Mungo, and avoiding + every attempt by which the grateful politeness of Lord Glenvarloch strove + to bring him into the conversation, stood by, with a kind of half smile on + his countenance; but whether excited by Sir Mungo's wit, or arising at his + expense, did not exactly appear. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the trio occupied a nook of the ante-room, next to the + door of the presence-chamber, which was not yet thrown open, when Maxwell, + with his rod of office, came bustling into the apartment, where most men, + excepting those of high rank, made way for him. He stopped beside the + party in which we are interested, looked for a moment at the young Scots + nobleman, then made a slight obeisance to Heriot, and lastly, addressing + Sir Mungo Malagrowther, began a hurried complaint to him of the + misbehaviour of the gentlemen-pensioners and warders, who suffered all + sort of citizens, suitors, and scriveners, to sneak into the outer + apartments, without either respect or decency.—"The English," he + said, "were scandalised, for such a thing durst not be attempted in the + queen's days. In her time, there was then the court-yard for the mobility, + and the apartments for the nobility; and it reflects on your place, Sir + Mungo," he added, "belonging to the household as you do, that such things + should not be better ordered." + </p> + <p> + Here Sir Mungo, afflicted, as was frequently the case on such occasions, + with one of his usual fits of deafness, answered, "It was no wonder the + mobility used freedoms, when those whom they saw in office were so little + better in blood and havings than themselves." + </p> + <p> + "You are right, sir—quite right," said Maxwell, putting his hand on + the tarnished embroidery on the old knight's sleeve,—"when such + fellows see men in office dressed in cast-off suits, like paltry + stage-players, it is no wonder the Court is thronged with intruders." + </p> + <p> + "Were you lauding the taste of my embroidery, Maister Maxwell?" answered + the knight, who apparently interpreted the deputy-chamberlain's meaning + rather from his action than his words;—"it is of an ancient and + liberal pattern, having been made by your mother's father, auld James + Stitchell, a master-fashioner of honest repute, in Merlin's Wynd, whom I + made a point to employ, as I am now happy to remember, seeing your father + thought fit to intermarry with sic a person's daughter." + </p> + <p> + Maxwell looked stern; but, conscious there was nothing to be got of Sir + Mungo in the way of amends, and that prosecuting the quarrel with such an + adversary would only render him ridiculous, and make public a mis-alliance + of which he had no reason to be proud, he covered his resentment with a + sneer; and, expressing his regret that Sir Mungo was become too deaf to + understand or attend to what was said to him, walked on, and planted + himself beside the folding-doors of the presence-chamber, at which he was + to perform the duty of deputy-chamberlain, or usher, so soon as they + should be opened. + </p> + <p> + "The door of the presence is about to open," said the goldsmith, in a + whisper, to his young friend; "my condition permits me to go no farther + with you. Fail not to present yourself boldly, according to your birth, + and offer your Supplication; which the king will not refuse to accept, + and, as I hope, to consider favourably." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the door of the presence-chamber opened accordingly, and, as + is usual on such occasions, the courtiers began to advance towards it, and + to enter in a slow, but continuous and uninterrupted stream. + </p> + <p> + As Nigel presented himself in his turn at the entrance, and mentioned his + name and title, Maxwell seemed to hesitate. "You are not known to any + one," he said. "It is my duty to suffer no one to pass to the presence, my + lord, whose face is unknown to me, unless upon the word of a responsible + person." + </p> + <p> + "I came with Master George Heriot," said Nigel, in some embarrassment at + this unexpected interruption. + </p> + <p> + "Master Heriot's name will pass current for much gold and silver, my + lord," replied Maxwell, with a civil sneer, "but not for birth and rank. I + am compelled by my office to be peremptory.—The entrance is impeded—I + am much concerned to say it—your lordship must stand back." + </p> + <p> + "What is the matter?" said an old Scottish nobleman, who had been speaking + with George Heriot, after he had separated from Nigel, and who now came + forward, observing the altercation betwixt the latter and Maxwell. + </p> + <p> + "It is only Master Deputy-Chamberlain Maxwell," said Sir Mungo + Malagrowther, "expressing his joy to see Lord Glenvarloch at Court, whose + father gave him his office—at least I think he is speaking to that + purport—for your lordship kens my imperfection." A subdued laugh, + such as the situation permitted, passed round amongst those who heard this + specimen of Sir Mungo's sarcastic temper. But the old nobleman stepped + still more forward, saying,—"What!—the son of my gallant old + opponent, Ochtred Olifaunt—I will introduce him to the presence + myself." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he took Nigel by the arm, without farther ceremony, and was + about to lead him forward, when Maxwell, still keeping his rod across the + door, said, but with hesitation and embarrassment—"My lord, this + gentleman is not known, and I have orders to be scrupulous." + </p> + <p> + "Tutti—taiti, man," said the old lord, "I will be answerable he is + his father's son, from the cut of his eyebrow—and thou, Maxwell, + knewest his father well enough to have spared thy scruples. Let us pass, + man." So saying, he put aside the deputy-chamberlain's rod, and entered + the presence-room, still holding the young nobleman by the arm. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I must know you, man," he said; "I must know you. I knew your father + well, man, and I have broke a lance and crossed a blade with him; and it + is to my credit that I am living to brag of it. He was king's-man and I + was queen's-man during the Douglas wars—young fellows both, that + feared neither fire nor steel; and we had some old feudal quarrels + besides, that had come down from father to son, with our seal-rings, + two-harided broad-swords, and plate-coats, and the crests on our + burgonets." + </p> + <p> + "Too loud, my Lord of Huntinglen," whispered a gentleman of the chamber,—"The + King!—the King!" + </p> + <p> + The old earl (for such he proved) took the hint, and was silent; and + James, advancing from a side-door, received in succession the compliments + of strangers, while a little group of favourite courtiers, or officers of + the household, stood around him, to whom he addressed himself from time to + time. Some more pains had been bestowed on his toilette than upon the + occasion when we first presented the monarch to our readers; but there was + a natural awkwardness about his figure which prevented his clothes from + sitting handsomely, and the prudence or timidity of his disposition had + made him adopt the custom already noticed, of wearing a dress so thickly + quilted as might withstand the stroke of a dagger, which added an ungainly + stiffness to his whole appearance, contrasting oddly with the frivolous, + ungraceful, and fidgeting motions with which he accompanied his + conversation. And yet, though the king's deportment was very undignified, + he had a manner so kind, familiar, and good-humoured, was so little apt to + veil over or conceal his own foibles, and had so much indulgence and + sympathy for those of others, that his address, joined to his learning, + and a certain proportion of shrewd mother-wit, failed not to make a + favourable impression on those who approached his person. + </p> + <p> + When the Earl of Huntinglen had presented Nigel to his sovereign, a + ceremony which the good peer took upon himself, the king received the + young lord very graciously, and observed to his introducer, that he "was + fain to see them twa stand side by side; for I trow, my Lord Huntinglen," + continued he, "your ancestors, ay, and e'en your lordship's self and this + lad's father, have stood front to front at the sword's point, and that is + a worse posture." + </p> + <p> + "Until your Majesty," said Lord Huntinglen, "made Lord Ochtred and me + cross palms, upon the memorable day when your Majesty feasted all the + nobles that were at feud together, and made them join hands in your + presence—" + </p> + <p> + "I mind it weel," said the king; "I mind it weel—it was a blessed + day, being the nineteen of September, of all days in the year—and it + was a blithe sport to see how some of the carles girned as they clapped + loofs together. By my saul, I thought some of them, mair special the + Hieland chiels, wad have broken out in our own presence; but we caused + them to march hand in hand to the Cross, ourselves leading the way, and + there drink a blithe cup of kindness with ilk other, to the stanching of + feud, and perpetuation of amity. Auld John Anderson was Provost that year—the + carle grat for joy, and the bailies and councillors danced bare-headed in + our presence like five-year-auld colts, for very triumph." + </p> + <p> + "It was indeed a happy day," said Lord Huntinglen, "and will not be + forgotten in the history of your Majesty's reign." + </p> + <p> + "I would not that it were, my lord," replied the monarch—"I would + not that it were pretermitted in our annals. Ay, ay—BEATI PACIFICI. + My English lieges here may weel make much of me, for I would have them to + know, they have gotten the only peaceable man that ever came of my family. + If James with the Fiery Face had come amongst you," he said, looking round + him, "or my great grandsire, of Flodden memory!" + </p> + <p> + "We should have sent him back to the north again," whispered one English + nobleman. + </p> + <p> + "At least," said another, in the same inaudible tone, "we should have had + a MAN to our sovereign, though he were but a Scotsman." + </p> + <p> + "And now, my young springald," said the king to Lord Glenvarloch, "where + have you been spending your calf-time?" + </p> + <p> + "At Leyden, of late, may it please your Majesty," answered Lord Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Aha! a scholar," said the king; "and, by my saul, a modest and ingenuous + youth, that hath not forgotten how to blush, like most of our travelled + Monsieurs. We will treat him conformably." + </p> + <p> + Then drawing himself up, coughing slightly, and looking around him with + the conscious importance of superior learning, while all the courtiers who + understood, or understood not, Latin, pressed eagerly forward to listen, + the sapient monarch prosecuted his inquiries as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "Hem! hem! <i>salve bis, quaterque salve, glenvarlochides noster! + Nuperumne ab lugduno batavorum britanniam rediisti?</i>" + </p> + <p> + The young nobleman replied, bowing low— + </p> + <p> + "<i>Imo, rex augustissime—biennium fere apud lugdunenses Moratus + sum.</i>" + </p> + <p> + James proceeded— + </p> + <p> + "<i>Biennium dicis? Bene, bene, optume factum est—non uno Die, quod + dicunt,—intelligisti, domine glenvarlochiensis?</i> Aha!" + </p> + <p> + Nigel replied by a reverent bow, and the king, turning to those behind + him, said— + </p> + <p> + "<i>Adolescens quidem ingenui vultus ingenuique pudoris.</i>" Then resumed + his learned queries. "<i>Et quid hodie lugdunenses loquuntur—vossius + vester nihilne novi scripsit?—nihil certe, quod doleo, typis + recenter editit</i>." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Valet quidem vossius, rex benevole.</i>" replied Nigel, "<i>ast senex + veneratissimus annum agit, ni fallor, septuagesimum.</i>" + </p> + <p> + "<i>Virum, mehercle, vix tam grandaevum crediderim</i>," replied the + monarch. "<i>et vorstius iste?—arminii improbi successor aeque ac + sectator—herosne adhuc, ut cum homero loquar</i>, [ZOOS ESTI KAI EPI + THONI DERKOV]?" text in Greek + </p> + <p> + Nigel, by good fortune, remembered that Vorstius, the divine last + mentioned in his Majesty's queries about the state of Dutch literature, + had been engaged in a personal controversy with James, in which the king + had taken so deep an interest, as at length to hint in his public + correspondence with the United States, that they would do well to apply + the secular arm to stop the progress of heresy by violent measures against + the Professor's person—a demand which their Mighty Mightinesses' + principles of universal toleration induced them to elude, though with some + difficulty. Knowing all this, Lord Glenvarloch, though a courtier of only + five minutes' standing, had address enough to reply— + </p> + <p> + "<i>Vivum quidem, haud diu est, hominem videbam—vigere autem quis + dicat qui sub fulminibus eloquentiae tuae, rex magne, jamdudum pronus + jacet, et prostratus?</i>" + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: Lest any lady or gentleman should suspect there is aught of + mystery concealed under the sentences printed in Italics, they will be + pleased to understand that they contain only a few commonplace Latin + phrases, relating to the state of letters in Holland, which neither + deserve, nor would endure, a literal translation.] + </p> + <p> + This last tribute to his polemical powers completed James's happiness, + which the triumph of exhibiting his erudition had already raised to a + considerable height. + </p> + <p> + He rubbed his hands, snapped his fingers, fidgeted, chuckled, exclaimed—"<i>Euge! + Belle! Optime!</i>" and turning to the Bishops of Exeter and Oxford, who + stood behind him, he said.—"Ye see, my lords, no bad specimen of our + Scottish Latinity, with which language we would all our subjects of + England were as well embued as this, and other youths of honourable birth, + in our auld kingdom; also, we keep the genuine and Roman pronunciation, + like other learned nations on the continent, sae that we hold communing + with any scholar in the universe, who can but speak the Latin tongue; + whereas ye, our learned subjects of England, have introduced into your + universities, otherwise most learned, a fashion of pronouncing like unto + the 'nippit foot and clippit foot' of the bride in the fairy tale, whilk + manner of speech, (take it not amiss that I be round with you) can be + understood by no nation on earth saving yourselves; whereby Latin, <i>quoad + anglos</i>, ceaseth to be <i>communis lingua</i>, the general dragoman, or + interpreter, between all the wise men of the earth." + </p> + <p> + The Bishop of Exeter bowed, as in acquiescence to the royal censure; but + he of Oxford stood upright, as mindful over what subjects his see + extended, and as being equally willing to become food for fagots in + defence of the Latinity of the university, as for any article of his + religious creed. + </p> + <p> + The king, without awaiting an answer from either prelate, proceeded to + question Lord Nigel, but in the vernacular tongue,—"Weel, my likely + Alumnus of the Muses, and what make you so far from the north?" + </p> + <p> + "To pay my homage to your Majesty," said the young nobleman, kneeling on + one knee, "and to lay before you," he added, "this my humble and dutiful + Supplication." + </p> + <p> + The presenting of a pistol would certainly have startled King James more, + but could (setting apart the fright) hardly have been more unpleasing to + his indolent disposition. + </p> + <p> + "And is it even so, man?" said he; "and can no single man, were it but for + the rarity of the case, ever come up frae Scotland, excepting EX PROPOSITO—on + set purpose, to see what he can make out of his loving sovereign? It is + but three days syne that we had weel nigh lost our life, and put three + kingdoms into dule-weeds, from the over haste of a clumsy-handed peasant, + to thrust a packet into our hand, and now we are beset by the like + impediment in our very Court. To our Secretary with that gear, my lord—to + our Secretary with that gear." + </p> + <p> + "I have already offered my humble Supplication to your Majesty's Secretary + of State," said Lord Glenvarloch—"but it seems——" + </p> + <p> + "That he would not receive it, I warrant?" said the king, interrupting + him; "bu my saul, our Secretary kens that point of king-craft, called + refusing, better than we do, and will look at nothing but what he likes + himsell—I think I wad make a better Secretary to him than he to me.—Weel, + my lord, you are welcome to London; and, as ye seem an acute and learned + youth, I advise ye to turn your neb northward as soon as ye like, and + settle yoursell for a while at Saint Andrews, and we will be right glad to + hear that you prosper in your studies.—<i>Incumbite Remis Fortiter.</i>" + </p> + <p> + While the king spoke thus, he held the petition of the young lord + carelessly, like one who only delayed till the supplicant's back was + turned, to throw it away, or at least lay it aside to be no more looked + at. The petitioner, who read this in his cold and indifferent looks, and + in the manner in which he twisted and crumpled together the paper, arose + with a bitter sense of anger and disappointment, made a profound + obeisance, and was about to retire hastily. But Lord Huntinglen, who stood + by him, checked his intention by an almost imperceptible touch upon the + skirt of his cloak, and Nigel, taking the hint, retreated only a few steps + from the royal presence, and then made a pause. In the meantime, Lord + Huntinglen kneeled before James, in his turn, and said—"May it + please your Majesty to remember, that upon one certain occasion you did + promise to grant me a boon every year of your sacred life?" + </p> + <p> + "I mind it weel, man," answered James, "I mind it weel, and good reason + why—it was when you unclasped the fause traitor Ruthven's fangs from + about our royal throat, and drove your dirk into him like a true subject. + We did then, as you remind us, (whilk was unnecessary,) being partly + beside ourselves with joy at our liberation, promise we would grant you a + free boon every year; whilk promise, on our coming to menseful possession + of our royal faculties, we did confirm, <i>restrictive</i> always and <i>conditionaliter</i>, + that your lordship's demand should be such as we, in our royal discretion, + should think reasonable." + </p> + <p> + "Even so, gracious sovereign," said the old earl, "and may I yet farther + crave to know if I have ever exceeded the bounds of your royal + benevolence?" + </p> + <p> + "By my word, man, no!'" said the king; "I cannot remember you have asked + much for yourself, if it be not a dog or a hawk, or a buck out of our park + at Theobald's, or such like. But to what serves this preface?" + </p> + <p> + "To the boon to which I am now to ask of your Grace," said Lord + Huntinglen; "which is, that your Majesty would be pleased, on the instant, + to look at the placet of Lord Glenvarloch, and do upon it what your own + just and royal nature shall think meet and just, without reference to your + Secretary or any other of your Council." + </p> + <p> + "By my saul, my lord, this is strange," said the king; "ye are pleading + for the son of your enemy!" + </p> + <p> + "Of one who WAS my enemy till your Majesty made him my friend," answered + Lord Huntinglen. + </p> + <p> + "Weel spoken, my lord!" said the king; "and with, a true Christian spirit. + And, respecting the Supplication of this young man, I partly guess where + the matter lies; and in plain troth I had promised to George Heriot to be + good to the lad—But then, here the shoe pinches. Steenie and Babie + Charles cannot abide him—neither can your own son, my lord; and so, + methinks, he had better go down to Scotland before he comes toill luck by + them." + </p> + <p> + "My son, an it please your Majesty, so far as he is concerned, shall not + direct my doings," said the earl, "nor any wild-headed young man of them + all." + </p> + <p> + "Why, neither shall they mine," replied the monarch; "by my father's saul, + none of them all shall play Rex with me—I will do what I will, and + what I ought, like a free king." + </p> + <p> + "Your Majesty will then grant me my boon?" said the Lord Huntinglen. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, marry will I—marry will I," said the king; "but follow me this + way, man, where we may be more private." + </p> + <p> + He led Lord Huntinglen with rather a hurried step through the courtiers, + all of whom gazed earnestly on this unwonted scene, as is the fashion of + all Courts on similar occasions. The king passed into a little cabinet, + and bade, in the first moment, Lord Huntinglen lock or bar the door; but + countermanded his direction in the next, saying,—"No, no, no—bread + o' life, man, I am a free king—will do what I will and what I should—I + am <i>justus et tenax propositi</i>, man—nevertheless, keep by the + door, Lord Huntinglen, in case Steenie should come in with his mad + humour." + </p> + <p> + "O my poor master!" groaned the Earl of Huntinglen. "When you were in your + own cold country, you had warmer blood in your veins." + </p> + <p> + The king hastily looked over the petition or memorial, every now and then + glancing his eye towards the door, and then sinking it hastily on the + paper, ashamed that Lord Huntinglen, whom he respected, should suspect him + of timidity. + </p> + <p> + "To grant the truth," he said, after he had finished his hasty perusal, + "this is a hard case; and harder than it was represented to me, though I + had some inkling of it before. And so the lad only wants payment of the + siller due from us, in order to reclaim his paternal estate? But then, + Huntinglen, the lad will have other debts—and why burden himsell + with sae mony acres of barren woodland? let the land gang, man, let the + land gang; Steenie has the promise of it from our Scottish Chancellor—it + is the best hunting-ground in Scotland—and Babie Charles and Steenie + want to kill a buck there this next year—they maun hae the land—they + maun hae the land; and our debt shall be paid to the young man plack and + bawbee, and he may have the spending of it at our Court; or if he has such + an eard hunger, wouns! man, we'll stuff his stomach with English land, + which is worth twice as much, ay, ten times as much, as these accursed + hills and heughs, and mosses and muirs, that he is sae keen after." + </p> + <p> + All this while the poor king ambled up and down the apartment in a piteous + state of uncertainty, which was made more ridiculous by his shambling + circular mode of managing his legs, and his ungainly fashion on such + occasions of fiddling with the bunches of ribbons which fastened the lower + part of his dress. + </p> + <p> + Lord Huntinglen listened with great composure, and answered, "An it please + your Majesty, there was an answer yielded by Naboth when Ahab coveted his + vineyard—' The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my + fathers unto thee.'" + </p> + <p> + "Ey, my lord—ey, my lord!" ejaculated James, while all the colour + mounted both to his cheek and nose; "I hope ye mean not to teach me + divinity? Ye need not fear, my lord, that I will shun to do justice to + every man; and, since your lordship will give me no help to take up this + in a more peaceful manner—whilk, methinks, would be better for the + young man, as I said before,—why—since it maun be so—'sdeath, + I am a free king, man, and he shall have his money and redeem his land, + and make a kirk and a miln of it, an he will." So saying, he hastily wrote + an order on the Scottish Exchequer for the sum in question, and then + added, "How they are to pay it, I see not; but I warrant he will find + money on the order among the goldsmiths, who can find it for every one but + me.—And now you see, my Lord of Huntinglen, that I am neither an + untrue man, to deny you the boon whilk I became bound for, nor an Ahab, to + covet Naboth's vineyard; nor a mere nose-of-wax, to be twisted this way + and that, by favourites and counsellors at their pleasure. I think you + will grant now that I am none of those?" + </p> + <p> + "You are my own native and noble prince," said Huntinglen, as he knelt to + kiss the royal hand—"just and generous, whenever you listen to the + workings of your own heart." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay," said the king, laughing good-naturedly, as he raised his + faithful servant from the ground, "that is what ye all say when I do any + thing to please ye. There—there, take the sign-manual, and away with + you and this young fellow. I wonder Steenie and Babie Charles have not + broken in on us before now." + </p> + <p> + Lord Huntinglen hastened from the cabinet, foreseeing a scene at which he + was unwilling to be present, but which sometimes occurred when James + roused himself so far as to exert his own free will, of which he boasted + so much, in spite of that of his imperious favourite Steenie, as he called + the Duke of Buckingham, from a supposed resemblance betwixt his very + handsome countenance, and that with which the Italian artists represented + the protomartyr Stephen. In fact, the haughty favourite, who had the + unusual good fortune to stand as high in the opinion of the heir-apparent + as of the existing monarch, had considerably diminished in his respect + towards the latter; and it was apparent, to the more shrewd courtiers, + that James endured his domination rather from habit, timidity, and a dread + of encountering his stormy passions, than from any heartfelt continuation + of regard towards him, whose greatness had been the work of his own hands. + To save himself the pain of seeing what was likely to take place on the + duke's return, and to preserve the king from the additional humiliation + which the presence of such a witness must have occasioned, the earl left + the cabinet as speedily as possible, having first carefully pocketed the + important sign-manual. + </p> + <p> + No sooner had he entered the presence-room, than he hastily sought Lord + Glenvarloch, who had withdrawn into the embrasure of one of the windows, + from the general gaze of men who seemed disposed only to afford him the + notice which arises from surprise and curiosity, and, taking him by the + arm, without speaking, led him out of the presence-chamber into the first + ante-room. Here they found the worthy goldsmith, who approached them with + looks of curiosity, which were checked by the old lord, who said hastily, + "All is well.—Is your barge in waiting?" Heriot answered in the + affirmative. "Then," said Lord Huntinglen, "you shall give me a cast in + it, as the watermen say; and I, in requital, will give you both your + dinner; for we must have some conversation together." + </p> + <p> + They both followed the earl without speaking, and were in the second + ante-room when the important annunciation of the ushers, and the hasty + murmur with which all made ample way as the company repeated to each + other,—"The Duke—the Duke!" made them aware of the approach of + the omnipotent favourite. + </p> + <p> + He entered, that unhappy minion of Court favour, sumptuously dressed in + the picturesque attire which will live for ever on the canvas of Vandyke, + and which marks so well the proud age, when aristocracy, though undermined + and nodding to its fall, still, by external show and profuse expense, + endeavoured to assert its paramount superiority over the inferior orders. + The handsome and commanding countenance, stately form, and graceful action + and manners of the Duke of Buckingham, made him become that picturesque + dress beyond any man of his time. At present, however, his countenance + seemed discomposed, his dress a little more disordered than became the + place, his step hasty, and his voice imperative. + </p> + <p> + All marked the angry spot upon his brow, and bore back so suddenly to make + way for him, that the Earl of Huntinglen, who affected no extraordinary + haste on the occasion, with his companions, who could not, if they would, + have decently left him, remained as it were by themselves in the middle of + the room, and in the very path of the angry favourite. He touched his cap + sternly as he looked on Huntinglen, but unbonneted to Heriot, and sunk his + beaver, with its shadowy plume, as low as the floor, with a profound air + of mock respect. In returning his greeting, which he did simply and + unaffectedly, the citizen only said,—"Too much courtesy, my lord + duke, is often the reverse of kindness." + </p> + <p> + "I grieve you should think so, Master Heriot," answered the duke; "I only + meant, by my homage, to claim your protection, sir—your patronage. + You are become, I understand, a solicitor of suits—a promoter—an + undertaker—a fautor of court suitors of merit and quality, who + chance to be pennyless. I trust your bags will bear you out in your new + boast." + </p> + <p> + "They will bear me the farther, my lord duke," answered the goldsmith, + "that my boast is but small." + </p> + <p> + "O, you do yourself less than justice, my good Master Heriot," continued + the duke, in the same tone of irony; "you have a marvellous court-faction, + to be the son of an Edinburgh tinker. Have the goodness to prefer me to + the knowledge of the high-born nobleman who is honoured and advantaged by + your patronage." + </p> + <p> + "That shall be my task," said Lord Huntinglen, with emphasis. "My lord + duke, I desire you to know Nigel Olifaunt, Lord Glenvarloch, + representative of one of the most ancient and powerful baronial houses in + Scotland.—Lord Glenvarloch, I present you to his Grace the Duke of + Buckingham, representative of Sir George Villiers, Knight of Brookesby, in + the county of Leicester." + </p> + <p> + The duke coloured still more high as he bowed to Lord Glenvarloch + scornfully, a courtesy which the other returned haughtily, and with + restrained indignation. "We know each other, then," said the duke, after a + moment's pause; and as if he had seen something in the young nobleman + which merited more serious notice than the bitter raillery with which he + had commenced—"we know each other—and you know me, my lord, + for your enemy." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you for your plainness, my lord duke," replied Nigel; "an open + enemy is better than a hollow friend." + </p> + <p> + "For you, my Lord Huntinglen," said the duke, "methinks you have but now + overstepped the limits of the indulgence permitted to you, as the father + of the prince's friend, and my own." + </p> + <p> + "By my word, my lord duke," replied the earl, "it is easy for any one to + outstep boundaries, of the existence of which he was not aware. It is + neither to secure my protection nor approbation, that my son keeps such + exalted company." + </p> + <p> + "O, my lord, we know you, and indulge you," said the duke; "you are one of + those who presume for a life-long upon the merit of one good action." + </p> + <p> + "In faith, my lord, and if it be so," said the old earl, "I have at least + the advantage of such as presume more than I do, without having done any + action of merit whatever. But I mean not to quarrel with you, my lord—we + can neither be friends nor enemies—you have your path, and I have + mine." + </p> + <p> + Buckingham only replied by throwing on his bonnet, and shaking its lofty + plume with a careless and scornful toss of the head. They parted thus; the + duke walking onwards through the apartments, and the others leaving the + Palace and repairing to Whitehall Stairs, where they embarked on board the + barge of the citizen. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Bid not thy fortune troll upon the wheels + Of yonder dancing cubes of mottled bone; + And drown it not, like Egypt's royal harlot, + Dissolving her rich pearl in the brimm'd wine-cup. + These are the arts, Lothario, which shrink acres + Into brief yards—bring sterling pounds to farthings, + Credit to infamy; and the poor gull, + Who might have lived an honour'd, easy life, + To ruin, and an unregarded grave. + <i>The Changes.</i> +</pre> + <p> + When they were fairly embarked on the Thames, the earl took from his + pocket the Supplication, and, pointing out to George Heriot the royal + warrant indorsed thereon, asked him, if it were in due and regular form? + The worthy citizen hastily read it over, thrust forth his hand as if to + congratulate the Lord Glenvarloch, then checked himself, pulled out his + barnacles, (a present from old David Ramsay,) and again perused the + warrant with the most business-like and critical attention. "It is + strictly correct and formal," he said, looking to the Earl of Huntinglen; + "and I sincerely rejoice at it." + </p> + <p> + "I doubt nothing of its formality," said the earl; "the king understands + business well, and, if he does not practise it often, it is only because + indolence obscures parts which are naturally well qualified for the + discharge of affairs. But what is next to be done for our young friend, + Master Heriot? You know how I am circumstanced. Scottish lords living at + the English Court have seldom command of money; yet, unless a sum can be + presently raised on this warrant, matters standing as you hastily hinted + to me, the mortgage, wadset, or whatever it is called, will be + foreclosed." + </p> + <p> + "It is true," said Heriot, in some embarrassment; "there is a large sum + wanted in redemption—yet, if it is not raised, there will be an + expiry of the legal, as our lawyers call it, and the estate will be + evicted." + </p> + <p> + "My noble—my worthy friends, who have taken up my cause so + undeservedly, so unexpectedly," said Nigel, "do not let me be a burden on + your kindness. You have already done too much where nothing was merited." + </p> + <p> + "Peace, man, peace," said Lord Huntinglen, "and let old Heriot and I + puzzle this scent out. He is about to open—hark to him!" + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said the citizen, "the Duke of Buckingham sneers at our city + money-bags; yet they can sometimes open, to prop a falling and a noble + house." + </p> + <p> + "We know they can," said Lord Huntinglen—"mind not Buckingham, he is + a Peg-a-Ramsay—and now for the remedy." + </p> + <p> + "I partly hinted to Lord Glenvarloch already," said Heriot, "that the + redemption money might be advanced upon such a warrant as the present, and + I will engage my credit that it can. But then, in order to secure the + lender, he must come in the shoes of the creditor to whom he advances + payment." + </p> + <p> + "Come in his shoes!" replied the earl; "why, what have boots or shoes to + do with this matter, my good friend?" + </p> + <p> + "It is a law phrase, my lord. My experience has made me pick up a few of + them," said Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, and of better things along with them, Master George," replied Lord + Huntinglen; "but what means it?" + </p> + <p> + "Simply this," resumed the citizen; "that the lender of this money will + transact with the holder of the mortgage, or wadset, over the estate of + Glenvarloch, and obtain from him such a conveyance to his right as shall + leave the lands pledged for the debt, in case the warrant upon the + Scottish Exchequer should prove unproductive. I fear, in this uncertainty + of public credit, that without some such counter security, it will be very + difficult to find so large a sum." + </p> + <p> + "Ho la!" said the Earl of Huntinglen, "halt there! a thought strikes me.—What + if the new creditor should admire the estate as a hunting-field, as much + as my Lord Grace of Buckingham seems to do, and should wish to kill a buck + there in the summer season? It seems to me, that on your plan, Master + George, our new friend will be as well entitled to block Lord Glenvarloch + out of his inheritance as the present holder of the mortgage." + </p> + <p> + The citizen laughed. "I will engage," he said, "that the keenest sportsman + to whom I may apply on this occasion, shall not have a thought beyond the + Lord Mayor's Easter-Hunt, in Epping Forest. But your lordship's caution is + reasonable. The creditor must be bound to allow Lord Glenvarloch + sufficient time to redeem his estate by means of the royal warrant, and + must wave in his favour the right of instant foreclosure, which may be, I + should think, the more easily managed, as the right of redemption must be + exercised in his own name." + </p> + <p> + "But where shall we find a person in London fit to draw the necessary + writings?" said the earl. "If my old friend Sir John Skene of Halyards had + lived, we should have had his advice; but time presses, and—" + </p> + <p> + "I know," said Heriot, "an orphan lad, a scrivener, that dwells by Temple + Bar; he can draw deeds both after the English and Scottish fashion, and I + have trusted him often in matters of weight and of importance. I will send + one of my serving-men for him, and the mutual deeds may be executed in + your lordship's presence; for, as things stand, there should be no delay." + His lordship readily assented; and, as they now landed upon the private + stairs leading down to the river from the gardens of the handsome hotel + which he inhabited, the messenger was dispatched without loss of time. + </p> + <p> + Nigel, who had sat almost stupefied while these zealous friends + volunteered for him in arranging the measures by which his fortune was to + be disembarrassed, now made another eager attempt to force upon them his + broken expressions of thanks and gratitude. But he was again silenced by + Lord Huntinglen, who declared he would not hear a word on that topic, and + proposed instead, that they should take a turn in the pleached alley, or + sit upon the stone bench which overlooked the Thames, until his son's + arrival should give the signal for dinner. + </p> + <p> + "I desire to introduce Dalgarno and Lord Glenvarloch to each other," he + said, "as two who will be near neighbours, and I trust will be more kind + ones than their fathers were formerly. There is but three Scots miles + betwixt the castles, and the turrets of the one are visible from the + battlements of the other." + </p> + <p> + The old earl was silent for a moment, and appeared to muse upon the + recollections which the vicinity of the castles had summoned up. + </p> + <p> + "Does Lord Dalgarno follow the Court to Newmarket next week?" said Heriot, + by way of removing the conversation. + </p> + <p> + "He proposes so, I think," answered Lord Huntinglen, relapsed into his + reverie for a minute or two, and then addressed Nigel somewhat abruptly— + </p> + <p> + "My young friend, when you attain possession of your inheritance, as I + hope you soon will, I trust you will not add one to the idle followers of + the Court, but reside on your patrimonial estate, cherish your ancient + tenants, relieve and assist your poor kinsmen, protect the poor against + subaltern oppression, and do what our fathers used to do, with fewer + lights and with less means than we have." + </p> + <p> + "And yet the advice to keep the country," said Heriot, "comes from an + ancient and constant ornament of the Court." + </p> + <p> + "From an old courtier, indeed," said the earl, "and the first of my family + that could so write himself—my grey beard falls on a cambric ruff + and a silken doublet—my father's descended upon a buff coat and a + breast-plate. I would not that those days of battle returned; but I should + love well to make the oaks of my old forest of Dalgarno ring once more + with halloo, and horn, and hound, and to have the old stone-arched hall + return the hearty shout of my vassals and tenants, as the bicker and the + quaigh walked their rounds amongst them. I should like to see the broad + Tay once more before I die—not even the Thames can match it, in my + mind." + </p> + <p> + "Surely, my lord," said the citizen, "all this might be easily done—it + costs but a moment's resolution, and the journey of some brief days, and + you will be where you desire to be—what is there to prevent you?" + </p> + <p> + "Habits, Master George, habits," replied the earl, "which to young men are + like threads of silk, so lightly are they worn, so soon broken; but which + hang on our old limbs as if time had stiffened them into gyves of iron. To + go to Scotland for a brief space were but labour in vain; and when I think + of abiding there, I cannot bring myself to leave my old master, to whom I + fancy myself sometimes useful, and whose weal and woe I have shared for so + many years. But Dalgarno shall be a Scottish noble." + </p> + <p> + "Has he visited the North?" said Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "He was there last year and made such a report of the country, that the + prince has expressed a longing to see it." + </p> + <p> + "Lord Dalgarno is in high grace with his Highness and the Duke of + Buckingham?" observed the goldsmith. + </p> + <p> + "He is so," answered the earl,—"I pray it may be for the advantage + of them all. The prince is just and equitable in his sentiments, though + cold and stately in his manners, and very obstinate in his most trifling + purposes; and the duke, noble and gallant, and generous and open, is + fiery, ambitious, and impetuous. Dalgarno has none of these faults, and + such as he may have of his own, may perchance be corrected by the society + in which he moves.—See, here he comes." + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno accordingly advanced from the farther end of the alley to + the bench on which his father and his guests were seated, so that Nigel + had full leisure to peruse his countenance and figure. He was dressed + point-device, and almost to extremity, in the splendid fashion of the + time, which suited well with his age, probably about five-and-twenty, with + a noble form and fine countenance, in which last could easily be traced + the manly features of his father, but softened by a more habitual air of + assiduous courtesy than the stubborn old earl had ever condescended to + assume towards the world in general. In other respects, his address was + gallant, free, and unencumbered either by pride or ceremony—far + remote certainly from the charge either of haughty coldness or forward + impetuosity; and so far his father had justly freed him from the marked + faults which he ascribed to the manners of the prince and his favourite + Buckingham. + </p> + <p> + While the old earl presented his young acquaintance Lord Glenvarloch to + his son, as one whom he would have him love and honour, Nigel marked the + countenance of Lord Dalgarno closely, to see if he could detect aught of + that secret dislike which the king had, in one of his broken + expostulations, seemed to intimate, as arising from a clashing of + interests betwixt his new friend and the great Buckingham. But nothing of + this was visible; on the contrary, Lord Dalgarno received his new + acquaintance with the open frankness and courtesy which makes conquest at + once, when addressed to the feelings of an ingenuous young man. + </p> + <p> + It need hardly be told that his open and friendly address met equally + ready and cheerful acceptation from Nigel Olifaunt. For many months, and + while a youth not much above two-and-twenty, he had been restrained by + circumstances from the conversation of his equals. When, on his father's + sudden death, he left the Low Countries for Scotland, he had found himself + involved, to all appearance inextricably, with the details of the law, all + of which threatened to end in the alienation of the patrimony which should + support his hereditary rank. His term of sincere mourning, joined to + injured pride, and the swelling of the heart under unexpected and + undeserved misfortune, together with the uncertainty attending the issue + of his affairs, had induced the young Lord of Glenvarloch to live, while + in Scotland, in a very private and reserved manner. How he had passed his + time in London, the reader is acquainted with. But this melancholy and + secluded course of life was neither agreeable to his age nor to his + temper, which was genial and sociable. He hailed, therefore, with sincere + pleasure, the approaches which a young man of his own age and rank made + towards him; and when he had exchanged with Lord Dalgarno some of those + words and signals by which, as surely as by those of freemasonry, young + people recognise a mutual wish to be agreeable to each other, it seemed as + if the two noblemen had been acquainted for some time. + </p> + <p> + Just as this tacit intercourse had been established, one of Lord + Huntinglen's attendants came down the alley, marshalling onwards a man + dressed in black buckram, who followed him with tolerable speed, + considering that, according to his sense of reverence and propriety, he + kept his body bent and parallel to the horizon from the moment that he + came in sight of the company to which he was about to be presented. + </p> + <p> + "Who is this, you cuckoldy knave," said the old lord, who had retained the + keen appetite and impatience of a Scottish baron even during a long + alienation from his native country; "and why does John Cook, with a + murrain to him, keep back dinner?" + </p> + <p> + "I believe we are ourselves responsible for this person's intrusion," said + George Heriot; "this is the scrivener whom we desired to see.—Look + up, man, and see us in the face as an honest man should, instead of + beating thy noddle charged against us thus, like a battering-ram." + </p> + <p> + The scrivener did look up accordingly, with the action of an automaton + which suddenly obeys the impulse of a pressed spring. But, strange to + tell, not even the haste he had made to attend his patron's mandate, a + business, as Master Heriot's message expressed, of weight and importance—nay + not even the state of depression in which, out of sheer humility, + doubtless, he had his head stooped to the earth, from the moment he had + trod the demesnes of the Earl of Huntinglen, had called any colour into + his countenance. The drops stood on his brow from haste and toil, but his + cheek was still pale and tallow-coloured as before; nay, what seemed + stranger, his very hair, when he raised his head, hung down on either + cheek as straight and sleek and undisturbed as it was when we first + introduced him to our readers, seated at his quiet and humble desk. + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno could not forbear a stifled laugh at the ridiculous and + puritanical figure which presented itself like a starved anatomy to the + company, and whispered at the same time into Lord Glenvarloch's ear— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon, + Where got'st thou that goose-look?" +</pre> + <p> + Nigel was too little acquainted with the English stage to understand a + quotation which had already grown matter of common allusion in London. + Lord Dalgarno saw that he was not understood, and continued, "That fellow, + by his visage, should either be a saint, or a most hypocritical rogue—and + such is my excellent opinion of human nature, that I always suspect the + worst. But they seem deep in business. Will you take a turn with me in the + garden, my lord, or will you remain a member of the serious conclave?" + </p> + <p> + "With you, my lord, most willingly," said Nigel; and they were turning + away accordingly, when George Heriot, with the formality belonging to his + station, observed, that, "as their business concerned Lord Glenvarloch, he + had better remain, to make himself master of it, and witness to it." + </p> + <p> + "My presence is utterly needless, my good lord;-and, my best friend, + Master Heriot," said the young nobleman, "I shall understand nothing the + better for cumbering you with my ignorance in these matters; and can only + say at the end, as I now say at the beginning, that I dare not take the + helm out of the hand of the kind pilots who have already guided my course + within sight of a fair and unhoped-for haven. Whatever you recommend to me + as fitting, I shall sign and seal; and the import of the deeds I shall + better learn by a brief explanation from Master Heriot, if he will bestow + so much trouble in my behalf, than by a thousand learned words and law + terms from this person of skill." + </p> + <p> + "He is right," said Lord Huntinglen; "our young friend is right, in + confiding these matters to you and me, Master George Heriot—he has + not misplaced his confidence." + </p> + <p> + Master George Heriot cast a long look after the two young noblemen, who + had now walked down the alley arm-in-arm, and at length said, "He hath + not, indeed, misplaced his confidence, as your lordship well and truly + says—but, nevertheless, he is not in the right path; for it behoves + every man to become acquainted with his own affairs, so soon as he hath + any that are worth attending to." + </p> + <p> + When he had made this observation, they applied themselves, with the + scrivener, to look into various papers, and to direct in what manner + writings should be drawn, which might at once afford sufficient security + to those who were to advance the money, and at the same time preserve the + right of the young nobleman to redeem the family estate, provided he + should obtain the means of doing so, by the expected reimbursement from + the Scottish Exchequer, or otherwise. It is needless to enter into those + details. But it is not unimportant to mention, as an illustration of + character, that Heriot went into the most minute legal details with a + precision which showed that experience had made him master even of the + intricacies of Scottish conveyancing; and that the Earl of Huntinglen, + though far less acquainted with technical detail, suffered no step of the + business to pass over, until he had attained a general but distinct idea + of its import and its propriety. + </p> + <p> + They seemed to be admirably seconded in their benevolent intentions + towards the young Lord Glenvarloch, by the skill and eager zeal of the + scrivener, whom Heriot had introduced to this piece of business, the most + important which Andrew had ever transacted in his life, and the + particulars of which were moreover agitated in his presence between an + actual earl, and one whose wealth and character might entitle him to be an + alderman of his ward, if not to be lord mayor, in his turn. + </p> + <p> + While they were thus in eager conversation on business, the good earl even + forgetting the calls of his appetite, and the delay of dinner, in his + anxiety to see that the scrivener received proper instructions, and that + all was rightly weighed and considered, before dismissing him to engross + the necessary deeds, the two young men walked together on the terrace + which overhung the river, and talked on the topics which Lord Dalgarno, + the elder, and the more experienced, thought most likely to interest his + new friend. + </p> + <p> + These naturally regarded the pleasures attending a Court life; and Lord + Dalgarno expressed much surprise at understanding that Nigel proposed an + instant return to Scotland. + </p> + <p> + "You are jesting with me," he said. "All the Court rings—it is + needless to mince it—with the extraordinary success of your suit—against + the highest interest, it is said, now influencing the horizon at + Whitehall. Men think of you—talk of you—fix their eyes on you—ask + each other, who is this young Scottish lord, who has stepped so far in a + single day? They augur, in whispers to each other, how high and how far + you may push your fortune—and all that you design to make of it, is, + to return to Scotland, eat raw oatmeal cakes, baked upon a peat-fire, have + your hand shaken by every loon of a blue-bonnet who chooses to dub you + cousin, though your relationship comes by Noah; drink Scots twopenny ale, + eat half-starved red-deer venison, when you can kill it, ride upon a + galloway, and be called my right honourable and maist worthy lord!" + </p> + <p> + "There is no great gaiety in the prospect before me, I confess," said Lord + Glenvarloch, "even if your father and good Master Heriot should succeed in + putting my affairs on some footing of plausible hope. And yet I trust to + do something for my vassals as my ancestors before me, and to teach my + children, as I have myself been taught, to make some personal sacrifices, + if they be necessary, in order to maintain with dignity the situation in + which they are placed by Providence." + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno, after having once or twice stifled his laughter during this + speech, at length broke out into a fit of mirth, so hearty and so + resistless, that, angry as he was, the call of sympathy swept Nigel along + with him, and despite of himself, he could not forbear to join in a burst + of laughter, which he thought not only causeless, but almost impertinent. + </p> + <p> + He soon recollected himself, however, and said, in a tone qualified to + allay Lord Dalgarno's extreme mirth: "This is all well, my lord; but how + am I to understand your merriment?" Lord Dalgarno only answered him with + redoubled peals of laughter, and at length held by Lord Glenvarloch's + cloak, as if to prevent his falling down on the ground, in the extremity + of his convulsion. + </p> + <p> + At length, while Nigel stood half abashed, half angry, at becoming thus + the subject of his new acquaintance's ridicule, and was only restrained + from expressing his resentment against the son, by a sense of the + obligations he owed the father, Lord Dalgarno recovered himself, and spoke + in a half-broken voice, his eyes still running with tears: "I crave your + pardon, my dear Lord Glenvarloch—ten thousand times do I crave your + pardon. But that last picture of rural dignity, accompanied by your grave + and angry surprise at my laughing at what would have made any court-bred + hound laugh, that had but so much as bayed the moon once from the + court-yard at Whitehall, totally overcame me. Why, my liefest and dearest + lord, you, a young and handsome fellow, with high birth, a title, and the + name of an estate, so well received by the king at your first starting, as + makes your further progress scarce matter of doubt, if you know how to + improve it—for the king has already said you are a 'braw lad, and + well studied in the more humane letters'—you, too, whom all the + women, and the very marked beauties of the Court, desire to see, because + you came from Leyden, were born in Scotland, and have gained a + hard-contested suit in England—you, I say, with a person like a + prince, an eye of fire, and a wit as quick, to think of throwing your + cards on the table when the game is in your very hand, running back to the + frozen north, and marrying—let me see—a tall, stalking, + blue-eyed, fair-skinned bony wench, with eighteen quarters in her + scutcheon, a sort of Lot's wife, newly descended from her pedestal, and + with her to shut yourself up in your tapestried chamber! Uh, gad!—Swouns, + I shall never survive the idea!" + </p> + <p> + It is seldom that youth, however high-minded, is able, from mere strength + of character and principle, to support itself against the force of + ridicule. Half angry, half mortified, and, to say truth, half ashamed of + his more manly and better purpose, Nigel was unable, and flattered himself + it was unnecessary, to play the part of a rigid moral patriot, in presence + of a young man whose current fluency of language, as well as his + experience in the highest circles of society, gave him, in spite of + Nigel's better and firmer thoughts, a temporary ascendency over him. He + sought, therefore, to compromise the matter, and avoid farther debate, by + frankly owning, that, if to return to his own country were not his choice, + it was at least a matter of necessity. "His affairs," he said, "were + unsettled, his income precarious." + </p> + <p> + "And where is he whose affairs are settled, or whose income is less than + precarious, that is to be found in attendance on the Court?" said Lord + Dalgarno; "all are either losing or winning. Those who have wealth, come + hither to get rid of it, while the happy gallants, who, like you and I, + dear Glenvarloch, have little or none, have every chance to be sharers in + their spoils." + </p> + <p> + "I have no ambition of that sort," said Nigel, "and if I had, I must tell + you plainly, Lord Dalgarno, I have not the means to do so. I can scarce as + yet call the suit I wear my own; I owe it, and I do riot blush to say so, + to the friendship of yonder good man." + </p> + <p> + "I will not laugh again, if I can help it," said Lord Dalgarno. "But, + Lord! that you should have gone to a wealthy goldsmith for your habit—why, + I could have brought you to an honest, confiding tailor, who should have + furnished you with half-a-dozen, merely for love of the little word, + 'lordship,' which you place before your name;—and then your + goldsmith, if he be really a friendly goldsmith, should have equipped you + with such a purse of fair rose-nobles as would have bought you thrice as + many suits, or done better things for you." + </p> + <p> + "I do not understand these fashions, my lord," said Nigel, his displeasure + mastering his shame; "were I to attend the Court of my sovereign, it + should be when I could maintain, without shifting or borrowing, the dress + and retinue which my rank requires." + </p> + <p> + "Which my rank requires!" said Lord Dalgarno, repeating his last words; + "that, now, is as good as if my father had spoke it. I fancy you would + love to move to Court with him, followed by a round score of old + blue-bottles, with white heads and red noses, with bucklers and + broadswords, which their hands, trembling betwixt age and strong waters, + can make no use of—as many huge silver badges on their arms, to show + whose fools they are, as would furnish forth a court cupboard of plate—rogues + fit for nothing but to fill our ante-chambers with the flavour of onions + and genievre—pah!" + </p> + <p> + "The poor knaves!" said Lord Glenvarloch; "they have served your father, + it may be, in the wars. What would become of them were he to turn them + off?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, let them go to the hospital," said Dalgarno, "or to the bridge-end, + to sell switches. The king is a better man than my father, and you see + those who have served in HIS wars do so every day; or, when their blue + coats were well worn out, they would make rare scarecrows. Here is a + fellow, now, comes down the walk; the stoutest raven dared not come within + a yard of that copper nose. I tell you, there is more service, as you will + soon see, in my valet of the chamber, and such a lither lad as my page + Lutin, than there is in a score of these old memorials of the Douglas + wars, [Footnote: The cruel civil wars waged by the Scottish barons during + the minority of James VI., had the name from the figure made in them by + the celebrated James Douglas, Earl of Morton. Both sides executed their + prisoners without mercy or favour.] where they cut each other's throats + for the chance of finding twelve pennies Scots on the person of the slain. + Marry, my lord, to make amends, they will eat mouldy victuals, and drink + stale ale, as if their bellies were puncheons.—But the dinner-bell + is going to sound—hark, it is clearing its rusty throat, with a + preliminary jowl. That is another clamorous relic of antiquity, that, were + I master, should soon be at the bottom of the Thames. How the foul fiend + can it interest the peasants and mechanics in the Strand, to know that the + Earl of Huntinglen is sitting down to dinner? But my father looks our way—we + must not be late for the grace, or we shall be in DIS-grace, if you will + forgive a quibble which would have made his Majesty laugh. You will find + us all of a piece, and, having been accustomed to eat in saucers abroad, I + am ashamed you should witness our larded capons, our mountains of beef, + and oceans of brewis, as large as Highland hills and lochs; but you shall + see better cheer to-morrow. Where lodge you? I will call for you. I must + be your guide through the peopled desert, to certain enchanted lands, + which you will scarce discover without chart and pilot. Where lodge you?" + </p> + <p> + "I will meet you in Paul's," said Nigel, a good deal embarrassed, "at any + hour you please to name." + </p> + <p> + "O, you would be private," said the young lord; "nay, fear not me—I + will be no intruder. But we have attained this huge larder of flesh, fowl, + and fish. I marvel the oaken boards groan not under it." + </p> + <p> + They had indeed arrived in the dining-parlour of the mansion, where the + table was superabundantly loaded, and where the number of attendants, to a + certain extent, vindicated the sarcasms of the young nobleman. The + chaplain, and Sir Mungo Malagrowther, were of the party. The latter + complimented Lord Glenvarloch upon the impression he had made at Court. + "One would have thought ye had brought the apple of discord in your pouch, + my lord, or that you were the very firebrand of whilk Althea was + delivered, and that she had lain-in in a barrel of gunpowder, for the + king, and the prince, and the duke, have been by the lugs about ye, and so + have many more, that kendna before this blessed day that there was such a + man living on the face of the earth." + </p> + <p> + "Mind your victuals, Sir Mungo," said the earl; "they get cold while you + talk." + </p> + <p> + "Troth, and that needsna, my lord," said the knight; "your lordship's + dinners seldom scald one's mouth—the serving-men are turning auld, + like oursells, my lord, and it is far between the kitchen and the ha'." + </p> + <p> + With this little explosion of his spleen, Sir Mungo remained satisfied, + until the dishes were removed, when, fixing his eyes on the brave new + doublet of Lord Dalgarno, he complimented him on his economy, pretending + to recognise it as the same which his father had worn in Edinburgh in the + Spanish ambassador's time. Lord Dalgarno, too much a man of the world to + be moved by any thing from such a quarter, proceeded to crack some nuts + with great deliberation, as he replied, that the doublet was in some sort + his father's, as it was likely to cost him fifty pounds some day soon. Sir + Mungo forthwith proceeded in his own way to convey this agreeable + intelligence to the earl, observing, that his son was a better maker of + bargains than his lordship, for he had bought a doublet as rich as that + his lordship wore when the Spanish ambassador was at Holyrood, and it had + cost him but fifty pounds Scots;—"that was no fool's bargain, my + lord." + </p> + <p> + "Pounds sterling, if you please, Sir Mungo," answered the earl, calmly; + "and a fool's bargain it is, in all the tenses. Dalgarno WAS a fool when + he bought—I <i>will</i> be a fool when I pay—and you, Sir + Mungo, craving your pardon, <i>are</i> a fool <i>in praesenti</i>, for + speaking of what concerns you not." + </p> + <p> + So saying, the earl addressed himself to the serious business of the table + and sent the wine around with a profusion which increased the hilarity, + but rather threatened the temperance, of the company, until their + joviality was interrupted by the annunciation that the scrivener had + engrossed such deeds as required to be presently executed. + </p> + <p> + George Heriot rose from the table, observing, that wine-cups and legal + documents were unseemly neighbours. The earl asked the scrivener if they + had laid a trencher and set a cup for him in the buttery and received the + respectful answer, that heaven forbid he should be such an ungracious + beast as to eat or drink until his lordship's pleasure was performed. + </p> + <p> + "Thou shalt eat before thou goest," said Lord Huntinglen; "and I will have + thee try, moreover, whether a cup of sack cannot bring some colour into + these cheeks of thine. It were a shame to my household, thou shouldst + glide out into the Strand after such a spectre-fashion as thou now wearest—Look + to it, Dalgarno, for the honour of our roof is concerned." + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno gave directions that the man should be attended to. Lord + Glenvarloch and the citizen, in the meanwhile, signed and interchanged, + and thus closed a transaction, of which the principal party concerned + understood little, save that it was under the management of a zealous and + faithful friend, who undertook that the money should be forthcoming, and + the estate released from forfeiture, by payment of the stipulated sum for + which it stood pledged, and that at the term of Lambmas, and at the hour + of noon, and beside the tomb of the Regent Earl of Murray, in the High + Kirk of Saint Giles, at Edinburgh, being the day and place assigned for + such redemption. [Footnote: As each covenant in those days of accuracy had + a special place nominated for execution, the tomb of the Regent Earl of + Murray in Saint Giles's Church was frequently assigned for the purpose.] + </p> + <p> + When this business was transacted, the old earl would fain have renewed + his carouse; but the citizen, alleging the importance of the deeds he had + about him, and the business he had to transact betimes the next morning, + not only refused to return to table, but carried with him to his barge + Lord Glenvarloch, who might, perhaps, have been otherwise found more + tractable. + </p> + <p> + When they were seated in the boat, and fairly once more afloat on the + river, George Heriot looked back seriously on the mansion they had left—"There + live," he said, "the old fashion and the new. The father is like a noble + old broadsword, but harmed with rust, from neglect and inactivity; the son + is your modern rapier, well-mounted, fairly gilt, and fashioned to the + taste of the time—and it is time must evince if the metal be as good + as the show. God grant it prove so, says an old friend to the family." + </p> + <p> + Nothing of consequence passed betwixt them, until Lord Glenvarloch, + landing at Paul's Wharf, took leave of his friend the citizen, and retired + to his own apartment, where his attendant, Richie, not a little elevated + with the events of the day, and with the hospitality of Lord Huntinglen's + house-keeping, gave a most splendid account of them to the buxom Dame + Nelly, who rejoiced to hear that the sun at length was shining upon what + Richie called "the right side of the hedge." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + You are not for the manner nor the times, + They have their vices now most like to virtues; + You cannot know them apait by any difference, + They wear the same clothes, eat the same meat— + Sleep i' the self-same beds, ride in those coaches, + Or very like four horses in a coach, + As the best men and women. + <i>Ben Jonson</i> +</pre> + <p> + On the following morning, while Nigel, his breakfast finished, was + thinking how he should employ the day, there was a little bustle upon the + stairs which attracted his attention, and presently entered Dame Nelly, + blushing like scarlet, and scarce able to bring out—"A young + nobleman, sir—no one less," she added, drawing her hand slightly + over her lips, "would be so saucy—a young nobleman, sir, to wait on + you!" + </p> + <p> + And she was followed into the little cabin by Lord Dalgarno, gay, easy, + disembarrassed, and apparently as much pleased to rejoin his new + acquaintance as if he had found him in the apartments of a palace. Nigel, + on the contrary, (for youth is slave to such circumstances,) was + discountenanced and mortified at being surprised by so splendid a gallant + in a chamber which, at the moment the elegant and high-dressed cavalier + appeared in it, seemed to its inhabitant, yet lower, narrower, darker, and + meaner than it had ever shown before. He would have made some apology for + the situation, but Lord Dalgarno cut him short— + </p> + <p> + "Not a word of it," he said, "not a single word—I know why you ride + at anchor here—but I can keep counsel—so pretty a hostess + would recommend worse quarters." + </p> + <p> + "On my word—on my honour," said Lord Glenvarloch— + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay, make no words of the matter," said Lord Dalgarno; "I am no + tell-tale, nor shall I cross your walk; there is game enough in the + forest, thank Heaven, and I can strike a doe for myself." + </p> + <p> + All this he said in so significant a manner, and the explanation which he + had adopted seemed to put Lord Glenvarloch's gallantry on so respectable a + footing, that Nigel ceased to try to undeceive him; and less ashamed, + perhaps, (for such is human weakness,) of supposed vice than of real + poverty, changed the discourse to something else, and left poor Dame + Nelly's reputation and his own at the mercy of the young courtier's + misconstruction. + </p> + <p> + He offered refreshments with some hesitation. Lord Dalgarno had long since + breakfasted, but had just come from playing a set of tennis, he said, and + would willingly taste a cup of the pretty hostess's single beer. This was + easily procured, was drunk, was commended, and, as the hostess failed not + to bring the cup herself, Lord Dalgarno profited by the opportunity to + take a second and more attentive view of her, and then gravely drank to + her husband's health, with an almost imperceptible nod to Lord + Glenvarloch. Dame Nelly was much honoured, smoothed her apron down with + her hands, and said + </p> + <p> + "Her John was greatly and truly honoured by their lordships—he was a + kind painstaking man for his family, as was in the alley, or indeed, as + far north as Paul's Chain." + </p> + <p> + She would have proceeded probably to state the difference betwixt their + ages, as the only alloy to their nuptial happiness; but her lodger, who + had no mind to be farther exposed to his gay friend's raillery, gave her, + contrary to his wont, a signal to leave the room. + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno looked after her, and then looked at Glenvarloch, shook his + head, and repeated the well-known lines— + </p> + <p> + "'My lord, beware of jealousy—It is the green-eyed monster which + doth make the meat it feeds on.' + </p> + <p> + "But come," he said, changing his tone, "I know not why I should worry you + thus—I who have so many follies of my own, when I should rather make + excuse for being here at all, and tell you wherefore I came." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he reached a seat, and, placing another for Lord Glenvarloch, + in spite of his anxious haste to anticipate this act of courtesy, he + proceeded in the same tone of easy familiarity:— + </p> + <p> + "We are neighbours, my lord, and are just made known to each other. Now, I + know enough of the dear North, to be well aware that Scottish neighbours + must be either dear friends or deadly enemies—must either walk + hand-in-hand, or stand sword-point to sword-point; so I choose the + hand-in-hand, unless you should reject my proffer." + </p> + <p> + "How were it possible, my lord," said Lord Glenvarloch, "to refuse what is + offered so frankly, even if your father had not been a second father to + me?"—And, as he took Lord Dalgarno's hand, he added—"I have, I + think, lost no time, since, during one day's attendance at Court, I have + made a kind friend and a powerful enemy." + </p> + <p> + "The friend thanks you," replied Lord Dalgarno, "for your just opinion; + but, my dear Glenvarloch—or rather, for titles are too formal + between us of the better file—what is your Christian name?" + </p> + <p> + "Nigel," replied Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "Then we will be Nigel and Malcolm to each other," said his visitor, "and + my lord to the plebeian world around us. But I was about to ask you whom + you suppose your enemy?" + </p> + <p> + "No less than the all-powerful favourite, the great Duke of Buckingham." + </p> + <p> + "You dream! What could possess you with such an opinion?" said Dalgarno. + </p> + <p> + "He told me so himself," replied Glenvarloch; "and, in so doing, dealt + frankly and honourably with me." + </p> + <p> + "O, you know him not yet," said his companion; "the duke is moulded of an + hundred noble and fiery qualities, that prompt him, like a generous horse, + to spring aside in impatience at the least obstacle to his forward course. + But he means not what he says in such passing heats—I can do more + with him, I thank Heaven, than most who are around him; you shall go visit + him with me, and you will see how you shall be received." + </p> + <p> + "I told you, my lord," said Glenvarloch firmly, and with some haughtiness, + "the Duke of Buckingham, without the least offence, declared himself my + enemy in the face of the Court; and he shall retract that aggression as + publicly as it was given, ere I will make the slightest advance towards + him." + </p> + <p> + "You would act becomingly in every other case," said Lord Dalgarno, "but + here you are wrong. In the Court horizon Buckingham is Lord of the + Ascendant, and as he is adverse or favouring, so sinks or rises the + fortune of a suitor. The king would bid you remember your Phaedrus, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Arripiens geminas, ripis cedentibus, ollas—' +</pre> + <p> + and so forth. You are the vase of earth; beware of knocking yourself + against the vase of iron." + </p> + <p> + "The vase of earth," said Glenvarloch, "will avoid the encounter, by + getting ashore out of the current—I mean to go no more to Court." + </p> + <p> + "O, to Court you necessarily must go; you will find your Scottish suit + move ill without it, for there is both patronage and favour necessary to + enforce the sign-manual you have obtained. Of that we will speak more + hereafter; but tell me in the meanwhile, my dear Nigel, whether you did + not wonder to see me here so early?" + </p> + <p> + "I am surprised that you could find me out in this obscure corner," said + Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "My page Lutin is a very devil for that sort of discovery," replied Lord + Dalgarno; "I have but to say, 'Goblin, I would know where he or she + dwells,' and he guides me thither as if by art magic." + </p> + <p> + "I hope he waits not now in the street, my lord," said Nigel; "I will send + my servant to seek him." + </p> + <p> + "Do not concern yourself—he is by this time," said Lord Dalgarno, + "playing at hustle-cap and chuck-farthing with the most blackguard imps + upon the wharf, unless he hath foregone his old customs." + </p> + <p> + "Are you not afraid," said Lord Glenvarloch, "that in such company his + morals may become depraved?" + </p> + <p> + "Let his company look to their own," answered Lord Dalgarno, cooly; "for + it will be a company of real fiends in which Lutin cannot teach more + mischief than he can learn: he is, I thank the gods, most thoroughly + versed in evil for his years. I am spared the trouble of looking after his + moralities, for nothing can make them either better or worse." + </p> + <p> + "I wonder you can answer this to his parents, my lord," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder where I should find his parents," replied his companion, "to + render an account to them." + </p> + <p> + "He may be an orphan," said Lord Nigel; "but surely, being a page in your + lordship's family, his parents must be of rank." + </p> + <p> + "Of as high rank as the gallows could exalt them to," replied Lord + Dalgarno, with the same indifference; "they were both hanged, I believe—at + least the gipsies, from whom I bought him five years ago, intimated as + much to me.—You are surprised at this, now. But is it not better + that, instead of a lazy, conceited, whey-faced slip of gentility, to whom, + in your old-world idea of the matter, I was bound to stand Sir Pedagogue, + and see that he washed his hands and face, said his prayers, learned his + acddens, spoke no naughty words, brushed his hat, and wore his best + doublet only on Sunday,—that, instead of such a Jacky Goodchild, I + should have something like this?" + </p> + <p> + He whistled shrill and clear, and the page he spoke of darted into the + room, almost with the effect of an actual apparition. From his height he + seemed but fifteen, but, from his face, might be two or even three years + older, very neatly made, and richly dressed; with a thin bronzed visage, + which marked his gipsy descent, and a pair of sparkling black eyes, which + seemed almost to pierce through those whom he looked at. + </p> + <p> + "There he is," said Lord Dalgarno, "fit for every element—prompt to + execute every command, good, bad, or indifferent—unmatched in his + tribe, as rogue, thief, and liar." + </p> + <p> + "All which qualities," said the undaunted page, "have each in turn stood + your lordship in stead." + </p> + <p> + "Out, you imp of Satan!" said his master; "vanish-begone-or my conjuring + rod goes about your ears." The boy turned, and disappeared as suddenly as + he had entered. "You see," said Lord Dalgarno, "that, in choosing my + household, the best regard I can pay to gentle blood is to exclude it from + my service—that very gallows—bird were enough to corrupt a + whole antechamber of pages, though they were descended from kings and + kaisers." + </p> + <p> + "I can scarce think that a nobleman should need the offices of such an + attendant as your goblin," said Nigel; "you are but jesting with my + inexperience." + </p> + <p> + "Time will show whether I jest or not, my dear Nigel," replied Dalgarno; + "in the meantime, I have to propose to you to take the advantage of the + flood-tide, to run up the river for pastime; and at noon I trust you will + dine with me." + </p> + <p> + Nigel acquiesced in a plan which promised so much amusement; and his new + friend and he, attended by Lutin and Moniplies, who greatly resembled, + when thus associated, the conjunction of a bear and a monkey, took + possession of Lord Dalgarno's wherry, which, with its badged watermen, + bearing his lordship's crest on their arms, lay in readiness to receive + them. The air was delightful upon the river; and the lively conversation + of Lord Dalgarno added zest to the pleasures of the little voyage. He + could not only give an account of the various public buildings and + noblemen's houses which they passed in ascending the Thames, but knew how + to season his information with abundance of anecdote, political innuendo, + and personal scandal; if he had not very much wit, he was at least + completely master of the fashionable tone, which in that time, as in ours, + more than amply supplies any deficiency of the kind. + </p> + <p> + It was a style of conversation entirely new to his companion, as was the + world which Lord Dalgarno opened to his observation; and it is no wonder + that Nigel, notwithstanding his natural good sense and high spirit, + admitted, more readily than seemed consistent with either, the tone of + authoritative instruction which his new friend assumed towards him. There + would, indeed, have been some difficulty in making a stand. To attempt a + high and stubborn tone of morality, in answer to the light strain of Lord + Dalgarno's conversation, which kept on the frontiers between jest and + earnest, would have seemed pedantic and ridiculous; and every attempt + which Nigel made to combat his companion's propositions, by reasoning as + jocose as his own, only showed his inferiority in that gay species of + controversy. And it must be owned, besides, though internally disapproving + much of what he heard, Lord Glenvarloch, young as he was in society, + became less alarmed by the language and manners of his new associate, than + in prudence he ought to have been. + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno was unwilling to startle his proselyte, by insisting upon + any topic which appeared particularly to jar with his habits or + principles; and he blended his mirth and his earnest so dexterously, that + it was impossible for Nigel to discover how far he was serious in his + propositions, or how far they flowed from a wild and extravagant spirit of + raillery. And, ever and anon, those flashes of spirit and honour crossed + his conversation, which seemed to intimate, that, when stirred to action + by some adequate motive, Lord Dalgarno would prove something very + different from the court-haunting and ease-loving voluptuary, which he was + pleased to represent as his chosen character. + </p> + <p> + As they returned down the river, Lord Glenvarloch remarked, that the boat + passed the mansion of Lord Huntinglen, and noticed the circumstance to + Lord Dalgarno, observing, that he thought they were to have dined there. + "Surely no," said the young nobleman, "I have more mercy on you than to + gorge you a second time with raw beef and canary wine. I propose something + better for you, I promise you, than such a second Scythian festivity. And + as for my father, he proposes to dine to-day with my grave, ancient Earl + of Northampton, whilome that celebrated putter-down of pretended + prophecies, Lord Henry Howard." + </p> + <p> + "And do you not go with him?" said his companion. + </p> + <p> + "To what purpose?" said Lord Dalgarno. "To hear his wise lordship speak + musty politics in false Latin, which the old fox always uses, that he may + give the learned Majesty of England an opportunity of correcting his slips + in grammar? That were a rare employment!" + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said Lord Nigel, "but out of respect, to wait on my lord your + father." + </p> + <p> + "My lord my father," replied Lord Dalgarno, "has blue-bottles enough to + wait on him, and can well dispense with such a butterfly as myself. He can + lift the cup of sack to his head without my assistance; and, should the + said paternal head turn something giddy, there be men enough to guide his + right honourable lordship to his lordship's right honourable couch.—Now, + do not stare at me, Nigel, as if my words were to sink the boat with us. I + love my father—I love him dearly—and I respect him, too, + though I respect not many things; a trustier old Trojan never belted a + broadsword by a loop of leather. But what then? He belongs to the old + world, I to the new. He has his follies, I have mine; and the less either + of us sees of the other's peccadilloes, the greater will be the honour and + respect—that, I think, is the proper phrase—I say the <i>respect</i> + in which we shall hold each other. Being apart, each of us is himself, + such as nature and circumstances have made him; but, couple us up too + closely together, you will be sure to have in your leash either an old + hypocrite or a young one, or perhaps both the one and t'other." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke thus, the boat put into the landing-place at Blackfriars. Lord + Dalgarno sprung ashore, and, flinging his cloak and rapier to his page, + recommended to his companion to do the like. "We are coming among a press + of gallants," he said; "and, if we walked thus muffled, we shall look like + your tawny-visaged Don, who wraps him close in his cloak, to conceal the + defects of his doublet." + </p> + <p> + "I have known many an honest man do that, if it please your lordship," + said Richie Moniplies, who had been watching for an opportunity to intrude + himself on the conversation, and probably remembered what had been his own + condition, in respect to cloak and doublet, at a very recent period. + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno stared at him, as if surprised at his assurance; but + immediately answered, "You may have known many things, friend; but, in the + meanwhile, you do not know what principally concerns your master, namely, + how to carry his cloak, so as to show to advantage the gold-laced seams, + and the lining of sables. See how Lutin holds the sword, with his cloak + cast partly over it, yet so as to set off the embossed hilt, and the + silver work of the mounting.—Give your familiar your sword, Nigel," + he continued, addressing Lord Glenvarloch, "that he may practise a lesson + in an art so necessary." + </p> + <p> + "Is it altogether prudent," said Nigel, unclasping his weapon, and giving + it to Richie, "to walk entirely unarmed?" + </p> + <p> + "And wherefore not?" said his companion. "You are thinking now of Auld + Reekie, as my father fondly calls your good Scottish capital, where there + is such bandying of private feuds and public factions, that a man of any + note shall not cross your High Street twice, without endangering his life + thrice. Here, sir, no brawling in the street is permitted. Your + bull-headed citizen takes up the case so soon as the sword is drawn, and + clubs is the word." + </p> + <p> + "And a hard word it is," said Richie, "as my brain-pan kens at this + blessed moment." + </p> + <p> + "Were I your master, sirrah," said Lord Dalgarno, "I would make your + brain-pan, as you call it, boil over, were you to speak a word in my + presence before you were spoken to." + </p> + <p> + Richie murmured some indistinct answer, but took the hint, and ranked + himself behind his master along with Lutin, who failed not to expose his + new companion to the ridicule of the passers-by, by mimicking, as often as + he could do so unobserved by Richie, his stiff and upright stalking gait + and discontented physiognomy. + </p> + <p> + "And tell me now, my dear Malcolm," said Nigel, "where we are bending our + course, and whether we shall dine at an apartment of yours?" + </p> + <p> + "An apartment of mine—yes, surely," answered Lord Dalgarno, "you + shall dine at an apartment of mine, and an apartment of yours, and of + twenty gallants besides; and where the board shall present better cheer, + better wine, and better attendance, than if our whole united exhibitions + went to maintain it. We are going to the most noted ordinary of London." + </p> + <p> + "That is, in common language, an inn, or a tavern," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "An inn, or a tavern, my most green and simple friend!" exclaimed Lord + Dalgarno. "No, no—these are places where greasy citizens take pipe + and pot, where the knavish pettifoggers of the law spunge on their most + unhappy victims—where Templars crack jests as empty as their nuts, + and where small gentry imbibe such thin potations, that they get dropsies + instead of getting drunk. An ordinary is a late-invented institution, + sacred to Bacchus and Comus, where the choicest noble gallants of the time + meet with the first and most ethereal wits of the age,—where the + wine is the very soul of the choicest grape, refined as the genius of the + poet, and ancient and generous as the blood of the nobles. And then the + fare is something beyond your ordinary gross terrestrial food! Sea and + land are ransacked to supply it; and the invention of six ingenious cooks + kept eternally upon the rack to make their art hold pace with, and if + possible enhance, the exquisite quality of the materials." + </p> + <p> + "By all which rhapsody," said Lord Glenvarloch, "I can only understand, as + I did before, that we are going to a choice tavern, where we shall be + handsomely entertained, on paying probably as handsome a reckoning." + </p> + <p> + "Reckoning!" exclaimed Lord Dalgarno in the same tone as before, "perish + the peasantly phrase! What profanation! Monsieur le Chevalier de Beaujeu, + pink of Paris and flower of Gascony—he who can tell the age of his + wine by the bare smell, who distils his sauces in an alembic by the aid of + Lully's philosophy—who carves with such exquisite precision, that he + gives to noble, knight and squire, the portion of the pheasant which + exactly accords with his rank—nay, he who shall divide a becafico + into twelve parts with such scrupulous exactness, that of twelve guests + not one shall have the advantage of the other in a hair's breadth, or the + twentieth part of a drachm, yet you talk of him and of a reckoning in the + same breath! Why, man, he is the well-known and general referee in all + matters affecting the mysteries of Passage, Hazard, In and In, Penneeck, + and Verquire, and what not—why, Beaujeu is King of the Card-pack, + and Duke of the Dice-box—HE call a reckoning like a green-aproned, + red-nosed son of the vulgar spigot! O, my dearest Nigel, what a word you + have spoken, and of what a person! That you know him not, is your only + apology for such blasphemy; and yet I scarce hold it adequate, for to have + been a day in London and not to know Beaujeu, is a crime of its own kind. + But you <i>shall</i> know him this blessed moment, and shall learn to hold + yourself in horror for the enormities you have uttered." + </p> + <p> + "Well, but mark you," said Nigel, "this worthy chevalier keeps not all + this good cheer at his own cost, does he?" + </p> + <p> + "No, no," answered Lord Dalgarno; "there is a sort of ceremony which my + chevalier's friends and intimates understand, but with which you have no + business at present. There is, as majesty might say, a <i>symbolum</i> to + be disbursed—in other words, a mutual exchange of courtesies take + place betwixt Beaujeu and his guests. He makes them a free present of the + dinner and wine, as often as they choose to consult their own felicity by + frequenting his house at the hour of noon, and they, in gratitude, make + the chevalier a present of a Jacobus. Then you must know, that, besides + Comus and Bacchus, that princess of sublunary affairs, the Diva Fortuna, + is frequently worshipped at Beaujeu's, and he, as officiating high-priest, + hath, as in reason he should, a considerable advantage from a share of the + sacrifice." + </p> + <p> + "In other words," said Lord Glenvarloch, "this man keeps a gaming-house." + </p> + <p> + "A house in which you may certainly game," said Lord Dalgarno, "as you may + in your own chamber if you have a mind; nay, I remember old Tom Tally + played a hand at put for a wager with Quinze le Va, the Frenchman, during + morning prayers in St. Paul's; the morning was misty, and the parson + drowsy, and the whole audience consisted of themselves and a blind woman, + and so they escaped detection." + </p> + <p> + "For all this, Malcolm," said the young lord, gravely, "I cannot dine with + you to-day, at this same ordinary." + </p> + <p> + "And wherefore, in the name of heaven, should you draw back from your + word?" said Lord Dalgarno. + </p> + <p> + "I do not retract my word, Malcolm; but I am bound, by an early promise to + my father, never to enter the doors of a gaming-house." + </p> + <p> + "I tell you this is none," said Lord Dalgarno; "it is but, in plain terms, + an eating-house, arranged on civiller terms, and frequented by better + company, than others in this town; and if some of them do amuse themselves + with cards and hazard, they are men of honour, and who play as such, and + for no more than they can well afford to lose. It was not, and could not + be, such houses that your father desired you to avoid. Besides, he might + as well have made you swear you would never take accommodation of an inn, + tavern, eating-house, or place of public reception of any kind; for there + is no such place of public resort but where your eyes may be contaminated + by the sight of a pack of pieces of painted pasteboard, and your ears + profaned by the rattle of those little spotted cubes of ivory. The + difference is, that where we go, we may happen to see persons of quality + amusing themselves with a game; and in the ordinary houses you will meet + bullies and sharpers, who will strive either to cheat or to swagger you + out of your money." + </p> + <p> + "I am sure you would not willingly lead me to do what is wrong," said + Nigel; "but my father had a horror for games of chance, religious I + believe, as well as prudential. He judged from I know not what + circumstance, a fallacious one I should hope, that I should have a + propensity to such courses, and I have told you the promise which he + exacted from me." + </p> + <p> + "Now, by my honour," said Dalgarno, "what you have said affords the + strongest reason for my insisting that you go with me. A man who would + shun any danger, should first become acquainted with its real bearing and + extent, and that in the company of a confidential guide and guard. Do you + think I myself game? Good faith, my father's oaks grow too far from + London, and stand too fast rooted in the rocks of Perthshire, for me to + troll them down with a die, though I have seen whole forests go down like + nine-pins. No, no—these are sports for the wealthy Southron, not for + the poor Scottish noble. The place is an eating-house, and as such you and + I will use it. If others use it to game in, it is their fault, but neither + that of the house nor ours." + </p> + <p> + Unsatisfied with this reasoning, Nigel still insisted upon the promise he + had given to his father, until his companion appeared rather displeased, + and disposed to impute to him injurious and unhandsome suspicions. Lord + Glenvarloch could not stand this change of tone. He recollected that much + was due from him to Lord Dalgarno, on account of his father's ready and + efficient friendship, and something also on account of the frank manner in + which the young man himself had offered him his intimacy. He had no reason + to doubt his assurances, that the house where they were about to dine did + not fall under the description of places which his father's prohibition + referred; and finally, he was strong in his own resolution to resist every + temptation to join in games of chance. He therefore pacified Lord + Dalgarno, by intimating his willingness to go along with him; and, the + good-humour of the young courtier instantaneously returning, he again ran + on in a grotesque and rodomontade account of the host, Monsieur de + Beaujeu, which he did not conclude until they had reached the temple of + hospitality over which that eminent professor presided. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ——This is the very barn-yard, + Where muster daily the prime cocks o' the game, + Ruffle their pinions, crow till they are hoarse, + And spar about a barleycorn. Here too chickens, + The callow, unfledged brood of forward folly, + Learn first to rear the crest, and aim the spur, + And tune their note like full-plumed Chanticleer. + <i>The Bear-Garden.</i> +</pre> + <p> + The Ordinary, now an ignoble sound, was in the days of James, a new + institution, as fashionable among the youth of that age as the first-rate + modern club-houses are amongst those of the present day. It differed + chiefly, in being open to all whom good clothes and good assurance + combined to introduce there. The company usually dined together at an hour + fixed, and the manager of the establishment presided as master of the + ceremonies. + </p> + <p> + Monsieur le Chevalier, (as he qualified himself,) Saint Priest de Beaujeu, + was a sharp, thin Gascon, about sixty years old, banished from his own + country, as he said, on account of an affair of honour, in which he had + the misfortune to kill his antagonist, though the best swordsman in the + south of France. His pretensions to quality were supported by a feathered + hat, a long rapier, and a suit of embroidered taffeta, not much the worse + for wear, in the extreme fashion of the Parisian court, and fluttering + like a Maypole with many knots of ribbon, of which it was computed he bore + at least five hundred yards about his person. But, notwithstanding this + profusion of decoration, there were many who thought Monsieur le Chevalier + so admirably calculated for his present situation, that nature could never + have meant to place him an inch above it. It was, however, part of the + amusement of the place, for Lord Dalgarno and other young men of quality + to treat Monsieur de Beaujeu with a great deal of mock ceremony, which + being observed by the herd of more ordinary and simple gulls, they paid + him, in clumsy imitation, much real deference. The Gascon's natural + forwardness being much enhanced by these circumstances, he was often + guilty of presuming beyond the limits of his situation, and of course had + sometimes the mortification to be disagreeably driven back into them. + </p> + <p> + When Nigel entered the mansion of this eminent person, which had been but + of late the residence of a great Baron of Queen Elizabeth's court, who had + retired to his manors in the country on the death of that princess, he was + surprised at the extent of the accommodation which it afforded, and the + number of guests who were already assembled. Feathers waved, spurs + jingled, lace and embroidery glanced everywhere; and at first sight, at + least, it certainly made good Lord Dalgarno's encomium, who represented + the company as composed almost entirely of youth of the first quality. A + more close review was not quite so favourable. Several individuals might + be discovered who were not exactly at their ease in the splendid dresses + which they wore, and who, therefore, might be supposed not habitually + familiar with such finery. Again, there were others, whose dress, though + on a general view it did not seem inferior to that of the rest of the + company, displayed, on being observed more closely, some of these petty + expedients, by which vanity endeavours to disguise poverty. + </p> + <p> + Nigel had very little time to make such observations, for the entrance of + Lord Dalgarno created an immediate bustle and sensation among the company, + as his name passed from one mouth to another. Some stood forward to gaze, + others stood back to make way—those of his own rank hastened to + welcome him—those of inferior degree endeavoured to catch some point + of his gesture, or of his dress, to be worn and practised upon a future + occasion, as the newest and most authentic fashion. + </p> + <p> + The <i>genius loci</i>, the Chevalier himself, was not the last to welcome + this prime stay and ornament of his establishment. He came shuffling + forward with a hundred apish <i>conges</i> and <i>chers milors</i>, to + express his happiness at seeing Lord Dalgarno again.—"I hope you do + bring back the sun with you, <i>Milor</i>—You did carry away the sun + and moon from your pauvre Chevalier when you leave him for so long. + Pardieu, I believe you take them away in your pockets." + </p> + <p> + "That must have been because you left me nothing else in them, Chevalier," + answered Lord Dalgarno; "but Monsieur le Chevalier, I pray you to know my + countryman and friend, Lord Glenvarloch!" + </p> + <p> + "Ah, ha! tres honore—Je m'en souviens,—oui. J'ai connu + autrefois un Milor Kenfarloque en Ecosse. Yes, I have memory of him—le + pere de milor apparemment-we were vera intimate when I was at Oly Root + with Monsieur de la Motte—I did often play at tennis vit Milor + Kenfarloque at L'Abbaie d'Oly Root—il etoit meme plus fort que moi—Ah + le beaucoup de revers qu'il avoit!—I have memory, too that he was + among the pretty girls—ah, un vrai diable dechaine—Aha! I have + memory—" + </p> + <p> + "Better have no more memory of the late Lord Glenvarloch," said Lord + Dalgarno, interrupting the Chevalier without ceremony; who perceived that + the encomium which he was about to pass on the deceased was likely to be + as disagreeable to the son as it was totally undeserved by the father, + who, far from being either a gamester or libertine, as the Chevalier's + reminiscences falsely represented him, was, on the contrary, strict and + severe in his course of life, almost to the extent of rigour. + </p> + <p> + "You have the reason, milor," answered the Chevalier, "you have the right—Qu'est + ce que nous avons a faire avec le temps passe?—the time passed did + belong to our fathers—our ancetres—very well—the time + present is to us—they have their pretty tombs with their memories + and armorials, all in brass and marbre—we have the petits plats + exquis, and the soupe-a-Chevalier, which I will cause to mount up + immediately." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he made a pirouette on his heel, and put his attendants in + motion to place dinner on the table. Dalgarno laughed, and, observing his + young friend looked grave, said to him, in a tone of reproach—"Why, + what!—you are not gull enough to be angry with such an ass as that?" + </p> + <p> + "I keep my anger, I trust, for better purposes," said Lord Glenvarloch; + "but I confess I was moved to hear such a fellow mention my father's name—and + you, too, who told me this was no gaming-house, talked to him of having + left it with emptied pockets." + </p> + <p> + "Pshaw, man!" said Lord Dalgarno, "I spoke but according to the trick of + the time; besides, a man must set a piece or two sometimes, or he would be + held a cullionly niggard. But here comes dinner, and we will see whether + you like the Chevalier's good cheer better than his conversation." + </p> + <p> + Dinner was announced accordingly, and the two friends, being seated in the + most honourable station at the board, were ceremoniously attended to by + the Chevalier, who did the honours of his table to them and to the other + guests, and seasoned the whole with his agreeable conversation. The dinner + was really excellent, in that piquant style of cookery which the French + had already introduced, and which the home-bred young men of England, when + they aspired to the rank of connoisseurs and persons of taste, were under + the necessity of admiring. The wine was also of the first quality, and + circulated in great variety, and no less abundance. The conversation among + so many young men was, of course, light, lively, and amusing; and Nigel, + whose mind had been long depressed by anxiety and misfortune, naturally + found himself at ease, and his spirits raised and animated. + </p> + <p> + Some of the company had real wit, and could use it both politely and to + advantage; others were coxcombs, and were laughed at without discovering + it; and, again, others were originals, who seemed to have no objection + that the company should be amused with their folly instead of their wit. + And almost all the rest who played any prominent part in the conversation + had either the real tone of good society which belonged to the period, or + the jargon which often passes current for it. + </p> + <p> + In short, the company and conversation was so agreeable, that Nigel's + rigour was softened by it, even towards the master of ceremonies, and he + listened with patience to various details which the Chevalier de Beaujeu, + seeing, as he said, that Milor's taste lay for the "curieux and Futile," + chose to address to him in particular, on the subject of cookery. To + gratify, at the same time, the taste for antiquity, which he somehow + supposed that his new guest possessed, he launched out in commendation of + the great artists of former days, particularly one whom he had known in + his youth, "Maitre de Cuisine to the Marechal Strozzi—tres bon + gentilhomme pourtant;" who had maintained his master's table with twelve + covers every day during the long and severe blockade of le petit Leyth, + although he had nothing better to place on it than the quarter of a + carrion-horse now and then, and the grass and weeds that grew on the + ramparts. "Despardieux c'dtoit un homme superbe!" With one tistle-head, + and a nettle or two, he could make a soupe for twenty guests—an + haunch of a little puppy-dog made a roti des plus excellens; but his coupe + de maitre was when the rendition—what you call the surrender, took + place and appened; and then, dieu me damme, he made out of the hind + quarter of one salted horse, forty-five couverts; that the English and + Scottish officers and nobility, who had the honour to dine with + Monseigneur upon the rendition, could not tell what the devil any of them + were made upon at all. + </p> + <p> + The good wine had by this time gone so merrily round, and had such genial + effect on the guests, that those of the lower end of the table, who had + hitherto been listeners, began, not greatly to their own credit, or that + of the ordinary, to make innovations. + </p> + <p> + "You speak of the siege of Leith," said a tall, raw-boned man, with thick + mustaches turned up with a military twist, a broad buff belt, a long + rapier, and other outward symbols of the honoured profession, which lives + by killing other people—"you talk of the siege of Leith, and I have + seen the place—a pretty kind of a hamlet it is, with a plain wall, + or rampart, and a pigeon-house or so of a tower at every angle. Uds + daggers and scabbards, if a leaguer of our days had been twenty-four + hours, not to say so many months, before it, without carrying the place + and all its cocklofts, one after another, by pure storm, they would have + deserved no better grace than the Provost-Marshal gives when his noose is + reeved." + </p> + <p> + "Saar," said the Chevalier, "Monsieur le Capitaine, I vas not at the siege + of the petit Leyth, and I know not what you say about the cockloft; but I + will say for Monseigneur de Strozzi, that he understood the grande guerre, + and was grand capitaine—plus grand—that is more great, it may + be, than some of the capitaines of Angleterre, who do speak very loud—tenez, + Monsieur, car c'est a vous!" + </p> + <p> + "O Monsieur." answered the swordsman, "we know the Frenchman will fight + well behind his barrier of stone, or when he is armed with back, breast, + and pot." + </p> + <p> + "Pot!" exclaimed the Chevalier, "what do you mean by pot—do you mean + to insult me among my noble guests? Saar, I have done my duty as a pauvre + gentilhomme under the Grand Henri Quatre, both at Courtrai and Yvry, and, + ventre saint gris! we had neither pot nor marmite, but did always charge + in our shirt." + </p> + <p> + "Which refutes another base scandal," said Lord Dalgarno, laughing, + "alleging that linen was scarce among the French gentlemen-at-arms." + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen out at arms and elbows both, you mean, my lord," said the + captain, from the bottom of the table. "Craving your lordship's pardon, I + do know something of these same gens-d'armes." + </p> + <p> + "We will spare your knowledge at present, captain, and save your modesty + at the same time the trouble of telling us how that knowledge was + acquired," answered Lord Dalgarno, rather contemptuously. + </p> + <p> + "I need not speak of it, my lord," said the man of war; "the world knows + it—all perhaps, but the men of mohair—the poor sneaking + citizens of London, who would see a man of valour eat his very hilts for + hunger, ere they would draw a farthing from their long purses to relieve + them. O, if a band of the honest fellows I have seen were once to come + near that cuckoo's nest of theirs!" + </p> + <p> + "A cuckoo's nest!-and that said of the city of London!" said a gallant who + sat on the opposite side of the table, and who, wearing a splendid and + fashionable dress, seemed yet scarce at home in it—"I will not brook + to hear that repeated." + </p> + <p> + "What!" said the soldier, bending a most terrific frown from a pair of + broad black eyebrows, handling the hilt of his weapon with one hand, and + twirling with the other his huge mustaches; "will you quarrel for your + city?" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, marry will I," replied the other. "I am a citizen, I care not who + knows it; and he who shall speak a word in dispraise of the city, is an + ass and a peremptory gull, and I will break his pate, to teach him sense + and manners." + </p> + <p> + The company, who probably had their reasons for not valuing the captain's + courage at the high rate which he himself put upon it, were much + entertained at the manner in which the quarrel was taken up by the + indignant citizen; and they exclaimed on all sides, "Well run, Bow-bell!"—"Well + crowed, the cock of Saint Paul's!"—"Sound a charge there, or the + soldier will mistake his signals, and retreat when he should advance." + </p> + <p> + "You mistake me, gentlemen," said the captain, looking round with an air + of dignity. "I will but inquire whether this cavaliero citizen is of rank + and degree fitted to measure swords with a man of action; (for, conceive + me, gentlemen, it is not with every one that I can match myself without + loss of reputation;) and in that case he shall soon hear from me + honourably, by way of cartel." + </p> + <p> + "You shall feel me most dishonourably in the way of cudgel," said the + citizen, starting up, and taking his sword, which he had laid in a corner. + "Follow me." + </p> + <p> + "It is my right to name the place of combat, by all the rules of the + sword," said the captain; "and I do nominate the Maze, in Tothill-Fields, + for place—two gentlemen, who shall be indifferent judges, for + witnesses;—and for time—let me say this day fortnight, at + daybreak." + </p> + <p> + "And I," said the citizen, "do nominate the bowling-alley behind the house + for place, the present good company for witnesses, and for time the + present moment." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he cast on his beaver, struck the soldier across the shoulders + with his sheathed sword, and ran down stairs. The captain showed no + instant alacrity to follow him; yet, at last, roused by the laugh and + sneer around him, he assured the company, that what he did he would do + deliberately, and, assuming his hat, which he put on with the air of + Ancient Pistol, he descended the stairs to the place of combat, where his + more prompt adversary was already stationed, with his sword unsheathed. Of + the company, all of whom seemed highly delighted with the approaching + fray, some ran to the windows which overlooked the bowling-alley, and + others followed the combatants down stairs. Nigel could not help asking + Dalgarno whether he would not interfere to prevent mischief. + </p> + <p> + "It would be a crime against the public interest," answered his friend; + "there can no mischief happen between two such originals, which will not + be a positive benefit to society, and particularly to the Chevalier's + establishment, as he calls it. I have been as sick of that captain's buff + belt, and red doublet, for this month past, as e'er I was of aught; and + now I hope this bold linendraper will cudgel the ass out of that filthy + lion's hide. See, Nigel, see the gallant citizen has ta'en his ground + about a bowl's-cast forward, in the midst of the alley—the very + model of a hog in armour. Behold how he prances with his manly foot, and + brandishes his blade, much as if he were about to measure forth cambric + with it. See, they bring on the reluctant soldado, and plant him opposite + to his fiery antagonist, twelve paces still dividing them—Lo, the + captain draws his tool, but, like a good general, looks over his shoulder + to secure his retreat, in case the worse come on't. Behold the valiant + shop-keeper stoops his head, confident, doubtless, in the civic helmet + with which his spouse has fortified his skull—Why, this is the + rarest of sport. By Heaven, he will run a tilt at him, like a ram." + </p> + <p> + It was even as Lord Dalgarno had anticipated; for the citizen, who seemed + quite serious in his zeal for combat, perceiving that the man of war did + not advance towards him, rushed onwards with as much good fortune as + courage, beat down the captain's guard, and, pressing on, thrust, as it + seemed, his sword clear through the body of his antagonist, who, with a + deep groan, measured his length on the ground. A score of voices cried to + the conqueror, as he stood fixed in astonishment at his own feat, "Away, + away with you!—fly, fly—fly by the back door!—get into + the Whitefriars, or cross the water to the Bankside, while we keep off the + mob and the constables." And the conqueror, leaving his vanquished foeman + on the ground, fled accordingly, with all speed. + </p> + <p> + "By Heaven," said Lord Dalgarno, "I could never have believed that the + fellow would have stood to receive a thrust—he has certainly been + arrested by positive terror, and lost the use of his limbs. See, they are + raising him." + </p> + <p> + Stiff and stark seemed the corpse of the swordsman, as one or two of the + guests raised him from the ground; but, when they began to open his + waistcoat to search for the wound which nowhere existed, the man of war + collected, his scattered spirits; and, conscious that the ordinary was no + longer a stage on which to display his valour, took to his heels as fast + as he could run, pursued by the laughter and shouts of the company. + </p> + <p> + "By my honour," said Lord Dalgarno, "he takes the same course with his + conqueror. I trust in heaven he will overtake him, and then the valiant + citizen will suppose himself haunted by the ghost of him he has slain." + </p> + <p> + "Despardieux, milor," said the Chevalier, "if he had stayed one moment, he + should have had a <i>torchon</i>—what you call a dishclout, pinned + to him for a piece of shroud, to show he be de ghost of one grand + fanfaron." + </p> + <p> + "In the meanwhile," said Lord Dalgarno, "you will oblige us, Monsieur le + Chevalier, as well as maintain your own honoured reputation, by letting + your drawers receive the man-at-arms with a cudgel, in case he should + venture to come way again." + </p> + <p> + "Ventre saint gris, milor," said the Chevalier, "leave that to me.—Begar, + the maid shall throw the wash-sud upon the grand poltron!" + </p> + <p> + When they had laughed sufficiently at this ludicrous occurrence, the party + began to divide themselves into little knots—some took possession of + the alley, late the scene of combat, and put the field to its proper use + of a bowling-ground, and it soon resounded with all the terms of the game, + as "run, run-rub, rub—hold bias, you infernal trundling timber!" + thus making good the saying, that three things are thrown away in a + bowling-green, namely, time, money, and oaths. In the house, many of the + gentlemen betook themselves to cards or dice, and parties were formed at + Ombre, at Basset, at Gleek, at Primero, and other games then in fashion; + while the dice were used at various games, both with and without the + tables, as Hazard, In-and-in, Passage, and so forth. The play, however, + did not appear to be extravagantly deep; it was certainly conducted with + great decorum and fairness; nor did there appear any thing to lead the + young Scotsman in the least to doubt his companion's assurance, that the + place was frequented by men of rank and quality, and that the recreations + they adopted were conducted upon honourable principles. + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno neither had proposed play to his friend, nor joined in the + amusement himself, but sauntered from one table to another, remarking the + luck of the different players, as well as their capacity to avail + themselves of it, and exchanging conversation with the highest and most + respectable of the guests. At length, as if tired of what in modern phrase + would have been termed lounging, he suddenly remembered that Burbage was + to act Shakespeare's King Richard, at the Fortune, that afternoon, and + that he could not give a stranger in London, like Lord Glenvarloch, a + higher entertainment than to carry him to that exhibition; "unless, + indeed," he added, in a whisper, "there is paternal interdiction of the + theatre as well as of the ordinary." + </p> + <p> + "I never heard my father speak of stage-plays," said Lord Glenvarloch, + "for they are shows of a modern date, and unknown in Scotland. Yet, if + what I have heard to their prejudice be true, I doubt much whether he + would have approved of them." + </p> + <p> + "Approved of them!" exclaimed Lord Dalgarno—"why, George Buchanan + wrote tragedies, and his pupil, learned and wise as himself, goes to see + them, so it is next door to treason to abstain; and the cleverest men in + England write for the stage, and the prettiest women in London resort to + the playhouses, and I have a brace of nags at the door which will carry us + along the streets like wild-fire, and the ride will digest our venison and + ortolans, and dissipate the fumes of the wine, and so let's to horse—Godd'en + to you, gentlemen—Godd'en, Chevalier de la Fortune." + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno's grooms were in attendance with two horses, and the young + men mounted, the proprietor upon a favourite barb, and Nigel upon a + high-dressed jennet, scarce less beautiful. As they rode towards the + theatre, Lord Dalgarno endeavoured to discover his friend's opinion of the + company to which he had introduced him, and to combat the exceptions which + he might suppose him to have taken. "And wherefore lookest thou sad," he + said, "my pensive neophyte? Sage son of the Alma Mater of Low-Dutch + learning, what aileth thee? Is the leaf of the living world which we have + turned over in company, less fairly written than thou hadst been taught to + expect? Be comforted, and pass over one little blot or two; thou wilt be + doomed to read through many a page, as black as Infamy, with her sooty + pinion, can make them. Remember, most immaculate Nigel, that we are in + London, not Leyden—that we are studying life, not lore. Stand buff + against the reproach of thine over-tender conscience, man, and when thou + summest up, like a good arithmetician, the actions of the day, before you + balance the account on your pillow, tell the accusing spirit, to his + brimstone beard, that if thine ears have heard the clatter of the devil's + bones, thy hand hath not trowled them—that if thine eye hath seen + the brawling of two angry boys, thy blade hath not been bared in their + fray." + </p> + <p> + "Now, all this may be wise and witty," replied Nigel; "yet I own I cannot + think but that your lordship, and other men of good quality with whom we + dined, might have chosen a place of meeting free from the intrusion of + bullies, and a better master of your ceremonial than yonder foreign + adventurer." + </p> + <p> + "All shall be amended, Sancte Nigelle, when thou shalt come forth a new + Peter the Hermit, to preach a crusade against dicing, drabbing, and + company-keeping. We will meet for dinner in Saint Sepulchre's Church; we + will dine in the chancel, drink our flask in the vestry, the parson shall + draw every cork, and the clerk say amen to every health. Come man, cheer + up, and get rid of this sour and unsocial humour. Credit me, that the + Puritans who object to us the follies and the frailties incident to human + nature, have themselves the vices of absolute devils, privy malice and + backbiting hypocrisy, and spiritual pride in all its presumption. There is + much, too, in life which we must see, were it only to learn to shun it. + Will Shakespeare, who lives after death, and who is presently to afford + thee such pleasure as none but himself can confer, has described the + gallant Falconbridge as calling that man + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ——' a bastard to the time, + That doth not smack of observation; + Which, though I will not practise to deceive, + Yet, to avoid deceit, I mean to learn." +</pre> + <p> + But here we are at the door of the Fortune, where we shall have matchless + Will speaking for himself.—Goblin, and you other lout, leave the + horses to the grooms, and make way for us through the press." + </p> + <p> + They dismounted, and the assiduous efforts of Lutin, elbowing, bullying, + and proclaiming his master's name and title, made way through a crowd of + murmuring citizens, and clamorous apprentices, to the door, where Lord + Dalgarno speedily procured a brace of stools upon the stage for his + companion and himself, where, seated among other gallants of the same + class, they had an opportunity of displaying their fair dresses and + fashionable manners, while they criticised the piece during its progress; + thus forming, at the same time, a conspicuous part of the spectacle, and + an important proportion of the audience. + </p> + <p> + Nigel Olifaunt was too eagerly and deeply absorbed in the interest of the + scene, to be capable of playing his part as became the place where he was + seated. He felt all the magic of that sorcerer, who had displayed, within + the paltry circle of a wooden booth, the long wars of York and Lancaster, + compelling the heroes of either line to stalk across the scene in language + and fashion as they lived, as if the grave had given up the dead for the + amusement and instruction of the living. Burbage, esteemed the best + Richard until Garrick arose, played the tyrant and usurper with such truth + and liveliness, that when the Battle of Bosworth seemed concluded by his + death, the ideas of reality and deception were strongly contending in Lord + Glenvarloch's imagination, and it required him to rouse himself from his + reverie, so strange did the proposal at first sound when his companion + declared King Richard should sup with them at the Mermaid. + </p> + <p> + They were joined, at the same time, by a small party of the gentlemen with + whom they had dined, which they recruited by inviting two or three of the + most accomplished wits and poets, who seldom failed to attend the Fortune + Theatre, and were even but too ready to conclude a day of amusement with a + night of pleasure. Thither the whole party adjourned, and betwixt fertile + cups of sack, excited spirits, and the emulous wit of their lively + companions, seemed to realise the joyous boast of one of Ben Jonson's + contemporaries, when reminding the bard of + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Those lyric feasts, + Where men such clusters had, + As made them nobly wild, not mad; + While yet each verse of thine + Outdid the meat, outdid the frolic wine." +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Let the proud salmon gorge the feather'd hook, + Then strike, and then you have him—He will wince; + Spin out your line that it shall whistle from you + Some twenty yards or so, yet you shall have him— + Marry! you must have patience—the stout rock + Which is his trust, hath edges something sharp; + And the deep pool hath ooze and sludge enough + To mar your fishing—'less you are more careful. + <i>Albion, or the Double Kings.</i> +</pre> + <p> + It is seldom that a day of pleasure, upon review, seems altogether so + exquisite as the partaker of the festivity may have felt it while passing + over him. Nigel Olifaunt, at least, did not feel it so, and it required a + visit from his new acquaintance, Lord Dalgarno, to reconcile him entirely + to himself. But this visit took place early after breakfast, and his + friend's discourse was prefaced with a question, How he liked the company + of the preceding evening? + </p> + <p> + "Why, excellently well," said Lord Glenvarloch; "only I should have liked + the wit better had it appeared to flow more freely. Every man's invention + seemed on the stretch, and each extravagant simile seemed to set one half + of your men of wit into a brown study to produce something which should + out-herod it." + </p> + <p> + "And wherefore not?" said Lord Dalgarno, "or what are these fellows fit + for, but to play the intellectual gladiators before us? He of them who + declares himself recreant, should, d—n him, be restricted to muddy + ale, and the patronage of the Waterman's Company. I promise you, that many + a pretty fellow has been mortally wounded with a quibble or a carwitchet + at the Mermaid, and sent from thence, in a pitiable estate, to Wit's + hospital in the Vintry, where they languish to this day amongst fools and + aldermen." + </p> + <p> + "It may be so," said Lord Nigel; "yet I could swear by my honour, that + last night I seemed to be in company with more than one man whose genius + and learning ought either to have placed him higher in our company, or to + have withdrawn him altogether from a scene, where, sooth to speak, his + part seemed unworthily subordinate." + </p> + <p> + "Now, out upon your tender conscience," said Lord Dalgarno; "and the fico + for such outcasts of Parnassus! Why, these are the very leavings of that + noble banquet of pickled herrings and Rhenish, which lost London so many + of her principal witmongers and bards of misrule. What would you have said + had you seen Nash or Green, when you interest yourself about the poor + mimes you supped with last night? Suffice it, they had their drench and + their doze, and they drank and slept as much as may save them from any + necessity of eating till evening, when, if they are industrious, they will + find patrons or players to feed them. [Footnote: The condition of men of + wit and talents was never more melancholy than about this period. Their + lives were so irregular, and their means of living so precarious, that + they were alternately rioting in debauchery, or encountering and + struggling with the meanest necessities. Two or three lost their lives by + a surfeit brought on by that fatal banquet of Rhenish wine and pickled + herrings, which is familiar to those who study the lighter literature of + that age. The whole history is a most melancholy picture of genius, + degraded at once by its own debaucheries, and the patronage of heartless + rakes and profligates.] For the rest of their wants, they can be at no + loss for cold water while the New River head holds good; and your doublets + of Parnassus are eternal in duration." + </p> + <p> + "Virgil and Horace had more efficient patronage," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Ay," replied his countryman, "but these fellows are neither Virgil nor + Horace; besides, we have other spirits of another sort, to whom I will + introduce you on some early occasion. Our Swan of Avon hath sung his last; + but we have stout old Ben, with as much learning and genius as ever + prompted the treader of sock and buskin. It is not, however, of him I mean + now to speak; but I come to pray you, of dear love, to row up with me as + far as Richmond, where two or three of the gallants whom you saw + yesterday, mean to give music and syllabubs to a set of beauties, with + some curious bright eyes among them—such, I promise you, as might + win an astrologer from his worship of the galaxy. My sister leads the + bevy, to whom I desire to present you. She hath her admirers at Court; and + is regarded, though I might dispense with sounding her praise, as one of + the beauties of the time." + </p> + <p> + There was no refusing an engagement, where the presence of the party + invited, late so low in his own regard, was demanded by a lady of quality, + one of the choice beauties of the time. Lord Glenvarloch accepted, as was + inevitable, and spent a lively day among the gay and the fair. He was the + gallant in attendance, for the day, upon his friend's sister, the + beautiful Countess of Blackchester, who aimed at once at superiority in + the realms of fashion, of power, and of wit. + </p> + <p> + She was, indeed, considerably older than her brother, and had probably + completed her six lustres; but the deficiency in extreme youth was more + than atoned for, in the most precise and curious accuracy in attire, an + early acquaintance with every foreign mode, and a peculiar gift in + adapting the knowledge which she acquired, to her own particular features + and complexion. At Court, she knew as well as any lady in the circle, the + precise tone, moral, political, learned, or jocose, in which it was proper + to answer the monarch, according to his prevailing humour; and was + supposed to have been very active, by her personal interest, in procuring + her husband a high situation, which the gouty old viscount could never + have deserved by any merit of his own commonplace conduct and + understanding. + </p> + <p> + It was far more easy for this lady than for her brother, to reconcile so + young a courtier as Lord Glenvarloch to the customs and habits of a sphere + so new to him. In all civilised society, the females of distinguished rank + and beauty give the tone to manners, and, through these, even to morals. + Lady Blackchester had, besides, interest either in the Court, or over the + Court, (for its source could not be well traced,) which created friends, + and overawed those who might have been disposed to play the part of + enemies. + </p> + <p> + At one time, she was understood to be closely leagued with the Buckingham + family, with whom her brother still maintained a great intimacy; and, + although some coldness had taken place betwixt the Countess and the + Duchess of Buckingham, so that they were little seen together, and the + former seemed considerably to have withdrawn herself into privacy, it was + whispered that Lady Blackchester's interest with the great favourite was + not diminished in consequence of her breach with his lady. + </p> + <p> + Our accounts of the private Court intrigues of that period, and of the + persons to whom they were intrusted, are not full enough to enable us to + pronounce upon the various reports which arose out of the circumstances we + have detailed. It is enough to say, that Lady Blackchester possessed great + influence on the circle around her, both from her beauty, her abilities, + and her reputed talents for Court intrigue; and that Nigel Olifaunt was + not long of experiencing its power, as he became a slave in some degree to + that species of habit, which carries so many men into a certain society at + a certain hour, without expecting or receiving any particular degree of + gratification, or even amusement. + </p> + <p> + His life for several weeks may be thus described. The ordinary was no bad + introduction to the business of the day; and the young lord quickly found, + that if the society there was not always irreproachable, still it formed + the most convenient and agreeable place of meeting with the fashionable + parties, with whom he visited Hyde Park, the theatres, and other places of + public resort, or joined the gay and glittering circle which Lady + Blackchester had assembled around her. Neither did he entertain the same + scrupulous horror which led him originally even to hesitate entering into + a place where gaming was permitted; but, on the contrary, began to admit + the idea, that as there could be no harm done in beholding such recreation + when only indulged in to a moderate degree, so, from a parity of + reasoning, there could be no objection to joining in it, always under the + same restrictions. But the young lord was a Scotsman, habituated to early + reflection, and totally unaccustomed to any habit which inferred a + careless risk or profuse waste of money. Profusion was not his natural + vice, or one likely to be acquired in the course of his education; and, in + all probability, while his father anticipated with noble horror the idea + of his son approaching the gaming-table, he was more startled at the idea + of his becoming a gaining than a losing adventurer. The second, according + to his principles, had a termination, a sad one indeed, in the loss of + temporal fortune—the first quality went on increasing the evil which + he dreaded, and perilled at once both body and soul. + </p> + <p> + However the old lord might ground his apprehension, it was so far verified + by his son's conduct, that, from an observer of the various games of + chance which he witnessed, he came, by degrees, by moderate hazards, and + small bets or wagers, to take a certain interest in them. Nor could it be + denied, that his rank and expectations entitled him to hazard a few pieces + (for his game went no deeper) against persons, who, from the readiness + with which they staked their money, might be supposed well able to afford + to lose it. + </p> + <p> + It chanced, or, perhaps, according to the common belief, his evil genius + had so decreed, that Nigel's adventures were remarkably successful. He was + temperate, cautious, cool-headed, had a strong memory, and a ready power + of calculation; was besides, of a daring and intrepid character, one upon + whom no one that had looked even slightly, or spoken to though but + hastily, would readily have ventured to practise any thing approaching to + trick, or which required to be supported by intimidation. While Lord + Glenvarloch chose to play, men played with him regularly, or, according to + the phrase, upon the square; and, as he found his luck change, or wished + to hazard his good fortune no farther, the more professed votaries of + fortune, who frequented the house of Monsieur le Chevalier de Saint Priest + Beaujeu, did not venture openly to express their displeasure at his rising + a winner. But when this happened repeatedly, the gamesters murmured + amongst themselves equally at the caution and the success of the young + Scotsman; and he became far from being a popular character among their + society. + </p> + <p> + It was no slight inducement to the continuance of this most evil habit, + when it was once in some degree acquired, that it seemed to place Lord + Glenvarloch, haughty as he naturally was, beyond the necessity of + subjecting himself to farther pecuniary obligations, which his prolonged + residence in London must otherwise have rendered necessary. He had to + solicit from the ministers certain forms of office, which were to render + his sign-manual effectually useful; and these, though they could not be + denied, were delayed in such a manner, as to lead Nigel to believe there + was some secret opposition, which occasioned the demur in his business. + His own impulse was, to have appeared at Court a second time, with the + king's sign-manual in his pocket, and to have appealed to his Majesty + himself, whether the delay of the public officers ought to render his + royal generosity unavailing. But the Lord Huntinglen, that good old peer, + who had so frankly interfered in his behalf on a former occasion, and whom + he occasionally visited, greatly dissuaded him from a similar adventure, + and exhorted him quietly to await the deliverance of the ministers, which + should set him free from dancing attendance in London. + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno joined his father in deterring his young friend from a + second attendance at Court, at least till he was reconciled with the Duke + of Buckingham—"a matter in which," he said, addressing his father, + "I have offered my poor assistance, without being able to prevail on Lord + Nigel to make any—not even the least—submission to the Duke of + Buckingham." + </p> + <p> + "By my faith, and I hold the laddie to be in the right on't, Malcom!" + answered the stout old Scots lord.—"What right hath Buckingham, or, + to speak plainly, the son of Sir George Villiers, to expect homage and + fealty from one more noble than himself by eight quarters? I heard him + myself, on no reason that I could perceive, term Lord Nigel his enemy; and + it will never be by my counsel that the lad speaks soft word to him, till + he recalls the hard one." + </p> + <p> + "That is precisely my advice to Lord Glenvarloch," answered Lord Dalgarno; + "but then you will admit, my dear father, that it would be the risk of + extremity for our friend to return into the presence, the duke being his + enemy—better to leave it with me to take off the heat of the + distemperature, with which some pickthanks have persuaded the duke to + regard our friend." + </p> + <p> + "If thou canst persuade Buckingham of his error, Malcolm," said his + father, "for once I will say there hath been kindness and honesty in Court + service. I have oft told your sister and yourself, that in the general I + esteem it as lightly as may be." + </p> + <p> + "You need not doubt my doing my best in Nigel's case," answered Lord + Dalgarno; "but you must think, my dear father, I must needs use slower and + gentler means than those by which you became a favourite twenty years + ago." + </p> + <p> + "By my faith, I am afraid thou wilt," answered his father.—"I tell + thee, Malcolm, I would sooner wish myself in the grave, than doubt thine + honesty or honour; yet somehow it hath chanced, that honest, ready + service, hath not the same acceptance at Court which it has in my younger + time—and yet you rise there." + </p> + <p> + "O, the time permits not your old-world service," said Lord Dalgarno; "we + have now no daily insurrections, no nightly attempts at assassination, as + were the fashion in the Scottish Court. Your prompt and uncourteous + sword-in-hand attendance on the sovereign is no longer necessary, and + would be as unbeseeming as your old-fashioned serving-men, with their + badges, broadswords, and bucklers, would be at a court-mask. Besides, + father, loyal haste hath its inconveniences. I have heard, and from royal + lips too, that when you stuck your dagger into the traitor Ruthven, it was + with such little consideration, that the point ran a quarter of an inch + into the royal buttock. The king never talks of it but he rubs the injured + part, and quotes his <i>'infandum———-renovare dolorem.'</i> + But this comes of old fashions, and of wearing a long Liddesdale whinger + instead of a poniard of Parma. Yet this, my dear father, you call prompt + and valiant service. The king, I am told, could not sit upright for a + fortnight, though all the cushions in Falkland were placed in his chair of + state, and the Provost of Dunfermline's borrowed to the boot of all." + </p> + <p> + "It is a lie," said the old earl, "a false lie, forge it who list!—It + is true I wore a dagger of service by my side, and not a bodkin like + yours, to pick one's teeth withal—and for prompt service—Odds + nouns! it should be prompt to be useful when kings are crying treason and + murder with the screech of a half-throttled hen. But you young courtiers + know nought of these matters, and are little better than the green geese + they bring over from the Indies, whose only merit to their masters is to + repeat their own words after them—a pack of mouthers, and + flatterers, and ear-wigs.—Well, I am old and unable to mend, else I + would break all off, and hear the Tay once more flinging himself over the + Campsie Linn." + </p> + <p> + "But there is your dinner-bell, father," said Lord Dalgarno, "which, if + the venison I sent you prove seasonable, is at least as sweet a sound." + </p> + <p> + "Follow me, then, youngsters, if you list," said the old earl; and strode + on from the alcove in which this conversation was held, towards the house, + followed by the two young men. + </p> + <p> + In their private discourse, Lord Dalgarno had little trouble in dissuading + Nigel from going immediately to Court; while, on the other hand, the + offers he made him of a previous introduction to the Duke of Buckingham, + were received by Lord Glenvarloch with a positive and contemptuous + refusal. His friend shrugged his shoulders, as one who claims the merit of + having given to an obstinate friend the best counsel, and desires to be + held free of the consequences of his pertinacity. + </p> + <p> + As for the father, his table indeed, and his best liquor, of which he was + more profuse than necessary, were at the command of his young friend, as + well as his best advice and assistance in the prosecution of his affairs. + But Lord Huntinglen's interest was more apparent than real; and the credit + he had acquired by his gallant defence of the king's person, was so + carelessly managed by himself, and so easily eluded by the favourites and + ministers of the sovereign, that, except upon one or two occasions, when + the king was in some measure taken by surprise, as in the case of Lord + Glenvarloch, the royal bounty was never efficiently extended either to + himself or to his friends. + </p> + <p> + "There never was a man," said Lord Dalgarno, whose shrewder knowledge of + the English Court saw where his father's deficiency lay, "that had it so + perfectly in his power to have made his way to the pinnacle of fortune as + my poor father. He had acquired a right to build up a staircase, step by + step, slowly and surely, letting every boon, which he begged year after + year, become in its turn the resting-place for the next annual grant. But + your fortunes shall not shipwreck upon the same coast, Nigel," he would + conclude. "If I have fewer means of influence than my father has, or + rather had, till he threw them away for butts of sack, hawks, hounds, and + such carrion, I can, far better than he, improve that which I possess; and + that, my dear Nigel, is all engaged in your behalf. Do not be surprised or + offended that you now see me less than formerly. The stag-hunting is + commenced, and the prince looks that I should attend him more frequently. + I must also maintain my attendance on the duke, that I may have an + opportunity of pleading your cause when occasion shall permit." + </p> + <p> + "I have no cause to plead before the duke," said Nigel, gravely; "I have + said so repeatedly." + </p> + <p> + "Why, I meant the phrase no otherwise, thou churlish and suspicious + disputant," answered Dalgarno, "than as I am now pleading the duke's cause + with thee. Surely I only mean to claim a share in our royal master's + favourite benediction, <i>Beati Pacifici</i>." + </p> + <p> + Upon several occasions, Lord Glenvarloch's conversations, both with the + old earl and his son, took a similar turn and had a like conclusion. He + sometimes felt as if, betwixt the one and the other, not to mention the + more unseen and unboasted, but scarce less certain influence of Lady + Blackchester, his affair, simple as it had become, might have been somehow + accelerated. But it was equally impossible to doubt the rough honesty of + the father, and the eager and officious friendship of Lord Dalgarno; nor + was it easy to suppose that the countenance of the lady, by whom he was + received with such distinction, would be wanting, could it be effectual in + his service. + </p> + <p> + Nigel was further sensible of the truth of what Lord Dalgarno often + pointed out, that the favourite being supposed to be his enemy, every + petty officer, through whose hands his affair must necessarily pass, would + desire to make a merit of throwing obstacles in his way, which he could + only surmount by steadiness and patience, unless he preferred closing the + breach, or, as Lord Dalgarno called it, making his peace with the Duke of + Buckingham. + </p> + <p> + Nigel might, and doubtless would, have had recourse to the advice of his + friend George Heriot upon this occasion, having found it so advantageous + formerly; but the only time he saw him after their visit to Court, he + found the worthy citizen engaged in hasty preparations for a journey to + Paris, upon business of great importance in the way of his profession, and + by an especial commission from the Court and the Duke of Buckingham, which + was likely to be attended with considerable profit. The good man smiled as + he named the Duke of Buckingham. He had been, he said, pretty sure that + his disgrace in that quarter would not be of long duration. Lord + Glenvarloch expressed himself rejoiced at that reconciliation, observing, + that it had been a most painful reflection to him, that Master Heriot + should, in his behalf, have incurred the dislike, and perhaps exposed + himself to the ill offices, of so powerful a favourite. + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said Heriot, "for your father's son I would do much; and yet + truly, if I know myself, I would do as much and risk as much, for the sake + of justice, in the case of a much more insignificant person, as I have + ventured for yours. But as we shall not meet for some time, I must commit + to your own wisdom the farther prosecution of this matter." + </p> + <p> + And thus they took a kind and affectionate leave of each other. + </p> + <p> + There were other changes in Lord Glenvarloch's situation, which require to + be noticed. His present occupations, and the habits of amusement which he + had acquired, rendered his living so far in the city a considerable + inconvenience. He may also have become a little ashamed of his cabin on + Paul's Wharf, and desirous of being lodged somewhat more according to his + quality. For this purpose, he had hired a small apartment near the Temple. + He was, nevertheless, almost sorry for what he had done, when he observed + that his removal appeared to give some pain to John Christie, and a great + deal to his cordial and officious landlady. The former, who was grave and + saturnine in every thing he did, only hoped that all had been to Lord + Glenvarloch's mind, and that he had not left them on account of any + unbeseeming negligence on their part. But the tear twinkled in Dame + Nelly's eye, while she recounted the various improvements she had made in + the apartment, of express purpose to render it more convenient to his + lordship. + </p> + <p> + "There was a great sea-chest," she said, "had been taken upstairs to the + shopman's garret, though it left the poor lad scarce eighteen inches of + opening to creep betwixt it and his bed; and Heaven knew—she did not—whether + it could ever be brought down that narrow stair again. Then the turning + the closet into an alcove had cost a matter of twenty round shillings; and + to be sure, to any other lodger but his lordship, the closet was more + convenient. There was all the linen, too, which she had bought on purpose—But + Heaven's will be done—she was resigned." + </p> + <p> + Everybody likes marks of personal attachment; and Nigel, whose heart + really smote him, as if in his rising fortunes he were disdaining the + lowly accommodations and the civilities of the humble friends which had + been but lately actual favours, failed not by every assurance in his + power, and by as liberal payment as they could be prevailed upon to + accept, to alleviate the soreness of their feelings at his departure; and + a parting kiss from the fair lips of his hostess sealed his forgiveness. + </p> + <p> + Richie Moniplies lingered behind his master, to ask whether, in case of + need, John Christie could help a canny Scotsman to a passage back to his + own country; and receiving assurance of John's interest to that effect, he + said at parting, he would remind him of his promise soon.—"For," + said he, "if my lord is not weary of this London life, I ken one that is, + videlicet, mysell; and I am weel determined to see Arthur's Seat again ere + I am many weeks older." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Bingo, why, Bingo! hey, boy—here, sir, here!— + He's gone and off, but he'll be home before us;— + 'Tis the most wayward cur e'er mumbled bone, + Or dogg'd a master's footstep.—Bingo loves me + Better than ever beggar loved his alms; + Yet, when he takes such humour, you may coax + Sweet Mistress Fantasy, your worship's mistress, + Out of her sullen moods, as soon as Bingo. + <i>The Dominie And His Dog</i>. +</pre> + <p> + Richie Moniplies was as good as his word. Two or three mornings after the + young lord had possessed himself of his new lodgings, he appeared before + Nigel, as he was preparing to dress, having left his pillow at an hour + much later than had formerly been his custom. + </p> + <p> + As Nigel looked upon his attendant, he observed there was a gathering + gloom upon his solemn features, which expressed either additional + importance, or superadded discontent, or a portion of both. + </p> + <p> + "How now," he said, "what is the matter this morning, Richie, that you + have made your face so like the grotesque mask on one of the spouts + yonder?" pointing to the Temple Church, of which Gothic building they had + a view from the window. + </p> + <p> + Richie swivelled his head a little to the right with as little alacrity as + if he had the crick in his neck, and instantly resuming his posture, + replied,—"Mask here, mask there—it were nae such matters that + I have to speak anent." + </p> + <p> + "And what matters have you to speak anent, then?" said his master, whom + circumstances had inured to tolerate a good deal of freedom from his + attendant. + </p> + <p> + "My lord,"—said Richie, and then stopped to cough and hem, as if + what he had to say stuck somewhat in his throat. + </p> + <p> + "I guess the mystery," said Nigel, "you want a little money, Richie; will + five pieces serve the present turn?" + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said Richie, "I may, it is like, want a trifle of money; and I + am glad at the same time, and sorry, that it is mair plenty with your + lordship than formerly." + </p> + <p> + "Glad and sorry, man!" said Lord Nigel, "why, you are reading riddles to + me, Richie." + </p> + <p> + "My riddle will be briefly read," said Richie; "I come to crave of your + lordship your commands for Scotland." + </p> + <p> + "For Scotland!—why, art thou mad, man?" said Nigel; "canst thou not + tarry to go down with me?" + </p> + <p> + "I could be of little service," said Richie, "since you purpose to hire + another page and groom." + </p> + <p> + "Why, thou jealous ass," said the young lord, "will not thy load of duty + lie the lighter?—Go, take thy breakfast, and drink thy ale double + strong, to put such absurdities out of thy head—I could be angry + with thee for thy folly, man—but I remember how thou hast stuck to + me in adversity." + </p> + <p> + "Adversity, my lord, should never have parted us," said Richie; "methinks, + had the warst come to warst, I could have starved as gallantly as your + lordship, or more so, being in some sort used to it; for, though I was + bred at a flasher's stall, I have not through my life had a constant + intimacy with collops." + </p> + <p> + "Now, what is the meaning of all this trash?" said Nigel; "or has it no + other end than to provoke my patience? You know well enough, that, had I + twenty serving-men, I would hold the faithful follower that stood by me in + my distress the most valued of them all. But it is totally out of reason + to plague me with your solemn capriccios." + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said Richie, "in declaring your trust in me, you have done what + is honourable to yourself, if I may with humility say so much, and in no + way undeserved on my side. Nevertheless, we must part." + </p> + <p> + "Body of me, man, why?" said Lord Nigel; "what reason can there be for it, + if we are mutually satisfied?" + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said Richie Moniplies, "your lordship's occupations are such as + I cannot own or countenance by my presence." + </p> + <p> + "How now, sirrah!" said his master, angrily. + </p> + <p> + "Under favour, my lord," replied his domestic, "it is unequal dealing to + be equally offended by my speech and by my silence. If you can hear with + patience the grounds of my departure, it may be, for aught I know, the + better for you here and hereafter—if not, let me have my license of + departure in silence, and so no more about it." + </p> + <p> + "Go to, sir!" said Nigel; "speak out your mind—only remember to whom + you speak it." + </p> + <p> + "Weel, weel, my lord—I speak it with humility;" (never did Richie + look with more starched dignity than when he uttered the word;) "but do + you think this dicing and card-shuffling, and haunting of taverns and + playhouses, suits your lordship—for I am sure it does not suit me?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, you are not turned precisian or puritan, fool?" said Lord + Glenvarloch, laughing, though, betwixt resentment and shame, it cost him + some trouble to do so. + </p> + <p> + "My lord," replied the follower, "I ken the purport of your query. I am, + it may be, a little of a precisian, and I wish to Heaven I was mair worthy + of the name; but let that be a pass-over.—I have stretched the + duties of a serving-man as far as my northern conscience will permit. I + can give my gude word to my master, or to my native country, when I am in + a foreign land, even though I should leave downright truth a wee bit + behind me. Ay, and I will take or give a slash with ony man that speaks to + the derogation of either. But this chambering, dicing, and play-haunting, + is not my element—I cannot draw breath in it—and when I hear + of your lordship winning the siller that some poor creature may full + sairly miss—by my saul, if it wad serve your necessity, rather than + you gained it from him, I wad take a jump over the hedge with your + lordship, and cry 'Stand!' to the first grazier we met that was coming + from Smithfield with the price of his Essex calves in his leathern pouch!" + </p> + <p> + "You are a simpleton," said Nigel, who felt, however, much + conscience-struck; "I never play but for small sums." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, my lord," replied the unyielding domestic, "and—still with + reverence—it is even sae much the waur. If you played with your + equals, there might be like sin, but there wad be mair warldly honour in + it. Your lordship kens, or may ken, by experience of your ain, whilk is + not as yet mony weeks auld, that small sums can ill be missed by those + that have nane larger; and I maun e'en be plain with you, that men notice + it of your lordship, that ye play wi' nane but the misguided creatures + that can but afford to lose bare stakes." + </p> + <p> + "No man dare say so!" replied Nigel, very angrily. "I play with whom I + please, but I will only play for what stake I please." + </p> + <p> + "That is just what they say, my lord," said the unmerciful Richie, whose + natural love of lecturing, as well as his bluntness of feeling, prevented + him from having any idea of the pain which he was inflicting on his + master; "these are even their own very words. It was but yesterday your + lordship was pleased, at that same ordinary, to win from yonder young + hafflins gentleman, with the crimson velvet doublet, and the cock's + feather in his beaver—him, I mean, who fought with the ranting + captain—a matter of five pounds, or thereby. I saw him come through + the hall; and, if he was not cleaned out of cross and pile, I never saw a + ruined man in my life." + </p> + <p> + "Impossible!" said Lord Glenvarloch—"Why, who is he? he looked like + a man of substance." + </p> + <p> + "All is not gold that glistens, my lord," replied Richie; "'broidery and + bullion buttons make bare pouches. And if you ask who he is—maybe I + have a guess, and care not to tell." + </p> + <p> + "At least, if I have done any such fellow an injury," said the Lord Nigel, + "let me know how I can repair it." + </p> + <p> + "Never fash your beard about that, my lord,—with reverence always," + said Richie,—"he shall be suitably cared after. Think on him but as + ane wha was running post to the devil, and got a shouldering from your + lordship to help him on his journey. But I will stop him, if reason can; + and so your lordship needs asks nae mair about it, for there is no use in + your knowing it, but much the contrair." + </p> + <p> + "Hark you, sirrah," said his master, "I have borne with you thus far, for + certain reasons; but abuse my good-nature no farther—and since you + must needs go, why, go a God's name, and here is to pay your journey." So + saying, he put gold into his hand, which Richie told over piece by piece, + with the utmost accuracy. + </p> + <p> + "Is it all right—or are they wanting in weight—or what the + devil keeps you, when your hurry was so great five minutes since?" said + the young lord, now thoroughly nettled at the presumptuous precision with + which Richie dealt forth his canons of morality. + </p> + <p> + "The tale of coin is complete," said Richie, with the most imperturbable + gravity; "and, for the weight, though they are sae scrupulous in this + town, as make mouths at a piece that is a wee bit light, or that has been + cracked within the ring, my sooth, they will jump at them in Edinburgh + like a cock at a grosart. Gold pieces are not so plenty there, the mair + the pity!" + </p> + <p> + "The more is your folly, then," said Nigel, whose anger was only + momentary, "that leave the land where there is enough of them." + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said Richie, "to be round with you, the grace of God is better + than gold pieces. When Goblin, as you call yonder Monsieur Lutin,—and + you might as well call him Gibbet, since that is what he is like to end + in,—shall recommend a page to you, ye will hear little such doctrine + as ye have heard from me.—And if they were my last words," he said, + raising his voice, "I would say you are misled, and are forsaking the + paths which your honourable father trode in; and, what is more, you are + going—still under correction—to the devil with a dishclout, + for ye are laughed at by them that lead you into these disordered + bypaths." + </p> + <p> + "Laughed at!" said Nigel, who, like others of his age, was more sensible + to ridicule than to reason—"Who dares laugh at me?" + </p> + <p> + "My lord, as sure as I live by bread—nay, more, as I am a true man—and, + I think, your lordship never found Richie's tongue bearing aught but the + truth—unless that your lordship's credit, my country's profit, or, + it may be, some sma' occasion of my ain, made it unnecessary to promulgate + the haill veritie,—I say then, as I am a true man, when I saw that + puir creature come through the ha', at that ordinary, whilk is accurst + (Heaven forgive me for swearing!) of God and man, with his teeth set, and + his hands clenched, and his bonnet drawn over his brows like a desperate + man, Goblin said to me, 'There goes a dunghill chicken, that your master + has plucked clean enough; it will be long ere his lordship ruffle a + feather with a cock of the game.' And so, my lord, to speak it out, the + lackeys, and the gallants, and more especially your sworn brother, Lord + Dalgarno, call you the sparrow-hawk.—I had some thought to have + cracked Lutin's pate for the speech, but, after a', the controversy was + not worth it." + </p> + <p> + "Do they use such terms of me?" said Lord Nigel. "Death and the devil!" + </p> + <p> + "And the devil's dam, my lord," answered Richie; "they are all three busy + in London.—And, besides, Lutin and his master laughed at you, my + lord, for letting it be thought that—I shame to speak it—that + ye were over well with the wife of the decent honest man whose house you + but now left, as not sufficient for your new bravery, whereas they said, + the licentious scoffers, that you pretended to such favour when you had + not courage enough for so fair a quarrel, and that the sparrow-hawk was + too craven-crested to fly at the wife of a cheesemonger."—He stopped + a moment, and looked fixedly in his master's face, which was inflamed with + shame and anger, and then proceeded. "My lord, I did you justice in my + thought, and myself too; for, thought I, he would have been as deep in + that sort of profligacy as in others, if it hadna been Richie's four + quarters." + </p> + <p> + "What new nonsense have you got to plague me with?" said Lord Nigel. "But + go on, since it is the last time I am to be tormented with your + impertinence,—go on, and make the most of your time." + </p> + <p> + "In troth," said Richie, "and so will I even do. And as Heaven has + bestowed on me a tongue to speak and to advise——" + </p> + <p> + "Which talent you can by no means be accused of suffering to remain idle," + said Lord Glenvarloch, interrupting him. + </p> + <p> + "True, my lord," said Richie, again waving his hand, as if to bespeak his + master's silence and attention; "so, I trust, you will think some time + hereafter. And, as I am about to leave your service, it is proper that ye + suld know the truth, that ye may consider the snares to which your youth + and innocence may be exposed, when aulder and doucer heads are withdrawn + from beside you.—There has been a lusty, good-looking kimmer, of + some forty, or bygane, making mony speerings about you, my lord." + </p> + <p> + "Well, sir, what did she want with me?" said Lord Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "At first, my lord," replied his sapient follower, "as she seemed to be a + well-fashioned woman, and to take pleasure in sensible company, I was no + way reluctant to admit her to my conversation." + </p> + <p> + "I dare say not," said Lord Nigel; "nor unwilling to tell her about my + private affairs." + </p> + <p> + "Not I, truly, my lord," said the attendant;—"for, though she asked + me mony questions about your fame, your fortune, your business here, and + such like, I did not think it proper to tell her altogether the truth + thereanent." + </p> + <p> + "I see no call on you whatever," said Lord Nigel, "to tell the woman + either truth or lies upon what she had nothing to do with." + </p> + <p> + "I thought so, too, my lord," replied Richie, "and so I told her neither." + </p> + <p> + "And what <i>did</i> you tell her, then, you eternal babbler?" said his + master, impatient of his prate, yet curious to know what it was all to end + in. + </p> + <p> + "I told her," said Richie, "about your warldly fortune, and sae forth, + something whilk is not truth just at this time; but which hath been truth + formerly, suld be truth now, and will be truth again,—and that was, + that you were in possession of your fair lands, whilk ye are but in right + of as yet. Pleasant communing we had on that and other topics, until she + showed the cloven foot, beginning to confer with me about some wench that + she said had a good-will to your lordship, and fain she would have spoken + with you in particular anent it; but when I heard of such inklings, I + began to suspect she was little better than—whew! "—Here he + concluded his narrative with a low, but very expressive whistle. + </p> + <p> + "And what did your wisdom do in these circumstances?" said Lord Nigel, + who, notwithstanding his former resentment, could now scarcely forbear + laughing. + </p> + <p> + "I put on a look, my lord," replied Richie, bending his solemn brows, + "that suld give her a heartscald of walking on such errands. I laid her + enormities clearly before her, and I threatened her, in sae mony words, + that I would have her to the ducking-stool; and she, on the contrair part, + miscawed me for a forward northern tyke—and so we parted never to + meet again, as I hope and trust. And so I stood between your lordship and + that temptation, which might have been worse than the ordinary, or the + playhouse either; since you wot well what Solomon, King of the Jews, + sayeth of the strange woman—for, said I to mysell, we have taken to + dicing already, and if we take to drabbing next, the Lord kens what we may + land in!" + </p> + <p> + "Your impertinence deserves correction, but it is the last which, for a + time at least, I shall have to forgive—and I forgive it," said Lord + Glenvarloch; "and, since we are to part, Richie, I will say no more + respecting your precautions on my account, than that I think you might + have left me to act according to my own judgment." + </p> + <p> + "Mickle better not," answered Richie—"mickle better not; we are a' + frail creatures, and can judge better for ilk ither than in our ain cases. + And for me, even myself, saving that case of the Sifflication, which might + have happened to ony one, I have always observed myself to be much more + prudential in what I have done in your lordship's behalf, than even in + what I have been able to transact for my own interest—whilk last, I + have, indeed, always postponed, as in duty I ought." + </p> + <p> + "I do believe thou hast," said Lord Nigel, "having ever found thee true + and faithful. And since London pleases you so little, I will bid you a + short farewell; and you may go down to Edinburgh until I come thither + myself, when I trust you will re-enter into my service." + </p> + <p> + "Now, Heaven bless you, my lord," said Richie Moniplies, with uplifted + eyes; "for that word sounds more like grace than ony has come out of your + mouth this fortnight.—I give you godd'en, my lord." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he thrust forth his immense bony hand, seized on that of Lord + Glenvarloch, raised it to his lips, then turned short on his heel, and + left the room hastily, as if afraid of showing more emotion than was + consistent with his ideas of decorum. Lord Nigel, rather surprised at his + sudden exit, called after him to know whether he was sufficiently provided + with money; but Richie, shaking his head, without making any other answer, + ran hastily down stairs, shut the street-door heavily behind him, and was + presently seen striding along the Strand. + </p> + <p> + His master almost involuntarily watched and distinguished the tall + raw-boned figure of his late follower, from the window, for some time, + until he was lost among the crowd of passengers. Nigel's reflections were + not altogether those of self-approval. It was no good sign of his course + of life, (he could not help acknowledging this much to himself,) that so + faithful an adherent no longer seemed to feel the same pride in his + service, or attachment to his person, which he had formerly manifested. + Neither could he avoid experiencing some twinges of conscience, while he + felt in some degree the charges which Richie had preferred against him, + and experienced a sense of shame and mortification, arising from the + colour given by others to that, which he himself would have called his + caution and moderation in play. He had only the apology, that it had never + occurred to himself in this light. + </p> + <p> + Then his pride and self-love suggested, that, on the other hand, Richie, + with all his good intentions, was little better than a conceited, + pragmatical domestic, who seemed disposed rather to play the tutor than + the lackey, and who, out of sheer love, as he alleged, to his master's + person, assumed the privilege of interfering with, and controlling, his + actions, besides rendering him ridiculous in the gay world, from the + antiquated formality, and intrusive presumption, of his manners. + </p> + <p> + Nigel's eyes were scarce turned from the window, when his new landlord + entering, presented to him a slip of paper, carefully bound round with a + string of flox-silk and sealed—-it had been given in, he said, by a + woman, who did not stop an instant. The contents harped upon the same + string which Richie Moniplies had already jarred. The epistle was in the + following words: + </p> + <p> + For the Right Honourable hands of Lord Glenvarloch, "These, from a friend + unknown:— + </p> + <p> + "MY LORD, + </p> + <p> + "You are trusting to an unhonest friend, and diminishing an honest + reputation. An unknown but real friend of your lordship will speak in one + word what you would not learn from flatterers in so many days, as should + suffice for your utter ruin. He whom you think most true—I say your + friend Lord Dalgarno—is utterly false to you, and doth but seek, + under pretence of friendship, to mar your fortune, and diminish the good + name by which you might mend it. The kind countenance which he shows to + you, is more dangerous than the Prince's frown; even as to gain at + Beaujeu's ordinary is more discreditable than to lose. Beware of both.—And + this is all from your true but nameless friend, IGNOTO." + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch paused for an instant, and crushed the paper together—then + again unfolded and read it with attention—bent his brows—mused + for a moment, and then tearing it to fragments, exclaimed—"Begone + for a vile calumny! But I will watch—I will observe—" + </p> + <p> + Thought after thought rushed on him; but, upon the whole, Lord Glenvarloch + was so little satisfied with the result of his own reflections, that he + resolved to dissipate them by a walk in the Park, and, taking his cloak + and beaver, went thither accordingly. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Twas when fleet Snowball's head was woxen grey, + A luckless lev'ret met him on his way.— + Who knows not Snowball—he, whose race renown'd + Is still victorious on each coursing ground? + Swaffhanm Newmarket, and the Roman Camp, + Have seen them victors o'er each meaner stamp— + In vain the youngling sought, with doubling wile, + The hedge, the hill, the thicket, or the stile. + Experience sage the lack of speed supplied, + And in the gap he sought, the victim died. + So was I once, in thy fair street, Saint James, + Through walking cavaliers, and car-borne dames, + Descried, pursued, turn'd o'er again, and o'er, + Coursed, coted, mouth'd by an unfeeling bore. + &c. &c. &c, +</pre> + <p> + The Park of Saint James's, though enlarged, planted with verdant alleys, + and otherwise decorated by Charles II., existed in the days of his + grandfather, as a public and pleasant promenade; and, for the sake of + exercise or pastime, was much frequented by the better classes. + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch repaired thither to dispel the unpleasant reflections + which had been suggested by his parting with his trusty squire, Richie + Moniplies, in a manner which was agreeable neither to his pride nor his + feelings; and by the corroboration which the hints of his late attendant + had received from the anonymous letter mentioned in the end of the last + chapter. + </p> + <p> + There was a considerable number of company in the Park when he entered it, + but, his present state of mind inducing him to avoid society, he kept + aloof from the more frequented walks towards Westminster and Whitehall, + and drew to the north, or, as we should now say, the Piccadilly verge of + the enclosure, believing he might there enjoy, or rather combat, his own + thoughts unmolested. + </p> + <p> + In this, however, Lord Glenvarloch was mistaken; for, as he strolled + slowly along with his arms folded in his cloak, and his hat drawn over his + eyes, he was suddenly pounced upon by Sir Mungo Malagrowther, who, either + shunning or shunned, had retreated, or had been obliged to retreat, to the + same less frequented corner of the Park. + </p> + <p> + Nigel started when he heard the high, sharp, and querulous tones of the + knight's cracked voice, and was no less alarmed when he beheld his tall + thin figure hobbling towards him, wrapped in a thread-bare cloak, on whose + surface ten thousand varied stains eclipsed the original scarlet, and + having his head surmounted with a well-worn beaver, bearing a black velvet + band for a chain, and a capon's feather for an ostrich plume. + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch would fain have made his escape, but, as our motto + intimates, a leveret had as little chance to free herself of an + experienced greyhound. Sir Mungo, to continue the simile, had long ago + learned to run cunning, and make sure of mouthing his game. So Nigel found + himself compelled to stand and answer the hackneyed question—"What + news to-day?" + </p> + <p> + "Nothing extraordinary, I believe," answered the young nobleman, + attempting to pass on. + </p> + <p> + "O, ye are ganging to the French ordinary belive," replied the knight; + "but it is early day yet—we will take a turn in the Park in the + meanwhile—it will sharpen your appetite." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he quietly slipped his arm under Lord Glenvarloch's, in spite + of all the decent reluctance which his victim could exhibit, by keeping + his elbow close to his side; and having fairly grappled the prize, he + proceeded to take it in tow. + </p> + <p> + Nigel was sullen and silent, in hopes to shake off his unpleasant + companion; but Sir Mungo was determined, that if he did not speak, he + should at least hear. + </p> + <p> + "Ye are bound for the ordinary, my lord?" said the cynic;—"weel, ye + canna do better—there is choice company there, and peculiarly + selected, as I am tauld, being, dootless, sic as it is desirable that + young noblemen should herd withal—and your noble father wad have + been blithe to see you keeping such worshipful society." + </p> + <p> + "I believe," said Lord Glenvarloch, thinking himself obliged to say + something, "that the society is as good as generally can be found in such + places, where the door can scarcely be shut against those who come to + spend their money." + </p> + <p> + "Right, my lord—vera right," said his tormentor, bursting out into a + chuckling, but most discordant laugh. "These citizen chuffs and clowns + will press in amongst us, when there is but an inch of a door open. And + what remedy?—Just e'en this, that as their cash gies them + confidence, we should strip them of it. Flay them, my lord—singe + them as the kitchen wench does the rats, and then they winna long to come + back again.—Ay, ay—pluck them, plume them—and then the + larded capons will not be for flying so high a wing, my lord, among the + goss-hawks and sparrow-hawks, and the like." + </p> + <p> + And, therewithal, Sir Mungo fixed on Nigel his quick, sharp, grey eye, + watching the effect of his sarcasm as keenly as the surgeon, in a delicate + operation, remarks the progress of his anatomical scalpel. + </p> + <p> + Nigel, however willing to conceal his sensations, could not avoid + gratifying his tormentor by wincing under the operation. He coloured with + vexation and anger; but a quarrel with Sir Mungo Malagrowther would, he + felt, be unutterably ridiculous; and he only muttered to himself the + words, "Impertinent coxcomb!" which, on this occasion, Sir Mungo's + imperfection of organ did not prevent him from hearing and replying to. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay—vera true," exclaimed the caustic old courtier—"Impertinent + coxcombs they are, that thus intrude themselves on the society of their + betters; but your lordship kens how to gar them as gude—ye have the + trick on't.—They had a braw sport in the presence last Friday, how + ye suld have routed a young shopkeeper, horse and foot, ta'en his <i>spolia + ofima</i>, and a' the specie he had about him, down to the very silver + buttons of his cloak, and sent him to graze with Nebuchadnezzar, King of + Babylon. Muckle honour redounded to your lordship thereby.—We were + tauld the loon threw himsell into the Thames in a fit of desperation. + There's enow of them behind—there was mair tint on Flodden-edge." + </p> + <p> + "You have been told a budget of lies, so far as I am concerned, Sir + Mungo," said Nigel, speaking loud and sternly. + </p> + <p> + "Vera likely—vera likely," said the unabashed and undismayed Sir + Mungo; "naething but lies are current in the circle.—So the chield + is not drowned, then?—the mair's the pity.—But I never + believed that part of the story—a London dealer has mair wit in his + anger. I dare swear the lad has a bonny broom-shank in his hand by this + time, and is scrubbing the kennels in quest after rusty nails, to help him + to begin his pack again.—He has three bairns, they say; they will + help him bravely to grope in the gutters. Your good lordship may have the + ruining of him again, my lord, if they have any luck in strand-scouring." + </p> + <p> + "This is more than intolerable," said Nigel, uncertain whether to make an + angry vindication of his character, or to fling the old tormentor from his + arm. But an instant's recollection convinced him, that, to do either, + would only give an air of truth and consistency to the scandals which he + began to see were affecting his character, both in the higher and lower + circles. Hastily, therefore, he formed the wiser resolution, to endure Sir + Mungo's studied impertinence, under the hope of ascertaining, if possible, + from what source those reports arose which were so prejudicial to his + reputation. + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo, in the meanwhile, caught up, as usual, Nigel's last words, or + rather the sound of them, and amplified and interpreted them in his own + way. "Tolerable luck!" he repeated; "yes, truly, my lord, I am told that + you have tolerable luck, and that ye ken weel how to use that jilting + quean, Dame Fortune, like a canny douce lad, willing to warm yourself in + her smiles, without exposing yourself to her frowns. And that is what I + ca' having luck in a bag." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Mungo Malagrowther," said Lord Glenvarloch, turning towards him + seriously, "have the goodness to hear me for a moment." + </p> + <p> + "As weel as I can, my lord—as weel as I can," said Sir Mungo, + shaking his head, and pointing the finger of his left hand to his ear. + </p> + <p> + "I will try to speak very distinctly," said Nigel, arming himself with + patience. "You take me for a noted gamester; I give you my word that you + have not been rightly informed—I am none such. You owe me some + explanation, at least, respecting the source from which you have derived + such false information." + </p> + <p> + "I never heard ye were a <i>great</i> gamester, and never thought or said + ye were such, my lord," said Sir Mungo, who found it impossible to avoid + hearing what Nigel said with peculiarly deliberate and distinct + pronunciation. "I repeat it—I never heard, said, or thought that you + were a ruffling gamester,—such as they call those of the first head.—Look + you, my lord, I call <i>him</i> a gamester, that plays with equal stakes + and equal skill, and stands by the fortune of the game, good or bad; and I + call <i>him</i> a ruffling gamester, or ane of the first head, who + ventures frankly and deeply upon such a wager. But he, my lord, who has + the patience and prudence never to venture beyond small game, such as, at + most, might crack the Christmas-box of a grocer's 'prentice, who vies with + those that have little to hazard, and who therefore, having the larger + stock, can always rook them by waiting for his good fortune, and by rising + from the game when luck leaves him—such a one as he, my lord, I do + not call a <i>great</i> gamester, to whatever other name he may be + entitled." + </p> + <p> + "And such a mean-spirited, sordid wretch, you would infer that I am," + replied Lord Glenvarloch; "one who fears the skilful, and preys upon the + ignorant—who avoids playing with his equals, that he may make sure + of pillaging his inferiors?—Is this what I am to understand has been + reported of me?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay, my lord, you will gain nought by speaking big with me," said Sir + Mungo, who, besides that his sarcastic humour was really supported by a + good fund of animal courage, had also full reliance on the immunities + which he had derived from the broadsword of Sir Rullion Rattray, and the + baton of the satellites employed by the Lady Cockpen. "And for the truth + of the matter," he continued, "your lordship best knows whether you ever + lost more than five pieces at a time since you frequented Beaujeu's—whether + you have not most commonly risen a winner—and whether the brave + young gallants who frequent the ordinary—I mean those of noble rank, + and means conforming—are in use to play upon those terms?" + </p> + <p> + "My father was right," said Lord Glenvarloch, in the bitterness of his + spirit; "and his curse justly followed me when I first entered that place. + There is contamination in the air, and he whose fortune avoids ruin, shall + be blighted in his honour and reputation." + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo, who watched his victim with the delighted yet wary eye of an + experienced angler, became now aware, that if he strained the line on him + too tightly, there was every risk of his breaking hold. In order to give + him room, therefore, to play, he protested that Lord Glenvarloch "should + not take his free speech <i>in malam partem</i>. If you were a trifle ower + sicker in your amusement, my lord, it canna be denied that it is the + safest course to prevent farther endangerment of your somewhat dilapidated + fortunes; and if ye play with your inferiors, ye are relieved of the pain + of pouching the siller of your friends and equals; forby, that the + plebeian knaves have had the advantage, <i>tecum certasse</i>, as Ajax + Telamon sayeth, <i>apud Metamorphoseos</i>; and for the like of them to + have played with ane Scottish nobleman is an honest and honourable + consideration to compensate the loss of their stake, whilk, I dare say, + moreover, maist of the churls can weel afford." + </p> + <p> + "Be that as it may, Sir Mungo," said Nigel, "I would fain know—" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay," interrupted Sir Mungo; "and, as you say, who cares whether the + fat bulls of Bashan can spare it or no? gentlemen are not to limit their + sport for the like of them." + </p> + <p> + "I wish to know, Sir Mungo," said Lord Glenvarloch, "in what company you + have learned these offensive particulars respecting me?" + </p> + <p> + "Dootless—dootless, my lord," said Sir Mungo; "I have ever heard, + and have ever reported, that your lordship kept the best of company in a + private way.—There is the fine Countess of Blackchester, but I think + she stirs not much abroad since her affair with his Grace of Buckingham; + and there is the gude auld-fashioned Scottish nobleman, Lord Huntinglen, + an undeniable man of quality—it is pity but he could keep caup and + can frae his head, whilk now and then doth'minish his reputation. And + there is the gay young Lord Dalgarno, that carries the craft of gray hairs + under his curled love-locks—a fair race they are, father, daughter, + and son, all of the same honourable family. I think we needna speak of + George Heriot, honest man, when we have nobility in question. So that is + the company I have heard of your keeping, my lord, out-taken those of the + ordinary." + </p> + <p> + "My company has not, indeed, been much more extended than amongst those + you mention," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but in short—" + </p> + <p> + "To Court?" said Sir Mungo, "that was just what I was going to say—Lord + Dalgarno says he cannot prevail on ye to come to Court, and that does ye + prejudice, my lord—the king hears of you by others, when he should + see you in person—I speak in serious friendship, my lord. His + Majesty, when you were named in the circle short while since, was heard to + say, <i>'Jacta est alea!</i>—Glenvarlochides is turned dicer and + drinker.'—My Lord Dalgarno took your part, and he was e'en borne + down by the popular voice of the courtiers, who spoke of you as one who + had betaken yourself to living a town life, and risking your baron's + coronet amongst the flatcaps of the city." + </p> + <p> + "And this was publicly spoken of me," said Nigel, "and in the king's + presence?" + </p> + <p> + "Spoken openly?" repeated Sir Mungo Malagrowther; "ay, by my troth was it—that + is to say, it was whispered privately—whilk is as open promulgation + as the thing permitted; for ye may think the Court is not like a place + where men are as sib as Simmie and his brother, and roar out their minds + as if they were at an ordinary." + </p> + <p> + "A curse on the Court and the ordinary both!" cried Nigel, impatiently. + </p> + <p> + "With all my heart," said the knight; "I have got little by a knight's + service in the Court; and the last time I was at the ordinary, I lost four + angels." + </p> + <p> + "May I pray of you, Sir Mungo, to let me know," said Nigel, "the names of + those who thus make free with the character of one who can be but little + known to them, and who never injured any of them?" + </p> + <p> + "Have I not told you already," answered Sir Mungo, "that the king said + something to that effect—so did the Prince too;—and such being + the case, ye may take it on your corporal oath, that every man in the + circle who was not silent, sung the same song as they did." + </p> + <p> + "You said but now," replied Glenvarloch, "that Lord Dalgarno interfered in + my behalf." + </p> + <p> + "In good troth did he," answered Sir Mungo, with a sneer; "but the young + nobleman was soon borne down—by token, he had something of a + catarrh, and spoke as hoarse as a roopit raven. Poor gentleman, if he had + had his full extent of voice, he would have been as well listened to, + dootless, as in a cause of his ain, whilk no man kens better how to plead + to purpose.—And let me ask you, by the way," continued Sir Mungo, + "whether Lord Dalgarno has ever introduced your lordship to the Prince, or + the Duke of Buckingham, either of whom might soon carry through your + suit?" + </p> + <p> + "I have no claim on the favour of either the Prince or the Duke of + Buckingham," said Lord Glenvarloch.—"As you seem to have made my + affairs your study, Sir Mungo, although perhaps something unnecessarily, + you may have heard that I have petitioned my Sovereign for payment of a + debt due to my family. I cannot doubt the king's desire to do justice, nor + can I in decency employ the solicitation of his Highness the Prince, or + his Grace the Duke of Buckingham, to obtain from his Majesty what either + should be granted me as a right, or refused altogether." + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo twisted his whimsical features into one of his most grotesque + sneers, as he replied— + </p> + <p> + "It is a vera clear and parspicuous position of the case, my lord; and in + relying thereupon, you show an absolute and unimprovable acquaintance with + the King, Court, and mankind in general.-But whom have we got here?—Stand + up, my lord, and make way—by my word of honour, they are the very + men we spoke of—talk of the devil, and—humph!" + </p> + <p> + It must be here premised, that, during the conversation, Lord Glenvarloch, + perhaps in the hope of shaking himself free of Sir Mungo, had directed + their walk towards the more frequented part of the Park; while the good + knight had stuck to him, being totally indifferent which way they went, + provided he could keep his talons clutched upon his companion. They were + still, however, at some distance from the livelier part of the scene, when + Sir Mungo's experienced eye noticed the appearances which occasioned the + latter part of his speech to Lord Glenvarloch. A low respectful murmur + arose among the numerous groups of persons which occupied the lower part + of the Park. They first clustered together, with their faces turned + towards Whitehall, then fell back on either hand to give place to a + splendid party of gallants, who, advancing from the Palace, came onward + through the Park; all the other company drawing off the pathway, and + standing uncovered as they passed. + </p> + <p> + Most of these courtly gallants were dressed in the garb which the pencil + of Vandyke has made familiar even at the distance of nearly two centuries; + and which was just at this period beginning to supersede the more + fluttering and frivolous dress which had been adopted from the French + Court of Henri Quatre. + </p> +<div class="fig" style="width:65%;"> + <img src="images/0702m.jpg" alt="0702m " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/0702.jpg"><i>Original</i></a> + </h5> + <p> + The whole train were uncovered excepting the Prince of Wales, afterwards + the most unfortunate of British monarchs, who came onward, having his long + curled auburn tresses, and his countenance, which, even in early youth, + bore a shade of anticipated melancholy, shaded by the Spanish hat and the + single ostrich feather which drooped from it. On his right hand was + Buckingham, whose commanding, and at the same time graceful, deportment, + threw almost into shade the personal demeanour and majesty of the Prince + on whom he attended. The eye, movements, and gestures of the great + courtier were so composed, so regularly observant of all etiquette + belonging to his situation, as to form a marked and strong contrast with + the forward gaiety and frivolity by which he recommended himself to the + favour of his "dear dad and gossip," King James. A singular fate attended + this accomplished courtier, in being at once the reigning favourite of a + father and son so very opposite in manners, that, to ingratiate himself + with the youthful Prince, he was obliged to compress within the strictest + limits of respectful observance the frolicsome and free humour which + captivated his aged father. + </p> + <p> + It is true, Buckingham well knew the different dispositions both of James + and Charles, and had no difficulty in so conducting himself as to maintain + the highest post in the favour of both. It has indeed been supposed, as we + before hinted, that the duke, when he had completely possessed himself of + the affections of Charles, retained his hold in those of the father only + by the tyranny of custom; and that James, could he have brought himself to + form a vigorous resolution, was, in the latter years of his life + especially, not unlikely to have discarded Buckingham from his counsels + and favour. But if ever the king indeed meditated such a change, he was + too timid, and too much accustomed to the influence which the duke had + long exercised over him, to summon up resolution enough for effecting such + a purpose; and at all events it is certain, that Buckingham, though + surviving the master by whom he was raised, had the rare chance to + experience no wane of the most splendid court-favour during two reigns, + until it was at once eclipsed in his blood by the dagger of his assassin + Felton. + </p> + <p> + To return from this digression: The Prince, with his train, advanced, and + were near the place where Lord Glenvarloch and Sir Mungo had stood aside, + according to form, in order to give the Prince passage, and to pay the + usual marks of respect. Nigel could now remark that Lord Dalgarno walked + close behind the Duke of Buckingham, and, as he thought, whispered + something in his ear as they came onward. At any rate, both the Prince's + and Duke of Buckingham's attention seemed to be directed by such + circumstance towards Nigel, for they turned their heads in that direction + and looked at him attentively—the Prince with a countenance, the + grave, melancholy expression of which was blended with severity; while + Buckingham's looks evinced some degree of scornful triumph. Lord Dalgarno + did not seem to observe his friend, perhaps because the sunbeams fell from + the side of the walk on which Nigel stood, obliging Malcolm to hold up his + hat to screen his eyes. + </p> + <p> + As the Prince passed, Lord Glenvarloch and Sir Mungo bowed, as respect + required; and the Prince, returning their obeisance with that grave + ceremony which paid to every rank its due, but not a tittle beyond it, + signed to Sir Mungo to come forward. Commencing an apology for his + lameness as he started, which he had just completed as his hobbling gait + brought him up to the Prince, Sir Mungo lent an attentive, and, as it + seemed, an intelligent ear, to questions, asked in a tone so low, that the + knight would certainly have been deaf to them had they been put to him by + any one under the rank of Prince of Wales. After about a minute's + conversation, the Prince bestowed on Nigel the embarrassing notice of + another fixed look, touched his hat slightly to Sir Mungo, and walked on. + </p> + <p> + "It is even as I suspected, my lord," said Sir Mungo, with an air which he + designed to be melancholy and sympathetic, but which, in fact, resembled + the grin of an ape when he has mouthed a scalding chestnut—"Ye have + back-friends, my lord, that is, unfriends—or, to be plain, enemies—about + the person of the Prince." + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to hear it," said Nigel; "but I would I knew what they accuse + me of." + </p> + <p> + "Ye shall hear, my lord," said Sir Mungo, "the Prince's vera words—'Sir + Mungo,' said he, 'I rejoice to see you, and am glad your rheumatic + troubles permit you to come hither for exercise.'—I bowed, as in + duty bound—ye might remark, my lord, that I did so, whilk formed the + first branch of our conversation.—His Highness then demanded of me, + 'if he with whom I stood, was the young Lord Glenvarloch.' I answered, + 'that you were such, for his Highness's service;' whilk was the second + branch.—Thirdly, his Highness, resuming the argument, said, that + 'truly he had been told so,' (meaning that he had been told you were that + personage,) 'but that he could not believe, that the heir of that noble + and decayed house could be leading an idle, scandalous, and precarious + life, in the eating-houses and taverns of London, while the king's drums + were beating, and colours flying in Germany in the cause of the Palatine, + his son-in-law.'—I could, your lordship is aware, do nothing but + make an obeisance; and a gracious 'Give ye good-day, Sir Mungo + Malagrowther,' licensed me to fall back to your lordship. And now, my + lord, if your business or pleasure calls you to the ordinary, or anywhere + in the direction of the city—why, have with you; for, dootless, ye + will think ye have tarried lang enough in the Park, as they will likely + turn at the head of the walk, and return this way—and you have a + broad hint, I think, not to cross the Prince's presence in a hurry." + </p> + <p> + "<i>You</i> may stay or go as you please, Sir Mungo," said Nigel, with an + expression of calm, but deep resentment; "but, for my own part, my + resolution is taken. I will quit this public walk for pleasure of no man—still + less will I quit it like one unworthy to be seen in places of public + resort. I trust that the Prince and his retinue will return this way as + you expect; for I will abide, Sir Mungo, and beard them." + </p> + <p> + "Beard them!" exclaimed Sir Mungo, in the extremity of surprise,—"Beard + the Prince of Wales—the heir-apparent of the kingdoms!—By my + saul, you shall beard him yourself then." + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, he was about to leave Nigel very hastily, when some unwonted + touch of good-natured interest in his youth and experience, seemed + suddenly to soften his habitual cynicism. + </p> + <p> + "The devil is in me for an auld fule!" said Sir Mungo; "but I must needs + concern mysell—I that owe so little either to fortune or my + fellow-creatures, must, I say, needs concern mysell—with this + springald, whom I will warrant to be as obstinate as a pig possessed with + a devil, for it's the cast of his family; and yet I maun e'en fling away + some sound advice on him.—My dainty young Lord Glenvarloch, + understand me distinctly, for this is no bairn's-play. When the Prince + said sae much to me as I have repeated to you, it was equivalent to a + command not to appear in his presence; wherefore take an auld man's advice + that wishes you weel, and maybe a wee thing better than he has reason to + wish ony body. Jouk, and let the jaw gae by, like a canny bairn—gang + hame to your lodgings, keep your foot frae taverns, and your fingers frae + the dice-box; compound your affairs quietly wi' some ane that has better + favour than yours about Court, and you will get a round spell of money to + carry you to Germany, or elsewhere, to push your fortune. It was a + fortunate soldier that made your family four or five hundred years syne, + and, if you are brave and fortunate, you may find the way to repair it. + But, take my word for it, that in this Court you will never thrive." + </p> + <p> + When Sir Mungo had completed his exhortation, in which there was more of + sincere sympathy with another's situation, than he had been heretofore + known to express in behalf of any one, Lord Glenvarloch replied, "I am + obliged to you, Sir Mungo—you have spoken, I think, with sincerity, + and I thank you. But in return for your good advice, I heartily entreat + you to leave me; I observe the Prince and his train are returning down the + walk, and you may prejudice yourself, but cannot help me, by remaining + with me." + </p> + <p> + "And that is true,"—said Sir Mungo; "yet, were I ten years younger, + I would be tempted to stand by you, and gie them the meeting. But at + threescore and upward, men's courage turns cauldrife; and they that canna + win a living, must not endanger the small sustenance of their age. I wish + you weel through, my lord, but it is an unequal fight." So saying, he + turned and limped away; often looking back, however, as if his natural + spirit, even in its present subdued state, aided by his love of + contradiction and of debate, rendered him unwilling to adopt the course + necessary for his own security. + </p> + <p> + Thus abandoned by his companion, whose departure he graced with better + thoughts of him than those which he bestowed on his appearance, Nigel + remained with his arms folded, and reclining against a solitary tree which + overhung the path, making up his mind to encounter a moment which he + expected to be critical of his fate. But he was mistaken in supposing that + the Prince of Wales would either address him, or admit him to + expostulation, in such a public place as the Park. He did not remain + unnoticed, however, for, when he made a respectful but haughty obeisance, + intimating in look and manner that he was possessed of, and undaunted by, + the unfavourable opinion which the Prince had so lately expressed, Charles + returned his reverence with such a frown, as is only given by those whose + frown is authority and decision. The train passed on, the Duke of + Buckingham not even appearing to see Lord Glenvarloch; while Lord + Dalgarno, though no longer incommoded by the sunbeams, kept his eyes, + which had perhaps been dazzled by their former splendour, bent upon the + ground. + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch had difficulty to restrain an indignation, to which, in + the circumstances, it would have been madness to have given vent. He + started from his reclining posture, and followed the Prince's train so as + to keep them distinctly in sight; which was very easy, as they walked + slowly. Nigel observed them keep their road towards the Palace, where the + Prince turned at the gate and bowed to the noblemen in attendance, in + token of dismissing them, and entered the Palace, accompanied only by the + Duke of Buckingham, and one or two of his equerries. The rest of the + train, having returned in all dutiful humility the farewell of the Prince, + began to disperse themselves through the Park. + </p> + <p> + All this was carefully noticed by Lord Glenvarloch, who, as he adjusted + his cloak, and drew his sword-belt round so as to bring the hilt closer to + his hand, muttered—"Dalgarno shall explain all this to me, for it is + evident that he is in the secret!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Give way—give way—I must and will have justice. + And tell me not of privilege and place; + Where I am injured, there I'll sue redress. + Look to it, every one who bars my access; + I have a heart to feel the injury, + A hand to night myself, and, by my honour, + That hand shall grasp what grey-beard Law denies me. + <i>The Chamberlain.</i> +</pre> + <p> + It was not long ere Nigel discovered Lord Dalgarno advancing towards him + in the company of another young man of quality of the Prince's train; and + as they directed their course towards the south-eastern corner of the + Park, he concluded they were about to go to Lord Huntinglen's. They + stopped, however, and turned up another path leading to the north; and + Lord Glenvarloch conceived that this change of direction was owing to + their having seen him, and their desire to avoid him. + </p> + <p> + Nigel followed them without hesitation by a path which, winding around a + thicket of shrubs and trees, once more conducted him to the less + frequented part of the Park. He observed which side of the thicket was + taken by Lord Dalgarno and his companion, and he himself, walking hastily + round the other verge, was thus enabled to meet them face to face. + </p> + <p> + "Good-morrow, my Lord Dalgarno," said Lord Glenvarloch, sternly. + </p> + <p> + "Ha! my friend Nigel," answered Lord Dalgarno, in his usual careless and + indifferent tone, "my friend Nigel, with business on his brow?—but + you must wait till we meet at Beaujeu's at noon—Sir Ewes Haldimund + and I are at present engaged in the Prince's service." + </p> + <p> + "If you were engaged in the king's, my lord," said Lord Glenvarloch, "you + must stand and answer me." + </p> + <p> + "Hey-day!" said Lord Dalgarno, with an air of great astonishment, "what + passion is this? Why, Nigel, this is King Cambyses' vein!—You have + frequented the theatres too much lately—Away with this folly, man; + go, dine upon soup and salad, drink succory-water to cool your blood, go + to bed at sun-down, and defy those foul fiends, Wrath and + Misconstruction." + </p> + <p> + "I have had misconstruction enough among you," said Glenvarloch, in the + same tone of determined displeasure, "and from you, my Lord Dalgarno, in + particular, and all under the mask of friendship." + </p> + <p> + "Here is a proper business!"—said Dalgarno, turning as if to appeal + to Sir Ewes Haldimund; "do you see this angry ruffler, Sir Ewes? A month + since, he dared not have looked one of yonder sheep in the face, and now + he is a prince of roisterers, a plucker of pigeons, a controller of + players and poets—and in gratitude for my having shown him the way + to the eminent character which he holds upon town, he comes hither to + quarrel with his best friend, if not his only one of decent station." + </p> + <p> + "I renounce such hollow friendship, my lord," said Lord Glenvarloch; "I + disclaim the character which, even to my very face, you labour to fix upon + me, and ere we part I will call you to a reckoning for it." + </p> + <p> + "My lords both," interrupted Sir Ewes Haldimund, "let me remind you that + the Royal Park is no place to quarrel in." + </p> + <p> + "I will make my quarrel good," said Nigel, who did not know, or in his + passion might not have recollected, the privileges of the place, "wherever + I find my enemy." + </p> + <p> + "You shall find quarelling enough," replied Lord Dalgarno, calmly, "so + soon as you assign a sufficient cause for it. Sir Ewes Haldimund, who + knows the Court, will warrant you that I am not backward on such + occasions.—But of what is it that you now complain, after having + experienced nothing save kindness from me and my family?" + </p> + <p> + "Of your family I complain not," replied Lord Glenvarloch; "they have done + for me all they could, more, far more, than I could have expected; but + you, my lord, have suffered me, while you called me your friend, to be + traduced, where a word of your mouth would have placed my character in its + true colours—and hence the injurious message which I just now + received from the Prince of Wales. To permit the misrepresentation of a + friend, my lord, is to share in the slander." + </p> + <p> + "You have been misinformed, my Lord Glenvarloch," said Sir Ewes Haldimund; + "I have myself often heard Lord Dalgarno defend your character, and regret + that your exclusive attachment to the pleasures of a London life prevented + your paying your duty regularly to the King and Prince." + </p> + <p> + "While he himself," said Lord Glenvarloch, "dissuaded me from presenting + myself at Court." + </p> + <p> + "I will cut this matter short," said Lord Dalgarno, with haughty coldness. + "You seem to have conceived, my lord, that you and I were Pylades and + Orestes—a second edition of Damon and Pythias—Theseus and + Pirithoiis at the least. You are mistaken, and have given the name of + friendship to what, on my part, was mere good-nature and compassion for a + raw and ignorant countryman, joined to the cumbersome charge which my + father gave me respecting you. Your character, my lord, is of no one's + drawing, but of your own making. I introduced you where, as in all such + places, there was good and indifferent company to be met with—your + habits, or taste, made you prefer the worse. Your holy horror at the sight + of dice and cards degenerated into the cautious resolution to play only at + those times, and with such persons, as might ensure your rising a winner—no + man can long do so, and continue to be held a gentleman. Such is the + reputation you have made for yourself, and you have no right to be angry + that I do not contradict in society what yourself know to be true. Let us + pass on, my lord; and if you want further explanation, seek some other + time and fitter place." + </p> + <p> + "No time can be better than the present," said Lord Glenvarloch, whose + resentment was now excited to the uttermost by the cold-blooded and + insulting manner, in which Dalgarno vindicated himself,—"no place + fitter than the place where we now stand. Those of my house have ever + avenged insult, at the moment, and on the spot, where it was offered, were + it at the foot of the throne.—Lord Dalgarno, you are a villain! draw + and defend yourself." At the same moment he unsheathed his rapier. + </p> + <p> + "Are you mad?" said Lord Dalgarno, stepping back; "we are in the precincts + of the Court." + </p> + <p> + "The better," answered Lord Glenvarloch; "I will cleanse them from a + calumniator and a coward." He then pressed on Lord Dalgarno, and struck + him with the flat of the sword. + </p> + <p> + The fray had now attracted attention, and the cry went round, "Keep the + peace—keep the peace—swords drawn in the Park!—What, ho! + guards!—keepers—yeomen—rangers!" and a number of people + came rushing to the spot from all sides. + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno, who had half drawn his sword on receiving the blow, + returned it to his scabbard when he observed the crowd thicken, and, + taking Sir Ewes Haldimund by the arm, walked hastily away, only saying to + Lord Glenvarloch as they left him, "You shall dearly abye this insult—we + will meet again." + </p> + <p> + A decent-looking elderly man, who observed that Lord Glenvarloch remained + on the spot, taking compassion on his youthful appearance, said to him, + "Are you aware that this is a Star-Chamber business, young gentleman, and + that it may cost you your right hand?—Shift for yourself before the + keepers or constables come up—Get into Whitefriars or somewhere, for + sanctuary and concealment, till you can make friends or quit the city." + </p> + <p> + The advice was not to be neglected. Lord Glenvarloch made hastily towards + the issue from the Park by Saint James's Palace, then Saint James's + Hospital. The hubbub increased behind him; and several peace-officers of + the Royal Household came up to apprehend the delinquent. Fortunately for + Nigel, a popular edition of the cause of the affray had gone abroad. It + was said that one of the Duke of Buckingham's companions had insulted a + stranger gentleman from the country, and that the stranger had cudgelled + him soundly. A favourite, or the companion of a favourite, is always + odious to John Bull, who has, besides, a partiality to those disputants + who proceed, as lawyers term it, <i>par wye du fait</i>, and both + prejudices were in Nigel's favour. The officers, therefore, who came to + apprehend him, could learn from the spectators no particulars of his + appearance, or information concerning the road he had taken; so that, for + the moment, he escaped being arrested. + </p> + <p> + What Lord Glenvarloch heard among the crowd as he passed along, was + sufficient to satisfy him, that in his impatient passion he had placed + himself in a predicament of considerable danger. He was no stranger to the + severe and arbitrary proceedings of the Court of Star-Chamber, especially + in cases of breach of privilege, which made it the terror of all men; and + it was no farther back than the Queen's time that the punishment of + mutilation had been actually awarded and executed, for some offence of the + same kind which he had just committed. He had also the comfortable + reflection, that, by his violent quarrel with Lord Dalgarno, he must now + forfeit the friendship and good offices of that nobleman's father and + sister, almost the only persons of consideration in whom he could claim + any interest; while all the evil reports which had been put in circulation + concerning his character, were certain to weigh heavily against him, in a + case where much must necessarily depend on the reputation of the accused. + To a youthful imagination, the idea of such a punishment as mutilation + seems more ghastly than death itself; and every word which he overheard + among the groups which he met, mingled with, or overtook and passed, + announced this as the penalty of his offence. He dreaded to increase his + pace for fear of attracting suspicion, and more than once saw the ranger's + officers so near him, that his wrist tingled as if already under the blade + of the dismembering knife. At length he got out of the Park, and had a + little more leisure to consider what he was next to do. + </p> + <p> + Whitefriars, adjacent to the Temple, then well known by the cant name of + Alsatia, had at this time, and for nearly a century afterwards, the + privilege of a sanctuary, unless against the writ of the Lord Chief + Justice, or of the Lords of the Privy-Council. Indeed, as the place + abounded with desperadoes of every description,—bankrupt citizens, + ruined gamesters, irreclaimable prodigals, desperate duellists, bravoes, + homicides, and debauched profligates of every description, all leagued + together to maintain the immunities of their asylum,—it was both + difficult and unsafe for the officers of the law to execute warrants + emanating even from the highest authority, amongst men whose safety was + inconsistent with warrants or authority of any kind. This Lord Glenvarloch + well knew; and odious as the place of refuge was, it seemed the only one + where, for a space at least, he might be concealed and secure from the + immediate grasp of the law, until he should have leisure to provide better + for his safety, or to get this unpleasant matter in some shape + accommodated. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, as Nigel walked hastily forward towards the place of sanctuary, + he bitterly blamed himself for suffering Lord Dalgarno to lead him into + the haunts of dissipation; and no less accused his intemperate heat of + passion, which now had driven him for refuge into the purlieus of profane + and avowed vice and debauchery. + </p> + <p> + "Dalgarno spoke but too truly in that," were his bitter reflections; "I + have made myself an evil reputation by acting on his insidious counsels, + and neglecting the wholesome admonitions which ought to have claimed + implicit obedience from me, and which recommended abstinence even from the + slightest approach of evil. But if I escape from the perilous labyrinth in + which folly and inexperience, as well as violent passions, have involved + me, I will find some noble way of redeeming the lustre of a name which was + never sullied until I bore it." + </p> + <p> + As Lord Glenvarloch formed these prudent resolutions, he entered the + Temple Walks, whence a gate at that time opened into Whitefriars, by + which, as by the more private passage, he proposed to betake himself to + the sanctuary. As he approached the entrance to that den of infamy, from + which his mind recoiled even while in the act of taking shelter there, his + pace slackened, while the steep and broken stairs reminded him of the <i>facilis</i> + descensus Averni, and rendered him doubtful whether it were not better to + brave the worst which could befall him in the public haunts of honourable + men, than to evade punishment by secluding himself in those of avowed vice + and profligacy. + </p> + <p> + As Nigel hesitated, a young gentleman of the Temple advanced towards him, + whom he had often seen, and sometimes conversed with, at the ordinary, + where he was a frequent and welcome guest, being a wild young gallant, + indifferently well provided with money, who spent at the theatres and + other gay places of public resort, the time which his father supposed he + was employing in the study of the law. But Reginald Lowestoffe, such was + the young Templar's name, was of opinion that little law was necessary to + enable him to spend the revenues of the paternal acres which were to + devolve upon him at his father's demose, and therefore gave himself no + trouble to acquire more of that science than might be imbibed along with + the learned air of the region in which he had his chambers. In other + respects, he was one of the wits of the place, read Ovid and Martial, + aimed at quick repartee and pun, (often very far fetched,) danced, fenced, + played at tennis, and performed sundry tunes on the fiddle and French + horn, to the great annoyance of old Counsellor Barratter, who lived in the + chambers immediately below him. Such was Reginald Lowes-toffe, shrewd, + alert, and well-acquainted with the town through all its recesses, but in + a sort of disrespectable way. This gallant, now approaching the Lord + Glenvarloch, saluted him by name and title, and asked if his lordship + designed for the Chevalier's this day, observing it was near noon, and the + woodcock would be on the board before they could reach the ordinary. + </p> + <p> + "I do not go there to-day," answered Lord Glenvarloch. "Which way, then, + my lord?" said the young Templar, who was perhaps not undesirous to parade + a part at least of the street in company with a lord, though but a + Scottish one. + </p> + <p> + "I—I—" said Nigel, desiring to avail himself of this young + man's local knowledge, yet unwilling and ashamed to acknowledge his + intention to take refuge in so disreputable a quarter, or to describe the + situation in which he stood—"I have some curiosity to see + Whitefriars." + </p> + <p> + "What! your lordship is for a frolic into Alsatia?" said Lowestoffe-"-Have + with you, my lord—you cannot have a better guide to the infernal + regions than myself. I promise you there are bona-robas to be found there—good + wine too, ay, and good fellows to drink it with, though somewhat suffering + under the frowns of Fortune. But your lordship will pardon me—you + are the last of our acquaintance to whom I would have proposed such a + voyage of discovery." + </p> + <p> + "I am obliged to you, Master Lowestoffe, for the good opinion you have + expressed in the observation," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but my present + circumstances may render even a residence of a day or two in the sanctuary + a matter of necessity." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed!" said Lowestoffe, in a tone of great surprise; "I thought your + lordship had always taken care not to risk any considerable stake—I + beg pardon, but if the bones have proved perfidious, I know just so much + law as that a peer's person is sacred from arrest; and for mere + impecuniosity, my lord, better shift can be made elsewhere than in + Whitefriars, where all are devouring each other for very poverty." + </p> + <p> + "My misfortune has no connexion with want of money," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Why, then, I suppose," said Lowestoffe, "you have been tilting, my lord, + and have pinked your man; in which case, and with a purse reasonably + furnished, you may lie perdu in Whitefriars for a twelvemonth—Marry, + but you must be entered and received as a member of their worshipful + society, my lord, and a frank burgher of Alsatia—so far you must + condescend; there will be neither peace nor safety for you else." + </p> + <p> + "My fault is not in a degree so deadly, Master Lowestoffe," answered Lord + Glenvarloch, "as you seem to conjecture—I have stricken a gentleman + in the Park, that is all." + </p> + <p> + "By my hand, my lord, and you had better have struck your sword through + him at Barns Elms," said the Templar. "Strike within the verge of the + Court! You will find that a weighty dependence upon your hands, especially + if your party be of rank and have favour." + </p> + <p> + "I will be plain with you, Master Lowestoffe," said Nigel, "since I have + gone thus far. The person I struck was Lord Dalgarno, whom you have seen + at Beaujeu's." + </p> + <p> + "A follower and favourite of the Duke of Buckingham!—It is a most + unhappy chance, my lord; but my heart was formed in England, and cannot + bear to see a young nobleman borne down, as you are like to be. We + converse here greatly too open for your circumstances. The Templars would + suffer no bailiff to execute a writ, and no gentleman to be arrested for a + duel, within their precincts; but in such a matter between Lord Dalgarno + and your lordship, there might be a party on either side. You must away + with me instantly to my poor chambers here, hard by, and undergo some + little change of dress, ere you take sanctuary; for else you will have the + whole rascal rout of the Friars about you, like crows upon a falcon that + strays into their rookery. We must have you arrayed something more like + the natives of Alsatia, or there will be no life there for you." + </p> + <p> + While Lowestoffe spoke, he pulled Lord Glenvarloch along with him into his + chambers, where he had a handsome library, filled with all the poems and + play-books which were then in fashion. The Templar then dispatched a boy, + who waited upon him, to procure a dish or two from the next cook's shop; + "and this," he said, "must be your lordship's dinner, with a glass of old + sack, of which my grandmother (the heavens requite her!) sent me a dozen + bottles, with charge to use the liquor only with clarified whey, when I + felt my breast ache with over study. Marry, we will drink the good lady's + health in it, if it is your lordship's pleasure, and you shall see how we + poor students eke out our mutton-commons in the hall." + </p> + <p> + The outward door of the chambers was barred so soon as the boy had + re-entered with the food; the boy was ordered to keep close watch, and + admit no one; and Lowestoffe, by example and precept, pressed his noble + guest to partake of his hospitality. His frank and forward manners, though + much differing from the courtly ease of Lord Dalgarno, were calculated to + make a favourable impression; and Lord Glenvarloch, though his experience + of Dalgarno's perfidy had taught him to be cautious of reposing faith in + friendly professions, could not avoid testifying his gratitude to the + young Templar, who seemed so anxious for his safety and accommodation. + </p> + <p> + "You may spare your gratitude any great sense of obligation, my lord," + said the Templar. "No doubt I am willing to be of use to any gentleman + that has cause to sing <i>Fortune my foe</i>, and particularly proud to + serve your lordship's turn; but I have also an old grudge, to speak + Heaven's truth, at your opposite, Lord Dalgarno." + </p> + <p> + "May I ask on what account, Master Lowestoffe?" said Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "O, my lord," replied the Templar, "it was for a hap that chanced after + you left the ordinary, one evening about three weeks since—at least + I think you were not by, as your lordship always left us before deep play + began—I mean no offence, but such was your lordship's custom—when + there were words between Lord Dalgarno and me concerning a certain game at + gleek, and a certain mournival of aces held by his lordship, which went + for eight—tib, which went for fifteen—twenty-three in all. Now + I held king and queen, being three—a natural towser, making fifteen—and + tiddy, nineteen. We vied the ruff, and revied, as your lordship may + suppose, till the stake was equal to half my yearly exhibition, fifty as + fair yellow canary birds as e'er chirped in the bottom of a green silk + purse. Well, my lord, I gained the cards, and lo you! it pleases his + lordship to say that we played without tiddy; and as the rest stood by and + backed him, and especially the sharking Frenchman, why, I was obliged to + lose more than I shall gain all the season.—So judge if I have not a + crow to pluck with his lordship. Was it ever heard there was a game at + gleek at the ordinary before, without counting tiddy?—marry quep + upon his lordship!—Every man who comes there with his purse in his + hand, is as free to make new laws as he, I hope, since touch pot touch + penny makes every man equal." + </p> + <p> + As Master Lowestoffe ran over this jargon of the gaming-table, Lord + Glenvarloch was both ashamed and mortified, and felt a severe pang of + aristocratic pride, when he concluded in the sweeping clause that the + dice, like the grave, levelled those distinguishing points of society, to + which Nigel's early prejudices clung perhaps but too fondly. It was + impossible, however, to object any thing to the learned reasoning of the + young Templar, and therefore Nigel was contented to turn the conversation, + by making some inquiries respecting the present state of White-friars. + There also his host was at home. + </p> + <p> + "You know, my lord," said Master Lowestoffe, "that we Templars are a power + and a dominion within ourselves, and I am proud to say that I hold some + rank in our republic—was treasurer to the Lord of Misrule last year, + and am at this present moment in nomination for that dignity myself. In + such circumstances, we are under the necessity of maintaining an amicable + intercourse with our neighbours of Alsatia, even as the Christian States + find themselves often, in mere policy, obliged to make alliance with the + Grand Turk, or the Barbary States." + </p> + <p> + "I should have imagined you gentlemen of the Temple more independent of + your neighbours," said Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "You do us something too much honour, my lord," said the Templar; "the + Alsatians and we have some common enemies, and we have, under the rose, + some common friends. We are in the use of blocking all bailiffs out of our + bounds, and we are powerfully aided by our neighbours, who tolerate not a + rag belonging to them within theirs. Moreover the Alsatians have—I + beg you to understand me—the power of protecting or distressing our + friends, male or female, who may be obliged to seek sanctuary within their + bounds. In short, the two communities serve each other, though the league + is between states of unequal quality, and I may myself say, that I have + treated of sundry weighty affairs, and have been a negotiator well + approved on both sides.—But hark—hark—what is that?" + </p> + <p> + The sound by which Master Lowestoffe was interrupted, was that of a + distant horn, winded loud and keenly, and followed by a faint and remote + huzza. + </p> + <p> + "There is something doing," said Lowestoffe, "in the Whitefriars at this + moment. That is the signal when their privileges are invaded by tipstaff + or bailiff; and at the blast of the horn they all swarm out to the rescue, + as bees when their hive is disturbed.—Jump, Jim," he said, calling + out to the attendant, "and see what they are doing in Alsatia.—That + bastard of a boy," he continued, as the lad, accustomed to the precipitate + haste of his master, tumbled rather than ran out of the apartment, and so + down stairs, "is worth gold in this quarter—he serves six masters—four + of them in distinct Numbers, and you would think him present like a fairy + at the mere wish of him that for the time most needs his attendance. No + scout in Oxford, no gip in Cambridge, ever matched him in speed and + intelligence. He knows the step of a dun from that of a client, when it + reaches the very bottom of the staircase; can tell the trip of a pretty + wench from the step of a bencher, when at the upper end of the court; and + is, take him all in all—But I see your lordship is anxious—May + I press another cup of my kind grandmother's cordial, or will you allow me + to show you my wardrobe, and act as your valet or groom of the chamber?" + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch hesitated not to acknowledge that he was painfully + sensible of his present situation, and anxious to do what must needs be + done for his extrication. + </p> + <p> + The good-natured and thoughtless young Templar readily acquiesced, and led + the way into his little bedroom, where, from bandboxes, portmanteaus, + mail-trunks, not forgetting an old walnut-tree wardrobe, he began to + select the articles which he thought best suited effectually to disguise + his guest in venturing into the lawless and turbulent society of Alsatia. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Come hither, young one,—Mark me! Thou art now + 'Mongst men o' the sword, that live by reputation + More than by constant income—Single-suited + They are, I grant you; yet each single suit + Maintains, on the rough guess, a thousand followers— + And they be men, who, hazarding their all, + Needful apparel, necessary income, + And human body, and immortal soul, + Do in the very deed but hazard nothing— So strictly is that ALL bound in reversion; + Clothes to the broker, income to the usurer, + And body to disease, and soul to the foul fiend; + Who laughs to see Soldadoes and Fooladoes, + Play better than himself his game on earth. + <i>The Mohocks.</i> +</pre> + <p> + "Your lordship," said Reginald Lowestoffe, "must be content to exchange + your decent and court-beseeming rapier, which I will retain in safe + keeping, for this broadsword, with an hundredweight of rusty iron about + the hilt, and to wear these huge-paned slops, instead of your civil and + moderate hose. We allow no cloak, for your ruffian always walks in <i>cuerpo</i>; + and the tarnished doublet of bald velvet, with its discoloured embroidery, + and—I grieve to speak it—a few stains from the blood of the + grape, will best suit the garb of a roaring boy. I will leave you to + change your suit for an instant, till I can help to truss you." + </p> + <p> + Lowestoffe retired, while slowly, and with hesitation, Nigel obeyed his + instructions. He felt displeasure and disgust at the scoundrelly disguise + which he was under the necessity of assuming; but when he considered the + bloody consequences which law attached to his rash act of violence, the + easy and indifferent temper of James, the prejudices of his son, the + overbearing influence of the Duke of Buckingham, which was sure to be + thrown into the scale against him; and, above all, when he reflected that + he must now look upon the active, assiduous, and insinuating Lord + Dalgarno, as a bitter enemy, reason told him he was in a situation of + peril which authorised all honest means, even the most unseemly in outward + appearance, to extricate himself from so dangerous a predicament. + </p> + <p> + While he was changing his dress, and musing on these particulars, his + friendly host re-entered the sleeping apartment—"Zounds!" he said, + "my lord, it was well you went not straight into that same Alsatia of ours + at the time you proposed, for the hawks have stooped upon it. Here is Jem + come back with tidings, that he saw a pursuivant there with a + privy-council warrant, and half a score of yeomen assistants, armed to the + teeth, and the horn which we heard was sounded to call out the posse of + the Friars. Indeed, when old Duke Hildebrod saw that the quest was after + some one of whom he knew nothing, he permitted, out of courtesy, the + man-catcher to search through his dominions, quite certain that they would + take little by their motions; for Duke Hildebrod is a most judicious + potentate.—Go back, you bastard, and bring us word when all is + quiet." + </p> + <p> + "And who may Duke Hildebrod be?" said Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "Nouns! my lord," said the Templar, "have you lived so long on the town, + and never heard of the valiant, and as wise and politic as valiant, Duke + Hildebrod, grand protector of the liberties of Alsatia? I thought the man + had never whirled a die but was familiar with his fame." + </p> + <p> + "Yet I have never heard of him, Master Lowestoffe," said Lord Glenvarloch; + "or, what is the same thing, I have paid no attention to aught that may + have passed in conversation respecting him." + </p> + <p> + "Why, then," said Lowestoffe—"but, first, let me have the honour of + trussing you. Now, observe, I have left several of the points untied, of + set purpose; and if it please you to let a small portion of your shirt be + seen betwixt your doublet and the band of your upper stock, it will have + so much the more rakish effect, and will attract you respect in Alsatia, + where linen is something scarce. Now, I tie some of the points carefully + asquint, for your ruffianly gallant never appears too accurately trussed—so." + </p> + <p> + "Arrange it as you will, sir," said Nigel; "but let me hear at least + something of the conditions of the unhappy district into which, with other + wretches, I am compelled to retreat." + </p> + <p> + "Why, my lord," replied the Templar, "our neighbouring state of Alsatia, + which the law calls the Sanctuary of White-friars, has had its mutations + and revolutions like greater kingdoms; and, being in some sort a lawless, + arbitrary government, it follows, of course, that these have been more + frequent than our own better regulated commonwealth of the Templars, that + of Gray's Inn, and other similar associations, have had the fortune to + witness. Our traditions and records speak of twenty revolutions within the + last twelve years, in which the aforesaid state has repeatedly changed + from absolute despotism to republicanism, not forgetting the intermediate + stages of oligarchy, limited monarchy, and even gynocracy; for I myself + remember Alsatia governed for nearly nine months by an old fish-woman. 'I + hen it fell under the dominion of a broken attorney, who was dethroned by + a reformado captain, who, proving tyrannical, was deposed by a + hedgeparson, who was succeeded, upon resignation of his power, by Duke + Jacob Hildebrod, of that name the first, whom Heaven long preserve." + </p> + <p> + "And is this potentate's government," said Lord Glenvarloch, forcing + himself to take some interest in the conversation, "of a despotic + character?" + </p> + <p> + "Pardon me, my lord," said the Templar; "this said sovereign is too wise + to incur, like many of his predecessors, the odium of wielding so + important an authority by his own sole will. He has established a council + of state, who regularly meet for their morning's draught at seven o'clock; + convene a second time at eleven for their <i>ante-meridiem</i>, or whet; + and, assembling in solemn conclave at the hour of two afternoon, for the + purpose of consulting for the good of the commonwealth, are so prodigal of + their labour in the service of the state, that they seldom separate before + midnight. Into this worthy senate, composed partly of Duke Hildebrod's + predecessors in his high office, whom he has associated with him to + prevent the envy attending sovereign and sole authority, I must presently + introduce your lordship, that they may admit you to the immunities of the + Friars, and assign you a place of residence." + </p> + <p> + "Does their authority extend to such regulation?" said Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "The council account it a main point of their privileges, my lord," + answered Lowestoffe; "and, in fact, it is one of the most powerful means + by which they support their authority. For when Duke Ilildebrod and his + senate find a topping householder in the Friars becomes discontented and + factious, it is but assigning him, for a lodger, some fat bankrupt, or new + lesidenter, whose circumstances require refuge, and whose purse can pay + for it, and the malecontent becomes as tractable as a lamb. As for the + poorer refugees, they let them shift as they can; but the registration of + their names in the Duke's entry-book, and the payment of garnish + conforming to their circumstances, is never dispensed with; and the Friars + would be a very unsafe residence for the stranger who should dispute these + points of jurisdiction." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Master Lowestoffe," said Lord Glenvarloch, "I must be controlled by + the circumstances which dictate to me this state of concealment—of + course, I am desirous not to betray my name and rank." + </p> + <p> + "It will be highly advisable, my lord," said Lowestoffe; "and is a case + thus provided for in the statutes of the republic, or monarchy, or + whatsoever you call it.—He who desires that no questions shall be + asked him concerning his name, cause of refuge, and the like, may escape + the usual interrogations upon payment of double the garnish otherwise + belonging to his condition. Complying with this essential stipulation, + your lordship may register yourself as King of Bantam if you will, for not + a question will be asked of you.—But here comes our scout, with news + of peace and tranquillity. Now, I will go with your lordship myself, and + present you to the council of Alsatia, with all the influence which I have + over them as an office-bearer in the Temple, which is not slight; for they + have come halting off upon all occasions when we have taken part against + them, and that they well know. The time is propitious, for as the council + is now met in Alsatia, so the Temple walks are quiet. Now, my lord, throw + your cloak about you, to hide your present exterior. You shall give it to + the boy at the foot of the stairs that go down to the Sanctuary; and as + the ballad says that Queen Eleanor sunk at Charing Cross and rose at + Queenhithe, so you shall sink a nobleman in the Temple Gardens, and rise + an Alsatian at Whitefriars." + </p> + <p> + They went out accordingly, attended by the little scout, traversed the + gardens, descended the stairs, and at the bottom the young Templar + exclaimed,—"And now let us sing, with Ovid, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'In nova fert animus mutatas dicere formas—' +</pre> + <p> + Off, off, ye lendings!" he continued, in the same vein. "Via, the curtain + that shadowed Borgia!—But how now, my lord?" he continued, when he + observed Lord Glenvarloch was really distressed at the degrading change in + his situation, "I trust you are not offended at my rattling folly? I would + but reconcile you to your present circumstances, and give you the tone of + this strange place. Come, cheer up; I trust it will only be your residence + for a very few days." + </p> + <p> + Nigel was only able to press his hand, and reply in a whisper, "I am + sensible of your kindness. I know I must drink the cup which my own folly + has filled for me. Pardon me, that, at the first taste, I feel its + bitterness." + </p> + <p> + Reginald Lowestoffe was bustlingly officious and good-natured; but, used + to live a scrambling, rakish course of life himself, he had not the least + idea of the extent of Lord Glenvarloch's mental sufferings, and thought of + his temporary concealment as if it were merely the trick of a wanton boy, + who plays at hide-and-seek with his tutor. With the appearance of the + place, too, he was familiar—but on his companion it produced a deep + sensation. + </p> + <p> + The ancient Sanctuary at Whitefriars lay considerably lower than the + elevated terraces and gardens of the Temple, and was therefore generally + involved in the damps and fogs arising from the Thames. The brick + buildings by which it was occupied, crowded closely on each other, for, in + a place so rarely privileged, every foot of ground was valuable; but, + erected in many cases by persons whose funds were inadequate to their + speculations, the houses were generally insufficient, and exhibited the + lamentable signs of having become ruinous while they were yet new. The + wailing of children, the scolding of their mothers, the miserable + exhibition of ragged linens hung from the windows to dry, spoke the wants + and distresses of the wretched inhabitants; while the sounds of complaint + were mocked and overwhelmed in the riotous shouts, oaths, profane songs, + and boisterous laughter, that issued from the alehouses and taverns, + which, as the signs indicated, were equal in number to all the other + houses; and, that the full character of the place might be evident, + several faded, tinselled and painted females, looked boldly at the + strangers from their open lattices, or more modestly seemed busied with + the cracked flower-pots, filled with mignonette and rosemary, which were + disposed in front of the windows, to the great risk of the passengers. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Semi-reducta Venus</i>," said the Templar, pointing to one of these + nymphs, who seemed afraid of observation, and partly concealed herself + behind the casement, as she chirped to a miserable blackbird, the tenant + of a wicker prison, which hung outside on the black brick wall.—"I + know the face of yonder waistcoateer," continued the guide; "and I could + wager a rose-noble, from the posture she stands in, that she has clean + head-gear and a soiled night-rail.—But here come two of the male + inhabitants, smoking like moving volcanoes! These are roaring blades, whom + Nicotia and Trinidado serve, I dare swear, in lieu of beef and pudding; + for be it known to you, my lord, that the king's counter-blast against the + Indian weed will no more pass current in Alsatia than will his writ of <i>capias</i>." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the two smokers approached; shaggy, uncombed ruffians, whose + enormous mustaches were turned back over their ears, and mingled with the + wild elf-locks of their hair, much of which was seen under the old beavers + which they wore aside upon their heads, while some straggling portion + escaped through the rents of the hats aforesaid. Their tarnished plush + jerkins, large slops, or trunk-breeches, their broad greasy + shoulder-belts, and discoloured scarfs, and, above all, the ostentatious + manner in which the one wore a broad-sword and the other an extravagantly + long rapier and poniard, marked the true Alsatian bully, then, and for a + hundred years afterwards, a well-known character. + </p> + <p> + "Tour out," said the one ruffian to the other; "tour the bien mort twiring + at the gentry cove!" [Footnote: Look sharp. See how the girl is coquetting + with the strange gallants!] + </p> + <p> + "I smell a spy," replied the other, looking at Nigel. "Chalk him across + the peepers with your cheery." [Footnote: Slash him over the eyes with + your dagger.] + </p> + <p> + "Bing avast, bing avast!" replied his companion; "yon other is rattling + Reginald Lowestoffe of the Temple—I know him; he is a good boy, and + free of the province." + </p> + <p> + So saying, and enveloping themselves in another thick cloud of smoke, they + went on without farther greeting. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Grasso in aere</i>!" said the Templar. "You hear what a character the + impudent knave gives me; but, so it serves your lordship's turn, I care + not.—And, now, let me ask your lordship what name you will assume, + for we are near the ducal palace of Duke Hildebrod." + </p> + <p> + "I will be called Grahame," said Nigel; "it was my mother's name." + </p> + <p> + "Grime," repeated the Templar, "will suit Alsatia well enough—both a + grim and grimy place of refuge." + </p> + <p> + "I said Grahame, sir, not Grime," said Nigel, something shortly, and + laying an emphasis on the vowel—for few Scotsmen understand raillery + upon the subject of their names. + </p> + <p> + "I beg pardon, my lord," answered the undisconcerted punster; "but <i>Graam</i> + will suit the circumstance, too—it signifies tribulation in the High + Dutch, and your lordship must be considered as a man under trouble." + </p> + <p> + Nigel laughed at the pertinacity of the Templar; who, proceeding to point + out a sign representing, or believed to represent, a dog attacking a bull, + and running at his head, in the true scientific style of onset,—"There," + said he, "doth faithful Duke Hildebrod deal forth laws, as well as ale and + strong waters, to his faithful Alsatians. Being a determined champion of + Paris Garden, he has chosen a sign corresponding to his habits; and he + deals in giving drink to the thirsty, that he himself may drink without + paying, and receive pay for what is drunken by others.—Let us enter + the ever-open gate of this second Axylus." + </p> + <p> + As they spoke, they entered the dilapidated tavern, which was, + nevertheless, more ample in dimensions, and less ruinous, than many houses + in the same evil neighbourhood. Two or three haggard, ragged drawers, ran + to and fro, whose looks, like those of owls, seemed only adapted for + midnight, when other creatures sleep, and who by day seemed bleared, + stupid, and only half awake. Guided by one of these blinking Ganymedes, + they entered a room, where the feeble rays of the sun were almost wholly + eclipsed by volumes of tobacco-smoke, rolled from the tubes of the + company, while out of the cloudy sanctuary arose the old chant of— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Old Sir Simon the King, + And old Sir Simon the King, + With his malmsey nose, + And his ale-dropped hose, + And sing hey ding-a-ding-ding." +</pre> + <p> + Duke Hildebrod, who himself condescended to chant this ditty to his loving + subjects, was a monstrously fat old man, with only one eye; and a nose + which bore evidence to the frequency, strength, and depth of his + potations. He wore a murrey-coloured plush jerkin, stained with the + overflowings of the tankard, and much the worse for wear, and unbuttoned + at bottom for the ease of his enormous paunch. Behind him lay a favourite + bull-dog, whose round head and single black glancing eye, as well as the + creature's great corpulence, gave it a burlesque resemblance to its + master. + </p> + <p> + The well-beloved counsellors who surrounded the ducal throne, incensed it + with tobacco, pledged its occupier in thick clammy ale, and echoed back + his choral songs, were Satraps worthy of such a Soldan. The buff jerkin, + broad belt, and long sword of one, showed him to be a Low Country soldier, + whose look of scowling importance, and drunken impudence, were designed to + sustain his title to call himself a Roving Blade. It seemed to Nigel that + he had seen this fellow somewhere or other. A hedge-parson, or + buckle-beggar, as that order of priesthood has been irreverently termed, + sat on the Duke's left, and was easily distinguished by his torn band, + flapped hat, and the remnants of a rusty cassock. Beside the parson sat a + most wretched and meagre-looking old man, with a threadbare hood of coarse + kersey upon his head, and buttoned about his neck, while his pinched + features, like those of old Daniel, were illuminated by + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + —"an eye, + Through the last look of dotage still cunning and sly." +</pre> + <p> + On his left was placed a broken attorney, who, for some malpractices, had + been struck from the roll of practitioners, and who had nothing left of + his profession, except its roguery. One or two persons of less figure, + amongst whom there was one face, which, like that of the soldier, seemed + not unknown to Nigel, though he could not recollect where he had seen it, + completed the council-board of Jacob Duke Hildebrod. + </p> + <p> + The strangers had full time to observe all this; for his grace the Duke, + whether irresistibly carried on by the full tide of harmony, or whether to + impress the strangers with a proper idea of his consequence, chose to sing + his ditty to an end before addressing them, though, during the whole time, + he closely scrutinized them with his single optic. + </p> + <p> + When Duke Hildebrod had ended his song, he informed his Peers that a + worthy officer of the Temple attended them, and commanded the captain and + parson to abandon their easy chairs in behalf of the two strangers, whom + he placed on his right and left hand. The worthy representative of the + army and the church of Alsatia went to place themselves on a crazy form at + the bottom of the table, which, ill calculated to sustain men of such + weight, gave way under them, and the man of the sword and man of the gown + were rolled over each other on the floor, amidst the exulting shouts of + the company. They arose in wrath, contending which should vent his + displeasure in the loudest and deepest oaths, a strife in which the + parson's superior acquaintance with theology enabled him greatly to excel + the captain, and were at length with difficulty tranquillised by the + arrival of the alarmed waiters with more stable chairs, and by a long + draught of the cooling tankard. When this commotion was appeased, and the + strangers courteously accommodated with flagons, after the fashion of the + others present, the Duke drank prosperity to the Temple in the most + gracious manner, together with a cup of welcome to Master Reginald + Lowestoffe; and, this courtesy having been thankfully accepted, the party + honoured prayed permission to call for a gallon of Rhenish, over which he + proposed to open his business. + </p> + <p> + The mention of a liquor so superior to their usual potations had an + instant and most favourable effect upon the little senate; and its + immediate appearance might be said to secure a favourable reception of + Master Lowestoffe's proposition, which, after a round or two had + circulated, he explained to be the admission of his friend Master Nigel + Grahame to the benefit of the sanctuary and other immunities of Alsatia, + in the character of a grand compounder; for so were those termed who paid + a double fee at their matriculation, in order to avoid laying before the + senate the peculiar circumstances which compelled them to take refuge + there. + </p> + <p> + The worthy Duke heard the proposition with glee, which glittered in his + single eye; and no wonder, as it was a rare occurrence, and of peculiar + advantage to his private revenue. Accordingly, he commanded his ducal + register to be brought him, a huge book, secured with brass clasps like a + merchant's ledger, and whose leaves, stained with wine, and slabbered with + tobacco juice, bore the names probably of as many rogues as are to be + found in the Calendar of Newgate. + </p> + <p> + Nigel was then directed to lay down two nobles as his ransom, and to claim + privilege by reciting the following doggerel verses, which were dictated + to him by the Duke:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Your suppliant, by name + Nigel Grahame, + In fear of mishap + From a shoulder-tap; + And dreading a claw + From the talons of law, + That are sharper than briers: + His freedom to sue, + And rescue by you— + Thorugh weapon and wit, + From warrant and writ, + From bailiff's hand, + From tipstaff's wand, + Is come hither to Whitefriars." +</pre> + <p> + As Duke Hildebrod with a tremulous hand began to make the entry, and had + already, with superfluous generosity, spelled Nigel with two g's instead + of one, he was interrupted by the parson. [Footnote: This curious register + is still in existence, being in possession of that eminent antiquary, Dr. + Dryasdust, who liberally offered the author permission to have the + autograph of Duke Hildebrod engraved as an illustration of this passage. + Unhappily, being rigorous as Ritson himself in adhering to the very letter + of his copy, the worthy Doctor clogged his munificence with the condition + that we should adopt the Duke's orthography, and entitle the work "The + Fortunes of Niggle," with which stipulation we did not think it necessary + to comply.] This reverend gentleman had been whispering for a minute or + two, not with the captain, but with that other individual, who dwelt + imperfectly, as we have already mentioned, in Nigel's memory, and being, + perhaps, still something malecontent on account of the late accident, he + now requested to be heard before the registration took place. + </p> + <p> + "The person," he said, "who hath now had the assurance to propose himself + as a candidate for the privileges and immunities of this honourable + society, is, in plain terms, a beggarly Scot, and we have enough of these + locusts in London already—if we admit such palmer-worms and + caterpillars to the Sanctuary, we shall soon have the whole nation." + </p> + <p> + "We are not entitled to inquire," said Duke Hildebrod, "whether he be + Scot, or French, or English; seeing he has honourably laid down his + garnish, he is entitled to our protection." + </p> + <p> + "Word of denial, most Sovereign Duke," replied the parson, "I ask him no + questions—his speech betrayeth him—he is a Galilean—and + his garnish is forfeited for his assurance in coming within this our + realm; and I call on you, Sir Duke, to put the laws in force against him!" + </p> + <p> + The Templar here rose, and was about to interrupt the deliberations of the + court, when the Duke gravely assured him that he should be heard in behalf + of his friend, so soon as the council had finished their deliberations. + </p> + <p> + The attorney next rose, and, intimating that he was to speak to the point + of law, said—"It was easy to be seen that this gentleman did not + come here in any civil case, and that he believed it to be the story they + had already heard of concerning a blow given within the verge of the Park—that + the Sanctuary would not bear out the offender in such case—and that + the queer old Chief would send down a broom which would sweep the streets + of Alsatia from the Strand to the Stairs; and it was even policy to think + what evil might come to their republic, by sheltering an alien in such + circumstances." + </p> + <p> + The captain, who had sat impatiently while these opinions were expressed, + now sprung on his feet with the vehemence of a cork bouncing from a bottle + of brisk beer, and, turning up his mustaches with a martial air, cast a + glance of contempt on the lawyer and churchman, while he thus expressed + his opinion. + </p> + <p> + "Most noble Duke Hildebrod! When I hear such base, skeldering, coistril + propositions come from the counsellors of your grace, and when I remember + the Huffs, the Muns, and the Tityretu's by whom your grace's ancestors and + predecessors were advised on such occasions, I begin to think the spirit + of action is as dead in Alsatia as in my old grannam; and yet who thinks + so thinks a lie, since I will find as many roaring boys in the Friars as + shall keep the liberties against all the scavengers of Westminster. And, + if we should be overborne for a turn, death and darkness! have we not time + to send the gentleman off by water, either to Paris Garden or to the + bankside? and, if he is a gallant of true breed, will he not make us full + amends for all the trouble we have? Let other societies exist by the law, + I say that we brisk boys of the Fleet live in spite of it; and thrive best + when we are in right opposition to sign and seal, writ and warrant, + sergeant and tipstaff, catchpoll, and bum-bailey." + </p> + <p> + This speech was followed by a murmur of approbation, and Lowestoffe, + striking in before the favourable sound had subsided, reminded the Duke + and his council how much the security of their state depended upon the + amity of the Templars, who, by closing their gates, could at pleasure shut + against the Alsatians the communication betwixt the Friars and the Temple, + and that as they conducted themselves on this occasion, so would they + secure or lose the benefit of his interest with his own body, which they + knew not to be inconsiderable. "And, in respect of my friend being a + Scotsman and alien, as has been observed by the reverend divine and + learned lawyer, you are to consider," said Lowestoffe, "for what he is + pursued hither—why, for giving the bastinado, not to an Englishman, + but to one of his own countrymen. And for my own simple part," he + continued, touching Lord Glenvarloch at the same time, to make him + understand he spoke but in jest, "if all the Scots in London were to fight + a Welsh main, and kill each other to a man, the survivor would, in my + humble opinion, be entitled to our gratitude, as having done a most + acceptable service to poor Old England." + </p> + <p> + A shout of laughter and applause followed this ingenious apology for the + client's state of alienage; and the Templar followed up his plea with the + following pithy proposition:—"I know well," said he, "it is the + custom of the fathers of this old and honourable republic, ripely and well + to consider all their proceedings over a proper allowance of liquor; and + far be it from me to propose the breach of so laudable a custom, or to + pretend that such an affair as the present can be well and + constitutionally considered during the discussion of a pitiful gallon of + Rhenish. But, as it is the same thing to this honourable conclave whether + they drink first and determine afterwards, or whether they determine first + and drink afterwards, I propose your grace, with the advice of your wise + and potent senators, shall pass your edict, granting to mine honourable + friend the immunities of the place, and assigning him a lodging, according + to your wise forms, to which he will presently retire, being somewhat + spent with this day's action; whereupon I will presently order you a + rundlet of Rhenish, with a corresponding quantity of neats' tongues and + pickled herrings, to make you all as glorious as George-a-Green." + </p> + <p> + This overture was received with a general shout of applause, which + altogether drowned the voice of the dissidents, if any there were amongst + the Alsatian senate who could have resisted a proposal so popular. The + words of, kind heart! noble gentleman! generous gallant! flew from mouth + to mouth; the inscription of the petitioner's name in the great book was + hastily completed, and the oath administered to him by the worthy Doge. + Like the Laws of the Twelve Tables, of the ancient Cambro-Britons, and + other primitive nations, it was couched in poetry, and ran as follows:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "By spigot and barrel, + By bilboe and buff; + Thou art sworn to the quarrel + Of the blades of the huff. + For Whitefriars and its claims + To be champion or martyr, + And to fight for its dames + Like a Knight of the Garter." +</pre> + <p> + Nigel felt, and indeed exhibited, some disgust at this mummery; but, the + Templar reminding him that he was too far advanced to draw back, he + repeated the words, or rather assented as they were repeated by Duke + Hildebrod, who concluded the ceremony by allowing him the privilege of + sanctuary, in the following form of prescriptive doggerel:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "From the touch of the tip, + From the blight of the warrant, + From the watchmen who skip + On the Harman Beck's errand; + From the bailiffs cramp speech, + That makes man a thrall, + I charm thee from each, + And I charm thee from all. + Thy freedom's complete + As a Blade of the Huff, + To be cheated and cheat, + To be cuff'd and to cuff; + To stride, swear, and swagger, + To drink till you stagger, + To stare and to stab, + And to brandish your dagger + In the cause of your drab; + To walk wool-ward in winter, + Drink brandy, and smoke, + And go <i>fresco</i> in summer + For want of a cloak; + To eke out your living + By the wag of your elbow, + By fulham and gourd, + And by baring of bilboe; + To live by your shifts, + And to swear by your honour, + Are the freedom and gifts + Of which I am the donor."[Footnote: Of the cant words used in this +inauguratory oration, some are obvious in their meaning, others, as +Harman Beck (constable), and the like, derive their source from that +ancient piece of lexicography, the Slang Dictionary] +</pre> + <p> + This homily being performed, a dispute arose concerning the special + residence to be assigned the new brother of the Sanctuary; for, as the + Alsatians held it a maxim in their commonwealth, that ass's milk fattens, + there was usually a competition among the inhabitants which should have + the managing, as it was termed, of a new member of the society. + </p> + <p> + The Hector who had spoken so warmly and critically in Nigel's behalf, + stood out now chivalrously in behalf of a certain Blowselinda, or + Bonstrops, who had, it seems, a room to hire, once the occasional + residence of Slicing Dick of Paddington, who lately suffered at Tyburn, + and whose untimely exit had been hitherto mourned by the damsel in + solitary widowhood, after the fashion of the turtle-dove. + </p> + <p> + The captain's interest was, however, overruled, in behalf of the old + gentleman in the kersey hood, who was believed, even at his extreme age, + to understand the plucking of a pigeon, as well, or better, than any man + in Alsatia. + </p> + <p> + This venerable personage was an usurer of notoriety, called Trapbois, and + had very lately done the state considerable service in advancing a subsidy + necessary to secure a fresh importation of liquors to the Duke's cellars, + the wine-merchant at the Vintry being scrupulous to deal with so great a + man for any thing but ready money. + </p> + <p> + When, therefore, the old gentleman arose, and with much coughing, reminded + the Duke that he had a poor apartment to let, the claims of all others + were set aside, and Nigel was assigned to Trapbois as his guest. + </p> + <p> + No sooner was this arrangement made, than Lord Glenvarloch expressed to + Lowestoffe his impatience to leave this discreditable assembly, and took + his leave with a careless haste, which, but for the rundlet of Rhenish + wine that entered just as he left the apartment, might have been taken in + bad part. The young Templar accompanied his friend to the house of the old + usurer, with the road to which he and some other youngsters about the + Temple were even but too well acquainted. On the way, he assured Lord + Glenvarloch that he was going to the only clean house in Whitefriars; a + property which it owed solely to the exertions of the old man's only + daughter, an elderly damsel, ugly enough to frighten sin, yet likely to be + wealthy enough to tempt a puritan, so soon as the devil had got her old + dad for his due. As Lowestoffe spoke thus, they knocked at the door of the + house, and the sour stern countenance of the female by whom it was opened, + fully confirmed all that the Templar had said of the hostess. She heard + with an ungracious and discontented air the young Templar's information, + that the gentleman, his companion, was to be her father's lodger, muttered + something about the trouble it was likely to occasion, but ended by + showing the stranger's apartment, which was better than could have been + augured from the general appearance of the place, and much larger in + extent than that which he occupied at Paul's Wharf, though inferior to it + in neatness. + </p> + <p> + Lowestoffe, having thus seen his friend fairly installed in his new + apartment, and having obtained for him a note of the rate at which he + could be accommodated with victuals from a neighbouring cook's shop, now + took his leave, offering, at the same time, to send the whole, or any part + of Lord Glenvarloch's baggage, from his former place of residence to his + new lodging. Nigel mentioned so few articles, that the Templar could not + help observing, that his lordship, it would seem, did not intend to enjoy + his new privileges long. + </p> + <p> + "They are too little suited to my habits and taste, that I should do so," + replied Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "You may change your opinion to-morrow," said Lowestoffe; "and so I wish + you a good even. To-morrow I will visit you betimes." + </p> + <p> + The morning came, but instead of the Templar, it brought only a letter + from him. The epistle stated, that Lowestoffe's visit to Alsatia had drawn + down the animadversions of some crabbed old pantaloons among the benchers, + and that he judged it wise not to come hither at present, for fear of + attracting too much attention to Lord Glenvarloch's place of residence. He + stated, that he had taken measures for the safety of his baggage, and + would send him, by a safe hand, his money-casket, and what articles he + wanted. Then followed some sage advices, dictated by Lowestoffe's + acquaintance with Alsatia and its manners. He advised him to keep the + usurer in the most absolute uncertainty concerning the state of his + funds-never to throw a main with the captain, who was in the habit of + playing dry-fisted, and paying his losses with three vowels; and, finally, + to beware of Duke Hildebrod, who was as sharp, he said, as a needle, + though he had no more eyes than are possessed by that necessary implement + of female industry. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII + </h2> + <p> + <i>Mother.</i> What I dazzled by a flash from Cupid's mirror, With which + the boy, as mortal urchins wont, Flings back the sunbeam in the eye of + passengers—Then laughs to see them stumble! + </p> + <p> + <i>Daughter.</i> Mother! no—It was a lightning-flash which dazzled + me, And never shall these eyes see true again. <i>Beef and Pudding.-An Old + English Comedy.</i> + </p> + <p> + It is necessary that we should leave our hero Nigel for a time, although + in a situation neither safe, comfortable, nor creditable, in order to + detail some particulars which have immediate connexion with his fortunes. + </p> + <p> + It was but the third day after he had been forced to take refuge in the + house of old Trapbois, the noted usurer of Whitefriars, commonly called + Golden Trapbois, when the pretty daughter of old Ramsay, the watchmaker, + after having piously seen her father finish his breakfast, (from the fear + that he might, in an abstruse fit of thought, swallow the salt-cellar + instead of a crust of the brown loaf,) set forth from the house as soon as + he was again plunged into the depth of calculation, and, accompanied only + by that faithful old drudge, Janet, the Scots laundress, to whom her whims + were laws, made her way to Lombard Street, and disturbed, at the unusual + hour of eight in the morning, Aunt Judith, the sister of her worthy + godfather. + </p> + <p> + The venerable maiden received her young visitor with no great complacency; + for, naturally enough, she had neither the same admiration of her very + pretty countenance, nor allowance for her foolish and girlish impatience + of temper, which Master George Heriot entertained. Still Mistress Margaret + was a favourite of her brother's, whose will was to Aunt Judith a supreme + law; and she contented herself with asking her untimely visitor, "what she + made so early with her pale, chitty face, in the streets of London?" + </p> + <p> + "I would speak with the Lady Hermione," answered the almost breathless + girl, while the blood ran so fast to her face as totally to remove the + objection of paleness which Aunt Judith had made to her complexion. + </p> + <p> + "With the Lady Hermione?" said Aunt Judith—"with the Lady Hermione? + and at this time in the morning, when she will scarce see any of the + family, even at seasonable hours? You are crazy, you silly wench, or you + abuse the indulgence which my brother and the lady have shown to you." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed, indeed I have not," repeated Margaret, struggling to retain the + unbidden tear which seemed ready to burst out on the slightest occasion. + "Do but say to the lady that your brother's god-daughter desires earnestly + to speak to her, and I know she will not refuse to see me." + </p> + <p> + Aunt Judith bent an earnest, suspicious, and inquisitive glance on her + young visitor, "You might make me your secretary, my lassie," she said, + "as well as the Lady Hermione. I am older, and better skilled to advise. I + live more in the world than one who shuts herself up within four rooms, + and I have the better means to assist you." + </p> + <p> + "O! no—no—no," said Margaret, eagerly, and with more earnest + sincerity than complaisance; "there are some things to which you cannot + advise me, Aunt Judith. It is a case—pardon me, my dear aunt—a + case beyond your counsel." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad on't, maiden," said Aunt Judith, somewhat angrily; "for I think + the follies of the young people of this generation would drive mad an old + brain like mine. Here you come on the viretot, through the whole streets + of London, to talk some nonsense to a lady, who scarce sees God's sun, but + when he shines on a brick wall. But I will tell her you are here." + </p> + <p> + She went away, and shortly returned with a dry—"Miss Marget, the + lady will be glad to see you; and that's more, my young madam, than you + had a right to count upon." + </p> + <p> + Mistress Margaret hung her head in silence, too much perplexed by the + train of her own embarrassed thoughts, for attempting either to conciliate + Aunt Judith's kindness, or, which on other occasions would have been as + congenial to her own humour, to retaliate on her cross-tempered remarks + and manner. She followed Aunt Judith, therefore, in silence and dejection, + to the strong oaken door which divided the Lady Hermione's apartments from + the rest of George Heriot's spacious house. + </p> + <p> + At the door of this sanctuary it is necessary to pause, in order to + correct the reports with which Richie Moniplies had filled his master's + ear, respecting the singular appearance of that lady's attendance at + prayers, whom we now own to be by name the Lady Hermione. Some part of + these exaggerations had been communicated to the worthy Scotsman by Jenkin + Vincent, who was well experienced in the species of wit which has been + long a favourite in the city, under the names of cross-biting, giving the + dor, bamboozling, cramming, hoaxing, humbugging, and quizzing; for which + sport Richie Moniplies, with his solemn gravity, totally unapprehensive of + a joke, and his natural propensity to the marvellous, formed an admirable + subject. Farther ornaments the tale had received from Richie himself, + whose tongue, especially when oiled with good liquor, had a considerable + tendency to amplification, and who failed not, while he retailed to his + master all the wonderful circumstances narrated by Vincent, to add to them + many conjectures of his own, which his imagination had over-hastily + converted into facts. + </p> + <p> + Yet the life which the Lady Hermione had led for two years, during which + she had been the inmate of George Heriot's house, was so singular, as + almost to sanction many of the wild reports which went abroad. The house + which the worthy goldsmith inhabited, had in former times belonged to a + powerful and wealthy baronial family, which, during the reign of Henry + VIII., terminated in a dowager lady, very wealthy, very devout, and most + unalienably attached to the Catholic faith. The chosen friend of the + Honourable Lady Foljambe was the Abbess of Saint Roque's Nunnery, like + herself a conscientious, rigid, and devoted Papist. When the house of + Saint Roque was despotically dissolved by the fiat of the impetuous + monarch, the Lady Foljambe received her friend into her spacious mansion, + together with two vestal sisters, who, like their Abbess, were determined + to follow the tenor of their vows, instead of embracing the profane + liberty which the Monarch's will had thrown in their choice. For their + residence, the Lady Foljambe contrived, with all secrecy—for Henry + might not have relished her interference—to set apart a suite of + four rooms, with a little closet fitted up as an oratory, or chapel; the + whole apartments fenced by a stout oaken door to exclude strangers, and + accommodated with a turning wheel to receive necessaries, according to the + practice of all nunneries. In this retreat, the Abbess of Saint Roque and + her attendants passed many years, communicating only with the Lady + Foljambe, who, in virtue of their prayers, and of the support she afforded + them, accounted herself little less than a saint on earth. The Abbess, + fortunately for herself, died before her munificent patroness, who lived + deep in Queen Elizabeth's time, ere she was summoned by fate. + </p> + <p> + The Lady Foljambe was succeeded in this mansion by a sour fanatic knight, + a distant and collateral relation, who claimed the same merit for + expelling the priestess of Baal, which his predecessor had founded on + maintaining the votaresses of Heaven. Of the two unhappy nuns, driven from + their ancient refuge, one went beyond sea; the other, unable from old age + to undertake such a journey, died under the roof of a faithful Catholic + widow of low degree. Sir Paul Crambagge, having got rid of the nuns, + spoiled the chapel of its ornaments, and had thoughts of altogether + destroying the apartments, until checked by the reflection that the + operation would be an unnecessary expense, since he only inhabited three + rooms of the large mansion, and had not therefore the slightest occasion + for any addition to its accommodations. His son proved a waster and a + prodigal, and from him the house was bought by our friend George Heriot, + who, finding, like Sir Paul, the house more than sufficiently ample for + his accommodation, left the Foljambe apartments, or Saint Roque's rooms, + as they were called, in the state in which he found them. + </p> + <p> + About two years and a half before our history opened, when Heriot was + absent upon an expedition to the Continent, he sent special orders to his + sister and his cash-keeper, directing that the Foljambe apartments should + be fitted up handsomely, though plainly, for the reception of a lady, who + would make them her residence for some time; and who would live more or + less with his own family according to her pleasure. He also directed, that + the necessary repairs should be made with secrecy, and that as little + should be said as possible upon the subject of his letter. + </p> + <p> + When the time of his return came nigh, Aunt Judith and the household were + on the tenter-hooks of impatience. Master George came, as he had + intimated, accompanied by a lady, so eminently beautiful, that, had it not + been for her extreme and uniform paleness, she might have been reckoned + one of the loveliest creatures on earth. She had with her an attendant, or + humble companion, whose business seemed only to wait upon her. This + person, a reserved woman, and by her dialect a foreigner, aged about + fifty, was called by the lady Monna Paula, and by Master Heriot, and + others, Mademoiselle Pauline. She slept in the same room with her + patroness at night, ate in her apartment, and was scarcely ever separated + from her during the day. + </p> + <p> + These females took possession of the nunnery of the devout Abbess, and, + without observing the same rigorous seclusion, according to the letter, + seemed wellnigh to restore the apartments to the use to which they had + been originally designed. The new inmates lived and took their meals apart + from the rest of the family. With the domestics Lady Hermione, for so she + was termed, held no communication, and Mademoiselle Pauline only such as + was indispensable, which she dispatched as briefly as possible. Frequent + and liberal largesses reconciled the servants to this conduct; and they + were in the habit of observing to each other, that to do a service for + Mademoiselle Pauline, was like finding a fairy treasure. + </p> + <p> + To Aunt Judith the Lady Hermione was kind and civil, but their intercourse + was rare; on which account the elder lady felt some pangs both of + curiosity and injured dignity. But she knew her brother so well, and loved + him so dearly, that his will, once expressed, might be truly said to + become her own. The worthy citizen was not without a spice of the + dogmatism which grows on the best disposition, when a word is a law to all + around. Master George did not endure to be questioned by his family, and, + when he had generally expressed his will, that the Lady Hermione should + live in the way most agreeable to her, and that no inquiries should be + made concerning their history, or her motives for observing such strict + seclusion, his sister well knew that he would have been seriously + displeased with any attempt to pry into the secret. + </p> + <p> + But, though Heriot's servants were bribed, and his sister awed into silent + acquiescence in these arrangements, they were not of a nature to escape + the critical observation of the neighbourhood. Some opined that the + wealthy goldsmith was about to turn papist, and re-establish Lady + Foljambe's nunnery—others that he was going mad—others that he + was either going to marry, or to do worse. Master George's constant + appearance at church, and the knowledge that the supposed votaress always + attended when the prayers of the English ritual were read in the family, + liberated him from the first of these suspicions; those who had to + transact business with him upon 'Change, could not doubt the soundness of + Master Heriot's mind; and, to confute the other rumours, it was credibly + reported by such as made the matter their particular interest, that Master + George Heriot never visited his guest but in presence of Mademoiselle + Pauline, who sat with her work in a remote part of the same room in which + they conversed. It was also ascertained that these visits scarcely ever + exceeded an hour in length, and were usually only repeated once a week, an + intercourse too brief and too long interrupted, to render it probable that + love was the bond of their union. + </p> + <p> + The inquirers were, therefore, at fault, and compelled to relinquish the + pursuit of Master Heriot's secret, while a thousand ridiculous tales were + circulated amongst the ignorant and superstitious, with some specimens of + which our friend Richie Moniplies had been <i>crammed</i>, as we have + seen, by the malicious apprentice of worthy David Ramsay. + </p> + <p> + There was one person in the world who, it was thought, could (if she + would) have said more of the Lady Hermione than any one in London, except + George Heriot himself; and that was the said David Ramsay's only child, + Margaret. + </p> + <p> + This girl was not much past the age of fifteen when the Lady Hermione + first came to England, and was a very frequent visitor at her godfather's, + who was much amused by her childish sallies, and by the wild and natural + beauty with which she sung the airs of her native country. Spoilt she was + on all hands; by the indulgence of her godfather, the absent habits and + indifference of her father, and the deference of all around to her + caprices, as a beauty and as an heiress. But though, from these + circumstances, the city-beauty had become as wilful, as capricious, and as + affected, as unlimited indulgence seldom fails to render those to whom it + is extended; and although she exhibited upon many occasions that + affectation of extreme shyness, silence, and reserve, which misses in + their teens are apt to take for an amiable modesty; and, upon others, a + considerable portion of that flippancy, which youth sometimes confounds + with wit, Mistress Margaret had much real shrewdness and judgment, which + wanted only opportunities of observation to refine it—a lively, + good-humoured, playful disposition, and an excellent heart. Her acquired + follies were much increased by reading plays and romances, to which she + devoted a great deal of her time, and from which she adopted ideas as + different as possible from those which she might have obtained from the + invaluable and affectionate instructions of an excellent mother; and the + freaks of which she was sometimes guilty, rendered her not unjustly liable + to the charge of affectation and coquetry. But the little lass had sense + and shrewdness enough to keep her failings out of sight of her godfather, + to whom she was sincerely attached; and so high she stood in his favour, + that, at his recommendation, she obtained permission to visit the recluse + Lady Hermione. + </p> + <p> + The singular mode of life which that lady observed; her great beauty, + rendered even more interesting by her extreme paleness; the conscious + pride of being admitted farther than the rest of the world into the + society of a person who was wrapped in so much mystery, made a deep + impression on the mind of Margaret Ramsay; and though their conversations + were at no time either long or confidential, yet, proud of the trust + reposed in her, Margaret was as secret respecting their tenor as if every + word repeated had been to cost her life. No inquiry, however artfully + backed by flattery and insinuation, whether on the part of Dame Ursula, or + any other person equally inquisitive, could wring from the little maiden + one word of what she heard or saw, after she entered these mysterious and + secluded apartments. The slightest question concerning Master Heriot's + ghost, was sufficient, at her gayest moment, to check the current of her + communicative prattle, and render her silent. + </p> + <p> + We mention this, chiefly to illustrate the early strength of Margaret's + character—a strength concealed under a hundred freakish whims and + humours, as an ancient and massive buttress is disguised by its fantastic + covering of ivy and wildflowers. In truth, if the damsel had told all she + heard or saw within the Foljambe apartments, she would have said but + little to gratify the curiosity of inquirers. + </p> + <p> + At the earlier period of their acquaintance, the Lady Hermione was wont to + reward the attentions of her little friend with small but elegant + presents, and entertain her by a display of foreign rarities and + curiosities, many of them of considerable value. Sometimes the time was + passed in a way much less agreeable to Margaret, by her receiving lessons + from Pauline in the use of the needle. But, although her preceptress + practised these arts with a dexterity then only known in foreign convents, + the pupil proved so incorrigibly idle and awkward, that the task of + needlework was at length given up, and lessons of music substituted in + their stead. Here also Pauline was excellently qualified as an + instructress, and Margaret, more successful in a science for which Nature + had gifted her, made proficiency both in vocal and instrumental music. + These lessons passed in presence of the Lady Hermione, to whom they seemed + to give pleasure. She sometimes added her own voice to the performance, in + a pure, clear stream of liquid melody; but this was only when the music + was of a devotional cast. As Margaret became older, her communications + with the recluse assumed a different character. She was allowed, if not + encouraged, to tell whatever she had remarked out of doors, and the Lady + Hermione, while she remarked the quick, sharp, and retentive powers of + observation possessed by her young friend, often found sufficient reason + to caution her against rashness in forming opinions, and giddy petulance + in expressing them. + </p> + <p> + The habitual awe with which she regarded this singular personage, induced + Mistress Margaret, though by no means delighting in contradiction or + reproof, to listen with patience to her admonitions, and to make full + allowance for the good intentions of the patroness by whom they were + bestowed; although in her heart she could hardly conceive how Madame + Hermione, who never stirred from the Foljambe apartments, should think of + teaching knowledge of the world to one who walked twice a-week between + Temple Bar and Lombard Street, besides parading in the Park every Sunday + that proved to be fair weather. Indeed, pretty Mistress Margaret was so + little inclined to endure such remonstrances, that her intercourse with + the inhabitants of the Foljambe apartments would have probably slackened + as her circle of acquaintance increased in the external world, had she + not, on the one hand, entertained an habitual reverence for her monitress, + of which she could not divest herself, and been flattered, on the other, + by being to a certain degree the depository of a confidence for which + others thirsted in vain. Besides, although the conversation of Hermione + was uniformly serious, it was not in general either formal or severe; nor + was the lady offended by flights of levity which Mistress Margaret + sometimes ventured on in her presence, even when they were such as made + Monna Paula cast her eyes upwards, and sigh with that compassion which a + devotee extends towards the votaries of a trivial and profane world. Thus, + upon the whole, the little maiden was disposed to submit, though not + without some wincing, to the grave admonitions of the Lady Hermione; and + the rather that the mystery annexed to the person of her monitress was in + her mind early associated with a vague idea of wealth and importance, + which had been rather confirmed than lessened by many accidental + circumstances which she had noticed since she was more capable of + observation. + </p> + <p> + It frequently happens, that the counsel which we reckon intrusive when + offered to us unasked, becomes precious in our eyes when the pressure of + difficulties renders us more diffident of our own judgment than we are apt + to find ourselves in the hours of ease and indifference; and this is more + especially the case if we suppose that our adviser may also possess power + and inclination to back his counsel with effectual assistance. Mistress + Margaret was now in that situation. She was, or believed herself to be, in + a condition where both advice and assistance might be necessary; and it + was therefore, after an anxious and sleepless night, that she resolved to + have recourse to the Lady Hermione, who she knew would readily afford her + the one, and, as she hoped, might also possess means of giving her the + other. The conversation between them will best explain the purport of the + visit. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + By this good light, a wench of matchless mettle! + This were a leaguer-lass to love a soldier, + To bind his wounds, and kiss his bloody brow, + And sing a roundel as she help'd to arm him, + Though the rough foeman's drums were beat so nigh, + They seem'd to bear the burden. + <i>Old Play.</i> +</pre> + <p> + When Mistress Margaret entered the Foljambe apartment, she found the + inmates employed in their usual manner; the lady in reading, and her + attendant in embroidering a large piece of tapestry, which had occupied + her ever since Margaret had been first admitted within these secluded + chambers. + </p> + <p> + Hermione nodded kindly to her visitor, but did not speak; and Margaret, + accustomed to this reception, and in the present case not sorry for it, as + it gave her an interval to collect her thoughts, stooped over Monna + Paula's frame and observed, in a half whisper, "You were just so far as + that rose, Monna, when I first saw you—see, there is the mark where + I had the bad luck to spoil the flower in trying to catch the stitch—I + was little above fifteen then. These flowers make me an old woman, Monna + Paula." + </p> + <p> + "I wish they could make you a wise one, my child," answered Monna Paula, + in whose esteem pretty Mistress Margaret did not stand quite so high as in + that of her patroness; partly owing to her natural austerity, which was + something intolerant of youth and gaiety, and partly to the jealousy with + which a favourite domestic regards any one whom she considers as a sort of + rival in the affections of her mistress. + </p> + <p> + "What is it you say to Monna, little one?" asked the lady. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing, madam," replied Mistress Margaret, "but that I have seen the + real flowers blossom three times over since I first saw Monna Paula + working in her canvass garden, and her violets have not budded yet." + </p> + <p> + "True, lady-bird," replied Hermione; "but the buds that are longest in + blossoming will last the longest in flower. You have seen them in the + garden bloom thrice, but you have seen them fade thrice also; now, Monna + Paula's will remain in blow for ever—they will fear neither frost + nor tempest." + </p> + <p> + "True, madam," answered Mistress Margaret; "but neither have they life or + odour." + </p> + <p> + "That, little one," replied the recluse, "is to compare a life agitated by + hope and fear, and chequered with success and disappointment, and fevered + by the effects of love and hatred, a life of passion and of feeling, + saddened and shortened by its exhausting alternations, to a calm and + tranquil existence, animated but by a sense of duties, and only employed, + during its smooth and quiet course, in the unwearied discharge of them. Is + that the moral of your answer?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not know, madam," answered Mistress Margaret; "but, of all birds in + the air, I would rather be the lark, that sings while he is drifting down + the summer breeze, than the weathercock that sticks fast yonder upon his + iron perch, and just moves so much as to discharge his duty, and tell us + which way the wind blows." + </p> + <p> + "Metaphors are no arguments, my pretty maiden," said the Lady Hermione, + smiling. + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry for that, madam," answered Margaret; "for they are such a + pretty indirect way of telling one's mind when it differs from one's + betters—besides, on this subject there is no end of them, and they + are so civil and becoming withal." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed?" replied the lady; "let me hear some of them, I pray you." + </p> + <p> + "It would be, for example, very bold in me," said Margaret, "to say to + your ladyship, that, rather than live a quiet life, I would like a little + variety of hope and fear, and liking and disliking—and—and—and + the other sort of feelings which your ladyship is pleased to speak of; but + I may say freely, and without blame, that I like a butterfly better than a + bettle, or a trembling aspen better than a grim Scots fir, that never wags + a leaf—or that of all the wood, brass, and wire that ever my + father's fingers put together, I do hate and detest a certain huge old + clock of the German fashion, that rings hours and half hours, and quarters + and half quarters, as if it were of such consequence that the world should + know it was wound up and going. Now, dearest lady, I wish you would only + compare that clumsy, clanging, Dutch-looking piece of lumber, with the + beautiful timepiece that Master Heriot caused my father to make for your + ladyship, which uses to play a hundred merry tunes, and turns out, when it + strikes the hour, a whole band of morrice dancers, to trip the hays to the + measure." + </p> + <p> + "And which of these timepieces goes the truest, Margaret?" said the lady. + </p> + <p> + "I must confess the old Dutchman has the advantage in that"—said + Margaret. "I fancy you are right, madam, and that comparisons are no + arguments; at least mine has not brought me through." + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word, maiden Margaret," said the lady, smiling, "you have been of + late thinking very much of these matters." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps too much, madam," said Margaret, so low as only to be heard by + the lady, behind the back of whose chair she had now placed herself. The + words were spoken very gravely, and accompanied by a half sigh, which did + not escape the attention of her to whom they were addressed. The Lady + Hermione turned immediately round, and looked earnestly at Margaret, then + paused for a moment, and, finally, commanded Monna Paula to carry her + frame and embroidery into the antechamber. When they were left alone, she + desired her young friend to come from behind the chair on the back of + which she still rested, and sit down beside her upon a stool. + </p> + <p> + "I will remain thus, madam, under your favour," answered Margaret, without + changing her posture; "I would rather you heard me without seeing me." + </p> + <p> + "In God's name, maiden," returned her patroness, "what is it you can have + to say, that may not be uttered face to face, to so true a friend as I + am?" + </p> + <p> + Without making any direct answer, Margaret only replied, "You were right, + dearest lady, when you said, I had suffered my feelings too much to + engross me of late. I have done very wrong, and you will be angry with me—so + will my godfather, but I cannot help it—he must be rescued." + </p> + <p> + "<i>He?</i>" repeated the lady, with emphasis; "that brief little word + does, indeed, so far explain your mystery;—but come from behind the + chair, you silly popinjay! I will wager you have suffered yonder gay young + apprentice to sit too near your heart. I have not heard you mention young + Vincent for many a day—perhaps he has not been out of mouth and out + of mind both. Have you been so foolish as to let him speak to you + seriously?—I am told he is a bold youth." + </p> + <p> + "Not bold enough to say any thing that could displease me, madam," said + Margaret. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps, then, you were <i>not</i> displeased," said the lady; "or + perhaps he has not <i>spoken</i>, which would be wiser and better. Be + open-hearted, my love—your godfather will soon return, and we will + take him into our consultations. If the young man is industrious, and come + of honest parentage, his poverty may be no such insurmountable obstacle. + But you are both of you very young, Margaret—I know your godfather + will expect, that the youth shall first serve out his apprenticeship." + </p> + <p> + Margaret had hitherto suffered the lady to proceed, under the mistaken + impression which she had adopted, simply because she could not tell how to + interrupt her; but pure despite at hearing her last words gave her + boldness at length to say "I crave your pardon, madam; but neither the + youth you mention, nor any apprentice or master within the city of London—" + </p> + <p> + "Margaret," said the lady, in reply, "the contemptuous tone with which you + mention those of your own class, (many hundreds if not thousands of whom + are in all respects better than yourself, and would greatly honour you by + thinking of you,) is methinks, no warrant for the wisdom of your choice—for + a choice, it seems, there is. Who is it, maiden, to whom you have thus + rashly attached yourself?—rashly, I fear it must be." + </p> + <p> + "It is the young Scottish Lord Glenvarloch, madam," answered Margaret, in + a low and modest tone, but sufficiently firm, considering the subject. + </p> + <p> + "The young Lord of Glenvarloch!" repeated the lady, in great surprise—"Maiden, + you are distracted in your wits." + </p> + <p> + "I knew you would say so, madam," answered Margaret. "It is what another + person has already told me—it is, perhaps, what all the world would + tell me—it is what I am sometimes disposed to tell myself. But look + at me, madam, for I will now come before you, and tell me if there is + madness or distraction in my look and word, when I repeat to you again, + that I have fixed my affections on this young nobleman." + </p> + <p> + "If there is not madness in your look or word, maiden, there is infinite + folly in what you say," answered the Lady Hermione, sharply. "When did you + ever hear that misplaced love brought any thing but wretchedness? Seek a + match among your equals, Margaret, and escape the countless kinds of risk + and misery that must attend an affection beyond your degree.—Why do + you smile, maiden? Is there aught to cause scorn in what I say?" + </p> + <p> + "Surely no, madam," answered Margaret. "I only smiled to think how it + should happen, that, while rank made such a wide difference between + creatures formed from the same clay, the wit of the vulgar should, + nevertheless, jump so exactly the same length with that of the + accomplished and the exalted. It is but the variation of the phrase which + divides them. Dame Ursley told me the very same thing which your ladyship + has but now uttered; only you, madam, talk of countless misery, and Dame + Ursley spoke of the gallows, and Mistress Turner, who was hanged upon it." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed?" answered the Lady Hermione; "and who may Dame Ursley be, that + your wise choice has associated with me in the difficult task of advising + a fool?" + </p> + <p> + "The barber's wife at next door, madam," answered Margaret, with feigned + simplicity, but far from being sorry at heart, that she had found an + indirect mode of mortifying her monitress. "She is the wisest woman that I + know, next to your ladyship." + </p> + <p> + "A proper confidant," said the lady, "and chosen with the same delicate + sense of what is due to yourself and others!—But what ails you, + maiden—where are you going?" + </p> + <p> + "Only to ask Dame Ursley's advice," said Margaret, as if about to depart; + "for I see your ladyship is too angry to give me any, and the emergency is + pressing." + </p> + <p> + "What emergency, thou simple one?" said the lady, in a kinder tone.—"Sit + down, maiden, and tell me your tale. It is true you are a fool, and a + pettish fool to boot; but then you are a child—an amiable child, + with all your self-willed folly, and we must help you, if we can.—Sit + down, I say, as you are desired, and you will find me a safer and wiser + counseller than the barber-woman. And tell me how you come to suppose, + that you have fixed your heart unalterably upon a man whom you have seen, + as I think, but once." + </p> + <p> + "I have seen him oftener," said the damsel, looking down; "but I have only + spoken to him once. I should have been able to get that once out of my + head, though the impression was so deep, that I could even now repeat + every trifling word he said; but other things have since riveted it in my + bosom for ever." + </p> + <p> + "Maiden," replied the lady, "<i>for ever</i> is the word which comes most + lightly on the lips in such circumstances, but which, not the less, is + almost the last that we should use. The fashion of this world, its + passions, its joys, and its sorrows, pass away like the winged breeze—there + is nought for ever but that which belongs to the world beyond the grave." + </p> + <p> + "You have corrected me justly, madam," said Margaret calmly; "I ought only + to have spoken of my present state of mind, as what will last me for my + lifetime, which unquestionably may be but short." + </p> + <p> + "And what is there in this Scottish lord that can rivet what concerns him + so closely in your fancy?" said the lady. "I admit him a personable man, + for I have seen him; and I will suppose him courteous and agreeable. But + what are his accomplishments besides, for these surely are not uncommon + attributes." + </p> + <p> + "He is unfortunate, madam—most unfortunate—and surrounded by + snares of different kinds, ingeniously contrived to ruin his character, + destroy his estate, and, perhaps, to reach even his life. These schemes + have been devised by avarice originally, but they are now followed close + by vindictive ambition, animated, I think, by the absolute and + concentrated spirit of malice; for the Lord Dalgarno—" + </p> + <p> + "Here, Monna Paula—Monna Paula!" exclaimed the Lady Hermione, + interrupting her young friend's narrative. "She hears me not," she + answered, rising and going out, "I must seek her—I will return + instantly." She returned accordingly very soon after. "You mentioned a + name which I thought was familiar to me," she said; "but Monna Paula has + put me right. I know nothing of your lord—how was it you named him?" + </p> + <p> + "Lord Dalgarno," said Margaret;—"the wickedest man who lives. Under + pretence of friendship, he introduced the Lord Glenvarloch to a + gambling-house with the purpose of engaging him in deep play; but he with + whom the perfidious traitor had to deal, was too virtuous, moderate, and + cautious, to be caught in a snare so open. What did they next, but turn + his own moderation against him, and persuade others that—because he + would not become the prey of wolves, he herded with them for a share of + their booty! And, while this base Lord Dalgarno was thus undermining his + unsuspecting countryman, he took every measure to keep him surrounded by + creatures of his own, to prevent him from attending Court, and mixing with + those of his proper rank. Since the Gunpowder Treason, there never was a + conspiracy more deeply laid, more basely and more deliberately pursued." + </p> + <p> + The lady smiled sadly at Margaret's vehemence, but sighed the next moment, + while she told her young friend how little she knew the world she was + about to live in, since she testified so much surprise at finding it full + of villainy. + </p> + <p> + "But by what means," she added, "could you, maiden, become possessed of + the secret views of a man so cautious as Lord Dalgarno—as villains + in general are?" + </p> + <p> + "Permit me to be silent on that subject," said the maiden; "I could not + tell you without betraying others—let it suffice that my tidings are + as certain as the means by which I acquired them are secret and sure. But + I must not tell them even to you." + </p> + <p> + "You are too bold, Margaret," said the lady, "to traffic in such matters + at your early age. It is not only dangerous, but even unbecoming and + unmaidenly." + </p> + <p> + "I knew you would say that also," said Margaret, with more meekness and + patience than she usually showed on receiving reproof; "but, God knows, my + heart acquits me of every other feeling save that of the wish to assist + this most innocent and betrayed man.—I contrived to send him warning + of his friend's falsehood;—alas! my care has only hastened his utter + ruin, unless speedy aid be found. He charged his false friend with + treachery, and drew on him in the Park, and is now liable to the fatal + penalty due for breach of privilege of the king's palace." + </p> + <p> + "This is indeed an extraordinary tale," said Hermione; "is Lord + Glenvarloch then in prison?" + </p> + <p> + "No, madam, thank God, but in the Sanctuary at Whitefriars—it is + matter of doubt whether it will protect him in such a case—they + speak of a warrant from the Lord Chief Justice—A gentleman of the + temple has been arrested, and is in trouble for having assisted him in his + flight.—Even his taking temporary refuge in that base place, though + from extreme necessity, will be used to the further defaming him. All this + I know, and yet I cannot rescue him—cannot rescue him save by your + means." + </p> + <p> + "By my means, maiden?" said the lady—"you are beside yourself!—What + means can I possess in this secluded situation, of assisting this + unfortunate nobleman?" + </p> + <p> + "You have means," said Margaret, eagerly; "you have those means, unless I + mistake greatly, which can do anything—can do everything, in this + city, in this world—you have wealth, and the command of a small + portion of it will enable me to extricate him from his present danger. He + will be enabled and directed how to make his escape—and I—" + she paused. + </p> + <p> + "Will accompany him, doubtless, and reap the fruits of your sage exertions + in his behalf?" said the Lady Hermione, ironically. + </p> + <p> + "May heaven forgive you the unjust thought, lady," answered Margaret. "I + will never see him more—but I shall have saved him, and the thought + will make me happy." + </p> + <p> + "A cold conclusion to so bold and warm a flame," said the lady, with a + smile which seemed to intimate incredulity. + </p> + <p> + "It is, however, the only one which I expect, madam—I could almost + say the only one which I wish—I am sure I will use no efforts to + bring about any other; if I am bold in his cause, I am timorous enough in + my own. During our only interview I was unable to speak a word to him. He + knows not the sound of my voice—and all that I have risked, and must + yet risk, I am doing for one, who, were he asked the question, would say + he has long since forgotten that he ever saw, spoke to, or sat beside, a + creature of so little signification as I am." + </p> + <p> + "This is a strange and unreasonable indulgence of a passion equally + fanciful and dangerous," said Lady Hermione. "You will <i>not</i> assist + me, then?" said Margaret; "have good-day, then, madam—my secret, I + trust, is safe in such honourable keeping." + </p> + <p> + "Tarry yet a little," said the lady, "and tell me what resource you have + to assist this youth, if you were supplied with money to put it in + motion." + </p> + <p> + "It is superfluous to ask me the question, madam," answered Margaret, + "unless you purpose to assist me; and, if you do so purpose, it is still + superfluous. You could not understand the means I must use, and time is + too brief to explain." + </p> + <p> + "But have you in reality such means?" said the lady. + </p> + <p> + "I have, with the command of a moderate sum," answered Margaret Ramsay, + "the power of baffling all his enemies—of eluding the passion of the + irritated king—the colder but more determined displeasure of the + prince—the vindictive spirit of Buckingham, so hastily directed + against whomsoever crosses the path of his ambition—the cold + concentrated malice of Lord Dalgarno—all, I can baffle them all!" + </p> + <p> + "But is this to be done without your own personal risk, Margaret?" replied + the lady; "for, be your purpose what it will, you are not to peril your + own reputation or person, in the romantic attempt of serving another; and + I, maiden, am answerable to your godfather,—to your benefactor, and + my own,—not to aid you in any dangerous or unworthy enterprise." + </p> + <p> + "Depend upon my word,—my oath,—dearest lady," replied the + supplicant, "that I will act by the agency of others, and do not myself + design to mingle in any enterprise in which my appearance might be either + perilous or unwomanly." + </p> + <p> + "I know not what to do," said the Lady Hermione; "it is perhaps incautious + and inconsiderate in me to aid so wild a project; yet the end seems + honourable, if the means be sure—what is the penalty if he fall into + their power?" + </p> + <p> + "Alas, alas! the loss of his right hand!" replied Margaret, her voice + almost stifled with sobs. + </p> + <p> + "Are the laws of England so cruel? Then there is mercy in heaven alone," + said the lady, "since, even in this free land, men are wolves to each + other.—Compose yourself, Margaret, and tell me what money is + necessary to secure Lord Glenvarloch's escape." + </p> + <p> + "Two hundred pieces," replied Margaret; "I would speak to you of restoring + them—and I must one day have the power—only that I know—that + is, I think—your ladyship is indifferent on that score." + </p> + <p> + "Not a word more of it," said the lady; "call Monna Paula hither." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Credit me, friend, it hath been ever thus, + Since the ark rested on Mount Ararat. + False man hath sworn, and woman hath believed— + Repented and reproach'd, and then believed once more. + <i>The New World.</i> +</pre> + <p> + By the time that Margaret returned with Monna Paula, the Lady Hermione was + rising from the table at which she had been engaged in writing something + on a small slip of paper, which she gave to her attendant. + </p> + <p> + "Monna Paula," she said, "carry this paper to Roberts the cash-keeper; let + them give you the money mentioned in the note, and bring it hither + presently." + </p> + <p> + Monna Paula left the room, and her mistress proceeded. + </p> + <p> + "I do not know," she said, "Margaret, if I have done, and am doing, well + in this affair. My life has been one of strange seclusion, and I am + totally unacquainted with the practical ways of this world—an + ignorance which I know cannot be remedied by mere reading.—I fear I + am doing wrong to you, and perhaps to the laws of the country which + affords me refuge, by thus indulging you; and yet there is something in my + heart which cannot resist your entreaties." + </p> + <p> + "O, listen to it—listen to it, dear, generous lady!" said Margaret, + throwing herself on her knees and grasping those of her benefactress and + looking in that attitude like a beautiful mortal in the act of + supplicating her tutelary angel; "the laws of men are but the injunctions + of mortality, but what the heart prompts is the echo of the voice from + heaven within us." + </p> + <p> + "Rise, rise, maiden," said Hermione; "you affect me more than I thought I + could have been moved by aught that should approach me. Rise and tell me + whence it comes, that, in so short a time, your thoughts, your looks, your + speech, and even your slightest actions, are changed from those of a + capricious and fanciful girl, to all this energy and impassioned eloquence + of word and action?" + </p> + <p> + "I am sure I know not, dearest lady," said Margaret, looking down; "but I + suppose that, when I was a trifler, I was only thinking of trifles. What I + now reflect is deep and serious, and I am thankful if my speech and manner + bear reasonable proportion to my thoughts." + </p> + <p> + "It must be so," said the lady; "yet the change seems a rapid and strange + one. It seems to be as if a childish girl had at once shot up into + deep-thinking and impassioned woman, ready to make exertions alike, and + sacrifices, with all that vain devotion to a favourite object of + affection, which is often so basely rewarded." + </p> + <p> + The Lady Hermione sighed bitterly, and Monna Paula entered ere the + conversation proceeded farther. She spoke to her mistress in the foreign + language in which they frequently conversed, but which was unknown to + Margaret. + </p> + <p> + "We must have patience for a time," said the lady to her visitor; "the + cash-keeper is abroad on some business, but he is expected home in the + course of half an hour." + </p> + <p> + Margaret wrung her hands in vexation and impatience. + </p> + <p> + "Minutes are precious," continued the lady; "that I am well aware of; and + we will at least suffer none of them to escape us. Monna Paula shall + remain below and transact our business, the very instant that Roberts + returns home." + </p> + <p> + She spoke to her attendant accordingly, who again left the room. + </p> + <p> + "You are very kind, madam—very good," said the poor little Margaret, + while the anxious trembling of her lip and of her hand showed all that + sickening agitation of the heart which arises from hope deferred. + </p> + <p> + "Be patient, Margaret, and collect yourself," said the lady; "you may, you + must, have much to do to carry through this your bold purpose—reserve + your spirits, which you may need so much—be patient—it is the + only remedy against the evils of life." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, madam," said Margaret, wiping her eyes, and endeavouring in vain to + suppress the natural impatience of her temper,—"I have heard so—very + often indeed; and I dare say I have myself, heaven forgive me, said so to + people in perplexity and affliction; but it was before I had suffered + perplexity and vexation myself, and I am sure I will never preach patience + to any human being again, now that I know how much the medicine goes + against the stomach." + </p> + <p> + "You will think better of it, maiden," said the Lady Hermione; "I also, + when I first felt distress, thought they did me wrong who spoke to me of + patience; but my sorrows have been repeated and continued till I have been + taught to cling to it as the best, and—religious duties excepted, of + which, indeed, patience forms a part—the only alleviation which life + can afford them." + </p> + <p> + Margaret, who neither wanted sense nor feeling, wiped her tears hastily, + and asked her patroness's forgiveness for her petulance. + </p> + <p> + "I might have thought"—she said, "I ought to have reflected, that + even from the manner of your life, madam, it is plain you must have + suffered sorrow; and yet, God knows, the patience which I have ever seen + you display, well entitles you to recommend your own example to others." + </p> + <p> + The lady was silent for a moment, and then replied— + </p> + <p> + "Margaret, I am about to repose a high confidence in you. You are no + longer a child, but a thinking and a feeling woman. You have told me as + much of your secret as you dared—I will let you know as much of mine + as I may venture to tell. You will ask me, perhaps, why, at a moment when + your own mind is agitated, I should force upon you the consideration of my + sorrows? and I answer, that I cannot withstand the impulse which now + induces me to do so. Perhaps from having witnessed, for the first time + these three years, the natural effects of human passion, my own sorrows + have been awakened, and are for the moment too big for my own bosom—perhaps + I may hope that you, who seem driving full sail on the very rock on which + I was wrecked for ever, will take warning by the tale I have to tell. + Enough, if you are willing to listen, I am willing to tell you who the + melancholy inhabitant of the Foljambe apartments really is, and why she + resides here. It will serve, at least, to while away the time until Monna + Paula shall bring us the reply from Roberts." + </p> + <p> + At any other moment of her life, Margaret Ramsay would have heard with + undivided interest a communication so flattering in itself, and referring + to a subject upon which the general curiosity had been so strongly + excited. And even at this agitating moment, although she ceased not to + listen with an anxious ear and throbbing heart for the sound of Monna + Paula's returning footsteps, she nevertheless, as gratitude and policy, as + well as a portion of curiosity dictated, composed herself, in appearance + at least, to the strictest attention to the Lady Hermione, and thanked her + with humility for the high confidence she was pleased to repose in her. + The Lady Hermione, with the same calmness which always attended her speech + and actions, thus recounted her story to her young friend: + </p> + <p> + "My father," she said, "was a merchant, but he was of a city whose + merchants are princes. I am the daughter of a noble house in Genoa, whose + name stood as high in honour and in antiquity, as any inscribed in the + Golden Register of that famous aristocracy. + </p> + <p> + "My mother was a noble Scottish woman. She was descended—do not + start—and not remotely descended, of the house of Glenvarloch—no + wonder that I was easily led to take concern in the misfortunes of this + young lord. He is my near relation, and my mother, who was more than + sufficiently proud of her descent, early taught me to take an interest in + the name. My maternal grandfather, a cadet of that house of Glenvarloch, + had followed the fortunes of an unhappy fugitive, Francis Earl of + Bothwell, who, after showing his miseries in many a foreign court, at + length settled in Spain upon a miserable pension, which he earned by + conforming to the Catholic faith. Ralph Olifaunt, my grandfather, + separated from him in disgust, and settled at Barcelona, where, by the + friendship of the governor, his heresy, as it was termed, was connived at. + My father, in the course of his commerce, resided more at Barcelona than + in his native country, though at times he visited Genoa. + </p> + <p> + "It was at Barcelona that he became acquainted with my mother, loved her, + and married her; they differed in faith, but they agreed in affection. I + was their only child. In public I conformed to the docterins and + ceremonial of the Church of Rome; but my mother, by whom these were + regarded with horror, privately trained me up in those of the reformed + religion; and my father, either indifferent in the matter, or unwilling to + distress the woman whom he loved, overlooked or connived at my secretly + joining in her devotions. + </p> + <p> + "But when, unhappily, my father was attacked, while yet in the prime of + life, by a slow wasting disease, which he felt to be incurable, he foresaw + the hazard to which his widow and orphan might be exposed, after he was no + more, in a country so bigoted to Catholicism as Spain. He made it his + business, during the two last years of his life, to realize and remit to + England a large part of his fortune, which, by the faith and honour of his + correspondent, the excellent man under whose roof I now reside, was + employed to great advantage. Had my father lived to complete his purpose, + by withdrawing his whole fortune from commerce, he himself would have + accompanied us to England, and would have beheld us settled in peace and + honour before his death. But heaven had ordained it otherwise. He died, + leaving several sums engaged in the hands of his Spanish debtors; and, in + particular, he had made a large and extensive consignment to a certain + wealthy society of merchants at Madrid, who showed no willingness after + his death to account for the proceeds. Would to God we had left these + covetous and wicked men in possession of their booty, for such they seemed + to hold the property of their deceased correspondent and friend! We had + enough for comfort, and even splendour, already secured in England; but + friends exclaimed upon the folly of permitting these unprincipled men to + plunder us of our rightful property. The sum itself was large, and the + claim having been made, my mother thought that my father's memory was + interested in its being enforced, especially as the defences set up for + the mercantile society went, in some degree, to impeach the fairness of + his transactions. + </p> + <p> + "We went therefore to Madrid. I was then, my Margaret, about your age, + young and thoughtless, as you have hitherto been—We went, I say, to + Madrid, to solicit the protection of the Court and of the king, without + which we were told it would be in vain to expect justice against an + opulent and powerful association. + </p> + <p> + "Our residence at the Spanish metropolis drew on from weeks to months. For + my part, my natural sorrow for a kind, though not a fond father, having + abated, I cared not if the lawsuit had detained us at Madrid for ever. My + mother permitted herself and me rather more liberty than we had been + accustomed to. She found relations among the Scottish and Irish officers, + many of whom held a high rank in the Spanish armies; their wives and + daughters became our friends and companions, and I had perpetual occasion + to exercise my mother's native language, which I had learned from my + infancy. By degrees, as my mother's spirits were low, and her health + indifferent, she was induced, by her partial fondness for me, to suffer me + to mingle occasionally in society which she herself did not frequent, + under the guardianship of such ladies as she imagined she could trust, and + particularly under the care of the lady of a general officer, whose + weakness or falsehood was the original cause of my misfortunes. I was as + gay, Margaret, and thoughtless—I again repeat it—as you were + but lately, and my attention, like yours, became suddenly riveted to one + object, and to one set of feelings. + </p> + <p> + "The person by whom they were excited was young, noble, handsome, + accomplished, a soldier, and a Briton. So far our cases are nearly + parallel; but, may heaven forbid that the parallel should become complete! + This man, so noble, so fairly formed, so gifted, and so brave—this + villain, for that, Margaret, was his fittest name, spoke of love to me, + and I listened—-Could I suspect his sincerity? If he was wealthy, + noble, and long-descended, I also was a noble and an opulent heiress. It + is true, that he neither knew the extent of my father's wealth, nor did I + communicate to him (I do not even remember if I myself knew it at the + time) the important circumstance, that the greater part of that wealth was + beyond the grasp of arbitrary power, and not subject to the precarious + award of arbitrary judges. My lover might think, perhaps, as my mother was + desirous the world at large should believe, that almost our whole fortune + depended on the precarious suit which we had come to Madrid to prosecute—a + belief which she had countenanced out of policy, being well aware that a + knowledge of my father's having remitted such a large part of his fortune + to England, would in no shape aid the recovery of further sums in the + Spanish courts. Yet, with no more extensive views of my fortune than were + possessed by the public, I believe that he, of whom I am speaking, was at + first sincere in his pretensions. He had himself interest sufficient to + have obtained a decision in our favour in the courts, and my fortune, + reckoning only what was in Spain, would then have been no inconsiderable + sum. To be brief, whatever might be his motives or temptation for so far + committing himself, he applied to my mother for my hand, with my consent + and approval. My mother's judgment had become weaker, but her passions had + become more irritable, during her increasing illness. + </p> + <p> + "You have heard of the bitterness of the ancient Scottish feuds, of which + it may be said, in the language of Scripture, that the fathers eat sour + grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge. Unhappily—I + should say <i>happily</i>, considering what this man has now shown himself + to be—some such strain of bitterness had divided his house from my + mother's, and she had succeeded to the inheritance of hatred. When he + asked her for my hand, she was no longer able to command her passions—she + raked up every injury which the rival families had inflicted upon each + other during a bloody feud of two centuries—heaped him with epithets + of scorn, and rejected his proposal of alliance, as if it had come from + the basest of mankind. + </p> + <p> + "My lover retired in passion; and I remained to weep and murmur against + fortune, and—I will confess my fault—against my affectionate + parent. I had been educated with different feelings, and the traditions of + the feuds and quarrels of my mother's family in Scotland, which we're to + her monuments and chronicles, seemed to me as insignificant and unmeaning + as the actions and fantasies of Don Quixote; and I blamed my mother + bitterly for sacrificing my happiness to an empty dream of family dignity. + </p> + <p> + "While I was in this humour, my lover sought a renewal of our intercourse. + We met repeatedly in the house of the lady whom I have mentioned, and who, + in levity, or in the spirit of intrigue, countenanced our secret + correspondence. At length we were secretly married—so far did my + blinded passion hurry me. My lover had secured the assistance of a + clergyman of the English church. Monna Paula, who had been my attendant + from infancy, was one witness of our union. Let me do the faithful + creature justice—She conjured me to suspend my purpose till my + mother's death should permit us to celebrate our marriage openly; but the + entreaties of my lover, and my own wayward passion, prevailed over her + remonstrances. The lady I have spoken of was another witness, but whether + she was in full possession of my bridegroom's secret, I had never the + means to learn. But the shelter of her name and roof afforded us the means + of frequently meeting, and the love of my husband seemed as sincere and as + unbounded as my own. + </p> + <p> + "He was eager, he said, to gratify his pride, by introducing me to one or + two of his noble English friends. This could not be done at Lady D—-'s; + but by his command, which I was now entitled to consider as my law, I + contrived twice to visit him at his own hotel, accompanied only by Monna + Paula. There was a very small party, of two ladies and two gentlemen. + There was music, mirth, and dancing. I had heard of the frankness of the + English nation, but I could not help thinking it bordered on license + during these entertainments, and in the course of the collation which + followed; but I imputed my scruples to my inexperience, and would not + doubt the propriety of what was approved by my husband. + </p> + <p> + "I was soon summoned to other scenes: My poor mother's disease drew to a + conclusion—Happy I am that it took place before she discovered what + would have cut her to the soul. + </p> + <p> + "In Spain you may have heard how the Catholic priests, and particularly + the monks, besiege the beds of the dying, to obtain bequests for the good + of the church. I have said that my mother's temper was irritated by + disease, and her judgment impaired in proportion. She gathered spirits and + force from the resentment which the priests around her bed excited by + their importunity, and the boldness of the stern sect of reformers, to + which she had secretly adhered, seemed to animate her dying tongue. She + avowed the religion she had so long concealed; renounced all hope and aid + which did not come by and through its dictates; rejected with contempt the + ceremonial of the Romish church; loaded the astonished priests with + reproaches for their greediness and hypocrisy, and commanded them to leave + her house. They went in bitterness and rage, but it was to return with the + inquisitorial power, its warrants, and its officers; and they found only + the cold corpse left of her, on whom they had hoped to work their + vengeance. As I was soon discovered to have shared my mother's heresy, I + was dragged from her dead body, imprisoned in a solitary cloister, and + treated with severity, which the Abbess assured me was due to the + looseness of my life, as well as my spiritual errors. I avowed my + marriage, to justify the situation in which I found myself—I + implored the assistance of the Superior to communicate my situation to my + husband. She smiled coldly at the proposal, and told me the church had + provided a better spouse for me; advised me to secure myself of divine + grace hereafter, and deserve milder treatment here, by presently taking + the veil. In order to convince me that I had no other resource, she showed + me a royal decree, by which all my estate was hypothecated to the convent + of Saint Magdalen, and became their complete property upon my death, or my + taking the vows. As I was, both from religious principle, and affectionate + attachment to my husband, absolutely immovable in my rejection of the + veil, I believe—may heaven forgive me if I wrong her—that the + Abbess was desirous to make sure of my spoils, by hastening the former + event. + </p> + <p> + "It was a small and a poor convent, and situated among the mountains of + Guadarrama. Some of the sisters were the daughters of neighbouring + Hidalgoes, as poor as they were proud and ignorant; others were women + immured there on account of their vicious conduct. The Superior herself + was of a high family, to which she owed her situation; but she was said to + have disgraced her connexions by her conduct during youth, and now, in + advanced age, covetousness and the love of power, a spirit too of severity + and cruelty, had succeeded to the thirst after licentious pleasure. I + suffered much under this woman—and still her dark, glassy eye, her + tall, shrouded form, and her rigid features, haunt my slumbers. + </p> + <p> + "I was not destined to be a mother. I was very ill, and my recovery was + long doubtful. The most violent remedies were applied, if remedies they + indeed were. My health was restored at length, against my own expectation + and that of all around me. But, when I first again beheld the reflection + of my own face, I thought it was the visage of a ghost. I was wont to be + flattered by all, but particularly by my husband, for the fineness of my + complexion—it was now totally gone, and, what is more extraordinary, + it has never returned. I have observed that the few who now see me, look + upon me as a bloodless phantom—Such has been the abiding effect of + the treatment to which I was subjected. May God forgive those who were the + agents of it!—I thank Heaven I can say so with as sincere a wish, as + that with which I pray for forgiveness of my own sins. They now relented + somewhat towards me—moved perhaps to compassion by my singular + appearance, which bore witness to my sufferings; or afraid that the matter + might attract attention during a visitation of the bishop, which was + approaching. One day, as I was walking in the convent-garden, to which I + had been lately admitted, a miserable old Moorish slave, who was kept to + cultivate the little spot, muttered as I passed him, but still keeping his + wrinkled face and decrepit form in the same angle with the earth—'There + is Heart's Ease near the postern.' + </p> + <p> + "I knew something of the symbolical language of flowers, once carried to + such perfection among the Moriscoes of Spain; but if I had been ignorant + of it, the captive would soon have caught at any hint which seemed to + promise liberty. With all the haste consistent with the utmost + circumspection—for I might be observed by the Abbess or some of the + sisters from the window—I hastened to the postern. It was closely + barred as usual, but when I coughed slightly, I was answered from the + other side—and, O heaven! it was my husband's voice which said, + 'Lose not a minute here at present, but be on this spot when the vesper + bell has tolled.' + </p> + <p> + "I retired in an ecstasy of joy. I was not entitled or permitted to assist + at vespers, but was accustomed to be confined to my cell while the nuns + were in the choir. Since my recovery, they had discontinued locking the + door; though the utmost severity was denounced against me if I left these + precincts. But, let the penalty be what it would, I hastened to dare it.—No + sooner had the last toll of the vesper bell ceased to sound, than I stole + from my chamber, reached the garden unobserved, hurried to the postern, + beheld it open with rapture, and in the next moment was in my husband's + arms. He had with him another cavalier of noble mien—both were + masked and armed. Their horses, with one saddled for my use, stood in a + thicket hard by, with two other masked horsemen, who seemed to be + servants. In less than two minutes we were mounted, and rode off as fast + as we could through rough and devious roads, in which one of the domestics + appeared to act as guide. + </p> + <p> + "The hurried pace at which we rode, and the anxiety of the moment, kept me + silent, and prevented my expressing my surprise or my joy save in a few + broken words. It also served as an apology for my husband's silence. At + length we stopped at a solitary hut—the cavaliers dismounted, and I + was assisted from my saddle, not by M——M——my + husband, I would say, who seemed busied about his horse, but by the + stranger. + </p> + <p> + "'Go into the hut,' said my husband, 'change your dress with the speed of + lightning—you will find one to <i>assist</i> you—we must + forward instantly when you have shifted your apparel.' + </p> + <p> + "I entered the hut, and was received in the arms of the faithful Monna + Paula, who had waited my arrival for many hours, half distracted with fear + and anxiety. With her assistance I speedily tore off the detested garments + of the convent, and exchanged them for a travelling suit, made after the + English fashion. I observed that Monna Paula was in a similar dress. I had + but just huddled on my change of attire, when we were hastily summoned to + mount. A horse, I found, was provided for Monna Paula, and we resumed our + route. On the way, my convent-garb, which had been wrapped hastily + together around a stone, was thrown into a lake, along the verge of which + we were then passing. The two cavaliers rode together in front, my + attendant and I followed, and the servants brought up the rear. Monna + Paula, as we rode on, repeatedly entreated me to be silent upon the road, + as our lives depended on it. I was easily reconciled to be passive, for, + the first fever of spirits which attended the sense of liberation and of + gratified affection having passed away, I felt as it were dizzy with the + rapid motion; and my utmost exertion was necessary to keep my place on the + saddle, until we suddenly (it was now very dark) saw a strong light before + us. + </p> + <p> + "My husband reined up his horse, and gave a signal by a low whistle twice + repeated, which was answered from a distance. The whole party then halted + under the boughs of a large cork-tree, and my husband, drawing himself + close to my side, said, in a voice which I then thought was only + embarrassed by fear for my safety,—'We must now part. Those to whom + I commit you are contrabandists, who only know you as English-women, but + who, for a high bribe, have undertaken to escort you through the passes of + the Pyrenees as far as Saint Jean de Luz.' + </p> + <p> + "'And do you not go with us?' I exclaimed with emphasis, though in a + whisper. + </p> + <p> + "'It is impossible,' he said, 'and would ruin all—See that you speak + in English in these people's hearing, and give not the least sign of + understanding what they say in Spanish—your life depends on it; for, + though they live in opposition to, and evasion of, the laws of Spain, they + would tremble at the idea of violating those of the church—I see + them coming—farewell—farewell.' + </p> + <p> + "The last words were hastily uttered-I endeavoured to detain him yet a + moment by my feeble grasp on his cloak. + </p> + <p> + "'You will meet me, then, I trust, at Saint Jean de Luz?' + </p> + <p> + "'Yes, yes,' he answered hastily, 'at Saint Jean de Luz you will meet your + protector.' + </p> + <p> + "He then extricated his cloak from my grasp, and was lost in the darkness. + His companion approached—kissed my hand, which in the agony of the + moment I was scarce sensible of, and followed my husband, attended by one + of the domestics." + </p> + <p> + The tears of Hermione here flowed so fast as to threaten the interruption + of her narrative. When she resumed it, it was with a kind of apology to + Margaret. + </p> + <p> + "Every circumstance," she said, "occurring in those moments, when I still + enjoyed a delusive idea of happiness, is deeply imprinted in my + remembrance, which, respecting all that has since happened, is waste and + unvaried as an Arabian desert. But I have no right to inflict on you, + Margaret, agitated as you are with your own anxieties, the unavailing + details of my useless recollections." + </p> + <p> + Margaret's eyes were full of tears—it was impossible it could be + otherwise, considering that the tale was told by her suffering + benefactress, and resembled, in some respects, her own situation; and yet + she must not be severely blamed, if, while eagerly pressing her patroness + to continue her narrative, her eye involuntarily sought the door, as if to + chide the delay of Monna Paula. + </p> + <p> + The Lady Hermione saw and forgave these conflicting emotions; and she, + too, must be pardoned, if, in her turn, the minute detail of her narrative + showed, that, in the discharge of feelings so long locked in her own + bosom, she rather forgot those which were personal to her auditor, and by + which it must be supposed Margaret's mind was principally occupied, if not + entirely engrossed. + </p> + <p> + "I told you, I think, that one domestic followed the gentlemen," thus the + lady continued her story, "the other remained with us for the purpose, as + it seemed, of introducing us to two persons whom M—, I say, whom my + husband's signal had brought to the spot. A word or two of explanation + passed between them and the servant, in a sort of <i>patois</i>, which I + did not understand; and one of the strangers taking hold of my bridle, the + other of Monna Paula's, they led us towards the light, which I have + already said was the signal of our halting. I touched Monna Paula, and was + sensible that she trembled very much, which surprised me, because I knew + her character to be so strong and bold as to border upon the masculine. + </p> + <p> + "When we reached the fire, the gipsy figures of those who surrounded it, + with their swarthy features, large Sombrero hats, girdles stuck full of + pistols and poniards, and all the other apparatus of a roving and perilous + life, would have terrified me at another moment. But then I only felt the + agony of having parted from my husband almost in the very moment of my + rescue. The females of the gang—for there were four or five women + amongst these contraband traders—received us with a sort of rude + courtesy. They were, in dress and manners, not extremely different from + the men with whom they associated—were almost as hardy and + adventurous, carried arms like them, and were, as we learned from passing + circumstances, scarce less experienced in the use of them. + </p> + <p> + "It was impossible not to fear these wild people; yet they gave us no + reason to complain of them, but used us on all occasions with a kind of + clumsy courtesy, accommodating themselves to our wants and our weakness + during the journey, even while we heard them grumbling to each other + against our effeminacy,—like some rude carrier, who, in charge of a + package of valuable and fragile ware, takes every precaution for its + preservation, while he curses the unwonted trouble which it occasions him. + Once or twice, when they were disappointed in their contraband traffic, + lost some goods in a rencontre with the Spanish officers of the revenue, + and were finally pursued by a military force, their murmurs assumed a more + alarming tone, in the terrified ears of my attendant and myself, when, + without daring to seem to understand them, we heard them curse the insular + heretics, on whose account God, Saint James, and Our Lady of the Pillar, + had blighted their hopes of profit. These are dreadful recollections, + Margaret." + </p> + <p> + "Why, then, dearest lady," answered Margaret, "will you thus dwell on + them?" + </p> + <p> + "It is only," said the Lady Hermione, "because I linger like a criminal on + the scaffold, and would fain protract the time that must inevitably bring + on the final catastrophe. Yes, dearest Margaret, I rest and dwell on the + events of that journey, marked as it was by fatigue and danger, though the + road lay through the wildest and most desolate deserts and mountains, and + though our companions, both men and women, were fierce and lawless + themselves, and exposed to the most merciless retaliation from those with + whom they were constantly engaged—yet would I rather dwell on these + hazardous events than tell that which awaited me at Saint Jean de Luz." + </p> + <p> + "But you arrived there in safety?" said Margaret. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, maiden," replied the Lady Hermione; "and were guided by the chief of + our outlawed band to the house which had been assigned for reception, with + the same punctilious accuracy with which he would have delivered a bale of + uncustomed goods to a correspondent. I was told a gentleman had expected + me for two days—I rushed into the apartment, and, when I expected to + embrace my husband—I found myself in the arms of his friend!" + </p> + <p> + "The villain!" exclaimed Margaret, whose anxiety had, in spite of herself, + been a moment suspended by the narrative of the lady. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," replied Hermione, calmly, though her voice somewhat faltered, "it + is the name that best—that well befits him. He, Margaret, for whom I + had sacrificed all—whose love and whose memory were dearer to me + than my freedom, when I was in the convent—than my life, when I was + on my perilous journey—had taken his measures to shake me off, and + transfer me, as a privileged wanton, to the protection of his libertine + friend. At first the stranger laughed at my tears and my agony, as the + hysterical passion of a deluded and overreached wanton, or the wily + affection of a courtezan. My claim of marriage he laughed at, assuring me + he knew it was a mere farce required by me, and submitted to by his + friend, to save some reserve of delicacy; and expressed his surprise that + I should consider in any other light a ceremony which could be valid + neither in Spain nor England, and insultingly offered to remove my + scruples, by renewing such a union with me himself. My exclamations + brought Monna Paula to my aid—she was not, indeed, far distant, for + she had expected some such scene." + </p> + <p> + "Good heaven!" said Margaret, "was she a confidant of your base husband?" + </p> + <p> + "No," answered Hermione, "do her not that injustice. It was her + persevering inquiries that discovered the place of my confinement—it + was she who gave the information to my husband, and who remarked even then + that the news was so much more interesting to his friend than to him, that + she suspected, from an early period, it was the purpose of the villain to + shake me off. On the journey, her suspicions were confirmed. She had heard + him remark to his companion, with a cold sarcastic sneer, the total change + which my prison and my illness had made on my complexion; and she had + heard the other reply, that the defect might be cured by a touch of + Spanish red. This, and other circumstances, having prepared her for such + treachery, Monna Paula now entered, completely possessed of herself, and + prepared to support me. Her calm representations went farther with the + stranger than the expressions of my despair. If he did not entirely + believe our tale, he at least acted the part of a man of honour, who would + not intrude himself on defenceless females, whatever was their character; + desisted from persecuting us with his presence; and not only directed + Monna Paula how we should journey to Paris, but furnished her with money + for the purpose of our journey. From the capital I wrote to Master Heriot, + my father's most trusted correspondent; he came instantly to Paris on + receiving the letter; and—But here comes Monna Paula, with more than + the sum you desired. Take it, my dearest maiden—serve this youth if + you will. But, O Margaret, look for no gratitude in return!" + </p> + <p> + The Lady Hermione took the bag of gold from her attendant, and gave it to + her young friend, who threw herself into her arms, kissed her on both the + pale cheeks, over which the sorrows so newly awakened by her narrative had + drawn many tears, then sprung up, wiped her own overflowing eyes, and left + the Foljambe apartments with a hasty and resolved step. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Rove not from pole to pole-the man lives here + Whose razor's only equall'd by his beer; + And where, in either sense, the cockney-put + May, if he pleases, get confounded cut. + <i>On the sign of an Alehouse kept by a Barber.</i> +</pre> + <p> + We are under the necessity of transporting our readers to the habitation + of Benjamin Suddlechop, the husband of the active and efficient Dame + Ursula, and who also, in his own person, discharged more offices than one. + For, besides trimming locks and beards, and turning whiskers upward into + the martial and swaggering curl, or downward into the drooping form which + became mustaches of civil policy; besides also occasionally letting blood, + either by cupping or by the lancet, extracting a stump, and performing + other actions of petty pharmacy, very nearly as well as his neighbour + Raredrench, the apothecary: he could, on occasion, draw a cup of beer as + well as a tooth, tap a hogshead as well as a vein, and wash, with a + draught of good ale, the mustaches which his art had just trimmed. But he + carried on these trades apart from each other. + </p> + <p> + His barber's shop projected its long and mysterious pole into Fleet + Street, painted party-coloured-wise, to represent the ribbons with which, + in elder times, that ensign was garnished. In the window were seen rows of + teeth displayed upon strings like rosaries—cups with a red rag at + the bottom, to resemble blood, an intimation that patients might be bled, + cupped, or blistered, with the assistance of "sufficient advice;" while + the more profitable, but less honourable operations upon the hair of the + head and beard, were briefly and gravely announced. Within was the + well-worn leather chair for customers, the guitar, then called a ghittern + or cittern, with which a customer might amuse himself till his predecessor + was dismissed from under Benjamin's hands, and which, therefore, often + flayed the ears of the patient metaphorically, while his chin sustained + from the razor literal scarification. All, therefore, in this department, + spoke the chirurgeon-barber, or the barber-chirurgeon. + </p> + <p> + But there was a little back-room, used as a private tap-room, which had a + separate entrance by a dark and crooked alley, which communicated with + Fleet Street, after a circuitous passage through several by-lanes and + courts. This retired temple of Bacchus had also a connexion with + Benjamin's more public shop by a long and narrow entrance, conducting to + the secret premises in which a few old topers used to take their morning + draught, and a few gill-sippers their modicum of strong waters, in a + bashful way, after having entered the barber's shop under pretence of + being shaved. Besides, this obscure tap-room gave a separate admission to + the apartments of Dame Ursley, which she was believed to make use of in + the course of her multifarious practice, both to let herself secretly out, + and to admit clients and employers who cared not to be seen to visit her + in public. Accordingly, after the hour of noon, by which time the modest + and timid whetters, who were Benjamin's best customers, had each had his + draught, or his thimbleful, the business of the tap was in a manner ended, + and the charge of attending the back-door passed from one of the barber's + apprentices to the little mulatto girl, the dingy Iris of Dame Suddlechop. + Then came mystery thick upon mystery; muffled gallants, and masked + females, in disguises of different fashions, were seen to glide through + the intricate mazes of the alley; and even the low tap on the door, which + frequently demanded the attention of the little Creole, had in it + something that expressed secrecy and fear of discovery. + </p> + <p> + It was the evening of the same day when Margaret had held the long + conference with the Lady Hermione, that Dame Suddlechop had directed her + little portress to "keep the door fast as a miser's purse-strings; and, as + she valued her saffron skin, to let in none but—-" the name she + added in a whisper, and accompanied it with a nod. The little domestic + blinked intelligence, went to her post, and in brief time thereafter + admitted and ushered into the presence of the dame, that very city-gallant + whose clothes sat awkwardly upon him, and who had behaved so doughtily in + the fray which befell at Nigel's first visit to Beaujeu's ordinary. The + mulatto introduced him—"Missis, fine young gentleman, all over gold + and velvet "—then muttered to herself as she shut the door, "fine + young gentleman, he!—apprentice to him who makes the tick-tick." + </p> + <p> + It was indeed—we are sorry to say it, and trust our readers will + sympathize with the interest we take in the matter—it was indeed + honest Jin Vin, who had been so far left to his own devices, and abandoned + by his better angel, as occasionally to travesty himself in this fashion, + and to visit, in the dress of a gallant of the day, those places of + pleasure and dissipation, in which it would have been everlasting + discredit to him to have been seen in his real character and condition; + that is, had it been possible for him in his proper shape to have gained + admission. There was now a deep gloom on his brow, his rich habit was + hastily put on, and buttoned awry; his belt buckled in a most disorderly + fashion, so that his sword stuck outwards from his side, instead of + hanging by it with graceful negligence; while his poniard, though fairly + hatched and gilded, stuck in his girdle like a butcher's steel in the fold + of his blue apron. Persons of fashion had, by the way, the advantage + formerly of being better distinguished from the vulgar than at present; + for, what the ancient farthingale and more modern hoop were to court + ladies, the sword was to the gentleman; an article of dress, which only + rendered those ridiculous who assumed it for the nonce, without being in + the habit of wearing it. Vincent's rapier got between his legs, and, as he + stumbled over it, he exclaimed—"Zounds! 'tis the second time it has + served me thus—I believe the damned trinket knows I am no true + gentleman, and does it of set purpose." + </p> + <p> + "Come, come, mine honest Jin Vin—come, my good boy," said the dame, + in a soothing tone, "never mind these trankums—a frank and hearty + London 'prentice is worth all the gallants of the inns of court." + </p> + <p> + "I was a frank and hearty London 'prentice before I knew you, Dame + Suddlechop," said Vincent; "what your advice has made me, you may find a + name for; since, fore George! I am ashamed to think about it myself." + </p> + <p> + "A-well-a-day," quoth the dame, "and is it even so with thee?—nay, + then, I know but one cure;" and with that, going to a little corner + cupboard of carved wainscoat, she opened it by the assistance of a key, + which, with half-a-dozen besides, hung in a silver chain at her girdle, + and produced a long flask of thin glass cased with wicker, bringing forth + at the same time two Flemish rummer glasses, with long stalks and + capacious wombs. She filled the one brimful for her guest, and the other + more modestly to about two-thirds of its capacity, for her own use, + repeating, as the rich cordial trickled forth in a smooth oily stream—"Right + Rosa Solis, as ever washed mulligrubs out of a moody brain!" + </p> + <p> + But, though Jin Vin tossed off his glass without scruple, while the lady + sippped hers more moderately, it did not appear to produce the expected + amendment upon his humour. On the contrary, as he threw himself into the + great leathern chair, in which Dame Ursley was wont to solace herself of + an evening, he declared himself "the most miserable dog within the sound + of Bow-bell." + </p> + <p> + "And why should you be so idle as to think yourself so, silly boy?" said + Dame Suddlechop; "but 'tis always thus—fools and children never know + when they are well. Why, there is not one that walks in St. Paul's, + whether in flat cap, or hat and feather, that has so many kind glances + from the wenches as you, when ye swagger along Fleet Street with your bat + under your arm, and your cap set aside upon your head. Thou knowest well, + that, from Mrs. Deputy's self down to the waist-coateers in the alley, all + of them are twiring and peeping betwixt their fingers when you pass; and + yet you call yourself a miserable dog! and I must tell you all this over + and over again, as if I were whistling the chimes of London to a pettish + child, in order to bring the pretty baby into good-humour!" + </p> + <p> + The flattery of Dame Ursula seemed to have the fate of her cordial—it + was swallowed, indeed, by the party to whom she presented it, and that + with some degree of relish, but it did not operate as a sedative on the + disturbed state of the youth's mind. He laughed for an instant, half in + scorn, and half in gratified vanity, but cast a sullen look on Dame Ursley + as he replied to her last words, + </p> + <p> + "You do treat me like a child indeed, when you sing over and over to me a + cuckoo song that I care not a copper-filing for." + </p> + <p> + "Aha!" said Dame Ursley; "that is to say, you care not if you please all, + unless you please one—You are a true lover, I warrant, and care not + for all the city, from here to Whitechapel, so you could write yourself + first in your pretty Peg-a-Ramsay's good-will. Well, well, take patience, + man, and be guided by me, for I will be the hoop will bind you together at + last." + </p> + <p> + "It is time you were so," said Jenkin, "for hitherto you have rather been + the wedge to separate us." + </p> + <p> + Dame Suddlechop had by this time finished her cordial—it was not the + first she had taken that day; and, though a woman of strong brain, and + cautious at least, if not abstemious, in her potations, it may + nevertheless be supposed that her patience was not improved by the regimen + which she observed. + </p> + <p> + "Why, thou ungracious and ingrate knave," said Dame Ursley, "have not I + done every thing to put thee in thy mistress's good graces? She loves + gentry, the proud Scottish minx, as a Welshman loves cheese, and has her + father's descent from that Duke of Daldevil, or whatsoever she calls him, + as close in her heart as gold in a miser's chest, though she as seldom + shows it—and none she will think of, or have, but a gentleman—and + a gentleman I have made of thee, Jin Vin, the devil cannot deny that." + </p> + <p> + "You have made a fool of me," said poor Jenkin, looking at the sleeve of + his jacket. + </p> + <p> + "Never the worse gentleman for that," said Dame Ursley, laughing. + </p> + <p> + "And what is worse," said he, turning his back to her suddenly, and + writhing in his chair, "you have made a rogue of me." + </p> + <p> + "Never the worse gentleman for that neither," said Dame Ursley, in the + same tone; "let a man bear his folly gaily and his knavery stoutly, and + let me see if gravity or honesty will look him in the face now-a-days. + Tut, man, it was only in the time of King Arthur or King Lud, that a + gentleman was held to blemish his scutcheon by a leap over the line of + reason or honesty—It is the bold look, the ready hand, the fine + clothes, the brisk oath, and the wild brain, that makes the gallant + now-a-days." + </p> + <p> + "I know what you have made me," said Jin Vin; "since I have given up + skittles and trap-ball for tennis and bowls, good English ale for thin + Bordeaux and sour Rhenish, roast-beef and pudding for woodcocks and + kickshaws—my bat for a sword, my cap for a beaver, my forsooth for a + modish oath, my Christmas-box for a dice-box, my religion for the devil's + matins, and mine honest name for—Woman, I could brain thee, when I + think whose advice has guided me in all this!" + </p> + <p> + "Whose advice, then? whose advice, then? Speak out, thou poor, petty + cloak-brusher, and say who advised thee!" retorted Dame Ursley, flushed + and indignant—"Marry come up, my paltry companion—say by whose + advice you have made a gamester of yourself, and a thief besides, as your + words would bear—The Lord deliver us from evil!" And here Dame + Ursley devoutly crossed herself. + </p> + <p> + "Hark ye, Dame Ursley Suddlechop," said Jenkin, starting up, his dark eyes + flashing with anger; "remember I am none of your husband—and, if I + were, you would do well not to forget whose threshold was swept when they + last rode the Skimmington [Footnote: A species of triumphal procession in + honour of female supremacy, when it rose to such a height as to attract + the attention of the neighbourhood. It is described at full length in + Hudibras. (Part II. Canto II.) As the procession passed on, those who + attended it in an official capacity were wont to sweep the threshold of + the houses in which Fame affirmed the mistresses to exercise paramount + authority, which was given and received as a hint that their inmates + might, in their turn, be made the subject of a similar ovation. The + Skimmington, which in some degree resembled the proceedings of Mumbo Jumbo + in an African village, has been long discontinued in England, apparently + because female rule has become either milder or less frequent than among + our ancestors.] upon such another scolding jade as yourself." + </p> + <p> + "I hope to see you ride up Holborn next," said Dame Ursley, provoked out + of all her holiday and sugar-plum expressions, "with a nosegay at your + breast, and a parson at your elbow!" + </p> + <p> + "That may well be," answered Jin Vin, bitterly, "if I walk by your + counsels as I have begun by them; but, before that day comes, you shall + know that Jin Vin has the brisk boys of Fleet Street still at his wink.—Yes, + you jade, you shall be carted for bawd and conjurer, double-dyed in grain, + and bing off to Bridewell, with every brass basin betwixt the Bar and + Paul's beating before you, as if the devil were banging them with his + beef-hook." + </p> + <p> + Dame Ursley coloured like scarlet, seized upon the half-emptied flask of + cordial, and seemed, by her first gesture, about to hurl it at the head of + her adversary; but suddenly, and as if by a strong internal effort, she + checked her outrageous resentment, and, putting the bottle to its more + legitimate use, filled, with wonderful composure, the two glasses, and, + taking up one of them, said, with a smile, which better became her comely + and jovial countenance than the fury by which it was animated the moment + before— + </p> + <p> + "Here is to thee, Jin Vin, my lad, in all loving kindness, whatever spite + thou bearest to me, that have always been a mother to thee." + </p> + <p> + Jenkin's English good-nature could not resist this forcible appeal; he + took up the other glass, and lovingly pledged the dame in her cup of + reconciliation, and proceeded to make a kind of grumbling apology for his + own violence— + </p> + <p> + "For you know," he said, "it was you persuaded me to get these fine + things, and go to that godless ordinary, and ruffle it with the best, and + bring you home all the news; and you said, I, that was the cock of the + ward, would soon be the cock of the ordinary, and would win ten times as + much at gleek and primero, as I used to do at put and beggar-my-neighbour—and + turn up doublets with the dice, as busily as I was wont to trowl down the + ninepins in the skittle-ground—and then you said I should bring you + such news out of the ordinary as should make us all, when used as you knew + how to use it—and now you see what is to come of it all!" + </p> + <p> + "'Tis all true thou sayest, lad," said the dame; "but thou must have + patience. Rome was not built in a day—you cannot become used to your + court-suit in a month's time, any more than when you changed your long + coat for a doublet and hose; and in gaming you must expect to lose as well + as gain—'tis the sitting gamester sweeps the board." + </p> + <p> + "The board has swept me, I know," replied Jin Vin, "and that pretty clean + out.—I would that were the worst; but I owe for all this finery, and + settling-day is coming on, and my master will find my accompt worse than + it should be by a score of pieces. My old father will be called in to make + them good; and I—may save the hangman a labour and do the job + myself, or go the Virginia voyage." + </p> + <p> + "Do not speak so loud, my dear boy," said Dame Ursley; "but tell me why + you borrow not from a friend to make up your arrear. You could lend him as + much when his settling-day came round." + </p> + <p> + "No, no—I have had enough of that work," said Vincent. "Tunstall + would lend me the money, poor fellow, an he had it; but his gentle, + beggarly kindred, plunder him of all, and keep him as bare as a birch at + Christmas. No—my fortune may be spelt in four letters, and these + read, RUIN." + </p> + <p> + "Now hush, you simple craven," said the dame; "did you never hear, that + when the need is highest the help is nighest? We may find aid for you yet, + and sooner than you are aware of. I am sure I would never have advised you + to such a course, but only you had set heart and eye on pretty Mistress + Marget, and less would not serve you—and what could I do but advise + you to cast your city-slough, and try your luck where folks find fortune?" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay—I remember your counsel well," said Jenkin; "I was to be + introduced to her by you when I was perfect in my gallantries, and as rich + as the king; and then she was to be surprised to find I was poor Jin Vin, + that used to watch, from matin to curfew, for one glance of her eye; and + now, instead of that, she has set her soul on this Scottish sparrow-hawk + of a lord that won my last tester, and be cursed to him; and so I am + bankrupt in love, fortune, and character, before I am out of my time, and + all along of you, Mother Midnight." + </p> + <p> + "Do not call me out of my own name, my dear boy, Jin Vin," answered + Ursula, in a tone betwixt rage and coaxing,—"do not; because I am no + saint, but a poor sinful woman, with no more patience than she needs, to + carry her through a thousand crosses. And if I have done you wrong by evil + counsel, I must mend it and put you right by good advice. And for the + score of pieces that must be made up at settling-day, why, here is, in a + good green purse, as much as will make that matter good; and we will get + old Crosspatch, the tailor, to take a long day for your clothes; and—" + </p> + <p> + "Mother, are you serious?" said Jin Vin, unable to trust either his eyes + or his ears. + </p> + <p> + "In troth am I," said the dame; "and will you call me Mother Midnight now, + Jin Vin?" + </p> + <p> + "Mother Midnight!" exclaimed Jenkin, hugging the dame in his transport, + and bestowing on her still comely cheek a hearty and not unacceptable + smack, that sounded like the report of a pistol,—"Mother Midday, + rather, that has risen to light me out of my troubles—a mother more + dear than she who bore me; for she, poor soul, only brought me into a + world of sin and sorrow, and your timely aid has helped me out of the one + and the other." And the good-natured fellow threw himself back in his + chair, and fairly drew his hand across his eyes. + </p> + <p> + "You would not have me be made to ride the Skimmington then," said the + dame; "or parade me in a cart, with all the brass basins of the ward + beating the march to Bridewell before me?" + </p> + <p> + "I would sooner be carted to Tyburn myself," replied the penitent. + </p> + <p> + "Why, then, sit up like a man, and wipe thine eyes; and, if thou art + pleased with what I have done, I will show thee how thou mayst requite me + in the highest degree." + </p> + <p> + "How?" said Jenkin Vincent, sitting straight up in his chair.—"You + would have me, then, do you some service for this friendship of yours?" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, marry would I," said Dame Ursley; "for you are to know, that though I + am right glad to stead you with it, this gold is not mine, but was placed + in my hands in order to find a trusty agent, for a certain purpose; and so—But + what's the matter with you?—are you fool enough to be angry because + you cannot get a purse of gold for nothing? I would I knew where such were + to come by. I never could find them lying in my road, I promise you." + </p> + <p> + "No, no, dame," said poor Jenkin, "it is not for that; for, look you, I + would rather work these ten bones to the knuckles, and live by my labour; + but—" (and here he paused.) + </p> + <p> + "But what, man?" said Dame Ursley. "You are willing to work for what you + want; and yet, when I offer you gold for the winning, you look on me as + the devil looks over Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + "It is ill talking of the devil, mother," said Jenkin. "I had him even now + in my head—for, look you, I am at that pass, when they say he will + appear to wretched ruined creatures, and proffer them gold for the + fee-simple of their salvation. But I have been trying these two days to + bring my mind strongly up to the thought, that I will rather sit down in + shame, and sin, and sorrow, as I am like to do, than hold on in ill + courses to get rid of my present straits; and so take care, Dame Ursula, + how you tempt me to break such a good resolution." + </p> + <p> + "I tempt you to nothing, young man," answered Ursula; "and, as I perceive + you are too wilful to be wise, I will e'en put my purse in my pocket, and + look out for some one that will work my turn with better will, and more + thankfulness. And you may go your own course,—break your indenture, + ruin your father, lose your character, and bid pretty Mistress Margaret + farewell, for ever and a day." + </p> + <p> + "Stay, stay," said Jenkin "the woman is in as great a hurry as a brown + baker when his oven is overheated. First, let me hear that which you have + to propose to me." + </p> + <p> + "Why, after all, it is but to get a gentleman of rank and fortune, who is + in trouble, carried in secret down the river, as far as the Isle of Dogs, + or somewhere thereabout, where he may lie concealed until he can escape + aboard. I know thou knowest every place by the river's side as well as the + devil knows an usurer, or the beggar knows his dish." + </p> + <p> + "A plague of your similes, dame," replied the apprentice; "for the devil + gave me that knowledge, and beggary may be the end on't.—But what + has this gentleman done, that he should need to be under hiding? No + Papist, I hope—no Catesby and Piercy business—no Gunpowder + Plot?" + </p> + <p> + "Fy, fy!—what do you take me for?" said Dame Ursula. "I am as good a + churchwoman as the parson's wife, save that necessary business will not + allow me to go there oftener than on Christmas-day, heaven help me!—No, + no—this is no Popish matter. The gentleman hath but struck another + in the Park—" + </p> + <p> + "Ha! what?" said Vincent, interrupting her with a start. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, I see you guess whom I mean. It is even he we have spoken of so + often—just Lord Glenvarloch, and no one else." + </p> + <p> + Vincent sprung from his seat, and traversed the room with rapid and + disorderly steps. + </p> + <p> + "There, there it is now—you are always ice or gunpowder. You sit in + the great leathern armchair, as quiet as a rocket hangs upon the frame in + a rejoicing-night till the match be fired, and then, whizz! you are in the + third heaven, beyond the reach of the human voice, eye, or brain.—When + you have wearied yourself with padding to and fro across the room, will + you tell me your determination, for time presses? Will you aid me in this + matter, or not?" + </p> + <p> + "No—no—no—a thousand times no," replied Jenkin. "Have + you not confessed to me, that Margaret loves him?" + </p> + <p> + "Ay," answered the dame, "that she thinks she does; but that will not last + long." + </p> + <p> + "And have I not told you but this instant," replied Jenkin, "that it was + this same Glenvarloch that rooked me, at the ordinary, of every penny I + had, and made a knave of me to boot, by gaining more than was my own?—O + that cursed gold, which Shortyard, the mercer, paid me that morning on + accompt, for mending the clock of Saint Stephen's! If I had not, by ill + chance, had that about me, I could but have beggared my purse, without + blemishing my honesty; and, after I had been rooked of all the rest + amongst them, I must needs risk the last five pieces with that shark among + the minnows!" + </p> + <p> + "Granted," said Dame Ursula. "All this I know; and I own, that as Lord + Glenvarloch was the last you played with, you have a right to charge your + ruin on his head. Moreover, I admit, as already said, that Margaret has + made him your rival. Yet surely, now he is in danger to lose his hand, it + is not a time to remember all this?" + </p> + <p> + "By my faith, but it is, though," said the young citizen. "Lose his hand, + indeed? They may take his head, for what I care. Head and hand have made + me a miserable wretch!" + </p> + <p> + "Now, were it not better, my prince of flat-caps," said Dame Ursula, "that + matters were squared between you; and that, through means of the same + Scottish lord, who has, as you say, deprived you of your money and your + mistress, you should in a short time recover both?" + </p> + <p> + "And how can your wisdom come to that conclusion, dame?" said the + apprentice. "My money, indeed, I can conceive—that is, if I comply + with your proposal; but—my pretty Marget!—how serving this + lord, whom she has set her nonsensical head upon, can do me good with her, + is far beyond my conception." + </p> + <p> + "That is because, in simple phrase," said Dame Ursula, "thou knowest no + more of a woman's heart than doth a Norfolk gosling. Look you, man. Were I + to report to Mistress Margaret that the young lord has miscarried through + thy lack of courtesy in refusing to help him, why, then, thou wert odious + to her for ever. She will loathe thee as she will loathe the very cook who + is to strike off Glenvarloch's hand with his cleaver—and then she + will be yet more fixed in her affections towards this lord. London will + hear of nothing but him—speak of nothing but him—think of + nothing but him, for three weeks at least, and all that outcry will serve + to keep him uppermost in her mind; for nothing pleases a girl so much as + to bear relation to any one who is the talk of the whole world around her. + Then, if he suffer this sentence of the law, it is a chance if she ever + forgets him. I saw that handsome, proper young gentleman Babington, suffer + in the Queen's time myself, and though I was then but a girl, he was in my + head for a year after he was hanged. But, above all, pardoned or punished, + Glenvarloch will probably remain in London, and his presence will keep up + the silly girl's nonsensical fancy about him. Whereas, if he escapes—" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, show me how that is to avail me?" said Jenkin. "If he escapes," said + the dame, resuming her argument, "he must resign the Court for years, if + not for life; and you know the old saying, 'out of sight, and out of + mind.'" + </p> + <p> + "True—most true," said Jenkin; "spoken like an oracle, most wise + Ursula." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, I knew you would hear reason at last," said the wily dame; "and + then, when this same lord is off and away for once and for ever, who, I + pray you, is to be pretty pet's confidential person, and who is to fill up + the void in her affections?—why, who but thou, thou pearl of + 'prentices! And then you will have overcome your own inclinations to + comply with hers, and every woman is sensible of that—and you will + have run some risk, too, in carrying her desires into effect—and + what is it that woman likes better than bravery, and devotion to her will? + Then you have her secret, and she must treat you with favour and + observance, and repose confidence in you, and hold private intercourse + with you, till she weeps with one eye for the absent lover whom she is + never to see again, and blinks with the other blithely upon him who is in + presence; and then if you know not how to improve the relation in which + you stand with her, you are not the brisk lively lad that all the world + takes you for—Said I well?" + </p> + <p> + "You have spoken like an empress, most mighty Ursula," said Jenkin + Vincent; "and your will shall be obeyed." + </p> + <p> + "You know Alsatia well?" continued his tutoress. + </p> + <p> + "Well enough, well enough," replied he with a nod; "I have heard the dice + rattle there in my day, before I must set up for gentleman, and go among + the gallants at the Shavaleer Bojo's, as they call him,—the worse + rookery of the two, though the feathers are the gayest." + </p> + <p> + "And they will have a respect for thee yonder, I warrant?" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay," replied Vin, "when I am got into my fustian doublet again, with + my bit of a trunnion under my arm, I can walk Alsatia at midnight as I + could do that there Fleet Street in midday—they will not one of them + swagger with the prince of 'prentices, and the king of clubs—they + know I could bring every tall boy in the ward down upon them." + </p> + <p> + "And you know all the watermen, and so forth?" + </p> + <p> + "Can converse with every sculler in his own language, from Richmond to + Gravesend, and know all the water-cocks, from John Taylor the Poet to + little Grigg the Grinner, who never pulls but he shows all his teeth from + ear to ear, as if he were grimacing through a horse-collar." + </p> + <p> + "And you can take any dress or character upon you well, such as a + waterman's, a butcher's, a foot-soldier's," continued Ursula, "or the + like?" + </p> + <p> + "Not such a mummer as I am within the walls, and thou knowest that well + enough, dame," replied the apprentice. "I can touch the players + themselves, at the Ball and at the Fortune, for presenting any thing + except a gentleman. Take but this d—d skin of frippery off me, which + I think the devil stuck me into, and you shall put me into nothing else + that I will not become as if I were born to it." + </p> + <p> + "Well, we will talk of your transmutation by and by," said the dame, "and + find you clothes withal, and money besides; for it will take a good deal + to carry the thing handsomely through." + </p> + <p> + "But where is that money to come from, dame?" said Jenkin; "there is a + question I would fain have answered before I touch it." + </p> + <p> + "Why, what a fool art thou to ask such a question! Suppose I am content to + advance it to please young madam, what is the harm then?" + </p> + <p> + "I will suppose no such thing," said Jenkin, hastily; "I know that you, + dame, have no gold to spare, and maybe would not spare it if you had—so + that cock will not crow. It must be from Margaret herself." + </p> + <p> + "Well, thou suspicious animal, and what if it were?" said Ursula. + </p> + <p> + "Only this," replied Jenkin, "that I will presently to her, and learn if + she has come fairly by so much ready money; for sooner than connive at her + getting it by any indirection, I would hang myself at once. It is enough + what I have done myself, no need to engage poor Margaret in such villainy—I'll + to her, and tell her of the danger—I will, by heaven!" + </p> + <p> + "You are mad to think of it," said Dame Suddlechop, considerably alarmed—"hear + me but a moment. I know not precisely from whom she got the money; but + sure I am that she obtained it at her godfather's." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Master George Heriot is not returned from France," said Jenkin. + </p> + <p> + "No," replied Ursula, "but Dame Judith is at home—and the strange + lady, whom they call Master Heriot's ghost—she never goes abroad." + </p> + <p> + "It is very true, Dame Suddlechop," said Jenkin; "and I believe you have + guessed right—they say that lady has coin at will; and if Marget can + get a handful of fairy-gold, why, she is free to throw it away at will." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, Jin Vin," said the dame, reducing her voice almost to a whisper, "we + should not want gold at will neither, could we but read the riddle of that + lady!" + </p> + <p> + "They may read it that list," said Jenkin, "I'll never pry into what + concerns me not—Master George Heriot is a worthy and brave citizen, + and an honour to London, and has a right to manage his own household as he + likes best.—There was once a talk of rabbling him the fifth of + November before the last, because they said he kept a nunnery in his + house, like old Lady Foljambe; but Master George is well loved among the + 'prentices, and we got so many brisk boys of us together as should have + rabbled the rabble, had they had but the heart to rise." + </p> + <p> + "Well, let that pass," said Ursula; "and now, tell me how you will manage + to be absent from shop a day or two, for you must think that this matter + will not be ended sooner." + </p> + <p> + "Why, as to that, I can say nothing," said Jenkin, "I have always served + duly and truly; I have no heart to play truant, and cheat my master of his + time as well as his money." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, but the point is to get back his money for him," said Ursula, "which + he is not likely to see on other conditions. Could you not ask leave to go + down to your uncle in Essex for two or three days? He may be ill, you + know." + </p> + <p> + "Why, if I must, I must," said Jenkin, with a heavy sigh; "but I will not + be lightly caught treading these dark and crooked paths again." + </p> + <p> + "Hush thee, then," said the dame, "and get leave for this very evening; + and come back hither, and I will introduce you to another implement, who + must be employed in the matter.—Stay, stay!—the lad is mazed—you + would not go into your master's shop in that guise, surely? Your trunk is + in the matted chamber, with your 'prentice things—go and put them on + as fast as you can." + </p> + <p> + "I think I am bewitched," said Jenkin, giving a glance towards his dress, + "or that these fool's trappings have made as great an ass of me as of many + I have seen wear them; but let line once be rid of the harness, and if you + catch me putting it on again, I will give you leave to sell me to a gipsy, + to carry pots, pans, and beggar's bantlings, all the rest of my life." So + saying, he retired to change his apparel. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Chance will not do the work—Chance sends the breeze; + But if the pilot slumber at the helm, + The very wind that wafts us towards the port + May dash us on the shelves.—The steersman's part is vigilance, + Blow it or rough or smooth. + <i>Old Play</i>. +</pre> + <p> + We left Nigel, whose fortunes we are bound to trace by the engagement + contracted in our title-page, sad and solitary in the mansion of Trapbois + the usurer, having just received a letter instead of a visit from his + friend the Templar, stating reasons why he could not at that time come to + see him in Alsatia. So that it appeared that his intercourse with the + better and more respectable class of society, was, for the present, + entirely cut off. This was a melancholy, and, to a proud mind like that of + Nigel, a degrading reflection. + </p> + <p> + He went to the window of his apartment, and found the street enveloped in + one of those thick, dingy, yellow-coloured fogs, which often invest the + lower part of London and Westminster. Amid the darkness, dense and + palpable, were seen to wander like phantoms a reveller or two, whom the + morning had surprised where the evening left them; and who now, with + tottering steps, and by an instinct which intoxication could not wholly + overcome, were groping the way to their own homes, to convert day into + night, for the purpose of sleeping off the debauch which had turned night + into day. Although it was broad day in the other parts of the city, it was + scarce dawn yet in Alsatia; and none of the sounds of industry or + occupation were there heard, which had long before aroused the slumberers + in any other quarter. The prospect was too tiresome and disagreeable to + detain Lord Glenvarloch at his station, so, turning from the window, he + examined with more interest the furniture and appearance of the apartment + which he tenanted. + </p> + <p> + Much of it had been in its time rich and curious—there was a huge + four-post bed, with as much carved oak about it as would have made the + head of a man-of-war, and tapestry hangings ample enough to have been her + sails. There was a huge mirror with a massy frame of gilt brass-work, + which was of Venetian manufacture, and must have been worth a considerable + sum before it received the tremendous crack, which, traversing it from one + corner to the other, bore the same proportion to the surface that the Nile + bears to the map of Egypt. The chairs were of different forms and shapes, + some had been carved, some gilded, some covered with damasked leather, + some with embroidered work, but all were damaged and worm-eaten. There was + a picture of Susanna and the Elders over the chimney-piece, which might + have been accounted a choice piece, had not the rats made free with the + chaste fair one's nose, and with the beard of one of her reverend + admirers. + </p> + <p> + In a word, all that Lord Glenvarloch saw, seemed to have been articles + carried off by appraisement or distress, or bought as pennyworths at some + obscure broker's, and huddled together in the apartment, as in a + sale-room, without regard to taste or congruity. + </p> + <p> + The place appeared to Nigel to resemble the houses near the sea-coast, + which are too often furnished with the spoils of wrecked vessels, as this + was probably fitted up with the relics of ruined profligates.—"My + own skiff is among the breakers," thought Lord Glenvarloch, "though my + wreck will add little to the profits of the spoiler." + </p> + <p> + He was chiefly interested in the state of the grate, a huge assemblage of + rusted iron bars which stood in the chimney, unequally supported by three + brazen feet, moulded into the form of lion's claws, while the fourth, + which had been bent by an accident, seemed proudly uplifted as if to paw + the ground; or as if the whole article had nourished the ambitious purpose + of pacing forth into the middle of the apartment, and had one foot ready + raised for the journey. A smile passed over Nigel's face as this fantastic + idea presented itself to his fancy.—"I must stop its march, + however," he thought; "for this morning is chill and raw enough to demand + some fire." + </p> + <p> + He called accordingly from the top of a large staircase, with a heavy + oaken balustrade, which gave access to his own and other apartments, for + the house was old and of considerable size; but, receiving no answer to + his repeated summons, he was compelled to go in search of some one who + might accommodate him with what he wanted. + </p> + <p> + Nigel had, according to the fashion of the old world in Scotland, received + an education which might, in most particulars, be termed simple, hardy, + and unostentatious; but he had, nevertheless, been accustomed to much + personal deference, and to the constant attendance and ministry of one or + more domestics. This was the universal custom in Scotland, where wages + were next to nothing, and where, indeed, a man of title or influence might + have as many attendants as he pleased, for the mere expense of food, + clothes, and countenance. Nigel was therefore mortified and displeased + when he found himself without notice or attendance; and the more + dissatisfied, because he was at the same time angry with himself for + suffering such a trifle to trouble him at all, amongst matters of more + deep concernment. "There must surely be some servants in so large a house + as this," said he, as he wandered over the place, through which he was + conducted by a passage which branched off from the gallery. As he went on, + he tried the entrance to several apartments, some of which he found were + locked and others unfurnished, all apparently unoccupied; so that at + length he returned to the staircase, and resolved to make his way down to + the lower part of the house, where he supposed he must at least find the + old gentleman, and his ill-favoured daughter. With this purpose he first + made his entrance into a little low, dark parlour, containing a well-worn + leathern easy-chair, before which stood a pair of slippers, while on the + left side rested a crutch-handled staff; an oaken table stood before it, + and supported a huge desk clamped with iron, and a massive pewter + inkstand. Around the apartment were shelves, cabinets, and other places + convenient for depositing papers. A sword, musketoon, and a pair of + pistols, hung over the chimney, in ostentatious display, as if to intimate + that the proprietor would be prompt in the defence of his premises. + </p> + <p> + "This must be the usurer's den," thought Nigel; and he was about to call + aloud, when the old man, awakened even by the slightest noise, for avarice + seldom sleeps sound, soon was heard from the inner room, speaking in a + voice of irritability, rendered more tremulous by his morning cough. + </p> + <p> + "Ugh, ugh, ugh—who is there? I say—ugh, ugh—who is + there? Why, Martha!—ugh! ugh—Martha Trapbois—here be + thieves in the house, and they will not speak to me—why, Martha!—thieves, + thieves—ugh, ugh, ugh!" + </p> + <p> + Nigel endeavoured to explain, but the idea of thieves had taken possession + of the old man's pineal gland, and he kept coughing and screaming, and + screaming and coughing, until the gracious Martha entered the apartment; + and, having first outscreamed her father, in order to convince him that + there was no danger, and to assure him that the intruder was their new + lodger, and having as often heard her sire ejaculate—"Hold him fast—ugh, + ugh—hold him fast till I come," she at length succeeded in silencing + his fears and his clamour, and then coldly and dryly asked Lord + Glenvarloch what he wanted in her father's apartment. + </p> + <p> + Her lodger had, in the meantime, leisure to contemplate her appearance, + which did not by any means improve the idea he had formed of it by + candlelight on the preceding evening. She was dressed in what was called a + Queen Mary's ruff and farthingale; not the falling ruff with which the + unfortunate Mary of Scotland is usually painted, but that which, with more + than Spanish stiffness, surrounded the throat, and set off the morose + head, of her fierce namesake, of Smithfield memory. This antiquated dress + assorted well with the faded complexion, grey eyes, thin lips, and austere + visage of the antiquated maiden, which was, moreover, enhanced by a black + hood, worn as her head-gear, carefully disposed so as to prevent any of + her hair from escaping to view, probably because the simplicity of the + period knew no art of disguising the colour with which time had begun to + grizzle her tresses. Her figure was tall, thin, and flat, with skinny arms + and hands, and feet of the larger size, cased in huge high-heeled shoes, + which added height to a stature already ungainly. Apparently some art had + been used by the tailor, to conceal a slight defect of shape, occasioned + by the accidental elevation of one shoulder above the other; but the + praiseworthy efforts of the ingenious mechanic, had only succeeded in + calling the attention of the observer to his benevolent purpose, without + demonstrating that he had been able to achieve it. + </p> + <p> + Such was Mrs. Martha Trapbois, whose dry "What were you seeking here, + sir?" fell again, and with reiterated sharpness, on the ear of Nigel, as + he gazed upon her presence, and compared it internally to one of the faded + and grim figures in the old tapestry which adorned his bedstead. It was, + however, necessary to reply, and he answered, that he came in search of + the servants, as he desired to have a fire kindled in his apartment on + account of the rawness of the morning. + </p> + <p> + "The woman who does our char-work," answered Mistress Martha, "comes at + eight o'clock-if you want fire sooner, there are fagots and a bucket of + sea-coal in the stone-closet at the head of the stair—and there is a + flint and steel on the upper shelf—you can light fire for yourself + if you will." + </p> + <p> + "No—no—no, Martha," ejaculated her father, who, having donned + his rustic tunic, with his hose all ungirt, and his feet slip-shod, + hastily came out of the inner apartment, with his mind probably full of + robbers, for he had a naked rapier in his hand, which still looked + formidable, though rust had somewhat marred its shine.—What he had + heard at entrance about lighting a fire, had changed, however, the current + of his ideas. "No—no—no," he cried, and each negative was more + emphatic than its predecessor-"The gentleman shall not have the trouble to + put on a fire—ugh—ugh. I'll put it on myself, for a + con-si-de-ra-ti-on." + </p> + <p> + This last word was a favourite expression with the old gentleman, which he + pronounced in a peculiar manner, gasping it out syllable by syllable, and + laying a strong emphasis upon the last. It was, indeed, a sort of + protecting clause, by which he guarded himself against all inconveniences + attendant on the rash habit of offering service or civility of any kind, + the which, when hastily snapped at by those to whom they are uttered, give + the profferer sometimes room to repent his promptitude. + </p> + <p> + "For shame, father," said Martha, "that must not be. Master Grahame will + kindle his own fire, or wait till the char-woman comes to do it for him, + just as likes him best." + </p> + <p> + "No, child—no, child. Child Martha, no," reiterated the old miser—"no + char-woman shall ever touch a grate in my house; they put—ugh, ugh—the + faggot uppermost, and so the coal kindles not, and the flame goes up the + chimney, and wood and heat are both thrown away. Now, I will lay it + properly for the gentleman, for a consideration, so that it shall last—ugh, + ugh—last the whole day." Here his vehemence increased his cough so + violently, that Nigel could only, from a scattered word here and there, + comprehend that it was a recommendation to his daughter to remove the + poker and tongs from the stranger's fireside, with an assurance, that, + when necessary, his landlord would be in attendance to adjust it himself, + "for a consideration." + </p> + <p> + Martha paid as little attention to the old man's injunctions as a + predominant dame gives to those of a henpecked husband. She only repeated, + in a deeper and more emphatic tone of censure,—"For shame, father—for + shame!" then, turning to her guest, said, with her usual ungraciousness of + manner—"Master Grahame—it is best to be plain with you at + first. My father is an old, a very old man, and his wits, as you may see, + are somewhat weakened—though I would not advise you to make a + bargain with him, else you may find them too sharp for your own. For + myself, I am a lone woman, and, to say truth, care little to see or + converse with any one. If you can be satisfied with house-room, shelter, + and safety, it will be your own fault if you have them not, and they are + not always to be found in this unhappy quarter. But, if you seek + deferential observance and attendance, I tell you at once you will not + find them here." + </p> + <p> + "I am not wont either to thrust myself upon acquaintance, madam, or to + give trouble," said the guest; "nevertheless, I shall need the assistance + of a domestic to assist me to dress—Perhaps you can recommend me to + such?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, to twenty," answered Mistress Martha, "who will pick your purse + while they tie your points, and cut your throat while they smooth your + pillow." + </p> + <p> + "I will be his servant, myself," said the old man, whose intellect, for a + moment distanced, had again, in some measure, got up with the + conversation. "I will brush his cloak—ugh, ugh—and tie his + points—ugh, ugh—and clean his shoes—ugh—and run on + his errands with speed and safety—ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh—for a + consideration." + </p> + <p> + "Good-morrow to you, sir," said Martha, to Nigel, in a tone of direct and + positive dismissal. "It cannot be agreeable to a daughter that a stranger + should hear her father speak thus. If you be really a gentleman, you will + retire to your own apartment." + </p> + <p> + "I will not delay a moment," said Nigel, respectfully, for he was sensible + that circumstances palliated the woman's rudeness. "I would but ask you, + if seriously there can be danger in procuring the assistance of a + serving-man in this place?" + </p> + <p> + "Young gentleman," said Martha, "you must know little of Whitefriars to + ask the question. We live alone in this house, and seldom has a stranger + entered it; nor should you, to be plain, had my will been consulted. Look + at the door—see if that of a castle can be better secured; the + windows of the first floor are grated on the outside, and within, look to + these shutters." + </p> + <p> + She pulled one of them aside, and showed a ponderous apparatus of bolts + and chains for securing the window-shutters, while her father, pressing to + her side, seized her gown with a trembling hand, and said, in a low + whisper, "Show not the trick of locking and undoing them. Show him not the + trick on't, Martha—ugh, ugh—on <i>no</i> consideration." + Martha went on, without paying him any attention. + </p> + <p> + "And yet, young gentleman, we have been more than once like to find all + these defences too weak to protect our lives; such an evil effect on the + wicked generation around us hath been made by the unhappy report of my + poor father's wealth." + </p> + <p> + "Say nothing of that, housewife," said the miser, his irritability + increased by the very supposition of his being wealthy—"Say nothing + of that, or I will beat thee, housewife—beat thee with my staff, for + fetching and carrying lies that will procure our throats to be cut at last—ugh, + ugh.—I am but a poor man," he continued, turning to Nigel—"a + very poor man, that am willing to do any honest turn upon earth, for a + modest consideration." + </p> + <p> + "I therefore warn you of the life you must lead, young gentleman," said + Martha; "the poor woman who does the char-work will assist you so far as + in her power, but the wise man is his own best servant and assistant." + </p> + <p> + "It is a lesson you have taught me, madam, and I thank you for it—I + will assuredly study it at leisure." + </p> + <p> + "You will do well," said Martha; "and as you seem thankful for advice, I, + though I am no professed counsellor of others, will give you more. Make no + intimacy with any one in Whitefriars—borrow no money, on any score, + especially from my father, for, dotard as he seems, he will make an ass of + you. Last, and best of all, stay here not an instant longer than you can + help it. Farewell, sir." + </p> + <p> + "A gnarled tree may bear good fruit, and a harsh nature may give good + counsel," thought the Lord of Glenvarloch, as he retreated to his own + apartment, where the same reflection occurred to him again and again, + while, unable as yet to reconcile himself to the thoughts of becoming his + own fire-maker, he walked up and down his bedroom, to warm himself by + exercise. + </p> + <p> + At length his meditations arranged themselves in the following soliloquy—by + which expression I beg leave to observe once for all, that I do not mean + that Nigel literally said aloud with his bodily organs, the words which + follow in inverted commas, (while pacing the room by himself,) but that I + myself choose to present to my dearest reader the picture of my hero's + mind, his reflections and resolutions, in the form of a speech, rather + than in that of a narrative. In other words, I have put his thoughts into + language; and this I conceive to be the purpose of the soliloquy upon the + stage as well as in the closet, being at once the most natural, and + perhaps the only way of communicating to the spectator what is supposed to + be passing in the bosom of the scenic personage. There are no such + soliloquies in nature, it is true, but unless they were received as a + conventional medium of communication betwixt the poet and the audience, we + should reduce dramatic authors to the recipe of Master Puff, who makes + Lord Burleigh intimate a long train of political reasoning to the + audience, by one comprehensive shake of his noddle. In narrative, no + doubt, the writer has the alternative of telling that his personages + thought so and so, inferred thus and thus, and arrived at such and such a + conclusion; but the soliloquy is a more concise and spirited mode of + communicating the same information; and therefore thus communed, or thus + might have communed, the Lord of Glenvarloch with his own mind. + </p> + <p> + "She is right, and has taught me a lesson I will profit by. I have been, + through my whole life, one who leant upon others for that assistance, + which it is more truly noble to derive from my own exertions. I am ashamed + of feeling the paltry inconvenience which long habit had led me to annex + to the want of a servant's assistance—I am ashamed of that; but far, + far more am I ashamed to have suffered the same habit of throwing my own + burden on others, to render me, since I came to this city, a mere victim + of those events, which I have never even attempted to influence—a + thing never acting, but perpetually acted upon—protected by one + friend, deceived by another; but in the advantage which I received from + the one, and the evil I have sustained from the other, as passive and + helpless as a boat that drifts without oar or rudder at the mercy of the + winds and waves. I became a courtier, because Heriot so advised it—a + gamester, because Dalgarno so contrived it—an Alsatian, because + Lowestoffe so willed it. Whatever of good or bad has befallen me, has + arisen out of the agency of others, not from my own. My father's son must + no longer hold this facile and puerile course. Live or die, sink or swim, + Nigel Olifaunt, from this moment, shall owe his safety, success, and + honour, to his own exertions, or shall fall with the credit of having at + least exerted his own free agency. I will write it down in my tablets, in + her very words,—'The wise man is his own best assistant.'" + </p> + <p> + He had just put his tablets in his pocket when the old charwoman, who, to + add to her efficiency, was sadly crippled by rheumatism, hobbled into the + room, to try if she could gain a small gratification by waiting on the + stranger. She readily undertook to get Lord Glenvarloch's breakfast, and + as there was an eating-house at the next door, she succeeded in a shorter + time than Nigel had augured. + </p> + <p> + As his solitary meal was finished, one of the Temple porters, or inferior + officers, was announced, as seeking Master Grahame, on the part of his + friend, Master Lowestoffe; and, being admitted by the old woman to his + apartment, he delivered to Nigel a small mail-trunk, with the clothes he + had desired should be sent to him, and then, with more mystery, put into + his hand a casket, or strong-boy, which he carefully concealed beneath his + cloak. "I am glad to be rid on't," said the fellow, as he placed it on the + table. + </p> + <p> + "Why, it is surely not so very heavy," answered Nigel, "and you are a + stout young man." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, sir," replied the fellow; "but Samson himself would not have carried + such a matter safely through Alsatia, had the lads of the Huff known what + it was. Please to look into it, sir, and see all is right—I am an + honest fellow, and it comes safe out of my hands. How long it may remain + so afterwards, will depend on your own care. I would not my good name were + to suffer by any after-clap." + </p> + <p> + To satisfy the scruples of the messenger, Lord Glenvarloch opened the + casket in his presence, and saw that his small stock of money, with two or + three valuable papers which it contained, and particularly the original + sign-manual which the king had granted in his favour, were in the same + order in which he had left them. At the man's further instance, he availed + himself of the writing materials which were in the casket, in order to + send a line to Master Lowestoffe, declaring that his property had reached + him in safety. He added some grateful acknowledgments for Lowestoffe's + services, and, just as he was sealing and delivering his billet to the + messenger, his aged landlord entered the apartment. His threadbare suit of + black clothes was now somewhat better arranged than they had been in the + dishabille of his first appearance, and his nerves and intellects seemed + to be less fluttered; for, without much coughing or hesitation, he invited + Nigel to partake of a morning draught of wholesome single ale, which he + brought in a large leathern tankard, or black-jack, carried in the one + hand, while the other stirred it round with a sprig of rosemary, to give + it, as the old man said, a flavour. + </p> + <p> + Nigel declined the courteous proffer, and intimated by his manner, while + he did so, that he desired no intrusion on the privacy of his own + apartment; which, indeed, he was the more entitled to maintain, + considering the cold reception he had that morning met with when straying + from its precincts into those of his landlord. But the open casket + contained matter, or rather metal, so attractive to old Trapbois, that he + remained fixed, like a setting-dog at a dead point, his nose advanced, and + one hand expanded like the lifted forepaw, by which that sagacious + quadruped sometimes indicates that it is a hare which he has in the wind. + Nigel was about to break the charm which had thus arrested old Trapbois, + by shutting the lid of the casket, when his attention was withdrawn from + him by the question of the messenger, who, holding out the letter, asked + whether he was to leave it at Mr. Lowestoffe's chambers in the Temple, or + carry it to the Marshalsea? + </p> + <p> + "The Marshalsea?" repeated Lord Glenvarloch; "what of the Marshalsea?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, sir," said the man, "the poor gentleman is laid up there in + lavender, because, they say, his own kind heart led him to scald his + fingers with another man's broth." + </p> + <p> + Nigel hastily snatched back the letter, broke the seal, joined to the + contents his earnest entreaty that he might be instantly acquainted with + the cause of his confinement, and added, that, if it arose out of his own + unhappy affair, it would be of a brief duration, since he had, even before + hearing of a reason which so peremptorily demanded that he should + surrender himself, adopted the resolution to do so, as the manliest and + most proper course which his ill fortune and imprudence had left in his + own power. He therefore conjured Mr. Lowestoffe to have no delicacy upon + this score, but, since his surrender was what he had determined upon as a + sacrifice due to his own character, that he would have the frankness to + mention in what manner it could be best arranged, so as to extricate him, + Lowestoffe, from the restraint to which the writer could not but fear his + friend had been subjected, on account of the generous interest which he + had taken in his concerns. The letter concluded, that the writer would + suffer twenty-four hours to elapse in expectation of hearing from him, + and, at the end of that period, was determined to put his purpose in + execution. He delivered the billet to the messenger, and, enforcing his + request with a piece of money, urged him, without a moment's delay, to + convey it to the hands of Master Lowestoffe. + </p> + <p> + "I—I—I—will carry it to him myself," said the old + usurer, "for half the consideration." + </p> + <p> + The man who heard this attempt to take his duty and perquisites over his + head, lost no time in pocketing the money, and departed on his errand as + fast as he could. + </p> + <p> + "Master Trapbois," said Nigel, addressing the old man somewhat + impatiently, "had you any particular commands for me?" + </p> + <p> + "I—I—came to see if you rested well," answered the old man; + "and—if I could do anything to serve you, on any consideration." + </p> + <p> + "Sir, I thank you," said Lord Glenvarloch—"I thank you;" and, ere he + could say more, a heavy footstep was heard on the stair. + </p> + <p> + "My God!" exclaimed the old man, starting up—"Why, Dorothy—char-woman—why, + daughter,—draw bolt, I say, housewives—the door hath been left + a-latch!" + </p> + <p> + The door of the chamber opened wide, and in strutted the portly bulk of + the military hero whom Nigel had on the preceding evening in vain + endeavoured to recognise. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII + </h2> + <p> + SWASH-BUCKLER. Bilboe's the word—PIERROT. It hath been spoke too + often, The spell hath lost its charm—I tell thee, friend, The + meanest cur that trots the street, will turn, And snarl against your + proffer'd bastinado. SWASH-BUCKLER. 'Tis art shall do it, then—I + will dose the mongrels—Or, in plain terms, I'll use the private + knife 'Stead of the brandish'd falchion. <i>Old Play</i>. + </p> + <p> + The noble Captain Colepepper or Peppercull, for he was known by both these + names, and some others besides; had a martial and a swashing exterior, + which, on the present occasion, was rendered yet more peculiar, by a patch + covering his left eye and a part of the cheek. The sleeves of his thickset + velvet jerkin were polished and shone with grease,—his buff gloves + had huge tops, which reached almost to the elbow; his sword-belt of the + same materials extended its breadth from his haunchbone to his small ribs, + and supported on the one side his large black-hilted back-sword, on the + other a dagger of like proportions He paid his compliments to Nigel with + that air of predetermined effrontery, which announces that it will not be + repelled by any coldness of reception, asked Trapbois how he did, by the + familiar title of old Peter Pillory, and then, seizing upon the + black-jack, emptied it off at a draught, to the health of the last and + youngest freeman of Alsatia, the noble and loving master Nigel Grahame. + </p> + <p> + When he had set down the empty pitcher and drawn his breath, he began to + criticise the liquor which it had lately contained.—"Sufficient + single beer, old Pillory—and, as I take it, brewed at the rate of a + nutshell of malt to a butt of Thames—as dead as a corpse, too, and + yet it went hissing down my throat—bubbling, by Jove, like water + upon hot iron.—You left us early, noble Master Grahame, but, good + faith, we had a carouse to your honour—we heard <i>butt</i> ring + hollow ere we parted; we were as loving as inkle-weavers—we fought, + too, to finish off the gawdy. I bear some marks of the parson about me, + you see—a note of the sermon or so, which should have been addressed + to my ear, but missed its mark, and reached my left eye. The man of God + bears my sign-manual too, but the Duke made us friends again, and it cost + me more sack than I could carry, and all the Rhenish to boot, to pledge + the seer in the way of love and reconciliation—But, Caracco! 'tis a + vile old canting slave for all that, whom I will one day beat out of his + devil's livery into all the colours of the rainbow.—Basta!—Said + I well, old Trapbois? Where is thy daughter, man?—what says she to + my suit?—'tis an honest one—wilt have a soldier for thy + son-in-law, old Pillory, to mingle the soul of martial honour with thy + thieving, miching, petty-larceny blood, as men put bold brandy into muddy + ale?" + </p> + <p> + "My daughter receives not company so early, noble captain," said the + usurer, and concluded his speech with a dry, emphatical "ugh, ugh." + </p> + <p> + "What, upon no con-si-de-ra-ti-on?" said the captain; "and wherefore not, + old Truepenny? she has not much time to lose in driving her bargain, + methinks." + </p> + <p> + "Captain," said Trapbois, "I was upon some little business with our noble + friend here, Master Nigel Green—ugh, ugh, ugh—" + </p> + <p> + "And you would have me gone, I warrant you?" answered the bully; "but + patience, old Pillory, thine hour is not yet come, man—You see," he + said, pointing to the casket, "that noble Master Grahame, whom you call + Green, has got the <i>decuses</i> and the <i>smelt</i>." + </p> + <p> + "Which you would willingly rid him of, ha! ha!—ugh, ugh," answered + the usurer, "if you knew how—but, lack-a-day! thou art one of those + that come out for wool, and art sure to go home shorn. Why now, but that I + am sworn against laying of wagers, I would risk some consideration that + this honest guest of mine sends thee home penniless, if thou darest + venture with him—ugh, ugh—at any game which gentlemen play + at." + </p> + <p> + "Marry, thou hast me on the hip there, thou old miserly cony-catcher!" + answered the captain, taking a bale of dice from the sleeve of his coat; + "I must always keep company with these damnable doctors, and they have + made me every baby's cully, and purged my purse into an atrophy; but never + mind, it passes the time as well as aught else—How say you, Master + Grahame?" + </p> + <p> + The fellow paused; but even the extremity of his impudence could scarcely + hardly withstand the cold look of utter contempt with which Nigel received + his proposal, returning it with a simple, "I only play where I know my + company, and never in the morning." + </p> + <p> + "Cards may be more agreeable," said Captain Colepepper; "and, for knowing + your company, here is honest old Pillory will tell you Jack Colepepper + plays as truly on the square as e'er a man that trowled a die—Men + talk of high and low dice, Fulhams and bristles, topping, knapping, + slurring, stabbing, and a hundred ways of rooking besides; but broil me + like a rasher of bacon, if I could ever learn the trick on 'em!" + </p> + <p> + "You have got the vocabulary perfect, sir, at the least," said Nigel, in + the same cold tone. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, by mine honour have I," returned the Hector; "they are phrases that + a gentleman learns about town.—But perhaps you would like a set at + tennis, or a game at balloon—we have an indifferent good court hard + by here, and a set of as gentleman-like blades as ever banged leather + against brick and mortar." + </p> + <p> + "I beg to be excused at present," said Lord Glenvarloch; "and to be plain, + among the valuable privileges your society has conferred on me, I hope I + may reckon that of being private in my own apartment when I have a mind." + </p> + <p> + "Your humble servant, sir," said the captain; "and I thank you for your + civility—Jack Colepepper can have enough of company, and thrusts + himself on no one.—But perhaps you will like to make a match at + skittles?" + </p> + <p> + "I am by no means that way disposed," replied the young nobleman, + </p> + <p> + "Or to leap a flea—run a snail—match a wherry, eh?" + </p> + <p> + "No—I will do none of these," answered Nigel. + </p> + <p> + Here the old man, who had been watching with his little peery eyes, pulled + the bulky Hector by the skirt, and whispered, "Do not vapour him the huff, + it will not pass—let the trout play, he will rise to the hook + presently." + </p> + <p> + But the bully, confiding in his own strength, and probably mistaking for + timidity the patient scorn with which Nigel received his proposals, + incited also by the open casket, began to assume a louder and more + threatening tone. He drew himself up, bent his brows, assumed a look of + professional ferocity, and continued, "In Alsatia, look ye, a man must be + neighbourly and companionable. Zouns! sir, we would slit any nose that was + turned up at us honest fellows.—Ay, sir, we would slit it up to the + gristle, though it had smelt nothing all its life but musk, ambergris, and + court-scented water.—Rabbit me, I am a soldier, and care no more for + a lord than a lamplighter!" + </p> + <p> + "Are you seeking a quarrel, sir?" said Nigel, calmly, having in truth no + desire to engage himself in a discreditable broil in such a place, and + with such a character. + </p> + <p> + "Quarrel, sir?" said the captain; "I am not seeking a quarrel, though I + care not how soon I find one. Only I wish you to understand you must be + neighbourly, that's all. What if we should go over the water to the + garden, and see a bull hanked this fine morning—'sdeath, will you do + nothing?" + </p> + <p> + "Something I am strangely tempted to do at this moment," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Videlicet," said Colepepper, with a swaggering air, "let us hear the + temptation." + </p> + <p> + "I am tempted to throw you headlong from the window, unless you presently + make the best of your way down stairs." + </p> + <p> + "Throw me from the window?—hell and furies!" exclaimed the captain; + "I have confronted twenty crooked sabres at Buda with my single rapier, + and shall a chitty-faced, beggarly Scots lordling, speak of me and a + window in the same breath?—Stand off, old Pillory, let me make + Scotch collops of him—he dies the death!" + </p> +<div class="fig" style="width:65%;"> + <img src="images/0794m.jpg" alt="0794m " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/0794.jpg"><i>Original</i></a> + </h5> + <p> + "For the love of Heaven, gentlemen," exclaimed the old miser, throwing + himself between them, "do not break the peace on any consideration! Noble + guest, forbear the captain—he is a very Hector of Troy—Trusty + Hector, forbear my guest, he is like to prove a very Achilles-ugh-ugh——" + </p> + <p> + Here he was interrupted by his asthma, but, nevertheless, continued to + interpose his person between Colepepper (who had unsheathed his whinyard, + and was making vain passes at his antagonist) and Nigel, who had stepped + back to take his sword, and now held it undrawn in his left hand. + </p> + <p> + "Make an end of this foolery, you scoundrel!" said Nigel—"Do you + come hither to vent your noisy oaths and your bottled-up valour on me? You + seem to know me, and I am half ashamed to say I have at length been able + to recollect you—remember the garden behind the ordinary,—you + dastardly ruffian, and the speed with which fifty men saw you run from a + drawn sword.—Get you gone, sir, and do not put me to the vile labour + of cudgelling such a cowardly rascal down stairs." + </p> + <p> + The bully's countenance grew dark as night at this unexpected recognition; + for he had undoubtedly thought himself secure in his change of dress, and + his black patch, from being discovered by a person who had seen him but + once. He set his teeth, clenched his hands, and it seemed as if he was + seeking for a moment's courage to fly upon his antagonist. But his heart + failed, he sheathed his sword, turned his back in gloomy silence, and + spoke not until he reached the door, when, turning round, he said, with a + deep oath, "If I be not avenged of you for this insolence ere many days go + by, I would the gallows had my body and the devil my spirit!" + </p> + <p> + So saying, and with a look where determined spite and malice made his + features savagely fierce, though they could not overcome his fear, he + turned and left the house. Nigel followed him as far as the gallery at the + head of the staircase, with the purpose of seeing him depart, and ere he + returned was met by Mistress Martha Trapbois, whom the noise of the + quarrel had summoned from her own apartment. He could not resist saying to + her in his natural displeasure—"I would, madam, you could teach your + father and his friends the lesson which you had the goodness to bestow on + me this morning, and prevail on them to leave me the unmolested privacy of + my own apartment." + </p> + <p> + "If you came hither for quiet or retirement, young man," answered she, + "you have been advised to an evil retreat. You might seek mercy in the + Star-Chamber, or holiness in hell, with better success than quiet in + Alsatia. But my father shall trouble you no longer." + </p> + <p> + So saying, she entered the apartment, and, fixing her eyes on the casket, + she said with emphasis—"If you display such a loadstone, it will + draw many a steel knife to your throat." + </p> + <p> + While Nigel hastily shut the casket, she addressed her father, upbraiding + him, with small reverence, for keeping company with the cowardly, + hectoring, murdering villain, John Colepepper. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, child," said the old man, with the cunning leer which intimated + perfect satisfaction with his own superior address—"I know—I + know—ugh—but I'll crossbite him—I know them all, and I + can manage them—ay, ay—I have the trick on't—ugh-ugh." + </p> + <p> + "<i>You</i> manage, father!" said the austere damsel; "you will manage to + have your throat cut, and that ere long. You cannot hide from them your + gains and your gold as formerly." + </p> + <p> + "My gains, wench? my gold?" said the usurer; "alack-a-day, few of these + and hard got—few and hard got." + </p> + <p> + "This will not serve you, father, any longer," said she, "and had not + served you thus long, but that Bully Colepepper had contrived a cheaper + way of plundering your house, even by means of my miserable self.—But + why do I speak to him of all this," she said, checking herself, and + shrugging her shoulders with an expression of pity which did not fall much + short of scorn. "He hears me not—he thinks not of me.—Is it + not strange that the love of gathering gold should survive the care to + preserve both property and life?" + </p> + <p> + "Your father," said Lord Glenvarloch, who could not help respecting the + strong sense and feeling shown by this poor woman, even amidst all her + rudeness and severity, "your father seems to have his faculties + sufficiently alert when he is in the exercise of his ordinary pursuits and + functions. I wonder he is not sensible of the weight of your arguments." + </p> + <p> + "Nature made him a man senseless of danger, and that insensibility is the + best thing I have derived from him," said she; "age has left him + shrewdness enough to tread his old beaten paths, but not to seek new + courses. The old blind horse will long continue to go its rounds in the + mill, when it would stumble in the open meadow." + </p> + <p> + "Daughter!—why, wench—why, housewife!" said the old man, + awakening out of some dream, in which he had been sneering and chuckling + in imagination, probably over a successful piece of roguery,—"go to + chamber, wench—go to chamber—draw bolts and chain—look + sharp to door—let none in or out but worshipful Master Grahame—I + must take my cloak, and go to Duke Hildebrod—ay, ay, time has been, + my own warrant was enough; but the lower we lie, the more are we under the + wind." + </p> + <p> + And, with his wonted chorus of muttering and coughing, the old man left + the apartment. His daughter stood for a moment looking after him, with her + usual expression of discontent and sorrow. + </p> + <p> + "You ought to persuade your father," said Nigel, "to leave this evil + neighbourhood, if you are in reality apprehensive for his safety." + </p> + <p> + "He would be safe in no other quarter," said the daughter; "I would rather + the old man were dead than publicly dishonoured. In other quarters he + would be pelted and pursued, like an owl which ventures into sunshine. + Here he was safe, while his comrades could avail themselves of his + talents; he is now squeezed and fleeced by them on every pretence. They + consider him as a vessel on the strand, from which each may snatch a prey; + and the very jealousy which they entertain respecting him as a common + property, may perhaps induce them to guard him from more private and + daring assaults." + </p> + <p> + "Still, methinks, you ought to leave this place," answered Nigel, "since + you might find a safe retreat in some distant country." + </p> + <p> + "In Scotland, doubtless," said she, looking at him with a sharp and + suspicious eye, "and enrich strangers with our rescued wealth—Ha! + young man?" + </p> + <p> + "Madam, if you knew me," said Lord Glenvarloch, "you would spare the + suspicion implied in your words." + </p> + <p> + "Who shall assure me of that?" said Martha, sharply. "They say you are a + brawler and a gamester, and I know how far these are to be trusted by the + unhappy." + </p> + <p> + "They do me wrong, by Heaven!" said Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "It may be so," said Martha; "I am little interested in the degree of your + vice or your folly; but it is plain, that the one or the other has + conducted you hither, and that your best hope of peace, safety, and + happiness, is to be gone, with the least possible delay, from a place + which is always a sty for swine, and often a shambles." So saying, she + left the apartment. + </p> + <p> + There was something in the ungracious manner of this female, amounting + almost to contempt of him she spoke to—an indignity to which + Glenvarloch, notwithstanding his poverty, had not as yet been personally + exposed, and which, therefore, gave him a transitory feeling of painful + surprise. Neither did the dark hints which Martha threw out concerning the + danger of his place of refuge, sound by any means agreeably to his ears. + The bravest man, placed in a situation in which he is surrounded by + suspicious persons, and removed from all counsel and assistance, except + those afforded by a valiant heart and a strong arm, experiences a sinking + of the spirit, a consciousness of abandonment, which for a moment chills + his blood, and depresses his natural gallantry of disposition. + </p> + <p> + But, if sad reflections arose in Nigel's mind, he had not time to indulge + them; and, if he saw little prospect of finding friends in Alsatia, he + found that he was not likely to be solitary for lack of visitors. + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely paced his apartment for ten minutes, endeavouring to + arrange his ideas on the course which he was to pursue on quitting + Alsatia, when he was interrupted by the Sovereign of the quarter, the + great Duke Hildebrod himself, before whose approach the bolts and chains + of the miser's dwelling fell, or withdrew, as of their own accord; and + both the folding leaves of the door were opened, that he might roll + himself into the house like a huge butt of liquor, a vessel to which he + bore a considerable outward resemblance, both in size, shape, complexion, + and contents. + </p> + <p> + "Good-morrow to your lordship," said the greasy puncheon, cocking his + single eye, and rolling it upon Nigel with a singular expression of + familiar impudence; whilst his grim bull-dog, which was close at his + heels, made a kind of gurgling in his throat, as if saluting, in similar + fashion, a starved cat, the only living thing in Trapbois' house which we + have not yet enumerated, and which had flown up to the top of the tester, + where she stood clutching and grinning at the mastiff, whose greeting she + accepted with as much good-will as Nigel bestowed on that of the dog's + master. + </p> + <p> + "Peace, Belzie!—D—n thee, peace!" said Duke Hildebrod. "Beasts + and fools will be meddling, my lord." + </p> + <p> + "I thought, sir," answered Nigel, with as much haughtiness as was + consistent with the cool distance which he desired to preserve, "I thought + I had told you, my name at present was Nigel Grahame." + </p> + <p> + His eminence of Whitefriars on this burst out into a loud, chuckling, + impudent laugh, repeating the word, till his voice was almost + inarticulate,—"Niggle Green—Niggle Green—Niggle Green!—why, + my lord, you would be queered in the drinking of a penny pot of Malmsey, + if you cry before you are touched. Why, you have told me the secret even + now, had I not had a shrewd guess of it before. Why, Master Nigel, since + that is the word, I only called you my lord, because we made you a peer of + Alsatia last night, when the sack was predominant.—How you look now!—Ha! + ha! ha!" + </p> + <p> + Nigel, indeed, conscious that he had unnecessarily betrayed himself, + replied hastily,—"he was much obliged to him for the honours + conferred, but did not propose to remain in the Sanctuary long enough to + enjoy them." + </p> + <p> + "Why, that may be as you will, an you will walk by wise counsel," answered + the ducal porpoise; and, although Nigel remained standing, in hopes to + accelerate his guest's departure, he threw himself into one of the old + tapestry-backed easy-chairs, which cracked under his weight, and began to + call for old Trapbois. + </p> + <p> + The crone of all work appearing instead of her master, the Duke cursed her + for a careless jade, to let a strange gentleman, and a brave guest, go + without his morning's draught. + </p> + <p> + "I never take one, sir," said Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "Time to begin—time to begin," answered the Duke.—"Here, you + old refuse of Sathan, go to our palace, and fetch Lord Green's morning + draught. Let us see—what shall it be, my lord?—a humming + double pot of ale, with a roasted crab dancing in it like a wherry above + bridge?—or, hum—ay, young men are sweet-toothed—a quart + of burnt sack, with sugar and spice?—good against the fogs. Or, what + say you to sipping a gill of right distilled waters? Come, we will have + them all, and you shall take your choice.—Here, you Jezebel, let Tim + send the ale, and the sack, and the nipperkin of double-distilled, with a + bit of diet-loaf, or some such trinket, and score it to the new comer." + </p> + <p> + Glenvarloch, bethinking himself that it might be as well to endure this + fellow's insolence for a brief season, as to get into farther + discreditable quarrels, suffered him to take his own way, without + interruption, only observing, "You make yourself at home, sir, in my + apartment; but, for the time, you may use your pleasure. Meanwhile, I + would fain know what has procured me the honour of this unexpected visit?" + </p> + <p> + "You shall know that when old Deb has brought the liquor—I never + speak of business dry-lipped. Why, how she drumbles—I warrant she + stops to take a sip on the road, and then you will think you have had + unchristian measure.—In the meanwhile, look at that dog there—look + Belzebub in the face, and tell me if you ever saw a sweeter beast—never + flew but at head in his life." + </p> + <p> + And, after this congenial panegyric, he was proceeding with a tale of a + dog and a bull, which threatened to be somewhat of the longest, when he + was interrupted by the return of the old crone, and two of his own + tapsters, bearing the various kinds of drinkables which he had demanded, + and which probably was the only species of interruption he would have + endured with equanimity. + </p> + <p> + When the cups and cans were duly arranged upon the table, and when + Deborah, whom the ducal generosity honoured with a penny farthing in the + way of gratuity, had withdrawn with her satellites, the worthy potentate, + having first slightly invited Lord Glenvarloch to partake of the liquor + which he was to pay for, and after having observed, that, excepting three + poached eggs, a pint of bastard, and a cup of clary, he was fasting from + every thing but sin, set himself seriously to reinforce the radical + moisture. Glenvarloch had seen Scottish lairds and Dutch burgomasters at + their potations; but their exploits (though each might be termed a thirsty + generation) were nothing to those of Duke Hildebrod, who seemed an + absolute sandbed, capable of absorbing any given quantity of liquid, + without being either vivified or overflowed. He drank off the ale to + quench a thirst which, as he said, kept him in a fever from morning to + night, and night to morning; tippled off the sack to correct the crudity + of the ale; sent the spirits after the sack to keep all quiet, and then + declared that, probably, he should not taste liquor till <i>post meridiem</i>, + unless it was in compliment to some especial friend. Finally, he intimated + that he was ready to proceed on the business which brought him from home + so early, a proposition which Nigel readily received, though he could not + help suspecting that the most important purpose of Duke Hildebrod's visit + was already transacted. + </p> + <p> + In this, however, Lord Glenvarloch proved to be mistaken. Hildebrod, + before opening what he had to say, made an accurate survey of the + apartment, laying, from time to time, his finger on his nose, and winking + on Nigel with his single eye, while he opened and shut the doors, lifted + the tapestry, which concealed, in one or two places, the dilapidation of + time upon the wainscoted walls, peeped into closets, and, finally, looked + under the bed, to assure himself that the coast was clear of listeners and + interlopers. He then resumed his seat, and beckoned confidentially to + Nigel to draw his chair close to him. + </p> + <p> + "I am well as I am, Master Hildebrod," replied the young lord, little + disposed to encourage the familiarity which the man endeavoured to fix on + him; but the undismayed Duke proceeded as follows: + </p> + <p> + "You shall pardon me, my lord—and I now give you the title right + seriously—if I remind you that our waters may be watched; for though + old Trapbois be as deaf as Saint Paul's, yet his daughter has sharp ears, + and sharp eyes enough, and it is of them that it is my business to speak." + </p> + <p> + "Say away, then, sir," said Nigel, edging his chair somewhat closer to the + Quicksand, "although I cannot conceive what business I have either with + mine host or his daughter." + </p> + <p> + "We will see that in the twinkling of a quart-pot," answered the gracious + Duke; "and first, my lord, you must not think to dance in a net before old + Jack Hildebrod, that has thrice your years o'er his head, and was born, + like King Richard, with all his eye-teeth ready cut." + </p> + <p> + "Well, sir, go on," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Why, then, my lord, I presume to say, that, if you are, as I believe you + are, that Lord Glenvarloch whom all the world talk of—the Scotch + gallant that has spent all, to a thin cloak and a light purse—be not + moved, my lord, it is so noised of you—men call you the + sparrow-hawk, who will fly at all—ay, were it in the very Park—Be + not moved, my lord." + </p> + <p> + "I am ashamed, sirrah," replied Glenvarloch, "that you should have power + to move me by your insolence—but beware—and, if you indeed + guess who I am, consider how long I may be able to endure your tone of + insolent familiarity." + </p> + <p> + "I crave pardon, my lord," said Hildebrod, with a sullen, yet apologetic + look; "I meant no harm in speaking my poor mind. I know not what honour + there may be in being familiar with your lordship, but I judge there is + little safety, for Lowestoffe is laid up in lavender only for having shown + you the way into Alsatia; and so, what is to come of those who maintain + you when you are here, or whether they will get most honour or most + trouble by doing so, I leave with your lordship's better judgment." + </p> + <p> + "I will bring no one into trouble on my account," said Lord Glenvarloch. + "I will leave Whitefriars to-morrow. Nay, by Heaven, I will leave it this + day." + </p> + <p> + "You will have more wit in your anger, I trust," said Duke Hildebrod; + "listen first to what I have to say to you, and, if honest Jack Hildebrod + puts you not in the way of nicking them all, may he never cast doublets, + or dull a greenhorn again! And so, my lord, in plain words, you must wap + and win." + </p> + <p> + "Your words must be still plainer before I can understand them," said + Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "What the devil—a gamester, one who deals with the devil's bones and + the doctors, and not understand Pedlar's French! Nay, then, I must speak + plain English, and that's the simpleton's tongue." + </p> + <p> + "Speak, then, sir," said Nigel; "and I pray you be brief, for I have + little more time to bestow on you." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, my lord, to be brief, as you and the lawyers call it—I + understand you have an estate in the north, which changes masters for want + of the redeeming ready.—Ay, you start, but you cannot dance in a net + before me, as I said before; and so the king runs the frowning humour on + you, and the Court vapours you the go-by; and the Prince scowls at you + from under his cap; and the favourite serves you out the puckered brow and + the cold shoulder; and the favourite's favourite—" + </p> + <p> + "To go no further, sir," interrupted Nigel, "suppose all this true—and + what follows?" + </p> + <p> + "What follows?" returned Duke Hildebrod. "Marry, this follows, that you + will owe good deed, as well as good will, to him who shall put you in the + way to walk with your beaver cocked in the presence, as an ye were Earl of + Kildare; bully the courtiers; meet the Prince's blighting look with a bold + brow; confront the favourite; baffle his deputy, and—" + </p> + <p> + "This is all well," said Nigel! "but how is it to be accomplished?" + </p> + <p> + "By making thee a Prince of Peru, my lord of the northern latitudes; + propping thine old castle with ingots,—fertilizing thy failing + fortunes with gold dust—it shall but cost thee to put thy baron's + coronet for a day or so on the brows of an old Caduca here, the man's + daughter of the house, and thou art master of a mass of treasure that + shall do all I have said for thee, and—" + </p> + <p> + "What, you would have me marry this old gentlewoman here, the daughter of + mine host?" said Nigel, surprised and angry, yet unable to suppress some + desire to laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, my lord, I would have you marry fifty thousand good sterling pounds; + for that, and better, hath old Trapbois hoarded; and thou shall do a deed + of mercy in it to the old man, who will lose his golden smelts in some + worse way—for now that he is well-nigh past his day of work, his day + of payment is like to follow." + </p> + <p> + "Truly, this is a most courteous offer," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but may I + pray of your candour, most noble duke, to tell me why you dispose of a + ward of so much wealth on a stranger like me, who may leave you + to-morrow?" + </p> + <p> + "In sooth, my lord," said the Duke, "that question smacks more of the wit + of Beaujeu's ordinary, than any word I have yet heard your lordship speak, + and reason it is you should be answered. Touching my peers, it is but + necessary to say, that Mistress Martha Trapbois will none of them, whether + clerical or laic. The captain hath asked her, so hath the parson, but she + will none of them—she looks higher than either, and is, to say + truth, a woman of sense, and so forth, too profound, and of spirit + something too high, to put up with greasy buff or rusty prunella. For + ourselves, we need but hint that we have a consort in the land of the + living, and, what is more to purpose, Mrs. Martha knows it. So, as she + will not lace her kersey hood save with a quality binding, you, my lord, + must be the man, and must carry off fifty thousand decuses, the spoils of + five thousand bullies, cutters, and spendthrifts,—always deducting + from the main sum some five thousand pounds for our princely advice and + countenance, without which, as matters stand in Alsatia, you would find it + hard to win the plate." + </p> + <p> + "But has your wisdom considered, sir," replied Glenvarloch, "how this + wedlock can serve me in my present emergence?" + </p> + <p> + "As for that, my lord," said Duke Hildebrod, "if, with forty or fifty + thousand pounds in your pouch, you cannot save yourself, you will deserve + to lose your head for your folly, and your hand for being close-fisted." + </p> + <p> + "But, since your goodness has taken my matters into such serious + consideration," continued Nigel, who conceived there was no prudence in + breaking with a man, who, in his way, meant him favour rather than + offence, "perhaps you may be able to tell me how my kindred will be likely + to receive such a bride as you recommend to me?" + </p> + <p> + "Touching that matter, my lord, I have always heard your countrymen knew + as well as other folks, on which side their bread was buttered. And, + truly, speaking from report, I know no place where fifty thousand pounds—fifty + thousand pounds, I say—will make a woman more welcome than it is + likely to do in your ancient kingdom. And, truly, saving the slight twist + in her shoulder, Mrs. Martha Trapbois is a person of very awful and + majestic appearance, and may, for aught I know, be come of better blood + than any one wots of; for old Trapbois looks not over like to be her + father, and her mother was a generous, liberal sort of a woman." + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid," answered Nigel, "that chance is rather too vague to assure + her a gracious reception into an honourable house." + </p> + <p> + "Why, then, my lord," replied Hildebrod, "I think it like she will be even + with them; for I will venture to say, she has as much ill-nature as will + make her a match for your whole clan." + </p> + <p> + "That may inconvenience me a little," replied Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Not a whit—not a whit," said the Duke, fertile in expedients; "if + she should become rather intolerable, which is not unlikely, your + honourable house, which I presume to be a castle, hath, doubtless, both + turrets and dungeons, and ye may bestow your bonny bride in either the one + or the other, and then you know you will be out of hearing of her tongue, + and she will be either above or below the contempt of your friends." + </p> + <p> + "It is sagely counselled, most equitable sir," replied Nigel, "and such + restraint would be a fit meed for her folly that gave me any power over + her." + </p> + <p> + "You entertain the project then, my lord?" said Duke Hildebrod. + </p> + <p> + "I must turn it in my mind for twenty-four hours," said Nigel; "and I will + pray you so to order matters that I be not further interrupted by any + visitors." + </p> + <p> + "We will utter an edict to secure your privacy," said the Duke; "and you + do not think," he added, lowering his voice to a confidential whisper, + "that ten thousand is too much to pay to the Sovereign, in name of + wardship?" + </p> + <p> + "Ten thousand!" said Lord Glenvarloch; "why, you said five thousand but + now." + </p> + <p> + "Aha! art avised of that?" said the Duke, touching the side of his nose + with his finger; "nay, if you have marked me so closely, you are thinking + on the case more nearly than I believed, till you trapped me. Well, well, + we will not quarrel about the consideration, as old Trapbois would call it—do + you win and wear the dame; it will be no hard matter with your face and + figure, and I will take care that no one interrupts you. I will have an + edict from the Senate as soon as they meet for their meridiem." + </p> + <p> + So saying, Duke Hildebrod took his leave. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + This is the time—Heaven's maiden sentinel + Hath quitted her high watch—the lesser spangles + Are paling one by one; give me the ladder + And the short lever—bid Anthony + Keep with his carabine the wicket-gate; + And do thou bare thy knife and follow me, + For we will in and do it—darkness like this + Is dawning of our fortunes. + <i>Old Play.</i> +</pre> + <p> + When Duke Hildebrod had withdrawn, Nigel's first impulse was an + irresistible feeling to laugh at the sage adviser, who would have thus + connected him with age, ugliness, and ill-temper; but his next thought was + pity for the unfortunate father and daughter, who, being the only persons + possessed of wealth in this unhappy district, seemed like a wreck on the + sea-shore of a barbarous country, only secured from plunder for the moment + by the jealousy of the tribes among whom it had been cast. Neither could + he help being conscious that his own residence here was upon conditions + equally precarious, and that he was considered by the Alsatians in the + same light of a godsend on the Cornish coast, or a sickly but wealthy + caravan travelling through the wilds of Africa, and emphatically termed by + the nations of despoilers through whose regions it passes <i>Dummalafong</i>, + which signifies a thing given to be devoured—a common prey to all + men. + </p> + <p> + Nigel had already formed his own plan to extricate himself, at whatever + risk, from his perilous and degrading situation; and, in order that he + might carry it into instant execution, he only awaited the return of + Lowestoffe's messenger. He expected him, however, in vain, and could only + amuse himself by looking through such parts of his baggage as had been + sent to him from his former lodgings, in order to select a small packet of + the most necessary articles to take with him, in the event of his quitting + his lodgings secretly and suddenly, as speed and privacy would, he + foresaw, be particularly necessary, if he meant to obtain an interview + with the king, which was the course his spirit and his interest alike + determined him to pursue. + </p> + <p> + While he was thus engaged, he found, greatly to his satisfaction, that + Master Lowestoffe had transmitted not only his rapier and poniard, but a + pair of pistols, which he had used in travelling; of a smaller and more + convenient size than the large petronels, or horse pistols, which were + then in common use, as being made for wearing at the girdle or in the + pockets. Next to having stout and friendly comrades, a man is chiefly + emboldened by finding himself well armed in case of need, and Nigel, who + had thought with some anxiety on the hazard of trusting his life, if + attacked, to the protection of the clumsy weapon with which Lowestoffe had + equipped him, in order to complete his disguise, felt an emotion of + confidence approaching to triumph, as, drawing his own good and well-tried + rapier, he wiped it with his handkerchief, examined its point, bent it + once or twice against the ground to prove its well-known metal, and + finally replaced it in the scabbard, the more hastily, that he heard a tap + at the door of his chamber, and had no mind to be found vapouring in the + apartment with his sword drawn. + </p> + <p> + It was his old host who entered, to tell him with many cringes that the + price of his apartment was to be a crown per diem; and that, according to + the custom of Whitefriars, the rent was always payable per advance, + although he never scrupled to let the money lie till a week or fortnight, + or even a month, in the hands of any honourable guest like Master Grahame, + always upon some reasonable consideration for the use. Nigel got rid of + the old dotard's intrusion, by throwing down two pieces of gold, and + requesting the accommodation of his present apartment for eight days, + adding, however, he did not think he should tarry so long. + </p> + <p> + The miser, with a sparkling eye and a trembling hand, clutched fast the + proffered coin, and, having balanced the pieces with exquisite pleasure on + the extremity of his withered finger, began almost instantly to show that + not even the possession of gold can gratify for more than an instant the + very heart that is most eager in the pursuit of it. First, the pieces + might be light—with hasty hand he drew a small pair of scales from + his bosom, and weighed them, first together, then separately, and smiled + with glee as he saw them attain the due depression in the balance—a + circumstance which might add to his profits, if it were true, as was + currently reported, that little of the gold coinage was current in Alsatia + in a perfect state, and that none ever left the Sanctuary in that + condition. + </p> + <p> + Another fear then occurred to trouble the old miser's pleasure. He had + been just able to comprehend that Nigel intended to leave the Friars + sooner than the arrival of the term for which he had deposited the rent. + This might imply an expectation of refunding, which, as a Scotch wag said, + of all species of funding, jumped least with the old gentleman's humour. + He was beginning to enter a hypothetical caveat on this subject, and to + quote several reasons why no part of the money once consigned as + room-rent, could be repaid back on any pretence, without great hardship to + the landlord, when Nigel, growing impatient, told him that the money was + his absolutely, and without any intention on his part of resuming any of + it—all he asked in return was the liberty of enjoying in private the + apartment he had paid for. Old Trapbois, who had still at his tongue's end + much of the smooth language, by which, in his time, he had hastened the + ruin of many a young spendthrift, began to launch out upon the noble and + generous disposition of his new guest, until Nigel, growing impatient, + took the old gentleman by the hand, and gently, yet irresistibly, leading + him to the door of the chamber, put him out, but with such decent and + moderate exertion of his superior strength, as to render the action in no + shape indecorous, and, fastening the door, began to do that for his + pistols which he had done for his favourite sword, examining with care the + flints and locks, and reviewing the state of his small provision of + ammunition. + </p> + <p> + In this operation he was a second time interrupted by a knocking at the + door—he called upon the person to enter, having no doubt that it was + Lowestoffe's messenger at length arrived. It was, however, the ungracious + daughter of old Trapbois, who, muttering something about her father's + mistake, laid down upon the table one of the pieces of gold which Nigel + had just given to him, saying, that what she retained was the full rent + for the term he had specified. Nigel replied, he had paid the money, and + had no desire to receive it again. + </p> + <p> + "Do as you will with it, then," replied his hostess, "for there it lies, + and shall lie for me. If you are fool enough to pay more than is reason, + my father shall not be knave enough to take it." + </p> + <p> + "But your father, mistress," said Nigel, "your father told me—" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, my father, my father," said she, interrupting him,—"my father + managed these affairs while he was able—I manage them now, and that + may in the long run be as well for both of us." + </p> + <p> + She then looked on the table, and observed the weapons. + </p> + <p> + "You have arms, I see," she said; "do you know how to use them?" + </p> + <p> + "I should do so mistress," replied Nigel, "for it has been my occupation." + </p> + <p> + "You are a soldier, then?" she demanded. + </p> + <p> + "No farther as yet, than as every gentleman of my country is a soldier." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, that is your point of honour—to cut the throats of the poor—a + proper gentlemanlike occupation for those who should protect them!" + </p> + <p> + "I do not deal in cutting throats, mistress," replied Nigel; "but I carry + arms to defend myself, and my country if it needs me." + </p> + <p> + "Ay," replied Martha, "it is fairly worded; but men say you are as prompt + as others in petty brawls, where neither your safety nor your country is + in hazard; and that had it not been so, you would not have been in the + Sanctuary to-day." + </p> + <p> + "Mistress," returned Nigel, "I should labour in vain to make you + understand that a man's honour, which is, or should be, dearer to him than + his life, may often call on and compel us to hazard our own lives, or + those of others, on what would otherwise seem trifling contingencies." + </p> + <p> + "God's law says nought of that," said the female; "I have only read there, + that thou shall not kill. But I have neither time nor inclination to + preach to you—you will find enough of fighting here if you like it, + and well if it come not to seek you when you are least prepared. Farewell + for the present—the char-woman will execute your commands for your + meals." + </p> + <p> + She left the room, just as Nigel, provoked at her assuming a superior tone + of judgment and of censure, was about to be so superfluous as to enter + into a dispute with an old pawnbroker's daughter on the subject of the + point of honour. He smiled at himself for the folly into which the spirit + of self-vindication had so nearly hurried him. + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch then applied to old Deborah the char-woman, by whose + intermediation he was provided with a tolerably decent dinner; and the + only embarrassment which he experienced, was from the almost forcible + entry of the old dotard his landlord, who insisted upon giving his + assistance at laying the cloth. Nigel had some difficulty to prevent him + from displacing his arms and some papers which were lying on a small table + at which he had been sitting; and nothing short of a stern and positive + injunction to the contrary could compel him to use another board (though + there were two in the room) for the purpose of laying the cloth. + </p> + <p> + Having at length obliged him to relinquish his purpose, he could not help + observing that the eyes of the old dotard seemed still anxiously fixed + upon the small table on which lay his sword and pistols; and that, amidst + all the little duties which he seemed officiously anxious to render to his + guest, he took every opportunity of looking towards and approaching these + objects of his attention. At length, when Trapbois thought he had + completely avoided the notice of his guest, Nigel, through the observation + of one of the cracked mirrors, oh which channel of communication the old + man had not calculated, beheld him actually extend his hand towards the + table in question. He thought it unnecessary to use further ceremony, but + telling his landlord, in a stern voice, that he permitted no one to touch + his arms, he commanded him to leave the apartment. The old usurer + commenced a maundering sort of apology, in which all that Nigel distinctly + apprehended, was a frequent repetition of the word <i>consideration</i>, + and which did not seem to him to require any other answer than a + reiteration of his command to him to leave the apartment, upon pain of + worse consequences. + </p> + <p> + The ancient Hebe who acted as Lord Glenvarloch's cup-bearer, took his part + against the intrusion of the still more antiquated Ganymede, and insisted + on old Trapbois leaving the room instantly, menacing him at the same time + with her mistress's displeasure if he remained there any longer. The old + man seemed more under petticoat government than any other, for the threat + of the char-woman produced greater effect upon him than the more + formidable displeasure of Nigel. He withdrew grumbling and muttering, and + Lord Glenvarloch heard him bar a large door at the nearer end of the + gallery, which served as a division betwixt the other parts of the + extensive mansion, and the apartment occupied by his guest, which, as the + reader is aware, had its access from the landing-place at the head of the + grand staircase. + </p> + <p> + Nigel accepted the careful sound of the bolts and bars as they were + severally drawn by the trembling hand of old Trapbois, as an omen that the + senior did not mean again to revisit him in the course of the evening, and + heartily rejoiced that he was at length to be left to uninterrupted + solitude. + </p> + <p> + The old woman asked if there was aught else to be done for his + accommodation; and, indeed, it had hitherto seemed as if the pleasure of + serving him, or more properly the reward which she expected, had renewed + her youth and activity. Nigel desired to have candles, to have a fire + lighted in his apartment, and a few fagots placed beside it, that he might + feed it from time to time, as he began to feel the chilly effects of the + damp and low situation of the house, close as it was to the Thames. But + while the old woman was absent upon his errand, he began to think in what + way he should pass the long solitary evening with which he was threatened. + </p> + <p> + His own reflections promised to Nigel little amusement, and less applause. + He had considered his own perilous situation in every light in which it + could be viewed, and foresaw as little utility as comfort in resuming the + survey. To divert the current of his ideas, books were, of course, the + readiest resource; and although, like most of us, Nigel had, in his time, + sauntered through large libraries, and even spent a long time there + without greatly disturbing their learned contents, he was now in a + situation where the possession of a volume, even of very inferior merit, + becomes a real treasure. The old housewife returned shortly afterwards + with fagots, and some pieces of half-burnt wax-candles, the perquisites, + probably, real or usurped, of some experienced groom of the chambers, two + of which she placed in large brass candlesticks, of different shapes and + patterns, and laid the others on the table, that Nigel might renew them + from time to time as they burnt to the socket. She heard with interest + Lord Glenvarloch's request to have a book—any sort of book—to + pass away the night withal, and returned for answer, that she knew of no + other books in the house than her young mistress's (as she always + denominated Mistress Martha Trapbois) Bible, which the owner would not + lend; and her master's Whetstone of Witte, being the second part of + Arithmetic, by Robert Record, with the Cossike Practice and Rule of + Equation; which promising volume Nigel declined to borrow. She offered, + however, to bring him some books from Duke Hildebrod—"who sometimes, + good gentleman, gave a glance at a book when the State affairs of Alsatia + left him as much leisure." + </p> + <p> + Nigfil embraced the proposal, and his unwearied Iris scuttled away on this + second embassy. She returned in a short time with a tattered quarto volume + under her arm, and a bottle of sack in her hand; for the Duke, judging + that mere reading was dry work, had sent the wine by way of sauce to help + it down, not forgetting to add the price to the morning's score, which he + had already run up against the stranger in the Sanctuary. + </p> + <p> + Nigel seized on the book, and did not refuse the wine, thinking that a + glass or two, as it really proved to be of good quality, would be no bad + interlude to his studies. He dismissed, with thanks and assurance of + reward, the poor old drudge who had been so zealous in his service; + trimmed his fire and candles, and placed the easiest of the old arm-chairs + in a convenient posture betwixt the fire and the table at which he had + dined, and which now supported the measure of sack and the lights; and + thus accompanying his studies with such luxurious appliances as were in + his power, he began to examine the only volume with which the ducal + library of Alsatia had been able to supply him. + </p> + <p> + The contents, though of a kind generally interesting, were not well + calculated to dispel the gloom by which he was surrounded. The book was + entitled "God's Revenge against Murther;" not, as the bibliomaniacal + reader may easily conjecture, the work which Reynolds published under that + imposing name, but one of a much earlier date, printed and sold by old + Wolfe; and which, could a copy now be found, would sell for much more than + its weight in gold.[Footnote: Only three copies are known to exist; one in + the library at Kennaquhair, and two—one foxed and cropped, the other + tall and in good condition—both in the possession of an eminent + member of the Roxburghe Club.—<i>Note by</i> CAPTAIN CLUTTERBUCK.] + Nigel had soon enough of the doleful tales which the book contains, and + attempted one or two other modes of killing the evening. He looked out at + window, but the night was rainy, with gusts of wind; he tried to coax the + fire, but the fagots were green, and smoked without burning; and as he was + naturally temperate, he felt his blood somewhat heated by the canary sack + which he had already drank, and had no farther inclination to that + pastime. He next attempted to compose a memorial addressed to the king, in + which he set forth his case and his grievances; but, speedily stung with + the idea that his supplication would be treated with scorn, he flung the + scroll into the fire, and, in a sort of desperation, resumed the book + which he had laid aside. + </p> + <p> + Nigel became more interested in the volume at the second than at the first + attempt which he made to peruse it. The narratives, strange and shocking + as they were to human feeling, possessed yet the interest of sorcery or of + fascination, which rivets the attention by its awakening horrors. Much was + told of the strange and horrible acts of blood by which men, setting + nature and humanity alike at defiance, had, for the thirst of revenge, the + lust of gold, or the cravings of irregular ambition, broken into the + tabernacle of life. Yet more surprising and mysterious tales were + recounted of the mode in which such deeds of blood had come to be + discovered and revenged. Animals, irrational animals, had told the secret, + and birds of the air had carried the matter. The elements had seemed to + betray the deed which had polluted them—earth had ceased to support + the murderer's steps, fire to warm his frozen limbs, water to refresh his + parched lips, air to relieve his gasping lungs. All, in short, bore + evidence to the homicide's guilt. In other circumstances, the criminal's + own awakened conscience pursued and brought him to justice; and in some + narratives the grave was said to have yawned, that the ghost of the + sufferer might call for revenge. + </p> + <p> + It was now wearing late in the night, and the book was still in Nigel's + hands, when the tapestry which hung behind him flapped against the wall, + and the wind produced by its motion waved the flame of the candles by + which he was reading. Nigel started and turned round, in that excited and + irritated state of mind which arose from the nature of his studies, + especially at a period when a certain degree of superstition was + inculcated as a point of religious faith. It was not without emotion that + he saw the bloodless countenance, meagre form, and ghastly aspect of old + Trapbois, once more in the very act of extending his withered hand towards + the table which supported his arms. Convinced by this untimely apparition + that something evil was meditated towards him, Nigel sprung up, seized his + sword, drew it, and placing it at the old man's breast, demanded of him + what he did in his apartment at so untimely an hour. Trapbois showed + neither fear nor surprise, and only answered by some imperfect + expressions, intimating he would part with his life rather than with his + property; and Lord Glenvarloch, strangely embarrassed, knew not what to + think of the intruder's motives, and still less how to get rid of him. As + he again tried the means of intimidation, he was surprised by a second + apparition from behind the tapestry, in the person of the daughter of + Trapbois, bearing a lamp in her hand. She also seemed to possess her + father's insensibility to danger, for, coming close to Nigel, she pushed + aside impetuously his naked sword, and even attempted to take it out of + his hand. + </p> + <p> + "For shame," she said, "your sword on a man of eighty years and + more!-=this the honour of a Scottish gentleman!—give it to me to + make a spindle of!" + </p> + <p> + "Stand back," said Nigel; "I mean your father no injury—but I <i>will</i> + know what has caused him to prowl this whole day, and even at this late + hour of night, around my arms." + </p> + <p> + "Your arms!" repeated she; "alas! young man, the whole arms in the Tower + of London are of little value to him, in comparison of this miserable + piece of gold which I left this morning on the table of a young + spendthrift, too careless to put what belonged to him into his own purse." + </p> + <p> + So saying, she showed the piece of gold, which, still remaining on the + table, where she left it, had been the bait that attracted old Trapbois so + frequently to the spot; and which, even in the silence of the night, had + so dwelt on his imagination, that he had made use of a private passage + long disused, to enter his guest's apartment, in order to possess himself + of the treasure during his slumbers. He now exclaimed, at the highest + tones of his cracked and feeble voice— + </p> + <p> + "It is mine—it is mine!—he gave it to me for a consideration—I + will die ere I part with my property!" + </p> + <p> + "It is indeed his own, mistress," said Nigel, "and I do entreat you to + restore it to the person on whom I have bestowed it, and let me have my + apartment in quiet." + </p> + <p> + "I will account with you for it, then,"—said the maiden, reluctantly + giving to her father the morsel of Mammon, on which he darted as if his + bony fingers had been the talons of a hawk seizing its prey; and then + making a contented muttering and mumbling, like an old dog after he has + been fed, and just when he is wheeling himself thrice round for the + purpose of lying down, he followed his daughter behind the tapestry, + through a little sliding-door, which was perceived when the hangings were + drawn apart. + </p> + <p> + "This shall be properly fastened to-morrow," said the daughter to Nigel, + speaking in such a tone that her father, deaf, and engrossed by his + acquisition, could not hear her; "to-night I will continue to watch him + closely.—I wish you good repose." + </p> + <p> + These few words, pronounced in a tone of more civility than she had yet + made use of towards her lodger, contained a wish which was not to be + accomplished, although her guest, presently after her departure, retired + to bed. + </p> + <p> + There was a slight fever in Nigel's blood, occasioned by the various + events of the evening, which put him, as the phrase is, beside his rest. + Perplexing and painful thoughts rolled on his mind like a troubled stream, + and the more he laboured to lull himself to slumber, the farther he seemed + from attaining his object. He tried all the resources common in such + cases; kept counting from one to a thousand, until his head was giddy—he + watched the embers of the wood fire till his eyes were dazzled—he + listened to the dull moaning of the wind, the swinging and creaking of + signs which projected from the houses, and the baying of here and there a + homeless dog, till his very ear was weary. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly, however, amid this monotony, came a sound which startled him at + once. It was a female shriek. He sat up in his bed to listen, then + remembered he was in Alsatia, where brawls of every sort were current + among the unruly inhabitants. But another scream, and another, and + another, succeeded so close, that he was certain, though the noise was + remote and sounded stifled, it must be in the same house with himself. + </p> + <p> + Nigel jumped up hastily, put on a part of his clothes, seized his sword + and pistols, and ran to the door of his chamber. Here he plainly heard the + screams redoubled, and, as he thought, the sounds came from the usurer's + apartment. All access to the gallery was effectually excluded by the + intermediate door, which the brave young lord shook with eager, but vain + impatience. But the secret passage occurred suddenly to his recollection. + He hastened back to his room, and succeeded with some difficulty in + lighting a candle, powerfully agitated by hearing the cries repeated, yet + still more afraid lest they should sink into silence. + </p> + <p> + He rushed along the narrow and winding entrance, guided by the noise, + which now burst more wildly on his ear; and, while he descended a narrow + staircase which terminated the passage, he heard the stifled voices of + men, encouraging, as it seemed, each other. "D—n her, strike her + down—silence her—beat her brains out!"—while the voice + of his hostess, though now almost exhausted, was repeating the cry of + "murder," and "help." At the bottom of the staircase was a small door, + which gave way before Nigel as he precipitated himself upon the scene of + action,—a cocked pistol in one hand, a candle in the other, and his + naked sword under his arm. + </p> + <p> + Two ruffians had, with great difficulty, overpowered, or, rather, were on + the point of overpowering, the daughter of Trapbois, whose resistance + appeared to have been most desperate, for the floor was covered with + fragments of her clothes, and handfuls of her hair. It appeared that her + life was about to be the price of her defence, for one villain had drawn a + long clasp-knife, when they were surprised by the entrance of Nigel, who, + as they turned towards him, shot the fellow with the knife dead on the + spot, and when the other advanced to him, hurled the candlestick at his + head, and then attacked him with his sword. It was dark, save some pale + moonlight from the window; and the ruffian, after firing a pistol without + effect, and fighting a traverse or two with his sword, lost heart, made + for the window, leaped over it, and escaped. Nigel fired his remaining + pistol after him at a venture, and then called for light. + </p> + <p> + "There is light in the kitchen," answered Martha Trapbois, with more + presence of mind than could have been expected. "Stay, you know not the + way; I will fetch it myself.—Oh! my father—my poor father!—I + knew it would come to this—and all along of the accursed gold!—They + have <i>murdered</i> him!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Death finds us 'mid our playthings—snatches us, + As a cross nurse might do a wayward child, + From all our toys and baubles. His rough call + Unlooses all our favourite ties on earth; + And well if they are such as may be answer'd + In yonder world, where all is judged of truly. + <i>Old Play</i>. +</pre> + <p> + It was a ghastly scene which opened, upon Martha Trapbois's return with a + light. Her own haggard and austere features were exaggerated by all the + desperation of grief, fear, and passion—but the latter was + predominant. On the floor lay the body of the robber, who had expired + without a groan, while his blood, flowing plentifully, had crimsoned all + around. Another body lay also there, on which the unfortunate woman + precipitated herself in agony, for it was that of her unhappy father. In + the next moment she started up, and exclaiming—"There may be life + yet!" strove to raise the body. Nigel went to her assistance, but not + without a glance at the open window; which Martha, as acute as if + undisturbed either by passion or terror, failed not to interpret justly. + </p> + <p> + "Fear not," she cried, "fear not; they are base cowards, to whom courage + is as much unknown as mercy. If I had had weapons, I could have defended + myself against them without assistance or protection.—Oh! my poor + father! protection comes too late for this cold and stiff corpse.—He + is dead—dead!" + </p> + <p> + While she spoke, they were attempting to raise the dead body of the old + miser; but it was evident, even from the feeling of the inactive weight + and rigid joints, that life had forsaken her station. Nigel looked for a + wound, but saw none. The daughter of the deceased, with more presence of + mind than a daughter could at the time have been supposed capable of + exerting, discovered the instrument of his murder—a sort of scarf, + which had been drawn so tight round his throat, as to stifle his cries for + assistance, in the first instance, and afterwards to extinguish life. + </p> + <p> + She undid the fatal noose; and, laying the old man's body in the arms of + Lord Glenvarloch, she ran for water, for spirits, for essences, in the + vain hope that life might be only suspended. That hope proved indeed vain. + She chafed his temples, raised his head, loosened his nightgown, (for it + seemed as if he had arisen from bed upon hearing the entrance of the + villains,) and, finally, opened, with difficulty, his fixed and + closely-clenched hands, from one of which dropped a key, from the other + the very piece of gold about which the unhappy man had been a little + before so anxious, and which probably, in the impaired state of his mental + faculties, he was disposed to defend with as desperate energy as if its + amount had been necessary to his actual existence. + </p> + <p> + "It is in vain—it is in vain," said the daughter, desisting from her + fruitless attempts to recall the spirit which had been effectually + dislodged, for the neck had been twisted by the violence of the murderers; + "It is in vain—he is murdered—I always knew it would be thus; + and now I witness it!" + </p> + <p> + She then snatched up the key and the piece of money, but it was only to + dash them again on the floor, as she exclaimed, "Accursed be ye both, for + you are the causes of this deed!" + </p> + <p> + Nigel would have spoken—would have reminded her, that measures + should be instantly taken for the pursuit of the murderer who had escaped, + as well as for her own security against his return; but she interrupted + him sharply. + </p> + <p> + "Be silent," she said, "be silent. Think you, the thoughts of my own heart + are not enough to distract me, and with such a sight as this before me? I + say, be silent," she said again, and in a yet sterner tone—"Can a + daughter listen, and her father's murdered corpse lying on her knees?" + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch, however overpowered by the energy of her grief, felt not + the less the embarrassment of his own situation. He had discharged both + his pistols—the robber might return—he had probably other + assistants besides the man who had fallen, and it seemed to him, indeed, + as if he had heard a muttering beneath the windows. He explained hastily + to his companion the necessity of procuring ammunition. + </p> + <p> + "You are right," she said, somewhat contemptuously, "and have ventured + already more than ever I expected of man. Go, and shift for yourself, + since that is your purpose—leave me to my fate." + </p> + <p> + Without stopping for needless expostulation, Nigel hastened to his own + room through the secret passage, furnished himself with the ammunition he + sought for, and returned with the same celerity; wondering himself at the + accuracy with which he achieved, in the dark, all the meanderings of the + passage which he had traversed only once, and that in a moment of such + violent agitation. + </p> + <p> + He found, on his return, the unfortunate woman standing like a statue by + the body of her father, which she had laid straight on the floor, having + covered the face with the skirt of his gown. She testified neither + surprise nor pleasure at Nigel's return, but said to him calmly—"My + moan is made—my sorrow—all the sorrow at least that man shall + ever have noting of, is gone past; but I will have justice, and the base + villain who murdered this poor defenceless old man, when he had not, by + the course of nature, a twelvemonth's life in him, shall not cumber the + earth long after him. Stranger, whom heaven has sent to forward the + revenge reserved for this action, go to Hildebrod's—there they are + awake all night in their revels—bid him come hither—he is + bound by his duty, and dare not, and shall not, refuse his assistance, + which he knows well I can reward. Why do ye tarry?—go instantly." + </p> + <p> + "I would," said Nigel, "but I am fearful of leaving you alone; the + villains may return, and—" + </p> + <p> + "True, most true," answered Martha, "he may return; and, though I care + little for his murdering me, he may possess himself of what has most + tempted him. Keep this key and this piece of gold; they are both of + importance—defend your life if assailed, and if you kill the villain + I will make you rich. I go myself to call for aid." + </p> + <p> + Nigel would have remonstrated with her, but she had departed, and in a + moment he heard the house-door clank behind her. For an instant he thought + of following her; but upon recollection that the distance was but short + betwixt the tavern of Hildebrod and the house of Trapbois, he concluded + that she knew it better than he—incurred little danger in passing + it, and that he would do well in the meanwhile to remain on the watch as + she recommended. + </p> + <p> + It was no pleasant situation for one unused to such scenes to remain in + the apartment with two dead bodies, recently those of living and breathing + men, who had both, within the space of less than half an hour, suffered + violent death; one of them by the hand of the assassin, the other, whose + blood still continued to flow from the wound in his throat, and to flood + all around him, by the spectator's own deed of violence, though of + justice. He turned his face from those wretched relics of mortality with a + feeling of disgust, mingled with superstition; and he found, when he had + done so, that the consciousness of the presence of these ghastly objects, + though unseen by him, rendered him more uncomfortable than even when he + had his eyes fixed upon, and reflected by, the cold, staring, lifeless + eyeballs of the deceased. Fancy also played her usual sport with him. He + now thought he heard the well-worn damask nightgown of the deceased usurer + rustle; anon, that he heard the slaughtered bravo draw up his leg, the + boot scratching the floor as if he was about to rise; and again he deemed + he heard the footsteps and the whisper of the returned ruffian under the + window from which he had lately escaped. To face the last and most real + danger, and to parry the terrors which the other class of feelings were + like to impress upon him, Nigel went to the window, and was much cheered + to observe the light of several torches illuminating the street, and + followed, as the murmur of voices denoted, by a number of persons, armed, + it would seem, with firelocks and halberds, and attendant on Hildebrod, + who (not in his fantastic office of duke, but in that which he really + possessed of bailiff of the liberty and sanctuary of Whitefriars) was on + his way to inquire into the crime and its circumstances. + </p> + <p> + It was a strange and melancholy contrast to see these debauchees, + disturbed in the very depth of their midnight revel, on their arrival at + such a scene as this. They stared on each other, and on the bloody work + before them, with lack-lustre eyes; staggered with uncertain steps over + boards slippery with blood; their noisy brawling voices sunk into + stammering whispers; and, with spirits quelled by what they saw, while + their brains were still stupefied by the liquor which they had drunk, they + seemed like men walking in their sleep. + </p> + <p> + Old Hildebrod was an exception to the general condition. That seasoned + cask, however full, was at all times capable of motion, when there + occurred a motive sufficiently strong to set him a-rolling. He seemed much + shocked at what he beheld, and his proceedings, in consequence, had more + in them of regularity and propriety, than he might have been supposed + capable of exhibiting upon any occasion whatever. The daughter was first + examined, and stated, with wonderful accuracy and distinctness, the manner + in which she had been alarmed with a noise of struggling and violence in + her father's apartment, and that the more readily, because she was + watching him on account of some alarm concerning his health. On her + entrance, she had seen her father sinking under the strength of two men, + upon whom she rushed with all the fury she was capable of. As their faces + were blackened, and their figures disguised, she could not pretend, in the + hurry of a moment so dreadfully agitating, to distinguish either of them + as persons whom she had seen before. She remembered little more except the + firing of shots, until she found herself alone with her guest, and saw + that the ruffians had escaped. Lord Glenvarloch told his story as we have + given it to the reader. The direct evidence thus received, Hildebrod + examined the premises. He found that the villains had made their entrance + by the window out of which the survivor had made his escape; yet it seemed + singular that they should have done so, as it was secured with strong iron + bars, which old Trapbois was in the habit of shutting with his own hand at + nightfall. He minuted down with great accuracy, the state of every thing + in the apartment, and examined carefully the features of the slain robber. + He was dressed like a seaman of the lowest order, but his face was known + to none present. Hildebrod next sent for an Alsatian surgeon, whose vices, + undoing what his skill might have done for him, had consigned him to the + wretched practice of this place. He made him examine the dead bodies, and + make a proper declaration of the manner in which the sufferers seemed to + have come by their end. The circumstances of the sash did not escape the + learned judge, and having listened to all that could be heard or + conjectured on the subject, and collected all particulars of evidence + which appeared to bear on the bloody transaction, he commanded the door of + the apartment to be locked until next morning; and carrying, the + unfortunate daughter of the murdered man into the kitchen, where there was + no one in presence but Lord Glenvarloch, he asked her gravely, whether she + suspected no one in particular of having committed the deed. + </p> + <p> + "Do <i>you</i> suspect no one?" answered Martha, looking fixedly on him. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps, I may, mistress; but it is my part to ask questions, yours to + answer them. That's the rule of the game." + </p> + <p> + "Then I suspect him who wore yonder sash. Do not you know whom I mean?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, if you call on me for honours, I must needs say I have seen Captain + Peppercull have one of such a fashion, and he was not a man to change his + suits often." + </p> + <p> + "Send out, then," said Martha, "and have him apprehended." + </p> + <p> + "If it is he, he will be far by this time; but I will communicate with the + higher powers," answered the judge. + </p> + <p> + "You would have him escape," resumed she, fixing her eyes on him sternly. + </p> + <p> + "By cock and pie," replied Hildebrod, "did it depend on me, the murdering + cut-throat should hang as high as ever Haman did—but let me take my + time. He has friends among us, <i>that</i> you wot well; and all that + should assist me are as drunk as fiddlers." + </p> + <p> + "I will have revenge—I <i>will</i> have it," repeated she; "and take + heed you trifle not with me." + </p> + <p> + "Trifle! I would sooner trifle with a she-bear the minute after they had + baited her. I tell you, mistress, be but patient, and we will have him. I + know all his haunts, and he cannot forbear them long; and I will have + trap-doors open for him. You cannot want justice, mistress, for you have + the means to get it." + </p> + <p> + "They who help me in my revenge," said Martha, "shall share those means." + </p> + <p> + "Enough said," replied Hildebrod; "and now I would have you go to my + house, and get something hot—you will be but dreary here by + yourself." + </p> + <p> + "I will send for the old char-woman," replied Martha, "and we have the + stranger gentleman, besides." + </p> + <p> + "Umph, umph—the stranger gentleman!" said Hildebrod to Nigel, whom + he drew a little apart. "I fancy the captain has made the stranger + gentleman's fortune when he was making a bold dash for his own. I can tell + your honour—I must not say lordship—that I think my having + chanced to give the greasy buff-and-iron scoundrel some hint of what I + recommended to you to-day, has put him on this rough game. The better for + you—you will get the cash without the father-in-law.—You will + keep conditions, I trust?" + </p> + <p> + "I wish you had said nothing to any one of a scheme so absurd," said + Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Absurd!—Why, think you she will not have thee? Take her with the + tear in her eye, man—take her with the tear in her eye. Let me hear + from you to-morrow. Good-night, good-night—a nod is as good as a + wink. I must to my business of sealing and locking up. By the way, this + horrid work has put all out of my head.—Here is a fellow from Mr. + Lowestoffe has been asking to see you. As he said his business was + express, the Senate only made him drink a couple of flagons, and he was + just coming to beat up your quarters when this breeze blew up.—Ahey, + friend! there is Master Nigel Grahame." + </p> + <p> + A young man, dressed in a green plush jerkin, with a badge on the sleeve, + and having the appearance of a waterman, approached and took Nigel aside, + while Duke Hildebrod went from place to place to exercise his authority, + and to see the windows fastened, and the doors of the apartment locked up. + The news communicated by Lowestoffe's messenger were not the most + pleasant. They were intimated in a courteous whisper to Nigel, to the + following effect:—That Master Lowestoffe prayed him to consult his + safety by instantly leaving Whitefriars, for that a warrant from the Lord + Chief-Justice had been issued out for apprehending him, and would be put + in force to-morrow, by the assistance of a party of musketeers, a force + which the Alsatians neither would nor dared to resist. + </p> + <p> + "And so, squire," said the aquatic emissary, "my wherry is to wait you at + the Temple Stairs yonder, at five this morning, and, if you would give the + blood-hounds the slip, why, you may." + </p> + <p> + "Why did not Master Lowestoffe write to me?" said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Alas! the good gentleman lies up in lavender for it himself, and has as + little to do with pen and ink as if he were a parson." + </p> + <p> + "Did he send any token to me?" said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Token!—ay, marry did he—token enough, an I have not forgot + it," said the fellow; then, giving a hoist to the waistband of his + breeches, he said,—"Ay, I have it—you were to believe me, + because your name was written with an O, for Grahame. Ay, that was it, I + think.—Well, shall we meet in two hours, when tide turns, and go + down the river like a twelve-oared barge?" + </p> + <p> + "Where is the king just now, knowest thou?" answered Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "The king! why, he went down to Greenwich yesterday by water, like a noble + sovereign as he is, who will always float where he can. He was to have + hunted this week, but that purpose is broken, they say; and the Prince, + and the Duke, and all of them at Greenwich, are as merry as minnows." + </p> + <p> + "Well," replied Nigel, "I will be ready to go at five; do thou come hither + to carry my baggage." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, master," replied the fellow, and left the house mixing himself + with the disorderly attendants of Duke Hildebrod, who were now retiring. + That potentate entreated Nigel to make fast the doors behind him, and, + pointing to the female who sat by the expiring fire with her limbs + outstretched, like one whom the hand of Death had already arrested, he + whispered, "Mind your hits, and mind your bargain, or I will cut your + bow-string for you before you can draw it." + </p> + <p> + Feeling deeply the ineffable brutality which could recommend the + prosecuting such views over a wretch in such a condition, Lord Glenvarloch + yet commanded his temper so far as to receive the advice in silence, and + attend to the former part of it, by barring the door carefully behind Duke + Hildebrod and his suite, with the tacit hope that he should never again + see or hear of them. He then returned to the kitchen, in which the unhappy + woman remained, her hands still clenched, her eyes fixed, and her limbs + extended, like those of a person in a trance. Much moved by her situation, + and with the prospect which lay before her, he endeavoured to awaken her + to existence by every means in his power, and at length apparently + succeeded in dispelling her stupor, and attracting her attention. He then + explained to her that he was in the act of leaving Whitefriars in a few + hours—that his future destination was uncertain, but that he desired + anxiously to know whether he could contribute to her protection by + apprizing any friend of her situation, or otherwise. With some difficulty + she seemed to comprehend his meaning, and thanked him with her usual short + ungracious manner. "He might mean well," she said, "but he ought to know + that the miserable had no friends." + </p> + <p> + Nigel said, "He would not willingly be importunate, but, as he was about + to leave the Friars—" She interrupted him— + </p> + <p> + "You are about to leave the Friars? I will go with you." + </p> + <p> + "You go with me!" exclaimed Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she said, "I will persuade my father to leave this murdering den." + But, as she spoke, the more perfect recollection of what had passed + crowded on her mind. She hid her face in her hands, and burst out into a + dreadful fit of sobs, moans, and lamentations, which terminated in + hysterics, violent in proportion to the uncommon strength of her body and + mind. + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch, shocked, confused, and inexperienced, was about to leave + the house in quest of medical, or at least female assistance; but the + patient, when the paroxysm had somewhat spent its force, held him fast by + the sleeve with one hand, covering her face with the other, while a + copious flood of tears came to relieve the emotions of grief by which she + had been so violently agitated. + </p> + <p> + "Do not leave me," she said—"do not leave me, and call no one. I + have never been in this way before, and would not now," she said, sitting + upright, and wiping her eyes with her apron,—"would not now—but + that—but that he loved <i>me</i>. if he loved nothing else that was + human—To die so, and by such hands!" + </p> + <p> + And again the unhappy woman gave way to a paroxysm of sorrow, mingling her + tears with sobbing, wailing, and all the abandonment of female grief, when + at its utmost height. At length, she gradually recovered the austerity of + her natural composure, and maintained it as if by a forcible exertion of + resolution, repelling, as she spoke, the repeated returns of the + hysterical affection, by such an effort as that by which epileptic + patients are known to suspend the recurrence of their fits. Yet her mind, + however resolved, could not so absolutely overcome the affection of her + nerves, but that she was agitated by strong fits of trembling, which, for + a minute or two at a time, shook her whole frame in a manner frightful to + witness. Nigel forgot his own situation, and, indeed, every thing else, in + the interest inspired by the unhappy woman before him—an interest + which affected a proud spirit the more deeply, that she herself, with + correspondent highness of mind, seemed determined to owe as little as + possible either to the humanity or the pity of others. + </p> + <p> + "I am not wont to be in this way," she said,—"but—but—Nature + will have power over the frail beings it has made. Over you, sir, I have + some right; for, without you, I had not survived this awful night. I wish + your aid had been either earlier or later—but you have saved my + life, and you are bound to assist in making it endurable to me." + </p> + <p> + "If you will show me how it is possible," answered Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "You are going hence, you say, instantly—carry me with you," said + the unhappy woman. "By my own efforts, I shall never escape from this + wilderness of guilt and misery." + </p> + <p> + "Alas! what can I do for you?" replied Nigel. "My own way, and I must not + deviate from it, leads me, in all probability, to a dungeon. I might, + indeed, transport you from hence with me, if you could afterwards bestow + yourself with any friend." + </p> + <p> + "Friend!" she exclaimed—"I have no friend—they have long since + discarded us. A spectre arising from the dead were more welcome than I + should be at the doors of those who have disclaimed us; and, if they were + willing to restore their friendship to me now, I would despise it, because + they withdrew it from him—from him"—(here she underwent strong + but suppressed agitation, and then added firmly)—"from <i>him</i> + who lies yonder.—I have no friend." Here she paused; and then + suddenly, as if recollecting herself, added, "I have no friend, but I have + that will purchase many—I have that which will purchase both friends + and avengers.—It is well thought of; I must not leave it for a prey + to cheats and ruffians.—Stranger, you must return to yonder room. + Pass through it boldly to his—that is, to the sleeping apartment; + push the bedstead aside; beneath each of the posts is a brass plate, as if + to support the weight, but it is that upon the left, nearest to the wall, + which must serve your turn—press the corner of the plate, and it + will spring up and show a keyhole, which this key will open. You will then + lift a concealed trap-door, and in a cavity of the floor you will discover + a small chest. Bring it hither; it shall accompany our journey, and it + will be hard if the contents cannot purchase me a place of refuge." + </p> + <p> + "But the door communicating with the kitchen has been locked by these + people," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "True, I had forgot; they had their reasons for that, doubtless," answered + she. "But the secret passage from your apartment is open, and you may go + that way." + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch took the key, and, as he lighted a lamp to show him the + way, she read in his countenance some unwillingness to the task imposed. + </p> + <p> + "You fear?" said she—"there is no cause; the murderer and his victim + are both at rest. Take courage, I will go with you myself—you cannot + know the trick of the spring, and the chest will be too heavy for you." + </p> + <p> + "No fear, no fear," answered Lord Glenvarloch, ashamed of the construction + she put upon a momentary hesitation, arising from a dislike to look upon + what is horrible, often connected with those high-wrought minds which are + the last to fear what is merely dangerous—"I will do your errand as + you desire; but for you, you must not—cannot go yonder." + </p> + <p> + "I can—I will," she said. "I am composed. You shall see that I am + so." She took from the table a piece of unfinished sewing-work, and, with + steadiness and composure, passed a silken thread into the eye of a fine + needle.—"Could I have done that," she said, with a smile yet more + ghastly than her previous look of fixed despair, "had not my heart and + hand been both steady?" + </p> + <p> + She then led the way rapidly up stairs to Nigel's chamber, and proceeded + through the secret passage with the same haste, as if she had feared her + resolution might have failed her ere her purpose was executed. At the + bottom of the stairs she paused a moment, before entering the fatal + apartment, then hurried through with a rapid step to the sleeping chamber + beyond, followed closely by Lord Glenvarloch, whose reluctance to approach + the scene of butchery was altogether lost in the anxiety which he felt on + account of the survivor of the tragedy. + </p> + <p> + Her first action was to pull aside the curtains of her father's bed. The + bed-clothes were thrown aside in confusion, doubtless in the action of his + starting from sleep to oppose the entrance of the villains into the next + apartment. The hard mattress scarcely showed the slight pressure where the + emaciated body of the old miser had been deposited. His daughter sank + beside the bed, clasped her hands, and prayed to heaven, in a short and + affectionate manner, for support in her affliction, and for vengeance on + the villains who had made her fatherless. A low-muttered and still more + brief petition recommended to Heaven the soul of the sufferer, and invoked + pardon for his sins, in virtue of the great Christian atonement. + </p> + <p> + This duty of piety performed, she signed to Nigel to aid her; and, having + pushed aside the heavy bedstead, they saw the brass plate which Martha had + described. She pressed the spring, and, at once, the plate starting up, + showed the keyhole, and a large iron ring used in lifting the trap-door, + which, when raised, displayed the strong box, or small chest, she had + mentioned, and which proved indeed so very weighty, that it might perhaps + have been scarcely possible for Nigel, though a very strong man, to have + raised it without assistance. + </p> + <p> + Having replaced everything as they had found it, Nigel, with such help as + his companion was able to afford, assumed his load, and made a shift to + carry it into the next apartment, where lay the miserable owner, + insensible to sounds and circumstances, which, if any thing could have + broken his long last slumber, would certainly have done so. His + unfortunate daughter went up to his body, and had even the courage to + remove the sheet which had been decently disposed over it. She put her + hand on the heart, but there was no throb—held a feather to the + lips, but there was no motion—then kissed with deep reverence the + starting veins of the pale forehead, and then the emaciated hand. + </p> + <p> + "I would you could hear me," she said,—"Father! I would you could + hear me swear, that, if I now save what you most valued on earth, it is + only to assist me in obtaining vengeance for your death." + </p> + <p> + She replaced the covering, and, without a tear, a sigh, or an additional + word of any kind, renewed her efforts, until they conveyed the strong-box + betwixt them into Lord Glenvarloch's sleeping apartment. "It must pass," + she said, "as part of your baggage. I will be in readiness so soon as the + waterman calls." + </p> + <p> + She retired; and Lord Glenvarloch, who saw the hour of their departure + approach, tore down a part of the old hanging to make a covering, which he + corded upon the trunk, lest the peculiarity of its shape, and the care + with which it was banded and counterbanded with bars of steel, might + afford suspicions respecting the treasure which it contained. Having taken + this measure of precaution, he changed the rascally disguise, which he had + assumed on entering Whitefriars, into a suit becoming his quality, and + then, unable to sleep, though exhausted with the events of the night, he + threw himself on his bed to await the summons of the waterman. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Give us good voyage, gentle stream—we stun not + Thy sober ear with sounds of revelry; + Wake not the slumbering echoes of thy banks + With voice of flute and horn—we do but seek + On the broad pathway of thy swelling bosom + To glide in silent safety. + <i>The Double Bridal.</i> +</pre> + <p> + Grey, or rather yellow light, was beginning to twinkle through the fogs of + Whitefriars, when a low tap at the door of the unhappy miser announced to + Lord Glenvarloch the summons of the boatman. He found at the door the man + whom he had seen the night before, with a companion. + </p> + <p> + "Come, come, master, let us get afloat," said one of them, in a rough + impressive whisper, "time and tide wait for no man." + </p> + <p> + "They shall not wait for me," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but I have some + things to carry with me." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay—no man will take a pair of oars now, Jack, unless he means + to load the wherry like a six-horse waggon. When they don't want to shift + the whole kitt, they take a sculler, and be d—d to them. Come, come, + where be your rattle-traps?" + </p> + <p> + One of the men was soon sufficiently loaded, in his own estimation at + least, with Lord Glenvarloch's mail and its accompaniments, with which + burden he began to trudge towards the Temple Stairs. His comrade, who + seemed the principal, began to handle the trunk which contained the + miser's treasure, but pitched it down again in an instant, declaring, with + a great oath, that it was as reasonable to expect a man to carry Paul's on + his back. The daughter of Trapbois, who had by this time joined them, + muffled up in a long dark hood and mantle, exclaimed to Lord Glenvarloch—"Let + them leave it if they will, let them leave it all; let us but escape from + this horrible place." + </p> + <p> + We have mentioned elsewhere, that Nigel was a very athletic young man, + and, impelled by a strong feeling of compassion and indignation, he showed + his bodily strength singularly on this occasion, by seizing on the + ponderous strong-box, and, by means of the rope he had cast around it, + throwing it on his shoulders, and marching resolutely forward under a + weight, which would have sunk to the earth three young gallants, at the + least, of our degenerate day. The waterman followed him in amazement, + calling out, "Why, master, master, you might as well gie me t'other end + on't!" and anon offered his assistance to support it in some degree + behind, which after the first minute or two Nigel was fain to accept. His + strength was almost exhausted when he reached the wherry, which was lying + at the Temple Stairs according to appointment; and, when he pitched the + trunk into it, the weight sank the bow of the boat so low in the water as + well-nigh to overset it. + </p> + <p> + "We shall have as hard a fare of it," said the waterman to his companion, + "as if we were ferrying over an honest bankrupt with all his secreted + goods—Ho, ho! good woman, what, are you stepping in for?—our + gunwale lies deep enough in the water without live lumber to boot." + </p> + <p> + "This person comes with me," said Lord Glenvarloch; "she is for the + present under my protection." + </p> + <p> + "Come, come, master," rejoined the fellow, "that is out of my commission. + You must not double my freight on me—she may go by land—and, + as for protection, her face will protect her from Berwick to the Land's + End." + </p> + <p> + "You will not except at my doubling the loading, if I double the fare?" + said Nigel, determined on no account to relinquish the protection of this + unhappy woman, for which he had already devised some sort of plan, likely + now to be baffled by the characteristic rudeness of the Thames watermen. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, by G——, but I will except, though," said the fellow with + the green plush jacket: "I will overload my wherry neither for love nor + money—I love my boat as well as my wife, and a thought better." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay, comrade," said his mate, "that is speaking no true water + language. For double fare we are bound to row a witch in her eggshell if + she bid us; and so pull away, Jack, and let us have no more prating." + </p> + <p> + They got into the stream-way accordingly, and, although heavily laden, + began to move down the river with reasonable speed. + </p> + <p> + The lighter vessels which passed, overtook, or crossed them, in their + course, failed not to assail them with their boisterous raillery, which + was then called water-wit; for which the extreme plainness of Mistress + Martha's features, contrasted with the youth, handsome figure, and good + looks of Nigel, furnished the principal topics; while the circumstance of + the boat being somewhat overloaded, did not escape their notice. They were + hailed successively, as a grocer's wife upon a party of pleasure with her + eldest apprentice—as an old woman carrying her grandson to school—and + as a young strapping Irishman, conveying an ancient maiden to Dr. + Rigmarole's, at Redriffe, who buckles beggars for a tester and a dram of + Geneva. All this abuse was retorted in a similar strain of humour by + Greenjacket and his companion, who maintained the war of wit with the same + alacrity with which they were assailed. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Lord Glenvarloch asked his desolate companion if she had + thought on any place where she could remain in safety with her property. + She confessed, in more detail than formerly, that her father's character + had left her no friends; and that, from the time he had betaken himself to + Whitefriars, to escape certain legal consequences of his eager pursuit of + gain, she had lived a life of total seclusion; not associating with the + society which the place afforded, and, by her residence there, as well as + her father's parsimony, effectually cut off from all other company. What + she now wished, was, in the first place, to obtain the shelter of a decent + lodging, and the countenance of honest people, however low in life, until + she should obtain legal advice as to the mode of obtaining justice on her + father's murderer. She had no hesitation to charge the guilt upon + Colepepper, (commonly called Peppercull,) whom she knew to be as capable + of any act of treacherous cruelty, as he was cowardly, where actual + manhood was required. He had been strongly suspected of two robberies + before, one of which was coupled with an atrocious murder. He had, she + intimated, made pretensions to her hand as the easiest and safest way of + obtaining possession of her father's wealth; and, on her refusing his + addresses, if they could be termed so, in the most positive terms, he had + thrown out such obscure hints of vengeance, as, joined with some imperfect + assaults upon the house, had kept her in frequent alarm, both on her + father's account and her own. + </p> + <p> + Nigel, but that his feeling of respectful delicacy to the unfortunate + woman forebade him to do so, could here have communicated a circumstance + corroborative of her suspicions, which had already occurred to his own + mind. He recollected the hint that old Hildebrod threw forth on the + preceding night, that some communication betwixt himself and Colepepper + had hastened the catastrophe. As this communication related to the plan + which Hildebrod had been pleased to form, of promoting a marriage betwixt + Nigel himself and the rich heiress of Trapbois, the fear of losing an + opportunity not to be regained, together with the mean malignity of a + low-bred ruffian, disappointed in a favourite scheme, was most likely to + instigate the bravo to the deed of violence which had been committed. The + reflection that his own name was in some degree implicated with the causes + of this horrid tragedy, doubled Lord Glenvarloch's anxiety in behalf of + the victim whom he had rescued, while at the same time he formed the tacit + resolution, that, so soon as his own affairs were put upon some footing, + he would contribute all in his power towards the investigation of this + bloody affair. + </p> + <p> + After ascertaining from his companion that she could form no better plan + of her own, he recommended to her to take up her lodging for the time, at + the house of his old landlord, Christie the ship-chandler, at Paul's + Wharf, describing the decency and honesty of that worthy couple, and + expressing his hopes that they would receive her into their own house, or + recommend her at least to that of some person for whom they would be + responsible, until she should have time to enter upon other arrangements + for herself. + </p> + <p> + The poor woman received advice so grateful to her in her desolate + condition, with an expression of thanks, brief indeed, but deeper than any + thing had yet extracted from the austerity of her natural disposition. + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch then proceeded to inform Martha, that certain reasons, + connected with his personal safety, called him immediately to Greenwich, + and, therefore, it would not be in his power to accompany her to + Christie's house, which he would otherwise have done with pleasure: but, + tearing a leaf from his tablet, he wrote on it a few lines, addressed to + his landlord, as a man of honesty and humanity, in which he described the + bearer as a person who stood in singular necessity of temporary protection + and good advice, for which her circumstances enabled her to make ample + acknowledgment. He therefore requested John Christie, as his old and good + friend, to afford her the shelter of his roof for a short time; or, if + that might not be consistent with his convenience, at least to direct her + to a proper lodging-and, finally, he imposed on him the additional, and + somewhat more difficult commission, to recommend her to the counsel and + services of an honest, at least a reputable and skilful attorney, for the + transacting some law business of importance. The note he subscribed with + his real name, and, delivering it to his <i>protegee</i>, who received it + with another deeply uttered "I thank you," which spoke the sterling + feelings of her gratitude better than a thousand combined phrases, he + commanded the watermen to pull in for Paul's Wharf, which they were now + approaching. + </p> + <p> + "We have not time," said Green-jacket; "we cannot be stopping every + instant." + </p> + <p> + But, upon Nigel insisting upon his commands being obeyed, and adding, that + it was for the purpose of putting the lady ashore, the waterman declared + that he would rather have her room than her company, and put the wherry + alongside the wharf accordingly. Here two of the porters, who ply in such + places, were easily induced to undertake the charge of the ponderous + strong-box, and at the same time to guide the owner to the well-known + mansion of John Christie, with whom all who lived in that neighbourhood + were perfectly acquainted. + </p> + <p> + The boat, much lightened of its load, went down the Thames at a rate + increased in proportion. But we must forbear to pursue her in her voyage + for a few minutes, since we have previously to mention the issue of Lord + Glenvarloch's recommendation. + </p> + <p> + Mistress Martha Trapbois reached the shop in perfect safety, and was about + to enter it, when a sickening sense of the uncertainty of her situation, + and of the singularly painful task of telling her story, came over her so + strongly, that she paused a moment at the very threshold of her proposed + place of refuge, to think in what manner she could best second the + recommendation of the friend whom Providence had raised up to her. Had she + possessed that knowledge of the world, from which her habits of life had + completely excluded her, she might have known that the large sum of money + which she brought along with her, might, judiciously managed, have been a + passport to her into the mansions of nobles, and the palaces of princes. + But, however conscious of its general power, which assumes so many forms + and complexions, she was so inexperienced as to be most unnecessarily + afraid that the means by which the wealth had been acquired, might exclude + its inheretrix from shelter even in the house of a humble tradesman. + </p> + <p> + While she thus delayed, a more reasonable cause for hesitation arose, in a + considerable noise and altercation within the house, which grew louder and + louder as the disputants issued forth upon the street or lane before the + door. + </p> + <p> + The first who entered upon the scene was a tall raw-boned hard-favoured + man, who stalked out of the shop hastily, with a gait like that of a + Spaniard in a passion, who, disdaining to add speed to his locomotion by + running, only condescends, in the utmost extremity of his angry haste, to + add length to his stride. He faced about, so soon as he was out of the + house, upon his pursuer, a decent-looking, elderly, plain tradesman—no + other than John Christie himself, the owner of the shop and tenement, by + whom he seemed to be followed, and who was in a state of agitation more + than is usually expressed by such a person. + </p> + <p> + "I'll hear no more on't," said the personage who first appeared on the + scene.—"Sir, I will hear no more on it. Besides being a most false + and impudent figment, as I can testify—it is <i>Scandaalum Magnaatum</i>, + sir—<i>Scandaalum Magnaatum</i>" he reiterated with a broad + accentuation of the first vowel, well known in the colleges of Edinburgh + and Glasgow, which we can only express in print by doubling the said first + of letters and of vowels, and which would have cheered the cockles of the + reigning monarch had he been within hearing,—as he was a severer + stickler for what he deemed the genuine pronunciation of the Roman tongue, + than for any of the royal prerogatives, for which he was at times disposed + to insist so strenuously in his speeches to Parliament. + </p> + <p> + "I care not an ounce of rotten cheese," said John Christie in reply, "what + you call it—but it is TRUE; and I am a free Englishman, and have + right to speak the truth in my own concerns; and your master is little + better than a villain, and you no more than a swaggering coxcomb, whose + head I will presently break, as I have known it well broken before on + lighter occasion." + </p> + <p> + And, so saying, he flourished the paring-shovel which usually made clean + the steps of his little shop, and which he had caught up as the readiest + weapon of working his foeman damage, and advanced therewith upon him. The + cautious Scot (for such our readers must have already pronounced him, from + his language and pedantry) drew back as the enraged ship-chandler + approached, but in a surly manner, and bearing his hand on his sword-hilt + rather in the act of one who was losing habitual forbearance and caution + of deportment, than as alarmed by the attack of an antagonist inferior to + himself in youth, strength, and weapons. + </p> + <p> + "Bide back," he said, "Maister Christie—I say bide back, and consult + your safety, man. I have evited striking you in your ain house under + muckle provocation, because I am ignorant how the laws here may pronounce + respecting burglary and hamesucken, and such matters; and, besides, I + would not willingly hurt ye, man, e'en on the causeway, that is free to us + baith, because I mind your kindness of lang syne, and partly consider ye + as a poor deceived creature. But deil d—n me, sir, and I am not wont + to swear, but if you touch my Scotch shouther with that shule of yours, I + will make six inches of my Andrew Ferrara deevilish intimate with your + guts, neighbour." + </p> + <p> + And therewithal, though still retreating from the brandished shovel, he + made one-third of the basket-hilled broadsword which he wore, visible from + the sheath. The wrath of John Christie was abated, either by his natural + temperance of disposition, or perhaps in part by the glimmer of cold + steel, which flashed on him from his adversary's last action. + </p> + <p> + "I would do well to cry clubs on thee, and have thee ducked at the wharf," + he said, grounding his shovel, however, at the same time, "for a paltry + swaggerer, that would draw thy bit of iron there on an honest citizen + before his own door; but get thee gone, and reckon on a salt eel for thy + supper, if thou shouldst ever come near my house again. I wish it had been + at the bottom of the Thames when it first gave the use of its roof to + smooth-faced, oily-tongued, double-minded Scots thieves!" + </p> + <p> + "It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest," replied his adversary, not + perhaps the less bold that he saw matters were taking the turn of a + pacific debate; "and a pity it is that a kindly Scot should ever have + married in foreign parts, and given life to a purse-proud, pudding-headed, + fat-gutted, lean-brained Southron, e'en such as you, Maister Christie. But + fare ye weel—fare ye weel, for ever and a day; and, if you quarrel + wi' a Scot again, man, say as mickle ill o' himsell as ye like, but say + nane of his patron or of his countrymen, or it will scarce be your flat + cap that will keep your lang lugs from the sharp abridgement of a Highland + whinger, man." + </p> + <p> + "And, if you continue your insolence to me before my own door, were it but + two minutes longer," retorted John Christie, "I will call the constable, + and make your Scottish ankles acquainted with an English pair of stocks!" + </p> + <p> + So saying, he turned to retire into his shop with some show of victory; + for his enemy, whatever might be his innate valour, manifested no desire + to drive matters to extremity—conscious, perhaps, that whatever + advantage he might gain in single combat with Jonn Christie, would be more + than overbalanced by incurring an affair with the constituted authorities + of Old England, not at that time apt to be particularly favourable to + their new fellow-subjects, in the various successive broils which were + then constantly taking place between the individuals of two proud nations, + who still retained a stronger sense of their national animosity during + centuries, than of their late union for a few years under the government + of the same prince. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Martha Trapbois had dwelt too long in Alsatia, to be either surprised + or terrified at the altercation she had witnessed. Indeed, she only + wondered that the debate did not end in some of those acts of violence by + which they were usually terminated in the Sanctuary. As the disputants + separated from each other, she, who had no idea that the cause of the + quarrel was more deeply rooted than in the daily scenes of the same nature + which she had heard of or witnessed, did not hesitate to stop Master + Christie in his return to his shop, and present to him the letter which + Lord Glenvarloch had given to her. Had she been better acquainted with + life and its business, she would certainly have waited for a more + temperate moment; and she had reason to repent of her precipitation, when, + without saying a single word, or taking the trouble to gather more of the + information contained in the letter than was expressed in the + subscription, the incensed ship chandler threw it down on the ground, + trampled it in high disdain, and, without addressing a single word to the + bearer, except, indeed, something much more like a hearty curse than was + perfectly consistent with his own grave appearance, he retired into his + shop, and shut the hatch-door. + </p> + <p> + It was with the most inexpressible anguish that the desolate, friendless + and unhappy female, thus beheld her sole hope of succour, countenance, and + protection, vanish at once, without being able to conceive a reason; for, + to do her justice, the idea that her friend, whom she knew by the name of + Nigel Grahame, had imposed on her, a solution which might readily have + occurred to many in her situation, never once entered her mind. Although + it was not her temper easily to bend her mind to entreaty, she could not + help exclaiming after the ireful and retreating ship-chandler,—"Good + Master, hear me but a moment! for mercy's sake, for honesty's sake!" + </p> + <p> + "Mercy and honesty from him, mistress!" said the Scot, who, though he + essayed not to interrupt the retreat of his antagonist, still kept stout + possession of the field of action,—"ye might as weel expect brandy + from bean-stalks, or milk from a craig of blue whunstane. The man is mad, + bom mad, to boot." + </p> + <p> + "I must have mistaken the person to whom the letter was addressed, then;" + and, as she spoke, Mistress Martha Trapbois was in the act of stooping to + lift the paper which had been so uncourteously received. Her companion, + with natural civility, anticipated her purpose; but, what was not quite so + much in etiquette, he took a sly glance at it as he was about to hand it + to her, and his eye having caught the subscription, he said, with + surprise, "Glenvarloch—Nigel Olifaunt of Glenvarloch! Do you know + the Lord Glenvarloch, mistress?" + </p> + <p> + "I know not of whom you speak," said Mrs. Martha, peevishly. "I had that + paper from one Master Nigel Gram." + </p> + <p> + "Nigel Grahame!—umph.-O, ay, very true—I had forgot," said the + Scotsman. "A tall, well-set young man, about my height; bright blue eyes + like a hawk's; a pleasant speech, something leaning to the kindly + north-country accentuation, but not much, in respect of his having been + resident abroad?" + </p> + <p> + "All this is true—and what of it all?" said the daughter of the + miser. + </p> + <p> + "Hair of my complexion?" + </p> + <p> + "Yours is red," replied she. + </p> + <p> + "I pray you peace," said the Scotsman. "I was going to say—of my + complexion, but with a deeper shade of the chestnut. Weel, mistress, if I + have guessed the man aright, he is one with whom I am, and have been, + intimate and familiar,—nay,—I may truly say I have done him + much service in my time, and may live to do him more. I had indeed a + sincere good-will for him, and I doubt he has been much at a loss since we + parted; but the fault is not mine. Wherefore, as this letter will not + avail you with him to whom it is directed, you may believe that heaven + hath sent it to me, who have a special regard for the writer—I have, + besides, as much mercy and honesty within me as man can weel make his + bread with, and am willing to aid any distressed creature, that is my + friend's friend, with my counsel, and otherwise, so that I am not put to + much charges, being in a strange country, like a poor lamb that has + wandered from its ain native hirsel, and leaves a tait of its woo' in + every d—d Southron bramble that comes across it." While he spoke + thus, he read the contents of the letter, without waiting for permission, + and then continued,—"And so this is all that you are wanting, my + dove? nothing more than safe and honourable lodging, and sustenance, upon + your own charges?" + </p> + <p> + "Nothing more," said she. "If you are a man and a Christian, you will help + me to what I need so much." + </p> + <p> + "A man I am," replied the formal Caledonian, "e'en sic as ye see me; and a + Christian I may call myself, though unworthy, and though I have heard + little pure doctrine since I came hither—a' polluted with men's + devices—ahem! Weel, and if ye be an honest woman," (here he peeped + under her muffler,) "as an honest woman ye seem likely to be—though, + let me tell you, they are a kind of cattle not so rife in the streets of + this city as I would desire them—I was almost strangled with my own + band by twa rampallians, wha wanted yestreen, nae farther gane, to harle + me into a change-house—however, if ye be a decent honest woman," + (here he took another peep at features certainly bearing no beauty which + could infer suspicion,) "as decent and honest ye seem to be, why, I will + advise you to a decent house, where you will get douce, quiet + entertainment, on reasonable terms, and the occasional benefit of my own + counsel and direction—that is, from time to time, as my other + avocations may permit." + </p> + <p> + "May I venture to accept of such an offer from a stranger?" said Martha, + with natural hesitation. + </p> + <p> + "Troth, I see nothing to hinder you, mistress," replied the bonny Scot; + "ye can but see the place, and do after as ye think best. Besides, we are + nae such strangers, neither; for I know your friend, and you, it's like, + know mine, whilk knowledge, on either hand, is a medium of communication + between us, even as the middle of the string connecteth its twa ends or + extremities. But I will enlarge on this farther as we pass along, gin ye + list to bid your twa lazy loons of porters there lift up your little kist + between them, whilk ae true Scotsman might carry under his arm. Let me + tell you, mistress, ye will soon make a toom pock-end of it in Lon'on, if + you hire twa knaves to do the work of ane." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he led the way, followed by Mistress Martha Trapbois, whose + singular destiny, though it had heaped her with wealth, had left her, for + the moment, no wiser counsellor, or more distinguished protector, than + honest Richie Moniplies, a discarded serving-man. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + This way lie safety and a sure retreat; + Yonder lie danger, shame, and punishment + Most welcome danger then—Nay, let me say, + Though spoke with swelling heart—welcome e'en shame + And welcome punishment—for, call me guilty, + I do but pay the tax that's due to justice; + And call me guiltless, then that punishment + Is shame to those alone who do inflict it, + <i>The Tribunal</i>. +</pre> + <p> + We left Lord Glenvarloch, to whose fortunes our story chiefly attaches + itself, gliding swiftly down the Thames. He was not, as the reader may + have observed, very affable in his disposition, or apt to enter into + conversation with those into whose company he was casually thrown. This + was, indeed, an error in his conduct, arising less from pride, though of + that feeling we do not pretend to exculpate him, than from a sort of + bashful reluctance to mix in the conversation of those with whom he was + not familiar. It is a fault only to be cured by experience and knowledge + of the world, which soon teaches every sensible and acute person the + important lesson, that amusement, and, what is of more consequence, that + information and increase of knowledge, are to be derived from the + conversation of every individual whatever, with whom he is thrown into a + natural train of communication. For ourselves, we can assure the reader—and + perhaps if we have ever been able to afford him amusement, it is owing in + a great degree to this cause—that we never found ourselves in + company with the stupidest of all possible companions in a post-chaise, or + with the most arrant cumber-corner that ever occupied a place in the + mail-coach, without finding, that, in the course of our conversation with + him, we had some ideas suggested to us, either grave orgay, or some + information communicated in the course of our journey, which we should + have regretted not to have learned, and which we should be sorry to have + immediately forgotten. But Nigel was somewhat immured within the Bastile + of his rank, as some philosopher (Tom Paine, we think) has happily enough + expressed that sort of shyness which men of dignified situations are apt + to be beset with, rather from not exactly knowing how far, or with whom, + they ought to be familiar, than from any real touch of aristocratic pride. + Besides, the immediate pressure of our adventurer's own affairs was such + as exclusively to engross his attention. + </p> + <p> + He sat, therefore, wrapt in his cloak, in the stern of the boat, with his + mind entirely bent upon the probable issue of the interview with his + Sovereign, which it was his purpose to seek; for which abstraction of mind + he may be fully justified, although perhaps, by questioning the watermen + who were transporting him down the river, he might have discovered matters + of high concernment to him. + </p> + <p> + At any rate, Nigel remained silent till the wherry approached the town of + Greenwich, when he commanded the men to put in for the nearest + landing-place, as it was his purpose to go ashore there, and dismiss them + from further attendance. + </p> + <p> + "That is not possible," said the fellow with the green jacket, who, as we + have already said, seemed to take on himself the charge of pilotage. "We + must go," he continued, "to Gravesend, where a Scottish vessel, which + dropped down the river last tide for the very purpose, lies with her + anchor a-peak, waiting to carry you to your own dear northern country. + Your hammock is slung, and all is ready for you, and you talk of going + ashore at Greenwich, as seriously as if such a thing were possible!" + </p> + <p> + "I see no impossibility," said Nigel, "in your landing me where I desire + to be landed; but very little possibility of your carrying me anywhere I + am not desirous of going." + </p> + <p> + "Why, whether do you manage the wherry, or we, master?" asked + Green-jacket, in a tone betwixt jest and earnest; "I take it she will go + the way we row her." + </p> + <p> + "Ay," retorted Nigel, "but I take it you will row her on the course I + direct you, otherwise your chance of payment is but a poor one." + </p> + <p> + "Suppose we are content to risk that," said the undaunted waterman, "I + wish to know how you, who talk so big—I mean no offence, master, but + you do talk big—would help yourself in such a case?" + </p> + <p> + "Simply thus," answered Lord Glenvarloch—"You saw me, an hour since, + bring down to the boat a trunk that neither of you could lift. If we are + to contest the destination of our voyage, the same strength which tossed + that chest into the wherry, will suffice to fling you out of it; + wherefore, before we begin the scuffle, I pray you to remember, that, + whither I would go, there I will oblige you to carry me." + </p> + <p> + "Gramercy for your kindness," said Green-jacket; "and now mark me in + return. My comrade and I are two men—and you, were you as stout as + George-a-Green, can pass but for one; and two, you will allow, are more + than a match for one. You mistake in your reckoning, my friend." + </p> + <p> + "It is you who mistake," answered Nigel, who began to grow warm; "it is I + who am three to two, sirrah—I carry two men's lives at my girdle." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he opened his cloak and showed the two pistols which he had + disposed at his girdle. Green-jacket was unmoved at the display. + </p> + <p> + "I have got," said he, "a pair of barkers that will match yours," and he + showed that he also was armed with pistols; "so you may begin as soon as + you list." + </p> + <p> + "Then," said Lord Glenvarloch, drawing forth and cocking a pistol, "the + sooner the better. Take notice, I hold you as a ruffian, who have declared + you will put force on my person; and that I will shoot you through the + head if you do not instantly put me ashore at Greenwich." + </p> + <p> + The other waterman, alarmed at Nigel's gesture, lay upon his oar; but + Green-jacket replied coolly—"Look you, master, I should not care a + tester to venture a life with you on this matter; but the truth is, I am + employed to do you good, and not to do you harm." + </p> + <p> + "By whom are you employed?" said the Lord Glenvarloch; "or who dare + concern themselves in me, or my affairs, without my authority?" + </p> + <p> + "As to that," answered the waterman, in the same tone of indifference, "I + shall not show my commission. For myself, I care not, as I said, whether + you land at Greenwich to get yourself hanged, or go down to get aboard the + Royal Thistle, to make your escape to your own country; you will be + equally out of my reach either way. But it is fair to put the choice + before you." + </p> + <p> + "My choice is made," said Nigel. "I have told you thrice already it is my + pleasure to be landed at Greenwich." + </p> + <p> + "Write it on a piece of paper," said the waterman, "that such is your + positive will; I must have something to show to my employers, that the + transgression of their orders lies with yourself, not with me." + </p> + <p> + "I choose to hold this trinket in my hand for the present," said Nigel, + showing his pistol, "and will write you the acquittance when I go ashore." + </p> + <p> + "I would not go ashore with you for a hundred pieces," said the waterman. + "Ill luck has ever attended you, except in small gaming; do me fair + justice, and give me the testimony I desire. If you are afraid of foul + play while you write it, you may hold my pistols, if you will." He offered + the weapons to Nigel accordingly, who, while they were under his control, + and all possibility of his being taken at disadvantage was excluded, no + longer hesitated to give the waterman an acknowledgment, in the following + terms:— + </p> + <p> + "Jack in the Green, with his mate, belonging to the wherry called the + Jolly Raven, have done their duty faithfully by me, landing me at + Greenwich by my express command; and being themselves willing and desirous + to carry me on board the Royal Thistle, presently lying at Gravesend." + Having finished this acknowledgment, which he signed with the letters, N. + O. G. as indicating his name and title, he again requested to know of the + waterman, to whom he delivered it, the name of his employers. + </p> + <p> + "Sir," replied Jack in the Green, "I have respected your secret, do not + you seek to pry into mine. It would do you no good to know for whom I am + taking this present trouble; and, to be brief, you shall not know it—and, + if you will fight in the quarrel, as you said even now, the sooner we + begin the better. Only this you may be cock-sure of, that we designed you + no harm, and that, if you fall into any, it will be of your own wilful + seeking." As he spoke, they approached the landing-place, where Nigel + instantly jumped ashore. The waterman placed his small mail-trunk on the + stairs, observing that there were plenty of spare hands about, to carry it + where he would. + </p> + <p> + "We part friends, I hope, my lads," said the young nobleman, offering at + the same time a piece of money more than double the usual fare, to the + boatmen. + </p> + <p> + "We part as we met," answered Green-jacket; "and, for your money, I am + paid sufficiently with this bit of paper. Only, if you owe me any love for + the cast I have given you, I pray you not to dive so deep into the pockets + of the next apprentice that you find fool enough to play the cavalier.—And + you, you greedy swine," said he to his companion, who still had a longing + eye fixed on the money which Nigel continued to offer, "push off, or, if I + take a stretcher in hand, I'll break the knave's pate of thee." The fellow + pushed off, as he was commanded, but still could not help muttering, "This + was entirely out of waterman's rules." + </p> + <p> + Glenvarloch, though without the devotion of the "injured Thales" of the + moralist, to the memory of that great princess, had now attained + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The hallow'd soil which gave Eliza birth," +</pre> + <p> + whose halls were now less respectably occupied by her successor. It was + not, as has been well shown by a late author, that James was void either + of parts or of good intentions; and his predecessor was at least as + arbitrary in effect as he was in theory. But, while Elizabeth possessed a + sternness of masculine sense and determination which rendered even her + weaknesses, some of which were in themselves sufficiently ridiculous, in a + certain degree respectable, James, on the other hand, was so utterly + devoid of "firm resolve," so well called by the Scottish bard, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The stalk of carle-hemp in man," +</pre> + <p> + that even his virtues and his good meaning became laughable, from the + whimsical uncertainty of his conduct; so that the wisest things he ever + said, and the best actions he ever did, were often touched with a strain + of the ludicrous and fidgety character of the man. Accordingly, though at + different periods of his reign he contrived to acquire with his people a + certain degree of temporary popularity, it never long outlived the + occasion which produced it; so true it is, that the mass of mankind will + respect a monarch stained with actual guilt, more than one whose foibles + render him only ridiculous. + </p> + <p> + To return from this digression, Lord Glenvarloch soon received, as + Green-jacket had assured him, the offer of an idle bargeman to transport + his baggage where he listed; but that where was a question of momentary + doubt. At length, recollecting the necessity that his hair and beard + should be properly arranged before he attempted to enter the royal + presence, and desirous, at the same time, of obtaining some information of + the motions of the Sovereign and of the Court, he desired to be guided to + the next barber's shop, which we have already mentioned as the place where + news of every kind circled and centred. He was speedily shown the way to + such an emporium of intelligence, and soon found he was likely to hear all + he desired to know, and much more, while his head was subjected to the art + of a nimble tonsor, the glibness of whose tongue kept pace with the + nimbleness of his fingers while he ran on, without stint or stop, in the + following excursive manner:— + </p> + <p> + "The Court here, master?—yes, master—much to the advantage of + trade—good custom stirring. His Majesty loves Greenwich—hunts + every morning in the Park—all decent persons admitted that have the + entries of the Palace—no rabble—frightened the king's horse + with their hallooing, the uncombed slaves.—Yes, sir, the beard more + peaked? Yes, master, so it is worn. I know the last cut—dress + several of the courtiers—one valet-of-the-chamber, two pages of the + body, the clerk of the kitchen, three running footmen, two dog-boys, and + an honourable Scottish knight, Sir Munko Malgrowler." + </p> + <p> + "Malagrowther, I suppose?" said Nigel, thrusting in his conjectural + emendation, with infinite difficulty, betwixt two clauses of the barber's + text. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir—Malcrowder, sir, as you say, sir—hard names the + Scots have, sir, for an English mouth. Sir Munko is a handsome person, sir—perhaps + you know him—bating the loss of his fingers, and the lameness of his + leg, and the length of his chin. Sir, it takes me one minute, twelve + seconds, more time to trim that chin of his, than any chin that I know in + the town of Greenwich, sir. But he is a very comely gentleman, for all + that; and a pleasant—a very pleasant gentleman, sir—and a + good-humoured, saving that he is so deaf he can never hear good of any + one, and so wise, that he can never believe it; but he is a very + good-natured gentleman for all that, except when one speaks too low, or + when a hair turns awry.—Did I graze you, sir? We shall put it to + rights in a moment, with one drop of styptic—my styptic, or rather + my wife's, sir—She makes the water herself. One drop of the styptic, + sir, and a bit of black taffeta patch, just big enough to be the saddle to + a flea, sir—Yes, sir, rather improves than otherwise. The Prince had + a patch the other day, and so had the Duke: and, if you will believe me, + there are seventeen yards three quarters of black taffeta already cut into + patches for the courtiers." + </p> + <p> + "But Sir Mungo Malagrowther?" again interjected Nigel, with difficulty. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, sir—Sir Munko, as you say; a pleasant, good-humoured + gentleman as ever—To be spoken with, did you say? O ay, easily to be + spoken withal, that is, as easily as his infirmity will permit. He will + presently, unless some one hath asked him forth to breakfast, be taking + his bone of broiled beef at my neighbour Ned Kilderkin's yonder, removed + from over the way. Ned keeps an eating-house, sir, famous for + pork-griskins; but Sir Munko cannot abide pork, no more than the King's + most Sacred Majesty,[Footnote: The Scots, till within the last generation, + disliked swine's flesh as an article of food as much as the Highlanders do + at present. It was remarked as extraordinary rapacity, when the Border + depredators condescended to make prey of the accursed race, whom the fiend + made his habitation. Ben Jonson, in drawing James's character, says, he + loved "no part of a swine."] nor my Lord Duke of Lennox, nor Lord + Dalgarno,—nay, I am sure, sir, if I touched you this time, it was + your fault, not mine.—But a single drop of the styptic, another + little patch that would make a doublet for a flea, just under the left + moustache; it will become you when you smile, sir, as well as a dimple; + and if you would salute your fair mistress—but I beg pardon, you are + a grave gentleman, very grave to be so young.—Hope I have given no + offence; it is my duty to entertain customers—my duty, sir, and my + pleasure—Sir Munko Malcrowther?—yes, sir, I dare say he is at + this moment in Ned's eating-house, for few folks ask him out, now Lord + Huntinglen is gone to London. You will get touched again—yes, sir—there + you shall find him with his can of single ale, stirred with a sprig of + rosemary, for he never drinks strong potations, sir, unless to oblige Lord + Huntinglen—take heed, sir—or any other person who asks him + forth to breakfast—but single beer he always drinks at Ned's, with + his broiled bone of beef or mutton—or, it may be, lamb at the season—but + not pork, though Ned is famous for his griskins. But the Scots never eat + pork—strange that! some folk think they are a sort of Jews. There is + a resemblance, sir,—Do you not think so? Then they call our most + gracious Sovereign the Second Solomon, and Solomon, you know, was King of + the Jews; so the thing bears a face, you see. I believe, sir, you will + find yourself trimmed now to your content. I will be judged by the fair + mistress of your affections. Crave pardon—no offence, I trust. Pray, + consult the glass—one touch of the crisping tongs, to reduce this + straggler.—Thank your munificence, sir—hope your custom while + you stay in Greenwich. Would you have a tune on that ghittern, to put your + temper in concord for the day?—Twang, twang—twang, twang, + dillo. Something out of tune, sir—too many hands to touch it—we + cannot keep these things like artists. Let me help you with your cloak, + sir—yes, sir—You would not play yourself, sir, would you?—Way + to Sir Munko's eating-house?—Yes, sir; but it is Ned's eating-house, + not Sir Munko's.—The knight, to be sure, eats there, and makes it + his eating-house in some sense, sir—ha, ha! Yonder it is, removed + from over the way, new white-washed posts, and red lattice—fat man + in his doublet at the door—Ned himself, sir—worth a thousand + pounds, they say—better singeing pigs' faces than trimming courtiers—but + ours is the less mechanical vocation.—Farewell, sir; hope your + custom." So saying, he at length permitted Nigel to depart, whose ears, so + long tormented with continued babble, tingled when it had ceased, as if a + bell had been rung close to them for the same space of time. + </p> + <p> + Upon his arrival at the eating-house, where he proposed to meet with Sir + Mungo Malagrowther, from whom, in despair of better advice, he trusted to + receive some information as to the best mode of introducing himself into + the royal presence, Lord Glenvarloch found, in the host with whom he + communed, the consequential taciturnity of an Englishman well to pass in + the world. Ned Kilderkin spoke as a banker writes, only touching the + needful. Being asked if Sir Mungo Malagrowther was there? he replied, No. + Being interrogated whether he was expected? he said, Yes. And being again + required to say when he was expected, he answered, Presently. As Lord + Glenvarloch next inquired, whether he himself could have any breakfast? + the landlord wasted not even a syllable in reply, but, ushering him into a + neat room where there were several tables, he placed one of them before an + armchair, and beckoning Lord Glenvarloch to take possession, he set before + him, in a very few minutes, a substantial repast of roast-beef, together + with a foaming tankard, to which refreshment the keen air of the river + disposed him, notwithstanding his mental embarrassments, to do much + honour. + </p> + <p> + While Nigel was thus engaged in discussing his commons, but raising his + head at the same time whenever he heard the door of the apartment open, + eagerly desiring the arrival of Sir Mungo Malagrowther, (an event which + had seldom been expected by any one with so much anxious interest,) a + personage, as it seemed, of at least equal importance with the knight, + entered into the apartment, and began to hold earnest colloquy with the + publican, who thought proper to carry on the conference on his side + unbonneted. This important gentleman's occupation might be guessed from + his dress. A milk-white jerkin, and hose of white kersey; a white apron + twisted around his body in the manner of a sash, in which, instead of a + war-like dagger, was stuck a long-bladed knife, hilted with buck's-horn; a + white nightcap on his head, under which his hair was neatly tucked, + sufficiently pourtrayed him as one of those priests of Comus whom the + vulgar call cooks; and the air with which he rated the publican for having + neglected to send some provisions to the Palace, showed that he ministered + to royalty itself. + </p> + <p> + "This will never answer," he said, "Master Kilderkin—the king twice + asked for sweetbreads, and fricasseed coxcombs, which are a favourite dish + of his most Sacred Majesty, and they were not to be had, because Master + Kilderkin had not supplied them to the clerk of the kitchen, as by bargain + bound." Here Kilderkin made some apology, brief, according to his own + nature, and muttered in a lowly tone after the fashion of all who find + themselves in a scrape. His superior replied, in a lofty strain of voice, + "Do not tell me of the carrier and his wain, and of the hen-coops coming + from Norfolk with the poultry; a loyal man would have sent an express—he + would have gone upon his stumps, like Widdrington. What if the king had + lost his appetite, Master Kilderkin? What if his most Sacred Majesty had + lost his dinner? O, Master Kilderkin, if you had but the just sense of the + dignity of our profession, which is told of by the witty African slave, + for so the king's most excellent Majesty designates him, Publius + Terentius, <i>Tanguam in specula—in patinas inspicerejubeo</i>." + </p> + <p> + "You are learned, Master Linklater," replied the English publican, + compelling, as it were with difficulty, his mouth to utter three or four + words consecutively. + </p> + <p> + "A poor smatterer," said Mr. Linklater; "but it would be a shame to us, + who are his most excellent Majesty's countrymen, not in some sort to have + cherished those arts wherewith he is so deeply embued—<i>Regis ad + exemplar</i>, Master Kilderkin, <i>totus componitur orbis</i>—which + is as much as to say, as the king quotes the cook learns. In brief, Master + Kilderkin, having had the luck to be bred where humanities may be had at + the matter of an English five groats by the quarter, I, like others, have + acquired—ahem-hem!—" Here, the speaker's eye having fallen + upon Lord Glenvarloch, he suddenly stopped in his learned harangue, with + such symptoms of embarrassment as induced Ned Kilderkin to stretch his + taciturnity so far as not only to ask him what he ailed, but whether he + would take any thing. + </p> + <p> + "Ail nothing," replied the learned rival of the philosophical Syrus; + "Nothing—and yet I do feel a little giddy. I could taste a glass of + your dame's <i>aqua mirabilis</i>." + </p> + <p> + "I will fetch it," said Ned, giving a nod; and his back was no sooner + turned, than the cook walked near the table where Lord Glenvarloch was + seated, and regarding him with a look of significance, where more was + meant than met the ear, said,—"You are a stranger in Greenwich, sir. + I advise you to take the opportunity to step into the Park—the + western wicket was ajar when I came hither; I think it will be locked + presently, so you had better make the best of your way—that is, if + you have any curiosity. The venison are coming into season just now, sir, + and there is a pleasure in looking at a hart of grease. I always think + when they are bounding so blithely past, what a pleasure it would be, to + broach their plump haunches on a spit, and to embattle their breasts in a + noble fortification of puff-paste, with plenty of black pepper." + </p> + <p> + He said no more, as Kilderkin re-entered with the cordial, but edged off + from Nigel without waiting any reply, only repeating the same look of + intelligence with which he had accosted him. + </p> + <p> + Nothing makes men's wits so alert as personal danger. Nigel took the first + opportunity which his host's attention to the yeoman of the royal kitchen + permitted, to discharge his reckoning, and readily obtained a direction to + the wicket in question. He found it upon the latch, as he had been taught + to expect; and perceived that it admitted him to a narrow footpath, which + traversed a close and tangled thicket, designed for the cover of the does + and the young fawns. Here he conjectured it would be proper to wait; nor + had he been stationary above five minutes, when the cook, scalded as much + with heat of motion as ever he had been by his huge fire-place, arrived + almost breathless, and with his pass-key hastily locked the wicket behind + him. + </p> + <p> + Ere Lord Glenvarloch had time to speculate upon this action, the man + approached with anxiety, and said—"Good lord, my Lord Glenvarloch!—why + will you endanger yourself thus?" + </p> + <p> + "You know me then, my friend?" said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Not much of that, my lord—but I know your honour's noble house + well.—My name is Laurie Linklater, my lord." + </p> + <p> + "Linklater!" repeated Nigel. "I should recollect—' + </p> + <p> + "Under your lordship's favour," he continued, "I was 'prentice, my lord, + to old Mungo Moniplies, the flesher at the wanton West-Port of Edinburgh, + which I wish I saw again before I died. And, your honour's noble father + having taken Richie Moniplies into his house to wait on your lordship, + there was a sort of connexion, your lordship sees." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said Lord Glenvarloch, "I had almost forgot your name, but not your + kind purpose. You tried to put Richie in the way of presenting a + supplication to his Majesty?" + </p> + <p> + "Most true, my lord," replied the king's cook. "I had like to have come by + mischief in the job; for Richie, who was always wilful, 'wadna be guided + by me,' as the sang says. But nobody amongst these brave English cooks can + kittle up his Majesty's most sacred palate with our own gusty Scottish + dishes. So I e'en betook myself to my craft, and concocted a mess of + friar's chicken for the soup, and a savoury hachis, that made the whole + cabal coup the crans; and, instead of disgrace, I came by preferment. I am + one of the clerks of the kitchen now, make me thankful—with a finger + in the purveyor's office, and may get my whole hand in by and by." + </p> + <p> + "I am truly glad," said Nigel, "to hear that you have not suffered on my + account,—still more so at your good fortune." + </p> + <p> + "You bear a kind heart, my lord," said Linklater, "and do not forget poor + people; and, troth, I see not why they should be forgotten, since the + king's errand may sometimes fall in the cadger's gate. I have followed + your lordship in the street, just to look at such a stately shoot of the + old oak-tree; and my heart jumped into my throat, when I saw you sitting + openly in the eating-house yonder, and knew there was such danger to your + person." + </p> + <p> + "What! there are warrants against me, then?" said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "It is even true, my lord; and there are those who are willing to blacken + you as much as they can.—God forgive them, that would sacrifice an + honourable house for their own base ends!" + </p> + <p> + "Amen," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "For, say your lordship may have been a little wild, like other young + gentlemen—" + </p> + <p> + "We have little time to talk of it, my friend," said Nigel. "The point in + question is, how am I to get speech of the king?" + </p> + <p> + "The king, my lord!" said Linklater in astonishment; "why, will not that + be rushing wilfully into danger?—scalding yourself, as I may say, + with your own ladle?" + </p> + <p> + "My good friend," answered Nigel, "my experience of the Court, and my + knowledge of the circumstances in which I stand, tell me, that the + manliest and most direct road is, in my case, the surest and the safest. + The king has both a head to apprehend what is just, and a heart to do what + is kind." + </p> + <p> + "It is e'en true, my lord, and so we, his old servants, know," added + Linklater; "but, woe's me, if you knew how many folks make it their daily + and nightly purpose to set his head against his heart, and his heart + against his head—to make him do hard things because they are called + just, and unjust things because they are represented as kind. Woe's me! it + is with his Sacred Majesty, and the favourites who work upon him, even + according to the homely proverb that men taunt my calling with,—'God + sends good meat, but the devil sends cooks.'" + </p> + <p> + "It signifies not talking of it, my good friend," said Nigel, "I must take + my risk, my honour peremptorily demands it. They may maim me, or beggar + me, but they shall not say I fled from my accusers. My peers shall hear my + vindication." + </p> + <p> + "Your peers?" exclaimed the cook—"Alack-a-day, my lord, we are not + in Scotland, where the nobles can bang it out bravely, were it even with + the king himself, now and then. This mess must be cooked in the + Star-Chamber, and that is an oven seven times heated, my lord;—and + yet, if you are determined to see the king, I will not say but you may + find some favour, for he likes well any thing that is appealed directly to + his own wisdom, and sometimes, in the like cases, I have known him stick + by his own opinion, which is always a fair one. Only mind, if you will + forgive me, my lord—mind to spice high with Latin; a curn or two of + Greek would not be amiss; and, if you can bring in any thing about the + judgment of Solomon, in the original Hebrew, and season with a merry jest + or so, the dish will be the more palatable.—Truly, I think, that, + besides my skill in art, I owe much to the stripes of the Rector of the + High School, who imprinted on my mind that cooking scene in the + Heautontimorumenos." + </p> + <p> + "Leaving that aside, my friend," said Lord Glenvarloch, "can you inform me + which way I shall most readily get to the sight and speech of the king?" + </p> + <p> + "To the sight of him readily enough," said Linklater; "he is galloping + about these alleys, to see them strike the hart, to get him an appetite + for a nooning—and that reminds me I should be in the kitchen. To the + speech of the king you will not come so easily, unless you could either + meet him alone, which rarely chances, or wait for him among the crowd that + go to see him alight. And now, farewell, my lord, and God speed!—if + I could do more for you, I would offer it." + </p> + <p> + "You have done enough, perhaps, to endanger yourself," said Lord + Glenvarloch. "I pray you to be gone, and leave me to my fate." + </p> + <p> + The honest cook lingered, but a nearer burst of the horns apprized him + that there was no time to lose; and, acquainting Nigel that he would leave + the postern-door on the latch to secure his retreat in that direction, he + bade God bless him, and farewell. + </p> + <p> + In the kindness of this humble countryman, flowing partly from national + partiality, partly from a sense of long-remembered benefits, which had + been scarce thought on by those who had bestowed them, Lord Glenvarloch + thought he saw the last touch of sympathy which he was to receive in this + cold and courtly region, and felt that he must now be sufficient to + himself, or be utterly lost. + </p> + <p> + He traversed more than one alley, guided by the sounds of the chase, and + met several of the inferior attendants upon the king's sport, who regarded + him only as one of the spectators who were sometimes permitted to enter + the Park by the concurrence of the officers about the Court. Still there + was no appearance of James, or any of his principal courtiers, and Nigel + began to think whether, at the risk of incurring disgrace similar to that + which had attended the rash exploit of Richie Moniplies, he should not + repair to the Palace-gate, in order to address the king on his return, + when Fortune presented him the opportunity of doing so, in her own way. + </p> + <p> + He was in one of those long walks by which the Park was traversed, when he + heard, first a distant rustling, then the rapid approach of hoofs shaking + the firm earth on which he stood; then a distant halloo, warned by which + he stood up by the side of the avenue, leaving free room for the passage + of the chase. The stag, reeling, covered with foam, and blackened with + sweat, his nostrils extended as he gasped for breath, made a shift to come + up as far as where Nigel stood, and, without turning to bay, was there + pulled down by two tall greyhounds of the breed still used by the hardy + deer-stalkers of the Scottish Highlands, but which has been long unknown + in England. One dog struck at the buck's throat, another dashed his sharp + nose and fangs, I might almost say, into the animal's bowels. It would + have been natural for Lord Glenvarloch, himself persecuted as if by + hunters, to have thought upon the occasion like the melancholy Jacques; + but habit is a strange matter, and I fear that his feelings on the + occasion were rather those of the practised huntsman than of the moralist. + He had no time, however, to indulge them, for mark what befell. + </p> + <p> + A single horseman followed the chase, upon a steed so thoroughly subjected + to the rein, that it obeyed the touch of the bridle as if it had been a + mechanical impulse operating on the nicest piece of machinery; so that, + seated deep in his demipique saddle, and so trussed up there as to make + falling almost impossible, the rider, without either fear or hesitation, + might increase or diminish the speed at which he rode, which, even on the + most animating occasions of the chase, seldom exceeded three-fourths of a + gallop, the horse keeping his haunches under him, and never stretching + forward beyond the managed pace of the academy. The security with which he + chose to prosecute even this favourite, and, in the ordinary case, + somewhat dangerous amusement, as well as the rest of his equipage, marked + King James. No attendant was within sight; indeed, it was often a nice + strain of flattery to permit the Sovereign to suppose he had outridden and + distanced all the rest of the chase. + </p> + <p> + "Weel dune, Bash—weel dune, Battie!" he exclaimed as he came up. "By + the honour of a king, ye are a credit to the Braes of Balwhither!—Haud + my horse, man," he called out to Nigel, without stopping to see to whom he + had addressed himself—"Haud my naig, and help me doun out o' the + saddle—deil ding your saul, sirrah, canna ye mak haste before these + lazy smaiks come up?—haud the rein easy—dinna let him swerve—now, + haud the stirrup—that will do, man, and now we are on terra firma." + So saying, without casting an eye on his assistant, gentle King Jamie, + unsheathing the short, sharp hanger, (<i>couteau de chasse</i>,) which was + the only thing approaching to a sword that he could willingly endure the + sight of, drew the blade with great satisfaction across the throat of the + buck, and put an end at once to its struggles and its agonies. + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch, who knew well the silvan duty which the occasion + demanded, hung the bridle of the king's palfrey on the branch of a tree, + and, kneeling duteously down, turned the slaughtered deer upon its back, + and kept the <i>quarree</i> in that position, while the king, too intent + upon his sport to observe any thing else, drew his <i>couteau</i> down the + breast of the animal, <i>secundum artem</i>; and, having made a cross cut, + so as to ascertain the depth of the fat upon the chest, exclaimed, in a + sort of rapture, "Three inches of white fat on the brisket!—prime—prime—as + I am a crowned sinner—and deil ane o' the lazy loons in but mysell! + Seven—aught—aught tines on the antlers. By G—d, a hart + of aught tines, and the first of the season! Bash and Battie, blessings on + the heart's-root of ye! Buss me, my bairns, buss me." The dogs accordingly + fawned upon him, licked him with bloody jaws, and soon put him in such a + state that it might have seemed treason had been doing its full work upon + his anointed body. "Bide doun, with a mischief to ye—bide doun, with + a wanion," cried the king, almost overturned by the obstreperous caresses + of the large stag-hounds. "But ye are just like ither folks, gie ye an + inch and ye take an ell.—And wha may ye be, friend?" he said, now + finding leisure to take a nearer view of Nigel, and observing what in his + first emotion of silvan delight had escaped him,—"Ye are nane of our + train, man. In the name of God, what the devil are ye?" + </p> + <p> + "An unfortunate man, sire," replied Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "I dare say that," answered the king, snappishly, "or I wad have seen + naething of you. My lieges keep a' their happiness to themselves; but let + bowls row wrang wi' them, and I am sure to hear of it." + </p> + <p> + "And to whom else can we carry our complaints but to your Majesty, who is + Heaven's vicegerent over us!" answered Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Right, man, right—very weel spoken," said the king; "but you should + leave Heaven's vicegerent some quiet on earth, too." + </p> + <p> + "If your Majesty will look on me," (for hitherto the king had been so + busy, first with the dogs, and then with the mystic operation of <i>breaking</i>, + in vulgar phrase, cutting up the deer, that he had scarce given his + assistant above a transient glance,) "you will see whom necessity makes + bold to avail himself of an opportunity which may never again occur." + </p> + <p> + King James looked; his blood left his cheek, though it continued stained + with that of the animal which lay at his feet, he dropped the knife from + his hand, cast behind him a faltering eye, as if he either meditated + flight or looked out for assistance, and then exclaimed,—"Glenvarlochides! + as sure as I was christened James Stewart. Here is a bonny spot of work, + and me alone, and on foot too!" he added, bustling to get upon his horse. + </p> + <p> + "Forgive me that I interrupt you, my liege," said Nigel, placing himself + between the king and his steed; "hear me but a moment!" + </p> + <p> + "I'll hear ye best on horseback," said the king. "I canna hear a word on + foot, man, not a word; and it is not seemly to stand cheek-for-chowl + confronting us that gate. Bide out of our gate, sir, we charge you on your + allegiance.—The deil's in them a', what can they be doing?" + </p> + <p> + "By the crown that you wear, my liege," said Nigel, "and for which my + ancestors have worthily fought, I conjure you to be composed, and to hear + me but a moment!" + </p> + <p> + That which he asked was entirely out of the monarch's power to grant. The + timidity which he showed was not the plain downright cowardice, which, + like a natural impulse, compels a man to flight, and which can excite + little but pity or contempt, but a much more ludicrous, as well as more + mingled sensation. The poor king was frightened at once and angry, + desirous of securing his safety, and at the same time ashamed to + compromise his dignity; so that without attending to what Lord Glenvarloch + endeavoured to explain, he kept making at his horse, and repeating, "We + are a free king, man,—we are a free king—we will not be + controlled by a subject.—In the name of God, what keeps Steenie? + And, praised be his name, they are coming—Hillo, ho—here, here—Steenie, + Steenie!" + </p> + <p> + The Duke of Buckingham galloped up, followed by several courtiers and + attendants of the royal chase, and commenced with his usual familiarity,—"I + see Fortune has graced our dear dad, as usual.—But what's this?" + </p> + <p> + "What is it? It is treason for what I ken," said the king; "and a' your + wyte, Steenie. Your dear dad and gossip might have been murdered, for what + you care." + </p> + <p> + "Murdered? Secure the villain!" exclaimed the Duke. "By Heaven, it is + Olifaunt himself!" A dozen of the hunters dismounted at once, letting + their horses run wild through the park. Some seized roughly on Lord + Glenvarloch, who thought it folly to offer resistance, while others busied + themselves with the king. "Are you wounded, my liege—are you + wounded?" + </p> + <p> + "Not that I ken of," said the king, in the paroxysm of his apprehension, + (which, by the way, might be pardoned in one of so timorous a temper, and + who, in his time, had been exposed to so many strange attempts)—"Not + that I ken of—but search him—search him. I am sure I saw + fire-arms under his cloak. I am sure I smelled powder—I am dooms + sure of that." + </p> + <p> + Lord Glenvarloch's cloak being stripped off, and his pistols discovered, a + shout of wonder and of execration on the supposed criminal purpose, arose + from the crowd now thickening every moment. Not that celebrated pistol, + which, though resting on a bosom as gallant and as loyal as Nigel's, + spread such cause less alarm among knights and dames at a late high + solemnity—not that very pistol caused more temporary consternation + than was so groundlessly excited by the arms which were taken from Lord + Glenvarloch's person; and not Mhic-Allastar-More himself could repel with + greater scorn and indignation, the insinuations that they were worn for + any sinister purposes. + </p> + <p> + "Away with the wretch—the parricide—the bloody-minded + villain!" was echoed on all hands; and the king, who naturally enough set + the same value on his own life, at which it was, or seemed to be, rated by + others, cried out, louder than all the rest, "Ay, ay—away with him. + I have had enough of him and so has the country. But do him no bodily harm—and, + for God's sake, sirs, if ye are sure ye have thoroughly disarmed him, put + up your swords, dirks, and skenes, for you will certainly do each other a + mischief." + </p> + <p> + There was a speedy sheathing of weapons at the king's command; for those + who had hitherto been brandishing them in loyal bravado, began thereby to + call to mind the extreme dislike which his Majesty nourished against naked + steel, a foible which seemed to be as constitutional as his timidity, and + was usually ascribed to the brutal murder of Rizzio having been + perpetrated in his unfortunate mother's presence before he yet saw the + light. + </p> + <p> + At this moment, the Prince, who had been hunting in a different part of + the then extensive Park, and had received some hasty and confused + information of what was going forward, came rapidly up, with one or two + noblemen in his train, and amongst others Lord Dalgarno. He sprung from + his horse and asked eagerly if his father were wounded. + </p> + <p> + "Not that I am sensible of, Baby Charles—but a wee matter exhausted, + with struggling single-handed with the assassin.—Steenie, fill up a + cup of wine—the leathern bottle is hanging at our pommel.—Buss + me, then, Baby Charles," continued the monarch, after he had taken this + cup of comfort; "O man, the Commonwealth and you have had a fair escape + from the heavy and bloody loss of a dear father; for we are <i>pater + patriae</i>, as weel as <i>pater familias</i>.-<i>Quis desiderio sit pudor + aut modus tarn cari capitis!</i>-Woe is me, black cloth would have been + dear in England, and dry een scarce!" + </p> + <p> + And, at the very idea of the general grief which must have attended his + death, the good-natured monarch cried heartily himself. + </p> + <p> + "Is this possible?" said Charles, sternly; for his pride was hurt at his + father's demeanour on the one hand, while on the other, he felt the + resentment of a son and a subject, at the supposed attempt on the king's + life. "Let some one speak who has seen what happened—My Lord of + Buckingham!" + </p> + <p> + "I cannot say my lord," replied the Duke, "that I saw any actual violence + offered to his Majesty, else I should have avenged him on the spot." + </p> + <p> + "You would have done wrong, then, in your zeal, George," answered the + Prince; "such offenders were better left to be dealt with by the laws. But + was the villain not struggling with his Majesty?" + </p> + <p> + "I cannot term it so, my lord," said the Duke, who, with many faults, + would have disdained an untruth; "he seemed to desire to detain his + Majesty, who, on the contrary, appeared to wish to mount his horse; but + they have found pistols on his person, contrary to the proclamation, and, + as it proves to be by Nigel Olifaunt, of whose ungoverned disposition your + Royal Highness has seen some samples, we seem to be justified in + apprehending the worst." + </p> + <p> + "Nigel Olifaunt!" said the Prince; "can that unhappy man so soon have + engaged in a new trespass? Let me see those pistols." + </p> + <p> + "Ye are not so unwise as to meddle with such snap-haunces, Baby Charles?" + said James—"Do not give him them, Steenie—I command you on + your allegiance! They may go off of their own accord, whilk often befalls.—You + will do it, then?—Saw ever a man sic wilful bairns as we are + cumbered with!—Havena we guardsmen and soldiers enow, but you must + unload the weapons yoursell—you, the heir of our body and dignities, + and sae mony men around that are paid for venturing life in our cause?" + </p> + <p> + But without regarding his father's exclamations, Prince Charles, with the + obstinacy which characterised him in trifles, as well as matters of + consequence, persisted in unloading the pistols with his own hand, of the + double bullets with which each was charged. The hands of all around were + held up in astonishment at the horror of the crime supposed to have been + intended, and the escape which was presumed so narrow. + </p> + <p> + Nigel had not yet spoken a word—he now calmly desired to be heard. + </p> + <p> + "To what purpose?" answered the Prince coldly. "You knew yourself accused + of a heavy offence, and, instead of rendering yourself up to justice, in + terms of the proclamation, you are here found intruding yourself on his + Majesty's presence, and armed with unlawful weapons." + </p> + <p> + "May it please you, sir," answered Nigel, "I wore these unhappy weapons + for my own defence; and not very many hours since they were necessary to + protect the lives of others." + </p> + <p> + "Doubtless, my lord," answered the Prince, still calm and unmoved,—"your + late mode of life, and the associates with whom you have lived, have made + you familiar with scenes and weapons of violence. But it is not to me you + are to plead your cause." + </p> + <p> + "Hear me—hear me, noble Prince!" said Nigel, eagerly. "Hear me! You—even + you yourself—may one day ask to be heard, and in vain." + </p> + <p> + "How, sir," said the Prince, haughtily—"how am I to construe that, + my lord?" + </p> + <p> + "If not on earth, sir," replied the prisoner, "yet to Heaven we must all + pray for patient and favourable audience." + </p> + <p> + "True, my lord," said the Prince, bending his head with haughty + acquiescence; "nor would I now refuse such audience to you, could it avail + you. But you shall suffer no wrong. We will ourselves look into your + case." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay," answered the king, "he hath made <i>appellatio ad Casarem</i>—we + will interrogate Glenvarlochides ourselves, time and place fitting; and, + in the meanwhile, have him and his weapons away, for I am weary of the + sight of them." + </p> + <p> + In consequence of directions hastily given, Nigel was accordingly removed + from the presence, where, however, his words had not altogether fallen to + the ground. "This is a most strange matter, George," said the Prince to + the favourite; "this gentleman hath a good countenance, a happy presence, + and much calm firmness in his look and speech. I cannot think he would + attempt a crime so desperate and useless." + </p> + <p> + "I profess neither love nor favour to the young man," answered Buckingham, + whose high-spirited ambition bore always an open character: "but I cannot + but agree with your Highness, that our dear gossip hath been something + hasty in apprehending personal danger from him." + </p> + <p> + "By my saul, Steenie, ye are not blate, to say so!" said the king. "Do I + not ken the smell of pouther, think ye? Who else nosed out the Fifth of + November, save our royal selves? Cecil, and Suffolk, and all of them, were + at fault, like sae mony mongrel tikes, when I puzzled it out: and trow ye + that I cannot smell pouther? Why, 'sblood, man, Joannes Barclaius thought + my ingine was in some measure inspiration, and terms his history of the + plot, Series patefacti divinitus parricidii; and Spondanus, in like + manner, saith of us, Divinitus evasit." + </p> + <p> + "The land was happy in your Majesty's escape," said the Duke of + Buckingham, "and not less in the quick wit which tracked that labyrinth of + treason by so fine and almost invisible a clew." + </p> + <p> + "Saul, man, Steenie, ye are right! There are few youths have sic true + judgment as you, respecting the wisdom of their elders; and, as for this + fause, traitorous smaik, I doubt he is a hawk of the same nest. Saw ye not + something papistical about him? Let them look that he bears not a + crucifix, or some sic Roman trinket, about him." + </p> + <p> + "It would ill become me to attempt the exculpation of this unhappy man," + said Lord Dalgarno, "considering the height of his present attempt, which + has made all true men's blood curdle in their veins. Yet I cannot avoid + intimating, with all due submission to his Majesty's infallible judgment, + in justice to one who showed himself formerly only my enemy, though he now + displays himself in much blacker colours, that this Olifaunt always + appeared to me more as a Puritan than as a Papist." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, Dalgarno, art thou there, man?" said the king. "And ye behoved to + keep back, too, and leave us to our own natural strength and the care of + Providence, when we were in grips with the villain!" + </p> + <p> + "Providence, may it please your most Gracious Majesty, would not fail to + aid, in such a strait, the care of three weeping kingdoms," said Lord + Dalgarno. + </p> + <p> + "Surely, man—surely," replied the king—"but a sight of your + father, with his long whinyard, would have been a blithe matter a short + while syne; and in future we will aid the ends of Providence in our + favour, by keeping near us two stout beef-eaters of the guard.—And + so this Olifaunt is a Puritan?—not the less like to be a Papist, for + all that—for extremities meet, as the scholiast proveth. There are, + as I have proved in my book, Puritans of papistical principles—it is + just a new tout on an old horn." + </p> + <p> + Here the king was reminded by the Prince, who dreaded perhaps that he was + going to recite the whole Basilicon Doron, that it would be best to move + towards the Palace, and consider what was to be done for satisfying the + public mind, in whom the morning's adventure was likely to excite much + speculation. As they entered the gate of the Palace, a female bowed and + presented a paper, which the king received, and, with a sort of groan, + thrust it into his side pocket. The Prince expressed some curiosity to + know its contents. "The valet in waiting will tell you them," said the + king, "when I strip off my cassock. D'ye think, Baby, that I can read all + that is thrust into my hands? See to me, man"—(he pointed to the + pockets of his great trunk breeches, which were stuffed with papers)—"We + are like an ass—that we should so speak—stooping betwixt two + burdens. Ay, ay, Asinus fortis accumbens inter terminos, as the Vulgate + hath it—Ay, ay, Vidi terrain quod esset optima, et supposui humerum + ad portandum, et factus sum tributis serviens—I saw this land of + England, and became an overburdened king thereof." + </p> + <p> + "You are indeed well loaded, my dear dad and gossip," said the Duke of + Buckingham, receiving the papers which King James emptied out of his + pockets. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay," continued the monarch; "take them to you per aversionem, bairns—the + one pouch stuffed with petitions, t'other with pasquinadoes; a fine time + we have on't. On my conscience, I believe the tale of Cadmus was + hieroglyphical, and that the dragon's teeth whilk he sowed were the + letters he invented. Ye are laughing, Baby Charles?—Mind what I say.—When + I came here first frae our ain country, where the men are as rude as the + weather, by my conscience, England was a bieldy bit; one would have + thought the king had little to do but to walk by quiet waters, per aquam + refectionis. But, I kenna how or why, the place is sair changed—read + that libel upon us and on our regimen. The dragon's teeth are sown, Baby + Charles; I pray God they bearna their armed harvest in your day, if I suld + not live to see it. God forbid I should, for there will be an awful day's + kemping at the shearing of them." + </p> + <p> + "I shall know how to stifle the crop in the blade,—ha, George?" said + the Prince, turning to the favourite with a look expressive of some + contempt for his father's apprehensions, and full of confidence in the + superior firmness and decision of his own counsels. + </p> + <p> + While this discourse was passing, Nigel, in charge of a + pursuivant-at-arms, was pushed and dragged through the small town, all the + inhabitants of which, having been alarmed by the report of an attack on + the king's life, now pressed forward to see the supposed traitor. Amid the + confusion of the moment, he could descry the face of the victualler, + arrested into a stare of stolid wonder, and that of the barber grinning + betwixt horror and eager curiosity. He thought that he also had a glimpse + of his waterman in the green jacket. + </p> + <p> + He had no time for remarks, being placed in a boat with the pursuivant and + two yeomen of the guard, and rowed up the river as fast as the arms of six + stout watermen could pull against the tide. They passed the groves of + masts which even then astonished the stranger with the extended commerce + of London, and now approached those low and blackened walls of curtain and + bastion, which exhibit here and there a piece of ordnance, and here and + there a solitary sentinel under arms, but have otherwise so little of the + military terrors of a citadel. A projecting low-browed arch, which had + loured over many an innocent, and many a guilty head, in similar + circumstances, now spread its dark frowns over that of Nigel. The boat was + put close up to the broad steps against which the tide was lapping its + lazy wave. The warder on duty looked from the wicket, and spoke to the + pursuivant in whispers. In a few minutes the Lieutenant of the Tower + appeared, received, and granted an acknowledgment for the body of Nigel, + Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVIII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Ye towers of Julius! London's lasting shame; + With many a foul and midnight murder fed! + <i>Gray.</i> +</pre> + <p> + Such is the exclamation of Gray. Bandello, long before him, has said + something like it; and the same sentiment must, in some shape or other, + have frequently occurred to those, who, remembering the fate of other + captives in that memorable state-prison, may have had but too much reason + to anticipate their own. The dark and low arch, which seemed, like the + entrance to Dante's Hell, to forbid hope of regress—the muttered + sounds of the warders, and petty formalities observed in opening and + shutting the grated wicket—the cold and constrained salutation of + the Lieutenant of the fortress, who showed his prisoner that distant and + measured respect which authority pays as a tax to decorum, all struck upon + Nigel's heart, impressing on him the cruel consciousness of captivity. + </p> + <p> + "I am a prisoner," he said, the words escaping from him almost unawares; + "I am a prisoner, and in the Tower!" + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant bowed—"And it is my duty," he said, "to show your + lordship your chamber, where, I am compelled to say, my orders are to + place you under some restraint. I will make it as easy as my duty + permits." + </p> + <p> + Nigel only bowed in return to this compliment, and followed the Lieutenant + to the ancient buildings on the western side of the parade, and adjoining + to the chapel, used in those days as a state-prison, but in ours as the + mess-room of the officers of the guard upon duty at the fortress. The + double doors were unlocked, the prisoner ascended a few steps, followed by + the Lieutenant, and a warder of the higher class. They entered a large, + but irregular, low-roofed, and dark apartment, exhibiting a very scanty + proportion of furniture. The warder had orders to light a fire, and attend + to Lord Glenvarloch's commands in all things consistent with his duty; and + the Lieutenant, having made his reverence with the customary compliment, + that he trusted his lordship would not long remain under his guardianship, + took his leave. + </p> + <p> + Nigel would have asked some questions of the warder, who remained to put + the apartment into order, but the man had caught the spirit of his office. + He seemed not to hear some of the prisoner's questions, though of the most + ordinary kind, did not reply to others, and when he did speak, it was in a + short and sullen tone, which, though not positively disrespectful, was + such as at least to encourage no farther communication. + </p> + <p> + Nigel left him, therefore, to do his work in silence, and proceeded to + amuse himself with the melancholy task of deciphering the names, mottoes, + verses, and hieroglyphics, with which his predecessors in captivity had + covered the walls of their prison-house. There he saw the names of many a + forgotten sufferer mingled with others which will continue in remembrance + until English history shall perish. There were the pious effusions of the + devout Catholic, poured forth on the eve of his sealing his profession at + Tyburn, mingled with those of the firm Protestant, about to feed the fires + of Smithfield. There the slender hand of the unfortunate Jane Grey, whose + fate was to draw tears from future generations, might be contrasted with + the bolder touch which impressed deep on the walls the Bear and Ragged + Staff, the proud emblem of the proud Dudleys. It was like the roll of the + prophet, a record of lamentation and mourning, and yet not unmixed with + brief interjections of resignation, and sentences expressive of the + firmest resolution.[Footnote: These memorials of illustrious criminals, or + of innocent persons who had the fate of such, are still preserved, though + at one time, in the course of repairing the rooms, they were in some + danger of being whitewashed. They are preserved at present with becoming + respect, and have most of them been engraved.—<i>See</i> BAYLEY'S <i>History + and Antiquities of the Tower of London.</i>] + </p> + <p> + In the sad task of examining the miseries of his predecessors in + captivity, Lord Glenvarloch was interrupted by the sudden opening of the + door of his prison-room. It was the warder, who came to inform him, that, + by order of the Lieutenant of the Tower, his lordship was to have the + society and attendance of a fellow-prisoner in his place of confinement. + Nigel replied hastily, that he wished no attendance, and would rather be + left alone; but the warder gave him to understand, with a kind of + grumbling civility, that the Lieutenant was the best judge how his + prisoners should be accommodated, and that he would have no trouble with + the boy, who was such a slip of a thing as was scarce worth turning a key + upon.—"There, Giles," he said, "bring the child in." + </p> + <p> + Another warder put the "lad before him" into the room, and, both + withdrawing, bolt crashed and chain clanged, as they replaced these + ponderous obstacles to freedom. The boy was clad in a grey suit of the + finest cloth, laid down with silver lace, with a buff-coloured cloak of + the same pattern. His cap, which was a Montero of black velvet, was pulled + over his brows, and, with the profusion of his long ringlets, almost + concealed his face. He stood on the very spot where the warder had quitted + his collar, about two steps from the door of the apartment, his eyes fixed + on the ground, and every joint trembling with confusion and terror. Nigel + could well have dispensed with his society, but it was not in his nature + to behold distress, whether of body or mind, without endeavouring to + relieve it. + </p> + <p> + "Cheer up," he said, "my pretty lad. We are to be companions, it seems, + for a little time—at least I trust your confinement will be short, + since you are too young to have done aught to deserve long restraint. + Come, come—do not be discouraged. Your hand is cold and trembles? + the air is warm too—but it may be the damp of this darksome room. + Place you by the fire.—What! weeping-ripe, my little man? I pray + you, do not be a child. You have no beard yet, to be dishonoured by your + tears, but yet you should not cry like a girl. Think you are only shut up + for playing truant, and you can pass a day without weeping, surely." + </p> + <p> + The boy suffered himself to be led and seated by the fire, but, after + retaining for a long time the very posture which he assumed in sitting + down, he suddenly changed it in order to wring his hands with an air of + the bitterest distress, and then, spreading them before his face, wept so + plentifully, that the tears found their way in floods through his slender + fingers. + </p> + <p> + Nigel was in some degree rendered insensible to his own situation, by his + feelings for the intense agony by which so young and beautiful a creature + seemed to be utterly overwhelmed; and, sitting down close beside the boy, + he applied the most soothing terms which occurred, to endeavour to + alleviate his distress; and, with an action which the difference of their + age rendered natural, drew his hand kindly along the long hair of the + disconsolate child. The lad appeared so shy as even to shrink from this + slight approach to familiarity—yet, when Lord Glenvarloch, + perceiving and allowing for his timidity, sat down on the farther side of + the fire, he appeared to be more at his ease, and to hearken with some + apparent interest to the arguments which from time to time Nigel used, to + induce him to moderate, at least, the violence of his grief. As the boy + listened, his tears, though they continued to flow freely, seemed to + escape from their source more easily, his sobs were less convulsive, and + became gradually changed into low sighs, which succeeded each other, + indicating as much sorrow, perhaps, but less alarm, than his first + transports had shown. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me who and what you are, my pretty boy," said Nigel.—"Consider + me, child, as a companion, who wishes to be kind to you, would you but + teach him how he can be so." + </p> + <p> + "Sir—my lord, I mean," answered the boy, very timidly, and in a + voice which could scarce be heard even across the brief distance which + divided them, "you are very good—and I—am very unhappy—" + </p> + <p> + A second fit of tears interrupted what else he had intended to say, and it + required a renewal of Lord Glenvarloch's good-natured expostulations and + encouragements, to bring him once more to such composure as rendered the + lad capable of expressing himself intelligibly. At length, however, he was + able to say—"I am sensible of your goodness, my lord—and + grateful for it—but I am a poor unhappy creature, and, what is + worse, have myself only to thank for my misfortunes." + </p> + <p> + "We are seldom absolutely miserable, my young acquaintance," said Nigel, + "without being ourselves more or less responsible for it—I may well + say so, otherwise I had not been here to-day—but you are very young, + and can have but little to answer for." + </p> + <p> + "O sir! I wish I could say so—I have been self-willed and obstinate—and + rash and ungovernable—and now—now, how dearly do I pay the + price of it!" + </p> + <p> + "Pshaw, my boy," replied Nigel; "this must be some childish frolic—some + breaking out of bounds—some truant trick—And yet how should + any of these have brought you to the Tower?—There is something + mysterious about you, young man, which I must inquire into." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed, indeed, my lord, there is no harm about me," said the boy, more + moved it would seem to confession by the last words, by which he seemed + considerably alarmed, than by all the kind expostulations and arguments + which Nigel had previously used. "I am innocent—that is, I have done + wrong, but nothing to deserve being in this frightful place." + </p> + <p> + "Tell me the truth, then," said Nigel, in a tone in which command mingled + with encouragement; "you have nothing to fear from me, and as little to + hope, perhaps—yet, placed as I am, I would know with whom I speak." + </p> + <p> + "With an unhappy—boy, sir—and idle and truantly disposed, as + your lordship said," answered the lad, looking up, and showing a + countenance in which paleness and blushes succeeded each other, as fear + and shamefacedness alternately had influence. "I left my father's house + without leave, to see the king hunt in the Park at Greenwich; there came a + cry of treason, and all the gates were shut—I was frightened, and + hid myself in a thicket, and I was found by some of the rangers and + examined—and they said I gave no good account of myself—and so + I was sent hither." + </p> + <p> + "I am an unhappy, a most unhappy being," said Lord Glenvarloch, rising and + walking through the apartment; "nothing approaches me but shares my own + bad fate! Death and imprisonment dog my steps, and involve all who are + found near me. Yet this boy's story sounds strangely.—You say you + were examined, my young friend—Let me pray you to say whether you + told your name, and your means of gaining admission into the Park—if + so, they surely would not have detained you?" + </p> + <p> + "O, my lord," said the boy, "I took care not to tell them the name of the + friend that let me in; and as to my father—I would not he knew where + I now am for all the wealth in London!" + </p> + <p> + "But do you not expect," said Nigel, "that they will dismiss you till you + let them know who and what you are?" + </p> + <p> + "What good will it do them to keep so useless a creature as myself?" said + the boy; "they must let me go, were it but out of shame." + </p> + <p> + "Do not trust to that—tell me your name and station—I will + communicate them to the Lieutenant—he is a man of quality and + honour, and will not only be willing to procure your liberation, but also, + I have no doubt, will intercede with your father. I am partly answerable + for such poor aid as I can afford, to get you out of this embarrassment, + since I occasioned the alarm owing to which you were arrested; so tell me + your name, and your father's name." + </p> + <p> + "My name to you? O never, never!" answered the boy, in a tone of deep + emotion, the cause of which Nigel could not comprehend. + </p> + <p> + "Are you so much afraid of me, young man," he replied, "because I am here + accused and a prisoner? Consider, a man may be both, and deserve neither + suspicion nor restraint. Why should you distrust me? You seem friendless, + and I am myself so much in the same circumstances, that I cannot but pity + your situation when I reflect on my own. Be wise; I have spoken kindly to + you—I mean as kindly as I speak." + </p> + <p> + "O, I doubt it not, I doubt it not, my lord," said the boy, "and I could + tell you all—that is, almost all." + </p> + <p> + "Tell me nothing, my young friend, excepting what may assist me in being + useful to you," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "You are generous, my lord," said the boy; "and I am sure—O sure, I + might safely trust to your honour—But yet—but yet—I am + so sore beset—I have been so rash, so unguarded—I can never + tell you of my folly. Besides, I have already told too much to one whose + heart I thought I had moved—yet I find myself here." + </p> + <p> + "To whom did you make this disclosure?" said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "I dare not tell," replied the youth. + </p> + <p> + "There is something singular about you, my young friend," said Lord + Glenvarloch, withdrawing with a gentle degree of compulsion the hand with + which the boy had again covered his eyes; "do not pain yourself with + thinking on your situation just at present—your pulse is high, and + your hand feverish—lay yourself on yonder pallet, and try to compose + yourself to sleep. It is the readiest and best remedy for the fancies with + which you are worrying yourself." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you for your considerate kindness, my lord," said the boy; "with + your leave I will remain for a little space quiet in this chair—I am + better thus than on the couch. I can think undisturbedly on what I have + done, and have still to do; and if God sends slumber to a creature so + exhausted, it shall be most welcome." + </p> + <p> + So saying, the boy drew his hand from Lord Nigel's, and, drawing around + him and partly over his face the folds of his ample cloak, he resigned + himself to sleep or meditation, while his companion, notwithstanding the + exhausting scenes of this and the preceding day, continued his pensive + walk up and down the apartment. + </p> + <p> + Every reader has experienced, that times occur, when far from being lord + of external circumstances, man is unable to rule even the wayward realm of + his own thoughts. It was Nigel's natural wish to consider his own + situation coolly, and fix on the course which it became him as a man of + sense and courage to adopt; and yet, in spite of himself, and + notwithstanding the deep interest of the critical state in which he was + placed, it did so happen that his fellow-prisoner's situation occupied + more of his thoughts than did his own. There was no accounting for this + wandering of the imagination, but also there was no striving with it. The + pleading tones of one of the sweetest voices he had ever heard, still rung + in his ear, though it seemed that sleep had now fettered the tongue of the + speaker. He drew near on tiptoe to satisfy himself whether it were so. The + folds of the cloak hid the lower part of his face entirely; but the + bonnet, which had fallen a little aside, permitted him to see the forehead + streaked with blue veins, the closed eyes, and the long silken eyelashes. + </p> + <p> + "Poor child," said Nigel to himself, as he looked on him, nestled up as it + were in the folds of his mantle, "the dew is yet on thy eyelashes, and + thou hast fairly wept thyself asleep. Sorrow is a rough nurse to one so + young and delicate as thou art. Peace be to thy slumbers, I will not + disturb them. My own misfortunes require my attention, and it is to their + contemplation that I must resign myself." + </p> + <p> + He attempted to do so, but was crossed at every turn by conjectures which + intruded themselves as before, and which all regarded the sleeper rather + than himself. He was angry and vexed, and expostulated with himself + concerning the overweening interest which he took in the concerns of one + of whom he knew nothing, saving that the boy was forced into his company, + perhaps as a spy, by those to whose custody he was committed—but the + spell could not be broken, and the thoughts which he struggled to dismiss, + continued to haunt him. + </p> + <p> + Thus passed half an hour, or more; at the conclusion of which, the harsh + sound of the revolving bolts was again heard, and the voice of the warder + announced that a man desired to speak with Lord Glenvarloch. "A man to + speak with me, under my present circumstances!—Who can it be?" And + John Christie, his landlord of Paul's Wharf, resolved his doubts, by + entering the apartment. "Welcome—most welcome, mine honest + landlord!" said Lord Glenvarloch. "How could I have dreamt of seeing you + in my present close lodgings?" And at the same time, with the frankness of + old kindness, he walked up to Christie and offered his hand; but John + started back as from the look of a basilisk. + </p> + <p> + "Keep your courtesies to yourself, my lord," said he, gruffly; "I have had + as many of them already as may serve me for my life." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Master Christie," said Nigel, "what means this? I trust I have not + offended you?" + </p> + <p> + "Ask me no questions, my lord," said Christie, bluntly. "I am a man of + peace—I came not hither to wrangle with you at this place and + season. Just suppose that I am well informed of all the obligements from + your honour's nobleness, and then acquaint me, in as few words as may be, + where is the unhappy woman—What have you done with her?" + </p> + <p> + "What have I done with her!" said Lord Glenvarloch—"Done with whom? + I know not what you are speaking of." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes, my lord," said Christie; "play surprise as well as you will, you + must have some guess that I am speaking of the poor fool that was my wife, + till she became your lordship's light-o'-love." + </p> + <p> + "Your wife! Has your wife left you? and, if she has, do you come to ask + her of me?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my lord, singular as it may seem," returned Christie, in a tone of + bitter irony, and with a sort of grin widely discording from the + discomposure of his features, the gleam of his eye, and the froth which + stood on his lip, "I do come to make that demand of your lordship. + Doubtless, you are surprised I should take the trouble; but, I cannot + tell, great men and little men think differently. She has lain in my + bosom, and drunk of my cup; and, such as she is, I cannot forget that—though + I will never see her again—she must not starve, my lord, or do + worse, to gain bread, though I reckon your lordship may think I am robbing + the public in trying to change her courses." + </p> + <p> + "By my faith as a Christian, by my honour as a gentleman," said Lord + Glenvarloch, "if aught amiss has chanced with your wife, I know nothing of + it. I trust in Heaven you are as much mistaken in imputing guilt to her, + as in supposing me her partner in it." + </p> + <p> + "Fie! fie! my lord," said Christie, "why will you make it so tough? She is + but the wife of a clod-pated old chandler, who was idiot enough to marry a + wench twenty years younger than himself. Your lordship cannot have more + glory by it than you have had already; and, as for advantage and solace, I + take it Dame Nelly is now unnecessary to your gratification. I should be + sorry to interrupt the course of your pleasure; an old wittol should have + more consideration of his condition. But, your precious lordship being + mewed up here among other choice jewels of the kingdom, Dame Nelly cannot, + I take it, be admitted to share the hours of dalliance which"—Here + the incensed husband stammered, broke off his tone of irony, and + proceeded, striking his staff against the ground—"O that these false + limbs of yours, which I wish had been hamstrung when they first crossed my + honest threshold, were free from the fetters they have well deserved! I + would give you the odds of your youth, and your weapon, and would bequeath + my soul to the foul fiend if I, with this piece of oak, did not make you + such an example to all ungrateful, pick-thank courtiers, that it should be + a proverb to the end of time, how John Christie swaddled his wife's fine + leman!" + </p> + <p> + "I understand not your insolence," said Nigel, "but I forgive it, because + you labour under some strange delusion. In so far as I can comprehend your + vehement charge, it is entirely undeserved on my part. You seem to impute + to me the seduction of your wife—I trust she is innocent. For me, at + least, she is as innocent as an angel in bliss. I never thought of her—never + touched her hand or cheek, save in honourable courtesy." + </p> + <p> + "O, ay—courtesy!—that is the very word. She always praised + your lordship's honourable courtesy. Ye have cozened me between ye, with + your courtesy. My lord—my lord, you came to us no very wealthy man—you + know it. It was for no lucre of gain I took you and your swash-buckler, + your Don Diego yonder, under my poor roof. I never cared if the little + room were let or no; I could live without it. If you could not have paid + for it, you should never have been asked. All the wharf knows John + Christie has the means and spirit to do a kindness. When you first + darkened my honest doorway, I was as happy as a man need to be, who is no + youngster, and has the rheumatism. Nelly was the kindest and best-humoured + wench—we might have a word now and then about a gown or a ribbon, + but a kinder soul on the whole, and a more careful, considering her years, + till you come—and what is she now!—But I will not be a fool to + cry, if I can help it. <i>What</i> she is, is not the question, but where + she is; and that I must learn, sir, of you." + </p> + <p> + "How can you, when I tell you," replied Nigel, "that I am as ignorant as + yourself, or rather much more so? Till this moment, I never heard of any + disagreement betwixt your dame and you." + </p> + <p> + "That is a lie," said John Christie, bluntly. + </p> + <p> + "How, you base villain!" said Lord Glenvarloch—"do you presume on my + situation? If it were not that I hold you mad, and perhaps made so by some + wrong sustained, you should find my being weaponless were no protection, I + would beat your brains out against the wall." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay," answered Christie, "bully as ye list. Ye have been at the + ordinaries, and in Alsatia, and learned the ruffian's rant, I doubt not. + But I repeat, you have spoken an untruth, when you said you knew not of my + wife's falsehood; for, when you were twitted with it among your gay mates, + it was a common jest among you, and your lordship took all the credit they + would give you for your gallantry and gratitude." + </p> + <p> + There was a mixture of truth in this part of the charge which disconcerted + Lord Glenvarloch exceedingly; for he could not, as a man of honour, deny + that Lord Dalgarno, and others, had occasionally jested with him on the + subject of Dame Nelly, and that, though he had not played exactly <i>le + fanfaron des vices qu'il n'avoit pas</i>, he had not at least been + sufficiently anxious to clear himself of the suspicion of such a crime to + men who considered it as a merit. It was therefore with some hesitation, + and in a sort of qualifying tone, that he admitted that some idle jests + had passed upon such a supposition, although without the least foundation + in truth. John Christie would not listen to his vindication any longer. + "By your own account," he said, "you permitted lies to be told of you + injest. How do I know you are speaking truth, now you are serious? You + thought it, I suppose, a fine thing to wear the reputation of having + dishonoured an honest family,—who will not think that you had real + grounds for your base bravado to rest upon? I will not believe otherwise + for one, and therefore, my lord, mark what I have to say. You are now + yourself in trouble—As you hope to come through it safely, and + without loss of life and property, tell me where this unhappy woman is. + Tell me, if you hope for heaven—tell me, if you fear hell—tell + me, as you would not have the curse of an utterly ruined woman, and a + broken-hearted man, attend you through life, and bear witness against you + at the Great Day, which shall come after death. You are moved, my lord, I + see it. I cannot forget the wrong you have done me. I cannot even promise + to forgive it—but—tell me, and you shall never see me again, + or hear more of my reproaches." + </p> + <p> + "Unfortunate man," said Lord Glenvarloch, "you have said more, far more + than enough, to move me deeply. Were I at liberty, I would lend you my + best aid to search out him who has wronged you, the rather that I do + suspect my having been your lodger has been in some degree the remote + cause of bringing the spoiler into the sheepfold." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad your lordship grants me so much," said John Christie, resuming + the tone of embittered irony with which he had opened the singular + conversation; "I will spare you farther reproach and remonstrance—your + mind is made up, and so is mine.—So, ho, warder!" The warder + entered, and John went on,—"I want to get out, brother. Look well to + your charge—it were better that half the wild beasts in their dens + yonder were turned loose upon Tower Hill, than that this same + smooth-faced, civil-spoken gentleman, were again returned to honest men's + company!" + </p> + <p> + So saying, he hastily left the apartment; and Nigel had full leisure to + lament the waywardness of his fate, which seemed never to tire of + persecuting him for crimes of which he was innocent, and investing him + with the appearances of guilt which his mind abhorred. He could not, + however, help acknowledging to himself, that all the pain which he might + sustain from the present accusation of John Christie, was so far deserved, + from his having suffered himself, out of vanity, or rather an + unwillingness to encounter ridicule, to be supposed capable of a base + inhospitable crime, merely because fools called it an affair of gallantry; + and it was no balsam to the wound, when he recollected what Richie had + told him of his having been ridiculed behind his back by the gallants of + the ordinary, for affecting the reputation of an intrigue which he had not + in reality spirit enough to have carried on. His simulation had, in a + word, placed him in the unlucky predicament of being rallied as a braggart + amongst the dissipated youths, with whom the reality of the amour would + have given him credit; whilst, on the other hand, he was branded as an + inhospitable seducer by the injured husband, who was obstinately persuaded + of his guilt. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIX + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + How fares the man on whom good men would look + With eyes where scorn and censure combated, + But that kind Christian love hath taught the lesson— + That they who merit most contempt and hate, + Do most deserve our pity.— + <i>Old Play</i>. +</pre> + <p> + It might have seemed natural that the visit of John Christie should have + entirely diverted Nigel's attention from his slumbering companion, and, + for a time, such was the immediate effect of the chain of new ideas which + the incident introduced; yet, soon after the injured man had departed, + Lord Glenvarloch began to think it extraordinary that the boy should have + slept so soundly, while they talked loudly in his vicinity. Yet he + certainly did not appear to have stirred. Was he well—was he only + feigning sleep? He went close to him to make his observations, and + perceived that he had wept, and was still weeping, though his eyes were + closed. He touched him gently on the shoulder—the boy shrunk from + his touch, but did not awake. He pulled him harder, and asked him if he + was sleeping. + </p> + <p> + "Do they waken folk in your country to know whether they are asleep or + no?" said the boy, in a peevish tone. + </p> + <p> + "No, my young sir," answered Nigel; "but when they weep in the manner you + do in your sleep, they awaken them to see what ails them." + </p> + <p> + "It signifies little to any one what ails me," said the boy. + </p> + <p> + "True," replied Lord Glenvarloch; "but you knew before you went to sleep + how little I could assist you in your difficulties, and you seemed + disposed, notwithstanding, to put some confidence in me." + </p> + <p> + "If I did, I have changed my mind," said the lad. + </p> + <p> + "And what may have occasioned this change of mind, I trow?" said Lord + Glenvarloch. "Some men speak through their sleep—perhaps you have + the gift of hearing in it?" + </p> + <p> + "No, but the Patriarch Joseph never dreamt truer dreams than I do." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed!" said Lord Glenvarloch. "And, pray, what dream have you had that + has deprived me of your good opinion; for that, I think, seems the moral + of the matter?" + </p> + <p> + "You shall judge yourself," answered the boy. "I dreamed I was in a wild + forest, where there was a cry of hounds, and winding of horns, exactly as + I heard in Greenwich Park." + </p> + <p> + "That was because you were in the Park this morning, you simple child," + said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Stay, my lord," said the youth. "I went on in my dream, till, at the top + of a broad green alley, I saw a noble stag which had fallen into the + toils; and methought I knew that he was the very stag which the whole + party were hunting, and that if the chase came up, the dogs would tear him + to pieces, or the hunters would cut his throat; and I had pity on the + gallant stag, and though I was of a different kind from him, and though I + was somewhat afraid of him, I thought I would venture something to free so + stately a creature; and I pulled out my knife, and just as I was beginning + to cut the meshes of the net, the animal started up in my face in the + likeness of a tiger, much larger and fiercer than any you may have seen in + the ward of the wild beasts yonder, and was just about to tear me limb + from limb, when you awaked me." + </p> + <p> + "Methinks," said Nigel, "I deserve more thanks than I have got, for + rescuing you from such a danger by waking you. But, my pretty master, + methinks all this tale of a tiger and a stag has little to do with your + change of temper towards me." + </p> + <p> + "I know not whether it has or no," said the lad; "but I will not tell you + who I am." + </p> + <p> + "You will keep your secret to yourself then, peevish boy," said Nigel, + turning from him, and resuming his walk through the room; then stopping + suddenly, he said—"And yet you shall not escape from me without + knowing that I penetrate your mystery." + </p> + <p> + "My mystery!" said the youth, at once alarmed and irritated—"what + mean you, my lord?" + </p> + <p> + "Only that I can read your dream without the assistance of a Chaldean + interpreter, and my exposition is—that my fair companion does not + wear the dress of her sex." + </p> + <p> + "And if I do not, my lord," said his companion, hastily starting up, and + folding her cloak tight around her, "my dress, such as it is, covers one + who will not disgrace it." + </p> + <p> + "Many would call that speech a fair challenge," said Lord Glenvarloch, + looking on her fixedly; "women do not masquerade in men's clothes, to make + use of men's weapons." + </p> + <p> + "I have no such purpose," said the seeming boy; "I have other means of + protection, and powerful—but I would first know what is <i>your</i> + purpose." + </p> + <p> + "An honourable and a most respectful one," said Lord Glenvarloch; + "whatever you are—whatever motive may have brought you into this + ambiguous situation, I am sensible—every look, word, and action of + yours, makes me sensible, that you are no proper subject of importunity, + far less of ill usage. What circumstances can have forced you into so + doubtful a situation, I know not; but I feel assured there is, and can be, + nothing in them of premeditated wrong, which should expose you to + cold-blooded insult. From me you have nothing to dread." + </p> + <p> + "I expected nothing less from your nobleness, my lord," answered the + female; "my adventure, though I feel it was both desperate and foolish, is + not so very foolish, nor my safety here so utterly unprotected, as at + first sight—and in this strange dress, it may appear to be. I have + suffered enough, and more than enough, by the degradation of having been + seen in this unfeminine attire, and the comments you must necessarily have + made on my conduct—but I thank God that I am so far protected, that + I could not have been subjected to insult unavenged." When this + extraordinary explanation had proceeded thus far, the warder appeared, to + place before Lord Glenvarloch a meal, which, for his present situation, + might be called comfortable, and which, if not equal to the cookery of the + celebrated Chevalier Beaujeu, was much superior in neatness and + cleanliness to that of Alsatia. A warder attended to do the honours of the + table, and made a sign to the disguised female to rise and assist him in + his functions. But Nigel, declaring that he knew the youth's parents, + interfered, and caused his companion to eat along with him. She consented + with a sort of embarrassment, which rendered her pretty features yet more + interesting. Yet she maintained with a natural grace that sort of + good-breeding which belongs to the table; and it seemed to Nigel, whether + already prejudiced in her favour by the extraordinary circumstances of + their meeting, or whether really judging from what was actually the fact, + that he had seldom seen a young person comport herself with more decorous + propriety, mixed with ingenuous simplicity; while the consciousness of the + peculiarity of her situation threw a singular colouring over her whole + demeanour, which could be neither said to be formal, nor easy, nor + embarrassed, but was compounded of, and shaded with, an interchange of all + these three characteristics. Wine was placed on the table, of which she + could not be prevailed on to taste a glass. Their conversation was, of + course, limited by the presence of the warder to the business of the + table: but Nigel had, long ere the cloth was removed, formed the + resolution, if possible, of making himself master of this young person's + history, the more especially as he now began to think that the tones of + her voice and her features were not so strange to him as he had originally + supposed. This, however, was a conviction which he adopted slowly, and + only as it dawned upon him from particular circumstances during the course + of the repast. + </p> + <p> + At length the prison-meal was finished, and Lord Glenvarloch began to + think how he might most easily enter upon the topic he meditated, when the + warder announced a visitor. + </p> + <p> + "Soh!" said Nigel, something displeased, "I find even a prison does not + save one from importunate visitations." + </p> + <p> + He prepared to receive his guest, however, while his alarmed companion + flew to the large cradle-shaped chair, which had first served her as a + place of refuge, drew her cloak around her, and disposed herself as much + as she could to avoid observation. She had scarce made her arrangements + for that purpose when the door opened, and the worthy citizen, George + Heriot, entered the prison-chamber. + </p> + <p> + He cast around the apartment his usual sharp, quick glance of observation, + and, advancing to Nigel, said—"My lord, I wish I could say I was + happy to see you." + </p> + <p> + "The sight of those who are unhappy themselves, Master Heriot, seldom + produces happiness to their friends—I, however, am glad to see you." + </p> + <p> + He extended his hand, but Heriot bowed with much formal complaisance, + instead of accepting the courtesy, which in those times, when the + distinction of ranks was much guarded by etiquette and ceremony, was + considered as a distinguished favour. + </p> + <p> + "You are displeased with me, Master Heriot," said Lord Glenvarloch, + reddening, for he was not deceived by the worthy citizen's affectation of + extreme reverence and respect. + </p> + <p> + "By no means, my lord," replied Heriot; "but I have been in France, and + have thought it is well to import, along with other more substantial + articles, a small sample of that good-breeding which the French are so + renowned for." + </p> + <p> + "It is not kind of you," said Nigel, "to bestow the first use of it on an + old and obliged friend." + </p> + <p> + Heriot only answered to this observation with a short dry cough, and then + proceeded. + </p> + <p> + "Hem! hem! I say, ahem! My lord, as my French politeness may not carry me + far, I would willingly know whether I am to speak as a friend, since your + lordship is pleased to term me such; or whether I am, as befits my + condition, to confine myself to the needful business which must be treated + of between us." + </p> + <p> + "Speak as a friend by all means, Master Heriot," said Nigel; "I perceive + you have adopted some of the numerous prejudices against me, if not all of + them. Speak out, and frankly—what I cannot deny I will at least + confess." + </p> + <p> + "And I trust, my lord, redress," said Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "So far as in my power, certainly," answered Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Ah I my lord," continued Heriot, "that is a melancholy though a necessary + restriction; for how lightly may any one do an hundred times more than the + degree of evil which it may be within his power to repair to the sufferers + and to society! But we are not alone here," he said, stopping, and darting + his shrewd eye towards the muffled figure of the disguised maiden, whose + utmost efforts had not enabled her so to adjust her position as altogether + to escape observation. More anxious to prevent her being discovered than + to keep his own affairs private, Nigel hastily answered—"'Tis a page + of mine; you may speak freely before him. He is of France, and knows no + English." + </p> + <p> + "I am then to speak freely," said Heriot, after a second glance at the + chair; "perhaps my words may be more free than welcome." + </p> + <p> + "Go on, sir," said Nigel, "I have told you I can bear reproof." + </p> + <p> + "In one word, then, my lord—why do I find you in this place, and + whelmed with charges which must blacken a name rendered famous by ages of + virtue?" + </p> + <p> + "Simply, then, you find me here," said Nigel, "because, to begin from my + original error, I would be wiser than my father." + </p> + <p> + "It was a difficult task, my lord," replied Heriot; "your father was + voiced generally as the wisest and one of the bravest men of Scotland." + </p> + <p> + "He commanded me," continued Nigel, "to avoid all gambling; and I took + upon me to modify this injunction into regulating my play according to my + skill, means, and the course of my luck." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, self opinion, acting on a desire of acquisition, my lord—you + hoped to touch pitch and not to be defiled," answered Heriot. "Well, my + lord, you need not say, for I have heard with much regret, how far this + conduct diminished your reputation. Your next error I may without scruple + remind you of—My lord, my lord, in whatever degree Lord Dalgarno may + have failed towards you, the son of his father should have been sacred + from your violence." + </p> + <p> + "You speak in cold blood, Master Heriot, and I was smarting under a + thousand wrongs inflicted on me under the mask of friendship." + </p> + <p> + "That is, he gave your lordship bad advice, and you," said Heriot— + </p> + <p> + "Was fool enough to follow his counsel," answered Nigel—"But we will + pass this, Master Heriot, if you please. Old men and young men, men of the + sword and men of peaceful occupation, always have thought, always will + think, differently on such subjects." + </p> + <p> + "I grant," answered Heriot, "the distinction between the old goldsmith and + the young nobleman—still you should have had patience for Lord + Huntinglen's sake, and prudence for your own. Supposing your quarrel just—" + </p> + <p> + "I pray you to pass on to some other charge," said Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "I am not your accuser, my lord; but I trust in heaven, that your own + heart has already accused you bitterly on the inhospitable wrong which + your late landlord has sustained at your hand." + </p> + <p> + "Had I been guilty of what you allude to," said Lord Glenvarloch,—"had + a moment of temptation hurried me away, I had long ere now most bitterly + repented it. But whoever may have wronged the unhappy woman, it was not I—I + never heard of her folly until within this hour." + </p> + <p> + "Come, my lord," said Heriot, with some severity, "this sounds too much + like affectation. I know there is among our modern youth a new creed + respecting adultery as well as homicide—I would rather hear you + speak of a revision of the Decalogue, with mitigated penalties in favour + of the privileged orders—I would rather hear you do this than deny a + fact in which you have been known to glory." + </p> + <p> + "Glory!—I never did, never would have taken honour to myself from + such a cause," said Lord Glenvarloch. "I could not prevent other idle + tongues, and idle brains, from making false inferences." + </p> + <p> + "You would have known well enough how to stop their mouths, my lord," + replied Heriot, "had they spoke of you what was unpleasing to your ears, + and what the truth did not warrant.—Come, my lord, remember your + promise to confess; and, indeed, to confess is, in this case, in some + slight sort to redress. I will grant you are young—the woman + handsome—and, as I myself have observed, light-headed enough. Let me + know where she is. Her foolish husband has still some compassion for her—will + save her from infamy—perhaps, in time, receive her back; for we are + a good-natured generation we traders. Do not, my lord, emulate those who + work mischief merely for the pleasure of doing so—it is the very + devil's worst quality." + </p> + <p> + "Your grave remonstrances will drive me mad," said Nigel. "There is a show + of sense and reason in what you say; and yet, it is positively insisting + on my telling the retreat of a fugitive of whom I know nothing earthly." + </p> + <p> + "It is well, my lord," answered Heriot, coldly. "You have a right, such as + it is, to keep your own secrets; but, since my discourse on these points + seems so totally unavailing, we had better proceed to business. Yet your + father's image rises before me, and seems to plead that I should go on." + </p> + <p> + "Be it as you will, sir," said Glenvarloch; "he who doubts my word shall + have no additional security for it." + </p> + <p> + "Well, my lord.—In the Sanctuary at Whitefriars—a place of + refuge so unsuitable to a young man of quality and character—I am + told a murder was committed." + </p> + <p> + "And you believe that I did the deed, I suppose?" + </p> + <p> + "God forbid, my lord!" said Heriot. "The coroner's inquest hath sat, and + it appeared that your lordship, under your assumed name of Grahame, + behaved with the utmost bravery." + </p> + <p> + "No compliment, I pray you," said Nigel; "I am only too happy to find, + that I did not murder, or am not believed to have murdered, the old man." + </p> + <p> + "True, my lord," said Heriot; "but even in this affair there lacks + explanation. Your lordship embarked this morning in a wherry with a + female, and, it is said, an immense sum of money, in specie and other + valuables—but the woman has not since been heard of." + </p> + <p> + "I parted with her at Paul's Wharf," said Nigel, "where she went ashore + with her charge. I gave her a letter to that very man, John Christie." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, that is the waterman's story; but John Christie denies that he + remembers anything of the matter." + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to hear this," said the young nobleman; "I hope in Heaven she + has not been trepanned, for the treasure she had with her." + </p> + <p> + "I hope not, my lord," replied Heriot; "but men's minds are much disturbed + about it. Our national character suffers on all hands. Men remember the + fatal case of Lord Sanquhar, hanged for the murder of a fencing-master; + and exclaim, they will not have their wives whored, and their property + stolen, by the nobility of Scotland." + </p> + <p> + "And all this is laid to my door!" said Nigel; "my exculpation is easy." + </p> + <p> + "I trust so, my lord," said Heriot;—"nay, in this particular, I do + not doubt it.—But why did you leave Whitefriars under such + circumstances?" + </p> + <p> + "Master Reginald Lowestoffe sent a boat for me, with intimation to provide + for my safety." + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to say," replied Heriot, "that he denies all knowledge of your + lordship's motions, after having dispatched a messenger to you with some + baggage." + </p> + <p> + "The watermen told me they were employed by him." + </p> + <p> + "Watermen!" said Heriot; "one of these proves to be an idle apprentice, an + old acquaintance of mine—the other has escaped; but the fellow who + is in custody persists in saying he was employed by your lordship, and you + only." + </p> + <p> + "He lies!" said Lord Glenvarloch, hastily;—"He told me Master + Lowestoffe had sent him.—I hope that kind-hearted gentleman is at + liberty?" + </p> + <p> + "He is," answered Heriot; "and has escaped with a rebuke from the + benchers, for interfering in such a matter as your lordship's. The Court + desire to keep well with the young Templars in these times of commotion, + or he had not come off so well." + </p> + <p> + "That is the only word of comfort I have heard from you," replied Nigel. + "But this poor woman,—she and her trunk were committed to the charge + of two porters." + </p> + <p> + "So said the pretended waterman; but none of the fellows who ply at the + wharf will acknowledge the employment.—I see the idea makes you + uneasy, my lord; but every effort is made to discover the poor woman's + place of retreat—if, indeed, she yet lives.—And now, my lord, + my errand is spoken, so far as it relates exclusively to your lordship; + what remains, is matter of business of a more formal kind." + </p> + <p> + "Let us proceed to it without delay," said Lord Glenvarloch. "I would hear + of the affairs of any one rather than of my own." + </p> + <p> + "You cannot have forgotten, my lord," said Heriot, "the transaction which + took place some weeks since at Lord Huntinglen's—by which a large + sum of money was advanced for the redemption of your lordship's estate?" + </p> + <p> + "I remember it perfectly," said Nigel; "and your present austerity cannot + make me forget your kindness on the occasion." + </p> + <p> + Heriot bowed gravely, and went on.—"That money was advanced under + the expectation and hope that it might be replaced by the contents of a + grant to your lordship, under the royal sign-manual, in payment of certain + monies due by the crown to your father.—I trust your lordship + understood the transaction at the time—I trust you now understand my + resumption of its import, and hold it to be correct?" + </p> + <p> + "Undeniably correct," answered Lord Glenvarloch. "If the sums contained in + the warrant cannot be recovered, my lands become the property of those who + paid off the original holders of the mortgage, and now stand in their + right." + </p> + <p> + "Even so, my lord," said Heriot. "And your lordship's unhappy + circumstances having, it would seem, alarmed these creditors, they are + now, I am sorry to say, pressing for one or other of these alternatives—possession + of the land, or payment of their debt." + </p> + <p> + "They have a right to one or other," answered Lord Glenvarloch; "and as I + cannot do the last in my present condition, I suppose they must enter on + possession." + </p> + <p> + "Stay, my lord," replied Heriot; "if you have ceased to call me a friend + to your person, at least you shall see I am willing to be such to your + father's house, were it but for the sake of your father's memory. If you + will trust me with the warrant under the sign-manual, I believe + circumstances do now so stand at Court, that I may be able to recover the + money for you." + </p> + <p> + "I would do so gladly," said Lord Glenvarloch, "but the casket which + contains it is not in my possession. It was seized when I was arrested at + Greenwich." + </p> + <p> + "It will be no longer withheld from you," said Heriot; "for, I understand, + my Master's natural good sense, and some information which he has + procured, I know not how, has induced him to contradict the whole charge + of the attempt on his person. It is entirely hushed up; and you will only + be proceeded against for your violence on Lord Dalgarno, committed within + the verge of the Palace—and that you will find heavy enough to + answer." + </p> + <p> + "I will not shrink under the weight," said Lord Glenvarloch. "But that is + not the present point.—If I had that casket—" + </p> + <p> + "Your baggage stood in the little ante-room, as I passed," said the + citizen; "the casket caught my eye. I think you had it of me. It was my + old friend Sir Faithful Frugal's. Ay; he, too, had a son—" + </p> + <p> + Here he stopped short. + </p> + <p> + "A son who, like Lord Glenvarloch's, did no credit to his father.—Was + it not so you would have ended the sentence, Master Heriot?" asked the + young nobleman. + </p> + <p> + "My lord, it was a word spoken rashly," answered Heriot. "God may mend all + in his own good time. This, however, I will say, that I have sometimes + envied my friends their fair and flourishing families; and yet have I seen + such changes when death has removed the head, so many rich men's sons + penniless, the heirs of so many knights and nobles acreless, that I think + mine own estate and memory, as I shall order it, has a fair chance of + outliving those of greater men, though God has given me no heir of my + name. But this is from the purpose.—Ho! warder, bring in Lord + Glenvarloch's baggage." The officer obeyed. Seals had been placed upon the + trunk and casket, but were now removed, the warder said, in consequence of + the subsequent orders from Court, and the whole was placed at the + prisoner's free disposal. + </p> + <p> + Desirous to bring this painful visit to a conclusion, Lord Glenvarloch + opened the casket, and looked through the papers which it contained, first + hastily, and then more slowly and accurately; but it was all in vain. The + Sovereign's signed warrant had disappeared. + </p> + <p> + "I thought and expected nothing better," said George Heriot, bitterly. + "The beginning of evil is the letting out of water. Here is a fair + heritage lost, I dare say, on a foul cast at dice, or a conjuring trick at + cards!—My lord, your surprise is well played. I give you full joy of + your accomplishments. I have seen many as young brawlers and spendthrifts, + but never as young and accomplished a dissembler.—Nay, man, never + bend your angry brows on me. I speak in bitterness of heart, from what I + remember of your worthy father; and if his son hears of his degeneracy + from no one else, he shall hear it from the old goldsmith." + </p> + <p> + This new suspicion drove Nigel to the very extremity of his patience; yet + the motives and zeal of the good old man, as well as the circumstances of + suspicion which created his displeasure, were so excellent an excuse for + it, that they formed an absolute curb on the resentment of Lord + Glenvarloch, and constrained him, after two or three hasty exclamations, + to observe a proud and sullen silence. At length, Master Heriot resumed + his lecture. + </p> + <p> + "Hark you, my lord," he said, "it is scarce possible that this most + important paper can be absolutely assigned away. Let me know in what + obscure corner, and for what petty sum, it lies pledged—something + may yet be done." + </p> + <p> + "Your efforts in my favour are the more generous," said Lord Glenvarloch, + "as you offer them to one whom you believe you have cause to think hardly + of—but they are altogether unavailing. Fortune has taken the field + against me at every point. Even let her win the battle." + </p> + <p> + "Zouns!" exclaimed Heriot, impatiently,—"you would make a saint + swear! Why, I tell you, if this paper, the loss of which seems to sit so + light on you, be not found, farewell to the fair lordship of Glenvarloch—firth + and forest—lea and furrow—lake and stream—all that has + been in the house of Olifaunt since the days of William the Lion!" + </p> + <p> + "Farewell to them, then," said Nigel,—"and that moan is soon made." + </p> + <p> + "'Sdeath! my lord, you will make more moan for it ere you die," said + Heriot, in the same tone of angry impatience. + </p> + <p> + "Not I, my old friend," said Nigel. "If I mourn, Master Heriot, it will be + for having lost the good opinion of a worthy man, and lost it, as I must + say, most undeservedly." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, young man," said Heriot, shaking his head, "make me believe that + if you can.—To sum the matter up," he said, rising from his seat, + and walking towards that occupied by the disguised female, "for our + matters are now drawn into small compass, you shall as soon make me + believe that this masquerading mummer, on whom I now lay the hand of + paternal authority, is a French page, who understands no English." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he took hold of the supposed page's cloak, and, not without + some gentle degree of violence, led into the middle of the apartment the + disguised fair one, who in vain attempted to cover her face, first with + her mantle, and afterwards with her hands; both which impediments Master + Heriot removed something unceremoniously, and gave to view the detected + daughter of the old chronologist, his own fair god-daughter, Margaret + Ramsay. + </p> + <p> + "Here is goodly gear!" he said; and, as he spoke, he could not prevent + himself from giving her a slight shake, for we have elsewhere noticed that + he was a severe disciplinarian.—"How comes it, minion, that I find + you in so shameless a dress, and so unworthy a situation? Nay, your + modesty is now mistimed—it should have come sooner. Speak, or I will—" + </p> + <p> + "Master Heriot," said Lord Glenvarloch, "whatever right you may have over + this maiden elsewhere, while in my apartment she is under my protection." + </p> + <p> + "Your protection, my lord!—a proper protector!—and how long, + mistress, have you been under my lord's protection? Speak out forsooth!" + </p> + <p> + "For the matter of two hours, godfather," answered the maiden, with a + countenance bent to the ground, and covered with blushes, "but it was + against my will." + </p> + <p> + "Two hours!" repeated Heriot,—"space enough for mischief.—My + lord, this is, I suppose, another victim offered to your character of + gallantry—another adventure to be boasted of at Beaujeu's ordinary? + Methinks the roof under which you first met this silly maiden should have + secured <i>her</i>, at least, from such a fate." + </p> + <p> + "On my honour, Master Heriot," said Lord Glenvarloch, "you remind me now, + for the first time, that I saw this young lady in your family. Her + features are not easily forgotten, and yet I was trying in vain to + recollect where I had last looked on them. For your suspicions, they are + as false as they are injurious both to her and me. I had but discovered + her disguise as you entered. I am satisfied, from her whole behaviour, + that her presence here in this dress was involuntary; and God forbid that + I have been capable of taking advantage of it to her prejudice." + </p> + <p> + "It is well mouthed, my lord," said Master Heriot; "but a cunning clerk + can read the Apocrypha as loud as the Scripture. Frankly, my lord, you are + come to that pass, where your words will not be received without a + warrant." + </p> + <p> + "I should not speak, perhaps," said Margaret, the natural vivacity of + whose temper could never be long suppressed by any situation, however + disadvantageous, "but I cannot be silent. Godfather, you do me wrong—and + no less wrong to this young nobleman. You say his words want a warrant. I + know where to find a warrant for some of them, and the rest I deeply and + devoutly believe without one." + </p> + <p> + "And I thank you, maiden," replied Nigel, "for the good opinion you have + expressed. I am at that point, it seems, though how I have been driven to + it I know not, where every fair construction of my actions and motives is + refused me. I am the more obliged to her who grants me that right which + the world denies me. For you, lady, were I at liberty, I have a sword and + arm should know how to guard your reputation." + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word, a perfect Amadis and Oriana!" said George Heriot. "I should + soon get my throat cut betwixt the knight and the princess, I suppose, but + that the beef-eaters are happily within halloo.—Come, come, Lady + Light-o'-Love—if you mean to make your way with me, it must be by + plain facts, not by speeches from romaunts and play-books. How, in + Heaven's name, came you here?" + </p> + <p> + "Sir," answered Margaret, "since I must speak, I went to Greenwich this + morning with Monna Paula, to present a petition to the king on the part of + the Lady Hermione." + </p> + <p> + "Mercy-a-gad!" exclaimed Heriot, "is she in the dance, too? Could she not + have waited my return to stir in her affairs? But I suppose the + intelligence I sent her had rendered her restless. Ah! woman, woman—he + that goes partner with you, had need of a double share of patience, for + you will bring none into the common stock.—Well, but what on earth + had this embassy of Monna Paula's to do with your absurd disguise? Speak + out." + </p> + <p> + "Monna Paula was frightened," answered Margaret, "and did not know how to + set about the errand, for you know she scarce ever goes out of doors—and + so—and so—I agreed to go with her to give her courage; and, + for the dress, I am sure you remember I wore it at a Christmas mumming, + and you thought it not unbeseeming." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, for a Christmas parlour," said Heriot, "but not to go a-masking + through the country in. I do remember it, minion, and I knew it even now; + that and your little shoe there, linked with a hint I had in the morning + from a friend, or one who called himself such, led to your detection."—Here + Lord Glenvarloch could not help giving a glance at the pretty foot, which + even the staid citizen thought worth recollection—it was but a + glance, for he saw how much the least degree of observation added to + Margaret's distress and confusion. "And tell me, maiden," continued Master + Heriot, for what we have observed was by-play,—"did the Lady + Hermione know of this fair work?" + </p> + <p> + "I dared not have told her for the world," said Margaret—"she + thought one of our apprentices went with Monna Paula." + </p> + <p> + It may be here noticed, that the words, "our apprentices," seemed to have + in them something of a charm to break the fascination with which Lord + Glenvarloch had hitherto listened to the broken, yet interesting details + of Margaret's history. + </p> + <p> + "And wherefore went he not?—he had been a fitter companion for Monna + Paula than you, I wot," said the citizen. + </p> + <p> + "He was otherwise employed," said Margaret, in a voice scarce audible. + </p> + <p> + Master George darted a hasty glance at Nigel, and when he saw his features + betoken no consciousness, he muttered to himself,—"It must be better + than I feared.—And so this cursed Spaniard, with her head full, as + they all have, of disguises, trap-doors, rope-ladders, and masks, was jade + and fool enough to take you with her on this wild goose errand?—And + how sped you, I pray?" + </p> + <p> + "Just as we reached the gate of the Park," replied Margaret, "the cry of + treason was raised. I know not what became of Monna, but I ran till I fell + into the arms of a very decent serving-man, called Linklater; and I was + fain to tell him I was your god-daughter, and so he kept the rest of them + from me, and got me to speech of his Majesty, as I entreated him to do." + </p> + <p> + "It is the only sign you showed in the whole matter that common sense had + not utterly deserted your little skull," said Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "His Majesty," continued the damsel, "was so gracious as to receive me + alone, though the courtiers cried out against the danger to his person, + and would have searched me for arms, God help me, but the king forbade it. + I fancy he had a hint from Linklater how the truth stood with me." + </p> + <p> + "Well, maiden, I ask not what passed," said Heriot; "it becomes not me to + pry into my Master's secrets. Had you been closeted with his grandfather + the Red Tod of Saint Andrews, as Davie Lindsay used to call him, by my + faith, I should have had my own thoughts of the matter; but our Master, + God bless him, is douce and temperate, and Solomon in every thing, save in + the chapter of wives and concubines." + </p> + <p> + "I know not what you mean, sir," answered Margaret. "His Majesty was most + kind and compassionate, but said I must be sent hither, and that the + Lieutenant's lady, the Lady Mansel, would have a charge of me, and see + that I sustained no wrong; and the king promised to send me in a tilted + barge, and under conduct of a person well known to you; and thus I come to + be in the Tower." + </p> + <p> + "But how, or why, in this apartment, nymph?" said George Heriot—"Expound + that to me, for I think the riddle needs reading." + </p> + <p> + "I cannot explain it, sir, further, than that the Lady Mansel sent me + here, in spite of my earnest prayers, tears, and entreaties. I was not + afraid of any thing, for I knew I should be protected. But I could have + died then—could die now—for very shame and confusion!" + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, if your tears are genuine," said Heriot, "they may the sooner + wash out the memory of your fault—Knows your father aught of this + escape of yours?" + </p> + <p> + "I would not for the world he did," replied she; "he believes me with the + Lady Hermione." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, honest Davy can regulate his horologes better than his family.—Come, + damsel, now I will escort you back to the Lady Mansel, and pray her, of + her kindness, that when she is again trusted with a goose, she will not + give it to the fox to keep.—The warders will let us pass to my + lady's lodgings, I trust." + </p> + <p> + "Stay but one moment," said Lord Glenvarloch. "Whatever hard opinion you + may have formed of me, I forgive you, for time will show that you do me + wrong; and you yourself, I think, will be the first to regret the + injustice you have done me. But involve not in your suspicions this young + person, for whose purity of thought angels themselves should be vouchers. + I have marked every look, every gesture; and whilst I can draw breath, I + shall ever think of her with—" + </p> + <p> + "Think not at all of her, my lord," answered George Heriot, interrupting + him; "it is, I have a notion, the best favour you can do her;—or + think of her as the daughter of Davy Ramsay, the clockmaker, no proper + subject for fine speeches, romantic adventures, or high-flown Arcadian + compliments. I give you god-den, my lord. I think not altogether so + harshly as my speech may have spoken. If I can help—that is, if I + saw my way clearly through this labyrinth—but it avails not talking + now. I give your lordship god-den.—Here, warder! Permit us to pass + to the Lady Hansel's apartment." The warder said he must have orders from + the Lieutenant; and as he retired to procure them, the parties remained + standing near each other, but without speaking, and scarce looking at each + other save by stealth, a situation which, in two of the party at least, + was sufficiently embarrassing. The difference of rank, though in that age + a consideration so serious, could not prevent Lord Glenvarloch from seeing + that Margaret Ramsay was one of the prettiest young women he had ever + beheld—from suspecting, he could scarce tell why, that he himself + was not indifferent to her—from feeling assured that he had been the + cause of much of her present distress—admiration, self-love, and + generosity, acting in favour of the same object; and when the yeoman + returned with permission to his guests to withdraw, Nigel's obeisance to + the beautiful daughter of the mechanic was marked with an expression, + which called up in her cheeks as much colour as any incident of the + eventful day had hitherto excited. She returned the courtesy timidly and + irresolutely—clung to her godfather's arm, and left the apartment, + which, dark as it was, had never yet appeared so obscure to Nigel, as when + the door closed behind her. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXX + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Yet though thou shouldst be dragg'd in scorn + To yonder ignominious tree, + Thou shall not want one faithful friend + To share the cruel fates' decree. + <i>Ballad of Jemmy Dawson.</i> +</pre> + <p> + Master George Heriot and his ward, as she might justly be termed, for his + affection to Margaret imposed on him all the cares of a guardian, were + ushered by the yeoman of the guard to the lodging of the Lieutenant, where + they found him seated with his lady. They were received by both with that + decorous civility which Master Heriot's character and supposed influence + demanded, even at the hand of a punctilious old soldier and courtier like + Sir Edward Mansel. Lady Mansel received Margaret with like courtesy, and + informed Master George that she was now only her guest, and no longer her + prisoner. + </p> + <p> + "She is at liberty," she said, "to return to her friends under your charge—such + is his Majesty's pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad of it, madam," answered Heriot, "but only I could have wished + her freedom had taken place before her foolish interview with that + singular young man; and I marvel your ladyship permitted it." + </p> + <p> + "My good Master Heriot," said Sir Edward, "we act according to the + commands of one better and wiser than ourselves—our orders from his + Majesty must be strictly and literally obeyed; and I need not say that the + wisdom of his Majesty doth more than ensure—" + </p> + <p> + "I know his Majesty's wisdom well," said Heriot; "yet there is an old + proverb about fire and flax—well, let it pass." + </p> + <p> + "I see Sir Mungo Malagrowther stalking towards the door of the lodging," + said the Lady Mansel, "with the gait of a lame crane—it is his + second visit this morning." + </p> + <p> + "He brought the warrant for discharging Lord Glenvarloch of the charge of + treason," said Sir Edward. + </p> + <p> + "And from him," said Heriot, "I heard much of what had befallen; for I + came from France only late last evening, and somewhat unexpectedly." + </p> + <p> + As they spoke, Sir Mungo entered the apartment—saluted the + Lieutenant of the Tower and his lady with ceremonious civility—honoured + George Heriot with a patronising nod of acknowledgment, and accosted + Margaret with—"Hey! my young charge, you have not doffed your + masculine attire yet?" + </p> + <p> + "She does not mean to lay it aside, Sir Mungo," said Heriot, speaking + loud, "until she has had satisfaction from you, for betraying her disguise + to me, like a false knight—and in very deed, Sir Mungo, I think when + you told me she was rambling about in so strange a dress, you might have + said also that she was under Lady Mansel's protection." + </p> + <p> + "That was the king's secret, Master Heriot," said Sir Mungo, throwing + himself into a chair with an air of atrabilarious importance; "the other + was a well-meaning hint to yourself, as the girl's friend." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," replied Heriot, "it was done like yourself—enough told to + make me unhappy about her—not a word which could relieve my + uneasiness." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Mungo will not hear that remark," said the lady; "we must change the + subject.—Is there any news from Court, Sir Mungo? you have been to + Greenwich?" + </p> + <p> + "You might as well ask me, madam," answered the Knight, "whether there is + any news from hell." + </p> + <p> + "How, Sir Mungo, how!" said Sir Edward, "measure your words something + better—You speak of the Court of King James." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Edward, if I spoke of the court of the twelve Kaisers, I would say it + is as confused for the present as the infernal regions. Courtiers of forty + years' standing, and such I may write myself, are as far to seek in the + matter as a minnow in the Maelstrom. Some folk say the king has frowned on + the Prince—some that the Prince has looked grave on the duke—some + that Lord Glenvarloch will be hanged for high treason—and some that + there is matter against Lord Dalgarno that may cost him as much as his + head's worth." + </p> + <p> + "And what do you, that are a courtier of forty years' standing, think of + it all?" said Sir Edward Mansel. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay, do not ask him, Sir Edward," said the lady, with an expressive + look to her husband. + </p> + <p> + "Sir Mungo is too witty," added Master Heriot, "to remember that he who + says aught that may be repeated to his own prejudice, does but load a + piece for any of the company to shoot him dead with, at their pleasure and + convenience." + </p> + <p> + "What!" said the bold Knight, "you think I am afraid of the trepan? Why + now, what if I should say that Dalgarno has more wit than honesty,—the + duke more sail than ballast,—the Prince more pride than prudence,—and + that the king—" The Lady Mansel held up her finger in a warning + manner—"that the king is my very good master, who has given me, for + forty years and more, dog's wages, videlicit, bones and beating.—Why + now, all this is said, and Archie Armstrong [Footnote: The celebrated + Court jester.] says worse than this of the best of them every day." + </p> + <p> + "The more fool he," said George Heriot; "yet he is not so utterly wrong, + for folly is his best wisdom. But do not you, Sir Mungo, set your wit + against a fool's, though he be a court fool." + </p> + <p> + "A fool, said you?" replied Sir Mungo, not having fully heard what Master + Heriot said, or not choosing to have it thought so,—"I have been a + fool indeed, to hang on at a close-fisted Court here, when men of + understanding and men of action have been making fortunes in every other + place of Europe. But here a man comes indifferently off unless he gets a + great key to turn," (looking at Sir Edward,) "or can beat tattoo with a + hammer on a pewter plate.—Well, sirs, I must make as much haste back + on mine errand as if I were a fee'd messenger.—Sir Edward and my + lady, I leave my commendations with you—and my good-will with you, + Master Heriot—and for this breaker of bounds, if you will act by my + counsel, some maceration by fasting, and a gentle use of the rod, is the + best cure for her giddy fits." + </p> + <p> + "If you propose for Greenwich, Sir Mungo," said the Lieutenant, "I can + spare you the labour—the king comes immediately to Whitehall." + </p> + <p> + "And that must be the reason the council are summoned to meet in such + hurry," said Sir Mungo. "Well—I will, with your permission, go to + the poor lad Glenvarloch, and bestow some comfort on him." + </p> + <p> + The Lieutenant seemed to look up, and pause for a moment as if in doubt. + </p> + <p> + "The lad will want a pleasant companion, who can tell him the nature of + the punishment which he is to suffer, and other matters of concernment. I + will not leave him until I show him how absolutely he hath ruined himself + from feather to spur, how deplorable is his present state, and how small + his chance of mending it." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Sir Mungo," replied the Lieutenant, "if you really think all this + likely to be very consolatory to the party concerned, I will send a warder + to conduct you." + </p> + <p> + "And I," said George Heriot, "will humbly pray of Lady Mansel, that she + will lend some of her handmaiden's apparel to this giddy-brained girl; for + I shall forfeit my reputation if I walk up Tower Hill with her in that mad + guise—and yet the silly lassie looks not so ill in it neither." + </p> + <p> + "I will send my coach with you instantly," said the obliging lady. + </p> + <p> + "Faith, madam, and if you will honour us by such courtesy, I will gladly + accept it at your hands," said the citizen, "for business presses hard on + me, and the forenoon is already lost, to little purpose." + </p> + <p> + The coach being ordered accordingly, transported the worthy citizen and + his charge to his mansion in Lombard Street. There he found his presence + was anxiously expected by the Lady Hermione, who had just received an + order to be in readiness to attend upon the Royal Privy Council in the + course of an hour; and upon whom, in her inexperience of business, and + long retirement from society and the world, the intimation had made as + deep an impression as if it had not been the necessary consequence of the + petition which she had presented to the king by Monna Paula. George Heriot + gently blamed her for taking any steps in an affair so important until his + return from France, especially as he had requested her to remain quiet, in + a letter which accompanied the evidence he had transmitted to her from + Paris. She could only plead in answer the influence which her immediately + stirring in the matter was likely to have on the affair of her kinsman + Lord Glenvarloch, for she was ashamed to acknowledge how much she had been + gained on by the eager importunity of her youthful companion. The motive + of Margaret's eagerness was, of course, the safety of Nigel; but we must + leave it to time to show in what particulars that came to be connected + with the petition of the Lady Hermione. Meanwhile, we return to the visit + with which Sir Mungo Malagrowther favoured the afflicted young nobleman in + his place of captivity. + </p> + <p> + The Knight, after the usual salutations, and having prefaced his discourse + with a great deal of professed regret for Nigel's situation, sat down + beside him, and composing his grotesque features into the most lugubrious + despondence, began his raven song as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "I bless God, my lord, that I was the person who had the pleasure to bring + his Majesty's mild message to the Lieutenant, discharging the higher + prosecution against ye, for any thing meditated against his Majesty's + sacred person; for, admit you be prosecuted on the lesser offence, or + breach of privilege of the Palace and its precincts, <i>usque ad + mutilationem</i>, even to dismemberation, as it is most likely you will, + yet the loss of a member is nothing to being hanged and drawn quick, after + the fashion of a traitor." + </p> + <p> + "I should feel the shame of having deserved such a punishment," answered + Nigel, "more than the pain of undergoing it." + </p> + <p> + "Doubtless, my lord, the having, as you say, deserved it, must be an + excruciation to your own mind," replied his tormentor; "a kind of mental + and metaphysical hanging, drawing, and quartering, which may be in some + measure equipollent with the external application of hemp, iron, fire, and + the like, to the outer man." + </p> + <p> + "I say, Sir Mungo," repeated Nigel, "and beg you to understand my words, + that I am unconscious of any error, save that of having arms on my person + when I chanced to approach that of my Sovereign." + </p> + <p> + "Ye are right, my lord, to acknowledge nothing," said Sir Mungo. "We have + an old proverb,—Confess, and—so forth. And indeed, as to the + weapons, his Majesty has a special ill-will at all arms whatsoever, and + more especially pistols; but, as I said, there is an end of that matter. + [Footnote: Wilson informs us that when Colonel Grey, a Scotsman who + affected the buff dress even in the time of peace, appeared in that + military garb at Court, the king, seeing him with a case of pistols at his + girdle, which he never greatly liked, told him, merrily, "he was now so + fortified, that, if he were but well victualled, he would be impregnable."—WILSON'S + <i>Life and Reign of James VI.</i>, <i>apud</i> KENNET'S <i>History of + England</i>, vol. ii. p. 389. In 1612, the tenth year of James's reign, + there was a rumour abroad that a shipload of pocket-pistols had been + exported from Spain, with a view to a general massacre of the Protestants. + Proclamations were of consequence sent forth, prohibiting all persons from + carrying pistols under a foot long in the barrel. <i>Ibid</i>. p. 690.] I + wish you as well through the next, which is altogether unlikely." + </p> + <p> + "Surely, Sir Mungo," answered Nigel, "you yourself might say something in + my favour concerning the affair in the Park. None knows better than you + that I was at that moment urged by wrongs of the most heinous nature, + offered to me by Lord Dalgarno, many of which were reported to me by + yourself, much to the inflammation of my passion." + </p> + <p> + "Alack-a-day!-Alack-a-day!" replied Sir Mungo, "I remember but too well + how much your choler was inflamed, in spite of the various remonstrances + which I made to you respecting the sacred nature of the place. Alas! alas! + you cannot say you leaped into the mire for want of warning." + </p> + <p> + "I see, Sir Mungo, you are determined to remember nothing which can do me + service," said Nigel. + </p> + <p> + "Blithely would I do ye service," said the Knight; "and the best whilk I + can think of is, to tell you the process of the punishment to the whilk + you will be indubitably subjected, I having had the good fortune to behold + it performed in the Queen's time, on a chield that had written a + pasquinado. I was then in my Lord Gray's train, who lay leaguer here, and + being always covetous of pleasing and profitable sights, I could not + dispense with being present on the occasion." + </p> + <p> + "I should be surprised, indeed," said Lord Glenvarloch, "if you had so far + put restraint upon your benevolence, as to stay away from such an + exhibition." + </p> + <p> + "Hey! was your lordship praying me to be present at your own execution?" + answered the Knight. "Troth, my lord, it will be a painful sight to a + friend, but I will rather punish myself than baulk you. It is a pretty + pageant, in the main—a very pretty pageant. The fallow came on with + such a bold face, it was a pleasure to look on him. He was dressed all in + white, to signify harmlessness and innocence. The thing was done on a + scaffold at Westminster—most likely yours will be at the Charing. + There were the Sheriffs and the Marshal's men, and what not—the + executioner, with his cleaver and mallet, and his man, with a pan of hot + charcoal, and the irons for cautery. He was a dexterous fallow that + Derrick. This man Gregory is not fit to jipper a joint with him; it might + be worth your lordship's while to have the loon sent to a + barber-surgeon's, to learn some needful scantling of anatomy—it may + be for the benefit of yourself and other unhappy sufferers, and also a + kindness to Gregory." + </p> + <p> + "I will not take the trouble," said Nigel.—"If the laws will demand + my hand, the executioner may get it off as he best can. If the king leaves + it where it is, it may chance to do him better service." + </p> + <p> + "Vera noble—vera grand, indeed, my lord," said Sir Mungo; "it is + pleasant to see a brave man suffer. This fallow whom I spoke of—This + Tubbs, or Stubbs, or whatever the plebeian was called, came forward as + bold as an emperor, and said to the people, 'Good friends, I come to leave + here the hand of a true Englishman,' and clapped it on the dressing-block + with as much ease as if he had laid it on his sweetheart's shoulder; + whereupon Derrick the hangman, adjusting, d'ye mind me, the edge of his + cleaver on the very joint, hit it with the mallet with such force, that + the hand flew off as far from the owner as a gauntlet which the challenger + casts down in the tilt-yard. Well, sir, Stubbs, or Tubbs, lost no whit of + countenance, until the fallow clapped the hissing-hot iron on his raw + stump. My lord, it fizzed like a rasher of bacon, and the fallow set up an + elritch screech, which made some think his courage was abated; but not a + whit, for he plucked off his hat with his left hand, and waved it, crying, + 'God save the Queen, and confound all evil counsellors!' The people gave + him three cheers, which he deserved for his stout heart; and, truly, I + hope to see your lordship suffer with the same magnanimity." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you, Sir Mungo," said Nigel, who had not been able to forbear + some natural feelings of an unpleasant nature during this lively detail,—"I + have no doubt the exhibition will be a very engaging one to you and the + other spectators, whatever it may prove to the party principally + concerned." + </p> + <p> + "Vera engaging," answered Sir Mungo, "vera interesting—vera + interesting indeed, though not altogether so much so as an execution for + high treason. I saw Digby, the Winters, Fawkes, and the rest of the + gunpowder gang, suffer for that treason, whilk was a vera grand spectacle, + as well in regard to their sufferings, as to their constancy in enduring." + </p> + <p> + "I am the more obliged to your goodness, Sir Mungo," replied Nigel, "that + has induced you, although you have lost the sight, to congratulate me on + my escape from the hazard of making the same edifying appearance." + </p> + <p> + "As you say, my lord," answered Sir Mungo, "the loss is chiefly in + appearance. Nature has been very bountiful to us, and has given duplicates + of some organs, that we may endure the loss of one of them, should some + such circumstance chance in our pilgrimage. See my poor dexter, abridged + to one thumb, one finger, and a stump,—by the blow of my adversary's + weapon, however, and not by any carnificial knife. Weel, sir, this poor + maimed hand doth me, in some sort, as much service as ever; and, admit + yours to be taken off by the wrist, you have still your left hand for your + service, and are better off than the little Dutch dwarf here about town, + who threads a needle, limns, writes, and tosses a pike, merely by means of + his feet, without ever a hand to help him." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Sir Mungo," said Lord Glenvarloch, "this is all no doubt very + consolatory; but I hope the king will spare my hand to fight for him in + battle, where, notwithstanding all your kind encouragement, I could spend + my blood much more cheerfully than on a scaffold." + </p> + <p> + "It is even a sad truth," replied Sir Mungo, "that your lordship was but + too like to have died on a scaffold—not a soul to speak for you but + that deluded lassie Maggie Ramsay." + </p> + <p> + "Whom mean you?" said Nigel, with more interest than he had hitherto shown + in the Knight's communications. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, who should I mean, but that travestied lassie whom we dined with + when we honoured Heriot the goldsmith? Ye ken best how you have made + interest with her, but I saw her on her knees to the king for you. She was + committed to my charge, to bring her up hither in honour and safety. Had I + had my own will, I would have had her to Bridewell, to flog the wild blood + out of her—a cutty quean, to think of wearing the breeches, and not + so much as married yet!" + </p> + <p> + "Hark ye, Sir Mungo Malagrowther," answered Nigel, "I would have you talk + of that young person with fitting respect." + </p> + <p> + "With all the respect that befits your lordship's paramour, and Davy + Ramsay's daughter, I shall certainly speak of her, my lord," said Sir + Mungo, assuming a dry tone of irony. + </p> + <p> + Nigel was greatly disposed to have made a serious quarrel of it, but with + Sir Mungo such an affair would have been ridiculous; he smothered his + resentment, therefore, and conjured him to tell what he had heard and seen + respecting this young person. + </p> + <p> + "Simply, that I was in the ante-room when she had audience, and heard the + king say, to my great perplexity, '<i>Pulchra sane puella;</i>' and + Maxwell, who hath but indifferent Latin ears, thought that his Majesty + called on him by his own name of Sawney, and thrust into the presence, and + there I saw our Sovereign James, with his own hand, raising up the lassie, + who, as I said heretofore, was travestied in man's attire. I should have + had my own thoughts of it, but our gracious Master is auld, and was nae + great gillravager amang the queans even in his youth; and he was + comforting her in his own way and saying,—'Ye needna greet about it, + my bonnie woman, Glenvarlochides shall have fair play; and, indeed, when + the hurry was off our spirits, we could not believe that he had any design + on our person. And touching his other offences, we will look wisely and + closely into the matter.' So I got charge to take the young fence-louper + to the Tower here, and deliver her to the charge of Lady Mansel; and his + Majesty charged me to say not a word to her about your offences, for, said + he, the poor thing is breaking her heart for him." + </p> + <p> + "And on this you have charitably founded the opinion to the prejudice of + this young lady, which you have now thought proper to express?" said Lord + Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "In honest truth, my lord," replied Sir Mungo, "what opinion would you + have me form of a wench who gets into male habiliments, and goes on her + knees to the king for a wild young nobleman? I wot not what the + fashionable word may be, for the phrase changes, though the custom abides. + But truly I must needs think this young leddy—if you call Watchie + Ramsay's daughter a young leddy—demeans herself more like a leddy of + pleasure than a leddy of honour." + </p> + <p> + "You do her egregious wrong, Sir Mungo," said Nigel; "or rather you have + been misled by appearances." + </p> + <p> + "So will all the world be misled, my lord," replied the satirist, "unless + you were doing that to disabuse them which your father's son will hardly + judge it fit to do." + </p> + <p> + "And what may that be, I pray you?" + </p> + <p> + "E'en marry the lass—make her Leddy Glenvarloch.—Ay, ay, ye + may start—but it's the course you are driving on. Rather marry than + do worse, if the worst be not done already." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Mungo," said Nigel, "I pray you to forbear this subject, and rather + return to that of the mutilation, upon which it pleased you to enlarge a + short while since." + </p> + <p> + "I have not time at present," said Sir Mungo, hearing the clock strike + four; "but so soon as you shall have received sentence, my lord, you may + rely on my giving you the fullest detail of the whole solemnity; and I + give you my word, as a knight and a gentleman, that I will myself attend + you on the scaffold, whoever may cast sour looks on me for doing so. I + bear a heart, to stand by a friend in the worst of times." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he wished Lord Glenvarloch farewell; who felt as heartily + rejoiced at his departure, though it may be a bold word, as any person who + had ever undergone his society. + </p> + <p> + But, when left to his own reflections, Nigel could not help feeling + solitude nearly as irksome as the company of Sir Mungo Malagrowther. The + total wreck of his fortune,—which seemed now to be rendered + unavoidable by the loss of the royal warrant, that had afforded him the + means of redeeming his paternal estate,—was an unexpected and + additional blow. When he had seen the warrant he could not precisely + remember; but was inclined to think, it was in the casket when he took out + money to pay the miser for his lodgings at Whitefriars. Since then, the + casket had been almost constantly under his own eye, except during the + short time he was separated from his baggage by the arrest in Greenwich + Park. It might, indeed, have been taken out at that time, for he had no + reason to think either his person or his property was in the hands of + those who wished him well; but, on the other hand, the locks of the + strong-box had sustained no violence that he could observe, and, being of + a particular and complicated construction, he thought they could scarce be + opened without an instrument made on purpose, adapted to their + peculiarities, and for this there had been no time. But, speculate as he + would on the matter, it was clear that this important document was gone, + and probable that it had passed into no friendly hands. "Let it be so," + said Nigel to himself; "I am scarcely worse off respecting my prospects of + fortune, than when I first reached this accursed city. But to be hampered + with cruel accusations, and stained with foul suspicions-to be the object + of pity of the most degrading kind to yonder honest citizen, and of the + malignity of that envious and atrabilarious courtier, who can endure the + good fortune and good qualities of another no more than the mole can brook + sunshine—this is indeed a deplorable reflection; and the + consequences must stick to my future life, and impede whatever my head, or + my hand, if it is left me, might be able to execute in my favour." + </p> + <p> + The feeling, that he is the object of general dislike and dereliction, + seems to be one of the most unendurably painful to which a human being can + be subjected. The most atrocious criminals, whose nerves have not shrunk + from perpetrating the most horrid cruelty, endure more from the + consciousness that no man will sympathise with their sufferings, than from + apprehension of the personal agony of their impending punishment; and are + known often to attempt to palliate their enormities, and sometimes + altogether to deny what is established by the clearest proof, rather than + to leave life under the general ban of humanity. It was no wonder that + Nigel, labouring under the sense of general, though unjust suspicion, + should, while pondering on so painful a theme, recollect that one, at + least, had not only believed him innocent, but hazarded herself, with all + her feeble power, to interpose in his behalf. + </p> + <p> + "Poor girl!" he repeated; "poor, rash, but generous maiden! your fate is + that of her in Scottish story, who thrust her arm into the staple of the + door, to oppose it as a bar against the assassins who threatened the + murder of her sovereign. The deed of devotion was useless; save to give an + immortal name to her by whom it was done, and whose blood flows, it is + said, in the veins of my house." + </p> + <p> + I cannot explain to the reader, whether the recollection of this + historical deed of devotion, and the lively effect which the comparison, a + little overstrained perhaps, was likely to produce in favour of Margaret + Ramsay, was not qualified by the concomitant ideas of ancestry and ancient + descent with which that recollection was mingled. But the contending + feelings suggested a new train of ideas.—"Ancestry," he thought, + "and ancient descent, what are they to me?—My patrimony alienated—my + title become a reproach—for what can be so absurd as titled beggary?—my + character subjected to suspicion,—I will not remain in this country; + and should I, at leaving it, procure the society of one so lovely, so + brave, and so faithful, who should say that I derogated from the rank + which I am virtually renouncing?" + </p> + <p> + There was something romantic and pleasing, as he pursued this picture of + an attached and faithful pair, becoming all the world to each other, and + stemming the tide of fate arm in arm; and to be linked thus with a + creature so beautiful, and who had taken such devoted and disinterested + concern in his fortunes, formed itself into such a vision as romantic + youth loves best to dwell upon. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly his dream was painfully dispelled, by the recollection, that its + very basis rested upon the most selfish ingratitude on his own part. Lord + of his castle and his towers, his forests and fields, his fair patrimony + and noble name, his mind would have rejected, as a sort of impossibility, + the idea of elevating to his rank the daughter of a mechanic; but, when + degraded from his nobility, and plunged into poverty and difficulties, he + was ashamed to feel himself not unwilling, that this poor girl, in the + blindness of her affection, should abandon all the better prospects of her + own settled condition, to embrace the precarious and doubtful course which + he himself was condemned to. The generosity of Nigel's mind recoiled from + the selfishness of the plan of happiness which he projected; and he made a + strong effort to expel from his thoughts for the rest of the evening this + fascinating female, or, at least, not to permit them to dwell upon the + perilous circumstance, that she was at present the only creature living + who seemed to consider him as an object of kindness. + </p> + <p> + He could not, however, succeed in banishing her from his slumbers, when, + after having spent a weary day, he betook himself to a perturbed couch. + The form of Margaret mingled with the wild mass of dreams which his late + adventures had suggested; and even when, copying the lively narrative of + Sir Mungo, fancy presented to him the blood bubbling and hissing on the + heated iron, Margaret stood behind him like a spirit of light, to breathe + healing on the wound. At length nature was exhausted by these fantastic + creations, and Nigel slept, and slept soundly, until awakened in the + morning by the sound of a well-known voice, which had often broken his + slumbers about the same hour. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Many, come up, sir, with your gentle blood! + Here's a red stream beneath this coarse blue doublet, + That warms the heart as kindly as if drawn + From the far source of old Assyrian kings. + Who first made mankind subject to their sway. + <i>Old Play</i>. +</pre> + <p> + The sounds to which we alluded in our last, were no other than the + grumbling tones of Richie Moniplies's voice. + </p> + <p> + This worthy, like some other persons who rank high in their own opinion, + was very apt, when he could have no other auditor, to hold conversation + with one who was sure to be a willing listener—I mean with himself. + He was now brushing and arranging Lord Glenvarloch's clothes, with as much + composure and quiet assiduity as if he had never been out of his service, + and grumbling betwixt whiles to the following purpose:—"Hump—ay, + time cloak and jerkin were through my hands—I question if horsehair + has been passed over them since they and I last parted. The embroidery + finely frayed too—and the gold buttons of the cloak—By my + conscience, and as I am an honest man, there is a round dozen of them + gane! This comes of Alsatian frolics—God keep us with his grace, and + not give us over to our own devices!—I see no sword—but that + will be in respect of present circumstances." + </p> + <p> + Nigel for some time could not help believing that he was still in a dream, + so improbable did it seem that his domestic, whom he supposed to be in + Scotland, should have found him out, and obtained access to him, in his + present circumstances. Looking through the curtains, however, he became + well assured of the fact, when he beheld the stiff and bony length of + Richie, with a visage charged with nearly double its ordinary degree of + importance, employed sedulously in brushing his master's cloak, and + refreshing himself with whistling or humming, from interval to interval, + some snatch of an old melancholy Scottish ballad-tune. Although + sufficiently convinced of the identity of the party, Lord Glenvarloch + could not help expressing his surprise in the superfluous question—"In + the name of Heaven, Richie, is this you?" + </p> + <p> + "And wha else suld it be, my lord?" answered Richie; "I dreamna that your + lordship's levee in this place is like to be attended by ony that are not + bounded thereto by duty." + </p> + <p> + "I am rather surprised," answered Nigel, "that it should be attended by + any one at all—especially by you, Richie; for you know that we + parted, and I thought you had reached Scotland long since." + </p> + <p> + "I crave your lordship's pardon, but we have not parted yet, nor are soon + likely so to do; for there gang twa folk's votes to the unmaking of a + bargain, as to the making of ane. Though it was your lordship's pleasure + so to conduct yourself that we were like to have parted, yet it was not, + on reflection, my will to be gone. To be plain, if your lordship does not + ken when you have a good servant, I ken when I have a kind master; and to + say truth, you will be easier served now than ever, for there is not much + chance of your getting out of bounds." + </p> + <p> + "I am indeed bound over to good behaviour," said Lord Glenvarloch, with a + smile; "but I hope you will not take advantage of my situation to be too + severe on my follies, Richie?" + </p> + <p> + "God forbid, my lord—God forbid!" replied Richie, with an expression + betwixt a conceited consciousness of superior wisdom and real feeling—"especially + in consideration of your lordship's having a due sense of them. I did + indeed remonstrate, as was my humble duty, but I scorn to cast that up to + your lordship now—Na, na, I am myself an erring creature—very + conscious of some small weaknesses—there is no perfection in man." + </p> + <p> + "But, Richie," said Lord Glenvarloch, "although I am much obliged to you + for your proffered service, it can be of little use to me here, and may be + of prejudice to yourself." + </p> + <p> + "Your lordship shall pardon me again," said Richie, whom the relative + situation of the parties had invested with ten times his ordinary + dogmatism; "but as I will manage the matter, your lordship shall be + greatly benefited by my service, and I myself no whit prejudiced." + </p> + <p> + "I see not how that can be, my friend," said Lord Glenvarloch, "since even + as to your pecuniary affairs—" + </p> + <p> + "Touching my pecuniars, my lord," replied Richie, "I am indifferently weel + provided; and, as it chances, my living here will be no burden to your + lordship, or distress to myself. Only I crave permission to annex certain + conditions to my servitude with your lordship." + </p> + <p> + "Annex what you will," said Lord Glenvarloch, "for you are pretty sure to + take your own way, whether you make any conditions or not. Since you will + not leave me, which were, I think, your wisest course, you must, and I + suppose will, serve me only on such terms as you like yourself." + </p> + <p> + "All that I ask, my lord," said Richie, gravely, and with a tone of great + moderation, "is to have the uninterrupted command of my own motions, for + certain important purposes which I have now in hand, always giving your + lordship the solace of my company and attendance, at such times as may be + at once convenient for me, and necessary for your service." + </p> + <p> + "Of which, I suppose, you constitute yourself sole judge," replied Nigel, + smiling. + </p> + <p> + "Unquestionably, my lord," answered Richie, gravely; "for your lordship + can only know what yourself want; whereas I, who see both sides of the + picture, ken both what is the best for your affairs, and what is the most + needful for my own." + </p> + <p> + "Richie, my good friend," said Nigel, "I fear this arrangement, which + places the master much under the disposal of the servant, would scarce + suit us if we were both at large; but a prisoner as I am, I may be as well + at your disposal as I am at that of so many other persons; and so you may + come and go as you list, for I suppose you will not take my advice, to + return to your own country, and leave me to my fate." + </p> + <p> + "The deil be in my feet if I do," said Moniplies,—"I am not the lad + to leave your lordship in foul weather, when I followed you and fed upon + you through the whole summer day, And besides, there may be brave days + behind, for a' that has come and gane yet; for + </p> + <p> + "It's hame, and it's hame, and it's hame we fain would be, Though the + cloud is in the lift, and the wind is on the lea; For the sun through the + mirk blinks blithe on mine ee, Says,—'I'll shine on ye yet in our + ain country!" + </p> + <p> + Having sung this stanza in the manner of a ballad-singer, whose voice has + been cracked by matching his windpipe against the bugle of the north + blast, Richie Moniplies aided Lord Glenvarloch to rise, attended his + toilet with every possible mark of the most solemn and deferential + respect, then waited upon him at breakfast, and finally withdrew, pleading + that he had business of importance, which would detain him for some hours. + </p> + <p> + Although Lord Glenvarloch necessarily expected to be occasionally annoyed + by the self-conceit and dogmatism of Richie Moniplies's character, yet he + could not but feel the greatest pleasure from the firm and devoted + attachment which this faithful follower had displayed in the present + instance, and indeed promised himself an alleviation of the ennui of his + imprisonment, in having the advantage of his services. It was, therefore, + with pleasure that he learned from the warder, that his servant's + attendance would be allowed at all times when the general rules of the + fortress permitted the entrance of strangers. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, the magnanimous Richie Moniplies had already reached + Tower Wharf. Here, after looking with contempt on several scullers by whom + he was plied, and whose services he rejected with a wave of his hand, he + called with dignity, "First oars!" and stirred into activity several + lounging Tritons of the higher order, who had not, on his first + appearance, thought it worth while to accost him with proffers of service. + He now took possession of a wherry, folded his arms within his ample + cloak, and sitting down in the stern with an air of importance, commanded + them to row to Whitehall Stairs. Having reached the Palace in safety, he + demanded to see Master Linklater, the under-clerk of his Majesty's + kitchen. The reply was, that he was not to be spoken withal, being then + employed in cooking a mess of cock-a-leekie for the king's own mouth. + </p> + <p> + "Tell him," said Moniplies, "that it is a dear countryman of his, who + seeks to converse with him on matter of high import." + </p> + <p> + "A dear countryman?" said Linklater, when this pressing message was + delivered to him. "Well, let him come in and be d—d, that I should + say sae! This now is some red-headed, long-legged, gillie-white-foot frae + the West Port, that, hearing of my promotion, is come up to be a + turn-broche, or deputy scullion, through my interest. It is a great + hinderance to any man who would rise in the world, to have such friends to + hang by his skirts, in hope of being towed up along with him.—Ha! + Richie Moniplies, man, is it thou? And what has brought ye here? If they + should ken thee for the loon that scared the horse the other day!—" + </p> + <p> + "No more o' that, neighbour," said Richie,—"I am just here on the + auld errand—I maun speak with the king." + </p> + <p> + "The king? Ye are red wud," said Linklater; then shouted to his assistant + in the kitchen, "Look to the broches, ye knaves—<i>pisces purga</i>—<i>Salsamenta + fac macerentur pulchre</i>—I will make you understand Latin, ye + knaves, as becomes the scullions of King James." Then in a cautious tone, + to Richie's private ear, he continued, "Know ye not how ill your master + came off the other day?—I can tell you that job made some folk shake + for their office." + </p> + <p> + "Weel, but, Laurie, ye maun befriend me this time, and get this wee bit + sifflication slipped into his Majesty's ain most gracious hand. I promise + you the contents will be most grateful to him." + </p> + <p> + "Richie," answered Linklater, "you have certainly sworn to say your + prayers in the porter's lodge, with your back bare; and twa grooms, with + dog-whips, to cry amen to you." + </p> + <p> + "Na, na, Laurie, lad," said Richie, "I ken better what belangs to + sifflications than I did yon day; and ye will say that yoursell, if ye + will but get that bit note to the king's hand." + </p> + <p> + "I will have neither hand nor foot in the matter," said the cautious Clerk + of the Kitchen; "but there is his Majesty's mess of cock-a-leekie just + going to be served to him in his closet—I cannot prevent you from + putting the letter between the gilt bowl and the platter; his sacred + Majesty will see it when he lifts the bowl, for he aye drinks out the + broth." + </p> + <p> + "Enough said," replied Richie, and deposited the paper accordingly, just + before a page entered to carry away the mess to his Majesty. + </p> + <p> + "Aweel, aweel, neighbour," said Laurence, when the mess was taken away, + "if ye have done ony thing to bring yoursell to the withy, or the + scourging post, it is your ain wilful deed." + </p> + <p> + "I will blame no other for it," said Richie; and with that undismayed + pertinacity of conceit, which made a fundamental part of his character, he + abode the issue, which was not long of arriving. + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes Maxwell himself arrived in the apartment, and demanded + hastily who had placed a writing on the king's trencher, Linklater denied + all knowledge of it; but Richie Moniplies, stepping boldly forth, + pronounced the emphatical confession, "I am the man." + </p> + <p> + "Follow me, then," said Maxwell, after regarding him with a look of great + curiosity. + </p> + <p> + They went up a private staircase,—even that private staircase, the + privilege of which at Court is accounted a nearer road to power than the + <i>grandes entrees</i> themselves. Arriving in what Richie described as an + "ill redd-up" ante-room, the usher made a sign to him to stop, while he + went into the king's closet. Their conference was short, and as Maxwell + opened the door to retire, Richie heard the conclusion of it. + </p> + <p> + "Ye are sure he is not dangerous?—I was caught once.—Bide + within call, but not nearer the door than within three geometrical cubits. + If I speak loud, start to me like a falcon—If I speak loun, keep + your lang lugs out of ear-shot—and now let him come in." + </p> + <p> + Richie passed forward at Maxwell's mute signal, and in a moment found + himself in the presence of the king. Most men of Richie's birth and + breeding, and many others, would have been abashed at finding themselves + alone with their Sovereign. But Richie Moniplies had an opinion of himself + too high to be controlled by any such ideas; and having made his stiff + reverence, he arose once more into his perpendicular height, and stood + before James as stiff as a hedge-stake. + </p> + <p> + "Have ye gotten them, man? have ye gotten them?" said the king, in a + fluttered state, betwixt hope and eagerness, and some touch of suspicious + fear. "Gie me them—gie me them—before ye speak a word, I + charge you, on your allegiance." + </p> + <p> + Richie took a box from his bosom, and, stooping on one knee, presented it + to his Majesty, who hastily opened it, and having ascertained that it + contained a certain carcanet of rubies, with which the reader was formerly + made acquainted, he could not resist falling into a sort of rapture, + kissing the gems, as if they had been capable of feeling, and repeating + again and again with childish delight, "<i>Onyx cum prole, silexque</i>—-<i>Onyx + cum prole!</i> Ah, my bright and bonny sparklers, my heart loups light to + see you again." He then turned to Richie, upon whose stoical countenance + his Majesty's demeanour had excited something like a grim smile, which + James interrupted his rejoicing to reprehend, saying, "Take heed, sir, you + are not to laugh at us—we are your anointed Sovereign." + </p> + <p> + "God forbid that I should laugh!" said Richie, composing his countenance + into its natural rigidity. "I did but smile, to bring my visage into + coincidence and conformity with your Majesty's physiognomy." + </p> + <p> + "Ye speak as a dutiful subject, and an honest man," said the king; "but + what deil's your name, man?" + </p> + <p> + "Even Richie Moniplies, the son of auld Mungo Moniplies, at the West Port + of Edinburgh, who had the honour to supply your Majesty's mother's royal + table, as weel as your Majesty's, with flesh and other vivers, when time + was." + </p> + <p> + "Aha!" said the king, laughing,—for he possessed, as a useful + attribute of his situation, a tenacious memory, which recollected every + one with whom he was brought into casual contact,—"Ye are the + self-same traitor who had weelnigh coupit us endlang on the causey of our + ain courtyard? but we stuck by our mare. <i>Equam memento rebus in arduis + servare</i>. Weel, be not dismayed, Richie; for, as many men have turned + traitors, it is but fair that a traitor, now and then, suld prove to be, + contra expectanda, a true man. How cam ye by our jewels, man?—cam ye + on the part of George Heriot?" + </p> + <p> + "In no sort," said Richie. "May it please your Majesty, I come as Harry + Wynd fought, utterly for my own hand, and on no man's errand; as, indeed, + I call no one master, save Him that made me, your most gracious Majesty + who governs me, and the noble Nigel Olifaunt, Lord of Glenvarloch, who + maintained me as lang as he could maintain himself, poor nobleman!" + </p> + <p> + "Glenvarlochides again!" exclaimed the king; "by my honour, he lies in + ambush for us at every corner!—Maxwell knocks at the door. It is + George Heriot come to tell us he cannot find these jewels.—Get thee + behind the arras, Richie—stand close, man—sneeze not—cough + not—breathe not!—Jingling Geordie is so damnably ready with + his gold-ends of wisdom, and sae accursedly backward with his gold-ends of + siller, that, by our royal saul, we are glad to get a hair in his neck." + </p> + <p> + Richie got behind the arras, in obedience to the commands of the + good-natured king, while the Monarch, who never allowed his dignity to + stand in the way of a frolic, having adjusted, with his own hand, the + tapestry, so as to complete the ambush, commanded Maxwell to tell him what + was the matter without. Maxwell's reply was so low as to be lost by Richie + Moniplies, the peculiarity of whose situation by no means abated his + curiosity and desire to gratify it to the uttermost. + </p> + <p> + "Let Geordie Heriot come in," said the king; and, as Richie could observe + through a slit in the tapestry, the honest citizen, if not actually + agitated, was at least discomposed. The king, whose talent for wit, or + humour, was precisely of a kind to be gratified by such a scene as ensued, + received his homage with coldness, and began to talk to him with an air of + serious dignity, very different from the usual indecorous levity of his + behaviour. "Master Heriot," he said, "if we aright remember, we + opignorated in your hands certain jewels of the Crown, for a certain sum + of money—Did we, or did we not?" + </p> + <p> + "My most gracious Sovereign," said Heriot, "indisputably your Majesty was + pleased to do so." + </p> + <p> + "The property of which jewels and <i>cimelia</i> remained with us," + continued the king, in the same solemn tone, "subject only to your claim + of advance thereupon; which advance being repaid, gives us right to + repossession of the thing opignorated, or pledged, or laid in wad. + Voetius, Vinnius, Groenwigeneus, Pagenstecherus,—all who have + treated <i>de Contractu Opignerationis, consentiunt in eundem</i>,—gree + on the same point. The Roman law, the English common law, and the + municipal law of our ain ancient kingdom of Scotland, though they split in + mair particulars than I could desire, unite as strictly in this as the + three strands of a twisted rope." + </p> + <p> + "May it please your Majesty," replied Heriot, "it requires not so many + learned authorities to prove to any honest man, that his interest in a + pledge is determined when the money lent is restored." + </p> + <p> + "Weel, sir, I proffer restoration of the sum lent, and I demand to be + repossessed of the jewels pledged with you. I gave ye a hint, brief while + since, that this would be essential to my service, for, as approaching + events are like to call us into public, it would seem strange if we did + not appear with those ornaments, which are heirlooms of the Crown, and the + absence whereof is like to place us in contempt and suspicion with our + liege subjects." + </p> + <p> + Master George Heriot seemed much moved by this address of his Sovereign, + and replied with emotion, "I call Heaven to witness, that I am totally + harmless in this matter, and that I would willingly lose the sum advanced, + so that I could restore those jewels, the absence of which your Majesty so + justly laments. Had the jewels remained with me, the account of them would + be easily rendered; but your Majesty will do me the justice to remember, + that, by your express order, I transferred them to another person, who + advanced a large sum, just about the time of my departure for Paris. The + money was pressingly wanted, and no other means to come by it occurred to + me. I told your Majesty, when I brought the needful supply, that the man + from whom the monies were obtained, was of no good repute; and your most + princely answer was, smelling to the gold—<i>Non olet</i>, it smells + not of the means that have gotten it." + </p> + <p> + "Weel, man," said the king, "but what needs a' this din? If ye gave my + jewels in pledge to such a one, suld ye not, as a liege subject, have + taken care that the redemption was in our power? And are we to suffer the + loss of our <i>cimelia</i> by your neglect, besides being exposed to the + scorn and censure of our lieges, and of the foreign ambassadors?" + </p> + <p> + "My lord and liege king," said Heriot, "God knows, if my bearing blame or + shame in this matter would keep it from your Majesty, it were my duty to + endure both, as a servant grateful for many benefits; but when your + Majesty considers the violent death of the man himself, the disappearance + of his daughter, and of his wealth, I trust you will remember that I + warned your Majesty, in humble duty, of the possibility of such + casualties, and prayed you not to urge me to deal with him on your + behalf." + </p> + <p> + "But you brought me nae better means," said the king—"Geordie, ye + brought me nae better means. I was like a deserted man; what could I do + but grip to the first siller that offered, as a drowning man grasps to the + willow-wand that comes readiest?—And now, man, what for have ye not + brought back the jewels? they are surely above ground, if ye wad make + strict search." + </p> + <p> + "All strict search has been made, may it please your Majesty," replied the + citizen; "hue and cry has been sent out everywhere, and it has been found + impossible to recover them." + </p> + <p> + "Difficult, ye mean, Geordie, not impossible," replied the king; "for that + whilk is impossible, is either naturally so, <i>exempli gratia</i>, to + make two into three; or morally so, as to make what is truth falsehood; + but what is only difficult may come to pass, with assistance of wisdom and + patience; as, for example, Jingling Geordie, look here!" And he displayed + the recovered treasure to the eyes of the astonished jeweller, exclaiming, + with great triumph, "What say ye to that, Jingler?—By my sceptre and + crown, the man stares as if he took his native prince for a warlock! us + that are the very <i>malleus maleficarum</i>, the contunding and + contriturating hammer of all witches, sorcerers, magicians, and the like; + he thinks we are taking a touch of the black art outsells!—But gang + thy way, honest Geordie; thou art a good plain man, but nane of the seven + sages of Greece; gang thy way, and mind the soothfast word which you + spoke, small time syne, that there is one in this land that comes near to + Solomon, King of Israel, in all his gifts, except in his love to strange + women, forby the daughter of Pharaoh." + </p> + <p> + If Heriot was surprised at seeing the jewels so unexpectedly produced at + the moment the king was upbraiding him for the loss of them, this allusion + to the reflection which had escaped him while conversing with Lord + Glenvarloch, altogether completed his astonishment; and the king was so + delighted with the superiority which it gave him at the moment, that he + rubbed his hands, chuckled, and finally, his sense of dignity giving way + to the full feeling of triumph, he threw himself into his easy-chair, and + laughed with unconstrained violence till he lost his breath, and the tears + ran plentifully down his cheeks as he strove to recover it. Meanwhile, the + royal cachinnation was echoed out by a discordant and portentous laugh + from behind the arras, like that of one who, little accustomed to give way + to such emotions, feels himself at some particular impulse unable either + to control or to modify his obstreperous mirth. Heriot turned his head + with new surprise towards the place, from which sounds so unfitting the + presence of a monarch seemed to burst with such emphatic clamour. + </p> + <p> + The king, too, somewhat sensible of the indecorum, rose up, wiped his + eyes, and calling,—"Todlowrie, come out o' your den," he produced + from behind the arras the length of Richie Moniplies, still laughing with + as unrestrained mirth as ever did gossip at a country christening. + "Whisht, man, whisht, man," said the king; "ye needna nicher that gait, + like a cusser at a caup o' corn, e'en though it was a pleasing jest, and + our ain framing. And yet to see Jingling Geordie, that bauds himself so + much the wiser than other folk—to see him, ha! ha! ha!—in the + vein of Euclio apud Plautum, distressing himself to recover what was lying + at his elbow—'Peril, interii, occidi—quo curram? quo non + curram?—Tene, tene—quem? quis? nescio—nihil video." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Geordie, your een are sharp enough to look after gowd and silver, + gems, rubies, and the like of that, and yet ye kenna how to come by them + when they are lost.—Ay, ay—look at them, man—look at + them—they are a' right and tight, sound and round, not a doublet + crept in amongst them." + </p> + <p> + George Heriot, when his first surprise was over, was too old a courtier to + interrupt the king's imaginary triumph, although he darted a look of some + displeasure at honest Richie, who still continued on what is usually + termed the broad grin. He quietly examined the stones, and finding them + all perfect, he honestly and sincerely congratulated his Majesty on the + recovery of a treasure which could not have been lost without some + dishonour to the crown; and asked to whom he himself was to pay the sums + for which they had been pledged, observing, that he had the money by him + in readiness. + </p> + <p> + "Ye are in a deevil of a hurry, when there is paying in the case, + Geordie," said the king.—"What's a' the haste, man? The jewels were + restored by an honest, kindly countryman of ours. There he stands, and wha + kens if he wants the money on the nail, or if he might not be as weel + pleased wi' a bit rescript on our treasury some six months hence? Ye ken + that our Exchequer is even at a low ebb just now, and ye cry pay, pay, + pay, as if we had all the mines of Ophir." + </p> + <p> + "Please your Majesty," said Heriot, "if this man has the real right to + these monies, it is doubtless at his will to grant forbearance, if he + will. But when I remember the guise in which I first saw him, with a + tattered cloak and a broken head, I can hardly conceive it.—Are not + you Richie Moniplies, with the king's favour?" + </p> + <p> + "Even sae, Master Heriot—of the ancient and honourable house of + Castle Collop, near to the West Port of Edinburgh," answered Richie. + </p> + <p> + "Why, please your Majesty, he is a poor serving-man," said Heriot. "This + money can never be honestly at his disposal." + </p> + <p> + "What for no?" said the king. "Wad ye have naebody spraickle up the brae + but yoursell, Geordie? Your ain cloak was thin enough when ye cam here, + though ye have lined it gay and weel. And for serving-men, there has mony + a red-shank cam over the Tweed wi' his master's wallet on his shoulders, + that now rustles it wi' his six followers behind him. There stands the man + himsell; speer at him, Geordie." + </p> + <p> + "His may not be the best authority in the case," answered the cautious + citizen. + </p> + <p> + "Tut, tut, man," said the king, "ye are over scrupulous. The knave + deer-stealers have an apt phrase, <i>Non est inquirendum unde venit</i> + VENISON. He that brings the gudes hath surely a right to dispose of the + gear.—Hark ye, friend, speak the truth and shame the deil. Have ye + plenary powers to dispose on the redemption-money as to delay of payments, + or the like, ay or no?" + </p> + <p> + "Full power, an it like your gracious Majesty," answered Richie Moniplies; + "and I am maist willing to subscrive to whatsoever may in ony wise + accommodate your Majesty anent the redemption-money, trusting your + Majesty's grace will be kind to me in one sma' favour." + </p> + <p> + "Ey, man," said the king, "come ye to me there? I thought ye wad e'en be + like the rest of them.—One would think our subjects' lives and goods + were all our ain, and holden of us at our free will; but when we stand in + need of ony matter of siller from them, which chances more frequently than + we would it did, deil a boddle is to be had, save on the auld terms of + giff-gaff. It is just niffer for niffer.—Aweel, neighbour, what is + it that ye want—some monopoly, I reckon? Or it may be a grant of + kirk-lands and teinds, or a knighthood, or the like? Ye maun be + reasonable, unless ye propose to advance more money for our present + occasions." + </p> + <p> + "My liege," answered Richie Moniplies, "the owner of these monies places + them at your Majesty's command, free of all pledge or usage as long as it + is your royal pleasure, providing your Majesty will condescend to show + some favour to the noble Lord Glenvarloch, presently prisoner in your + royal Tower of London." + </p> + <p> + "How, man—how,—man—how, man!" exclaimed the king, + reddening and stammering, but with emotions more noble than those by which + he was sometimes agitated—"What is that you dare to say to us?—Sell + our justice!—sell our mercy!—and we a crowned king, sworn to + do justice to our subjects in the gate, and responsible for our + stewardship to Him that is over all kings?"—Here he reverently + looked up, touched his bonnet, and continued, with some sharpness,—"We + dare not traffic in such commodities, sir; and, but that ye are a poor + ignorant creature, that have done us this day some not unpleasant service, + we wad have a red iron driven through your tongue, <i>in terrorem</i> of + others.—Awa with him, Geordie,—pay him, plack and bawbee, out + of our monies in your hands, and let them care that come ahint." + </p> + <p> + Richie, who had counted with the utmost certainty upon the success of this + master-stroke of policy, was like an architect whose whole scaffolding at + once gives way under him. He caught, however, at what he thought might + break his fall. "Not only the sum for which the jewels were pledged," he + said, "but the double of it, if required, should be placed at his + Majesty's command, and even without hope or condition of repayment, if + only—" + </p> + <p> + But the king did not allow him to complete the sentence, crying out with + greater vehemence than before, as if he dreaded the stability of his own + good resolutions,—"Awa wi' him—swith awa wi' him! It is time + he were gane, if he doubles his bode that gate. And, for your life, letna + Steenie, or ony of them, hear a word from his mouth; for wha kens what + trouble that might bring me into! <i>Ne inducas in tentationem</i>—<i>Vade + retro, Sathanas!—Amen</i>." + </p> + <p> + In obedience to the royal mandate, George Heriot hurried the abashed + petitioner out of the presence and out of the Palace; and, when they were + in the Palace-yard, the citizen, remembering with some resentment the airs + of equality which Richie had assumed towards him in the commencement of + the scene which had just taken place, could not forbear to retaliate, by + congratulating him with an ironical smile on his favour at Court, and his + improved grace in presenting a supplication. + </p> + <p> + "Never fash your beard about that, Master George Heriot," said Richie, + totally undismayed; "but tell me when and where I am to sifflicate you for + eight hundred pounds sterling, for which these jewels stood engaged?" + </p> + <p> + "The instant that you bring with you the real owner of the money," replied + Heriot; "whom it is important that I should see on more accounts than + one." + </p> + <p> + "Then will I back to his Majesty," said Richie Moniplies, stoutly, "and + get either the money or the pledge back again. I am fully commissionate to + act in that matter." + </p> + <p> + "It may be so, Richie," said the citizen, "and perchance it may <i>not</i> + be so neither, for your tales are not all gospel; and, therefore, be + assured I will see that it <i>is</i> so, ere I pay you that large sum of + money. I shall give you an acknowledgment for it, and I will keep it + prestable at a moment's warning. But, my good Richard Moniplies, of Castle + Collop, near the West Port of Edinburgh, in the meantime I am bound to + return to his Majesty on matters of weight." So speaking, and mounting the + stair to re-enter the Palace, he added, by way of summing up the whole,—"George + Heriot is over old a cock to be caught with chaff." + </p> + <p> + Richie stood petrified when he beheld him re-enter the Palace, and found + himself, as he supposed, left in the lurch.—"Now, plague on ye," he + muttered, "for a cunning auld skinflint! that, because ye are an honest + man yoursell, forsooth, must needs deal with all the world as if they were + knaves. But deil be in me if ye beat me yet!—Gude guide us! yonder + comes Laurie Linklater next, and he will be on me about the sifflication.—I + winna stand him, by Saint Andrew!" + </p> + <p> + So saying, and changing the haughty stride with which he had that morning + entered the precincts of the Palace, into a skulking shamble, he retreated + for his wherry, which was in attendance, with speed which, to use the + approved phrase on such occasions, greatly resembled a flight. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0032" id="link2HCH0032"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXII + </h2> + <p> + <i>Benedict</i>. This looks not like a nuptial. <i>Much Ado About Nothing.</i> + </p> + <p> + Master George Heriot had no sooner returned to the king's apartment, than + James inquired of Maxwell if the Earl of Huntinglen was in attendance, + and, receiving an answer in the affirmative, desired that he should be + admitted. The old Scottish Lord having made his reverence in the usual + manner, the king extended his hand to be kissed, and then began to address + him in a tone of great sympathy. + </p> + <p> + "We told your lordship in our secret epistle of this morning, written with + our ain hand, in testimony we have neither pretermitted nor forgotten your + faithful service, that we had that to communicate to you that would + require both patience and fortitude to endure, and therefore exhorted you + to peruse some of the most pithy passages of Seneca, and of Boethius <i>de + Consolatione</i>, that the back may be, as we say, fitted for the burden—This + we commend to you from our ain experience. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Non ignara mail, miseris succurrere disco,' +</pre> + <p> + sayeth Dido, and I might say in my own person, <i>non ignarus</i>; but to + change the gender would affect the prosody, whereof our southern subjects + are tenacious. So, my Lord of Huntinglen, I trust you have acted by our + advice, and studied patience before ye need it—<i>venienti occurrite + morbo</i>—mix the medicament when the disease is coming on." + </p> + <p> + "May it please your Majesty," answered Lord Huntinglen, "I am more of an + old soldier than a scholar—and if my own rough nature will not bear + me out in any calamity, I hope I shall have grace to try a text of + Scripture to boot." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, man, are you there with your bears?" said the king; "The Bible, man," + (touching his cap,) "is indeed <i>principium et fons</i>—but it is + pity your lordship cannot peruse it in the original. For although we did + ourselves promote that work of translation,—since ye may read, at + the beginning of every Bible, that when some palpable clouds of darkness + were thought like to have overshadowed the land, after the setting of that + bright occidental star, Queen Elizabeth; yet our appearance, like that of + the sun in his strength, instantly dispelled these surmised mists,—I + say, that although, as therein mentioned, we countenanced the preaching of + the gospel, and especially the translation of the Scriptures out of the + original sacred tongues; yet nevertheless, we ourselves confess to have + found a comfort in consulting them in the original Hebrew, whilk we do not + perceive even in the Latin version of the Septuagint, much less in the + English traduction." + </p> + <p> + "Please your Majesty," said Lord Huntinglen, "if your Majesty delays + communicating the bad news with which your honoured letter threatens me, + until I am capable to read Hebrew like your Majesty, I fear I shall die in + ignorance of the misfortune which hath befallen, or is about to befall, my + house." + </p> + <p> + "You will learn it but too soon, my lord," replied the king. "I grieve to + say it, but your son Dalgarno, whom I thought a very saint, as he was so + much with Steenie and Baby Charles, hath turned out a very villain." + </p> + <p> + "Villain!" repeated Lord Huntinglen; and though he instantly checked + himself, and added, "but it is your Majesty speaks the word," the effect + of his first tone made the king step back as if he had received a blow. He + also recovered himself again, and said in the pettish way which usually + indicated his displeasure—"Yes, my lord, it was we that said it—<i>non + surdo canis</i>—we are not deaf—we pray you not to raise your + voice in speech with us—there is the bonny memorial—read, and + judge for yourself." + </p> + <p> + The king then thrust into the old nobleman's hand a paper, containing the + story of the Lady Hermione, with the evidence by which it was supported, + detailed so briefly and clearly, that the infamy of Lord Dalgarno, the + lover by whom she had been so shamefully deceived, seemed undeniable. But + a father yields not up so easily the cause of his son. + </p> + <p> + "May it please your Majesty," he said, "why was this tale not sooner told? + This woman hath been here for years—wherefore was the claim on my + son not made the instant she touched English ground?" + </p> + <p> + "Tell him how that came about, Geordie," said the king, dressing Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "I grieve to distress my Lord Huntinglen," said Heriot; "but I must speak + the truth. For a long time the Lady Hermione could not brook the idea of + making her situation public; and when her mind became changed in that + particular, it was necessary to recover the evidence of the false + marriage, and letters and papers connected with it, which, when she came + to Paris, and just before I saw her, she had deposited with a + correspondent of her father in that city. He became afterwards bankrupt, + and in consequence of that misfortune the lady's papers passed into other + hands, and it was only a few days since I traced and recovered them. + Without these documents of evidence, it would have been imprudent for her + to have preferred her complaint, favoured as Lord Dalgarno is by powerful + friends." + </p> + <p> + "Ye are saucy to say sae," said the king; "I ken what ye mean weel eneugh—ye + think Steenie wad hae putten the weight of his foot into the scales of + justice, and garr'd them whomle the bucket—ye forget, Geordie, wha + it is whose hand uphaulds them. And ye do poor Steenie the mair wrang, for + he confessed it ance before us and our privy council, that Dalgarno would + have put the quean aff on him, the puir simple bairn, making him trow that + she was a light-o'-love; in whilk mind he remained assured even when he + parted from her, albeit Steenie might hae weel thought ane of thae cattle + wadna hae resisted the like of him." + </p> + <p> + "The Lady Hermione," said George Heriot, "has always done the utmost + justice to the conduct of the duke, who, although strongly possessed with + prejudice against her character, yet scorned to avail himself of her + distress, and on the contrary supplied her with the means of extricating + herself from her difficulties." + </p> + <p> + "It was e'en like himsell—blessings on his bonny face!" said the + king; "and I believed this lady's tale the mair readily, my Lord + Huntinglen, that she spake nae ill of Steenie—and to make a lang + tale short, my lord, it is the opinion of our council and ourself, as weel + as of Baby Charles and Steenie, that your son maun amend his wrong by + wedding this lady, or undergo such disgrace and discountenance as we can + bestow." + </p> + <p> + The person to whom he spoke was incapable of answering him. He stood + before the king motionless, and glaring with eyes of which even the lids + seemed immovable, as if suddenly converted into an ancient statue of the + times of chivalry, so instantly had his hard features and strong limbs + been arrested into rigidity by the blow he had received—And in a + second afterwards, like the same statue when the lightning breaks upon it, + he sunk at once to the ground with a heavy groan. The king was in the + utmost alarm, called upon Heriot and Maxwell for help, and, presence of + mind not being his <i>forte</i>, ran to and fro in his cabinet, exclaiming—"My + ancient and beloved servant—who saved our anointed self! <i>vae + atque dolor!</i> My Lord of Huntinglen, look up—look up, man, and + your son may marry the Queen of Sheba if he will." + </p> + <p> + By this time Maxwell and Heriot had raised the old nobleman, and placed + him on a chair; while the king, observing that he began to recover + himself, continued his consolations more methodically. + </p> + <p> + "Haud up your head—haud up your head, and listen to your ain kind + native Prince. If there is shame, man, it comesna empty-handed—there + is siller to gild it—a gude tocher, and no that bad a pedigree;—if + she has been a loon, it was your son made her sae, and he can make her an + honest woman again." + </p> + <p> + These suggestions, however reasonable in the common case, gave no comfort + to Lord Huntinglen, if indeed he fully comprehended them; but the + blubbering of his good-natured old master, which began to accompany and + interrupt his royal speech, produced more rapid effect. The large tear + gushed reluctantly from his eye, as he kissed the withered hands, which + the king, weeping with less dignity and restraint, abandoned to him, first + alternately and then both together, until the feelings of the man getting + entirely the better of the Sovereign's sense of dignity, he grasped and + shook Lord Huntinglen's hands with the sympathy of an equal and a familiar + friend. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Compone lachrymas</i>," said the Monarch; "be patient, man, be + patient; the council, and Baby Charles, and Steenie, may a' gang to the + deevil—he shall not marry her since it moves you so deeply." + </p> + <p> + "He <i>shall</i> marry her, by God!" answered the earl, drawing himself + up, dashing the tear from his eyes, and endeavouring to recover his + composure. "I pray your Majesty's pardon, but he shall marry her, with her + dishonour for her dowry, were she the veriest courtezan in all Spain—If + he gave his word, he shall make his word good, were it to the meanest + creature that haunts the streets—he shall do it, or my own dagger + shall take the life that I gave him. If he could stoop to use so base a + fraud, though to deceive infamy, let him wed infamy." + </p> + <p> + "No, no!" the Monarch continued to insinuate, "things are not so bad as + that—Steenie himself never thought of her being a streetwalker, even + when he thought the worst of her." + </p> + <p> + "If it can at all console my Lord of Huntinglen," said the citizen, "I can + assure him of this lady's good birth, and most fair and unspotted fame." + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry for it," said Lord Huntinglen—then interrupting himself, + he said—"Heaven forgive me for being ungrateful for such comfort!—but + I am well-nigh sorry she should be as you represent her, so much better + than the villain deserves. To be condemned to wed beauty and innocence and + honest birth—" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, and wealth, my lord—wealth," insinuated the king, "is a better + sentence than his perfidy has deserved." + </p> + <p> + "It is long," said the embittered father, "since I saw he was selfish and + hardhearted; but to be a perjured liar—I never dreaded that such a + blot would have fallen on my race! I will never look on him again." + </p> + <p> + "Hoot ay, my lord, hoot ay," said the king; "ye maun tak him to task + roundly. I grant you should speak more in the vein of Demea than Mitio, <i>vi + nempe et via pervulgata patrum</i>; but as for not seeing him again, and + he your only son, that is altogether out of reason. I tell ye, man, (but I + would not for a boddle that Baby Charles heard me,) that he might gie the + glaiks to half the lasses of Lonnun, ere I could find in my heart speak + such harsh words as you have said of this deil of a Dalgarno of yours." + </p> + <p> + "May it please your Majesty to permit me to retire," said Lord Huntinglen, + "and dispose of the case according to your own royal sense of justice, for + I desire no favour for him." + </p> + <p> + "Aweel, my lord, so be it; and if your lordship can think," added the + Monarch, "of any thing in our power which might comfort you—" + </p> + <p> + "Your Majesty's gracious sympathy," said Lord Huntinglen, "has already + comforted me as far as earth can; the rest must be from the King of + kings." + </p> + <p> + "To Him I commend you, my auld and faithful servant," said James with + emotion, as the earl withdrew from his presence. The king remained fixed + in thought for some time, and then said to Heriot, "Jingling Geordie, ye + ken all the privy doings of our Court, and have dune so these thirty + years, though, like a wise man, ye hear, and see, and say nothing. Now, + there is a thing I fain wad ken, in the way of philosophical inquiry—Did + you ever hear of the umquhile Lady Huntinglen, the departed Countess of + this noble earl, ganging a wee bit gleed in her walk through the world; I + mean in the way of slipping a foot, casting a leglin-girth, or the like, + ye understand me?" + </p> + <p> + [Footnote: A leglin-girth is the lowest hoop upon a <i>leglin</i>, or + milk-pail. Allan Ramsay applies the phrase in the same metaphorical sense. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +"Or bairns can read, they first maun spell, I learn'd this frae my +mammy, And cast a leglin-girth mysell, + Lang ere I married Tammy." + <i>Christ's Kirk On The Green</i>.] +</pre> + <p> + "On my word as an honest man," said George Heriot, somewhat surprised at + the question, "I never heard her wronged by the slightest breath of + suspicion. She was a worthy lady, very circumspect in her walk, and lived + in great concord with her husband, save that the good Countess was + something of a puritan, and kept more company with ministers than was + altogether agreeable to Lord Huntinglen, who is, as your Majesty well + knows, a man of the old rough world, that will drink and swear." + </p> + <p> + "O Geordie!" exclaimed the king, "these are auld-warld frailties, of whilk + we dare not pronounce even ourselves absolutely free. But the warld grows + worse from day to day, Geordie. The juveniles of this age may weel say + with the poet— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Aetas parentum, pejor avis, tulit Nos nequiores—' +</pre> + <p> + This Dalgarno does not drink so much, or swear so much, as his father; but + he wenches, Geordie, and he breaks his word and oath baith. As to what you + say of the leddy, and the ministers, we are a' fallible creatures, + Geordie, priests and kings, as weel as others; and wha kens but what that + may account for the difference between this Dalgarno and his father? The + earl is the vera soul of honour, and cares nae mair for warld's gear than + a noble hound for the quest of a foulmart; but as for his son, he was like + to brazen us a' out—ourselves, Steenie, Baby Charles, and our + council—till he heard of the tocher, and then, by my kingly crown, + he lap like a cock at a grossart! These are discrepancies betwixt parent + and son not to be accounted for naturally, according to Baptista Porta, + Michael Scott <i>de secretis</i>, and others.—Ah, Jingling Geordie, + if your clouting the caldron, and jingling on pots, pans, and veshels of + all manner of metal, hadna jingled a' your grammar out of your head, I + could have touched on that matter to you at mair length." + </p> + <p> + Heriot was too plain-spoken to express much concern for the loss of his + grammar learning on this occasion; but after modestly hinting that he had + seen many men who could not fill their father's bonnet, though no one had + been suspected of wearing their father's nightcap, he inquired "whether + Lord Dalgarno had consented to do the Lady Hermione justice." + </p> + <p> + "Troth, man, I have small doubt that he will," quoth the king; "I gave him + the schedule of her worldly substance, which you delivered to us in the + council, and we allowed him half-an-hour to chew the cud upon that. It is + rare reading for bringing him to reason. I left Baby Charles and Steenie + laying his duty before him; and if he can resist doing what <i>they</i> + desire him—why, I wish he would teach <i>me</i> the gate of it. O + Geordie, Jingling Geordie, it was grand to hear Baby Charles laying down + the guilt of dissimulation, and Steenie lecturing on the turpitude of + incontinence!" + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid," said George Heriot, more hastily than prudently, "I might + have thought of the old proverb of Satan reproving sin." + </p> + <p> + "Deil hae our saul, neighbour," said the king, reddening, "but ye are not + blate! I gie ye license to speak freely, and, by our saul, ye do not let + the privilege become lost <i>non utendo</i>—it will suffer no + negative prescription in your hands. Is it fit, think ye, that Baby + Charles should let his thoughts be publicly seen?—No—no—princes' + thoughts are <i>arcana imperii</i>—<i>Qui nescit dissimulare nescit + regnare</i>. Every liege subject is bound to speak the whole truth to the + king, but there is nae reciprocity of obligation—and for Steenie + having been whiles a dike-louper at a time, is it for you, who are his + goldsmith, and to whom, I doubt, he awes an uncomatable sum, to cast that + up to him?" + </p> + <p> + Heriot did not feel himself called on to play the part of Zeno and + sacrifice himself for upholding the cause of moral truth; he did not + desert it, however, by disavowing his words, but simply expressed sorrow + for having offended his Majesty, with which the placable king was + sufficiently satisfied. + </p> + <p> + "And now, Geordie, man," quoth he, "we will to this culprit, and hear what + he has to say for himself, for I will see the job cleared this blessed + day. Ye maun come wi' me, for your evidence may be wanted." + </p> + <p> + The king led the way, accordingly, into a larger apartment, where the + Prince, the Duke of Buckingham, and one or two privy counsellors were + seated at a table, before which stood Lord Dalgarno, in an attitude of as + much elegant ease and indifference as could be expressed, considering the + stiff dress and manners of the times. + </p> + <p> + All rose and bowed reverently, while the king, to use a north country + word, expressive of his mode of locomotion, <i>toddled</i> to his chair or + throne, making a sign to Heriot to stand behind him. + </p> + <p> + "We hope," said his Majesty, "that Lord Dalgarno stands prepared to do + justice to this unfortunate lady, and to his own character and honour?" + </p> + <p> + "May I humbly inquire the penalty," said Lord Dalgarno, "in case I should + unhappily find compliance with your Majesty's demands impossible?" + </p> + <p> + "Banishment frae our Court, my lord," said the king; "frae our Court and + our countenance." + </p> + <p> + "Unhappy exile that I may be!" said Lord Dalgarno, in a tone of subdued + irony—"I will at least carry your Majesty's picture with me, for I + shall never see such another king." + </p> + <p> + "And banishment, my lord," said the Prince, sternly, "from these our + dominions." + </p> + <p> + "That must be by form of law, please your Royal Highness," said Dalgarno, + with an affectation of deep respect; "and I have not heard that there is a + statute, compelling us, under such penalty, to marry every woman we may + play the fool with. Perhaps his Grace of Buckingham can tell me?" + </p> + <p> + "You are a villain, Dalgarno," said the haughty and vehement favourite. + </p> + <p> + "Fie, my lord, fie!—to a prisoner, and in presence of your royal and + paternal gossip!" said Lord Dalgarno. "But I will cut this deliberation + short. I have looked over this schedule of the goods and effects of + Erminia Pauletti, daughter of the late noble—yes, he is called the + noble, or I read wrong, Giovanni Pauletti, of the Houee of Sansovino, in + Genoa, and of the no less noble Lady Maud Olifaunt, of the House of + Glenvarloch—Well, I declare that I was pre-contracted in Spain to + this noble lady, and there has passed betwixt us some certain <i>proelibatio + matrimonii</i>; and now, what more does this grave assembly require of + me?" + </p> + <p> + "That you should repair the gross and infamous wrong you have done the + lady, by marrying her within this hour," said the Prince. + </p> + <p> + "O, may it please your Royal Highness," answered Dalgarno, "I have a + trifling relationship with an old Earl, who calls himself my father, who + may claim some vote in the matter. Alas! every son is not blessed with an + obedient parent!" He hazarded a slight glance towards the throne, to give + meaning to his last words. + </p> + <p> + "We have spoken ourselves with Lord Huntinglen," said the king, "and are + authorised to consent in his name." + </p> + <p> + "I could never have expected this intervention of a <i>proxaneta</i>, + which the vulgar translate blackfoot, of such eminent dignity," said + Dalgarno, scarce concealing a sneer. "And my father hath consented? He was + wont to say, ere we left Scotland, that the blood of Huntinglen and of + Glenvarloch would not mingle, were they poured into the same basin. + Perhaps he has a mind to try the experiment?" + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said James, "we will not be longer trifled with—Will you + instantly, and <i>sine mora</i>, take this lady to your wife, in our + chapel?" + </p> + <p> + "<i>Statim atque instanter</i>," answered Lord Dalgarno; "for I perceive + by doing so, I shall obtain power to render great services to the + commonwealth—I shall have acquired wealth to supply the wants of + your Majesty, and a fair wife to be at the command of his Grace of + Buckingham." + </p> + <p> + The Duke rose, passed to the end of the table where Lord Dalgarno was + standing, and whispered in his ear, "You have placed a fair sister at my + command ere now." + </p> + <p> + This taunt cut deep through Lord Dalgarno's assumed composure. He started + as if an adder had stung him, but instantly composed himself, and, fixing + on the Duke's still smiling countenance an eye which spoke unutterable + hatred, he pointed the forefinger of his left hand to the hilt of his + sword, but in a manner which could scarce be observed by any one save + Buckingham. The Duke gave him another smile of bitter scorn, and returned + to his seat, in obedience to the commands of the king, who continued + calling out, "Sit down, Steenie, sit down, I command ye—we will hae + nae harnsbreaking here." + </p> + <p> + "Your Majesty needs not fear my patience," said Lord Dalgarno; "and that I + may keep it the better, I will not utter another word in this presence, + save those enjoined to me in that happy portion of the Prayer-Book, which + begins with <i>Dearly Beloved</i>, and ends with <i>amazement</i>." + </p> + <p> + "You are a hardened villain, Dalgarno," said the king; "and were I the + lass, by my father's saul, I would rather brook the stain of having been + your concubine, than run the risk of becoming your wife. But she shall be + under our special protection.—Come, my lords, we will ourselves see + this blithesome bridal." He gave the signal by rising, and moved towards + the door, followed by the train. Lord Dalgarno attended, speaking to none, + and spoken to by no one, yet seeming as easy and unembarrassed in his gait + and manner as if in reality a happy bridegroom. + </p> + <p> + They reached the Chapel by a private entrance, which communicated from the + royal apartment. The Bishop of Winchester, in his pontifical dress, stood + beside the altar; on the other side, supported by Monna Paula, the + colourless, faded, half-lifeless form of the Lady Hermione, or Erminia + Pauletti. Lord Dalgarno bowed profoundly to her, and the Prince, observing + the horror with which she regarded him, walked up, and said to her, with + much dignity,—"Madam, ere you put yourself under the authority of + this man, let me inform you, he hath in the fullest degree vindicated your + honour, so far as concerns your former intercourse. It is for you to + consider whether you will put your fortune and happiness into the hands of + one, who has shown himself unworthy of all trust." + </p> + <p> + The lady, with much difficulty, found words to make reply. "I owe to his + Majesty's goodness," she said, "the care of providing me some reservation + out of my own fortune, for my decent sustenance. The rest cannot be better + disposed than in buying back the fair fame of which I am deprived, and the + liberty of ending my life in peace and seclusion." + </p> + <p> + "The contract has been drawn up," said the king, "under our own eye, + specially discharging the <i>potestas maritalis</i>, and agreeing they + shall live separate. So buckle them, my Lord Bishop, as fast as you can, + that they may sunder again the sooner." + </p> + <p> + The Bishop accordingly opened his book and commenced the marriage + ceremony, under circumstances so novel and so inauspicious. The responses + of the bride were only expressed by inclinations of the head and body; + while those of the bridegroom were spoken boldly and distinctly, with a + tone resembling levity, if not scorn. When it was concluded, Lord Dalgarno + advanced as if to salute the bride, but seeing that she drew back in fear + and abhorrence, he contented himself with making her a low bow. He then + drew up his form to its height, and stretched himself as if examining the + power of his limbs, but elegantly, and without any forcible change of + attitude. "I could caper yet," he said "though I am in fetters—but + they are of gold, and lightly worn.—Well, I see all eyes look cold + on me, and it is time I should withdraw. The sun shines elsewhere than in + England! But first I must ask how this fair Lady Dalgarno is to be + bestowed. Methinks it is but decent I should know. Is she to be sent to + the harem of my Lord Duke? Or is this worthy citizen, as before—" + </p> + <p> + "Hold thy base ribald tongue!" said his father, Lord Huntinglen, who had + kept in the background during the ceremony, and now stepping suddenly + forward, caught the lady by the arm, and confronted her unworthy husband.—"The + Lady Dalgarno," he continued, "shall remain as a widow in my house. A + widow I esteem her, as much as if the grave had closed over her + dishonoured husband." + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno exhibited momentary symptoms of extreme confusion, and said, + in a submissive tone, "If you, my lord, can wish me dead, I cannot, though + your heir, return the compliment. Few of the first-born of Israel," he + added, recovering himself from the single touch of emotion he had + displayed, "can say so much with truth. But I will convince you ere I go, + that I am a true descendant of a house famed for its memory of injuries." + </p> + <p> + "I marvel your Majesty will listen to him longer," said Prince Charles. + "Methinks we have heard enough of his daring insolence." + </p> + <p> + But James, who took the interest of a true gossip in such a scene as was + now passing, could not bear to cut the controversy short, but imposed + silence on his son, with "Whisht, Baby Charles—there is a good + bairn, whisht!—I want to hear what the frontless loon can say." + </p> + <p> + "Only, sir," said Dalgarno, "that but for one single line in this + schedule, all else that it contains could not have bribed me to take that + woman's hand into mine." + </p> + <p> + "That line maun have been the SUMMA TOTALIS," said the king. + </p> + <p> + "Not so, sire," replied Dalgarno. "The sum total might indeed have been an + object for consideration even to a Scottish king, at no very distant + period; but it would have had little charms for me, save that I see here + an entry which gives me the power of vengeance over the family of + Glenvarloch; and learn from it that yonder pale bride, when she put the + wedding-torch into my hand, gave me the power of burning her mother's + house to ashes!" + </p> + <p> + "How is that?" said the king. "What is he speaking about, Jingling + Geordie?" + </p> + <p> + "This friendly citizen, my liege," said Lord Dalgarno, "hath expended a + sum belonging to my lady, and now, I thank heaven, to me, in acquiring a + certain mortgage, or wanset, over the estate of Glenvarloch, which, if it + be not redeemed before to-morrow at noon, will put me in possession of the + fair demesnes of those who once called themselves our house's rivals." + </p> + <p> + "Can this be true?" said the king. + </p> + <p> + "It is even but too true, please your Majesty," answered the citizen. "The + Lady Hermione having advanced the money for the original creditor, I was + obliged, in honour and honesty, to take the rights to her; and doubtless, + they pass to her husband." + </p> + <p> + "But the warrant, man," said the king—"the warrant on our Exchequer—Couldna + that supply the lad wi' the means of redemption?" + </p> + <p> + "Unhappily, my liege, he has lost it, or disposed of it—It is not to + be found. He is the most unlucky youth!" + </p> + <p> + "This is a proper spot of work!" said the king, beginning to amble about + and play with the points of his doublet and hose, in expression of dismay. + "We cannot aid him without paying our debts twice over, and we have, in + the present state of our Exchequer, scarce the means of paying them once." + </p> + <p> + "You have told me news," said Lord Dalgarno, "but I will take no + advantage." + </p> + <p> + "Do not," said his father, "be a bold villain, since thou must be one, and + seek revenge with arms, and not with the usurer's weapons." + </p> + <p> + "Pardon me, my lord," said Lord Dalgarno. "Pen and ink are now my surest + means of vengeance; and more land is won by the lawyer with the ram-skin, + than by the Andrea Ferrara with his sheepshead handle. But, as I said + before, I will take no advantages. I will await in town to-morrow, near + Covent Garden; if any one will pay the redemption-money to my scrivener, + with whom the deeds lie, the better for Lord Glenvarloch; if not, I will + go forward on the next day, and travel with all dispatch to the north, to + take possession." + </p> + <p> + "Take a father's malison with you, unhappy wretch!" said Lord Huntinglen. + </p> + <p> + "And a king's, who is <i>pater patriae</i>," said James. + </p> + <p> + "I trust to bear both lightly," said Lord Dalgarno; and bowing around him, + he withdrew; while all present, oppressed, and, as it were, overawed, by + his determined effrontery, found they could draw breath more freely, when + he at length relieved them of his society. Lord Huntinglen, applying + himself to comfort his new daughter-in-law, withdrew with her also; and + the king, with his privy-council, whom he had not dismissed, again + returned to his council-chamber, though the hour was unusually late. + Heriot's attendance was still commanded, but for what reason was not + explained to him. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0033" id="link2HCH0033"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIII + </h2> + <p> + —-I'll play the eavesdropper. <i>Richard III., Act V., Scene 3</i>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + James had no sooner resumed his seat at the council-board than he began to + hitch in his chair, cough, use his handkerchief, and make other + intimations that he meditated a long speech. The council composed + themselves to the beseeming degree of attention. Charles, as strict in his + notions of decorum, as his father was indifferent to it, fixed himself in + an attitude of rigid and respectful attention, while the haughty + favourite, conscious of his power over both father and son, stretched + himself more easily on his seat, and, in assuming an appearance of + listening, seemed to pay a debt to ceremonial rather than to duty. + </p> + <p> + "I doubt not, my lords," said the Monarch, "that some of you may be + thinking the hour of refection is past, and that it is time to ask with + the slave in the comedy—<i>Quid de symbolo?</i>—Nevertheless, + to do justice and exercise judgment is our meat and drink; and now we are + to pray your wisdom to consider the case of this unhappy youth, Lord + Glenvarloch, and see whether, consistently with our honour, any thing can + be done in his favour." + </p> + <p> + "I am surprised at your Majesty's wisdom making the inquiry," said the + Duke; "it is plain this Dalgarno hath proved one of the most insolent + villains on earth, and it must therefore be clear, that if Lord + Glenvarloch had run him through the body, there would but have been out of + the world a knave who had lived in it too long. I think Lord Glenvarloch + hath had much wrong; and I regret that, by the persuasions of this false + fellow, I have myself had some hand in it." + </p> + <p> + "Ye speak like a child, Steenie—I mean my Lord of Buckingham," + answered the king, "and as one that does not understand the logic of the + schools; for an action may be inconsequential or even meritorious, <i>quoad + hominem</i>, that is, as touching him upon <i>whom</i> it is acted; and + yet most criminal, <i>quoad locum</i>, or considering the place <i>wherein</i> + it is done; as a man may lawfully dance Chrighty Beardie or any other + dance in a tavern, but not <i>inter parietes ecclesiae</i>. So that, + though it may have been a good deed to have sticked Lord Dalgarno, being + such as he has shown himself, anywhere else, yet it fell under the plain + statute, when violence was offered within the verge of the Court. For, let + me tell you, my lords, the statute against striking would be of no small + use in our Court, if it could be eluded by justifying the person stricken + to be a knave. It is much to be lamented that I ken nae Court in + Christendom where knaves are not to be found; and if men are to break the + peace under pretence of beating them, why, it will rain Jeddart staves + [Footnote: The old-fashioned weapon called the Jeddart staff was a species + of battle-axe. Of a very great tempest, it is said, in the south of + Scotland, that it rains Jeddart staffs, as in England the common people + talk of its raining cats and dogs.] in our very ante-chamber." + </p> + <p> + "What your Majesty says," replied Prince Charles, "is marked with your + usual wisdom—the precincts of palaces must be sacred as well as the + persons of kings, which are respected even in the most barbarous nations, + as being one step only beneath their divinities. But your Majesty's will + can control the severity of this and every other law, and it is in your + power, on consideration of his case, to grant the rash young man a free + pardon." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Rem acu tetigisti, Carole, mi puerule,</i>" answered the king; "and + know, my lords, that we have, by a shrewd device and gift of our own, + already sounded the very depth of this Lord Glenvarloch's disposition. I + trow there be among you some that remember my handling in the curious case + of my Lady Lake, and how I trimmed them about the story of hearkening + behind the arras. Now this put me to cogitation, and I remembered me of + having read that Dionysius, King of Syracuse, whom historians call + Tyrannos, which signifieth not in the Greek tongue, as in ours, a + truculent usurper, but a royal king who governs, it may be, something more + strictly than we and other lawful monarchs, whom the ancients termed + Basileis—Now this Dionysius of Syracuse caused cunning workmen to + build for himself a <i>lugg</i>—D'ye ken what that is, my Lord + Bishop?" + </p> + <p> + "A cathedral, I presume to guess," answered the Bishop. + </p> + <p> + "What the deil, man—I crave your lordship's pardon for swearing—but + it was no cathedral—only a lurking-place called the king's <i>lugg</i>, + or <i>ear</i>, where he could sit undescried, and hear the converse of his + prisoners. Now, sirs, in imitation of this Dionysius, whom I took for my + pattern, the rather that he was a great linguist and grammarian, and + taught a school with good applause after his abdication, (either he or his + successor of the same name, it matters not whilk)—I have caused them + to make a <i>lugg</i> up at the state-prison of the Tower yonder, more + like a pulpit than a cathedral, my Lord Bishop—and communicating + with the arras behind the Lieutenant's chamber, where we may sit and + privily hear the discourse of such prisoners as are pent up there for + state-offences, and so creep into the very secrets of our enemies." + </p> + <p> + The Prince cast a glance towards the Duke, expressive of great vexation + and disgust. Buckingham shrugged his shoulders, but the motion was so + slight as to be almost imperceptible. + </p> + <p> + "Weel, my lords, ye ken the fray at the hunting this morning—I shall + not get out of the trembling exies until I have a sound night's sleep—just + after that, they bring ye in a pretty page that had been found in the + Park. We were warned against examining him ourselves by the anxious care + of those around us; nevertheless, holding our life ever at the service of + these kingdoms, we commanded all to avoid the room, the rather that we + suspected this boy to be a girl. What think ye, my lords?—few of you + would have thought I had a hawk's eye for sic gear; but we thank God, that + though we are old, we know so much of such toys as may beseem a man of + decent gravity. Weel, my lords, we questioned this maiden in male attire + ourselves, and I profess it was a very pretty interrogatory, and well + followed. For, though she at first professed that she assumed this + disguise in order to countenance the woman who should present us with the + Lady Hermione's petition, for whom she professed entire affection; yet + when we, suspecting <i>anguis in herba</i>, did put her to the very + question, she was compelled to own a virtuous attachment for + Glenvarlochides, in such a pretty passion of shame and fear, that we had + much ado to keep our own eyes from keeping company with hers in weeping. + Also, she laid before us the false practices of this Dalgarno towards + Glenvarlochides, inveigling him into houses of ill resort, and giving him + evil counsel under pretext of sincere friendship, whereby the + inexperienced lad was led to do what was prejudicial to himself, and + offensive to us. But, however prettily she told her tale, we determined + not altogether to trust to her narration, but rather to try the experiment + whilk we had devised for such occasions. And having ourselves speedily + passed from Greenwich to the Tower, we constituted ourselves eavesdropper, + as it is called, to observe what should pass between Glenvarlochides and + his page, whom we caused to be admitted to his apartment, well judging + that if they were of counsel together to deceive us, it could not be but + something of it would spunk out—And what think ye we saw, my lords?—Naething + for you to sniggle and laugh at, Steenie—for I question if you could + have played the temperate and Christian-like part of this poor lad + Glenvarloch. He might be a Father of the Church in comparison of you, man.—And + then, to try his patience yet farther, we loosed on him a courtier and a + citizen, that is Sir Mungo Malagrowther and our servant George Heriot + here, wha dang the poor lad about, and didna greatly spare our royal + selves.—You mind, Geordie, what you said about the wives and + concubines? but I forgie ye, man—nae need of kneeling, I forgie ye—the + readier, that it regards a certain particular, whilk, as it added not much + to Solomon's credit, the lack of it cannot be said to impinge on ours. + Aweel, my lords, for all temptation of sore distress and evil ensample, + this poor lad never loosed his tongue on us to say one unbecoming word—which + inclines us the rather, acting always by your wise advice, to treat this + affair of the Park as a thing done in the heat of blood, and under strong + provocation, and therefore to confer our free pardon on Lord Glenvarloch." + </p> + <p> + "I am happy your gracious Majesty," said the Duke of Buckingham, "has + arrived at that conclusion, though I could never have guessed at the road + by which you attained it." + </p> + <p> + "I trust," said Prince Charles, "that it is not a path which your Majesty + will think it consistent with your high dignity to tread frequently." + </p> + <p> + "Never while I live again, Baby Charles, that I give you my royal word on. + They say that hearkeners hear ill tales of themselves—by my saul, my + very ears are tingling wi' that auld sorrow Sir Mungo's sarcasms. He + called us close-fisted, Steenie—I am sure you can contradict that. + But it is mere envy in the auld mutilated sinner, because he himself has + neither a noble to hold in his loof, nor fingers to close on it if he + had." Here the king lost recollection of Sir Mungo's irreverence in + chuckling over his own wit, and only farther alluded to it by saying—"We + must give the old maunderer <i>bos in linguam</i>—something to stop + his mouth, or he will rail at us from Dan to Beersheba.—And now, my + lords, let our warrant of mercy to Lord Glenvarloch be presently + expedited, and he put to his freedom; and as his estate is likely to go so + sleaveless a gate, we will consider what means of favour we can show him.—My + lords, I wish you an appetite to an early supper—for our labours + have approached that term.—Baby Charles and Steenie, you will remain + till our couchee.—My Lord Bishop, you will be pleased to stay to + bless our meat.—Geordie Heriot, a word with you apart." + </p> + <p> + His Majesty then drew the citizen into a corner, while the counsellors, + those excepted who had been commanded to remain, made their obeisance, and + withdrew. "Geordie," said the king, "my good and trusty servant"—Here + he busied his fingers much with the points and ribbons of his dress,—"Ye + see that we have granted, from our own natural sense of right and justice, + that which yon long-backed fallow, Moniplies I think they ca' him, + proffered to purchase from us with a mighty bribe; whilk we refused, as + being a crowned king, who wad neither sell our justice nor our mercy for + pecuniar consideration. Now, what think ye should be the upshot of this?" + </p> + <p> + "My Lord Glenvarloch's freedom, and his restoration to your Majesty's + favour," said Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "I ken that," said the king, peevishly. "Ye are very dull to-day. I mean, + what do you think this fallow Moniplies should think about the matter?" + </p> + <p> + "Surely that your Majesty is a most good and gracious sovereign," answered + Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "We had need to be gude and gracious baith," said the king, still more + pettishly, "that have idiots about us that cannot understand what we mint + at, unless we speak it out in braid Lowlands. See this chield Moniplies, + sir, and tell him what we have done for Lord Glenvarloch, in whom he takes + such part, out of our own gracious motion, though we refused to do it on + ony proffer of private advantage. Now, you may put it till him, as if of + your own mind, whether it will be a gracious or a dutiful part in him, to + press us for present payment of the two or three hundred miserable pounds + for whilk we were obliged to opignorate our jewels? Indeed, mony men may + think ye wad do the part of a good citizen, if you took it on yourself to + refuse him payment, seeing he hath had what he professed to esteem full + satisfaction, and considering, moreover, that it is evident he hath no + pressing need of the money, whereof we have much necessity." + </p> + <p> + George Heriot sighed internally. "O my Master," thought he—"my dear + Master, is it then fated you are never to indulge any kingly or noble + sentiment, without its being sullied by some afterthought of interested + selfishness!" + </p> + <p> + The king troubled himself not about what he thought, but taking him by the + collar, said,—"Ye ken my meaning now, Jingler—awa wi' ye. You + are a wise man—manage it your ain gate—but forget not our + present straits." The citizen made his obeisance, and withdrew. + </p> + <p> + "And now, bairns," said the king, "what do you look upon each other for—and + what have you got to ask of your dear dad and gossip?" + </p> + <p> + "Only," said the Prince, "that it would please your Majesty to command the + lurking-place at the prison to be presently built up—the groans of a + captive should not be brought in evidence against him." + </p> + <p> + "What! build up my lugg, Baby Charles? And yet, better deaf than hear ill + tales of oneself. So let them build it up, hard and fast, without delay, + the rather that my back is sair with sitting in it for a whole hour.—And + now let us see what the cooks have been doing for us, bonny bairns." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0034" id="link2HCH0034"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIV + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + To this brave man the knight repairs + For counsel in his law affairs; + And found him mounted in his pew. + With books and money placed for show, + Like nest-eggs to make clients lay, + And for his false opinion pay. + <i>Hudibras.</i> +</pre> + <p> + Our readers may recollect a certain smooth-tongued, lank-haired, + buckram-suited, Scottish scrivener, who, in the earlier part of this + history, appeared in the character of a protege of George Heriot. It is to + his house we are about to remove, but times have changed with him. The + petty booth hath become a chamber of importance—the buckram suit is + changed into black velvet; and although the wearer retains his puritanical + humility and politeness to clients of consequence, he can now look others + broad in the face, and treat them with a full allowance of superior + opulence, and the insolence arising from it. It was but a short period + that had achieved these alterations, nor was the party himself as yet + entirely accustomed to them, but the change was becoming less embarrassing + to him with every day's practice. Among other acquisitions of wealth, you + may see one of Davy Ramsay's best timepieces on the table, and his eye is + frequently observing its revolutions, while a boy, whom he employs as a + scribe, is occasionally sent out to compare its progress with the clock of + Saint Dunstan. + </p> + <p> + The scrivener himself seemed considerably agitated. He took from a + strong-box a bundle of parchments, and read passages of them with great + attention; then began to soliloquize—"There is no outlet which law + can suggest—no back-door of evasion—none—if the lands of + Glenvarloch are not redeemed before it rings noon, Lord Dalgarno has them + a cheap pennyworth. Strange, that he should have been at last able to set + his patron at defiance, and achieve for himself the fair estate, with the + prospect of which he so long flattered the powerful Buckingham.—Might + not Andrew Skurliewhitter nick him as neatly? He hath been my patron—true—not + more than Buckingham was his; and he can be so no more, for he departs + presently for Scotland. I am glad of it—I hate him, and I fear him. + He knows too many of my secrets—I know too many of his. But, no—no—no—I + need never attempt it, there are no means of over-reaching him.—Well, + Willie, what o'clock?" + </p> + <p> + "Ele'en hours just chappit, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Go to your desk without, child," said the scrivener. "What to do next—I + shall lose the old Earl's fair business, and, what is worse, his son's + foul practice. Old Heriot looks too close into business to permit me more + than the paltry and ordinary dues. The Whitefriars business was + profitable, but it has become unsafe ever since—pah!—what + brought that in my head just now? I can hardly hold my pen—if men + should see me in this way!—Willie," (calling aloud to the boy,) "a + cup of distilled waters—Soh!—now I could face the devil." + </p> + <p> + He spoke the last words aloud, and close by the door of the apartment, + which was suddenly opened by Richie Moniplies, followed by two gentlemen, + and attended by two porters bearing money-bags. "If ye can face the devil, + Maister Skurliewhitter," said Richie, "ye will be the less likely to turn + your back on a sack or twa o' siller, which I have ta'en the freedom to + bring you. Sathanas and Mammon are near akin." The porters, at the same + time, ranged their load on the floor. + </p> + <p> + "I—I,"—stammered the surprised scrivener—"I cannot guess + what you mean, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Only that I have brought you the redemption-money on the part of Lord + Glenvarloch, in discharge of a certain mortgage over his family + inheritance. And here, in good time, comes Master Reginald Lowestoffe, and + another honourable gentleman of the Temple, to be witnesses to the + transaction." + </p> + <p> + "I—I incline to think," said the scrivener, "that the term is + expired." + </p> + <p> + "You will pardon us, Master Scrivener," said Lowestoffe. "You will not + baffle us—it wants three-quarters of noon by every clock in the + city." + </p> + <p> + "I must have time, gentlemen," said Andrew, "to examine the gold by tale + and weight." + </p> + <p> + "Do so at your leisure, Master Scrivener," replied Lowestoffe again. "We + have already seen the contents of each sack told and weighed, and we have + put our seals on them. There they stand in a row, twenty in number, each + containing three hundred yellow-hammers—we are witnesses to the + lawful tender." + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen," said the scrivener, "this security now belongs to a mighty + lord. I pray you, abate your haste, and let me send for Lord Dalgarno,—or + rather I will run for him myself." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he took up his hat; but Lowestoffe called out,—"Friend + Moniplies, keep the door fast, an thou be'st a man! he seeks but to put + off the time.—In plain terms, Andrew, you may send for the devil, if + you will, who is the mightiest lord of my acquaintance, but from hence you + stir not till you have answered our proposition, by rejecting or accepting + the redemption-money fairly tendered—there it lies—take it, or + leave it, as you will. I have skill enough to know that the law is + mightier than any lord in Britain—I have learned so much at the + Temple, if I have learned nothing else. And see that you trifle not with + it, lest it make your long ears an inch shorter, Master Skurliewhitter." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, gentlemen, if you threaten me," said the scrivener, "I cannot resist + compulsion." + </p> + <p> + "No threats—no threats at all, my little Andrew," said Lowestoffe; + "a little friendly advice only—forget not, honest Andrew, I have + seen you in Alsatia." + </p> + <p> + Without answering a single word, the scrivener sat down, and drew in + proper form a full receipt for the money proffered. + </p> + <p> + "I take it on your report, Master Lowestoffe," he said; "I hope you will + remember I have insisted neither upon weight nor tale—I have been + civil—if there is deficiency I shall come to loss." + </p> + <p> + "Fillip his nose with a gold-piece, Richie," quoth the Templar. "Take up + the papers, and now wend we merrily to dine thou wot'st where." + </p> + <p> + "If I might choose," said Richie, "it should not be at yonder roguish + ordinary; but as it is your pleasure, gentlemen, the treat shall be given + wheresoever you will have it." + </p> + <p> + "At the ordinary," said the one Templar. + </p> + <p> + "At Beaujeu's," said the other; "it is the only house in London for neat + wines, nimble drawers, choice dishes, and—" + </p> + <p> + "And high charges," quoth Richie Moniplies. "But, as I said before, + gentlemen, ye have a right to command me in this thing, having so frankly + rendered me your service in this small matter of business, without other + stipulation than that of a slight banquet." + </p> + <p> + The latter part of this discourse passed in the street, where, immediately + afterwards, they met Lord Dalgarno. He appeared in haste, touched his hat + slightly to Master Lowestoffe, who returned his reverence with the same + negligence, and walked slowly on with his companion, while Lord Dalgarno + stopped Richie Moniplies with a commanding sign, which the instinct of + education compelled Moniplies, though indignant, to obey. + </p> + <p> + "Whom do you now follow, sirrah?" demanded the noble. + </p> + <p> + "Whomsoever goeth before me, my lord," answered Moniplies. + </p> + <p> + "No sauciness, you knave—I desire to know if you still serve Nigel + Olifaunt?" said Dalgarno. + </p> + <p> + "I am friend to the noble Lord Glenvarloch," answered Moniplies, with + dignity. + </p> + <p> + "True," replied Lord Dalgarno, "that noble lord has sunk to seek friends + among lackeys—Nevertheless,—hark thee hither,—nevertheless, + if he be of the same mind as when we last met, thou mayst show him, that, + on to-morrow, at four afternoon, I shall pass northward by Enfield Chase—I + will be slenderly attended, as I design to send my train through Barnet. + It is my purpose to ride an easy pace through the forest, and to linger a + while by Camlet Moat—he knows the place; and, if he be aught but an + Alsatian bully, will think it fitter for some purposes than the Park. He + is, I understand, at liberty, or shortly to be so. If he fail me at the + place nominated, he must seek me in Scotland, where he will find me + possessed of his father's estate and lands." + </p> + <p> + "Humph!" muttered Richie; "there go twa words to that bargain." + </p> + <p> + He even meditated a joke on the means which he was conscious he possessed + of baffling Lord Dalgarno's expectations; but there was something of keen + and dangerous excitement in the eyes of the young nobleman, which prompted + his discretion for once to rule his vit, and he only answered— + </p> + <p> + "God grant your lordship may well brook your new conquest—when you + get it. I shall do your errand to my lord—whilk is to say," he added + internally, "he shall never hear a word of it from Richie. I am not the + lad to put him in such hazard." + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno looked at him sharply for a moment, as if to penetrate the + meaning of the dry ironical tone, which, in spite of Richie's awe, mingled + with his answer, and then waved his hand, in signal he should pass on. He + himself walked slowly till the trio were out of sight, then turned back + with hasty steps to the door of the scrivener, which he had passed in his + progress, knocked, and was admitted. + </p> + <p> + Lord Dalgarno found the man of law with the money-bags still standing + before him; and it escaped not his penetrating glance, that Skurliewhitter + was disconcerted and alarmed at his approach. + </p> + <p> + "How now, man," he said; "what! hast thou not a word of oily compliment to + me on my happy marriage?—not a word of most philosophical + consolation on my disgrace at Court?—Or has my mien, as a wittol and + discarded favourite, the properties of the Gorgon's head, the <i>turbatae + Palladis arma</i>, as Majesty might say?" + </p> + <p> + "My lord, I am glad—my lord, I am sorry,"—answered the + trembling scrivener, who, aware of the vivacity of Lord Dalgarno's temper, + dreaded the consequence of the communication he had to make to him. + </p> + <p> + "Glad and sorry!" answered Lord Dalgarno. "That is blowing hot and cold, + with a witness. Hark ye, you picture of petty-larceny personified—if + you are sorry I am a cuckold, remember I am only mine own, you knave—there + is too little blood in her cheeks to have sent her astray elsewhere. Well, + I will bear mine antler'd honours as I may—gold shall gild them; and + for my disgrace, revenge shall sweeten it. Ay, revenge—and there + strikes the happy hour!" + </p> + <p> + The hour of noon was accordingly heard to peal from Saint Dunstan's. "Well + banged, brave hammers!" said Lord Dalgarno, in triumph.—"The estate + and lands of Glenvarloch are crushed beneath these clanging blows. If my + steel to-morrow prove but as true as your iron maces to-day, the poor + landless lord will little miss what your peal hath cut him out from.—The + papers—the papers, thou varlet! I am to-morrow Northward, ho! At + four, afternoon, I am bound to be at Camlet Moat, in the Enfield Chase. + To-night most of my retinue set forward. The papers!—Come, + dispatch." + </p> + <p> + "My lord, the—the papers of the Glenvarloch mortgage—I—I + have them not." + </p> + <p> + "Have them not!" echoed Lord Dalgarno,—"Hast thou sent them to my + lodgings, thou varlet? Did I not say I was coming hither?—What mean + you by pointing to that money? What villainy have you done for it? It is + too large to be come honestly by." + </p> + <p> + "Your lordship knows best," answered the scrivener, in great perturbation. + "The gold is your own. It is—it is—" + </p> + <p> + "Not the redemption-money of the Glenvarloch estate!" said Dalgarno. "Dare + not say it is, or I will, upon the spot, divorce your pettifogging soul + from your carrion carcass!" So saying, he seized the scrivener by the + collar, and shook him so vehemently, that he tore it from the cassock. + </p> + <p> + "My lord, I must call for help," said the trembling caitiff, who felt at + that moment all the bitterness of the mortal agony—"It was the law's + act, not mine. What could I do?" + </p> + <p> + "Dost ask?—why, thou snivelling dribblet of damnation, were all thy + oaths, tricks, and lies spent? or do you hold yourself too good to utter + them in my service? Thou shouldst have lied, cozened, out-sworn truth + itself, rather than stood betwixt me and my revenge! But mark me," he + continued; "I know more of your pranks than would hang thee. A line from + me to the Attorney-General, and thou art sped." + </p> + <p> + "What would you have me to do, my lord?" said the scrivener. "All that art + and law can accomplish, I will try." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, are you converted? do so, or pity of your life!" said the lord; "and + remember I never fail my word.—Then keep that accursed gold," he + continued. "Or, stay, I will not trust you—send me this gold home + presently to my lodging. I will still forward to Scotland, and it shall go + hard but that I hold out Glenvarloch Castle against the owner, by means of + the ammunition he has himself furnished. Thou art ready to serve me?" The + scrivener professed the most implicit obedience. + </p> + <p> + "Then remember, the hour was past ere payment was tendered—and see + thou hast witnesses of trusty memory to prove that point." + </p> + <p> + "Tush, my lord, I will do more," said Andrew, reviving—"I will prove + that Lord Glenvarloch's friends threatened, swaggered, and drew swords on + me.—Did your lordship think I was ungrateful enough to have suffered + them to prejudice your lordship, save that they had bare swords at my + throat?" + </p> + <p> + "Enough said," replied Dalgarno; "you are perfect—mind that you + continue so, as you would avoid my fury. I leave my page below—get + porters, and let them follow me instantly with the gold." + </p> + <p> + So saying, Lord Dalgarno left the scrivener's habitation. + </p> + <p> + Skurliewhitter, having dispatched his boy to get porters of trust for + transporting the money, remained alone and in dismay, meditating by what + means he could shake himself free of the vindictive and ferocious + nobleman, who possessed at once a dangerous knowledge of his character, + and the power of exposing him, where exposure would be ruin. He had indeed + acquiesced in the plan, rapidly sketched, for obtaining possession of the + ransomed estate, but his experience foresaw that this would be impossible; + while, on the other hand, he could not anticipate the various consequences + of Lord Dalgarno's resentment, without fears, from which his sordid soul + recoiled. To be in the power, and subject both to the humours and the + extortions of a spendthrift young lord, just when his industry had shaped + out the means of fortune,—it was the most cruel trick which fate + could have played the incipient usurer. + </p> + <p> + While the scrivener was in this fit of anxious anticipation, one knocked + at the door of the apartment; and, being desired to enter, appeared in the + coarse riding-cloak of uncut Wiltshire cloth, fastened by a broad leather + belt and brass buckle, which was then generally worn by graziers and + countrymen. Skurliewhitter, believing he saw in his visitor a country + client who might prove profitable, had opened his mouth to request him to + be seated, when the stranger, throwing back his frieze hood which he had + drawn over his face, showed the scrivener features well imprinted in his + recollection, but which he never saw without a disposition to swoon. + </p> + <p> + "Is it you?" he said, faintly, as the stranger replaced the hood which + concealed his features. + </p> + <p> + "Who else should it be?" said his visitor. + </p> + <p> + "Thou son of parchment, got betwixt the inkhorn And the stuff'd + process-bag—that mayest call The pen thy father, and the ink thy + mother, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The wax thy brother, and the sand thy sister + And the good pillory thy cousin allied— + Rise, and do reverence unto me, thy better!" +</pre> + <p> + "Not yet down to the country," said the scrivener, "after every warning? + Do not think your grazier's cloak will bear you out, captain—no, nor + your scraps of stage-plays." + </p> + <p> + "Why, what would you have me to do?" said the captain—"Would you + have me starve? If I am to fly, you must eke my wings with a few feathers. + You can spare them, I think." + </p> + <p> + "You had means already—you have had ten pieces—What is become + of them?" + </p> + <p> + "Gone," answered Captain Colepepper—"Gone, no matter where—I + had a mind to bite, and I was bitten, that's all—I think my hand + shook at the thought of t'other night's work, for I trowled the doctors + like a very baby." + </p> + <p> + "And you have lost all, then?—Well, take this and be gone," said the + scrivener. + </p> + <p> + "What, two poor smelts! Marry, plague of your bounty!—But remember, + you are as deep in as I." + </p> + <p> + "Not so, by Heaven!" answered the scrivener; "I only thought of easing the + old man of some papers and a trifle of his gold, and you took his life." + </p> + <p> + "Were he living," answered Colepepper, "he would rather have lost it than + his money.—But that is not the question, Master Skurliewhitter—you + undid the private bolts of the window when you visited him about some + affairs on the day ere he died—so satisfy yourself, that, if I am + taken, I will not swing alone. Pity Jack Hempsfield is dead, it spoils the + old catch, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'And three merry men, and three merry men, + And three merry men are we, + As ever did sing three parts in a string, + All under the triple tree.'" +</pre> + <p> + "For God's sake, speak lower," said the scrivener; "is this a place or + time to make your midnight catches heard?—But how much will serve + your turn? I tell you I am but ill provided." + </p> + <p> + "You tell me a lie, then," said the bully—"a most palpable and gross + lie.—How much, d'ye say, will serve my turn? Why, one of these bags + will do for the present." + </p> + <p> + "I swear to you that these bags of money are not at my disposal." + </p> + <p> + "Not honestly, perhaps," said the captain, "but that makes little + difference betwixt us." + </p> + <p> + "I swear to you," continued the scrivener "they are in no way at my + disposal—they have been delivered to me by tale—I am to pay + them over to Lord Dalgarno, whose boy waits for them, and I could not + skelder one piece out of them, without risk of hue and cry." + </p> + <p> + "Can you not put off the delivery?" said the bravo, his huge hand still + fumbling with one of the bags, as if his fingers longed to close on it. + </p> + <p> + "Impossible," said the scrivener, "he sets forward to Scotland to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Ay!" said the bully, after a moment's thought—"Travels he the north + road with such a charge?" + </p> + <p> + "He is well accompanied," added the scrivener; "but yet—" + </p> + <p> + "But yet—but what?" said the bravo. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, I meant nothing," said the scrivener. + </p> + <p> + "Thou didst—thou hadst the wind of some good thing," replied + Colepepper; "I saw thee pause like a setting dog. Thou wilt say as little, + and make as sure a sign, as a well-bred spaniel." + </p> + <p> + "All I meant to say, captain, was, that his servants go by Barnet, and he + himself, with his page, pass through Enfield Chase; and he spoke to me + yesterday of riding a soft pace." + </p> + <p> + "Aha!—Comest thou to me there, my boy?" + </p> + <p> + "And of resting"—continued the scrivener,—"resting a space at + Camlet Moat." + </p> + <p> + "Why, this is better than cock-fighting!" said the captain. + </p> + <p> + "I see not how it can advantage you, captain," said the scrivener. "But, + however, they cannot ride fast, for his page rides the sumpter-horse, + which carries all that weight," pointing to the money on the table. "Lord + Dalgarno looks sharp to the world's gear." + </p> + <p> + "That horse will be obliged to those who may ease him of his burden," said + the bravo; "and egad, he may be met with.—He hath still that page—that + same Lutin—that goblin? Well, the boy hath set game for me ere now. + I will be revenged, too, for I owe him a grudge for an old score at the + ordinary. Let me see—Black Feltham, and Dick Shakebag—we shall + want a fourth—I love to make sure, and the booty will stand parting, + besides what I can bucket them out of. Well, scrivener, lend me two + pieces.—Bravely done—nobly imparted! Give ye good-den." And + wrapping his disguise closer around him, away he went. + </p> + <p> + When he had left the room, the scrivener wrung his hands, and exclaimed, + "More blood—more blood! I thought to have had done with it, but this + time there was no fault with me—none—and then I shall have all + the advantage. If this ruffian falls, there is truce with his tugs at my + purse-strings; and if Lord Dalgarno dies—as is most likely, for + though as much afraid of cold steel as a debtor of a dun, this fellow is a + deadly shot from behind a bush,—then am I in a thousand ways safe—safe—safe." + </p> + <p> + We willingly drop the curtain over him and his reflections. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0035" id="link2HCH0035"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXV + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + We are not worst at once—the course of evil + Begins so slowly, and from such slight source, + An infant's hand might stem its breach with clay; + But let the stream get deeper, and philosophy— + Ay, and religion too—shall strive in vain + To turn the headlong torrent. + <i>Old Play.</i> +</pre> + <p> + The Templars had been regaled by our friend Richie Moniplies in a private + chamber at Beaujeu's, where he might be considered as good company; for he + had exchanged his serving-man's cloak and jerkin for a grave yet handsome + suit of clothes, in the fashion of the times, but such as might have + befitted an older man than himself. He had positively declined presenting + himself at the ordinary, a point to which his companions were very + desirous to have brought him, for it will be easily believed that such + wags as Lowestoffe and his companion were not indisposed to a little + merriment at the expense of the raw and pedantic Scotsman; besides the + chance of easing him of a few pieces, of which he appeared to have + acquired considerable command. But not even a succession of measures of + sparkling sack, in which the little brilliant atoms circulated like motes + in the sun's rays, had the least effect on Richie's sense of decorum. He + retained the gravity of a judge, even while he drank like a fish, partly + from his own natural inclination to good liquor, partly in the way of good + fellowship towards his guests. When the wine began to make some innovation + on their heads, Master Lowestoffe, tired, perhaps, of the humours of + Richie, who began to become yet more stoically contradictory and + dogmatical than even in the earlier part of the entertainment, proposed to + his friend to break up their debauch and join the gamesters. + </p> + <p> + The drawer was called accordingly, and Richie discharged the reckoning of + the party, with a generous remuneration to the attendants, which was + received with cap and knee, and many assurances of—"Kindly welcome, + gentlemen." + </p> + <p> + "I grieve we should part so soon, gentlemen," said Richie to his + companions,—"and I would you had cracked another quart ere you went, + or stayed to take some slight matter of supper, and a glass of Rhenish. I + thank you, however, for having graced my poor collation thus far; and I + commend you to fortune, in your own courses, for the ordinary neither was, + is, nor shall be, an element of mine." + </p> + <p> + "Fare thee well, then," said Lowestoffe, "most sapient and sententious + Master Moniplies. May you soon have another mortgage to redeem, and may I + be there to witness it; and may you play the good fellow, as heartily as + you have done this day." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, gentlemen, it is merely of your grace to say so—but, if you + would but hear me speak a few words of admonition respecting this wicked + ordinary—" + </p> + <p> + "Reserve the lesson, most honourable Richie," said Lowestoffe, "until I + have lost all my money," showing, at the same time, a purse indifferently + well provided, "and then the lecture is likely to have some weight." + </p> + <p> + "And keep my share of it, Richie," said the other Templar, showing an + almost empty purse, in his turn, "till this be full again, and then I will + promise to hear you with some patience." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, gallants," said Richie, "the full and the empty gang a' ae gate, + and that is a grey one—but the time will come." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, it is come already," said Lowestoffe; "they have set out the hazard + table. Since you will peremptorily not go with us, why, farewell, Richie." + </p> + <p> + "And farewell, gentlemen," said Richie, and left the house, into which + they had returned. + </p> + <p> + Moniplies was not many steps from the door, when a person, whom, lost in + his reflections on gaming, ordinaries, and the manners of the age, he had + not observed, and who had been as negligent on his part, ran full against + him; and, when Richie desired to know whether he meant "ony incivility," + replied by a curse on Scotland, and all that belonged to it. A less round + reflection on his country would, at any time, have provoked Richie, but + more especially when he had a double quart of Canary and better in his + pate. He was about to give a very rough answer, and to second his word by + action, when a closer view of his antagonist changed his purpose. + </p> + <p> + "You are the vera lad in the warld," said Richie, "whom I most wished to + meet." + </p> + <p> + "And you," answered the stranger, "or any of your beggarly countrymen, are + the last sight I should ever wish to see. You Scots are ever fair and + false, and an honest man cannot thrive within eyeshot of you." + </p> + <p> + "As to our poverty, friend," replied Richie, "that is as Heaven pleases; + but touching our falset, I'll prove to you that a Scotsman bears as leal + and true a heart to his friend as ever beat in English doublet." + </p> + <p> + "I care not whether he does or not," said the gallant. "Let me go—why + keep you hold of my cloak? Let me go, or I will thrust you into the + kennel." + </p> + <p> + "I believe I could forgie ye, for you did me a good turn once, in plucking + me out of it," said the Scot. + </p> + <p> + "Beshrew my fingers, then, if they did so," replied the stranger. "I would + your whole country lay there, along with you; and Heaven's curse blight + the hand that helped to raise them!—Why do you stop my way?" he + added, fiercely. + </p> + <p> + "Because it is a bad one, Master Jenkin," said Richie. "Nay, never start + about it, man—you see you are known. Alack-a-day! that an honest + man's son should live to start at hearing himself called by his own name!" + Jenkin struck his brow violently with his clenched fist. + </p> + <p> + "Come, come," said Richie, "this passion availeth nothing. Tell me what + gate go you?" + </p> + <p> + "To the devil!" answered Jin Vin. + </p> + <p> + "That is a black gate, if you speak according to the letter," answered + Richie; "but if metaphorically, there are worse places in this great city + than the Devil Tavern; and I care not if I go thither with you, and bestow + a pottle of burnt sack on you—it will correct the crudities of my + stomach, and form a gentle preparative for the leg of a cold pullet." + </p> + <p> + "I pray you, in good fashion, to let me go," said Jenkin. "You may mean me + kindly, and I wish you to have no wrong at my hand; but I am in the humour + to be dangerous to myself, or any one." + </p> + <p> + "I will abide the risk," said the Scot, "if you will but come with me; and + here is a place convenient, a howff nearer than the Devil, whilk is but an + ill-omened drouthy name for a tavern. This other of the Saint Andrew is a + quiet place, where I have ta'en my whetter now and then, when I lodged in + the neighbourhood of the Temple with Lord Glenvarloch.—What the + deil's the matter wi' the man, garr'd him gie sic a spang as that, and + almaist brought himself and me on the causeway?" + </p> + <p> + "Do not name that false Scot's name to me," said Jin Vin, "if you would + not have me go mad!—I was happy before I saw him—he has been + the cause of all the ill that has befallen me—he has made a knave + and a madman of me!" + </p> + <p> + "If you are a knave," said Richie, "you have met an officer—if you + are daft, you have met a keeper; but a gentle officer and a kind keeper. + Look you, my gude friend, there has been twenty things said about this + same lord, in which there is no more truth than in the leasings of + Mahound. The warst they can say of him is, that he is not always so + amenable to good advice as I would pray him, you, and every young man to + be. Come wi' me—just come ye wi' me; and, if a little spell of + siller and a great deal of excellent counsel can relieve your occasions, + all I can say is, you have had the luck to meet one capable of giving you + both, and maist willing to bestow them." + </p> + <p> + The pertinacity of the Scot prevailed over the sullenness of Vincent, who + was indeed in a state of agitation and incapacity to think for himself, + which led him to yield the more readily to the suggestions of another. He + suffered himself to be dragged into the small tavern which Richie + recommended, and where they soon found themselves seated in a snug niche, + with a reeking pottle of burnt sack, and a paper of sugar betwixt them. + Pipes and tobacco were also provided, but were only used by Richie, who + had adopted the custom of late, as adding considerably to the gravity and + importance of his manner, and affording, as it were, a bland and pleasant + accompaniment to the words of wisdom which flowed from his tongue. After + they had filled their glasses and drank them in silence, Richie repeated + the question, whither his guest was going when they met so fortunately. + </p> + <p> + "I told you," said Jenkin, "I was going to destruction—I mean to the + gaming-house. I am resolved to hazard these two or three pieces, to get as + much as will pay for a passage with Captain Sharker, whose ship lies at + Gravesend, bound for America—and so Eastward, ho!—I met one + devil in the way already, who would have tempted me from my purpose, but I + spurned him from me—you may be another for what I know.—What + degree of damnation do you propose for me," he added wildly, "and what is + the price of it?" + </p> + <p> + "I would have you to know," answered Richie, "that I deal in no such + commodities, whether as buyer or seller. But if you will tell me honestly + the cause of your distress, I will do what is in my power to help you out + of it,—not being, however, prodigal of promises, until I know the + case; as a learned physician only gives advice when he has observed the + diagnostics." + </p> + <p> + "No one has any thing to do with my affairs," said the poor lad; and + folding his arms on the table, he laid his head upon them, with the sullen + dejection of the overburdened lama, when it throws itself down to die in + desperation. + </p> + <p> + Richard Moniplies, like most folk who have a good opinion of themselves, + was fond of the task of consolation, which at once displayed his + superiority, (for the consoler is necessarily, for the time at least, + superior to the afflicted person,) and indulged his love of talking. He + inflicted on the poor penitenta harangue of pitiless length, stuffed full + of the usual topics of the mutability of human affairs—the eminent + advantages of patience under affliction—the folly of grieving for + what hath no remedy—the necessity of taking more care for the + future, and some gentle rebukes on account of the past, which acid he + threw in to assist in subduing the patient's obstinacy, as Hannibal used + vinegar in cutting his way through rocks. It was not in human nature to + endure this flood of commonplace eloquence in silence; and Jin Vin, + whether desirous of stopping the flow of words—crammed thus into his + ear, "against the stomach of his sense," or whether confiding in Richie's + protestations of friendship, which the wretched, says Fielding, are ever + so ready to believe, or whether merely to give his sorrows vent in words, + raised his head, and turning his red and swollen eyes to Richie— + </p> + <p> + "Cocksbones, man, only hold thy tongue, and thou shall know all about it,—and + then all I ask of thee is to shake hands and part.—This Margaret + Ramsay,—you have seen her, man?" + </p> + <p> + "Once," said Richie, "once, at Master George Heriot's in Lombard Street—I + was in the room when they dined." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, you helped to shift their trenchers, I remember," said Jin Vin. + "Well, that same pretty girl—and I will uphold her the prettiest + betwixt Paul's and the Bar—she is to be wedded to your Lord + Glenvarloch, with a pestilence on him!" + </p> + <p> + "That is impossible," said Richie; "it is raving nonsense, man—they + make April gouks of you cockneys every month in the year—The Lord + Glenvarloch marry the daughter of a Lonnon mechanic! I would as soon + believe the great Prester John would marry the daughter of a Jew packman." + </p> + <p> + "Hark ye, brother," said Jin Vin, "I will allow no one to speak + disregardfully of the city, for all I am in trouble." + </p> + <p> + "I crave your pardon, man—I meant no offence," said Richie; "but as + to the marriage, it is a thing simply impossible." + </p> + <p> + "It is a thing that will take place, though, for the Duke and the Prince, + and all of them, have a finger in it; and especially the old fool of a + king, that makes her out to be some great woman in her own country, as all + the Scots pretend to be, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Master Vincent, but that you are under affliction," said the consoler, + offended on his part, "I would hear no national reflections." + </p> + <p> + The afflicted youth apologised in his turns, but asserted, "it was true + that the king said Peg-a-Ramsay was some far-off sort of noblewoman; and + that he had taken a great interest in the match, and had run about like an + old gander, cackling about Peggie ever since he had seen her in hose and + doublet—and no wonder," added poor Vin, with a deep sigh. + </p> + <p> + "This may be all true," said Richie, "though it sounds strange in my ears; + but, man, you should not speak evil of dignities—-Curse not the + king, Jenkin; not even in thy bed-chamber—stone walls have ears—no + one has a right to know better than I." + </p> + <p> + "I do not curse the foolish old man," said Jenkin; "but I would have them + carry things a peg lower.—If they were to see on a plain field + thirty thousand such pikes as I have seen in the artillery gardens, it + would not be their long-haired courtiers would help them, I trow." + [Footnote: Clarendon remarks, that the importance of the military exercise + of the citizens was severely felt by the cavaliers during the civil war, + notwithstanding the ridicule that had been showered upon it by the + dramatic poets of the day. Nothing less than habitual practice could, at + the battle of Newbury and elsewhere, have enabled the Londoners to keep + their ranks as pikemen, in spite of the repeated charge of the fiery + Prince Rupert and his gallant cavaliers.] + </p> + <p> + "Hout tout, man," said Richie, "mind where the Stewarts come frae, and + never think they would want spears or claymores either; but leaving sic + matters, whilk are perilous to speak on, I say once more, what is your + concern in all this matter?" + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" said Jenkin; "why, have I not fixed on Peg-a-Ramsay to be my + true love, from the day I came to her old father's shop? and have I not + carried her pattens and her chopines for three years, and borne her + prayer-book to church, and brushed the cushion for her to kneel down upon, + and did she ever say me nay?" + </p> + <p> + "I see no cause she had," said Richie, "if the like of such small services + were all that ye proffered. Ah, man! there are few—very few, either + of fools or of wise men, ken how to guide a woman." + </p> + <p> + "Why, did I not serve her at the risk of my freedom, and very nigh at the + risk of my neck? Did she not—no, it was not her neither, but that + accursed beldam whom she caused to work upon me—persuade me like a + fool to turn myself into a waterman to help my lord, and a plague to him, + down to Scotland? and instead of going peaceably down to the ship at + Gravesend, did not he rant and bully, and show his pistols, and make me + land him at Greenwich, where he played some swaggering pranks, that helped + both him and me into the Tower?" + </p> + <p> + "Aha!" said Richie, throwing more than his usual wisdom into his looks, + "so you were the green-jacketed waterman that rowed Lord Glenvarloch down + the river?" + </p> + <p> + "The more fool I, that did not souse him in the Thames," said Jenkin; "and + I was the lad who would not confess one word of who and what I was, though + they threatened to make me hug the Duke of Exeter's daughter."[Footnote: A + particular species of rack, used at the Tower of London, was so called.] + </p> + <p> + "Wha is she, man?" said Richie; "she must be an ill-fashioned piece, if + you're so much afraid of her, and she come of such high kin." + </p> + <p> + "I mean the rack—the rack, man," said Jenkin. "Where were you bred + that never heard of the Duke of Exeter's daughter? But all the dukes and + duchesses in England could have got nothing out of me—so the truth + came out some other way, and I was set free.—Home I ran, thinking + myself one of the cleverest and happiest fellows in the ward. And she—she—she + wanted to pay me with <i>money</i> for all my true service! and she spoke + so sweetly and so coldly at the same time, I wished myself in the deepest + dungeon of the Tower—I wish they had racked me to death before I + heard this Scottishman was to chouse me out of my sweetheart!" + </p> + <p> + "But are ye sure ye have lost her?" said Richie; "it sounds strange in my + ears that my Lord Glenvarloch should marry the daughter of a dealer,—though + there are uncouth marriages made in London, I'll allow that." + </p> + <p> + "Why, I tell you this lord was no sooner clear of the Tower, than he and + Master George Heriot comes to make proposals for her, with the king's + assent, and what not; and fine fair-day prospects of Court favour for this + lord, for he hath not an acre of land." + </p> + <p> + "Well, and what said the auld watch-maker?" said Richie; "was he not, as + might weel beseem him, ready to loop out of his skin-case for very joy?" + </p> + <p> + "He multiplied six figures progressively, and reported the product—then + gave his consent." + </p> + <p> + "And what did you do?" + </p> + <p> + "I rushed into the streets," said the poor lad, "with a burning heart and + a blood-shot eye—and where did I first find myself, but with that + beldam, Mother Suddlechop—and what did she propose to me, but to + take the road?" + </p> + <p> + "Take the road, man? in what sense?" said Richie. + </p> + <p> + "Even as a clerk to Saint Nicholas—as a highwayman, like Poins and + Peto, and the good fellows in the play—and who think you was to be + my captain?—for she had the whole out ere I could speak to her—I + fancy she took silence for consent, and thought me damned too unutterably + to have one thought left that savoured of redemption—who was to be + my captain, but the knave that you saw me cudgel at the ordinary when you + waited on Lord Glenvarloch, a cowardly, sharking, thievish bully about + town here, whom they call Colepepper." + </p> + <p> + "Colepepper—umph—I know somewhat of that smaik," said Richie; + "ken ye by ony chance where he may be heard of, Master Jenkin?—ye + wad do me a sincere service to tell me." + </p> + <p> + "Why, he lives something obscurely," answered the apprentice, "on account + of suspicion of some villainy—I believe that horrid murder in + Whitefriars, or some such matter. But I might have heard all about him + from Dame Suddlechop, for she spoke of my meeting him at Enfield Chase, + with some other good fellows, to do a robbery on one that goes northward + with a store of treasure." + </p> + <p> + "And you did not agree to this fine project?" said Moniplies. + </p> + <p> + "I cursed her for a hag, and came away about my business," answered + Jenkin. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, and what said she to that, man? That would startle her," said Richie. + </p> + <p> + "Not a whit. She laughed, and said she was in jest," answered Jenkin; "but + I know the she-devil's jest from her earnest too well to be taken in that + way. But she knows I would never betray her.' + </p> + <p> + "Betray her! No," replied Richie; "but are ye in any shape bound to this + birkie Peppercull, or Colepepper, or whatever they call him, that ye suld + let him do a robbery on the honest gentleman that is travelling to the + north, and may be a kindly Scot, for what we know?" + </p> + <p> + "Ay—going home with a load of English money," said Jenkin. "But be + he who he will, they may rob the whole world an they list, for I am robbed + and ruined." + </p> + <p> + Richie filled his friend's cup up to the brim, and insisted that he should + drink what he called "clean caup out." "This love," he said, "is but a + bairnly matter for a brisk young fellow like yourself, Master Jenkin. And + if ye must needs have a whimsy, though I think it would be safer to + venture on a staid womanly body, why, here be as bonny lasses in London as + this Peg-a-Ramsay. You need not sigh sae deeply, for it is very true—there + is as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it. Now wherefore should + you, who are as brisk and trig a young fellow of your inches as the sun + needs to shine on—wherefore need you sit moping this way, and not + try some bold way to better your fortune?" + </p> + <p> + "I tell you, Master Moniplies," said Jenkin, "I am as poor as any Scot + among you—I have broke my indenture, and I think of running my + country." + </p> + <p> + "A-well-a-day!" said Richie; "but that maunna be, man—I ken weel, by + sad experience, that poortith takes away pith, and the man sits full still + that has a rent in his breeks. [Footnote: This elegant speech was made by + the Earl of Douglas, called Tineman after being wounded and made prisoner + at the battle of Shrewsbury, where + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "His well labouring sword + Had three times slain the semblance of the king,"] +</pre> + <p> + But courage, man; you have served me heretofore, and I will serve you now. + If you will but bring me to speech of this same captain, it will be the + best day's work you ever did." + </p> + <p> + "I guess where you are, Master Richard—you would save your + countryman's long purse," said Jenkin. "I cannot see how that should + advantage me, but I reck not if I should bear a hand. I hate that + braggart, that bloody-minded, cowardly bully. If you can get me mounted I + care not if I show you where the dame told me I should meet him—but + you must stand to the risk, for though he is a coward himself, I know he + will have more than one stout fellow with him." + </p> + <p> + "We'll have a warrant, man," said Richie, "and the hue and cry, to boot." + </p> + <p> + "We will have no such thing," said Jenkin, "if I am to go with you. I am + not the lad to betray any one to the harmanbeck. You must do it by manhood + if I am to go with you. I am sworn to cutter's law, and will sell no man's + blood." + </p> + <p> + "Aweel," said Richie, "a wilful man must have his way; ye must think that + I was born and bred where cracked crowns were plentier than whole ones. + Besides, I have two noble friends here, Master Lowestoffe of the Temple, + and his cousin Master Ringwood, that will blithely be of so gallant a + party." + </p> + <p> + "Lowestoffe and Ringwood!" said Jenkin; "they are both brave gallants—they + will be sure company. Know you where they are to be found?" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, marry do I," replied Richie. "They are fast at the cards and dice, + till the sma' hours, I warrant them." + </p> + <p> + "They are gentlemen of trust and honour," said Jenkin, "and, if they + advise it, I will try the adventure. Go, try if you can bring them hither, + since you have so much to say with, them. We must not be seen abroad + together.—I know not how it is, Master Moniplies," continued he, as + his countenance brightened up, and while, in his turn, he filled the cups, + "but I feel my heart something lighter since I have thought of this + matter." + </p> + <p> + "Thus it is to have counsellors, Master Jenkin," said Richie; "and truly I + hope to hear you say that your heart is as light as a lavrock's, and that + before you are many days aulder. Never smile and shake your head, but mind + what I tell you—and bide here in the meanwhile, till I go to seek + these gallants. I warrant you, cart-ropes would not hold them back from + such a ploy as I shall propose to them." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0036" id="link2HCH0036"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The thieves have bound the true men— + Now, could thou and I rob the thieves, and go + merrily to London. + <i>Henry IV., Part I.</i> +</pre> + <p> + The sun was high upon the glades of Enfield Chase, and the deer, with + which it then abounded, were seen sporting in picturesque groups among the + ancient oaks of the forest, when a cavalier and a lady, on foot, although + in riding apparel, sauntered slowly up one of the long alleys which were + cut through the park for the convenience of the hunters. Their only + attendant was a page, who, riding a Spanish jennet, which seemed to bear a + heavy cloak-bag, followed them at a respectful distance. The female, + attired in all the fantastic finery of the period, with more than the + usual quantity of bugles, flounces, and trimmings, and holding her fan of + ostrich feathers in one hand, and her riding-mask of black velvet in the + other, seemed anxious, by all the little coquetry practised on such + occasions, to secure the notice of her companion, who sometimes heard her + prattle without seeming to attend to it, and at other times interrupted + his train of graver reflections, to reply to her. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, but, my lord—my lord, you walk so fast, you will leave me + behind you.—Nay, I will have hold of your arm, but how to manage + with my mask and my fan? Why would you not let me bring my + waiting-gentlewoman to follow us, and hold my things? But see, I will put + my fan in my girdle, soh!—and now that I have a hand to hold you + with, you shall not run away from me." + </p> + <p> + "Come on, then," answered the gallant, "and let us walk apace, since you + would not be persuaded to stay with your gentlewoman, as you call her, and + with the rest of the baggage.—You may perhaps see <i>that</i>, + though, you will not like to see." + </p> + <p> + She took hold of his arm accordingly; but as he continued to walk at the + same pace, she shortly let go her hold, exclaiming that he had hurt her + hand. The cavalier stopped, and looked at the pretty hand and arm which + she showed him, with exclamations against his cruelty. "I dare say," she + said, baring her wrist and a part of her arm, "it is all black and blue to + the very elbow." + </p> + <p> + "I dare say you are a silly little fool," said the cavalier, carelessly + kissing the aggrieved arm; "it is only a pretty incarnate which sets off + the blue veins." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, my lord, now it is you are silly," answered the dame; "but I am glad + I can make you speak and laugh on any terms this morning. I am sure, if I + did insist on following you into the forest, it was all for the sake of + diverting you. I am better company than your page, I trow.—And now, + tell me, these pretty things with horns, be they not deer?" + </p> + <p> + "Even such they be, Nelly," answered her neglectful attendant. + </p> + <p> + "And what can the great folk do with so many of them, forsooth?" + </p> + <p> + "They send them to the city, Nell, where wise men make venison pasties of + their flesh, and wear their horns for trophies," answered Lord Dalgarno, + whom our reader has already recognised. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, now you laugh at me, my lord," answered his companion; "but I know + all about venison, whatever you may think. I always tasted it once a year + when we dined with Mr. Deputy," she continued, sadly, as a sense of her + degradation stole across a mind bewildered with vanity and folly, "though + he would not speak to me now, if we met together in the narrowest lane in + the Ward!" + </p> + <p> + "I warrant he would not," said Lord Dalgarno, "because thou, Nell, wouldst + dash him with a single look; for I trust thou hast more spirit than to + throw away words on such a fellow as he?" + </p> + <p> + "Who, I!" said Dame Nelly. "Nay, I scorn the proud princox too much for + that. Do you know, he made all the folk in the Ward stand cap in hand to + him, my poor old John Christie and all?" Here her recollection began to + overflow at her eyes. + </p> + <p> + "A plague on your whimpering," said Dalgarno, somewhat harshly,—"Nay, + never look pale for the matter, Nell. I am not angry with you, you simple + fool. But what would you have me think, when you are eternally looking + back upon your dungeon yonder by the river, which smelt of pitch and old + cheese worse than a Welshman does of onions, and all this when I am taking + you down to a castle as fine as is in Fairy Land!" + </p> + <p> + "Shall we be there to-night, my lord?" said Nelly, drying her tears. + </p> + <p> + "To-night, Nelly?—no, nor this night fortnight." + </p> + <p> + "Now, the Lord be with us, and keep us!—But shall we not go by sea, + my lord?—I thought everybody came from Scotland by sea. I am sure + Lord Glenvarloch and Richie Moniplies came up by sea." + </p> + <p> + "There is a wide difference between coming up and going down, Nelly," + answered Lord Dalgarno. + </p> + <p> + "And so there is, for certain," said his simple companion. "But yet I + think I heard people speaking of going down to Scotland by sea, as well as + coming up. Are you well avised of the way?—Do you think it possible + we can go by land, my sweet lord?" + </p> + <p> + "It is but trying, my sweet lady," said Lord Dalgarno. "Men say England + and Scotland are in the same island, so one would hope there may be some + road betwixt them by land." + </p> + <p> + "I shall never be able to ride so far," said the lady. + </p> + <p> + "We will have your saddle stuffed softer," said the lord. "I tell you that + you shall mew your city slough, and change from the caterpillar of a + paltry lane into the butterfly of a prince's garden. You shall have as + many tires as there are hours in the day—as many handmaidens as + there are days in the week—as many menials as there are weeks in the + year—and you shall ride a hunting and hawking with a lord, instead + of waiting upon an old ship-chandler, who could do nothing but hawk and + spit." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, but will you make me your lady?" said Dame Nelly. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, surely—what else?" replied the lord—"My lady-love." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, but I mean your lady-wife," said Nelly. + </p> + <p> + "Truly, Nell, in that I cannot promise to oblige you. A lady-wife," + continued Dalgarno, "is a very different thing from a lady-love." + </p> + <p> + "I heard from Mrs. Suddlechop, whom you lodged me with since I left poor + old John Christie, that Lord Glenvarloch is to marry David Ramsay the + clockmaker's daughter?" + </p> + <p> + "There is much betwixt the cup and the lip, Nelly. I wear something about + me may break the bans of that hopeful alliance, before the day is much + older," answered Lord Dalgarno. + </p> + <p> + "Well, but my father was as good a man as old Davy Ramsay, and as well to + pass in the world, my lord; and, therefore, why should you not marry me? + You have done me harm enough, I trow—wherefore should you not do me + this justice?" + </p> + <p> + "For two good reasons, Nelly. Fate put a husband on you, and the king + passed a wife upon me," answered Lord Dalgarno. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, my lord," said Nelly, "but they remain in England, and we go to + Scotland." + </p> + <p> + "Thy argument is better than thou art aware of," said Lord Dalgarno. "I + have heard Scottish lawyers say the matrimonial tie may be unclasped in + our happy country by the gentle hand of the ordinary course of law, + whereas in England it can only be burst by an act of Parliament. Well, + Nelly, we will look into that matter; and whether we get married again or + no, we will at least do our best to get unmarried." + </p> + <p> + "Shall we indeed, my honey-sweet lord? and then I will think less about + John Christie, for he will marry again, I warrant you, for he is well to + pass; and I would be glad to think he had somebody to take care of him, as + I used to do, poor loving old man! He was a kind man, though he was a + score of years older than I; and I hope and pray he will never let a young + lord cross his honest threshold again!" + </p> + <p> + Here the dame was once more much inclined to give way to a passion of + tears; but Lord Dalgarno conjured down the emotion, by saying with some + asperity—"I am weary of these April passions, my pretty mistress, + and I think you will do well to preserve your tears for some more pressing + occasion. Who knows what turn of fortune may in a few minutes call for + more of them than you can render?" + </p> + <p> + "Goodness, my lord! what mean you by such expressions? John Christie (the + kind heart!) used to keep no secrets from me, and I hope your lordship + will not hide your counsel from me?" + </p> + <p> + "Sit down beside me on this bank," said the nobleman; "I am bound to + remain here for a short space, and if you can be but silent, I should like + to spend a part of it in considering how far I can, on the present + occasion, follow the respectable example which you recommend to me." + </p> + <p> + The place at which he stopped was at that time little more than a mound, + partly surrounded by a ditch, from which it derived the name of Camlet + Moat. A few hewn stones there were, which had escaped the fate of many + others that had been used in building different lodges in the forest for + the royal keepers. These vestiges, just sufficient to show that "herein + former times the hand of man had been," marked the ruins of the abode of a + once illustrious but long-forgotten family, the Mandevilles, Earls of + Essex, to whom Enfield Chase and the extensive domains adjacent had + belonged in elder days. A wild woodland prospect led the eye at various + points through broad and seemingly interminable alleys, which, meeting at + this point as at a common centre, diverged from each other as they + receded, and had, therefore, been selected by Lord Dalgarno as the + rendezvous for the combat, which, through the medium of Richie Moniplies, + he had offered to his injured friend, Lord Glenvarloch. + </p> + <p> + "He will surely come?" he said to himself; "cowardice was not wont to be + his fault—at least he was bold enough in the Park.—Perhaps + yonder churl may not have carried my message? But no—he is a sturdy + knave—one of those would prize their master's honour above their + life.—Look to the palfrey, Lutin, and see thou let him not loose, + and cast thy falcon glance down every avenue to mark if any one comes.—Buckingham + has undergone my challenge, but the proud minion pleads the king's paltry + commands for refusing to answer me. If I can baffle this Glenvarloch, or + slay him—If I can spoil him of his honour or his life, I shall go + down to Scotland with credit sufficient to gild over past mischances. I + know my dear countrymen—they never quarrel with any one who brings + them home either gold or martial glory, much more if he has both gold and + laurels." + </p> + <p> + As he thus reflected, and called to mind the disgrace which he had + suffered, as well as the causes he imagined for hating Lord Glenvarloch, + his countenance altered under the influence of his contending emotions, to + the terror of Nelly, who, sitting unnoticed at his feet, and looking + anxiously in his face, beheld the cheek kindle, the mouth become + compressed, the eye dilated, and the whole countenance express the + desperate and deadly resolution of one who awaits an instant and decisive + encounter with a mortal enemy. The loneliness of the place, the scenery so + different from that to which alone she had been accustomed, the dark and + sombre air which crept so suddenly over the countenance of her seducer, + his command imposing silence upon her, and the apparent strangeness of his + conduct in idling away so much time without any obvious cause, when a + journey of such length lay before them, brought strange thoughts into her + weak brain. She had read of women, seduced from their matrimonial duties + by sorcerers allied to the hellish powers, nay, by the Father of Evil + himself, who, after conveying his victim into some desert remote from + human kind, exchanged the pleasing shape in which he gained her + affections, for all his natural horrors. She chased this wild idea away as + it crowded itself upon her weak and bewildered imagination; yet she might + have lived to see it realised allegorically, if not literally, but for the + accident which presently followed. + </p> + <p> + The page, whose eyes were remarkably acute, at length called out to his + master, pointing with his finger at the same time down one of the alleys, + that horsemen were advancing in that direction. Lord Dalgarno started up, + and shading his eyes with his hand, gazed eagerly down the alley; when, at + the same instant, he received a shot, which, grazing his hand, passed + right through his brain, and laid him a lifeless corpse at the feet, or + rather across the lap, of the unfortunate victim of his profligacy. The + countenance, whose varied expression she had been watching for the last + five minutes, was convulsed for an instant, and then stiffened into + rigidity for ever. Three ruffians rushed from the brake from which the + shot had been fired, ere the smoke was dispersed. One, with many + imprecations seized on the page; another on the female, upon whose cries + he strove by the most violent threats to impose silence; whilst the third + began to undo the burden from the page's horse. But an instant rescue + prevented their availing themselves of the advantage they had obtained. + </p> + <p> + It may easily be supposed that Richie Moniplies, having secured the + assistance of the two Templars, ready enough to join in any thing which + promised a fray, with Jin Vin to act as their guide, had set off, + gallantly mounted and well armed, under the belief that they would reach + Camlet Moat before the robbers, and apprehend them in the fact. They had + not calculated that, according to the custom of robbers in other + countries, but contrary to that of the English highwayman of those days, + they meant to ensure robbery by previous murder. An accident also happened + to delay them a little while on the road. In riding through one of the + glades of the forest, they found a man dismounted and sitting under a + tree, groaning with such bitterness of spirit, that Lowestoffe could not + forbear asking if he was hurt. In answer, he said he was an unhappy man in + pursuit of his wife, who had been carried off by a villain; and as he + raised his countenance, the eyes of Richie, to his great astonishment, + encountered the visage of John Christie. + </p> + <p> + "For the Almighty's sake, help me, Master Moniplies!" he said; "I have + learned my wife is but a short mile before, with that black villain Lord + Dalgarno." + </p> + <p> + "Have him forward by all means," said Lowestoffe; "a second Orpheus + seeking his Eurydice!—Have him forward—we will save Lord + Dalgarno's purse, and ease him of his mistress—Have him with us, + were it but for the variety of the adventure. I owe his lordship a grudge + for rooking me. We have ten minutes good." + </p> + <p> + But it is dangerous to calculate closely in matters of life and death. In + all probability the minute or two which was lost in mounting John Christie + behind one of their party, might have saved Lord Dalgarno from his fate. + Thus his criminal amour became the indirect cause of his losing his life; + and thus "our pleasant vices are made the whips to scourge us." + </p> + <p> + The riders arrived on the field at full gallop the moment after the shot + was fired; and Richie, who had his own reasons for attaching himself to + Colepepper, who was bustling to untie the portmanteau from the page's + saddle, pushed against him with such violence as to overthrow him, his own + horse at the same time stumbling and dismounting his rider, who was none + of the first equestrians. The undaunted Richie immediately arose, however, + and grappled with the ruffian with such good-will, that, though a strong + fellow, and though a coward now rendered desperate, Moniplies got him + under, wrenched a long knife from his hand, dealt him a desperate stab + with his own weapon, and leaped on his feet; and, as the wounded man + struggled to follow his example, he struck him upon the head with the + butt-end of a musketoon, which last blow proved fatal. + </p> + <p> + "Bravo, Richie!" cried Lowestoffe, who had himself engaged at sword-point + with one of the ruffians, and soon put him to flight,—"Bravo! why, + man, there lies Sin, struck down like an ox, and Iniquity's throat cut + like a calf." + </p> + <p> + "I know not why you should upbraid me with my upbringing, Master + Lowestoffe," answered Richie, with great composure; "but I can tell you, + the shambles is not a bad place for training one to this work." + </p> + <p> + The other Templar now shouted loudly to them,—"If ye be men, come + hither—here lies Lord Dalgarno, murdered!" + </p> + <p> + Lowestoffe and Richie ran to the spot, and the page took the opportunity, + finding himself now neglected on all hands, to ride off in a different + direction; and neither he, nor the considerable sum with which his horse + was burdened, were ever heard of from that moment. + </p> + <p> + The third ruffian had not waited the attack of the Templar and Jin Vin, + the latter of whom had put down old Christie from behind him that he might + ride the lighter; and the whole five now stood gazing with horror on the + bloody corpse of the young nobleman, and the wild sorrow of the female, + who tore her hair and shrieked in the most disconsolate manner, until her + agony was at once checked, or rather received a new direction, by the + sudden and unexpected appearance of her husband, who, fixing on her a cold + and severe look, said, in a tone suited to his manner—"Ay, woman! + thou takest on sadly for the loss of thy paramour."—Then, looking on + the bloody corpse of him from whom he had received so deep an injury, he + repeated the solemn words of Scripture,—"'Vengeance is mine, saith + the Lord, and I will repay it.'—I, whom thou hast injured, will be + first to render thee the decent offices due to the dead." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he covered the dead body with his cloak, and then looking on it + for a moment, seemed to reflect on what he had next to perform. As the eye + of the injured man slowly passed from the body of the seducer to the + partner and victim of his crime, who had sunk down to his feet, which she + clasped without venturing to look up, his features, naturally coarse and + saturnine, assumed a dignity of expression which overawed the young + Templars, and repulsed the officious forwardness of Richie Moniplies, who + was at first eager to have thrust in his advice and opinion. "Kneel not to + me, woman," he said, "but kneel to the God thou hast offended, more than + thou couldst offend such another worm as thyself. How often have I told + thee, when thou wert at the gayest and the lightest, that pride goeth + before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall? Vanity brought + folly, and folly brought sin, and sin hath brought death, his original + companion. Thou must needs leave duty, and decency, and domestic love, to + revel it gaily with the wild and with the wicked; and there thou liest + like a crushed worm, writhing beside the lifeless body of thy paramour. + Thou hast done me much wrong—dishonoured me among friends—driven + credit from my house, and peace from my fireside—But thou wert my + first and only love, and I will not see thee an utter castaway, if it lies + with me to prevent it.—Gentlemen, I render ye such thanks as a + broken-hearted man can give.—Richard, commend me to your honourable + master. I added gall to the bitterness of his affliction, but I was + deluded.—Rise up, woman, and follow me." + </p> + <p> + He raised her up by the arm, while, with streaming eyes, and bitter sobs, + she endeavoured to express her penitence. She kept her hands spread over + her face, yet suffered him to lead her away; and it was only as they + turned around a brake which concealed the scene they had left, that she + turned back, and casting one wild and hurried glance towards the corpse of + Dalgarno, uttered a shriek, and clinging to her husband's arm, exclaimed + wildly,—"Save me—save me! They have murdered him!" + </p> + <p> + Lowestoffe was much moved by what he had witnessed; but he was ashamed, as + a town-gallant, of his own unfashionable emotion, and did a force to his + feelings when he exclaimed,—"Ay, let them go—the kind-hearted, + believing, forgiving husband—the liberal, accommodating spouse. O + what a generous creature is your true London husband!—Horns hath he, + but, tame as a fatted ox, he goreth not. I should like to see her when she + hath exchanged her mask and riding-beaver for her peaked hat and muffler. + We will visit them at Paul's Wharf, coz—it will be a convenient + acquaintance." + </p> + <p> + "You had better think of catching the gipsy thief, Lutin," said Richie + Moniplies; "for, by my faith, he is off with his master's baggage and the + siller." + </p> + <p> + A keeper, with his assistants, and several other persons, had now come to + the spot, and made hue and cry after Lutin, but in vain. To their custody + the Templars surrendered the dead bodies, and after going through some + formal investigation, they returned, with Richard and Vincent, to London, + where they received great applause for their gallantry.—Vincent's + errors were easily expiated, in consideration of his having been the means + of breaking up this band of villains; and there is some reason to think, + that what would have diminished the credit of the action in other + instances, rather added to it in the actual circumstances, namely, that + they came too late to save Lord Dalgarno. + </p> + <p> + George Heriot, who suspected how matters stood with Vincent, requested and + obtained permission from his master to send the poor young fellow on an + important piece of business to Paris. We are unable to trace his fate + farther, but believe it was prosperous, and that he entered into an + advantageous partnership with his fellow-apprentice, upon old Davy Ramsay + retiring from business, in consequence of his daughter's marriage. That + eminent antiquary, Dr. Dryasdust, is possessed of an antique watch, with a + silver dial-plate, the mainspring being a piece of catgut instead of a + chain, which bears the names of Vincent and Tunstall, Memory-Monitors. + </p> + <p> + Master Lowestoffe failed not to vindicate his character as a man of + gaiety, by inquiring after John Christie and Dame Nelly; but greatly to + his surprise, (indeed to his loss, for he had wagered ten pieces that he + would domesticate himself in the family,) he found the good-will, as it + was called, of the shop, was sold, the stock auctioned, and the late + proprietor and his wife gone, no one knew whither. The prevailing belief + was, that they had emigrated to one of the new settlements in America. + </p> + <p> + Lady Dalgarno received the news of her unworthy husband's death with a + variety of emotions, among which, horror that he should have been cut off + in the middle career of his profligacy, was the most prominent. The + incident greatly deepened her melancholy, and injured her health, already + shaken by previous circumstances. Repossessed of her own fortune by her + husband's death, she was anxious to do justice to Lord Glenvarloch, by + treating for the recovery of the mortgage. + </p> + <p> + But the scrivener, having taken fright at the late events, had left the + city and absconded, so that it was impossible to discover into whose hands + the papers had now passed. Richard Moniplies was silent, for his own + reasons; the Templars, who had witnessed the transaction, kept the secret + at his request, and it was universally believed that the scrivener had + carried off the writings along with him. We may here observe, that fears + similar to those of Skurliewhitter freed London for ever from the presence + of Dame Suddlechop, who ended her career in the <i>Rasp-haus</i>, (viz. + Bridewell,) of Amsterdam. + </p> + <p> + The stout old Lord Huntinglen, with a haughty carriage and unmoistened + eye, accompanied the funeral procession of his only son to its last abode; + and perhaps the single tear which fell at length upon the coffin, was + given less to the fate of the individual, than to the extinction of the + last male of his ancient race. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0037" id="link2HCH0037"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVII + </h2> + <p> + <i>Jacques</i>. There is, suie, another flood toward, and these couples + are coming to the ark!—Here comes a pair of very strange beasts.—<i>As + You Like It</i>. + </p> + <p> + The fashion of such narratives as the present, changes like other earthly + things. Time was that the tale-teller was obliged to wind up his story by + a circumstantial description of the wedding, bedding, and throwing the + stocking, as the grand catastrophe to which, through so many circumstances + of doubt and difficulty, he had at length happily conducted his hero and + heroine. Not a circumstance was then omitted, from the manly ardour of the + bridegroom, and the modest blushes of the bride, to the parson's new + surplice, and the silk tabinet mantua of the bridesmaid. But such + descriptions are now discarded, for the same reason, I suppose, that + public marriages are no longer fashionable, and that, instead of calling + together their friends to a feast and a dance, the happy couple elope in a + solitary post-chaise, as secretly as if they meant to go to Gretna-Green, + or to do worse. I am not ungrateful for a change which saves an author the + trouble of attempting in vain to give a new colour to the commonplace + description of such matters; but, notwithstanding, I find myself forced + upon it in the present instance, as circumstances sometimes compel a + stranger to make use of an old road which has been for some time shut up. + The experienced reader may have already remarked, that the last chapter + was employed in sweeping out of the way all the unnecessary and less + interesting characters, that I might clear the floor for a blithe bridal. + </p> + <p> + In truth, it would be unpardonable to pass over slightly what so deeply + interested our principal personage, King James. That learned and + good-humoured monarch made no great figure in the politics of Europe; but + then, to make amends, he was prodigiously busy, when he could find a fair + opportunity of intermeddling with the private affairs of his loving + subjects, and the approaching marriage of Lord Glenvarloch was matter of + great interest to him. He had been much struck (that is, for him, who was + not very accessible to such emotions) with the beauty and embarrassment of + the pretty Peg-a-Ramsay, as he called her, when he first saw her, and he + glorified himself greatly on the acuteness which he had displayed in + detecting her disguise, and in carrying through the whole inquiry which + took place in consequence of it. + </p> + <p> + He laboured for several weeks, while the courtship was in progress, with + his own royal eyes, so as wellnigh to wear out, he declared, a pair of her + father's best barnacles, in searching through old books and documents, for + the purpose of establishing the bride's pretensions to a noble, though + remote descent, and thereby remove the only objection which envy might + conceive against the match. In his own opinion, at least, he was eminently + successful; for, when Sir Mungo Malagrowther one day, in the + presence-chamber, took upon him to grieve bitterly for the bride's lack of + pedigree, the monarch cut him short with, "Ye may save your grief for your + ain next occasions, Sir Mungo; for, by our royal saul, we will uphauld her + father, Davy Ramsay, to be a gentleman of nine descents, whase great + gudesire came of the auld martial stock of the House of Dalwolsey, than + whom better men never did, and better never will, draw sword for king and + country. Heard ye never of Sir William Ramsay of Dalwolsey, man, of whom + John Fordoun saith,—'He was <i>bellicosissimus, nobilissimus?</i>'—His + castle stands to witness for itsell, not three miles from Dalkeith, man, + and within a mile of Bannockrig. Davy Ramsay came of that auld and + honoured stock, and I trust he hath not derogated from his ancestors by + his present craft. They all wrought wi' steel, man; only the auld knights + drilled holes wi' their swords in their enemies' corslets, and he saws + nicks in his brass wheels. And I hope it is as honourable to give eyes to + the blind as to slash them out of the head of those that see, and to show + us how to value our time as it passes, as to fling it away in drinking, + brawling, spear-splintering, and such-like unchristian doings. And you + maun understand, that Davy Ramsay is no mechanic, but follows a liberal + art, which approacheth almost to the act of creating a living being, + seeing it may be said of a watch, as Claudius saith of the sphere of + Archimedes, the Syracusan— + </p> + <p> + "Inclusus variis famulatur spiritus astris, Et vivum certis motibus urget + opus.'" + </p> + <p> + "Your Majesty had best give auld Davy a coat-of-arms, as well as a + pedigree," said Sir Mungo. + </p> + <p> + "It's done, or ye bade, Sir Mungo," said the king; "and I trust we, who + are the fountain of all earthly honour, are free to spirit a few drops of + it on one so near our person, without offence to the Knight of Castle + Girnigo. We have already spoken with the learned men of the Herald's + College, and we propose to grant him an augmented coat-of-arms, being his + paternal coat, charged with the crown-wheel of a watch in chief, for a + difference; and we purpose to add Time and Eternity, for supporters, as + soon as the Garter King-at-Arms shall be able to devise how Eternity is to + be represented." + </p> + <p> + "I would make him twice as muckle as Time," [Footnote: Chaucer says, there + is nothing new but what it has been old. The reader has here the original + of an anecdote which has since been fathered on a Scottish Chief of our + own time.] said Archie Armstrong, the Court fool, who chanced to be + present when the king stated this dilemma. "Peace, man—ye shall be + whippet," said the king, in return for this hint; "and you, my liege + subjects of England, may weel take a hint from what we have said, and not + be in such a hurry to laugh at our Scottish pedigrees, though they be + somewhat long derived, and difficult to be deduced. Ye see that a man of + right gentle blood may, for a season, lay by his gentry, and yet ken whare + to find it, when he has occasion for it. It would be as unseemly for a + packman, or pedlar, as ye call a travelling merchant, whilk is a trade to + which our native subjects of Scotland are specially addicted, to be + blazing his genealogy in the faces of those to whom he sells a bawbee's + worth of ribbon, as it would be to him to have a beaver on his head, and a + rapier by his side, when the pack was on his shoulders. Na, na—he + hings his sword on the cleek, lays his beaver on the shelf, puts his + pedigree into his pocket, and gangs as doucely and cannily about his + peddling craft as if his blood was nae better than ditch-water; but let + our pedlar be transformed, as I have kend it happen mair than ance, into a + bein thriving merchant, then ye shall have a transformation, my lords. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'In nova fert animus mutatas dicere formas—' +</pre> + <p> + Out he pulls his pedigree, on he buckles his sword, gives his beaver a + brush, and cocks it in the face of all creation. We mention these things + at the mair length, because we would have you all to know, that it is not + without due consideration of the circumstances of all parties, that we + design, in a small and private way, to honour with our own royal presence + the marriage of Lord Glenvarloch with Margaret Ramsay, daughter and + heiress of David Ramsay, our horologer, and a cadet only thrice removed + from the ancient house of Dalwolsey. We are grieved we cannot have the + presence of the noble Chief of that House at the ceremony; but where there + is honour to be won abroad the Lord Dalwolsey is seldom to be found at + home. <i>Sic fuit, est, et erit</i>.-Jingling Geordie, as ye stand to the + cost of the marriage feast, we look for good cheer." + </p> + <p> + Heriot bowed, as in duty bound. In fact, the king, who was a great + politician about trifles, had manoeuvred greatly on this occasion, and had + contrived to get the Prince and Buckingham dispatched on an expedition to + Newmarket, in order that he might find an opportunity in their absence of + indulging himself in his own gossiping, <i>coshering</i> habits, which + were distasteful to Charles, whose temper inclined to formality, and with + which even the favourite, of late, had not thought it worth while to seem + to sympathise. When the levee was dismissed, Sir Mungo Malagrowther seized + upon the worthy citizen in the court-yard of the Palace, and detained him, + in spite of all his efforts, for the purpose of subjecting him to the + following scrutiny:— + </p> + <p> + "This is a sair job on you, Master George—the king must have had + little consideration—this will cost you a bonny penny, this wedding + dinner?" + </p> + <p> + "It will not break me, Sir Mungo," answered Heriot; "the king hath a right + to see the table which his bounty hath supplied for years, well covered + for a single day." + </p> + <p> + "Vera true, vera true—we'll have a' to pay, I doubt, less or mair—a + sort of penny-wedding it will prove, where all men contribute to the young + folk's maintenance, that they may not have just four bare legs in a bed + together. What do you propose to give, Master George?—we begin with + the city when money is in question." [Footnote: The penny-wedding of the + Scots, now disused even among the lowest ranks, was a peculiar species of + merry-making, at which, if the wedded pair were popular, the guests who + convened, contributed considerable sums under pretence of paying for the + bridal festivity, but in reality to set the married folk afloat in the + world.] + </p> + <p> + "Only a trifle, Sir Mungo—I give my god-daughter the marriage ring; + it is a curious jewel—I bought it in Italy; it belonged to Cosmo de + Medici. The bride will not need my help—she has an estate which + belonged to her maternal grandfather." + </p> + <p> + "The auld soap-boiler," said Sir Mungo; "it will need some of his suds to + scour the blot out of the Glenvarloch shield—I have heard that + estate was no great things." + </p> + <p> + "It is as good as some posts at Court, Sir Mungo, which are coveted by + persons of high quality," replied George Heriot. + </p> + <p> + "Court favour, said ye? Court favour, Master Heriot?" replied Sir Mungo, + choosing then to use his malady of misapprehension; "Moonshine in water, + poor thing, if that is all she is to be tochered with—I am truly + solicitous about them." + </p> + <p> + "I will let you into a secret," said the citizen, "which will relieve your + tender anxiety. The dowager Lady Dalgarno gives a competent fortune to the + bride, and settles the rest of her estate upon her nephew the bridegroom." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, say ye sae?" said Sir Mungo, "just to show her regard to her husband + that is in the tomb—lucky that her nephew did not send him there; it + was a strange story that death of poor Lord Dalgarno—some folk think + the poor gentleman had much wrong. Little good comes of marrying the + daughter of the house you are at feud with; indeed, it was less poor + Dalgarno's fault, than theirs that forced the match on him; but I am glad + the young folk are to have something to live on, come how it like, whether + by charity or inheritance. But if the Lady Dalgarno were to sell all she + has, even to her very wylie-coat, she canna gie them back the fair Castle + of Glenvarloch—that is lost and gane—lost and gane." + </p> + <p> + "It is but too true," said George Heriot; "we cannot discover what has + become of the villain Andrew Skurliewhitter, or what Lord Dalgarno has + done with the mortgage." + </p> + <p> + "Assigned it away to some one, that his wife might not get it after he was + gane; it would have disturbed him in his grave, to think Glenvarloch + should get that land back again," said Sir Mungo; "depend on it, he will + have ta'en sure measures to keep that noble lordship out of her grips or + her nevoy's either." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed it is but too probable, Sir Mungo," said Master Heriot; "but as I + am obliged to go and look after many things in consequence of this + ceremony, I must leave you to comfort yourself with the reflection." + </p> + <p> + "The bride-day, you say, is to be on the thirtieth of the instant month?" + said Sir Mungo, holloing after the citizen; "I will be with you in the + hour of cause." + </p> + <p> + "The king invites the guests," said George Heriot, without turning back. + </p> + <p> + "The base-born, ill-bred mechanic!" soliloquised Sir Mungo, "if it were + not the odd score of pounds he lent me last week, I would teach him how to + bear himself to a man of quality! But I will be at the bridal banquet in + spite of him." + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo contrived to get invited, or commanded, to attend on the bridal + accordingly, at which there were but few persons present; for James, on + such occasions, preferred a snug privacy, which gave him liberty to lay + aside the encumbrance, as he felt it to be, of his regal dignity. The + company was very small, and indeed there were at least two persons absent + whose presence might have been expected. The first of these was the Lady + Dalgarno, the state of whose health, as well as the recent death of her + husband, precluded her attendance on the ceremony. The other absentee was + Richie Moniplies, whose conduct for some time past had been extremely + mysterious. Regulating his attendance on Lord Glenvarloch entirely + according to his own will and pleasure, he had, ever since the rencounter + in Enfield Chase, appeared regularly at his bedside in the morning, to + assist him to dress, and at his wardrobe in the evening. The rest of the + day he disposed of at his own pleasure, without control from his lord, who + had now a complete establishment of attendants. Yet he was somewhat + curious to know how the fellow disposed of so much of his time; but on + this subject Richie showed no desire to be communicative. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the bridal-day, Richie was particularly attentive in + doing all a valet-de-chambre could, so as to set off to advantage the very + handsome figure of his master; and when he had arranged his dress to the + utmost exactness, and put to his long curled locks what he called "the + finishing touch of the redding-kaim," he gravely kneeled down, kissed his + hand, and bade him farewell, saying that he humbly craved leave to + discharge himself of his lordship's service. + </p> + <p> + "Why, what humour is this?" said Lord Glenvarloch; "if you mean to + discharge yourself of my service, Richie, I suppose you intend to enter my + wife's?" + </p> + <p> + "I wish her good ladyship that shall soon be, and your good lordship, the + blessings of as good a servant as myself, in heaven's good time," said + Richie; "but fate hath so ordained it, that I can henceforth only be your + servant in the way of friendly courtesy." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Richie," said the young lord, "if you are tired of service, we will + seek some better provision for you; but you will wait on me to the church, + and partake of the bridal dinner?" + </p> + <p> + "Under favour, my lord," answered Richie; "I must remind you of our + covenant, having presently some pressing business of mine own, whilk will + detain me during the ceremony; but I will not fail to prie Master George's + good cheer, in respect he has made very costly fare, whilk it would be + unthankful not to partake of." + </p> + <p> + "Do as you list," answered Lord Glenvarloch; and having bestowed a passing + thought on the whimsical and pragmatical disposition of his follower, he + dismissed the subject for others better suited to the day. + </p> + <p> + The reader must fancy the scattered flowers which strewed the path of the + happy couple to church—the loud music which accompanied the + procession—the marriage service performed by a bishop—the + king, who met them at Saint Paul's, giving away the bride,—to the + great relief of her father, who had thus time, during the ceremony, to + calculate the just quotient to be laid on the pinion of report in a + timepiece which he was then putting together. + </p> + <p> + When the ceremony was finished, the company were transported in the royal + carriages to George Heriot's, where a splendid collation was provided for + the marriage-guests in the Foljambe apartments. The king no sooner found + himself in this snug retreat, than, casting from him his sword and belt + with such haste as if they burnt his fingers, and flinging his plumed hat + on the table, as who should say, Lie there, authority! he swallowed a + hearty cup of wine to the happiness of the married couple, and began to + amble about the room, mumping, laughing, and cracking jests, neither the + wittiest nor the most delicate, but accompanied and applauded by shouts of + his own mirth, in order to encourage that of the company. Whilst his + Majesty was in the midst of this gay humour, and a call to the banquet was + anxiously expected, a servant whispered Master Heriot forth of the + apartment. When he re-entered, he walked up to the king, and, in his turn + whispered something, at which James started. + </p> + <p> + "He is not wanting his siller?" said the king, shortly and sharply. + </p> + <p> + "By no means, my liege," answered Heriot. "It is a subject he states + himself as quite indifferent about, so long as it can pleasure your + Majesty." + </p> + <p> + "Body of us, man!" said the king, "it is the speech of a true man and a + loving subject, and we will grace him accordingly—what though he be + but a carle—a twopenny cat may look at a king. Swith, man! have him—<i>pundite + fores</i>.—Moniplies?—They should have called the chield + Monypennies, though I sall warrant you English think we have not such a + name in Scotland." + </p> + <p> + "It is an ancient and honourable stock, the Monypennies," said Sir Mungo + Malagrowther; "the only loss is, there are sae few of the name." + </p> + <p> + "The family seems to increase among your countrymen, Sir Mungo," said + Master Lowestoffe, whom Lord Glenvarloch had invited to be present, "since + his Majesty's happy accession brought so many of you here." + </p> + <p> + "Right, sir—right," said Sir Mungo, nodding and looking at George + Heriot; "there have some of ourselves been the better of that great + blessing to the English nation." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the door flew open, and in entered, to the astonishment of + Lord Glenvarloch, his late serving-man Richie Moniplies, now sumptuously, + nay, gorgeously, attired in a superb brocaded suit, and leading in his + hand the tall, thin, withered, somewhat distorted form of Martha Trapbois, + arrayed in a complete dress of black velvet, which suited so strangely + with the pallid and severe melancholy of her countenance, that the king + himself exclaimed, in some perturbation, "What the deil has the fallow + brought us here? Body of our regal selves! it is a corpse that has run off + with the mort-cloth!" + </p> + <p> + "May I sifflicate your Majesty to be gracious unto her?" said Richie; + "being that she is, in respect of this morning's wark, my ain wedded wife, + Mrs. Martha Moniplies by name." + </p> + <p> + "Saul of our body, man! but she looks wondrous grim," answered King James. + "Art thou sure she has not been in her time maid of honour to Queen Mary, + our kinswoman, of redhot memory?" + </p> + <p> + "I am sure, an it like your Majesty, that she has brought me fifty + thousand pounds of good siller, and better; and that has enabled me to + pleasure your Majesty, and other folk." + </p> + <p> + "Ye need have said naething about that, man," said the king; "we ken our + obligations in that sma' matter, and we are glad this rudas spouse of + thine hath bestowed her treasure on ane wha kens to put it to the profit + of his king and country.—But how the deil did ye come by her, man?" + </p> + <p> + "In the auld Scottish fashion, my liege. She is the captive of my bow and + my spear," answered Moniplies. "There was a convention that she should wed + me when I avenged her father's death—so I slew, and took + possession." + </p> + <p> + "It is the daughter of Old Trapbois, who has been missed so long," said + Lowestoffe.—"Where the devil could you mew her up so closely, friend + Richie?" + </p> + <p> + "Master Richard, if it be your will," answered Richie; "or Master Richard + Moniplies, if you like it better. For mewing of her up, I found her a + shelter, in all honour and safety, under the roof of an honest countryman + of my own—and for secrecy, it was a point of prudence, when wantons + like you were abroad, Master Lowestoffe." + </p> + <p> + There was a laugh at Richie's magnanimous reply, on the part of every one + but his bride, who made to him a signal of impatience, and said, with her + usual brevity and sternness,—"Peace—peace, I pray you, peace. + Let us do that which we came for." So saying, she took out a bundle of + parchments, and delivering them to Lord Glenvarloch, she said aloud,—"I + take this royal presence, and all here, to witness, that I restore the + ransomed lordship of Glenvarloch to the right owner, as free as ever it + was held by any of his ancestors." + </p> + <p> + "I witnessed the redemption of the mortgage," said Lowestoffe; "but I + little dreamt by whom it had been redeemed." + </p> + <p> + "No need ye should," said Richie; "there would have been small wisdom in + crying roast-meat." + </p> + <p> + "Peace," said his bride, "once more.—This paper," she continued, + delivering another to Lord Glenvarloch, "is also your property—take + it, but spare me the question how it came into my custody." + </p> + <p> + The king had bustled forward beside Lord Glenvarloch, and fixing an eager + eye on the writing, exclaimed—"Body of ourselves, it is our royal + sign-manual for the money which was so long out of sight!—How came + you by it, Mistress Bride?" + </p> + <p> + "It is a secret," said Martha, dryly. + </p> + <p> + "A secret which my tongue shall never utter," said Richie, resolutely,—"unless + the king commands me on my allegiance." + </p> + <p> + "I do—I do command you," said James, trembling and stammering with + the impatient curiosity of a gossip; while Sir Mungo, with more malicious + anxiety to get at the bottom of the mystery, stooped his long thin form + forward like a bent fishing-rod, raised his thin grey locks from his ear, + and curved his hand behind it to collect every vibration of the expected + intelligence. Martha in the meantime frowned most ominously on Richie, who + went on undauntedly to inform the king, "that his deceased father-in-law, + a good careful man in the main, had a' touch of worldly wisdom about him, + that at times marred the uprightness of his walk; he liked to dabble among + his neighbour's gear, and some of it would at times stick to his fingers + in the handling." + </p> + <p> + "For shame, man, for shame!" said Martha; "since the infamy of the deed + must be told, be it at least briefly.—Yes, my lord," she added, + addressing Glenvarloch, "the piece of gold was not the sole bait which + brought the miserable old man to your chamber that dreadful night—his + object, and he accomplished it, was to purloin this paper. The wretched + scrivener was with him that morning, and, I doubt not, urged the doting + old man to this villainy, to offer another bar to the ransom of your + estate. If there was a yet more powerful agent at the bottom of this + conspiracy, God forgive it to him at this moment, for he is now where the + crime must be answered!" + </p> + <p> + "Amen!" said Lord Glenvarloch, and it was echoed by all present. + </p> + <p> + "For my father," continued she, with her stern features twitched by an + involuntary and convulsive movement, "his guilt and folly cost him his + life; and my belief is constant, that the wretch, who counselled him that + morning to purloin the paper, left open the window for the entrance of the + murderers." + </p> + <p> + Every body was silent for an instant; the king was first to speak, + commanding search instantly to be made for the guilty scrivener. "<i>I, + lictor,</i>" he concluded, "<i>colliga manus—caput obnubito-infelici + suspendite arbori</i>." + </p> + <p> + Lowestoffe answered with due respect, that the scrivener had absconded at + the time of Lord Dalgarno's murder, and had not been heard of since. + </p> + <p> + "Let him be sought for," said the king. "And now let us change the + discourse—these stories make one's very blood grew, and are + altogether unfit for bridal festivity. Hymen, O Hymenee!" added he, + snapping his fingers, "Lord Glenvarloch, what say you to Mistress + Moniplies, this bonny bride, that has brought you back your father's + estate on your bridal day?" + </p> + <p> + "Let him say nothing, my liege," said Martha; "that will best suit his + feelings and mine." + </p> + <p> + "There is redemption-money, at the least, to be repaid," said Lord + Glenvarloch; "in that I cannot remain debtor." + </p> + <p> + "We will speak of it hereafter," said Martha; "<i>my</i> debtor <i>you</i> + cannot be." And she shut her mouth as if determined to say nothing more on + the subject. + </p> + <p> + Sir Mungo, however, resolved not to part with the topic, and availing + himself of the freedom of the moment, said to Richie—"A queer story + that of your father-in-law, honest man; methinks your bride thanked you + little for ripping it up." + </p> + <p> + "I make it a rule, Sir Mungo," replied Richie, "always to speak any evil I + know about my family myself, having observed, that if I do not, it is sure + to be told by ither folks." + </p> + <p> + "But, Richie," said Sir Mungo, "it seems to me that this bride of yours is + like to be master and mair in the conjugal state." + </p> + <p> + "If she abides by words, Sir Mungo," answered Richie, "I thank heaven I + can be as deaf as any one; and if she comes to dunts, I have twa hands to + paik her with." + </p> + <p> + "Weel said, Richie, again," said the king; "you have gotten it on baith + haffits, Sir Mungo.—Troth, Mistress Bride, for a fule, your gudeman + has a pretty turn of wit." + </p> + <p> + "There are fools, sire," replied she, "who have wit, and fools who have + courage—aye, and fools who have learning, and are great fools + notwithstanding.—I chose this man because he was my protector when I + was desolate, and neither for his wit nor his wisdom. He is truly honest, + and has a heart and hand that make amends for some folly. Since I was + condemned to seek a protector through the world, which is to me a + wilderness, I may thank God that I have come by no worse." + </p> + <p> + "And that is sae sensibly said," replied the king, "that, by my saul, I'll + try whether I canna make him better. Kneel down, Richie—somebody + lend me a rapier—yours, Mr. Langstaff, (that's a brave name for a + lawyer,)—ye need not flash it out that gate, Templar fashion, as if + ye were about to pink a bailiff!" + </p> + <p> + He took the drawn sword, and with averted eyes, for it was a sight he + loved not to look on, endeavoured to lay it on Richie's shoulder, but + nearly stuck it into his eye. Richie, starting back, attempted to rise, + but was held down by Lowestoffe, while Sir Mungo, guiding the royal + weapon, the honour-bestowing blow was given and received: "<i>Surge, + carnifex</i>—Rise up, Sir Richard Moniplies, of Castle-Collop!—And, + my lords and lieges, let us all to our dinner, for the cock-a-leekie is + cooling." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_NOTE" id="link2H_NOTE"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + NOTES + </h2> + <p> + Note I. p. l4.—DAVID RAMSAY + </p> + <p> + David Ramsay, watchmaker and horologer to James I., was a real person, + though the author has taken the liberty of pressing him into the service + of fiction. Although his profession led him to cultivate the exact + sciences, like many at this period he mingled them with pursuits which + were mystical and fantastic. The truth was, that the boundaries between + truth and falsehood in mathematics, astronomy, and similar pursuits, were + not exactly known, and there existed a sort of <i>terra incognita</i> + between them, in which the wisest men bewildered themselves. David Ramsay + risked his money on the success of the vaticinations which his researches + led him to form, since he sold clocks and watches under condition, that + their value should not become payable till King James was crowned in the + Pope's chair at Rome. Such wagers were common in that day, as may be seen + by looking at Jonson's Every Man out of his Humour. + </p> + <p> + David Ramsay was also an actor in another singular scene, in which the + notorious astrologer Lilly was a performer, and had no small expectation + on the occasion, since he brought with him a half-quartern sack to put the + treasure in. + </p> + <p> + "David Ramsay, his Majesty's clock-maker, had been informed that there was + a great quantity of treasure buried in the cloister of Westminster Abbey. + He acquaints Dean Withnam therewith, who was also then Bishop of Lincoln. + The Dean gave him liberty to search after it, with this proviso, that if + any was discovered, his church should have a share of it. Davy Ramsay + finds out one John Scott, who pretended the use of the Mosaical rods, to + assist him herein. [Footnote: The same now called, I believe, the Divining + Rod, and applied to the discovery of water not obvious to the eye.] I was + desired to join with him, unto which I consented. One winter's night, Davy + Ramsay, with several gentlemen, myself, and Scott, entered the cloisters. + We played the hazel rods round about the cloisters. Upon the west end of + the cloisters the rods turned one over another, an argument that the + treasure was there. The labourers digged at least six feet deep, and then + we met with a coffin; but which, in regard it was not heavy, we did not + open, which we afterwards much repented. + </p> + <p> + "From the cloisters we went into the abbey church, where, upon a sudden, + (there being no wind when we began,) so fierce and so high, so blustering + and loud a wind did rise, that we verily believed the west end of the + church would have fallen upon us. Our rods would not move at all; the + candles and torches, also, but one were extinguished, or burned very + dimly. John Scott, my partner, was amazed, looked pale, knew not what to + think or do, until I gave directions and command to dismiss the demons; + which, when done, all was quiet again, and each man returned unto his + lodging late, about twelve o'clock at night. I could never since be + induced to join with any such like actions. + </p> + <p> + "The true miscarriage of the business was by reason of so many people + being present at the operation; for there was about thirty, some laughing, + others deriding us; so that, if we had not dismissed the demons, I believe + most part of the abbey church would have been blown down. Secrecy and + intelligent operators, with a strong confidence and knowledge of what they + are doing, are best for the work."—LILLY'S <i>Life and Times</i>, p. + 46. + </p> + <p> + David Ramsay had a son called William Ramsay, who appears to have + possessed all his father's credulity. He became an astrologer, and in + 1651-2 published "<i>Vox Stellarum</i>, an Introduction to the Judgment of + Eclipses and the Annual Revolutions of the World." The edition of 1652 is + inscribed, to his father. It would appear, as indeed it might be argued + from his mode of disposing of his goods, that the old horologer had + omitted to make hay while the sun shone; for his son, in his dedication, + has this exception to the paternal virtues, "It's true your carelessness + in laying up while the sun shone for the tempests of a stormy day, hath + given occasion to some inferior spirited people not to value you according + to what you are by nature and in yourself, for such look not to a man + longer than he is in prosperity, esteeming none but for their wealth, not + wisdom, power, nor virtue." From these expressions, it is to be + apprehended that while old David Ramsay, a follower of the Stewarts, sunk + under the Parliamentary government, his son, William, had advanced from + being a dupe to astrology to the dignity of being himself a cheat. + </p> + <p> + Note II. p. 27.-GEORGE HERIOT + </p> + <p> + This excellent person was but little known by his actions when alive, but + we may well use, in this particular, the striking phrase of Scripture, + "that being dead he yet speaketh." We have already mentioned, in the + Introduction, the splendid charity of which he was the founder; the few + notices of his personal history are slight and meagre. + </p> + <p> + George Heriot was born at Trabroun, in the parish of Gladsmuir; he was the + eldest son of a goldsmith in Edinburgh, descended from a family of some + consequence in East Lothian. His father enjoyed the confidence of his + fellow-citizens, and was their representative in Parliament. He was, + besides, one of the deputies sent by the inhabitants of the city to + propitiate the King, when he had left Edinburgh abruptly, after the riot + of 17th December, 1596. + </p> + <p> + George Heriot, the son, pursued his father's occupation of a goldsmith, + then peculiarly lucrative, and much connected with that of a money-broker. + He enjoyed the favour and protection of James, and of his consort, Anne of + Denmark. He married, for his first wife, a maiden of his own rank, named + Christian Marjoribanks, daughter of a respectable burgess. This was in + 1586. He was afterwards named jeweller to the Queen, whose account to him + for a space of ten years amounted to nearly L40,000. George Heriot, having + lost his wife, connected himself with the distinguished house of Rosebery, + by marrying a daughter of James Primrose, Clerk to the Privy Council. Of + this lady he was deprived by her dying in child-birth in 1612, before + attaining her twenty-first year. After a life spent in honourable and + successful industry, George Heriot died in London, to which city he had + followed his royal master, on the 12th February, 1624, at the age of + sixty-one years. His picture, (copied by Scougal from a lost original,) in + which he is represented in the prime of life, is thus described: "His fair + hair, which overshades the thoughtful brow and calm calculating eye, with + the cast of humour on the lower part of the countenance, are all + indicative of the genuine Scottish character, and well distinguish a + person fitted to move steadily and wisely through the world, with a + strength of resolution to ensure success, and a disposition to enjoy it."—<i>Historical + and Descriptive Account of Heriot's Hospital, with a Memoir of the + Founder, by Messrs James and John Johnstone.</i> Edinburgh, 1827. + </p> + <p> + I may add, as every thing concerning George Heriot is interesting, that + his second wife, Alison Primrose, was interred in Saint Gregory's Church, + from the register of which parish the Rev. Mr. Barham, Rector, has, in the + kindest manner, sent me the following extract:—"Mrs. Alison, the + wife of Mr. George Heriot, gentleman, 20th April, 1612." Saint Gregory's, + before the Great Fire of London which consumed the Cathedral, formed one + of the towers of old Saint Paul's, and occupied the space of ground now + filled by Queen Anne's statue. In the south aisle of the choir Mrs. Heriot + reposed under a handsome monument, bearing the following inscription:— + </p> + <p> + <i>"Sanctissimae et charissimae conjugi ALISONAE HERIOT, Jacobi Primrosii, + Regia Majestatis in Sanctiori Concilio Regni Scotia Amanuensis, filiae, + fernina omnibus turn animi turn corporis dotibus, ac pio cultu + instructissimae, maestissimus ipsius maritus GEORGIUS HERIOT, ARMIGER, + Regis, Reginae, Principum Henrici et Caroli Gemmarius, bene merenti, non + sine lachrymis, hoc Monumentum pie posuit. </i> + </p> + <p> + "Obiit Mensis Aprilis die 16, anno salutis 1612, aetatis 20, in ipso flore + juventae, et mihi, parentibus, et amicis tristissimum sui desiderium + reliquit. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Hic Alicia Primrosa + Jacet crudo abruta fato, + Intempestivas + Ut rosa pressa manus. + Nondum bisdenos + Annorum impleverat orbes, + Pulchra, pudica, + Patris delicium atque viri: + Quum gravida, heu! Nunquam + Mater, decessit, et inde + Cura dolorq: Patri, + Cura dolorq: viro. + Non sublata tamen + Tantum translata recessit; + Nunc Rosa prima Poli + Quae fuit antea soli." +</pre> + <p> + The loss of a young, beautiful, and amiable partner, at a period so + interesting, was the probable reason of her husband devoting his fortune + to a charitable institution. The epitaph occurs in Strype's edition of <i>Stewe's + Survey of London</i>, Book iii., page 228. + </p> + <p> + Note III. p. 39.—PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE SCOTS COMING TO ENGLAND + </p> + <p> + The English agreed in nothing more unanimously than in censuring James on + account of the beggarly rabble which not only attended the King at his + coming first out of Scotland, "but," says Osborne, "which, through his + whole reign, like a fluent spring, were found still crossing the Tweed." + Yet it is certain, from the number of proclamations published by the Privy + Council in Scotland, and bearing marks of the King's own diction, that he + was sensible of the whole inconveniences and unpopularity attending the + importunate crowd of disrespectable suitors, and as desirous to get rid of + them as his Southern subjects could be. But it was in vain that his + Majesty argued with his Scottish subjects on the disrespect they were + bringing on their native country and sovereign, by causing the English to + suppose there were no well-nurtured or independent gentry in Scotland, + they who presented themselves being, in the opinion and conceit of all + beholders, "but idle rascals, and poor miserable bodies." It was even in + vain that the vessels which brought up this unwelcome cargo of petitioners + were threatened with fine and confiscation; the undaunted suitors + continued to press forward, and, as one of the proclamations says, many of + them under pretence of requiring payment of "auld debts due to them by the + King," which, it is observed with great <i>naivete</i>, "is, of all kinds + of importunity, most unpleasing to his Majesty." The expressions in the + text are selected from these curious proclamations. + </p> + <p> + NOTE IV. p. 59.—KING JAMES + </p> + <p> + The dress of this monarch, together with his personal appearance, is thus + described by a contemporary:— + </p> + <p> + "He was of a middle stature, more corpulent through [i.e. by means of] his + clothes than in his body, yet fat enough. His legs were very weak, having + had, as was thought, some foul play in his youth, or rather before he was + born, that he was not able to stand at seven years of age. That weakness + made him ever leaning on other men's shoulders. His walk was even + circular; his hands are in that walk ever fiddling about——[a + part of dress now laid aside]. He would make a great deal too bold with + God in his passion, both with cursing and swearing, and a strain higher + verging on blasphemy; but would, in his better temper, say, he hoped God + would not impute them as sins, and lay them to his charge, seeing they + proceeded from passion. He had need of great assistance, rather than hope, + that would daily make thus bold with God."—DALZELL'S <i>Sketches of + Scottish History </i>, p. 86. + </p> + <p> + NOTE V. p. 78.—SIR MUNGO MALAGROWTHER + </p> + <p> + It will perhaps be recognised by some of my countrymen, that the caustic + Scottish knight, as described in the preceding chapter, borrowed some of + his attributes from a most worthy and respectable baronet, who was to be + met with in Edinburgh society about twenty-five or thirty years ago. It is + not by any means to be inferred, that the living person resembled the + imaginary one in the course of life ascribed to him, or in his personal + attributes. But his fortune was little adequate to his rank and the + antiquity of his family; and, to avenge himself of this disparity, the + worthy baronet lost no opportunity of making the more avowed sons of + fortune feel the edge of his satire. This he had the art of disguising + under the personal infirmity of deafness, and usually introduced his most + severe things by an affected mistake of what was said around him. For + example, at a public meeting of a certain county, this worthy gentleman + had chosen to display a laced coat, of such a pattern as had not been seen + in society for the better part of a century. The young men who were + present amused themselves with rallying him on his taste, when he suddenly + singled out one of the party:—"Auld d'ye think my coat—auld-fashioned?—indeed + it canna be new; but it was the wark of a braw tailor, and that was your + grandfather, who was at the head of the trade in Edinburgh about the + beginning of last century." Upon another occasion, when this type of Sir + Mungo Malagrowther happened to hear a nobleman, the high chief of one of + those Border clans who were accused of paying very little attention in + ancient times to the distinctions of <i>Meum</i> and <i>Tuum,</i> + addressing a gentleman of the same name, as if conjecturing there should + be some relationship between them, he volunteered to ascertain the nature + of the connexion by saying, that the "chief's ancestors had <i>stolen</i> + the cows, and the other gentleman's ancestors had <i>killed</i> them,"—fame + ascribing the origin of the latter family to a butcher. It may be well + imagined, that among a people that have been always punctilious about + genealogy, such a person, who had a general acquaintance with all the + flaws and specks in the shields of the proud, the pretending, and the + nouveaux riches, must have had the same scope for amusement as a monkey in + a china shop. + </p> + <p> + Note VI. p. 98.—MRS. ANNE TURNER + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Anne Turner was a dame somewhat of the occupation of Mrs. Suddlechop + in the text; that is, half milliner half procuress, and secret agent in + all manner of proceedings. She was a trafficker in the poisoning of Sir + Thomas Overbury, for which so many subordinate agents lost their lives, + while, to the great scandal of justice, the Earl of Somerset and his + Countess were suffered to escape, upon a threat of Somerset to make public + some secret which nearly affected his master, King James. Mrs. Turner + introduced into England a French custom of using yellow starch in getting + up bands and cuffs, and, by Lord Coke's orders, she appeared in that + fashion at the place of execution. She was the widow of a physician, and + had been eminently beautiful, as appears from the description of her in + the poem called Overbury's Vision. There was produced in court a parcel of + dolls or puppets belonging to this lady, some naked, some dressed, and + which she used for exhibiting fashions upon. But, greatly to the horror of + the spectators, who accounted these figures to be magical devices, there + was, on their being shown, "heard a crack from the scaffold, which caused + great fear, tumult, and confusion, among the spectators and throughout the + hall, every one fearing hurt, as if the devil had been present, and grown + angry to have his workmanship showed to such as were not his own + scholars." Compare this curious passage in the History of King James for + the First Fourteen Years, 1651, with the Aulicus Coquinarius of Dr. + Heylin. Both works are published in the Secret History of King James. + </p> + <p> + Note VII. p. 110.—LORD HUNTINGLEN + </p> + <p> + The credit of having rescued James I. from the dagger of Alexander + Ruthven, is here fictitiously ascribed to an imaginary Lord Huntinglen. In + reality, as may be read in every history, his preserver was John Ramsay, + afterwards created Earl of Holderness, who stabbed the younger Ruthven + with his dagger while he was struggling with the King. Sir Anthony Weldon + informs us, that, upon the annual return of the day, the King's + deliverance was commemorated by an anniversary feast. The time was the + fifth of August, "upon which," proceeds the satirical historian, "Sir John + Ramsay, for his good service in that preservation, was the principal + guest, and so did the King grant him any boon he would ask that day. But + he had such limitation made to his asking, as made his suit as + unprofitable, as the action for which he asked it for was unserviceable to + the King." + </p> + <p> + Note VIII. p. 115.—BUCKINGHAM + </p> + <p> + Buckingham, who had a frankness in his high and irascible ambition, was + always ready to bid defiance to those by whom he was thwarted or opposed. + He aspired to be created Prince of Tipperary in Ireland, and Lord High + Constable of England. Coventry, then Lord Keeper, opposed what seemed such + an unreasonable extent of power as was annexed to the office of Constable. + On this opposition, according to Sir Anthony Weldon, "the Duke + peremptorily accosted Coventry, 'Who made you Lord Keeper, Coventry?' He + replied, 'The King.' Buckingham replied, 'It's false; 'twas I did make + you, and you shall know that I, who made you, can, and will, unmake you.' + Coventry thus answered him, 'Did I conceive that I held my place by your + favour, I would presently unmake myself, by rendering up the seals to his + Majesty.' Then Buckingham, in a scorn and fury, flung from him, saying, + 'You shall not keep it long;' and surely, had not Felton prevented him, he + had made good his word."—WELDON'S <i>Court of King James and + Charles.</i> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Note IX. p. 134.—PAGES IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY +</pre> + <p> + About this time the ancient customs arising from the long prevalence of + chivalry, began to be grossly varied from the original purposes of the + institution. None was more remarkable than the change which took place in + the breeding and occupation of pages. This peculiar species of menial + originally consisted of youths of noble birth, who, that they might be + trained to the exercise of arms, were early removed from their paternal + homes, where too much indulgence might have been expected, to be placed in + the family of some prince or man of rank and military renown, where they + served, as it were, an apprenticeship to the duties of chivalry and + courtesy. Their education was severely moral, and pursued with great + strictness in respect to useful exercises, and what were deemed elegant + accomplishments. From being pages, they were advanced to the next + gradation of squires; from squires, these candidates for the honours of + knighthood were frequently made knights. + </p> + <p> + But in the sixteenth century the page had become, in many instances, a + mere domestic, who sometimes, by the splendour of his address and + appearance, was expected to make up in show for the absence of a whole + band of retainers with swords and bucklers. We have Sir John's authority + when he cashiers part of his train. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Falstaff will learn the humour of the age, + French thrift, you rogues, myself and skirted page." +</pre> + <p> + Jonson, in a high tone of moral indignation, thus reprobated the change. + The Host of the New Inn replies to Lord Lovel, who asks to have his son + for a page, that he would, with his own hands hang him, sooner + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Than damn him to this desperate course of life. + <i>LOVEL.</i> Call you that desperate, which, by a line + Of institution, from our ancestors + Hath been derived down to us, and received + In a succession, for the noblest way + Of brushing up our youth, in letters, arms, + Fair mien, discourses civil, exercise, + And all the blazon of a gentleman? + Where can he learn to vault, to ride, to fence, + To move his body gracefully, to speak + The language pure, or to turn his mind + Or manners more to the harmony of nature, + Than in these nurseries of nobility? + <i>HOST.</i> Ay, that was when the nursery's self was noble, + And only virtue made it, not the market, + That titles were not vended at the drum + And common outcry; goodness gave the greatness, + And greatness worship; every house became + An academy, and those parts + We see departed in the practice now + Quite from the institution. + <i>LOVEL.</i> Why do you say so, + Or think so enviously? do they not still + Learn us the Centaur's skill, the art of Thrace, + To ride? or Pollux' mystery, to fence? + The Pyrrhick gestures, both to stand and spring + In armour; to be active for the wars; + To study figures, numbers and proportions, + May yield them great in counsels and the art; + To make their English sweet upon their tongue? + As reverend Chaucer says. + <i>HOST.</i> Sir, you mistake; + To play Sir Pandarus, my copy hath it, + And carry messages to Madam Cressid; + Instead of backing the brave steed o'mornings. + To kiss the chambermaid, and for a leap + O' the vaulting horse, to ply the vaulting house; + For exercise of arms a bale of dice, + And two or three packs of cards to show the cheat + And nimbleness of hand; mistake a cloak + From my lord's back, and pawn it; ease his pockets + Of a superfluous watch, or geld a jewel + Of an odd stone or so; twinge three or four buttons + From off my lady's gown: These are the arts, + Or seven liberal deadly sciences, + Of pagery, or rather paganism, + As the tides run; to which, if he apply him, + He may, perhaps, take a degree at Tyburn, + A year the earlier come to read a lecture + Upon Aquinas, at Saint Thomas-a-Watering's + And so go forth a laureate in hemp-circle." + The New Inn, Act I. +</pre> + <p> + Note X. p. 135.—LORD HENRY HOWARD + </p> + <p> + Lord Henry Howard was the second son of the poetical Earl of Surrey, and + possessed considerable parts and learning. He wrote, in the year 1583, a + book called, <i>A Defensative against the Poison of supposed Prophecies.</i> + He gained the favour of Queen Elizabeth, by having, he says, directed his + battery against a sect of prophets and pretended soothsayers, whom he + accounted <i>infesti regibus,</i> as he expresses it. In the last years of + the Queen, he became James's most ardent partisan, and conducted with + great pedantry, but much intrigue, the correspondence betwixt the Scottish + King and the younger Cecil. Upon James's accession, he was created Earl of + Northampton, and Lord Privy Seal. According to De Beaumont the French + Ambassador, Lord Henry Howard, was one of the greatest flatterers and + calumniators that ever lived. + </p> + <p> + Note XI. p. 136.—SKIRMISHES IN THE PUBLIC STREETS + </p> + <p> + Edinburgh appears to have been one of the most disorderly towns in Europe, + during the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth century. The Diary + of the honest citizen Birrel, repeatedly records such incidents as the + following: "The 24 of November (1567), at two afternoon, the Laird of + Airth and the Laird of Weems met on the High Gate of Edinburgh, and they + and their followers fought a very bloody skirmish, where there were many + hurt on both sides with shot of pistol." These skirmishes also took place + in London itself. In Shadwell's play of <i>The Scowrers,</i> an old rake + thus boasts of his early exploits:—"I knew the Hectors, and before + them the Muns, and the Tityretu's; they were brave fellows indeed! In + these days, a man could not go from the Rose Garden to the Piazza once, + but he must venture his life twice, my dear Sir Willie." But it appears + that the affrays, which, in the Scottish capital, arose out of hereditary + quarrels and ancient feuds, were in London the growth of the + licentiousness and arrogance of young debauchees. + </p> + <p> + Note XII. p. 144.—FRENCH COOKERY + </p> + <p> + The exertion of French ingenuity mentioned in the text is noticed by some + authorities of the period; the siege of Leith was also distinguished by + the protracted obstinacy of the besieged, in which was displayed all that + the age possessed of defensive war, so that Brantome records that those + who witnessed this siege, had, from that very circumstance, a degree of + consequence yielded to their persons and opinions. He tells a story of + Strozzi himself, from which it appears that his jests lay a good deal in + the line of the cuisine. He caused a mule to be stolen from one Brusquet, + on whom he wished to play a trick, and served up the flesh of that unclean + animal so well disguised, that it passed with Brusquet for venison. + </p> + <p> + Note XIII. p. 145.—CUCKOO'S NEST + </p> + <p> + The quarrel in this chapter between the pretended captain and the citizen + of London, is taken from a burlesque poem called The Counter Scuffle, that + is, the Scuffle in the Prison at Wood street, so called. It is a piece of + low humour, which had at the time very considerable vogue. The prisoners, + it seems, had fallen into a dispute amongst themselves "which calling was + of most repute," and a lawyer put in his claim to be most highly + considered. The man of war repelled his pretence with much arrogance. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'Wer't not for us, thou swad,' quoth he, + 'Where wouldst thou fay to get a fee? + But to defend such things as thee + 'Tis pity; + For such as you esteem us least, + Who ever have been ready prest + To guard you and your cuckoo's nest, + The City'" +</pre> + <p> + The offence is no sooner given than it is caught up by a gallant citizen, + a goldsmith, named Ellis. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "'Of London city I am free, + And there I first my wife did see, + And for that very cause,' said he, + 'I love it. + + And he that calls it cuckoo's nest, + Except he say he speaks in jest, + He is a villain and a beast,— + 'I'll prove it! + + For though I am a man of trade, + And free of London city made, + Yet can I use gun, bill, and blade, + In battle. + + And citizens, if need require, + Themselves can force the foe retire, + Whatever this low country squire + May prattle.'" +</pre> + <p> + The dispute terminates in the scuffle, which is the subject of the poem. + The whole may be found in the second edition of Dryden's <i>Miscellany,</i> + 12mo, vol. iii. 1716. + </p> + <p> + Note XIV. p. 150.—BURBAGE + </p> + <p> + Burbage, whom Camden terms another Roscius, was probably the original + representative of Richard III., and seems to have been early almost + identified with his prototype. Bishop Corbet, in his Iter Boreale, tells + us that mine host of Market Bosworth was full of ale and history. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Hear him, See you yon wood? there Richard lay + With his whole army; look the other way, + And lo, where Richmond, in a field of gorse, + Encamp'd himself in might and all his force. + Upon this hill they met. Why, he could tell + The inch where Richmond stood, where Richard fell; + Besides, what of his knowledge he could say, + He had authentic notice from the play, + Which I might guess by's mustering up the ghosts + And policies not incident to hosts; + But chiefly by that one perspicuous thing, + Where he mistook a player for a king, + For when he would have said, that Richard died, + And call'd, a horse! a horse! he Burbage cried." + + RICHARD CORBET'S <i>Poems, Edition 1815,</i> p. 193. +</pre> + <p> + Note XV. p. 323.—MHIC-ALLASTAR-MORE + </p> + <p> + This is the Highland patronymic of the late gallant Chief of Glengarry. + The allusion in the text is to an unnecessary alarm taken by some lady, at + the ceremonial of the coronation of George IV., at the sight of the + pistols which the Chief wore as a part of his Highland dress. The + circumstance produced some confusion, which was talked of at the time. All + who knew Glengarry (and the author knew him well) were aware that his + principles were of devoted loyalty to the person of his sovereign. + </p> + <p> + Note XVI. p. 323.—KING JAMES'S HUNTING BOTTLE + </p> + <p> + Roger Coke, in his Detection of the Court and State of England, London, + 1697, p.70, observes of James I., "The king was excessively addicted to + hunting, and drinking, not ordinary French and Spanish wines, but strong + Greek wines, and thought he would compound his hunting with these wines; + and to that purpose, he was attended by a special officer, who was, as + much as he could be, always at hand to fill the King's cup in hunting when + he called for it. I have heard my father say, that, hunting with the King, + after the King had drank of the wine, he also drank of it; and though he + was young, and of a healthful disposition, it so deranged his head that it + spoiled his pleasure and disordered him for three days after. Whether it + was from drinking these wines, or from some other cause, the King became + so lazy and so unwieldy, that he was trussed on horseback, and as he was + set, so would he ride, without stirring himself in the saddle; nay, when + his hat was set upon his head he would not take the trouble to alter it, + but it sate as it was put on." + </p> + <p> + The trussing, for which the demipique saddle of the day afforded + particular facility, is alluded to in the text; and the author, among + other nickcnacks of antiquity, possesses a leathern flask, like those + carried by sportsmen, which is labelled, "King James's Hunting Bottle," + with what authenticity is uncertain. Coke seems to have exaggerated the + King's taste for the bottle. Welldon says James was not intemperate in his + drinking; "However, in his old age, Buckingham's jovial suppers, when he + had any turn to do with him, made him sometimes overtaken, which he would + the next day remember, and repent with tears. It is true he drank very + often, which was rather out of a custom than any delight; and his drinks + were of that kind for strength, as Frontiniack, Canary, high country wine, + tent wine, and Scottish ale, that had he not had a very strong brain, he + might have been daily overtaken, though he seldom drank at any one time + above four spoonfuls, many times not above one or two."—<i>Secret + History of King James,</i> vol. ii., p. 3. Edin. 1811. + </p> + <p> + Note XVII. p. 325.—SCENE IN GREENWICH PARK + </p> + <p> + I cannot here omit mentioning, that a painting of the old school is in + existence, having a remarkable resemblance to the scene described in the + foregoing chapter, although it be nevertheless true that the similarity is + in all respects casual, and that the author knew not of the existence of + the painting till it was sold, amongst others, with the following + description attached to it in a well-drawn-up catalogue: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "FREDERIGO ZUCCHERO + <i>"Scene as represented in the Fortunes of Nigel, by Frederigo +Zucchero, the King's painter.</i> +</pre> + <p> + "This extraordinary picture, which, independent of its pictorial merit, + has been esteemed a great literary curiosity, represents most faithfully + the meeting, in Greenwich Park, between King James and Nigel Oliphaunt, as + described in the Fortunes of Nigel, showing that the author must have + taken the anecdote from authenticated facts. In the centre of the picture + sits King James on horseback, very erect and stiffly. Between the King and + Prince Charles, who is on the left of the picture, the Duke of Buckingham + is represented riding a black horse, and pointing eagerly towards the + culprit, Nigel Olifaunt, who is standing on the right side of the picture. + He grasps with his right hand a gun, or crossbow, and looks angrily + towards the King, who seems somewhat confused and alarmed. Behind Nigel, + his servant is restraining two dogs which are barking fiercely. Nigel and + his servant are both clothed in red, the livery of the Oliphaunt family in + which, to this day, the town-officers of Perth are clothed, there being an + old charter, granting to the Oliphaunt family, the privilege of dressing + the public officers of Perth in their livery. The Duke of Buckingham is in + all respects equal in magnificence of dress to the King or the Prince. The + only difference that is marked between him and royalty is, that his head + is uncovered. The King and the Prince wear their hats. In Letitia Aikin's + Memoirs of the Reign of King James, will be found a letter from Sir Thomas + Howard to Lord L. Harrington, in which he recommends the latter to come to + court, mentioning that his Majesty has spoken favourably of him. He then + proceeds to give him some advice, by which he is likely to find favour in + the King's eyes. He tells him to wear a bushy ruff, well starched; and + after various other directions as to his dress, he concludes, 'but above + all things fail not to praise the roan jennet whereon the King doth daily + ride.' In this picture King James is represented on the identical roan + jennet. In the background of the picture are seen two or three + suspicious-looking figures, as if watching the success of some plot. These + may have been put in by the painter, to flatter the King, by making it be + supposed that he had actually escaped, or successfully combated, some + serious plot. The King is attended by a numerous band of courtiers and + attendants, all of whom seem moving forward to arrest the defaulter. The + painting of this picture is extremely good, but the drawing is very + Gothic, and there is no attempt at the keeping of perspective. The picture + is very dark and obscure, which considerably adds to the interest of the + scene." + </p> + <p> + Note XVIII. p. 325.—KING JAMES'S TIMIDITY + </p> + <p> + The fears of James for his personal safety were often excited without + serious grounds. On one occasion, having been induced to visit a coal-pit + on the coast of Fife, he was conducted a little way under the sea, and + brought to daylight again on a small island, or what was such at full + tide, down which a shaft had been sunk. James, who conceived his life or + liberty aimed at, when he found himself on an islet surrounded by the sea, + instead of admiring, as his cicerone hoped, the unexpected change of + scene, cried TREASON with all his might, and could not be pacified till he + was rowed ashore. At Lockmaben he took an equally causeless alarm from a + still slighter circumstance. Some vendisses, a fish peculiar to the Loch, + were presented to the royal table as a delicacy; but the King, who was not + familiar with their appearance, concluded they were poisoned, and broke up + the banquet "with most admired disorder." + </p> + <p> + Note XIX. p. 328.—TRAITOR'S GATE + </p> + <p> + Traitor's Gate, which opens from the Tower of London to the Thames, was, + as its name implies, that by which persons accused of state offences were + conveyed to their prison. When the tide is making, and the ancient gate is + beheld from within the buildings, it used to be a most striking part of + the old fortress; but it is now much injured in appearance, being half + built up with masonry to support a steam-engine, or something of that + sort. + </p> + <p> + Note XX. p. 361.—PUNISHMENT OF STUBBS BY MUTILATION + </p> + <p> + This execution, which so captivated the imagination of Sir Mungo + Malagrowther, was really a striking one. The criminal, a furious and + bigoted Puritan, had published a book in very violent terms against the + match of Elizabeth with the Duke of Alencon, which he termed an union of a + daughter of God with a son of antichrist. Queen Elizabeth was greatly + incensed at the freedom assumed in this work, and caused the author + Stubbs, with Page the publisher, and one Singleton the printer, to be + tried on an act passed by Philip and Mary against the writers and + dispersers of seditious publications. They were convicted, and although + there was an opinion strongly entertained by the lawyers, that the act was + only temporary, and expired with Queen Mary, Stubbs and Page received + sentence to have their right hands struck off. They accordingly suffered + the punishment, the wrist being divided by a cleaver driven through the + joint by force of a mallet. The printer was pardoned. "I remember," says + the historian Camden, "being then present, that Stubbs, when his right + hand was cut off, plucked off his hat with the left, and said, with a loud + voice, 'God save the Queen!' The multitude standing about was deeply + silent, either out of horror of this new and unwonted kind of punishment, + or out of commiseration towards the man, as being of an honest and + unblamable repute, or else out of hatred to the marriage, which most men + presaged would be the overthrow of religion."-CAMDBN'S <i>Annals for the + Year</i> 1581. + </p> + <p> + Note XXI. p. 375.—RlCHIE MONIPLIES BEHIND THE ARRAS + </p> + <p> + The practical jest of Richie Moniplies going behind the arras to get an + opportunity of teasing Heriot, was a pleasantry such as James might be + supposed to approve of. It was customary for those who knew his humour to + contrive jests of this kind for his amusement. The celebrated Archie + Armstrong, and another jester called Drummond, mounted on other people's + backs, used to charge each other like knights in the tilt-yard, to the + monarch's great amusement. The following is an instance of the same kind, + taken from Webster upon Witchcraft. The author is speaking of the faculty + called ventriloquism. + </p> + <p> + But to make this more plain and certain, we shall add a story of a notable + impostor, or ventriloquist, from the testimony of Mr. Ady, which we have + had confirmed from the mouth of some courtiers, that both saw and knew + him, and is this:—It hath been (saith he) credibly reported, that + there was a man in the court of King James his days, that could act this + imposture so lively, that he could call the King by name, and cause the + King to look round about him, wondering who it was that called him, + whereas he that called him stood before him in his presence, with his face + towards him. But after this imposture was known, the King, in his + merriment, would sometimes take occasionally this impostor to make sport + upon some of his courtiers, as, for instance:— + </p> + <p> + "There was a knight belonging to the court, whom the King caused to come + before him in his private room, (where no man was but the King, and this + knight and the impostor,) and feigned some occasion of serious discourse + with the knight; but when the King began to speak and the knight bending + his attention to the King, suddenly there came a voice as out of another + room, calling the knight by name, 'Sir John, Sir John; come away, Sir + John;' at which the knight began to frown that any man should be + unmannerly as to molest the King and him; and still listening to the + King's discourse, the voice came again, 'Sir John, Sir John; come away and + drink off your sack.' At that Sir John began to swell with anger, and + looked into the next room to see who it was that dared to call him so + importunately, and could not find out who it was, and having chid with + whomsoever he found, he returned again to the King. The King had no sooner + begun to speak as formerly, but the voice came again, 'Sir John, come + away, your sack stayeth for you.' At that Sir John began to stamp with + madness, and looked out and returned several times to the King, but could + not be quiet in his discourse with the King, because of the voice that so + often troubled him, till the king had sported enough."—WEBSTER <i>on + Witchcraft</i>, p. 124. + </p> + <p> + Note XXII. p. 393.—LADY LAKE. + </p> + <p> + Whether out of a meddling propensity common to all who have a gossiping + disposition, or from the love of justice, which ought to make part of a + prince's character, James was very fond of enquiring personally into the + causes <i>celebres</i> which occurred during his reign. In the imposture + of the Boy of Bilson, who pretended to be possessed, and of one Richard + Haydock, a poor scholar, who pretended to preach during his sleep, the + King, to use the historian Wilson's expression, took delight in sounding + with the line of his understanding, the depths of these brutish + impositions, and in doing so, showed the acuteness with which he was + endowed by Nature. Lady Lake's story consisted in a clamorous complaint + against the Countess of Exeter, whom she accused of a purpose to put to + death Lady Lake herself, and her daughter, Lady Ross, the wife of the + Countess's own son-in-law, Lord Ross; and a forged letter was produced, in + which Lady Exeter was made to acknowledge such a purpose. The account + given of the occasion of obtaining this letter, was, that it had been + written by the Countess at Wimbledon, in presence of Lady Lake and her + daughter, Lady Ross, being designed to procure their forgiveness for her + mischievous intention. The King remained still unsatisfied, the writing, + in his opinion, bearing some marks of forgery. Lady Lake and her daughter + then alleged, that, besides their own attestation, and that of a + confidential domestic, named Diego, in whose presence Lady Exeter had + written the confession, their story might also be supported by the oath of + their waiting-maid, who had been placed behind the hangings at the time + the letter was written, and heard the Countess of Exeter read over the + confession after she had signed it. Determined to be at the bottom of this + accusation, James, while hunting one day near Wimbledon, the scene of the + alleged confession, suddenly left his sport, and, galloping hastily to + Wimbledon, in order to examine personally the room, discovered, from the + size of the apartment, that the alleged conversation could not have taken + place in the manner sworn to; and that the tapestry of the chamber, which + had remained in the same state for thirty years, was too short by two + feet, and, therefore, could not have concealed any one behind it. This + matter was accounted an exclusive discovery of the King by his own spirit + of shrewd investigation. The parties were punished in the Star Chamber by + fine and imprisonment. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + <i>A,' all. BELDAM, ugly old woman. + ABYE, suffer for. BELIVE, by-and-by, presently. + ACCIDENS, grammar. BENEVOLENCES, taxes illegally + AIGRE, sour, ill-natured. exacted by the Kings of + AIN GATE, own way. England. + A' LEEVING, all living. BIDE, keep, remain. + AMBLE, a peculiar gait of a BIELDY BIT, sheltered spot. + horse, in which both legs on BIGGING, building. + one side are moved forward BILBOE, sword, rapier. + at the same time. BILLIES, brothers. + ANCE, once. BIRKIE, lively young fellow. + ANENT, concerning. BLACK-JACK, leathern drinking- + ANGEL, an ancient English gold cup. + coin, worth about 10s., and BLADES, dashing fellows, rakes. + bearing the figure of an angel. BLATE, modest, bashful. + ARRAS, tapestry. BLETHERING, foolish, silly. + AUGHT, owe. BLITHE, BLYTHE, glad. + AULD, old. BLUE-COATS, lackeys. + AULD REEKIE, Edinburgh, in BODDLE, a copper coin, value + allusion to its smoke. the sixth part of an English + AVISEMENT, counsel. penny. + AW, all. BODE, bid, offer. + AWMOUS, alms, a gift. BOOKIE, book. + BRAE, hill, hill-side. BANGED, + sprang, bounded. + BRAVE PIECE, fine thing. + BARNACLES, spectacles. BRAW, fine, handsome. + BARNS-BREAKING, idle frolics. BREAKING, kneading. + BAWBEE, halfpenny. BREEKS, breeches, trousers. + BAXTER, baker. BROCHES, kitchen spits. + BEAR-BANNOCKS, barley cakes. BROSE, pottage of mean and + BECKING, curtseying. water. + BECKS, nods. BROWNIE, domestic goblin. + BEECHEN BICKERS, dishes of BUCKET, cheat. + beechwood. BUNEMOST, uppermost. + + BURROWS-TOWN, borough-town. + BUSS, kiss. + + CALF-WARD, place where calves are kept in the field. + CALLAN, CALLANT, lad. + CANNILY, cautiously, skilfully. + CANNY, quiet. + CANTLE, crown of the head. + CARCANET, necklace. + CARLE, fellow. + CARLE-HEMPIE, the strongest stalk of hemp. + CARNIFEX, executioner. + CAUFF, chaff. + CAULDRIFE, chilly. + CA'T, call it. + CAUP, cup. + CAUSEY, pavement. + CERTIE, faith, in truth. + CHALMER, chamber. + CHANGE-HOUSE, roadside inn where horses are changed on a journey. + CHALK, slash. + CHAPPIT, struck. + CHEEK-BY-JOWL, CHEEK-BY-CHOWL, side by side. + CHEERY, dagger. + CHENZIE-MAIL, chain-mail. + CHIELD, fellow. + CHOPINES, high shoes or clogs. + CHUCKS, chuck-stones, as played by children. + CHUFFS, clowns, simpletons. + CLAITHING, clothing. + + CLAPPED LOOFS, crossed palms. + CLATTER-TRAPS, rattle-traps. + CLAUGHT, snatched. + CLAVERING, idle talking. + CLEEK, hook. + CLEW, clue. + CLOOT, hoof. + CLOUR, blow. + CLOUTING, mending. + COCK-A-LEEKIE, COCK-A-LEEKY, leek soup in which a cock has been + boiled. + COIF, linen covering for the head. + COMPLOTS, plots, intrigues. + COMPT, list, account, particulars. + COMPTING-ROOM, counting-house. + COSHERING, being familiar and intimate. + COUP, barter. + COUP THE CRANS, go to wreck and ruin. + COUPIT, tumbled. + CRAIG, rock; also neck. + CRAP, creep. + CRAW'D SAE CROUSE, crowed so proudly. + CULLY, one easily deceived, a dupe. + CURN, grain. + CUSSER, stallion. + CUTTY-QUEAN, a loose woman. + + DAFT, silly, mad. + DAIKERING, jogging or toiling along. + DANG, driven, knocked. + DEIL, devil. + DEUTEROSCOPY, a meaning beyond the original sense. + DIDNA, did not. + DIKE-LOUPER, a debauchee. + DIRDUM, uproar, tumult. DIRKED, stabbed with a dirk. + DONNERIT, stupefied. + DOOMS, very, absolutely. + DOUCE, quiet, respectable, sober. + DOVER, neither asleep nor awake. + DOWCOT, dove-cote. + DRAB, illicit sexual intercourse. + DRAFF, drains given to cows; also the wash given to pigs. + DRAFF-POKE, bag of grains. + DREDGING-BOX, a box with holes for sprinkling flour in cookery. + DROUTHY, thirsty. + DUD, rag. + DUKE OF EXETER'S DAUGHTER, a species of rack in the Tower of London. + DULE-WEEDS, mourning. + DUMMALAFONG, a common prey to all comers. + DUNTS, blows. + + EARD, earth. + EEN, eyes. + ELRITCH, hideous. + ENOW, just now. + ENSAMPLE, example. + EVITED, avoided. + EXIES, hysterics. + + FALCHION, a short broadsword with a slightly curved point. + FALSET, falsehood. + FAUSE, false. + FASH, trouble. + FASHIOUS, troublesome, annoying. + FENCE-LOUPER, rakish fellow. + FEBRIFUGE, a medicine to subdue a fever. + FIDUCIARY, trustee. + FLATCAPS, citizens, civilians. + FLEECHING, flattering. + FOOD FOR FAGGOTS, martyrs for their religious opinions. + FOOT-CLOTH, horse-cloth reaching almost to the ground. + FOUARTS, house-leeks. + FOULWART, pole-cat. + FRAE, from. + FRESCO, half-naked. + FULE, fool. + FULHAM, loaded dice. + + GAGE, pledge, trust. + GANG A' AE GATE, go all one way. + GAR, make, force. + GARR'D, made, compelled. + GATE, way, road; also kind of. + GEAR, property. + GIFF-GAFF, give and take, tit for tat. + GIE THE GLAIKS, to befool, deceive. + GILLIE-WHITE-FOOT, running footman. + GILLRAVAGER, plunderer. + GIRNED, grinned. + GLAIKS, deception. + GLEED, awry, all wrong. + GOUD-COUK, fool. + GRAFFS, graves. + GRAMERCY, great thanks. + GRANDAM, old woman, grandmother. + GRAT, cried. + GREEN GEESE, parrots. + GREET, cry. + GREW, shudder. + GRIPS, handshakings, greetings. + GROSART, GROSSART, goose-berry. + GULL, one easily befooled, + GULLEY, large knife. + GUTTERBLOOD, one meanly bred. + GYNOCRACY, petticoat government. + + HAET, thing. + HAFFITS, sides of the head. + HAFT, handle. + HAIRBOURED, resided, sojourned. + HAMESUCKEN, assaulting a man on his own premises. + HANKED, coiled. + HARLE, drag, trail. + HARMAN BECK, constable. + HEART-SCALD, disgust. + HEAD-TIRE, head-dress. + HECK AND MANGER, in comfortable quarters. + HEUGHS, glens. + HIRDIE-GIRDIE, topsy-turvy. + HIRPLING, limping, walking lame. + HIRSEL, flock. + HORSE-GRAITH, harness. + HOUGHS, hollows. + HOWFF, rendezvous, place of resort. + + ILK ANE, each one. + ILL, bad. + ILL REDD-UP, very untidy. + ILL-WILLY, ill-natured. + INGINE, ingenuity. + INGOTS, masses of unwrought metal. + INGRATE, an ungrateful person. + IRON CARLES, iron figures of men. + + JAW, wave. + JEDDART-STAFF, a species of battle-axe peculiar to Jedburgh. + JENNET, a small Spanish horse. + JINGLE, dance. + JOUP, dip, stoop down. + + KEMPING, strife. + KENNING, knowledge. + KIMMER, gossip, neighbour. + KIRK, church. + KITTLE, ticklish, difficult, precarious. + KYTHED, seemed, appeared. + + LAIGH, low. + LAIR, learning. + LAMB'S-WOOL, a beverage made of the pulp of roasted apples. + LANDLOUPER, adventurer, runagate. + LANG SYNE, long ago. + LATTEN, plated iron or brass. + LAVROCK, lark. + LEASING-MAKING, uttering treasonable language. + LEASINGS, falsehoods, treason. + LEGLIN-GIRTH, the lowest hoop on a leglin, or milk-pail. + LICK, a beating. + LIEFEST, most beloved. + LIFT, steal. + LIGHT O' LOVE, mistress, wanton woman. + LINKBOYS, juvenile torch-bearers. + LIST, like. + LITHER, soft. + LOOF, palm of the hand. + LOON, LOUN, rascal. + LOUPING, leaping. + LUG, LUGG, ear. + LUVE, love. + + MAIR THAN ANCE, more than once. + MARLE, wonder, marvel. + MAGGOT, whim, fancy. + MELL, intermeddle. + MENSEFUL, modest, mannerly. + MERK, a Scottish coin, value 13s 4d. + MESS-BOOK, mass-book, Catholic prayer-book. + MICKLE, MUCKLE, much, great, large. + MINT, attempt. + MIRK, dark. + MISLEARD, unmannerly. + MORT-CLOTH, shroud. + MOTION, puppet-show. + MUCKLE v. MICKLE. + MUFFLED, disguised. + MUSKETOON, a species of musket. + MY GERTIE, my goodness! gracious! + + NEB, nose, point. + NEEDSNA, need not. + NICHER, snigger. + NICKS, notches. + NIFFER, exchange. + NOBLE, a gold coin, value 6s. 8d. sterling. + NOWTE, black cattle. + NUNCHION, luncheon, food taken between meals. + + OR, before. + OTHER GATE, other kind of. + OWER SICKER, too careful. + + PAIK, fight, chastise. + PANGED, crammed. + PAPISTRIE, Popery. + PEASE-BOGLE, scarecrow among the pease growing. + PENNY-WEDDING, a wedding where all who attend contribute a trifle + towards the + expenses of the merrymaking. + PICKTHANK, a parasitical informer. + PIG, earthen pot, vessel, or pitcher. + PINK, stab, pierce holes into. + PLACK, a copper coin, value the third part of an English + penny. + PLOY, trick. + POCK-END, empty pocket or purse. + POCK-PUDDING, bag pudding. + POORTITH, poverty. + PORK-GRISKINS, sucking-pigs; also broiled loin of pork. + POUCH, pocket. + PRIE, taste. + PULLET, a young hen. + + QUEAN, wench, young woman. + + RAMPALLIONS, low women. + RAVE, tore. + RAXING, stretching. + REDDING-KAME, hair-comb. + REDD-UP, tidy, put in order. + RED WUD, stark mad. + REIRD, shouting. + REMEID, resource, remedy. + ROOPIT, croupy, hoarse. + ROSE-NOBLE, a gold coin, value 6s. 8d., impressed with a rose. + ROUT, ROWT, to roar or bellow. + RUDAS, wild, forward, bold. + + SAAM, same. + SACK, sherry or canary wine, warmed and spiced. + SACKLESS, innocent. + SCAT, tribute, tax. + SCAUDING, scalding. + SCAUR, scare, frighten. + SCLATE-STANE, slate-stone. + SCRIVENER, one who draws up contracts. + SHABBLE, cutlass, + SHOON, shoes. + SHOUTHER, shoulder. + SHULE, shovel. + SIB, related. + SIBYL, prophetess. + SICKER, careful. + SICLIKE, just so. + SILLER, money, silver. + SIRRAH, sir! + SKEIGH, skittish. + SKELDER, plunder, snatch. + SLEEVELESS, thriftless. + SMAIK, mean, paltry fellow. + SNAP-HAUNCHES, firelocks. + SPANG, spring. + SPEER, ask. + SPEERINGS, information, inquiries. + SPRAIKLE, to get on with difficulty. + SPUNK, slip. + SPUNKIES, will-o'-the-wisps. + STEEKING, closing. + STEEKIT, shut. + STONERN, stone. + STOT, a bullock between two and three years old. + STRAND-SCOURING, gutter-raking. + STURDIED, afflicted with the sturdy, a sheep disease. + STYPIC, astringent, something to arrest haemorrhage. + SUCCORY-WATER, sugar water. + SUNDOWN, sunset. + SUNER, sooner. + SUMPTER HORSE, pack-horse. + SWITH, begone! be off! + SYNE, ago. + + TAIT, lock. + TANE, the one. + TAWSE, leather strap used for chastisement. + TEINDS, tithes. + THROUGH-STANES, gravestones. + TIKE v. TYKE. + TINT, lost. + TITHER, the other. + TOCHER, dowry. + TOOM, empty. + TOUR, see. + TOUT, blast on the horn. + TOYS, goods. + TREEN, wooden. + TROTH, truth. + TROW, believe, guess. + TRYSTE, appointment. + TURN-BROCHE, turn-spit. + TYKE, TIKE, dog, cur. + TWA, two. + TWIRING, coquetting, making eyes at. + + UMQUHILE, late, deceased. + + VIVERS, victuals. + + WAD, pledge. + WADNA, would not. + WADSET, mortgage. + WANION, misfortune. + WARE, spend. + WARLOCKS, wizards. + WASTRIFE, waste, extravagance. + WAUR, worse. + WEEL KEND, well known. + WHA, who. + WHEEN, few, a number of. + WHIGMALEERY, trinkets, nicknacks. + WHILK, which. + WHINGER, cutlass, long knife. + WHINYARD, sword. + WHOMBLE, upset. + WIMPLED, wrapped up. + WINNA, will not. + WITHY, gallows rope. + WOO', wool. + WYLIE-COAT, under-petticoat. + WYND, street, alley. + WYTE, blame. + + YESTREEN, last night. +</i></pre> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Fortunes of Nigel, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL *** + +***** This file should be named 5950-h.htm or 5950-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/9/5/5950/ + + +Text file produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Fortunes of Nigel + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Release Date: June, 2004 [EBook #5950] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 24, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +A TALE WHICH HOLDETH CHILDREN FROM PLAY & OLD MEN FROM THE CHIMNEY +CORNER + --SIR PHILIP SIDNEY + + +The FORTUNES OF NIGEL + +by Sir WALTER SCOTT Bart + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + But why should lordlings all our praise engross? + Rise, honest man, and sing the Man of Ross. + + Pope + +Having, in the tale of the Heart of Mid-Lothian, succeeded in some +degree in awakening an interest in behalf of one devoid of those +accomplishments which belong to a heroine almost by right, I was next +tempted to choose a hero upon the same unpromising plan; and as worth +of character, goodness of heart, and rectitude of principle, were +necessary to one who laid no claim to high birth, romantic +sensibility, or any of the usual accomplishments of those who strut +through the pages of this sort of composition, I made free with the +name of a person who has left the most magnificent proofs of his +benevolence and charity that the capital of Scotland has to display. + +To the Scottish reader little more need be said than that the man +alluded to is George Heriot. But for those south of the Tweed, it may +be necessary to add, that the person so named was a wealthy citizen of +Edinburgh, and the King's goldsmith, who followed James to the English +capital, and was so successful in his profession, as to die, in 1624, +extremely wealthy for that period. He had no children; and after +making a full provision for such relations as might have claims upon +him, he left the residue of his fortune to establish an hospital, in +which the sons of Edinburgh freemen are gratuitously brought up and +educated for the station to which their talents may recommend them, +and are finally enabled to enter life under respectable auspices. The +hospital in which this charity is maintained is a noble quadrangle of +the Gothic order, and as ornamental to the city as a building, as the +manner in which the youths are provided for and educated, renders it +useful to the community as an institution. To the honour of those who +have the management, (the Magistrates and Clergy of Edinburgh), the +funds of the Hospital have increased so much under their care, that it +now supports and educates one hundred and thirty youths annually, many +of whom have done honour to their country in different situations. + +The founder of such a charity as this may be reasonably supposed to +have walked through life with a steady pace, and an observant eye, +neglecting no opportunity of assisting those who were not possessed of +the experience necessary for their own guidance. In supposing his +efforts directed to the benefit of a young nobleman, misguided by the +aristocratic haughtiness of his own time, and the prevailing tone of +selfish luxury which seems more peculiar to ours, as well as the +seductions of pleasure which are predominant in all, some amusement, +or even some advantage, might, I thought, be derived from the manner +in which I might bring the exertions of this civic Mentor to bear in +his pupil's behalf. I am, I own, no great believer in the moral +utility to be derived from fictitious compositions; yet, if in any +case a word spoken in season may be of advantage to a young person, it +must surely be when it calls upon him to attend to the voice of +principle and self-denial, instead of that of precipitate passion. I +could not, indeed, hope or expect to represent my prudent and +benevolent citizen in a point of view so interesting as that of the +peasant girl, who nobly sacrificed her family affections to the +integrity of her moral character. Still however, something I hoped +might be done not altogether unworthy the fame which George Heriot has +secured by the lasting benefits he has bestowed on his country. + +It appeared likely, that out of this simple plot I might weave +something attractive; because the reign of James I., in which George +Heriot flourished, gave unbounded scope to invention in the fable, +while at the same time it afforded greater variety and discrimination +of character than could, with historical consistency, have been +introduced, if the scene had been laid a century earlier. Lady Mary +Wortley Montague has said, with equal truth and taste, that the most +romantic region of every country is that where the mountains unite +themselves with the plains or lowlands. For similiar reasons, it may +be in like manner said, that the most picturesque period of history is +that when the ancient rough and wild manners of a barbarous age are +just becoming innovated upon, and contrasted, by the illumination of +increased or revived learning, and the instructions of renewed or +reformed religion. The strong contrast produced by the opposition of +ancient manners to those which are gradually subduing them, affords +the lights and shadows necessary to give effect to a fictitious +narrative; and while such a period entitles the author to introduce +incidents of a marvellous and improbable character, as arising out of +the turbulent independence and ferocity, belonging to old habits of +violence, still influencing the manners of a people who had been so +lately in a barbarous state; yet, on the other hand, the characters +and sentiments of many of the actors may, with the utmost probability, +be described with great variety of shading and delineation, which +belongs to the newer and more improved period, of which the world has +but lately received the light. + +The reign of James I. of England possessed this advantage in a +peculiar degree. Some beams of chivalry, although its planet had been +for some time set, continued to animate and gild the horizon, and +although probably no one acted precisely on its Quixotic dictates, men +and women still talked the chivalrous language of Sir Philip Sydney's +Arcadia; and the ceremonial of the tilt-yard was yet exhibited, though +it now only flourished as a Place de Carrousel. Here and there a high- +spirited Knight of the Bath, witness the too scrupulous Lord Herbert +of Cherbury, was found devoted enough to the vows he had taken, to +imagine himself obliged to compel, by the sword's-point, a fellow- +knight or squire to restore the top-knot of ribbon which he had stolen +from a fair damsel;[Footnote: See Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Memoirs.] +but yet, while men were taking each other's lives on such punctilios +of honour, the hour was already arrived when Bacon was about to teach +the world that they were no longer to reason from authority to fact, +but to establish truth by advancing from fact to fact, till they fixed +an indisputable authority, not from hypothesis, but from experiment. + +The state of society in the reign of James I. was also strangely +disturbed, and the license of a part of the community was perpetually +giving rise to acts of blood and violence. The bravo of the Queen's +day, of whom Shakspeare has given us so many varieties, as Bardolph, +Nym, Pistol, Peto, and the other companions of Falstaff, men who had +their humours, or their particular turn of extravaganza, had, since +the commencement of the Low Country wars, given way to a race of +sworders, who used the rapier and dagger, instead of the far less +dangerous sword and buckler; so that a historian says on this subject, +"that private quarrels were nourished, but especially between the +Scots and English; and duels in every street maintained; divers sects +and peculiar titles passed unpunished and unregarded, as the sect of +the Roaring Boys, Bonaventors, Bravadors, Quarterors, and such like, +being persons prodigal, and of great expense, who, having run +themselves into debt, were constrained to run next into factions, to +defend themselves from danger of the law. These received countenance +from divers of the nobility; and the citizens, through lasciviousness +consuming their estates, it was like that the number [of these +desperadoes] would rather increase than diminish; and under these +pretences they entered into many desperate enterprizes, and scarce any +durst walk in the street after nine at night."[Footnote: history of +the First Fourteen Years of King James's Reign. See Somers's Tracts, +edited by Scott, vol. ii. p.266.] + +The same authority assures us farther, that "ancient gentlemen, who +had left their inheritance whole and well furnished with goods and +chattels (having thereupon kept good houses) unto their sons, lived to +see part consumed in riot and excess, and the rest in possibility to +be utterly lost; the holy state of matrimony made but a May-game, by +which divers families had been subverted; brothel houses much +frequented, and even great persons, prostituting their bodies to the +intent to satisfy their lusts, consumed their substance in lascivious +appetites. And of all sorts, such knights and gentlemen, as either +through pride or prodigality--had consumed their substance, repairing +to the city, and to the intent to consume their virtue also, lived +dissolute lives; many of their ladies and daughters, to the intent to +maintain themselves according to their dignity, prostituting their +bodies in shameful manner. Ale-houses, dicing-houses, taverns, and +places of iniquity, beyond manner abounding in most places." + +Nor is it only in the pages of a puritanical, perhaps a satirical +writer, that we find so shocking and disgusting a picture of the +coarseness of the beginning of the seventeenth century. On the +contrary, in all the comedies of the age, the principal character for +gaiety and wit is a young heir, who has totally altered the +establishment of the father to whom he has succeeded, and, to use the +old simile, who resembles a fountain, which plays off in idleness and +extravagance the wealth which its careful parents painfully had +assembled in hidden reservoirs. + +And yet, while that spirit of general extravagance seemed at work over +a whole kingdom, another and very different sort of men were gradually +forming the staid and resolved characters, which afterwards displayed +themselves during the civil wars, and powerfully regulated and +affected the character of the whole English nation, until, rushing +from one extreme to another, they sunk in a gloomy fanaticism the +splendid traces of the reviving fine arts. + +From the quotations which I have produced, the selfish and disgusting +conduct of Lord Dalgarno will not perhaps appear overstrained; nor +will the scenes in Whitefriars and places of similar resort seem too +highly coloured. This indeed is far from being the case. It was in +James I.'s reign that vice first appeared affecting the better classes +in its gross and undisguised depravity. The entertainments and +amusements of Elizabeth's time had an air of that decent restraint +which became the court of a maiden sovereign; and, in that earlier +period, to use the words of Burke, vice lost half its evil by being +deprived of all its grossness. In James's reign, on the contrary, the +coarsest pleasures were publicly and unlimitedly indulged, since, +according to Sir John Harrington, the men wallowed in beastly +delights; and even ladies abandoned their delicacy and rolled about in +intoxication. After a ludicrous account of a mask, in which the actors +had got drunk, and behaved themselves accordingly, he adds, "I have +much marvelled at these strange pageantries, and they do bring to my +recollection what passed of this sort in our Queen's days, in which I +was sometimes an assistant and partaker: but never did I see such lack +of good order and sobriety as I have now done. The gunpowder fright is +got out of all our heads, and we are going on hereabout as if the +devil was contriving every man should blow up himself by wild riot, +excess, and devastation of time and temperance. The great ladies do go +well masqued; and indeed, it be the only show of their modesty to +conceal their countenance, but alack, they meet with such countenance +to uphold their strange doings, that I marvel not at aught that +happens."[Footnote: Harrington's Nugae Antique, vol. ii. p. 352. For +the gross debauchery of the period, too much encouraged by the example +of the monarch, who was, in other respects, neither without talent nor +a good-natured disposition, see Winwood's Memorials, Howell's Letters, +and other Memorials of the time; but particularly, consult the Private +Letters and Correspondence of Steenie, _alias_ Buckingham, with his +reverend Dad and Gossip, King James, which abound with the grossest as +well as the most childish language. The learned Mr. D'Israeli, in an +attempt to vindicate the character of James, has only succeeded in +obtaining for himself the character of a skilful and ingenious +advocate, without much advantage to his royal client] + +Such being the state of the court, coarse sensuality brought along +with it its ordinary companion, a brutal degree of undisguised +selfishness, destructive alike of philanthropy and good breeding; both +of which, in their several spheres, depend upon the regard paid by +each individual to the interest as well as the feelings of others. It +is in such a time that the heartless and shameless man of wealth and +power may, like the supposed Lord Dalgarno, brazen out the shame of +his villainies, and affect to triumph in their consequences, so long +as they were personally advantageous to his own pleasures or profit. + +Alsatia is elsewhere explained as a cant name for Whitefriars, which, +possessing certain privileges of sanctuary, became for that reason a +nest of those mischievous characters who were generally obnoxious to +the law. These privileges were derived from its having been an +establishment of the Carmelites, or White Friars, founded says Stow, +in his Survey of London, by Sir Patrick Grey, in 1241. Edward I. gave +them a plot of ground in Fleet Street, to build their church upon. The +edifice then erected was rebuilt by Courtney, Earl of Devonshire, in +the reign of Edward. In the time of the Reformation the place retained +its immunities as a sanctuary, and James I. confirmed and added to +them by a charter in 1608. Shadwell was the first author who made some +literary use of Whitefriars, in his play of the Squire of Alsatia, +which turns upon the plot of the Adelphi of Terence. + +In this old play, two men of fortune, brothers, educate two young men, +(sons to the one and nephews to the other,) each under his own +separate system of rigour and indulgence. The elder of the subjects of +this experiment, who has been very rigidly brought up, falls at once +into all the vices of the town, is debauched by the cheats and bullies +of Whitefriars, and, in a word, becomes the Squire of Alsatia. The +poet gives, as the natural and congenial inhabitants of the place, +such characters as the reader will find in the note. [Footnote: +"Cheatly, a rascal, who by reason of debts dares not stir out of +Whitefriars, but there inveigles young heirs of entail, and helps them +to goods and money upon great disadvantages, is bound for them, and +shares with them till he undoes them. A lewd, impudent, debauched +fellow, very expert in the cant about town. + +"Shamwell, cousin to the Belfords, who, being ruined by Cheatly, is +made a decoy-duck for others, not daring to stir out of Alsatia, where +he lives. Is bound with Cheatly for heirs, and lives upon them a +dissolute debauched life. + +"Captain Hackum, a blockheaded bully of Alsatia, a cowardly, impudent, +blustering fellow, formerly a sergeant in Flanders, who has run from +his colours, and retreated into Whitefriars for a very small debt, +where by the Alsatians he is dubb'd a captain, marries one that lets +lodgings, sells cherry-brandy, and is a bawd. + +"Scrapeall a hypocritical, repeating, praying, psalm-singing, precise +fellow, pretending to great piety; a godly knave, who joins with +Cheatly, and supplies young heirs with goods, and money."--Dramatis +Personae to the Squire of Alsatia, SHADWELL'S Works, vol. iv.] The +play, as we learn from the dedication to the Earl of Dorset and +Middlesex, was successful above the author's expectations, "no comedy +these many years having filled the theatre so long together. And I had +the great honour," continues Shadwell, "to find so many friends, that +the house was never so full since it was built as upon the third day +of this play, and vast numbers went away that could not be admitted." +[Footnote: Dedication to the Squire of Alsatia, Shadwell's Works, vol. +iv.] From the Squire of Alsatia the author derived some few hints, and +learned the footing on which the bullies and thieves of the Sanctuary +stood with their neighbours, the fiery young students of the Temple, +of which some intimation is given in the dramatic piece. + +Such are the materials to which the author stands indebted for the +composition of the Fortunes of Nigel, a novel, which may be perhaps +one of those that are more amusing on a second perusal, than when read +a first time for the sake of the story, the incidents of which are few +and meagre. + +The Introductory Epistle is written, in Lucio's phrase, "according to +the trick," and would never have appeared had the writer meditated +making his avowal of the work. As it is the privilege of a masque or +incognito to speak in a feigned voice and assumed character, the +author attempted, while in disguise, some liberties of the same sort; +and while he continues to plead upon the various excuses which the +introduction contains, the present acknowledgment must serve as an +apology for a species of "hoity toity, whisky frisky" pertness of +manner, which, in his avowed character, the author should have +considered as a departure from the rules of civility and good taste. + + +ABBOTSFORD. +1st July, 1831. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY EPISTLE + +CAPTAIN CLUTTERBUCK TO THE REVEREND +DR. DRYASDUST + +DEAR SIR, + +I readily accept of, and reply to the civilities with which you have +been pleased to honour me in your obliging letter, and entirely agree +with your quotation, of _"Quam bonum et quam jucundum!"_ We may indeed +esteem ourselves as come of the same family, or, according to our +country proverb, as being all one man's bairns; and there needed no +apology on your part, reverend and dear sir, for demanding of me any +information which I may be able to supply respecting the subject of +your curiosity. The interview which you allude to took place in the +course of last winter, and is so deeply imprinted on my recollection, +that it requires no effort to collect all its most minute details. + +You are aware that the share which I had in introducing the Romance, +called THE MONASTERY, to public notice, has given me a sort of +character in the literature of our Scottish metropolis. I no longer +stand in the outer shop of our bibliopolists, bargaining for the +objects of my curiosity with an unrespective shop-lad, hustled among +boys who come to buy Corderies and copy-books, and servant girls +cheapening a pennyworth of paper, but am cordially welcomed by the +bibliopolist himself, with, "Pray, walk into the back-shop, Captain. +Boy, get a chair for Captain Clutterbuck. There is the newspaper, +Captain--to-day's paper;" or, "Here is the last new work--there is a +folder, make free with the leaves;" or, "Put it in your pocket and +carry it home;" or, "We will make a bookseller of you, sir, and you +shall have it at trade price." Or, perhaps if it is the worthy +trader's own publication, his liberality may even extend itself to-- +"Never mind booking such a trifle to _you_, sir--it is an over-copy. +Pray, mention the work to your reading friends." I say nothing of the +snug well-selected literary party arranged round a turbot, leg of +five-year-old mutton, or some such gear, or of the circulation of a +quiet bottle of Robert Cockburn's choicest black--nay, perhaps, of his +new ones. All these are comforts reserved to such as are freemen of +the corporation of letters, and I have the advantage of enjoying them +in perfection. But all things change under the sun; and it is with no +ordinary feelings of regret, that, in my annual visits to the +metropolis, I now miss the social and warm-hearted welcome of the +quick-witted and kindly friend who first introduced me to the public; +who had more original wit than would have set up a dozen of professed +sayers of good things, and more racy humour than would have made the +fortune of as many more. To this great deprivation has been added, I +trust for a time only, the loss of another bibliopolical friend, whose +vigorous intellect, and liberal ideas, have not only rendered his +native country the mart of her own literature, but established there a +Court of Letters, which must command respect, even from those most +inclined to dissent from many of its canons. The effect of these +changes, operated in a great measure by the strong sense and sagacious +calculations of an individual, who knew how to avail himself, to an +unhoped-for extent, of the various kinds of talent which his country +produced, will probably appear more clearly to the generation which +shall follow the present. + +I entered the shop at the Cross, to enquire after the health of my +worthy friend, and learned with satisfaction, that his residence in +the south had abated the rigour of the symptoms of his disorder. +Availing myself, then, of the privileges to which I have alluded, I +strolled onward in that labyrinth of small dark rooms, or _crypts_, to +speak our own antiquarian language, which form the extensive back- +settlements of that celebrated publishing-house. Yet, as I proceeded +from one obscure recess to another, filled, some of them with old +volumes, some with such as, from the equality of their rank on the +shelves, I suspected to be the less saleable modern books of the +concern, I could not help feeling a holy horror creep upon me, when I +thought of the risk of intruding on some ecstatic bard giving vent to +his poetical fury; or it might be, on the yet more formidable privacy +of a band of critics, in the act of worrying the game which they had +just run down. In such a supposed case, I felt by anticipation the +horrors of the Highland seers, whom their gift of deuteroscopy compels +to witness things unmeet for mortal eye; and who, to use the +expression of Collins, + + ----"heartless, oft, like moody madness, stare, + To see the phantom train their secret work prepare." + +Still, however, the irresistible impulse of an undefined curiosity +drove me on through this succession of darksome chambers, till, like +the jeweller of Delhi in the house of the magician Bennaskar, I at +length reached a vaulted room, dedicated to secrecy and silence, and +beheld, seated by a lamp, and employed in reading a. blotted _revise_, +[Footnote: The uninitiated must be informed, that a second proof-sheet +is so called.] the person, or perhaps I should rather say the Eidolon, +or representative Vision of the AUTHOR OF WAVERLEY! You will not be +surprised at the filial instinct which enabled me at once to +acknowledge the features borne by this venerable apparition, and that +I at once bended the knee, with the classical salutation of, _Salve, +magne parens!_ The vision, however, cut me short, by pointing to a +seat, intimating at the same time, that my presence was not expected, +and that he had something to say to me. + +I sat down with humble obedience, and endeavoured to note the features +of him with whom I now found myself so unexpectedly in society. But on +this point I can give your reverence no satisfaction; for, besides the +obscurity of the apartment, and the fluttered state of my own nerves, +I seemed to myself overwhelmed by a sense of filial awe, which +prevented my noting and recording what it is probable the personage +before me might most desire to have concealed. Indeed, his figure was +so closely veiled and wimpled, either with a mantle, morning-gown, or +some such loose garb, that the verses of Spenser might well have been +applied-- + + "Yet, certes, by her face and physnomy, + Whether she man or woman only were, + That could not any creature well descry." + +I must, however, go on as I have begun, to apply the masculine gender; +for, notwithstanding very ingenious reasons, and indeed something like +positive evidence, have been offered to prove the Author of Waverley +to be two ladies of talent, I must abide by the general opinion, that +he is of the rougher sex. There are in his writings too many things + + "Quae maribus sola tribuuntur," + +to permit me to entertain any doubt on that subject. I will proceed, +in the manner of dialogue, to repeat as nearly as I can what passed +betwixt us, only observing, that in the course of the conversation, my +timidity imperceptibly gave way under the familiarity of his address; +and that, in the concluding part of our dialogue, I perhaps argued +with fully as much confidence as was beseeming. + +_Author of Waverley._ I was willing to see you, Captain Clutterbuck, +being the person of my family whom I have most regard for, since the +death of Jedediah Cleishbotham; and I am afraid I may have done you +some wrong, in assigning to you The Monastery as a portion of my +effects. I have some thoughts of making it up to you, by naming you +godfather to this yet unborn babe--(he indicated the proof-sheet with +his finger)--But first, touching The Monastery--How says the world-- +you are abroad and can learn? + +_Captain Clutterbuck._ Hem! hem!--The enquiry is delicate--I have not +heard any complaints from the Publishers. + +_Author._ That is the principal matter; but yet an indifferent work is +sometimes towed on by those which have left harbour before it, with +the breeze in their poop.--What say the Critics? + +_Captain._ There is a general--feeling--that the White Lady is no +favourite. + +_Author._ I think she is a failure myself; but rather in execution +than conception. Could I have evoked an _esprit follet_, at the same +time fantastic and interesting, capricious and kind; a sort of +wildfire of the elements, bound by no fixed laws, or motives of +action; faithful and fond, yet teazing and uncertain---- + +_Captain._ If you will pardon the interruption, sir, I think you are +describing a pretty woman. + +_Author._ On my word, I believe I am. I must invest my elementary +spirits with a little human flesh and blood--they are too fine-drawn +for the present taste of the public. + +_Captain._ They object, too, that the object of your Nixie ought to +have been more uniformly noble--Her ducking the priest was no Naiad- +like amusement. + +_Author._ Ah! they ought to allow for the capriccios of what is, after +all, but a better sort of goblin. The bath into which Ariel, the most +delicate creation of Shakspeare's imagination, seduces our jolly +friend Trinculo, was not of amber or rose-water. But no one shall find +me rowing against the stream. I care not who knows it--I write for +general amusement; and, though I never will aim at popularity by what +I think unworthy means, I will not, on the other hand, be pertinacious +in the defence of my own errors against the voice of the public. + +_Captain._ You abandon, then, in the present work--(looking, in my +turn, towards the proof-sheet)--the mystic, and the magical, and the +whole system of signs, wonders, and omens? There are no dreams, or +presages, or obscure allusions to future events? + +_Author._ Not a Cock-lane scratch, my son--not one bounce on the drum +of Tedworth--not so much as the poor tick of a solitary death-watch in +the wainscot. All is clear and above board--a Scots metaphysician +might believe every word of it. + +_Captain._ And the story is, I hope, natural and probable; commencing +strikingly, proceeding naturally, ending happily--like the course of a +famed river, which gushes from the mouth of some obscure and romantic +grotto--then gliding on, never pausing, never precipitating its +course, visiting, as it were, by natural instinct, whatever worthy +subjects of interest are presented by the country through which it +passes--widening and deepening in interest as it flows on; and at +length arriving at the final catastrophe as at some mighty haven, +where ships of all kinds strike sail and yard? + +_Author._ Hey! hey! what the deuce is all this? Why,'tis Ercles' vein, +and it would require some one much more like Hercules than I, to +produce a story which should gush, and glide, and never pause, and +visit, and widen, and deepen, and all the rest on't. I should be chin- +deep in the grave, man, before I had done with my task; and, in the +meanwhile, all the quirks and quiddities which I might have devised +for my reader's amusement, would lie rotting in my gizzard, like +Sancho's suppressed witticisms, when he was under his master's +displeasure.--There never was a novel written on this plan while the +world stood. + +_Captain._ Pardon me--Tom Jones. + +_Author._ True, and perhaps Amelia also. Fielding had high notions of +the dignity of an art which he may be considered as having founded. He +challenges a comparison between the Novel and the Epic. Smollett, Le +Sage, and others, emancipating themselves from the strictness of the +rules he has laid down, have written rather a history of the +miscellaneous adventures which befall an individual in the course of +life, than the plot of a regular and connected epopeia, where every +step brings us a point nearer to the final catastrophe. These great +masters have been satisfied if they amused the reader upon the road; +though the conclusion only arrived because the tale must have an end-- +just as the traveller alights at the inn, because it is evening. + +_Captain._ A very commodious mode of travelling, for the author at +least. In short, sir, you are of opinion with Bayes--"What the devil +does the plot signify, except to bring in fine things?" + +_Author._ Grant that I were so, and that I should write with sense and +spirit a few scenes unlaboured and loosely put together, but which had +sufficient interest in them to amuse in one corner the pain of body; +in another, to relieve anxiety of mind; in a third place, to unwrinkle +a brow bent with the furrows of daily toil; in another, to fill the +place of bad thoughts, or to suggest better; in yet another, to induce +an idler to study the history of his country; in all, save where the +perusal interrupted the discharge of serious duties, to furnish +harmless amusement,--might not the author of such a work, however +inartificially executed, plead for his errors and negligences the +excuse of the slave, who, about to be punished for having spread the +false report of a victory, saved himself by exclaiming--"Am I to +blame, O Athenians, who have given you one happy day?" + +_Captain._ Will your goodness permit me to mention an anecdote of my +excellent grandmother? + +_Author._ I see little she can have to do with the subject, Captain +Clutterbuck. + +_Captain._ It may come into our dialogue on Bayes's plan.--The +sagacious old lady--rest her soul!--was a good friend to the church, +and could never hear a minister maligned by evil tongues, without +taking his part warmly. There was one fixed point, however, at which +she always abandoned the cause of her reverend _protege_--it was so +soon as she learned he had preached a regular sermon against +slanderers and backbiters. + +_Author._ And what is that to the purpose? + +_Captain._ Only that I have heard engineers say, that one may betray +the weak point to the enemy, by too much ostentation of fortifying it. + +_Author._ And, once more I pray, what is that to the purpose? + +_Captain._ Nay, then, without farther metaphor, I am afraid this new +production, in which your generosity seems willing to give me some +concern, will stand much in need of apology, since you think proper to +begin your defence before the case is on trial.-The story is hastily +huddled up, I will venture a pint of claret. + +_Author._ A pint of port, I suppose you mean? + +_Captain._ I say of claret--good claret of the Monastery. Ah, sir, +would you but take the advice of your friends, and try to deserve at +least one-half of the public favour you have met with, we might all +drink Tokay! + +_Author._ I care not what I drink, so the liquor be wholesome. + +_Captain._ Care for your reputation, then,--for your fame. + +_Author._ My fame?--I will answer you as a very ingenious, able, and +experienced friend, being counsel for the notorious Jem MacCoul, +replied to the opposite side of the bar, when they laid weight on his +client's refusing to answer certain queries, which they said any man +who had a regard for his reputation would not hesitate to reply to. +"My client," said he-by the way, Jem was standing behind him at the +time, and a rich scene it was-"is so unfortunate as to have no regard +for his reputation; and I should deal very uncandidly with the Court, +should I say he had any that was worth his attention."-I am, though +from very different reasons, in Jem's happy state of indifference. Let +fame follow those who have a substantial shape. A shadow-and an +impersonal author is nothing better-can cast no shade. + +_Captain._ You are not now, perhaps, so impersonal as here-tofore. +These Letters to the Member for the University of Oxford--_Author._ +Show the wit, genius, and delicacy of the author, which I heartily +wish to see engaged on a subject of more importance; and show, +besides, that the preservation of my character of _incongnito_ has +engaged early talent in the discussion of a curious question of +evidence. But a cause, however ingeniously pleaded, is not therefore +gained. You may remember, the neatly-wrought chain of circumstantial +evidence, so artificially brought forward to prove Sir Philip +Francis's title to the Letters of Junius, seemed at first +irrefragable; yet the influence of the reasoning has passed away, and +Junius, in the general opinion, is as much unknown as ever. But on +this subject I will not be soothed or provoked into saying one word +more. To say who I am not, would be one step towards saying who I am; +and as I desire not, any more than a certain justice of peace +mentioned by Shenstone, the noise or report such things make in the +world, I shall continue to be silent on a subject, which, in my +opinion, is very undeserving the noise that has been made about it, +and still more unworthy of the serious employment of such ingenuity as +has been displayed by the young letter-writer. + +_Captain._ But allowing, my dear sir, that you care not for your +personal reputation, or for that of any literary person upon whose +shoulders your faults may be visited, allow me to say, that common +gratitude to the public, which has received you so kindly, and to the +critics, who have treated you so leniently, ought to induce you to +bestow more pains on your story. + +_Author._ I do entreat you, my son, as Dr. Johnson would have said, +"free your mind from cant." For the critics, they have their business, +and I mine; as the nursery proverb goes-- + +"The children in Holland take pleasure in making What the children in +England take pleasure in breaking." + +I am their humble jackal, too busy in providing food for them, to have +time for considering whether they swallow or reject it.--To the +public, I stand pretty nearly in the relation of the postman who +leaves a packet at the door of an individual. If it contains pleasing +intelligence, a billet from a mistress, a letter from an absent son, a +remittance from a correspondent supposed to be bankrupt,--the letter +is acceptably welcome, and read and re-read, folded up, filed, and +safely deposited in the bureau. If the contents are disagreeable, if +it comes from a dun or from a bore, the correspondent is cursed, the +letter is thrown into the fire, and the expense of postage is heartily +regretted; while all the time the bearer of the dispatches is, in +either case, as little thought on as the snow of last Christmas. The +utmost extent of kindness between the author and the public which can +really exist, is, that the world are disposed to be somewhat indulgent +to the succeeding works of an original favourite, were it but on +account of the habit which the public mind has acquired; while the +author very naturally thinks well of _their_ taste, who have so +liberally applauded _his_ productions. But I deny there is any call +for gratitude, properly so called, either on one side or the other. + +_Captain._ Respect to yourself, then, ought to teach caution. + +_Author._ Ay, if caution could augment the chance of my success. But, +to confess to you the truth, the works and passages in which I have +succeeded, have uniformly been written with the greatest rapidity; and +when I have seen some of these placed in opposition with others, and +commended as more highly finished, I could appeal to pen and standish, +that the parts in which I have come feebly off, were by much the more +laboured. Besides, I doubt the beneficial effect of too much delay, +both on account of the author and the public. A man should strike +while the iron is hot, and hoist sail while the wind is fair. If a +successful author keep not the stage, another instantly takes his +ground. If a writer lie by for ten years ere he produces a second +work, he is superseded by others; or, if the age is so poor of genius +that this does not happen, his own reputation becomes his greatest +obstacle. The public will expect the new work to be ten times better +than its predecessor; the author will expect it should be ten times +more popular, and 'tis a hundred to ten that both are disappointed. + +_Captain_. This may justify a certain degree of rapidity in +publication, but not that which is proverbially said to be no speed. +You should take time at least to arrange your story. + +_Author_. That is a sore point with me, my son. Believe me, I have not +been fool enough to neglect ordinary precautions. I have repeatedly +laid down my future work to scale, divided it into volumes and +chapters, and endeavoured to construct a story which I meant should +evolve itself gradually and strikingly, maintain suspense, and +stimulate curiosity; and which, finally, should terminate in a +striking catastrophe. But I think there is a demon who seats himself +on the feather of my pen when I begin to write, and leads it astray +from the purpose. Characters expand under my hand; incidents are +multiplied; the story lingers, while the materials increase; my +regular mansion turns out a Gothic anomaly, and the work is closed +long before I have attained the point I proposed. + +_Captain_. Resolution and determined forbearance might remedy that +evil. + +_Author_. Alas! my dear sir, you do not know the force of paternal +affection. When I light on such a character as Bailie Jarvie, or +Dalgetty, my imagination brightens, and my conception becomes clearer +at every step which I take in his company, although it leads me many a +weary mile away from the regular road, and forces me leap hedge and +ditch to get back into the route again. If I resist the temptation, as +you advise me, my thoughts become prosy, flat, and dull; I write +painfully to myself, and under a consciousness of flagging which makes +me flag still more; the sunshine with which fancy had invested the +incidents, departs from them, and leaves every thing dull and gloomy. +I am no more the same author I was in my better mood, than the dog in +a wheel, condemned to go round and round for hours, is like the same +dog merrily chasing his own tail, and gambolling in all the frolic of +unrestrained freedom. In short, sir, on such occasions, I think I am +bewitched. + +_Captain_. Nay, sir, if you plead sorcery, there is no more to be +said--he must needs go whom the devil drives. And this, I suppose, +sir, is the reason why you do not make the theatrical attempt to which +you have been so often urged? + +_Author_. It may pass for one good reason for not writing a play, that +I cannot form a plot. But the truth is, that the idea adopted by too +favourable judges, of my having some aptitude for that department of +poetry, has been much founded on those scraps of old plays, which, +being taken from a source inaccessible to collectors, they have +hastily considered the offspring of my mother-wit. Now, the manner in +which I became possessed of these fragments is so extraordinary, that +I cannot help telling it to you. + +You must know, that, some twenty years since, I went down to visit an +old friend in Worcestershire, who had served with me in the---- +Dragoons. + +_Captain._ Then you _have_ served, sir? + +_Author._ I have--or I have not, which signifies the same thing-- +Captain is a good travelling name.--I found my friend's house +unexpectedly crowded with guests, and, as usual, was condemned--the +mansion being an old one--to the _haunted apartment._ I have, as a +great modern said, seen too many ghosts to believe in them, so betook +myself seriously to my repose, lulled by the wind rustling among the +lime-trees, the branches of which chequered the moonlight which fell +on the floor through the diamonded casement, when, behold, a darker +shadow interposed itself, and I beheld visibly on the floor of the +apartment-- + +_Captain._ The White Lady of Avenel, I suppose?--You have told the +very story before. + +_Author._ No--I beheld a female form, with mob-cap, bib, and apron, +sleeves tucked up to the elbow, a dredging-box in the one hand, and in +the other a sauce-ladle. I concluded, of course, that it was my +friend's cook-maid walking in her sleep; and as I knew he had a value +for Sally, who could toss a pancake with any girl in the country, I +got up to conduct her safely to the door. But as I approached her, she +said,--"Hold, sir! I am not what you take me for;"--words which seemed +so opposite to the circumstances, that I should not have much minded +them, had it not been for the peculiarly hollow sound in which they +were uttered.--"Know, then," she said, in the same unearthly accents, +"that I am the spirit of Betty Barnes."--"Who hanged herself for love +of the stage-coachman," thought I; "this is a proper spot of work!"-- +"Of that unhappy Elizabeth or Betty Barnes, long cook-maid to Mr. +Warburton, the painful collector, but ah! the too careless custodier, +of the largest collection of ancient plays ever known--of most of +which the titles only are left to gladden the Prolegomena of the +Variorum Shakspeare. Yes, stranger, it was these ill-fated hands That +consigned to grease and conflagration the scores of small quartos, +which, did they now exist, would drive the whole Roxburghe Club out of +their senses--it was these unhappy pickers and stealers that singed +fat fowls and wiped dirty trenchers with the lost works of Beaumont +and Fletcher, Massinger, Jonson, Webster--what shall I say?--even of +Shakspeare himself!" + +Like every dramatic antiquary, my ardent curiosity after some play +named in the Book of the Master of Revels, had often been checked by +finding the object of my research numbered amongst the holocaust of +victims which this unhappy woman had sacrificed to the God of Good +Cheer. It is no wonder then, that, like the Hermit of Parnell, + + "I broke the bands of fear, and madly cried, + 'You careless jade!'--But scarce the words began, + When Betty brandish'd high her saucing-pan." + +"Beware," she said, "you do not, by your ill-timed anger, cut off the +opportunity I yet have to indemnify the world for the errors of my +ignorance. In yonder coal-hole, not used for many a year, repose the +few greasy and blackened fragments of the elder Drama which were not +totally destroyed. Do thou then"--Why, what do you stare at, Captain? +By my soul, it is true; as my friend Major Longbow says, "What should +I tell you a lie for?" + +_Captain._ Lie, sir! Nay, Heaven forbid I should apply the word to a +person so veracious. You are only inclined to chase your tail a little +this morning, that's all. Had you not better reserve this legend to +form an introduction to "Three Recovered Dramas," or so? + +_Author._ You are quite right--habit's a strange thing, my son. I had +forgot whom I was speaking to. Yes, Plays for the closet, not for the +stage-- + +_Captain._ Right, and so you are sure to be acted; for the managers, +while thousands of volunteers are desirous of serving them, are +wonderfully partial to pressed men. + +_Author._ I am a living witness, having been, like a second Laberius, +made a dramatist whether I would or not. I believe my muse would be +_Terry_-fied into treading the stage, even if I should write a sermon. + +_Captain._ Truly, if you did, I am afraid folks might make a farce of +it; and, therefore, should you change your style, I still advise a +volume of dramas like Lord Byron's. + +_Author._ No, his lordship is a cut above me--I won't run my horse +against his, if I can help myself. But there is my friend Allan has +written just such a play as I might write myself, in a very sunny day, +and with one of Bramah's extra-patent pens. I cannot make neat work +without such appurtenances. + +_Captain._ Do you mean Allan Ramsay? + +_Author._ No, nor Barbara Allan either. I mean Allan Cunningham, who +has just published his tragedy of Sir Marmaduke Maxwell, full of +merry-making and murdering, kissing and cutting of throats, and +passages which lead to nothing, and which are very pretty passages for +all that. Not a glimpse of probability is there about the plot, but so +much animation in particular passages, and such a vein of poetry +through the whole, as I dearly wish I could infuse into my Culinary +Remains, should I ever be tempted to publish them. With a popular +impress, people would read and admire the beauties of Allan--as it is, +they may perhaps only note his defects--or, what is worse, not note +him at all.--But never mind them, honest Allan; you are a credit to +Caledonia for all that.--There are some lyrical effusions of his, too, +which you would do well to read, Captain. "It's hame, and it's hame," +is equal to Burns. + +_Captain._ I will take the hint. The club at Kennaquhair are turned +fastidious since Catalan! visited the Abbey. My "Poortith Cauld" has +been received both poorly and coldly, and "the Banks of Bonnie Doon" +have been positively coughed down--_Tempora mutantur._ + +_Author._ They cannot stand still, they will change with all of us. +What then? + + "A man's a man for a' that." + +But the hour of parting approaches. + +_Captain._ You are determined to proceed then in your own system? Are +you aware that an unworthy motive may be assigned for this rapid +succession of publication? You will be supposed to work merely for the +lucre of gain. + +_Author._ Supposing that I did permit the great advantages which must +be derived from success in literature, to join with other motives in +inducing me to come more frequently before the public,--that emolument +is the voluntary tax which the public pays for a certain species of +literary amusement--it is extorted from no one, and paid, I presume, +by those only who can afford it, and who receive gratification in +proportion to the expense. If the capital sum which these volumes have +put into circulation be a very large one, has it contributed to my +indulgences only? or can I not say to hundreds, from honest Duncan the +paper-manufacturer, to the most snivelling of the printer's devils, +"Didst thou not share? Hadst thou not fifteen pence?" I profess I +think our Modern Athens much obliged to me for having established such +an extensive manufacture; and when universal suffrage comes in +fashion, I intend to stand for a seat in the House on the interest of +all the unwashed artificers connected with literature. + +_Captain._ This would be called the language of a calico-manufacturer. + +_Author._ Cant again, my dear son--there is lime in this sack, too-- +nothing but sophistication in this world! I do say it, in spite of +Adam Smith and his followers, that a successful author is a productive +labourer, and that his works constitute as effectual a part of the +public wealth, as that which is created by any other manufacture. If a +new commodity, having an actually intrinsic and commercial value, be +the result of the operation, why are the author's bales of books to be +esteemed a less profitable part of the public stock than the goods of +any other manufacturer? I speak with reference to the diffusion of the +wealth arising to the public, and the degree of industry which even +such a trifling work as the present must stimulate and reward, before +the volumes leave the publisher's shop. Without me it could not exist, +and to this extent I am a benefactor to the country. As for my own +emolument, it is won by my toil, and I account myself answerable to +Heaven only for the mode in which I expend it. The candid may hope it +is not all dedicated to selfish purposes; and, without much +pretensions to merit in him who disburses it, a part may "wander, +heaven-directed, to the poor." + +_Captain._ Yet it is generally held base to write from the mere +motives of gain. + +_Author._ It would be base to do so exclusively, or even to make it a +principal motive for literary exertion. Nay, I will venture to say, +that no work of imagination, proceeding from the mere consideration of +a certain sum of copy-money, ever did, or ever will, succeed. So the +lawyer who pleads, the soldier who fights, the physician who +prescribes, the clergyman--if such there be--who preaches, without any +zeal for his profession, or without any sense of its dignity, and +merely on account of the fee, pay, or stipend, degrade themselves to +the rank of sordid mechanics. Accordingly, in the case of two of the +learned faculties at least, their services are considered as +unappreciable, and are acknowledged, not by any exact estimate of the +services rendered, but by a _honorarium,_ or voluntary acknowledgment. +But let a client or patient make the experiment of omitting this +little ceremony of the honorarium, which is _cense_ to be a thing +entirely out of consideration between them, and mark how the learned +gentleman will look upon his case. Cant set apart, it is the same +thing with literary emolument. No man of sense, in any rank of life, +is, or ought to be, above accepting a just recompense for his time, +and a reasonable share of the capital which owes its very existence to +his exertions. When Czar Peter wrought in the trenches, he took the +pay of a common soldier; and nobles, statesmen, and divines, the most +distinguished of their time, have not scorned to square accounts with +their bookseller. + +_Captain. (Sings._) + + "O if it were a mean thing, + The gentles would not use it; + And if it were ungodly, + The clergy would refuse it." + +_Author._ You say well. But no man of honour, genius, or spirit, would +make the mere love of gain, the chief, far less the only, purpose of +his labours. For myself, I am not displeased to find the game a +winning one; yet while I pleased the public, I should probably +continue it merely for the pleasure of playing; for I have felt as +strongly as most folks that love of composition, which is perhaps the +strongest of all instincts, driving the author to the pen, the painter +to the pallet, often without either the chance of fame or the prospect +of reward. Perhaps I have said too much of this. I might, perhaps, +with as much truth as most people, exculpate myself from the charge of +being either of a greedy or mercenary disposition; but I am not, +therefore, hypocrite enough to disclaim the ordinary motives, on +account of which the whole world around me is toiling unremittingly, +to the sacrifice of ease, comfort, health, and life. I do not affect +the disinterestedness of that ingenious association of gentlemen +mentioned by Goldsmith, who sold their magazine for sixpence a-piece, +merely for their own amusement. + +_Captain._ I have but one thing more to hint.--The world say you will +run yourself out. + +_Author._ The world say true: and what then? When they dance no +longer, I will no longer pipe; and I shall not want flappers enough to +remind me of the apoplexy. + +_Captain._ And what will become of us then, your poor family? We shall +fall into contempt and oblivion. + +_Author._ Like many a poor fellow, already overwhelmed with the number +of his family, I cannot help going on to increase it--"'Tis my +vocation, Hal."--Such of you as deserve oblivion--perhaps the whole of +you--may be consigned to it. At any rate, you have been read in your +day, which is more than can be said of some of your contemporaries, of +less fortune and more merit. They cannot say but that you _had_ the +crown. It is always something to have engaged the public attention for +seven years. Had I only written Waverley, I should have long since +been, according to the established phrase, "the ingenious author of a +novel much admired at the time." I believe, on my soul, that the +reputation of Waverley is sustained very much by the praises of those, +who may be inclined to prefer that tale to its successors. + +_Captain._ You are willing, then, to barter future reputation for +present popularity? + +_Author. Meliora spero._ Horace himself expected not to survive in all +his works--I may hope to live in some of mine;--_non omnis moriar._ It +is some consolation to reflect, that the best authors in all countries +have been the most voluminous; and it has often happened, that those +who have been best received in their own time, have also continued to +be acceptable to posterity. I do not think so ill of the present +generation, as to suppose that its present favour necessarily infers +future condemnation. + +_Captain._ Were all to act on such principles, the public would be +inundated. + +_Author_ Once more, my dear son, beware of cant. You speak as if the +public were obliged to read books merely because they are printed-- +your friends the booksellers would thank you to make the proposition +good. The most serious grievance attending such inundations as you +talk of, is, that they make rags dear. The multiplicity of +publications does the present age no harm, and may greatly advantage +that which is to succeed us. + +_Captain._ I do not see how that is to happen. + +_Author._ The complaints in the time of Elizabeth and James, of the +alarming fertility of the press, were as loud as they are at present-- +yet look at the shore over which the inundation of that age flowed, +and it resembles now the Rich Strand of the Faery Queen-- + + ----"Besrrew'd all with rich array, + Of pearl and precious stones of great assay; + And all the gravel mix'd with golden ore." + +Believe me, that even in the most neglected works of the present age, +the next may discover treasures. + +_Captain._ Some books will defy all alchemy. + +_Author._ They will be but few in number; since, as for the writers, +who are possessed of no merit at all, unless indeed they publish their +works at their own expense, like Sir Richard Blackmore, their power of +annoying the public will be soon limited by the difficulty of finding +undertaking booksellers. + +_Captain._ You are incorrigible. Are there no bounds to your audacity? + +_Author._ There are the sacred and eternal boundaries of honour and +virtue. My course is like the enchanted chamber of Britomart-- + + "Where as she look'd about, she did behold + How over that same door was likewise writ, + _Be Bold--Be Bold,_ and everywhere _Be Bold._ + Whereat she mused, and could not construe it; + At last she spied at that room's upper end + Another iron door, on which was writ-- + BE NOT TOO BOLD." + +_Captain._ Well, you must take the risk of proceeding on your own +principles. + +_Author._ Do you act on yours, and take care you do not stay idling +here till the dinner hour is over.--I will add this work to your +patrimony, _valeat quantum._ + +Here our dialogue terminated; for a little sooty-faced Apollyon from +the Canongate came to demand the proof-sheet on the part of Mr. +M'Corkindale; and I heard Mr. C. rebuking Mr. F. in another +compartment of the same labyrinth I have described, for suffering any +one to penetrate so far into the _penetralia_ of their temple. + +I leave it to you to form your own opinion concerning the import of +this dialogue, and I cannot but believe I shall meet the wishes of our +common parent in prefixing this letter to the work which it concerns. + + I am, reverend and dear Sir, + Very sincerely and affectionately + Yours, + + + + + + +THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL + +_Knifegrinder._ Story? Lord bless you! I have none to tell, sir. + _Poetry of the Antijacobin._ + + + + +THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL + + +CHAPTER I + + + Now Scot and English are agreed, + And Saunders hastes to cross the Tweed, + Where, such the splendours that attend him, + His very mother scarce had kend him. + His metamorphosis behold, + From Glasgow frieze to cloth of gold; + His back-sword, with the iron hilt, + To rapier, fairly hatch'd and gilt; + Was ever seen a gallant braver! + His very bonnet's grown a beaver. + _The Reformation._ + +The long-continued hostilities which had for centuries separated the +south and the north divisions of the Island of Britain, had been +happily terminated by the succession of the pacific James I. to the +English Crown. But although the united crown of England and Scotland +was worn by the same individual, it required a long lapse of time, and +the succession of more than one generation, ere the inveterate +national prejudices which had so long existed betwixt the sister +kingdoms were removed, and the subjects of either side of the Tweed +brought to regard those upon the opposite bank as friends and as +brethren. + +These prejudices were, of course, most inveterate during the reign of +King James. The English subjects accused him of partiality to those of +his ancient kingdom; while the Scots, with equal injustice, charged +him with having forgotten the land of his nativity, and with +neglecting those early friends to whose allegiance he had been so much +indebted. + +The temper of the king, peaceable even to timidity, inclined him +perpetually to interfere as mediator between the contending factions, +whose brawls disturbed the Court. But, notwithstanding all his +precautions, historians have recorded many instances, where the mutual +hatred of two nations, who, after being enemies for a thousand years, +had been so very recently united, broke forth with a fury which +menaced a general convulsion; and, spreading from the highest to the +lowest classes, as it occasioned debates in council and parliament, +factions in the court, and duels among the gentry, was no less +productive of riots and brawls amongst the lower orders. + +While these heart-burnings were at the highest, there flourished in +the city of London an ingenious but whimsical and self opinioned +mechanic, much devoted to abstract studies, David Ramsay by name, who, +whether recommended by his great skill in his profession, as the +courtiers alleged, or, as was murmured among the neighbours, by his +birthplace, in the good town of Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, held in +James's household the post of maker of watches and horologes to his +Majesty. He scorned not, however, to keep open shop within Temple Bar, +a few yards to the eastward of Saint Dunstan's Church. + +The shop of a London tradesman at that time, as it may be supposed, +was something very different from those we now see in the same +locality. The goods were exposed to sale in cases, only defended from +the weather by a covering of canvass, and the whole resembled the +stalls and booths now erected for the temporary accommodation of +dealers at a country fair, rather than the established emporium of a +respectable citizen. But most of the shopkeepers of note, and David +Ramsay amongst others, had their booth connected with a small +apartment which opened backward from it, and bore the same resemblance +to the front shop that Robinson Crusoe's cavern did to the tent which +he erected before it. + +To this Master Ramsay was often accustomed to retreat to the labour of +his abstruse calculations; for he aimed at improvements and +discoveries in his own art, and sometimes pushed his researches, like +Napier, and other mathematicians of the period, into abstract science. +When thus engaged, he left the outer posts of his commercial +establishment to be maintained by two stout-bodied and strong-voiced +apprentices, who kept up the cry of, "What d'ye lack? what d'ye lack?" +accompanied with the appropriate recommendations of the articles in +which they dealt. + +This direct and personal application for custom to those who chanced +to pass by, is now, we believe, limited to Monmouth Street, (if it +still exists even in that repository of ancient garments,) under the +guardianship of the scattered remnant of Israel. But at the time we +are speaking of, it was practised alike by Jew and Gentile, and +served, instead of all our present newspaper puffs and advertisements, +to solicit the attention of the public in general, and of friends in +particular, to the unrivalled excellence of the goods, which they +offered to sale upon such easy terms, that it might fairly appear that +the venders had rather a view to the general service of the public, +than to their own particular advantage. + +The verbal proclaimers of the excellence of their commodities, had +this advantage over those who, in the present day, use the public +papers for the same purpose, that they could in many cases adapt their +address to the peculiar appearance and apparent taste of the +passengers. [This, as we have said, was also the case in Monmouth +Street in our remembrance. We have ourselves been reminded of the +deficiencies of our femoral habiliments, and exhorted upon that score +to fit ourselves more beseemingly; but this is a digression.] This +direct and personal mode of invitation to customers became, however, a +dangerous temptation to the young wags who were employed in the task +of solicitation during the absence of the principal person interested +in the traffic; and, confiding in their numbers and civic union, the +'prentices of London were often seduced into taking liberties with the +passengers, and exercising their wit at the expense of those whom they +had no hopes of converting into customers by their eloquence. If this +were resented by any act of violence, the inmates of each shop were +ready to pour forth in succour; and in the words of an old song which +Dr. Johnson was used to hum,-- + + "Up then rose the 'prentices all, + Living in London, both proper and tall." + +Desperate riots often arose on such occasions, especially when the +Templars, or other youths connected with the aristocracy, were +insulted, or conceived themselves to be so. Upon such occasions, bare +steel was frequently opposed to the clubs of the citizens, and death +sometimes ensued on both sides. The tardy and inefficient police of +the time had no other resource than by the Alderman of the ward +calling out the householders, and putting a stop to the strife by +overpowering numbers, as the Capulets and Montagues are separated upon +the stage. + +At the period when such was the universal custom of the most +respectable, as well as the most inconsiderable, shopkeepers in +London, David Ramsay, on the evening to which we solicit the attention +of the reader, retiring to more abstruse and private labours, left the +administration of his outer shop, or booth, to the aforesaid sharp- +witted, active, able-bodied, and well-voiced apprentices, namely, +Jenkin Vincent and Frank Tunstall. + +Vincent had been educated at the excellent foundation of Christ's +Church Hospital, and was bred, therefore, as well as born, a Londoner, +with all the acuteness, address, and audacity which belong peculiarly +to the youth of a metropolis. He was now about twenty years old, short +in stature, but remarkably strong made, eminent for his feats upon +holidays at foot-ball, and other gymnastic exercises; scarce rivalled +in the broad-sword play, though hitherto only exercised in the form of +single-stick. He knew every lane, blind alley, and sequestered court +of the ward, better than his catechism; was alike active in his +master's affairs, and in his own adventures of fun and mischief; and +so managed matters, that the credit he acquired by the former bore him +out, or at least served for his apology, when the latter propensity +led him into scrapes, of which, however, it is but fair to state, that +they had hitherto inferred nothing mean or discreditable. Some +aberrations there were, which David Ramsay, his master, endeavoured to +reduce to regular order when he discovered them, and others which he +winked at--supposing them to answer the purpose of the escapement of a +watch, which disposes of a certain quantity of the extra power of that +mechanical impulse which puts the whole in motion. + +The physiognomy of Jin Vin--by which abbreviation he was familiarly +known through the ward--corresponded with the sketch we have given of +his character. His head, upon which his 'prentice's flat cap was +generally flung in a careless and oblique fashion, was closely covered +with thick hair of raven black, which curled naturally and closely, +and would have grown to great length, but for the modest custom +enjoined by his state in life and strictly enforced by his master, +which compelled him to keep it short-cropped,--not unreluctantly, as +he looked with envy on the flowing ringlets, in which the courtiers, +and aristocratic students of the neighbouring Temple, began to indulge +themselves, as marks of superiority and of gentility. + +Vincent's eyes were deep set in his head, of a strong vivid black, +full of fire, roguery, and intelligence, and conveying a humorous +expression, even while he was uttering the usual small-talk of his +trade, as if he ridiculed those who were disposed to give any weight +to his commonplaces. He had address enough, however, to add little +touches of his own, which gave a turn of drollery even to this +ordinary routine of the booth; and the alacrity of his manner--his +ready and obvious wish to oblige--his intelligence and civility, when +he thought civility necessary, made him a universal favourite with his +master's customers. + +His features were far from regular, for his nose was flattish, his +mouth tending to the larger size, and his complexion inclining to be +more dark than was then thought consistent with masculine beauty. But, +in despite of his having always breathed the air of a crowded city, +his complexion had the ruddy and manly expression of redundant health; +his turned-up nose gave an air of spirit and raillery to what he said, +and seconded the laugh of his eyes; and his wide mouth was garnished +with a pair of well-formed and well-coloured lips, which, when he +laughed, disclosed a range of teeth strong and well set, and as white +as the very pearl. Such was the elder apprentice of David Ramsay, +Memory's Monitor, watchmaker, and constructor of horologes, to his +Most Sacred Majesty James I. + +Jenkin's companion was the younger apprentice, though, perhaps, he +might be the elder of the two in years. At any rate, he was of a much +more staid and composed temper. Francis Tunstall was of that ancient +and proud descent who claimed the style of the "unstained;" because, +amid the various chances of the long and bloody wars of the Roses, +they had, with undeviating faith, followed the House of Lancaster, to +which they had originally attached themselves. The meanest sprig of +such a tree attached importance to the root from which it derived +itself; and Tunstall was supposed to nourish in secret a proportion of +that family pride, which had exhorted tears from his widowed and +almost indigent mother, when she saw herself obliged to consign him to +a line of life inferior, as her prejudices suggested, to the course +held by his progenitors. Yet, with all this aristocratic prejudice, +his master found the well-born youth more docile, regular, and +strictly attentive to his duty, than his far more active and alert +comrade. Tunstall also gratified his master by the particular +attention which he seemed disposed to bestow on the abstract +principles of science connected with the trade which he was bound to +study, the limits of which were daily enlarged with the increase of +mathematical science. + +Vincent beat his companion beyond the distance-post, in every thing +like the practical adaptation of thorough practice, in the dexterity +of hand necessary to execute the mechanical branches of the art, and +doubled-distanced him in all respecting the commercial affairs of the +shop. Still David Ramsay was wont to say, that if Vincent knew how to +do a thing the better of the two, Tunstall was much better acquainted +with the principles on which it ought to be done; and he sometimes +objected to the latter, that he knew critical excellence too well ever +to be satisfied with practical mediocrity. + +The disposition of Tunstall was shy, as well as studious; and, though +perfectly civil and obliging, he never seemed to feel himself in his +place while he went through the duties of the shop. He was tall and +handsome, with fair hair, and well-formed limbs, good features, well- +opened light-blue eyes, a straight Grecian nose, and a countenance +which expressed both good-humour and intelligence, but qualified by a +gravity unsuitable to his years, and which almost amounted to +dejection. He lived on the best of terms with his companion, and +readily stood by him whenever he was engaged in any of the frequent +skirmishes, which, as we have already observed, often disturbed the +city of London about this period. But though Tunstall was allowed to +understand quarter-staff (the weapon of the North country) in a +superior degree, and though he was naturally both strong and active, +his interference in such affrays seemed always matter of necessity; +and, as he never voluntarily joined either their brawls or their +sports, he held a far lower place in the opinion of the youth of the +ward than his hearty and active friend Jin Vin. Nay, had it not been +for the interest made for his comrade, by the intercession of Vincent, +Tunstall would have stood some chance of being altogether excluded +from the society of his contemporaries of the same condition, who +called him, in scorn, the Cavaliero Cuddy, and the Gentle Tunstall. + +On the other hand, the lad himself, deprived of the fresh air in which +he had been brought up, and foregoing the exercise to which he had +formerly been accustomed, while the inhabitant of his native mansion, +lost gradually the freshness of his complexion, and, without showing +any formal symptoms of disease, grew more thin and pale as he grew +older, and at length exhibited the appearance of indifferent health, +without any thing of the habits and complaints of an invalid, +excepting a disposition to avoid society, and to spend his leisure +time in private study, rather than mingle in the sports of his +companions, or even resort to the theatres, then the general +rendezvous of his class; where, according to high authority, they +fought for half-bitten apples, cracked nuts, and filled the upper +gallery with their clamours. + +Such were the two youths who called David Ramsay master; and with both +of whom he used to fret from morning till night, as their +peculiarities interfered with his own, or with the quiet and +beneficial course of his traffic. + +Upon the whole, however, the youths were attached to their master, and +he, a good-natured, though an absent and whimsical man, was scarce +less so to them; and when a little warmed with wine at an occasional +junketing, he used to boast, in his northern dialect, of his "twa +bonnie lads, and the looks that the court ladies threw at them, when +visiting his shop in their caroches, when on a frolic into the city." +But David Ramsay never failed, at the same time, to draw up his own +tall, thin, lathy skeleton, extend his lean jaws into an alarming +grin, and indicate, by a nod of his yard-long visage, and a twinkle of +his little grey eye, that there might be more faces in Fleet Street +worth looking at than those of Frank and Jenkin. His old neighbour, +Widow Simmons, the sempstress, who had served, in her day, the very +tip-top revellers of the Temple, with ruffs, cuffs, and bands, +distinguished more deeply the sort of attention paid by the females of +quality, who so regularly visited David Ramsay's shop, to its inmates. +"The boy Frank," she admitted, "used to attract the attention of the +young ladies, as having something gentle and downcast in his looks; +but then he could not better himself, for the poor youth had not a +word to throw at a dog. Now Jin Vin was so full of his jibes and +jeers, and so willing, and so ready, and so serviceable, and so +mannerly all the while, with a step that sprung like a buck's in +Epping Forest, and his eye that twinkled as black as a gipsy's, that +no woman who knew the world would make a comparison betwixt the lads. +As for poor neighbour Ramsay himself, the man," she said, "was a civil +neighbour, and a learned man, doubtless, and might be a rich man if he +had common sense to back his learning; and doubtless, for a Scot, +neighbour Ramsay was nothing of a bad man, but he was so constantly +grimed with smoke, gilded with brass filings, and smeared with lamp- +black and oil, that Dame Simmons judged it would require his whole +shopful of watches to induce any feasible woman to touch the said +neighbour Ramsay with any thing save a pair of tongs." + +A still higher authority, Dame Ursula, wife to Benjamin Suddlechop, +the barber, was of exactly the same opinion. + +Such were, in natural qualities and public estimation, the two youths, +who, in a fine April day, having first rendered their dutiful service +and attendance on the table of their master and his daughter, at their +dinner at one o'clock,--Such, O ye lads of London, was the severe +discipline undergone by your predecessors!--and having regaled +themselves upon the fragments, in company with two female domestics, +one a cook, and maid of all work, the other called Mistress Margaret's +maid, now relieved their master in the duty of the outward shop; and +agreeably to the established custom, were soliciting, by their +entreaties and recommendations of their master's manufacture, the +attention and encouragement of the passengers. + +In this species of service it may be easily supposed that Jenkin +Vincent left his more reserved and bashful comrade far in the +background. The latter could only articulate with difficulty, and as +an act of duty which he was rather ashamed of discharging, the +established words of form--"What d'ye lack?--What d'ye lack?--Clocks-- +watches--barnacles?--What d'ye lack?--Watches--clocks--barnacles?-- +What d'ye lack, sir? What d'ye lack, madam?--Barnacles--watches-- +clocks?" + +But this dull and dry iteration, however varied by diversity of verbal +arrangement, sounded flat when mingled with the rich and +recommendatory oratory of the bold-faced, deep-mouthed, and ready- +witted Jenkin Vincent.--"What d'ye lack, noble sir?--What d'ye lack, +beauteous madam?" he said, in a tone at once bold and soothing, which +often was so applied as both to gratify the persons addressed, and to +excite a smile from other hearers.--"God bless your reverence," to a +beneficed clergyman; "the Greek and Hebrew have harmed your +reverence's eyes--Buy a pair of David Ramsay's barnacles. The King-- +God bless his Sacred Majesty!--never reads Hebrew or Greek without +them." + +"Are you well avised of that?" said a fat parson from the Vale of +Evesham. "Nay, if the Head of the Church wears them,--God bless his +Sacred Majesty!--I will try what they can do for me; for I have not +been able to distinguish one Hebrew letter from another, since--I +cannot remember the time--when I had a bad fever. Choose me a pair of +his most Sacred Majesty's own wearing, my good youth." "This is a +pair, and please your reverence," said Jenkin, producing a pair of +spectacles which he touched with an air of great deference and +respect, "which his most blessed Majesty placed this day three weeks +on his own blessed nose; and would have kept them for his own sacred +use, but that the setting being, as your reverence sees, of the purest +jet, was, as his Sacred Majesty was pleased to say, fitter for a +bishop than for a secular prince." + +"His Sacred Majesty the King," said the worthy divine, "was ever a +very Daniel in his judgment. Give me the barnacles, my good youth, and +who can say what nose they may bestride in two years hence?--our +reverend brother of Gloucester waxes in years." He then pulled out his +purse, paid for the spectacles, and left the shop with even a more +important step than that which had paused to enter it. + +"For shame," said Tunstall to his companion; "these glasses will never +suit one of his years." + +"You are a fool, Frank," said Vincent, in reply; "had the good doctor +wished glasses to read with, he would have tried them before buying. +He does not want to look through them himself, and these will serve +the purpose of being looked at by other folks, as well as the best +magnifiers in the shop.--What d'ye lack?" he cried, resuming his +solicitations. "Mirrors for your toilette, my pretty madam; your head- +gear is something awry--pity, since it is so well fancied." The woman +stopped and bought a mirror.--"What d'ye lack?--a watch, Master +Sergeant--a watch that will go as long as a lawsuit, as steady and +true as your own eloquence?" + +"Hold your peace, sir," answered the Knight of the Coif, who was +disturbed by Vin's address whilst in deep consultation with an eminent +attorney; "hold your peace! You are the loudest-tongued varlet betwixt +the Devil's Tavern and Guildhall." + +"A watch," reiterated the undaunted Jenkin, "that shall not lose +thirteen minutes in a thirteen years' lawsuit.--He's out of hearing--A +watch with four wheels and a bar-movement--a watch that shall tell +you, Master Poet, how long the patience of the audience will endure +your next piece at the Black Bull." The bard laughed, and fumbled in +the pocket of his slops till he chased into a corner, and fairly +caught, a small piece of coin. + +"Here is a tester to cherish thy wit, good boy," he said. + +"Gramercy," said Vin; "at the next play of yours I will bring down a +set of roaring boys, that shall make all the critics in the pit, and +the gallants on the stage, civil, or else the curtain shall smoke for +it." + +"Now, that I call mean," said Tunstall, "to take the poor rhymer's +money, who has so little left behind." + +"You are an owl, once again," said Vincent; "if he has nothing left to +buy cheese and radishes, he will only dine a day the sooner with some +patron or some player, for that is his fate five days out of the +seven. It is unnatural that a poet should pay for his own pot of beer; +I will drink his tester for him, to save him from such shame; and when +his third night comes round, he shall have penniworths for his coin, I +promise you.--But here comes another-guess customer. Look at that +strange fellow--see how he gapes at every shop, as if he would swallow +the wares.--O! Saint Dunstan has caught his eye; pray God he swallow +not the images. See how he stands astonished, as old Adam and Eve ply +their ding-dong! Come, Frank, thou art a scholar; construe me that +same fellow, with his blue cap with a cock's feather in it, to show +he's of gentle blood, God wot--his grey eyes, his yellow hair, his +sword with a ton of iron in the handle--his grey thread-bare cloak-- +his step like a Frenchman--his look like a Spaniard--a book at his +girdle, and a broad dudgeon-dagger on the other side, to show him +half-pedant, half-bully. How call you that pageant, Frank?" + +"A raw Scotsman," said Tunstall; "just come up, I suppose, to help the +rest of his countrymen to gnaw old England's bones; a palmerworm, I +reckon, to devour what the locust has spared." + +"Even so, Frank," answered Vincent; "just as the poet sings sweetly,-- + + 'In Scotland he was born and bred, + And, though a beggar, must be fed.'" + +"Hush!" said Tunstall, "remember our master." + +"Pshaw!" answered his mercurial companion; "he knows on which side his +bread is buttered, and I warrant you has not lived so long among +Englishmen, and by Englishmen, to quarrel with us for bearing an +English mind. But see, our Scot has done gazing at St. Dunstan's, and +comes our way. By this light, a proper lad and a sturdy, in spite of +freckles and sun-burning.--He comes nearer still, I will have at him." + +"And, if you do," said his comrade, "you may get a broken head--he +looks not as if he would carry coals." + +"A fig for your threat," said Vincent, and instantly addressed the +stranger. "Buy a watch, most noble northern Thane--buy a watch, to +count the hours of plenty since the blessed moment you left Berwick +behind you.--Buy barnacles, to see the English gold lies ready for +your gripe.--Buy what you will, you shall have credit for three days; +for, were your pockets as bare as Father Fergus's, you are a Scot in +London, and you will be stocked in that time." The stranger looked +sternly at the waggish apprentice, and seemed to grasp his cudgel in +rather a menacing fashion. "Buy physic," said the undaunted Vincent, +"if you will buy neither time nor light--physic for a proud stomach, +sir;--there is a 'pothecary's shop on the other side of the way." + +Here the probationary disciple of Galen, who stood at his master's +door in his flat cap and canvass sleeves, with a large wooden pestle +in his hand, took up the ball which was flung to him by Jenkin, with, +"What d'ye lack, sir?--Buy a choice Caledonian salve, _Flos sulphvr. +cum butyro quant. suff._" + +"To be taken after a gentle rubbing-down with an English oaken towel," +said Vincent. + +The bonny Scot had given full scope to the play of this small +artillery of city wit, by halting his stately pace, and viewing +grimly, first the one assailant, and then the other, as if menacing +either repartee or more violent revenge. But phlegm or prudence got +the better of his indignation, and tossing his head as one who valued +not the raillery to which he had been exposed, he walked down Fleet +Street, pursued by the horse-laugh of his tormentors. + +"The Scot will not fight till he see his own blood," said Tunstall, +whom his north of England extraction had made familiar with all manner +of proverbs against those who lay yet farther north than himself. + +"Faith, I know not," said Jenkin; "he looks dangerous, that fellow--he +will hit some one over the noddle before he goes far.--Hark!--hark!-- +they are rising." + +Accordingly, the well-known cry of, "'Prentices--'prentices--Clubs-- +clubs!" now rang along Fleet Street; and Jenkin, snatching up his +weapon, which lay beneath the counter ready at the slightest notice, +and calling to Tunstall to take his bat and follow, leaped over the +hatch-door which protected the outer-shop, and ran as fast as he could +towards the affray, echoing the cry as he ran, and elbowing, or +shoving aside, whoever stood in his way. His comrade, first calling to +his master to give an eye to the shop, followed Jenkin's example, and +ran after him as fast as he could, but with more attention to the +safety and convenience of others; while old David Ramsay, with hands +and eyes uplifted, a green apron before him, and a glass which he had +been polishing thrust into his bosom, came forth to look after the +safety of his goods and chattels, knowing, by old experience, that, +when the cry of "Clubs" once arose, he would have little aid on the +part of his apprentices. + + + + + +CHAPTER II + + + This, sir, is one among the Seignory, + Has wealth at will, and will to use his wealth, + And wit to increase it. Marry, his worst folly + Lies in a thriftless sort of charity, + That goes a-gadding sometimes after objects, + Which wise men will not see when thrust upon them. + _The Old Couple._ + +The ancient gentleman bustled about his shop, in pettish displeasure +at being summoned hither so hastily, to the interruption of his more +abstract studies; and, unwilling to renounce the train of calculation +which he had put in progress, he mingled whimsically with the +fragments of the arithmetical operation, his oratory to the +passengers, and angry reflections on his idle apprentices. "What d'ye +lack, sir? Madam, what d'ye lack--clocks for hall or table--night- +watches--day watches?--_Locking wheel being 48--the power of retort 8 +--the striking pins are 48_--What d'ye lack, honoured sir?--_The +quotient--the multiplicand_--That the knaves should have gone out this +blessed minute!--_the acceleration being at the rate of 5 minutes, 55 +seconds, 53 thirds, 59 fourths_--I will switch them both when they +come back--I will, by the bones of the immortal Napier!" + +Here the vexed philosopher was interrupted by the entrance of a grave +citizen of a most respectable appearance, who, saluting him familiarly +by the name of "Davie, my old acquaintance," demanded what had put him +so much out of sorts, and gave him at the same time a cordial grasp of +his hand. + +The stranger's dress was, though grave, rather richer than usual. His +paned hose were of black velvet, lined with purple silk, which +garniture appeared at the slashes. His doublet was of purple cloth, +and his short cloak of black velvet, to correspond with his hose; and +both were adorned with a great number of small silver buttons richly +wrought in filigree. A triple chain of gold hung round his neck; and, +in place of a sword or dagger, he wore at his belt an ordinary knife +for the purpose of the table, with a small silver case, which appeared +to contain writing materials. He might have seemed some secretary or +clerk engaged in the service of the public, only that his low, flat, +and unadorned cap, and his well-blacked, shining shoes, indicated that +he belonged to the city. He was a well-made man, about the middle +size, and seemed in firm health, though advanced in years. His looks +expressed sagacity and good-humour: and the air of respectability +which his dress announced, was well supported by his clear eye, ruddy +cheek, and grey hair. He used the Scottish idiom in his first address, +but in such a manner that it could hardly be distinguished whether he +was passing upon his friend a sort of jocose mockery, or whether it +was his own native dialect, for his ordinary discourse had little +provincialism. + +In answer to the queries of his respectable friend, Ramsay groaned +heavily, answering by echoing back the question, "What ails me, Master +George? Why, every thing ails me! I profess to you that a man may as +well live in Fairyland as in the Ward of Farringdon-Without. My +apprentices are turned into mere goblins--they appear and disappear +like spunkies, and have no more regularity in them than a watch +without a scapement. If there is a ball to be tossed up, or a bullock +to be driven mad, or a quean to be ducked for scolding, or a head to +be broken, Jenkin is sure to be at the one end or the other of it, and +then away skips Francis Tunstall for company. I think the prize- +fighters, bear-leaders, and mountebanks, are in a league against me, +my dear friend, and that they pass my house ten times for any other in +the city. Here's an Italian fellow come over, too, that they call +Punchinello; and, altogether----" + +"Well," interrupted Master George, "but what is all this to the +present case?" + +"Why," replied Ramsay, "here has been a cry of thieves or murder, (I +hope that will prove the least of it amongst these English pock- +pudding swine!) and I have been interrupted in the deepest calculation +ever mortal man plunged into, Master George." + +"What, man!" replied Master George, "you must take patience--You are a +man that deals in time, and can make it go fast and slow at pleasure; +you, of all the world, have least reason to complain, if a little of +it be lost now and then.--But here come your boys, and bringing in a +slain man betwixt them, I think--here has been serious mischief, I am +afraid." + +"The more mischief the better sport," said the crabbed old watchmaker. +"I am blithe, though, that it's neither of the twa loons themselves.-- +What are ye bringing a corpse here for, ye fause villains?" he added, +addressing the two apprentices, who, at the head of a considerable mob +of their own class, some of whom bore evident marks of a recent fray, +were carrying the body betwixt them. + +"He is not dead yet, sir," answered Tunstall. + +"Carry him into the apothecary's, then," replied his master. "D'ye +think I can set a man's life in motion again, as if he were a clock or +a timepiece?" + +"For godsake, old friend," said his acquaintance, "let us have him +here at the nearest--he seems only in a swoon." + +"A swoon?" said Ramsay, "and what business had he to swoon in the +streets? Only, if it will oblige my friend Master George, I would take +in all the dead men in St. Dunstan's parish. Call Sam Porter to look +after the shop." So saying, the stunned man, being the identical +Scotsman who had passed a short time before amidst the jeers of the +apprentices, was carried into the back shop of the artist, and there +placed in an armed chair till the apothecary from over the way came to +his assistance. This gentleman, as sometimes happens to those of the +learned professions, had rather more lore than knowledge, and began to +talk of the sinciput and occiput, and cerebrum and cerebellum, until +he exhausted David Ramsay's brief stock of patience. + +"Bell-um! bell-ell-um!" he repeated, with great indignation; "What +signify all the bells in London, if you do not put a plaster on the +child's crown?" + +Master George, with better-directed zeal, asked the apothecary whether +bleeding might not be useful; when, after humming and hawing for a +moment, and being unable, upon the spur of the occasion, to suggest +any thing else, the man of pharmacy observed, that it would, at all +events, relieve the brain or cerebrum, in case there was a tendency to +the depositation of any extravasated blood, to operate as a pressure +upon that delicate organ. + +Fortunately he was adequate to performing this operation; and, being +powerfully aided by Jenkin Vincent (who was learned in all cases of +broken heads) with plenty of cold water, and a little vinegar, applied +according to the scientific method practised by the bottle-holders in +a modern ring, the man began to raise himself on his chair, draw his +cloak tightly around him, and look about like one who struggles to +recover sense and recollection. + +"He had better lie down on the bed in the little back closet," said +Mr. Ramsay's visitor, who seemed perfectly familiar with the +accommodations which the house afforded. + +"He is welcome to my share of the truckle," said Jenkin,--for in the +said back closet were the two apprentices accommodated in one truckle- +bed,--"I can sleep under the counter." + +"So can I," said Tunstall, "and the poor fellow can have the bed all +night." + +"Sleep," said the apothecary, "is, in the opinion of Galen, a +restorative and febrifuge, and is most naturally taken in a truckle- +bed." + +"Where a better cannot be come by,"--said Master George; "but these +are two honest lads, to give up their beds so willingly. Come, off +with his cloak, and let us bear him to his couch--I will send for Dr. +Irving, the king's chirurgeon--he does not live far off, and that +shall be my share of the Samaritan's duty, neighbour Ramsay." + +"Well, sir," said the apothecary, "it is at your pleasure to send for +other advice, and I shall not object to consult with Dr. Irving or any +other medical person of skill, neither to continue to furnish such +drugs as may be needful from my pharmacopeia. However, whatever Dr. +Irving, who, I think, hath had his degrees in Edinburgh, or Dr. Any- +one-beside, be he Scottish or English, may say to the contrary, sleep, +taken timeously, is a febrifuge, or sedative, and also a restorative." + +He muttered a few more learned words, and concluded by informing +Ramsay's friend in English far more intelligible than his Latin, that +he would look to him as his paymaster, for medicines, care, and +attendance, furnished, or to be furnished, to this party unknown. + +Master George only replied by desiring him to send his bill for what +he had already to charge, and to give himself no farther trouble +unless he heard from him. The pharmacopolist, who, from discoveries +made by the cloak falling a little aside, had no great opinion of the +faculty of this chance patient to make reimbursement, had no sooner +seen his case espoused by a substantial citizen, than he showed some +reluctance to quit possession of it, and it needed a short and stern +hint from Master George, which, with all his good-humour, he was +capable of expressing when occasion required, to send to his own +dwelling this Esculapius of Temple Bar. + +When they were rid of Mr. Raredrench, the charitable efforts of Jenkin +and Francis, to divest the patient of his long grey cloak, were firmly +resisted on his own part.--"My life suner--my life suner," he muttered +in indistinct murmurs. In these efforts to retain his upper garment, +which was too tender to resist much handling, it gave way at length +with a loud rent, which almost threw the patient into a second +syncope, and he sat before them in his under garments, the looped and +repaired wretchedness of which moved at once pity and laughter, and +had certainly been the cause of his unwillingness to resign the +mantle, which, like the virtue of charity, served to cover so many +imperfections. + +The man himself cast his eyes on his poverty-struck garb, and seemed +so much ashamed of the disclosure, that, muttering between his teeth, +that he would be too late for his appointment, he made an effort to +rise and leave the shop, which was easily prevented by Jenkin Vincent +and his comrade, who, at the nod of Master George, laid hold of and +detained him in his chair. + +The patient next looked round him for a moment, and then said faintly, +in his broad northern language--"What sort of usage ca' ye this, +gentlemen, to a stranger a sojourner in your town? Ye hae broken my +head--ye hae riven my cloak, and now ye are for restraining my +personal liberty! They were wiser than me," he said, after a moment's +pause, "that counselled me to wear my warst claithing in the streets +of London; and, if I could have got ony things warse than these mean +garments,"--("which would have been very difficult," said Jin Vin, in +a whisper to his companion,)--"they would have been e'en ower gude for +the grips o' men sae little acquented with the laws of honest +civility." + +"To say the truth," said Jenkin, unable to forbear any longer, +although the discipline of the times prescribed to those in his +situation a degree of respectful distance and humility in the presence +of parents, masters, or seniors, of which the present age has no idea-- +"to say the truth, the good gentleman's clothes look as if they would +not brook much handling." + +"Hold your peace, young man," said Master George, with a tone of +authority; "never mock the stranger or the poor--the black ox has not +trod on your foot yet--you know not what lands you may travel in, or +what clothes you may wear, before you die." + +Vincent held down his head and stood rebuked, but the stranger did not +accept the apology which was made for him. + +"I _am_ a stranger, sir," said he, "that is certain; though methinks, +that, being such, I have been somewhat familiarly treated in this town +of yours; but, as for my being poor, I think I need not be charged +with poverty, till I seek siller of somebody." + +"The dear country all over," said Master George, in a whisper, to +David Ramsay, "pride and poverty." + +But David had taken out his tablets and silver pen, and, deeply +immersed in calculations, in which he rambled over all the terms of +arithmetic, from the simple unit to millions, billions, and trillions, +neither heard nor answered the observation of his friend, who, seeing +his abstraction, turned again to the Scot. + +"I fancy now, Jockey, if a stranger were to offer you a noble, you +would chuck it back at his head?" + +"Not if I could do him honest service for it, sir," said the Scot; "I +am willing to do what I may to be useful, though I come of an +honourable house, and may be said to be in a sort indifferently weel +provided for." + +"Ay!" said the interrogator, "and what house may claim the honour of +your descent?" + +"An ancient coat belongs to it, as the play says," whispered Vincent +to his companion. + +"Come, Jockey, out with it," continued Master George, observing that +the Scot, as usual with his countrymen, when asked a blunt, +straightforward question, took a little time before answering it. + +"I am no more Jockey, sir, than you are John," said the stranger, as +if offended at being addressed by a name, which at that time was used, +as Sawney now is, for a general appellative of the Scottish nation. +"My name, if you must know it, is Richie Moniplies; and I come of the +old and honourable house of Castle Collop, weel kend at the West-Port +of Edinburgh." + +"What is that you call the West-Port?" proceeded the interrogator. + +"Why, an it like your honour," said Richie, who now, having recovered +his senses sufficiently to observe the respectable exterior of Master +George, threw more civility into his manner than at first, "the West- +Port is a gate of our city, as yonder brick arches at Whitehall form +the entrance of the king's palace here, only that the West-Port is of +stonern work, and mair decorated with architecture and the policy of +bigging." + +"Nouns, man, the Whitehall gateways were planned by the great +Holbein," answered Master George; "I suspect your accident has jumbled +your brains, my good friend. I suppose you will tell me next, you have +at Edinburgh as fine a navigable river as the Thames, with all its +shipping?" "The Thames!" exclaimed Richie, in a tone of ineffable +contempt--"God bless your honour's judgment, we have at Edinburgh the +Water-of-Leith and the Nor-loch!" + +"And the Pow-Burn, and the Quarry-holes, and the Gusedub, ye fause +loon!" answered Master George, speaking Scotch with a strong and +natural emphasis; "it is such land-loupers as you, that, with your +falset and fair fashions, bring reproach on our whole country." + +"God forgie me, sir," said Richie, much surprised at finding the +supposed southron converted into a native Scot, "I took your honour +for an Englisher! But I hope there was naething wrang in standing up +for ane's ain country's credit in a strange land, where all men cry +her down?" + +"Do you call it for your country's credit, to show that she has a +lying, puffing rascal, for one of her children?" said Master George. +"But come, man, never look grave on it,--as you have found a +countryman, so you have found a friend, if you deserve one--and +especially if you answer me truly." + +"I see nae gude it wad do me to speak ought else but truth," said the +worthy North Briton. + +"Well, then--to begin," said Master George, "I suspect you are a son +of old Mungo Moniplies, the flesher, at the West-Port." + +"Your honour is a witch, I think," said Richie, grinning. + +"And how dared you, sir, to uphold him for a noble?" + +"I dinna ken, sir," said Richie, scratching his head; "I hear muckle +of an Earl of Warwick in these southern parts,--Guy, I think his name +was,--and he has great reputation here for slaying dun cows, and +boars, and such like; and I am sure my father has killed more cows and +boars, not to mention bulls, calves, sheep, ewes, lambs, and pigs, +than the haill Baronage of England." + +"Go to! you are a shrewd knave," said Master George; "charm your +tongue, and take care of saucy answers. Your father was an honest +burgher, and the deacon of his craft: I am sorry to see his son in so +poor a coat." + +"Indifferent, sir," said Richie Moniplies, looking down on his +garments--"very indifferent; but it is the wonted livery of poor +burghers' sons in our country--one of Luckie Want's bestowing upon us +--rest us patient! The king's leaving Scotland has taken all custom +frae Edinburgh; and there is hay made at the Cross, and a dainty crop +of fouats in the Grass-market. There is as much grass grows where my +father's stall stood, as might have been a good bite for the beasts he +was used to kill." + +"It is even too true," said Master George; "and while we make fortunes +here, our old neighbours and their families are starving at home. This +should be thought upon oftener.--And how came you by that broken head, +Richie?--tell me honestly." + +"Troth, sir, I'se no lee about the matter," answered Moniplies. "I was +coming along the street here, and ilk ane was at me with their jests +and roguery. So I thought to mysell, ye are ower mony for me to mell +with; but let me catch ye in Barford's Park, or at the fit of the +Vennel, I could gar some of ye sing another sang. Sae ae auld hirpling +deevil of a potter behoved just to step in my way and offer me a pig, +as he said, just to put my Scotch ointment in, and I gave him a push, +as but natural, and the tottering deevil coupit ower amang his ain +pigs, and damaged a score of them. And then the reird raise, and hadna +these twa gentlemen helped me out of it, murdered I suld hae been, +without remeid. And as it was, just when they got haud of my arm to +have me out of the fray, I got the lick that donnerit me from a left- +handed lighterman." + +Master George looked to the apprentices as if to demand the truth of +this story. + +"It is just as he says, sir," replied Jenkin; "only I heard nothing +about pigs.--The people said he had broke some crockery, and that--I +beg pardon, sir--nobody could thrive within the kenning of a Scot." + +"Well, no matter what they said, you were an honest fellow to help the +weaker side.--And you, sirrah," continued Master George, addressing +his countryman, "will call at my house to-morrow morning, agreeable to +this direction." + +"I will wait upon your honour," said the Scot, bowing very low; "that +is, if my honourable master will permit me." + +"Thy master?" said George,--"Hast thou any other master save Want, +whose livery you say you wear?" + +"Troth, in one sense, if it please your honour, I serve twa masters," +said Richie; "for both my master and me are slaves to that same +beldam, whom we thought to show our heels to by coming off from +Scotland. So that you see, sir, I hold in a sort of black ward tenure, +as we call it in our country, being the servant of a servant." + +"And what is your master's name?" said Master George; and observing +that Richie hesitated, he added, "Nay, do not tell me, if it is a +secret." + +"A secret that there is little use in keeping," said Richie; "only ye +ken that our northern stomachs are ower proud to call in witnesses to +our distress. No that my master is in mair than present pinch, sir," +he added, looking towards the two English apprentices, "having a large +sum in the Royal Treasury--that is," he continued, in a whisper to +Master George,--"the king is owing him a lot of siller; but it's ill +getting at it, it's like.--My master is the young Lord Glenvarloch." + +Master George testified surprise at the name.--"_You_ one of the young +Lord Glenvarloch's followers, and in such a condition?" + +"Troth, and I am all the followers he has, for the present that is; +and blithe wad I be if he were muckle better aff than I am, though I +were to bide as I am." + +"I have seen his father with four gentlemen and ten lackeys at his +heels," said Master George, "rustling in their laces and velvets. +Well, this is a changeful world, but there is a better beyond it.--The +good old house of Glenvarloch, that stood by king and country five +hundred years!" + +"Your honour may say a thousand," said the follower. + +"I will say what I know to be true, friend," said the citizen, "and +not a word more.--You seem well recovered now--can you walk?" + +"Bravely, sir," said Richie; "it was but a bit dover. I was bred at +the West-Port, and my cantle will stand a clour wad bring a stot +down." + +"Where does your master lodge?" + +"We pit up, an it like your honour," replied the Scot, "in a sma' +house at the fit of ane of the wynds that gang down to the water-side, +with a decent man, John Christie, a ship-chandler, as they ca't. His +father came from Dundee. I wotna the name of the wynd, but it's right +anent the mickle kirk yonder; and your honour will mind, that we pass +only by our family-name of simple Mr. Nigel Olifaunt, as keeping +ourselves retired for the present, though in Scotland we be called the +Lord Nigel." + +"It is wisely done of your master," said the citizen. "I will find out +your lodgings, though your direction be none of the clearest." So +saying, and slipping a piece of money at the same time into Richie +Moniplies's hand, he bade him hasten home, and get into no more +affrays. + +"I will take care of that now, sir," said Richie, with a look of +importance, "having a charge about me. And so, wussing ye a' weel, +with special thanks to these twa young gentlemen----" + +"I am no gentleman," said Jenkin, flinging his cap on his head; "I am +a tight London 'prentice, and hope to be a freeman one day. Frank may +write himself gentleman, if he will." + +"I _was_ a gentleman once," said Tunstall, "and I hope I have done +nothing to lose the name of one." + +"Weel, weel, as ye list," said Richie Moniplies; "but I am mickle +beholden to ye baith--and I am not a hair the less like to bear it in +mind that I say but little about it just now.--Gude-night to you, my +kind countryman." So saying, he thrust out of the sleeve of his ragged +doublet a long bony hand and arm, on which the muscles rose like whip- +cord. Master George shook it heartily, while Jenkin and Frank +exchanged sly looks with each other. + +Richie Moniplies would next have addressed his thanks to the master of +the shop, but seeing him, as he afterwards said, "scribbling on his +bit bookie, as if he were demented," he contented his politeness with +"giving him a hat," touching, that is, his bonnet, in token of +salutation, and so left the shop. + +"Now, there goes Scotch Jockey, with all his bad and good about him," +said Master George to Master David, who suspended, though unwillingly, +the calculations with which he was engaged, and keeping his pen within +an inch of the tablets, gazed on his friend with great lack-lustre +eyes, which expressed any thing rather than intelligence or interest +in the discourse addressed to him.--"That fellow," proceeded Master +George, without heeding his friend's state of abstraction, "shows, +with great liveliness of colouring, how our Scotch pride and poverty +make liars and braggarts of us; and yet the knave, whose every third +word to an Englishman is a boastful lie, will, I warrant you, be a +true and tender friend and follower to his master, and has perhaps +parted with his mantle to him in the cold blast, although he himself +walked _in cuerpo,_ as the Don says.--Strange! that courage and +fidelity--for I will warrant that the knave is stout--should have no +better companion than this swaggering braggadocio humour.--But you +mark me not, friend Davie." + +"I do--I do, most heedfully," said Davie.--"For, as the sun goeth +round the dial-plate in twenty-four hours, add, for the moon, fifty +minutes and a half----" + +"You are in the seventh heavens, man," said his companion. + +"I crave your pardon," replied Davie.--"Let the wheel A go round in +twenty-four hours--I have it--and the wheel B in twenty-four hours, +fifty minutes and a half--fifty-seven being to fifty-four, as fifty- +nine to twenty-four hours, fifty minutes and a half, or very nearly,-- +I crave your forgiveness, Master George, and heartily wish you good- +even." + +"Good-even?" said Master George; "why, you have not wished me good-day +yet. Come, old friend, lay by these tablets, or you will crack the +inner machinery of _your_ skull, as our friend yonder has got the +outer-case of his damaged.--Good-night, quotha! I mean not to part +with you so easily. I came to get my four hours' nunchion from you, +man, besides a tune on the lute from my god-daughter, Mrs. Marget." + +"Good faith! I was abstracted, Master George--but you know me. +Whenever I get amongst the wheels," said Mr. Ramsay, "why, 'tis----" + +"Lucky that you deal in small ones," said his friend; as, awakened +from his reveries and calculations, Ramsay led the way up a little +back-stair to the first storey, occupied by his daughter and his +little household. + +The apprentices resumed their places in the front-shop, and relieved +Sam Porter; when Jenkin said to Tunstall--"Didst see, Frank, how the +old goldsmith cottoned in with his beggarly countryman? When would one +of his wealth have shaken hands so courteously with a poor +Englishman?--Well, I'll say that for the best of the Scots, that they +will go over head and ears to serve a countryman, when they will not +wet a nail of their finger to save a Southron, as they call us, from +drowning. And yet Master George is but half-bred Scot neither in that +respect; for I have known him do many a kind thing to the English +too." + +"But hark ye, Jenkin," said Tunstall, "I think you are but half-bred +English yourself. How came you to strike on the Scotsman's side after +all?" + +"Why, you did so, too," answered Vincent. + +"Ay, because I saw you begin; and, besides, it is no Cumberland +fashion to fall fifty upon one," replied Tunstall. + +"And no Christ Church fashion neither," said Jenkin. "Fair play and +Old England for ever!--Besides, to tell you a secret, his voice had a +twang in it--in the dialect I mean--reminded me of a little tongue, +which I think sweeter--sweeter than the last toll of St. Dunstan's +will sound, on the day that I am shot of my indentures--Ha!--you guess +who I mean, Frank?" + +"Not I, indeed," answered Tunstall.--"Scotch Janet, I suppose, the +laundress." + + +"Off with Janet in her own bucking-basket!--No, no, no!--You blind +buzzard,--do you not know I mean pretty Mrs. Marget?" + +"Umph!" answered Tunstall, dryly. + +A flash of anger, not unmingled with suspicion, shot from Jenkin's +keen black eyes. + +"Umph!--and what signifies umph? I am not the first 'prentice has +married his master's daughter, I suppose?" + +"They kept their own secret, I fancy," said Tunstall, "at least till +they were out of their time." + +"I tell you what it is, Frank," answered Jenkin, sharply, "that may be +the fashion of you gentlefolks, that are taught from your biggin to +carry two faces under the same hood, but it shall never be mine." + +"There are the stairs, then," said Tunstall, coolly; "go up and ask +Mrs. Marget of our master just now, and see what sort of a face he +will wear under _his_ hood." + +"No, I wonnot," answered Jenkin; "I am not such a fool as that +neither. But I will take my own time; and all the Counts in Cumberland +shall not cut my comb, and this is that which you may depend upon." + +Francis made no reply; and they resumed their usual attention to the +business of the shop, and their usual solicitations to the passengers. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +_Bobadil._ I pray you, possess no gallant of your acquaintance with a +knowledge of my lodging. +_Master Matthew._ Who, I, sir?--Lord, sir! + _Ben Jonson._ + +The next morning found Nigel Olifaunt, the young Lord of Glenvarloch, +seated, sad and solitary, in his little apartment, in the mansion of +John Christie, the ship-chandler; which that honest tradesman, in +gratitude perhaps to the profession from which he derived his chief +support, appeared to have constructed as nearly as possible upon the +plan of a ship's cabin. + +It was situated near to Paul's Wharf, at the end of one of those +intricate and narrow lanes, which, until that part of the city was +swept away by the Great Fire in 1666, constituted an extraordinary +labyrinth of small, dark, damp, and unwholesome streets and alleys, in +one corner or other of which the plague was then as surely found +lurking, as in the obscure corners of Constantinople in our own time. +But John Christie's house looked out upon the river, and had the +advantage, therefore, of free air, impregnated, however, with the +odoriferous fumes of the articles in which the ship-chandler dealt, +with the odour of pitch, and the natural scent of the ooze and sludge +left by the reflux of the tide. + +Upon the whole, except that his dwelling did not float with the flood- +tide, and become stranded with the ebb, the young lord was nearly as +comfortably accommodated as he was while on board the little trading +brig from the long town of Kirkaldy, in Fife, by which he had come a +passenger to London. He received, however, every attention which could +be paid him by his honest landlord, John Christie; for Richie +Moniplies had not thought it necessary to preserve his master's +_incognito_ so completely, but that the honest ship-chandler could +form a guess that his guest's quality was superior to his appearance. + +As for Dame Nelly, his wife, a round, buxom, laughter-loving dame, +with black eyes, a tight well-laced bodice, a green apron, and a red +petticoat edged with a slight silver lace, and judiciously shortened +so as to show that a short heel, and a tight clean ankle, rested upon +her well-burnished shoe,--she, of course, felt interest in a young +man, who, besides being very handsome, good-humoured, and easily +satisfied with the accommodations her house afforded, was evidently of +a rank, as well as manners, highly superior to the skippers (or +Captains, as they called themselves) of merchant vessels, who were the +usual tenants of the apartments which she let to hire; and at whose +departure she was sure to find her well-scrubbed floor soiled with the +relics of tobacco, (which, spite of King James's Counterblast, was +then forcing itself into use,) and her best curtains impregnated with +the odour of Geneva and strong waters, to Dame Nelly's great +indignation; for, as she truly said, the smell of the shop and +warehouse was bad enough without these additions. + +But all Mr. Olifaunt's habits were regular and cleanly, and his +address, though frank and simple, showed so much of the courtier and +gentleman, as formed a strong contrast with the loud halloo, coarse +jests, and boisterous impatience of her maritime inmates. Dame Nelly +saw that her guest was melancholy also, notwithstanding his efforts to +seem contented and cheerful; and, in short, she took that sort of +interest in him, without being herself aware of the extent, which an +unscrupulous gallant might have been tempted to improve to the +prejudice of honest John, who was at least a score of years older than +his helpmate. Olifaunt, however, had not only other matters to think +of, but would have regarded such an intrigue, had the idea ever +occurred to him, as an abominable and ungrateful encroachment upon the +laws of hospitality, his religion having been by his late father +formed upon the strict principles of the national faith, and his +morality upon those of the nicest honour. He had not escaped the +predominant weakness of his country, an overweening sense of the pride +of birth, and a disposition to value the worth and consequence of +others according to the number and the fame of their deceased +ancestors; but this pride of family was well subdued, and in general +almost entirely concealed, by his good sense and general courtesy. + +Such as we have described him, Nigel Olifaunt, or rather the young +Lord Glenvarloch, was, when our narrative takes him up, under great +perplexity respecting the fate of his trusty and only follower, +Richard Moniplies, who had been dispatched by his young master, early +the preceding morning, as far as the court at Westminster, but had not +yet returned. His evening adventures the reader is already acquainted +with, and so far knows more of Richie than did his master, who had not +heard of him for twenty-four hours. + +Dame Nelly Christie, in the meantime, regarded her guest with some +anxiety, and a great desire to comfort him, if possible. She placed on +the breakfast-table a noble piece of cold powdered beef, with its +usual guards of turnip and carrot, recommended her mustard as coming +direct from her cousin at Tewkesbury, and spiced the toast with her +own hands--and with her own hands, also, drew a jug of stout and nappy +ale, all of which were elements of the substantial breakfast of the +period. + +When she saw that her guest's anxiety prevented him from doing justice +to the good cheer which she set before him, she commenced her career +of verbal consolation with the usual volubility of those women in her +station, who, conscious of good looks, good intentions, and good +lungs, entertain no fear either of wearying themselves or of fatiguing +their auditors. + +"Now, what the good year! are we to send you down to Scotland as thin +as you came up?--I am sure it would be contrary to the course of +nature. There was my goodman's father, old Sandie Christie, I have +heard he was an atomy when he came up from the North, and I am sure he +died, Saint Barnaby was ten years, at twenty stone weight. I was a +bare-headed girl at the time, and lived in the neighbourhood, though I +had little thought of marrying John then, who had a score of years the +better of me--but he is a thriving man and a kind husband--and his +father, as I was saying, died as fat as a church-warden. Well, sir, +but I hope I have not offended you for my little joke--and I hope the +ale is to your honour's liking,--and the beef--and the mustard?" + +"All excellent--all too good," answered Olifaunt; "you have every +thing so clean and tidy, dame, that I shall not know how to live when +I go back to my own country--if ever I go back there." + +This was added as it seemed involuntarily, and with a deep sigh. + +"I warrant your honour go back again if you like it," said the dame: +"unless you think rather of taking a pretty well-dowered English lady, +as some of your countryfolk have done. I assure you, some of the best +of the city have married Scotsmen. There was Lady Trebleplumb, Sir +Thomas Trebleplumb the great Turkey merchant's widow, married Sir +Awley Macauley, whom your honour knows, doubtless; and pretty Mistress +Doublefee, old Sergeant Doublefee's daughter, jumped out of window, +and was married at May-fair to a Scotsman with a hard name; and old +Pitchpost the timber merchant's daughters did little better, for they +married two Irishmen; and when folks jeer me about having a Scotsman +for lodger, meaning your honour, I tell them they are afraid of their +daughters and their mistresses; and sure I have a right to stand up +for the Scots, since John Christie is half a Scotsman, and a thriving +man, and a good husband, though there is a score of years between us; +and so I would have your honour cast care away, and mend your +breakfast with a morsel and a draught." + +"At a word, my kind hostess, I cannot," said Olifaunt; "I am anxious +about this knave of mine, who has been so long absent in this +dangerous town of yours." + +It may be noticed in passing that Dame Nelly's ordinary mode of +consolation was to disprove the existence of any cause for distress; +and she is said to have carried this so far as to comfort a neighbour, +who had lost her husband, with the assurance that the dear defunct +would be better to-morrow, which perhaps might not have proved an +appropriate, even if it had been a possible, mode of relief. + +On this occasion she denied stoutly that Richie had been absent +altogether twenty hours; and as for people being killed in the streets +of London, to be sure two men had been found in Tower-ditch last week, +but that was far to the east, and the other poor man that had his +throat cut in the fields, had met his mishap near by Islington; and he +that was stabbed by the young Templar in a drunken frolic, by Saint +Clement's in the Strand, was an Irishman. All which evidence she +produced to show that none of these casualties had occurred in a case +exactly parallel with that of Richie, a Scotsman, and on his return +from Westminster. + +"My better comfort is, my good dame," answered Olifaunt, "that the lad +is no brawler or quarreller, unless strongly urged, and that he has +nothing valuable about him to any one but me." + +"Your honour speaks very well," retorted the inexhaustible hostess, +who protracted her task of taking away, and putting to rights, in +order that she might prolong her gossip. "I'll uphold Master Moniplies +to be neither reveller nor brawler, for if he liked such things, he +might be visiting and junketing with the young folks about here in the +neighbourhood, and he never dreams of it; and when I asked the young +man to go as far as my gossip's, Dame Drinkwater, to taste a glass of +aniseed, and a bit of the groaning cheese,--for Dame Drinkwater has +had twins, as I told your honour, sir,--and I meant it quite civilly +to the young man, but he chose to sit and keep house with John +Christie; and I dare say there is a score of years between them, for +your honour's servant looks scarce much older than I am. I wonder what +they could have to say to each other. I asked John Christie, but he +bid me go to sleep." + +"If he comes not soon," said his master, "I will thank you to tell me +what magistrate I can address myself to; for besides my anxiety for +the poor fellow's safety, he has papers of importance about him." + +"O! your honour may be assured he will be back in a quarter of an +hour," said Dame Nelly; "he is not the lad to stay out twenty-four +hours at a stretch. And for the papers, I am sure your honour will +pardon him for just giving me a peep at the corner, as I was giving +him a small cup, not so large as my thimble, of distilled waters, to +fortify his stomach against the damps, and it was directed to the +King's Most Excellent Majesty; and so doubtless his Majesty has kept +Richie out of civility to consider of your honour's letter, and send +back a fitting reply." + +Dame Nelly here hit by chance on a more available topic of consolation +than those she had hitherto touched upon; for the youthful lord had +himself some vague hopes that his messenger might have been delayed at +Court until a fitting and favourable answer should be dispatched back +to him. Inexperienced, however, in public affairs as he certainly was, +it required only a moment's consideration to convince him of the +improbability of an expectation so contrary to all he had heard of +etiquette, as well as the dilatory proceedings in a + court suit, and he answered the good-natured hostess with a sigh, +that he doubted whether the king would even look on the paper +addressed to him, far less take it into his immediate consideration. + +"Now, out upon you for a faint-hearted gentleman!" said the good dame; +"and why should he not do as much for us as our gracious Queen +Elizabeth? Many people say this and that about a queen and a king, but +I think a king comes more natural to us English folks; and this good +gentleman goes as often down by water to Greenwich, and employs as +many of the barge-men and water-men of all kinds; and maintains, in +his royal grace, John Taylor, the water-poet, who keeps both a sculler +and a pair of oars. And he has made a comely Court at Whitehall, just +by the river; and since the king is so good a friend to the Thames, I +cannot see, if it please your honour, why all his subjects, and your +honour in specialty, should not have satisfaction by his hands." + +"True, dame--true,--let us hope for the best; but I must take my cloak +and rapier, and pray your husband in courtesy to teach me the way to a +magistrate." + +"Sure, sir," said the prompt dame, "I can do that as well as he, who +has been a slow man of his tongue all his life, though I will give him +his due for being a loving husband, and a man as well to pass in the +world as any betwixt us and the top of the lane. And so there is the +sitting alderman, that is always at the Guildhall, which is close by +Paul's, and so I warrant you he puts all to rights in the city that +wisdom can mend; and for the rest there is no help but patience. But I +wish I were as sure of forty pounds as I am that the young man will +come back safe and sound." + +Olifaunt, in great and anxious doubt of what the good dame so strongly +averred, flung his cloak on one shoulder, and was about to belt on his +rapier, when first the voice of Richie Moniplies on the stair, and +then that faithful emissary's appearance in the chamber, put the +matter beyond question. Dame Nelly, after congratulating Moniplies on +his return, and paying several compliments to her own sagacity for +having foretold it, was at length pleased to leave the apartment. The +truth was, that, besides some instinctive feelings of good breeding +which combated her curiosity, she saw there was no chance of Richie's +proceeding in his narrative while she was in the room, and she +therefore retreated, trusting that her own address would get the +secret out of one or other of the young men, when she should have +either by himself. + +"Now, in Heaven's name, what is the matter?" said Nigel Olifaunt.-- +"Where have you been, or what have you been about? You look as pale as +death. There is blood on your hand, and your clothes are torn. What +barns-breaking have you been at? You have been drunk, Richard, and +fighting." + +"Fighting I have been," said Richard, "in a small way; but for being +drunk, that's a job ill to manage in this town, without money to come +by liquor; and as for barns-breaking, the deil a thing's broken but my +head. It's not made of iron, I wot, nor my claithes of chenzie-mail; +so a club smashed the tane, and a claught damaged the tither. Some +misleard rascals abused my country, but I think I cleared the causey +of them. However, the haill hive was ower mony for me at last, and I +got this eclipse on the crown, and then I was carried, beyond my +kenning, to a sma' booth at the Temple Port, whare they sell the +whirligigs and mony-go-rounds that measure out time as a man wad +measure a tartan web; and then they bled me, wold I nold I, and were +reasonably civil, especially an auld country-man of ours, of whom more +hereafter." + +"And at what o'clock might this be?" said Nigel. + +"The twa iron carles yonder, at the kirk beside the Port, were just +banging out sax o' the clock." + +"And why came you not home as soon as you recovered?" said Nigel. + +"In troth, my lord, every _why_ has its _wherefore_, and this has a +gude ane," answered his follower. "To come hame, I behoved to ken +whare hame was; now, I had clean tint the name of the wynd, and the +mair I asked, the mair the folk leugh, and the farther they sent me +wrang; sae I gave it up till God should send daylight to help me; and +as I saw mysell near a kirk at the lang run, I e'en crap in to take up +my night's quarters in the kirkyard." + +"In the churchyard?" said Nigel--"But I need not ask what drove you to +such a pinch." + +"It wasna sae much the want o' siller, my Lord Nigel," said Richie, +with an air of mysterious importance, "for I was no sae absolute +without means, of whilk mair anon; but I thought I wad never ware a +saxpence sterling on ane of their saucy chamberlains at a hostelry, +sae lang as I could sleep fresh and fine in a fair, dry, spring night. +Mony a time, when I hae come hame ower late, and faund the West-Port +steekit, and the waiter ill-willy, I have garr'd the sexton of Saint +Cuthbert's calf-ward serve me for my quarters. But then there are +dainty green graffs in Saint Cuthbert's kirkyard, whare ane may sleep +as if they were in a down-bed, till they hear the lavrock singing up +in the air as high as the Castle; whereas, and behold, these London +kirkyards are causeyed with through-stanes, panged hard and fast +thegither; and my cloak being something threadbare, made but a thin +mattress, so I was fain to give up my bed before every limb about me +was crippled. Dead folks may sleep yonder sound enow, but deil haet +else." + +"And what became of you next?" said his master. + +"I just took to a canny bulkhead, as they ca' them here; that is, the +boards on the tap of their bits of outshots of stalls and booths, and +there I sleepit as sound as if I was in a castle. Not but I was +disturbed with some of the night-walking queans and swaggering +billies, but when they found there was nothing to be got by me but a +slash of my Andrew Ferrara, they bid me good-night for a beggarly +Scot; and I was e'en weel pleased to be sae cheap rid of them. And in +the morning, I cam daikering here, but sad wark I had to find the way, +for I had been east as far as the place they ca' Mile-End, though it +is mair like sax-mile-end." + +"Well, Richie," answered Nigel, "I am glad all this has ended so well +--go get something to eat. I am sure you need it." + +"In troth do I, sir," replied Moniplies; "but, with your lordship's +leave--" + +"Forget the lordship for the present, Richie, as I have often told you +before." + +"Faith," replied Richie, "I could weel forget that your honour was a +lord, but then I behoved to forget that I am a lord's man, and that's +not so easy. But, however," he added, assisting his description with +the thumb and the two forefingers of his right hand, thrust out after +the fashion of a bird's claw, while the little finger and ring-finger +were closed upon the palm, "to the Court I went, and my friend that +promised me a sight of his Majesty's most gracious presence, was as +gude as his word, and carried me into the back offices, where I got +the best breakfast I have had since we came here, and it did me gude +for the rest of the day; for as to what I have eaten in this accursed +town, it is aye sauced with the disquieting thought that it maun be +paid for. After a', there was but beef banes and fat brose; but king's +cauff, your honour kens, is better than ither folk's corn; at ony +rate, it was a' in free awmous.--But I see," he added, stopping short, +"that your honour waxes impatient." + +"By no means, Richie," said the young nobleman, with an air of +resignation, for he well knew his domestic would not mend his pace for +goading; "you have suffered enough in the embassy to have a right to +tell the story in your own way. Only let me pray for the name of the +friend who was to introduce you into the king's presence. You were +very mysterious on the subject, when you undertook, through his means, +to have the Supplication put into his Majesty's own hands, since those +sent heretofore, I have every reason to think, went no farther than +his secretary's." + +"Weel, my lord," said Richie, "I did not tell you his name and quality +at first, because I thought you would be affronted at the like of him +having to do in your lordship's affairs. But mony a man climbs up in +Court by waur help. It was just Laurie Linklater, one of the yeomen of +the kitchen, that was my father's apprentice lang syne." + +"A yeoman in the kitchen--a scullion!" exclaimed Lord Nigel, pacing +the room in displeasure. + +"But consider, sir," said Richie, composedly, "that a' your great +friends hung back, and shunned to own you, or to advocate your +petition; and then, though I am sure I wish Laurie a higher office, +for your lordship's sake and for mine, and specially for his ain sake, +being a friendly lad, yet your lordship must consider, that a +scullion, if a yeoman of the king's most royal kitchen may be called a +scullion, may weel rank with a master-cook elsewhere; being that +king's cauff, as I said before, is better than--" + +"You are right, and I was wrong," said the young nobleman. "I have no +choice of means of making my case known, so that they be honest." + +"Laurie is as honest a lad as ever lifted a ladle," said Richie; "not +but what I dare to say he can lick his fingers like other folk, and +reason good. But, in fine, for I see your honour is waxing impatient, +he brought me to the palace, where a' was astir for the king going out +to hunt or hawk on Blackheath, I think they ca'd it. And there was a +horse stood with all the quarries about it, a bonny grey as ever was +foaled; and the saddle and the stirrups, and the curb and bit, o' +burning gowd, or silver gilded at least; and down, sir, came the king, +with all his nobles, dressed out in his hunting-suit of green, doubly +laced, and laid down with gowd. I minded the very face o' him, though +it was lang since I saw him. But my certie, lad, thought I, times are +changed since ye came fleeing down the back stairs of auld Holyrood +House, in grit fear, having your breeks in your hand without time to +put them on, and Frank Stewart, the wild Earl of Bothwell, hard at +your haunches; and if auld Lord Glenvarloch hadna cast his mantle +about his arm, and taken bluidy wounds mair than ane in your behalf, +you wald not have craw'd sae crouse this day; and so saying, I could +not but think your lordship's Sifflication could not be less than most +acceptable; and so I banged in among the crowd of lords. Laurie +thought me mad, and held me by the cloak-lap till the cloth rave in +his hand; and so I banged in right before the king just as he mounted, +and crammed the Sifflication into his hand, and he opened it like in +amaze; and just as he saw the first line, I was minded to make a +reverence, and I had the ill luck to hit his jaud o' a beast on the +nose with my hat, and scaur the creature, and she swarved aside, and +the king, that sits na mickle better than a draff-pock on the saddle, +was like to have gotten a clean coup, and that might have cost my +craig a raxing-and he flung down the paper amang the beast's feet, and +cried, 'Away wi' the fause loon that brought it!' And they grippit me, +and cried treason; and I thought of the Ruthvens that were dirked in +their ain house, for, it may be, as small a forfeit. However, they +spak only of scourging me, and had me away to the porter's lodge to +try the tawse on my back, and I was crying mercy as loud as I could; +and the king, when he had righted himself on the saddle, and gathered +his breath, cried to do me nae harm; for, said he, he is ane of our +ain Norland stots, I ken by the rowt of him,--and they a' laughed and +rowted loud eneugh. And then he said, 'Gie him a copy of the +Proclamation, and let him go down to the North by the next light +collier, before waur come o't.' So they let me go, and rode out, a +sniggering, laughing, and rounding in ilk ither's lugs. A sair life I +had wi' Laurie Linklater; for he said it wad be the ruin of him. And +then, when I told him it was in your matter, he said if he had known +before he would have risked a scauding for you, because he minded the +brave old lord, your father. And then he showed how I suld have done, +--and that I suld have held up my hand to my brow, as if the grandeur +of the king and his horse-graith thegither had casten the glaiks in my +een, and mair jackanape tricks I suld hae played, instead of offering +the Sifflication, he said, as if I had been bringing guts to a bear. +[Footnote: I am certain this prudential advice is not original on Mr. +Linklater's part, but I am not at present able to produce my +authority. I think it amounted to this, that James flung down a +petition presented by some supplicant who paid no compliments to his +horse, and expressed no admiration at the splendour of his furniture, +saying, "Shall a king cumber himself about the petition of a beggar, +while the beggar disregards the king's splendour?" It is, I think, Sir +John Harrington who recommends, as a sure mode to the king's favour, +to praise the paces of the royal palfrey.] + +'For,' said he, 'Richie, the king is a weel-natured and just man of +his ain kindly nature, but he has a wheen maggots that maun be cannily +guided; and then, Richie,' says he, in a very laigh tone, 'I would +tell it to nane but a wise man like yoursell, but the king has them +about him wad corrupt an angel from heaven; but I could have gi'en you +avisement how to have guided him, but now it's like after meat +mustard.'--'Aweel, aweel, Laurie,' said I, 'it may be as you say', but +since I am clear of the tawse and the porter's lodge, sifflicate wha +like, deil hae Richie Moniplies if he come sifflicating here again.'-- +And so away I came, and I wasna far by the Temple Port, or Bar, or +whatever they ca' it, when I met with the misadventure that I tauld +you of before." + +"Well, my honest Richie," said Lord Nigel, "your attempt was well +meant, and not so ill conducted, I think, as to have deserved so bad +an issue; but go to your beef and mustard, and we'll talk of the rest +afterwards." + +"There is nae mair to be spoken, sir," said his follower, "except that +I met ane very honest, fair-spoken, weel-put-on gentleman, or rather +burgher, as I think, that was in the whigmaleery man's back-shop; and +when he learned wha I was, behold he was a kindly Scot himsell, and, +what is more, a town's-bairn o' the gude town, and he behoved to +compel me to take this Portugal piece, to drink, forsooth--my certie, +thought I, we ken better, for we will eat it--and he spoke of paying +your lordship a visit." + +"You did not tell him where I lived, you knave?" said the Lord Nigel, +angrily. "'Sdeath! I shall have every clownish burgher from Edinburgh +come to gaze on my distress, and pay a shilling for having seen the +motion of the Poor Noble!" + +"Tell him where you lived?" said Richie, evading the question; "How +could I tell him what I kendna mysell? If I had minded the name of the +wynd, I need not have slept in the kirkyard yestreen." + +"See, then, that you give no one notice of our lodging," said the +young nobleman; "those with whom I have business I can meet at Paul's, +or in the Court of Requests." + +"This is steeking the stable-door when the steed is stolen," thought +Richie to himself; "but I must put him on another pin." + +So thinking, he asked the young lord what was in the Proclamation +which he still held folded in his hand; "for, having little time to +spell at it," said he, "your lordship well knows I ken nought about it +but the grand blazon at the tap--the lion has gotten a claught of our +auld Scottish shield now, but it was as weel upheld when it had a +unicorn on ilk side of it." + +Lord Nigel read the Proclamation, and he coloured deep with shame and +indignation as he read; for the purport was, to his injured feelings, +like the pouring of ardent spirits upon a recent wound. + +"What deil's in the paper, my lord?" said Richie, unable to suppress +his curiosity as he observed his master change colour; "I wadna ask +such a thing, only the Proclamation is not a private thing, but is +meant for a' men's hearing." + +"It is indeed meant for all men's hearing," replied Lord Nigel, "and +it proclaims the shame of our country, and the ingratitude of our +Prince." + +"Now the Lord preserve us! and to publish it in London, too!" +ejaculated Moniplies. + +"Hark ye, Richard," said Nigel Olifaunt, "in this paper the Lords of +the Council set forth, that, 'in consideration of the resort of idle +persons of low condition forth from his Majesty's kingdom of Scotland +to his English Court--filling the same with their suits and +supplications, and dishonouring the royal presence with their base, +poor, and beggarly persons, to the disgrace of their country in the +estimation of the English; these are to prohibit the skippers, masters +of vessels and others, in every part of Scotland, from bringing such +miserable creatures up to Court under pain of fine and impisonment."' + +"I marle the skipper took us on board," said Richie. + +"Then you need not marvel how you are to get back again," said Lord +Nigel, "for here is a clause which says, that such idle suitors are to +be transported back to Scotland at his Majesty's expense, and punished +for their audacity with stripes, stocking, or incarceration, according +to their demerits--that is to say, I suppose, according to the degree +of their poverty, for I see no other demerit specified." + +"This will scarcely," said Richie, "square with our old proverb-- + + A King's face + Should give grace-- + +But what says the paper farther, my lord?" + +"O, only a small clause which especially concerns us, making some +still heavier denunciations against those suitors who shall be so bold +as to approach the Court, under pretext of seeking payment of old +debts due to them by the king, which, the paper states, is, of all +species of importunity, that which is most odious to his Majesty." + +"The king has neighbours in that matter," said Richie; "but it is not +every one that can shift off that sort of cattle so easily as he +does." + +Their conversation was here interrupted by a knocking at the door. +Olifaunt looked out at the window, and saw an elderly respectable +person whom he knew not. Richie also peeped, and recognised, but, +recognising, chose not to acknowledge, his friend of the preceding +evening. Afraid that his share in the visit might be detected, he made +his escape out of the apartment under pretext of going to his +breakfast; and left their landlady the task of ushering Master George +into Lord Nigel's apartment, which she performed with much courtesy. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + + Ay, sir, the clouted shoe hath oft times craft in't, + As says the rustic proverb; and your citizen, + In's grogram suit, gold chain, and well-black'd shoes, + Bears under his flat cap ofttimes a brain + Wiser than burns beneath the cap and feather, + Or seethes within the statesman's velvet nightcap. + _Read me my Riddle._ + +The young Scottish nobleman received the citizen with distant +politeness, expressing that sort of reserve by which those of the +higher ranks are sometimes willing to make a plebeian sensible that he +is an intruder. But Master George seemed neither displeased nor +disconcerted. He assumed the chair, which, in deference to his +respectable appearance, Lord Nigel offered to him, and said, after a +moment's pause, during which he had looked attentively at the young +man, with respect not unmingled with emotion--"You will forgive me for +this rudeness, my lord; but I was endeavouring to trace in your +youthful countenance the features of my good old lord, your excellent +father." + +There was a moment's pause ere young Glenvarloch replied, still with a +reserved manner,--"I have been reckoned like my father, sir; and am +happy to see any one that respects his memory. But the business which +calls me to this city is of a hasty as well as a private nature, and--" + +"I understand the hint, my lord," said Master George, "and would not +be guilty of long detaining you from business, or more agreeable +conversation. My errand is almost done when I have said that my name +is George Heriot, warmly befriended, and introduced into the +employment of the Royal Family of Scotland, more than twenty years +since, by your excellent father; and that, learning from a follower of +yours that your lordship was in this city in prosecution of some +business of importance, it is my duty,--it is my pleasure,--to wait on +the son of my respected patron; and, as I am somewhat known both at +the Court, and in the city, to offer him such aid in the furthering of +his affairs as my credit and experience may be able to afford." + +"I have no doubt of either, Master Heriot," said Lord Nigel, "and I +thank you heartily for the good-will with which you have placed them +at a stranger's disposal; but my business at Court is done and ended, +and I intend to leave London and, indeed, the island, for foreign +travel and military service. I may add, that the suddenness of my +departure occasions my having little time at my disposal." + +Master Heriot did not take the hint, but sat fast, with an embarrassed +countenance however, like one who had something to say that he knew +not exactly how to make effectual. At length he said, with a dubious +smile, "You are fortunate, my lord, in having so soon dispatched your +business at Court. Your talking landlady informs me you have been but +a fortnight in this city. It is usually months and years ere the Court +and a suitor shake hands and part." + +"My business," said Lord Nigel, with a brevity which was intended to +stop further discussion, "was summarily dispatched." + +Still Master Heriot remained seated, and there was a cordial good- +humour added to the reverence of his appearance, which rendered it +impossible for Lord Nigel to be more explicit in requesting his +absence. + +"Your lordship has not yet had time," said the citizen, still +attempting to sustain the conversation, "to visit the places of +amusement,--the playhouses, and other places to which youth resort. +But I see in your lordship's hand one of the new-invented plots of the +piece, [Footnote: Meaning, probably, playbills.] which they hand about +of late--May I ask what play?" + +"Oh! a well-known piece," said Lord Nigel, impatiently throwing down +the Proclamation, which he had hitherto been twisting to and fro in +his hand,--"an excellent and well-approved piece--_A New Way to Pay +Old Debts._" + +Master Heriot stooped down, saying, "Ah! my old acquaintance, Philip +Massinger;" but, having opened the paper and seen the purport, he +looked at Lord Nigel with surprise, saying, "I trust your lordship +does not think this prohibition can extend either to _your_ person or +your claims?" "I should scarce have thought so myself," said the young +nobleman; "but so it proves. His Majesty, to close this discourse at +once, has been pleased to send me this Proclamation, in answer to a +respectful Supplication for the repayment of large loans advanced by +my father for the service of the State, in the king's utmost +emergencies." + +"It is impossible!" said the citizen--"it is absolutely impossible!-- +If the king could forget what was due to your father's memory, still +he would not have wished--would not, I may say, have dared--to be so +flagrantly unjust to the memory of such a man as your father, who, +dead in the body, will long live in the memory of the Scottish +people." "I should have been of your opinion," answered Lord + Nigel, in the same tone as before; "but there is no fighting with +facts." + +"What was the tenor of this Supplication?" said Heriot; "or by whom +was it presented? Something strange there must have been in the +contents, or else--" + +"You may see my original draught," said the young lord, taking it out +of a small travelling strong-box; "the technical part is by my lawyer +in Scotland, a skilful and sensible man; the rest is my own, drawn, I +hope, with due deference and modesty." + +Master Heriot hastly cast his eye over the draught. "Nothing," he +said, "can be more well-tempered and respectful. Is it possible the +king can have treated this petition with contempt?" + +"He threw it down on the pavement," said the Lord of Glenvarloch, "and +sent me for answer that Proclamation, in which he classes me with the +paupers and mendicants from Scotland, who disgrace his Court in the +eyes of the proud English--that is all. Had not my father stood by him +with heart, sword, and fortune, he might never have seen the Court of +England himself." + +"But by whom was this Supplication presented, my lord?" said Heriot; +"for the distaste taken at the messenger will sometimes extend itself +to the message." + +"By my servant," said the Lord Nigel; "by the man you saw, and, I +think, were kind to." + +"By your servant, my lord?" said the citizen; "he seems a shrewd +fellow, and doubtless a faithful; but surely--" + +"You would say," said Lord Nigel, "he is no fit messenger to a king's +presence?--Surely he is not; but what could I do? Every attempt I had +made to lay my case before the king had miscarried, and my petitions +got no farther than the budgets of clerks and secretaries; this fellow +pretended he had a friend in the household that would bring him to the +king's presence,--and so--" + +"I understand," said Heriot; "but, my lord, why should you not, in +right of your rank and birth, have appeared at Court, and required an +audience, which could not have been denied to you?" + +The young lord blushed a little, and looked at his dress, which was +very plain; and, though in perfect good order, had the appearance of +having seen service. + +"I know not why I should be ashamed of speaking the truth," he said, +after a momentary hesitation,--"I had no dress suitable for appearing +at Court. I am determined to incur no expenses which I cannot +discharge; and I think you, sir, would not advise me to stand at the +palace-door, in person, and deliver my petition, along with those who +are in very deed pleading their necessity, and begging an alms." + +"That had been, indeed, unseemly," said the citizen; "but yet, my +lord, my mind runs strangely that there must be some mistake.--Can I +speak with your domestic?" + +"I see little good it can do," answered the young lord, "but the +interest you take in my misfortunes seems sincere, and therefore----" +He stamped on the floor, and in a few seconds afterwards Moniplies +appeared, wiping from his beard and mustaches the crumbs of bread, and +the froth of the ale-pot, which plainly showed how he had been +employed.--"Will your lordship grant permission," said Heriot, "that I +ask your groom a few questions?" "His lordship's page, Master George," +answered Moniplies, with a nod of acknowledgment, "if you are minded +to speak according to the letter." + +"Hold your saucy tongue," said his master, "and reply distinctly to +the questions you are to be asked." + +"And _truly,_ if it like your pageship," said the citizen, "for you +may remember I have a gift to discover falset." + +"Weel, weel, weel," replied the domestic, somewhat embarrassed, in +spite of his effrontery--"though I think that the sort of truth that +serves my master, may weel serve ony ane else." + +"Pages lie to their masters by right of custom," said the citizen; +"and you write yourself in that band, though I think you be among the +oldest of such springalds; but to me you must speak truth, if you +would not have it end in the whipping-post." + +"And that's e'en a bad resting-place," said the well-grown page; "so +come away with your questions, Master George." + +"Well, then," demanded the citizen, "I am given to understand that you +yesterday presented to his Majesty's hand a Supplication, or petition, +from this honourable lord, your master." + +"Troth, there's nae gainsaying that, sir," replied Moniplies; "there +were enow to see it besides me." + +"And you pretend that his Majesty flung it from him with contempt?" +said the citizen. "Take heed, for I have means of knowing the truth; +and you were better up to the neck in the Nor-Loch, which you like so +well, than tell a leasing where his Majesty's name is concerned." + +"There is nae occasion for leasing-making about the matter," answered +Moniplies, firmly; "his Majesty e'en flung it frae him as if it had +dirtied his fingers." + +"You hear, sir," said Olifaunt, addressing Heriot. + +"Hush!" said the sagacious citizen; "this fellow is not ill named--he +has more plies than one in his cloak. Stay, fellow," for Moniplies, +muttering somewhat about finishing his breakfast, was beginning to +shamble towards the door, "answer me this farther question--When you +gave your master's petition to his Majesty, gave you nothing with it?" + +"Ou, what should I give wi' it, ye ken, Master George?" + +"That is what I desire and insist to know," replied his interrogator. + +"Weel, then--I am not free to say, that maybe I might not just slip +into the king's hand a wee bit Sifflication of mine ain, along with my +lord's--just to save his Majesty trouble--and that he might consider +them baith at ance." + +"A supplication of your own, you varlet!" said his master. + +"Ou dear, ay, my lord," said Richie--"puir bodies hae their bits of +sifflications as weel as their betters." + +"And pray, what might your worshipful petition import?" said Master +Heriot.--"Nay, for Heaven's sake, my lord, keep your patience, or we +shall never learn the truth of this strange matter.--Speak out, +sirrah, and I will stand your friend with my lord." + +"It's a lang story to tell--but the upshot is, that it's a scrape of +an auld accompt due to my father's yestate by her Majesty the king's +maist gracious mother, when she lived in the Castle, and had sundry +providings and furnishings forth of our booth, whilk nae doubt was an +honour to my father to supply, and whilk, doubtless, it will be a +credit to his Majesty to satisfy, as it will be grit convenience to me +to receive the saam." + +"What string of impertinence is this?" said his master. + +"Every word as true as e'er John Knox spoke," said Richie; "here's the +bit double of the Sifflication." + +Master George took a crumpled paper from the fellow's hand, and said, +muttering betwixt his teeth--"'Humbly showeth--um--um--his Majesty's +maist gracious mother--um--um--justly addebted and owing the sum of +fifteen merks--the compt whereof followeth--Twelve nowte's feet for +jellies--ane lamb, being Christmas--ane roasted capin in grease for +the privy chalmer, when my Lord of Bothwell suppit with her Grace.'--I +think, my lord, you can hardly be surprised that the king gave this +petition a brisk reception; and I conclude, Master Page, that you took +care to present your own Supplication before your master's?" + +"Troth did I not," answered Moniplies. "I thought to have given my +lord's first, as was reason gude; and besides that, it wad have redd +the gate for my ain little bill. But what wi' the dirdum an' +confusion, an' the loupin here and there of the skeigh brute of a +horse, I believe I crammed them baith into his hand cheek-by-jowl, and +maybe my ain was bunemost; and say there was aught wrang, I am sure I +had a' the fright and a' the risk--" + +"And shall have all the beating, you rascal knave," said Nigel; "am I +to be insulted and dishonoured by your pragmatical insolence, in +blending your base concerns with mine?" + +"Nay, nay, nay, my lord," said the good-humoured citizen, interposing, +"I have been the means of bringing the fellow's blunder to light-- +allow me interest enough with your lordship to be bail for his bones. +You have cause to be angry, but still I think the knave mistook more +out of conceit than of purpose; and I judge you will have the better +service of him another time, if you overlook this fault--Get you gone, +sirrah--I'll make your peace." + +"Na, na," said Moniplies, keeping his ground firmly, "if he likes to +strike a lad that has followed him for pure love, for I think there +has been little servant's fee between us, a' the way frae Scotland, +just let my lord be doing, and see the credit he will get by it--and I +would rather (mony thanks to you though, Master George) stand by a +lick of his baton, than it suld e'er be said a stranger came between +us." + +"Go, then," said his master, "and get out of my sight." + +"Aweel I wot that is sune done," said Moniplies, retiring slowly; "I +did not come without I had been ca'd for--and I wad have been away +half an hour since with my gude will, only Maister George keepit me to +answer his interrogation, forsooth, and that has made a' this stir." + +And so he made his grumbling exit, with the tone much rather of one +who has sustained an injury, than who has done wrong. + +"There never was a man so plagued as I am with a malapert knave!--The +fellow is shrewd, and I have found him faithful--I believe he loves +me, too, and he has given proofs of it--but then he is so uplifted in +his own conceit, so self-willed, and so self-opinioned, that he seems +to become the master and I the man; and whatever blunder he commits, +he is sure to make as loud complaints, as if the whole error lay with +me, and in no degree with himself." + +"Cherish him, and maintain him, nevertheless," said the citizen; "for +believe my grey hairs, that affection and fidelity are now rarer +qualities in a servitor, than when the world was younger. Yet, trust +him, my good lord, with no commission above his birth or breeding, for +you see yourself how it may chance to fall." + +"It is but too evident, Master Heriot," said the young nobleman; "and +I am sorry I have done injustice to my sovereign, and your master. But +I am, like a true Scotsman, wise behind hand--the mistake has +happened--my Supplication has been refused, and my only resource is to +employ the rest of my means to carry Moniplies and myself to some +counter-scarp, and die in the battle-front like my ancestors." + +"It were better to live and serve your country like your noble father, +my lord," replied Master George. "Nay, nay, never look down or shake +your head--the king has not refused your Supplication, for he has not +seen it--you ask but justice, and that his place obliges him to give +to his subjects--ay, my lord, and I will say that his natural temper +doth in this hold bias with his duty." + +"I were well pleased to think so, and yet----" said Nigel Olifaunt,-- +"I speak not of my own wrongs, but my country hath many that are +unredressed." + +"My lord," said Master Heriot, "I speak of my royal master, not only +with the respect due from a subject--the gratitude to be paid by a +favoured servant, but also with the frankness of a free and loyal +Scotsman. The king is himself well disposed to hold the scales of +justice even; but there are those around him who can throw without +detection their own selfish wishes and base interests into the scale. +You are already a sufferer by this, and without your knowing it." + +"I am surprised, Master Heriot," said the young lord, "to hear you, +upon so short an acquaintance, talk as if you were familiarly +acquainted with my affairs." + +"My lord," replied the goldsmith, "the nature of my employment affords +me direct access to the interior of the palace; I am well known to be +no meddler in intrigues or party affairs, so that no favourite has as +yet endeavoured to shut against me the door of the royal closet; on +the contrary, I have stood well with each while he was in power, and I +have not shared the fall of any. But I cannot be thus connected with +the Court, without hearing, even against my will, what wheels are in +motion, and how they are checked or forwarded. Of course, when I +choose to seek such intelligence, I know the sources in which it is to +be traced. I have told you why I was interested in your lordship's +fortunes. It was last night only that I knew you were in this city, +yet I have been able, in coming hither this morning, to gain for you +some information respecting the impediments to your suit." + +"Sir, I am obliged by your zeal, however little it may be merited," +answered Nigel, still with some reserve; "yet I hardly know how I have +deserved this interest." + +"First let me satisfy you that it is real," said the citizen; "I blame +you not for being unwilling to credit the fair professions of a +stranger in my inferior class of society, when you have met so little +friendship from relations, and those of your own rank, bound to have +assisted you by so many ties. But mark the cause. There is a mortgage +over your father's extensive estate, to the amount of 40,000 merks, +due ostensibly to Peregrine Peterson, the Conservator of Scottish +Privileges at Campvere." + +"I know nothing of a mortgage," said the young lord; "but there is a +wadset for such a sum, which, if unredeemed, will occasion the +forfeiture of my whole paternal estate, for a sum not above a fourth +of its value--and it is for that very reason that I press the king's +government for a settlement of the debts due to my father, that I may +be able to redeem my land from this rapacious creditor." + +"A wadset in Scotland," said Heriot, "is the same with a mortgage on +this side of the Tweed; but you are not acquainted with your real +creditor. The Conservator Peterson only lends his name to shroud no +less a man than the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, who hopes, under +cover of this debt, to gain possession of the estate himself, or +perhaps to gratify a yet more powerful third party. He will probably +suffer his creature Peterson to take possession, and when the odium of +the transaction shall be forgotten, the property and lordship of +Glenvarloch will be conveyed to the great man by his obsequious +instrument, under cover of a sale, or some similar device." + +"Can this be possible?" said Lord Nigel; "the Chancellor wept when I +took leave of him--called me his cousin--even his son--furnished me +with letters, and, though I asked him for no pecuniary assistance, +excused himself unnecessarily for not pressing it on me, alleging the +expenses of his rank and his large family. No, I cannot believe a +nobleman would carry deceit so far." + +"I am not, it is true, of noble blood," said the citizen; "but once +more I bid you look on my grey hairs, and think what can be my +interest in dishonouring them with falsehood in affairs in which I +have no interest, save as they regard the son of my benefactor. +Reflect also, have you had any advantage from the Lord Chancellor's +letters?" + +"None," said Nigel Olifaunt, "except cold deeds and fair words. I have +thought for some time, their only object was to get rid of me--one +yesterday pressed money on me when I talked of going abroad, in order +that I might not want the means of exiling myself." + +"Right," said Heriot; "rather than you fled not, they would themselves +furnish wings for you to fly withal." + +"I will to him this instant," said the incensed youth, "and tell him +my mind of his baseness." + +"Under your favour," said Heriot, detaining him, "you shall not do so. +By a quarrel you would become the ruin of me your informer; and though +I would venture half my shop to do your lordship a service, I think +you would hardly wish me to come by damage, when it can be of no +service to you." + +The word _shop_ sounded harshly in the ear of the young nobleman, who +replied hastily--"Damage, sir?--so far am I from wishing you to incur +damage, that I would to Heaven you would cease your fruitless offers +of serving one whom there is no chance of ultimately assisting!" + +"Leave me alone for that," said the citizen: "you have now erred as +far on the bow-hand. Permit me to take this Supplication--I will have +it suitably engrossed, and take my own time (and it shall be an early +one) for placing it, with more prudence, I trust, than that used by +your follower, in the king's hand--I will almost answer for his taking +up the matter as you would have him--but should he fail to do so, even +then I will not give up the good cause." + +"Sir," said the young nobleman, "your speech is so friendly, and my +own state so helpless, that I know not how to refuse your kind +proffer, even while I blush to accept it at the hands of a stranger." + +"We are, I trust, no longer such," said the goldsmith; "and for my +guerdon, when my mediation proves successful, and your fortunes are +re-established, you shall order your first cupboard of plate from +George Heriot." + +"You would have a bad paymaster, Master Heriot," said Lord Nigel. + +"I do not fear that," replied the goldsmith; "and I am glad to see you +smile, my lord--methinks it makes you look still more like the good +old lord your father; and it emboldens me, besides, to bring out a +small request--that you would take a homely dinner with me to-morrow. +I lodge hard by in Lombard Street. For the cheer, my lord, a mess of +white broth, a fat capon well larded, a dish of beef collops for auld +Scotland's sake, and it may be a cup of right old wine, that was +barrelled before Scotland and England were one nation--Then for +company, one or two of our own loving countrymen--and maybe my +housewife may find out a bonny Scots lass or so." + +"I would accept your courtesy, Master Heriot," said Nigel, "but I hear +the city ladies of London like to see a man gallant--I would not like +to let down a Scottish nobleman in their ideas, as doubtless you have +said the best of our poor country, and I rather lack the means of +bravery for the present." + +"My lord, your frankness leads me a step farther," said Master George. +"I--I owed your father some monies; and--nay, if your lordship looks +at me so fixedly, I shall never tell my story--and, to speak plainly, +for I never could carry a lie well through in my life--it is most +fitting, that, to solicit this matter properly, your lordship should +go to Court in a manner beseeming your quality. I am a goldsmith, and +live by lending money as well as by selling plate. I am ambitious to +put an hundred pounds to be at interest in your hands, till your +affairs are settled." + +"And if they are never favourably settled?" said Nigel. + +"Then, my lord," returned the citizen, "the miscarriage of such a sum +will be of little consequence to me, compared with other subjects of +regret." + +"Master Heriot," said the Lord Nigel, "your favour is generously +offered, and shall be frankly accepted. I must presume that you see +your way through this business, though I hardly do; for I think you +would be grieved to add any fresh burden to me, by persuading me to +incur debts which I am not likely to discharge. I will therefore take +your money, under the hope and trust that you will enable me to repay +you punctually." + +"I will convince you, my lord," said the goldsmith, "that I mean to +deal with you as a creditor from whom I expect payment; and therefore, +you shall, with your own good pleasure, sign an acknowledgment for +these monies, and an obligation to content and repay me." + +He then took from his girdle his writing materials, and, writing a few +lines to the purport he expressed, pulled out a small bag of gold from +a side-pouch under his cloak, and, observing that it should contain an +hundred pounds, proceeded to tell out the contents very methodically +upon the table. Nigel Olifaunt could not help intimating that this was +an unnecessary ceremonial, and that he would take the bag of gold on +the word of his obliging creditor; but this was repugnant to the old +man's forms of transacting business. + +"Bear with me," he said, "my good lord,--we citizens are a wary and +thrifty generation; and I should lose my good name for ever within the +toll of Paul's, were I to grant quittance, or take acknowledgment, +without bringing the money to actual tale. I think it be right now-- +and, body of me," he said, looking out at the window, "yonder come my +boys with my mule; for I must Westward Hoe. Put your monies aside, my +lord; it is not well to be seen with such goldfinches chirping about +one in the lodgings of London. I think the lock of your casket be +indifferent good; if not, I can serve you at an easy rate with one +that has held thousands;--it was the good old Sir Faithful Frugal's;-- +his spendthrift son sold the shell when he had eaten the kernel--and +there is the end of a city-fortune." + +"I hope yours will make a better termination, Master Heriot," said the +Lord Nigel. + +"I hope it will, my lord," said the old man, with a smile; "but," to +use honest John Bunyan's phrase--'therewithal the water stood in his +eyes,' "it has pleased God to try me with the loss of two children; +and for one adopted shild who ives--Ah! woe is me! and well-a-day!-- +But I am patient and thankful; and for the wealth God has sent me, +it shall not want inheritors while there are orphan lads in Auld +Reekie.--I wish you good-morrow, my lord." + +"One orphan has cause to thank you already," said Nigel, as he +attended him to the door of his chamber, where, resisting further +escort, the old citizen made his escape. + +As, in going downstairs, he passed the shop where Dame Christie stood +becking, he made civil inquiries after her husband. The dame of course +regretted his absence; but he was down, she said, at Deptford, to +settle with a Dutch ship-master. + +"Our way of business, sir," she said, "takes him much from home, and +my husband must be the slave of every tarry jacket that wants but a +pound of oakum." + +"All business must be minded, dame," said the goldsmith. "Make my +remembrances--George Heriot, of Lombard Street's remembrances--to your +goodman. I have dealt with him--he is just and punctual--true to time +and engagements;--be kind to your noble guest, and see he wants +nothing. Though it be his pleasure at present to lie private and +retired, there be those that care for him, and I have a charge to see +him supplied; so that you may let me know by your husband, my good +dame, how my lord is, and whether he wants aught." + +"And so he _is_ a real lord after all?" said the good dame. "I am sure +I always thought he looked like one. But why does he not go to +Parliament, then?" + +"He will, dame," answered Heriot, "to the Parliament of Scotland, +which is his own country." + +"Oh! he is but a Scots lord, then," said the good dame; "and that's +the thing makes him ashamed to take the title, as they say." + +"Let him not hear _you_ say so, dame," replied the citizen. + +"Who, I, sir?" answered she; "no such matter in my thought, sir. Scot +or English, he is at any rate a likely man, and a civil man; and +rather than he should want any thing, I would wait upon him myself, +and come as far as Lombard Street to wait upon your worship too." + +"Let your husband come to me, good dame," said the goldsmith, who, +with all his experience and worth, was somewhat of a formalist and +disciplinarian. "The proverb says, 'House goes mad when women gad;' +and let his lordship's own man wait upon his master in his chamber--it +is more seemly. God give ye good-morrow." + +"Good-morrow to your worship," said the dame, somewhat coldly; and, +so soon as the adviser was out of hearing, was ungracious enough to +mutter, in contempt of his council, "Marry quep of your advice, for +an old Scotch tinsmith, as you are! My husband is as wise, and very +near as old, as yourself; and if I please him, it is well enough; and +though he is not just so rich just now as some folks, yet I hope to see +him ride upon his moyle, with a foot-cloth, and have his two blue-coats +after him, as well as they do." + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Wherefore come ye not to court? +Certain 'tis the rarest sport; +There are silks and jewels glistening, +Prattling fools and wise men listening, +Bullies among brave men justling, +Beggars amongst nobles bustling; +Low-breath'd talkers, minion lispers, +Cutting honest throats by whispers; +Wherefore come ye not to court? +Skelton swears 'tis glorious sport. + _Skelton Skeltonizeth._ + +It was not entirely out of parade that the benevolent citizen was +mounted and attended in that manner, which, as the reader has been +informed, excited a gentle degree of spleen on the part of Dame +Christie, which, to do her justice, vanished in the little soliloquy +which we have recorded. The good man, besides the natural desire to +maintain the exterior of a man of worship, was at present bound to +Whitehall in order to exhibit a piece of valuable workmanship to King +James, which he deemed his Majesty might be pleased to view, or even +to purchase. He himself was therefore mounted upon his caparisoned +mule, that he might the better make his way through the narrow, dirty, +and crowded streets; and while one of his attendants carried under his +arm the piece of plate, wrapped up in red baize, the other two gave an +eye to its safety; for such was then the state of the police of the +metropolis, that men were often assaulted in the public street for the +sake of revenge or of plunder; and those who apprehended being beset, +usually endeavoured, if their estate admitted such expense, to secure +themselves by the attendance of armed followers. And this custom, +which was at first limited to the nobility and gentry, extended by +degrees to those citizens of consideration, who, being understood to +travel with a charge, as it was called, might otherwise have been +selected as safe subjects of plunder by the street-robber. + +As Master George Heriot paced forth westward with this gallant +attendance, he paused at the shop door of his countryman and friend, +the ancient horologer, and having caused Tunstall, who was in +attendance, to adjust his watch by the real time, he desired to speak +with his master; in consequence of which summons, the old Time-meter +came forth from his den, his face like a bronze bust, darkened with +dust, and glistening here and there with copper filings, and his +senses so bemused in the intensity of calculation, that he gazed on +his friend the goldsmith for a minute before he seemed perfectly to +comprehend who he was, and heard him express his invitation to David +Ramsay, and pretty Mistress Margaret, his daughter, to dine with him +next day at noon, to meet with a noble young countrymen, without +returning any answer. + +"I'll make thee speak, with a murrain to thee," muttered Heriot to +himself; and suddenly changing his tone, he said aloud,--"I pray you, +neighbour David, when are you and I to have a settlement for the +bullion wherewith I supplied you to mount yonder hall-clock at +Theobald's, and that other whirligig that you made for the Duke of +Buckingham? I have had the Spanish house to satisfy for the ingots, +and I must needs put you in mind that you have been eight months +behind-hand." + +There is something so sharp and _aigre_ in the demand of a peremptory +dun, that no human tympanum, however inaccessible to other tones, can +resist the application. David Ramsay started at once from his reverie, +and answered in a pettish tone, "Wow, George, man, what needs aw this +din about sax score o' pounds? Aw the world kens I can answer aw +claims on me, and you proffered yourself fair time, till his maist +gracious Majesty and the noble Duke suld make settled accompts wi' me; +and ye may ken, by your ain experience, that I canna gang rowting like +an unmannered Highland stot to their doors, as ye come to mine." + +Heriot laughed, and replied, "Well, David, I see a demand of money is +like a bucket of water about your ears, and makes you a man of the +world at once. And now, friend, will you tell me, like a Christian +man, if you will dine with me to-morrow at noon, and bring pretty +Mistress Margaret, my god-daughter, with you, to meet with our noble +young countryman, the Lord + of Glenvarloch?" + +"The young Lord of Glenvarloch!" said the old mechanist; "wi' aw my +heart, and blithe I will be to see him again. We have not met these +forty years--he was twa years before me at the humanity classes--he is +a sweet youth." + +"That was his father--his father--his father!--you old dotard Dot-and- +carry-one that you are," answered the goldsmith. "A sweet youth he +would have been by this time, had he lived, worthy nobleman! This is +his son, the Lord Nigel." + +"His son!" said Ramsay; "maybe he will want something of a +chronometer, or watch--few gallants care to be without them now-a- +days." + +"He may buy half your stock-in-trade, if ever he comes to his own, for +what I know," said his friend; "but, David, remember your bond, and +use me not as you did when my housewife had the sheep's-head and the +cock-a-leeky boiling for you as late as two of the clock afternoon." + +"She had the more credit by her cookery," answered David, now fully +awake; "a sheep's-head over-boiled, were poison, according to our +saying." + +"Well," answered Master George, "but as there will be no sheep's-head +to-morrow, it may chance you to spoil a dinner which a proverb cannot +mend. It may be you may forgather with your friend, Sir Mungo +Malagrowther, for I purpose to ask his worship; so, be sure and bide +tryste, Davie." + +"That will I--I will be true as a chronometer," said Ramsay. + +"I will not trust you, though," replied Heriot.--"Hear you, Jenkin +boy, tell Scots Janet to tell pretty Mistress Margaret, my god-child, +she must put her father in remembrance to put on his best doublet to- +morrow, and to bring him to Lombard Street at noon. Tell her they are +to meet a brave young Scots lord." + +Jenkin coughed that sort of dry short cough uttered by those who are +either charged with errands which they do not like, or hear opinions +to which they must not enter a dissent. + +"Umph!" repeated Master George--who, as we have already noticed, was +something of a martinet in domestic discipline--"what does _umph_ +mean? Will you do mine errand or not, sirrah?" + +"Sure, Master George Heriot," said the apprentice, touching his cap, +"I only meant, that Mistress Margaret was not likely to forget such an +invitation." + +"Why, no," said Master George; "she is a dutiful girl to her god- +father, though I sometimes call her a jill-flirt.--And, hark ye, +Jenkin, you and your comrade had best come with your clubs, to see +your master and her safely home; but first shut shop, and loose the +bull-dog, and let the porter stay in the fore-shop till your return. I +will send two of my knaves with you; for I hear these wild youngsters +of the Temple are broken out worse and lighter than ever." + +"We can keep their steel in order with good handbats," said Jenkin; +"and never trouble your servants for the matter." + +"Or, if need be," said Tunstall, "we have swords as well as the +Templars." + +"Fie upon it--fie upon it, young man," said the citizen;--"An +apprentice with a sword!--Marry, heaven forefend! I would as soon see +him in a hat and feather." + +"Well, sir," said Jenkin--"we will find arms fitting to our station, +and will defend our master and his daughter, if we should tear up the +very stones of the pavement." + +"There spoke a London 'prentice bold," said the citizen; "and, for +your comfort, my lads, you shall crush a cup of wine to the health of +the Fathers of the City. I have my eye on both of you--you are +thriving lads, each in his own way.--God be wi' you, Davie. Forget not +to-morrow at noon." And, so saying, he again turned his mule's head +westward, and crossed Temple Bar, at that slow and decent amble, which +at once became his rank and civic importance, and put his pedestrian +followers to no inconvenience to keep up with him. + +At the Temple gate he again paused, dismounted, and sought his way +into one of the small booths occupied by scriveners in the +neighbourhood. A young man, with lank smooth hair combed straight to +his ears, and then cropped short, rose, with a cringing reverence, +pulled off a slouched hat, which he would upon no signal replace on +his head, and answered with much demonstration of reverence, to the +goldsmith's question of, "How goes business, Andrew?"--"Aw the better +for your worship's kind countenance and maintenance." + +"Get a large sheet of paper, man, and make a new pen, with a sharp +neb, and fine hair-stroke. Do not slit the quill up too high, it's a +wastrife course in your trade, Andrew--they that do not mind corn- +pickles, never come to forpits. I have known a learned man write a +thousand pages with one quill." [Footnote: A biblical commentary by +Gill, which (if the author's memory serves him) occupies between five +and six hundred printed quarto pages, and must therefore have filled +more pages of manuscript than the number mentioned in the text, has +this quatrain at the end of the volume-- + "With one good pen I wrote this book, + Made of a grey goose quill; + A pen it was when it I took, + And a pen I leave it still."] + +"Ah! sir," said the lad, who listened to the goldsmith, though +instructing him in his own trade, with an air of veneration and +acquiescence, "how sune ony puir creature like mysell may rise in the +world, wi' the instruction of such a man as your worship!" + +"My instructions are few, Andrew, soon told, and not hard to practise. +Be honest--be industrious--be frugal--and you will soon win wealth and +worship.--Here, copy me this Supplication in your best and most formal +hand. I will wait by you till it is done." + +The youth lifted not his eye from the paper, and laid not the pen from +his hand, until the task was finished to his employer's satisfaction. +The citizen then gave the young scrivener an angel; and bidding him, +on his life, be secret in all business intrusted to him, again mounted +his mule, and rode on westward along the Strand. + +It may be worth while to remind our readers, that the Temple Bar which +Heriot passed, was not the arched screen, or gateway, of the present +day; but an open railing, or palisade, which, at night, and in times +of alarm, was closed with a barricade of posts and chains. The Strand +also, along which he rode, was not, as now, a continued street, +although it was beginning already to assume that character. It still +might be considered as an open road, along the south side of which +stood various houses and hotels belonging to the nobility, having +gardens behind them down to the water-side, with stairs to the river, +for the convenience of taking boat; which mansions have bequeathed the +names of their lordly owners to many of the streets leading from the +Strand to the Thames. The north side of the Strand was also a long +line of houses, behind which, as in Saint Martin's Lane, and other +points, buildings, were rapidly arising; but Covent Garden was still a +garden, in the literal sense of the word, or at least but beginning to +be studded with irregular buildings. All that was passing around, +however, marked the rapid increase of a capital which had long enjoyed +peace, wealth, and a regular government. Houses were rising in every +direction; and the shrewd eye of our citizen already saw the period +not distant, which should convert the nearly open highway on which he +travelled, into a connected and regular street, uniting the Court and +the town with the city of London. + +He next passed Charing Cross, which was no longer the pleasant +solitary village at which the judges were wont to breakfast on their +way to Westminster Hall, but began to resemble the artery through +which, to use Johnson's expression "pours the full tide of London +population." The buildings were rapidly increasing, yet certainly gave +not even a faint idea of its present appearance. + +At last Whitehall received our traveller, who passed under one of the +beautiful gates designed by Holbein, and composed of tesselated brick- +work, being the same to which Moniplies had profanely likened the +West-Port of Edinburgh, and entered the ample precincts of the palace +of Whitehall, now full of all the confusion attending improvement. It +was just at the time when James,--little suspecting that he was +employed in constructing a palace, from the window of which his only +son was to pass in order that he might die upon a scaffold before it,-- +was busied in removing the ancient and ruinous buildings of De Burgh, +Henry VIII., and Queen Elizabeth, to make way for the superb +architecture on which Inigo Jones exerted all his genius. The king, +ignorant of futurity, was now engaged in pressing on his work; and, +for that purpose, still maintained his royal apartments at Whitehall, +amidst the rubbish of old buildings, and the various confusion +attending the erection of the new pile, which formed at present a +labyrinth not easily traversed. + +The goldsmith to the Royal Household, and who, if fame spoke true, +oftentimes acted as their banker,--for these professions were not as +yet separated from each other,--was a person of too much importance to +receive the slightest interruption from sentinel or porter; and, +leaving his mule and two of his followers in the outer-court, he +gently knocked at a postern-gate of the building, and was presently +admitted, while the most trusty of his attendants followed him +closely, with the piece of plate under his arm. This man also he left +behind him in an ante-room,--where three or four pages in the royal +livery, but untrussed, unbuttoned, and dressed more carelessly than +the place, and nearness to a king's person, seemed to admit, were +playing at dice and draughts, or stretched upon benches, and +slumbering with half-shut eyes. A corresponding gallery, which opened +from the ante-room, was occupied by two gentlemen-ushers of the +chamber, who gave each a smile of recognition as the wealthy goldsmith +entered. + +No word was spoken on either side; but one of the ushers looked first +to Heriot, and then to a little door half-covered by the tapestry, +which seemed to say, as plain as a look could, "Lies your business +that way?" The citizen nodded; and the court-attendant, moving on +tiptoe, and with as much caution as if the floor had been paved with +eggs, advanced to the door, opened it gently, and spoke a few words in +a low tone. The broad Scottish accent of King James was heard in +reply,--"Admit him instanter, Maxwell. Have you hairboured sae lang at +the Court, and not learned, that gold and silver are ever welcome?" + +The usher signed to Heriot to advance, and the honest citizen was +presently introduced into the cabinet of the Sovereign. + +The scene of confusion amid which he found the king seated, was no bad +picture of the state and quality of James's own mind. There was much +that was rich and costly in cabinet pictures and valuable ornaments; +but they were arranged in a slovenly manner, covered with dust, and +lost half their value, or at least their effect, from the manner in +which they were presented to the eye. The table was loaded with huge +folios, amongst which lay light books of jest and ribaldry; and, +amongst notes of unmercifully long orations, and essays on king-craft, +were mingled miserable roundels and ballads by the Royal 'Prentice, as +he styled himself, in the art of poetry, and schemes for the general +pacification of Europe, with a list of the names of the king's hounds, +and remedies against canine madness. + +The king's dress was of green velvet, quilted so full as to be dagger- +proof--which gave him the appearance of clumsy and ungainly +protuberance; while its being buttoned awry, communicated to his +figure an air of distortion. Over his green doublet he wore a sad- +coloured nightgown, out of the pocket of which peeped his hunting- +horn. His high-crowned grey hat lay on the floor, covered with dust, +but encircled by a carcanet of large balas rubies; and he wore a blue +velvet nightcap, in the front of which was placed the plume of a +heron, which had been struck down by a favourite hawk in some critical +moment of the flight, in remembrance of which the king wore this +highly honoured feather. + +But such inconsistencies in dress and appointments were mere outward +types of those which existed in the royal character, rendering it a +subject of doubt amongst his contemporaries, and bequeathing it as a +problem to future historians. He was deeply learned, without +possessing useful knowledge; sagacious in many individual cases, +without having real wisdom; fond of his power, and desirous to +maintain and augment it, yet willing to resign the direction of that, +and of himself, to the most unworthy favourites; a big and bold +asserter of his rights in words, yet one who tamely saw them trampled +on in deeds; a lover of negotiations, in which he was always +outwitted; and one who feared war, where conquest might have been +easy. He was fond of his dignity, while he was perpetually degrading +it by undue familiarity; capable of much public labour, yet often +neglecting it for the meanest amusement; a wit, though a pedant; and a +scholar, though fond of the conversation of the ignorant and +uneducated. Even his timidity of temper was not uniform; and there +were moments of his life, and those critical, in which he showed the +spirit of his ancestors. He was laborious in trifles, and a trifler +where serious labour was required; devout in his sentiments, and yet +too often profane in his language; just and beneficent by nature, he +yet gave way to the iniquities and oppression of others. He was +penurious respecting money which he had to give from his own hand, yet +inconsiderately and unboundedly profuse of that which he did not see. +In a word, those good qualities which displayed themselves in +particular cases and occasions, were not of a nature sufficiently firm +and comprehensive to regulate his general conduct; and, showing +themselves as they occasionally did, only entitled James to the +character bestowed on him by Sully--that he was the wisest fool in +Christendom. + +That the fortunes of this monarch might be as little of apiece as his +character, he, certainly the least able of the Stewarts, succeeded +peaceably to that kingdom, against the power of which his predecessors +had, with so much difficulty, defended his native throne; and, lastly, +although his reign appeared calculated to ensure to Great Britain that +lasting tranquillity and internal peace which so much suited the +king's disposition, yet, during that very reign, were sown those seeds +of dissension, which, like the teeth of the fabulous dragon, had their +harvest in a bloody and universal civil war. + +Such was the monarch, who, saluting Heriot by the name of Jingling +Geordie, (for it was his well-known custom to give nicknames to all +those with whom he was on terms of familiarity,) inquired what new +clatter-traps he had brought with him, to cheat his lawful and native +Prince out of his siller. + +"God forbid, my liege," said the citizen, "that I should have any such +disloyal purpose. I did but bring a piece of plate to show to your +most gracious Majesty, which, both for the subject and for the +workmanship, I were loath to put into the hands of any subject until I +knew your Majesty's pleasure anent it." + +"Body o' me, man, let's see it, Heriot; though, by my saul, Steenie's +service o' plate was sae dear a bargain, I had 'maist pawned my word +as a Royal King, to keep my ain gold and silver in future, and let +you, Geordie, keep yours." + +"Respecting the Duke of Buckingham's plate," said the goldsmith, "your +Majesty was pleased to direct that no expense should be spared, and--" + +"What signifies what I desired, man? when a wise man is with fules and +bairns, he maun e'en play at the chucks. But you should have had mair +sense and consideration than to gie Babie Charles and Steenie their +ain gate; they wad hae floored the very rooms wi' silver, and I wonder +they didna." + +George Heriot bowed, and said no more. He knew his master too well to +vindicate himself otherwise than by a distant allusion to his order; +and James, with whom economy was only a transient and momentary twinge +of conscience, became immediately afterwards desirous to see the piece +of plate which the goldsmith proposed to exhibit, and dispatched +Maxwell to bring it to his presence. In the meantime he demanded of +the citizen whence he had procured it. + +"From Italy, may it please your Majesty," replied Heriot. + +"It has naething in it tending to papistrie?" said the king, looking +graver than his wont. + +"Surely not, please your Majesty," said Heriot; "I were not wise to +bring any thing to your presence that had the mark of the beast." + +"You would be the mair beast yourself to do so," said the king; "it is +weel kend that I wrestled wi' Dagon in my youth, and smote him on the +groundsill of his own temple; a gude evidence that I should be in time +called, however unworthy, the Defender of the Faith.--But here comes +Maxwell, bending under his burden, like the Golden Ass of Apuleius." + +Heriot hastened to relieve the usher, and to place the embossed +salver, for such it was, and of extraordinary dimensions, in a light +favourable for his Majesty's viewing the sculpture. + +"Saul of my body, man," said the king, "it is a curious piece, and, as +I think, fit for a king's chalmer; and the subject, as you say, Master +George, vera adequate and beseeming--being, as I see, the judgment of +Solomon--a prince in whose paths it weel becomes a' leeving monarchs +to walk with emulation." + +"But whose footsteps," said Maxwell, "only one of them--if a subject +may say so much--hath ever overtaken." + +"Haud your tongue for a fause fleeching loon!" said the king, but with +a smile on his face that showed the flattery had done its part. "Look +at the bonny piece of workmanship, and haud your clavering tongue.-- +And whase handiwork may it be, Geordie?" + +"It was wrought, sir," replied the goldsmith, "by the famous +Florentine, Benvenuto Cellini, and designed for Francis the First of +France; but I hope it will find a fitter master." + +"Francis of France!" said the king; "send Solomon, King of the Jews, +to Francis of France!--Body of me, man, it would have kythed Cellini +mad, had he never done ony thing else out of the gate. Francis!--why, +he was a fighting fule, man,--a mere fighting fule,--got himsell ta'en +at Pavia, like our ain David at Durham lang syne;--if they could hae +sent him Solomon's wit, and love of peace, and godliness, they wad hae +dune him a better turn. But Solomon should sit in other gate company +than Francis of France." + +"I trust that such will be his good fortune," said Heriot. + +"It is a curious and very artificial sculpture," said the king, in +continuation; "but yet, methinks, the carnifex, or executioner there, +is brandishing his gully ower near the king's face, seeing he is +within reach of his weapon. I think less wisdom than Solomon's wad +have taught him that there was danger in edge-tools, and that he wad +have bidden the smaik either sheath his shabble, or stand farther +back." + +George Heriot endeavoured to alleviate this objection, by assuring the +king that the vicinity betwixt Solomon and the executioner was nearer +in appearance than in reality, and that the perspective should be +allowed for. + +"Gang to the deil wi' your prospective, man," said the king; "there +canna be a waur prospective for a lawful king, wha wishes to reign in +luve, and die in peace and honour, than to have naked swords flashing +in his een. I am accounted as brave as maist folks; and yet I profess +to ye I could never look on a bare blade without blinking and winking. +But a'thegither it is a brave piece;--and what is the price of it, +man?" + +The goldsmith replied by observing, that it was not his own property, +but that of a distressed countryman. + +"Whilk you mean to mak your excuse for asking the double of its worth, +I warrant?" answered the king. "I ken the tricks of you burrows-town +merchants, man." + +"I have no hopes of baffling your Majesty's sagacity," said Heriot; +"the piece is really what I say, and the price a hundred and fifty +pounds sterling, if it pleases your Majesty to make present payment." + +"A hundred and fifty punds, man! and as mony witches and warlocks to +raise them!" said the irritated Monarch. "My saul, Jingling Geordie, +ye are minded that your purse shall jingle to a bonny tune!--How am I +to tell you down a hundred and fifty punds for what will not weigh as +many merks? and ye ken that my very household servitors, and the +officers of my mouth, are sax months in arrear!" + +The goldsmith stood his ground against all this objurgation, being +what he was well accustomed to, and only answered, that, if his +Majesty liked the piece, and desired to possess it, the price could be +easily settled. It was true that the party required the money, but he, +George Heriot, would advance it on his Majesty's account, if such were +his pleasure, and wait his royal conveniency for payment, for that and +other matters; the money, meanwhile, lying at the ordinary usage. + +"By my honour," said James, "and that is speaking like an honest and +reasonable tradesman. We maun get another subsidy frae the Commons, +and that will make ae compting of it. Awa wi' it, Maxwell--awa wi' it, +and let it be set where Steenie and Babie Charles shall see it as they +return from Richmond.--And now that we are secret, my good auld friend +Geordie, I do truly opine, that speaking of Solomon and ourselves, the +haill wisdom in the country left Scotland, when we took our travels to +the Southland here." + +George Heriot was courtier enough to say, that "the wise naturally +follow the wisest, as stags follow their leader." "Troth, I think +there is something in what thou sayest," said James; "for we +ourselves, and those of our Court and household, as thou thyself, for +example, are allowed by the English, for as self-opinioned as they +are, to pass for reasonable good wits; but the brains of those we have +left behind are all astir, and run clean hirdie-girdie, like sae mony +warlocks and witches on the Devil's Sabbath e'en." + +"I am sorry to hear this, my liege," said Heriot. "May it please your +Grace to say what our countrymen have done to deserve such a +character?" + +"They are become frantic, man--clean brain-crazed," answered the king. +"I cannot keep them out of the Court by all the proclamations that the +heralds roar themselves hoarse with. Yesterday, nae farther gane, just +as we were mounted, and about to ride forth, in rushed a thorough +Edinburgh gutterblood--a ragged rascal, every dud upon whose back was +bidding good-day to the other, with a coat and hat that would have +served a pease-bogle, and without havings or reverence, thrusts into +our hands, like a sturdy beggar, some Supplication about debts owing +by our gracious mother, and siclike trash; whereat the horse spangs on +end, and, but for our admirable sitting, wherein we have been thought +to excel maist sovereign princes, as well as subjects, in Europe, I +promise you we would have been laid endlang on the causeway." + +"Your Majesty," said Heriot, "is their common father, and therefore +they are the bolder to press into your gracious presence." + +"I ken I am _pater patriae_ well enough," said James; "but one would +think they had a mind to squeeze my puddings out, that they may divide +the inheritance, Ud's death, Geordie, there is not a loon among them +can deliver a Supplication, as it suld be done in the face of +majesty." + +"I would I knew the most fitting and beseeming mode to do so," said +Heriot, "were it but to instruct our poor countrymen in better +fashions." + +"By my halidome," said the king, "ye are a ceevileezed fellow, +Geordie, and I carena if I fling awa as much time as may teach ye. +And, first, see you, sir--ye shall approach the presence of majesty +thus,--shadowing your eyes with your hand, to testify that you are in +the presence of the Vice-gerent of Heaven.--Vera weel, George, that is +done in a comely manner.--Then, sir, ye sail kneel, and make as if ye +would kiss the hem of our garment, the latch of our shoe, or such +like.--Very weel enacted--whilk we, as being willing to be debonair +and pleasing towards our lieges, prevent thus,--and motion to you to +rise;--whilk, having a boon to ask, as yet you obey not, but, gliding +your hand into your pouch, bring forth your Supplication, and place it +reverentially in our open palm." The goldsmith, who had complied with +great accuracy with all the prescribed points of the ceremonial, here +completed it, to James's no small astonishment, by placing in his hand +the petition of the Lord of Glenvarloch. "What means this, ye fause +loon?" said he, reddening and sputtering; "hae I been teaching you the +manual exercise, that ye suld present your piece at our ain royal +body?--Now, by this light, I had as lief that ye had bended a real +pistolet against me, and yet this hae ye done in my very cabinet, +where nought suld enter but at my ain pleasure." + +"I trust your Majesty," said Heriot, as he continued to kneel, "will +forgive my exercising the lesson you condescended to give me in the +behalf of a friend?" + +"Of a friend!" said the king; "so much the waur--so much the waur, I +tell you. If it had been something to do _yoursell_ good there would +have been some sense in it, and some chance that you wad not have come +back on me in a hurry; but a man may have a hundred friends, and +petitions for every ane of them, ilk ane after other." + +"Your Majesty, I trust," said Heriot, "will judge me by + former experience, and will not suspect me of such presumption." + +"I kenna," said the placable monarch; "the world goes daft, I think-- +_sed semel insanivimus omnes_--thou art my old and faithful servant, +that is the truth; and, were't any thing for thy own behoof, man, thou +shouldst not ask twice. But, troth, Steenie loves me so dearly, that +he cares not that any one should ask favours of me but himself.-- +Maxwell," (for the usher had re-entered after having carried off the +plate,) "get into the ante-chamber wi' your lang lugs.--In conscience, +Geordie, I think as that thou hast been mine ain auld fiduciary, and +wert my goldsmith when I might say with the Ethnic poet--_Non mea +renidet in domo lacunar_--for, faith, they had pillaged my mither's +auld house sae, that beechen bickers, and treen trenchers, and latten +platters, were whiles the best at our board, and glad we were of +something to put on them, without quarrelling with the metal of the +dishes. D'ye mind, for thou wert in maist of our complots, how we were +fain to send sax of the Blue-banders to harry the Lady of Loganhouse's +dowcot and poultry-yard, and what an awfu' plaint the poor dame made +against Jock of Milch, and the thieves of Annandale, wha were as +sackless of the deed as I am of the sin of murder?" + +"It was the better for Jock," said Heriot; "for, if I remember weel, +it saved him from a strapping up at Dumfries, which he had weel +deserved for other misdeeds." + +"Ay, man, mind ye that?" said the king; "but he had other virtues, for +he was a tight huntsman, moreover, that Jock of Milch, and could +hollow to a hound till all the woods rang again. But he came to an +Annandale end at the last, for Lord Torthorwald run his lance out +through him.--Cocksnails, man, when I think of those wild passages, in +my conscience, I am not sure but we lived merrier in auld Holyrood in +those shifting days, than now when we are dwelling at heck and manger. +_Cantabit vacuus_--we had but little to care for." + +"And if your Majesty please to remember," said the goldsmith, "the +awful task we had to gather silver-vessail and gold-work enough to +make some show before the Spanish Ambassador." + +"Vera true," said the king, now in a full tide of gossip, "and I mind +not the name of the right leal lord that helped us with every unce he +had in his house, that his native Prince might have some credit in the +eyes of them that had the Indies at their beck." + +"I think, if your Majesty," said the citizen, "will cast your eye on +the paper in your hand, you will recollect his name." + +"Ay!" said the king, "say ye sae, man?--Lord Glenvarloch, that was his +name indeed--_Justus et tenax propositi_--A just man, but as obstinate +as a baited bull. He stood whiles against us, that Lord Randal +Olifaunt of Glenvarloch, but he was a loving and a leal subject in the +main. But this supplicator maun be his son--Randal has been long gone +where king and lord must go, Geordie, as weel as the like of you--and +what does his son want with us?" + +"The settlement," answered the citizen, "of a large debt due by your +Majesty's treasury, for money advanced to your Majesty in great State +emergency, about the time of the Raid of Ruthven." + +"I mind the thing weel," said King James--"Od's death, man, I was just +out of the clutches of the Master of Glamis and his complices, and +there was never siller mair welcome to a born prince,--the mair the +shame and pity that crowned king should need sic a petty sum. But what +need he dun us for it, man, like a baxter at the breaking? We aught +him the siller, and will pay him wi' our convenience, or make it +otherwise up to him, whilk is enow between prince and subject--We are +not _in meditatione fugae,_ man, to be arrested thus peremptorily." + +"Alas! an it please your Majesty," said the goldsmith, shaking his +head, "it is the poor young nobleman's extreme necessity, and not his +will, that makes him importunate; for he must have money, and that +briefly, to discharge a debt due to Peregrine Peterson, Conservator of +the Privileges at Campvere, or his haill hereditary barony and estate +of Glenvarloch will be evicted in virtue of an unredeemed wadset." + +"How say ye, man--how say ye?" exclaimed the king, impatiently; "the +carle of a Conservator, the son of a Low-Dutch skipper, evict the auld +estate and lordship of the house of Olifaunt?--God's bread, man, that +maun not be--we maun suspend the diligence by writ of favour, or +otherwise." + +"I doubt that may hardly be," answered the citizen, "if it please your +Majesty; your learned counsel in the law of Scotland advise, that +there is no remeid but in paying the money." + +"Ud's fish," said the king, "let him keep haud by the strong hand +against the carle, until we can take some order about his affairs." + +"Alas!" insisted the goldsmith, "if it like your Majesty, your own +pacific government, and your doing of equal justice to all men, has +made main force a kittle line to walk by, unless just within the +bounds of the Highlands." + +"Well--weel--weel, man," said the perplexed monarch, whose ideas of +justice, expedience, and convenience, became on such occasions +strangely embroiled; "just it is we should pay our debts, that the +young man may pay his; and he must be paid, and _in verbo regis_ he +shall be paid--but how to come by the siller, man, is a difficult +chapter--ye maun try the city, Geordie." + +"To say the truth," answered Heriot, "please your gracious Majesty, +what betwixt loans and benevolences, and subsidies, the city is at +this present----" + +"Donna tell me of what the city is," said King James; "our Exchequer +is as dry as Dean Giles's discourses on the penitentiary psalms--_Ex +nihilo nihil fit_--It's ill taking the breeks aff a wild Highlandman-- +they that come to me for siller, should tell me how to come by it--the +city ye maun try, Heriot; and donna think to be called Jingling +Geordie for nothing--and _in verbo regis_ I will pay the lad if you +get me the loan--I wonnot haggle on the terms; and, between you and +me, Geordie, we will redeem the brave auld estate of Glenvarloch.--But +wherefore comes not the young lord to Court, Heriot--is he comely--is +he presentable in the presence?" + +"No one can be more so," said George Heriot; "but----" + +"Ay, I understand ye," said his Majesty--"I understand ye--_Res +angusta domi_--puir lad-puir lad!--and his father a right true leal +Scots heart, though stiff in some opinions. Hark ye, Heriot, let the +lad have twa hundred pounds to fit him out. And, here--here"--(taking +the carcanet of rubies from his old hat)--"ye have had these in pledge +before for a larger sum, ye auld Levite that ye are. Keep them in +gage, till I gie ye back the siller out of the next subsidy." + +"If it please your Majesty to give me such directions in writing," +said the cautious citizen. + +"The deil is in your nicety, George," said the king; "ye are as +preceese as a Puritan in form, and a mere Nullifidian in the marrow of +the matter. May not a king's word serve ye for advancing your pitiful +twa hundred pounds?" + +"But not for detaining the crown jewels," said George Heriot. + +And the king, who from long experience was inured to dealing with +suspicious creditors, wrote an order upon George Heriot, his well- +beloved goldsmith and jeweller, for the sum of two hundred pounds, to +be paid presently to Nigel Olifaunt, Lord of Glenvarloch, to be +imputed as so much debts due to him by the crown; and authorizing the +retention of a carcanet of balas rubies, with a great diamond, as +described in a Catalogue of his Majesty's Jewels, to remain in +possession of the said George Heriot, advancer of the said sum, and so +forth, until he was lawfully contented and paid thereof. By another +rescript, his Majesty gave the said George Heriot directions to deal +with some of the monied men, upon equitable terms, for a sum of money +for his Majesty's present use, not to be under 50,000 merks, but as +much more as could conveniently be procured. + +"And has he ony lair, this Lord Nigel of ours?" said the king. + +George Heriot could not exactly answer this question; but believed +"the young lord had studied abroad." + +"He shall have our own advice," said the king, "how to carry on his +studies to maist advantage; and it may be we will have him come to +Court, and study with Steenie and Babie Charles. And, now we think +on't, away--away, George--for the bairns will be coming hame +presently, and we would not as yet they kend of this matter we have +been treating anent. _Propera fedem,_ O Geordie. Clap your mule +between your boughs, and god-den with you." + +Thus ended the conference betwixt the gentle King Jamie and his +benevolent jeweller and goldsmith. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + + O I do know him--tis the mouldy lemon + Which our court wits will wet their lips withal, + When they would sauce their honied conversation + With somewhat sharper flavour--Marry sir, + That virtue's wellnigh left him--all the juice + That was so sharp and poignant, is squeezed out, + While the poor rind, although as sour as ever, + Must season soon the draff we give our grunters, + For two legg'd things are weary on't. + _The Chamberlain--A Comedy_ + +The good company invited by the hospitable citizen assembled at his +house in Lombard Street at the "hollow and hungry hour" of noon, to +partake of that meal which divides the day, being about the time when +modern persons of fashion, turning themselves upon their pillow, begin +to think, not without a great many doubts and much hesitation, that +they will by and by commence it. Thither came the young Nigel, arrayed +plainly, but in a dress, nevertheless, more suitable to his age and +quality than he had formerly worn, accompanied by his servant +Moniplies, whose outside also was considerably improved. His solemn +and stern features glared forth from under a blue velvet bonnet, +fantastically placed sideways on his head--he had a sound and tough +coat of English blue broad-cloth, which, unlike his former vestment, +would have stood the tug of all the apprentices in Fleet Street. The +buckler and broadsword he wore as the arms of his condition, and a +neat silver badge, bearing his lord's arms, announced that he was an +appendage of aristocracy. He sat down in the good citizen's buttery, +not a little pleased to find his attendance upon the table in the hall +was likely to be rewarded with his share of a meal such as he had +seldom partaken of. + +Mr. David Ramsay, that profound and ingenious mechanic, was safely +conducted to Lombard Street, according to promise, well washed, +brushed, and cleaned, from the soot of the furnace and the forge. His +daughter, who came with him, was about twenty years old, very pretty, +very demure, yet with lively black eyes, that ever and anon +contradicted the expression of sobriety, to which silence, reserve, a +plain velvet hood, and a cambric ruff, had condemned Mistress Marget, +as the daughter of a quiet citizen. + +There were also two citizens and merchants of London, men ample in +cloak, and many-linked golden chain, well to pass in the world, and +experienced in their craft of merchandise, but who require no +particular description. There was an elderly clergyman also, in his +gown and cassock, a decent venerable man, partaking in his manners of +the plainness of the citizens amongst whom he had his cure. + +These may be dismissed with brief notice; but not so Sir Mungo +Malagrowther, of Girnigo Castle, who claims a little more attention, +as an original character of the time in which he flourished. + +That good knight knocked at Master Heriot's door just as the clock +began to strike twelve, and was seated in his chair ere the last +stroke had chimed. This gave the knight an excellent opportunity of +making sarcastic observations on all who came later than himself, not +to mention a few rubs at the expense of those who had been so +superfluous as to appear earlier. + +Having little or no property save his bare designation, Sir Mungo had +been early attached to Court in the capacity of whipping-boy, as the +office was then called, to King James the Sixth, and, with his +Majesty, trained to all polite learning by his celebrated preceptor, +George Buchanan. The office of whipping-boy doomed its unfortunate +occupant to undergo all the corporeal punishment which the Lord's +Anointed, whose proper person was of course sacred, might chance to +incur, in the course of travelling through his grammar and prosody. +Under the stern rule, indeed, of George Buchanan, who did not approve +of the vicarious mode of punishment, James bore the penance of his own +faults, and Mungo Malagrowther enjoyed a sinecure; but James's other +pedagogue, Master Patrick Young, went more ceremoniously to work, and +appalled the very soul of the youthful king by the floggings which he +bestowed on the whipping-boy, when the royal task was not suitably +performed. And be it told to Sir Mungo's praise, that there were +points about him in the highest respect suited to his official +situation. He had even in youth a naturally irregular and grotesque +set of features, which, when distorted by fear, pain, and anger, +looked like one of the whimsical faces which present themselves in a +Gothic cornice. His voice also was high-pitched and querulous, so +that, when smarting under Master Peter Young's unsparing inflictions, +the expression of his grotesque physiognomy, and the superhuman yells +which he uttered, were well suited to produce all the effects on the +Monarch who deserved the lash, that could possibly be produced by +seeing another and an innocent individual suffering for his delict. + +Sir Mungo Malagrowther, for such he became, thus got an early footing +at Court, which another would have improved and maintained. But, when +he grew too big to be whipped, he had no other means of rendering +himself acceptable. A bitter, caustic, and backbiting humour, a +malicious wit, and an envy of others more prosperous than the +possessor of such amiable qualities, have not, indeed, always been +found obstacles to a courtier's rise; but then they must be +amalgamated with a degree of selfish cunning and prudence, of which +Sir Mungo had no share. His satire ran riot, his envy could not +conceal itself, and it was not long after his majority till he had as +many quarrels upon his hands as would have required a cat's nine lives +to answer. In one of these rencontres he received, perhaps we should +say fortunately, a wound, which served him as an excuse for answering +no invitations of the kind in future. Sir Rullion Rattray, of +Ranagullion, cut off, in mortal combat, three of the fingers of his +right hand, so that Sir Mungo never could hold sword again. At a later +period, having written some satirical verses upon the Lady Cockpen, he +received so severe a chastisement from some persons employed for the +purpose, that he was found half dead on the spot where they had thus +dealt with him, and one of his thighs having been broken, and ill set, +gave him a hitch in his gait, with which he hobbled to his grave. The +lameness of his leg and hand, besides that they added considerably to +the grotesque appearance of this original, procured him in future a +personal immunity from the more dangerous consequences of his own +humour; and he gradually grew old in the service of the Court, in +safety of life and limb, though without either making friends or +attaining preferment. Sometimes, indeed, the king was amused with his +caustic sallies, but he had never art enough to improve the favourable +opportunity; and his enemies (who were, for that matter, the whole +Court) always found means to throw him out of favour again. The +celebrated Archie Armstrong offered Sir Mungo, in his generosity, a +skirt of his own fool's coat, proposing thereby to communicate to him +the privileges and immunities of a professed jester--"For," said the +man of motley, "Sir Mungo, as he goes on just now, gets no more for a +good jest than just the king's pardon for having made it." + +Even in London, the golden shower which fell around him did not +moisten the blighted fortunes of Sir Mungo Malagrowther. He grew old, +deaf, and peevish--lost even the spirit which had formerly animated +his strictures--and was barely endured by James, who, though himself +nearly as far stricken in years, retained, to an unusual and even an +absurd degree, the desire to be surrounded by young people. + +Sir Mungo, thus fallen into the yellow leaf of years and fortune, +showed his emaciated form and faded embroidery at Court as seldom as +his duty permitted; and spent his time in indulging his food for +satire in the public walks, and in the aisles of Saint Paul's, which +were then the general resort of newsmongers and characters of all +descriptions, associating himself chiefly with such of his countrymen +as he accounted of inferior birth and rank to himself. In this manner, +hating and contemning commerce, and those who pursued it, he +nevertheless lived a good deal among the Scottish artists and +merchants, who had followed the Court to London. To these he could +show his cynicism without much offence; for some submitted to his +jeers and ill-humour in deference to his birth and knighthood, which +in those days conferred high privileges--and others, of more sense, +pitied and endured the old man, unhappy alike in his fortunes and his +temper. + +Amongst the latter was George Heriot, who, though his habits and +education induced him to carry aristocratical feelings to a degree +which would now be thought extravagant, had too much spirit and good +sense to permit himself to be intruded upon to an unauthorized excess, +or used with the slightest improper freedom, by such a person as Sir +Mungo, to whom he was, nevertheless, not only respectfully civil, but +essentially kind, and even generous. + +Accordingly, this appeared from the manner in which Sir Mungo +Malagrowther conducted himself upon entering the apartment. He paid +his respects to Master Heriot, and a decent, elderly, somewhat severe- +looking female, in a coif, who, by the name of Aunt Judith, did the +honours of his house and table, with little or no portion of the +supercilious acidity, which his singular physiognomy assumed when he +made his bow successively to David Ramsay and the two sober citizens. +He thrust himself into the conversation of the latter, to observe he +had heard in Paul's, that the bankrupt concern of Pindivide, a great +merchant,--who, as he expressed it, had given the crows a pudding, and +on whom he knew, from the same authority, each of the honest citizens +has some unsettled claim,--was like to prove a total loss--"stock and +block, ship and cargo, keel and rigging, all lost, now and for ever." + +The two citizens grinned at each other; but, too prudent to make their +private affairs the subject of public discussion, drew their heads +together, and evaded farther conversation by speaking in a whisper. + +The old Scots knight next attacked the watchmaker with the same +disrespectful familiarity.--"Davie," he said,--"Davie, ye donnard auld +idiot, have ye no gane mad yet, with applying your mathematical +science, as ye call it, to the book of Apocalypse? I expected to have +heard ye make out the sign of the beast, as clear as a tout on a +bawbee whistle." + +"Why, Sir Mungo," said the mechanist, after making an effort to recall +to his recollection what had been said to him, and by whom, "it may +be, that ye are nearer the mark than ye are yoursell aware of; for, +taking the ten horns o' the beast, ye may easily estimate by your +digitals--" + +"My digits! you d--d auld, rusty, good-for-nothing time-piece!" +exclaimed Sir Mungo, while, betwixt jest and earnest, he laid on his +hilt his hand, or rather his claw, (for Sir Rullion's broadsword has +abridged it into that form,)--"D'ye mean to upbraid me with my +mutilation?" + +Master Heriot interfered. "I cannot persuade our friend David," he +said, "that scriptural prophecies are intended to remain in obscurity, +until their unexpected accomplishment shall make, as in former days, +that fulfilled which was written. But you must not exert your knightly +valour on him for all that." + +"By my saul, and it would be throwing it away," said Sir Mungo, +laughing. "I would as soon set out, with hound and horn, to hunt a +sturdied sheep; for he is in a doze again, and up to the chin in +numerals, quotients, and dividends.--Mistress Margaret, my pretty +honey," for the beauty of the young citizen made even Sir Mungo +Malagrowther's grim features relax themselves a little, "is your +father always as entertaining as he seems just now?" + +Mistress Margaret simpered, bridled, looked to either side, then +straight before her; and, having assumed all the airs of bashful +embarrassment and timidity which were necessary, as she thought, to +cover a certain shrewd readiness which really belonged to her +character, at length replied: "That indeed her father was very +thoughtful, but she had heard that he took the habit of mind from her +grandfather." + +"Your grandfather!" said Sir Mungo,--after doubting if he had heard +her aright,--"Said she her grandfather! The lassie is distraught!--I +ken nae wench on this side of Temple Bar that is derived from so +distant a relation." + +"She has got a godfather, however, Sir Mungo," said George Heriot, +again interfering; "and I hope you will allow him interest enough with +you, to request you will not put his pretty godchild to so deep a +blush." + +"The better--the better," said Sir Mungo. "It is a credit to her, +that, bred and born within the sound of Bow-bell, she can blush for +any thing; and, by my saul, Master George," he continued, chucking the +irritated and reluctant damsel under the chin, "she is bonny enough to +make amends for her lack of ancestry--at least, in such a region as +Cheapside, where, d'ye mind me, the kettle cannot call the porridge- +pot--" + +The damsel blushed, but not so angrily as before. Master George Heriot +hastened to interrupt the conclusion of Sir Mungo's homely proverb, by +introducing him personally to Lord Nigel. + +Sir Mungo could not at first understand what his host said,--"Bread of +Heaven, wha say ye, man?" + +Upon the name of Nigel Olifaunt, Lord Glenvarloch, being again +hollowed into his ear, he drew up, and, regarding his entertainer with +some austerity, rebuked him for not making persons of quality +acquainted with each other, that they might exchange courtesies before +they mingled with other folks. He then made as handsome and courtly a +congee to his new acquaintance as a man maimed in foot and hand could +do; and, observing he had known my lord, his father, bid him welcome +to London, and hoped he should see him at Court. + +Nigel in an instant comprehended, as well from Sir Mungo's manner, as +from a strict compression of their entertainer's lips, which intimated +the suppression of a desire to laugh, that he was dealing with an +original of no ordinary description, and accordingly, returned his +courtesy with suitable punctiliousness. Sir Mungo, in the meanwhile, +gazed on him with much earnestness; and, as the contemplation of +natural advantages was as odious to him as that of wealth, or other +adventitious benefits, he had no sooner completely perused the +handsome form and good features of the young lord, than like one of +the comforters of the man of Uz, he drew close up to him, to enlarge +on the former grandeur of the Lords of Glenvarloch, and the regret +with which he had heard, that their representative was not likely to +possess the domains of his ancestry. Anon, he enlarged upon the +beauties of the principal mansion of Glenvarloch--the commanding site +of the old castle--the noble expanse of the lake, stocked with +wildfowl for hawking--the commanding screen of forest, terminating in +a mountain-ridge abounding with deer--and all the other advantages of +that fine and ancient barony, till Nigel, in spite of every effort to +the contrary, was unwillingly obliged to sigh. + +Sir Mungo, skilful in discerning when the withers of those he +conversed with were wrung, observed that his new acquaintance winced, +and would willingly have pressed the discussion; but the cook's +impatient knock upon the dresser with the haft of his dudgeon-knife, +now gave a signal loud enough to be heard from the top of the house to +the bottom, summoning, at the same time, the serving-men to place the +dinner upon the table, and the guests to partake of it. + +Sir Mungo, who was an admirer of good cheer,--a taste which, by the +way, might have some weight in reconciling his dignity to these city +visits,--was tolled off by the sound, and left Nigel and the other +guests in peace, until his anxiety to arrange himself in his due place +of pre-eminence at the genial board was duly gratified. Here, seated +on the left hand of Aunt Judith, he beheld Nigel occupy the station of +yet higher honour on the right, dividing that matron from pretty +Mistress Margaret; but he saw this with the more patience, that there +stood betwixt him and the young lord a superb larded capon. + +The dinner proceeded according to the form of the times. All was +excellent of the kind; and, besides the Scottish cheer promised, the +board displayed beef and pudding, the statutory dainties of Old +England. A small cupboard of plate, very choicely and beautifully +wrought, did not escape the compliments of some of the company, and an +oblique sneer from Sir Mungo, as intimating the owner's excellence in +his own mechanical craft. + +"I am not ashamed of the workmanship, Sir Mungo," said the honest +citizen. "They say, a good cook knows how to lick his own fingers; +and, methinks, it were unseemly that I, who have furnished half the +cupboards in broad Britain, should have my own covered with paltry +pewter." + +The blessing of the clergyman now left the guests at liberty to attack +what was placed before them; and the meal went forward with great +decorum, until Aunt Judith, in farther recommendation of the capon, +assured her company that it was of a celebrated breed of poultry, +which she had herself brought from Scotland. + +"Then, like some of his countrymen, madam," said the pitiless Sir +Mungo, not without a glance towards his landlord, "he has been well +larded in England." + +"There are some others of his countrymen," answered Master Heriot, "to +whom all the lard in England has not been able to render that good +office." + +Sir Mungo sneered and reddened, the rest of the company laughed; and +the satirist, who had his reasons for not coming to extremity with +Master George, was silent for the rest of the dinner. + +The dishes were exchanged for confections, and wine of the highest +quality and flavour; and Nigel saw the entertainments of the +wealthiest burgomasters, which he had witnessed abroad, fairly +outshone by the hospitality of a London citizen. Yet there was nothing +ostentatious, or which seemed inconsistent with the degree of an +opulent burgher. + +While the collation proceeded, Nigel, according to the good-breeding +of the time, addressed his discourse principally to Mrs. Judith, whom +he found to be a woman of a strong Scottish understanding, more +inclined towards the Puritans than was her brother George, (for in +that relation she stood to him, though he always called her aunt,) +attached to him in the strongest degree, and sedulously attentive to +all his comforts. As the conversation of this good dame was neither +lively nor fascinating, the young lord naturally addressed himself +next to the old horologer's very pretty daughter, who sat upon his +left hand. From her, however, there was no extracting any reply beyond +the measure of a monosyllable; and when the young gallant had said the +best and most complaisant things which his courtesy supplied, the +smile that mantled upon her pretty mouth was so slight and evanescent, +as scarce to be discernible. + +Nigel was beginning to tire of his company, for the old citizens were +speaking with his host of commercial matters in language to him +totally unintelligible, when Sir Mungo Malagrowther suddenly summoned +their attention. + +That amiable personage had for some time withdrawn from the company +into the recess of a projecting window, so formed and placed as to +command a view of the door of the house, and of the street. This +situation was probably preferred by Sir Mungo on account of the number +of objects which the streets of a metropolis usually offer, of a kind +congenial to the thoughts of a splenetic man. What he had hitherto +seen passing there, was probably of little consequence; but now a +trampling of horse was heard without, and the knight suddenly +exclaimed,--"By my faith, Master George, you had better go look to +shop; for here comes Knighton, the Duke of Buckingham's groom, and two +fellows after him, as if he were my Lord Duke himself." + +"My cash-keeper is below," said Heriot, without disturbing himself, +"and he will let me know if his Grace's commands require my immediate +attention." + +"Umph!--cash-keeper?" muttered Sir Mungo to himself; "he would have +had an easy office when I first kend ye.--But," said he, speaking +aloud, "will you not come to the window, at least? for Knighton has +trundled a piece of silver-plate into your house--ha! ha! ha!-- +trundled it upon its edge, as a callan' would drive a hoop. I cannot +help laughing--ha! ha! ha!--at the fellow's impudence." + +"I believe you could not help laughing," said George Heriot, rising up +and leaving the room, "if your best friend lay dying." + +"Bitter that, my lord--ha?" said Sir Mungo, addressing Nigel. "Our +friend is not a goldsmith for nothing--he hath no leaden wit. But I +will go down, and see what comes on't." + +Heriot, as he descended the stairs, met his cash-keeper coming up, +with some concern in his face.--"Why, how now, Roberts," said the +goldsmith, "what means all this, man?" + +"It is Knighton, Master Heriot, from the Court--Knighton, the Duke's +man. He brought back the salver you carried to Whitehall, flung it +into the entrance as if it had been an old pewter platter, and bade me +tell you the king would have none of your trumpery." + +"Ay, indeed," said George Heriot--"None of my trumpery!--Come hither +into the compting-room, Roberts.--Sir Mungo," he added, bowing to the +knight, who had joined, and was preparing to follow them, "I pray your +forgiveness for an instant." + +In virtue of this prohibition, Sir Mungo, who, as well as the rest of +the company, had overheard what passed betwixt George Heriot and his +cash-keeper, saw himself condemned to wait in the outer business-room, +where he would have endeavoured to slake his eager curiosity by +questioning Knighton; but that emissary of greatness, after having +added to the uncivil message of his master some rudeness of his own, +had again scampered westward, with his satellites at his heels. + +In the meanwhile, the name of the Duke of Buckingham, the omnipotent +favourite both of the king and the Prince of Wales, had struck some +anxiety into the party which remained in the great parlour. He was +more feared than beloved, and, if not absolutely of a tyrannical +disposition, was accounted haughty, violent, and vindictive. It +pressed on Nigel's heart, that he himself, though he could not +conceive how, nor why, might be the original cause of the resentment +of the Duke against his benefactor. The others made their comments in +whispers, until the sounds reached Ramsay, who had not heard a word of +what had previously passed, but, plunged in those studies with which +he connected every other incident and event, took up only the +catchword, and replied,--"The Duke--the Duke of Buckingham--George +Villiers--ay--I have spoke with Lambe about him." + +"Our Lord and our Lady! Now, how can you say so, father?" said his +daughter, who had shrewdness enough to see that her father was +touching upon dangerous ground. + +"Why, ay, child," answered Ramsay; "the stars do but incline, they +cannot compel. But well you wot, it is commonly said of his Grace, by +those who have the skill to cast nativities, that there was a notable +conjunction of Mars and Saturn--the apparent or true time of which, +reducing the calculations of Eichstadius made for the latitude of +Oranienburgh, to that of London, gives seven hours, fifty-five +minutes, and forty-one seconds----" + +"Hold your peace, old soothsayer," said Heriot, who at that instant +entered the room with a calm and steady countenance; "your +calculations are true and undeniable when they regard brass and wire, +and mechanical force; but future events are at the pleasure of Him who +bears the hearts of kings in his hands." + +"Ay, but, George," answered the watchmaker, "there was a concurrence +of signs at this gentleman's birth, which showed his course would be a +strange one. Long has it been said of him, he was born at the very +meeting of night and day, and under crossing and contending influences +that may affect both us and him. + + 'Full moon and high sea, + Great man shalt thou be; + Red dawning, stormy sky, + Bloody death shalt thou die.'" + +"It is not good to speak of such things," said Heriot, "especially of +the great; stone walls have ears, and a bird of the air shall carry +the matter." + +Several of the guests seemed to be of their host's opinion. The two +merchants took brief leave, as if under consciousness that something +was wrong. Mistress Margaret, her body-guard of 'prentices being in +readiness, plucked her father by the sleeve, and, rescuing him from a +brown study, (whether referring to the wheels of Time, or to that of +Fortune, is uncertain,) wished good-night to her friend Mrs. Judith, +and received her godfather's blessing, who, at the same time, put upon +her slender finger a ring of much taste and some value; for he seldom +suffered her to leave him without some token of his affection. Thus +honourably dismissed, and accompanied by her escort, she set forth on +her return to Fleet Street. + +Sir Mungo had bid adieu to Master Heriot as he came out from the back +compting-room, but such was the interest which he took in the affairs +of his friend, that, when Master George went upstairs, he could not +help walking into that sanctum sanctorum, to see how Master Roberts +was employed. The knight found the cash-keeper busy in making extracts +from those huge brass-clasped leathern-bound manuscript folios, which +are the pride and trust of dealers, and the dread of customers whose +year of grace is out. The good knight leant his elbows on the desk, +and said to the functionary in a condoling tone of voice,--"What! you +have lost a good customer, I fear, Master Roberts, and are busied in +making out his bill of charges?" + +Now, it chanced that Roberts, like Sir Mungo himself, was a little +deaf, and, like Sir Mungo, knew also how to make the most of it; so +that he answered at cross purposes,--"I humbly crave your pardon, Sir +Mungo, for not having sent in your bill of charge sooner, but my +master bade me not disturb you. I will bring the items together in a +moment." So saying, he began to turn over the leaves of his book of +fate, murmuring, "Repairing ane silver seal-new clasp to his chain of +office--ane over-gilt brooch to his hat, being a Saint Andrew's cross, +with thistles--a copper gilt pair of spurs,--this to Daniel Driver, we +not dealing in the article." + +He would have proceeded; but Sir Mungo, not prepared to endure the +recital of the catalogue of his own petty debts, and still less +willing to satisfy them on the spot, wished the bookkeeper, +cavalierly, good-night, and left the house without farther ceremony. +The clerk looked after him with a civil city sneer, and immediately +resumed the more serious labours which Sir Mungo's intrusion had +interrupted. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + + Things needful we have thought on; but the thing + Of all most needful--that which Scripture terms, + As if alone it merited regard, + The ONE thing needful--that's yet unconsider'd. + _The Chamberlain._ + +When the rest of the company had taken their departure from Master +Heriot's house, the young Lord of Glenvarloch also offered to take +leave; but his host detained him for a few minutes, until all were +gone excepting the clergyman. + +"My lord," then said the worthy citizen, "we have had our permitted +hour of honest and hospitable pastime, and now I would fain delay you +for another and graver purpose, as it is our custom, when we have the +benefit of good Mr. Windsor's company, that he reads the prayers of +the church for the evening before we separate. Your excellent father, +my lord, would not have departed before family worship--I hope the +same from your lordship." + +"With pleasure, sir," answered Nigel; "and you add in the invitation +an additional obligation to those with which you have loaded me. When +young men forget what is their duty, they owe deep thanks to the +friend who will remind them of it." + +While they talked together in this manner, the serving-men had removed +the folding-tables, brought forward a portable reading-desk, and +placed chairs and hassocks for their master, their mistress, and the +noble stranger. Another low chair, or rather a sort of stool, was +placed close beside that of Master Heriot; and though the circumstance +was trivial, Nigel was induced to notice it, because, when about to +occupy that seat, he was prevented by a sign from the old gentleman, +and motioned to another of somewhat more elevation. The clergyman took +his station behind the reading-desk. The domestics, a numerous family +both of clerks and servants, including Moniplies, attended, with great +gravity, and were accommodated with benches. + +The household were all seated, and, externally at least, composed to +devout attention, when a low knock was heard at the door of the +apartment; Mrs. Judith looked anxiously at her brother, as if desiring +to know his pleasure. He nodded his head gravely, and looked to the +door. Mrs. Judith immediately crossed the chamber, opened the door, +and led into the apartment a beautiful creature, whose sudden and +singular appearance might have made her almost pass for an apparition. +She was deadly pale-there was not the least shade of vital red to +enliven features, which were exquisitely formed, and might, but for +that circumstance, have been termed transcendently beautiful. Her long +black hair fell down over her shoulders and down her back, combed +smoothly and regularly, but without the least appearance of decoration +or ornament, which looked very singular at a period when head-gear, as +it was called, of one sort or other, was generally used by all ranks. +Her dress was of white, of the simplest fashion, and hiding all her +person excepting the throat, face, and hands. Her form was rather +beneath than above the middle size, but so justly proportioned and +elegantly made, that the spectator's attention was entirely withdrawn +from her size. In contradiction of the extreme plainness of all the +rest of her attire, she wore a necklace which a duchess might have +envied, so large and lustrous were the brilliants of which it was +composed; and around her waist a zone of rubies of scarce inferior +value. + +When this singular figure entered the apartment, she cast her eyes on +Nigel, and paused, as if uncertain whether to advance or retreat. The +glance which she took of him seemed to be one rather of uncertainty +and hesitation, than of bashfulness or timidity. Aunt Judith took her +by the hand, and led her slowly forward--her dark eyes, however, +continued to be fixed on Nigel, with an expression of melancholy by +which he felt strangely affected. Even when she was seated on the +vacant stool, which was placed there probably for her accommodation, +she again looked on him more than once with the same pensive, +lingering, and anxious expression, but without either shyness or +embarrassment, not even so much as to call the slightest degree of +complexion into her cheek. + +So soon as this singular female had taken up the prayer-book, which +was laid upon her cushion, she seemed immersed in devotional duty; and +although Nigel's attention to the service was so much disturbed by +this extraordinary apparition, that he looked towards her repeatedly +in the course of the service, he +could never observe that her eyes or her thoughts strayed so much as a +single moment from the task in which she was engaged. Nigel himself +was less attentive, for the appearance of this lady seemed so +extraordinary, that, strictly as he had been bred up by his father to +pay the most reverential attention during performance of divine +service, his thoughts in spite of himself were disturbed by her +presence, and he earnestly wished the prayers were ended, that his +curiosity might obtain some gratification. When the service was +concluded, and each had remained, according to the decent and edifying +practice of the church, concentrated in mental devotion for a short +space, the mysterious visitant arose ere any other person stirred; and +Nigel remarked that none of the domestics left their places, oreven +moved, until she had first kneeled on one knee to Heriot, who seemed +to bless her with his hand laid on her head, and a melancholy +solemnity of look and action. She then bended her body, but without +kneeling, to Mrs. Judith, and having performed these two acts of +reverence, she left the room; yet just in the act of her departure, +she once more turned her penetrating eyes on Nigel with a fixed look, +which compelled him to turn his own aside. When he looked towards her +again, he saw only the skirt of her white mantle as she left the +apartment. + +The domestics then rose and dispersed themselves--wine, and fruit, and +spices, were offered to Lord Nigel and to the clergyman, and the +latter took his leave. The young lord would fain have accompanied him, +in hope to get some explanation of the apparition which he had beheld, +but he was stopped by his host, who requested to speak with him in his +compting-room. + +"I hope, my lord," said the citizen, "that your preparations for +attending Court are in such forwardness that you can go thither the +day after to-morrow. It is, perhaps, the last day, for some time, that +his Majesty will hold open Court for all who have pretensions by +birth, rank, or office to attend upon him. On the subsequent day he +goes to Theobald's, where he is so much occupied with hunting and +other pleasures, that he cares not to be intruded on." + +"I shall be in all outward readiness to pay my duty," said the young +nobleman, "yet I have little heart to do it. The friends from whom I +ought to have found encouragement and protection, have proved cold and +false--I certainly will not trouble _them_ for their countenance on +this occasion--and yet I must confess my childish unwillingness to +enter quite alone upon so new a scene." + +"It is bold of a mechanic like me to make such an offer to a +nobleman," said Heriot; "but I must attend at Court to-morrow. I can +accompany you as far as the presence-chamber, from my privilege as +being of the household. I can facilitate your entrance, should you +find difficulty, and I can point out the proper manner and time of +approaching the king. But I do not know," he added, smiling, "whether +these little advantages will not be overbalanced by the incongruity of +a nobleman receiving them from the hands of an old smith." + +"From the hands rather of the only friend I have found in London," +said Nigel, offering his hand. + +"Nay, if you think of the matter in that way," replied the honest +citizen, "there is no more to be said--I will come for you to-morrow, +with a barge proper to the occasion.--But remember, my good young +lord, that I do not, like some men of my degree, wish to take +opportunity to step beyond it, and associate with my superiors in +rank, and therefore do not fear to mortify my presumption, by +suffering me to keep my distance in the presence, and where it is +fitting for both of us to separate; and for what remains, most truly +happy shall I be in proving of service to the son of my ancient +patron." + +The style of conversation led so far from the point which had +interested the young nobleman's curiosity, that there was no returning +to it that night. He therefore exchanged thanks and greetings with +George Heriot, and took his leave, promising to be equipped and in +readiness to embark with him on the second successive morning at ten +o'clock. + +The generation of linkboys, celebrated by Count Anthony Hamilton, as +peculiar to London, had already, in the reign of James I., begun their +functions, and the service of one of them with his smoky torch, had +been secured to light the young Scottish lord and his follower to +their lodgings, which, though better acquainted than formerly with the +city, they might in the dark have run some danger of missing. This +gave the ingenious Mr. Moniplies an opportunity of gathering close up +to his master, after he had gone through the form of slipping his left +arm into the handles of his buckler, and loosening his broadsword in +the sheath, that he might be ready for whatever should befall. + +"If it were not for the wine and the good cheer which we have had in +yonder old man's house, my lord," said this sapient follower, "and +that I ken him by report to be a just living man in many respects, and +a real Edinburgh gutterblood, I should have been well pleased to have +seen how his feet were shaped, and whether he had not a cloven cloot +under the braw roses and cordovan shoon of his." + +"Why, you rascal," answered Nigel, "you have been too kindly treated, +and now that you have filled your ravenous stomach, you are railing on +the good gentleman that relieved you." + +"Under favour, no, my lord," said Moniplies,--"I would only like to +see something mair about him. I have eaten his meat, it is true--more +shame that the like of him should have meat to give, when your +lordship and me could scarce have gotten, on our own account, brose +and a bear bannock--I have drunk his wine, too." + +"I see you have," replied his master, "a great deal more than you +should have done." + +"Under your patience, my lord," said Moniplies, "you are pleased to +say that, because I crushed a quart with that jolly boy Jenkin, as +they call the 'prentice boy, and that was out of mere acknowledgment +for his former kindness--I own that I, moreover, sung the good old +song of Elsie Marley, so as they never heard it chanted in their +lives----" + +And withal (as John Bunyan says) as they went on their way, he sung-- + + "O, do ye ken Elsie Marley, honey-- + The wife that sells the barley, honey? + For Elsie Marley's grown sae fine, + She winna get up to feed the swine.-- + O, do ye ken----" + +Here in mid career was the songster interrupted by the stern gripe of +his master, who threatened to baton him to death if he brought the +city-watch upon them by his ill-timed melody. + +"I crave pardon, my lord--I humbly crave pardon--only when I think of +that Jen Win, as they call him, I can hardly help humming--'O, do ye +ken'--But I crave your honour's pardon, and will be totally dumb, if +you command me so." + +"No, sirrah!" said Nigel, "talk on, for I well know you would say and +suffer more under pretence of holding your peace, than when you get an +unbridled license. How is it, then? What have you to say against +Master Heriot?" + +It seems more than probable, that in permitting this license, the +young lord hoped his attendant would stumble upon the subject of the +young lady who had appeared at prayers in a manner so mysterious. But +whether this was the case, or whether he merely desired that Moniplies +should utter, in a subdued and under tone of voice, those spirits +which might otherwise have vented themselves in obstreperous song, it +is certain he permitted his attendant to proceed with his story in his +own way. + +"And therefore," said the orator, availing himself of his immunity, "I +would like to ken what sort of carle this Maister Heriot is. He hath +supplied your lordship with wealth of gold, as I can understand; and +if he has, I make it for certain he hath had his ain end in it, +according to the fashion of the world. Now, had your lordship your own +good lands at your guiding, doubtless this person, with most of his +craft--goldsmiths they call themselves--I say usurers--wad be glad to +exchange so many pounds of African dust, by whilk I understand gold, +against so many fair acres, and hundreds of acres, of broad Scottish +land." + +"But you know I have no land," said the young lord, "at least none +that can be affected by any debt which I can at present become obliged +for--I think you need not have reminded me of that." + +"True, my lord, most true; and, as your lordship says, open to the +meanest capacity, without any unnecessary expositions. Now, therefore, +my lord, unless Maister George Heriot has something mair to allege as +a motive for his liberality, vera different from the possession of +your estate--and moreover, as he could gain little by the capture of +your body, wherefore should it not be your soul that he is in pursuit +of?" + +"My soul, you rascal!" said the young lord; "what good should my soul +do him?" + +"What do I ken about that?" said Moniplies; "they go about roaring and +seeking whom they may devour--doubtless, they like the food that they +rage so much about--and, my lord, they say," added Moniplies, drawing +up still closer to his master's side, "they say that Master Heriot has +one spirit in his house already." + +"How, or what do you mean?" said Nigel; "I will break your head, you +drunken knave, if you palter with me any longer." + +"Drunken?" answered his trusty adherent, "and is this the story?--why, +how could I but drink your lordship's health on my bare knees, when +Master Jenkin began it to me?--hang them that would not--I would have +cut the impudent knave's hams with my broadsword, that should make +scruple of it, and so have made him kneel when he should have found it +difficult to rise again. But touching the spirit," he proceeded, +finding that his master made no answer to his valorous tirade, "your +lordship has seen her with your own eyes." + +"I saw no spirit," said Glenvarloch, but yet breathing thick as one +who expects some singular disclosure, "what mean you by a spirit?" + +"You saw a young lady come in to prayers, that spoke not a word to any +one, only made becks and bows to the old gentleman and lady of the +house--ken ye wha she is?" + +"No, indeed," answered Nigel; "some relation of the family, I +suppose." + +"Deil a bit--deil a bit," answered Moniplies, hastily, "not a blood- +drop's kin to them, if she had a drop of blood in her body--I tell you +but what all human beings allege to be truth, that swell within hue +and cry of Lombard Street--that lady, or quean, or whatever you choose +to call her, has been dead in the body these many a year, though she +haunts them, as we have seen, even at their very devotions." + +"You will allow her to be a good spirit at least," said Nigel +Olifaunt, "since she chooses such a time to visit her friends?" + +"For that I kenna, my lord," answered the superstitious follower; "I +ken no spirit that would have faced the right down hammer-blow of Mess +John Knox, whom my father stood by in his very warst days, bating a +chance time when the Court, which my father supplied with butcher- +meat, was against him. But yon divine has another airt from powerful +Master Rollock, and Mess David Black, of North Leith, and sic like.-- +Alack-a-day! wha can ken, if it please your lordship, whether sic +prayers as the Southron read out of their auld blethering black mess- +book there, may not be as powerful to invite fiends, as a right red- +het prayer warm fraw the heart, may be powerful to drive them away, +even as the Evil Spirit was driven by he smell of the fish's liver +from the bridal-chamber of Sara, the daughter of Raguel? As to whilk +story, nevertheless, I make scruple to say whether it be truth or not, +better men than I am having doubted on that matter." + +"Well, well, well," said his master, impatiently, "we are now near +home, and I have permitted you to speak of this matter for once, that +we may have an end to your prying folly, and your idiotical +superstitions, for ever. For whom do you, or your absurd authors or +informers, take this lady?" + +"I can sae naething preceesely as to that," answered Moniplies; +"certain it is her body died and was laid in the grave many a day +since, notwithstanding she still wanders on earth, and chiefly amongst +Maister Heriot's family, though she hath been seen in other places by +them that well knew her. But who she is, I will not warrant to say, or +how she becomes attached, like a Highland Brownie, to some peculiar +family. They say she has a row of apartments of her own, ante-room, +parlour, and bedroom; but deil a bed she sleeps in but her own coffin, +and the walls, doors, and windows are so chinked up, as to prevent the +least blink of daylight from entering; and then she dwells by +torchlight--" + +"To what purpose, if she be a spirit?" said Nigel Olifaunt. + +"How can I tell your lordship?" answered his attendant. "I thank God I +know nothing of her likings, or mislikings--only her coffin is there; +and I leave your lordship to guess what a live person has to do with a +coffin. As little as a ghost with a lantern, I trow." + +"What reason," repeated Nigel, "can a creature, so young and so +beautiful, have already habitually to contemplate her bed of last-long +rest?" + +"In troth, I kenna, my lord," answered Moniplies; "but there is the +coffin, as they told me who have seen it: it is made of heben-wood, +with silver nails, and lined all through with three-piled damask, +might serve a princess to rest in." + +"Singular," said Nigel, whose brain, like that of most active young +spirits, was easily caught by the singular and the romantic; "does she +not eat with the family?" + +"Who!--she!"--exclaimed Moniplies, as if surprised at the question; +"they would need a lang spoon would sup with her, I trow. Always there +is something put for her into the Tower, as they call it, whilk is a +whigmaleery of a whirling-box, that turns round half on the tae side +o' the wa', half on the tother." + +"I have seen the contrivance in foreign nunneries," said the Lord of +Glenvarloch. "And is it thus she receives her food?" + +"They tell me something is put in ilka day, for fashion's sake," +replied the attendant; "but it's no to be supposed she would consume +it, ony mair than the images of Bel and the Dragon consumed the dainty +vivers that were placed before them. There are stout yeomen and +chamber-queans in the house, enow to play the part of Lick-it-up-a', +as well as the threescore and ten priests of Bel, besides their wives +and children." + +"And she is never seen in the family but when the hour of prayer +arrives?" said the master. + +"Never, that I hear of," replied the servant. + +"It is singular," said Nigel Olifaunt, musing. "Were it not for the +ornaments which she wears, and still more for her attendance upon the +service of the Protestant Church, I should know what to think, and +should believe her either a Catholic votaress, who, for some cogent +reason, was allowed to make her cell here in London, or some unhappy +Popish devotee, who was in the course of undergoing a dreadful +penance. As it is, I know not what to deem of it." + +His reverie was interrupted by the linkboy knocking at the door of +honest John Christie, whose wife came forth with "quips, and becks, +and wreathed smiles," to welcome her honoured guest on his return to +his apartment. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + + Ay! mark the matron well--and laugh not, Harry, + At her old steeple-hat and velvet guard-- + I've call'd her like the ear of Dionysius; + I mean that ear-form'd vault, built o'er his dungeon, + To catch the groans and discontented murmurs + Of his poor bondsmen--Even so doth Martha + Drink up, for her own purpose, all that passes, + Or is supposed to pass, in this wide city-- + She can retail it too, if that her profit + Shall call on her to do so; and retail it + For your advantage, so that you can make + Your profit jump with hers. + The Conspiracy. + +We must now introduce to the reader's acquaintance another character, +busy and important far beyond her ostensible situation in society--in +a word, Dame Ursula Suddlechop, wife of Benjamin Suddlechop, the most +renowned barber in all Fleet Street. This dame had her own particular +merits, the principal part of which was (if her own report could be +trusted) an infinite desire to be of service to her fellow-creatures. +Leaving to her thin half-starved partner the boast of having the most +dexterous snap with his fingers of any shaver in London, and the care +of a shop where starved apprentices flayed the faces of those who were +boobies enough to trust them, the dame drove a separate and more +lucrative trade, which yet had so many odd turns and windings, that it +seemed in many respects to contradict itself. + +Its highest and most important duties were of a very secret and +confidential nature, and Dame Ursula Suddlechop was never known to +betray any transaction intrusted to her, unless she had either been +indifferently paid for her service, or that some one found it +convenient to give her a double douceur to make her disgorge the +secret; and these contingencies happened in so few cases, that her +character for trustiness remained as unimpeached as that for honesty +and benevolence. + +In fact, she was a most admirable matron, and could be useful to the +impassioned and the frail in the rise, progress, and consequences of +their passion. She could contrive an interview for lovers who could +show proper reasons for meeting privately; she could relieve the frail +fair one of the burden of a guilty passion, and perhaps establish the +hopeful offspring of unlicensed love as the heir of some family whose +love was lawful, but where an heir had not followed the union. More +than this she could do, and had been concerned in deeper and dearer +secrets. She had been a pupil of Mrs. Turner, and learned from her the +secret of making the yellow starch, and, it may be, two or three other +secrets of more consequence, though perhaps none that went to the +criminal extent of those whereof her mistress was accused. But all +that was deep and dark in her real character was covered by the show +of outward mirth and good-humour, the hearty laugh and buxom jest with +which the dame knew well how to conciliate the elder part of her +neighbours, and the many petty arts by which she could recommend +herself to the younger, those especially of her own sex. + +Dame Ursula was, in appearance, scarce past forty, and her full, but +not overgrown form, and still comely features, although her person was +plumped out, and her face somewhat coloured by good cheer, had a +joyous expression of gaiety and good-humour, which set off the remains +of beauty in the wane. Marriages, births, and christenings were seldom +thought to be performed with sufficient ceremony, for a considerable +distance round her abode, unless Dame Ursley, as they called her, was +present. She could contrive all sorts of pastimes, games, and jests, +which might amuse the large companies which the hospitality of our +ancestors assembled together on such occasions, so that her presence +was literally considered as indispensable in the families of all +citizens of ordinary rank, at such joyous periods. So much also was +she supposed to know of life and its labyrinths, that she was the +willing confidant of half the loving couples in the vicinity, most of +whom used to communicate their secrets to, and receive their counsel +from, Dame Ursley. The rich rewarded her services with rings, owches, +or gold pieces, which she liked still better; and she very generously +gave her assistance to the poor, on the same mixed principles as young +practitioners in medicine assist them, partly from compassion, and +partly to keep her hand in use. + +Dame Ursley's reputation in the city was the greater that her practice +had extended beyond Temple Bar, and that she had acquaintances, nay, +patrons and patronesses, among the quality, whose rank, as their +members were much fewer, and the prospect of approaching the courtly +sphere much more difficult, bore a degree of consequence unknown to +the present day, when the toe of the citizen presses so close on the +courtier's heel. Dame Ursley maintained her intercourse with this +superior rank of customers, partly by driving a small trade in +perfumes, essences, pomades, head-gears from France, dishes or +ornaments from China, then already beginning to be fashionable; not to +mention drugs of various descriptions, chiefly for the use of the +ladies, and partly by other services, more or less connected with the +esoteric branches of her profession heretofore alluded to. + +Possessing such and so many various modes of thriving, Dame Ursley was +nevertheless so poor, that she might probably have mended her own +circumstances, as well as her husband's, if she had renounced them +all, and set herself quietly down to the care of her own household, +and to assist Benjamin in the concerns of his trade. But Ursula was +luxurious and genial in her habits, and could no more have endured the +stinted economy of Benjamin's board, than she could have reconciled +herself to the bald chat of his conversation. + +It was on the evening of the day on which Lord Nigel Olifaunt dined +with the wealthy goldsmith, that we must introduce Ursula Suddlechop +upon the stage. She had that morning made a long tour to Westminster, +was fatigued, and had assumed a certain large elbow-chair, rendered +smooth by frequent use, placed on one side of her chimney, in which +there was lit a small but bright fire. Here she observed, betwixt +sleeping and waking, the simmering of a pot of well-spiced ale, on the +brown surface of which bobbed a small crab-apple, sufficiently +roasted, while a little mulatto girl watched, still more attentively, +the process of dressing a veal sweetbread, in a silver stewpan which +occupied the other side of the chimney. With these viands, doubtless, +Dame Ursula proposed concluding the well spent day, of which she +reckoned the labour over, and the rest at her own command. She was +deceived, however; for just as the ale, or, to speak technically, the +lamb's-wool, was fitted for drinking, and the little dingy maiden +intimated that the sweetbread was ready to be eaten, the thin cracked +voice of Benjamin was heard from the bottom of the stairs. + +"Why, Dame Ursley--why, wife, I say--why, dame--why, love, you are +wanted more than a strop for a blunt razor--why, dame--" + +"I would some one would draw a razor across thy windpipe, thou bawling +ass!" said the dame to herself, in the first moment of irritation +against her clamorous helpmate; and then called aloud,--"Why, what is +the matter, Master Suddlechop? I am just going to slip into bed; I +have been daggled to and fro the whole day." + +"Nay, sweetheart, it is not me," said the patient Benjamin, "but the +Scots laundry-maid from neighbour Ramsay's, who must speak with you +incontinent." + +At the word sweetheart, Dame Ursley cast a wistful look at the mess +which was stewed to a second in the stewpan, and then replied, with a +sigh,--"Bid Scots Jenny come up, Master Suddlechop. I shall be very +happy to hear what she has to say;" then added in a lower tone, "and I +hope she will go to the devil in the flame of a tar-barrel, like many +a Scots witch before her!" + +The Scots laundress entered accordingly, and having heard nothing of +the last kind wish of Dame Suddlechop, made her reverence with +considerable respect, and said, her young mistress had returned home +unwell, and wished to see her neighbour, Dame Ursley, directly. + +"And why will it not do to-morrow, Jenny, my good woman?" said Dame +Ursley; "for I have been as far as Whitehall to-day already, and I am +well-nigh worn off my feet, my good woman." + +"Aweel!" answered Jenny, with great composure, "and if that sae be +sae, I maun take the langer tramp mysell, and maun gae down the +waterside for auld Mother Redcap, at the Hungerford Stairs, that deals +in comforting young creatures, e'en as you do yoursell, hinny; for ane +o' ye the bairn maun see before she sleeps, and that's a' that I ken +on't." + +So saying, the old emissary, without farther entreaty, turned on her +heel, and was about to retreat, when Dame Ursley exclaimed,--"No, no-- +if the sweet child, your mistress, has any necessary occasion for good +advice and kind tendance, you need not go to Mother Redcap, Janet. She +may do very well for skippers' wives, chandlers' daughters, and such +like; but nobody shall wait on pretty Mistress Margaret, the daughter +of his most Sacred Majesty's horologer, excepting and saving myself. +And so I will but take my chopins and my cloak, and put on my muffler, +and cross the street to neighbour Ramsay's in an instant. But tell me +yourself, good Jenny, are you not something tired of your young lady's +frolics and change of mind twenty times a-day?" + +"In troth, not I," said the patient drudge, "unless it may be when she +is a wee fashious about washing her laces; but I have been her keeper +since she was a bairn, neighbour Suddlechop, and that makes a +difference." + +"Ay," said Dame Ursley, still busied putting on additional defences +against the night air; "and you know for certain that she has two +hundred pounds a-year in good land, at her own free disposal?" + +"Left by her grandmother, heaven rest her soul!" said the Scotswoman; +"and to a daintier lassie she could not have bequeathed it." + +"Very true, very true, mistress; for, with all her little whims, I +have always said Mistress Margaret Ramsay was the prettiest girl in +the ward; and, Jenny, I warrant the poor child has had no supper?" + +Jenny could not say but it was the case, for, her master being out, +the twa 'prentice lads had gone out after shutting shop, to fetch them +home, and she and the other maid had gone out to Sandy MacGivan's, to +see a friend frae Scotland. + +"As was very natural, Mrs. Janet," said Dame Ursley, who found her +interest in assenting to all sorts of propositions from all sorts of +persons. + +"And so the fire went out, too,"--said Jenny. + +"Which was the most natural of the whole," said Dame Suddlechop; "and +so, to cut the matter short, Jenny, I'll carry over the little bit of +supper that I was going to eat. For dinner I have tasted none, and it +may be my young pretty Mistress Marget will eat a morsel with me; for +it is mere emptiness, Mistress Jenny, that often puts these fancies of +illness into young folk's heads." So saying, she put the silver +posset-cup with the ale into Jenny's hands and assuming her mantle +with the alacrity of one determined to sacrifice inclination to duty, +she hid the stewpan under its folds, and commanded Wilsa, the little +mulatto girl, to light them across the street. + +"Whither away, so late?" said the barber, whom they passed seated with +his starveling boys round a mess of stockfish and parsnips, in the +shop below. + +"If I were to tell you, Gaffer," said the dame, with most contemptuous +coolness, "I do not think you could do my errand, so I will e'en keep +it to myself." Benjamin was too much accustomed to his wife's +independent mode of conduct, to pursue his inquiry farther; nor did +the dame tarry for farther question, but marched out at the door, +telling the eldest of the boys "to sit up till her return, and look to +the house the whilst." + +The night was dark and rainy, and although the distance betwixt the +two shops was short, it allowed Dame Ursley leisure enough, while she +strode along with high-tucked petticoats, to embitter it by the +following grumbling reflections--"I wonder what I have done, that I +must needs trudge at every old beldam's bidding, and every young +minx's maggot! I have been marched from Temple Bar to Whitechapel, on +the matter of a pinmaker's wife having pricked her fingers--marry, her +husband that made the weapon might have salved the wound.--And here is +this fantastic ape, pretty Mistress Marget, forsooth--such a beauty as +I could make of a Dutch doll, and as fantastic, and humorous, and +conceited, as if she were a duchess. I have seen her in the same day +as changeful as a marmozet and as stubborn as a mule. I should like to +know whether her little conceited noddle, or her father's old crazy +calculating jolter-pate, breeds most whimsies. But then there's that +two hundred pounds a-year in dirty land, and the father is held a +close chuff, though a fanciful--he is our landlord besides, and she +has begged a late day from him for our rent; so, God help me, I must +be comfortable--besides, the little capricious devil is my only key to +get at Master George Heriot's secret, and it concerns my character to +find that out; and so, ANDIAMOS, as the lingua franca hath it." + +Thus pondering, she moved forward with hasty strides until she arrived +at the watchmaker's habitation. The attendant admitted them by means +of a pass-key. Onward glided Dame Ursula, now in glimmer and now in +gloom, not like the lovely Lady Cristabelle through Gothic sculpture +and ancient armour, but creeping and stumbling amongst relics of old +machines, and models of new inventions in various branches of +mechanics with which wrecks of useless ingenuity, either in a broken +or half-finished shape, the apartment of the fanciful though ingenious +mechanist was continually lumbered. + +At length they attained, by a very narrow staircase, pretty Mistress +Margaret's apartment, where she, the cynosure of the eyes of every +bold young bachelor in Fleet Street, sat in a posture which hovered +between the discontented and the disconsolate. For her pretty back and +shoulders were rounded into a curve, her round and dimpled chin +reposed in the hollow of her little palm, while the fingers were +folded over her mouth; her elbow rested on a table, and her eyes +seemed fixed upon the dying charcoal, which was expiring in a small +grate. She scarce turned her head when Dame Ursula entered, and when +the presence of that estimable matron was more precisely announced in +words by the old Scotswoman, Mistress Margaret, without changing her +posture, muttered some sort of answer that was wholly unintelligible. + +"Go your ways down to the kitchen with Wilsa, good Mistress Jenny," +said Dame Ursula, who was used to all sorts of freaks, on the part of +her patients or clients, whichever they might be termed; "put the +stewpan and the porringer by the fireside, and go down below--I must +speak to my pretty love, Mistress Margaret, by myself--and there is +not a bachelor betwixt this and Bow but will envy me the privilege." + +The attendants retired as directed, and Dame Ursula, having availed +herself of the embers of charcoal, to place her stewpan to the best +advantage, drew herself as close as she could to her patient, and +began in a low, soothing, and confidential tone of voice, to inquire +what ailed her pretty flower of neighbours. + +"Nothing, dame," said Margaret somewhat pettishly, and changing her +posture so as rather to turn her back upon the kind inquirer. + +"Nothing, lady-bird!" answered Dame Suddlechop; "and do you use to +send for your friends out of bed at this hour for nothing?" + +"It was not I who sent for you, dame," replied the malecontent maiden. + +"And who was it, then?" said Ursula; "for if I had not been sent for, +I had not been here at this time of night, I promise you!" + +"It was the old Scotch fool Jenny, who did it out of her own head, I +suppose," said Margaret; "for she has been stunning me these two hours +about you and Mother Redcap." + +"Me and Mother Redcap!" said Dame Ursula, "an old fool indeed, that +couples folk up so.--But come, come, my sweet little neighbour, Jenny +is no such fool after all; she knows young folks want more and better +advice than her own, and she knows, too, where to find it for them; so +you must take heart of grace, my pretty maiden, and tell me what you +are moping about, and then let Dame Ursula alone for finding out a +cure." + +"Nay, an ye be so wise, Mother Ursula," replied the girl, "you may +guess what I ail without my telling you." + +"Ay, ay, child," answered the complaisant matron, "no one can play +better than I at the good old game of What is my thought like? Now +I'll warrant that little head of yours is running on a new head-tire, +a foot higher than those our city dames wear--or you are all for a +trip to Islington or Ware, and your father is cross and will not +consent--or----" + +"Or you are an old fool, Dame Suddlechop," said Margaret, peevishly, +"and must needs trouble yourself about matters you know nothing of." + +"Fool as much as you will, mistress," said Dame Ursula, offended in +her turn, "but not so very many years older than yourself, mistress." + +"Oh! we are angry, are we?" said the beauty; "and pray, Madam Ursula, +how come you, that are not so many years older than me, to talk about +such nonsense to me, who am so many years younger, and who yet have +too much sense to care about head-gears and Islington?" + +"Well, well, young mistress," said the sage counsellor, rising, "I +perceive I can be of no use here; and methinks, since you know your +own matters so much better than other people do, you might dispense +with disturbing folks at midnight to ask their advice." + +"Why, now you are angry, mother," said Margaret, detaining her; "this +comes of your coming out at eventide without eating your supper--I +never heard you utter a cross word after you had finished your little +morsel.--Here, Janet, a trencher and salt for Dame Ursula;--and what +have you in that porringer, dame?--Filthy clammy ale, as I would live +--Let Janet fling it out of the window, or keep it for my father's +morning draught; and she shall bring you the pottle of sack that was +set ready for him--good man, he will never find out the difference, +for ale will wash down his dusty calculations quite as well as wine." + +"Truly, sweetheart, I am of your opinion," said Dame Ursula, whose +temporary displeasure vanished at once before these preparations for +good cheer; and so, settling herself on the great easy-chair, with a +three-legged table before her, she began to dispatch, with good +appetite, the little delicate dish which she had prepared for herself. +She did not, however, fail in the duties of civility, and earnestly, +but in vain, pressed Mistress Margaret to partake her dainties. The +damsel declined the invitation. + +"At least pledge me in a glass of sack," said Dame Ursula; "I have +heard my grandame say, that before the gospellers came in, the old +Catholic father confessors and their penitents always had a cup of +sack together before confession; and you are my penitent." + +"I shall drink no sack, I am sure," said Margaret; "and I told you +before, that if you cannot find out what ails me, I shall never have +the heart to tell it." + +So saying, she turned away from Dame Ursula once more, and resumed her +musing posture, with her hand on her elbow, and her back, at least one +shoulder, turned towards her confidant. + +"Nay, then," said Dame Ursula, "I must exert my skill in good +earnest.--You must give me this pretty hand, and I will tell you by +palmistry, as well as any gipsy of them all, what foot it is you halt +upon." + +"As if I halted on any foot at all," said Margaret, something +scornfully, but yielding her left hand to Ursula, and continuing at +the same time her averted position. + +"I see brave lines here," said Ursula, "and not ill to read neither-- +pleasure and wealth, and merry nights and late mornings to my Beauty, +and such an equipage as shall shake Whitehall. O, have I touched you +there?--and smile you now, my pretty one?--for why should not he be +Lord Mayor, and go to Court in his gilded caroch, as others have done +before him?" + +"Lord Mayor? pshaw!" replied Margaret. + +"And why pshaw at my Lord Mayor, sweetheart? or perhaps you pshaw at +my prophecy; but there is a cross in every one's line of life as well +as in yours, darling. And what though I see a 'prentice's flat cap in +this pretty palm, yet there is a sparking black eye under it, hath not +its match in the Ward of Farringdon-Without." + +"Whom do you mean, dame?" said Margaret coldly. + +"Whom should I mean," said Dame Ursula, "but the prince of 'prentices, +and king of good company, Jenkin Vincent?" + +"Out, woman--Jenkin Vincent?--a clown--a Cockney!" exclaimed the +indignant damsel. + +"Ay, sets the wind in that quarter, Beauty!" quoth the dame; "why, it +has changed something since we spoke together last, for then I would +have sworn it blew fairer for poor Jin Vin; and the poor lad dotes on +you too, and would rather see your eyes than the first glimpse of the +sun on the great holiday on May-day." + +"I would my eyes had the power of the sun to blind his, then," said +Margaret, "to teach the drudge his place." + +"Nay," said Dame Ursula, "there be some who say that Frank Tunstall is +as proper a lad as Jin Vin, and of surety he is third cousin to a +knighthood, and come of a good house; and so mayhap you may be for +northward ho!" + +"Maybe I may"--answered Margaret, "but not with my father's 'prentice +--I thank you, Dame Ursula." + +"Nay, then, the devil may guess your thoughts for me," said Dame +Ursula; "this comes of trying to shoe a filly that is eternally +wincing and shifting ground!" + +"Hear me, then," said Margaret, "and mind what I say.--This day I +dined abroad--" + +"I can tell you where," answered her counsellor,--"with your godfather +the rich goldsmith--ay, you see I know something--nay, I could tell +you, as I would, with whom, too." + +"Indeed!" said Margaret, turning suddenly round with an accent of +strong surprise, and colouring up to the eyes. + +"With old Sir Mungo Malagrowther," said the oracular dame,--"he was +trimmed in my Benjamin's shop in his way to the city." + +"Pshaw! the frightful old mouldy skeleton!" said the damsel. + +"Indeed you say true, my dear," replied the confidant,--"it is a shame +to him to be out of Saint Pancras's charnel-house, for I know no other +place he is fit for, the foul-mouthed old railer. He said to my +husband--" + +"Somewhat which signifies nothing to our purpose, I dare say," +interrupted Margaret. "I must speak, then.--There dined with us a +nobleman--" + +"A nobleman! the maiden's mad!" said Dame Ursula. + +"There dined with us, I say," continued Margaret, without regarding +the interruption, "a nobleman--a Scottish nobleman." + +"Now Our Lady keep her!" said the confidant, "she is quite frantic!-- +heard ever any one of a watchmaker's daughter falling in love with a +nobleman--and a Scots nobleman, to make the matter complete, who are +all as proud as Lucifer, and as poor as Job?--A Scots nobleman, +quotha? I had lief you told me of a Jew pedlar. I would have you think +how all this is to end, pretty one, before you jump in the dark." + +"That is nothing to you, Ursula--it is your assistance," said Mistress +Margaret, "and not your advice, that I am desirous to have, and you +know I can make it worth your while." + +"O, it is not for the sake of lucre, Mistress Margaret," answered the +obliging dame; "but truly I would have you listen to some advice-- +bethink you of your own condition." + +"My father's calling is mechanical," said Margaret, "but our blood is +not so. I have heard my father say that we are descended, at a +distance indeed, from the great Earls of Dalwolsey." [Footnote: The +head of the ancient and distinguished house of Ramsay, and to whom, as +their chief, the individuals of that name look as their origin and +source of gentry. Allan Ramsay, the pastoral poet, in the same manner, +makes + + "Dalhousie of an auld descent, + My chief, my stoup, my ornament."] + +"Ay, ay," said Dame Ursula; "even so--I never knew a Scot of you but +was descended, as ye call it, from some great house or other; and a +piteous descent it often is--and as for the distance you speak of, it +is so great as to put you out of sight of each other. Yet do not toss +your pretty head so scornfully, but tell me the name of this lordly +northern gallant, and we will try what can be done in the matter." + +"It is Lord Glenvarloch, whom they call Lord Nigel Olifaunt," said +Margaret in a low voice, and turning away to hide her blushes. + +"Marry, Heaven forefend!" exclaimed Dame Suddlechop; "this is the very +devil, and something worse!" + +"How mean you?" said the damsel, surprised at the vivacity of her +exclamation. + +"Why, know ye not," said the dame, "what powerful enemies he has at +Court? know ye not--But blisters on my tongue, it runs too fast for my +wit--enough to say, that you had better make your bridal-bed under a +falling house, than think of young Glenvarloch." + +"He IS unfortunate then?" said Margaret; "I knew it--I divined it-- +there was sorrow in his voice when he said even what was gay--there +was a touch of misfortune in his melancholy smile--he had not thus +clung to my thoughts had I seen him in all the mid-day glare of +prosperity." + +"Romances have cracked her brain!" said Dame Ursula; "she is a +castaway girl--utterly distraught--loves a Scots lord--and likes him +the better for being unfortunate! Well, mistress, I am sorry this is a +matter I cannot aid you in--it goes against my conscience, and it is +an affair above my condition, and beyond my management;--but I will +keep your counsel." + +"You will not be so base as to desert me, after having drawn my secret +from me?" said Margaret, indignantly; "if you do, I know how to have +my revenge; and if you do not, I will reward you well. Remember the +house your husband dwells in is my father's property." + +"I remember it but too well, Mistress Margaret," said Ursula, after a +moment's reflection, "and I would serve you in any thing in my +condition; but to meddle with such high matters--I shall never forget +poor Mistress Turner, my honoured patroness, peace be with her!--she +had the ill-luck to meddle in the matter of Somerset and Overbury, and +so the great earl and his lady slipt their necks out of the collar, +and left her and some half-dozen others to suffer in their stead. I +shall never forget the sight of her standing on the scaffold with +the ruff round her pretty neck, all done up with the yellow starch +which I had so often helped her to make, and that was so soon to give +place to a rough hempen cord. Such a sight, sweetheart, will make one +loath to meddle with matters that are too hot or heavy for their +handling." + +"Out, you fool!" answered Mistress Margaret; "am I one to speak to you +about such criminal practices as that wretch died for? All I desire of +you is, to get me precise knowledge of what affair brings this young +nobleman to Court." + +"And when you have his secret," said Ursula, "what will it avail you, +sweetheart?--and yet I would do your errand, if you could do as much +for me." + +"And what is it you would have of me?" said Mistress Margaret. + +"What you have been angry with me for asking before," answered Dame +Ursula. "I want to have some light about the story of your godfather's +ghost, that is only seen at prayers." + +"Not for the world," said Mistress Margaret, "will I be a spy on my +kind godfather's secrets--No, Ursula--that I will never pry into, +which he desires to keep hidden. But thou knowest that I have a +fortune, of my own, which must at no distant day come under my own +management--think of some other recompense." + +"Ay, that I well know," said the counsellor--"it is that two hundred +per year, with your father's indulgence, that makes you so wilful, +sweetheart." + +"It may be so,"--said Margaret Ramsay; "meanwhile, do you serve me +truly, and here is a ring of value in pledge, that when my fortune is +in my own hand, I will redeem the token with fifty broad pieces of +gold." + +"Fifty broad pieces of gold!" repeated the dame; "and this ring, which +is a right fair one, in token you fail not of your word!--Well, +sweetheart, if I must put my throat in peril, I am sure I cannot risk +it for a friend more generous than you; and I would not think of more +than the pleasure of serving you, only Benjamin gets more idle every +day, and our family----" + +"Say no more of it," said Margaret; "we understand each other. And +now, tell me what you know of this young man's affairs, which made you +so unwilling to meddle with them?" + +"Of that I can say no great matter as yet," answered Dame Ursula; +"only I know, the most powerful among his own countrymen are against +him, and also the most powerful at the Court here. But I will learn +more of it; for it will be a dim print that I will not read for your +sake, pretty Mistress Margaret. Know you where this gallant dwells?" + +"I heard by accident," said Margaret, as if ashamed of the minute +particularity of her memory upon such an occasion,--"he lodges, I +think--at one Christie's--if I mistake not--at Paul's Wharf--a ship- +chandler's." + +"A proper lodging for a young baron!--Well, but cheer you up, Mistress +Margaret--If he has come up a caterpillar, like some of his +countrymen, he may cast his slough like them, and come out a +butterfly.--So I drink good-night, and sweet dreams to you, in another +parting cup of sack; and you shall hear tidings of me within four-and- +twenty hours. And, once more, I commend you to your pillow, my pearl +of pearls, and Marguerite of Marguerites!" + +So saying, she kissed the reluctant cheek of her young friend, or +patroness, and took her departure with the light and stealthy +pace of one accustomed to accommodate her footsteps to the purposes of +dispatch and secrecy. + +Margaret Ramsay looked after her for some time, in anxious silence. "I +did ill," she at length murmured, "to let her wring this out of me; +but she is artful, bold and serviceable--and I think faithful--or, if +not, she will be true at least to her interest, and that I can +command. I would I had not spoken, however--I have begun a hopeless +work. For what has he said to me, to warrant my meddling in his +fortunes?--Nothing but words of the most ordinary import--mere table- +talk, and terms of course. Yet who knows"--she said, and then broke +off, looking at the glass the while, which, as it reflected back a +face of great beauty, probably suggested to her mind a more favourable +conclusion of the sentence than she cared to trust her tongue withal. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + + So pitiful a thing is suitor's state! + Most miserable man, whom wicked fate + Hath brought to Court to sue, for _had I wist_, + That few have found, and many a one hath miss'd! + Full little knowest thou, that hast not tried, + What hell it is, in sueing long to bide: + To lose good days that might be better spent; + To waste long nights in pensive discontent; + To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow; + To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow; + To have thy Prince's grace, yet want her Peers'; + To have thy asking, yet wait many years; + To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares-- + To eat thy heart through comfortless despairs. + To fawn, to crouch, to wait, to ride, to run, + To spend, to give, to want, to be undone. + _Mother Hubbard's Tale._ + +On the morning of the day on which George Heriot had prepared to +escort the young Lord of Glenvarloch to the Court at Whitehall, it may +be reasonably supposed, that the young man, whose fortunes were likely +to depend on this cast, felt himself more than usually anxious. He +rose early, made his toilette with uncommon care, and, being enabled, +by the generosity of his more plebeian countryman, to set out a very +handsome person to the best advantage, he obtained a momentary +approbation from himself as he glanced at the mirror, and a loud and +distinct plaudit from his landlady, who declared at once, that, in her +judgment, he would take the wind out of the sail of every gallant in +the presence--so much had she been able to enrich her discourse with +the metaphors of those with whom her husband dealt. + +At the appointed hour, the barge of Master George Heriot arrived, +handsomely manned and appointed, having a tilt, with his own cipher, +and the arms of his company, painted thereupon. + +The young Lord of Glenvarloch received the friend, who had evinced +such disinterested attachment, with the kind courtesy which well +became him. + +Master Heriot then made him acquainted with the bounty of his +sovereign; which he paid over to his young friend, declining what he +had himself formerly advanced to him. Nigel felt all the gratitude +which the citizen's disinterested friendship had deserved, and was not +wanting in expressing it suitably. + +Yet, as the young and high-born nobleman embarked to go to the +presence of his prince, under the patronage of one whose best, or most +distinguished qualification, was his being an eminent member of the +Goldsmiths' Incorporation, he felt a little surprised, if not abashed, +at his own situation; and Richie Moniplies, as he stepped over the +gangway to take his place forward in the boat, could not help +muttering,--"It was a changed day betwixt Master Heriot and his honest +father in the Kraemes;--but, doubtless, there was a difference between +clinking on gold and silver, and clattering upon pewter." + +On they glided, by the assistance of the oars of four stout watermen, +along the Thames, which then served for the principal high-road +betwixt London and Westminster; for few ventured on horseback through +the narrow and crowded streets of the city, and coaches were then a +luxury reserved only for the higher nobility, and to which no citizen, +whatever was his wealth, presumed to aspire. The beauty of the banks, +especially on the northern side, where the gardens of the nobility +descended from their hotels, in many places, down to the water's edge, +was pointed out to Nigel by his kind conductor, and was pointed out in +vain. The mind of the young Lord of Glenvarloch was filled with +anticipations, not the most pleasant, concerning the manner in which +he was likely to be received by that monarch, in whose behalf his +family had been nearly reduced to ruin; and he was, with the usual +mental anxiety of those in such a situation, framing imaginary +questions from the king, and over-toiling his spirit in devising +answers to them. + +His conductor saw the labour of Nigel's mind, and avoided increasing +it by farther conversation; so that, when he had explained to him +briefly the ceremonies observed at Court on such occasions of +presentation, the rest of their voyage was performed in silence. + +They landed at Whitehall Stairs, and entered the Palace after +announcing their names,--the guards paying to Lord Glenvarloch the +respect and honours due to his rank. + +The young man's heart beat high and thick within him as he came into +the royal apartments. His education abroad, conducted, as it had been, +on a narrow and limited scale, had given him but imperfect ideas of +the grandeur of a Court; and the philosophical reflections which +taught him to set ceremonial and exterior splendour at defiance, +proved, like other maxims of mere philosophy, ineffectual, at the +moment they were weighed against the impression naturally made on the +mind of an inexperienced youth, by the unusual magnificence of the +scene. The splendid apartments through which they passed, + the rich apparel of the grooms, guards, and domestics in waiting, and +the ceremonial attending their passage through the long suite of +apartments, had something in it, trifling and commonplace as it might +appear to practised courtiers, embarrassing, and even alarming, to +one, who went through these forms for the first time, and who was +doubtful what sort of reception was to accompany his first appearance +before his sovereign. + +Heriot, in anxious attention to save his young friend from any +momentary awkwardness, had taken care to give the necessary password +to the warders, grooms of the chambers, ushers, or by whatever name +they were designated; so they passed on without interruption. + +In this manner they passed several ante-rooms, filled chiefly with +guards, attendants of the Court, and their acquaintances, male and +female, who, dressed in their best apparel, and with eyes rounded by +eager curiosity to make the most of their opportunity, stood, with +beseeming modesty, ranked against the wall, in a manner which +indicated that they were spectators, not performers, in the courtly +exhibition. + +Through these exterior apartments Lord Glenvarloch and his city friend +advanced into a large and splendid withdrawing-room, communicating +with the presence-chamber, into which ante-room were admitted those +only who, from birth, their posts in the state or household, or by the +particular grant of the kings, had right to attend the Court, as men +entitled to pay their respects to their sovereign. + +Amid this favoured and selected company, Nigel observed Sir Mungo +Malagrowther, who, avoided and discountenanced by those who knew how +low he stood in Court interest and favour, was but too happy in the +opportunity of hooking himself upon a person of Lord Glenvarloch's +rank, who was, as yet, so inexperienced as to feel it difficult to +shake off an intruder. + +The knight forthwith framed his grim features to a ghastly smile, and, +after a preliminary and patronising nod to George Heriot, accompanied +with an aristocratic wave of the hand, which intimated at once +superiority and protection, he laid aside altogether the honest +citizen, to whom he owed many a dinner, to attach himself exclusively +to the young lord, although he suspected he might be occasionally in +the predicament of needing one as much as himself. And even the notice +of this original, singular and unamiable as he was, was not entirely +indifferent to Lord Glenvarloch, since the absolute and somewhat +constrained silence of his good friend Heriot, which left him at +liberty to retire painfully to his own agitating reflections, was now +relieved; while, on the other hand, he could not help feeling interest +in the sharp and sarcastic information poured upon him by an +observant, though discontented courtier, to whom a patient auditor, +and he a man of title and rank, was as much a prize, as his acute and +communicative disposition rendered him an entertaining companion to +Nigel Olifaunt. Heriot, in the meantime, neglected by Sir Mungo, and +avoiding every attempt by which the grateful politeness of Lord +Glenvarloch strove to bring him into the conversation, stood by, with +a kind of half smile on his countenance; but whether excited by Sir +Mungo's wit, or arising at his expense, did not exactly appear. + +In the meantime, the trio occupied a nook of the ante-room, next to +the door of the presence-chamber, which was not yet thrown open, when +Maxwell, with his rod of office, came bustling into the apartment, +where most men, excepting those of high rank, made way for him. He +stopped beside the party in which we are interested, looked for a +moment at the young Scots nobleman, then made a slight obeisance to +Heriot, and lastly, addressing Sir Mungo Malagrowther, began a hurried +complaint to him of the misbehaviour of the gentlemen-pensioners and +warders, who suffered all sort of citizens, suitors, and scriveners, +to sneak into the outer apartments, without either respect or +decency.--"The English," he said, "were scandalised, for such a thing +durst not be attempted in the queen's days. In her time, there was +then the court-yard for the mobility, and the apartments for the +nobility; and it reflects on your place, Sir Mungo," he added, +"belonging to the household as you do, that such things should not be +better ordered." + +Here Sir Mungo, afflicted, as was frequently the case on such +occasions, with one of his usual fits of deafness, answered, "It was +no wonder the mobility used freedoms, when those whom they saw in +office were so little better in blood and havings than themselves." + +"You are right, sir--quite right," said Maxwell, putting his hand on +the tarnished embroidery on the old knight's sleeve,--"when such +fellows see men in office dressed in cast-off suits, like paltry +stage-players, it is no wonder the Court is thronged with intruders." + +"Were you lauding the taste of my embroidery, Maister Maxwell?" +answered the knight, who apparently interpreted the deputy- +chamberlain's meaning rather from his action than his words;--"it is +of an ancient and liberal pattern, having been made by your mother's +father, auld James Stitchell, a master-fashioner of honest repute, in +Merlin's Wynd, whom I made a point to employ, as I am now happy to +remember, seeing your father thought fit to intermarry with sic a +person's daughter." + +Maxwell looked stern; but, conscious there was nothing to be got of +Sir Mungo in the way of amends, and that prosecuting the quarrel with +such an adversary would only render him ridiculous, and make public a +mis-alliance of which he had no reason to be proud, he covered his +resentment with a sneer; and, expressing his regret that Sir Mungo was +become too deaf to understand or attend to what was said to him, +walked on, and planted himself beside the folding-doors of the +presence-chamber, at which he was to perform the duty of deputy- +chamberlain, or usher, so soon as they should be opened. + +"The door of the presence is about to open," said the goldsmith, in a +whisper, to his young friend; "my condition permits me to go no +farther with you. Fail not to present yourself boldly, according to +your birth, and offer your Supplication; which the king will not +refuse to accept, and, as I hope, to consider favourably." + +As he spoke, the door of the presence-chamber opened accordingly, and, +as is usual on such occasions, the courtiers began to advance towards +it, and to enter in a slow, but continuous and uninterrupted stream. + +As Nigel presented himself in his turn at the entrance, and mentioned +his name and title, Maxwell seemed to hesitate. "You are not known to +any one," he said. "It is my duty to suffer no one to pass to the +presence, my lord, whose face is unknown to me, unless upon the word +of a responsible person." + +"I came with Master George Heriot," said Nigel, in some embarrassment +at this unexpected interruption. + +"Master Heriot's name will pass current for much gold and silver, my +lord," replied Maxwell, with a civil sneer, "but not for birth and +rank. I am compelled by my office to be peremptory.--The entrance is +impeded--I am much concerned to say it--your lordship must stand +back." + +"What is the matter?" said an old Scottish nobleman, who had been +speaking with George Heriot, after he had separated from Nigel, and +who now came forward, observing the altercation betwixt the latter and +Maxwell. + +"It is only Master Deputy-Chamberlain Maxwell," said Sir Mungo +Malagrowther, "expressing his joy to see Lord Glenvarloch at Court, +whose father gave him his office--at least I think he is speaking to +that purport--for your lordship kens my imperfection." A subdued +laugh, such as the situation permitted, passed round amongst those who +heard this specimen of Sir Mungo's sarcastic temper. But the old +nobleman stepped still more forward, saying,--"What!--the son of my +gallant old opponent, Ochtred Olifaunt--I will introduce him to the +presence myself." + +So saying, he took Nigel by the arm, without farther ceremony, and was +about to lead him forward, when Maxwell, still keeping his rod across +the door, said, but with hesitation and embarrassment--"My lord, this +gentleman is not known, and I have orders to be scrupulous." + +"Tutti--taiti, man," said the old lord, "I will be answerable he is +his father's son, from the cut of his eyebrow--and thou, Maxwell, +knewest his father well enough to have spared thy scruples. Let us +pass, man." So saying, he put aside the deputy-chamberlain's rod, and +entered the presence-room, still holding the young nobleman by the +arm. + +"Why, I must know you, man," he said; "I must know you. I knew your +father well, man, and I have broke a lance and crossed a blade with +him; and it is to my credit that I am living to brag of it. He was +king's-man and I was queen's-man during the Douglas wars--young +fellows both, that feared neither fire nor steel; and we had some old +feudal quarrels besides, that had come down from father to son, with +our seal-rings, two-harided broad-swords, and plate-coats, and the +crests on our burgonets." + +"Too loud, my Lord of Huntinglen," whispered a gentleman of the +chamber,--"The King!--the King!" + +The old earl (for such he proved) took the hint, and was silent; and +James, advancing from a side-door, received in succession the +compliments of strangers, while a little group of favourite courtiers, +or officers of the household, stood around him, to whom he addressed +himself from time to time. Some more pains had been bestowed on his +toilette than upon the occasion when we first presented the monarch to +our readers; but there was a natural awkwardness about his figure +which prevented his clothes from sitting handsomely, and the prudence +or timidity of his disposition had made him adopt the custom already +noticed, of wearing a dress so thickly quilted as might withstand the +stroke of a dagger, which added an ungainly stiffness to his whole +appearance, contrasting oddly with the frivolous, ungraceful, and +fidgeting motions with which he accompanied his conversation. And yet, +though the king's deportment was very undignified, he had a manner so +kind, familiar, and good-humoured, was so little apt to veil over or +conceal his own foibles, and had so much indulgence and sympathy for +those of others, that his address, joined to his learning, and a +certain proportion of shrewd mother-wit, failed not to make a +favourable impression on those who approached his person. + +When the Earl of Huntinglen had presented Nigel to his sovereign, a +ceremony which the good peer took upon himself, the king received the +young lord very graciously, and observed to his introducer, that he +"was fain to see them twa stand side by side; for I trow, my Lord +Huntinglen," continued he, "your ancestors, ay, and e'en your +lordship's self and this lad's father, have stood front to front at +the sword's point, and that is a worse posture." + +"Until your Majesty," said Lord Huntinglen, "made Lord Ochtred and me +cross palms, upon the memorable day when your Majesty feasted all the +nobles that were at feud together, and made them join hands in your +presence--" + +"I mind it weel," said the king; "I mind it weel--it was a blessed +day, being the nineteen of September, of all days in the year--and it +was a blithe sport to see how some of the carles girned as they +clapped loofs together. By my saul, I thought some of them, mair +special the Hieland chiels, wad have broken out in our own presence; +but we caused them to march hand in hand to the Cross, ourselves +leading the way, and there drink a blithe cup of kindness with ilk +other, to the stanching of feud, and perpetuation of amity. Auld John +Anderson was Provost that year--the carle grat for joy, and the +bailies and councillors danced bare-headed in our presence like five- +year-auld colts, for very triumph." + +"It was indeed a happy day," said Lord Huntinglen, "and will not be +forgotten in the history of your Majesty's reign." + +"I would not that it were, my lord," replied the monarch--"I would not +that it were pretermitted in our annals. Ay, ay--BEATI PACIFICI. My +English lieges here may weel make much of me, for I would have them to +know, they have gotten the only peaceable man that ever came of my +family. If James with the Fiery Face had come amongst you," he said, +looking round him, "or my great grandsire, of Flodden memory!" + +"We should have sent him back to the north again," whispered one +English nobleman. + +"At least," said another, in the same inaudible tone, "we should have +had a MAN to our sovereign, though he were but a Scotsman." + +"And now, my young springald," said the king to Lord Glenvarloch, +"where have you been spending your calf-time?" + +"At Leyden, of late, may it please your Majesty," answered Lord Nigel. + +"Aha! a scholar," said the king; "and, by my saul, a modest and +ingenuous youth, that hath not forgotten how to blush, like most of +our travelled Monsieurs. We will treat him conformably." + +Then drawing himself up, coughing slightly, and looking around him +with the conscious importance of superior learning, while all the +courtiers who understood, or understood not, Latin, pressed eagerly +forward to listen, the sapient monarch prosecuted his inquiries as +follows:-- + +"Hem! hem! _salve bis, quaterque salve, glenvarlochides noster! +Nuperumne ab lugduno batavorum britanniam rediisti?_" + +The young nobleman replied, bowing low-- + +"_Imo, rex augustissime--biennium fere apud lugdunenses Moratus sum._" + +James proceeded-- + +"_Biennium dicis? Bene, bene, optume factum est--non uno Die, quod +dicunt,--intelligisti, domine glenvarlochiensis?_ Aha!" + +Nigel replied by a reverent bow, and the king, turning to those behind +him, said-- + +"_Adolescens quidem ingenui vultus ingenuique pudoris._" Then resumed +his learned queries. "_et quid hodie lugdunenses loquuntur--vossius +vester nihilne novi scripsit?--nihil certe, quod doleo, typis recenter +editit_." + +"_Valet quidem vossius, rex benevole._" replied Nigel, "_ast senex +veneratissimus annum agit, ni fallor, septuagesimum._" + +"_Virum, mehercle, vix tam grandaevum crediderim_," replied the +monarch. "_et vorstius iste?--arminii improbi successor aeque ac +sectator--herosne adhuc, ut cum homero loquar_, <ZOOS ESTI KAI EPI +THONI DERKOV>?" text in Greek + +Nigel, by good fortune, remembered that Vorstius, the divine last +mentioned in his Majesty's queries about the state of Dutch +literature, had been engaged in a personal controversy with James, in +which the king had taken so deep an interest, as at length to hint in +his public correspondence with the United States, that they would do +well to apply the secular arm to stop the progress of heresy by +violent measures against the Professor's person--a demand which their +Mighty Mightinesses' principles of universal toleration induced them +to elude, though with some difficulty. Knowing all this, Lord +Glenvarloch, though a courtier of only five minutes' standing, had +address enough to reply-- + +"_Vivum quidem, haud diu est, hominem videbam--vigere autem quis dicat +qui sub fulminibus eloquentiae tuae, rex magne, jamdudum pronus jacet, +et prostratus?_" + +[Footnote: Lest any lady or gentleman should suspect there is aught of +mystery concealed under the sentences printed in Italics, they will be +pleased to understand that they contain only a few commonplace Latin +phrases, relating to the state of letters in Holland, which neither +deserve, nor would endure, a literal translation.] + +This last tribute to his polemical powers completed James's happiness, +which the triumph of exhibiting his erudition had already raised to a +considerable height. + +He rubbed his hands, snapped his fingers, fidgeted, chuckled, +exclaimed--"_Euge! Belle! Optime!_" and turning to the Bishops of +Exeter and Oxford, who stood behind him, he said.--"Ye see, my lords, +no bad specimen of our Scottish Latinity, with which language we would +all our subjects of England were as well embued as this, and other +youths of honourable birth, in our auld kingdom; also, we keep the +genuine and Roman pronunciation, like other learned nations on the +continent, sae that we hold communing with any scholar in the +universe, who can but speak the Latin tongue; whereas ye, our learned +subjects of England, have introduced into your universities, otherwise +most learned, a fashion of pronouncing like unto the 'nippit foot and +clippit foot' of the bride in the fairy tale, whilk manner of speech, +(take it not amiss that I be round with you) can be understood by no +nation on earth saving yourselves; whereby Latin, _quoad anglos_, +ceaseth to be _communis lingua_, the general dragoman, or interpreter, +between all the wise men of the earth." + +The Bishop of Exeter bowed, as in acquiescence to the royal censure; +but he of Oxford stood upright, as mindful over what subjects his see +extended, and as being equally willing to become food for fagots in +defence of the Latinity of the university, as for any article of his +religious creed. + +The king, without awaiting an answer from either prelate, proceeded to +question Lord Nigel, but in the vernacular tongue,--"Weel, my likely +Alumnus of the Muses, and what make you so far from the north?" + +"To pay my homage to your Majesty," said the young nobleman, kneeling +on one knee, "and to lay before you," he added, "this my humble and +dutiful Supplication." + +The presenting of a pistol would certainly have startled King James +more, but could (setting apart the fright) hardly have been more +unpleasing to his indolent disposition. + +"And is it even so, man?" said he; "and can no single man, were it but +for the rarity of the case, ever come up frae Scotland, excepting EX +PROPOSITO--on set purpose, to see what he can make out of his loving +sovereign? It is but three days syne that we had weel nigh lost our +life, and put three kingdoms into dule-weeds, from the over haste of a +clumsy-handed peasant, to thrust a packet into our hand, and now we +are beset by the like impediment in our very Court. To our Secretary +with that gear, my lord--to our Secretary with that gear." + +"I have already offered my humble Supplication to your Majesty's +Secretary of State," said Lord Glenvarloch--"but it seems----" + +"That he would not receive it, I warrant?" said the king, interrupting +him; "bu my saul, our Secretary kens that point of king-craft, called +refusing, better than we do, and will look at nothing but what he +likes himsell--I think I wad make a better Secretary to him than he to +me.--Weel, my lord, you are welcome to London; and, as ye seem an +acute and learned youth, I advise ye to turn your neb northward as +soon as ye like, and settle yoursell for a while at Saint Andrews, and +we will be right glad to hear that you prosper in your studies.-- +_Incumbite Remis Fortiter._" + +While the king spoke thus, he held the petition of the young lord +carelessly, like one who only delayed till the supplicant's back was +turned, to throw it away, or at least lay it aside to be no more +looked at. The petitioner, who read this in his cold and indifferent +looks, and in the manner in which he twisted and crumpled together the +paper, arose with a bitter sense of anger and disappointment, made a +profound obeisance, and was about to retire hastily. But Lord +Huntinglen, who stood by him, checked his intention by an almost +imperceptible touch upon the skirt of his cloak, and Nigel, taking the +hint, retreated only a few steps from the royal presence, and then +made a pause. In the meantime, Lord Huntinglen kneeled before James, +in his turn, and said--"May it please your Majesty to remember, that +upon one certain occasion you did promise to grant me a boon every +year of your sacred life?" + +"I mind it weel, man," answered James, "I mind it weel, and good +reason why--it was when you unclasped the fause traitor Ruthven's +fangs from about our royal throat, and drove your dirk into him like a +true subject. We did then, as you remind us, (whilk was unnecessary,) +being partly beside ourselves with joy at our liberation, promise we +would grant you a free boon every year; whilk promise, on our coming +to menseful possession of our royal faculties, we did confirm, +_restrictive_ always and _conditionaliter_, that your lordship's +demand should be such as we, in our royal discretion, should think +reasonable." + +"Even so, gracious sovereign," said the old earl, "and may I yet +farther crave to know if I have ever exceeded the bounds of your royal +benevolence?" + +"By my word, man, no!'" said the king; "I cannot remember you have +asked much for yourself, if it be not a dog or a hawk, or a buck out +of our park at Theobald's, or such like. But to what serves this +preface?" + +"To the boon to which I am now to ask of your Grace," said Lord +Huntinglen; "which is, that your Majesty would be pleased, on the +instant, to look at the placet of Lord Glenvarloch, and do upon it +what your own just and royal nature shall think meet and just, without +reference to your Secretary or any other of your Council." + +"By my saul, my lord, this is strange," said the king; "ye are +pleading for the son of your enemy!" + +"Of one who WAS my enemy till your Majesty made him my friend," +answered Lord Huntinglen. + +"Weel spoken, my lord!" said the king; "and with, a true Christian +spirit. And, respecting the Supplication of this young man, I partly +guess where the matter lies; and in plain troth I had promised to +George Heriot to be good to the lad--But then, here the shoe pinches. +Steenie and Babie Charles cannot abide him--neither can your own son, +my lord; and so, methinks, he had better go down to Scotland before he +comes toill luck by them." + +"My son, an it please your Majesty, so far as he is concerned, shall +not direct my doings," said the earl, "nor any wild-headed young man +of them all." + +"Why, neither shall they mine," replied the monarch; "by my father's +saul, none of them all shall play Rex with me--I will do what I will, +and what I ought, like a free king." + +"Your Majesty will then grant me my boon?" said the Lord Huntinglen. + +"Ay, marry will I--marry will I," said the king; "but follow me this +way, man, where we may be more private." + +He led Lord Huntinglen with rather a hurried step through the +courtiers, all of whom gazed earnestly on this unwonted scene, as is +the fashion of all Courts on similar occasions. The king passed into a +little cabinet, and bade, in the first moment, Lord Huntinglen lock or +bar the door; but countermanded his direction in the next, saying,-- +"No, no, no--bread o' life, man, I am a free king--will do what I will +and what I should--I am _justus et tenax propositi_, man-- +nevertheless, keep by the door, Lord Huntinglen, in case Steenie +should come in with his mad humour." + +"O my poor master!" groaned the Earl of Huntinglen. "When you were in +your own cold country, you had warmer blood in your veins." + +The king hastily looked over the petition or memorial, every now and +then glancing his eye towards the door, and then sinking it hastily on +the paper, ashamed that Lord Huntinglen, whom he respected, should +suspect him of timidity. + +"To grant the truth," he said, after he had finished his hasty +perusal, "this is a hard case; and harder than it was represented to +me, though I had some inkling of it before. And so the lad only wants +payment of the siller due from us, in order to reclaim his paternal +estate? But then, Huntinglen, the lad will have other debts--and why +burden himsell with sae mony acres of barren woodland? let the land +gang, man, let the land gang; Steenie has the promise of it from our +Scottish Chancellor--it is the best hunting-ground in Scotland--and +Babie Charles and Steenie want to kill a buck there this next year-- +they maun hae the land--they maun hae the land; and our debt shall be +paid to the young man plack and bawbee, and he may have the spending +of it at our Court; or if he has such an eard hunger, wouns! man, +we'll stuff his stomach with English land, which is worth twice as +much, ay, ten times as much, as these accursed hills and heughs, and +mosses and muirs, that he is sae keen after." + +All this while the poor king ambled up and down the apartment in a +piteous state of uncertainty, which was made more ridiculous by his +shambling circular mode of managing his legs, and his ungainly fashion +on such occasions of fiddling with the bunches of ribbons which +fastened the lower part of his dress. + +Lord Huntinglen listened with great composure, and answered, "An it +please your Majesty, there was an answer yielded by Naboth when Ahab +coveted his vineyard--' The Lord forbid that I should give the +inheritance of my fathers unto thee.'" + +"Ey, my lord--ey, my lord!" ejaculated James, while all the colour +mounted both to his cheek and nose; "I hope ye mean not to teach me +divinity? Ye need not fear, my lord, that I will shun to do justice to +every man; and, since your lordship will give me no help to take up +this in a more peaceful manner--whilk, methinks, would be better for +the young man, as I said before,--why--since it maun be so--'sdeath, I +am a free king, man, and he shall have his money and redeem his land, +and make a kirk and a miln of it, an he will." So saying, he hastily +wrote an order on the Scottish Exchequer for the sum in question, and +then added, "How they are to pay it, I see not; but I warrant he will +find money on the order among the goldsmiths, who can find it for +every one but me.--And now you see, my Lord of Huntinglen, that I am +neither an untrue man, to deny you the boon whilk I became bound for, +nor an Ahab, to covet Naboth's vineyard; nor a mere nose-of-wax, to be +twisted this way and that, by favourites and counsellors at their +pleasure. I think you will grant now that I am none of those?" + +"You are my own native and noble prince," said Huntinglen, as he knelt +to kiss the royal hand--"just and generous, whenever you listen to the +workings of your own heart." + +"Ay, ay," said the king, laughing good-naturedly, as he raised his +faithful servant from the ground, "that is what ye all say when I do +any thing to please ye. There--there, take the sign-manual, and away +with you and this young fellow. I wonder Steenie and Babie Charles +have not broken in on us before now." + +Lord Huntinglen hastened from the cabinet, foreseeing a scene at which +he was unwilling to be present, but which sometimes occurred when +James roused himself so far as to exert his own free will, of which he +boasted so much, in spite of that of his imperious favourite Steenie, +as he called the Duke of Buckingham, from a supposed resemblance +betwixt his very handsome countenance, and that with which the Italian +artists represented the protomartyr Stephen. In fact, the haughty +favourite, who had the unusual good fortune to stand as high in the +opinion of the heir-apparent as of the existing monarch, had +considerably diminished in his respect towards the latter; and it was +apparent, to the more shrewd courtiers, that James endured his +domination rather from habit, timidity, and a dread of encountering +his stormy passions, than from any heartfelt continuation of regard +towards him, whose greatness had been the work of his own hands. To +save himself the pain of seeing what was likely to take place on the +duke's return, and to preserve the king from the additional +humiliation which the presence of such a witness must have occasioned, +the earl left the cabinet as speedily as possible, having first +carefully pocketed the important sign-manual. + +No sooner had he entered the presence-room, than he hastily sought +Lord Glenvarloch, who had withdrawn into the embrasure of one of the +windows, from the general gaze of men who seemed disposed only to +afford him the notice which arises from surprise and curiosity, and, +taking him by the arm, without speaking, led him out of the presence- +chamber into the first ante-room. Here they found the worthy +goldsmith, who approached them with looks of curiosity, which were +checked by the old lord, who said hastily, "All is well.--Is your +barge in waiting?" Heriot answered in the affirmative. "Then," said +Lord Huntinglen, "you shall give me a cast in it, as the watermen say; +and I, in requital, will give you both your dinner; for we must have +some conversation together." + +They both followed the earl without speaking, and were in the second +ante-room when the important annunciation of the ushers, and the hasty +murmur with which all made ample way as the company repeated to each +other,--"The Duke--the Duke!" made them aware of the approach of the +omnipotent favourite. + +He entered, that unhappy minion of Court favour, sumptuously dressed +in the picturesque attire which will live for ever on the canvas of +Vandyke, and which marks so well the proud age, when aristocracy, +though undermined and nodding to its fall, still, by external show and +profuse expense, endeavoured to assert its paramount superiority over +the inferior orders. The handsome and commanding countenance, stately +form, and graceful action and manners of the Duke of Buckingham, made +him become that picturesque dress beyond any man of his time. At +present, however, his countenance seemed discomposed, his dress a +little more disordered than became the place, his step hasty, and his +voice imperative. + +All marked the angry spot upon his brow, and bore back so suddenly to +make way for him, that the Earl of Huntinglen, who affected no +extraordinary haste on the occasion, with his companions, who could +not, if they would, have decently left him, remained as it were by +themselves in the middle of the room, and in the very path of the +angry favourite. He touched his cap sternly as he looked on +Huntinglen, but unbonneted to Heriot, and sunk his beaver, with its +shadowy plume, as low as the floor, with a profound air of mock +respect. In returning his greeting, which he did simply and +unaffectedly, the citizen only said,--"Too much courtesy, my lord +duke, is often the reverse of kindness." + +"I grieve you should think so, Master Heriot," answered the duke; "I +only meant, by my homage, to claim your protection, sir--your +patronage. You are become, I understand, a solicitor of suits--a +promoter--an undertaker--a fautor of court suitors of merit and +quality, who chance to be pennyless. I trust your bags will bear you +out in your new boast." + +"They will bear me the farther, my lord duke," answered the goldsmith, +"that my boast is but small." + +"O, you do yourself less than justice, my good Master Heriot," +continued the duke, in the same tone of irony; "you have a marvellous +court-faction, to be the son of an Edinburgh tinker. Have the goodness +to prefer me to the knowledge of the high-born nobleman who is +honoured and advantaged by your patronage." + +"That shall be my task," said Lord Huntinglen, with emphasis. "My lord +duke, I desire you to know Nigel Olifaunt, Lord Glenvarloch, +representative of one of the most ancient and powerful baronial houses +in Scotland.--Lord Glenvarloch, I present you to his Grace the Duke of +Buckingham, representative of Sir George Villiers, Knight of +Brookesby, in the county of Leicester." + +The duke coloured still more high as he bowed to Lord Glenvarloch +scornfully, a courtesy which the other returned haughtily, and with +restrained indignation. "We know each other, then," said the duke, +after a moment's pause; and as if he had seen something in the young +nobleman which merited more serious notice than the bitter raillery +with which he had commenced--"we know each other--and you know me, my +lord, for your enemy." + +"I thank you for your plainness, my lord duke," replied Nigel; "an +open enemy is better than a hollow friend." + +"For you, my Lord Huntinglen," said the duke, "methinks you have but +now overstepped the limits of the indulgence permitted to you, as the +father of the prince's friend, and my own." + +"By my word, my lord duke," replied the earl, "it is easy for any one +to outstep boundaries, of the existence of which he was not aware. It +is neither to secure my protection nor approbation, that my son keeps +such exalted company." + +"O, my lord, we know you, and indulge you," said the duke; "you are +one of those who presume for a life-long upon the merit of one good +action." + +"In faith, my lord, and if it be so," said the old earl, "I have at +least the advantage of such as presume more than I do, without having +done any action of merit whatever. But I mean not to quarrel with you, +my lord--we can neither be friends nor enemies--you have your path, +and I have mine." + +Buckingham only replied by throwing on his bonnet, and shaking its +lofty plume with a careless and scornful toss of the head. They parted +thus; the duke walking onwards through the apartments, and the others +leaving the Palace and repairing to Whitehall Stairs, where they +embarked on board the barge of the citizen. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + + Bid not thy fortune troll upon the wheels + Of yonder dancing cubes of mottled bone; + And drown it not, like Egypt's royal harlot, + Dissolving her rich pearl in the brimm'd wine-cup. + These are the arts, Lothario, which shrink acres + Into brief yards--bring sterling pounds to farthings, + Credit to infamy; and the poor gull, + Who might have lived an honour'd, easy life, + To ruin, and an unregarded grave. + _The Changes._ + +When they were fairly embarked on the Thames, the earl took from his +pocket the Supplication, and, pointing out to George Heriot the royal +warrant indorsed thereon, asked him, if it were in due and regular +form? The worthy citizen hastily read it over, thrust forth his hand +as if to congratulate the Lord Glenvarloch, then checked himself, +pulled out his barnacles, (a present from old David Ramsay,) and again +perused the warrant with the most business-like and critical +attention. "It is strictly correct and formal," he said, looking to +the Earl of Huntinglen; "and I sincerely rejoice at it." + +"I doubt nothing of its formality," said the earl; "the king +understands business well, and, if he does not practise it often, it +is only because indolence obscures parts which are naturally well +qualified for the discharge of affairs. But what is next to be done +for our young friend, Master Heriot? You know how I am circumstanced. +Scottish lords living at the English Court have seldom command of +money; yet, unless a sum can be presently raised on this warrant, +matters standing as you hastily hinted to me, the mortgage, wadset, or +whatever it is called, will be foreclosed." + +"It is true," said Heriot, in some embarrassment; "there is a large +sum wanted in redemption--yet, if it is not raised, there will be an +expiry of the legal, as our lawyers call it, and the estate will be +evicted." + +"My noble--my worthy friends, who have taken up my cause so +undeservedly, so unexpectedly," said Nigel, "do not let me be a burden +on your kindness. You have already done too much where nothing was +merited." + +"Peace, man, peace," said Lord Huntinglen, "and let old Heriot and I +puzzle this scent out. He is about to open--hark to him!" + +"My lord," said the citizen, "the Duke of Buckingham sneers at our +city money-bags; yet they can sometimes open, to prop a falling and a +noble house." + +"We know they can," said Lord Huntinglen--"mind not Buckingham, he is +a Peg-a-Ramsay--and now for the remedy." + +"I partly hinted to Lord Glenvarloch already," said Heriot, "that the +redemption money might be advanced upon such a warrant as the present, +and I will engage my credit that it can. But then, in order to secure +the lender, he must come in the shoes of the creditor to whom he +advances payment." + +"Come in his shoes!" replied the earl; "why, what have boots or shoes +to do with this matter, my good friend?" + +"It is a law phrase, my lord. My experience has made me pick up a few +of them," said Heriot. + +"Ay, and of better things along with them, Master George," replied +Lord Huntinglen; "but what means it?" + +"Simply this," resumed the citizen; "that the lender of this money +will transact with the holder of the mortgage, or wadset, over the +estate of Glenvarloch, and obtain from him such a conveyance to his +right as shall leave the lands pledged for the debt, in case the +warrant upon the Scottish Exchequer should prove unproductive. I fear, +in this uncertainty of public credit, that without some such counter +security, it will be very difficult to find so large a sum." + +"Ho la!" said the Earl of Huntinglen, "halt there! a thought strikes +me.--What if the new creditor should admire the estate as a hunting- +field, as much as my Lord Grace of Buckingham seems to do, and should +wish to kill a buck there in the summer season? It seems to me, that +on your plan, Master George, our new friend will be as well entitled +to block Lord Glenvarloch out of his inheritance as the present holder +of the mortgage." + +The citizen laughed. "I will engage," he said, "that the keenest +sportsman to whom I may apply on this occasion, shall not have a +thought beyond the Lord Mayor's Easter-Hunt, in Epping Forest. But +your lordship's caution is reasonable. The creditor must be bound to +allow Lord Glenvarloch sufficient time to redeem his estate by means +of the royal warrant, and must wave in his favour the right of instant +foreclosure, which may be, I should think, the more easily managed, as +the right of redemption must be exercised in his own name." + +"But where shall we find a person in London fit to draw the necessary +writings?" said the earl. "If my old friend Sir John Skene of Halyards +had lived, we should have had his advice; but time presses, and--" + +"I know," said Heriot, "an orphan lad, a scrivener, that dwells by +Temple Bar; he can draw deeds both after the English and Scottish +fashion, and I have trusted him often in matters of weight and of +importance. I will send one of my serving-men for him, and the mutual +deeds may be executed in your lordship's presence; for, as things +stand, there should be no delay." His lordship readily assented; and, +as they now landed upon the private stairs leading down to the river +from the gardens of the handsome hotel which he inhabited, the +messenger was dispatched without loss of time. + +Nigel, who had sat almost stupefied while these zealous friends +volunteered for him in arranging the measures by which his fortune was +to be disembarrassed, now made another eager attempt to force upon +them his broken expressions of thanks and gratitude. But he was again +silenced by Lord Huntinglen, who declared he would not hear a word on +that topic, and proposed instead, that they should take a turn in the +pleached alley, or sit upon the stone bench which overlooked the +Thames, until his son's arrival should give the signal for dinner. + +"I desire to introduce Dalgarno and Lord Glenvarloch to each other," +he said, "as two who will be near neighbours, and I trust will be more +kind ones than their fathers were formerly. There is but three Scots +miles betwixt the castles, and the turrets of the one are visible from +the battlements of the other." + +The old earl was silent for a moment, and appeared to muse upon the +recollections which the vicinity of the castles had summoned up. + +"Does Lord Dalgarno follow the Court to Newmarket next week?" said +Heriot, by way of removing the conversation. + +"He proposes so, I think," answered Lord Huntinglen, relapsed into his +reverie for a minute or two, and then addressed Nigel somewhat +abruptly-- + +"My young friend, when you attain possession of your inheritance, as I +hope you soon will, I trust you will not add one to the idle followers +of the Court, but reside on your patrimonial estate, cherish your +ancient tenants, relieve and assist your poor kinsmen, protect the +poor against subaltern oppression, and do what our fathers used to do, +with fewer lights and with less means than we have." + +"And yet the advice to keep the country," said Heriot, "comes from an +ancient and constant ornament of the Court." + +"From an old courtier, indeed," said the earl, "and the first of my +family that could so write himself--my grey beard falls on a cambric +ruff and a silken doublet--my father's descended upon a buff coat and +a breast-plate. I would not that those days of battle returned; but I +should love well to make the oaks of my old forest of Dalgarno ring +once more with halloo, and horn, and hound, and to have the old stone- +arched hall return the hearty shout of my vassals and tenants, as the +bicker and the quaigh walked their rounds amongst them. I should like +to see the broad Tay once more before I die--not even the Thames can +match it, in my mind." + +"Surely, my lord," said the citizen, "all this might be easily done-- +it costs but a moment's resolution, and the journey of some brief +days, and you will be where you desire to be--what is there to prevent +you?" + +"Habits, Master George, habits," replied the earl, "which to young men +are like threads of silk, so lightly are they worn, so soon broken; +but which hang on our old limbs as if time had stiffened them into +gyves of iron. To go to Scotland for a brief space were but labour in +vain; and when I think of abiding there, I cannot bring myself to +leave my old master, to whom I fancy myself sometimes useful, and +whose weal and woe I have shared for so many years. But Dalgarno shall +be a Scottish noble." + +"Has he visited the North?" said Heriot. + +"He was there last year and made such a report of the country, that +the prince has expressed a longing to see it." "Lord Dalgarno is in +high grace with his Highness and the Duke of Buckingham?" observed the +goldsmith. + +"He is so," answered the earl,--"I pray it may be for the advantage of +them all. The prince is just and equitable in his sentiments, though +cold and stately in his manners, and very obstinate in his most +trifling purposes; and the duke, noble and gallant, and generous and +open, is fiery, ambitious, and impetuous. Dalgarno has none of these +faults, and such as he may have of his own, may perchance be corrected +by the society in which he moves.--See, here he comes." + +Lord Dalgarno accordingly advanced from the farther end of the alley +to the bench on which his father and his guests were seated, so that +Nigel had full leisure to peruse his countenance and figure. He was +dressed point-device, and almost to extremity, in the splendid fashion +of the time, which suited well with his age, probably about five-and- +twenty, with a noble form and fine countenance, in which last could +easily be traced the manly features of his father, but softened by a +more habitual air of assiduous courtesy than the stubborn old earl had +ever condescended to assume towards the world in general. In other +respects, his address was gallant, free, and unencumbered either by +pride or ceremony--far remote certainly from the charge either of +haughty coldness or forward impetuosity; and so far his father had +justly freed him from the marked faults which he ascribed to the +manners of the prince and his favourite Buckingham. + +While the old earl presented his young acquaintance Lord Glenvarloch +to his son, as one whom he would have him love and honour, Nigel +marked the countenance of Lord Dalgarno closely, to see if he could +detect aught of that secret dislike which the king had, in one of his +broken expostulations, seemed to intimate, as arising from a clashing +of interests betwixt his new friend and the great Buckingham. But +nothing of this was visible; on the contrary, Lord Dalgarno received +his new acquaintance with the open frankness and courtesy which makes +conquest at once, when addressed to the feelings of an ingenuous young +man. + +It need hardly be told that his open and friendly address met equally +ready and cheerful acceptation from Nigel Olifaunt. For many months, +and while a youth not much above two-and-twenty, he had been +restrained by circumstances from the conversation of his equals. When, +on his father's sudden death, he left the Low Countries for Scotland, +he had found himself involved, to all appearance inextricably, with +the details of the law, all of which threatened to end in the +alienation of the patrimony which should support his hereditary rank. +His term of sincere mourning, joined to injured pride, and the +swelling of the heart under unexpected and undeserved misfortune, +together with the uncertainty attending the issue of his affairs, had +induced the young Lord of Glenvarloch to live, while in Scotland, in a +very private and reserved manner. How he had passed his time in +London, the reader is acquainted with. But this melancholy and +secluded course of life was neither agreeable to his age nor to his +temper, which was genial and sociable. He hailed, therefore, with +sincere pleasure, the approaches which a young man of his own age and +rank made towards him; and when he had exchanged with Lord Dalgarno +some of those words and signals by which, as surely as by those of +freemasonry, young people recognise a mutual wish to be agreeable to +each other, it seemed as if the two noblemen had been acquainted for +some time. + +Just as this tacit intercourse had been established, one of Lord +Huntinglen's attendants came down the alley, marshalling onwards a man +dressed in black buckram, who followed him with tolerable speed, +considering that, according to his sense of reverence and propriety, +he kept his body bent and parallel to the horizon from the moment that +he came in sight of the company to which he was about to be presented. + +"Who is this, you cuckoldy knave," said the old lord, who had retained +the keen appetite and impatience of a Scottish baron even during a +long alienation from his native country; "and why does John Cook, with +a murrain to him, keep back dinner?" + +"I believe we are ourselves responsible for this person's intrusion," +said George Heriot; "this is the scrivener whom we desired to see.-- +Look up, man, and see us in the face as an honest man should, instead +of beating thy noddle charged against us thus, like a battering-ram." + +The scrivener did look up accordingly, with the action of an automaton +which suddenly obeys the impulse of a pressed spring. But, strange to +tell, not even the haste he had made to attend his patron's mandate, a +business, as Master Heriot's message expressed, of weight and +importance--nay not even the state of depression in which, out of +sheer humility, doubtless, he had his head stooped to the earth, from +the moment he had trod the demesnes of the Earl of Huntinglen, had +called any colour into his countenance. The drops stood on his brow +from haste and toil, but his cheek was still pale and tallow-coloured +as before; nay, what seemed stranger, his very hair, when he raised +his head, hung down on either cheek as straight and sleek and +undisturbed as it was when we first introduced him to our readers, +seated at his quiet and humble desk. + +Lord Dalgarno could not forbear a stifled laugh at the ridiculous and +puritanical figure which presented itself like a starved anatomy to +the company, and whispered at the same time into Lord Glenvarloch's +ear-- + + "The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon, + Where got'st thou that goose-look?" + +Nigel was too little acquainted with the English stage to understand a +quotation which had already grown matter of common allusion in London. +Lord Dalgarno saw that he was not understood, and continued, "That +fellow, by his visage, should either be a saint, or a most +hypocritical rogue--and such is my excellent opinion of human nature, +that I always suspect the worst. But they seem deep in business. Will +you take a turn with me in the garden, my lord, or will you remain a +member of the serious conclave?" + +"With you, my lord, most willingly," said Nigel; and they were turning +away accordingly, when George Heriot, with the formality belonging to +his station, observed, that, "as their business concerned Lord +Glenvarloch, he had better remain, to make himself master of it, and +witness to it." + +"My presence is utterly needless, my good lord;-and, my best friend, +Master Heriot," said the young nobleman, "I shall understand nothing +the better for cumbering you with my ignorance in these matters; and +can only say at the end, as I now say at the beginning, that I dare +not take the helm out of the hand of the kind pilots who have already +guided my course within sight of a fair and unhoped-for haven. +Whatever you recommend to me as fitting, I shall sign and seal; and +the import of the deeds I shall better learn by a brief explanation +from Master Heriot, if he will bestow so much trouble in my behalf, +than by a thousand learned words and law terms from this person of +skill." + +"He is right," said Lord Huntinglen; "our young friend is right, in +confiding these matters to you and me, Master George Heriot--he has +not misplaced his confidence." + +Master George Heriot cast a long look after the two young noblemen, +who had now walked down the alley arm-in-arm, and at length said, "He +hath not, indeed, misplaced his confidence, as your lordship well and +truly says--but, nevertheless, he is not in the right path; for it +behoves every man to become acquainted with his own affairs, so soon +as he hath any that are worth attending to." + +When he had made this observation, they applied themselves, with the +scrivener, to look into various papers, and to direct in what manner +writings should be drawn, which might at once afford sufficient +security to those who were to advance the money, and at the same time +preserve the right of the young nobleman to redeem the family estate, +provided he should obtain the means of doing so, by the expected +reimbursement from the Scottish Exchequer, or otherwise. It is +needless to enter into those details. But it is not unimportant to +mention, as an illustration of character, that Heriot went into the +most minute legal details with a precision which showed that +experience had made him master even of the intricacies of Scottish +conveyancing; and that the Earl of Huntinglen, though far less +acquainted with technical detail, suffered no step of the business to +pass over, until he had attained a general but distinct idea of its +import and its propriety. + +They seemed to be admirably seconded in their benevolent intentions +towards the young Lord Glenvarloch, by the skill and eager zeal of the +scrivener, whom Heriot had introduced to this piece of business, the +most important which Andrew had ever transacted in his life, and the +particulars of which were moreover agitated in his presence between an +actual earl, and one whose wealth and character might entitle him to +be an alderman of his ward, if not to be lord mayor, in his turn. + +While they were thus in eager conversation on business, the good earl +even forgetting the calls of his appetite, and the delay of dinner, in +his anxiety to see that the scrivener received proper instructions, +and that all was rightly weighed and considered, before dismissing him +to engross the necessary deeds, the two young men walked together on +the terrace which overhung the river, and talked on the topics which +Lord Dalgarno, the elder, and the more experienced, thought most +likely to interest his new friend. + +These naturally regarded the pleasures attending a Court life; and +Lord Dalgarno expressed much surprise at understanding that Nigel +proposed an instant return to Scotland. + +"You are jesting with me," he said. "All the Court rings--it is +needless to mince it--with the extraordinary success of your suit-- +against the highest interest, it is said, now influencing the horizon +at Whitehall. Men think of you--talk of you--fix their eyes on you-- +ask each other, who is this young Scottish lord, who has stepped so +far in a single day? They augur, in whispers to each other, how high +and how far you may push your fortune--and all that you design to make +of it, is, to return to Scotland, eat raw oatmeal cakes, baked upon a +peat-fire, have your hand shaken by every loon of a blue-bonnet who +chooses to dub you cousin, though your relationship comes by Noah; +drink Scots twopenny ale, eat half-starved red-deer venison, when you +can kill it, ride upon a galloway, and be called my right honourable +and maist worthy lord!" + +"There is no great gaiety in the prospect before me, I confess," said +Lord Glenvarloch, "even if your father and good Master Heriot should +succeed in putting my affairs on some footing of plausible hope. And +yet I trust to do something for my vassals as my ancestors before me, +and to teach my children, as I have myself been taught, to make some +personal sacrifices, if they be necessary, in order to maintain with +dignity the situation in which they are placed by Providence." + +Lord Dalgarno, after having once or twice stifled his laughter during +this speech, at length broke out into a fit of mirth, so hearty and so +resistless, that, angry as he was, the call of sympathy swept Nigel +along with him, and despite of himself, he could not forbear to join +in a burst of laughter, which he thought not only causeless, but +almost impertinent. + +He soon recollected himself, however, and said, in a tone qualified to +allay Lord Dalgarno's extreme mirth: "This is all well, my lord; but +how am I to understand your merriment?" Lord Dalgarno only answered +him with redoubled peals of laughter, and at length held by Lord +Glenvarloch's cloak, as if to prevent his falling down on the ground, +in the extremity of his convulsion. + +At length, while Nigel stood half abashed, half angry, at becoming +thus the subject of his new acquaintance's ridicule, and was only +restrained from expressing his resentment against the son, by a sense +of the obligations he owed the father, Lord Dalgarno recovered +himself, and spoke in a half-broken voice, his eyes still running with +tears: "I crave your pardon, my dear Lord Glenvarloch--ten thousand +times do I crave your pardon. But that last picture of rural dignity, +accompanied by your grave and angry surprise at my laughing at what +would have made any court-bred hound laugh, that had but so much as +bayed the moon once from the court-yard at Whitehall, totally overcame +me. Why, my liefest and dearest lord, you, a young and handsome +fellow, with high birth, a title, and the name of an estate, so well +received by the king at your first starting, as makes your further +progress scarce matter of doubt, if you know how to improve it--for +the king has already said you are a 'braw lad, and well studied in the +more humane letters'--you, too, whom all the women, and the very +marked beauties of the Court, desire to see, because you came from +Leyden, were born in Scotland, and have gained a hard-contested suit +in England--you, I say, with a person like a prince, an eye of fire, +and a wit as quick, to think of throwing your cards on the table when +the game is in your very hand, running back to the frozen north, and +marrying--let me see--a tall, stalking, blue-eyed, fair-skinned bony +wench, with eighteen quarters in her scutcheon, a sort of Lot's wife, +newly descended from her pedestal, and with her to shut yourself up in +your tapestried chamber! Uh, gad!--Swouns, I shall never survive the +idea!" + +It is seldom that youth, however high-minded, is able, from mere +strength of character and principle, to support itself against the +force of ridicule. Half angry, half mortified, and, to say truth, half +ashamed of his more manly and better purpose, Nigel was unable, and +flattered himself it was unnecessary, to play the part of a rigid +moral patriot, in presence of a young man whose current fluency of +language, as well as his experience in the highest circles of society, +gave him, in spite of Nigel's better and firmer thoughts, a temporary +ascendency over him. He sought, therefore, to compromise the matter, +and avoid farther debate, by frankly owning, that, if to return to his +own country were not his choice, it was at least a matter of +necessity. "His affairs," he said, "were unsettled, his income +precarious." + +"And where is he whose affairs are settled, or whose income is less +than precarious, that is to be found in attendance on the Court?" said +Lord Dalgarno; "all are either losing or winning. Those who have +wealth, come hither to get rid of it, while the happy gallants, who, +like you and I, dear Glenvarloch, have little or none, have every +chance to be sharers in their spoils." + +"I have no ambition of that sort," said Nigel, "and if I had, I must +tell you plainly, Lord Dalgarno, I have not the means to do so. I can +scarce as yet call the suit I wear my own; I owe it, and I do riot +blush to say so, to the friendship of yonder good man." + +"I will not laugh again, if I can help it," said Lord Dalgarno. "But, +Lord! that you should have gone to a wealthy goldsmith for your habit +--why, I could have brought you to an honest, confiding tailor, who +should have furnished you with half-a-dozen, merely for love of the +little word, 'lordship,' which you place before your name;--and then +your goldsmith, if he be really a friendly goldsmith, should have +equipped you with such a purse of fair rose-nobles as would have +bought you thrice as many suits, or done better things for you." + +"I do not understand these fashions, my lord," said Nigel, his +displeasure mastering his shame; "were I to attend the Court of my +sovereign, it should be when I could maintain, without shifting or +borrowing, the dress and retinue which my rank requires." + +"Which my rank requires!" said Lord Dalgarno, repeating his last +words; "that, now, is as good as if my father had spoke it. I fancy +you would love to move to Court with him, followed by a round score of +old blue-bottles, with white heads and red noses, with bucklers and +broadswords, which their hands, trembling betwixt age and strong +waters, can make no use of--as many huge silver badges on their arms, +to show whose fools they are, as would furnish forth a court cupboard +of plate--rogues fit for nothing but to fill our ante-chambers with +the flavour of onions and genievre--pah!" + +"The poor knaves!" said Lord Glenvarloch; "they have served your +father, it may be, in the wars. What would become of them were he to +turn them off?" + +"Why, let them go to the hospital," said Dalgarno, "or to the bridge- +end, to sell switches. The king is a better man than my father, and +you see those who have served in HIS wars do so every day; or, when +their blue coats were well worn out, they would make rare scarecrows. +Here is a fellow, now, comes down the walk; the stoutest raven dared +not come within a yard of that copper nose. I tell you, there is more +service, as you will soon see, in my valet of the chamber, and such a +lither lad as my page Lutin, than there is in a score of these old +memorials of the Douglas wars, [Footnote: The cruel civil wars waged +by the Scottish barons during the minority of James VI., had the name +from the figure made in them by the celebrated James Douglas, Earl of +Morton. Both sides executed their prisoners without mercy or favour.] +where they cut each other's throats for the chance of finding twelve +pennies Scots on the person of the slain. Marry, my lord, to make +amends, they will eat mouldy victuals, and drink stale ale, as if +their bellies were puncheons.--But the dinner-bell is going to sound-- +hark, it is clearing its rusty throat, with a preliminary jowl. That +is another clamorous relic of antiquity, that, were I master, should +soon be at the bottom of the Thames. How the foul fiend can it +interest the peasants and mechanics in the Strand, to know that the +Earl of Huntinglen is sitting down to dinner? But my father looks our +way--we must not be late for the grace, or we shall be in DIS-grace, +if you will forgive a quibble which would have made his Majesty laugh. +You will find us all of a piece, and, having been accustomed to eat in +saucers abroad, I am ashamed you should witness our larded capons, our +mountains of beef, and oceans of brewis, as large as Highland hills +and lochs; but you shall see better cheer to-morrow. Where lodge you? +I will call for you. I must be your guide through the peopled desert, +to certain enchanted lands, which you will scarce discover without +chart and pilot. Where lodge you?" + +"I will meet you in Paul's," said Nigel, a good deal embarrassed, "at +any hour you please to name." + +"O, you would be private," said the young lord; "nay, fear not me--I +will be no intruder. But we have attained this huge larder of flesh, +fowl, and fish. I marvel the oaken boards groan not under it." + +They had indeed arrived in the dining-parlour of the mansion, where +the table was superabundantly loaded, and where the number of +attendants, to a certain extent, vindicated the sarcasms of the young +nobleman. The chaplain, and Sir Mungo Malagrowther, were of the party. +The latter complimented Lord Glenvarloch upon the impression he had +made at Court. "One would have thought ye had brought the apple of +discord in your pouch, my lord, or that you were the very firebrand of +whilk Althea was delivered, and that she had lain-in in a barrel of +gunpowder, for the king, and the prince, and the duke, have been by +the lugs about ye, and so have many more, that kendna before this +blessed day that there was such a man living on the face of the +earth." + +"Mind your victuals, Sir Mungo," said the earl; "they get cold while +you talk." "Troth, and that needsna, my lord," said the knight; "your +lordship's dinners seldom scald one's mouth--the serving-men are +turning auld, like oursells, my lord, and it is far between the +kitchen and the ha'." + +With this little explosion of his spleen, Sir Mungo remained +satisfied, until the dishes were removed, when, fixing his eyes on the +brave new doublet of Lord Dalgarno, he complimented him on his +economy, pretending to recognise it as the same which his father had +worn in Edinburgh in the Spanish ambassador's time. Lord Dalgarno, too +much a man of the world to be moved by any thing from such a quarter, +proceeded to crack some nuts with great deliberation, as he replied, +that the doublet was in some sort his father's, as it was likely to +cost him fifty pounds some day soon. Sir Mungo forthwith proceeded in +his own way to convey this agreeable intelligence to the earl, +observing, that his son was a better maker of bargains than his +lordship, for he had bought a doublet as rich as that his lordship +wore when the Spanish ambassador was at Holyrood, and it had cost him +but fifty pounds Scots;--"that was no fool's bargain, my lord." + +"Pounds sterling, if you please, Sir Mungo," answered the earl, +calmly; "and a fool's bargain it is, in all the tenses. Dalgarno WAS a +fool when he bought--I _will_ be a fool when I pay--and you, Sir +Mungo, craving your pardon, _are_ a fool _in praesenti_, for speaking +of what concerns you not." + +So saying, the earl addressed himself to the serious business of the +table and sent the wine around with a profusion which increased the +hilarity, but rather threatened the temperance, of the company, until +their joviality was interrupted by the annunciation that the scrivener +had engrossed such deeds as required to be presently executed. + +George Heriot rose from the table, observing, that wine-cups and legal +documents were unseemly neighbours. The earl asked the scrivener if +they had laid a trencher and set a cup for him in the buttery and +received the respectful answer, that heaven forbid he should be such +an ungracious beast as to eat or drink until his lordship's pleasure +was performed. + +"Thou shalt eat before thou goest," said Lord Huntinglen; "and I will +have thee try, moreover, whether a cup of sack cannot bring some +colour into these cheeks of thine. It were a shame to my household, +thou shouldst glide out into the Strand after such a spectre-fashion +as thou now wearest--Look to it, Dalgarno, for the honour of our roof +is concerned." + +Lord Dalgarno gave directions that the man should be attended to. Lord +Glenvarloch and the citizen, in the meanwhile, signed and +interchanged, and thus closed a transaction, of which the principal +party concerned understood little, save that it was under the +management of a zealous and faithful friend, who undertook that the +money should be forthcoming, and the estate released from forfeiture, +by payment of the stipulated sum for which it stood pledged, and that +at the term of Lambmas, and at the hour of noon, and beside the tomb +of the Regent Earl of Murray, in the High Kirk of Saint Giles, at +Edinburgh, being the day and place assigned for such redemption. +[Footnote: As each covenant in those days of accuracy had a special +place nominated for execution, the tomb of the Regent Earl of Murray +in Saint Giles's Church was frequently assigned for the purpose.] + +When this business was transacted, the old earl would fain have +renewed his carouse; but the citizen, alleging the importance of the +deeds he had about him, and the business he had to transact betimes +the next morning, not only refused to return to table, but carried +with him to his barge Lord Glenvarloch, who might, perhaps, have been +otherwise found more tractable. + +When they were seated in the boat, and fairly once more afloat on the +river, George Heriot looked back seriously on the mansion they had +left--"There live," he said, "the old fashion and the new. The father +is like a noble old broadsword, but harmed with rust, from neglect and +inactivity; the son is your modern rapier, well-mounted, fairly gilt, +and fashioned to the taste of the time--and it is time must evince if +the metal be as good as the show. God grant it prove so, says an old +friend to the family." + +Nothing of consequence passed betwixt them, until Lord Glenvarloch, +landing at Paul's Wharf, took leave of his friend the citizen, and +retired to his own apartment, where his attendant, Richie, not a +little elevated with the events of the day, and with the hospitality +of Lord Huntinglen's house-keeping, gave a most splendid account of +them to the buxom Dame Nelly, who rejoiced to hear that the sun at +length was shining upon what Richie called "the right side of the +hedge." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + + You are not for the manner nor the times, + They have their vices now most like to virtues; + You cannot know them apait by any difference, + They wear the same clothes, eat the same meat-- + Sleep i' the self-same beds, ride in those coaches, + Or very like four horses in a coach, + As the best men and women. + _Ben Jonson_ + +On the following morning, while Nigel, his breakfast finished, was +thinking how he should employ the day, there was a little bustle upon +the stairs which attracted his attention, and presently entered Dame +Nelly, blushing like scarlet, and scarce able to bring out--"A young +nobleman, sir--no one less," she added, drawing her hand slightly over +her lips, "would be so saucy--a young nobleman, sir, to wait on you!" + +And she was followed into the little cabin by Lord Dalgarno, gay, +easy, disembarrassed, and apparently as much pleased to rejoin his new +acquaintance as if he had found him in the apartments of a palace. +Nigel, on the contrary, (for youth is slave to such circumstances,) +was discountenanced and mortified at being surprised by so splendid a +gallant in a chamber which, at the moment the elegant and high-dressed +cavalier appeared in it, seemed to its inhabitant, yet lower, +narrower, darker, and meaner than it had ever shown before. He would +have made some apology for the situation, but Lord Dalgarno cut him +short-- + +"Not a word of it," he said, "not a single word--I know why you ride +at anchor here--but I can keep counsel--so pretty a hostess would +recommend worse quarters." + +"On my word--on my honour," said Lord Glenvarloch-- + +"Nay, nay, make no words of the matter," said Lord Dalgarno; "I am no +tell-tale, nor shall I cross your walk; there is game enough in the +forest, thank Heaven, and I can strike a doe for myself." + +All this he said in so significant a manner, and the explanation which +he had adopted seemed to put Lord Glenvarloch's gallantry on so +respectable a footing, that Nigel ceased to try to undeceive him; and +less ashamed, perhaps, (for such is human weakness,) of supposed vice +than of real poverty, changed the discourse to something else, and +left poor Dame Nelly's reputation and his own at the mercy of the +young courtier's misconstruction. + +He offered refreshments with some hesitation. Lord Dalgarno had long +since breakfasted, but had just come from playing a set of tennis, he +said, and would willingly taste a cup of the pretty hostess's single +beer. This was easily procured, was drunk, was commended, and, as the +hostess failed not to bring the cup herself, Lord Dalgarno profited by +the opportunity to take a second and more attentive view of her, and +then gravely drank to her husband's health, with an almost +imperceptible nod to Lord Glenvarloch. Dame Nelly was much honoured, +smoothed her apron down with her hands, and said + +"Her John was greatly and truly honoured by their lordships--he was a +kind painstaking man for his family, as was in the alley, or indeed, +as far north as Paul's Chain." + +She would have proceeded probably to state the difference betwixt +their ages, as the only alloy to their nuptial happiness; but her +lodger, who had no mind to be farther exposed to his gay friend's +raillery, gave her, contrary to his wont, a signal to leave the room. + +Lord Dalgarno looked after her, and then looked at Glenvarloch, shook +his head, and repeated the well-known lines-- + +"'My lord, beware of jealousy-- + It is the green-eyed monster which doth make + The meat it feeds on.' + +"But come," he said, changing his tone, "I know not why I should worry +you thus--I who have so many follies of my own, when I should rather +make excuse for being here at all, and tell you wherefore I came." + +So saying, he reached a seat, and, placing another for Lord +Glenvarloch, in spite of his anxious haste to anticipate this act of +courtesy, he proceeded in the same tone of easy familiarity:-- + +"We are neighbours, my lord, and are just made known to each other. +Now, I know enough of the dear North, to be well aware that Scottish +neighbours must be either dear friends or deadly enemies--must either +walk hand-in-hand, or stand sword-point to sword-point; so I choose +the hand-in-hand, unless you should reject my proffer." + +"How were it possible, my lord," said Lord Glenvarloch, "to refuse +what is offered so frankly, even if your father had not been a second +father to me?"--And, as he took Lord Dalgarno's hand, he added--"I +have, I think, lost no time, since, during one day's attendance at +Court, I have made a kind friend and a powerful enemy." + +"The friend thanks you," replied Lord Dalgarno, "for your just +opinion; but, my dear Glenvarloch--or rather, for titles are too +formal between us of the better file--what is your Christian name?" + +"Nigel," replied Lord Glenvarloch. + +"Then we will be Nigel and Malcolm to each other," said his visitor, +"and my lord to the plebeian world around us. But I was about to ask +you whom you suppose your enemy?" + +"No less than the all-powerful favourite, the great Duke of +Buckingham." + +"You dream! What could possess you with such an opinion?" said +Dalgarno. + +"He told me so himself," replied Glenvarloch; "and, in so doing, dealt +frankly and honourably with me." + +"O, you know him not yet," said his companion; "the duke is moulded of +an hundred noble and fiery qualities, that prompt him, like a generous +horse, to spring aside in impatience at the least obstacle to his +forward course. But he means not what he says in such passing heats--I +can do more with him, I thank Heaven, than most who are around him; +you shall go visit him with me, and you will see how you shall be +received." + +"I told you, my lord," said Glenvarloch firmly, and with some +haughtiness, "the Duke of Buckingham, without the least offence, +declared himself my enemy in the face of the Court; and he shall +retract that aggression as publicly as it was given, ere I will make +the slightest advance towards him." + +"You would act becomingly in every other case," said Lord Dalgarno, +"but here you are wrong. In the Court horizon Buckingham is Lord of +the Ascendant, and as he is adverse or favouring, so sinks or rises +the fortune of a suitor. The king would bid you remember your +Phaedrus, + +'Arripiens geminas, ripis cedentibus, ollas--' + +and so forth. You are the vase of earth; beware of knocking yourself +against the vase of iron." + +"The vase of earth," said Glenvarloch, "will avoid the encounter, by +getting ashore out of the current--I mean to go no more to Court." + +"O, to Court you necessarily must go; you will find your Scottish suit +move ill without it, for there is both patronage and favour necessary +to enforce the sign-manual you have obtained. Of that we will speak +more hereafter; but tell me in the meanwhile, my dear Nigel, whether +you did not wonder to see me here so early?" + +"I am surprised that you could find me out in this obscure corner," +said Lord Glenvarloch. + +"My page Lutin is a very devil for that sort of discovery," replied +Lord Dalgarno; "I have but to say, 'Goblin, I would know where he or +she dwells,' and he guides me thither as if by art magic." + +"I hope he waits not now in the street, my lord," said Nigel; "I will +send my servant to seek him." + +"Do not concern yourself--he is by this time," said Lord Dalgarno, +"playing at hustle-cap and chuck-farthing with the most blackguard +imps upon the wharf, unless he hath foregone his old customs." + +"Are you not afraid," said Lord Glenvarloch, "that in such company his +morals may become depraved?" + +"Let his company look to their own," answered Lord Dalgarno, cooly; +"for it will be a company of real fiends in which Lutin cannot teach +more mischief than he can learn: he is, I thank the gods, most +thoroughly versed in evil for his years. I am spared the trouble of +looking after his moralities, for nothing can make them either better +or worse." + +"I wonder you can answer this to his parents, my lord," said Nigel. + +"I wonder where I should find his parents," replied his companion, "to +render an account to them." + +"He may be an orphan," said Lord Nigel; "but surely, being a page in +your lordship's family, his parents must be of rank." + +"Of as high rank as the gallows could exalt them to," replied Lord +Dalgarno, with the same indifference; "they were both hanged, I +believe--at least the gipsies, from whom I bought him five years ago, +intimated as much to me.--You are surprised at this, now. But is it +not better that, instead of a lazy, conceited, whey-faced slip of +gentility, to whom, in your old-world idea of the matter, I was bound +to stand Sir Pedagogue, and see that he washed his hands and face, +said his prayers, learned his acddens, spoke no naughty words, brushed +his hat, and wore his best doublet only on Sunday,--that, instead of +such a Jacky Goodchild, I should have something like this?" + +He whistled shrill and clear, and the page he spoke of darted into the +room, almost with the effect of an actual apparition. From his height +he seemed but fifteen, but, from his face, might be two or even three +years older, very neatly made, and richly dressed; with a thin bronzed +visage, which marked his gipsy descent, and a pair of sparkling black +eyes, which seemed almost to pierce through those whom he looked at. + +"There he is," said Lord Dalgarno, "fit for every element--prompt to +execute every command, good, bad, or indifferent--unmatched in his +tribe, as rogue, thief, and liar." + +"All which qualities," said the undaunted page, "have each in turn +stood your lordship in stead." + +"Out, you imp of Satan!" said his master; "vanish-begone-or my +conjuring rod goes about your ears." The boy turned, and disappeared +as suddenly as he had entered. "You see," said Lord Dalgarno, "that, +in choosing my household, the best regard I can pay to gentle blood is +to exclude it from my service--that very gallows--bird were enough to +corrupt a whole antechamber of pages, though they were descended from +kings and kaisers." + +"I can scarce think that a nobleman should need the offices of such an +attendant as your goblin," said Nigel; "you are but jesting with my +inexperience." + +"Time will show whether I jest or not, my dear Nigel," replied +Dalgarno; "in the meantime, I have to propose to you to take the +advantage of the flood-tide, to run up the river for pastime; and at +noon I trust you will dine with me." + +Nigel acquiesced in a plan which promised so much amusement; and his +new friend and he, attended by Lutin and Moniplies, who greatly +resembled, when thus associated, the conjunction of a bear and a +monkey, took possession of Lord Dalgarno's wherry, which, with its +badged watermen, bearing his lordship's crest on their arms, lay in +readiness to receive them. The air was delightful upon the river; and +the lively conversation of Lord Dalgarno added zest to the pleasures +of the little voyage. He could not only give an account of the various +public buildings and noblemen's houses which they passed in ascending +the Thames, but knew how to season his information with abundance of +anecdote, political innuendo, and personal scandal; if he had not very +much wit, he was at least completely master of the fashionable tone, +which in that time, as in ours, more than amply supplies any +deficiency of the kind. + +It was a style of conversation entirely new to his companion, as was +the world which Lord Dalgarno opened to his observation; and it is no +wonder that Nigel, notwithstanding his natural good sense and high +spirit, admitted, more readily than seemed consistent with either, the +tone of authoritative instruction which his new friend assumed towards +him. There would, indeed, have been some difficulty in making a stand. +To attempt a high and stubborn tone of morality, in answer to the +light strain of Lord Dalgarno's conversation, which kept on the +frontiers between jest and earnest, would have seemed pedantic and +ridiculous; and every attempt which Nigel made to combat his +companion's propositions, by reasoning as jocose as his own, only +showed his inferiority in that gay species of controversy. And it must +be owned, besides, though internally disapproving much of what he +heard, Lord Glenvarloch, young as he was in society, became less +alarmed by the language and manners of his new associate, than in +prudence he ought to have been. + +Lord Dalgarno was unwilling to startle his proselyte, by insisting +upon any topic which appeared particularly to jar with his habits or +principles; and he blended his mirth and his earnest so dexterously, +that it was impossible for Nigel to discover how far he was serious in +his propositions, or how far they flowed from a wild and extravagant +spirit of raillery. And, ever and anon, those flashes of spirit and +honour crossed his conversation, which seemed to intimate, that, when +stirred to action by some adequate motive, Lord Dalgarno would prove +something very different from the court-haunting and ease-loving +voluptuary, which he was pleased to represent as his chosen character. + +As they returned down the river, Lord Glenvarloch remarked, that the +boat passed the mansion of Lord Huntinglen, and noticed the +circumstance to Lord Dalgarno, observing, that he thought they were to +have dined there. "Surely no," said the young nobleman, "I have more +mercy on you than to gorge you a second time with raw beef and canary +wine. I propose something better for you, I promise you, than such a +second Scythian festivity. And as for my father, he proposes to dine +to-day with my grave, ancient Earl of Northampton, whilome that +celebrated putter-down of pretended prophecies, Lord Henry Howard." + +"And do you not go with him?" said his companion. + +"To what purpose?" said Lord Dalgarno. "To hear his wise lordship +speak musty politics in false Latin, which the old fox always uses, +that he may give the learned Majesty of England an opportunity of +correcting his slips in grammar? That were a rare employment!" + +"Nay," said Lord Nigel, "but out of respect, to wait on my lord your +father." + +"My lord my father," replied Lord Dalgarno, "has blue-bottles enough +to wait on him, and can well dispense with such a butterfly as myself. +He can lift the cup of sack to his head without my assistance; and, +should the said paternal head turn something giddy, there be men +enough to guide his right honourable lordship to his lordship's right +honourable couch.--Now, do not stare at me, Nigel, as if my words were +to sink the boat with us. I love my father--I love him dearly--and I +respect him, too, though I respect not many things; a trustier old +Trojan never belted a broadsword by a loop of leather. But what then? +He belongs to the old world, I to the new. He has his follies, I have +mine; and the less either of us sees of the other's peccadilloes, the +greater will be the honour and respect--that, I think, is the proper +phrase--I say the _respect_ in which we shall hold each other. Being +apart, each of us is himself, such as nature and circumstances have +made him; but, couple us up too closely together, you will be sure to +have in your leash either an old hypocrite or a young one, or perhaps +both the one and t'other." + +As he spoke thus, the boat put into the landing-place at Blackfriars. +Lord Dalgarno sprung ashore, and, flinging his cloak and rapier to his +page, recommended to his companion to do the like. "We are coming +among a press of gallants," he said; "and, if we walked thus muffled, +we shall look like your tawny-visaged Don, who wraps him close in his +cloak, to conceal the defects of his doublet." + +"I have known many an honest man do that, if it please your lordship," +said Richie Moniplies, who had been watching for an opportunity to +intrude himself on the conversation, and probably remembered what had +been his own condition, in respect to cloak and doublet, at a very +recent period. + +Lord Dalgarno stared at him, as if surprised at his assurance; but +immediately answered, "You may have known many things, friend; but, in +the meanwhile, you do not know what principally concerns your master, +namely, how to carry his cloak, so as to show to advantage the gold- +laced seams, and the lining of sables. See how Lutin holds the sword, +with his cloak cast partly over it, yet so as to set off the embossed +hilt, and the silver work of the mounting.--Give your familiar your +sword, Nigel," he continued, addressing Lord Glenvarloch, "that he may +practise a lesson in an art so necessary." + +"Is it altogether prudent," said Nigel, unclasping his weapon, and +giving it to Richie, "to walk entirely unarmed?" + +"And wherefore not?" said his companion. "You are thinking now of Auld +Reekie, as my father fondly calls your good Scottish capital, where +there is such bandying of private feuds and public factions, that a +man of any note shall not cross your High Street twice, without +endangering his life thrice. Here, sir, no brawling in the street is +permitted. Your bull-headed citizen takes up the case so soon as the +sword is drawn, and clubs is the word." + +"And a hard word it is," said Richie, "as my brain-pan kens at this +blessed moment." + +"Were I your master, sirrah," said Lord Dalgarno, "I would make your +brain-pan, as you call it, boil over, were you to speak a word in my +presence before you were spoken to." + +Richie murmured some indistinct answer, but took the hint, and ranked +himself behind his master along with Lutin, who failed not to expose +his new companion to the ridicule of the passers-by, by mimicking, as +often as he could do so unobserved by Richie, his stiff and upright +stalking gait and discontented physiognomy. + +"And tell me now, my dear Malcolm," said Nigel, "where we are bending +our course, and whether we shall dine at an apartment of yours?" + +"An apartment of mine--yes, surely," answered Lord Dalgarno, "you +shall dine at an apartment of mine, and an apartment of yours, and of +twenty gallants besides; and where the board shall present better +cheer, better wine, and better attendance, than if our whole united +exhibitions went to maintain it. We are going to the most noted +ordinary of London." + +"That is, in common language, an inn, or a tavern," said Nigel. + +"An inn, or a tavern, my most green and simple friend!" exclaimed Lord +Dalgarno. "No, no--these are places where greasy citizens take pipe +and pot, where the knavish pettifoggers of the law spunge on their +most unhappy victims--where Templars crack jests as empty as their +nuts, and where small gentry imbibe such thin potations, that they get +dropsies instead of getting drunk. An ordinary is a late-invented +institution, sacred to Bacchus and Comus, where the choicest noble +gallants of the time meet with the first and most ethereal wits of the +age,--where the wine is the very soul of the choicest grape, refined +as the genius of the poet, and ancient and generous as the blood of +the nobles. And then the fare is something beyond your ordinary gross +terrestrial food! Sea and land are ransacked to supply it; and the +invention of six ingenious cooks kept eternally upon the rack to make +their art hold pace with, and if possible enhance, the exquisite +quality of the materials." + +"By all which rhapsody," said Lord Glenvarloch, "I can only +understand, as I did before, that we are going to a choice tavern, +where we shall be handsomely entertained, on paying probably as +handsome a reckoning." + +"Reckoning!" exclaimed Lord Dalgarno in the same tone as before, +"perish the peasantly phrase! What profanation! Monsieur le Chevalier +de Beaujeu, pink of Paris and flower of Gascony--he who can tell the +age of his wine by the bare smell, who distils his sauces in an +alembic by the aid of Lully's philosophy--who carves with such +exquisite precision, that he gives to noble, knight and squire, the +portion of the pheasant which exactly accords with his rank--nay, he +who shall divide a becafico into twelve parts with such scrupulous +exactness, that of twelve guests not one shall have the advantage of +the other in a hair's breadth, or the twentieth part of a drachm, yet +you talk of him and of a reckoning in the same breath! Why, man, he is +the well-known and general referee in all matters affecting the +mysteries of Passage, Hazard, In and In, Penneeck, and Verquire, and +what not--why, Beaujeu is King of the Card-pack, and Duke of the Dice- +box--HE call a reckoning like a green-aproned, red-nosed son of the +vulgar spigot! O, my dearest Nigel, what a word you have spoken, and +of what a person! That you know him not, is your only apology for such +blasphemy; and yet I scarce hold it adequate, for to have been a day +in London and not to know Beaujeu, is a crime of its own kind. But you +_shall_ know him this blessed moment, and shall learn to hold yourself +in horror for the enormities you have uttered." + +"Well, but mark you," said Nigel, "this worthy chevalier keeps not all +this good cheer at his own cost, does he?" + +"No, no," answered Lord Dalgarno; "there is a sort of ceremony which +my chevalier's friends and intimates understand, but with which you +have no business at present. There is, as majesty might say, a +_symbolum_ to be disbursed--in other words, a mutual exchange of +courtesies take place betwixt Beaujeu and his guests. He makes them a +free present of the dinner and wine, as often as they choose to +consult their own felicity by frequenting his house at the hour of +noon, and they, in gratitude, make the chevalier a present of a +Jacobus. Then you must know, that, besides Comus and Bacchus, that +princess of sublunary affairs, the Diva Fortuna, is frequently +worshipped at Beaujeu's, and he, as officiating high-priest, hath, as +in reason he should, a considerable advantage from a share of the +sacrifice." + +"In other words," said Lord Glenvarloch, "this man keeps a gaming- +house." + +"A house in which you may certainly game," said Lord Dalgarno, "as you +may in your own chamber if you have a mind; nay, I remember old Tom +Tally played a hand at put for a wager with Quinze le Va, the +Frenchman, during morning prayers in St. Paul's; the morning was +misty, and the parson drowsy, and the whole audience consisted of +themselves and a blind woman, and so they escaped detection." + +"For all this, Malcolm," said the young lord, gravely, "I cannot dine +with you to-day, at this same ordinary." + +"And wherefore, in the name of heaven, should you draw back from your +word?" said Lord Dalgarno. + +"I do not retract my word, Malcolm; but I am bound, by an early +promise to my father, never to enter the doors of a gaming-house." + +"I tell you this is none," said Lord Dalgarno; "it is but, in plain +terms, an eating-house, arranged on civiller terms, and frequented by +better company, than others in this town; and if some of them do amuse +themselves with cards and hazard, they are men of honour, and who play +as such, and for no more than they can well afford to lose. It was +not, and could not be, such houses that your father desired you to +avoid. Besides, he might as well have made you swear you would never +take accommodation of an inn, tavern, eating-house, or place of public +reception of any kind; for there is no such place of public resort but +where your eyes may be contaminated by the sight of a pack of pieces +of painted pasteboard, and your ears profaned by the rattle of those +little spotted cubes of ivory. The difference is, that where we go, we +may happen to see persons of quality amusing themselves with a game; +and in the ordinary houses you will meet bullies and sharpers, who +will strive either to cheat or to swagger you out of your money." + +"I am sure you would not willingly lead me to do what is wrong," said +Nigel; "but my father had a horror for games of chance, religious I +believe, as well as prudential. He judged from I know not what +circumstance, a fallacious one I should hope, that I should have a +propensity to such courses, and I have told you the promise which he +exacted from me." + +"Now, by my honour," said Dalgarno, "what you have said affords the +strongest reason for my insisting that you go with me. A man who would +shun any danger, should first become acquainted with its real bearing +and extent, and that in the company of a confidential guide and guard. +Do you think I myself game? Good faith, my father's oaks grow too far +from London, and stand too fast rooted in the rocks of Perthshire, for +me to troll them down with a die, though I have seen whole forests go +down like nine-pins. No, no--these are sports for the wealthy +Southron, not for the poor Scottish noble. The place is an eating- +house, and as such you and I will use it. If others use it to game in, +it is their fault, but neither that of the house nor ours." + +Unsatisfied with this reasoning, Nigel still insisted upon the promise +he had given to his father, until his companion appeared rather +displeased, and disposed to impute to him injurious and unhandsome +suspicions. Lord Glenvarloch could not stand this change of tone. He +recollected that much was due from him to Lord Dalgarno, on account of +his father's ready and efficient friendship, and something also on +account of the frank manner in which the young man himself had offered +him his intimacy. He had no reason to doubt his assurances, that the +house where they were about to dine did not fall under the description +of places which his father's prohibition referred; and finally, he was +strong in his own resolution to resist every temptation to join in +games of chance. He therefore pacified Lord Dalgarno, by intimating +his willingness to go along with him; and, the good-humour of the +young courtier instantaneously returning, he again ran on in a +grotesque and rodomontade account of the host, Monsieur de Beaujeu, +which he did not conclude until they had reached the temple of +hospitality over which that eminent professor presided. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + + ----This is the very barn-yard, + Where muster daily the prime cocks o' the game, + Ruffle their pinions, crow till they are hoarse, + And spar about a barleycorn. Here too chickens, + The callow, unfledged brood of forward folly, + Learn first to rear the crest, and aim the spur, + And tune their note like full-plumed Chanticleer. + _The Bear-Garden._ + +The Ordinary, now an ignoble sound, was in the days of James, a new +institution, as fashionable among the youth of that age as the first- +rate modern club-houses are amongst those of the present day. It +differed chiefly, in being open to all whom good clothes and good +assurance combined to introduce there. The company usually dined +together at an hour fixed, and the manager of the establishment +presided as master of the ceremonies. + +Monsieur le Chevalier, (as he qualified himself,) Saint Priest de +Beaujeu, was a sharp, thin Gascon, about sixty years old, banished +from his own country, as he said, on account of an affair of honour, +in which he had the misfortune to kill his antagonist, though the best +swordsman in the south of France. His pretensions to quality were +supported by a feathered hat, a long rapier, and a suit of embroidered +taffeta, not much the worse for wear, in the extreme fashion of the +Parisian court, and fluttering like a Maypole with many knots of +ribbon, of which it was computed he bore at least five hundred yards +about his person. But, notwithstanding this profusion of decoration, +there were many who thought Monsieur le Chevalier so admirably +calculated for his present situation, that nature could never have +meant to place him an inch above it. It was, however, part of the +amusement of the place, for Lord Dalgarno and other young men of +quality to treat Monsieur de Beaujeu with a great deal of mock +ceremony, which being observed by the herd of more ordinary and simple +gulls, they paid him, in clumsy imitation, much real deference. The +Gascon's natural forwardness being much enhanced by these +circumstances, he was often guilty of presuming beyond the limits of +his situation, and of course had sometimes the mortification to be +disagreeably driven back into them. + +When Nigel entered the mansion of this eminent person, which had been +but of late the residence of a great Baron of Queen Elizabeth's court, +who had retired to his manors in the country on the death of that +princess, he was surprised at the extent of the accommodation which it +afforded, and the number of guests who were already assembled. +Feathers waved, spurs jingled, lace and embroidery glanced everywhere; +and at first sight, at least, it certainly made good Lord Dalgarno's +encomium, who represented the company as composed almost entirely of +youth of the first quality. A more close review was not quite so +favourable. Several individuals might be discovered who were not +exactly at their ease in the splendid dresses which they wore, and +who, therefore, might be supposed not habitually familiar with such +finery. Again, there were others, whose dress, though on a general +view it did not seem inferior to that of the rest of the company, +displayed, on being observed more closely, some of these petty +expedients, by which vanity endeavours to disguise poverty. + +Nigel had very little time to make such observations, for the entrance +of Lord Dalgarno created an immediate bustle and sensation among the +company, as his name passed from one mouth to another. Some stood +forward to gaze, others stood back to make way--those of his own rank +hastened to welcome him--those of inferior degree endeavoured to catch +some point of his gesture, or of his dress, to be worn and practised +upon a future occasion, as the newest and most authentic fashion. + +The _genius loci_, the Chevalier himself, was not the last to welcome +this prime stay and ornament of his establishment. He came shuffling +forward with a hundred apish _conges_ and _chers milors_, to express +his happiness at seeing Lord Dalgarno again.--"I hope you do bring +back the sun with you, _Milor_--You did carry away the sun and moon +from your pauvre Chevalier when you leave him for so long. Pardieu, I +believe you take them away in your pockets." + +"That must have been because you left me nothing else in them, +Chevalier," answered Lord Dalgarno; but Monsieur le Chevalier, I pray +you to know my countryman and friend, Lord Glenvarloch!" + +"Ah, ha! tres honore--Je m'en souviens,--oui. J'ai connu autrefois un +Milor Kenfarloque en Ecosse. Yes, I have memory of him--le pere de +milor apparemment-we were vera intimate when I was at Oly Root with +Monsieur de la Motte--I did often play at tennis vit Milor Kenfarloque +at L'Abbaie d'Oly Root--il etoit meme plus fort que moi--Ah le +beaucoup de revers qu'il avoit!--I have memory, too that he was among +the pretty girls--ah, un vrai diable dechaine--Aha! I have memory--" + +"Better have no more memory of the late Lord Glenvarloch," said Lord +Dalgarno, interrupting the Chevalier without ceremony; who perceived +that the encomium which he was about to pass on the deceased was +likely to be as disagreeable to the son as it was totally undeserved +by the father, who, far from being either a gamester or libertine, as +the Chevalier's reminiscences falsely represented him, was, on the +contrary, strict and severe in his course of life, almost to the +extent of rigour. + +"You have the reason, milor," answered the Chevalier, "you have the +right--Qu'est ce que nous avons a faire avec le temps passe?--the time +passed did belong to our fathers--our ancetres--very well--the time +present is to us--they have their pretty tombs with their memories and +armorials, all in brass and marbre--we have the petits plats exquis, +and the soupe-a-Chevalier, which I will cause to mount up +immediately." + +So saying, he made a pirouette on his heel, and put his attendants in +motion to place dinner on the table. Dalgarno laughed, and, observing +his young friend looked grave, said to him, in a tone of reproach-Why, +what!-you are not gull enough to be angry with such an ass as that?" + +"I keep my anger, I trust, for better purposes," said Lord +Glenvarloch; "but I confess I was moved to hear such a fellow mention +my father's name--and you, too, who told me this was no gaming-house, +talked to him of having left it with emptied pockets." + +"Pshaw, man!" said Lord Dalgarno, "I spoke but according to the trick +of the time; besides, a man must set a piece or two sometimes, or he +would be held a cullionly niggard. But here comes dinner, and we will +see whether you like the Chevalier's good cheer better than his +conversation." + +Dinner was announced accordingly, and the two friends, being seated in +the most honourable station at the board, were ceremoniously attended +to by the Chevalier, who did the honours of his table to them and to +the other guests, and seasoned the whole with his agreeable +conversation. The dinner was really excellent, in that piquant style +of cookery which the French had already introduced, and which the +home-bred young men of England, when they aspired to the rank of +connoisseurs and persons of taste, were under the necessity of +admiring. The wine was also of the first quality, and circulated in +great variety, and no less abundance. The conversation among so many +young men was, of course, light, lively, and amusing; and Nigel, whose +mind had been long depressed by anxiety and misfortune, naturally +found himself at ease, and his spirits raised and animated. + +Some of the company had real wit, and could use it both politely and +to advantage; others were coxcombs, and were laughed at without +discovering it; and, again, others were originals, who seemed to have +no objection that the company should be amused with their folly +instead of their wit. And almost all the rest who played any prominent +part in the conversation had either the real tone of good society +which belonged to the period, or the jargon which often passes current +for it. + +In short, the company and conversation was so agreeable, that Nigel's +rigour was softened by it, even towards the master of ceremonies, and +he listened with patience to various details which the Chevalier de +Beaujeu, seeing, as he said, that Milor's taste lay for the "curieux +and Futile," chose to address to him in particular, on the subject of +cookery. To gratify, at the same time, the taste for antiquity, which +he somehow supposed that his new guest possessed, he launched out in +commendation of the great artists of former days, particularly one +whom he had known in his youth, "Maitre de Cuisine to the Marechal +Strozzi--tres bon gentilhomme pourtant;" who had maintained his +master's table with twelve covers every day during the long and severe +blockade of le petit Leyth, although he had nothing better to place on +it than the quarter of a carrion-horse now and then, and the grass and +weeds that grew on the ramparts. "Despardieux c'dtoit un homme +superbe! With one tistle-head, and a nettle or two, he could make a +soupe for twenty guests--an haunch of a little puppy-dog made a roti +des plus excellens; but his coupe de maitre was when the rendition-- +what you call the surrender, took place and appened; and then, dieu me +damme, he made out of the hind quarter of one salted horse, forty-five +couverts; that the English and Scottish officers and nobility, who had +the honour to dine with Monseigneur upon the rendition, could not tell +what the devil any of them were made upon at all. + +The good wine had by this time gone so merrily round, and had such +genial effect on the guests, that those of the lower end of the table, +who had hitherto been listeners, began, not greatly to their own +credit, or that of the ordinary, to make innovations. + +"You speak of the siege of Leith," said a tall, raw-boned man, with +thick mustaches turned up with a military twist, a broad buff belt, a +long rapier, and other outward symbols of the honoured profession, +which lives by killing other people--"you talk of the siege of Leith, +and I have seen the place--a pretty kind of a hamlet it is, with a +plain wall, or rampart, and a pigeon-house or so of a tower at every +angle. Uds daggers and scabbards, if a leaguer of our days had been +twenty-four hours, not to say so many months, before it, without +carrying the place and all its cocklofts, one after another, by pure +storm, they would have deserved no better grace than the Provost- +Marshal gives when his noose is reeved." + +"Saar," said the Chevalier, "Monsieur le Capitaine, I vas not at the +siege of the petit Leyth, and I know not what you say about the +cockloft; but I will say for Monseigneur de Strozzi, that he +understood the grande guerre, and was grand capitaine--plus grand-- +that is more great, it may be, than some of the capitaines of +Angleterre, who do speak very loud--tenez, Monsieur, car c'est a +vous!" + +"O Monsieur." answered the swordsman, "we know the Frenchman will +fight well behind his barrier of stone, or when he is armed with back, +breast, and pot." + +"Pot!" exclaimed the Chevalier, "what do you mean by pot--do you mean +to insult me among my noble guests? Saar, I have done my duty as a +pauvre gentilhomme under the Grand Henri Quatre, both at Courtrai and +Yvry, and, ventre saint gris! we had neither pot nor marmite, but did +always charge in our shirt." + +"Which refutes another base scandal," said Lord Dalgarno, laughing, +"alleging that linen was scarce among the French gentlemen-at-arms." + +"Gentlemen out at arms and elbows both, you mean, my lord," said the +captain, from the bottom of the table." Craving your lordship's +pardon, I do know something of these same gens-d'armes." + +"We will spare your knowledge at present, captain, and save your +modesty at the same time the trouble of telling us how that knowledge +was acquired," answered Lord Dalgarno, rather contemptuously. + +"I need not speak of it, my lord," said the man of war; "the world +knows it--all perhaps, but the men of mohair--the poor sneaking +citizens of London, who would see a man of valour eat his very hilts +for hunger, ere they would draw a farthing from their long purses to +relieve them. O, if a band of the honest fellows I have seen were once +to come near that cuckoo's nest of theirs!" + +"A cuckoo's nest!-and that said of the city of London!" said a gallant +who sat on the opposite side of the table, and who, wearing a splendid +and fashionable dress, seemed yet scarce at home in it--"I will not +brook to hear that repeated." + +"What!" said the soldier, bending a most terrific frown from a pair of +broad black eyebrows, handling the hilt of his weapon with one hand, +and twirling with the other his huge mustaches; "will you quarrel for +your city?" + +"Ay, marry will I," replied the other. "I am a citizen, I care not who +knows it; and he who shall speak a word in dispraise of the city, is +an ass and a peremptory gull, and I will break his pate, to teach him +sense and manners." + +The company, who probably had their reasons for not valuing the +captain's courage at the high rate which he himself put upon it, were +much entertained at the manner in which the quarrel was taken up by +the indignant citizen; and they exclaimed on all sides, "Well run, +Bow-bell!"--"Well crowed, the cock of Saint Paul's!"--"Sound a charge +there, or the soldier will mistake his signals, and retreat when he +should advance." + +"You mistake me, gentlemen," said the captain, looking round with an +air of dignity. "I will but inquire whether this cavaliero citizen is +of rank and degree fitted to measure swords with a man of action; +(for, conceive me, gentlemen, it is not with every one that I can +match myself without loss of reputation;) and in that case he shall +soon hear from me honourably, by way of cartel." + +"You shall feel me most dishonourably in the way of cudgel," said the +citizen, starting up, and taking his sword, which he had laid in a +corner. "Follow me." + +"It is my right to name the place of combat, by all the rules of the +sword," said the captain; "and I do nominate the Maze, in Tothill- +Fields, for place--two gentlemen, who shall be indifferent judges, for +witnesses;--and for time--let me say this day fortnight, at daybreak." + +"And I," said the citizen, "do nominate the bowling-alley behind the +house for place, the present good company for witnesses, and for time +the present moment." + +So saying, he cast on his beaver, struck the soldier across the +shoulders with his sheathed sword, and ran down stairs. The captain +showed no instant alacrity to follow him; yet, at last, roused by the +laugh and sneer around him, he assured the company, that what he did +he would do deliberately, and, assuming his hat, which he put on with +the air of Ancient Pistol, he descended the stairs to the place of +combat, where his more prompt adversary was already stationed, with +his sword unsheathed. Of the company, all of whom seemed highly +delighted with the approaching fray, some ran to the windows which +overlooked the bowling-alley, and others followed the combatants down +stairs. Nigel could not help asking Dalgarno whether he would not +interfere to prevent mischief. + +"It would be a crime against the public interest," answered his +friend; "there can no mischief happen between two such originals, +which will not be a positive benefit to society, and particularly to +the Chevalier's establishment, as he calls it. I have been as sick of +that captain's buff belt, and red doublet, for this month past, as +e'er I was of aught; and now I hope this bold linendraper will cudgel +the ass out of that filthy lion's hide. See, Nigel, see the gallant +citizen has ta'en his ground about a bowl's-cast forward, in the midst +of the alley--the very model of a hog in armour. Behold how he prances +with his manly foot, and brandishes his blade, much as if he were +about to measure forth cambric with it. See, they bring on the +reluctant soldado, and plant him opposite to his fiery antagonist, +twelve paces still dividing them--Lo, the captain draws his tool, but, +like a good general, looks over his shoulder to secure his retreat, in +case the worse come on't. Behold the valiant shop-keeper stoops his +head, confident, doubtless, in the civic helmet with which his spouse +has fortified his skull--Why, this is the rarest of sport. By Heaven, +he will run a tilt at him, like a ram." + +It was even as Lord Dalgarno had anticipated; for the citizen, who +seemed quite serious in his zeal for combat, perceiving that the man +of war did not advance towards him, rushed onwards with as much good +fortune as courage, beat down the captain's guard, and, pressing on, +thrust, as it seemed, his sword clear through the body of his +antagonist, who, with a deep groan, measured his length on the ground. +A score of voices cried to the conqueror, as he stood fixed in +astonishment at his own feat, "Away, away with you!--fly, fly--fly by +the back door!--get into the Whitefriars, or cross the water to the +Bankside, while we keep off the mob and the constables." And the +conqueror, leaving his vanquished foeman on the ground, fled +accordingly, with all speed. + +"By Heaven," said Lord Dalgarno, "I could never have believed that the +fellow would have stood to receive a thrust--he has certainly been +arrested by positive terror, and lost the use of his limbs. See, they +are raising him." + +Stiff and stark seemed the corpse of the swordsman, as one or two of +the guests raised him from the ground; but, when they began to open +his waistcoat to search for the wound which nowhere existed, the man +of war collected, his scattered spirits; and, conscious that the +ordinary was no longer a stage on which to display his valour, took to +his heels as fast as he could run, pursued by the laughter and shouts +of the company. + +"By my honour," said Lord Dalgarno, "he takes the same course with his +conqueror. I trust in heaven he will overtake him, and then the +valiant citizen will suppose himself haunted by the ghost of him he +has slain." + +"Despardieux, milor," said the Chevalier, "if he had stayed one +moment, he should have had a _torchon_--what you call a dishclout, +pinned to him for a piece of shroud, to show he be de ghost of one +grand fanfaron." + +"In the meanwhile," said Lord Dalgarno, "you will oblige us, Monsieur +le Chevalier, as well as maintain your own honoured reputation, by +letting your drawers receive the man-at-arms with a cudgel, in case he +should venture to come way again." + +"Ventre saint gris, milor," said the Chevalier, "leave that to me.-- +Begar, the maid shall throw the wash-sud upon the grand poltron!" + +When they had laughed sufficiently at this ludicrous occurrence, the +party began to divide themselves into little knots--some took +possession of the alley, late the scene of combat, and put the field +to its proper use of a bowling-ground, and it soon resounded with all +the terms of the game, as "run, run-rub, rub--hold bias, you infernal +trundling timber!" thus making good the saying, that three things are +thrown away in a bowling-green, namely, time, money, and oaths. In the +house, many of the gentlemen betook themselves to cards or dice, and +parties were formed at Ombre, at Basset, at Gleek, at Primero, and +other games then in fashion; while the dice were used at various +games, both with and without the tables, as Hazard, In-and-in, +Passage, and so forth. The play, however, did not appear to be +extravagantly deep; it was certainly conducted with great decorum and +fairness; nor did there appear any thing to lead the young Scotsman in +the least to doubt his companion's assurance, that the place was +frequented by men of rank and quality, and that the recreations they +adopted were conducted upon honourable principles. + +Lord Dalgarno neither had proposed play to his friend, nor joined in +the amusement himself, but sauntered from one table to another, +remarking the luck of the different players, as well as their capacity +to avail themselves of it, and exchanging conversation with the +highest and most respectable of the guests. At length, as if tired of +what in modern phrase would have been termed lounging, he suddenly +remembered that Burbage was to act Shakespeare's King Richard, at the +Fortune, that afternoon, and that he could not give a stranger in +London, like Lord Glenvarloch, a higher entertainment than to carry +him to that exhibition; "unless, indeed," he added, in a whisper, +"there is paternal interdiction of the theatre as well as of the +ordinary." + +"I never heard my father speak of stage-plays," said Lord Glenvarloch, +"for they are shows of a modern date, and unknown in Scotland. Yet, if +what I have heard to their prejudice be true, I doubt much whether he +would have approved of them." + +"Approved of them!" exclaimed Lord Dalgarno--"why, George Buchanan +wrote tragedies, and his pupil, learned and wise as himself, goes to +see them, so it is next door to treason to abstain; and the cleverest +men in England write for the stage, and the prettiest women in London +resort to the playhouses, and I have a brace of nags at the door which +will carry us along the streets like wild-fire, and the ride will +digest our venison and ortolans, and dissipate the fumes of the wine, +and so let's to horse--Godd'en to you, gentlemen--Godd'en, Chevalier +de la Fortune." + +Lord Dalgarno's grooms were in attendance with two horses, and the +young men mounted, the proprietor upon a favourite barb, and Nigel +upon a high-dressed jennet, scarce less beautiful. As they rode +towards the theatre, Lord Dalgarno endeavoured to discover his +friend's opinion of the company to which he had introduced him, and to +combat the exceptions which he might suppose him to have taken. "And +wherefore lookest thou sad," he said, "my pensive neophyte? Sage son +of the Alma Mater of Low-Dutch learning, what aileth thee? Is the leaf +of the living world which we have turned over in company, less fairly +written than thou hadst been taught to expect? Be comforted, and pass +over one little blot or two; thou wilt be doomed to read through many +a page, as black as Infamy, with her sooty pinion, can make them. +Remember, most immaculate Nigel, that we are in London, not Leyden-- +that we are studying life, not lore. Stand buff against the reproach +of thine over-tender conscience, man, and when thou summest up, like a +good arithmetician, the actions of the day, before you balance the +account on your pillow, tell the accusing spirit, to his brimstone +beard, that if thine ears have heard the clatter of the devil's bones, +thy hand hath not trowled them--that if thine eye hath seen the +brawling of two angry boys, thy blade hath not been bared in their +fray." + +"Now, all this may be wise and witty," replied Nigel; "yet I own I +cannot think but that your lordship, and other men of good quality +with whom we dined, might have chosen a place of meeting free from the +intrusion of bullies, and a better master of your ceremonial than +yonder foreign adventurer." + +"All shall be amended, Sancte Nigelle, when thou shalt come forth a +new Peter the Hermit, to preach a crusade against dicing, drabbing, +and company-keeping. We will meet for dinner in Saint Sepulchre's +Church; we will dine in the chancel, drink our flask in the vestry, +the parson shall draw every cork, and the clerk say amen to every +health. Come man, cheer up, and get rid of this sour and unsocial +humour. Credit me, that the Puritans who object to us the follies and +the frailties incident to human nature, have themselves the vices of +absolute devils, privy malice and backbiting hypocrisy, and spiritual +pride in all its presumption. There is much, too' in life which we +must see, were it only to learn to shun it. Will Shakespeare, who +lives after death, and who is presently to afford thee such pleasure +as none but himself can confer, has described the gallant Falconbridge +as calling that man + + ----' a bastard to the time, + That doth not smack of observation; + Which, though I will not practise to deceive, + Yet, to avoid deceit, I mean to learn." + +But here we are at the door of the Fortune, where we shall have +matchless Will speaking for himself.--Goblin, and you other lout, +leave the horses to the grooms, and make way for us through the +press." + +They dismounted, and the assiduous efforts of Lutin, elbowing, +bullying, and proclaiming his master's name and title, made way +through a crowd of murmuring citizens, and clamorous apprentices, to +the door, where Lord Dalgarno speedily procured a brace of stools upon +the stage for his companion and himself, where, seated among other +gallants of the same class, they had an opportunity of displaying +their fair dresses and fashionable manners, while they criticised the +piece during its progress; thus forming, at the same time, a +conspicuous part of the spectacle, and an important proportion of the +audience. + +Nigel Olifaunt was too eagerly and deeply absorbed in the interest of +the scene, to be capable of playing his part as became the place where +he was seated. He felt all the magic of that sorcerer, who had +displayed, within the paltry circle of a wooden booth, the long wars +of York and Lancaster, compelling the heroes of either line to stalk +across the scene in language and fashion as they lived, as if the +grave had given up the dead for the amusement and instruction of the +living. Burbage, esteemed the best Richard until Garrick arose, played +the tyrant and usurper with such truth and liveliness, that when the +Battle of Bosworth seemed concluded by his death, the ideas of reality +and deception were strongly contending in Lord Glenvarloch's +imagination, and it required him to rouse himself from his reverie, so +strange did the proposal at first sound when his companion declared +King Richard should sup with them at the Mermaid. + +They were joined, at the same time, by a small party of the gentlemen +with whom they had dined, which they recruited by inviting two or +three of the most accomplished wits and poets, who seldom failed to +attend the Fortune Theatre, and were even but too ready to conclude a +day of amusement with a night of pleasure. Thither the whole party +adjourned, and betwixt fertile cups of sack, excited spirits, and the +emulous wit of their lively companions, seemed to realise the joyous +boast of one of Ben Jonson's contemporaries, when reminding the bard +of + + "Those lyric feasts, + Where men such clusters had, + As made them nobly wild, not mad; + While yet each verse of thine + Outdid the meat, outdid the frolic wine." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + + Let the proud salmon gorge the feather'd hook, + Then strike, and then you have him--He will wince; + Spin out your line that it shall whistle from you + Some twenty yards or so, yet you shall have him-- + Marry! you must have patience--the stout rock + Which is his trust, hath edges something sharp; + And the deep pool hath ooze and sludge enough + To mar your fishing--'less you are more careful. + _Albion, or the Double Kings._ + +It is seldom that a day of pleasure, upon review, seems altogether so +exquisite as the partaker of the festivity may have felt it while +passing over him. Nigel Olifaunt, at least, did not feel it so, and it +required a visit from his new acquaintance, Lord Dalgarno, to +reconcile him entirely to himself. But this visit took place early +after breakfast, and his friend's discourse was prefaced with a +question, How he liked the company of the preceding evening? + +"Why, excellently well," said Lord Glenvarloch; "only I should have +liked the wit better had it appeared to flow more freely. Every man's +invention seemed on the stretch, and each extravagant simile seemed to +set one half of your men of wit into a brown study to produce +something which should out-herod it." + +"And wherefore not?" said Lord Dalgarno, "or what are these fellows +fit for, but to play the intellectual gladiators before us? He of them +who declares himself recreant, should, d--n him, be restricted to +muddy ale, and the patronage of the Waterman's Company. I promise you, +that many a pretty fellow has been mortally wounded with a quibble or +a carwitchet at the Mermaid, and sent from thence, in a pitiable +estate, to Wit's hospital in the Vintry, where they languish to this +day amongst fools and aldermen." + +"It may be so," said Lord Nigel; "yet I could swear by my honour, that +last night I seemed to be in company with more than one man whose +genius and learning ought either to have placed him higher in our +company, or to have withdrawn him altogether from a scene, where, +sooth to speak, his part seemed unworthily subordinate." + +"Now, out upon your tender conscience," said Lord Dalgarno; "and the +fico for such outcasts of Parnassus! Why, these are the very leavings +of that noble banquet of pickled herrings and Rhenish, which lost +London so many of her principal witmongers and bards of misrule. What +would you have said had you seen Nash or Green, when you interest +yourself about the poor mimes you supped with last night? Suffice it, +they had their drench and their doze, and they drank and slept as much +as may save them from any necessity of eating till evening, when, if +they are industrious, they will find patrons or players to feed them. +[Footnote: The condition of men of wit and talents was never more +melancholy than about this period. Their lives were so irregular, and +their means of living so precarious, that they were alternately +rioting in debauchery, or encountering and struggling with the meanest +necessities. Two or three lost their lives by a surfeit brought on by +that fatal banquet of Rhenish wine and pickled herrings, which is +familiar to those who study the lighter literature of that age. The +whole history is a most melancholy picture of genius, degraded at once +by its own debaucheries, and the patronage of heartless rakes and +profligates.] For the rest of their wants, they can be at no loss for +cold water while the New River head holds good; and your doublets of +Parnassus are eternal in duration." + +"Virgil and Horace had more efficient patronage," said Nigel. + +"Ay," replied his countryman, "but these fellows are neither Virgil +nor Horace; besides, we have other spirits of another sort, to whom I +will introduce you on some early occasion. Our Swan of Avon hath sung +his last; but we have stout old Ben, with as much learning and genius +as ever prompted the treader of sock and buskin. It is not, however, +of him I mean now to speak; but I come to pray you, of dear love, to +row up with me as far as Richmond, where two or three of the gallants +whom you saw yesterday, mean to give music and syllabubs to a set of +beauties, with some curious bright eyes among them--such, I promise +you, as might win an astrologer from his worship of the galaxy. My +sister leads the bevy, to whom I desire to present you. She hath her +admirers at Court; and is regarded, though I might dispense with +sounding her praise, as one of the beauties of the time." + +There was no refusing an engagement, where the presence of the party +invited, late so low in his own regard, was demanded by a lady of +quality, one of the choice beauties of the time. Lord Glenvarloch +accepted, as was inevitable, and spent a lively day among the gay and +the fair. He was the gallant in attendance, for the day, upon his +friend's sister, the beautiful Countess of Blackchester, who aimed at +once at superiority in the realms of fashion, of power, and of wit. + +She was, indeed, considerably older than her brother, and had probably +completed her six lustres; but the deficiency in extreme youth was +more than atoned for, in the most precise and curious accuracy in +attire, an early acquaintance with every foreign mode, and a peculiar +gift in adapting the knowledge which she acquired, to her own +particular features and complexion. At Court, she knew as well as any +lady in the circle, the precise tone, moral, political, learned, or +jocose, in which it was proper to answer the monarch, according to his +prevailing humour; and was supposed to have been very active, by her +personal interest, in procuring her husband a high situation, which +the gouty old viscount could never have deserved by any merit of his +own commonplace conduct and understanding. + +It was far more easy for this lady than for her brother, to reconcile +so young a courtier as Lord Glenvarloch to the customs and habits of a +sphere so new to him. In all civilised society, the females of +distinguished rank and beauty give the tone to manners, and, through +these, even to morals. Lady Blackchester had, besides, interest either +in the Court, or over the Court, (for its source could not be well +traced,) which created friends, and overawed those who might have been +disposed to play the part of enemies. + +At one time, she was understood to be closely leagued with the +Buckingham family, with whom her brother still maintained a great +intimacy; and, although some coldness had taken place betwixt the +Countess and the Duchess of Buckingham, so that they were little seen +together, and the former seemed considerably to have withdrawn herself +into privacy, it was whispered that Lady Blackchester's interest with +the great favourite was not diminished in consequence of her breach +with his lady. + +Our accounts of the private Court intrigues of that period, and of the +persons to whom they were intrusted, are not full enough to enable us +to pronounce upon the various reports which arose out of the +circumstances we have detailed. It is enough to say, that Lady +Blackchester possessed great influence on the circle around her, both +from her beauty, her abilities, and her reputed talents for Court +intrigue; and that Nigel Olifaunt was not long of experiencing its +power, as he became a slave in some degree to that species of habit, +which carries so many men into a certain society at a certain hour, +without expecting or receiving any particular degree of gratification, +or even amusement. + +His life for several weeks may be thus described. The ordinary was no +bad introduction to the business of the day; and the young lord +quickly found, that if the society there was not always +irreproachable, still it formed the most convenient and agreeable +place of meeting with the fashionable parties, with whom he visited +Hyde Park, the theatres, and other places of public resort, or joined +the gay and glittering circle which Lady Blackchester had assembled +around her. Neither did he entertain the same scrupulous horror which +led him originally even to hesitate entering into a place where gaming +was permitted; but, on the contrary, began to admit the idea, that as +there could be no harm done in beholding such recreation when only +indulged in to a moderate degree, so, from a parity of reasoning, +there could be no objection to joining in it, always under the same +restrictions. But the young lord was a Scotsman, habituated to early +reflection, and totally unaccustomed to any habit which inferred a +careless risk or profuse waste of money. Profusion was not his natural +vice, or one likely to be acquired in the course of his education; +and, in all probability, while his father anticipated with noble +horror the idea of his son approaching the gaming-table, he was more +startled at the idea of his becoming a gaining than a losing +adventurer. The second, according to his principles, had a +termination, a sad one indeed, in the loss of temporal fortune--the +first quality went on increasing the evil which he dreaded, and +perilled at once both body and soul. + +However the old lord might ground his apprehension, it was so far +verified by his son's conduct, that, from an observer of the various +games of chance which he witnessed, he came, by degrees, by moderate +hazards, and small bets or wagers, to take a certain interest in them. +Nor could it be denied, that his rank and expectations entitled him to +hazard a few pieces (for his game went no deeper) against persons, +who, from the readiness with which they staked their money, might be +supposed well able to afford to lose it. + +It chanced, or, perhaps, according to the common belief, his evil +genius had so decreed, that Nigel's adventures were remarkably +successful. He was temperate, cautious, cool-headed, had a strong +memory, and a ready power of calculation; was besides, of a daring and +intrepid character, one upon whom no one that had looked even +slightly, or spoken to though but hastily, would readily have ventured +to practise any thing approaching to trick, or which required to be +supported by intimidation. While Lord Glenvarloch chose to play, men +played with him regularly, or, according to the phrase, upon the +square; and, as he found his luck change, or wished to hazard his good +fortune no farther, the more professed votaries of fortune, who +frequented the house of Monsieur le Chevalier de Saint Priest Beaujeu, +did not venture openly to express their displeasure at his rising a +winner. But when this happened repeatedly, the gamesters murmured +amongst themselves equally at the caution and the success of the young +Scotsman; and he became far from being a popular character among their +society. + +It was no slight inducement to the continuance of this most evil +habit, when it was once in some degree acquired, that it seemed to +place Lord Glenvarloch, haughty as he naturally was, beyond the +necessity of subjecting himself to farther pecuniary obligations, +which his prolonged residence in London must otherwise have rendered +necessary. He had to solicit from the ministers certain forms of +office, which were to render his sign-manual effectually useful; and +these, though they could not be denied, were delayed in such a manner, +as to lead Nigel to believe there was some secret opposition, which +occasioned the demur in his business. His own impulse was, to have +appeared at Court a second time, with the king's sign-manual in his +pocket, and to have appealed to his Majesty himself, whether the delay +of the public officers ought to render his royal generosity +unavailing. But the Lord Huntinglen, that good old peer, who had so +frankly interfered in his behalf on a former occasion, and whom he +occasionally visited, greatly dissuaded him from a similar adventure, +and exhorted him quietly to await the deliverance of the ministers, +which should set him free from dancing attendance in London. + +Lord Dalgarno joined his father in deterring his young friend +from a second attendance at Court, at least till he was reconciled +with the Duke of Buckingham--"a matter in which," he said, addressing +his father, "I have offered my poor assistance, without being able to +prevail on Lord Nigel to make any--not even the least--submission to +the Duke of Buckingham." + +"By my faith, and I hold the laddie to be in the right on't, Malcom!" +answered the stout old Scots lord.--"What right hath Buckingham, or, +to speak plainly, the son of Sir George Villiers, to expect homage and +fealty from one more noble than himself by eight quarters? I heard him +myself, on no reason that I could perceive, term Lord Nigel his enemy; +and it will never be by my counsel that the lad speaks soft word to +him, till he recalls the hard one." + +"That is precisely my advice to Lord Glenvarloch," answered Lord +Dalgarno; "but then you will admit, my dear father, that it would be +the risk of extremity for our friend to return into the presence, the +duke being his enemy--better to leave it with me to take off the heat +of the distemperature, with which some pickthanks have persuaded the +duke to regard our friend." + +"If thou canst persuade Buckingham of his error, Malcolm," said his +father, "for once I will say there hath been kindness and honesty in +Court service. I have oft told your sister and yourself, that in the +general I esteem it as lightly as may be." + +"You need not doubt my doing my best in Nigel's case," answered Lord +Dalgarno; "but you must think, my dear father, I must needs use slower +and gentler means than those by which you became a favourite twenty +years ago." + +"By my faith, I am afraid thou wilt," answered his father.--"I tell +thee, Malcolm, I would sooner wish myself in the grave, than doubt +thine honesty or honour; yet somehow it hath chanced, that honest, +ready service, hath not the same acceptance at Court which it has in +my younger time--and yet you rise there." + +"O, the time permits not your old-world service," said Lord Dalgarno; +"we have now no daily insurrections, no nightly attempts at +assassination, as were the fashion in the Scottish Court. Your prompt +and uncourteous sword-in-hand attendance on the sovereign is no longer +necessary, and would be as unbeseeming as your old-fashioned serving- +men, with their badges, broadswords, and bucklers, would be at a +court-mask. Besides, father, loyal haste hath its inconveniences. I +have heard, and from royal lips too, that when you stuck your dagger +into the traitor Ruthven, it was with such little consideration, that +the point ran a quarter of an inch into the royal buttock. The king +never talks of it but he rubs the injured part, and quotes his +_'infandum-------renovare dolorem.'_ But this comes of old fashions, +and of wearing a long Liddesdale whinger instead of a poniard of +Parma. Yet this, my dear father, you call prompt and valiant service. +The king, I am told, could not sit upright for a fortnight, though all +the cushions in Falkland were placed in his chair of state, and the +Provost of Dunfermline's borrowed to the boot of all." + +"It is a lie," said the old earl, "a false lie, forge it who list!--It +is true I wore a dagger of service by my side, and not a bodkin like +yours, to pick one's teeth withal--and for prompt service--Odds nouns! +it should be prompt to be useful when kings are crying treason and +murder with the screech of a half-throttled hen. But you young +courtiers know nought of these matters, and are little better than the +green geese they bring over from the Indies, whose only merit to their +masters is to repeat their own words after them--a pack of mouthers, +and flatterers, and ear-wigs.--Well, I am old and unable to mend, else +I would break all off, and hear the Tay once more flinging himself +over the Campsie Linn." + +"But there is your dinner-bell, father," said Lord Dalgarno, "which, +if the venison I sent you prove seasonable, is at least as sweet a +sound." + +"Follow me, then, youngsters, if you list," said the old earl; and +strode on from the alcove in which this conversation was held, towards +the house, followed by the two young men. + +In their private discourse, Lord Dalgarno had little trouble in +dissuading Nigel from going immediately to Court; while, on the other +hand, the offers he made him of a previous introduction to the Duke of +Buckingham, were received by Lord Glenvarloch with a positive and +contemptuous refusal. His friend shrugged his shoulders, as one who +claims the merit of having given to an obstinate friend the best +counsel, and desires to be held free of the consequences of his +pertinacity. + +As for the father, his table indeed, and his best liquor, of which he +was more profuse than necessary, were at the command of his young +friend, as well as his best advice and assistance in the prosecution +of his affairs. But Lord Huntinglen's interest was more apparent than +real; and the credit he had acquired by his gallant defence of the +king's person, was so carelessly managed by himself, and so easily +eluded by the favourites and ministers of the sovereign, that, except +upon one or two occasions, when the king was in some measure taken by +surprise, as in the case of Lord Glenvarloch, the royal bounty was +never efficiently extended either to himself or to his friends. + +"There never was a man," said Lord Dalgarno, whose shrewder knowledge +of the English Court saw where his father's deficiency lay, "that had +it so perfectly in his power to have made his way to the pinnacle of +fortune as my poor father. He had acquired a right to build up a +staircase, step by step, slowly and surely, letting every boon, which +he begged year after year, become in its turn the resting-place for +the next annual grant. But your fortunes shall not shipwreck upon the +same coast, Nigel," he would conclude. "If I have fewer means of +influence than my father has, or rather had, till he threw them away +for butts of sack, hawks, hounds, and such carrion, I can, far better +than he, improve that which I possess; and that, my dear Nigel, is all +engaged in your behalf. Do not be surprised or offended that you now +see me less than formerly. The stag-hunting is commenced, and the +prince looks that I should attend him more frequently. I must also +maintain my attendance on the duke, that I may have an opportunity of +pleading your cause when occasion shall permit." + +"I have no cause to plead before the duke," said Nigel, gravely; "I +have said so repeatedly." + +"Why, I meant the phrase no otherwise, thou churlish and suspicious +disputant," answered Dalgarno, "than as I am now pleading the duke's +cause with thee. Surely I only mean to claim a share in our royal +master's favourite benediction, _Beati Pacifici_." + +Upon several occasions, Lord Glenvarloch's conversations, both with +the old earl and his son, took a similar turn and had a like +conclusion. He sometimes felt as if, betwixt the one and the other, +not to mention the more unseen and unboasted, but scarce less certain +influence of Lady Blackchester, his affair, simple as it had become, +might have been somehow accelerated. But it was equally impossible to +doubt the rough honesty of the father, and the eager and officious +friendship of Lord Dalgarno; nor was it easy to suppose that the +countenance of the lady, by whom he was received with such +distinction, would be wanting, could it be effectual in his service. + +Nigel was further sensible of the truth of what Lord Dalgarno often +pointed out, that the favourite being supposed to be his enemy, every +petty officer, through whose hands his affair must necessarily pass, +would desire to make a merit of throwing obstacles in his way, which +he could only surmount by steadiness and patience, unless he preferred +closing the breach, or, as Lord Dalgarno called it, making his peace +with the Duke of Buckingham. + +Nigel might, and doubtless would, have had recourse to the advice of +his friend George Heriot upon this occasion, having found it so +advantageous formerly; but the only time he saw him after their visit +to Court, he found the worthy citizen engaged in hasty preparations +for a journey to Paris, upon business of great importance in the way +of his profession, and by an especial commission from the Court and +the Duke of Buckingham, which was likely to be attended with +considerable profit. The good man smiled as he named the Duke of +Buckingham. He had been, he said, pretty sure that his disgrace in +that quarter would not be of long duration. Lord Glenvarloch expressed +himself rejoiced at that reconciliation, observing, that it had been a +most painful reflection to him, that Master Heriot should, in his +behalf, have incurred the dislike, and perhaps exposed himself to the +ill offices, of so powerful a favourite. + +"My lord," said Heriot, "for your father's son I would do much; and +yet truly, if I know myself, I would do as much and risk as much, for +the sake of justice, in the case of a much more insignificant person, +as I have ventured for yours. But as we shall not meet for some time, +I must commit to your own wisdom the farther prosecution of this +matter." + +And thus they took a kind and affectionate leave of each other. + +There were other changes in Lord Glenvarloch's situation, which +require to be noticed. His present occupations, and the habits of +amusement which he had acquired, rendered his living so far in the +city a considerable inconvenience. He may also have become a little +ashamed of his cabin on Paul's Wharf, and desirous of being lodged +somewhat more according to his quality. For this purpose, he had hired +a small apartment near the Temple. He was, nevertheless, almost sorry +for what he had done, when he observed that his removal appeared to +give some pain to John Christie, and a great deal to his cordial and +officious landlady. The former, who was grave and saturnine in every +thing he did, only hoped that all had been to Lord Glenvarloch's mind, +and that he had not left them on account of any unbeseeming negligence +on their part. But the tear twinkled in Dame Nelly's eye, while she +recounted the various improvements she had made in the apartment, of +express purpose to render it more convenient to his lordship. + +"There was a great sea-chest," she said, "had been taken upstairs to +the shopman's garret, though it left the poor lad scarce eighteen +inches of opening to creep betwixt it and his bed; and Heaven knew-- +she did not--whether it could ever be brought down that narrow stair +again. Then the turning the closet into an alcove had cost a matter of +twenty round shillings; and to be sure, to any other lodger but his +lordship, the closet was more convenient. There was all the linen, +too, which she had bought on purpose--But Heaven's will be done--she +was resigned." + +Everybody likes marks of personal attachment; and Nigel, whose heart +really smote him,, as if in his rising fortunes he were disdaining the +lowly accommodations and the civilities of the humble friends which +had been but lately actual favours, failed not by every assurance in +his power, and by as liberal payment as they could be prevailed upon +to accept, to alleviate the soreness of their feelings at his +departure; and a parting kiss from the fair lips of his hostess sealed +his forgiveness. + +Richie Moniplies lingered behind his master, to ask whether, in case +of need, John Christie could help a canny Scotsman to a passage back +to his own country; and receiving assurance of John's interest to that +effect, he said at parting, he would remind him of his promise soon.-- +"For," said he, "if my lord is not weary of this London life, I ken +one that is, videlicet, mysell; and I am weel determined to see +Arthur's Seat again ere I am many weeks older." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + + Bingo, why, Bingo! hey, boy--here, sir, here!-- + He's gone and off, but he'll be home before us;-- + 'Tis the most wayward cur e'er mumbled bone, + Or dogg'd a master's footstep.--Bingo loves me + Better than ever beggar loved his alms; + Yet, when he takes such humour, you may coax + Sweet Mistress Fantasy, your worship's mistress, + Out of her sullen moods, as soon as Bingo. + _The Dominie And His Dog_. + +Richie Moniplies was as good as his word. Two or three mornings after +the young lord had possessed himself of his new lodgings, he appeared +before Nigel, as he was preparing to dress, having left his pillow at +an hour much later than had formerly been his custom. + +As Nigel looked upon his attendant, he observed there was a gathering +gloom upon his solemn features, which expressed either additional +importance, or superadded discontent, or a portion of both. + +"How now," he said, "what is the matter this morning, Richie, that you +have made your face so like the grotesque mask on one of the spouts +yonder?" pointing to the Temple Church, of which Gothic building they +had a view from the window. + +Richie swivelled his head a little to the right with as little +alacrity as if he had the crick in his neck, and instantly resuming +his posture, replied,--"Mask here, mask there--it were nae such +matters that I have to speak anent." + +"And what matters have you to speak anent, then?" said his master, +whom circumstances had inured to tolerate a good deal of freedom from +his attendant. + +"My lord,"--said Richie, and then stopped to cough and hem, as if what +he had to say stuck somewhat in his throat. + +"I guess the mystery," said Nigel, "you want a little money, Richie; +will five pieces serve the present turn?" + +"My lord," said Richie, "I may, it is like, want a trifle of money; +and I am glad at the same time, and sorry, that it is mair plenty with +your lordship than formerly." + +"Glad and sorry, man!" said Lord Nigel, "why, you are reading riddles +to me, Richie." + +"My riddle will be briefly read," said Richie; "I come to crave of +your lordship your commands for Scotland." + +"For Scotland!--why, art thou mad, man?" said Nigel; "canst thou not +tarry to go down with me?" + +"I could be of little service," said Richie, "since you purpose to +hire another page and groom." + +"Why, thou jealous ass," said the young lord, "will not thy load of +duty lie the lighter?--Go, take thy breakfast, and drink thy ale +double strong, to put such absurdities out of thy head--I could be +angry with thee for thy folly, man--but I remember how thou hast stuck +to me in adversity." + +"Adversity, my lord, should never have parted us," said Richie; +"methinks, had the warst come to warst, I could have starved as +gallantly as your lordship, or more so, being in some sort used to it; +for, though I was bred at a flasher's stall, I have not through my +life had a constant intimacy with collops." + +"Now, what is the meaning of all this trash?" said Nigel; "or has it +no other end than to provoke my patience? You know well enough, that, +had I twenty serving-men, I would hold the faithful follower that +stood by me in my distress the most valued of them all. But it is +totally out of reason to plague me with your solemn capriccios." + +"My lord," said Richie, "in declaring your trust in me, you have done +what is honourable to yourself, if I may with humility say so much, +and in no way undeserved on my side. Nevertheless, we must part." + +"Body of me, man, why?" said Lord Nigel; "what reason can there be for +it, if we are mutually satisfied?" + +"My lord," said Richie Moniplies, "your lordship's occupations are +such as I cannot own or countenance by my presence." + +"How now, sirrah!" said his master, angrily. + +"Under favour, my lord," replied his domestic, "it is unequal dealing +to be equally offended by my speech and by my silence. If you can hear +with patience the grounds of my departure, it may be, for aught I +know, the better for you here and hereafter--if not, let me have my +license of departure in silence, and so no more about it." + +"Go to, sir!" said Nigel; "speak out your mind--only remember to whom +you speak it." + +"Weel, weel, my lord--I speak it with humility;" (never did Richie +look with more starched dignity than when he uttered the word;) "but +do you think this dicing and card-shuffling, and haunting of taverns +and playhouses, suits your lordship--for I am sure it does not suit +me?" + +"Why, you are not turned precisian or puritan, fool?" said Lord +Glenvarloch, laughing, though, betwixt resentment and shame, it cost +him some trouble to do so. + +"My lord," replied the follower, "I ken the purport of your query. I +am, it may be, a little of a precisian, and I wish to Heaven I was +mair worthy of the name; but let that be a pass-over.--I have +stretched the duties of a serving-man as far as my northern conscience +will permit. I can give my gude word to my master, or to my native +country, when I am in a foreign land, even though I should leave +downright truth a wee bit behind me. Ay, and I will take or give a +slash with ony man that speaks to the derogation of either. But this +chambering, dicing, and play-haunting, is not my element--I cannot +draw breath in it--and when I hear of your lordship winning the siller +that some poor creature may full sairly miss--by my saul, if it wad +serve your necessity, rather than you gained it from him, I wad take a +jump over the hedge with your lordship, and cry 'Stand!' to the first +grazier we met that was coming from Smithfield with the price of his +Essex calves in his leathern pouch!" + +"You are a simpleton," said Nigel, who felt, however, much conscience- +struck; "I never play but for small sums." + +"Ay, my lord," replied the unyielding domestic, "and--still with +reverence--it is even sae much the waur. If you played with your +equals, there might be like sin, but there wad be mair warldly honour +in it. Your lordship kens, or may ken, by experience of your ain, +whilk is not as yet mony weeks auld, that small sums can ill be missed +by those that have nane larger; and I maun e'en be plain with you, +that men notice it of your lordship, that ye play wi' nane but the +misguided creatures that can but afford to lose bare stakes." + +"No man dare say so!" replied Nigel, very angrily. "I play with whom I +please, but I will only play for what stake I please." + +"That is just what they say, my lord," said the unmerciful Richie, +whose natural love of lecturing, as well as his bluntness of feeling, +prevented him from having any idea of the pain which he was inflicting +on his master; "these are even their own very words. It was but +yesterday your lordship was pleased, at that same ordinary, to win +from yonder young hafflins gentleman, with the crimson velvet doublet, +and the cock's feather in his beaver--him, I mean, who fought with the +ranting captain--a matter of five pounds, or thereby. I saw him come +through the hall; and, if he was not cleaned out of cross and pile, I +never saw a ruined man in my life." + +"Impossible!" said Lord Glenvarloch--"Why, who is he? he looked like a +man of substance." + +"All is not gold that glistens, my lord," replied Richie; "'broidery +and bullion buttons make bare pouches. And if you ask who he is--maybe +I have a guess, and care not to tell." + +"At least, if I have done any such fellow an injury," said the Lord +Nigel, "let me know how I can repair it." + +"Never fash your beard about that, my lord,--with reverence always," +said Richie,--"he shall be suitably cared after. Think on him but as +ane wha was running post to the devil, and got a shouldering from your +lordship to help him on his journey. But I will stop him, if reason +can; and so your lordship needs asks nae mair about it, for there is +no use in your knowing it, but much the contrair." + +"Hark you, sirrah," said his master, "I have borne with you thus far, +for certain reasons; but abuse my good-nature no farther--and since +you must needs go, why, go a God's name, and here is to pay your +journey." So saying, he put gold into his hand, which Richie told over +piece by piece, with the utmost accuracy. + +"Is it all right--or are they wanting in weight--or what the devil +keeps you, when your hurry was so great five minutes since?" said the +young lord, now thoroughly nettled at the presumptuous precision with +which Richie dealt forth his canons of morality. + +"The tale of coin is complete," said Richie, with the most +imperturbable gravity; "and, for the weight, though they are sae +scrupulous in this town, as make mouths at a piece that is a wee bit +light, or that has been cracked within the ring, my sooth, they will +jump at them in Edinburgh like a cock at a grosart. Gold pieces are +not so plenty there, the mair the pity!" + +"The more is your folly, then," said Nigel, whose anger was only +momentary, "that leave the land where there is enough of them." + +"My lord," said Richie, "to be round with you, the grace of God is +better than gold pieces. When Goblin, as you call yonder Monsieur +Lutin,--and you might as well call him Gibbet, since that is what he +is like to end in,--shall recommend a page to you, ye will hear little +such doctrine as ye have heard from me.--And if they were my last +words," he said, raising his voice, "I would say you are misled, and +are forsaking the paths which your honourable father trode in; and, +what is more, you are going--still under correction--to the devil with +a dishclout, for ye are laughed at by them that lead you into these +disordered bypaths." + +"Laughed at!" said Nigel, who, like others of his age, was more +sensible to ridicule than to reason--"Who dares laugh at me?" + +"My lord, as sure as I live by bread--nay, more, as I am a true man-- +and, I think, your lordship never found Richie's tongue bearing aught +but the truth--unless that your lordship's credit, my country's +profit, or, it may be, some sma' occasion of my ain, made it +unnecessary to promulgate the haill veritie,--I say then, as I am a +true man, when I saw that puir creature come through the ha', at that +ordinary, whilk is accurst (Heaven forgive me for swearing!) of God +and man, with his teeth set, and his hands clenched, and his bonnet +drawn over his brows like a desperate man, Goblin said to me, 'There +goes a dunghill chicken, that your master has plucked clean enough; it +will be long ere his lordship ruffle a feather with a cock of the +game.' And so, my lord, to speak it out, the lackeys, and the +gallants, and more especially your sworn brother, Lord Dalgarno, call +you the sparrow-hawk.--I had some thought to have cracked Lutin's pate +for the speech, but, after a', the controversy was not worth it." + +"Do they use such terms of me?" said Lord Nigel. "Death and the +devil!" + +"And the devil's dam, my lord," answered Richie; "they are all three +busy in London.--And, besides, Lutin and his master laughed at you, my +lord, for letting it be thought that--I shame to speak it--that ye +were over well with the wife of the decent honest man whose house you +but now left, as not sufficient for your new bravery, whereas they +said, the licentious scoffers, that you pretended to such favour when +you had not courage enough for so fair a quarrel, and that the +sparrow-hawk was too craven-crested to fly at the wife of a +cheesemonger."--He stopped a moment, and looked fixedly in his +master's face, which was inflamed with shame and anger, and then +proceeded. "My lord, I did you justice in my thought, and myself too; +for, thought I, he would have been as deep in that sort of profligacy +as in others, if it hadna been Richie's four quarters." + +"What new nonsense have you got to plague me with?" said Lord Nigel. +"But go on, since it is the last time I am to be tormented with your +impertinence,--go on, and make the most of your time." + +"In troth," said Richie, "and so will I even do. And as Heaven has +bestowed on me a tongue to speak and to advise----" + +"Which talent you can by no means be accused of suffering to remain +idle," said Lord Glenvarloch, interrupting him. + +"True, my lord," said Richie, again waving his hand, as if to bespeak +his master's silence and attention; "so, I trust, you will think some +time hereafter. And, as I am about to leave your service, it is proper +that ye suld know the truth, that ye may consider the snares to which +your youth and innocence may be exposed, when aulder and doucer heads +are withdrawn from beside you.--There has been a lusty, good-looking +kimmer, of some forty, or bygane, making mony speerings about you, my +lord." + +"Well, sir, what did she want with me?" said Lord Nigel. + +"At first, my lord," replied his sapient follower, "as she seemed to +be a well-fashioned woman, and to take pleasure in sensible company, I +was no way reluctant to admit her to my conversation." + +"I dare say not," said Lord Nigel; "nor unwilling to tell her about my +private affairs." + +"Not I, truly, my lord," said the attendant;--"for, though she asked +me mony questions about your fame, your fortune, your business here, +and such like, I did not think it proper to tell her altogether the +truth thereanent." + +"I see no call on you whatever," said Lord Nigel, "to tell the woman +either truth or lies upon what she had nothing to do with." + +"I thought so, too, my lord," replied Richie, "and so I told her +neither." + +"And what _did_ you tell her, then, you eternal babbler?" said his +master, impatient of his prate, yet curious to know what it was all to +end in. + +"I told her," said Richie, "about your warldly fortune, and sae forth, +something whilk is not truth just at this time; but which hath been +truth formerly, suld be truth now, and will be truth again,--and that +was, that you were in possession of your fair lands, whilk ye are but +in right of as yet. Pleasant communing we had on that and other +topics, until she showed the cloven foot, beginning to confer with me +about some wench that she said had a good-will to your lordship, and +fain she would have spoken with you in particular anent it; but when I +heard of such inklings, I began to suspect she was little better than +--whew! "--Here he concluded his narrative with a low, but very +expressive whistle. + +"And what did your wisdom do in these circumstances?" said Lord Nigel, +who, notwithstanding his former resentment, could now scarcely forbear +laughing. + +"I put on a look, my lord," replied Richie, bending his solemn brows, +"that suld give her a heartscald of walking on such errands. I laid +her enormities clearly before her, and I threatened her, in sae mony +words, that I would have her to the ducking-stool; and she, on the +contrair part, miscawed me for a forward northern tyke--and so we +parted never to meet again, as I hope and trust. And so I stood +between your lordship and that temptation, which might have been worse +than the ordinary, or the playhouse either; since you wot well what +Solomon, King of the Jews, sayeth of the strange woman--for, said I to +mysell, we have taken to dicing already, and if we take to drabbing +next, the Lord kens what we may land in!" + +"Your impertinence deserves correction, but it is the last which, for +a time at least, I shall have to forgive--and I forgive it," said Lord +Glenvarloch; "and, since we are to part, Richie, I will say no more +respecting your precautions on my account, than that I think you might +have left me to act according to my own judgment." + +"Mickle better not," answered Richie--"mickle better not; we are a' +frail creatures, and can judge better for ilk ither than in our ain +cases. And for me, even myself, saving that case of the Sifflication, +which might have happened to ony one, I have always observed myself to +be much more prudential in what I have done in your lordship's behalf, +than even in what I have been able to transact for my own interest-- +whilk last, I have, indeed, always postponed, as in duty I ought." + +"I do believe thou hast," said Lord Nigel, "having ever found thee +true and faithful. And since London pleases you so little, I will bid +you a short farewell; and you may go down to Edinburgh until I come +thither myself, when I trust you will re-enter into my service." + +"Now, Heaven bless you, my lord," said Richie Moniplies, with uplifted +eyes; "for that word sounds more like grace than ony has come out of +your mouth this fortnight.--I give you godd'en, my lord." + +So saying, he thrust forth his immense bony hand, seized on that of +Lord Glenvarloch, raised it to his lips, then turned short on his +heel, and left the room hastily, as if afraid of showing more emotion +than was consistent with his ideas of decorum. Lord Nigel, rather +surprised at his sudden exit, called after him to know whether he was +sufficiently provided with money; but Richie, shaking his head, +without making any other answer, ran hastily down stairs, shut the +street-door heavily behind him, and was presently seen striding along +the Strand. + +His master almost involuntarily watched and distinguished the tall +raw-boned figure of his late follower, from the window, for some time, +until he was lost among the crowd of passengers. Nigel's reflections +were not altogether those of self-approval. It was no good sign of his +course of life, (he could not help acknowledging this much to +himself,) that so faithful an adherent no longer seemed to feel the +same pride in his service, or attachment to his person, which he had +formerly manifested. Neither could he avoid experiencing some twinges +of conscience, while he felt in some degree the charges which Richie +had preferred against him, and experienced a sense of shame and +mortification, arising from the colour given by others to that, which +he himself would have called his caution and moderation in play. He +had only the apology, that it had never occurred to himself in this +light. + +Then his pride and self-love suggested, that, on the other hand, +Richie, with all his good intentions, was little better than a +conceited, pragmatical domestic, who seemed disposed rather to play +the tutor than the lackey, and who, out of sheer love, as he alleged, +to his master's person, assumed the privilege of interfering with, and +controlling, his actions, besides rendering him ridiculous in the gay +world, from the antiquated formality, and intrusive presumption, of +his manners. + +Nigel's eyes were scarce turned from the window, when his new landlord +entering, presented to him a slip of paper, carefully bound round with +a string of flox-silk and sealed---it had been given in, he said, by a +woman, who did not stop an instant. The contents harped upon the same +string which Richie Moniplies had already jarred. The epistle was in +the following words: + +For the Right Honourable hands of Lord Glenvarloch, + "These, from a friend unknown:-- + +"MY LORD, + +"You are trusting to an unhonest friend, and diminishing an honest +reputation. An unknown but real friend of your lordship will speak in +one word what you would not learn from flatterers in so many days, as +should suffice for your utter ruin. He whom you think most true--I say +your friend Lord Dalgarno--is utterly false to you, and doth but seek, +under pretence of friendship, to mar your fortune, and diminish the +good name by which you might mend it. The kind countenance which he +shows to you, is more dangerous than the Prince's frown; even as to +gain at Beaujeu's ordinary is more discreditable than to lose. Beware +of both.--And this is all from your true but nameless friend, + IGNOTO." + +Lord Glenvarloch paused for an instant, and crushed the paper +together--then again unfolded and read it with attention--bent his +brows--mused for a moment, and then tearing it to fragments, +exclaimed--"Begone for a vile calumny! But I will watch--I will +observe--" + +Thought after thought rushed on him; but, upon the whole, Lord +Glenvarloch was so little satisfied with the result of his own +reflections, that he resolved to dissipate them by a walk in the Park, +and, taking his cloak and beaver, went thither accordingly. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + + Twas when fleet Snowball's head was woxen grey, + A luckless lev'ret met him on his way.-- + Who knows not Snowball--he, whose race renown'd + Is still victorious on each coursing ground? + Swaffhanm Newmarket, and the Roman Camp, + Have seen them victors o'er each meaner stamp-- + In vain the youngling sought, with doubling wile, + The hedge, the hill, the thicket, or the stile. + Experience sage the lack of speed supplied, + And in the gap he sought, the victim died. + So was I once, in thy fair street, Saint James, + Through walking cavaliers, and car-borne dames, + Descried, pursued, turn'd o'er again, and o'er, + Coursed, coted, mouth'd by an unfeeling bore. + &c. &c. &c, + +The Park of Saint James's, though enlarged, planted with verdant +alleys, and otherwise decorated by Charles II., existed in the days of +his grandfather, as a public and pleasant promenade; and, for the sake +of exercise or pastime, was much frequented by the better classes. + +Lord Glenvarloch repaired thither to dispel the unpleasant reflections +which had been suggested by his parting with his trusty squire, Richie +Moniplies, in a manner which was agreeable neither to his pride nor +his feelings; and by the corroboration which the hints of his late +attendant had received from the anonymous letter mentioned in the end +of the last chapter. + +There was a considerable number of company in the Park when he entered +it, but, his present state of mind inducing him to avoid society, he +kept aloof from the more frequented walks towards Westminster and +Whitehall, and drew to the north, or, as we should now say, the +Piccadilly verge of the enclosure, believing he might there enjoy, or +rather combat, his own thoughts unmolested. + +In this, however, Lord Glenvarloch was mistaken; for, as he strolled +slowly along with his arms folded in his cloak, and his hat drawn over +his eyes, he was suddenly pounced upon by Sir Mungo Malagrowther, who, +either shunning or shunned, had retreated, or had been obliged to +retreat, to the same less frequented corner of the Park. + +Nigel started when he heard the high, sharp, and querulous tones of +the knight's cracked voice, and was no less alarmed when he beheld his +tall thin figure hobbling towards him, wrapped in a thread-bare cloak, +on whose surface ten thousand varied stains eclipsed the original +scarlet, and having his head surmounted with a well-worn beaver, +bearing a black velvet band for a chain, and a capon's feather for an +ostrich plume. + +Lord Glenvarloch would fain have made his escape, but, as our motto +intimates, a leveret had as little chance to free herself of an +experienced greyhound. Sir Mungo, to continue the simile, had long ago +learned to run cunning, and make sure of mouthing his game. So Nigel +found himself compelled to stand and answer the hackneyed question-- +"What news to-day?" + +"Nothing extraordinary, I believe," answered the young nobleman, +attempting to pass on. + +"O, ye are ganging to the French ordinary belive," replied the knight; +"but it is early day yet--we will take a turn in the Park in the +meanwhile--it will sharpen your appetite." + +So saying, he quietly slipped his arm under Lord Glenvarloch's, in +spite of all the decent reluctance which his victim could exhibit, by +keeping his elbow close to his side; and having fairly grappled the +prize, he proceeded to take it in tow. + +Nigel was sullen and silent, in hopes to shake off his unpleasant +companion; but Sir Mungo was determined, that if he did not speak, he +should at least hear. + +"Ye are bound for the ordinary, my lord?" said the cynic;--"weel, ye +canna do better--there is choice company there, and peculiarly +selected, as I am tauld, being, dootless, sic as it is desirable that +young noblemen should herd withal--and your noble father wad have been +blithe to see you keeping such worshipful society." + +"I believe," said Lord Glenvarloch, thinking himself obliged to say +something, "that the society is as good as generally can be found in +such places, where the door can scarcely be shut against those who +come to spend their money." + +"Right, my lord--vera right," said his tormentor, bursting out into a +chuckling, but most discordant laugh. "These citizen chuffs and clowns +will press in amongst us, when there is but an inch of a door open. +And what remedy?--Just e'en this, that as their cash gies them +confidence, we should strip them of it. Flay them, my lord--singe them +as the kitchen wench does the rats, and then they winna long to come +back again.--Ay, ay--pluck them, plume them--and then the larded +capons will not be for flying so high a wing, my lord, among the goss- +hawks and sparrow-hawks, and the like." + +And, therewithal, Sir Mungo fixed on Nigel his quick, sharp, grey eye, +watching the effect of his sarcasm as keenly as the surgeon, in a +delicate operation, remarks the progress of his anatomical scalpel. + +Nigel, however willing to conceal his sensations, could not avoid +gratifying his tormentor by wincing under the operation. He coloured +with vexation and anger; but a quarrel with Sir Mungo Malagrowther +would, he felt, be unutterably ridiculous; and he only muttered to +himself the words, "Impertinent coxcomb!" which, on this occasion, Sir +Mungo's imperfection of organ did not prevent him from hearing and +replying to. + +"Ay, ay--vera true," exclaimed the caustic old courtier--"Impertinent +coxcombs they are, that thus intrude themselves on the society of +their betters; but your lordship kens how to gar them as gude--ye have +the trick on't.--They had a braw sport in the presence last Friday, +how ye suld have routed a young shopkeeper, horse and foot, ta'en his +_spolia ofima_, and a' the specie he had about him, down to the very +silver buttons of his cloak, and sent him to graze with +Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. Muckle honour redounded to your +lordship thereby.--We were tauld the loon threw himsell into the +Thames in a fit of desperation. There's enow of them behind--there was +mair tint on Flodden-edge." + +"You have been told a budget of lies, so far as I am concerned, Sir +Mungo," said Nigel, speaking loud and sternly. + +"Vera likely--vera likely," said the unabashed and undismayed Sir +Mungo; "naething but lies are current in the circle.--So the chield is +not drowned, then?--the mair's the pity.--But I never believed that +part of the story--a London dealer has mair wit in his anger. I dare +swear the lad has a bonny broom-shank in his hand by this time, and is +scrubbing the kennels in quest after rusty nails, to help him to begin +his pack again.--He has three bairns, they say; they will help him +bravely to grope in the gutters. Your good lordship may have the +ruining of him again, my lord, if they have any luck in strand- +scouring." + +"This is more than intolerable," said Nigel, uncertain whether to make +an angry vindication of his character, or to fling the old tormentor +from his arm. But an instant's recollection convinced him, that, to do +either, would only give an air of truth and consistency to the +scandals which he began to see were affecting his character, both in +the higher and lower circles. Hastily, therefore, he formed the wiser +resolution, to endure Sir Mungo's studied impertinence, under the hope +of ascertaining, if possible, from what source those reports arose +which were so prejudicial to his reputation. + +Sir Mungo, in the meanwhile, caught up, as usual, Nigel's last words, +or rather the sound of them, and amplified and interpreted them in his +own way. "Tolerable luck!" he repeated; "yes, truly, my lord, I am +told that you have tolerable luck, and that ye ken weel how to use +that jilting quean, Dame Fortune, like a canny douce lad, willing to +warm yourself in her smiles, without exposing yourself to her frowns. +And that is what I ca' having luck in a bag." + +"Sir Mungo Malagrowther," said Lord Glenvarloch, turning towards him +seriously, "have the goodness to hear me for a moment." + +"As weel as I can, my lord--as weel as I can," said Sir Mungo, shaking +his head, and pointing the finger of his left hand to his ear. + +"I will try to speak very distinctly," said Nigel, arming himself with +patience. "You take me for a noted gamester; I give you my word that +you have not been rightly informed--I am none such. You owe me some +explanation, at least, respecting the source from which you have +derived such false information." + +"I never heard ye were a _great_ gamester, and never thought or said +ye were such, my lord," said Sir Mungo, who found it impossible to +avoid hearing what Nigel said with peculiarly deliberate and distinct +pronunciation." I repeat it--I never heard, said, or thought that you +were a ruffling gamester,--such as they call those of the first head. +--Look you, my lord, I call _him_ a gamester, that plays with equal +stakes and equal skill, and stands by the fortune of the game, good or +bad; and I call _him_ a ruffling gamester, or ane of the first head, +who ventures frankly and deeply upon such a wager. But he, my lord, +who has the patience and prudence never to venture beyond small game, +such as, at most, might crack the Christmas-box of a grocer's +'prentice, who vies with those that have little to hazard, and who +therefore, having the larger stock, can always rook them by waiting +for his good fortune, and by rising from the game when luck leaves +him--such a one as he, my lord, I do not call a _great_ gamester, to +whatever other name he may be entitled." + +"And such a mean-spirited, sordid wretch, you would infer that I am," +replied Lord Glenvarloch; "one who fears the skilful, and preys upon +the ignorant--who avoids playing with his equals, that he may make +sure of pillaging his inferiors?--Is this what I am to understand has +been reported of me?" + +"Nay, my lord, you will gain nought by speaking big with me," said Sir +Mungo, who, besides that his sarcastic humour was really supported by +a good fund of animal courage, had also full reliance on the +immunities which he had derived from the broadsword of Sir Rullion +Rattray, and the baton of the satellites employed by the Lady Cockpen. +"And for the truth of the matter," he continued, "your lordship best +knows whether you ever lost more than five pieces at a time since you +frequented Beaujeu's--whether you have not most commonly risen a +winner--and whether the brave young gallants who frequent the +ordinary--I mean those of noble rank, and means conforming--are in use +to play upon those terms?" + +"My father was right," said Lord Glenvarloch, in the bitterness of his +spirit; "and his curse justly followed me when I first entered that +place. There is contamination in the air, and he whose fortune avoids +ruin, shall be blighted in his honour and reputation." + +Sir Mungo, who watched his victim with the delighted yet wary eye of +an experienced angler, became now aware, that if he strained the line +on him too tightly, there was every risk of his breaking hold. In +order to give him room, therefore, to play, he protested that Lord +Glenvarloch "should not take his free speech _in malam partem_. If you +were a trifle ower sicker in your amusement, my lord, it canna be +denied that it is the safest course to prevent farther endangerment of +your somewhat dilapidated fortunes; and if ye play with your +inferiors, ye are relieved of the pain of pouching the siller of your +friends and equals; forby, that the plebeian knaves have had the +advantage, _tecum certasse_, as Ajax Telamon sayeth, _apud +Metamorphoseos_; and for the like of them to have played with ane +Scottish nobleman is an honest and honourable consideration to +compensate the loss of their stake, whilk, I dare say, moreover, maist +of the churls can weel afford." + +"Be that as it may, Sir Mungo," said Nigel, "I would fain know--" + +"Ay, ay," interrupted Sir Mungo; "and, as you say, who cares whether +the fat bulls of Bashan can spare it or no? gentlemen are not to limit +their sport for the like of them." + +"I wish to know, Sir Mungo," said Lord Glenvarloch, "in what company +you have learned these offensive particulars respecting me?" + +"Dootless--dootless, my lord," said Sir Mungo; "I have ever heard, and +have ever reported, that your lordship kept the best of company in a +private way.--There is the fine Countess of Blackchester, but I think +she stirs not much abroad since her affair with his Grace of +Buckingham; and there is the gude auld-fashioned Scottish nobleman, +Lord Huntinglen, an undeniable man of quality--it is pity but he could +keep caup and can frae his head, whilk now and then doth'minish his +reputation. And there is the gay young Lord Dalgarno, that carries the +craft of gray hairs under his curled love-locks--a fair race they are, +father, daughter, and son, all of the same honourable family. I think +we needna speak of George Heriot, honest man, when we have nobility in +question. So that is the company I have heard of your keeping, my +lord, out-taken those of the ordinary." + +"My company has not, indeed, been much more extended than amongst +those you mention," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but in short--" + +"To Court?" said Sir Mungo, "that was just what I was going to say-- +Lord Dalgarno says he cannot prevail on ye to come to Court, and that +does ye prejudice, my lord--the king hears of you by others, when he +should see you in person--I speak in serious friendship, my lord. His +Majesty, when you were named in the circle short while since, was +heard to say, _'Jacta est alea!_--Glenvarlochides is turned dicer and +drinker.'--My Lord Dalgarno took your part, and he was e'en borne down +by the popular voice of the courtiers, who spoke of you as one who had +betaken yourself to living a town life, and risking your baron's +coronet amongst the flatcaps of the city." + +"And this was publicly spoken of me," said Nigel, "and in the king's +presence?" + +"Spoken openly?" repeated Sir Mungo Malagrowther; "ay, by my troth was +it--that is to say, it was whispered privately--whilk is as open +promulgation as the thing permitted; for ye may think the Court is not +like a place where men are as sib as Simmie and his brother, and roar +out their minds as if they were at an ordinary." + +"A curse on the Court and the ordinary both!" cried Nigel, +impatiently. + +"With all my heart," said the knight; "I have got little by a knight's +service in the Court; and the last time I was at the ordinary, I lost +four angels." + +"May I pray of you, Sir Mungo, to let me know," said Nigel, "the names +of those who thus make free with the character of one who can be but +little known to them, and who never injured any of them?" + +"Have I not told you already," answered Sir Mungo, "that the king said +something to that effect--so did the Prince too;--and such being the +case, ye may take it on your corporal oath, that every man in the +circle who was not silent, sung the same song as they did." + +"You said but now," replied Glenvarloch, "that Lord Dalgarno +interfered in my behalf." + +"In good troth did he," answered Sir Mungo, with a sneer; "but the +young nobleman was soon borne down--by token, he had something of a +catarrh, and spoke as hoarse as a roopit raven. Poor gentleman, if he +had had his full extent of voice, he would have been as well listened +to, dootless, as in a cause of his ain, whilk no man kens better how +to plead to purpose.--And let me ask you, by the way," continued Sir +Mungo, "whether Lord Dalgarno has ever introduced your lordship to the +Prince, or the Duke of Buckingham, either of whom might soon carry +through your suit?" + +"I have no claim on the favour of either the Prince or the Duke of +Buckingham," said Lord Glenvarloch.--"As you seem to have made my +affairs your study, Sir Mungo, although perhaps something +unnecessarily, you may have heard that I have petitioned my Sovereign +for payment of a debt due to my family. I cannot doubt the king's +desire to do justice, nor can I in decency employ the solicitation of +his Highness the Prince, or his Grace the Duke of Buckingham, to +obtain from his Majesty what either should be granted me as a right, +or refused altogether." + +Sir Mungo twisted his whimsical features into one of his most +grotesque sneers, as he replied-- + +"It is a vera clear and parspicuous position of the case, my lord; and +in relying thereupon, you show an absolute and unimprovable +acquaintance with the King, Court, and mankind in general.-But whom +have we got here?--Stand up, my lord, and make way--by my word of +honour, they are the very men we spoke of--talk of the devil, and-- +humph!" + +It must be here premised, that, during the conversation, Lord +Glenvarloch, perhaps in the hope of shaking himself free of Sir Mungo, +had directed their walk towards the more frequented part of the Park; +while the good knight had stuck to him, being totally indifferent +which way they went, provided he could keep his talons clutched upon +his companion. They were still, however, at some distance from the +livelier part of the scene, when Sir Mungo's experienced eye noticed +the appearances which occasioned the latter part of his speech to Lord +Glenvarloch. A low respectful murmur arose among the numerous groups +of persons which occupied the lower part of the Park. They first +clustered together, with their faces turned towards Whitehall, then +fell back on either hand to give place to a splendid party of +gallants, who, advancing from the Palace, came onward through the +Park; all the other company drawing off the pathway, and standing +uncovered as they passed. + +Most of these courtly gallants were dressed in the garb which the +pencil of Vandyke has made familiar even at the distance of nearly two +centuries; and which was just at this period beginning to supersede +the more fluttering and frivolous dress which had been adopted from +the French Court of Henri Quatre. + +The whole train were uncovered excepting the Prince of Wales, +afterwards the most unfortunate of British monarchs, who came onward, +having his long curled auburn tresses, and his countenance, which, +even in early youth, bore a shade of anticipated melancholy, shaded by +the Spanish hat and the single ostrich feather which drooped from it. +On his right hand was Buckingham, whose commanding, and at the same +time graceful, deportment, threw almost into shade the personal +demeanour and majesty of the Prince on whom he attended. The eye, +movements, and gestures of the great courtier were so composed, so +regularly observant of all etiquette belonging to his situation, as to +form a marked and strong contrast with the forward gaiety and +frivolity by which he recommended himself to the favour of his "dear +dad and gossip," King James. A singular fate attended this +accomplished courtier, in being at once the reigning favourite of a +father and son so very opposite in manners, that, to ingratiate +himself with the youthful Prince, he was obliged to compress within +the strictest limits of respectful observance the frolicsome and free +humour which captivated his aged father. + +It is true, Buckingham well knew the different dispositions both of +James and Charles, and had no difficulty in so conducting himself as +to maintain the highest post in the favour of both. It has indeed been +supposed, as we before hinted, that the duke, when he had completely +possessed himself of the affections of Charles, retained his hold in +those of the father only by the tyranny of custom; and that James, +could he have brought himself to form a vigorous resolution, was, in +the latter years of his life especially, not unlikely to have +discarded Buckingham from his counsels and favour. But if ever the +king indeed meditated such a change, he was too timid, and too much +accustomed to the influence which the duke had long exercised over +him, to summon up resolution enough for effecting such a purpose; and +at all events it is certain, that Buckingham, though surviving the +master by whom he was raised, had the rare chance to experience no +wane of the most splendid court-favour during two reigns, until it was +at once eclipsed in his blood by the dagger of his assassin Felton. + +To return from this digression: The Prince, with his train, advanced, +and were near the place where Lord Glenvarloch and Sir Mungo had stood +aside, according to form, in order to give the Prince passage, and to +pay the usual marks of respect. Nigel could now remark that Lord +Dalgarno walked close behind the Duke of Buckingham, and, as he +thought, whispered something in his ear as they came onward. At any +rate, both the Prince's and Duke of Buckingham's attention seemed to +be directed by such circumstance towards Nigel, for they turned their +heads in that direction and looked at him attentively--the Prince with +a countenance, the grave, melancholy expression of which was blended +with severity; while Buckingham's looks evinced some degree of +scornful triumph. Lord Dalgarno did not seem to observe his friend, +perhaps because the sunbeams fell from the side of the walk on which +Nigel stood, obliging Malcolm to hold up his hat to screen his eyes. + +As the Prince passed, Lord Glenvarloch and Sir Mungo bowed, as respect +required; and the Prince, returning their obeisance with that grave +ceremony which paid to every rank its due, but not a tittle beyond it, +signed to Sir Mungo to come forward. Commencing an apology for his +lameness as he started, which he had just completed as his hobbling +gait brought him up to the Prince, Sir Mungo lent an attentive, and, +as it seemed, an intelligent ear, to questions, asked in a tone so +low, that the knight would certainly have been deaf to them had they +been put to him by any one under the rank of Prince of Wales. After +about a minute's conversation, the Prince bestowed on Nigel the +embarrassing notice of another fixed look, touched his hat slightly to +Sir Mungo, and walked on. + +"It is even as I suspected, my lord," said Sir Mungo, with an air +which he designed to be melancholy and sympathetic, but which, in +fact, resembled the grin of an ape when he has mouthed a scalding +chestnut--"Ye have back-friends, my lord, that is, unfriends--or, to +be plain, enemies--about the person of the Prince." + +"I am sorry to hear it," said Nigel; "but I would I knew what they +accuse me of." + +"Ye shall hear, my lord," said Sir Mungo, "the Prince's vera words-- +'Sir Mungo,' said he, 'I rejoice to see you, and am glad your +rheumatic troubles permit you to come hither for exercise.'--I bowed, +as in duty bound--ye might remark, my lord, that I did so, whilk +formed the first branch of our conversation.--His Highness then +demanded of me, 'if he with whom I stood, was the young Lord +Glenvarloch.' I answered, 'that you were such, for his Highness's +service;' whilk was the second branch.--Thirdly, his Highness, +resuming the argument, said, that 'truly he had been told so,' +(meaning that he had been told you were that personage,) 'but that he +could not believe, that the heir of that noble and decayed house could +be leading an idle, scandalous, and precarious life, in the eating- +houses and taverns of London, while the king's drums were beating, and +colours flying in Germany in the cause of the Palatine, his son-in- +law.'--I could, your lordship is aware, do nothing but make an +obeisance; and a gracious 'Give ye good-day, Sir Mungo Malagrowther,' +licensed me to fall back to your lordship. And now, my lord, if your +business or pleasure calls you to the ordinary, or anywhere in the +direction of the city--why, have with you; for, dootless, ye will +think ye have tarried lang enough in the Park, as they will likely +turn at the head of the walk, and return this way--and you have a +broad hint, I think, not to cross the Prince's presence in a hurry." + +"_You_ may stay or go as you please, Sir Mungo," said Nigel, with an +expression of calm, but deep resentment; "but, for my own part, my +resolution is taken. I will quit this public walk for pleasure of no +man--still less will I quit it like one unworthy to be seen in places +of public resort. I trust that the Prince and his retinue will return +this way as you expect; for I will abide, Sir Mungo, and beard them." + +"Beard them!" exclaimed Sir Mungo, in the extremity of surprise,-- +"Beard the Prince of Wales--the heir-apparent of the kingdoms!--By my +saul, you shall beard him yourself then." + +Accordingly, he was about to leave Nigel very hastily, when some +unwonted touch of good-natured interest in his youth and experience, +seemed suddenly to soften his habitual cynicism. + +"The devil is in me for an auld fule!" said Sir Mungo; "but I must +needs concern mysell--I that owe so little either to fortune or my +fellow-creatures, must, I say, needs concern mysell--with this +springald, whom I will warrant to be as obstinate as a pig possessed +with a devil, for it's the cast of his family; and yet I maun e'en +fling away some sound advice on him.--My dainty young Lord +Glenvarloch, understand me distinctly, for this is no bairn's-play. +When the Prince said sae much to me as I have repeated to you, it was +equivalent to a command not to appear in his presence; wherefore take +an auld man's advice that wishes you weel, and maybe a wee thing +better than he has reason to wish ony body. Jouk, and let the jaw gae +by, like a canny bairn--gang hame to your lodgings, keep your foot +frae taverns, and your fingers frae the dice-box; compound your +affairs quietly wi' some ane that has better favour than yours about +Court, and you will get a round spell of money to carry you to +Germany, or elsewhere, to push your fortune. It was a fortunate +soldier that made your family four or five hundred years syne, and, if +you are brave and fortunate, you may find the way to repair it. But, +take my word for it, that in this Court you will never thrive." + +When Sir Mungo had completed his exhortation, in which there was more +of sincere sympathy with another's situation, than he had been +heretofore known to express in behalf of any one, Lord Glenvarloch +replied, "I am obliged to you, Sir Mungo--you have spoken, I think, +with sincerity, and I thank you. But in return for your good advice, I +heartily entreat you to leave me; I observe the Prince and his train +are returning down the walk, and you may prejudice yourself, but +cannot help me, by remaining with me." + +"And that is true,"--said Sir Mungo; "yet, were I ten years younger, I +would be tempted to stand by you, and gie them the meeting. But at +threescore and upward, men's courage turns cauldrife; and they that +canna win a living, must not endanger the small sustenance of their +age. I wish you weel through, my lord, but it is an unequal fight." So +saying, he turned and limped away; often looking back, however, as if +his natural spirit, even in its present subdued state, aided by his +love of contradiction and of debate, rendered him unwilling to adopt +the course necessary for his own security. + +Thus abandoned by his companion, whose departure he graced with better +thoughts of him than those which he bestowed on his appearance, Nigel +remained with his arms folded, and reclining against a solitary tree +which overhung the path, making up his mind to encounter a moment +which he expected to be critical of his fate. But he was mistaken in +supposing that the Prince of Wales would either address him, or admit +him to expostulation, in such a public place as the Park. He did not +remain unnoticed, however, for, when he made a respectful but haughty +obeisance, intimating in look and manner that he was possessed of, and +undaunted by, the unfavourable opinion which the Prince had so lately +expressed, Charles returned his reverence with such a frown, as is +only given by those whose frown is authority and decision. The train +passed on, the Duke of Buckingham not even appearing to see Lord +Glenvarloch; while Lord Dalgarno, though no longer incommoded by the +sunbeams, kept his eyes, which had perhaps been dazzled by their +former splendour, bent upon the ground. + +Lord Glenvarloch had difficulty to restrain an indignation, to which, +in the circumstances, it would have been madness to have given vent. +He started from his reclining posture, and followed the Prince's train +so as to keep them distinctly in sight; which was very easy, as they +walked slowly. Nigel observed them keep their road towards the Palace, +where the Prince turned at the gate and bowed to the noblemen in +attendance, in token of dismissing them, and entered the Palace, +accompanied only by the Duke of Buckingham, and one or two of his +equerries. The rest of the train, having returned in + all dutiful humility the farewell of the Prince, began to disperse +themselves through the Park. + +All this was carefully noticed by Lord Glenvarloch, who, as he +adjusted his cloak, and drew his sword-belt round so as to bring the +hilt closer to his hand, muttered--"Dalgarno shall explain all this to +me, for it is evident that he is in the secret!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + + Give way--give way--I must and will have justice. + And tell me not of privilege and place; + Where I am injured, there I'll sue redress. + Look to it, every one who bars my access; + I have a heart to feel the injury, + A hand to night myself, and, by my honour, + That hand shall grasp what grey-beard Law denies me. + _The Chamberlain._ + +It was not long ere Nigel discovered Lord Dalgarno advancing towards +him in the company of another young man of quality of the Prince's +train; and as they directed their course towards the south-eastern +corner of the Park, he concluded they were about to go to Lord +Huntinglen's. They stopped, however, and turned up another path +leading to the north; and Lord Glenvarloch conceived that this change +of direction was owing to their having seen him, and their desire to +avoid him. + +Nigel followed them without hesitation by a path which, winding around +a thicket of shrubs and trees, once more conducted him to the less +frequented part of the Park. He observed which side of the thicket was +taken by Lord Dalgarno and his companion, and he himself, walking +hastily round the other verge, was thus enabled to meet them face to +face. + +"Good-morrow, my Lord Dalgarno," said Lord Glenvarloch, sternly. + +"Ha! my friend Nigel," answered Lord Dalgarno, in his usual careless +and indifferent tone, "my friend Nigel, with business on his brow?-- +but you must wait till we meet at Beaujeu's at noon--Sir Ewes +Haldimund and I are at present engaged in the Prince's service." + +"If you were engaged in the king's, my lord," said Lord Glenvarloch, +"you must stand and answer me." + +"Hey-day!" said Lord Dalgarno, with an air of great astonishment, +"what passion is this? Why, Nigel, this is King Cambyses' vein!--You +have frequented the theatres too much lately--Away with this folly, +man; go, dine upon soup and salad, drink succory-water to cool your +blood, go to bed at sun-down, and defy those foul fiends, Wrath and +Misconstruction." + +"I have had misconstruction enough among you," said Glenvarloch, in +the same tone of determined displeasure, "and from you, my Lord +Dalgarno, in particular, and all under the mask of friendship." + +"Here is a proper business!"--said Dalgarno, turning as if to appeal +to Sir Ewes Haldimund; "do you see this angry ruffler, Sir Ewes? A +month since, he dared not have looked one of yonder sheep in the face, +and now he is a prince of roisterers, a plucker of pigeons, a +controller of players and poets--and in gratitude for my having shown +him the way to the eminent character which he holds upon town, he +comes hither to quarrel with his best friend, if not his only one of +decent station." + +"I renounce such hollow friendship, my lord," said Lord Glenvarloch; +"I disclaim the character which, even to my very face, you labour to +fix upon me, and ere we part I will call you to a reckoning for it." + +"My lords both," interrupted Sir Ewes Haldimund, "let me remind you +that the Royal Park is no place to quarrel in." + +"I will make my quarrel good," said Nigel, who did not know, or in his +passion might not have recollected, the privileges + of the place, "wherever I find my enemy." + +"You shall find quarelling enough," replied Lord Dalgarno, calmly, "so +soon as you assign a sufficient cause for it. Sir Ewes Haldimund, who +knows the Court, will warrant you that I am not backward on such +occasions.--But of what is it that you now complain, after having +experienced nothing save kindness from me and my family?" + +"Of your family I complain not," replied Lord Glenvarloch; "they have +done for me all they could, more, far more, than I could have +expected; but you, my lord, have suffered me, while you called me your +friend, to be traduced, where a word of your mouth would have placed +my character in its true colours--and hence the injurious message +which I just now received from the Prince of Wales. To permit the +misrepresentation of a friend, my lord, is to share in the slander." + +"You have been misinformed, my Lord Glenvarloch," said Sir Ewes +Haldimund; "I have myself often heard Lord Dalgarno defend your +character, and regret that your exclusive attachment to the pleasures +of a London life prevented your paying your duty regularly to the King +and Prince." + +"While he himself," said Lord Glenvarloch, "dissuaded me from +presenting myself at Court." + +"I will cut this matter short," said Lord Dalgarno, with haughty +coldness. "You seem to have conceived, my lord, that you and I were +Pylades and Orestes--a second edition of Damon and Pythias--Theseus +and Pirithoiis at the least. You are mistaken, and have given the name +of friendship to what, on my part, was mere good-nature and compassion +for a raw and ignorant countryman, joined to the cumbersome charge +which my father gave me respecting you. Your character, my lord, is of +no one's drawing, but of your own making. I introduced you where, as +in all such places, there was good and indifferent company to be met +with--your habits, or taste, made you prefer the worse. Your holy +horror at the sight of dice and cards degenerated into the cautious +resolution to play only at those times, and with such persons, as +might ensure your rising a winner--no man can long do so, and continue +to be held a gentleman. Such is the reputation you have made for +yourself, and you have no right to be angry that I do not contradict +in society what yourself know to be true. Let us pass on, my lord; and +if you want further explanation, seek some other time and fitter +place." + +"No time can be better than the present," said Lord Glenvarloch, whose +resentment was now excited to the uttermost by the cold-blooded and +insulting manner, in which Dalgarno vindicated himself,--"no place +fitter than the place where we now stand. Those of my house have ever +avenged insult, at the moment, and on the spot, where it was offered, +were it at the foot of the throne.--Lord Dalgarno, you are a villain! +draw and defend yourself." At the same moment he unsheathed his +rapier. + +"Are you mad?" said Lord Dalgarno, stepping back; "we are in the +precincts of the Court." + +"The better," answered Lord Glenvarloch; "I will cleanse them from a +calumniator and a coward." He then pressed on Lord Dalgarno, and +struck him with the flat of the sword. + +The fray had now attracted attention, and the cry went round, "Keep +the peace--keep the peace--swords drawn in the Park!--What, ho! +guards!--keepers--yeomen--rangers!" and a number of people came +rushing to the spot from all sides. + +Lord Dalgarno, who had half drawn his sword on receiving the blow, +returned it to his scabbard when he observed the crowd thicken, and, +taking Sir Ewes Haldimund by the arm, walked hastily away, only saying +to Lord Glenvarloch as they left him, "You shall dearly abye this +insult--we will meet again." + +A decent-looking elderly man, who observed that Lord Glenvarloch +remained on the spot, taking compassion on his youthful appearance, +said to him, "Are you aware that this is a Star-Chamber business, +young gentleman, and that it may cost you your right hand?--Shift for +yourself before the keepers or constables come up--Get into +Whitefriars or somewhere, for sanctuary and concealment, till you can +make friends or quit the city." + +The advice was not to be neglected. Lord Glenvarloch made hastily +towards the issue from the Park by Saint James's Palace, then Saint +James's Hospital. The hubbub increased behind him; and several peace- +officers of the Royal Household came up to apprehend the delinquent. +Fortunately for Nigel, a popular edition of the cause of the affray +had gone abroad. It was said that one of the Duke of Buckingham's +companions had insulted a stranger gentleman from the country, and +that the stranger had cudgelled him soundly. A favourite, or the +companion of a favourite, is always odious to John Bull, who has, +besides, a partiality to those disputants who proceed, as lawyers term +it, _par wye du fait_, and both prejudices were in Nigel's favour. The +officers, therefore, who came to apprehend him, could learn from the +spectators no particulars of his appearance, or information concerning +the road he had taken; so that, for the moment, he escaped being +arrested. + +What Lord Glenvarloch heard among the crowd as he passed along, was +sufficient to satisfy him, that in his impatient passion he had placed +himself in a predicament of considerable danger. + He was no stranger to the severe and arbitrary proceedings of the +Court of Star-Chamber, especially in cases of breach of privilege, +which made it the terror of all men; and it was no farther back than +the Queen's time that the punishment of mutilation had been actually +awarded and executed, for some offence of the same kind which he had +just committed. He had also the comfortable reflection, that, by his +violent quarrel with Lord Dalgarno, he must now forfeit the friendship +and good offices of that nobleman's father and sister, almost the only +persons of consideration in whom he could claim any interest; while +all the evil reports which had been put in circulation concerning his +character, were certain to weigh heavily against him, in a case where +much must necessarily depend on the reputation of the accused. To a +youthful imagination, the idea of such a punishment as mutilation +seems more ghastly than death itself; and every word which he +overheard among the groups which he met, mingled with, or overtook and +passed, announced this as the penalty of his offence. He dreaded to +increase his pace for fear of attracting suspicion, and more than once +saw the ranger's officers so near him, that his wrist tingled as if +already under the blade of the dismembering knife. At length he got +out of the Park, and had a little more leisure to consider what he was +next to do. + +Whitefriars, adjacent to the Temple, then well known by the cant name +of Alsatia, had at this time, and for nearly a century afterwards, the +privilege of a sanctuary, unless against the writ of the Lord Chief +Justice, or of the Lords of the Privy-Council. Indeed, as the place +abounded with desperadoes of every description,--bankrupt citizens, +ruined gamesters, irreclaimable prodigals, desperate duellists, +bravoes, homicides, and debauched profligates of every description, +all leagued together to maintain the immunities of their asylum,--it +was both difficult and unsafe for the officers of the law to execute +warrants emanating even from the highest authority, amongst men whose +safety was inconsistent with warrants or authority of any kind. This +Lord Glenvarloch well knew; and odious as the place of refuge was, it +seemed the only one where, for a space at least, he might be concealed +and secure from the immediate grasp of the law, until he should have +leisure to provide better for his safety, or to get this unpleasant +matter in some shape accommodated. + +Meanwhile, as Nigel walked hastily forward towards the place of +sanctuary, he bitterly blamed himself for suffering Lord Dalgarno to +lead him into the haunts of dissipation; and no less accused his +intemperate heat of passion, which now had driven him for refuge into +the purlieus of profane and avowed vice and debauchery. + +"Dalgarno spoke but too truly in that," were his bitter reflections; +"I have made myself an evil reputation by acting on his insidious +counsels, and neglecting the wholesome admonitions which ought to have +claimed implicit obedience from me, and which recommended abstinence +even from the slightest approach of evil. But if I escape from the +perilous labyrinth in which folly and inexperience, as well as violent +passions, have involved me, I will find some noble way of redeeming +the lustre of a name which was never sullied until I bore it." + +As Lord Glenvarloch formed these prudent resolutions, he entered the +Temple Walks, whence a gate at that time opened into Whitefriars, by +which, as by the more private passage, he proposed to betake himself +to the sanctuary. As he approached the entrance to that den of infamy, +from which his mind recoiled even while in the act of taking shelter +there, his pace slackened, while the steep and broken stairs reminded +him of the _facilis_ descensus Averni, and rendered him doubtful +whether it were not better to brave the worst which could befall him +in the public haunts of honourable men, than to evade punishment by +secluding himself in those of avowed vice and profligacy. + +As Nigel hesitated, a young gentleman of the Temple advanced towards +him, whom he had often seen, and sometimes conversed with, at the +ordinary, where he was a frequent and welcome guest, being a wild +young gallant, indifferently well provided with money, who spent at +the theatres and other gay places of public resort, the time which his +father supposed he was employing in the study of the law. But Reginald +Lowestoffe, such was the young Templar's name, was of opinion that +little law was necessary to enable him to spend the revenues of the +paternal acres which were to devolve upon him at his father's demose, +and therefore gave himself no trouble to acquire more of that science +than might be imbibed along with the learned air of the region in +which he had his chambers. In other respects, he was one of the wits +of the place, read Ovid and Martial, aimed at quick repartee and pun, +(often very far fetched,) danced, fenced, played at tennis, and +performed sundry tunes on the fiddle and French horn, to the great +annoyance of old Counsellor Barratter, who lived in the chambers +immediately below him. Such was Reginald Lowes-toffe, shrewd, alert, +and well-acquainted with the town through all its recesses, but in a +sort of disrespectable way. This gallant, now approaching the Lord +Glenvarloch, saluted him by name and title, and asked if his lordship +designed for the Chevalier's this day, observing it was near noon, and +the woodcock would be on the board before they could reach the +ordinary. + +"I do not go there to-day," answered Lord Glenvarloch. "Which way, +then, my lord?" said the young Templar, who was perhaps not undesirous +to parade a part at least of the street in company with a lord, though +but a Scottish one. + +"I--I--" said Nigel, desiring to avail himself of this young man's +local knowledge, yet unwilling and ashamed to acknowledge his +intention to take refuge in so disreputable a quarter, or to describe +the situation in which he stood--"I have some curiosity to see +Whitefriars." + +"What! your lordship is for a frolic into Alsatia?" said Lowestoffe-"- +Have with you, my lord--you cannot have a better guide to the infernal +regions than myself. I promise you there are bona-robas to be found +there--good wine too, ay, and good fellows to drink it with, though +somewhat suffering under the frowns of Fortune. But your lordship will +pardon me--you are the last of our acquaintance to whom I would have +proposed such a voyage of discovery." + +"I am obliged to you, Master Lowestoffe, for the good opinion you have +expressed in the observation," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but my present +circumstances may render even a residence of a day or two in the +sanctuary a matter of necessity." + +"Indeed!" said Lowestoffe, in a tone of great surprise; "I thought +your lordship had always taken care not to risk any considerable +stake--I beg pardon, but if the bones have proved perfidious, I know +just so much law as that a peer's person is sacred from arrest; and +for mere impecuniosity, my lord, better shift can be made elsewhere +than in Whitefriars, where all are devouring each other for very +poverty." + +"My misfortune has no connexion with want of money," said Nigel. + +"Why, then, I suppose," said Lowestoffe, "you have been tilting, my +lord, and have pinked your man; in which case, and with a purse +reasonably furnished, you may lie perdu in Whitefriars for a +twelvemonth--Marry, but you must be entered and received as a member +of their worshipful society, my lord, and a frank burgher of Alsatia-- +so far you must condescend; there will be neither peace nor safety for +you else." + +"My fault is not in a degree so deadly, Master Lowestoffe," answered +Lord Glenvarloch, "as you seem to conjecture--I have stricken a +gentleman in the Park, that is all." + +"By my hand, my lord, and you had better have struck your sword +through him at Barns Elms," said the Templar. "Strike within the verge +of the Court! You will find that a weighty dependence upon your hands, +especially if your party be of rank and have favour." + +"I will be plain with you, Master Lowestoffe," said Nigel, "since I +have gone thus far. The person I struck was Lord Dalgarno, whom you +have seen at Beaujeu's." + +"A follower and favourite of the Duke of Buckingham!--It is a most +unhappy chance, my lord; but my heart was formed in England, and +cannot bear to see a young nobleman borne down, as you are like to be. +We converse here greatly too open for your circumstances. The Templars +would suffer no bailiff to execute a writ, and no gentleman to be +arrested for a duel, within their precincts; but in such a matter +between Lord Dalgarno and your lordship, there might be a party on +either side. You must away with me instantly to my poor chambers here, +hard by, and undergo some little change of dress, ere you take +sanctuary; for else you will have the whole rascal rout of the Friars +about you, like crows upon a falcon that strays into their rookery. We +must have you arrayed something more like the natives of Alsatia, or +there will be no life there for you." + +While Lowestoffe spoke, he pulled Lord Glenvarloch along with him into +his chambers, where he had a handsome library, filled with all the +poems and play-books which were then in fashion. The Templar then +dispatched a boy, who waited upon him, to procure a dish or two from +the next cook's shop; "and this," he said, "must be your lordship's +dinner, with a glass of old sack, of which my grandmother (the heavens +requite her!) sent me a dozen bottles, with charge to use the liquor +only with clarified whey, when I felt my breast ache with over study. +Marry, we will drink the good lady's health in it, if it is your +lordship's pleasure, and you shall see how we poor students eke out +our mutton-commons in the hall." + +The outward door of the chambers was barred so soon as the boy had re- +entered with the food; the boy was ordered to keep close watch, and +admit no one; and Lowestoffe, by example and precept, pressed his +noble guest to partake of his hospitality. His frank and forward +manners, though much differing from the courtly ease of Lord Dalgarno, +were calculated to make a favourable impression; and Lord Glenvarloch, +though his experience of Dalgarno's perfidy had taught him to be +cautious of reposing faith in friendly professions, could not avoid +testifying his gratitude to the young Templar, who seemed so anxious +for his safety and accommodation. + +"You may spare your gratitude any great sense of obligation, my lord," +said the Templar. "No doubt I am willing to be of use to any gentleman +that has cause to sing _Fortune my foe_, and particularly proud to +serve your lordship's turn; but I have also an old grudge, to speak +Heaven's truth, at your opposite, Lord Dalgarno." + +"May I ask on what account, Master Lowestoffe?" said Lord Glenvarloch. + +"O, my lord," replied the Templar, "it was for a hap that chanced +after you left the ordinary, one evening about three weeks since--at +least I think you were not by, as your lordship always left us before +deep play began--I mean no offence, but such was your lordship's +custom--when there were words between Lord Dalgarno and me concerning +a certain game at gleek, and a certain mournival of aces held by his +lordship, which went for eight--tib, which went for fifteen--twenty- +three in all. Now I held king and queen, being three--a natural +towser, making fifteen--and tiddy, nineteen. We vied the ruff, and +revied, as your lordship may suppose, till the stake was equal to half +my yearly exhibition, fifty as fair yellow canary birds as e'er +chirped in the bottom of a green silk purse. Well, my lord, I gained +the cards, and lo you! it pleases his lordship to say that we played +without tiddy; and as the rest stood by and backed him, and especially +the sharking Frenchman, why, I was obliged to lose more than I shall +gain all the season.--So judge if I have not a crow to pluck with his +lordship. Was it ever heard there was a game at gleek at the ordinary +before, without counting tiddy?--marry quep upon his lordship!--Every +man who comes there with his purse in his hand, is as free to make new +laws as he, I hope, since touch pot touch penny makes every man +equal." + +As Master Lowestoffe ran over this jargon of the gaming-table, Lord +Glenvarloch was both ashamed and mortified, and felt a severe pang of +aristocratic pride, when he concluded in the sweeping clause that the +dice, like the grave, levelled those distinguishing points of society, +to which Nigel's early prejudices clung perhaps but too fondly. It was +impossible, however, to object any thing to the learned reasoning of +the young Templar, and therefore Nigel was contented to turn the +conversation, by making some inquiries respecting the present state of +White-friars. There also his host was at home. + +"You know, my lord," said Master Lowestoffe, "that we Templars are a +power and a dominion within ourselves, and I am proud to say that I +hold some rank in our republic--was treasurer to the Lord of Misrule +last year, and am at this present moment in nomination for that +dignity myself. In such circumstances, we are under the necessity of +maintaining an amicable intercourse with our neighbours of Alsatia, +even as the Christian States find themselves often, in mere policy, +obliged to make alliance with the Grand Turk, or the Barbary States." + +"I should have imagined you gentlemen of the Temple more independent +of your neighbours," said Lord Glenvarloch. + +"You do us something too much honour, my lord," said the Templar; "the +Alsatians and we have some common enemies, and we have, under the +rose, some common friends. We are in the use of blocking all bailiffs +out of our bounds, and we are powerfully aided by our neighbours, who +tolerate not a rag belonging to them within theirs. Moreover the +Alsatians have--I beg you to understand me--the power of protecting or +distressing our friends, male or female, who may be obliged to seek +sanctuary within their bounds. In short, the two communities serve +each other, though the league is between states of unequal quality, +and I may myself say, that I have treated of sundry weighty affairs, +and have been a negotiator well approved on both sides.--But hark-- +hark--what is that?" + +The sound by which Master Lowestoffe was interrupted, was that of a +distant horn, winded loud and keenly, and followed by a faint and +remote huzza. + +"There is something doing," said Lowestoffe, "in the Whitefriars at +this moment. That is the signal when their privileges are invaded by +tipstaff or bailiff; and at the blast of the horn they all swarm out +to the rescue, as bees when their hive is disturbed.--Jump, Jim," he +said, calling out to the attendant, "and see what they are doing in +Alsatia.--That bastard of a boy," he continued, as the lad, accustomed +to the precipitate haste of his master, tumbled rather than ran out of +the apartment, and so down stairs, "is worth gold in this quarter--he +serves six masters--four of them in distinct Numbers, and you would +think him present like a fairy at the mere wish of him that for the +time most needs his attendance. No scout in Oxford, no gip in +Cambridge, ever matched him in speed and intelligence. He knows the +step of a dun from that of a client, when it reaches the very bottom +of the staircase; can tell the trip of a pretty wench from the step of +a bencher, when at the upper end of the court; and is, take him all in +all--But I see your lordship is anxious--May I press another cup of my +kind grandmother's cordial, or will you allow me to show you my +wardrobe, and act as your valet or groom of the chamber?" + +Lord Glenvarloch hesitated not to acknowledge that he was painfully +sensible of his present situation, and anxious to do what must needs +be done for his extrication. + +The good-natured and thoughtless young Templar readily acquiesced, and +led the way into his little bedroom, where, from bandboxes, +portmanteaus, mail-trunks, not forgetting an old walnut-tree wardrobe, +he began to select the articles which he thought best suited +effectually to disguise his guest in venturing into the lawless and +turbulent society of Alsatia. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + + Come hither, young one,--Mark me! Thou art now + 'Mongst men o' the sword, that live by reputation + More than by constant income--Single-suited + They are, I grant you; yet each single suit + Maintains, on the rough guess, a thousand followers-- + And they be men, who, hazarding their all, + Needful apparel, necessary income, + And human body, and immortal soul, + Do in the very deed but hazard nothing-- + So strictly is that ALL bound in reversion; + Clothes to the broker, income to the usurer, + And body to disease, and soul to the foul fiend; + Who laughs to see Soldadoes and Fooladoes, + Play better than himself his game on earth. + _The Mohocks._ + +"Your lordship," said Reginald Lowestoffe, "must be content to +exchange your decent and court-beseeming rapier, which I will retain +in safe keeping, for this broadsword, with an hundredweight of rusty +iron about the hilt, and to wear these huge-paned slops, instead of +your civil and moderate hose. We allow no cloak, for your ruffian +always walks in _cuerpo_; and the tarnished doublet of bald velvet, +with its discoloured embroidery, and--I grieve to speak it--a few +stains from the blood of the grape, will best suit the garb of a +roaring boy. I will leave you to change your suit for an instant, till +I can help to truss you." + +Lowestoffe retired, while slowly, and with hesitation, Nigel obeyed +his instructions. He felt displeasure and disgust at the scoundrelly +disguise which he was under the necessity of assuming; but when he +considered the bloody consequences which law attached to his rash act +of violence, the easy and indifferent temper of James, the prejudices +of his son, the overbearing influence of the Duke of Buckingham, which +was sure to be thrown into the scale against him; and, above all, when +he reflected that he must now look upon the active, assiduous, and +insinuating Lord Dalgarno, as a bitter enemy, reason told him he was +in a situation of peril which authorised all honest means, even the +most unseemly in outward appearance, to extricate himself from so +dangerous a predicament. + +While he was changing his dress, and musing on these particulars, his +friendly host re-entered the sleeping apartment--"Zounds!" he said, +"my lord, it was well you went not straight into that same Alsatia of +ours at the time you proposed, for the hawks have stooped upon it. +Here is Jem come back with tidings, that he saw a pursuivant there +with a privy-council warrant, and half a score of yeomen assistants, +armed to the teeth, and the horn which we heard was sounded to call +out the posse of the Friars. Indeed, when old Duke Hildebrod saw that +the quest was after some one of whom he knew nothing, he permitted, +out of courtesy, the man-catcher to search through his dominions, +quite certain that they would take little by their motions; for Duke +Hildebrod is a most judicious potentate.--Go back, you bastard, and +bring us word when all is quiet." + +"And who may Duke Hildebrod be?" said Lord Glenvarloch. + +"Nouns! my lord," said the Templar, "have you lived so long on the +town, and never heard of the valiant, and as wise and politic as +valiant, Duke Hildebrod, grand protector of the liberties of Alsatia? +I thought the man had never whirled a die but was familiar with his +fame." + +"Yet I have never heard of him, Master Lowestoffe," said Lord +Glenvarloch; "or, what is the same thing, I have paid no attention to +aught that may have passed in conversation respecting him." + +"Why, then," said Lowestoffe--"but, first, let me have the honour of +trussing you. Now, observe, I have left several of the points untied, +of set purpose; and if it please you to let a small portion of your +shirt be seen betwixt your doublet and the band of your upper stock, +it will have so much the more rakish effect, and will attract you +respect in Alsatia, where linen is something scarce. Now, I tie some +of the points carefully asquint, for your ruffianly gallant never +appears too accurately trussed--so." + +"Arrange it as you will, sir," said Nigel; "but let me hear at least +something of the conditions of the unhappy district into which, with +other wretches, I am compelled to retreat." + +"Why, my lord," replied the Templar, "our neighbouring state of +Alsatia, which the law calls the Sanctuary of White-friars, has had +its mutations and revolutions like greater kingdoms; and, being in +some sort a lawless, arbitrary government, it follows, of course, that +these have been more frequent than our own better regulated +commonwealth of the Templars, that of Gray's Inn, and other similar +associations, have had the fortune to witness. Our traditions and +records speak of twenty revolutions within the last twelve years, in +which the aforesaid state has repeatedly changed from absolute +despotism to republicanism, not forgetting the intermediate stages of +oligarchy, limited monarchy, and even gynocracy; for I myself remember +Alsatia governed for nearly nine months by an old fish-woman. 'I hen +it fell under the dominion of a broken attorney, who was dethroned by +a reformado captain, who, proving tyrannical, was deposed by a +hedgeparson, who was succeeded, upon resignation of his power, by Duke +Jacob Hildebrod, of that name the first, whom Heaven long preserve." + +"And is this potentate's government," said Lord Glenvarloch, forcing +himself to take some interest in the conversation, "of a despotic +character?" + +"Pardon me, my lord," said the Templar; "this said sovereign is too +wise to incur, like many of his predecessors, the odium of wielding so +important an authority by his own sole will. He has established a +council of state, who regularly meet for their morning's draught at +seven o'clock; convene a second time at eleven for their _ante- +meridiem_, or whet; and, assembling in solemn conclave at the hour of +two afternoon, for the purpose of consulting for the good of the +commonwealth, are so prodigal of their labour in the service of the +state, that they seldom separate before midnight. Into this worthy +senate, composed partly of Duke Hildebrod's predecessors in his high +office, whom he has associated with him to prevent the envy attending +sovereign and sole authority, I must presently introduce your +lordship, that they may admit you to the immunities of the Friars, and +assign you a place of residence." + +"Does their authority extend to such regulation?" said Lord +Glenvarloch. + +"The council account it a main point of their privileges, my lord," +answered Lowestoffe; "and, in fact, it is one of the most powerful +means by which they support their authority. For when Duke Ilildebrod +and his senate find a topping householder in the Friars becomes +discontented and factious, it is but assigning him, for a lodger, some +fat bankrupt, or new lesidenter, whose circumstances require refuge, +and whose purse can pay for it, and the malecontent becomes as +tractable as a lamb. As for the poorer refugees, they let them shift +as they can; but the registration of their names in the Duke's entry- +book, and the payment of garnish conforming to their circumstances, is +never dispensed with; and the Friars would be a very unsafe residence +for the stranger who should dispute these points of jurisdiction." + +"Well, Master Lowestoffe," said Lord Glenvarloch, "I must be +controlled by the circumstances which dictate to me this state of +concealment--of course, I am desirous not to betray my name and rank." + +"It will be highly advisable, my lord," said Lowestoffe; "and is a +case thus provided for in the statutes of the republic, or monarchy, +or whatsoever you call it.--He who desires that no questions shall be +asked him concerning his name, cause of refuge, and the like, may +escape the usual interrogations upon payment of double the garnish +otherwise belonging to his condition. Complying with this essential +stipulation, your lordship may register yourself as King of Bantam if +you will, for not a question will be asked of you.--But here comes our +scout, with news of peace and tranquillity. Now, I will go with your +lordship myself, and present you to the council of Alsatia, with all +the influence which I have over them as an office-bearer in the +Temple, which is not slight; for they have come halting off upon all +occasions when we have taken part against them, and that they well +know. The time is propitious, for as the council is now met in +Alsatia, so the Temple walks are quiet. Now, my lord, throw your cloak +about you, to hide your present exterior. You shall give it to the boy +at the foot of the stairs that go down to the Sanctuary; and as the +ballad says that Queen Eleanor sunk at Charing Cross and rose at +Queenhithe, so you shall sink a nobleman in the Temple Gardens, and +rise an Alsatian at Whitefriars." + +They went out accordingly, attended by the little scout, traversed the +gardens, descended the stairs, and at the bottom the young Templar +exclaimed,--"And now let us sing, with Ovid, + +'In nova fert animus mutatas dicere formas--' + +Off, off, ye lendings!" he continued, in the same vein. "Via, the +curtain that shadowed Borgia!--But how now, my lord?" he continued, +when he observed Lord Glenvarloch was really distressed at the +degrading change in his situation, "I trust you are not offended at my +rattling folly? I would but reconcile you to your present +circumstances, and give you the tone of this strange place. Come, +cheer up; I trust it will only be your residence for a very few days." + +Nigel was only able to press his hand, and reply in a whisper, "I am +sensible of your kindness. I know I must drink the cup which my own +folly has filled for me. Pardon me, that, at the first taste, I feel +its bitterness." + +Reginald Lowestoffe was bustlingly officious and good-natured; but, +used to live a scrambling, rakish course of life himself, he had not +the least idea of the extent of Lord Glenvarloch's mental sufferings, +and thought of his temporary concealment as if it were merely the +trick of a wanton boy, who plays at hide-and-seek with his tutor. With +the appearance of the place, too, he was familiar--but on his +companion it produced a deep sensation. + +The ancient Sanctuary at Whitefriars lay considerably lower than the +elevated terraces and gardens of the Temple, and was therefore +generally involved in the damps and fogs arising from the Thames. The +brick buildings by which it was occupied, crowded closely on each +other, for, in a place so rarely privileged, every foot of ground was +valuable; but, erected in many cases by persons whose funds were +inadequate to their speculations, the houses were generally +insufficient, and exhibited the lamentable signs of having become +ruinous while they were yet new. The wailing of children, the scolding +of their mothers, the miserable exhibition of ragged linens hung from +the windows to dry, spoke the wants and distresses of the wretched +inhabitants; while the sounds of complaint were mocked and overwhelmed +in the riotous shouts, oaths, profane songs, and boisterous laughter, +that issued from the alehouses and taverns, which, as the signs +indicated, were equal in number to all the other houses; and, that the +full character of the place might be evident, several faded, tinselled +and painted females, looked boldly at the strangers from their open +lattices, or more modestly seemed busied with the cracked flower-pots, +filled with mignonette and rosemary, which were disposed in front of +the windows, to the great risk of the passengers. + +"_Semi-reducta Venus_," said the Templar, pointing to one of these +nymphs, who seemed afraid of observation, and partly concealed herself +behind the casement, as she chirped to a miserable blackbird, the +tenant of a wicker prison, which hung outside on the black brick +wall.--"I know the face of yonder waistcoateer," continued the guide; +"and I could wager a rose-noble, from the posture she stands in, that +she has clean head-gear and a soiled night-rail.--But here come two of +the male inhabitants, smoking like moving volcanoes! These are roaring +blades, whom Nicotia and Trinidado serve, I dare swear, in lieu of +beef and pudding; for be it known to you, my lord, that the king's +counter-blast against the Indian weed will no more pass current in +Alsatia than will his writ of _capias_." + +As he spoke, the two smokers approached; shaggy, uncombed ruffians, +whose enormous mustaches were turned back over their ears, and mingled +with the wild elf-locks of their hair, much of which was seen under +the old beavers which they wore aside upon their heads, while some +straggling portion escaped through the rents of the hats aforesaid. +Their tarnished plush jerkins, large slops, or trunk-breeches, their +broad greasy shoulder-belts, and discoloured scarfs, and, above all, +the ostentatious manner in which the one wore a broad-sword and the +other an extravagantly long rapier and poniard, marked the true +Alsatian bully, then, and for a hundred years afterwards, a well-known +character. + +"Tour out," said the one ruffian to the other; "tour the bien mort +twiring at the gentry cove!" [Footnote: Look sharp. See how the girl +is coquetting with the strange gallants!] + +"I smell a spy," replied the other, looking at Nigel. "Chalk him +across the peepers with your cheery." [Footnote: Slash him over the +eyes with your dagger.] + +"Bing avast, bing avast!" replied his companion; "yon other is +rattling Reginald Lowestoffe of the Temple--I know him; he is a good +boy, and free of the province." + +So saying, and enveloping themselves in another thick cloud of smoke, +they went on without farther greeting. + +"_Grasso in aere_!" said the Templar. "You hear what a character the +impudent knave gives me; but, so it serves your lordship's turn, I +care not.--And, now, let me ask your lordship what name you will +assume, for we are near the ducal palace of Duke Hildebrod." + +"I will be called Grahame," said Nigel; "it was my mother's name." + +"Grime," repeated the Templar, "will suit Alsatia well enough--both a +grim and grimy place of refuge." + +"I said Grahame, sir, not Grime," said Nigel, something shortly, and +laying an emphasis on the vowel--for few Scotsmen understand raillery +upon the subject of their names. + +"I beg pardon, my lord," answered the undisconcerted punster; "but +_Graam_ will suit the circumstance, too--it signifies tribulation in +the High Dutch, and your lordship must be considered as a man under +trouble." + +Nigel laughed at the pertinacity of the Templar; who, proceeding to +point out a sign representing, or believed to represent, a dog +attacking a bull, and running at his head, in the true scientific +style of onset,--"There," said he, "doth faithful Duke Hildebrod deal +forth laws, as well as ale and strong waters, to his faithful +Alsatians. Being a determined champion of Paris Garden, he has chosen +a sign corresponding to his habits; and he deals in giving drink to +the thirsty, that he himself may drink without paying, and receive pay +for what is drunken by others.--Let us enter the ever-open gate of +this second Axylus." + +As they spoke, they entered the dilapidated tavern, which was, +nevertheless, more ample in dimensions, and less ruinous, than many +houses in the same evil neighbourhood. Two or three haggard, ragged +drawers, ran to and fro, whose looks, like those of owls, seemed only +adapted for midnight, when other creatures sleep, and who by day +seemed bleared, stupid, and only half awake. Guided by one of these +blinking Ganymedes, they entered a room, where the feeble rays of the +sun were almost wholly eclipsed by volumes of tobacco-smoke, rolled +from the tubes of the company, while out of the cloudy sanctuary arose +the old chant of-- + + "Old Sir Simon the King, + And old Sir Simon the King, + With his malmsey nose, + And his ale-dropped hose, + And sing hey ding-a-ding-ding." + +Duke Hildebrod, who himself condescended to chant this ditty to his +loving subjects, was a monstrously fat old man, with only one eye; and +a nose which bore evidence to the frequency, strength, and depth of +his potations. He wore a murrey-coloured plush jerkin, stained with +the overflowings of the tankard, and much the worse for wear, and +unbuttoned at bottom for the ease of his enormous paunch. Behind him +lay a favourite bull-dog, whose round head and single black glancing +eye, as well as the creature's great corpulence, gave it a burlesque +resemblance to its master. + +The well-beloved counsellors who surrounded the ducal throne, incensed +it with tobacco, pledged its occupier in thick clammy ale, and echoed +back his choral songs, were Satraps worthy of such a Soldan. The buff +jerkin, broad belt, and long sword of one, showed him to be a Low +Country soldier, whose look of scowling importance, and drunken +impudence, were designed to sustain his title to call himself a Roving +Blade. It seemed to Nigel that he had seen this fellow somewhere or +other. A hedge-parson, or buckle-beggar, as that order of priesthood +has been irreverently termed, sat on the Duke's left, and was easily +distinguished by his torn band, flapped hat, and the remnants of a +rusty cassock. Beside the parson sat a most wretched and meagre- +looking old man, with a threadbare hood of coarse kersey upon his +head, and buttoned about his neck, while his pinched features, like +those of old Daniel, were illuminated by + --"an eye, + Through the last look of dotage still cunning and sly." + +On his left was placed a broken attorney, who, for some malpractices, +had been struck from the roll of practitioners, and who had nothing +left of his profession, except its roguery. One or two persons of less +figure, amongst whom there was one face, which, like that of the +soldier, seemed not unknown to Nigel, though he could not recollect +where he had seen it, completed the council-board of Jacob Duke +Hildebrod. + +The strangers had full time to observe all this; for his grace the +Duke, whether irresistibly carried on by the full tide of harmony, or +whether to impress the strangers with a proper idea of his +consequence, chose to sing his ditty to an end before addressing them, +though, during the whole time, he closely scrutinized them with his +single optic. + +When Duke Hildebrod had ended his song, he informed his Peers that a +worthy officer of the Temple attended them, and commanded the captain +and parson to abandon their easy chairs in behalf of the two +strangers, whom he placed on his right and left hand. The worthy +representative of the army and the church of Alsatia went to place +themselves on a crazy form at the bottom of the table, which, ill +calculated to sustain men of such weight, gave way under them, and the +man of the sword and man of the gown were rolled over each other on +the floor, amidst the exulting shouts of the company. They arose in +wrath, contending which should vent his displeasure in the loudest and +deepest oaths, a strife in which the parson's superior acquaintance +with theology enabled him greatly to excel the captain, and were at +length with difficulty tranquillised by the arrival of the alarmed +waiters with more stable chairs, and by a long draught of the cooling +tankard. When this commotion was appeased, and the strangers +courteously accommodated with flagons, after the fashion of the others +present, the Duke drank prosperity to the Temple in the most gracious +manner, together with a cup of welcome to Master Reginald Lowestoffe; +and, this courtesy having been thankfully accepted, the party honoured +prayed permission to call for a gallon of Rhenish, over which he +proposed to open his business. + +The mention of a liquor so superior to their usual potations had an +instant and most favourable effect upon the little senate; and its +immediate appearance might be said to secure a favourable reception of +Master Lowestoffe's proposition, which, after a round or two had +circulated, he explained to be the admission of his friend Master +Nigel Grahame to the benefit of the sanctuary and other immunities of +Alsatia, in the character of a grand compounder; for so were those +termed who paid a double fee at their matriculation, in order to avoid +laying before the senate the peculiar circumstances which compelled +them to take refuge there. + +The worthy Duke heard the proposition with glee, which glittered in +his single eye; and no wonder, as it was a rare occurrence, and of +peculiar advantage to his private revenue. Accordingly, he commanded +his ducal register to be brought him, a huge book, secured with brass +clasps like a merchant's ledger, and whose leaves, stained with wine, +and slabbered with tobacco juice, bore the names probably of as many +rogues as are to be found in the Calendar of Newgate. + +Nigel was then directed to lay down two nobles as his ransom, and to +claim privilege by reciting the following doggerel verses, which were +dictated to him by the Duke:-- + + "Your suppliant, by name + Nigel Grahame, + In fear of mishap + From a shoulder-tap; + And dreading a claw + From the talons of law, + That are sharper than briers: + His freedom to sue, + And rescue by you-- + Thorugh weapon and wit, + From warrant and writ, + From bailiff's hand, + From tipstaff's wand, + Is come hither to Whitefriars." + +As Duke Hildebrod with a tremulous hand began to make the entry, and +had already, with superfluous generosity, spelled Nigel with two g's +instead of one, he was interrupted by the parson. [Footnote: This +curious register is still in existence, being in possession of that +eminent antiquary, Dr. Dryasdust, who liberally offered the author +permission to have the autograph of Duke Hildebrod engraved as an +illustration of this passage. Unhappily, being rigorous as Ritson +himself in adhering to the very letter of his copy, the worthy Doctor +clogged his munificence with the condition that we should adopt the +Duke's orthography, and entitle the work "The Fortunes of Niggle," +with which stipulation we did not think it necessary to comply.] This +reverend gentleman had been whispering for a minute or two, not with +the captain, but with that other individual, who dwelt imperfectly, as +we have already mentioned, in Nigel's memory, and being, perhaps, +still something malecontent on account of the late accident, he now +requested to be heard before the registration took place. + +"The person," he said, "who hath now had the assurance to propose +himself as a candidate for the privileges and immunities of this +honourable society, is, in plain terms, a beggarly Scot, and we have +enough of these locusts in London already--if we admit such palmer- +worms and caterpillars to the Sanctuary, we shall soon have the whole +nation." + +"We are not entitled to inquire," said Duke Hildebrod, "whether he be +Scot, or French, or English; seeing he has honourably laid down his +garnish, he is entitled to our protection." + +"Word of denial, most Sovereign Duke," replied the parson, "I ask him +no questions--his speech betrayeth him--he is a Galilean--and his +garnish is forfeited for his assurance in coming within this our +realm; and I call on you, Sir Duke, to put the laws in force against +him!" + +The Templar here rose, and was about to interrupt the deliberations of +the court, when the Duke gravely assured him that he should be heard +in behalf of his friend, so soon as the council had finished their +deliberations. + +The attorney next rose, and, intimating that he was to speak to the +point of law, said--"It was easy to be seen that this gentleman did +not come here in any civil case, and that he believed it to be the +story they had already heard of concerning a blow given within the +verge of the Park--that the Sanctuary would not bear out the offender +in such case--and that the queer old Chief would send down a broom +which would sweep the streets of Alsatia from the Strand to the +Stairs; and it was even policy to think what evil might come to their +republic, by sheltering an alien in such circumstances." + +The captain, who had sat impatiently while these opinions were +expressed, now sprung on his feet with the vehemence of a cork +bouncing from a bottle of brisk beer, and, turning up his mustaches +with a martial air, cast a glance of contempt on the lawyer and +churchman, while he thus expressed his opinion. + +"Most noble Duke Hildebrod! When I hear such base, skeldering, +coistril propositions come from the counsellors of your grace, and +when I remember the Huffs, the Muns, and the Tityretu's by whom your +grace's ancestors and predecessors were advised on such occasions, I +begin to think the spirit of action is as dead in Alsatia as in my old +grannam; and yet who thinks so thinks a lie, since I will find as many +roaring boys in the Friars as shall keep the liberties against all the +scavengers of Westminster. And, if we should be overborne for a turn, +death and darkness! have we not time to send the gentleman off by +water, either to Paris Garden or to the bankside? and, if he is a +gallant of true breed, will he not make us full amends for all the +trouble we have? Let other societies exist by the law, I say that we +brisk boys of the Fleet live in spite of it; and thrive best when we +are in right opposition to sign and seal, writ and warrant, sergeant +and tipstaff, catchpoll, and bum-bailey." + +This speech was followed by a murmur of approbation, and Lowestoffe, +striking in before the favourable sound had subsided, reminded the +Duke and his council how much the security of their state depended +upon the amity of the Templars, who, by closing their gates, could at +pleasure shut against the Alsatians the communication betwixt the +Friars and the Temple, and that as they conducted themselves on this +occasion, so would they secure or lose the benefit of his interest +with his own body, which they knew not to be inconsiderable. "And, in +respect of my friend being a Scotsman and alien, as has been observed +by the reverend divine and learned lawyer, you are to consider," said +Lowestoffe, "for what he is pursued hither--why, for giving the +bastinado, not to an Englishman, but to one of his own countrymen. And +for my own simple part," he continued, touching Lord Glenvarloch at +the same time, to make him understand he spoke but in jest, "if all +the Scots in London were to fight a Welsh main, and kill each other to +a man, the survivor would, in my humble opinion, be entitled to our +gratitude, as having done a most acceptable service to poor Old +England." + +A shout of laughter and applause followed this ingenious apology for +the client's state of alienage; and the Templar followed up his plea +with the following pithy proposition:--"I know well," said he, "it is +the custom of the fathers of this old and honourable republic, ripely +and well to consider all their proceedings over a proper allowance of +liquor; and far be it from me to propose the breach of so laudable a +custom, or to pretend that such an affair as the present can be well +and constitutionally considered during the discussion of a pitiful +gallon of Rhenish. But, as it is the same thing to this honourable +conclave whether they drink first and determine afterwards, or whether +they determine first and drink afterwards, I propose your grace, with +the advice of your wise and potent senators, shall pass your edict, +granting to mine honourable friend the immunities of the place, and +assigning him a lodging, according to your wise forms, to which he +will presently retire, being somewhat spent with this day's action; +whereupon I will presently order you a rundlet of Rhenish, with a +corresponding quantity of neats' tongues and pickled herrings, to make +you all as glorious as George-a-Green." + +This overture was received with a general shout of applause, which +altogether drowned the voice of the dissidents, if any there were +amongst the Alsatian senate who could have resisted a proposal so +popular. The words of, kind heart! noble gentleman! generous gallant! +flew from mouth to mouth; the inscription of the petitioner's name in +the great book was hastily completed, and the oath administered to him +by the worthy Doge. Like the Laws of the Twelve Tables, of the ancient +Cambro-Britons, and other primitive nations, it was couched in poetry, +and ran as follows:- + + "By spigot and barrel, + By bilboe and buff; + Thou art sworn to the quarrel + Of the blades of the huff. + For Whitefriars and its claims + To be champion or martyr, + And to fight for its dames + Like a Knight of the Garter." + +Nigel felt, and indeed exhibited, some disgust at this mummery; but, +the Templar reminding him that he was too far advanced to draw back, +he repeated the words, or rather assented as they were repeated by +Duke Hildebrod, who concluded the ceremony by allowing him the +privilege of sanctuary, in the following form of prescriptive +doggerel:-- + + "From the touch of the tip, + From the blight of the warrant, + From the watchmen who skip + On the Harman Beck's errand; + From the bailiffs cramp speech, + That makes man a thrall, + I charm thee from each, + And I charm thee from all. + Thy freedom's complete + As a Blade of the Huff, + To be cheated and cheat, + To be cuff'd and to cuff; + To stride, swear, and swagger, + To drink till you stagger, + To stare and to stab, + And to brandish your dagger + In the cause of your drab; + To walk wool-ward in winter, + Drink brandy, and smoke, + And go _fresco_ in summer + For want of a cloak; + To eke out your living + By the wag of your elbow, + By fulham and gourd, + And by baring of bilboe; + To live by your shifts, + And to swear by your honour, + Are the freedom and gifts + Of which I am the donor."[Footnote: Of the cant words used in this +inauguratory oration, some are obvious in their meaning, others, as +Harman Beck (constable), and the like, derive their source from that +ancient piece of lexicography, the Slang Dictionary] + +This homily being performed, a dispute arose concerning the special +residence to be assigned the new brother of the Sanctuary; for, as the +Alsatians held it a maxim in their commonwealth, that ass's milk +fattens, there was usually a competition among the inhabitants which +should have the managing, as it was termed, of a new member of the +society. + +The Hector who had spoken so warmly and critically in Nigel's behalf, +stood out now chivalrously in behalf of a certain Blowselinda, or +Bonstrops, who had, it seems, a room to hire, once the occasional +residence of Slicing Dick of Paddington, who lately suffered at +Tyburn, and whose untimely exit had been hitherto mourned by the +damsel in solitary widowhood, after the fashion of the turtle-dove. + +The captain's interest was, however, overruled, in behalf of the old +gentleman in the kersey hood, who was believed, even at his extreme +age, to understand the plucking of a pigeon, as well, or better, than +any man in Alsatia. + +This venerable personage was an usurer of notoriety, called Trapbois, +and had very lately done the state considerable service in advancing a +subsidy necessary to secure a fresh importation of liquors to the +Duke's cellars, the wine-merchant at the Vintry being scrupulous to +deal with so great a man for any thing but ready money. + +When, therefore, the old gentleman arose, and with much coughing, +reminded the Duke that he had a poor apartment to let, the claims of +all others were set aside, and Nigel was assigned to Trapbois as his +guest. + +No sooner was this arrangement made, than Lord Glenvarloch expressed +to Lowestoffe his impatience to leave this discreditable assembly, and +took his leave with a careless haste, which, but for the rundlet of +Rhenish wine that entered just as he left the apartment, might have +been taken in bad part. The young Templar accompanied his friend to +the house of the old usurer, with the road to which he and some other +youngsters about the Temple were even but too well acquainted. On the +way, he assured Lord Glenvarloch that he was going to the only clean +house in Whitefriars; a property which it owed solely to the exertions +of the old man's only daughter, an elderly damsel, ugly enough to +frighten sin, yet likely to be wealthy enough to tempt a puritan, so +soon as the devil had got her old dad for his due. As Lowestoffe spoke +thus, they knocked at the door of the house, and the sour stern +countenance of the female by whom it was opened, fully confirmed all +that the Templar had said of the hostess. She heard with an ungracious +and discontented air the young Templar's information, that the +gentleman, his companion, was to be her father's lodger, muttered +something about the trouble it was likely to occasion, but ended by +showing the stranger's apartment, which was better than could have +been augured from the general appearance of the place, and much larger +in extent than that which he occupied at Paul's Wharf, though inferior +to it in neatness. + +Lowestoffe, having thus seen his friend fairly installed in his new +apartment, and having obtained for him a note of the rate at which he +could be accommodated with victuals from a neighbouring cook's shop, +now took his leave, offering, at the same time, to send the whole, or +any part of Lord Glenvarloch's baggage, from his former place of +residence to his new lodging. Nigel mentioned so few articles, that +the Templar could not help observing, that his lordship, it would +seem, did not intend to enjoy his new privileges long. + +"They are too little suited to my habits and taste, that I should do +so," replied Lord Glenvarloch. + +"You may change your opinion to-morrow," said Lowestoffe; "and so I +wish you a good even. To-morrow I will visit you betimes." + +The morning came, but instead of the Templar, it brought only a letter +from him. The epistle stated, that Lowestoffe's visit to Alsatia had +drawn down the animadversions of some crabbed old pantaloons among the +benchers, and that he judged it wise not to come hither at present, +for fear of attracting too much attention to Lord Glenvarloch's place +of residence. He stated, that he had taken measures for the safety of +his baggage, and would send him, by a safe hand, his money-casket, and +what articles he wanted. Then followed some sage advices, dictated by +Lowestoffe's acquaintance with Alsatia and its manners. He advised him +to keep the usurer in the most absolute uncertainty concerning the +state of his funds-never to throw a main with the captain, who was in +the habit of playing dry-fisted, and paying his losses with three +vowels; and, finally, to beware of Duke Hildebrod, who was as sharp, +he said, as a needle, though he had no more eyes than are possessed by +that necessary implement of female industry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +_Mother._ What I dazzled by a flash from Cupid's mirror, +With which the boy, as mortal urchins wont, +Flings back the sunbeam in the eye of passengers-- +Then laughs to see them stumble! + +_Daughter._ Mother! no-- +It was a lightning-flash which dazzled me, +And never shall these eyes see true again. + _Beef and Pudding.-An Old English Comedy._ + +It is necessary that we should leave our hero Nigel for a time, +although in a situation neither safe, comfortable, nor creditable, in +order to detail some particulars which have immediate connexion with +his fortunes. + +It was but the third day after he had been forced to take refuge in +the house of old Trapbois, the noted usurer of Whitefriars, commonly +called Golden Trapbois, when the pretty daughter of old Ramsay, the +watchmaker, after having piously seen her father finish his breakfast, +(from the fear that he might, in an abstruse fit of thought, swallow +the salt-cellar instead of a crust of the brown loaf,) set forth from +the house as soon as he was again plunged into the depth of +calculation, and, accompanied only by that faithful old drudge, Janet, +the Scots laundress, to whom her whims were laws, made her way to +Lombard Street, and disturbed, at the unusual hour of eight in the +morning, Aunt Judith, the sister of her worthy godfather. + +The venerable maiden received her young visitor with no great +complacency; for, naturally enough, she had neither the same +admiration of her very pretty countenance, nor allowance for her +foolish and girlish impatience of temper, which Master George Heriot +entertained. Still Mistress Margaret was a favourite of her brother's, +whose will was to Aunt Judith a supreme law; and she contented herself +with asking her untimely visitor, "what she made so early with her +pale, chitty face, in the streets of London?" + +"I would speak with the Lady Hermione," answered the almost breathless +girl, while the blood ran so fast to her face as totally to remove the +objection of paleness which Aunt Judith had made to her complexion. + +"With the Lady Hermione?" said Aunt Judith--"with the Lady Hermione? +and at this time in the morning, when she will scarce see any of the +family, even at seasonable hours? You are crazy, you silly wench, or +you abuse the indulgence which my brother and the lady have shown to +you." + +"Indeed, indeed I have not," repeated Margaret, struggling to retain +the unbidden tear which seemed ready to burst out on the slightest +occasion. "Do but say to the lady that your brother's god-daughter +desires earnestly to speak to her, and I know she will not refuse to +see me." + +Aunt Judith bent an earnest, suspicious, and inquisitive glance on her +young visitor, "You might make me your secretary, my lassie," she +said, "as well as the Lady Hermione. I am older, and better skilled to +advise. I live more in the world than one who shuts herself up within +four rooms, and I have the better means to assist you." + +"O! no--no--no," said Margaret, eagerly, and with more earnest +sincerity than complaisance; "there are some things to which you +cannot advise me, Aunt Judith. It is a case--pardon me, my dear aunt-- +a case beyond your counsel." + +"I am glad on't, maiden," said Aunt Judith, somewhat angrily; "for I +think the follies of the young people of this generation would drive +mad an old brain like mine. Here you come on the viretot, through the +whole streets of London, to talk some nonsense to a lady, who scarce +sees God's sun, but when he shines on a brick wall. But I will tell +her you are here." + +She went away, and shortly returned with a dry--"Miss Marget, the lady +will be glad to see you; and that's more, my young madam, than you had +a right to count upon." + +Mistress Margaret hung her head in silence, too much perplexed by the +train of her own embarrassed thoughts, for attempting either to +conciliate Aunt Judith's kindness, or, which on other occasions would +have been as congenial to her own humour, to retaliate on her cross- +tempered remarks and manner. She followed Aunt Judith, therefore, in +silence and dejection, to the strong oaken door which divided the Lady +Hermione's apartments from the rest of George Heriot's spacious house. + +At the door of this sanctuary it is necessary to pause, in order to +correct the reports with which Richie Moniplies had filled his +master's ear, respecting the singular appearance of that lady's +attendance at prayers, whom we now own to be by name the Lady +Hermione. Some part of these exaggerations had been communicated to +the worthy Scotsman by Jenkin Vincent, who was well experienced in the +species of wit which has been long a favourite in the city, under the +names of cross-biting, giving the dor, bamboozling, cramming, hoaxing, +humbugging, and quizzing; for which sport Richie Moniplies, with his +solemn gravity, totally unapprehensive of a joke, and his natural +propensity to the marvellous, formed an admirable subject. Farther +ornaments the tale had received from Richie himself, whose tongue, +especially when oiled with good liquor, had a considerable tendency to +amplification, and who failed not, while he retailed to his master all +the wonderful circumstances narrated by Vincent, to add to them many +conjectures of his own, which his imagination had over-hastily +converted into facts. + +Yet the life which the Lady Hermione had led for two years, during +which she had been the inmate of George Heriot's house, was so +singular, as almost to sanction many of the wild reports which went +abroad. The house which the worthy goldsmith inhabited, had in former +times belonged to a powerful and wealthy baronial family, which, +during the reign of Henry VIII., terminated in a dowager lady, very +wealthy, very devout, and most unalienably attached to the Catholic +faith. The chosen friend of the Honourable Lady Foljambe was the +Abbess of Saint Roque's Nunnery, like herself a conscientious, rigid, +and devoted Papist. When the house of Saint Roque was despotically +dissolved by the fiat of the impetuous monarch, the Lady Foljambe +received her friend into her spacious mansion, together with two +vestal sisters, who, like their Abbess, were determined to follow the +tenor of their vows, instead of embracing the profane liberty which +the Monarch's will had thrown in their choice. For their residence, +the Lady Foljambe contrived, with all secrecy--for Henry might not +have relished her interference--to set apart a suite of four rooms, +with a little closet fitted up as an oratory, or chapel; the whole +apartments fenced by a stout oaken door to exclude strangers, and +accommodated with a turning wheel to receive necessaries, according to +the practice of all nunneries. In this retreat, the Abbess of Saint +Roque and her attendants passed many years, communicating only with +the Lady Foljambe, who, in virtue of their prayers, and of the support +she afforded them, accounted herself little less than a saint on +earth. The Abbess, fortunately for herself, died before her munificent +patroness, who lived deep in Queen Elizabeth's time, ere she was +summoned by fate. + +The Lady Foljambe was succeeded in this mansion by a sour fanatic +knight, a distant and collateral relation, who claimed the same merit +for expelling the priestess of Baal, which his predecessor had founded +on maintaining the votaresses of Heaven. Of the two unhappy nuns, +driven from their ancient refuge, one went beyond sea; the other, +unable from old age to undertake such a journey, died under the roof +of a faithful Catholic widow of low degree. Sir Paul Crambagge, having +got rid of the nuns, spoiled the chapel of its ornaments, and had +thoughts of altogether destroying the apartments, until checked by the +reflection that the operation would be an unnecessary expense, since +he only inhabited three rooms of the large mansion, and had not +therefore the slightest occasion for any addition to its +accommodations. His son proved a waster and a prodigal, and from him +the house was bought by our friend George Heriot, who, finding, like +Sir Paul, the house more than sufficiently ample for his +accommodation, left the Foljambe apartments, or Saint Roque's rooms, +as they were called, in the state in which he found them. + +About two years and a half before our history opened, when Heriot was +absent upon an expedition to the Continent, he sent special orders to +his sister and his cash-keeper, directing that the Foljambe apartments +should be fitted up handsomely, though plainly, for the reception of a +lady, who would make them her residence for some time; and who would +live more or less with his own family according to her pleasure. He +also directed, that the necessary repairs should be made with secrecy, +and that as little should be said as possible upon the subject of his +letter. + +When the time of his return came nigh, Aunt Judith and the household +were on the tenter-hooks of impatience. Master George came, as he had +intimated, accompanied by a lady, so eminently beautiful, that, had it +not been for her extreme and uniform paleness, she might have been +reckoned one of the loveliest creatures on earth. She had with her an +attendant, or humble companion, whose business seemed only to wait +upon her. This person, a reserved woman, and by her dialect a +foreigner, aged about fifty, was called by the lady Monna Paula, and +by Master Heriot, and others, Mademoiselle Pauline. She slept in the +same room with her patroness at night, ate in her apartment, and was +scarcely ever separated from her during the day. + +These females took possession of the nunnery of the devout Abbess, +and, without observing the same rigorous seclusion, according to the +letter, seemed wellnigh to restore the apartments to the use to which +they had been originally designed. The new inmates lived and took +their meals apart from the rest of the family. With the domestics Lady +Hermione, for so she was termed, held no communication, and +Mademoiselle Pauline only such as was indispensable, which she +dispatched as briefly as possible. Frequent and liberal largesses +reconciled the servants to this conduct; and they were in the habit of +observing to each other, that to do a service for Mademoiselle +Pauline, was like finding a fairy treasure. + +To Aunt Judith the Lady Hermione was kind and civil, but their +intercourse was rare; on which account the elder lady felt some pangs +both of curiosity and injured dignity. But she knew her brother so +well, and loved him so dearly, that his will, once expressed, might be +truly said to become her own. The worthy citizen was not without a +spice of the dogmatism which grows on the best disposition, when a +word is a law to all around. Master George did not endure to be +questioned by his family, and, when he had generally expressed his +will, that the Lady Hermione should live in the way most agreeable to +her, and that no inquiries should be made concerning their history, or +her motives for observing such strict seclusion, his sister well knew +that he would have been seriously displeased with any attempt to pry +into the secret. + +But, though Heriot's servants were bribed, and his sister awed into +silent acquiescence in these arrangements, they were not of a nature +to escape the critical observation of the neighbourhood. Some opined +that the wealthy goldsmith was about to turn papist, and re-establish +Lady Foljambe's nunnery--others that he was going mad--others that he +was either going to marry, or to do worse. Master George's constant +appearance at church, and the knowledge that the supposed votaress +always attended when the prayers of the English ritual were read in +the family, liberated him from the first of these suspicions; those +who had to transact business with him upon 'Change, could not doubt +the soundness of Master Heriot's mind; and, to confute the other +rumours, it was credibly reported by such as made the matter their +particular interest, that Master George Heriot never visited his guest +but in presence of Mademoiselle Pauline, who sat with her work in a +remote part of the same room in which they conversed. It was also +ascertained that these visits scarcely ever exceeded an hour in +length, and were usually only repeated once a week, an intercourse too +brief and too long interrupted, to render it probable that love was +the bond of their union. + +The inquirers were, therefore, at fault, and compelled to relinquish +the pursuit of Master Heriot's secret, while a thousand ridiculous +tales were circulated amongst the ignorant and superstitious, with +some specimens of which our friend Richie Moniplies had been +_crammed_, as we have seen, by the malicious apprentice of worthy +David Ramsay. + +There was one person in the world who, it was thought, could (if she +would) have said more of the Lady Hermione than any one in London, +except George Heriot himself; and that was the said David Ramsay's +only child, Margaret. + +This girl was not much past the age of fifteen when the Lady Hermione +first came to England, and was a very frequent visitor at her +godfather's, who was much amused by her childish sallies, and by the +wild and natural beauty with which she sung the airs of her native +country. Spoilt she was on all hands; by the indulgence of her +godfather, the absent habits and indifference of her father, and the +deference of all around to her caprices, as a beauty and as an +heiress. But though, from these circumstances, the city-beauty had +become as wilful, as capricious, and as affected, as unlimited +indulgence seldom fails to render those to whom it is extended; and +although she exhibited upon many occasions that affectation of extreme +shyness, silence, and reserve, which misses in their teens are apt to +take for an amiable modesty; and, upon others, a considerable portion +of that flippancy, which youth sometimes confounds with wit, Mistress +Margaret had much real shrewdness and judgment, which wanted only +opportunities of observation to refine it--a lively, good-humoured, +playful disposition, and an excellent heart. Her acquired follies were +much increased by reading plays and romances, to which she devoted a +great deal of her time, and from which she adopted ideas as different +as possible from those which she might have obtained from the +invaluable and affectionate instructions of an excellent mother; and +the freaks of which she was sometimes guilty, rendered her not +unjustly liable to the charge of affectation and coquetry. But the +little lass had sense and shrewdness enough to keep her failings out +of sight of her godfather, to whom she was sincerely attached; and so +high she stood in his favour, that, at his recommendation, she +obtained permission to visit the recluse Lady Hermione. + +The singular mode of life which that lady observed; her great beauty, +rendered even more interesting by her extreme paleness; the conscious +pride of being admitted farther than the rest of the world into the +society of a person who was wrapped in so much mystery, made a deep +impression on the mind of Margaret Ramsay; and though their +conversations were at no time either long or confidential, yet, proud +of the trust reposed in her, Margaret was as secret respecting their +tenor as if every word repeated had been to cost her life. No inquiry, +however artfully backed by flattery and insinuation, whether on the +part of Dame Ursula, or any other person equally inquisitive, could +wring from the little maiden one word of what she heard or saw, after +she entered these mysterious and secluded apartments. The slightest +question concerning Master Heriot's ghost, was sufficient, at her +gayest moment, to check the current of her communicative prattle, and +render her silent. + +We mention this, chiefly to illustrate the early strength of +Margaret's character--a strength concealed under a hundred freakish +whims and humours, as an ancient and massive buttress is disguised by +its fantastic covering of ivy and wildflowers. In truth, if the damsel +had told all she heard or saw within the Foljambe apartments, she +would have said but little to gratify the curiosity of inquirers. + +At the earlier period of their acquaintance, the Lady Hermione was +wont to reward the attentions of her little friend with small but +elegant presents, and entertain her by a display of foreign rarities +and curiosities, many of them of considerable value. Sometimes the +time was passed in a way much less agreeable to Margaret, by her +receiving lessons from Pauline in the use of the needle. But, although +her preceptress practised these arts with a dexterity then only known +in foreign convents, the pupil proved so incorrigibly idle and +awkward, that the task of needlework was at length given up, and +lessons of music substituted in their stead. Here also Pauline was +excellently qualified as an instructress, and Margaret, more +successful in a science for which Nature had gifted her, made +proficiency both in vocal and instrumental music. These lessons passed +in presence of the Lady Hermione, to whom they seemed to give +pleasure. She sometimes added her own voice to the performance, in a +pure, clear stream of liquid melody; but this was only when the music +was of a devotional cast. As Margaret became older, her communications +with the recluse assumed a different character. She was allowed, if +not encouraged, to tell whatever she had remarked out of doors, and +the Lady Hermione, while she remarked the quick, sharp, and retentive +powers of observation possessed by her young friend, often found +sufficient reason to caution her against rashness in forming opinions, +and giddy petulance in expressing them. + +The habitual awe with which she regarded this singular personage, +induced Mistress Margaret, though by no means delighting in +contradiction or reproof, to listen with patience to her admonitions, +and to make full allowance for the good intentions of the patroness by +whom they were bestowed; although in her heart she could hardly +conceive how Madame Hermione, who never stirred from the Foljambe +apartments, should think of teaching knowledge of the world to one who +walked twice a-week between Temple Bar and Lombard Street, besides +parading in the Park every Sunday that proved to be fair weather. +Indeed, pretty Mistress Margaret was so little inclined to endure such +remonstrances, that her intercourse with the inhabitants of the +Foljambe apartments would have probably slackened as her circle of +acquaintance increased in the external world, had she not, on the one +hand, entertained an habitual reverence for her monitress, of which +she could not divest herself, and been flattered, on the other, by +being to a certain degree the depository of a confidence for which +others thirsted in vain. Besides, although the conversation of +Hermione was uniformly serious, it was not in general either formal or +severe; nor was the lady offended by flights of levity which Mistress +Margaret sometimes ventured on in her presence, even when they were +such as made Monna Paula cast her eyes upwards, and sigh with that +compassion which a devotee extends towards the votaries of a trivial +and profane world. Thus, upon the whole, the little maiden was +disposed to submit, though not without some wincing, to the grave +admonitions of the Lady Hermione; and the rather that the mystery +annexed to the person of her monitress was in her mind early +associated with a vague idea of wealth and importance, which had been +rather confirmed than lessened by many accidental circumstances which +she had noticed since she was more capable of observation. + +It frequently happens, that the counsel which we reckon intrusive when +offered to us unasked, becomes precious in our eyes when the pressure +of difficulties renders us more diffident of our own judgment than we +are apt to find ourselves in the hours of ease and indifference; and +this is more especially the case if we suppose that our adviser may +also possess power and inclination to back his counsel with effectual +assistance. Mistress Margaret was now in that situation. She was, or +believed herself to be, in a condition where both advice and +assistance might be necessary; and it was therefore, after an anxious +and sleepless night, that she resolved to have recourse to the Lady +Hermione, who she knew would readily afford her the one, and, as she +hoped, might also possess means of giving her the other. The +conversation between them will best explain the purport of the visit. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + + By this good light, a wench of matchless mettle! + This were a leaguer-lass to love a soldier, + To bind his wounds, and kiss his bloody brow, + And sing a roundel as she help'd to arm him, + Though the rough foeman's drums were beat so nigh, + They seem'd to bear the burden. + _Old Play._ + +When Mistress Margaret entered the Foljambe apartment, she found the +inmates employed in their usual manner; the lady in reading, and her +attendant in embroidering a large piece of tapestry, which had +occupied her ever since Margaret had been first admitted within these +secluded chambers. + +Hermione nodded kindly to her visitor, but did not speak; and +Margaret, accustomed to this reception, and in the present case not +sorry for it, as it gave her an interval to collect her thoughts, +stooped over Monna Paula's frame and observed, in a half whisper, "You +were just so far as that rose, Monna, when I first saw you--see, there +is the mark where I had the bad luck to spoil the flower in trying to +catch the stitch--I was little above fifteen then. These flowers make +me an old woman, Monna Paula." + +"I wish they could make you a wise one, my child," answered Monna +Paula, in whose esteem pretty Mistress Margaret did not stand quite so +high as in that of her patroness; partly owing to her natural +austerity, which was something intolerant of youth and gaiety, and +partly to the jealousy with which a favourite domestic regards any one +whom she considers as a sort of rival in the affections of her +mistress. + +"What is it you say to Monna, little one?" asked the lady. + +"Nothing, madam," replied Mistress Margaret, "but that I have seen the +real flowers blossom three times over since I first saw Monna Paula +working in her canvass garden, and her violets have not budded yet." + +"True, lady-bird," replied Hermione; "but the buds that are longest in +blossoming will last the longest in flower. You have seen them in the +garden bloom thrice, but you have seen them fade thrice also; now, +Monna Paula's will remain in blow for ever--they will fear neither +frost nor tempest." + +"True, madam," answered Mistress Margaret; "but neither have they life +or odour." + +"That, little one," replied the recluse, "is to compare a life +agitated by hope and fear, and chequered with success and +disappointment, and fevered by the effects of love and hatred, a life +of passion and of feeling, saddened and shortened by its exhausting +alternations, to a calm and tranquil existence, animated but by a +sense of duties, and only employed, during its smooth and quiet +course, in the unwearied discharge of them. Is that the moral of your +answer?" + +"I do not know, madam," answered Mistress Margaret; "but, of all birds +in the air, I would rather be the lark, that sings while he is +drifting down the summer breeze, than the weathercock that sticks fast +yonder upon his iron perch, and just moves so much as to discharge his +duty, and tell us which way the wind blows." + +"Metaphors are no arguments, my pretty maiden," said the Lady +Hermione, smiling. + +"I am sorry for that, madam," answered Margaret; "for they are such a +pretty indirect way of telling one's mind when it differs from one's +betters--besides, on this subject there is no end of them, and they +are so civil and becoming withal." + +"Indeed?" replied the lady; "let me hear some of them, I pray you." + +"It would be, for example, very bold in me," said Margaret, "to say to +your ladyship, that, rather than live a quiet life, I would like a +little variety of hope and fear, and liking and disliking--and--and-- +and the other sort of feelings which your ladyship is pleased to speak +of; but I may say freely, and without blame, that I like a butterfly +better than a bettle, or a trembling aspen better than a grim Scots +fir, that never wags a leaf--or that of all the wood, brass, and wire +that ever my father's fingers put together, I do hate and detest a +certain huge old clock of the German fashion, that rings hours and +half hours, and quarters and half quarters, as if it were of such +consequence that the world should know it was wound up and going. Now, +dearest lady, I wish you would only compare that clumsy, clanging, +Dutch-looking piece of lumber, with the beautiful timepiece that +Master Heriot caused my father to make for your ladyship, which uses +to play a hundred merry tunes, and turns out, when it strikes the +hour, a whole band of morrice dancers, to trip the hays to the +measure." + +"And which of these timepieces goes the truest, Margaret?" said the +lady. + +"I must confess the old Dutchman has the advantage in that"--said +Margaret. "I fancy you are right, madam, and that comparisons are no +arguments; at least mine has not brought me through." + +"Upon my word, maiden Margaret," said the lady, smiling, "you have +been of late thinking very much of these matters." + +"Perhaps too much, madam," said Margaret, so low as only to be heard +by the lady, behind the back of whose chair she had now placed +herself. The words were spoken very gravely, and accompanied by a half +sigh, which did not escape the attention of her to whom they were +addressed. The Lady Hermione turned immediately round, and looked +earnestly at Margaret, then paused for a moment, and, finally, +commanded Monna Paula to carry her frame and embroidery into the +antechamber. When they were left alone, she desired her young friend +to come from behind the chair on the back of which she still rested, +and sit down beside her upon a stool. + +"I will remain thus, madam, under your favour," answered Margaret, +without changing her posture; "I would rather you heard me without +seeing me." + +"In God's name, maiden," returned her patroness, "what is it you can +have to say, that may not be uttered face to face, to so true a friend +as I am?" + +Without making any direct answer, Margaret only replied, "You were +right, dearest lady, when you said, I had suffered my feelings too +much to engross me of late. I have done very wrong, and you will be +angry with me--so will my godfather, but I cannot help it--he must be +rescued." + +"_He?_" repeated the lady, with emphasis; "that brief little word +does, indeed, so far explain your mystery;--but come from behind the +chair, you silly popinjay! I will wager you have suffered yonder gay +young apprentice to sit too near your heart. I have not heard you +mention young Vincent for many a day--perhaps he has not been out of +mouth and out of mind both. Have you been so foolish as to let him +speak to you seriously?--I am told he is a bold youth." + +"Not bold enough to say any thing that could displease me, madam," +said Margaret. + +"Perhaps, then, you were _not_ displeased," said the lady; "or perhaps +he has not _spoken_, which would be wiser and better. Be open-hearted, +my love--your godfather will soon return, and we will take him into +our consultations. If the young man is industrious, and come of honest +parentage, his poverty may be no such insurmountable obstacle. But you +are both of you very young, Margaret--I know your godfather will +expect, that the youth shall first serve out his apprenticeship." + +Margaret had hitherto suffered the lady to proceed, under the mistaken +impression which she had adopted, simply because she could not tell +how to interrupt her; but pure despite at hearing her last words gave +her boldness at length to say "I crave your pardon, madam; but neither +the youth you mention, nor any apprentice or master within the city of +London--" + +"Margaret," said the lady, in reply, "the contemptuous tone with which +you mention those of your own class, (many hundreds if not thousands +of whom are in all respects better than yourself, and would greatly +honour you by thinking of you,) is methinks, no warrant for the wisdom +of your choice--for a choice, it seems, there is. Who is it, maiden, +to whom you have thus rashly attached yourself?--rashly, I fear it +must be." + +"It is the young Scottish Lord Glenvarloch, madam," answered Margaret, +in a low and modest tone, but sufficiently firm, considering the +subject. + +"The young Lord of Glenvarloch!" repeated the lady, in great surprise- +-"Maiden, you are distracted in your wits." + +"I knew you would say so, madam," answered Margaret. "It is what +another person has already told me--it is, perhaps, what all the world +would tell me--it is what I am sometimes disposed to tell myself. But +look at me, madam, for I will now come before you, and tell me if +there is madness or distraction in my look and word, when I repeat to +you again, that I have fixed my affections on this young nobleman." + +"If there is not madness in your look or word, maiden, there is +infinite folly in what you say," answered the Lady Hermione, sharply. +"When did you ever hear that misplaced love brought any thing but +wretchedness? Seek a match among your equals, Margaret, and escape the +countless kinds of risk and misery that must attend an affection +beyond your degree.--Why do you smile, maiden? Is there aught to cause +scorn in what I say?" + +"Surely no, madam," answered Margaret. "I only smiled to think how it +should happen, that, while rank made such a wide difference between +creatures formed from the same clay, the wit of the vulgar should, +nevertheless, jump so exactly the same length with that of the +accomplished and the exalted. It is but the variation of the phrase +which divides them. Dame Ursley told me the very same thing which your +ladyship has but now uttered; only you, madam, talk of countless +misery, and Dame Ursley spoke of the gallows, and Mistress Turner, who +was hanged upon it." + +"Indeed?" answered the Lady Hermione; "and who may Dame Ursley be, +that your wise choice has associated with me in the difficult task of +advising a fool?" + +"The barber's wife at next door, madam," answered Margaret, with +feigned simplicity, but far from being sorry at heart, that she had +found an indirect mode of mortifying her monitress. "She is the wisest +woman that I know, next to your ladyship." + +"A proper confidant," said the lady, "and chosen with the same +delicate sense of what is due to yourself and others!--But what ails +you, maiden--where are you going?" + +"Only to ask Dame Ursley's advice," said Margaret, as if about to +depart; "for I see your ladyship is too angry to give me any, and the +emergency is pressing." + +"What emergency, thou simple one?" said the lady, in a kinder tone.-- +"Sit down, maiden, and tell me your tale. It is true you are a fool, +and a pettish fool to boot; but then you are a child--an amiable +child, with all your self-willed folly, and we must help you, if we +can.--Sit down, I say, as you are desired, and you will find me a +safer and wiser counseller than the barber-woman. And tell me how you +come to suppose, that you have fixed your heart unalterably upon a man +whom you have seen, as I think, but once." + +"I have seen him oftener," said the damsel, looking down; "but I have +only spoken to him once. I should have been able to get that once out +of my head, though the impression was so deep, that I could even now +repeat every trifling word he said; but other things have since +riveted it in my bosom for ever." + +"Maiden," replied the lady, "_for ever_ is the word which comes most +lightly on the lips in such circumstances, but + which, not the less, is almost the last that we should use. The +fashion of this world, its passions, its joys, and its sorrows, pass +away like the winged breeze--there is nought for ever but that which +belongs to the world beyond the grave." + +"You have corrected me justly, madam," said Margaret calmly; "I ought +only to have spoken of my present state of mind, as what will last me +for my lifetime, which unquestionably may be but short." + +"And what is there in this Scottish lord that can rivet what concerns +him so closely in your fancy?" said the lady. "I admit him a +personable man, for I have seen him; and I will suppose him courteous +and agreeable. But what are his accomplishments besides, for these +surely are not uncommon attributes." + +"He is unfortunate, madam--most unfortunate--and surrounded by snares +of different kinds, ingeniously contrived to ruin his character, +destroy his estate, and, perhaps, to reach even his life. These +schemes have been devised by avarice originally, but they are now +followed close by vindictive ambition, animated, I think, by the +absolute and concentrated spirit of malice; for the Lord Dalgarno--" + +"Here, Monna Paula--Monna Paula!" exclaimed the Lady Hermione, +interrupting her young friend's narrative. "She hears me not," she +answered, rising and going out, "I must seek her--I will return +instantly." She returned accordingly very soon after. "You mentioned a +name which I thought was familiar to me," she said; "but Monna Paula +has put me right. I know nothing of your lord--how was it you named +him?" + +"Lord Dalgarno," said Margaret;--"the wickedest man who lives. Under +pretence of friendship, he introduced the Lord Glenvarloch to a +gambling-house with the purpose of engaging him in deep play; but he +with whom the perfidious traitor had to deal, was too virtuous, +moderate, and cautious, to be caught in a snare so open. What did they +next, but turn his own moderation against him, and persuade others +that--because he would not become the prey of wolves, he herded with +them for a share of their booty! And, while this base Lord Dalgarno +was thus undermining his unsuspecting countryman, he took every +measure to keep him surrounded by creatures of his own, to prevent him +from attending Court, and mixing with those of his proper rank. Since +the Gunpowder Treason, there never was a conspiracy more deeply laid, +more basely and more deliberately pursued." + +The lady smiled sadly at Margaret's vehemence, but sighed the next +moment, while she told her young friend how little she knew the world +she was about to live in, since she testified so much surprise at +finding it full of villainy. + +"But by what means," she added, "could you, maiden, become possessed +of the secret views of a man so cautious as Lord Dalgarno--as villains +in general are?" + +"Permit me to be silent on that subject," said the maiden; "I could +not tell you without betraying others--let it suffice that my tidings +are as certain as the means by which I acquired them are secret and +sure. But I must not tell them even to you." + +"You are too bold, Margaret," said the lady, "to traffic in such +matters at your early age. It is not only dangerous, but even +unbecoming and unmaidenly." + +"I knew you would say that also," said Margaret, with more meekness +and patience than she usually showed on receiving reproof; "but, God +knows, my heart acquits me of every other feeling save that of the +wish to assist this most innocent and betrayed man.--I contrived to +send him warning of his friend's falsehood;--alas! my care has only +hastened his utter ruin, unless speedy aid be found. He charged his +false friend with treachery, and drew on him in the Park, and is now +liable to the fatal penalty due for breach of privilege of the king's +palace." + +"This is indeed an extraordinary tale," said Hermione; "is Lord +Glenvarloch then in prison?" + +"No, madam, thank God, but in the Sanctuary at Whitefriars--it is +matter of doubt whether it will protect him in such a case--they speak +of a warrant from the Lord Chief Justice--A gentleman of the temple +has been arrested, and is in trouble for having assisted him in his +flight.--Even his taking temporary refuge in that base place, though +from extreme necessity, will be used to the further defaming him. All +this I know, and yet I cannot rescue him--cannot rescue him save by +your means." + +"By my means, maiden?" said the lady--"you are beside yourself!--What +means can I possess in this secluded situation, of assisting this +unfortunate nobleman?" + +"You have means," said Margaret, eagerly; "you have those means, +unless I mistake greatly, which can do anything--can do everything, in +this city, in this world--you have wealth, and the command of a small +portion of it will enable me to extricate him from his present danger. +He will be enabled and directed how to make his escape--and I--" she +paused. + +"Will accompany him, doubtless, and reap the fruits of your sage +exertions in his behalf?" said the Lady Hermione, ironically. + +"May heaven forgive you the unjust thought, lady," answered Margaret. +"I will never see him more--but I shall have saved him, and the +thought will make me happy." + +"A cold conclusion to so bold and warm a flame," said the lady, with a +smile which seemed to intimate incredulity. + +"It is, however, the only one which I expect, madam--I could almost +say the only one which I wish--I am sure I will use no efforts to +bring about any other; if I am bold in his cause, I am timorous enough +in my own. During our only interview I was unable to speak a word to +him. He knows not the sound of my voice--and all that I have risked, +and must yet risk, I am doing for one, who, were he asked the +question, would say he has long since forgotten that he ever saw, +spoke to, or sat beside, a creature of so little signification as I +am." + +"This is a strange and unreasonable indulgence of a passion equally +fanciful and dangerous," said Lady Hermione. "You will _not_ assist +me, then?" said Margaret; "have good-day, then, madam--my secret, I +trust, is safe in such honourable keeping." + +"Tarry yet a little," said the lady, "and tell me what resource you +have to assist this youth, if you were supplied with money to put it +in motion." + +"It is superfluous to ask me the question, madam," answered Margaret, +"unless you purpose to assist me; and, if you do so purpose, it is +still superfluous. You could not understand the means I must use, and +time is too brief to explain." + +"But have you in reality such means?" said the lady. + +"I have, with the command of a moderate sum," answered Margaret +Ramsay, "the power of baffling all his enemies--of eluding the passion +of the irritated king--the colder but more determined displeasure of +the prince--the vindictive spirit of Buckingham, so hastily directed +against whomsoever crosses the path of his ambition--the cold +concentrated malice of Lord Dalgarno--all, I can baffle them all!" + +"But is this to be done without your own personal risk, Margaret?" +replied the lady; "for, be your purpose what it will, you are not to +peril your own reputation or person, in the romantic attempt of +serving another; and I, maiden, am answerable to your godfather,--to +your benefactor, and my own,--not to aid you in any dangerous or +unworthy enterprise." + +"Depend upon my word,--my oath,--dearest lady," replied the +supplicant, "that I will act by the agency of others, and do not +myself design to mingle in any enterprise in which my appearance might +be either perilous or unwomanly." + +"I know not what to do," said the Lady Hermione; "it is perhaps +incautious and inconsiderate in me to aid so wild a project; yet the +end seems honourable, if the means be sure--what is the penalty if he +fall into their power?" + +"Alas, alas! the loss of his right hand!" replied Margaret, her voice +almost stifled with sobs. + +"Are the laws of England so cruel? Then there is mercy in heaven +alone," said the lady, "since, even in this free land, men are wolves +to each other.--Compose yourself, Margaret, and tell me what money is +necessary to secure Lord Glenvarloch's escape." + +"Two hundred pieces," replied Margaret; "I would speak to you of +restoring them--and I must one day have the power--only that I know-- +that is, I think--your ladyship is indifferent on that score." + +"Not a word more of it," said the lady; "call Monna Paula hither." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + + Credit me, friend, it hath been ever thus, + Since the ark rested on Mount Ararat. + False man hath sworn, and woman hath believed-- + Repented and reproach'd, and then believed once more. + _The New World._ + +By the time that Margaret returned with Monna Paula, the Lady Hermione +was rising from the table at which she had been engaged in writing +something on a small slip of paper, which she gave to her attendant. + +"Monna Paula," she said, "carry this paper to Roberts the cash-keeper; +let them give you the money mentioned in the note, and bring it hither +presently." + +Monna Paula left the room, and her mistress proceeded. + +"I do not know," she said, "Margaret, if I have done, and am doing, +well in this affair. My life has been one of strange seclusion, and I +am totally unacquainted with the practical ways of this world--an +ignorance which I know cannot be remedied by mere reading.--I fear I +am doing wrong to you, and perhaps to the laws of the country which +affords me refuge, by thus indulging you; and yet there is something +in my heart which cannot resist your entreaties." + +"O, listen to it--listen to it, dear, generous lady!" said Margaret, +throwing herself on her knees and grasping those of her benefactress +and looking in that attitude like a beautiful mortal in the act of +supplicating her tutelary angel; "the laws of men are but the +injunctions of mortality, but what the heart prompts is the echo of +the voice from heaven within us." + +"Rise, rise, maiden," said Hermione; "you affect me more than I +thought I could have been moved by aught that should approach me. Rise +and tell me whence it comes, that, in so short a time, your thoughts, +your looks, your speech, and even your slightest actions, are changed +from those of a capricious and fanciful girl, to all this energy and +impassioned eloquence of word and action?" + +"I am sure I know not, dearest lady," said Margaret, looking down; +"but I suppose that, when I was a trifler, I was only thinking of +trifles. What I now reflect is deep and serious, and I am thankful if +my speech and manner bear reasonable proportion to my thoughts." + +"It must be so," said the lady; "yet the change seems a rapid and +strange one. It seems to be as if a childish girl had at once shot up +into deep-thinking and impassioned woman, ready to make exertions +alike, and sacrifices, with all that vain devotion to a favourite +object of affection, which is often so basely rewarded." + +The Lady Hermione sighed bitterly, and Monna Paula entered ere the +conversation proceeded farther. She spoke to her mistress in the +foreign language in which they frequently conversed, but which was +unknown to Margaret. + +"We must have patience for a time," said the lady to her visitor; "the +cash-keeper is abroad on some business, but he is expected home in the +course of half an hour." + +Margaret wrung her hands in vexation and impatience. + +"Minutes are precious," continued the lady; "that I am well aware of; +and we will at least suffer none of them to escape us. Monna Paula +shall remain below and transact our business, the very instant that +Roberts returns home." + +She spoke to her attendant accordingly, who again left the room. + +"You are very kind, madam--very good," said the poor little Margaret, +while the anxious trembling of her lip and of her hand showed all that +sickening agitation of the heart which arises from hope deferred. + +"Be patient, Margaret, and collect yourself," said the lady; "you may, +you must, have much to do to carry through this your bold purpose-- +reserve your spirits, which you may need so much--be patient--it is +the only remedy against the evils of life." + +"Yes, madam," said Margaret, wiping her eyes, and endeavouring in vain +to suppress the natural impatience of her temper,--"I have heard so-- +very often indeed; and I dare say I have myself, heaven forgive me, +said so to people in perplexity and affliction; but it was before I +had suffered perplexity and vexation myself, and I am sure I will +never preach patience to any human being again, now that I know how +much the medicine goes against the stomach." + +"You will think better of it, maiden," said the Lady Hermione; "I +also, when I first felt distress, thought they did me wrong who spoke +to me of patience; but my sorrows have been repeated and continued +till I have been taught to cling to it as the best, and--religious +duties excepted, of which, indeed, patience forms a part--the only +alleviation which life can afford them." + +Margaret, who neither wanted sense nor feeling, wiped her tears +hastily, and asked her patroness's forgiveness for her petulance. + +"I might have thought"--she said, "I ought to have reflected, that +even from the manner of your life, madam, it is plain you must have +suffered sorrow; and yet, God knows, the patience which I have ever +seen you display, well entitles you to recommend your own example to +others." + +The lady was silent for a moment, and then replied-- + +"Margaret, I am about to repose a high confidence in you. You are no +longer a child, but a thinking and a feeling woman. You have told me +as much of your secret as you dared--I will let you know as much of +mine as I may venture to tell. You will ask me, perhaps, why, at a +moment when your own mind is agitated, I should force upon you the +consideration of my sorrows? and I answer, that I cannot withstand the +impulse which now induces me to do so. Perhaps from having witnessed, +for the first time these three years, the natural effects of human +passion, my own sorrows have been awakened, and are for the moment too +big for my own bosom--perhaps I may hope that you, who seem driving +full sail on the very rock on which I was wrecked for ever, will take +warning by the tale I have to tell. Enough, if you are willing to +listen, I am willing to tell you who the melancholy inhabitant of the +Foljambe apartments really is, and why she resides here. It will +serve, at least, to while away the time until Monna Paula shall bring +us the reply from Roberts." + +At any other moment of her life, Margaret Ramsay would have heard with +undivided interest a communication so flattering in itself, and +referring to a subject upon which the general curiosity had been so +strongly excited. And even at this agitating moment, although she +ceased not to listen with an anxious ear and throbbing heart for the +sound of Monna Paula's returning footsteps, she nevertheless, as +gratitude and policy, as well as a portion of curiosity dictated, +composed herself, in appearance at least, to the strictest attention +to the Lady Hermione, and thanked her with humility for the high +confidence she was pleased to repose in her. The Lady Hermione, with +the same calmness which always attended her speech and actions, thus +recounted her story to her young friend: + +"My father," she said, "was a merchant, but he was of a city whose +merchants are princes. I am the daughter of a noble house in Genoa, +whose name stood as high in honour and in antiquity, as any inscribed +in the Golden Register of that famous aristocracy. + +"My mother was a noble Scottish woman. She was descended--do not +start--and not remotely descended, of the house of Glenvarloch--no +wonder that I was easily led to take concern in the misfortunes of +this young lord. He is my near relation, and my mother, who was more +than sufficiently proud of her descent, early taught me to take an +interest in the name. My maternal grandfather, a cadet of that house +of Glenvarloch, had followed the fortunes of an unhappy fugitive, +Francis Earl of Bothwell, who, after showing his miseries in many a +foreign court, at length settled in Spain upon a miserable pension, +which he earned by conforming to the Catholic faith. Ralph Olifaunt, +my grandfather, separated from him in disgust, and settled at +Barcelona, where, by the friendship of the governor, his heresy, as it +was termed, was connived at. My father, in the course of his commerce, +resided more at Barcelona than in his native country, though at times +he visited Genoa. + +"It was at Barcelona that he became acquainted with my mother, loved +her, and married her; they differed in faith, but they agreed in +affection. I was their only child. In public I conformed to the +docterins and ceremonial of the Church of Rome; but my mother, by whom +these were regarded with horror, privately trained me up in those of +the reformed religion; and my father, either indifferent in the +matter, or unwilling to distress the woman whom he loved, overlooked +or connived at my secretly joining in her devotions. + +"But when, unhappily, my father was attacked, while yet in the prime +of life, by a slow wasting disease, which he felt to be incurable, he +foresaw the hazard to which his widow and orphan might be exposed, +after he was no more, in a country so bigoted to Catholicism as Spain. +He made it his business, during the two last years of his life, to +realize and remit to England a large part of his fortune, which, by +the faith and honour of his correspondent, the excellent man under +whose roof I now reside, was employed to great advantage. Had my +father lived to complete his purpose, by withdrawing his whole fortune +from commerce, he himself would have accompanied us to England, and +would have beheld us settled in peace and honour before his death. But +heaven had ordained it otherwise. He died, leaving several sums +engaged in the hands of his Spanish debtors; and, in particular, he +had made a large and extensive consignment to a certain wealthy +society of merchants at Madrid, who showed no willingness after his +death to account for the proceeds. Would to God we had left these +covetous and wicked men in possession of their booty, for such they +seemed to hold the property of their deceased correspondent and +friend! We had enough for comfort, and even splendour, already secured +in England; but friends exclaimed upon the folly of permitting these +unprincipled men to plunder us of our rightful property. The sum +itself was large, and the claim having been made, my mother thought +that my father's memory was interested in its being enforced, +especially as the defences set up for the mercantile society went, in +some degree, to impeach the fairness of his transactions. + +"We went therefore to Madrid. I was then, my Margaret, about your age, +young and thoughtless, as you have hitherto been--We went, I say, to +Madrid, to solicit the protection of the Court and of the king, +without which we were told it would be in vain to expect justice +against an opulent and powerful association. + +"Our residence at the Spanish metropolis drew on from weeks to months. +For my part, my natural sorrow for a kind, though not a fond father, +having abated, I cared not if the lawsuit had detained us at Madrid +for ever. My mother permitted herself and me rather more liberty than +we had been accustomed to. She found relations among the Scottish and +Irish officers, many of whom held a high rank in the Spanish armies; +their wives and daughters became our friends and companions, and I had +perpetual occasion to exercise my mother's native language, which I +had learned from my infancy. By degrees, as my mother's spirits were +low, and her health indifferent, she was induced, by her partial +fondness for me, to suffer me to mingle occasionally in society which +she herself did not frequent, under the guardianship of such ladies as +she imagined she could trust, and particularly under the care of the +lady of a general officer, whose weakness or falsehood was the +original cause of my misfortunes. I was as gay, Margaret, and +thoughtless--I again repeat it--as you were but lately, and my +attention, like yours, became suddenly riveted to one object, and to +one set of feelings. + +"The person by whom they were excited was young, noble, handsome, +accomplished, a soldier, and a Briton. So far our cases are nearly +parallel; but, may heaven forbid that the parallel should become +complete! This man, so noble, so fairly formed, so gifted, and so +brave--this villain, for that, Margaret, was his fittest name, spoke +of love to me, and I listened---Could I suspect his sincerity? If he +was wealthy, noble, and long-descended, I also was a noble and an +opulent heiress. It is true, that he neither knew the extent of my +father's wealth, nor did I communicate to him (I do not even remember +if I myself knew it at the time) the important circumstance, that the +greater part of that wealth was beyond the grasp of arbitrary power, +and not subject to the precarious award of arbitrary judges. My lover +might think, perhaps, as my mother was desirous the world at large +should believe, that almost our whole fortune depended on the +precarious suit which we had come to Madrid to prosecute--a belief +which she had countenanced out of policy, being well aware that a +knowledge of my father's having remitted such a large part of his +fortune to England, would in no shape aid the recovery of further sums +in the Spanish courts. Yet, with no more extensive views of my fortune +than were possessed by the public, I believe that he, of whom I am +speaking, was at first sincere in his pretensions. He had himself +interest sufficient to have obtained a decision in our favour in the +courts, and my fortune, reckoning only what was in Spain, would then +have been no inconsiderable sum. To be brief, whatever might be his +motives or temptation for so far committing himself, he applied to my +mother for my hand, with my consent and approval. My mother's judgment +had become weaker, but her passions had become more irritable, during +her increasing illness. + +"You have heard of the bitterness of the ancient Scottish feuds, of +which it may be said, in the language of Scripture, that the fathers +eat sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge. +Unhappily--I should say _happily_, considering what this man has now +shown himself to be--some such strain of bitterness had divided his +house from my mother's, and she had succeeded to the inheritance of +hatred. When he asked her for my hand, she was no longer able to +command her passions--she raked up every injury which the rival +families had inflicted upon each other during a bloody feud of two +centuries--heaped him with epithets of scorn, and rejected his +proposal of alliance, as if it had come from the basest of mankind. + +"My lover retired in passion; and I remained to weep and murmur +against fortune, and--I will confess my fault--against my affectionate +parent. I had been educated with different feelings, and the +traditions of the feuds and quarrels of my mother's family in +Scotland, which we're to her monuments and chronicles, seemed to me as +insignificant and unmeaning as the actions and fantasies of Don +Quixote; and I blamed my mother bitterly for sacrificing my happiness +to an empty dream of family dignity. + +"While I was in this humour, my lover sought a renewal of our +intercourse. We met repeatedly in the house of the lady whom I have +mentioned, and who, in levity, or in the spirit of intrigue, +countenanced our secret correspondence. At length we were secretly +married--so far did my blinded passion hurry me. My lover had secured +the assistance of a clergyman of the English church. Monna Paula, who +had been my attendant from infancy, was one witness of our union. Let +me do the faithful creature justice--She conjured me to suspend my +purpose till my mother's death should permit us to celebrate our +marriage openly; but the entreaties of my lover, and my own wayward +passion, prevailed over her remonstrances. The lady I have spoken of +was another witness, but whether she was in full possession of my +bridegroom's secret, I had never the means to learn. But the shelter +of her name and roof afforded us the means of frequently meeting, and +the love of my husband seemed as sincere and as unbounded as my own. + +"He was eager, he said, to gratify his pride, by introducing me to one +or two of his noble English friends. This could not be done at Lady D- +--'s; but by his command, which I was now entitled to consider as my +law, I contrived twice to visit him at his own hotel, accompanied only +by Monna Paula. There was a very small party, of two ladies and two +gentlemen. There was music, mirth, and dancing. I had heard of the +frankness of the English nation, but I could not help thinking it +bordered on license during these entertainments, and in the course of +the collation which followed; but I imputed my scruples to my +inexperience, and would not doubt the propriety of what was approved +by my husband. + +"I was soon summoned to other scenes: My poor mother's disease drew to +a conclusion--Happy I am that it took place before she discovered what +would have cut her to the soul. + +"In Spain you may have heard how the Catholic priests, and +particularly the monks, besiege the beds of the dying, to obtain +bequests for the good of the church. I have said that my mother's +temper was irritated by disease, and her judgment impaired in +proportion. She gathered spirits and force from the resentment which +the priests around her bed excited by their importunity, and the +boldness of the stern sect of reformers, to which she had secretly +adhered, seemed to animate her dying tongue. She avowed the religion +she had so long concealed; renounced all hope and aid which did not +come by and through its dictates; rejected with contempt the +ceremonial of the Romish church; loaded the astonished priests with +reproaches for their greediness and hypocrisy, and commanded them to +leave her house. They went in bitterness and rage, but it was to +return with the inquisitorial power, its warrants, and its officers; +and they found only the cold corpse left of her, on whom they had +hoped to work their vengeance. As I was soon discovered to have shared +my mother's heresy, I was dragged from her dead body, imprisoned in a +solitary cloister, and treated with severity, which the Abbess assured +me was due to the looseness of my life, as well as my spiritual +errors. I avowed my marriage, to justify the situation in which I +found myself--I implored the assistance of the Superior to communicate +my situation to my husband. She smiled coldly at the proposal, and +told me the church had provided a better spouse for me; advised me to +secure myself of divine grace hereafter, and deserve milder treatment +here, by presently taking the veil. In order to convince me that I had +no other resource, she showed me a royal decree, by which all my +estate was hypothecated to the convent of Saint Magdalen, and became +their complete property upon my death, or my taking the vows. As I +was, both from religious principle, and affectionate attachment to my +husband, absolutely immovable in my rejection of the veil, I believe-- +may heaven forgive me if I wrong her--that the Abbess was desirous to +make sure of my spoils, by hastening the former event. + +"It was a small and a poor convent, and situated among the mountains +of Guadarrama. Some of the sisters were the daughters of neighbouring +Hidalgoes, as poor as they were proud and ignorant; others were women +immured there on account of their vicious conduct. The Superior +herself was of a high family, to which she owed her situation; but she +was said to have disgraced her connexions by her conduct during youth, +and now, in advanced age, covetousness and the love of power, a spirit +too of severity and cruelty, had succeeded to the thirst after +licentious pleasure. I suffered much under this woman--and still her +dark, glassy eye, her tall, shrouded form, and her rigid features, +haunt my slumbers. + +"I was not destined to be a mother. I was very ill, and my recovery +was long doubtful. The most violent remedies were applied, if remedies +they indeed were. My health was restored at length, against my own +expectation and that of all around me. But, when I first again beheld +the reflection of my own face, I thought it was the visage of a ghost. +I was wont to be flattered by all, but particularly by my husband, for +the fineness of my complexion--it was now totally gone, and, what is +more extraordinary, it has never returned. I have observed that the +few who now see me, look upon me as a bloodless phantom--Such has been +the abiding effect of the treatment to which I was subjected. May God +forgive those who were the agents of it!--I thank Heaven I can say so +with as sincere a wish, as that with which I pray for forgiveness of +my own sins. They now relented somewhat towards me--moved perhaps to +compassion by my singular appearance, which bore witness to my +sufferings; or afraid that the matter might attract attention during a +visitation of the bishop, which was approaching. One day, as I was +walking in the convent-garden, to which I had been lately admitted, a +miserable old Moorish slave, who was kept to cultivate the little +spot, muttered as I passed him, but still keeping his wrinkled face +and decrepit form in the same angle with the earth--'There is Heart's +Ease near the postern.' + +"I knew something of the symbolical language of flowers, once carried +to such perfection among the Moriscoes of Spain; but if I had been +ignorant of it, the captive would soon have caught at any hint which +seemed to promise liberty. With all the haste consistent with the +utmost circumspection--for I might be observed by the Abbess or some +of the sisters from the window--I hastened to the postern. It was +closely barred as usual, but when I coughed slightly, I was answered +from the other side--and, O heaven! it was my husband's voice which +said, 'Lose not a minute here at present, but be on this spot when the +vesper bell has tolled.' + +"I retired in an ecstasy of joy. I was not entitled or permitted to +assist at vespers, but was accustomed to be confined to my cell while +the nuns were in the choir. Since my recovery, they had discontinued +locking the door; though the utmost severity was denounced against me +if I left these precincts. But, let the penalty be what it would, I +hastened to dare it.--No sooner had the last toll of the vesper bell +ceased to sound, than I stole from my chamber, reached the garden +unobserved, hurried to the postern, beheld it open with rapture, and +in the next moment was in my husband's arms. He had with him another +cavalier of noble mien--both were masked and armed. Their horses, with +one saddled for my use, stood in a thicket hard by, with two other +masked horsemen, who seemed to be servants. In less than two minutes +we were mounted, and rode off as fast as we could through rough and +devious roads, in which one of the domestics appeared to act as guide. + +"The hurried pace at which we rode, and the anxiety of the moment, +kept me silent, and prevented my expressing my surprise or my joy save +in a few broken words. It also served as an apology for my husband's +silence. At length we stopped at a solitary hut--the cavaliers +dismounted, and I was assisted from my saddle, not by M----M----my +husband, I would say, who seemed busied about his horse, but by the +stranger. + +"'Go into the hut,' said my husband, 'change your dress with the speed +of lightning--you will find one to _assist_ you--we must forward +instantly when you have shifted your apparel.' + +"I entered the hut, and was received in the arms of the faithful Monna +Paula, who had waited my arrival for many hours, half distracted with +fear and anxiety. With her assistance I speedily tore off the detested +garments of the convent, and exchanged them for a travelling suit, +made after the English fashion. I observed that Monna Paula was in a +similar dress. I had but just huddled on my change of attire, when we +were hastily summoned to mount. A horse, I found, was provided for +Monna Paula, and we resumed our route. On the way, my convent-garb, +which had been wrapped hastily together around a stone, was thrown +into a lake, along the verge of which we were then passing. The two +cavaliers rode together in front, my attendant and I followed, and the +servants brought up the rear. Monna Paula, as we rode on, repeatedly +entreated me to be silent upon the road, as our lives depended on it. +I was easily reconciled to be passive, for, the first fever of spirits +which attended the sense of liberation and of gratified affection +having passed away, I felt as it were dizzy with the rapid motion; and +my utmost exertion was necessary to keep my place on the saddle, until +we suddenly (it was now very dark) saw a strong light before us. + +"My husband reined up his horse, and gave a signal by a low whistle +twice repeated, which was answered from a distance. The whole party +then halted under the boughs of a large cork-tree, and my husband, +drawing himself close to my side, said, in a voice which I then +thought was only embarrassed by fear for my safety,--'We must now +part. Those to whom I commit you are contrabandists, who only know you +as English-women, but who, for a high bribe, have undertaken to escort +you through the passes of the Pyrenees as far as Saint Jean de Luz.' + +"'And do you not go with us?' I exclaimed with emphasis, though in a +whisper. + +"'It is impossible,' he said, 'and would ruin all--See that you speak +in English in these people's hearing, and give not the least sign of +understanding what they say in Spanish--your life depends on it; for, +though they live in opposition to, and evasion of, the laws of Spain, +they would tremble at the idea of violating those of the church--I see +them coming--farewell--farewell.' + +"The last words were hastily uttered-I endeavoured to detain him yet a +moment by my feeble grasp on his cloak. + +"'You will meet me, then, I trust, at Saint Jean de Luz?' + +"'Yes, yes,' he answered hastily, 'at Saint Jean de Luz you will meet +your protector.' + +"He then extricated his cloak from my grasp, and was lost in the +darkness. His companion approached--kissed my hand, which in the agony +of the moment I was scarce sensible of, and followed my husband, +attended by one of the domestics." + +The tears of Hermione here flowed so fast as to threaten the +interruption of her narrative. When she resumed it, it was with a kind +of apology to Margaret. + +"Every circumstance," she said, "occurring in those moments, when I +still enjoyed a delusive idea of happiness, is deeply imprinted in my +remembrance, which, respecting all that has since happened, is waste +and unvaried as an Arabian desert. But I have no right to inflict on +you, Margaret, agitated as you are with your own anxieties, the +unavailing details of my useless recollections." + +Margaret's eyes were full of tears--it was impossible it could be +otherwise, considering that the tale was told by her suffering +benefactress, and resembled, in some respects, her own situation; and +yet she must not be severely blamed, if, while eagerly pressing her +patroness to continue her narrative, her eye involuntarily sought the +door, as if to chide the delay of Monna Paula. + +The Lady Hermione saw and forgave these conflicting emotions; and she, +too, must be pardoned, if, in her turn, the minute detail of her +narrative showed, that, in the discharge of feelings so long locked in +her own bosom, she rather forgot those which were personal to her +auditor, and by which it must be supposed Margaret's mind was +principally occupied, if not entirely engrossed. + +"I told you, I think, that one domestic followed the gentlemen," thus +the lady continued her story, "the other remained with us for the +purpose, as it seemed, of introducing us to two persons whom M--, I +say, whom my husband's signal had brought to the spot. A word or two +of explanation passed between them and the servant, in a sort of +_patois_, which I did not understand; and one of the strangers taking +hold of my bridle, the other of Monna Paula's, they led us towards the +light, which I have already said was the signal of our halting. I +touched Monna Paula, and was sensible that she trembled very much, +which surprised me, because I knew her character to be so strong and +bold as to border upon the masculine. + +"When we reached the fire, the gipsy figures of those who surrounded +it, with their swarthy features, large Sombrero hats, girdles stuck +full of pistols and poniards, and all the other apparatus of a roving +and perilous life, would have terrified me at another moment. But then +I only felt the agony of having parted from my husband almost in the +very moment of my rescue. The females of the gang--for there were four +or five women amongst these contraband traders--received us with a +sort of rude courtesy. They were, in dress and manners, not extremely +different from the men with whom they associated--were almost as hardy +and adventurous, carried arms like them, and were, as we learned from +passing circumstances, scarce less experienced in the use of them. + +"It was impossible not to fear these wild people; yet they gave us no +reason to complain of them, but used us on all occasions with a kind +of clumsy courtesy, accommodating themselves to our wants and our +weakness during the journey, even while we heard them grumbling to +each other against our effeminacy,--like some rude carrier, who, in +charge of a package of valuable and fragile ware, takes every +precaution for its preservation, while he curses the unwonted trouble +which it occasions him. Once or twice, when they were disappointed in +their contraband traffic, lost some goods in a rencontre with the +Spanish officers of the revenue, and were finally pursued by a +military force, their murmurs assumed a more alarming tone, in the +terrified ears of my attendant and myself, when, without daring to +seem to understand them, we heard them curse the insular heretics, on +whose account God, Saint James, and Our Lady of the Pillar, had +blighted their hopes of profit. These are dreadful recollections, +Margaret." + +"Why, then, dearest lady," answered Margaret, "will you thus dwell on +them?" + +"It is only," said the Lady Hermione, "because I linger like a +criminal on the scaffold, and would fain protract the time that must +inevitably bring on the final catastrophe. Yes, dearest Margaret, I +rest and dwell on the events of that journey, marked as it was by +fatigue and danger, though the road lay through the wildest and most +desolate deserts and mountains, and though our companions, both men +and women, were fierce and lawless themselves, and exposed to the most +merciless retaliation from those with whom they were constantly +engaged--yet would I rather dwell on these hazardous events than tell +that which awaited me at Saint Jean de Luz." + +"But you arrived there in safety?" said Margaret. + +"Yes, maiden," replied the Lady Hermione; "and were guided by the +chief of our outlawed band to the house which had been assigned for +reception, with the same punctilious accuracy with which he would have +delivered a bale of uncustomed goods to a correspondent. I was told a +gentleman had expected me for two days--I rushed into the apartment, +and, when I expected to embrace my husband--I found myself in the arms +of his friend!" + +"The villain!" exclaimed Margaret, whose anxiety had, in spite of +herself, been a moment suspended by the narrative of the lady. + +"Yes," replied Hermione, calmly, though her voice somewhat faltered, +"it is the name that best--that well befits him. He, Margaret, for +whom I had sacrificed all--whose love and whose memory were dearer to +me than my freedom, when I was in the convent--than my life, when I +was on my perilous journey--had taken his measures to shake me off, +and transfer me, as a privileged wanton, to the protection of his +libertine friend. At first the stranger laughed at my tears and my +agony, as the hysterical passion of a deluded and overreached wanton, +or the wily affection of a courtezan. My claim of marriage he laughed +at, assuring me he knew it was a mere farce required by me, and +submitted to by his friend, to save some reserve of delicacy; and +expressed his surprise that I should consider in any other light a +ceremony which could be valid neither in Spain nor England, and +insultingly offered to remove my scruples, by renewing such a union +with me himself. My exclamations brought Monna Paula to my aid--she +was not, indeed, far distant, for she had expected some such scene." + +"Good heaven!" said Margaret, "was she a confidant of your base +husband?" + +"No," answered Hermione, "do her not that injustice. It was her +persevering inquiries that discovered the place of my confinement--it +was she who gave the information to my husband, and who remarked even +then that the news was so much more interesting to his friend than to +him, that she suspected, from an early period, it was the purpose of +the villain to shake me off. On the journey, her suspicions were +confirmed. She had heard him remark to his companion, with a cold +sarcastic sneer, the total change which my prison and my illness had +made on my complexion; and she had heard the other reply, that the +defect might be cured by a touch of Spanish red. This, and other +circumstances, having prepared her for such treachery, Monna Paula now +entered, completely possessed of herself, and prepared to support me. +Her calm representations went farther with the stranger than the +expressions of my despair. If he did not entirely believe our tale, he +at least acted the part of a man of honour, who would not intrude +himself on defenceless females, whatever was their character; desisted +from persecuting us with his presence; and not only directed Monna +Paula how we should journey to Paris, but furnished her with money for +the purpose of our journey. From the capital I wrote to Master Heriot, +my father's most trusted correspondent; he came instantly to Paris on +receiving the letter; and--But here comes Monna Paula, with more than +the sum you desired. Take it, my dearest maiden--serve this youth if +you will. But, O Margaret, look for no gratitude in return!" + +The Lady Hermione took the bag of gold from her attendant, and gave it +to her young friend, who threw herself into her arms, kissed her on +both the pale cheeks, over which the sorrows so newly awakened by her +narrative had drawn many tears, then sprung up, wiped her own +overflowing eyes, and left the Foljambe apartments with a hasty and +resolved step. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + + Rove not from pole to pole-the man lives here + Whose razor's only equall'd by his beer; + And where, in either sense, the cockney-put + May, if he pleases, get confounded cut. + _On the sign of an Alehouse kept by a Barber._ + +We are under the necessity of transporting our readers to the +habitation of Benjamin Suddlechop, the husband of the active and +efficient Dame Ursula, and who also, in his own person, discharged +more offices than one. For, besides trimming locks and beards, and +turning whiskers upward into the martial and swaggering curl, or +downward into the drooping form which became mustaches of civil +policy; besides also occasionally letting blood, either by cupping or +by the lancet, extracting a stump, and performing other actions of +petty pharmacy, very nearly as well as his neighbour Raredrench, the +apothecary: he could, on occasion, draw a cup of beer as well as a +tooth, tap a hogshead as well as a vein, and wash, with a draught of +good ale, the mustaches which his art had just trimmed. But he carried +on these trades apart from each other. + +His barber's shop projected its long and mysterious pole into Fleet +Street, painted party-coloured-wise, to represent the ribbons with +which, in elder times, that ensign was garnished. In the window were +seen rows of teeth displayed upon strings like rosaries--cups with a +red rag at the bottom, to resemble blood, an intimation that patients +might be bled, cupped, or blistered, with the assistance of +"sufficient advice;" while the more profitable, but less honourable +operations upon the hair of the head and beard, were briefly and +gravely announced. Within was the well-worn leather chair for +customers, the guitar, then called a ghittern or cittern, with which a +customer might amuse himself till his predecessor was dismissed from +under Benjamin's hands, and which, therefore, often flayed the ears of +the patient metaphorically, while his chin sustained from the razor +literal scarification. All, therefore, in this department, spoke the +chirurgeon-barber, or the barber-chirurgeon. + +But there was a little back-room, used as a private tap-room, which +had a separate entrance by a dark and crooked alley, which +communicated with Fleet Street, after a circuitous passage through +several by-lanes and courts. This retired temple of Bacchus had also a +connexion with Benjamin's more public shop by a long and narrow +entrance, conducting to the secret premises in which a few old topers +used to take their morning draught, and a few gill-sippers their +modicum of strong waters, in a bashful way, after having entered the +barber's shop under pretence of being shaved. Besides, this obscure +tap-room gave a separate admission to the apartments of Dame Ursley, +which she was believed to make use of in the course of her +multifarious practice, both to let herself secretly out, and to admit +clients and employers who cared not to be seen to visit her in public. +Accordingly, after the hour of noon, by which time the modest and +timid whetters, who were Benjamin's best customers, had each had his +draught, or his thimbleful, the business of the tap was in a manner +ended, and the charge of attending the back-door passed from one of +the barber's apprentices to the little mulatto girl, the dingy Iris of +Dame Suddlechop. Then came mystery thick upon mystery; muffled +gallants, and masked females, in disguises of different fashions, were +seen to glide through the intricate mazes of the alley; and even the +low tap on the door, which frequently demanded the attention of the +little Creole, had in it something that expressed secrecy and fear of +discovery. + +It was the evening of the same day when Margaret had held the long +conference with the Lady Hermione, that Dame Suddlechop had directed +her little portress to "keep the door fast as a miser's purse-strings; +and, as she valued her saffron skin, to let in none but---" the name +she added in a whisper, and accompanied it with a nod. The little +domestic blinked intelligence, went to her post, and in brief time +thereafter admitted and ushered into the presence of the dame, that +very city-gallant whose clothes sat awkwardly upon him, and who had +behaved so doughtily in the fray which befell at Nigel's first visit +to Beaujeu's ordinary. The mulatto introduced him--"Missis, fine young +gentleman, all over gold and velvet "--then muttered to herself as she +shut the door, "fine young gentleman, he!--apprentice to him who makes +the tick-tick." + +It was indeed--we are sorry to say it, and trust our readers will +sympathize with the interest we take in the matter--it was indeed +honest Jin Vin, who had been so far left to his own devices, and +abandoned by his better angel, as occasionally to travesty himself in +this fashion, and to visit, in the dress of a gallant of the day, +those places of pleasure and dissipation, in which it would have been +everlasting discredit to him to have been seen in his real character +and condition; that is, had it been possible for him in his proper +shape to have gained admission. There was now a deep gloom on his +brow, his rich habit was hastily put on, and buttoned awry; his belt +buckled in a most disorderly fashion, so that his sword stuck outwards +from his side, instead of hanging by it with graceful negligence; +while his poniard, though fairly hatched and gilded, stuck in his +girdle like a butcher's steel in the fold of his blue apron. Persons +of fashion had, by the way, the advantage formerly of being better +distinguished from the vulgar than at present; for, what the ancient +farthingale and more modern hoop were to court ladies, the sword was +to the gentleman; an article of dress, which only rendered those +ridiculous who assumed it for the nonce, without being in the habit of +wearing it. Vincent's rapier got between his legs, and, as he stumbled +over it, he exclaimed--"Zounds! 'tis the second time it has served me +thus--I believe the damned trinket knows I am no true gentleman, and +does it of set purpose." + +"Come, come, mine honest Jin Vin--come, my good boy," said the dame, +in a soothing tone, "never mind these trankums--a frank and hearty +London 'prentice is worth all the gallants of the inns of court." + +"I was a frank and hearty London 'prentice before I knew you, Dame +Suddlechop," said Vincent; "what your advice has made me, you may find +a name for; since, fore George! I am ashamed to think about it +myself." + +"A-well-a-day," quoth the dame, "and is it even so with thee?--nay, +then, I know but one cure;" and with that, going to a little corner +cupboard of carved wainscoat, she opened it by the assistance of a +key, which, with half-a-dozen besides, hung in a silver chain at her +girdle, and produced a long flask of thin glass cased with wicker, +bringing forth at the same time two Flemish rummer glasses, with long +stalks and capacious wombs. She filled the one brimful for her guest, +and the other more modestly to about two-thirds of its capacity, for +her own use, repeating, as the rich cordial trickled forth in a smooth +oily stream--"Right Rosa Solis, as ever washed mulligrubs out of a +moody brain!" + +But, though Jin Vin tossed off his glass without scruple, while the +lady sippped hers more moderately, it did not appear to produce the +expected amendment upon his humour. On the contrary, as he threw +himself into the great leathern chair, in which Dame Ursley was wont +to solace herself of an evening, he declared himself "the most +miserable dog within the sound of Bow-bell." + +"And why should you be so idle as to think yourself so, silly boy?" +said Dame Suddlechop; "but 'tis always thus--fools and children never +know when they are well. Why, there is not one that walks in St. +Paul's, whether in flat cap, or hat and feather, that has so many kind +glances from the wenches as you, when ye swagger along Fleet Street +with your bat under your arm, and your cap set aside upon your head. +Thou knowest well, that, from Mrs. Deputy's self down to the waist- +coateers in the alley, all of them are twiring and peeping betwixt +their fingers when you pass; and yet you call yourself a miserable +dog! and I must tell you all this over and over again, as if I were +whistling the chimes of London to a pettish child, in order to bring +the pretty baby into good-humour!" + +The flattery of Dame Ursula seemed to have the fate of her cordial--it +was swallowed, indeed, by the party to whom she presented it, and that +with some degree of relish, but it did not operate as a sedative on +the disturbed state of the youth's mind. He laughed for an instant, +half in scorn, and half in gratified vanity, but cast a sullen look on +Dame Ursley as he replied to her last words, + +"You do treat me like a child indeed, when you sing over and over to +me a cuckoo song that I care not a copper-filing for." + +"Aha!" said Dame Ursley; "that is to say, you care not if you please +all, unless you please one--You are a true lover, I warrant, and care +not for all the city, from here to Whitechapel, so you could write +yourself first in your pretty Peg-a-Ramsay's good-will. Well, well, +take patience, man, and be guided by me, for I will be the hoop will +bind you together at last." + +"It is time you were so," said Jenkin, "for hitherto you have rather +been the wedge to separate us." + +Dame Suddlechop had by this time finished her cordial--it was not the +first she had taken that day; and, though a woman of strong brain, and +cautious at least, if not abstemious, in her potations, it may +nevertheless be supposed that her patience was not improved by the +regimen which she observed. + +"Why, thou ungracious and ingrate knave," said Dame Ursley, "have not +I done every thing to put thee in thy mistress's good graces? She +loves gentry, the proud Scottish minx, as a Welshman loves cheese, and +has her father's descent from that Duke of Daldevil, or whatsoever she +calls him, as close in her heart as gold in a miser's chest, though +she as seldom shows it--and none she will think of, or have, but a +gentleman--and a gentleman I have made of thee, Jin Vin, the devil +cannot deny that." + +"You have made a fool of me," said poor Jenkin, looking at the sleeve +of his jacket. + +"Never the worse gentleman for that," said Dame Ursley, laughing. + +"And what is worse," said he, turning his back to her suddenly, and +writhing in his chair, "you have made a rogue of me." + +"Never the worse gentleman for that neither," said Dame Ursley, in the +same tone; "let a man bear his folly gaily and his knavery stoutly, +and let me see if gravity or honesty will look him in the face now-a- +days. Tut, man, it was only in the time of King Arthur or King Lud, +that a gentleman was held to blemish his scutcheon by a leap over the +line of reason or honesty--It is the bold look, the ready hand, the +fine clothes, the brisk oath, and the wild brain, that makes the +gallant now-a-days." + +"I know what you have made me," said Jin Vin; "since I have given up +skittles and trap-ball for tennis and bowls, good English ale for thin +Bordeaux and sour Rhenish, roast-beef and pudding for woodcocks and +kickshaws--my bat for a sword, my cap for a beaver, my forsooth for a +modish oath, my Christmas-box for a dice-box, my religion for the +devil's matins, and mine honest name for--Woman, I could brain thee, +when I think whose advice has guided me in all this!" + +"Whose advice, then? whose advice, then? Speak out, thou poor, petty +cloak-brusher, and say who advised thee!" retorted Dame Ursley, +flushed and indignant--"Marry come up, my paltry companion--say by +whose advice you have made a gamester of yourself, and a thief +besides, as your words would bear--The Lord deliver us from evil!" And +here Dame Ursley devoutly crossed herself. + +"Hark ye, Dame Ursley Suddlechop," said Jenkin, starting up, his dark +eyes flashing with anger; "remember I am none of your husband--and, if +I were, you would do well not to forget whose threshold was swept when +they last rode the Skimmington [Footnote: A species of triumphal +procession in honour of female supremacy, when it rose to such a +height as to attract the attention of the neighbourhood. It is +described at full length in Hudibras. (Part II. Canto II.) As the +procession passed on, those who attended it in an official capacity +were wont to sweep the threshold of the houses in which Fame affirmed +the mistresses to exercise paramount authority, which was given and +received as a hint that their inmates might, in their turn, be made +the subject of a similar ovation. The Skimmington, which in some +degree resembled the proceedings of Mumbo Jumbo in an African village, +has been long discontinued in England, apparently because female rule +has become either milder or less frequent than among our ancestors.] +upon such another scolding jade as yourself." + +"I hope to see you ride up Holborn next," said Dame Ursley, provoked +out of all her holiday and sugar-plum expressions, "with a nosegay at +your breast, and a parson at your elbow!" + +"That may well be," answered Jin Vin, bitterly, "if I walk by your +counsels as I have begun by them; but, before that day comes, you +shall know that Jin Vin has the brisk boys of Fleet Street still at +his wink.--Yes, you jade, you shall be carted for bawd and conjurer, +double-dyed in grain, and bing off to Bridewell, with every brass +basin betwixt the Bar and Paul's beating before you, as if the devil +were banging them with his beef-hook." + +Dame Ursley coloured like scarlet, seized upon the half-emptied flask +of cordial, and seemed, by her first gesture, about to hurl it at the +head of her adversary; but suddenly, and as if by a strong internal +effort, she checked her outrageous resentment, and, putting the bottle +to its more legitimate use, filled, with wonderful composure, the two +glasses, and, taking up one of them, said, with a smile, which better +became her comely and jovial countenance than the fury by which it was +animated the moment before-- + +"Here is to thee, Jin Vin, my lad, in all loving kindness, whatever +spite thou bearest to me, that have always been a mother to thee." + +Jenkin's English good-nature could not resist this forcible appeal; he +took up the other glass, and lovingly pledged the dame in her cup of +reconciliation, and proceeded to make a kind of grumbling apology for +his own violence-- + +"For you know," he said, "it was you persuaded me to get these fine +things, and go to that godless ordinary, and ruffle it with the best, +and bring you home all the news; and you said, I, that was the cock of +the ward, would soon be the cock of the ordinary, and would win ten +times as much at gleek and primero, as I used to do at put and beggar- +my-neighbour--and turn up doublets with the dice, as busily as I was +wont to trowl down the ninepins in the skittle-ground--and then you +said I should bring you such news out of the ordinary as should make +us all, when used as you knew how to use it--and now you see what is +to come of it all!" + +"'Tis all true thou sayest, lad," said the dame; "but thou must have +patience. Rome was not built in a day--you cannot become used to your +court-suit in a month's time, any more than when you changed your long +coat for a doublet and hose; and in gaming you must expect to lose as +well as gain--'tis the sitting gamester sweeps the board." + +"The board has swept me, I know," replied Jin Vin, "and that pretty +clean out.--I would that were the worst; but I owe for all this +finery, and settling-day is coming on, and my master will find my +accompt worse than it should be by a score of pieces. My old father +will be called in to make them good; and I--may save the hangman a +labour and do the job myself, or go the Virginia voyage." + +"Do not speak so loud, my dear boy," said Dame Ursley; "but tell me +why you borrow not from a friend to make up your arrear. You could +lend him as much when his settling-day came round." + +"No, no--I have had enough of that work," said Vincent. "Tunstall +would lend me the money, poor fellow, an he had it; but his gentle, +beggarly kindred, plunder him of all, and keep him as bare as a birch +at Christmas. No--my fortune may be spelt in four letters, and these +read, RUIN." + +"Now hush, you simple craven," said the dame; "did you never hear, +that when the need is highest the help is nighest? We may find aid for +you yet, and sooner than you are aware of. I am sure I would never +have advised you to such a course, but only you had set heart and eye +on pretty Mistress Marget, and less would not serve you--and what +could I do but advise you to cast your city-slough, and try your luck +where folks find fortune?" + +"Ay, ay--I remember your counsel well," said Jenkin; "I was to be +introduced to her by you when I was perfect in my gallantries, and as +rich as the king; and then she was to be surprised to find I was poor +Jin Vin, that used to watch, from matin to curfew, for one glance of +her eye; and now, instead of that, she has set her soul on this +Scottish sparrow-hawk of a lord that won my last tester, and be cursed +to him; and so I am bankrupt in love, fortune, and character, before I +am out of my time, and all along of you, Mother Midnight." + +"Do not call me out of my own name, my dear boy, Jin Vin," answered +Ursula, in a tone betwixt rage and coaxing,--"do not; because I am no +saint, but a poor sinful woman, with no more patience than she needs, +to carry her through a thousand crosses. And if I have done you wrong +by evil counsel, I must mend it and put you right by good advice. And +for the score of pieces that must be made up at settling-day, why, +here is, in a good green purse, as much as will make that matter good; +and we will get old Crosspatch, the tailor, to take a long day for +your clothes; and--" + +"Mother, are you serious?" said Jin Vin, unable to trust either his +eyes or his ears. + +"In troth am I," said the dame; "and will you call me Mother Midnight +now, Jin Vin?" + +"Mother Midnight!" exclaimed Jenkin, hugging the dame in his +transport, and bestowing on her still comely cheek a hearty and not +unacceptable smack, that sounded like the report of a pistol,--"Mother +Midday, rather, that has risen to light me out of my troubles--a +mother more dear than she who bore me; for she, poor soul, only +brought me into a world of sin and sorrow, and your timely aid has +helped me out of the one and the other. "And the good-natured fellow +threw himself back in his chair, and fairly drew his hand across his +eyes. + +"You would not have me be made to ride the Skimmington then," said the +dame; "or parade me in a cart, with all the brass basins of the ward +beating the march to Bridewell before me?" + +"I would sooner be carted to Tyburn myself," replied the penitent. + +"Why, then, sit up like a man, and wipe thine eyes; and, if thou art +pleased with what I have done, I will show thee how thou mayst requite +me in the highest degree." + +"How?" said Jenkin Vincent, sitting straight up in his chair.--"You +would have me, then, do you some service for this friendship of +yours?" + +"Ay, marry would I," said Dame Ursley; "for you are to know, that +though I am right glad to stead you with it, this gold is not mine, +but was placed in my hands in order to find a trusty agent, for a +certain purpose; and so--But what's the matter with you?--are you fool +enough to be angry because you cannot get a purse of gold for nothing? +I would I knew where such were to come by. I never could find them +lying in my road, I promise you." + +"No, no, dame," said poor Jenkin, "it is not for that; for, look you, +I would rather work these ten bones to the knuckles, and live by my +labour; but--" (and here he paused.) + +"But what, man?" said Dame Ursley. "You are willing to work for what +you want; and yet, when I offer you gold for the winning, you look on +me as the devil looks over Lincoln." + +"It is ill talking of the devil, mother," said Jenkin. "I had him even +now in my head--for, look you, I am at that pass, when they say he +will appear to wretched ruined creatures, and proffer them gold for +the fee-simple of their salvation. But I have been trying these two +days to bring my mind strongly up to the thought, that I will rather +sit down in shame, and sin, and sorrow, as I am like to do, than hold +on in ill courses to get rid of my present straits; and so take care, +Dame Ursula, how you tempt me to break such a good resolution." + +"I tempt you to nothing, young man," answered Ursula; "and, as I +perceive you are too wilful to be wise, I will e'en put my purse in my +pocket, and look out for some one that will work my turn with better +will, and more thankfulness. And you may go your own course,--break +your indenture, ruin your father, lose your character, and bid pretty +Mistress Margaret farewell, for ever and a day." + +"Stay, stay," said Jenkin "the woman is in as great a hurry as a brown +baker when his oven is overheated. First, let me hear that which you +have to propose to me." + +"Why, after all, it is but to get a gentleman of rank and fortune, who +is in trouble, carried in secret down the river, as far as the Isle of +Dogs, or somewhere thereabout, where he may lie concealed until he can +escape aboard. I know thou knowest every place by the river's side as +well as the devil knows an usurer, or the beggar knows his dish." + +"A plague of your similes, dame," replied the apprentice; "for the +devil gave me that knowledge, and beggary may be the end on't.--But +what has this gentleman done, that he should need to be under hiding? +No Papist, I hope--no Catesby and Piercy business--no Gunpowder Plot?" + +"Fy, fy!--what do you take me for?" said Dame Ursula. "I am as good a +churchwoman as the parson's wife, save that necessary business will +not allow me to go there oftener than on Christmas-day, heaven help +me!--No, no--this is no Popish matter. The gentleman hath but struck +another in the Park--" + +"Ha! what?" said Vincent, interrupting her with a start. + +"Ay, ay, I see you guess whom I mean. It is even he we have spoken of +so often--just Lord Glenvarloch, and no one else." + +Vincent sprung from his seat, and traversed the room with rapid and +disorderly steps. + +"There, there it is now--you are always ice or gunpowder. You sit in +the great leathern armchair, as quiet as a rocket hangs upon the frame +in a rejoicing-night till the match be fired, and then, whizz! you are +in the third heaven, beyond the reach of the human voice, eye, or +brain.--When you have wearied yourself with padding to and fro across +the room, will you tell me your determination, for time presses? Will +you aid me in this matter, or not?" + +"No--no--no--a thousand times no," replied Jenkin. "Have you not +confessed to me, that Margaret loves him?" + +"Ay," answered the dame, "that she thinks she does; but that will not +last long." + +"And have I not told you but this instant," replied Jenkin, "that it +was this same Glenvarloch that rooked me, at the ordinary, of every +penny I had, and made a knave of me to boot, by gaining more than was +my own?--O that cursed gold, which Shortyard, the mercer, paid me that +morning on accompt, for mending the clock of Saint Stephen's! If I had +not, by ill chance, had that about me, I could but have beggared my +purse, without blemishing my honesty; and, after I had been rooked of +all the rest amongst them, I must needs risk the last five pieces with +that shark among the minnows!" + +"Granted," said Dame Ursula. "All this I know; and I own, that as Lord +Glenvarloch was the last you played with, you have a right to charge +your ruin on his head. Moreover, I admit, as already said, that +Margaret has made him your rival. Yet surely, now he is in danger to +lose his hand, it is not a time to remember all this?" + +"By my faith, but it is, though," said the young citizen. "Lose his +hand, indeed? They may take his head, for what I care. Head and hand +have made me a miserable wretch!" + +"Now, were it not better, my prince of flat-caps," said Dame Ursula, +"that matters were squared between you; and that, through means of the +same Scottish lord, who has, as you say, deprived you of your money +and your mistress, you should in a short time recover both?" + +"And how can your wisdom come to that conclusion, dame?" said the +apprentice. "My money, indeed, I can conceive--that is, if I comply +with your proposal; but--my pretty Marget!--how serving this lord, +whom she has set her nonsensical head upon, can do me good with her, +is far beyond my conception." + +"That is because, in simple phrase," said Dame Ursula, "thou knowest +no more of a woman's heart than doth a Norfolk gosling. Look you, man. +Were I to report to Mistress Margaret that the young lord has +miscarried through thy lack of courtesy in refusing to help him, why, +then, thou wert odious to her for ever. She will loathe thee as she +will loathe the very cook who is to strike off Glenvarloch's hand with +his cleaver--and then she will be yet more fixed in her affections +towards this lord. London will hear of nothing but him--speak of +nothing but him--think of nothing but him, for three weeks at least, +and all that outcry will serve to keep him uppermost in her mind; for +nothing pleases a girl so much as to bear relation to any one who is +the talk of the whole world around her. Then, if he suffer this +sentence of the law, it is a chance if she ever forgets him. I saw +that handsome, proper young gentleman Babington, suffer in the Queen's +time myself, and though I was then but a girl, he was in my head for a +year after he was hanged. But, above all, pardoned or punished, +Glenvarloch will probably remain in London, and his presence will keep +up the silly girl's nonsensical fancy about him. Whereas, if he +escapes--" + +"Ay, show me how that is to avail me?" said Jenkin. "If he escapes," +said the dame, resuming her argument, "he must resign the Court for +years, if not for life; and you know the old saying, 'out of sight, +and out of mind.'" + +"True--most true," said Jenkin; "spoken like an oracle, most wise +Ursula." "Ay, ay, I knew you would hear reason at last," said the wily +dame; "and then, when this same lord is off and away for once and for +ever, who, I pray you, is to be pretty pet's confidential person, and +who is to fill up the void in her affections?--why, who but thou, thou +pearl of 'prentices! And then you will have overcome your own +inclinations to comply with hers, and every woman is sensible of that- +-and you will have run some risk, too, in carrying her desires into +effect--and what is it that woman likes better than bravery, and +devotion to her will? Then you have her secret, and she must treat you +with favour and observance, and repose confidence in you, and hold +private intercourse with you, till she weeps with one eye for the +absent lover whom she is never to see again, and blinks with the other +blithely upon him who is in presence; and then if you know not how to +improve the relation in which you stand with her, you are not the +brisk lively lad that all the world takes you for--Said I well?" + +"You have spoken like an empress, most mighty Ursula," said Jenkin +Vincent; "and your will shall be obeyed." + +"You know Alsatia well?" continued his tutoress. + +"Well enough, well enough," replied he with a nod; "I have heard the +dice rattle there in my day, before I must set up for gentleman, and +go among the gallants at the Shavaleer Bojo's, as they call him,--the +worse rookery of the two, though the feathers are the gayest." + +"And they will have a respect for thee yonder, I warrant?" + +"Ay, ay," replied Vin, "when I am got into my fustian doublet again, +with my bit of a trunnion under my arm, I can walk Alsatia at midnight +as I could do that there Fleet Street in midday--they will not one of +them swagger with the prince of 'prentices, and the king of clubs-- +they know I could bring every tall boy in the ward down upon them." + +"And you know all the watermen, and so forth?" + +"Can converse with every sculler in his own language, from Richmond to +Gravesend, and know all the water-cocks, from John Taylor the Poet to +little Grigg the Grinner, who never pulls but he shows all his teeth +from ear to ear, as if he were grimacing through a horse-collar." + +"And you can take any dress or character upon you well, such as a +waterman's, a butcher's, a foot-soldier's," continued Ursula, "or the +like?" + +"Not such a mummer as I am within the walls, and thou knowest that +well enough, dame," replied the apprentice. "I can touch the players +themselves, at the Ball and at the Fortune, for presenting any thing +except a gentleman. Take but this d--d skin of frippery off me, which +I think the devil stuck me into, and you shall put me into nothing +else that I will not become as if I were born to it." + +"Well, we will talk of your transmutation by and by," said the dame, +"and find you clothes withal, and money besides; for it will take a +good deal to carry the thing handsomely through." + +"But where is that money to come from, dame?" said Jenkin; "there is a +question I would fain have answered before I touch it." + +"Why, what a fool art thou to ask such a question! Suppose I am +content to advance it to please young madam, what is the harm then?" + +"I will suppose no such thing," said Jenkin, hastily; "I know that +you, dame, have no gold to spare, and maybe would not spare it if you +had--so that cock will not crow. It must be from Margaret herself." + +"Well, thou suspicious animal, and what if it were?" said Ursula. + +"Only this," replied Jenkin, "that I will presently to her, and learn +if she has come fairly by so much ready money; for sooner than connive +at her getting it by any indirection, I would hang myself at once. It +is enough what I have done myself, no need to engage poor Margaret in +such villainy--I'll to her, and tell her of the danger--I will, by +heaven!" + +"You are mad to think of it," said Dame Suddlechop, considerably +alarmed--"hear me but a moment. I know not precisely from whom she got +the money; but sure I am that she obtained it at her godfather's." + +"Why, Master George Heriot is not returned from France," said Jenkin. + +"No," replied Ursula, "but Dame Judith is at home--and the strange +lady, whom they call Master Heriot's ghost--she never goes abroad." + +"It is very true, Dame Suddlechop," said Jenkin; "and I believe you +have guessed right--they say that lady has coin at will; and if Marget +can get a handful of fairy-gold, why, she is free to throw it away at +will." + +"Ah, Jin Vin," said the dame, reducing her voice almost to a whisper, +"we should not want gold at will neither, could we but read the riddle +of that lady!" + +"They may read it that list," said Jenkin, "I'll never pry into what +concerns me not--Master George Heriot is a worthy and brave citizen, +and an honour to London, and has a right to manage his own household +as he likes best.--There was once a talk of rabbling him the fifth of +November before the last, because they said he kept a nunnery in his +house, like old Lady Foljambe; but Master George is well loved among +the 'prentices, and we got so many brisk boys of us together as should +have rabbled the rabble, had they had but the heart to rise." + +"Well, let that pass," said Ursula; "and now, tell me how you will +manage to be absent from shop a day or two, for you must think that +this matter will not be ended sooner." + +"Why, as to that, I can say nothing," said Jenkin, "I have always +served duly and truly; I have no heart to play truant, and cheat my +master of his time as well as his money." + +"Nay, but the point is to get back his money for him," said Ursula, +"which he is not likely to see on other conditions. Could you not ask +leave to go down to your uncle in Essex for two or three days? He may +be ill, you know." + +"Why, if I must, I must," said Jenkin, with a heavy sigh; "but I will +not be lightly caught treading these dark and crooked paths again." + +"Hush thee, then," said the dame, "and get leave for this very +evening; and come back hither, and I will introduce you to another +implement, who must be employed in the matter.--Stay, stay!--the lad +is mazed--you would not go into your master's shop in that guise, +surely? Your trunk is in the matted chamber, with your 'prentice +things--go and put them on as fast as you can." + +"I think I am bewitched," said Jenkin, giving a glance towards his +dress, "or that these fool's trappings have made as great an ass of me +as of many I have seen wear them; but let line once be rid of the +harness, and if you catch me putting it on again, I will give you +leave to sell me to a gipsy, to carry pots, pans, and beggar's +bantlings, all the rest of my life." So saying, he retired to change +his apparel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + + Chance will not do the work--Chance sends the breeze; + But if the pilot slumber at the helm, + The very wind that wafts us towards the port + May dash us on the shelves.--The steersman's part is vigilance, + Blow it or rough or smooth. + _Old Play_. + +We left Nigel, whose fortunes we are bound to trace by the engagement +contracted in our title-page, sad and solitary in the mansion of +Trapbois the usurer, having just received a letter instead of a visit +from his friend the Templar, stating reasons why he could not at that +time come to see him in Alsatia. So that it appeared that his +intercourse with the better and more respectable class of society, +was, for the present, entirely cut off. This was a melancholy, and, to +a proud mind like that of Nigel, a degrading reflection. + +He went to the window of his apartment, and found the street enveloped +in one of those thick, dingy, yellow-coloured fogs, which often invest +the lower part of London and Westminster. Amid the darkness, dense and +palpable, were seen to wander like phantoms a reveller or two, whom +the morning had surprised where the evening left them; and who now, +with tottering steps, and by an instinct which intoxication could not +wholly overcome, were groping the way to their own homes, to convert +day into night, for the purpose of sleeping off the debauch which had +turned night into day. Although it was broad day in the other parts of +the city, it was scarce dawn yet in Alsatia; and none of the sounds of +industry or occupation were there heard, which had long before aroused +the slumberers in any other quarter. The prospect was too tiresome and +disagreeable to detain Lord Glenvarloch at his station, so, turning +from the window, he examined with more interest the furniture and +appearance of the apartment which he tenanted. + +Much of it had been in its time rich and curious--there was a huge +four-post bed, with as much carved oak about it as would have made the +head of a man-of-war, and tapestry hangings ample enough to have been +her sails. There was a huge mirror with a massy frame of gilt brass- +work, which was of Venetian manufacture, and must have been worth a +considerable sum before it received the tremendous crack, which, +traversing it from one corner to the other, bore the same proportion +to the surface that the Nile bears to the map of Egypt. The chairs +were of different forms and shapes, some had been carved, some gilded, +some covered with damasked leather, some with embroidered work, but +all were damaged and worm-eaten. There was a picture of Susanna and +the Elders over the chimney-piece, which might have been accounted a +choice piece, had not the rats made free with the chaste fair one's +nose, and with the beard of one of her reverend admirers. + +In a word, all that Lord Glenvarloch saw, seemed to have been articles +carried off by appraisement or distress, or bought as pennyworths at +some obscure broker's, and huddled together in the apartment, as in a +sale-room, without regard to taste or congruity. + +The place appeared to Nigel to resemble the houses near the sea-coast, +which are too often furnished with the spoils of wrecked vessels, as +this was probably fitted up with the relics of ruined profligates.-- +"My own skiff is among the breakers," thought Lord Glenvarloch, +"though my wreck will add little to the profits of the spoiler." + +He was chiefly interested in the state of the grate, a huge assemblage +of rusted iron bars which stood in the chimney, unequally supported by +three brazen feet, moulded into the form of lion's claws, while the +fourth, which had been bent by an accident, seemed proudly uplifted as +if to paw the ground; or as if the whole article had nourished the +ambitious purpose of pacing forth into the middle of the apartment, +and had one foot ready raised for the journey. A smile passed over +Nigel's face as this fantastic idea presented itself to his fancy.--"I +must stop its march, however," he thought; "for this morning is chill +and raw enough to demand some fire." + +He called accordingly from the top of a large staircase, with a heavy +oaken balustrade, which gave access to his own and other apartments, +for the house was old and of considerable size; but, receiving no +answer to his repeated summons, he was compelled to go in search of +some one who might accommodate him with what he wanted. + +Nigel had, according to the fashion of the old world in Scotland, +received an education which might, in most particulars, be termed +simple, hardy, and unostentatious; but he had, nevertheless, been +accustomed to much personal deference, and to the constant attendance +and ministry of one or more domestics. This was the universal custom +in Scotland, where wages were next to nothing, and where, indeed, a +man of title or influence might have as many attendants as he pleased, +for the mere expense of food, clothes, and countenance. Nigel was +therefore mortified and displeased when he found himself without +notice or attendance; and the more dissatisfied, because he was at the +same time angry with himself for suffering such a trifle to trouble +him at all, amongst matters of more deep concernment. "There must +surely be some servants in so large a house as this," said he, as he +wandered over the place, through which he was conducted by a passage +which branched off from the gallery. As he went on, he tried the +entrance to several apartments, some of which he found were locked and +others unfurnished, all apparently unoccupied; so that at length he +returned to the staircase, and resolved to make his way down to the +lower part of the house, where he supposed he must at least find the +old gentleman, and his ill-favoured daughter. With this purpose he +first made his entrance into a little low, dark parlour, containing a +well-worn leathern easy-chair, before which stood a pair of slippers, +while on the left side rested a crutch-handled staff; an oaken table +stood before it, and supported a huge desk clamped with iron, and a +massive pewter inkstand. Around the apartment were shelves, cabinets, +and other places convenient for depositing papers. A sword, musketoon, +and a pair of pistols, hung over the chimney, in ostentatious display, +as if to intimate that the proprietor would be prompt in the defence +of his premises. + +"This must be the usurer's den," thought Nigel; and he was about to +call aloud, when the old man, awakened even by the slightest noise, +for avarice seldom sleeps sound, soon was heard from the inner room, +speaking in a voice of irritability, rendered more tremulous by his +morning cough. + +"Ugh, ugh, ugh--who is there? I say--ugh, ugh--who is there? Why, +Martha!--ugh! ugh--Martha Trapbois--here be thieves in the house, and +they will not speak to me--why, Martha!--thieves, thieves--ugh, ugh, +ugh!" + +Nigel endeavoured to explain, but the idea of thieves had taken +possession of the old man's pineal gland, and he kept coughing and +screaming, and screaming and coughing, until the gracious Martha +entered the apartment; and, having first outscreamed her father, in +order to convince him that there was no danger, and to assure him that +the intruder was their new lodger, and having as often heard her sire +ejaculate--"Hold him fast--ugh, ugh--hold him fast till I come," she +at length succeeded in silencing his fears and his clamour, and then +coldly and dryly asked Lord Glenvarloch what he wanted in her father's +apartment. + +Her lodger had, in the meantime, leisure to contemplate her +appearance, which did not by any means improve the idea he had formed +of it by candlelight on the preceding evening. She was dressed in what +was called a Queen Mary's ruff and farthingale; not the falling ruff +with which the unfortunate Mary of Scotland is usually painted, but +that which, with more than Spanish stiffness, surrounded the throat, +and set off the morose head, of her fierce namesake, of Smithfield +memory. This antiquated dress assorted well with the faded complexion, +grey eyes, thin lips, and austere visage of the antiquated maiden, +which was, moreover, enhanced by a black hood, worn as her head-gear, +carefully disposed so as to prevent any of her hair from escaping to +view, probably because the simplicity of the period knew no art of +disguising the colour with which time had begun to grizzle her +tresses. Her figure was tall, thin, and flat, with skinny arms and +hands, and feet of the larger size, cased in huge high-heeled shoes, +which added height to a stature already ungainly. Apparently some art +had been used by the tailor, to conceal a slight defect of shape, +occasioned by the accidental elevation of one shoulder above the +other; but the praiseworthy efforts of the ingenious mechanic, had +only succeeded in calling the attention of the observer to his +benevolent purpose, without demonstrating that he had been able to +achieve it. + +Such was Mrs. Martha Trapbois, whose dry "What were you seeking here, +sir?" fell again, and with reiterated sharpness, on the ear of Nigel, +as he gazed upon her presence, and compared it internally to one of +the faded and grim figures in the old tapestry which adorned his +bedstead. It was, however, necessary to reply, and he answered, that +he came in search of the servants, as he desired to have a fire +kindled in his apartment on account of the rawness of the morning. + +"The woman who does our char-work," answered Mistress Martha, "comes +at eight o'clock-if you want fire sooner, there are fagots and a +bucket of sea-coal in the stone-closet at the head of the stair--and +there is a flint and steel on the upper shelf--you can light fire for +yourself if you will." + +"No--no--no, Martha," ejaculated her father, who, having donned his +rustic tunic, with his hose all ungirt, and his feet slip-shod, +hastily came out of the inner apartment, with his mind probably full +of robbers, for he had a naked rapier in his hand, which still looked +formidable, though rust had somewhat marred its shine.--What he had +heard at entrance about lighting a fire, had changed, however, the +current of his ideas. "No--no--no," he cried, and each negative was +more emphatic than its predecessor-"The gentleman shall not have the +trouble to put on a fire--ugh--ugh. I'll put it on myself, for a con- +si-de-ra-ti-on." + +This last word was a favourite expression with the old gentleman, +which he pronounced in a peculiar manner, gasping it out syllable by +syllable, and laying a strong emphasis upon the last. It was, indeed, +a sort of protecting clause, by which he guarded himself against all +inconveniences attendant on the rash habit of offering service or +civility of any kind, the which, when hastily snapped at by those to +whom they are uttered, give the profferer sometimes room to repent his +promptitude. + +"For shame, father," said Martha, "that must not be. Master Grahame +will kindle his own fire, or wait till the char-woman comes to do it +for him, just as likes him best." + +"No, child--no, child. Child Martha, no," reiterated the old miser-- +"no char-woman shall ever touch a grate in my house; they put--ugh, +ugh--the faggot uppermost, and so the coal kindles not, and the flame +goes up the chimney, and wood and heat are both thrown away. Now, I +will lay it properly for the gentleman, for a consideration, so that +it shall last--ugh, ugh--last the whole day." Here his vehemence +increased his cough so violently, that Nigel could only, from a +scattered word here and there, comprehend that it was a recommendation +to his daughter to remove the poker and tongs from the stranger's +fireside, with an assurance, that, when necessary, his landlord would +be in attendance to adjust it himself, "for a consideration." + +Martha paid as little attention to the old man's injunctions as a +predominant dame gives to those of a henpecked husband. She only +repeated, in a deeper and more emphatic tone of censure,--"For shame, +father--for shame!" then, turning to her guest, said, with her usual +ungraciousness of manner--"Master Grahame--it is best to be plain with +you at first. My father is an old, a very old man, and his wits, as +you may see, are somewhat weakened--though I would not advise you to +make a bargain with him, else you may find them too sharp for your +own. For myself, I am a lone woman, and, to say truth, care little to +see or converse with any one. If you can be satisfied with house-room, +shelter, and safety, it will be your own fault if you have them not, +and they are not always to be found in this unhappy quarter. But, if +you seek deferential observance and attendance, I tell you at once you +will not find them here." + +"I am not wont either to thrust myself upon acquaintance, madam, or to +give trouble," said the guest; "nevertheless, I shall need the +assistance of a domestic to assist me to dress--Perhaps you can +recommend me to such?" + +"Yes, to twenty," answered Mistress Martha, "who will pick your purse +while they tie your points, and cut your throat while they smooth your +pillow." + +"I will be his servant, myself," said the old man, whose intellect, +for a moment distanced, had again, in some measure, got up with the +conversation. "I will brush his cloak--ugh, ugh--and tie his points-- +ugh, ugh--and clean his shoes--ugh--and run on his errands with speed +and safety--ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh--for a consideration." + +"Good-morrow to you, sir," said Martha, to Nigel, in a tone of direct +and positive dismissal. "It cannot be agreeable to a daughter that a +stranger should hear her father speak thus. If you be really a +gentleman, you will retire to your own apartment." + +"I will not delay a moment," said Nigel, respectfully, for he was +sensible that circumstances palliated the woman's rudeness. "I would +but ask you, if seriously there can be danger in procuring the +assistance of a serving-man in this place?" + +"Young gentleman," said Martha, "you must know little of Whitefriars +to ask the question. We live alone in this house, and seldom has a +stranger entered it; nor should you, to be plain, had my will been +consulted. Look at the door--see if that of a castle can be better +secured; the windows of the first floor are grated on the outside, and +within, look to these shutters." + +She pulled one of them aside, and showed a ponderous apparatus of +bolts and chains for securing the window-shutters, while her father, +pressing to her side, seized her gown with a trembling hand, and said, +in a low whisper, "Show not the trick of locking and undoing them. +Show him not the trick on't, Martha--ugh, ugh--on _no_ consideration." +Martha went on, without paying him any attention. + +"And yet, young gentleman, we have been more than once like to find +all these defences too weak to protect our lives; such an evil effect +on the wicked generation around us hath been made by the unhappy +report of my poor father's wealth." + +"Say nothing of that, housewife," said the miser, his irritability +increased by the very supposition of his being wealthy--"Say nothing +of that, or I will beat thee, housewife--beat thee with my staff, for +fetching and carrying lies that will procure our throats to be cut at +last--ugh, ugh.--I am but a poor man," he continued, turning to Nigel- +-"a very poor man, that am willing to do any honest turn upon earth, +for a modest consideration." + +"I therefore warn you of the life you must lead, young gentleman," +said Martha; "the poor woman who does the char-work will assist you so +far as in her power, but the wise man is his own best servant and +assistant." + +"It is a lesson you have taught me, madam, and I thank you for it--I +will assuredly study it at leisure." + +"You will do well," said Martha; "and as you seem thankful for advice, +I, though I am no professed counsellor of others, will give you more. +Make no intimacy with any one in Whitefriars--borrow no money, on any +score, especially from my father, for, dotard as he seems, he will +make an ass of you. Last, and best of all, stay here not an instant +longer than you can help it. Farewell, sir." + +"A gnarled tree may bear good fruit, and a harsh nature may give good +counsel," thought the Lord of Glenvarloch, as he retreated to his own +apartment, where the same reflection occurred to him again and again, +while, unable as yet to reconcile himself to the thoughts of becoming +his own fire-maker, he walked up and down his bedroom, to warm himself +by exercise. + +At length his meditations arranged themselves in the following +soliloquy--by which expression I beg leave to observe once for all, +that I do not mean that Nigel literally said aloud with his bodily +organs, the words which follow in inverted commas, (while pacing the +room by himself,) but that I myself choose to present to my dearest +reader the picture of my hero's mind, his reflections and resolutions, +in the form of a speech, rather than in that of a narrative. In other +words, I have put his thoughts into language; and this I conceive to +be the purpose of the soliloquy upon the stage as well as in the +closet, being at once the most natural, and perhaps the only way of +communicating to the spectator what is supposed to be passing in the +bosom of the scenic personage. There are no such soliloquies in +nature, it is true, but unless they were received as a conventional +medium of communication betwixt the poet and the audience, we should +reduce dramatic authors to the recipe of Master Puff, who makes Lord +Burleigh intimate a long train of political reasoning to the audience, +by one comprehensive shake of his noddle. In narrative, no doubt, the +writer has the alternative of telling that his personages thought so +and so, inferred thus and thus, and arrived at such and such a +conclusion; but the soliloquy is a more concise and spirited mode of +communicating the same information; and therefore thus communed, or +thus might have communed, the Lord of Glenvarloch with his own mind. + +"She is right, and has taught me a lesson I will profit by. I have +been, through my whole life, one who leant upon others for that +assistance, which it is more truly noble to derive from my own +exertions. I am ashamed of feeling the paltry inconvenience which long +habit had led me to annex to the want of a servant's assistance--I am +ashamed of that; but far, far more am I ashamed to have suffered the +same habit of throwing my own burden on others, to render me, since I +came to this city, a mere victim of those events, which I have never +even attempted to influence--a thing never acting, but perpetually +acted upon--protected by one friend, deceived by another; but in the +advantage which I received from the one, and the evil I have sustained +from the other, as passive and helpless as a boat that drifts without +oar or rudder at the mercy of the winds and waves. I became a +courtier, because Heriot so advised it--a gamester, because Dalgarno +so contrived it--an Alsatian, because Lowestoffe so willed it. +Whatever of good or bad has befallen me, has arisen out of the agency +of others, not from my own. My father's son must no longer hold this +facile and puerile course. Live or die, sink or swim, Nigel Olifaunt, +from this moment, shall owe his safety, success, and honour, to his +own exertions, or shall fall with the credit of having at least +exerted his own free agency. I will write it down in my tablets, in +her very words,--'The wise man is his own best assistant.'" + +He had just put his tablets in his pocket when the old charwoman, who, +to add to her efficiency, was sadly crippled by rheumatism, hobbled +into the room, to try if she could gain a small gratification by +waiting on the stranger. She readily undertook to get Lord +Glenvarloch's breakfast, and as there was an eating-house at the next +door, she succeeded in a shorter time than Nigel had augured. + +As his solitary meal was finished, one of the Temple porters, or +inferior officers, was announced, as seeking Master Grahame, on the +part of his friend, Master Lowestoffe; and, being admitted by the old +woman to his apartment, he delivered to Nigel a small mail-trunk, with +the clothes he had desired should be sent to him, and then, with more +mystery, put into his hand a casket, or strong-boy, which he carefully +concealed beneath his cloak. "I am glad to be rid on't," said the +fellow, as he placed it on the table. + +"Why, it is surely not so very heavy," answered Nigel, "and you are a +stout young man." + +"Ay, sir," replied the fellow; "but Samson himself would not have +carried such a matter safely through Alsatia, had the lads of the Huff +known what it was. Please to look into it, sir, and see all is right-- +I am an honest fellow, and it comes safe out of my hands. How long it +may remain so afterwards, will depend on your own care. I would not my +good name were to suffer by any after-clap." + +To satisfy the scruples of the messenger, Lord Glenvarloch opened the +casket in his presence, and saw that his small stock of money, with +two or three valuable papers which it contained, and particularly the +original sign-manual which the king had granted in his favour, were in +the same order in which he had left them. At the man's further +instance, he availed himself of the writing materials which were in +the casket, in order to send a line to Master Lowestoffe, declaring +that his property had reached him in safety. He added some grateful +acknowledgments for Lowestoffe's services, and, just as he was sealing +and delivering his billet to the messenger, his aged landlord entered +the apartment. His threadbare suit of black clothes was now somewhat +better arranged than they had been in the dishabille of his first +appearance, and his nerves and intellects seemed to be less fluttered; +for, without much coughing or hesitation, he invited Nigel to partake +of a morning draught of wholesome single ale, which he brought in a +large leathern tankard, or black-jack, carried in the one hand, while +the other stirred it round with a sprig of rosemary, to give it, as +the old man said, a flavour. + +Nigel declined the courteous proffer, and intimated by his manner, +while he did so, that he desired no intrusion on the privacy of his +own apartment; which, indeed, he was the more entitled to maintain, +considering the cold reception he had that morning met with when +straying from its precincts into those of his landlord. But the open +casket contained matter, or rather metal, so attractive to old +Trapbois, that he remained fixed, like a setting-dog at a dead point, +his nose advanced, and one hand expanded like the lifted forepaw, by +which that sagacious quadruped sometimes indicates that it is a hare +which he has in the wind. Nigel was about to break the charm which had +thus arrested old Trapbois, by shutting the lid of the casket, when +his attention was withdrawn from him by the question of the messenger, +who, holding out the letter, asked whether he was to leave it at Mr. +Lowestoffe's chambers in the Temple, or carry it to the Marshalsea? + +"The Marshalsea?" repeated Lord Glenvarloch; "what of the Marshalsea?" + +"Why, sir," said the man, "the poor gentleman is laid up there in +lavender, because, they say, his own kind heart led him to scald his +fingers with another man's broth." + +Nigel hastily snatched back the letter, broke the seal, joined to the +contents his earnest entreaty that he might be instantly acquainted +with the cause of his confinement, and added, that, if it arose out of +his own unhappy affair, it would be of a brief duration, since he had, +even before hearing of a reason which so peremptorily demanded that he +should surrender himself, adopted the resolution to do so, as the +manliest and most proper course which his ill fortune and imprudence +had left in his own power. He therefore conjured Mr. Lowestoffe to +have no delicacy upon this score, but, since his surrender was what he +had determined upon as a sacrifice due to his own character, that he +would have the frankness to mention in what manner it could be best +arranged, so as to extricate him, Lowestoffe, from the restraint to +which the writer could not but fear his friend had been subjected, on +account of the generous interest which he had taken in his concerns. +The letter concluded, that the writer would suffer twenty-four hours +to elapse in expectation of hearing from him, and, at the end of that +period, was determined to put his purpose in execution. He delivered +the billet to the messenger, and, enforcing his request with a piece +of money, urged him, without a moment's delay, to convey it to the +hands of Master Lowestoffe. + +"I--I--I--will carry it to him myself," said the old usurer, "for half +the consideration." + +The man who heard this attempt to take his duty and perquisites over +his head, lost no time in pocketing the money, and departed on his +errand as fast as he could. + +"Master Trapbois," said Nigel, addressing the old man somewhat +impatiently, "had you any particular commands for me?" + +"I--I--came to see if you rested well," answered the old man; "and--if +I could do anything to serve you, on any consideration." + +"Sir, I thank you," said Lord Glenvarloch--I thank you;" and, ere he +could say more, a heavy footstep was heard on the stair. + +"My God!" exclaimed the old man, starting up--"Why, Dorothy--char- +woman--why, daughter,--draw bolt, I say, housewives--the door hath +been left a-latch!" + +The door of the chamber opened wide, and in strutted the portly bulk +of the military hero whom Nigel had on the preceding evening in vain +endeavoured to recognise. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +SWASH-BUCKLER. Bilboe's the word-- +PIERROT. It hath been spoke too often, +The spell hath lost its charm--I tell thee, friend, +The meanest cur that trots the street, will turn, + And snarl against your proffer'd bastinado. +SWASH-BUCKLER. 'Tis art shall do it, then--I will dose the mongrels-- +Or, in plain terms, I'll use the private knife +'Stead of the brandish'd falchion. + _Old Play_. + +The noble Captain Colepepper or Peppercull, for he was known by both +these names, and some others besides; had a martial and a swashing +exterior, which, on the present occasion, was rendered yet more +peculiar, by a patch covering his left eye and a part of the cheek. +The sleeves of his thickset velvet jerkin were polished and shone with +grease,--his buff gloves had huge tops, which reached almost to the +elbow; his sword-belt of the same materials extended its breadth from +his haunchbone to his small ribs, and supported on the one side his +large black-hilted back-sword, on the other a dagger of like +proportions He paid his compliments to Nigel with that air of +predetermined effrontery, which announces that it will not be repelled +by any coldness of reception, asked Trapbois how he did, by the +familiar title of old Peter Pillory, and then, seizing upon the black- +jack, emptied it off at a draught, to the health of the last and +youngest freeman of Alsatia, the noble and loving master Nigel +Grahame. + +When he had set down the empty pitcher and drawn his breath, he began +to criticise the liquor which it had lately contained.--"Sufficient +single beer, old Pillory--and, as I take it, brewed at the rate of a +nutshell of malt to a butt of Thames--as dead as a corpse, too, and +yet it went hissing down my throat--bubbling, by Jove, like water upon +hot iron.--You left us early, noble Master Grahame, but, good faith, +we had a carouse to your honour--we heard _butt_ ring hollow ere we +parted; we were as loving as inkle-weavers--we fought, too, to finish +off the gawdy. I bear some marks of the parson about me, you see--a +note of the sermon or so, which should have been addressed to my ear, +but missed its mark, and reached my left eye. The man of God bears my +sign-manual too, but the Duke made us friends again, and it cost me +more sack than I could carry, and all the Rhenish to boot, to pledge +the seer in the way of love and reconciliation--But, Caracco! 'tis a +vile old canting slave for all that, whom I will one day beat out of +his devil's livery into all the colours of the rainbow.--Basta!--Said +I well, old Trapbois? Where is thy daughter, man?--what says she to my +suit?--'tis an honest one--wilt have a soldier for thy son-in-law, old +Pillory, to mingle the soul of martial honour with thy thieving, +miching, petty-larceny blood, as men put bold brandy into muddy ale?" + +"My daughter receives not company so early, noble captain," said the +usurer, and concluded his speech with a dry, emphatical "ugh, ugh." + +"What, upon no con-si-de-ra-ti-on?" said the captain; and wherefore +not, old Truepenny? she has not much time to lose in driving her +bargain, methinks." + +"Captain," said Trapbois, "I was upon some little business with our +noble friend here, Master Nigel Green--ugh, ugh, ugh--" + +"And you would have me gone, I warrant you?" answered the bully; "but +patience, old Pillory, thine hour is not yet come, man--You see," he +said, pointing to the casket, "that noble Master Grahame, whom you +call Green, has got the _decuses_ and the _smelt_." + +Which you would willingly rid him of, ha! ha!--ugh, ugh," answered the +usurer, "if you knew how--but, lack-a-day! thou art one of those that +come out for wool, and art sure to go home shorn. Why now, but that I +am sworn against laying of wagers, I would risk some consideration +that this honest guest of mine sends thee home penniless, if thou +darest venture with him--ugh, ugh--at any game which gentlemen play +at." + +"Marry, thou hast me on the hip there, thou old miserly cony-catcher!" +answered the captain, taking a bale of dice from the sleeve of his +coat; "I must always keep company with these damnable doctors, and +they have made me every baby's cully, and purged my purse into an +atrophy; but never mind, it passes the time as well as aught else--How +say you, Master Grahame?" + +The fellow paused; but even the extremity of his impudence could +scarcely hardly withstand the cold look of utter contempt with which +Nigel received his proposal, returning it with a simple, "I only play +where I know my company, and never in the morning." + +"Cards may be more agreeable," said Captain Colepepper; "and, for +knowing your company, here is honest old Pillory will tell you Jack +Colepepper plays as truly on the square as e'er a man that trowled a +die--Men talk of high and low dice, Fulhams and bristles, topping, +knapping, slurring, stabbing, and a hundred ways of rooking besides; +but broil me like a rasher of bacon, if I could ever learn the trick +on 'em!" + +"You have got the vocabulary perfect, sir, at the least," said Nigel, +in the same cold tone. + +"Yes, by mine honour have I," returned the Hector; "they are phrases +that a gentleman learns about town.--But perhaps you would like a set +at tennis, or a game at balloon--we have an indifferent good court +hard by here, and a set of as gentleman-like blades as ever banged +leather against brick and mortar." + +"I beg to be excused at present," said Lord Glenvarloch; "and to be +plain, among the valuable privileges your society has conferred on me, +I hope I may reckon that of being private in my own apartment when I +have a mind." + +"Your humble servant, sir," said the captain; "and I thank you for +your civility--Jack Colepepper can have enough of company, and thrusts +himself on no one.--But perhaps you will like to make a match at +skittles?" + +"I am by no means that way disposed," replied the young nobleman, + +"Or to leap a flea--run a snail--match a wherry, eh?" + +"No--I will do none of these," answered Nigel. + +Here the old man, who had been watching with his little peery eyes, +pulled the bulky Hector by the skirt, and whispered, "Do not vapour +him the huff, it will not pass--let the trout play, he will rise to +the hook presently." + +But the bully, confiding in his own strength, and probably mistaking +for timidity the patient scorn with which Nigel received his +proposals, incited also by the open casket, began to assume a louder +and more threatening tone. He drew himself up, bent his brows, assumed +a look of professional ferocity, and continued, "In Alsatia, look ye, +a man must be neighbourly and companionable. Zouns! sir, we would slit +any nose that was turned up at us honest fellows.--Ay, sir, we would +slit it up to the gristle, though it had smelt nothing all its life +but musk, ambergris, and court-scented water.--Rabbit me, I am a +soldier, and care no more for a lord than a lamplighter!" + +"Are you seeking a quarrel, sir?" said Nigel, calmly, having in truth +no desire to engage himself in a discreditable broil in such a place, +and with such a character. + +"Quarrel, sir?" said the captain; "I am not seeking a quarrel, though +I care not how soon I find one. Only I wish you to understand you must +be neighbourly, that's all. What if we should go over the water to the +garden, and see a bull hanked this fine morning--'sdeath, will you do +nothing?" + +"Something I am strangely tempted to do at this moment," said Nigel. + +"Videlicet," said Colepepper, with a swaggering air, "let us hear the +temptation." + +"I am tempted to throw you headlong from the window, unless you +presently make the best of your way down stairs." + +"Throw me from the window?--hell and furies!" exclaimed the captain; +"I have confronted twenty crooked sabres at Buda with my single +rapier, and shall a chitty-faced, beggarly Scots lordling, speak of me +and a window in the same breath?--Stand off, old Pillory, let me make +Scotch collops of him--he dies the death!" + +"For the love of Heaven, gentlemen," exclaimed the old miser, throwing +himself between them, "do not break the peace on any consideration! +Noble guest, forbear the captain--he is a very Hector of Troy--Trusty +Hector, forbear my guest, he is like to prove a very Achilles-ugh-ugh- +---" + +Here he was interrupted by his asthma, but, nevertheless, continued to +interpose his person between Colepepper (who had unsheathed his +whinyard, and was making vain passes at his antagonist) and Nigel, who +had stepped back to take his sword, and now held it undrawn in his +left hand. + +"Make an end of this foolery, you scoundrel!" said Nigel--"Do you come +hither to vent your noisy oaths and your bottled-up valour on me? You +seem to know me, and I am half ashamed to say I have at length been +able to recollect you--remember the garden behind the ordinary,--you +dastardly ruffian, and the speed with which fifty men saw you run from +a drawn sword.--Get you gone, sir, and do not put me to the vile +labour of cudgelling such a cowardly rascal down stairs." + +The bully's countenance grew dark as night at this unexpected +recognition; for he had undoubtedly thought himself secure in his +change of dress, and his black patch, from being discovered by a +person who had seen him but once. He set his teeth, clenched his +hands, and it seemed as if he was seeking for a moment's courage to +fly upon his antagonist. But his heart failed, he sheathed his sword, +turned his back in gloomy silence, and spoke not until he reached the +door, when, turning round, he said, with a deep oath, "If I be not +avenged of you for this insolence ere many days go by, I would the +gallows had my body and the devil my spirit!" + +So saying, and with a look where determined spite and malice made his +features savagely fierce, though they could not overcome his fear, he +turned and left the house. Nigel followed him as far as the gallery at +the head of the staircase, with the purpose of seeing him depart, and +ere he returned was met by Mistress Martha Trapbois, whom the noise of +the quarrel had summoned from her own apartment. He could not resist +saying to her in his natural displeasure--"I would, madam, you could +teach your father and his friends the lesson which you had the +goodness to bestow on me this morning, and prevail on them to leave me +the unmolested privacy of my own apartment." + +"If you came hither for quiet or retirement, young man," answered she, +"you have been advised to an evil retreat. You might seek mercy in the +Star-Chamber, or holiness in hell, with better success than quiet in +Alsatia. But my father shall trouble you no longer." + +So saying, she entered the apartment, and, fixing her eyes on the +casket, she said with emphasis--"If you display such a loadstone, it +will draw many a steel knife to your throat." + +While Nigel hastily shut the casket, she addressed her father, +upbraiding him, with small reverence, for keeping company with the +cowardly, hectoring, murdering villain, John Colepepper. + +"Ay, ay, child," said the old man, with the cunning leer which +intimated perfect satisfaction with his own superior address--"I know- +-I know--ugh--but I'll crossbite him--I know them all, and I can +manage them--ay, ay--I have the trick on't--ugh-ugh." + +"_You_ manage, father!" said the austere damsel; "you will manage to +have your throat cut, and that ere long. You cannot hide from them +your gains and your gold as formerly." + +"My gains, wench? my gold?" said the usurer; "alack-a-day, few of +these and hard got--few and hard got." + +"This will not serve you, father, any longer," said she, "and had not +served you thus long, but that Bully Colepepper had contrived a +cheaper way of plundering your house, even by means of my miserable +self.--But why do I speak to him of all this," she said, checking +herself, and shrugging her shoulders with an expression of pity which +did not fall much short of scorn. "He hears me not--he thinks not of +me.--Is it not strange that the love of gathering gold should survive +the care to preserve both property and life?" + +"Your father," said Lord Glenvarloch, who could not help respecting +the strong sense and feeling shown by this poor woman, even amidst all +her rudeness and severity, "your father seems to have his faculties +sufficiently alert when he is in the exercise of his ordinary pursuits +and functions. I wonder he is not sensible of the weight of your +arguments." + +"Nature made him a man senseless of danger, and that insensibility is +the best thing I have derived from him," said she; "age has left him +shrewdness enough to tread his old beaten paths, but not to seek new +courses. The old blind horse will long continue to go its rounds in +the mill, when it would stumble in the open meadow." + +"Daughter!--why, wench--why, housewife!" said the old man, awakening +out of some dream, in which he had been sneering and chuckling in +imagination, probably over a successful piece of roguery,--"go to +chamber, wench--go to chamber--draw bolts and chain--look sharp to +door--let none in or out but worshipful Master Grahame--I must take my +cloak, and go to Duke Hildebrod--ay, ay, time has been, my own warrant +was enough; but the lower we lie, the more are we under the wind." + +And, with his wonted chorus of muttering and coughing, the old man +left the apartment. His daughter stood for a moment looking after him, +with her usual expression of discontent and sorrow. + +"You ought to persuade your father," said Nigel, "to leave this evil +neighbourhood, if you are in reality apprehensive for his safety." + +"He would be safe in no other quarter," said the daughter; "I would +rather the old man were dead than publicly dishonoured. In other +quarters he would be pelted and pursued, like an owl which ventures +into sunshine. Here he was safe, while his comrades could avail +themselves of his talents; he is now squeezed and fleeced by them on +every pretence. They consider him as a vessel on the strand, from +which each may snatch a prey; and the very jealousy which they +entertain respecting him as a common property, may perhaps induce them +to guard him from more private and daring assaults." + +"Still, methinks, you ought to leave this place," answered Nigel, +"since you might find a safe retreat in some distant country." + +"In Scotland, doubtless," said she, looking at him with a sharp and +suspicious eye, "and enrich strangers with our rescued wealth--Ha! +young man?" + +"Madam, if you knew me," said Lord Glenvarloch, "you would spare the +suspicion implied in your words." + +"Who shall assure me of that?" said Martha, sharply. "They say you are +a brawler and a gamester, and I know how far these are to be trusted +by the unhappy." + +"They do me wrong, by Heaven!" said Lord Glenvarloch. + +"It may be so," said Martha; "I am little interested in the degree of +your vice or your folly; but it is plain, that the one or the other +has conducted you hither, and that your best hope of peace, safety, +and happiness, is to be gone, with the least possible delay, from a +place which is always a sty for swine, and often a shambles." So +saying, she left the apartment. + +There was something in the ungracious manner of this female, amounting +almost to contempt of him she spoke to--an indignity to which +Glenvarloch, notwithstanding his poverty, had not as yet been +personally exposed, and which, therefore, gave him a transitory +feeling of painful surprise. Neither did the dark hints which Martha +threw out concerning the danger of his place of refuge, sound by any +means agreeably to his ears. The bravest man, placed in a situation in +which he is surrounded by suspicious persons, and removed from all +counsel and assistance, except those afforded by a valiant heart and a +strong arm, experiences a sinking of the spirit, a consciousness of +abandonment, which for a moment chills his blood, and depresses his +natural gallantry of disposition. + +But, if sad reflections arose in Nigel's mind, he had not time to +indulge them; and, if he saw little prospect of finding friends in +Alsatia, he found that he was not likely to be solitary for lack of +visitors. + +He had scarcely paced his apartment for ten minutes, endeavouring to +arrange his ideas on the course which he was to pursue on quitting +Alsatia, when he was interrupted by the Sovereign of the quarter, the +great Duke Hildebrod himself, before whose approach the bolts and +chains of the miser's dwelling fell, or withdrew, as of their own +accord; and both the folding leaves of the door were opened, that he +might roll himself into the house like a huge butt of liquor, a vessel +to which he bore a considerable outward resemblance, both in size, +shape, complexion, and contents." + +"Good-morrow to your lordship," said the greasy puncheon, cocking his +single eye, and rolling it upon Nigel with a singular expression of +familiar impudence; whilst his grim bull-dog, which was close at his +heels, made a kind of gurgling in his throat, as if saluting, in +similar fashion, a starved cat, the only living thing in Trapbois' +house which we have not yet enumerated, and which had flown up to the +top of the tester, where she stood clutching and grinning at the +mastiff, whose greeting she accepted with as much good-will as Nigel +bestowed on that of the dog's master. + +"Peace, Belzie!--D--n thee, peace!" said Duke Hildebrod. "Beasts and +fools will be meddling, my lord." + +"I thought, sir," answered Nigel, with as much haughtiness as was +consistent with the cool distance which he desired to preserve, "I +thought I had told you, my name at present was Nigel Grahame." + +His eminence of Whitefriars on this burst out into a loud, + chuckling, impudent laugh, repeating the word, till his voice was +almost inarticulate,--"Niggle Green--Niggle Green--Niggle Green!--why, +my lord, you would be queered in the drinking of a penny pot of +Malmsey, if you cry before you are touched. Why, you have told me the +secret even now, had I not had a shrewd guess of it before. Why, +Master Nigel, since that is the word, I only called you my lord, +because we made you a peer of Alsatia last night, when the sack was +predominant. + +--How you look now!--Ha! ha! ha!" + +Nigel, indeed, conscious that he had unnecessarily betrayed himself, +replied hastily,--"he was much obliged to him for the honours +conferred, but did not propose to remain in the Sanctuary long enough +to enjoy them." + +"Why, that may be as you will, an you will walk by wise counsel," +answered the ducal porpoise; and, although Nigel remained standing, in +hopes to accelerate his guest's departure, he threw himself into one +of the old tapestry-backed easy-chairs, which cracked under his +weight, and began to call for old Trapbois. + +The crone of all work appearing instead of her master, the Duke cursed +her for a careless jade, to let a strange gentleman, and a brave +guest, go without his morning's draught. + +"I never take one, sir," said Glenvarloch. + +"Time to begin--time to begin," answered the Duke.--"Here, you old +refuse of Sathan, go to our palace, and fetch Lord Green's morning +draught. Let us see--what shall it be, my lord?--a humming double pot +of ale, with a roasted crab dancing in it like a wherry above bridge?- +-or, hum--ay, young men are sweet-toothed--a quart of burnt sack, with +sugar and spice?--good against the fogs. Or, what say you to sipping a +gill of right distilled waters? Come, we will have them all, and you +shall take your choice.--Here, you Jezebel, let Tim send the ale, and +the sack, and the nipperkin of double-distilled, with a bit of diet- +loaf, or some such trinket, and score it to the new comer." + +Glenvarloch, bethinking himself that it might be as well to endure +this fellow's insolence for a brief season, as to get into farther +discreditable quarrels, suffered him to take his own way, without +interruption, only observing, "You make yourself at home, sir, in my +apartment; but, for the time, you may use your pleasure. Meanwhile, I +would fain know what has procured me the honour of this unexpected +visit?" + +"You shall know that when old Deb has brought the liquor--I never +speak of business dry-lipped. Why, how she drumbles--I warrant she +stops to take a sip on the road, and then you will think you have had +unchristian measure.--In the meanwhile, look at that dog there--look +Belzebub in the face, and tell me if you ever saw a sweeter beast-- +never flew but at head in his life." + +And, after this congenial panegyric, he was proceeding with a tale of +a dog and a bull, which threatened to be somewhat of the longest, when +he was interrupted by the return of the old crone, and two of his own +tapsters, bearing the various kinds of drinkables which he had +demanded, and which probably was the only species of interruption he +would have endured with equanimity. + +When the cups and cans were duly arranged upon the table, and when +Deborah, whom the ducal generosity honoured with a penny farthing in +the way of gratuity, had withdrawn with her satellites, the worthy +potentate, having first slightly invited Lord Glenvarloch to partake +of the liquor which he was to pay for, and after having observed, +that, excepting three poached eggs, a pint of bastard, and a cup of +clary, he was fasting from every thing but sin, set himself seriously +to reinforce the radical moisture. Glenvarloch had seen Scottish +lairds and Dutch burgomasters at their potations; but their exploits +(though each might be termed a thirsty generation) were nothing to +those of Duke Hildebrod, who seemed an absolute sandbed, capable of +absorbing any given quantity of liquid, without being either vivified +or overflowed. He drank off the ale to quench a thirst which, as he +said, kept him in a fever from morning to night, and night to morning; +tippled off the sack to correct the crudity of the ale; sent the +spirits after the sack to keep all quiet, and then declared that, +probably, he should not taste liquor till _post meridiem_, unless it +was in compliment to some especial friend. Finally, he intimated that +he was ready to proceed on the business which brought him from home so +early, a proposition which Nigel readily received, though he could not +help suspecting that the most important purpose of Duke Hildebrod's +visit was already transacted. + +In this, however, Lord Glenvarloch proved to be mistaken. Hildebrod, +before opening what he had to say, made an accurate survey of the +apartment, laying, from time to time, his finger on his nose, and +winking on Nigel with his single eye, while he opened and shut the +doors, lifted the tapestry, which concealed, in one or two places, the +dilapidation of time upon the wainscoted walls, peeped into closets, +and, finally, looked under the bed, to assure himself that the coast +was clear of listeners and interlopers. He then resumed his seat, and +beckoned confidentially to Nigel to draw his chair close to him. + +"I am well as I am, Master Hildebrod," replied the young lord, little +disposed to encourage the familiarity which the man endeavoured to fix +on him; but the undismayed Duke proceeded as follows: + +"You shall pardon me, my lord--and I now give you the title right +seriously--if I remind you that our waters may be watched; for though +old Trapbois be as deaf as Saint Paul's, yet his daughter has sharp +ears, and sharp eyes enough, and it is of them that it is my business +to speak." + +"Say away, then, sir," said Nigel, edging his chair somewhat closer to +the Quicksand, "although I cannot conceive what business I have either +with mine host or his daughter." + +"We will see that in the twinkling of a quart-pot," answered the +gracious Duke; "and first, my lord, you must not think to dance in a +net before old Jack Hildebrod, that has thrice your years o'er his +head, and was born, like King Richard, with all his eye-teeth ready +cut." + +"Well, sir, go on," said Nigel. + +"Why, then, my lord, I presume to say, that, if you are, as I believe +you are, that Lord Glenvarloch whom all the world talk of--the Scotch +gallant that has spent all, to a thin cloak and a light purse--be not +moved, my lord, it is so noised of you--men call you the sparrow-hawk, +who will fly at all--ay, were it in the very Park--Be not moved, my +lord." + +"I am ashamed, sirrah," replied Glenvarloch, "that you should have +power to move me by your insolence--but beware--and, if you indeed +guess who I am, consider how long I may be able to endure your tone of +insolent familiarity." + +"I crave pardon, my lord," said Hildebrod, with a sullen, yet +apologetic look; "I meant no harm in speaking my poor mind. I know not +what honour there may be in being familiar with your lordship, but I +judge there is little safety, for Lowestoffe is laid up in lavender +only for having shown you the way into Alsatia; and so, what is to +come of those who maintain you when you are here, or whether they will +get most honour or most trouble by doing so, I leave with your +lordship's better judgment." + +"I will bring no one into trouble on my account," said Lord +Glenvarloch. "I will leave Whitefriars to-morrow. Nay, by Heaven, I +will leave it this day." + +"You will have more wit in your anger, I trust," said Duke Hildebrod; +"listen first to what I have to say to you, and, if honest Jack +Hildebrod puts you not in the way of nicking them all, may he never +cast doublets, or dull a greenhorn again! And so, my lord, in plain +words, you must wap and win." + +"Your words must be still plainer before I can understand them," said +Nigel. + +"What the devil--a gamester, one who deals with the devil's bones and +the doctors, and not understand Pedlar's French! Nay, then, I must +speak plain English, and that's the simpleton's tongue." + +"Speak, then, sir," said Nigel; "and I pray you be brief, for I have +little more time to bestow on you." + +"Well, then, my lord, to be brief, as you and the lawyers call it--I +understand you have an estate in the north, which changes masters for +want of the redeeming ready.--Ay, you start, but you cannot dance in a +net before me, as I said before; and so the king runs the frowning +humour on you, and the Court vapours you the go-by; and the Prince +scowls at you from under his cap; and the favourite serves you out the +puckered brow and the cold shoulder; and the favourite's favourite--" + +"To go no further, sir," interrupted Nigel, "suppose all this true-- +and what follows?" + +"What follows?" returned Duke Hildebrod. "Marry, this follows, that +you will owe good deed, as well as good will, to him who shall put you +in the way to walk with your beaver cocked in the presence, as an ye +were Earl of Kildare; bully the courtiers; meet the Prince's blighting +look with a bold brow; confront the favourite; baffle his deputy, and- +-" + +"This is all well," said Nigel! "but how is it to be accomplished?" + +"By making thee a Prince of Peru, my lord of the northern latitudes; +propping thine old castle with ingots,--fertilizing thy failing +fortunes with gold dust--it shall but cost thee to put thy baron's +coronet for a day or so on the brows of an old Caduca here, the man's +daughter of the house, and thou art master of a mass of treasure that +shall do all I have said for thee, and--" + +"What, you would have me marry this old gentlewoman here, the daughter +of mine host?" said Nigel, surprised and angry, yet unable to suppress +some desire to laugh. + +"Nay, my lord, I would have you marry fifty thousand good sterling +pounds; for that, and better, hath old Trapbois hoarded; and thou +shall do a deed of mercy in it to the old man, who will lose his +golden smelts in some worse way--for now that he is well-nigh past his +day of work, his day of payment is like to follow." + +"Truly, this is a most courteous offer," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but +may I pray of your candour, most noble duke, to tell me why you +dispose of a ward of so much wealth on a stranger like me, who may +leave you to-morrow?" + +"In sooth, my lord," said the Duke, "that question smacks more of the +wit of Beaujeu's ordinary, than any word I have yet heard your +lordship speak, and reason it is you should be answered. Touching my +peers, it is but necessary to say, that Mistress Martha Trapbois will +none of them, whether clerical or laic. The captain hath asked her, so +hath the parson, but she will none of them--she looks higher than +either, and is, to say truth, a woman of sense, and so forth, too +profound, and of spirit something too high, to put up with greasy buff +or rusty prunella. For ourselves, we need but hint that we have a +consort in the land of the living, and, what is more to purpose, Mrs. +Martha knows it. So, as she will not lace her kersey hood save with a +quality binding, you, my lord, must be the man, and must carry off +fifty thousand decuses, the spoils of five thousand bullies, cutters, +and spendthrifts,--always deducting from the main sum some five +thousand pounds for our princely advice and countenance, without +which, as matters stand in Alsatia, you would find it hard to win the +plate." + +"But has your wisdom considered, sir," replied Glenvarloch, "how this +wedlock can serve me in my present emergence?" + +"As for that, my lord," said Duke Hildebrod, "if, with forty or fifty +thousand pounds in your pouch, you cannot save yourself, you will +deserve to lose your head for your folly, and your hand for being +close-fisted." + +"But, since your goodness has taken my matters into such serious +consideration," continued Nigel, who conceived there was no prudence +in breaking with a man, who, in his way, meant him favour rather than +offence, "perhaps you may be able to tell me how my kindred will be +likely to receive such a bride as you recommend to me?" + +"Touching that matter, my lord, I have always heard your countrymen +knew as well as other folks, on which side their bread was buttered. +And, truly, speaking from report, I know no place where fifty thousand +pounds--fifty thousand pounds, I say--will make a woman more welcome +than it is likely to do in your ancient kingdom. And, truly, saving +the slight twist in her shoulder, Mrs. Martha Trapbois is a person of +very awful and majestic appearance, and may, for aught I know, be come +of better blood than any one wots of; for old Trapbois looks not over +like to be her father, and her mother was a generous, liberal sort of +a woman." + +"I am afraid," answered Nigel, "that chance is rather too vague to +assure her a gracious reception into an honourable house." + +"Why, then, my lord," replied Hildebrod, "I think it like she will be +even with them; for I will venture to say, she has as much ill-nature +as will make her a match for your whole clan." + +"That may inconvenience me a little," replied Nigel. + +"Not a whit--not a whit," said the Duke, fertile in expedients; "if +she should become rather intolerable, which is not unlikely, your +honourable house, which I presume to be a castle, hath, doubtless, +both turrets and dungeons, and ye may bestow your bonny bride in +either the one or the other, and then you know you will be out of +hearing of her tongue, and she will be either above or below the +contempt of your friends." + +"It is sagely counselled, most equitable sir," replied Nigel, "and +such restraint would be a fit meed for her folly that gave me any +power over her." + +"You entertain the project then, my lord?" said Duke Hildebrod. + +"I must turn it in my mind for twenty-four hours," said Nigel; "and I +will pray you so to order matters that I be not further interrupted by +any visitors." + +"We will utter an edict to secure your privacy," said the Duke; "and +you do not think," he added, lowering his voice to a confidential +whisper, "that ten thousand is too much to pay to the Sovereign, in +name of wardship?" + +"Ten thousand!" said Lord Glenvarloch; "why, you said five thousand +but now." + +"Aha! art avised of that?" said the Duke, touching the side of his +nose with his finger; "nay, if you have marked me so closely, you are +thinking on the case more nearly than I believed, till you trapped me. +Well, well, we will not quarrel about the consideration, as old +Trapbois would call it--do you win and wear the dame; it will be no +hard matter with your face and figure, and I will take care that no +one interrupts you. I will have an edict from the Senate as soon as +they meet for their meridiem." + +So saying, Duke Hildebrod took his leave. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + + This is the time--Heaven's maiden sentinel + Hath quitted her high watch--the lesser spangles + Are paling one by one; give me the ladder + And the short lever--bid Anthony + Keep with his carabine the wicket-gate; + And do thou bare thy knife and follow me, + For we will in and do it--darkness like this + Is dawning of our fortunes. + _Old Play._ + +When Duke Hildebrod had withdrawn, Nigel's first impulse was an +irresistible feeling to laugh at the sage adviser, who would have thus +connected him with age, ugliness, and ill-temper; but his next thought +was pity for the unfortunate father and daughter, who, being the only +persons possessed of wealth in this unhappy district, seemed like a +wreck on the sea-shore of a barbarous country, only secured from +plunder for the moment by the jealousy of the tribes among whom it had +been cast. Neither could he help being conscious that his own +residence here was upon conditions equally precarious, and that he was +considered by the Alsatians in the same light of a godsend on the +Cornish coast, or a sickly but wealthy caravan travelling through the +wilds of Africa, and emphatically termed by the nations of despoilers +through whose regions it passes _Dummalafong_, which signifies a thing +given to be devoured--a common prey to all men. + +Nigel had already formed his own plan to extricate himself, at +whatever risk, from his perilous and degrading situation; and, in +order that he might carry it into instant execution, he only awaited +the return of Lowestoffe's messenger. He expected him, however, in +vain, and could only amuse himself by looking through such parts of +his baggage as had been sent to him from his former lodgings, in order +to select a small packet of the most necessary articles to take with +him, in the event of his quitting his lodgings secretly and suddenly, +as speed and privacy would, he foresaw, be particularly necessary, if +he meant to obtain an interview with the king, which was the course +his spirit and his interest alike determined him to pursue. + +While he was thus engaged, he found, greatly to his satisfaction, that +Master Lowestoffe had transmitted not only his rapier and poniard, but +a pair of pistols, which he had used in travelling; of a smaller and +more convenient size than the large petronels, or horse pistols, which +were then in common use, as being made for wearing at the girdle or in +the pockets. Next to having stout and friendly comrades, a man is +chiefly emboldened by finding himself well armed in case of need, and +Nigel, who had thought with some anxiety on the hazard of trusting his +life, if attacked, to the protection of the clumsy weapon with which +Lowestoffe had equipped him, in order to complete his disguise, felt +an emotion of confidence approaching to triumph, as, drawing his own +good and well-tried rapier, he wiped it with his handkerchief, +examined its point, bent it once or twice against the ground to prove +its well-known metal, and finally replaced it in the scabbard, the +more hastily, that he heard a tap at the door of his chamber, and had +no mind to be found vapouring in the apartment with his sword drawn. + +It was his old host who entered, to tell him with many cringes that +the price of his apartment was to be a crown per diem; and that, +according to the custom of Whitefriars, the rent was always payable +per advance, although he never scrupled to let the money lie till a +week or fortnight, or even a month, in the hands of any honourable +guest like Master Grahame, always upon some reasonable consideration +for the use. Nigel got rid of the old dotard's intrusion, by throwing +down two pieces of gold, and requesting the accommodation of his +present apartment for eight days, adding, however, he did not think he +should tarry so long. + +The miser, with a sparkling eye and a trembling hand, clutched fast +the proffered coin, and, having balanced the pieces with exquisite +pleasure on the extremity of his withered finger, began almost +instantly to show that not even the possession of gold can gratify for +more than an instant the very heart that is most eager in the pursuit +of it. First, the pieces might be light--with hasty hand he drew a +small pair of scales from his bosom, and weighed them, first together, +then separately, and smiled with glee as he saw them attain the due +depression in the balance--a circumstance which might add to his +profits, if it were true, as was currently reported, that little of +the gold coinage was current in Alsatia in a perfect state, and that +none ever left the Sanctuary in that condition. + +Another fear then occurred to trouble the old miser's pleasure. He had +been just able to comprehend that Nigel intended to leave the Friars +sooner than the arrival of the term for which he had deposited the +rent. This might imply an expectation of refunding, which, as a Scotch +wag said, of all species of funding, jumped least with the old +gentleman's humour. He was beginning to enter a hypothetical caveat on +this subject, and to quote several reasons why no part of the money +once consigned as room-rent, could be repaid back on any pretence, +without great hardship to the landlord, when Nigel, growing impatient, +told him that the money was his absolutely, and without any intention +on his part of resuming any of it--all he asked in return was the +liberty of enjoying in private the apartment he had paid for. Old +Trapbois, who had still at his tongue's end much of the smooth +language, by which, in his time, he had hastened the ruin of many a +young spendthrift, began to launch out upon the noble and generous +disposition of his new guest, until Nigel, growing impatient, took the +old gentleman by the hand, and gently, yet irresistibly, leading him +to the door of the chamber, put him out, but with such decent and +moderate exertion of his superior strength, as to render the action in +no shape indecorous, and, fastening the door, began to do that for his +pistols which he had done for his favourite sword, examining with care +the flints and locks, and reviewing the state of his small provision +of ammunition. + +In this operation he was a second time interrupted by a knocking at +the door--he called upon the person to enter, having no doubt that it +was Lowestoffe's messenger at length arrived. It was, however, the +ungracious daughter of old Trapbois, who, muttering something about +her father's mistake, laid down upon the table one of the pieces of +gold which Nigel had just given to him, saying, that what she retained +was the full rent for the term he had specified. Nigel replied, he had +paid the money, and had no desire to receive it again. + +"Do as you will with it, then," replied his hostess, "for there it +lies, and shall lie for me. If you are fool enough to pay more than is +reason, my father shall not be knave enough to take it." + +"But your father, mistress," said Nigel, "your father told me--" + +"Oh, my father, my father," said she, interrupting him,--"my father +managed these affairs while he was able--I manage them now, and that +may in the long run be as well for both of us." + +She then looked on the table, and observed the weapons. + +"You have arms, I see," she said; "do you know how to use them?" + +"I should do so mistress," replied Nigel, "for it has been my +occupation." + +"You are a soldier, then?" she demanded. + +"No farther as yet, than as every gentleman of my country is a +soldier." + +"Ay, that is your point of honour--to cut the throats of the poor--a +proper gentlemanlike occupation for those who should protect them!" + +"I do not deal in cutting throats, mistress," replied Nigel; "but I +carry arms to defend myself, and my country if it needs me." + +"Ay," replied Martha, "it is fairly worded; but men say you are as +prompt as others in petty brawls, where neither your safety nor your +country is in hazard; and that had it not been so, you would not have +been in the Sanctuary to-day." + +"Mistress," returned Nigel, "I should labour in vain to make you +understand that a man's honour, which is, or should be, dearer to him +than his life, may often call on and compel us to hazard our own +lives, or those of others, on what would otherwise seem trifling +contingencies." + +"God's law says nought of that," said the female; "I have only read +there, that thou shall not kill. But I have neither time nor +inclination to preach to you--you will find enough of fighting here if +you like it, and well if it come not to seek you when you are least +prepared. Farewell for the present--the char-woman will execute your +commands for your meals." + +She left the room, just as Nigel, provoked at her assuming a superior +tone of judgment and of censure, was about to be so superfluous as to +enter into a dispute with an old pawnbroker's daughter on the subject +of the point of honour. He smiled at himself for the folly into which +the spirit of self-vindication had so nearly hurried him. + +Lord Glenvarloch then applied to old Deborah the char-woman, by whose +intermediation he was provided with a tolerably decent dinner; and the +only embarrassment which he experienced, was from the almost forcible +entry of the old dotard his landlord, who insisted upon giving his +assistance at laying the cloth. Nigel had some difficulty to prevent +him from displacing his arms and some papers which were lying on a +small table at which he had been sitting; and nothing short of a stern +and positive injunction to the contrary could compel him to use +another board (though there were two in the room) for the purpose of +laying the cloth. + +Having at length obliged him to relinquish his purpose, he could not +help observing that the eyes of the old dotard seemed still anxiously +fixed upon the small table on which lay his sword and pistols; and +that, amidst all the little duties which he seemed officiously anxious +to render to his guest, he took every opportunity of looking towards +and approaching these objects of his attention. At length, when +Trapbois thought he had completely avoided the notice of his guest, +Nigel, through the observation of one of the cracked mirrors, oh which +channel of communication the old man had not calculated, beheld him +actually extend his hand towards the table in question. He thought it +unnecessary to use further ceremony, but telling his landlord, in a +stern voice, that he permitted no one to touch his arms, he commanded +him to leave the apartment. The old usurer commenced a maundering sort +of apology, in which all that Nigel distinctly apprehended, was a +frequent repetition of the word _consideration_, and which did not +seem to him to require any other answer than a reiteration of his +command to him to leave the apartment, upon pain of worse +consequences. + +The ancient Hebe who acted as Lord Glenvarloch's cup-bearer, took his +part against the intrusion of the still more antiquated Ganymede, and +insisted on old Trapbois leaving the room instantly, menacing him at +the same time with her mistress's displeasure if he remained there any +longer. The old man seemed more under petticoat government than any +other, for the threat of the char-woman produced greater effect upon +him than the more formidable displeasure of Nigel. He withdrew +grumbling and muttering, and Lord Glenvarloch heard him bar a large +door at the nearer end of the gallery, which served as a division +betwixt the other parts of the extensive mansion, and the apartment +occupied by his guest, which, as the reader is aware, had its access +from the landing-place at the head of the grand staircase. + +Nigel accepted the careful sound of the bolts and bars as they were +severally drawn by the trembling hand of old Trapbois, as an omen that +the senior did not mean again to revisit him in the course of the +evening, and heartily rejoiced that he was at length to be left to +uninterrupted solitude. + +The old woman asked if there was aught else to be done for his +accommodation; and, indeed, it had hitherto seemed as if the pleasure +of serving him, or more properly the reward which she expected, had +renewed her youth and activity. Nigel desired to have candles, to have +a fire lighted in his apartment, and a few fagots placed beside it, +that he might feed it from time to time, as he began to feel the +chilly effects of the damp and low situation of the house, close as it +was to the Thames. But while the old woman was absent upon his errand, +he began to think in what way he should pass the long solitary evening +with which he was threatened. + +His own reflections promised to Nigel little amusement, and less +applause. He had considered his own perilous situation in every light +in which it could be viewed, and foresaw as little utility as comfort +in resuming the survey. To divert the current of his ideas, books +were, of course, the readiest resource; and although, like most of us, +Nigel had, in his time, sauntered through large libraries, and even +spent a long time there without greatly disturbing their learned +contents, he was now in a situation where the possession of a volume, +even of very inferior merit, becomes a real treasure. The old +housewife returned shortly afterwards with fagots, and some pieces of +half-burnt wax-candles, the perquisites, probably, real or usurped, of +some experienced groom of the chambers, two of which she placed in +large brass candlesticks, of different shapes and patterns, and laid +the others on the table, that Nigel might renew them from time to time +as they burnt to the socket. She heard with interest Lord +Glenvarloch's request to have a book--any sort of book--to pass away +the night withal, and returned for answer, that she knew of no other +books in the house than her young mistress's (as she always +denominated Mistress Martha Trapbois) Bible, which the owner would not +lend; and her master's Whetstone of Witte, being the second part of +Arithmetic, by Robert Record, with the Cossike Practice and Rule of +Equation; which promising volume Nigel declined to borrow. She +offered, however, to bring him some books from Duke Hildebrod--"who +sometimes, good gentleman, gave a glance at a book when the State +affairs of Alsatia left him as much leisure." + +Nigfil embraced the proposal, and his unwearied Iris scuttled away on +this second embassy. She returned in a short time with a tattered +quarto volume under her arm, and a bottle of sack in her hand; for the +Duke, judging that mere reading was dry work, had sent the wine by way +of sauce to help it down, not forgetting to add the price to the +morning's score, which he had already run up against the stranger in +the Sanctuary. + +Nigel seized on the book, and did not refuse the wine, thinking that a +glass or two, as it really proved to be of good quality, would be no +bad interlude to his studies. He dismissed, with thanks and assurance +of reward, the poor old drudge who had been so zealous in his service; +trimmed his fire and candles, and placed the easiest of the old arm- +chairs in a convenient posture betwixt the fire and the table at which +he had dined, and which now supported the measure of sack and the +lights; and thus accompanying his studies with such luxurious +appliances as were in his power, he began to examine the only volume +with which the ducal library of Alsatia had been able to supply him. + +The contents, though of a kind generally interesting, were not well +calculated to dispel the gloom by which he was surrounded. The book +was entitled "God's Revenge against Murther;" not, as the +bibliomaniacal reader may easily conjecture, the work which Reynolds +published under that imposing name, but one of a much earlier date, +printed and sold by old Wolfe; and which, could a copy now be found, +would sell for much more than its weight in gold.[Footnote: Only three +copies are known to exist; one in the library at Kennaquhair, and two- +-one foxed and cropped, the other tall and in good condition--both in +the possession of an eminent member of the Roxburghe Club.--_Note by_ +CAPTAIN CLUTTERBUCK.] Nigel had soon enough of the doleful tales which +the book contains, and attempted one or two other modes of killing the +evening. He looked out at window, but the night was rainy, with gusts +of wind; he tried to coax the fire, but the fagots were green, and +smoked without burning; and as he was naturally temperate, he felt his +blood somewhat heated by the canary sack which he had already drank, +and had no farther inclination to that pastime. He next attempted to +compose a memorial addressed to the king, in which he set forth his +case and his grievances; but, speedily stung with the idea that his +supplication would be treated with scorn, he flung the scroll into the +fire, and, in a sort of desperation, resumed the book which he had +laid aside. + +Nigel became more interested in the volume at the second than at the +first attempt which he made to peruse it. The narratives, strange and +shocking as they were to human feeling, possessed yet the interest of +sorcery or of fascination, which rivets the attention by its awakening +horrors. Much was told of the strange and horrible acts of blood by +which men, setting nature and humanity alike at defiance, had, for the +thirst of revenge, the lust of gold, or the cravings of irregular +ambition, broken into the tabernacle of life. Yet more surprising and +mysterious tales were recounted of the mode in which such deeds of +blood had come to be discovered and revenged. Animals, irrational +animals, had told the secret, and birds of the air had carried the +matter. The elements had seemed to betray the deed which had polluted +them--earth had ceased to support the murderer's steps, fire to warm +his frozen limbs, water to refresh his parched lips, air to relieve +his gasping lungs. All, in short, bore evidence to the homicide's +guilt. In other circumstances, the criminal's own awakened conscience +pursued and brought him to justice; and in some narratives the grave +was said to have yawned, that the ghost of the sufferer might call for +revenge. + +It was now wearing late in the night, and the book was still in +Nigel's hands, when the tapestry which hung behind him flapped against +the wall, and the wind produced by its motion waved the flame of the +candles by which he was reading. Nigel started and turned round, in +that excited and irritated state of mind which arose from the nature +of his studies, especially at a period when a certain degree of +superstition was inculcated as a point of religious faith. It was not +without emotion that he saw the bloodless countenance, meagre form, +and ghastly aspect of old Trapbois, once more in the very act of +extending his withered hand towards the table which supported his +arms. Convinced by this untimely apparition that something evil was +meditated towards him, Nigel sprung up, seized his sword, drew it, and +placing it at the old man's breast, demanded of him what he did in his +apartment at so untimely an hour. Trapbois showed neither fear nor +surprise, and only answered by some imperfect expressions, intimating +he would part with his life rather than with his property; and Lord +Glenvarloch, strangely embarrassed, knew not what to think of the +intruder's motives, and still less how to get rid of him. As he again +tried the means of intimidation, he was surprised by a second +apparition from behind the tapestry, in the person of the daughter of +Trapbois, bearing a lamp in her hand. She also seemed to possess her +father's insensibility to danger, for, coming close to Nigel, she +pushed aside impetuously his naked sword, and even attempted to take +it out of his hand. + +"For shame," she said, "your sword on a man of eighty years and more!- +=this the honour of a Scottish gentleman!--give it to me to make a +spindle of!" + +"Stand back," said Nigel; "I mean your father no injury--but I _will_ +know what has caused him to prowl this whole day, and even at this +late hour of night, around my arms." + +"Your arms!" repeated she; "alas! young man, the whole arms in the +Tower of London are of little value to him, in comparison of this +miserable piece of gold which I left this morning on the table of a +young spendthrift, too careless to put what belonged to him into his +own purse." + +So saying, she showed the piece of gold, which, still remaining on the +table, where she left it, had been the bait that attracted old +Trapbois so frequently to the spot; and which, even in the silence of +the night, had so dwelt on his imagination, that he had made use of a +private passage long disused, to enter his guest's apartment, in order +to possess himself of the treasure during his slumbers. He now +exclaimed, at the highest tones of his cracked and feeble voice-- + +"It is mine--it is mine!--he gave it to me for a consideration--I will +die ere I part with my property!" + +"It is indeed his own, mistress," said Nigel, "and I do entreat you to +restore it to the person on whom I have bestowed it, and let me have +my apartment in quiet." + +"I will account with you for it, then,"--said the maiden, reluctantly +giving to her father the morsel of Mammon, on which he darted as if +his bony fingers had been the talons of a hawk seizing its prey; and +then making a contented muttering and mumbling, like an old dog after +he has been fed, and just when he is wheeling himself thrice round for +the purpose of lying down, he followed his daughter behind the +tapestry, through a little sliding-door, which was perceived when the +hangings were drawn apart. + +"This shall be properly fastened to-morrow," said the daughter to +Nigel, speaking in such a tone that her father, deaf, and engrossed by +his acquisition, could not hear her; "to-night I will continue to +watch him closely.--I wish you good repose." + +These few words, pronounced in a tone of more civility than she had +yet made use of towards her lodger, contained a wish which was not to +be accomplished, although her guest, presently after her departure, +retired to bed. + +There was a slight fever in Nigel's blood, occasioned by the various +events of the evening, which put him, as the phrase is, beside his +rest. Perplexing and painful thoughts rolled on his mind like a +troubled stream, and the more he laboured to lull himself to slumber, +the farther he seemed from attaining his object. He tried all the +resources common in such cases; kept counting from one to a thousand, +until his head was giddy--he watched the embers of the wood fire till +his eyes were dazzled--he listened to the dull moaning of the wind, +the swinging and creaking of signs which projected from the houses, +and the baying of here and there a homeless dog, till his very ear was +weary. + +Suddenly, however, amid this monotony, came a sound which startled him +at once. It was a female shriek. He sat up in his bed to listen, then +remembered he was in Alsatia, where brawls of every sort were current +among the unruly inhabitants. But another scream, and another, and +another, succeeded so close, that he was certain, though the noise was +remote and sounded stifled, it must be in the same house with himself. + +Nigel jumped up hastily, put on a part of his clothes, seized his +sword and pistols, and ran to the door of his chamber. Here he plainly +heard the screams redoubled, and, as he thought, the sounds came from +the usurer's apartment. All access to the gallery was effectually +excluded by the intermediate door, which the brave young lord shook +with eager, but vain impatience. But the secret passage occurred +suddenly to his recollection. He hastened back to his room, and +succeeded with some difficulty in lighting a candle, powerfully +agitated by hearing the cries repeated, yet still more afraid lest +they should sink into silence. + +He rushed along the narrow and winding entrance, guided by the noise, +which now burst more wildly on his ear; and, while he descended a +narrow staircase which terminated the passage, he heard the stifled +voices of men, encouraging, as it seemed, each other. "D--n her, +strike her down--silence her--beat her brains out!"--while the voice +of his hostess, though now almost exhausted, was repeating the cry of +"murder," and "help." At the bottom of the staircase was a small door, +which gave way before Nigel as he precipitated himself upon the scene +of action,--a cocked pistol in one hand, a candle in the other, and +his naked sword under his arm. + +Two ruffians had, with great difficulty, overpowered, or, rather, were +on the point of overpowering, the daughter of Trapbois, whose +resistance appeared to have been most desperate, for the floor was +covered with fragments of her clothes, and handfuls of her hair. It +appeared that her life was about to be the price of her defence, for +one villain had drawn a long clasp-knife, when they were surprised by +the entrance of Nigel, who, as they turned towards him, shot the +fellow with the knife dead on the spot, and when the other advanced to +him, hurled the candlestick at his head, and then attacked him with +his sword. It was dark, save some pale moonlight from the window; and +the ruffian, after firing a pistol without effect, and fighting a +traverse or two with his sword, lost heart, made for the window, +leaped over it, and escaped. Nigel fired his remaining pistol after +him at a venture, and then called for light. + +"There is light in the kitchen," answered Martha Trapbois, with more +presence of mind than could have been expected. "Stay, you know not +the way; I will fetch it myself.--Oh! my father--my poor father!--I +knew it would come to this--and all along of the accursed gold!--They +have _murdered_ him!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + + Death finds us 'mid our playthings--snatches us, + As a cross nurse might do a wayward child, + From all our toys and baubles. His rough call + Unlooses all our favourite ties on earth; + And well if they are such as may be answer'd + In yonder world, where all is judged of truly. + _Old Play_. + +It was a ghastly scene which opened, upon Martha Trapbois's return +with a light. Her own haggard and austere features were exaggerated by +all the desperation of grief, fear, and passion--but the latter was +predominant. On the floor lay the body of the robber, who had expired +without a groan, while his blood, flowing plentifully, had crimsoned +all around. Another body lay also there, on which the unfortunate +woman precipitated herself in agony, for it was that of her unhappy +father. In the next moment she started up, and exclaiming--"There may +be life yet!" strove to raise the body. Nigel went to her assistance, +but not without a glance at the open window; which Martha, as acute as +if undisturbed either by passion or terror, failed not to interpret +justly. + +"Fear not," she cried, "fear not; they are base cowards, to whom +courage is as much unknown as mercy. If I had had weapons, I could +have defended myself against them without assistance or protection.-- +Oh! my poor father! protection comes too late for this cold and stiff +corpse.--He is dead--dead!" + +While she spoke, they were attempting to raise the dead body of the +old miser; but it was evident, even from the feeling of the inactive +weight and rigid joints, that life had forsaken her station. Nigel +looked for a wound, but saw none. The daughter of the deceased, with +more presence of mind than a daughter could at the time have been +supposed capable of exerting, discovered the instrument of his murder- +-a sort of scarf, which had been drawn so tight round his throat, as +to stifle his cries for assistance, in the first instance, and +afterwards to extinguish life. + +She undid the fatal noose; and, laying the old man's body in the arms +of Lord Glenvarloch, she ran for water, for spirits, for essences, in +the vain hope that life might be only suspended. That hope proved +indeed vain. She chafed his temples, raised his head, loosened his +nightgown, (for it seemed as if he had arisen from bed upon hearing +the entrance of the villains,) and, finally, opened, with difficulty, +his fixed and closely-clenched hands, from one of which dropped a key, +from the other the very piece of gold about which the unhappy man had +been a little before so anxious, and which probably, in the impaired +state of his mental faculties, he was disposed to defend with as +desperate energy as if its amount had been necessary to his actual +existence. + +"It is in vain--it is in vain," said the daughter, desisting from her +fruitless attempts to recall the spirit which had been effectually +dislodged, for the neck had been twisted by the violence of the +murderers; "It is in vain--he is murdered--I always knew it would be +thus; and now I witness it!" + +She then snatched up the key and the piece of money, but it was only +to dash them again on the floor, as she exclaimed, "Accursed be ye +both, for you are the causes of this deed!" + +Nigel would have spoken--would have reminded her, that measures should +be instantly taken for the pursuit of the murderer who had escaped, as +well as for her own security against his return; but she interrupted +him sharply. + +"Be silent," she said, "be silent. Think you, the thoughts of my own +heart are not enough to distract me, and with such a sight as this +before me? I say, be silent," she said again, and in a yet sterner +tone--"Can a daughter listen, and her father's murdered corpse lying +on her knees?" + +Lord Glenvarloch, however overpowered by the energy of her grief, felt +not the less the embarrassment of his own situation. He had discharged +both his pistols--the robber might return--he had probably other +assistants besides the man who had fallen, and it seemed to him, +indeed, as if he had heard a muttering beneath the windows. He +explained hastily to his companion the necessity of procuring +ammunition. + +"You are right," she said, somewhat contemptuously, "and have ventured +already more than ever I expected of man. Go, and shift for yourself, +since that is your purpose--leave me to my fate." + +Without stopping for needless expostulation, Nigel hastened to his own +room through the secret passage, furnished himself with the ammunition +he sought for, and returned with the same celerity; wondering himself +at the accuracy with which he achieved, in the dark, all the +meanderings of the passage which he had traversed only once, and that +in a moment of such violent agitation. + +He found, on his return, the unfortunate woman standing like a statue +by the body of her father, which she had laid straight on the floor, +having covered the face with the skirt of his gown. She testified +neither surprise nor pleasure at Nigel's return, but said to him +calmly--"My moan is made--my sorrow--all the sorrow at least that man +shall ever have noting of, is gone past; but I will have justice, and +the base villain who murdered this poor defenceless old man, when he +had not, by the course of nature, a twelvemonth's life in him, shall +not cumber the earth long after him. Stranger, whom heaven has sent to +forward the revenge reserved for this action, go to Hildebrod's--there +they are awake all night in their revels--bid him come hither--he is +bound by his duty, and dare not, and shall not, refuse his assistance, +which he knows well I can reward. Why do ye tarry?--go instantly." "I +would," said Nigel, "but I am fearful of leaving you alone; the +villains may return, and--" + +"True, most true," answered Martha, "he may return; and, though I care +little for his murdering me, he may possess himself of what has most +tempted him. Keep this key and this piece of gold; they are both of +importance--defend your life if assailed, and if you kill the villain +I will make you rich. I go myself to call for aid." + +Nigel would have remonstrated with her, but she had departed, and in a +moment he heard the house-door clank behind her. For an instant he +thought of following her; but upon recollection that the distance was +but short betwixt the tavern of Hildebrod and the house of Trapbois, +he concluded that she knew it better than he--incurred little danger +in passing it, and that he would do well in the meanwhile to remain on +the watch as she recommended. + +It was no pleasant situation for one unused to such scenes to remain +in the apartment with two dead bodies, recently those of living and +breathing men, who had both, within the space of less than half an +hour, suffered violent death; one of them by the hand of the assassin, +the other, whose blood still continued to flow from the wound in his +throat, and to flood all around him, by the spectator's own deed of +violence, though of justice. He turned his face from those wretched +relics of mortality with a feeling of disgust, mingled with +superstition; and he found, when he had done so, that the +consciousness of the presence of these ghastly objects, though unseen +by him, rendered him more uncomfortable than even when he had his eyes +fixed upon, and reflected by, the cold, staring, lifeless eyeballs of +the deceased. Fancy also played her usual sport with him. He now +thought he heard the well-worn damask nightgown of the deceased usurer +rustle; anon, that he heard the slaughtered bravo draw up his leg, the +boot scratching the floor as if he was about to rise; and again he +deemed he heard the footsteps and the whisper of the returned ruffian +under the window from which he had lately escaped. To face the last +and most real danger, and to parry the terrors which the other class +of feelings were like to impress upon him, Nigel went to the window, +and was much cheered to observe the light of several torches +illuminating the street, and followed, as the murmur of voices +denoted, by a number of persons, armed, it would seem, with firelocks +and halberds, and attendant on Hildebrod, who (not in his fantastic +office of duke, but in that which he really possessed of bailiff of +the liberty and sanctuary of Whitefriars) was on his way to inquire +into the crime and its circumstances. + +It was a strange and melancholy contrast to see these debauchees, +disturbed in the very depth of their midnight revel, on their arrival +at such a scene as this. They stared on each other, and on the bloody +work before them, with lack-lustre eyes; staggered with uncertain +steps over boards slippery with blood; their noisy brawling voices +sunk into stammering whispers; and, with spirits quelled by what they +saw, while their brains were still stupefied by the liquor which they +had drunk, they seemed like men walking in their sleep. + +Old Hildebrod was an exception to the general condition. That seasoned +cask, however full, was at all times capable of motion, when there +occurred a motive sufficiently strong to set him a-rolling. He seemed +much shocked at what he beheld, and his proceedings, in consequence, +had more in them of regularity and propriety, than he might have been +supposed capable of exhibiting upon any occasion whatever. The +daughter was first examined, and stated, with wonderful accuracy and +distinctness, the manner in which she had been alarmed with a noise of +struggling and violence in her father's apartment, and that the more +readily, because she was watching him on account of some alarm +concerning his health. On her entrance, she had seen her father +sinking under the strength of two men, upon whom she rushed with all +the fury she was capable of. As their faces were blackened, and their +figures disguised, she could not pretend, in the hurry of a moment so +dreadfully agitating, to distinguish either of them as persons whom +she had seen before. She remembered little more except the firing of +shots, until she found herself alone with her guest, and saw that the +ruffians had escaped. Lord Glenvarloch told his story as we have given +it to the reader. The direct evidence thus received, Hildebrod +examined the premises. He found that the villains had made their +entrance by the window out of which the survivor had made his escape; +yet it seemed singular that they should have done so, as it was +secured with strong iron bars, which old Trapbois was in the habit of +shutting with his own hand at nightfall. He minuted down with great +accuracy, the state of every thing in the apartment, and examined +carefully the features of the slain robber. He was dressed like a +seaman of the lowest order, but his face was known to none present. +Hildebrod next sent for an Alsatian surgeon, whose vices, undoing what +his skill might have done for him, had consigned him to the wretched +practice of this place. He made him examine the dead bodies, and make +a proper declaration of the manner in which the sufferers seemed to +have come by their end. The circumstances of the sash did not escape +the learned judge, and having listened to all that could be heard or +conjectured on the subject, and collected all particulars of evidence +which appeared to bear on the bloody transaction, he commanded the +door of the apartment to be locked until next morning; and carrying, +the unfortunate daughter of the murdered man into the kitchen, where +there was no one in presence but Lord Glenvarloch, he asked her +gravely, whether she suspected no one in particular of having +committed the deed. + +"Do _you_ suspect no one?" answered Martha, looking fixedly on him. + +"Perhaps, I may, mistress; but it is my part to ask questions, yours +to answer them. That's the rule of the game." + +"Then I suspect him who wore yonder sash. Do not you know whom I +mean?" + +"Why, if you call on me for honours, I must needs say I have seen +Captain Peppercull have one of such a fashion, and he was not a man to +change his suits often." + +"Send out, then," said Martha, "and have him apprehended." + +"If it is he, he will be far by this time; but I will communicate with +the higher powers," answered the judge. + +"You would have him escape," resumed she, fixing her eyes on him +sternly. + +"By cock and pie," replied Hildebrod, "did it depend on me, the +murdering cut-throat should hang as high as ever Haman did--but let me +take my time. He has friends among us, _that_ you wot well; and all +that should assist me are as drunk as fiddlers." + +"I will have revenge--I _will_ have it," repeated she; "and take heed +you trifle not with me." + +"Trifle! I would sooner trifle with a she-bear the minute after they +had baited her. I tell you, mistress, be but patient, and we will have +him. I know all his haunts, and he cannot forbear them long; and I +will have trap-doors open for him. You cannot want justice, mistress, +for you have the means to get it." + +"They who help me in my revenge," said Martha, "shall share those +means." + +"Enough said," replied Hildebrod; "and now I would have you go to my +house, and get something hot--you will be but dreary here by +yourself." + +"I will send for the old char-woman," replied Martha, "and we have the +stranger gentleman, besides." + +"Umph, umph--the stranger gentleman!" said Hildebrod to Nigel, whom he +drew a little apart. "I fancy the captain has made the stranger +gentleman's fortune when he was making a bold dash for his own. I can +tell your honour--I must not say lordship--that I think my having +chanced to give the greasy buff-and-iron scoundrel some hint of what I +recommended to you to-day, has put him on this rough game. The better +for you--you will get the cash without the father-in-law.--You will +keep conditions, I trust?" + +"I wish you had said nothing to any one of a scheme so absurd," said +Nigel. + +"Absurd!--Why, think you she will not have thee? Take her with the +tear in her eye, man--take her with the tear in her eye. Let me hear +from you to-morrow. Good-night, good-night--a nod is as good as a +wink. I must to my business of sealing and locking up. By the way, +this horrid work has put all out of my head.--Here is a fellow from +Mr. Lowestoffe has been asking to see you. As he said his business was +express, the Senate only made him drink a couple of flagons, and he +was just coming to beat up your quarters when this breeze blew up.-- +Ahey, friend! there is Master Nigel Grahame." + +A young man, dressed in a green plush jerkin, with a badge on the +sleeve, and having the appearance of a waterman, approached and took +Nigel aside, while Duke Hildebrod went from place to place to exercise +his authority, and to see the windows fastened, and the doors of the +apartment locked up. The news communicated by Lowestoffe's messenger +were not the most pleasant. They were intimated in a courteous whisper +to Nigel, to the following effect:--That Master Lowestoffe prayed him +to consult his safety by instantly leaving Whitefriars, for that a +warrant from the Lord Chief-Justice had been issued out for +apprehending him, and would be put in force to-morrow, by the +assistance of a party of musketeers, a force which the Alsatians +neither would nor dared to resist. + +"And so, squire," said the aquatic emissary, "my wherry is to wait you +at the Temple Stairs yonder, at five this morning, and, if you would +give the blood-hounds the slip, why, you may." + +"Why did not Master Lowestoffe write to me?" said Nigel. + +"Alas! the good gentleman lies up in lavender for it himself, and has +as little to do with pen and ink as if he were a parson." + +"Did he send any token to me?" said Nigel. + +"Token!--ay, marry did he--token enough, an I have not forgot it," +said the fellow; then, giving a hoist to the waistband of his +breeches, he said,--" Ay, I have it--you were to believe me, because +your name was written with an O, for Grahame. Ay, that was it, I +think.--Well, shall we meet in two hours, when tide turns, and go down +the river like a twelve-oared barge?" + +"Where is the king just now, knowest thou?" answered Lord Glenvarloch. + +"The king! why, he went down to Greenwich yesterday by water, like a +noble sovereign as he is, who will always float where he can. He was +to have hunted this week, but that purpose is broken, they say; and +the Prince, and the Duke, and all of them at Greenwich, are as merry +as minnows." + +"Well," replied Nigel, "I will be ready to go at five; do thou come +hither to carry my baggage." + +"Ay, ay, master," replied the fellow, and left the house mixing +himself with the disorderly attendants of Duke Hildebrod, who were now +retiring. That potentate entreated Nigel to make fast the doors behind +him, and, pointing to the female who sat by the expiring fire with her +limbs outstretched, like one whom the hand of Death had already +arrested, he whispered, "Mind your hits, and mind your bargain, or I +will cut your bow-string for you before you can draw it." + +Feeling deeply the ineffable brutality which could recommend the +prosecuting such views over a wretch in such a condition, Lord +Glenvarloch yet commanded his temper so far as to receive the advice +in silence, and attend to the former part of it, by barring the door +carefully behind Duke Hildebrod and his suite, with the tacit hope +that he should never again see or hear of them. He then returned to +the kitchen, in which the unhappy woman remained, her hands still +clenched, her eyes fixed, and her limbs extended, like those of a +person in a trance. Much moved by her situation, and with the prospect +which lay before her, he endeavoured to awaken her to existence by +every means in his power, and at length apparently succeeded in +dispelling her stupor, and attracting her attention. He then explained +to her that he was in the act of leaving Whitefriars in a few hours-- +that his future destination was uncertain, but that he desired +anxiously to know whether he could contribute to her protection by +apprizing any friend of her situation, or otherwise. With some +difficulty she seemed to comprehend his meaning, and thanked him with +her usual short ungracious manner. "He might mean well," she said, +"but he ought to know that the miserable had no friends." + +Nigel said, "He would not willingly be importunate, but, as he was +about to leave the Friars--" She interrupted him-- + +"You are about to leave the Friars? I will go with you." + +"You go with me!" exclaimed Lord Glenvarloch. + +"Yes," she said, "I will persuade my father to leave this murdering +den." But, as she spoke, the more perfect recollection of what had +passed crowded on her mind. She hid her face in her hands, and burst +out into a dreadful fit of sobs, moans, and lamentations, which +terminated in hysterics, violent in proportion to the uncommon +strength of her body and mind. + +Lord Glenvarloch, shocked, confused, and inexperienced, was about to +leave the house in quest of medical, or at least female assistance; +but the patient, when the paroxysm had somewhat spent its force, held +him fast by the sleeve with one hand, covering her face with the +other, while a copious flood of tears came to relieve the emotions of +grief by which she had been so violently agitated. + +"Do not leave me," she said--"do not leave me, and call no one. I have +never been in this way before, and would not now," she said, sitting +upright, and wiping her eyes with her apron,--"would not now--but +that--but that he loved _me_. if he loved nothing else that was human- +-To die so, and by such hands!" + +And again the unhappy woman gave way to a paroxysm of sorrow, mingling +her tears with sobbing, wailing, and all the abandonment of female +grief, when at its utmost height. At length, she gradually recovered +the austerity of her natural composure, and maintained it as if by a +forcible exertion of resolution, repelling, as she spoke, the repeated +returns of the hysterical affection, by such an effort as that by +which epileptic patients are known to suspend the recurrence of their +fits. Yet her mind, however resolved, could not so absolutely overcome +the affection of her nerves, but that she was agitated by strong fits +of trembling, which, for a minute or two at a time, shook her whole +frame in a manner frightful to witness. Nigel forgot his own +situation, and, indeed, every thing else, in the interest inspired by +the unhappy woman before him--an interest which affected a proud +spirit the more deeply, that she herself, with correspondent highness +of mind, seemed determined to owe as little as possible either to the +humanity or the pity of others. + +"I am not wont to be in this way," she said,--"but--but--Nature will +have power over the frail beings it has made. Over you, sir, I have +some right; for, without you, I had not survived this awful night. I +wish your aid had been either earlier or later--but you have saved my +life, and you are bound to assist in making it endurable to me." + +"If you will show me how it is possible," answered Nigel. + +"You are going hence, you say, instantly--carry me with you," said the +unhappy woman. "By my own efforts, I shall never escape from this +wilderness of guilt and misery." + +"Alas! what can I do for you?" replied Nigel. "My own way, and I must +not deviate from it, leads me, in all probability, to a dungeon. I +might, indeed, transport you from hence with me, if you could +afterwards bestow yourself with any friend." + +"Friend!" she exclaimed--"I have no friend--they have long since +discarded us. A spectre arising from the dead were more welcome than I +should be at the doors of those who have disclaimed us; and, if they +were willing to restore their friendship to me now, I would despise +it, because they withdrew it from him--from him"--(here she underwent +strong but suppressed agitation, and then added firmly)--"from _him_ +who lies yonder.--I have no friend." Here she paused; and then +suddenly, as if recollecting herself, added, "I have no friend, but I +have that will purchase many--I have that which will purchase both +friends and avengers.--It is well thought of; I must not leave it for +a prey to cheats and ruffians.--Stranger, you must return to yonder +room. Pass through it boldly to his--that is, to the sleeping +apartment; push the bedstead aside; beneath each of the posts is a +brass plate, as if to support the weight, but it is that upon the +left, nearest to the wall, which must serve your turn--press the +corner of the plate, and it will spring up and show a keyhole, which +this key will open. You will then lift a concealed trap-door, and in a +cavity of the floor you will discover a small chest. Bring it hither; +it shall accompany our journey, and it will be hard if the contents +cannot purchase me a place of refuge." + +"But the door communicating with the kitchen has been locked by these +people," said Nigel. + +"True, I had forgot; they had their reasons for that, doubtless," +answered she. "But the secret passage from your apartment is open, and +you may go that way." + +Lord Glenvarloch took the key, and, as he lighted a lamp to show him +the way, she read in his countenance some unwillingness to the task +imposed. + +"You fear?" said she--"there is no cause; the murderer and his victim +are both at rest. Take courage, I will go with you myself--you cannot +know the trick of the spring, and the chest will be too heavy for +you." + +"No fear, no fear," answered Lord Glenvarloch, ashamed of the +construction she put upon a momentary hesitation, arising from a +dislike to look upon what is horrible, often connected with those +high-wrought minds which are the last to fear what is merely +dangerous--"I will do your errand as you desire; but for you, you must +not--cannot go yonder." + +"I can--I will," she said. "I am composed. You shall see that I am +so." She took from the table a piece of unfinished sewing-work, and, +with steadiness and composure, passed a silken thread into the eye of +a fine needle.--"Could I have done that," she said, with a smile yet +more ghastly than her previous look of fixed despair, "had not my +heart and hand been both steady?" + +She then led the way rapidly up stairs to Nigel's chamber, and +proceeded through the secret passage with the same haste, as if she +had feared her resolution might have failed her ere her purpose was +executed. At the bottom of the stairs she paused a moment, before +entering the fatal apartment, then hurried through with a rapid step +to the sleeping chamber beyond, followed closely by Lord Glenvarloch, +whose reluctance to approach the scene of butchery was altogether lost +in the anxiety which he felt on account of the survivor of the +tragedy. + +Her first action was to pull aside the curtains of her father's bed. +The bed-clothes were thrown aside in confusion, doubtless in the +action of his starting from sleep to oppose the entrance of the +villains into the next apartment. The hard mattress scarcely showed +the slight pressure where the emaciated body of the old miser had been +deposited. His daughter sank beside the bed, clasped her hands, and +prayed to heaven, in a short and affectionate manner, for support in +her affliction, and for vengeance on the villains who had made her +fatherless. A low-muttered and still more brief petition recommended +to Heaven the soul of the sufferer, and invoked pardon for his sins, +in virtue of the great Christian atonement. + +This duty of piety performed, she signed to Nigel to aid her; and, +having pushed aside the heavy bedstead, they saw the brass plate which +Martha had described. She pressed the spring, and, at once, the plate +starting up, showed the keyhole, and a large iron ring used in lifting +the trap-door, which, when raised, displayed the strong box, or small +chest, she had mentioned, and which proved indeed so very weighty, +that it might perhaps have been scarcely possible for Nigel, though a +very strong man, to have raised it without assistance. + +Having replaced everything as they had found it, Nigel, with such help +as his companion was able to afford, assumed his load, and made a +shift to carry it into the next apartment, where lay the miserable +owner, insensible to sounds and circumstances, which, if any thing +could have broken his long last slumber, would certainly have done so. +His unfortunate daughter went up to his body, and had even the courage +to remove the sheet which had been decently disposed over it. She put +her hand on the heart, but there was no throb--held a feather to the +lips, but there was no motion--then kissed with deep reverence the +starting veins of the pale forehead, and then the emaciated hand. + +"I would you could hear me," she said,--"Father! I would you could +hear me swear, that, if I now save what you most valued on earth, it +is only to assist me in obtaining vengeance for your death." + +She replaced the covering, and, without a tear, a sigh, or an +additional word of any kind, renewed her efforts, until they conveyed +the strong-box betwixt them into Lord Glenvarloch's sleeping +apartment. "It must pass," she said, "as part of your baggage. I will +be in readiness so soon as the waterman calls." + +She retired; and Lord Glenvarloch, who saw the hour of their departure +approach, tore down a part of the old hanging to make a covering, +which he corded upon the trunk, lest the peculiarity of its shape, and +the care with which it was banded and counterbanded with bars of +steel, might afford suspicions respecting the treasure which it +contained. Having taken this measure of precaution, he changed the +rascally disguise, which he had assumed on entering Whitefriars, into +a suit becoming his quality, and then, unable to sleep, though +exhausted with the events of the night, he threw himself on his bed to +await the summons of the waterman. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + + Give us good voyage, gentle stream--we stun not + Thy sober ear with sounds of revelry; + Wake not the slumbering echoes of thy banks + With voice of flute and horn--we do but seek + On the broad pathway of thy swelling bosom + To glide in silent safety. + _The Double Bridal._ + +Grey, or rather yellow light, was beginning to twinkle through the +fogs of Whitefriars, when a low tap at the door of the unhappy miser +announced to Lord Glenvarloch the summons of the boatman. He found at +the door the man whom he had seen the night before, with a companion. + +"Come, come, master, let us get afloat," said one of them, in a rough +impressive whisper, "time and tide wait for no man." "They shall not +wait for me," said Lord Glenvarloch; "but I have some things to carry +with me." + +"Ay, ay--no man will take a pair of oars now, Jack, unless he means to +load the wherry like a six-horse waggon. When they don't want to shift +the whole kitt, they take a sculler, and be d--d to them. Come, come, +where be your rattle-traps?" + +One of the men was soon sufficiently loaded, in his own estimation at +least, with Lord Glenvarloch's mail and its accompaniments, with which +burden he began to trudge towards the Temple Stairs. His comrade, who +seemed the principal, began to handle the trunk which contained the +miser's treasure, but pitched it down again in an instant, declaring, +with a great oath, that it was as reasonable to expect a man to carry +Paul's on his back. The daughter of Trapbois, who had by this time +joined them, muffled up in a long dark hood and mantle, exclaimed to +Lord Glenvarloch--"Let them leave it if they will, let them leave it +all; let us but escape from this horrible place." + +We have mentioned elsewhere, that Nigel was a very athletic young man, +and, impelled by a strong feeling of compassion and indignation, he +showed his bodily strength singularly on this occasion, by seizing on +the ponderous strong-box, and, by means of the rope he had cast around +it, throwing it on his shoulders, and marching resolutely forward +under a weight, which would have sunk to the earth three young +gallants, at the least, of our degenerate day. The waterman followed +him in amazement, calling out, "Why, master, master, you might as well +gie me t'other end on't!" and anon offered his assistance to support +it in some degree behind, which after the first minute or two Nigel +was fain to accept. His strength was almost exhausted when he reached +the wherry, which was lying at the Temple Stairs according to +appointment; and, when he pitched the trunk into it, the weight sank +the bow of the boat so low in the water as well-nigh to overset it. + +"We shall have as hard a fare of it," said the waterman to his +companion, "as if we were ferrying over an honest bankrupt with all +his secreted goods--Ho, ho! good woman, what, are you stepping in +for?--our gunwale lies deep enough in the water without live lumber to +boot." + +"This person comes with me," said Lord Glenvarloch; "she is for the +present under my protection." + +"Come, come, master," rejoined the fellow, "that is out of my +commission. You must not double my freight on me--she may go by land-- +and, as for protection, her face will protect her from Berwick to the +Land's End." + +"You will not except at my doubling the loading, if I double the +fare?" said Nigel, determined on no account to relinquish the +protection of this unhappy woman, for which he had already devised +some sort of plan, likely now to be baffled by the characteristic +rudeness of the Thames watermen. + +"Ay, by G--, but I will except, though, "said the fellow with the +green plush jacket: "I will overload my wherry neither for love nor +money--I love my boat as well as my wife, and a thought better." + +"Nay, nay, comrade," said his mate, "that is speaking no true water +language. For double fare we are bound to row a witch in her eggshell +if she bid us; and so pull away, Jack, and let us have no more +prating." + +They got into the stream-way accordingly, and, although heavily laden, +began to move down the river with reasonable speed. + +The lighter vessels which passed, overtook, or crossed them, in their +course, failed not to assail them with their boisterous raillery, +which was then called water-wit; for which the extreme plainness of +Mistress Martha's features, contrasted with the youth, handsome +figure, and good looks of Nigel, furnished the principal topics; while +the circumstance of the boat being somewhat overloaded, did not escape +their notice. They were hailed successively, as a grocer's wife upon a +party of pleasure with her eldest apprentice--as an old woman carrying +her grandson to school--and as a young strapping Irishman, conveying +an ancient maiden to Dr. Rigmarole's, at Redriffe, who buckles beggars +for a tester and a dram of Geneva. All this abuse was retorted in a +similar strain of humour by Greenjacket and his companion, who +maintained the war of wit with the same alacrity with which they were +assailed. + +Meanwhile, Lord Glenvarloch asked his desolate companion if she had +thought on any place where she could remain in safety with her +property. She confessed, in more detail than formerly, that her +father's character had left her no friends; and that, from the time he +had betaken himself to Whitefriars, to escape certain legal +consequences of his eager pursuit of gain, she had lived a life of +total seclusion; not associating with the society which the place +afforded, and, by her residence there, as well as her father's +parsimony, effectually cut off from all other company. What she now +wished, was, in the first place, to obtain the shelter of a decent +lodging, and the countenance of honest people, however low in life, +until she should obtain legal advice as to the mode of obtaining +justice on her father's murderer. She had no hesitation to charge the +guilt upon Colepepper, (commonly called Peppercull,) whom she knew to +be as capable of any act of treacherous cruelty, as he was cowardly, +where actual manhood was required. He had been strongly suspected of +two robberies before, one of which was coupled with an atrocious +murder. He had, she intimated, made pretensions to her hand as the +easiest and safest way of obtaining possession of her father's wealth; +and, on her refusing his addresses, if they could be termed so, in the +most positive terms, he had thrown out such obscure hints of +vengeance, as, joined with some imperfect assaults upon the house, had +kept her in frequent alarm, both on her father's account and her own. + +Nigel, but that his feeling of respectful delicacy to the unfortunate +woman forebade him to do so, could here have communicated a +circumstance corroborative of her suspicions, which had already +occurred to his own mind. He recollected the hint that old Hildebrod +threw forth on the preceding night, that some communication betwixt +himself and Colepepper had hastened the catastrophe. As this +communication related to the plan which Hildebrod had been pleased to +form, of promoting a marriage betwixt Nigel himself and the rich +heiress of Trapbois, the fear of losing an opportunity not to be +regained, together with the mean malignity of a low-bred ruffian, +disappointed in a favourite scheme, was most likely to instigate the +bravo to the deed of violence which had been committed. The reflection +that his own name was in some degree implicated with the causes of +this horrid tragedy, doubled Lord Glenvarloch's anxiety in behalf of +the victim whom he had rescued, while at the same time he formed the +tacit resolution, that, so soon as his own affairs were put upon some +footing, he would contribute all in his power towards the +investigation of this bloody affair. + +After ascertaining from his companion that she could form no better +plan of her own, he recommended to her to take up her lodging for the +time, at the house of his old landlord, Christie the ship-chandler, at +Paul's Wharf, describing the decency and honesty of that worthy +couple, and expressing his hopes that they would receive her into +their own house, or recommend her at least to that of some person for +whom they would be responsible, until she should have time to enter +upon other arrangements for herself. + +The poor woman received advice so grateful to her in her desolate +condition, with an expression of thanks, brief indeed, but deeper than +any thing had yet extracted from the austerity of her natural +disposition. + +Lord Glenvarloch then proceeded to inform Martha, that certain +reasons, connected with his personal safety, called him immediately to +Greenwich, and, therefore, it would not be in his power to accompany +her to Christie's house, which he would otherwise have done with +pleasure: but, tearing a leaf from his tablet, he wrote on it a few +lines, addressed to his landlord, as a man of honesty and humanity, in +which he described the bearer as a person who stood in singular +necessity of temporary protection and good advice, for which her +circumstances enabled her to make ample acknowledgment. He therefore +requested John Christie, as his old and good friend, to afford her the +shelter of his roof for a short time; or, if that might not be +consistent with his convenience, at least to direct her to a proper +lodging-and, finally, he imposed on him the additional, and somewhat +more difficult commission, to recommend her to the counsel and +services of an honest, at least a reputable and skilful attorney, for +the transacting some law business of importance. The note he +subscribed with his real name, and, delivering it to his _protegee_, +who received it with another deeply uttered "I thank you," which spoke +the sterling feelings of her gratitude better than a thousand combined +phrases, he commanded the watermen to pull in for Paul's Wharf, which +they were now approaching. + +"We have not time," said Green-jacket; "we cannot be stopping every +instant." + +But, upon Nigel insisting upon his commands being obeyed, and adding, +that it was for the purpose of putting the lady ashore, the waterman +declared that he would rather have her room than her company, and put +the wherry alongside the wharf accordingly. Here two of the porters, +who ply in such places, were easily induced to undertake the charge of +the ponderous strong-box, and at the same time to guide the owner to +the well-known mansion of John Christie, with whom all who lived in +that neighbourhood were perfectly acquainted. + +The boat, much lightened of its load, went down the Thames at a rate +increased in proportion. But we must forbear to pursue her in her +voyage for a few minutes, since we have previously to mention the +issue of Lord Glenvarloch's recommendation. + +Mistress Martha Trapbois reached the shop in perfect safety, and was +about to enter it, when a sickening sense of the uncertainty of her +situation, and of the singularly painful task of telling her story, +came over her so strongly, that she paused a moment at the very +threshold of her proposed place of refuge, to think in what manner she +could best second the recommendation of the friend whom Providence had +raised up to her. Had she possessed that knowledge of the world, from +which her habits of life had completely excluded her, she might have +known that the large sum of money which she brought along with her, +might, judiciously managed, have been a passport to her into the +mansions of nobles, and the palaces of princes. But, however conscious +of its general power, which assumes so many forms and complexions, she +was so inexperienced as to be most unnecessarily afraid that the means +by which the wealth had been acquired, might exclude its inheretrix +from shelter even in the house of a humble tradesman. + +While she thus delayed, a more reasonable cause for hesitation arose, +in a considerable noise and altercation within the house, which grew +louder and louder as the disputants issued forth upon the street or +lane before the door. + +The first who entered upon the scene was a tall raw-boned hard- +favoured man, who stalked out of the shop hastily, with a gait like +that of a Spaniard in a passion, who, disdaining to add speed to his +locomotion by running, only condescends, in the utmost extremity of +his angry haste, to add length to his stride. He faced about, so soon +as he was out of the house, upon his pursuer, a decent-looking, +elderly, plain tradesman--no other than John Christie himself, the +owner of the shop and tenement, by whom he seemed to be followed, and +who was in a state of agitation more than is usually expressed by such +a person. + +"I'll hear no more on't," said the personage who first appeared on the +scene.--"Sir, I will hear no more on it. Besides being a most false +and impudent figment, as I can testify--it is _Scandaalum Magnaatum_, +sir--_Scandaalum Magnaatum_" he reiterated with a broad accentuation +of the first vowel, well known in the colleges of Edinburgh and +Glasgow, which we can only express in print by doubling the said first +of letters and of vowels, and which would have cheered the cockles of +the reigning monarch had he been within hearing,--as he was a severer +stickler for what he deemed the genuine pronunciation of the Roman +tongue, than for any of the royal prerogatives, for which he was at +times disposed to insist so strenuously in his speeches to Parliament. + +"I care not an ounce of rotten cheese," said John Christie in reply, +"what you call it--but it is TRUE; and I am a free Englishman, and +have right to speak the truth in my own concerns; and your master is +little better than a villain, and you no more than a swaggering +coxcomb, whose head I will presently break, as I have known it well +broken before on lighter occasion." + +And, so saying, he flourished the paring-shovel which usually made +clean the steps of his little shop, and which he had caught up as the +readiest weapon of working his foeman damage, and advanced therewith +upon him. The cautious Scot (for such our readers must have already +pronounced him, from his language and pedantry) drew back as the +enraged ship-chandler approached, but in a surly manner, and bearing +his hand on his sword-hilt rather in the act of one who was losing +habitual forbearance and caution of deportment, than as alarmed by the +attack of an antagonist inferior to himself in youth, strength, and +weapons. + +"Bide back," he said, "Maister Christie--I say bide back, and consult +your safety, man. I have evited striking you in your ain house under +muckle provocation, because I am ignorant how the laws here may +pronounce respecting burglary and hamesucken, and such matters; and, +besides, I would not willingly hurt ye, man, e'en on the causeway, +that is free to us baith, because I mind your kindness of lang syne, +and partly consider ye as a poor deceived creature. But deil d--n me, +sir, and I am not wont to swear, but if you touch my Scotch shouther +with that shule of yours, I will make six inches of my Andrew Ferrara +deevilish intimate with your guts, neighbour." + +And therewithal, though still retreating from the brandished shovel, +he made one-third of the basket-hilled broadsword which he wore, +visible from the sheath. The wrath of John Christie was abated, either +by his natural temperance of disposition, or perhaps in part by the +glimmer of cold steel, which flashed on him from his adversary's last +action. + +"I would do well to cry clubs on thee, and have thee ducked at the +wharf," he said, grounding his shovel, however, at the same time, "for +a paltry swaggerer, that would draw thy bit of iron there on an honest +citizen before his own door; but get thee gone, and reckon on a salt +eel for thy supper, if thou shouldst ever come near my house again. I +wish it had been at the bottom of the Thames when it first gave the +use of its roof to smooth-faced, oily-tongued, double-minded Scots +thieves!" + +"It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest," replied his adversary, not +perhaps the less bold that he saw matters were taking the turn of a +pacific debate; "and a pity it is that a kindly Scot should ever have +married in foreign parts, and given life to a purse-proud, pudding- +headed, fat-gutted, lean-brained Southron, e'en such as you, Maister +Christie. But fare ye weel--fare ye weel, for ever and a day; and, if +you quarrel wi' a Scot again, man, say as mickle ill o' himsell as ye +like, but say nane of his patron or of his countrymen, or it will +scarce be your flat cap that will keep your lang lugs from the sharp +abridgement of a Highland whinger, man." + +"And, if you continue your insolence to me before my own door, were it +but two minutes longer," retorted John Christie, "I will call the +constable, and make your Scottish ankles acquainted with an English +pair of stocks!" + +So saying, he turned to retire into his shop with some show of +victory; for his enemy, whatever might be his innate valour, +manifested no desire to drive matters to extremity--conscious, +perhaps, that whatever advantage he might gain in single combat with +Jonn Christie, would be more than overbalanced by incurring an affair +with the constituted authorities of Old England, not at that time apt +to be particularly favourable to their new fellow-subjects, in the +various successive broils which were then constantly taking place +between the individuals of two proud nations, who still retained a +stronger sense of their national animosity during centuries, than of +their late union for a few years under the government of the same +prince. + +Mrs. Martha Trapbois had dwelt too long in Alsatia, to be either +surprised or terrified at the altercation she had witnessed. Indeed, +she only wondered that the debate did not end in some of those acts of +violence by which they were usually terminated in the Sanctuary. As +the disputants separated from each other, she, who had no idea that +the cause of the quarrel was more deeply rooted than in the daily +scenes of the same nature which she had heard of or witnessed, did not +hesitate to stop Master Christie in his return to his shop, and +present to him the letter which Lord Glenvarloch had given to her. Had +she been better acquainted with life and its business, she would +certainly have waited for a more temperate moment; and she had reason +to repent of her precipitation, when, without saying a single word, or +taking the trouble to gather more of the information contained in the +letter than was expressed in the subscription, the incensed ship +chandler threw it down on the ground, trampled it in high disdain, +and, without addressing a single word to the bearer, except, indeed, +something much more like a hearty curse than was perfectly consistent +with his own grave appearance, he retired into his shop, and shut the +hatch-door. + +It was with the most inexpressible anguish that the desolate, +friendless and unhappy female, thus beheld her sole hope of succour, +countenance, and protection, vanish at once, without being able to +conceive a reason; for, to do her justice, the idea that her friend, +whom she knew by the name of Nigel Grahame, had imposed on her, a +solution which might readily have occurred to many in her situation, +never once entered her mind. Although it was not her temper easily to +bend her mind to entreaty, she could not help exclaiming after the +ireful and retreating ship-chandler,--"Good Master, hear me but a +moment! for mercy's sake, for honesty's sake!" + +"Mercy and honesty from him, mistress!" said the Scot, who, though he +essayed not to interrupt the retreat of his antagonist, still kept +stout possession of the field of action,--"ye might as weel expect +brandy from bean-stalks, or milk from a craig of blue whunstane. The +man is mad, bom mad, to boot." + +"I must have mistaken the person to whom the letter was addressed, +then;" and, as she spoke, Mistress Martha Trapbois was in the act of +stooping to lift the paper which had been so uncourteously received. +Her companion, with natural civility, anticipated her purpose; but, +what was not quite so much in etiquette, he took a sly glance at it as +he was about to hand it to her, and his eye having caught the +subscription, he said, with surprise, "Glenvarloch--Nigel Olifaunt of +Glenvarloch! Do you know the Lord Glenvarloch, mistress?" + +"I know not of whom you speak," said Mrs. Martha, peevishly. "I had +that paper from one Master Nigel Gram." + +"Nigel Grahame!--umph.-O, ay, very true--I had forgot," said the +Scotsman. "A tall, well-set young man, about my height; bright blue +eyes like a hawk's; a pleasant speech, something leaning to the kindly +north-country accentuation, but not much, in respect of his having +been resident abroad?" + +"All this is true--and what of it all?" said the daughter of the +miser. + +"Hair of my complexion?" + +"Yours is red," replied she. + +"I pray you peace," said the Scotsman. "I was going to say--of my +complexion, but with a deeper shade of the chestnut. Weel, mistress, +if I have guessed the man aright, he is one with whom I am, and have +been, intimate and familiar,--nay,--I may truly say I have done him +much service in my time, and may live to do him more. I had indeed a +sincere good-will for him, and I doubt he has been much at a loss +since we parted; but the fault is not mine. Wherefore, as this letter +will not avail you with him to whom it is directed, you may believe +that heaven hath sent it to me, who have a special regard for the +writer--I have, besides, as much mercy and honesty within me as man +can weel make his bread with, and am willing to aid any distressed +creature, that is my friend's friend, with my counsel, and otherwise, +so that I am not put to much charges, being in a strange country, like +a poor lamb that has wandered from its ain native hirsel, and leaves a +tait of its woo' in every d--d Southron bramble that comes across it." +While he spoke thus, he read the contents of the letter, without +waiting for permission, and then continued,--"And so this is all that +you are wanting, my dove? nothing more than safe and honourable +lodging, and sustenance, upon your own charges?" + +"Nothing more," said she. "If you are a man and a Christian, you will +help me to what I need so much." + +"A man I am," replied the formal Caledonian, "e'en sic as ye see me; +and a Christian I may call myself, though unworthy, and though I have +heard little pure doctrine since I came hither--a' polluted with men's +devices--ahem! Weel, and if ye be an honest woman," (here he peeped +under her muffler,) "as an honest woman ye seem likely to be--though, +let me tell you, they are a kind of cattle not so rife in the streets +of this city as I would desire them--I was almost strangled with my +own band by twa rampallians, wha wanted yestreen, nae farther gane, to +harle me into a change-house--however, if ye be a decent honest +woman," (here he took another peep at features certainly bearing no +beauty which could infer suspicion,) "as decent and honest ye seem to +be, why, I will advise you to a decent house, where you will get +douce, quiet entertainment, on reasonable terms, and the occasional +benefit of my own counsel and direction--that is, from time to time, +as my other avocations may permit." + +"May I venture to accept of such an offer from a stranger?" said +Martha, with natural hesitation. + +"Troth, I see nothing to hinder you, mistress," replied the bonny +Scot; "ye can but see the place, and do after as ye think best. +Besides, we are nae such strangers, neither; for I know your friend, +and you, it's like, know mine, whilk knowledge, on either hand, is a +medium of communication between us, even as the middle of the string +connecteth its twa ends or extremities. But I will enlarge on this +farther as we pass along, gin ye list to bid your twa lazy loons of +porters there lift up your little kist between them, whilk ae true +Scotsman might carry under his arm. Let me tell you, mistress, ye will +soon make a toom pock-end of it in Lon'on, if you hire twa knaves to +do the work of ane." + +So saying, he led the way, followed by Mistress Martha Trapbois, whose +singular destiny, though it had heaped her with wealth, had left her, +for the moment, no wiser counsellor, or more distinguished protector, +than honest Richie Moniplies, a discarded serving-man. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + + This way lie safety and a sure retreat; + Yonder lie danger, shame, and punishment + Most welcome danger then--Nay, let me say, + Though spoke with swelling heart--welcome e'en shame + And welcome punishment--for, call me guilty, + I do but pay the tax that's due to justice; + And call me guiltless, then that punishment + Is shame to those alone who do inflict it, + _The Tribunal_. + +We left Lord Glenvarloch, to whose fortunes our story chiefly attaches +itself, gliding swiftly down the Thames. He was not, as the reader may +have observed, very affable in his disposition, or apt to enter into +conversation with those into whose company he was casually thrown. +This was, indeed, an error in his conduct, arising less from pride, +though of that feeling we do not pretend to exculpate him, than from a +sort of bashful reluctance to mix in the conversation of those with +whom he was not familiar. It is a fault only to be cured by experience +and knowledge of the world, which soon teaches every sensible and +acute person the important lesson, that amusement, and, what is of +more consequence, that information and increase of knowledge, are to +be derived from the conversation of every individual whatever, with +whom he is thrown into a natural train of communication. For +ourselves, we can assure the reader--and perhaps if we have ever been +able to afford him amusement, it is owing in a great degree to this +cause--that we never found ourselves in company with the stupidest of +all possible companions in a post-chaise, or with the most arrant +cumber-corner that ever occupied a place in the mail-coach, without +finding, that, in the course of our conversation with him, we had some +ideas suggested to us, either grave orgay, or some information +communicated in the course of our journey, which we should have +regretted not to have learned, and which we should be sorry to have +immediately forgotten. But Nigel was somewhat immured within the +Bastile of his rank, as some philosopher (Tom Paine, we think) has +happily enough expressed that sort of shyness which men of dignified +situations are apt to be beset with, rather from not exactly knowing +how far, or with whom, they ought to be familiar, than from any real +touch of aristocratic pride. Besides, the immediate pressure of our +adventurer's own affairs was such as exclusively to engross his +attention. + +He sat, therefore, wrapt in his cloak, in the stern of the boat, with +his mind entirely bent upon the probable issue of the interview with +his Sovereign, which it was his purpose to seek; for which abstraction +of mind he may be fully justified, although perhaps, by questioning +the watermen who were transporting him down the river, he might have +discovered matters of high concernment to him. + +At any rate, Nigel remained silent till the wherry approached the town +of Greenwich, when he commanded the men to put in for the nearest +landing-place, as it was his purpose to go ashore there, and dismiss +them from further attendance. + +"That is not possible," said the fellow with the green jacket, who, as +we have already said, seemed to take on himself the charge of +pilotage. "We must go," he continued, "to Gravesend, where a Scottish +vessel, which dropped down the river last tide for the very purpose, +lies with her anchor a-peak, waiting to carry you to your own dear +northern country. Your hammock is slung, and all is ready for you, and +you talk of going ashore at Greenwich, as seriously as if such a thing +were possible!" + +"I see no impossibility," said Nigel, "in your landing me where I +desire to be landed; but very little possibility of your carrying me +anywhere I am not desirous of going." + +"Why, whether do you manage the wherry, or we, master?" asked Green- +jacket, in a tone betwixt jest and earnest; "I take it she will go the +way we row her." + +"Ay," retorted Nigel, "but I take it you will row her on the course I +direct you, otherwise your chance of payment is but a poor one." + +"Suppose we are content to risk that," said the undaunted waterman, "I +wish to know how you, who talk so big--I mean no offence, master, but +you do talk big--would help yourself in such a case?" + +"Simply thus," answered Lord Glenvarloch--"You saw me, an hour since, +bring down to the boat a trunk that neither of you could lift. If we +are to contest the destination of our voyage, the same strength which +tossed that chest into the wherry, will suffice to fling you out of +it; wherefore, before we begin the scuffle, I pray you to remember, +that, whither I would go, there I will oblige you to carry me." + +"Gramercy for your kindness," said Green-jacket; "and now mark me in +return. My comrade and I are two men--and you, were you as stout as +George-a-Green, can pass but for one; and two, you will allow, are +more than a match for one. You mistake in your reckoning, my friend." + +"It is you who mistake," answered Nigel, who began to grow warm; "it +is I who am three to two, sirrah--I carry two men's lives at my +girdle." + +So saying, he opened his cloak and showed the two pistols which he had +disposed at his girdle. Green-jacket was unmoved at the display. + +"I have got," said he, "a pair of barkers that will match yours," and +he showed that he also was armed with pistols; "so you may begin as +soon as you list." + +"Then," said Lord Glenvarloch, drawing forth and cocking a pistol, +"the sooner the better. Take notice, I hold you as a ruffian, who have +declared you will put force on my person; and that I will shoot you +through the head if you do not instantly put me ashore at Greenwich." + +The other waterman, alarmed at Nigel's gesture, lay upon his oar; but +Green-jacket replied coolly--"Look you, master, I should not care a +tester to venture a life with you on this matter; but the truth is, I +am employed to do you good, and not to do you harm." + +"By whom are you employed?" said the Lord Glenvarloch; "or who dare +concern themselves in me, or my affairs, without my authority?" + +"As to that," answered the waterman, in the same tone of indifference, +"I shall not show my commission. For myself, I care not, as I said, +whether you land at Greenwich to get yourself hanged, or go down to +get aboard the Royal Thistle, to make your escape to your own country; +you will be equally out of my reach either way. But it is fair to put +the choice before you." + +"My choice is made," said Nigel. "I have told you thrice already it is +my pleasure to be landed at Greenwich." + +"Write it on a piece of paper," said the waterman, "that such is your +positive will; I must have something to show to my employers, that the +transgression of their orders lies with yourself, not with me." + +"I choose to hold this trinket in my hand for the present," said +Nigel, showing his pistol, "and will write you the acquittance when I +go ashore." + +"I would not go ashore with you for a hundred pieces," said the +waterman. "111 luck has ever attended you, except in small gaming; do +me fair justice, and give me the testimony I desire. If you are afraid +of foul play while you write it, you may hold my pistols, if you +will." He offered the weapons to Nigel accordingly, who, while they +were under his control, and all possibility of his being taken at +disadvantage was excluded, no longer hesitated to give the waterman an +acknowledgment, in the following terms:-- + +"Jack in the Green, with his mate, belonging to the wherry called the +Jolly Raven, have done their duty faithfully by me, landing me at +Greenwich by my express command; and being themselves willing and +desirous to carry me on board the Royal Thistle, presently lying at +Gravesend." Having finished this acknowledgment, which he signed with +the letters, N. O. G. as indicating his name and title, he again +requested to know of the waterman, to whom he delivered it, the name +of his employers. + +"Sir," replied Jack in the Green, "I have respected your secret, do +not you seek to pry into mine. It would do you no good to know for +whom I am taking this present trouble; and, to be brief, you shall not +know it--and, if you will fight in the quarrel, as you said even now, +the sooner we begin the better. Only this you may be cock-sure of, +that we designed you no harm, and that, if you fall into any, it will +be of your own wilful seeking." As he spoke, they approached the +landing-place, where Nigel instantly jumped ashore. The waterman +placed his small mail-trunk on the stairs, observing that there were +plenty of spare hands about, to carry it where he would. + +"We part friends, I hope, my lads," said the young nobleman, offering +at the same time a piece of money more than double the usual fare, to +the boatmen. + +"We part as we met," answered Green-jacket; "and, for your money, I am +paid sufficiently with this bit of paper. Only, if you owe me any love +for the cast I have given you, I pray you not to dive so deep into the +pockets of the next apprentice that you find fool enough to play the +cavalier.--And you, you greedy swine," said he to his companion, who +still had a longing eye fixed on the money which Nigel continued to +offer, "push off, or, if I take a stretcher in hand, I'll break the +knave's pate of thee." The fellow pushed off, as he was commanded, but +still could not help muttering, "This was entirely out of waterman's +rules." + +Glenvarloch, though without the devotion of the "injured Thales" of +the moralist, to the memory of that great princess, had now attained + +"The hallow'd soil which gave Eliza birth," + +whose halls were now less respectably occupied by her successor. It +was not, as has been well shown by a late author, that James was void +either of parts or of good intentions; and his predecessor was at +least as arbitrary in effect as he was in theory. But, while Elizabeth +possessed a sternness of masculine sense and determination which +rendered even her weaknesses, some of which were in themselves +sufficiently ridiculous, in a certain degree respectable, James, on +the other hand, was so utterly devoid of "firm resolve," so well +called by the Scottish bard, + +"The stalk of carle-hemp in man," + +that even his virtues and his good meaning became laughable, from the +whimsical uncertainty of his conduct; so that the wisest things he +ever said, and the best actions he ever did, were often touched with a +strain of the ludicrous and fidgety character of the man. Accordingly, +though at different periods of his reign he contrived to acquire with +his people a certain degree of temporary popularity, it never long +outlived the occasion which produced it; so true it is, that the mass +of mankind will respect a monarch stained with actual guilt, more than +one whose foibles render him only ridiculous. + +To return from this digression, Lord Glenvarloch soon received, as +Green-jacket had assured him, the offer of an idle bargeman to +transport his baggage where he listed; but that where was a question +of momentary doubt. At length, recollecting the necessity that his +hair and beard should be properly arranged before he attempted to +enter the royal presence, and desirous, at the same time, of obtaining +some information of the motions of the Sovereign and of the Court, he +desired to be guided to the next barber's shop, which we have already +mentioned as the place where news of every kind circled and centred. +He was speedily shown the way to such an emporium of intelligence, and +soon found he was likely to hear all he desired to know, and much +more, while his head was subjected to the art of a nimble tonsor, the +glibness of whose tongue kept pace with the nimbleness of his fingers +while he ran on, without stint or stop, in the following excursive +manner:-- + +"The Court here, master?--yes, master--much to the advantage of trade- +-good custom stirring. His Majesty loves Greenwich--hunts every +morning in the Park--all decent persons admitted that have the entries +of the Palace--no rabble--frightened the king's horse with their +hallooing, the uncombed slaves.--Yes, sir, the beard more peaked? Yes, +master, so it is worn. I know the last cut--dress several of the +courtiers--one valet-of-the-chamber, two pages of the body, the clerk +of the kitchen, three running footmen, two dog-boys, and an honourable +Scottish knight, Sir Munko Malgrowler." + +"Malagrowther, I suppose?" said Nigel, thrusting in his conjectural +emendation, with infinite difficulty, betwixt two clauses of the +barber's text. + +"Yes, sir--Malcrowder, sir, as you say, sir--hard names the Scots +have, sir, for an English mouth. Sir Munko is a handsome person, sir-- +perhaps you know him--bating the loss of his fingers, and the lameness +of his leg, and the length of his chin. Sir, it takes me one minute, +twelve seconds, more time to trim that chin of his, than any chin that +I know in the town of Greenwich, sir. But he is a very comely +gentleman, for all that; and a pleasant--a very pleasant gentleman, +sir--and a good-humoured, saving that he is so deaf he can never hear +good of any one, and so wise, that he can never believe it; but he is +a very good-natured gentleman for all that, except when one speaks too +low, or when a hair turns awry.--Did I graze you, sir? We shall put it +to rights in a moment, with one drop of styptic--my styptic, or rather +my wife's, sir--She makes the water herself. One drop of the styptic, +sir, and a bit of black taffeta patch, just big enough to be the +saddle to a flea, sir--Yes, sir, rather improves than otherwise. The +Prince had a patch the other day, and so had the Duke: and, if you +will believe me, there are seventeen yards three quarters of black +taffeta already cut into patches for the courtiers." + +"But Sir Mungo Malagrowther?" again interjected Nigel, with +difficulty. + +"Ay, ay, sir--Sir Munko, as you say; a pleasant, good-humoured +gentleman as ever--To be spoken with, did you say? O ay, easily to be +spoken withal, that is, as easily as his infirmity will permit. He +will presently, unless some one hath asked him forth to breakfast, be +taking his bone of broiled beef at my neighbour Ned Kilderkin's +yonder, removed from over the way. Ned keeps an eating-house, sir, +famous for pork-griskins; but Sir Munko cannot abide pork, no more +than the King's most Sacred Majesty,[Footnote: The Scots, till within +the last generation, disliked swine's flesh as an article of food as +much as the Highlanders do at present. It was remarked as +extraordinary rapacity, when the Border depredators condescended to +make prey of the accursed race, whom the fiend made his habitation. +Ben Jonson, in drawing James's character, says, he loved "no part of a +swine."] nor my Lord Duke of Lennox, nor Lord Dalgarno,--nay, I am +sure, sir, if I touched you this time, it was your fault, not mine.-- +But a single drop of the styptic, another little patch that would make +a doublet for a flea, just under the left moustache; it will become +you when you smile, sir, as well as a dimple; and if you would salute +your fair mistress--but I beg pardon, you are a grave gentleman, very +grave to be so young.--Hope I have given no offence; it is my duty to +entertain customers--my duty, sir, and my pleasure--Sir Munko +Malcrowther?--yes, sir, I dare say he is at this moment in Ned's +eating-house, for few folks ask him out, now Lord Huntinglen is gone +to London. You will get touched again--yes, sir--there you shall find +him with his can of single ale, stirred with a sprig of rosemary, for +he never drinks strong potations, sir, unless to oblige Lord +Huntinglen--take heed, sir--or any other person who asks him forth to +breakfast--but single beer he always drinks at Ned's, with his broiled +bone of beef or mutton--or, it may be, lamb at the season--but not +pork, though Ned is famous for his griskins. But the Scots never eat +pork--strange that! some folk think they are a sort of Jews. There is +a resemblance, sir,--Do you not think so? Then they call our most +gracious Sovereign the Second Solomon, and Solomon, you know, was King +of the Jews; so the thing bears a face, you see. I believe, sir, you +will find yourself trimmed now to your content. I will be judged by +the fair mistress of your affections. Crave pardon--no offence, I +trust. Pray, consult the glass--one touch of the crisping tongs, to +reduce this straggler.--Thank your munificence, sir--hope your custom +while you stay in Greenwich. Would you have a tune on that ghittern, +to put your temper in concord for the day?--Twang, twang--twang, +twang, dillo. Something out of tune, sir--too many hands to touch it-- +we cannot keep these things like artists. Let me help you with your +cloak, sir--yes, sir--You would not play yourself, sir, would you?-- +Way to Sir Munko's eating-house?--Yes, sir; but it is Ned's eating- +house, not Sir Munko's.--The knight, to be sure, eats there, and makes +it his eating-house in some sense, sir--ha, ha! Yonder it is, removed +from over the way, new white-washed posts, and red lattice--fat man in +his doublet at the door--Ned himself, sir--worth a thousand pounds, +they say--better singeing pigs' faces than trimming courtiers--but +ours is the less mechanical vocation.--Farewell, sir; hope your +custom. "So saying, he at length permitted Nigel to depart, whose +ears, so long tormented with continued babble, tingled when it had +ceased, as if a bell had been rung close to them for the same space of +time. + +Upon his arrival at the eating-house, where he proposed to meet with +Sir Mungo Malagrowther, from whom, in despair of better advice, he +trusted to receive some information as to the best mode of introducing +himself into the royal presence, Lord Glenvarloch found, in the host +with whom he communed, the consequential taciturnity of an Englishman +well to pass in the world. Ned Kilderkin spoke as a banker writes, +only touching the needful. Being asked if Sir Mungo Malagrowther was +there? he replied, No. Being interrogated whether he was expected? he +said, Yes. And being again required to say when he was expected, he +answered, Presently. As Lord Glenvarloch next inquired, whether he +himself could have any breakfast? the landlord wasted not even a +syllable in reply, but, ushering him into a neat room where there were +several tables, he placed one of them before an armchair, and +beckoning Lord Glenvarloch to take possession, he set before him, in a +very few minutes, a substantial repast of roast-beef, together with a +foaming tankard, to which refreshment the keen air of the river +disposed him, notwithstanding his mental embarrassments, to do much +honour. + +While Nigel was thus engaged in discussing his commons, but raising +his head at the same time whenever he heard the door of the apartment +open, eagerly desiring the arrival of Sir Mungo Malagrowther, (an +event which had seldom been expected by any one with so much anxious +interest,) a personage, as it seemed, of at least equal importance +with the knight, entered into the apartment, and began to hold earnest +colloquy with the publican, who thought proper to carry on the +conference on his side unbonneted. This important gentleman's +occupation might be guessed from his dress. A milk-white jerkin, and +hose of white kersey; a white apron twisted around his body in the +manner of a sash, in which, instead of a war-like dagger, was stuck a +long-bladed knife, hilted with buck's-horn; a white nightcap on his +head, under which his hair was neatly tucked, sufficiently pourtrayed +him as one of those priests of Comus whom the vulgar call cooks; and +the air with which he rated the publican for having neglected to send +some provisions to the Palace, showed that he ministered to royalty +itself. + +"This will never answer," he said, "Master Kilderkin--the king twice +asked for sweetbreads, and fricasseed coxcombs, which are a favourite +dish of his most Sacred Majesty, and they were not to be had, because +Master Kilderkin had not supplied them to the clerk of the kitchen, as +by bargain bound." Here Kilderkin made some apology, brief, according +to his own nature, and muttered in a lowly tone after the fashion of +all who find themselves in a scrape. His superior replied, in a lofty +strain of voice, "Do not tell me of the carrier and his wain, and of +the hen-coops coming from Norfolk with the poultry; a loyal man would +have sent an express--he would have gone upon his stumps, like +Widdrington. What if the king had lost his appetite, Master Kilderkin? +What if his most Sacred Majesty had lost his dinner? O, Master +Kilderkin, if you had but the just sense of the dignity of our +profession, which is told of by the witty African slave, for so the +king's most excellent Majesty designates him, Publius Terentius, +_Tanguam in specula--in patinas inspicerejubeo_." + +"You are learned, Master Linklater," replied the English publican, +compelling, as it were with difficulty, his mouth to utter three or +four words consecutively. + +"A poor smatterer," said Mr. Linklater; "but it would be a shame to +us, who are his most excellent Majesty's countrymen, not in some sort +to have cherished those arts wherewith he is so deeply embued--_Regis +ad exemplar_, Master Kilderkin, _totus componitur orbis_--which is as +much as to say, as the king quotes the cook learns. In brief, Master +Kilderkin, having had the luck to be bred where humanities may be had +at the matter of an English five groats by the quarter, I, like +others, have acquired--ahem-hem!--" Here, the speaker's eye having +fallen upon Lord Glenvarloch, he suddenly stopped in his learned +harangue, with such symptoms of embarrassment as induced Ned Kilderkin +to stretch his taciturnity so far as not only to ask him what he +ailed, but whether he would take any thing. + +"Ail nothing," replied the learned rival of the philosophical Syrus; +"Nothing--and yet I do feel a little giddy. I could taste a glass of +your dame's _aqua mirabilis_." + +"I will fetch it," said Ned, giving a nod; and his back was no sooner +turned, than the cook walked near the table where Lord Glenvarloch was +seated, and regarding him with a look of significance, where more was +meant than met the ear, said,--"You are a stranger in Greenwich, sir. +I advise you to take the opportunity to step into the Park--the +western wicket was ajar when I came hither; I think it will be locked +presently, so you had better make the best of your way--that is, if +you have any curiosity. The venison are coming into season just now, +sir, and there is a pleasure in looking at a hart of grease. I always +think when they are bounding so blithely past, what a pleasure it +would be, to broach their plump haunches on a spit, and to embattle +their breasts in a noble fortification of puff-paste, with plenty of +black pepper." + +He said no more, as Kilderkin re-entered with the cordial, but edged +off from Nigel without waiting any reply, only repeating the same look +of intelligence with which he had accosted him. + +Nothing makes men's wits so alert as personal danger. Nigel took the +first opportunity which his host's attention to the yeoman of the +royal kitchen permitted, to discharge his reckoning, and readily +obtained a direction to the wicket in question. He found it upon the +latch, as he had been taught to expect; and perceived that it admitted +him to a narrow footpath, which traversed a close and tangled thicket, +designed for the cover of the does and the young fawns. Here he +conjectured it would be proper to wait; nor had he been stationary +above five minutes, when the cook, scalded as much with heat of motion +as ever he had been by his huge fire-place, arrived almost breathless, +and with his pass-key hastily locked the wicket behind him. + +Ere Lord Glenvarloch had time to speculate upon this action, the man +approached with anxiety, and said--"Good lord, my Lord Glenvarloch!-- +why will you endanger yourself thus?" + +"You know me then, my friend?" said Nigel. + +"Not much of that, my lord--but I know your honour's noble house +well.--My name is Laurie Linklater, my lord." + +"Linklater!" repeated Nigel. "I should recollect--' + +"Under your lordship's favour," he continued, "I was 'prentice, my +lord, to old Mungo Moniplies, the flesher at the wanton West-Port of +Edinburgh, which I wish I saw again before I died. And, your honour's +noble father having taken Richie Moniplies into his house to wait on +your lordship, there was a sort of connexion, your lordship sees." + +"Ah!" said Lord Glenvarloch, "I had almost forgot your name, but not +your kind purpose. You tried to put Richie in the way of presenting a +supplication to his Majesty?" + +"Most true, my lord," replied the king's cook. "I had like to have +come by mischief in the job; for Richie, who was always wilful, 'wadna +be guided by me,' as the sang says. But nobody amongst these brave +English cooks can kittle up his Majesty's most sacred palate with our +own gusty Scottish dishes. So I e'en betook myself to my craft, and +concocted a mess of friar's chicken for the soup, and a savoury +hachis, that made the whole cabal coup the crans; and, instead of +disgrace, I came by preferment. I am one of the clerks of the kitchen +now, make me thankful--with a finger in the purveyor's office, and may +get my whole hand in by and by." + +"I am truly glad," said Nigel, "to hear that you have not suffered on +my account,--still more so at your good fortune." + +"You bear a kind heart, my lord," said Linklater, "and do not forget +poor people; and, troth, I see not why they should be forgotten, since +the king's errand may sometimes fall in the cadger's gate. I have +followed your lordship in the street, just to look at such a stately +shoot of the old oak-tree; and my heart jumped into my throat, when I +saw you sitting openly in the eating-house yonder, and knew there was +such danger to your person." + +"What! there are warrants against me, then?" said Nigel. + +"It is even true, my lord; and there are those who are willing to +blacken you as much as they can.--God forgive them, that would +sacrifice an honourable house for their own base ends!" + +"Amen," said Nigel. + +"For, say your lordship may have been a little wild, like other young +gentlemen--" + +"We have little time to talk of it, my friend," said Nigel. "The point +in question is, how am I to get speech of the king?" + +"The king, my lord!" said Linklater in astonishment; "why, will not +that be rushing wilfully into danger?--scalding yourself, as I may +say, with your own ladle?" + +"My good friend," answered Nigel, "my experience of the Court, and my +knowledge of the circumstances in which I stand, tell me, that the +manliest and most direct road is, in my case, the surest and the +safest. The king has both a head to apprehend what is just, and a +heart to do what is kind." + +"It is e'en true, my lord, and so we, his old servants, know," added +Linklater; "but, woe's me, if you knew how many folks make it their +daily and nightly purpose to set his head against his heart, and his +heart against his head--to make him do hard things because they are +called just, and unjust things because they are represented as kind. +Woe's me! it is with his Sacred Majesty, and the favourites who work +upon him, even according to the homely proverb that men taunt my +calling with,--'God sends good meat, but the devil sends cooks.'" + +"It signifies not talking of it, my good friend," said Nigel, "I must +take my risk, my honour peremptorily demands it. They may maim me, or +beggar me, but they shall not say I fled from my accusers. My peers +shall hear my vindication." + +"Your peers?" exclaimed the cook--"Alack-a-day, my lord, we are not in +Scotland, where the nobles can bang it out bravely, were it even with +the king himself, now and then. This mess must be cooked in the Star- +Chamber, and that is an oven seven times heated, my lord;--and yet, if +you are determined to see the king, I will not say but you may find +some favour, for he likes well any thing that is appealed directly to +his own wisdom, and sometimes, in the like cases, I have known him +stick by his own opinion, which is always a fair one. Only mind, if +you will forgive me, my lord--mind to spice high with Latin; a curn or +two of Greek would not be amiss; and, if you can bring in any thing +about the judgment of Solomon, in the original Hebrew, and season with +a merry jest or so, the dish will be the more palatable.--Truly, I +think, that, besides my skill in art, I owe much to the stripes of the +Rector of the High School, who imprinted on my mind that cooking scene +in the Heautontimorumenos." "Leaving that aside, my friend," said Lord +Glenvarloch, "can you inform me which way I shall most readily get to +the sight and speech of the king?" + +"To the sight of him readily enough," said Linklater; "he is galloping +about these alleys, to see them strike the hart, to get him an +appetite for a nooning--and that reminds me I should be in the +kitchen. To the speech of the king you will not come so easily, unless +you could either meet him alone, which rarely chances, or wait for him +among the crowd that go to see him alight. And now, farewell, my lord, +and God speed!--if I could do more for you, I would offer it." + +"You have done enough, perhaps, to endanger yourself," said Lord +Glenvarloch. "I pray you to be gone, and leave me to my fate." + +The honest cook lingered, but a nearer burst of the horns apprized him +that there was no time to lose; and, acquainting Nigel that he would +leave the postern-door on the latch to secure his retreat in that +direction, he bade God bless him, and farewell. + +In the kindness of this humble countryman, flowing partly from +national partiality, partly from a sense of long-remembered benefits, +which had been scarce thought on by those who had bestowed them, Lord +Glenvarloch thought he saw the last touch of sympathy which he was to +receive in this cold and courtly region, and felt that he must now be +sufficient to himself, or be utterly lost. + +He traversed more than one alley, guided by the sounds of the chase, +and met several of the inferior attendants upon the king's sport, who +regarded him only as one of the spectators who were sometimes +permitted to enter the Park by the concurrence of the officers about +the Court. Still there was no appearance of James, or any of his +principal courtiers, and Nigel began to think whether, at the risk of +incurring disgrace similar to that which had attended the rash exploit +of Richie Moniplies, he should not repair to the Palace-gate, in order +to address the king on his return, when Fortune presented him the +opportunity of doing so, in her own way. + +He was in one of those long walks by which the Park was traversed, +when he heard, first a distant rustling, then the rapid approach of +hoofs shaking the firm earth on which he stood; then a distant halloo, +warned by which he stood up by the side of the avenue, leaving free +room for the passage of the chase. The stag, reeling, covered with +foam, and blackened with sweat, his nostrils extended as he gasped for +breath, made a shift to come up as far as where Nigel stood, and, +without turning to bay, was there pulled down by two tall greyhounds +of the breed still used by the hardy deer-stalkers of the Scottish +Highlands, but which has been long unknown in England. One dog struck +at the buck's throat, another dashed his sharp nose and fangs, I might +almost say, into the animal's bowels. It would have been natural for +Lord Glenvarloch, himself persecuted as if by hunters, to have thought +upon the occasion like the melancholy Jacques; but habit is a strange +matter, and I fear that his feelings on the occasion were rather those +of the practised huntsman than of the moralist. He had no time, +however, to indulge them, for mark what befell. + +A single horseman followed the chase, upon a steed so thoroughly +subjected to the rein, that it obeyed the touch of the bridle as if it +had been a mechanical impulse operating on the nicest piece of +machinery; so that, seated deep in his demipique saddle, and so +trussed up there as to make falling almost impossible, the rider, +without either fear or hesitation, might increase or diminish the +speed at which he rode, which, even on the most animating occasions of +the chase, seldom exceeded three-fourths of a gallop, the horse +keeping his haunches under him, and never stretching forward beyond +the managed pace of the academy. The security with which he chose to +prosecute even this favourite, and, in the ordinary case, somewhat +dangerous amusement, as well as the rest of his equipage, marked King +James. No attendant was within sight; indeed, it was often a nice +strain of flattery to permit the Sovereign to suppose he had outridden +and distanced all the rest of the chase. + +"Weel dune, Bash--weel dune, Battie!" he exclaimed as he came up. "By +the honour of a king, ye are a credit to the Braes of Balwhither!-- +Haud my horse, man," he called out to Nigel, without stopping to see +to whom he had addressed himself--"Haud my naig, and help me doun out +o' the saddle--deil ding your saul, sirrah, canna ye mak haste before +these lazy smaiks come up?--haud the rein easy--dinna let him swerve-- +now, haud the stirrup--that will do, man, and now we are on terra +firma." So saying, without casting an eye on his assistant, gentle +King Jamie, unsheathing the short, sharp hanger, (_couteau de +chasse_,) which was the only thing approaching to a sword that he +could willingly endure the sight of, drew the blade with great +satisfaction across the throat of the buck, and put an end at once to +its struggles and its agonies. + +Lord Glenvarloch, who knew well the silvan duty which the occasion +demanded, hung the bridle of the king's palfrey on the branch of a +tree, and, kneeling duteously down, turned the slaughtered deer upon +its back, and kept the _quarree_ in that position, while the king, too +intent upon his sport to observe any thing else, drew his _couteau_ +down the breast of the animal, _secundum artem_; and, having made a +cross cut, so as to ascertain the depth of the fat upon the chest, +exclaimed, in a sort of rapture, "Three inches of white fat on the +brisket!--prime--prime--as I am a crowned sinner--and deil ane o' the +lazy loons in but mysell! Seven--aught--aught tines on the antlers. By +G--d, a hart of aught tines, and the first of the season! Bash and +Battie, blessings on the heart's-root of ye! Buss me, my bairns, buss +me. "The dogs accordingly fawned upon him, licked him with bloody +jaws, and soon put him in such a state that it might have seemed +treason had been doing its full work upon his anointed body." Bide +doun, with a mischief to ye--bide doun, with a wanion," cried the +king, almost overturned by the obstreperous caresses of the large +stag-hounds. "But ye are just like ither folks, gie ye an inch and ye +take an ell.--And wha may ye be, friend? "he said, now finding leisure +to take a nearer view of Nigel, and observing what in his first +emotion of silvan delight had escaped him,--" Ye are nane of our +train, man. In the name of God, what the devil are ye?" + +"An unfortunate man, sire," replied Nigel. + +"I dare say that," answered the king, snappishly, "or I wad have seen +naething of you. My lieges keep a' their happiness to themselves; but +let bowls row wrang wi' them, and I am sure to hear of it." + +"And to whom else can we carry our complaints but to your Majesty, who +is Heaven's vicegerent over us!" answered Nigel. + +"Right, man, right--very weel spoken," said the king; "but you should +leave Heaven's vicegerent some quiet on earth, too." + +"If your Majesty will look on me," (for hitherto the king had been so +busy, first with the dogs, and then with the mystic operation of +_breaking_, in vulgar phrase, cutting up the deer, that he had scarce +given his assistant above a transient glance,) "you will see whom +necessity makes bold to avail himself of an opportunity which may +never again occur." + +King James looked; his blood left his cheek, though it continued +stained with that of the animal which lay at his feet, he dropped the +knife from his hand, cast behind him a faltering eye, as if he either +meditated flight or looked out for assistance, and then exclaimed,-- +"Glenvarlochides! as sure as I was christened James Stewart. Here is a +bonny spot of work, and me alone, and on foot too!" he added, bustling +to get upon his horse. + +"Forgive me that I interrupt you, my liege," said Nigel, placing +himself between the king and his steed; "hear me but a moment!" + +"I'll hear ye best on horseback," said the king. "I canna hear a word +on foot, man, not a word; and it is not seemly to stand cheek-for- +chowl confronting us that gate. Bide out of our gate, sir, we charge +you on your allegiance.--The deil's in them a', what can they be +doing?" + +"By the crown that you wear, my liege," said Nigel, "and for which my +ancestors have worthily fought, I conjure you to be composed, and to +hear me but a moment!" + +That which he asked was entirely out of the monarch's power to grant. +The timidity which he showed was not the plain downright cowardice, +which, like a natural impulse, compels a man to flight, and which can +excite little but pity or contempt, but a much more ludicrous, as well +as more mingled sensation. The poor king was frightened at once and +angry, desirous of securing his safety, and at the same time ashamed +to compromise his dignity; so that without attending to what Lord +Glenvarloch endeavoured to explain, he kept making at his horse, and +repeating, "We are a free king, man,--we are a free king--we will not +be controlled by a subject.--In the name of God, what keeps Steenie? +And, praised be his name, they are coming--Hillo, ho--here, here-- +Steenie, Steenie!" + +The Duke of Buckingham galloped up, followed by several courtiers and +attendants of the royal chase, and commenced with his usual +familiarity,--"I see Fortune has graced our dear dad, as usual.--But +what's this?" + +"What is it? It is treason for what I ken," said the king; "and a' +your wyte, Steenie. Your dear dad and gossip might have been murdered, +for what you care." + +"Murdered? Secure the villain!" exclaimed the Duke. "By Heaven, it is +Olifaunt himself!" A dozen of the hunters dismounted at once, letting +their horses run wild through the park. Some seized roughly on Lord +Glenvarloch, who thought it folly to offer resistance, while others +busied themselves with the king. "Are you wounded, my liege--are you +wounded?" + +"Not that I ken of," said the king, in the paroxysm of his +apprehension, (which, by the way, might be pardoned in one of so +timorous a temper, and who, in his time, had been exposed to so many +strange attempts)--"Not that I ken of--but search him--search him. I +am sure I saw fire-arms under his cloak. I am sure I smelled powder--I +am dooms sure of that." + +Lord Glenvarloch's cloak being stripped off, and his pistols +discovered, a shout of wonder and of execration on the supposed +criminal purpose, arose from the crowd now thickening every moment. +Not that celebrated pistol, which, though resting on a bosom as +gallant and as loyal as Nigel's, spread such cause less alarm among +knights and dames at a late high solemnity--not that very pistol +caused more temporary consternation than was so groundlessly excited +by the arms which were taken from Lord Glenvarloch's person; and not +Mhic-Allastar-More himself could repel with greater scorn and +indignation, the insinuations that they were worn for any sinister +purposes. + +"Away with the wretch--the parricide--the bloody-minded villain!" was +echoed on all hands; and the king, who naturally enough set the same +value on his own life, at which it was, or seemed to be, rated by +others, cried out, louder than all the rest, "Ay, ay--away with him. I +have had enough of him and so has the country. But do him no bodily +harm--and, for God's sake, sirs, if ye are sure ye have thoroughly +disarmed him, put up your swords, dirks, and skenes, for you will +certainly do each other a mischief." + +There was a speedy sheathing of weapons at the king's command; for +those who had hitherto been brandishing them in loyal bravado, began +thereby to call to mind the extreme dislike which his Majesty +nourished against naked steel, a foible which seemed to be as +constitutional as his timidity, and was usually ascribed to the brutal +murder of Rizzio having been perpetrated in his unfortunate mother's +presence before he yet saw the light. + +At this moment, the Prince, who had been hunting in a different part +of the then extensive Park, and had received some hasty and confused +information of what was going forward, came rapidly up, with one or +two noblemen in his train, and amongst others Lord Dalgarno. He sprung +from his horse and asked eagerly if his father were wounded. + +"Not that I am sensible of, Baby Charles--but a wee matter exhausted, +with struggling single-handed with the assassin.--Steenie, fill up a +cup of wine--the leathern bottle is hanging at our pommel.--Buss me, +then, Baby Charles," continued the monarch, after he had taken this +cup of comfort; "O man, the Commonwealth and you have had a fair +escape from the heavy and bloody loss of a dear father; for we are +_pater patriae_, as weel as _pater familias_.-_Quis desiderio sit +pudor aut modus tarn cari capitis!_-Woe is me, black cloth would have +been dear in England, and dry een scarce!" + +And, at the very idea of the general grief which must have attended +his death, the good-natured monarch cried heartily himself. + +"Is this possible?" said Charles, sternly; for his pride was hurt at +his father's demeanour on the one hand, while on the other, he felt +the resentment of a son and a subject, at the supposed attempt on the +king's life. "Let some one speak who has seen what happened--My Lord +of Buckingham!" + +"I cannot say my lord," replied the Duke, "that I saw any actual +violence offered to his Majesty, else I should have avenged him on the +spot." + +"You would have done wrong, then, in your zeal, George," answered the +Prince; "such offenders were better left to be dealt with by the laws. +But was the villain not struggling with his Majesty?" + +"I cannot term it so, my lord," said the Duke, who, with many faults, +would have disdained an untruth; "he seemed to desire to detain his +Majesty, who, on the contrary, appeared to wish to mount his horse; +but they have found pistols on his person, contrary to the +proclamation, and, as it proves to be by Nigel Olifaunt, of whose +ungoverned disposition your Royal Highness has seen some samples, we +seem to be justified in apprehending the worst." + +"Nigel Olifaunt!" said the Prince; "can that unhappy man so soon have +engaged in a new trespass? Let me see those pistols." + +"Ye are not so unwise as to meddle with such snap-haunces, Baby +Charles?" said James--"Do not give him them, Steenie--I command you on +your allegiance! They may go off of their own accord, whilk often +befalls.--You will do it, then?--Saw ever a man sic wilful bairns as +we are cumbered with!--Havena we guardsmen and soldiers enow, but you +must unload the weapons yoursell--you, the heir of our body and +dignities, and sae mony men around that are paid for venturing life in +our cause?" + +But without regarding his father's exclamations, Prince Charles, with +the obstinacy which characterised him in trifles, as well as matters +of consequence, persisted in unloading the pistols with his own hand, +of the double bullets with which each was charged. The hands of all +around were held up in astonishment at the horror of the crime +supposed to have been intended, and the escape which was presumed so +narrow. + +Nigel had not yet spoken a word--he now calmly desired to be heard. + +"To what purpose?" answered the Prince coldly. "You knew yourself +accused of a heavy offence, and, instead of rendering yourself up to +justice, in terms of the proclamation, you are here found intruding +yourself on his Majesty's presence, and armed with unlawful weapons." + +"May it please you, sir," answered Nigel, "I wore these unhappy +weapons for my own defence; and not very many hours since they were +necessary to protect the lives of others." + +"Doubtless, my lord," answered the Prince, still calm and unmoved,-- +"your late mode of life, and the associates with whom you have lived, +have made you familiar with scenes and weapons of violence. But it is +not to me you are to plead your cause." + +"Hear me--hear me, noble Prince!" said Nigel, eagerly. "Hear me! You-- +even you yourself--may one day ask to be heard, and in vain." + +"How, sir," said the Prince, haughtily--"how am I to construe that, my +lord?" + +"If not on earth, sir," replied the prisoner, "yet to Heaven we must +all pray for patient and favourable audience." + +"True, my lord," said the Prince, bending his head with haughty +acquiescence; "nor would I now refuse such audience to you, could it +avail you. But you shall suffer no wrong. We will ourselves look into +your case." + +"Ay, ay," answered the king, "he hath made _appellatio ad Casarem_--we +will interrogate Glenvarlochides ourselves, time and place fitting; +and, in the meanwhile, have him and his weapons away, for I am weary +of the sight of them." + +In consequence of directions hastily given, Nigel was accordingly +removed from the presence, where, however, his words had not +altogether fallen to the ground. "This is a most strange matter, +George," said the Prince to the favourite; "this gentleman hath a good +countenance, a happy presence, and much calm firmness in his look and +speech. I cannot think he would attempt a crime so desperate and +useless." + +"I profess neither love nor favour to the young man," answered +Buckingham, whose high-spirited ambition bore always an open +character: "but I cannot but agree with your Highness, that our dear +gossip hath been something hasty in apprehending personal danger from +him." + +"By my saul, Steenie, ye are not blate, to say so!" said the king. "Do +I not ken the smell of pouther, think ye? Who else nosed out the Fifth +of November, save our royal selves? Cecil, and Suffolk, and all of +them, were at fault, like sae mony mongrel tikes, when I puzzled it +out: and trow ye that I cannot smell pouther? Why, 'sblood, man, +Joannes Barclaius thought my ingine was in some measure inspiration, +and terms his history of the plot, Series patefacti divinitus +parricidii; and Spondanus, in like manner, saith of us, Divinitus +evasit." + +"The land was happy in your Majesty's escape," said the Duke of +Buckingham, "and not less in the quick wit which tracked that +labyrinth of treason by so fine and almost invisible a clew." + +"Saul, man, Steenie, ye are right! There are few youths have sic true +judgment as you, respecting the wisdom of their elders; and, as for +this fause, traitorous smaik, I doubt he is a hawk of the same nest. +Saw ye not something papistical about him? Let them look that he bears +not a crucifix, or some sic Roman trinket, about him." + +"It would ill become me to attempt the exculpation of this unhappy +man," said Lord Dalgarno, "considering the height of his present +attempt, which has made all true men's blood curdle in their veins. +Yet I cannot avoid intimating, with all due submission to his +Majesty's infallible judgment, in justice to one who showed himself +formerly only my enemy, though he now displays himself in much blacker +colours, that this Olifaunt always appeared to me more as a Puritan +than as a Papist." + +"Ah, Dalgarno, art thou there, man?" said the king. "And ye behoved to +keep back, too, and leave us to our own natural strength and the care +of Providence, when we were in grips with the villain!" + +"Providence, may it please your most Gracious Majesty, would not fail +to aid, in such a strait, the care of three weeping kingdoms," said +Lord Dalgarno. + +"Surely, man--surely," replied the king--"but a sight of your father, +with his long whinyard, would have been a blithe matter a short while +syne; and in future we will aid the ends of Providence in our favour, +by keeping near us two stout beef-eaters of the guard.--And so this +Olifaunt is a Puritan?--not the less like to be a Papist, for all +that--for extremities meet, as the scholiast proveth. There are, as I +have proved in my book, Puritans of papistical principles--it is just +a new tout on an old horn." + +Here the king was reminded by the Prince, who dreaded perhaps that he +was going to recite the whole Basilicon Doron, that it would be best +to move towards the Palace, and consider what was to be done for +satisfying the public mind, in whom the morning's adventure was likely +to excite much speculation. As they entered the gate of the Palace, a +female bowed and presented a paper, which the king received, and, with +a sort of groan, thrust it into his side pocket. The Prince expressed +some curiosity to know its contents. "The valet in waiting will tell +you them," said the king, "when I strip off my cassock. D'ye think, +Baby, that I can read all that is thrust into my hands? See to me, +man,--(he pointed to the pockets of his great trunk breeches, which +were stuffed with papers)--"We are like an ass--that we should so +speak--stooping betwixt two burdens. Ay, ay, Asinus fortis accumbens +inter terminos, as the Vulgate hath it--Ay, ay, Vidi terrain quod +esset optima, et supposui humerum ad portandum, et factus sum tributis +serviens--I saw this land of England, and became an overburdened king +thereof." + +"You are indeed well loaded, my dear dad and gossip," said the Duke of +Buckingham, receiving the papers which King James emptied out of his +pockets. + +"Ay, ay," continued the monarch; "take them to you per aversionem, +bairns--the one pouch stuffed with petitions, t'other with +pasquinadoes; a fine time we have on't. On my conscience, I believe +the tale of Cadmus was hieroglyphical, and that the dragon's teeth +whilk he sowed were the letters he invented. Ye are laughing, Baby +Charles?--Mind what I say.--When I came here first frae our ain +country, where the men are as rude as the weather, by my conscience, +England was a bieldy bit; one would have thought the king had little +to do but to walk by quiet waters, per aquam refectionis. But, I kenna +how or why, the place is sair changed--read that libel upon us and on +our regimen. The dragon's teeth are sown, Baby Charles; I pray God +they bearna their armed harvest in your day, if I suld not live to see +it. God forbid I should, for there will be an awful day's kemping at +the shearing of them." + +"I shall know how to stifle the crop in the blade,--ha, George?" said +the Prince, turning to the favourite with a look expressive of some +contempt for his father's apprehensions, and full of confidence in the +superior firmness and decision of his own counsels. + +While this discourse was passing, Nigel, in charge of a pursuivant-at- +arms, was pushed and dragged through the small town, all the +inhabitants of which, having been alarmed by the report of an attack +on the king's life, now pressed forward to see the supposed traitor. +Amid the confusion of the moment, he could descry the face of the +victualler, arrested into a stare of stolid wonder, and that of the +barber grinning betwixt horror and eager curiosity. He thought that he +also had a glimpse of his waterman in the green jacket. + +He had no time for remarks, being placed in a boat with the pursuivant +and two yeomen of the guard, and rowed up the river as fast as the +arms of six stout watermen could pull against the tide. They passed +the groves of masts which even then astonished the stranger with the +extended commerce of London, and now approached those low and +blackened walls of curtain and bastion, which exhibit here and there a +piece of ordnance, and here and there a solitary sentinel under arms, +but have otherwise so little of the military terrors of a citadel. A +projecting low-browed arch, which had loured over many an innocent, +and many a guilty head, in similar circumstances, now spread its dark +frowns over that of Nigel. The boat was put close up to the broad +steps against which the tide was lapping its lazy wave. The warder on +duty looked from the wicket, and spoke to the pursuivant in whispers. +In a few minutes the Lieutenant of the Tower appeared, received, and +granted an acknowledgment for the body of Nigel, Lord Glenvarloch. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + + Ye towers of Julius! London's lasting shame; + With many a foul and midnight murder fed! + _Gray._ + +Such is the exclamation of Gray. Bandello, long before him, has said +something like it; and the same sentiment must, in some shape or +other, have frequently occurred to those, who, remembering the fate of +other captives in that memorable state-prison, may have had but too +much reason to anticipate their own. The dark and low arch, which +seemed, like the entrance to Dante's Hell, to forbid hope of regress-- +the muttered sounds of the warders, and petty formalities observed in +opening and shutting the grated wicket--the cold and constrained +salutation of the Lieutenant of the fortress, who showed his prisoner +that distant and measured respect which authority pays as a tax to +decorum, all struck upon Nigel's heart, impressing on him the cruel +consciousness of captivity. + +"I am a prisoner," he said, the words escaping from him almost +unawares; "I am a prisoner, and in the Tower !" + +The Lieutenant bowed--"And it is my duty," he said, "to show your +lordship your chamber, where, I am compelled to say, my orders are to +place you under some restraint. I will make it as easy as my duty +permits." + +Nigel only bowed in return to this compliment, and followed the +Lieutenant to the ancient buildings on the western side of the parade, +and adjoining to the chapel, used in those days as a state-prison, but +in ours as the mess-room of the officers of the guard upon duty at the +fortress. The double doors were unlocked, the prisoner ascended a few +steps, followed by the Lieutenant, and a warder of the higher class. +They entered a large, but irregular, low-roofed, and dark apartment, +exhibiting a very scanty proportion of furniture. The warder had +orders to light a fire, and attend to Lord Glenvarloch's commands in +all things consistent with his duty; and the Lieutenant, having made +his reverence with the customary compliment, that he trusted his +lordship would not long remain under his guardianship, took his leave. + +Nigel would have asked some questions of the warder, who remained to +put the apartment into order, but the man had caught the spirit of his +office. He seemed not to hear some of the prisoner's questions, though +of the most ordinary kind, did not reply to others, and when he did +speak, it was in a short and sullen tone, which, though not positively +disrespectful, was such as at least to encourage no farther +communication. + +Nigel left him, therefore, to do his work in silence, and proceeded to +amuse himself with the melancholy task of deciphering the names, +mottoes, verses, and hieroglyphics, with which his predecessors in +captivity had covered the walls of their prison-house. There he saw +the names of many a forgotten sufferer mingled with others which will +continue in remembrance until English history shall perish. There were +the pious effusions of the devout Catholic, poured forth on the eve of +his sealing his profession at Tyburn, mingled with those of the firm +Protestant, about to feed the fires of Smithfield. There the slender +hand of the unfortunate Jane Grey, whose fate was to draw tears from +future generations, might be contrasted with the bolder touch which +impressed deep on the walls the Bear and Ragged Staff, the proud +emblem of the proud Dudleys. It was like the roll of the prophet, a +record of lamentation and mourning, and yet not unmixed with brief +interjections of resignation, and sentences expressive of the firmest +resolution.[Footnote: These memorials of illustrious criminals, or of +innocent persons who had the fate of such, are still preserved, though +at one time, in the course of repairing the rooms, they were in some +danger of being whitewashed. They are preserved at present with +becoming respect, and have most of them been engraved.--_See_ BAYLEY'S +_History and Antiquities of the Tower of London._] + +In the sad task of examining the miseries of his predecessors in +captivity, Lord Glenvarloch was interrupted by the sudden opening of +the door of his prison-room. It was the warder, who came to inform +him, that, by order of the Lieutenant of the Tower, his lordship was +to have the society and attendance of a fellow-prisoner in his place +of confinement. Nigel replied hastily, that he wished no attendance, +and would rather be left alone; but the warder gave him to understand, +with a kind of grumbling civility, that the Lieutenant was the best +judge how his prisoners should be accommodated, and that he would have +no trouble with the boy, who was such a slip of a thing as was scarce +worth turning a key upon.--"There, Giles," he said, "bring the child +in." + +Another warder put the "lad before him" into the room, and, both +withdrawing, bolt crashed and chain clanged, as they replaced these +ponderous obstacles to freedom. The boy was clad in a grey suit of the +finest cloth, laid down with silver lace, with a buff-coloured cloak +of the same pattern. His cap, which was a Montero of black velvet, was +pulled over his brows, and, with the profusion of his long ringlets, +almost concealed his face. He stood on the very spot where the warder +had quitted his collar, about two steps from the door of the +apartment, his eyes fixed on the ground, and every joint trembling +with confusion and terror. Nigel could well have dispensed with his +society, but it was not in his nature to behold distress, whether of +body or mind, without endeavouring to relieve it. + +"Cheer up," he said, "my pretty lad. We are to be companions, it +seems, for a little time--at least I trust your confinement will be +short, since you are too young to have done aught to deserve long +restraint. Come, come--do not be discouraged. Your hand is cold and +trembles? the air is warm too--but it may be the damp of this darksome +room. Place you by the fire.--What! weeping-ripe, my little man? I +pray you, do not be a child. You have no beard yet, to be dishonoured +by your tears, but yet you should not cry like a girl. Think you are +only shut up for playing truant, and you can pass a day without +weeping, surely." + +The boy suffered himself to be led and seated by the fire, but, after +retaining for a long time the very posture which he assumed in sitting +down, he suddenly changed it in order to wring his hands with an air +of the bitterest distress, and then, spreading them before his face, +wept so plentifully, that the tears found their way in floods through +his slender fingers. + +Nigel was in some degree rendered insensible to his own situation, by +his feelings for the intense agony by which so young and beautiful a +creature seemed to be utterly overwhelmed; and, sitting down close +beside the boy, he applied the most soothing terms which occurred, to +endeavour to alleviate his distress; and, with an action which the +difference of their age rendered natural, drew his hand kindly along +the long hair of the disconsolate child. The lad appeared so shy as +even to shrink from this slight approach to familiarity--yet, when +Lord Glenvarloch, perceiving and allowing for his timidity, sat down +on the farther side of the fire, he appeared to be more at his ease, +and to hearken with some apparent interest to the arguments which from +time to time Nigel used, to induce him to moderate, at least, the +violence of his grief. As the boy listened, his tears, though they +continued to flow freely, seemed to escape from their source more +easily, his sobs were less convulsive, and became gradually changed +into low sighs, which succeeded each other, indicating as much sorrow, +perhaps, but less alarm, than his first transports had shown. + +"Tell me who and what you are, my pretty boy," said Nigel.--"Consider +me, child, as a companion, who wishes to be kind to you, would you but +teach him how he can be so." + +"Sir--my lord, I mean," answered the boy, very timidly, and in a voice +which could scarce be heard even across the brief distance which +divided them, "you are very good--and I--am very unhappy--" + +A second fit of tears interrupted what else he had intended to say, +and it required a renewal of Lord Glenvarloch's good-natured +expostulations and encouragements, to bring him once more to such +composure as rendered the lad capable of expressing himself +intelligibly. At length, however, he was able to say--"I am sensible +of your goodness, my lord--and grateful for it--but I am a poor +unhappy creature, and, what is worse, have myself only to thank for my +misfortunes." + +"We are seldom absolutely miserable, my young acquaintance," said +Nigel, "without being ourselves more or less responsible for it--I may +well say so, otherwise I had not been here to-day--but you are very +young, and can have but little to answer for." + +"O sir! I wish I could say so--I have been self-willed and obstinate-- +and rash and ungovernable--and now--now, how dearly do I pay the price +of it!" + +"Pshaw, my boy," replied Nigel; "this must be some childish frolic-- +some breaking out of bounds--some truant trick--And yet how should any +of these have brought you to the Tower?--There is something mysterious +about you, young man, which I must inquire into." + +"Indeed, indeed, my lord, there is no harm about me," said the boy, +more moved it would seem to confession by the last words, by which he +seemed considerably alarmed, than by all the kind expostulations and +arguments which Nigel had previously used. "I am innocent--that is, I +have done wrong, but nothing to deserve being in this frightful +place." + +"Tell me the truth, then," said Nigel, in a tone in which command +mingled with encouragement; "you have nothing to fear from me, and as +little to hope, perhaps--yet, placed as I am, I would know with whom I +speak." + +"With an unhappy--boy, sir--and idle and truantly disposed, as your +lordship said," answered the lad, looking up, and showing a +countenance in which paleness and blushes succeeded each other, as +fear and shamefacedness alternately had influence. "I left my father's +house without leave, to see the king hunt in the Park at Greenwich; +there came a cry of treason, and all the gates were shut--I was +frightened, and hid myself in a thicket, and I was found by some of +the rangers and examined--and they said I gave no good account of +myself--and so I was sent hither." + +"I am an unhappy, a most unhappy being," said Lord Glenvarloch, rising +and walking through the apartment; "nothing approaches me but shares +my own bad fate! Death and imprisonment dog my steps, and involve all +who are found near me. Yet this boy's story sounds strangely.--You say +you were examined, my young friend--Let me pray you to say whether you +told your name, and your means of gaining admission into the Park--if +so, they surely would not have detained you?" + +"O, my lord," said the boy, "I took care not to tell them the name of +the friend that let me in; and as to my father--I would not he knew +where I now am for all the wealth in London!" + +"But do you not expect," said Nigel, "that they will dismiss you till +you let them know who and what you are?" + +"What good will it do them to keep so useless a creature as myself?" +said the boy; "they must let me go, were it but out of shame." + +"Do not trust to that--tell me your name and station--I will +communicate them to the Lieutenant--he is a man of quality and honour, +and will not only be willing to procure your liberation, but also, I +have no doubt, will intercede with your father. I am partly answerable +for such poor aid as I can afford, to get you out of this +embarrassment, since I occasioned the alarm owing to which you were +arrested; so tell me your name, and your father's name." + +"My name to you? O never, never!" answered the boy, in a tone of deep +emotion, the cause of which Nigel could not comprehend. + +"Are you so much afraid of me, young man," he replied, "because I am +here accused and a prisoner? Consider, a man may be both, and deserve +neither suspicion nor restraint. Why should you distrust me? You seem +friendless, and I am myself so much in the same circumstances, that I +cannot but pity your situation when I reflect on my own. Be wise; I +have spoken kindly to you--I mean as kindly as I speak." + +"O, I doubt it not, I doubt it not, my lord," said the boy, "and I +could tell you all--that is, almost all." + +"Tell me nothing, my young friend, excepting what may assist me in +being useful to you," said Nigel. + +"You are generous, my lord," said the boy; "and I am sure--O sure, I +might safely trust to your honour--But yet--but yet--I am so sore +beset--I have been so rash, so unguarded--I can never tell you of my +folly. Besides, I have already told too much to one whose heart I +thought I had moved--yet I find myself here." + +"To whom did you make this disclosure?" said Nigel. + +"I dare not tell," replied the youth. + +"There is something singular about you, my young friend," said Lord +Glenvarloch, withdrawing with a gentle degree of compulsion the hand +with which the boy had again covered his eyes; "do not pain yourself +with thinking on your situation just at present--your pulse is high, +and your hand feverish--lay yourself on yonder pallet, and try to +compose yourself to sleep. It is the readiest and best remedy for the +fancies with which you are worrying yourself." + +"I thank you for your considerate kindness, my lord," said the boy; +"with your leave I will remain for a little space quiet in this chair- +-I am better thus than on the couch. I can think undisturbedly on what +I have done, and have still to do; and if God sends slumber to a +creature so exhausted, it shall be most welcome." + +So saying, the boy drew his hand from Lord Nigel's, and, drawing +around him and partly over his face the folds of his ample cloak, he +resigned himself to sleep or meditation, while his companion, +notwithstanding the exhausting scenes of this and the preceding day, +continued his pensive walk up and down the apartment. + +Every reader has experienced, that times occur, when far from being +lord of external circumstances, man is unable to rule even the wayward +realm of his own thoughts. It was Nigel's natural wish to consider his +own situation coolly, and fix on the course which it became him as a +man of sense and courage to adopt; and yet, in spite of himself, and +notwithstanding the deep interest of the critical state in which he +was placed, it did so happen that his fellow-prisoner's situation +occupied more of his thoughts than did his own. There was no +accounting for this wandering of the imagination, but also there was +no striving with it. The pleading tones of one of the sweetest voices +he had ever heard, still rung in his ear, though it seemed that sleep +had now fettered the tongue of the speaker. He drew near on tiptoe to +satisfy himself whether it were so. The folds of the cloak hid the +lower part of his face entirely; but the bonnet, which had fallen a +little aside, permitted him to see the forehead streaked with blue +veins, the closed eyes, and the long silken eyelashes. + +"Poor child," said Nigel to himself, as he looked on him, nestled up +as it were in the folds of his mantle, "the dew is yet on thy +eyelashes, and thou hast fairly wept thyself asleep. Sorrow is a rough +nurse to one so young and delicate as thou art. Peace be to thy +slumbers, I will not disturb them. My own misfortunes require my +attention, and it is to their contemplation that I must resign +myself." + +He attempted to do so, but was crossed at every turn by conjectures +which intruded themselves as before, and which all regarded the +sleeper rather than himself. He was angry and vexed, and expostulated +with himself concerning the overweening interest which he took in the +concerns of one of whom he knew nothing, saving that the boy was +forced into his company, perhaps as a spy, by those to whose custody +he was committed--but the spell could not be broken, and the thoughts +which he struggled to dismiss, continued to haunt him. + +Thus passed half an hour, or more; at the conclusion of which, the +harsh sound of the revolving bolts was again heard, and the voice of +the warder announced that a man desired to speak with Lord +Glenvarloch. "A man to speak with me, under my present circumstances!- +-Who can it be?" And John Christie, his landlord of Paul's Wharf, +resolved his doubts, by entering the apartment. "Welcome--most +welcome, mine honest landlord!" said Lord Glenvarloch. "How could I +have dreamt of seeing you in my present close lodgings?" And at the +same time, with the frankness of old kindness, he walked up to +Christie and offered his hand; but John started back as from the look +of a basilisk. + +"Keep your courtesies to yourself, my lord," said he, gruffly; "I have +had as many of them already as may serve me for my life." + +"Why, Master Christie," said Nigel, "what means this? I trust I have +not offended you?" + +"Ask me no questions, my lord," said Christie, bluntly. "I am a man of +peace--I came not hither to wrangle with you at this place and season. +Just suppose that I am well informed of all the obligements from your +honour's nobleness, and then acquaint me, in as few words as may be, +where is the unhappy woman--What have you done with her?" + +"What have I done with her!" said Lord Glenvarloch--"Done with whom? I +know not what you are speaking of." + +"Oh, yes, my lord," said Christie; "play surprise as well as you will, +you must have some guess that I am speaking of the poor fool that was +my wife, till she became your lordship's light-o'-love." + +"Your wife! Has your wife left you? and, if she has, do you come to +ask her of me?" + +"Yes, my lord, singular as it may seem," returned Christie, in a tone +of bitter irony, and with a sort of grin widely discording from the +discomposure of his features, the gleam of his eye, and the froth +which stood on his lip, "I do come to make that demand of your +lordship. Doubtless, you are surprised I should take the trouble; but, +I cannot tell, great men and little men think differently. She has +lain in my bosom, and drunk of my cup; and, such as she is, I cannot +forget that--though I will never see her again--she must not starve, +my lord, or do worse, to gain bread, though I reckon your lordship may +think I am robbing the public in trying to change her courses." + +"By my faith as a Christian, by my honour as a gentleman," said Lord +Glenvarloch, "if aught amiss has chanced with your wife, I know +nothing of it. I trust in Heaven you are as much mistaken in imputing +guilt to her, as in supposing me her partner in it." + +"Fie! fie! my lord," said Christie, "why will you make it so tough? +She is but the wife of a clod-pated old chandler, who was idiot enough +to marry a wench twenty years younger than himself. Your lordship +cannot have more glory by it than you have had already; and, as for +advantage and solace, I take it Dame Nelly is now unnecessary to your +gratification. I should be sorry to interrupt the course of your +pleasure; an old wittol should have more consideration of his +condition. But, your precious lordship being mewed up here among other +choice jewels of the kingdom, Dame Nelly cannot, I take it, be +admitted to share the hours of dalliance which--"Here the incensed +husband stammered, broke off his tone of irony, and proceeded, +striking his staff against the ground--"O that these false limbs of +yours, which I wish had been hamstrung when they first crossed my +honest threshold, were free from the fetters they have well deserved! +I would give you the odds of your youth, and your weapon, and would +bequeath my soul to the foul fiend if I, with this piece of oak, did +not make you such an example to all ungrateful, pick-thank courtiers, +that it should be a proverb to the end of time, how John Christie +swaddled his wife's fine leman!" + +"I understand not your insolence," said Nigel, "but I forgive it, +because you labour under some strange delusion. In so far as I can +comprehend your vehement charge, it is entirely undeserved on my part. +You seem to impute to me the seduction of your wife--I trust she is +innocent. For me, at least, she is as innocent as an angel in bliss. I +never thought of her--never touched her hand or cheek, save in +honourable courtesy." + +"O, ay--courtesy!--that is the very word. She always praised your +lordship's honourable courtesy. Ye have cozened me between ye, with +your courtesy. My lord--my lord, you came to us no very wealthy man-- +you know it. It was for no lucre of gain I took you and your swash- +buckler, your Don Diego yonder, under my poor roof. I never cared if +the little room were let or no; I could live without it. If you could +not have paid for it, you should never have been asked. All the wharf +knows John Christie has the means and spirit to do a kindness. When +you first darkened my honest doorway, I was as happy as a man need to +be, who is no youngster, and has the rheumatism. Nelly was the kindest +and best-humoured wench--we might have a word now and then about a +gown or a ribbon, but a kinder soul on the whole, and a more careful, +considering her years, till you come--and what is she now!--But I will +not be a fool to cry, if I can help it. _What_ she is, is not the +question, but where she is; and that I must learn, sir, of you." + +"How can you, when I tell you," replied Nigel, "that I am as ignorant +as yourself, or rather much more so? Till this moment, I never heard +of any disagreement betwixt your dame and you." + +"That is a lie," said John Christie, bluntly. + +"How, you base villain!" said Lord Glenvarloch--"do you presume on my +situation? If it were not that I hold you mad, and perhaps made so by +some wrong sustained, you should find my being weaponless were no +protection, I would beat your brains out against the wall." + +"Ay, ay," answered Christie, "bully as ye list. Ye have been at the +ordinaries, and in Alsatia, and learned the ruffian's rant, I doubt +not. But I repeat, you have spoken an untruth, when you said you knew +not of my wife's falsehood; for, when you were twitted with it among +your gay mates, it was a common jest among you, and your lordship took +all the credit they would give you for your gallantry and gratitude." + +There was a mixture of truth in this part of the charge which +disconcerted Lord Glenvarloch exceedingly; for he could not, as a man +of honour, deny that Lord Dalgarno, and others, had occasionally +jested with him on the subject of Dame Nelly, and that, though he had +not played exactly _le fanfaron des vices qu'il n'avoit pas_, he had +not at least been sufficiently anxious to clear himself of the +suspicion of such a crime to men who considered it as a merit. It was +therefore with some hesitation, and in a sort of qualifying tone, that +he admitted that some idle jests had passed upon such a supposition, +although without the least foundation in truth. John Christie would +not listen to his vindication any longer. "By your own account," he +said, "you permitted lies to be told of you injest. How do I know you +are speaking truth, now you are serious? You thought it, I suppose, a +fine thing to wear the reputation of having dishonoured an honest +family,--who will not think that you had real grounds for your base +bravado to rest upon? I will not believe otherwise for one, and +therefore, my lord, mark what I have to say. You are now yourself in +trouble--As you hope to come through it safely, and without loss of +life and property, tell me where this unhappy woman is. Tell me, if +you hope for heaven--tell me, if you fear hell--tell me, as you would +not have the curse of an utterly ruined woman, and a broken-hearted +man, attend you through life, and bear witness against you at the +Great Day, which shall come after death. You are moved, my lord, I see +it. I cannot forget the wrong you have done me. I cannot even promise +to forgive it--but--tell me, and you shall never see me again, or hear +more of my reproaches." + +"Unfortunate man," said Lord Glenvarloch, "you have said more, far +more than enough, to move me deeply. Were I at liberty, I would lend +you my best aid to search out him who has wronged you, the rather that +I do suspect my having been your lodger has been in some degree the +remote cause of bringing the spoiler into the sheepfold." + +"I am glad your lordship grants me so much," said John Christie, +resuming the tone of embittered irony with which he had opened the, +singular conversation; "I will spare you farther reproach and +remonstrance--your mind is made up, and so is mine.--So, ho, warder!" +The warder entered, and John went on,--"I want to get out, brother. +Look well to your charge--it were better that half the wild beasts in +their dens yonder were turned loose upon Tower Hill, than that this +same smooth-faced, civil-spoken gentleman, were again returned to +honest men's company!" + +So saying, he hastily left the apartment; and Nigel had full leisure +to lament the waywardness of his fate, which seemed never to tire of +persecuting him for crimes of which he was innocent, and investing him +with the appearances of guilt which his mind abhorred. He could not, +however, help acknowledging to himself, that all the pain which he +might sustain from the present accusation of John Christie, was so far +deserved, from his having suffered himself, out of vanity, or rather +an unwillingness to encounter ridicule, to be supposed capable of a +base inhospitable crime, merely because fools called it an affair of +gallantry; and it was no balsam to the wound, when he recollected what +Richie had told him of his having been ridiculed behind his back by +the gallants of the ordinary, for affecting the reputation of an +intrigue which he had not in reality spirit enough to have carried on. +His simulation had, in a word, placed him in the unlucky predicament +of being rallied as a braggart amongst the dissipated youths, with +whom the reality of the amour would have given him credit; whilst, on +the other hand, he was branded as an inhospitable seducer by the +injured husband, who was obstinately persuaded of his guilt. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + + How fares the man on whom good men would look + With eyes where scorn and censure combated, + But that kind Christian love hath taught the lesson-- + That they who merit most contempt and hate, + Do most deserve our pity.-- + _Old Play_. + +It might have seemed natural that the visit of John Christie should +have entirely diverted Nigel's attention from his slumbering +companion, and, for a time, such was the immediate effect of the chain +of new ideas which the incident introduced; yet, soon after the +injured man had departed, Lord Glenvarloch began to think it +extraordinary that the boy should have slept so soundly, while they +talked loudly in his vicinity. Yet he certainly did not appear to have +stirred. Was he well--was he only feigning sleep? He went close to him +to make his observations, and perceived that he had wept, and was +still weeping, though his eyes were closed. He touched him gently on +the shoulder--the boy shrunk from his touch, but did not awake. He +pulled him harder, and asked him if he was sleeping. + +"Do they waken folk in your country to know whether they are asleep or +no?" said the boy, in a peevish tone. + +"No, my young sir," answered Nigel; "but when they weep in the manner +you do in your sleep, they awaken them to see what ails them." + +"It signifies little to any one what ails me," said the boy. + +"True," replied Lord Glenvarloch; "but you knew before you went to +sleep how little I could assist you in your difficulties, and you +seemed disposed, notwithstanding, to put some confidence in me." + +"If I did, I have changed my mind," said the lad. + +"And what may have occasioned this change of mind, I trow?" said Lord +Glenvarloch. "Some men speak through their sleep--perhaps you have the +gift of hearing in it?" + +"No, but the Patriarch Joseph never dreamt truer dreams than I do." + +"Indeed!" said Lord Glenvarloch. "And, pray, what dream have you had +that has deprived me of your good opinion; for that, I think, seems +the moral of the matter?" + +"You shall judge yourself," answered the boy. "I dreamed I was in a +wild forest, where there was a cry of hounds, and winding of horns, +exactly as I heard in Greenwich Park." + +"That was because you were in the Park this morning, you simple +child," said Nigel. + +"Stay, my lord," said the youth. "I went on in my dream, till, at the +top of a broad green alley, I saw a noble stag which had fallen into +the toils; and methought I knew that he was the very stag which the +whole party were hunting, and that if the chase came up, the dogs +would tear him to pieces, or the hunters would cut his throat; and I +had pity on the gallant stag, and though I was of a different kind +from him, and though I was somewhat afraid of him, I thought I would +venture something to free so stately a creature; and I pulled out my +knife, and just as I was beginning to cut the meshes of the net, the +animal started up in my face in the likeness of a tiger, much larger +and fiercer than any you may have seen in the ward of the wild beasts +yonder, and was just about to tear me limb from limb, when you awaked +me." + +"Methinks," said Nigel, "I deserve more thanks than I have got, for +rescuing you from such a danger by waking you. But, my pretty master, +methinks all this tale of a tiger and a stag has little to do with +your change of temper towards me." + +"I know not whether it has or no," said the lad; "but I will not tell +you who I am." + +"You will keep your secret to yourself then, peevish boy," said Nigel, +turning from him, and resuming his walk through the room; then +stopping suddenly, he said--"And yet you shall not escape from me +without knowing that I penetrate your mystery." + +"My mystery!" said the youth, at once alarmed and irritated--"what +mean you, my lord?" + +"Only that I can read your dream without the assistance of a Chaldean +interpreter, and my exposition is--that my fair companion does not +wear the dress of her sex." + +"And if I do not, my lord," said his companion, hastily starting up, +and folding her cloak tight around her, "my dress, such as it is, +covers one who will not disgrace it." + +"Many would call that speech a fair challenge," said Lord Glenvarloch, +looking on her fixedly; "women do not masquerade in men's clothes, to +make use of men's weapons." + +"I have no such purpose," said the seeming boy; "I have other means of +protection, and powerful--but I would first know what is _your_ +purpose." + +"An honourable and a most respectful one," said Lord Glenvarloch; +"whatever you are--whatever motive may have brought you into this +ambiguous situation, I am sensible--every look, word, and action of +yours, makes me sensible, that you are no proper subject of +importunity, far less of ill usage. What circumstances can have forced +you into so doubtful a situation, I know not; but I feel assured there +is, and can be, nothing in them of premeditated wrong, which should +expose you to cold-blooded insult. From me you have nothing to dread." + +"I expected nothing less from your nobleness, my lord," answered the +female; "my adventure, though I feel it was both desperate and +foolish, is not so very foolish, nor my safety here so utterly +unprotected, as at first sight--and in this strange dress, it may +appear to be. I have suffered enough, and more than enough, by the +degradation of having been seen in this unfeminine attire, and the +comments you must necessarily have made on my conduct--but I thank God +that I am so far protected, that I could not have been subjected to +insult unavenged." When this extraordinary explanation had proceeded +thus far, the warder appeared, to place before Lord Glenvarloch a +meal, which, for his present situation, might be called comfortable, +and which, if not equal to the cookery of the celebrated Chevalier +Beaujeu, was much superior in neatness and cleanliness to that of +Alsatia. A warder attended to do the honours of the table, and made a +sign to the disguised female to rise and assist him in his functions. +But Nigel, declaring that he knew the youth's parents, interfered, and +caused his companion to eat along with him. She consented with a sort +of embarrassment, which rendered her pretty features yet more +interesting. Yet she maintained with a natural grace that sort of +good-breeding which belongs to the table; and it seemed to Nigel, +whether already prejudiced in her favour by the extraordinary +circumstances of their meeting, or whether really judging from what +was actually the fact, that he had seldom seen a young person comport +herself with more decorous propriety, mixed with ingenuous simplicity; +while the consciousness of the peculiarity of her situation threw a +singular colouring over her whole demeanour, which could be neither +said to be formal, nor easy, nor embarrassed, but was compounded of, +and shaded with, an interchange of all these three characteristics. +Wine was placed on the table, of which she could not be prevailed on +to taste a glass. Their conversation was, of course, limited by the +presence of the warder to the business of the table: but Nigel had, +long ere the cloth was removed, formed the resolution, if possible, of +making himself master of this young person's history, the more +especially as he now began to think that the tones of her voice and +her features were not so strange to him as he had originally supposed. +This, however, was a conviction which he adopted slowly, and only as +it dawned upon him from particular circumstances during the course of +the repast. + +At length the prison-meal was finished, and Lord Glenvarloch began to +think how he might most easily enter upon the topic he meditated, when +the warder announced a visitor. + +"Soh!" said Nigel, something displeased, "I find even a prison does +not save one from importunate visitations." + +He prepared to receive his guest, however, while his alarmed companion +flew to the large cradle-shaped chair, which had first served her as a +place of refuge, drew her cloak around her, and disposed herself as +much as she could to avoid observation. She had scarce made her +arrangements for that purpose when the door opened, and the worthy +citizen, George Heriot, entered the prison-chamber. + +He cast around the apartment his usual sharp, quick glance of +observation, and, advancing to Nigel, said--"My lord, I wish I could +say I was happy to see you." + +"The sight of those who are unhappy themselves, Master Heriot, seldom +produces happiness to their friends--I, however, am glad to see you." + +He extended his hand, but Heriot bowed with much formal complaisance, +instead of accepting the courtesy, which in those times, when the +distinction of ranks was much guarded by etiquette and ceremony, was +considered as a distinguished favour. + +"You are displeased with me, Master Heriot," said Lord Glenvarloch, +reddening, for he was not deceived by the worthy citizen's affectation +of extreme reverence and respect. + +"By no means, my lord," replied Heriot; "but I have been in France, +and have thought it is well to import, along with other more +substantial articles, a small sample of that good-breeding which the +French are so renowned for." + +"It is not kind of you," said Nigel, "to bestow the first use of it on +an old and obliged friend." + +Heriot only answered to this observation with a short dry cough, and +then proceeded. + +"Hem! hem! I say, ahem! My lord, as my French politeness may not carry +me far, I would willingly know whether I am to speak as a friend, +since your lordship is pleased to term me such; or whether I am, as +befits my condition, to confine myself to the needful business which +must be treated of between us." + +"Speak as a friend by all means, Master Heriot," said Nigel; "I +perceive you have adopted some of the numerous prejudices against me, +if not all of them. Speak out, and frankly--what I cannot deny I will +at least confess." + +"And I trust, my lord, redress," said Heriot. + +"So far as in my power, certainly," answered Nigel. + +"Ah I my lord," continued Heriot, "that is a melancholy though a +necessary restriction; for how lightly may any one do an hundred times +more than the degree of evil which it may be within his power to +repair to the sufferers and to society! But we are not alone here," he +said, stopping, and darting his shrewd eye towards the muffled figure +of the disguised maiden, whose utmost efforts had not enabled her so +to adjust her position as altogether to escape observation. More +anxious to prevent her being discovered than to keep his own affairs +private, Nigel hastily answered- + +"'Tis a page of mine; you may speak freely before him. He is of +France, and knows no English." + +"I am then to speak freely," said Heriot, after a second glance at the +chair; "perhaps my words may be more free than welcome." + +"Go on, sir," said Nigel, "I have told you I can bear reproof." + +"In one word, then, my lord--why do I find you in this place, and +whelmed with charges which must blacken a name rendered famous by ages +of virtue?" + +"Simply, then, you find me here," said Nigel, "because, to begin from +my original error, I would be wiser than my father." + +"It was a difficult task, my lord," replied Heriot; "your father was +voiced generally as the wisest and one of the bravest men of +Scotland." + +"He commanded me," continued Nigel, "to avoid all gambling; and I took +upon me to modify this injunction into regulating my play according to +my skill, means, and the course of my luck." + +"Ay, self opinion, acting on a desire of acquisition, my lord--you +hoped to touch pitch and not to be defiled, "answered Heriot. "Well, +my lord, you need not say, for I have heard with much regret, how far +this conduct diminished your reputation. Your next error I may without +scruple remind you of--My lord, my lord, in whatever degree Lord +Dalgarno may have failed towards you, the son of his father should +have been sacred from your violence." + +"You speak in cold blood, Master Heriot, and I was smarting under a +thousand wrongs inflicted on me under the mask of friendship." + +"That is, he gave your lordship bad advice, and you," said Heriot-- + +"Was fool enough to follow his counsel," answered Nigel--"But we will +pass this, Master Heriot, if you please. Old men and young men, men of +the sword and men of peaceful occupation, always have thought, always +will think, differently on such subjects." + +"I grant," answered Heriot, "the distinction between the old goldsmith +and the young nobleman--still you should have had patience for Lord +Huntinglen's sake, and prudence for your own. Supposing your quarrel +just--" + +"I pray you to pass on to some other charge," said Lord Glenvarloch. + +"I am not your accuser, my lord; but I trust in heaven, that your own +heart has already accused you bitterly on the inhospitable wrong which +your late landlord has sustained at your hand." + +"Had I been guilty of what you allude to," said Lord Glenvarloch,-- +"had a moment of temptation hurried me away, I had long ere now most +bitterly repented it. But whoever may have wronged the unhappy woman, +it was not I--I never heard of her folly until within this hour." + +"Come, my lord," said Heriot, with some severity, "this sounds too +much like affectation. I know there is among our modern youth a new +creed respecting adultery as well as homicide--I would rather hear you +speak of a revision of the Decalogue, with mitigated penalties in +favour of the privileged orders--I would rather hear you do this than +deny a fact in which you have been known to glory." + +"Glory!--I never did, never would have taken honour to myself from +such a cause," said Lord Glenvarloch. "I could not prevent other idle +tongues, and idle brains, from making false inferences." + +"You would have known well enough how to stop their mouths, my lord," +replied Heriot, "had they spoke of you what was unpleasing to your +ears, and what the truth did not warrant.--Come, my lord, remember +your promise to confess; and, indeed, to confess is, in this case, in +some slight sort to redress. I will grant you are young--the woman +handsome--and, as I myself have observed, light-headed enough. Let me +know where she is. Her foolish husband has still some compassion for +her--will save her from infamy--perhaps, in time, receive her back; +for we are a good-natured generation we traders. Do not, my lord, +emulate those who work mischief merely for the pleasure of doing so-- +it is the very devil's worst quality." + +"Your grave remonstrances will drive me mad," said Nigel. "There is a +show of sense and reason in what you say; and yet, it is positively +insisting on my telling the retreat of a fugitive of whom I know +nothing earthly." + +"It is well, my lord," answered Heriot, coldly. "You have a right, +such as it is, to keep your own secrets; but, since my discourse on +these points seems so totally unavailing, we had better proceed to +business. Yet your father's image rises before me, and seems to plead +that I should go on." + +"Be it as you will, sir," said Glenvarloch; "he who doubts my word +shall have no additional security for it." + +"Well, my lord.--In the Sanctuary at Whitefriars--a place of refuge so +unsuitable to a young man of quality and character--I am told a murder +was committed." + +"And you believe that I did the deed, I suppose?" + +"God forbid, my lord!" said Heriot. "The coroner's inquest hath sat, +and it appeared that your lordship, under your assumed name of +Grahame, behaved with the utmost bravery." + +"No compliment, I pray you," said Nigel; "I am only too happy to find, +that I did not murder, or am not believed to have murdered, the old +man." + +"True, my lord, said Heriot; "but even in this affair there lacks +explanation. Your lordship embarked this morning in a wherry with a +female, and, it is said, an immense sum of money, in specie and other +valuables--but the woman has not since been heard of." + +"I parted with her at Paul's Wharf," said Nigel, "where she went +ashore with her charge. I gave her a letter to that very man, John +Christie." + +"Ay, that is the waterman's story; but John Christie denies that he +remembers anything of the matter." + +"I am sorry to hear this," said the young nobleman; "I hope in Heaven +she has not been trepanned, for the treasure she had with her." + +"I hope not, my lord," replied Heriot; "but men's minds are much +disturbed about it. Our national character suffers on all hands. Men +remember the fatal case of Lord Sanquhar, hanged for the murder of a +fencing-master; and exclaim, they will not have their wives whored, +and their property stolen, by the nobility of Scotland." + +"And all this is laid to my door!" said Nigel; "my exculpation is +easy." + +"I trust so, my lord," said Heriot;--"nay, in this particular, I do +not doubt it.--But why did you leave Whitefriars under such +circumstances?" + +"Master Reginald Lowestoffe sent a boat for me, with intimation to +provide for my safety." + +"I am sorry to say," replied Heriot, "that he denies all knowledge of +your lordship's motions, after having dispatched a messenger to you +with some baggage." + +"The watermen told me they were employed by him." + +"Watermen!" said Heriot; "one of these proves to be an idle +apprentice, an old acquaintance of mine--the other has escaped; but +the fellow who is in custody persists in saying he was employed by +your lordship, and you only." + +"He lies!" said Lord Glenvarloch, hastily;--"He told me Master +Lowestoffe had sent him.--I hope that kind-hearted gentleman is at +liberty?" + +"He is," answered Heriot; "and has escaped with a rebuke from the +benchers, for interfering in such a matter as your lordship's. The +Court desire to keep well with the young Templars in these times of +commotion, or he had not come off so well." + +"That is the only word of comfort I have heard from you," replied +Nigel. "But this poor woman,--she and her trunk were committed to the +charge of two porters." + +"So said the pretended waterman; but none of the fellows who ply at +the wharf will acknowledge the employment.--I see the idea makes you +uneasy, my lord; but every effort is made to discover the poor woman's +place of retreat--if, indeed, she yet lives.--And now, my lord, my +errand is spoken, so far as it relates exclusively to your lordship; +what remains, is matter of business of a more formal kind." + +"Let us proceed to it without delay," said Lord Glenvarloch. "I would +hear of the affairs of any one rather than of my own." + +"You cannot have forgotten, my lord," said Heriot, "the transaction +which took place some weeks since at Lord Huntinglen's--by which a +large sum of money was advanced for the redemption of your lordship's +estate?" + +"I remember it perfectly," said Nigel; "and your present austerity +cannot make me forget your kindness on the occasion." + +Heriot bowed gravely, and went on.--"That money was advanced under the +expectation and hope that it might be replaced by the contents of a +grant to your lordship, under the royal sign-manual, in payment of +certain monies due by the crown to your father.--I trust your lordship +understood the transaction at the time--I trust you now understand my +resumption of its import, and hold it to be correct?" + +"Undeniably correct," answered Lord Glenvarloch. "If the sums +contained in the warrant cannot be recovered, my lands become the +property of those who paid off the original holders of the mortgage, +and now stand in their right." + +"Even so, my lord," said Heriot. "And your lordship's unhappy +circumstances having, it would seem, alarmed these creditors, they are +now, I am sorry to say, pressing for one or other of these +alternatives--possession of the land, or payment of their debt." + +"They have a right to one or other," answered Lord Glenvarloch; "and +as I cannot do the last in my present condition, I suppose they must +enter on possession." + +"Stay, my lord," replied Heriot; "if you have ceased to call me a +friend to your person, at least you shall see I am willing to be such +to your father's house, were it but for the sake of your father's +memory. If you will trust me with the warrant under the sign-manual, I +believe circumstances do now so stand at Court, that I may be able to +recover the money for you." + +"I would do so gladly," said Lord Glenvarloch, "but the casket which +contains it is not in my possession. It was seized when I was arrested +at Greenwich." + +"It will be no longer withheld from you," said Heriot; "for, I +understand, my Master's natural good sense, and some information which +he has procured, I know not how, has induced him to contradict the +whole charge of the attempt on his person. It is entirely hushed up; +and you will only be proceeded against for your violence on Lord +Dalgarno, committed within the verge of the Palace--and that you will +find heavy enough to answer." + +"I will not shrink under the weight," said Lord Glenvarloch. "But that +is not the present point.--If I had that casket--" + +"Your baggage stood in the little ante-room, as I passed," said the +citizen; "the casket caught my eye. I think you had it of me. It was +my old friend Sir Faithful Frugal's. Ay; he, too, had a son--" + +Here he stopped short. + +"A son who, like Lord Glenvarloch's, did no credit to his father.--Was +it not so you would have ended the sentence, Master Heriot?" asked the +young nobleman. + +"My lord, it was a word spoken rashly," answered Heriot. "God may mend +all in his own good time. This, however, I will say, that I have +sometimes envied my friends their fair and flourishing families; and +yet have I seen such changes when death has removed the head, so many +rich men's sons penniless, the heirs of so many knights and nobles +acreless, that I think mine own estate and memory, as I shall order +it, has a fair chance of outliving those of greater men, though God +has given me no heir of my name. But this is from the purpose.--Ho! +warder, bring in Lord Glenvarloch's baggage." The officer obeyed. +Seals had been placed upon the trunk and casket, but were now removed, +the warder said, in consequence of the subsequent orders from Court, +and the whole was placed at the prisoner's free disposal. + +Desirous to bring this painful visit to a conclusion, Lord Glenvarloch +opened the casket, and looked through the papers which it contained, +first hastily, and then more slowly and accurately; but it was all in +vain. The Sovereign's signed warrant had disappeared. + +"I thought and expected nothing better," said George Heriot, bitterly. +"The beginning of evil is the letting out of water. Here is a fair +heritage lost, I dare say, on a foul cast at dice, or a conjuring +trick at cards!--My lord, your surprise is well played. I give you +full joy of your accomplishments. I have seen many as young brawlers +and spendthrifts, but never as young and accomplished a dissembler.-- +Nay, man, never bend your angry brows on me. I speak in bitterness of +heart, from what I remember of your worthy father; and if his son +hears of his degeneracy from no one else, he shall hear it from the +old goldsmith." + +This new suspicion drove Nigel to the very extremity of his patience; +yet the motives and zeal of the good old man, as well as the +circumstances of suspicion which created his displeasure, were so +excellent an excuse for it, that they formed an absolute curb on the +resentment of Lord Glenvarloch, and constrained him, after two or +three hasty exclamations, to observe a proud and sullen silence. At +length, Master Heriot resumed his lecture. + +"Hark you, my lord," he said, "it is scarce possible that this most +important paper can be absolutely assigned away. Let me know in what +obscure corner, and for what petty sum, it lies pledged--something may +yet be done." + +"Your efforts in my favour are the more generous," said Lord +Glenvarloch, "as you offer them to one whom you believe you have cause +to think hardly of--but they are altogether unavailing. Fortune has +taken the field against me at every point. Even let her win the +battle." + +"Zouns!" exclaimed Heriot, impatiently,--"you would make a saint +swear! Why, I tell you, if this paper, the loss of which seems to sit +so light on you, be not found, farewell to the fair lordship of +Glenvarloch--firth and forest--lea and furrow--lake and stream--all +that has been in the house of Olifaunt since the days of William the +Lion!" + +"Farewell to them, then," said Nigel,--"and that moan is soon made." + +"'Sdeath! my lord, you will make more moan for it ere you die," said +Heriot, in the same tone of angry impatience. + +"Not I, my old friend," said Nigel. "If I mourn, Master Heriot, it +will be for having lost the good opinion of a worthy man, and lost it, +as I must say, most undeservedly." + +"Ay, ay, young man," said Heriot, shaking his head, "make me believe +that if you can.--To sum the matter up," he said, rising from his +seat, and walking towards that occupied by the disguised female, "for +our matters are now drawn into small compass, you shall as soon make +me believe that this masquerading mummer, on whom I now lay the hand +of paternal authority, is a French page, who understands no English." + +So saying, he took hold of the supposed page's cloak, and, not without +some gentle degree of violence, led into the middle of the apartment +the disguised fair one, who in vain attempted to cover her face, first +with her mantle, and afterwards with her hands; both which impediments +Master Heriot removed something unceremoniously, and gave to view the +detected daughter of the old chronologist, his own fair god-daughter, +Margaret Ramsay. + +"Here is goodly gear!" he said; and, as he spoke, he could not prevent +himself from giving her a slight shake, for we have elsewhere noticed +that he was a severe disciplinarian.--"How comes it, minion, that I +find you in so shameless a dress, and so unworthy a situation? Nay, +your modesty is now mistimed--it should have come sooner. Speak, or I +will--" + +"Master Heriot," said Lord Glenvarloch, "whatever right you may have +over this maiden elsewhere, while in my apartment she is under my +protection." + +"Your protection, my lord!--a proper protector!--and how long, +mistress, have you been under my lord's protection? Speak out +forsooth!" + +"For the matter of two hours, godfather," answered the maiden, with a +countenance bent to the ground, and covered with blushes, "but it was +against my will." + +"Two hours!" repeated Heriot,--"space enough for mischief.--My lord, +this is, I suppose, another victim offered to your character of +gallantry--another adventure to be boasted of at Beaujeu's ordinary? +Methinks the roof under which you first met this silly maiden should +have secured _her_, at least, from such a fate." + +"On my honour, Master Heriot," said Lord Glenvarloch, "you remind me +now, for the first time, that I saw this young lady in your family. +Her features are not easily forgotten, and yet I was trying in vain to +recollect where I had last looked on them. For your suspicions, they +are as false as they are injurious both to her and me. I had but +discovered her disguise as you entered. I am satisfied, from her whole +behaviour, that her presence here in this dress was involuntary; and +God forbid that I have been capable of taking advantage of it to her +prejudice." + +"It is well mouthed, my lord," said Master Heriot; "but a cunning +clerk can read the Apocrypha as loud as the Scripture. Frankly, my +lord, you are come to that pass, where your words will not be received +without a warrant." + +"I should not speak, perhaps," said Margaret, the natural vivacity of +whose temper could never be long suppressed by any situation, however +disadvantageous, "but I cannot be silent. Godfather, you do me wrong-- +and no less wrong to this young nobleman. You say his words want a +warrant. I know where to find a warrant for some of them, and the rest +I deeply and devoutly believe without one." + +"And I thank you, maiden," replied Nigel, "for the good opinion you +have expressed. I am at that point, it seems, though how I have been +driven to it I know not, where every fair construction of my actions +and motives is refused me. I am the more obliged to her who grants me +that right which the world denies me. For you, lady, were I at +liberty, I have a sword and arm should know how to guard your +reputation." + +"Upon my word, a perfect Amadis and Oriana!" said George Heriot. "I +should soon get my throat cut betwixt the knight and the princess, I +suppose, but that the beef-eaters are happily within halloo.--Come, +come, Lady Light-o'-Love--if you mean to make your way with me, it +must be by plain facts, not by speeches from romaunts and play-books. +How, in Heaven's name, came you here?" + +"Sir," answered Margaret, "since I must speak, I went to Greenwich +this morning with Monna Paula, to present a petition to the king on +the part of the Lady Hermione." + +"Mercy-a-gad!" exclaimed Heriot, "is she in the dance, too? Could she +not have waited my return to stir in her affairs? But I suppose the +intelligence I sent her had rendered her restless. Ah! woman, woman-- +he that goes partner with you, had need of a double share of patience, +for you will bring none into the common stock.--Well, but what on +earth had this embassy of Monna Paula's to do with your absurd +disguise? Speak out." + +"Monna Paula was frightened," answered Margaret, "and did not know how +to set about the errand, for you know she scarce ever goes out of +doors--and so--and so--I agreed to go with her to give her courage; +and, for the dress, I am sure you remember I wore it at a Christmas +mumming, and you thought it not unbeseeming." + +"Yes, for a Christmas parlour," said Heriot, "but not to go a-masking +through the country in. I do remember it, minion, and I knew it even +now; that and your little shoe there, linked with a hint I had in the +morning from a friend, or one who called himself such, led to your +detection."--Here Lord Glenvarloch could not help giving a glance at +the pretty foot, which even the staid citizen thought worth +recollection--it was but a glance, for he saw how much the least +degree of observation added to Margaret's distress and confusion. "And +tell me, maiden," continued Master Heriot, for what we have observed +was by-play,--"did the Lady Hermione know of this fair work?" + "I dared not have told her for the world," said Margaret--"she +thought one of our apprentices went with Monna Paula." + +It may be here noticed, that the words, "our apprentices," seemed to +have in them something of a charm to break the fascination with which +Lord Glenvarloch had hitherto listened to the broken, yet interesting +details of Margaret's history. + +"And wherefore went he not?--he had been a fitter companion for Monna +Paula than you, I wot," said the citizen. + +"He was otherwise employed," said Margaret, in a voice scarce audible. + +Master George darted a hasty glance at Nigel, and when he saw his +features betoken no consciousness, he muttered to himself,--"It must +be better than I feared.--And so this cursed Spaniard, with her head +full, as they all have, of disguises, trap-doors, rope-ladders, and +masks, was jade and fool enough to take you with her on this wild +goose errand?--And how sped you, I pray?" + +"Just as we reached the gate of the Park," replied Margaret, "the cry +of treason was raised. I know not what became of Monna, but I ran till +I fell into the arms of a very decent serving-man, called Linklater; +and I was fain to tell him I was your god-daughter, and so he kept the +rest of them from me, and got me to speech of his Majesty, as I +entreated him to do." + +"It is the only sign you showed in the whole matter that common sense +had not utterly deserted your little skull," said Heriot. + +"His Majesty," continued the damsel, "was so gracious as to receive me +alone, though the courtiers cried out against the danger to his +person, and would have searched me for arms, God help me, but the king +forbade it. I fancy he had a hint from Linklater how the truth stood +with me." + +"Well, maiden, I ask not what passed," said Heriot; "it becomes not me +to pry into my Master's secrets. Had you been closeted with his +grandfather the Red Tod of Saint Andrews, as Davie Lindsay used to +call him, by my faith, I should have had my own thoughts of the +matter; but our Master, God bless him, is douce and temperate, and +Solomon in every thing, save in the chapter of wives and concubines." + +"I know not what you mean, sir," answered Margaret. "His Majesty was +most kind and compassionate, but said I must be sent hither, and that +the Lieutenant's lady, the Lady Mansel, would have a charge of me, and +see that I sustained no wrong; and the king promised to send me in a +tilted barge, and under conduct of a person well known to you; and +thus I come to be in the Tower." + +"But how, or why, in this apartment, nymph?" said George Heriot-- +"Expound that to me, for I think the riddle needs reading." + +"I cannot explain it, sir, further, than that the Lady Mansel sent me +here, in spite of my earnest prayers, tears, and entreaties. I was not +afraid of any thing, for I knew I should be protected. But I could +have died then--could die now--for very shame and confusion!" + +"Well, well, if your tears are genuine," said Heriot, "they may the +sooner wash out the memory of your fault--Knows your father aught of +this escape of yours?" + +"I would not for the world he did," replied she; "he believes me with +the Lady Hermione." + +"Ay, honest Davy can regulate his horologes better than his family.-- +Come, damsel, now I will escort you back to the Lady Mansel, and pray +her, of her kindness, that when she is again trusted with a goose, she +will not give it to the fox to keep.--The warders will let us pass to +my lady's lodgings, I trust." + +"Stay but one moment," said Lord Glenvarloch. "Whatever hard opinion +you may have formed of me, I forgive you, for time will show that you +do me wrong; and you yourself, I think, will be the first to regret +the injustice you have done me. But involve not in your suspicions +this young person, for whose purity of thought angels themselves +should be vouchers. I have marked every look, every gesture; and +whilst I can draw breath, I shall ever think of her with--" + +"Think not at all of her, my lord," answered George Heriot, +interrupting him; "it is, I have a notion, the best favour you can do +her;--or think of her as the daughter of Davy Ramsay, the clockmaker, +no proper subject for fine speeches, romantic adventures, or high- +flown Arcadian compliments. I give you god-den, my lord. I think not +altogether so harshly as my speech may have spoken. If I can help-- +that is, if I saw my way clearly through this labyrinth--but it avails +not talking now. I give your lordship god-den.--Here, warder! Permit +us to pass to the Lady Hansel's apartment." The warder said he must +have orders from the Lieutenant; and as he retired to procure them, +the parties remained standing near each other, but without speaking, +and scarce looking at each other save by stealth, a situation which, +in two of the party at least, was sufficiently embarrassing. The +difference of rank, though in that age a consideration so serious, +could not prevent Lord Glenvarloch from seeing that Margaret Ramsay +was one of the prettiest young women he had ever beheld--from +suspecting, he could scarce tell why, that he himself was not +indifferent to her--from feeling assured that he had been the cause of +much of her present distress--admiration, self-love, and generosity, +acting in favour of the same object; and when the yeoman returned with +permission to his guests to withdraw, Nigel's obeisance to the +beautiful daughter of the mechanic was marked with an expression, +which called up in her cheeks as much colour as any incident of the +eventful day had hitherto excited. She returned the courtesy timidly +and irresolutely--clung to her godfather's arm, and left the +apartment, which, dark as it was, had never yet appeared so obscure to +Nigel, as when the door closed behind her. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + + Yet though thou shouldst be dragg'd in scorn + To yonder ignominious tree, + Thou shall not want one faithful friend + To share the cruel fates' decree. + _Ballad of Jemmy Dawson._ + +Master George Heriot and his ward, as she might justly be termed, for +his affection to Margaret imposed on him all the cares of a guardian, +were ushered by the yeoman of the guard to the lodging of the +Lieutenant, where they found him seated with his lady. They were +received by both with that decorous civility which Master Heriot's +character and supposed influence demanded, even at the hand of a +punctilious old soldier and courtier like Sir Edward Mansel. Lady +Mansel received Margaret with like courtesy, and informed Master +George that she was now only her guest, and no longer her prisoner. + +"She is at liberty," she said, "to return to her friends under your +charge--such is his Majesty's pleasure." + +"I am glad of it, madam," answered Heriot, "but only I could have +wished her freedom had taken place before her foolish interview with +that singular young man; and I marvel your ladyship permitted it." + +"My good Master Heriot," said Sir Edward, "we act according to the +commands of one better and wiser than ourselves--our orders from his +Majesty must be strictly and literally obeyed; and I need not say that +the wisdom of his Majesty doth more than ensure--" + +"I know his Majesty's wisdom well," said Heriot; "yet there is an old +proverb about fire and flax--well, let it pass." + +"I see Sir Mungo Malagrowther stalking towards the door of the +lodging," said the Lady Mansel, "with the gait of a lame crane--it is +his second visit this morning." + +"He brought the warrant for discharging Lord Glenvarloch of the charge +of treason," said Sir Edward. + +"And from him," said Heriot, "I heard much of what had befallen; for I +came from France only late last evening, and somewhat unexpectedly." + +As they spoke, Sir Mungo entered the apartment--saluted the Lieutenant +of the Tower and his lady with ceremonious civility--honoured George +Heriot with a patronising nod of acknowledgment, and accosted Margaret +with--"Hey! my young charge, you have not doffed your masculine attire +yet?" + +"She does not mean to lay it aside, Sir Mungo," said Heriot, speaking +loud, "until she has had satisfaction from you, for betraying her +disguise to me, like a false knight--and in very deed, Sir Mungo, I +think when you told me she was rambling about in so strange a dress, +you might have said also that she was under Lady Mansel's protection." + +"That was the king's secret, Master Heriot," said Sir Mungo, throwing +himself into a chair with an air of atrabilarious importance; "the +other was a well-meaning hint to yourself, as the girl's friend." + +"Yes," replied Heriot, "it was done like yourself--enough told to make +me unhappy about her--not a word which could relieve my uneasiness." + +"Sir Mungo will not hear that remark," said the lady; "we must change +the subject.--Is there any news from Court, Sir Mungo? you have been +to Greenwich?" + +"You might as well ask me, madam," answered the Knight, "whether there +is any news from hell." + +"How, Sir Mungo, how!" said Sir Edward, "measure your words something +better--You speak of the Court of King James." + +"Sir Edward, if I spoke of the court of the twelve Kaisers, I would +say it is as confused for the present as the infernal regions. +Courtiers of forty years' standing, and such I may write myself, are +as far to seek in the matter as a minnow in the Maelstrom. Some folk +say the king has frowned on the Prince--some that the Prince has +looked grave on the duke--some that Lord Glenvarloch will be hanged +for high treason--and some that there is matter against Lord Dalgarno +that may cost him as much as his head's worth." + +"And what do you, that are a courtier of forty years' standing, think +of it all?" said Sir Edward Mansel. + +"Nay, nay, do not ask him, Sir Edward," said the lady, with an +expressive look to her husband. + +"Sir Mungo is too witty," added Master Heriot, "to remember that he +who says aught that may be repeated to his own prejudice, does but +load a piece for any of the company to shoot him dead with, at their +pleasure and convenience." + +"What!" said the bold Knight, "you think I am afraid of the trepan? +Why now, what if I should say that Dalgarno has more wit than +honesty,--the duke more sail than ballast,--the Prince more pride than +prudence,--and that the king--" The Lady Mansel held up her finger in +a warning manner--"that the king is my very good master, who has given +me, for forty years and more, dog's wages, videlicit, bones and +beating.--Why now, all this is said, and Archie Armstrong [Footnote: +The celebrated Court jester.] says worse than this of the best of them +every day." + +"The more fool he," said George Heriot; "yet he is not so utterly +wrong, for folly is his best wisdom. But do not you, Sir Mungo, set +your wit against a fool's, though he be a court fool." + +"A fool, said you?" replied Sir Mungo, not having fully heard what +Master Heriot said, or not choosing to have it thought so,--"I have +been a fool indeed, to hang on at a close-fisted Court here, when men +of understanding and men of action have been making fortunes in every +other place of Europe. But here a man comes indifferently off unless +he gets a great key to turn," (looking at Sir Edward,) "or can beat +tattoo with a hammer on a pewter plate.--Well, sirs, I must make as +much haste back on mine errand as if I were a fee'd messenger.--Sir +Edward and my lady, I leave my commendations with you--and my good- +will with you, Master Heriot--and for this breaker of bounds, if you +will act by my counsel, some maceration by fasting, and a gentle use +of the rod, is the best cure for her giddy fits." + +"If you propose for Greenwich, Sir Mungo," said the Lieutenant, "I can +spare you the labour--the king comes immediately to Whitehall." + +"And that must be the reason the council are summoned to meet in such +hurry," said Sir Mungo. "Well--I will, with your permission, go to the +poor lad Glenvarloch, and bestow some comfort on him." + +The Lieutenant seemed to look up, and pause for a moment as if in +doubt. + +"The lad will want a pleasant companion, who can tell him the nature +of the punishment which he is to suffer, and other matters of +concernment. I will not leave him until I show him how absolutely he +hath ruined himself from feather to spur, how deplorable is his +present state, and how small his chance of mending it." + +"Well, Sir Mungo," replied the Lieutenant, "if you really think all +this likely to be very consolatory to the party concerned, I will send +a warder to conduct you." + +"And I," said George Heriot, "will humbly pray of Lady Mansel, that +she will lend some of her handmaiden's apparel to this giddy-brained +girl; for I shall forfeit my reputation if I walk up Tower Hill with +her in that mad guise--and yet the silly lassie looks not so ill in it +neither." + +"I will send my coach with you instantly," said the obliging lady. + +"Faith, madam, and if you will honour us by such courtesy, I will +gladly accept it at your hands," said the citizen, "for business +presses hard on me, and the forenoon is already lost, to little +purpose." + +The coach being ordered accordingly, transported the worthy citizen +and his charge to his mansion in Lombard Street. There he found his +presence was anxiously expected by the Lady Hermione, who had just +received an order to be in readiness to attend upon the Royal Privy +Council in the course of an hour; and upon whom, in her inexperience +of business, and long retirement from society and the world, the +intimation had made as deep an impression as if it had not been the +necessary consequence of the petition which she had presented to the +king by Monna Paula. George Heriot gently blamed her for taking any +steps in an affair so important until his return from France, +especially as he had requested her to remain quiet, in a letter which +accompanied the evidence he had transmitted to her from Paris. She +could only plead in answer the influence which her immediately +stirring in the matter was likely to have on the affair of her kinsman +Lord Glenvarloch, for she was ashamed to acknowledge how much she had +been gained on by the eager importunity of her youthful companion. The +motive of Margaret's eagerness was, of course, the safety of Nigel; +but we must leave it to time to show in what particulars that came to +be connected with the petition of the Lady Hermione. Meanwhile, we +return to the visit with which Sir Mungo Malagrowther favoured the +afflicted young nobleman in his place of captivity. + +The Knight, after the usual salutations, and having prefaced his +discourse with a great deal of professed regret for Nigel's situation, +sat down beside him, and composing his grotesque features into the +most lugubrious despondence, began his raven song as follows:-- + +"I bless God, my lord, that I was the person who had the pleasure to +bring his Majesty's mild message to the Lieutenant, discharging the +higher prosecution against ye, for any thing meditated against his +Majesty's sacred person; for, admit you be prosecuted on the lesser +offence, or breach of privilege of the Palace and its precincts, +_usque ad mutilationem_, even to dismemberation, as it is most likely +you will, yet the loss of a member is nothing to being hanged and +drawn quick, after the fashion of a traitor." + +"I should feel the shame of having deserved such a punishment," +answered Nigel, "more than the pain of undergoing it." + +"Doubtless, my lord, the having, as you say, deserved it, must be an +excruciation to your own mind," replied his tormentor; "a kind of +mental and metaphysical hanging, drawing, and quartering, which may be +in some measure equipollent with the external application of hemp, +iron, fire, and the like, to the outer man." + +"I say, Sir Mungo," repeated Nigel, "and beg you to understand my +words, that I am unconscious of any error, save that of having arms on +my person when I chanced to approach that of my Sovereign." + +"Ye are right, my lord, to acknowledge nothing," said Sir Mungo. "We +have an old proverb,--Confess, and--so forth. And indeed, as to the +weapons, his Majesty has a special ill-will at all arms whatsoever, +and more especially pistols; but, as I said, there is an end of that +matter. [Footnote: Wilson informs us that when Colonel Grey, a +Scotsman who affected the buff dress even in the time of peace, +appeared in that military garb at Court, the king, seeing him with a +case of pistols at his girdle, which he never greatly liked, told him, +merrily, "he was now so fortified, that, if he were but well +victualled, he would be impregnable."--WILSON'S _Life and Reign of +James VI._, _apud_ KENNET'S _History of England_, vol. ii. p. 389. In +1612, the tenth year of James's reign, there was a rumour abroad that +a shipload of pocket-pistols had been exported from Spain, with a view +to a general massacre of the Protestants. Proclamations were of +consequence sent forth, prohibiting all persons from carrying pistols +under a foot long in the barrel. _Ibid_. p. 690.] I wish you as well +through the next, which is altogether unlikely." + +"Surely, Sir Mungo," answered Nigel, "you yourself might say something +in my favour concerning the affair in the Park. None knows better than +you that I was at that moment urged by wrongs of the most heinous +nature, offered to me by Lord Dalgarno, many of which were reported to +me by yourself, much to the inflammation of my passion." + +"Alack-a-day!-Alack-a-day!" replied Sir Mungo, "I remember but too +well how much your choler was inflamed, in spite of the various +remonstrances which I made to you respecting the sacred nature of the +place. Alas! alas! you cannot say you leaped into the mire for want of +warning." + +"I see, Sir Mungo, you are determined to remember nothing which can do +me service," said Nigel. + +"Blithely would I do ye service," said the Knight; "and the best whilk +I can think of is, to tell you the process of the punishment to the +whilk you will be indubitably subjected, I having had the good fortune +to behold it performed in the Queen's time, on a chield that had +written a pasquinado. I was then in my Lord Gray's train, who lay +leaguer here, and being always covetous of pleasing and profitable +sights, I could not dispense with being present on the occasion." + +"I should be surprised, indeed," said Lord Glenvarloch, "if you had so +far put restraint upon your benevolence, as to stay away from such an +exhibition." + +"Hey! was your lordship praying me to be present at your own +execution?" answered the Knight. "Troth, my lord, it will be a painful +sight to a friend, but I will rather punish myself than baulk you. It +is a pretty pageant, in the main--a very pretty pageant. The fallow +came on with such a bold face, it was a pleasure to look on him. He +was dressed all in white, to signify harmlessness and innocence. The +thing was done on a scaffold at Westminster--most likely yours will be +at the Charing. There were the Sheriffs and the Marshal's men, and +what not--the executioner, with his cleaver and mallet, and his man, +with a pan of hot charcoal, and the irons for cautery. He was a +dexterous fallow that Derrick. This man Gregory is not fit to jipper a +joint with him; it might be worth your lordship's while to have the +loon sent to a barber-surgeon's, to learn some needful scantling of +anatomy--it may be for the benefit of yourself and other unhappy +sufferers, and also a kindness to Gregory." + +"I will not take the trouble," said Nigel.--"If the laws will demand +my hand, the executioner may get it off as he best can. If the king +leaves it where it is, it may chance to do him better service." + +"Vera noble--vera grand, indeed, my lord," said Sir Mungo; "it is +pleasant to see a brave man suffer. This fallow whom I spoke of--This +Tubbs, or Stubbs, or whatever the plebeian was called, came forward as +bold as an emperor, and said to the people, 'Good friends, I come to +leave here the hand of a true Englishman,' and clapped it on the +dressing-block with as much ease as if he had laid it on his +sweetheart's shoulder; whereupon Derrick the hangman, adjusting, d'ye +mind me, the edge of his cleaver on the very joint, hit it with the +mallet with such force, that the hand flew off as far from the owner +as a gauntlet which the challenger casts down in the tilt-yard. Well, +sir, Stubbs, or Tubbs, lost no whit of countenance, until the fallow +clapped the hissing-hot iron on his raw stump. My lord, it fizzed like +a rasher of bacon, and the fallow set up an elritch screech, which +made some think his courage was abated; but not a whit, for he plucked +off his hat with his left hand, and waved it, crying, 'God save the +Queen, and confound all evil counsellors!' The people gave him three +cheers, which he deserved for his stout heart; and, truly, I hope to +see your lordship suffer with the same magnanimity." + +"I thank you, Sir Mungo," said Nigel, who had not been able to forbear +some natural feelings of an unpleasant nature during this lively +detail,--"I have no doubt the exhibition will be a very engaging one +to you and the other spectators, whatever it may prove to the party +principally concerned." + +"Vera engaging," answered Sir Mungo, "vera interesting--vera +interesting indeed, though not altogether so much so as an execution +for high treason. I saw Digby, the Winters, Fawkes, and the rest of +the gunpowder gang, suffer for that treason, whilk was a vera grand +spectacle, as well in regard to their sufferings, as to their +constancy in enduring." + +"I am the more obliged to your goodness, Sir Mungo," replied Nigel, +"that has induced you, although you have lost the sight, to +congratulate me on my escape from the hazard of making the same +edifying appearance." + +"As you say, my lord," answered Sir Mungo, "the loss is chiefly in +appearance. Nature has been very bountiful to us, and has given +duplicates of some organs, that we may endure the loss of one of them, +should some such circumstance chance in our pilgrimage. See my poor +dexter, abridged to one thumb, one finger, and a stump,--by the blow +of my adversary's weapon, however, and not by any carnificial knife. +Weel, sir, this poor maimed hand doth me, in some sort, as much +service as ever; and, admit yours to be taken off by the wrist, you +have still your left hand for your service, and are better off than +the little Dutch dwarf here about town, who threads a needle, limns, +writes, and tosses a pike, merely by means of his feet, without ever a +hand to help him." + +"Well, Sir Mungo," said Lord Glenvarloch, "this is all no doubt very +consolatory; but I hope the king will spare my hand to fight for him +in battle, where, notwithstanding all your kind encouragement, I could +spend my blood much more cheerfully than on a scaffold." + +"It is even a sad truth," replied Sir Mungo, "that your lordship was +but too like to have died on a scaffold--not a soul to speak for you +but that deluded lassie Maggie Ramsay." + +"Whom mean you?" said Nigel, with more interest than he had hitherto +shown in the Knight's communications. + +"Nay, who should I mean, but that travestied lassie whom we dined with +when we honoured Heriot the goldsmith? Ye ken best how you have made +interest with her, but I saw her on her knees to the king for you. She +was committed to my charge, to bring her up hither in honour and +safety. Had I had my own will, I would have had her to Bridewell, to +flog the wild blood out of her--a cutty quean, to think of wearing the +breeches, and not so much as married yet!" + +"Hark ye, Sir Mungo Malagrowther," answered Nigel, "I would have you +talk of that young person with fitting respect." + +"With all the respect that befits your lordship's paramour, and Davy +Ramsay's daughter, I shall certainly speak of her, my lord," said Sir +Mungo, assuming a dry tone of irony. + +Nigel was greatly disposed to have made a serious quarrel of it, but +with Sir Mungo such an affair would have been ridiculous; he smothered +his resentment, therefore, and conjured him to tell what he had heard +and seen respecting this young person. + +"Simply, that I was in the ante-room when she had audience, and heard +the king say, to my great perplexity, '_Pulchra sane puella;_' and +Maxwell, who hath but indifferent Latin ears, thought that his Majesty +called on him by his own name of Sawney, and thrust into the presence, +and there I saw our Sovereign James, with his own hand, raising up the +lassie, who, as I said heretofore, was travestied in man's attire. I +should have had my own thoughts of it, but our gracious Master is +auld, and was nae great gillravager amang the queans even in his +youth; and he was comforting her in his own way and saying,--'Ye +needna greet about it, my bonnie woman, Glenvarlochides shall have +fair play; and, indeed, when the hurry was off our spirits, we could +not believe that he had any design on our person. And touching his +other offences, we will look wisely and closely into the matter.' So I +got charge to take the young fence-louper to the Tower here, and +deliver her to the charge of Lady Mansel; and his Majesty charged me +to say not a word to her about your offences, for, said he, the poor +thing is breaking her heart for him." + +"And on this you have charitably founded the opinion to the prejudice +of this young lady, which you have now thought proper to express?" +said Lord Glenvarloch. + +"In honest truth, my lord," replied Sir Mungo, "what opinion would you +have me form of a wench who gets into male habiliments, and goes on +her knees to the king for a wild young nobleman? I wot not what the +fashionable word may be, for the phrase changes, though the custom +abides. But truly I must needs think this young leddy--if you call +Watchie Ramsay's daughter a young leddy--demeans herself more like a +leddy of pleasure than a leddy of honour." + +"You do her egregious wrong, Sir Mungo," said Nigel; "or rather you +have been misled by appearances." + +"So will all the world be misled, my lord," replied the satirist, +"unless you were doing that to disabuse them which your father's son +will hardly judge it fit to do." + +"And what may that be, I pray you?" + +"E'en marry the lass--make her Leddy Glenvarloch.--Ay, ay, ye may +start--but it's the course you are driving on. Rather marry than do +worse, if the worst be not done already." + +"Sir Mungo," said Nigel, "I pray you to forbear this subject, and +rather return to that of the mutilation, upon which it pleased you to +enlarge a short while since." + +"I have not time at present," said Sir Mungo, hearing the clock strike +four; "but so soon as you shall have received sentence, my lord, you +may rely on my giving you the fullest detail of the whole solemnity; +and I give you my word, as a knight and a gentleman, that I will +myself attend you on the scaffold, whoever may cast sour looks on me +for doing so. I bear a heart, to stand by a friend in the worst of +times." + +So saying, he wished Lord Glenvarloch farewell; who felt as heartily +rejoiced at his departure, though it may be a bold word, as any person +who had ever undergone his society. + +But, when left to his own reflections, Nigel could not help feeling +solitude nearly as irksome as the company of Sir Mungo Malagrowther. +The total wreck of his fortune,--which seemed now to be rendered +unavoidable by the loss of the royal warrant, that had afforded him +the means of redeeming his paternal estate,--was an unexpected and +additional blow. When he had seen the warrant he could not precisely +remember; but was inclined to think, it was in the casket when he took +out money to pay the miser for his lodgings at Whitefriars. Since +then, the casket had been almost constantly under his own eye, except +during the short time he was separated from his baggage by the arrest +in Greenwich Park. It might, indeed, have been taken out at that time, +for he had no reason to think either his person or his property was in +the hands of those who wished him well; but, on the other hand, the +locks of the strong-box had sustained no violence that he could +observe, and, being of a particular and complicated construction, he +thought they could scarce be opened without an instrument made on +purpose, adapted to their peculiarities, and for this there had been +no time. But, speculate as he would on the matter, it was clear that +this important document was gone, and probable that it had passed into +no friendly hands. "Let it be so," said Nigel to himself; "I am +scarcely worse off respecting my prospects of fortune, than when I +first reached this accursed city. But to be hampered with cruel +accusations, and stained with foul suspicions-to be the object of pity +of the most degrading kind to yonder honest citizen, and of the +malignity of that envious and atrabilarious courtier, who can endure +the good fortune and good qualities of another no more than the mole +can brook sunshine--this is indeed a deplorable reflection; and the +consequences must stick to my future life, and impede whatever my +head, or my hand, if it is left me, might be able to execute in my +favour." + +The feeling, that he is the object of general dislike and dereliction, +seems to be one of the most unendurably painful to which a human being +can be subjected. The most atrocious criminals, whose nerves have not +shrunk from perpetrating the most horrid cruelty, endure more from the +consciousness that no man will sympathise with their sufferings, than +from apprehension of the personal agony of their impending punishment; +and are known often to attempt to palliate their enormities, and +sometimes altogether to deny what is established by the clearest +proof, rather than to leave life under the general ban of humanity. It +was no wonder that Nigel, labouring under the sense of general, though +unjust suspicion, should, while pondering on so painful a theme, +recollect that one, at least, had not only believed him innocent, but +hazarded herself, with all her feeble power, to interpose in his +behalf. + +"Poor girl!" he repeated; "poor, rash, but generous maiden! your fate +is that of her in Scottish story, who thrust her arm into the staple +of the door, to oppose it as a bar against the assassins who +threatened the murder of her sovereign. The deed of devotion was +useless; save to give an immortal name to her by whom it was done, and +whose blood flows, it is said, in the veins of my house." + +I cannot explain to the reader, whether the recollection of this +historical deed of devotion, and the lively effect which the +comparison, a little overstrained perhaps, was likely to produce in +favour of Margaret Ramsay, was not qualified by the concomitant ideas +of ancestry and ancient descent with which that recollection was +mingled. But the contending feelings suggested a new train of ideas.-- +"Ancestry," he thought, "and ancient descent, what are they to me?--My +patrimony alienated--my title become a reproach--for what can be so +absurd as titled beggary?--my character subjected to suspicion,--I +will not remain in this country; and should I, at leaving it, procure +the society of one so lovely, so brave, and so faithful, who should +say that I derogated from the rank which I am virtually renouncing?" + +There was something romantic and pleasing, as he pursued this picture +of an attached and faithful pair, becoming all the world to each +other, and stemming the tide of fate arm in arm; and to be linked thus +with a creature so beautiful, and who had taken such devoted and +disinterested concern in his fortunes, formed itself into such a +vision as romantic youth loves best to dwell upon. + +Suddenly his dream was painfully dispelled, by the recollection, that +its very basis rested upon the most selfish ingratitude on his own +part. Lord of his castle and his towers, his forests and fields, his +fair patrimony and noble name, his mind would have rejected, as a sort +of impossibility, the idea of elevating to his rank the daughter of a +mechanic; but, when degraded from his nobility, and plunged into +poverty and difficulties, he was ashamed to feel himself not +unwilling, that this poor girl, in the blindness of her affection, +should abandon all the better prospects of her own settled condition, +to embrace the precarious and doubtful course which he himself was +condemned to. The generosity of Nigel's mind recoiled from the +selfishness of the plan of happiness which he projected; and he made a +strong effort to expel from his thoughts for the rest of the evening +this fascinating female, or, at least, not to permit them to dwell +upon the perilous circumstance, that she was at present the only +creature living who seemed to consider him as an object of kindness. + +He could not, however, succeed in banishing her from his slumbers, +when, after having spent a weary day, he betook himself to a perturbed +couch. The form of Margaret mingled with the wild mass of dreams which +his late adventures had suggested; and even when, copying the lively +narrative of Sir Mungo, fancy presented to him the blood bubbling and +hissing on the heated iron, Margaret stood behind him like a spirit of +light, to breathe healing on the wound. At length nature was exhausted +by these fantastic creations, and Nigel slept, and slept soundly, +until awakened in the morning by the sound of a well-known voice, +which had often broken his slumbers about the same hour. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + + Many, come up, sir, with your gentle blood! + Here's a red stream beneath this coarse blue doublet, + That warms the heart as kindly as if drawn + From the far source of old Assyrian kings. + Who first made mankind subject to their sway. + _Old Play_. + +The sounds to which we alluded in our last, were no other than the +grumbling tones of Richie Moniplies's voice. + +This worthy, like some other persons who rank high in their own +opinion, was very apt, when he could have no other auditor, to hold +conversation with one who was sure to be a willing listener--I mean +with himself. He was now brushing and arranging Lord Glenvarloch's +clothes, with as much composure and quiet assiduity as if he had never +been out of his service, and grumbling betwixt whiles to the following +purpose:--"Hump--ay, time cloak and jerkin were through my hands--I +question if horsehair has been passed over them since they and I last +parted. The embroidery finely frayed too--and the gold buttons of the +cloak--By my conscience, and as I am an honest man, there is a round +dozen of them gane! This comes of Alsatian frolics--God keep us with +his grace, and not give us over to our own devices!--I see no sword-- +but that will be in respect of present circumstances." + +Nigel for some time could not help believing that he was still in a +dream, so improbable did it seem that his domestic, whom he supposed +to be in Scotland, should have found him out, and obtained access to +him, in his present circumstances. Looking through the curtains, +however, he became well assured of the fact, when he beheld the stiff +and bony length of Richie, with a visage charged with nearly double +its ordinary degree of importance, employed sedulously in brushing his +master's cloak, and refreshing himself with whistling or humming, from +interval to interval, some snatch of an old melancholy Scottish +ballad-tune. Although sufficiently convinced of the identity of the +party, Lord Glenvarloch could not help expressing his surprise in the +superfluous question--"In the name of Heaven, Richie, is this you?" + +"And wha else suld it be, my lord?" answered Richie; "I dreamna that +your lordship's levee in this place is like to be attended by ony that +are not bounded thereto by duty." + +"I am rather surprised," answered Nigel, "that it should be attended +by any one at all--especially by you, Richie; for you know that we +parted, and I thought you had reached Scotland long since." + +"I crave your lordship's pardon, but we have not parted yet, nor are +soon likely so to do; for there gang twa folk's votes to the unmaking +of a bargain, as to the making of ane. Though it was your lordship's +pleasure so to conduct yourself that we were like to have parted, yet +it was not, on reflection, my will to be gone. To be plain, if your +lordship does not ken when you have a good servant, I ken when I have +a kind master; and to say truth, you will be easier served now than +ever, for there is not much chance of your getting out of bounds." + +"I am indeed bound over to good behaviour," said Lord Glenvarloch, +with a smile; "but I hope you will not take advantage of my situation +to be too severe on my follies, Richie?" + +"God forbid, my lord--God forbid!" replied Richie, with an expression +betwixt a conceited consciousness of superior wisdom and real feeling- +-"especially in consideration of your lordship's having a due sense of +them. I did indeed remonstrate, as was my humble duty, but I scorn to +cast that up to your lordship now--Na, na, I am myself an erring +creature--very conscious of some small weaknesses--there is no +perfection in man." + +"But, Richie," said Lord Glenvarloch, "although I am much obliged to +you for your proffered service, it can be of little use to me here, +and may be of prejudice to yourself." + +"Your lordship shall pardon me again," said Richie, whom the relative +situation of the parties had invested with ten times his ordinary +dogmatism; "but as I will manage the matter, your lordship shall be +greatly benefited by my service, and I myself no whit prejudiced." + +"I see not how that can be, my friend," said Lord Glenvarloch, "since +even as to your pecuniary affairs--" + +"Touching my pecuniars, my lord," replied Richie, "I am indifferently +weel provided; and, as it chances, my living here will be no burden to +your lordship, or distress to myself. Only I crave permission to annex +certain conditions to my servitude with your lordship." + +"Annex what you will," said Lord Glenvarloch, "for you are pretty sure +to take your own way, whether you make any conditions or not. Since +you will not leave me, which were, I think, your wisest course, you +must, and I suppose will, serve me only on such terms as you like +yourself." + +"All that I ask, my lord," said Richie, gravely, and with a tone of +great moderation, "is to have the uninterrupted command of my own +motions, for certain important purposes which I have now in hand, +always giving your lordship the solace of my company and attendance, +at such times as may be at once convenient for me, and necessary for +your service." + +"Of which, I suppose, you constitute yourself sole judge," replied +Nigel, smiling. + +"Unquestionably, my lord," answered Richie, gravely; "for your +lordship can only know what yourself want; whereas I, who see both +sides of the picture, ken both what is the best for your affairs, and +what is the most needful for my own." + +"Richie, my good friend," said Nigel, "I fear this arrangement, which +places the master much under the disposal of the servant, would scarce +suit us if we were both at large; but a prisoner as I am, I may be as +well at your disposal as I am at that of so many other persons; and so +you may come and go as you list, for I suppose you will not take my +advice, to return to your own country, and leave me to my fate." + +"The deil be in my feet if I do," said Moniplies,--"I am not the lad +to leave your lordship in foul weather, when I followed you and fed +upon you through the whole summer day, And besides, there may be brave +days behind, for a' that has come and gane yet; for + +"It's hame, and it's hame, and it's hame we fain would be, Though the +cloud is in the lift, and the wind is on the lea; For the sun through +the mirk blinks blithe on mine ee, Says,--'I'll shine on ye yet in our +ain country!" + +Having sung this stanza in the manner of a ballad-singer, whose voice +has been cracked by matching his windpipe against the bugle of the +north blast, Richie Moniplies aided Lord Glenvarloch to rise, attended +his toilet with every possible mark of the most solemn and deferential +respect, then waited upon him at breakfast, and finally withdrew, +pleading that he had business of importance, which would detain him +for some hours. + +Although Lord Glenvarloch necessarily expected to be occasionally +annoyed by the self-conceit and dogmatism of Richie Moniplies's +character, yet he could not but feel the greatest pleasure from the +firm and devoted attachment which this faithful follower had displayed +in the present instance, and indeed promised himself an alleviation of +the ennui of his imprisonment, in having the advantage of his +services. It was, therefore, with pleasure that he learned from the +warder, that his servant's attendance would be allowed at all times +when the general rules of the fortress permitted the entrance of +strangers. + +In the meanwhile, the magnanimous Richie Moniplies had already reached +Tower Wharf. Here, after looking with contempt on several scullers by +whom he was plied, and whose services he rejected with a wave of his +hand, he called with dignity, "First oars!" and stirred into activity +several lounging Tritons of the higher order, who had not, on his +first appearance, thought it worth while to accost him with proffers +of service. He now took possession of a wherry, folded his arms within +his ample cloak, and sitting down in the stern with an air of +importance, commanded them to row to Whitehall Stairs. Having reached +the Palace in safety, he demanded to see Master Linklater, the under- +clerk of his Majesty's kitchen. The reply was, that he was not to be +spoken withal, being then employed in cooking a mess of cock-a-leekie +for the king's own mouth. + +"Tell him," said Moniplies, "that it is a dear countryman of his, who +seeks to converse with him on matter of high import." + +"A dear countryman?" said Linklater, when this pressing message was +delivered to him. "Well, let him come in and be d--d, that I should +say sae! This now is some red-headed, long-legged, gillie-white-foot +frae the West Port, that, hearing of my promotion, is come up to be a +turn-broche, or deputy scullion, through my interest. It is a great +hinderance to any man who would rise in the world, to have such +friends to hang by his skirts, in hope of being towed up along with +him.--Ha! Richie Moniplies, man, is it thou? And what has brought ye +here? If they should ken thee for the loon that scared the horse the +other day!--" + +"No more o' that, neighbour," said Richie,--"I am just here on the +auld errand--I maun speak with the king." + +"The king? Ye are red wud," said Linklater; then shouted to his +assistant in the kitchen, "Look to the broches, ye knaves--_pisces +purga_--_Salsamenta fac macerentur pulchre_--I will make you +understand Latin, ye knaves, as becomes the scullions of King James." +Then in a cautious tone, to Richie's private ear, he continued, "Know +ye not how ill your master came off the other day?--I can tell you +that job made some folk shake for their office." + +"Weel, but, Laurie, ye maun befriend me this time, and get this wee +bit sifflication slipped into his Majesty's ain most gracious hand. I +promise you the contents will be most grateful to him." + +"Richie," answered Linklater, "you have certainly sworn to say your +prayers in the porter's lodge, with your back bare; and twa grooms, +with dog-whips, to cry amen to you." + +"Na, na, Laurie, lad," said Richie, "I ken better what belangs to +sifflications than I did yon day; and ye will say that yoursell, if ye +will but get that bit note to the king's hand." + +"I will have neither hand nor foot in the matter," said the cautious +Clerk of the Kitchen; "but there is his Majesty's mess of cock-a- +leekie just going to be served to him in his closet--I cannot prevent +you from putting the letter between the gilt bowl and the platter; his +sacred Majesty will see it when he lifts the bowl, for he aye drinks +out the broth." + +"Enough said," replied Richie, and deposited the paper accordingly, +just before a page entered to carry away the mess to his Majesty. + +"Aweel, aweel, neighbour," said Laurence, when the mess was taken +away, "if ye have done ony thing to bring yoursell to the withy, or +the scourging post, it is your ain wilful deed." + +"I will blame no other for it," said Richie; and with that undismayed +pertinacity of conceit, which made a fundamental part of his +character, he abode the issue, which was not long of arriving. + +In a few minutes Maxwell himself arrived in the apartment, and +demanded hastily who had placed a writing on the king's trencher, +Linklater denied all knowledge of it; but Richie Moniplies, stepping +boldly forth, pronounced the emphatical confession, "I am the man." + +"Follow me, then," said Maxwell, after regarding him with a look of +great curiosity. + +They went up a private staircase,--even that private staircase, the +privilege of which at Court is accounted a nearer road to power than +the _grandes entrees_ themselves. Arriving in what Richie described as +an "ill redd-up" ante-room, the usher made a sign to him to stop, +while he went into the king's closet. Their conference was short, and +as Maxwell opened the door to retire, Richie heard the conclusion of +it. + +"Ye are sure he is not dangerous?--I was caught once.--Bide within +call, but not nearer the door than within three geometrical cubits. If +I speak loud, start to me like a falcon--If I speak loun, keep your +lang lugs out of ear-shot--and now let him come in." + +Richie passed forward at Maxwell's mute signal, and in a moment found +himself in the presence of the king. Most men of Richie's birth and +breeding, and many others, would have been abashed at finding +themselves alone with their Sovereign. But Richie Moniplies had an +opinion of himself too high to be controlled by any such ideas; and +having made his stiff reverence, he arose once more into his +perpendicular height, and stood before James as stiff as a hedge- +stake. + +"Have ye gotten them, man? have ye gotten them?" said the king, in a +fluttered state, betwixt hope and eagerness, and some touch of +suspicious fear. "Gie me them--gie me them--before ye speak a word, I +charge you, on your allegiance." + +Richie took a box from his bosom, and, stooping on one knee, presented +it to his Majesty, who hastily opened it, and having ascertained that +it contained a certain carcanet of rubies, with which the reader was +formerly made acquainted, he could not resist falling into a sort of +rapture, kissing the gems, as if they had been capable of feeling, and +repeating again and again with childish delight, "_Onyx cum prole, +silexque_---_Onyx cum prole!_ Ah, my bright and bonny sparklers, my +heart loups light to see you again." He then turned to Richie, upon +whose stoical countenance his Majesty's demeanour had excited +something like a grim smile, which James interrupted his rejoicing to +reprehend, saying, "Take heed, sir, you are not to laugh at us--we are +your anointed Sovereign." + +"God forbid that I should laugh!" said Richie, composing his +countenance into its natural rigidity. "I did but smile, to bring my +visage into coincidence and conformity with your Majesty's +physiognomy." + +"Ye speak as a dutiful subject, and an honest man," said the king; +"but what deil's your name, man?" + +"Even Richie Moniplies, the son of auld Mungo Moniplies, at the West +Port of Edinburgh, who had the honour to supply your Majesty's +mother's royal table, as weel as your Majesty's, with flesh and other +vivers, when time was." + +"Aha!" said the king, laughing,--for he possessed, as a useful +attribute of his situation, a tenacious memory, which recollected +every one with whom he was brought into casual contact,--"Ye are the +self-same traitor who had weelnigh coupit us endlang on the causey of +our ain courtyard? but we stuck by our mare. _Equam memento rebus in +arduis servare_. Weel, be not dismayed, Richie; for, as many men have +turned traitors, it is but fair that a traitor, now and then, suld +prove to be, contra expectanda, a true man. How cam ye by our jewels, +man?--cam ye on the part of George Heriot?" + +"In no sort," said Richie. "May it please your Majesty, I come as +Harry Wynd fought, utterly for my own hand, and on no man's errand; +as, indeed, I call no one master, save Him that made me, your most +gracious Majesty who governs me, and the noble Nigel Olifaunt, Lord of +Glenvarloch, who maintained me as lang as he could maintain himself, +poor nobleman!" + +"Glenvarlochides again!" exclaimed the king; "by my honour, he lies in +ambush for us at every corner!--Maxwell knocks at the door. It is +George Heriot come to tell us he cannot find these jewels.--Get thee +behind the arras, Richie--stand close, man--sneeze not--cough not-- +breathe not!--Jingling Geordie is so damnably ready with his gold-ends +of wisdom, and sae accursedly backward with his gold-ends of siller, +that, by our royal saul, we are glad to get a hair in his neck." + +Richie got behind the arras, in obedience to the commands of the good- +natured king, while the Monarch, who never allowed his dignity to +stand in the way of a frolic, having adjusted, with his own hand, the +tapestry, so as to complete the ambush, commanded Maxwell to tell him +what was the matter without. Maxwell's reply was so low as to be lost +by Richie Moniplies, the peculiarity of whose situation by no means +abated his curiosity and desire to gratify it to the uttermost. + +"Let Geordie Heriot come in," said the king; and, as Richie could +observe through a slit in the tapestry, the honest citizen, if not +actually agitated, was at least discomposed. The king, whose talent +for wit, or humour, was precisely of a kind to be gratified by such a +scene as ensued, received his homage with coldness, and began to talk +to him with an air of serious dignity, very different from the usual +indecorous levity of his behaviour. "Master Heriot," he said, "if we +aright remember, we opignorated in your hands certain jewels of the +Crown, for a certain sum of money--Did we, or did we not?" + +"My most gracious Sovereign," said Heriot, "indisputably your Majesty +was pleased to do so." + +"The property of which jewels and _cimelia_ remained with us," +continued the king, in the same solemn tone, "subject only to your +claim of advance thereupon; which advance being repaid, gives us right +to repossession of the thing opignorated, or pledged, or laid in wad. +Voetius, Vinnius, Groenwigeneus, Pagenstecherus,--all who have treated +_de Contractu Opignerationis, consentiunt in eundem_,--gree on the +same point. The Roman law, the English common law, and the municipal +law of our ain ancient kingdom of Scotland, though they split in mair +particulars than I could desire, unite as strictly in this as the +three strands of a twisted rope." + +"May it please your Majesty," replied Heriot, "it requires not so many +learned authorities to prove to any honest man, that his interest in a +pledge is determined when the money lent is restored." + +"Weel, sir, I proffer restoration of the sum lent, and I demand to be +repossessed of the jewels pledged with you. I gave ye a hint, brief +while since, that this would be essential to my service, for, as +approaching events are like to call us into public, it would seem +strange if we did not appear with those ornaments, which are heirlooms +of the Crown, and the absence whereof is like to place us in contempt +and suspicion with our liege subjects." + +Master George Heriot seemed much moved by this address of his +Sovereign, and replied with emotion, "I call Heaven to witness, that I +am totally harmless in this matter, and that I would willingly lose +the sum advanced, so that I could restore those jewels, the absence of +which your Majesty so justly laments. Had the jewels remained with me, +the account of them would be easily rendered; but your Majesty will do +me the justice to remember, that, by your express order, I transferred +them to another person, who advanced a large sum, just about the time +of my departure for Paris. The money was pressingly wanted, and no +other means to come by it occurred to me. I told your Majesty, when I +brought the needful supply, that the man from whom the monies were +obtained, was of no good repute; and your most princely answer was, +smelling to the gold--_Non olet_, it smells not of the means that have +gotten it." + +"Weel, man," said the king, "but what needs a' this din? If ye gave my +jewels in pledge to such a one, suld ye not, as a liege subject, have +taken care that the redemption was in our power? And are we to suffer +the loss of our _cimelia_ by your neglect, besides being exposed to +the scorn and censure of our lieges, and of the foreign ambassadors?" + +"My lord and liege king," said Heriot, "God knows, if my bearing blame +or shame in this matter would keep it from your Majesty, it were my +duty to endure both, as a servant grateful for many benefits; but when +your Majesty considers the violent death of the man himself, the +disappearance of his daughter, and of his wealth, I trust you will +remember that I warned your Majesty, in humble duty, of the +possibility of such casualties, and prayed you not to urge me to deal +with him on your behalf." + +"But you brought me nae better means," said the king--"Geordie, ye +brought me nae better means. I was like a deserted man; what could I +do but grip to the first siller that offered, as a drowning man grasps +to the willow-wand that comes readiest?--And now, man, what for have +ye not brought back the jewels? they are surely above ground, if ye +wad make strict search." + +"All strict search has been made, may it please your Majesty," replied +the citizen; "hue and cry has been sent out everywhere, and it has +been found impossible to recover them." + +"Difficult, ye mean, Geordie, not impossible," replied the king; "for +that whilk is impossible, is either naturally so, _exempli gratia_, to +make two into three; or morally so, as to make what is truth +falsehood; but what is only difficult may come to pass, with +assistance of wisdom and patience; as, for example, Jingling Geordie, +look here!" And he displayed the recovered treasure to the eyes of the +astonished jeweller, exclaiming, with great triumph, "What say ye to +that, Jingler?--By my sceptre and crown, the man stares as if he took +his native prince for a warlock! us that are the very _malleus +maleficarum_, the contunding and contriturating hammer of all witches, +sorcerers, magicians, and the like; he thinks we are taking a touch of +the black art outsells!--But gang thy way, honest Geordie; thou art a +good plain man, but nane of the seven sages of Greece; gang thy way, +and mind the soothfast word which you spoke, small time syne, that +there is one in this land that comes near to Solomon, King of Israel, +in all his gifts, except in his love to strange women, forby the +daughter of Pharaoh." + +If Heriot was surprised at seeing the jewels so unexpectedly produced +at the moment the king was upbraiding him for the loss of them, this +allusion to the reflection which had escaped him while conversing with +Lord Glenvarloch, altogether completed his astonishment; and the king +was so delighted with the superiority which it gave him at the moment, +that he rubbed his hands, chuckled, and finally, his sense of dignity +giving way to the full feeling of triumph, he threw himself into his +easy-chair, and laughed with unconstrained violence till he lost his +breath, and the tears ran plentifully down his cheeks as he strove to +recover it. Meanwhile, the royal cachinnation was echoed out by a +discordant and portentous laugh from behind the arras, like that of +one who, little accustomed to give way to such emotions, feels himself +at some particular impulse unable either to control or to modify his +obstreperous mirth. Heriot turned his head with new surprise towards +the place, from which sounds so unfitting the presence of a monarch +seemed to burst with such emphatic clamour. + +The king, too, somewhat sensible of the indecorum, rose up, wiped his +eyes, and calling,--"Todlowrie, come out o' your den," he produced +from behind the arras the length of Richie Moniplies, still laughing +with as unrestrained mirth as ever did gossip at a country +christening. "Whisht, man, whisht, man," said the king; "ye needna +nicher that gait, like a cusser at a caup o' corn, e'en though it was +a pleasing jest, and our ain framing. And yet to see Jingling Geordie, +that bauds himself so much the wiser than other folk--to see him, ha! +ha! ha!--in the vein of Euclio apud Plautum, distressing himself to +recover what was lying at his elbow-- + +'Peril, interii, occidi--quo curram? quo non curram?--Tene, tene-- +quem? quis? nescio--nihil video." + +"Ah! Geordie, your een are sharp enough to look after gowd and silver, +gems, rubies, and the like of that, and yet ye kenna how to come by +them when they are lost.--Ay, ay--look at them, man--look at them-- +they are a' right and tight, sound and round, not a doublet crept in +amongst them." + +George Heriot, when his first surprise was over, was too old a +courtier to interrupt the king's imaginary triumph, although he darted +a look of some displeasure at honest Richie, who still continued on +what is usually termed the broad grin. He quietly examined the stones, +and finding them all perfect, he honestly and sincerely congratulated +his Majesty on the recovery of a treasure which could not have been +lost without some dishonour to the crown; and asked to whom he himself +was to pay the sums for which they had been pledged, observing, that +he had the money by him in readiness. + +"Ye are in a deevil of a hurry, when there is paying in the case, +Geordie," said the king.--"What's a' the haste, man? The jewels were +restored by an honest, kindly countryman of ours. There he stands, and +wha kens if he wants the money on the nail, or if he might not be as +weel pleased wi' a bit rescript on our treasury some six months hence? +Ye ken that our Exchequer is even at a low ebb just now, and ye cry +pay, pay, pay, as if we had all the mines of Ophir." + +"Please your Majesty," said Heriot, "if this man has the real right to +these monies, it is doubtless at his will to grant forbearance, if he +will. But when I remember the guise in which I first saw him, with a +tattered cloak and a broken head, I can hardly conceive it.--Are not +you Richie Moniplies, with the king's favour?" + +"Even sae, Master Heriot--of the ancient and honourable house of +Castle Collop, near to the West Port of Edinburgh," answered Richie. + +"Why, please your Majesty, he is a poor serving-man," said Heriot. +"This money can never be honestly at his disposal." + +"What for no?" said the king. "Wad ye have naebody spraickle up the +brae but yoursell, Geordie? Your ain cloak was thin enough when ye cam +here, though ye have lined it gay and weel. And for serving-men, there +has mony a red-shank cam over the Tweed wi' his master's wallet on his +shoulders, that now rustles it wi' his six followers behind him. There +stands the man himsell; speer at him, Geordie." + +"His may not be the best authority in the case," answered the cautious +citizen. + +"Tut, tut, man," said the king, "ye are over scrupulous. The knave +deer-stealers have an apt phrase, _Non est inquirendum unde venit_ +VENISON. He that brings the gudes hath surely a right to dispose of +the gear.--Hark ye, friend, speak the truth and shame the deil. Have +ye plenary powers to dispose on the redemption-money as to delay of +payments, or the like, ay or no?" + +"Full power, an it like your gracious Majesty," answered Richie +Moniplies; "and I am maist willing to subscrive to whatsoever may in +ony wise accommodate your Majesty anent the redemption-money, trusting +your Majesty's grace will be kind to me in one sma' favour." + +"Ey, man," said the king, "come ye to me there? I thought ye wad e'en +be like the rest of them.--One would think our subjects' lives and +goods were all our ain, and holden of us at our free will; but when we +stand in need of ony matter of siller from them, which chances more +frequently than we would it did, deil a boddle is to be had, save on +the auld terms of giff-gaff. It is just niffer for niffer.--Aweel, +neighbour, what is it that ye want--some monopoly, I reckon? Or it may +be a grant of kirk-lands and teinds, or a knighthood, or the like? Ye +maun be reasonable, unless ye propose to advance more money for our +present occasions." + +"My liege," answered Richie Moniplies, "the owner of these monies +places them at your Majesty's command, free of all pledge or usage as +long as it is your royal pleasure, providing your Majesty will +condescend to show some favour to the noble Lord Glenvarloch, +presently prisoner in your royal Tower of London." + +"How, man--how,--man--how, man!" exclaimed the king, reddening and +stammering, but with emotions more noble than those by which he was +sometimes agitated--"What is that you dare to say to us?--Sell our +justice!--sell our mercy!--and we a crowned king, sworn to do justice +to our subjects in the gate, and responsible for our stewardship to +Him that is over all kings?"--Here he reverently looked up, touched +his bonnet, and continued, with some sharpness,--"We dare not traffic +in such commodities, sir; and, but that ye are a poor ignorant +creature, that have done us this day some not unpleasant service, we +wad have a red iron driven through your tongue, _in terrorem_ of +others.--Awa with him, Geordie,--pay him, plack and bawbee, out of our +monies in your hands, and let them care that come ahint." + +Richie, who had counted with the utmost certainty upon the success of +this master-stroke of policy, was like an architect whose whole +scaffolding at once gives way under him. He caught, however, at what +he thought might break his fall. "Not only the sum for which the +jewels were pledged," he said, "but the double of it, if required, +should be placed at his Majesty's command, and even without hope or +condition of repayment, if only--" + +But the king did not allow him to complete the sentence, crying out +with greater vehemence than before, as if he dreaded the stability of +his own good resolutions,--"Awa wi' him--swith awa wi' him! It is time +he were gane, if he doubles his bode that gate. And, for your life, +letna Steenie, or ony of them, hear a word from his mouth; for wha +kens what trouble that might bring me into! _Ne inducas in +tentationem_--_Vade retro, Sathanas!--Amen_." + +In obedience to the royal mandate, George Heriot hurried the abashed +petitioner out of the presence and out of the Palace; and, when they +were in the Palace-yard, the citizen, remembering with some resentment +the airs of equality which Richie had assumed towards him in the +commencement of the scene which had just taken place, could not +forbear to retaliate, by congratulating him with an ironical smile on +his favour at Court, and his improved grace in presenting a +supplication. + +"Never fash your beard about that, Master George Heriot," said Richie, +totally undismayed; "but tell me when and where I am to sifflicate you +for eight hundred pounds sterling, for which these jewels stood +engaged?" + +"The instant that you bring with you the real owner of the money," +replied Heriot; "whom it is important that I should see on more +accounts than one." + +"Then will I back to his Majesty," said Richie Moniplies, stoutly, +"and get either the money or the pledge back again. I am fully +commissionate to act in that matter." + +"It may be so, Richie," said the citizen, "and perchance it may _not_ +be so neither, for your tales are not all gospel; and, therefore, be +assured I will see that it _is_ so, ere I pay you that large sum of +money. I shall give you an acknowledgment for it, and I will keep it +prestable at a moment's warning. But, my good Richard Moniplies, of +Castle Collop, near the West Port of Edinburgh, in the meantime I am +bound to return to his Majesty on matters of weight." So speaking, and +mounting the stair to re-enter the Palace, he added, by way of summing +up the whole,--"George Heriot is over old a cock to be caught with +chaff." + +Richie stood petrified when he beheld him re-enter the Palace, and +found himself, as he supposed, left in the lurch.--"Now, plague on +ye," he muttered, "for a cunning auld skinflint! that, because ye are +an honest man yoursell, forsooth, must needs deal with all the world +as if they were knaves. But deil be in me if ye beat me yet!--Gude +guide us! yonder comes Laurie Linklater next, and he will be on me +about the sifflication.--I winna stand him, by Saint Andrew!" + +So saying, and changing the haughty stride with which he had that +morning entered the precincts of the Palace, into a skulking shamble, +he retreated for his wherry, which was in attendance, with speed +which, to use the approved phrase on such occasions, greatly resembled +a flight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +_Benedict_. This looks not like a nuptial. + _Much Ado About Nothing._ + +Master George Heriot had no sooner returned to the king's apartment, +than James inquired of Maxwell if the Earl of Huntinglen was in +attendance, and, receiving an answer in the affirmative, desired that +he should be admitted. The old Scottish Lord having made his reverence +in the usual manner, the king extended his hand to be kissed, and then +began to address him in a tone of great sympathy. + +"We told your lordship in our secret epistle of this morning, written +with our ain hand, in testimony we have neither pretermitted nor +forgotten your faithful service, that we had that to communicate to +you that would require both patience and fortitude to endure, and +therefore exhorted you to peruse some of the most pithy passages of +Seneca, and of Boethius _de Consolatione_, that the back may be, as we +say, fitted for the burden--This we commend to you from our ain +experience. + +'Non ignara mail, miseris succurrere disco,' + +sayeth Dido, and I might say in my own person, _non ignarus_; but to +change the gender would affect the prosody, whereof our southern +subjects are tenacious. So, my Lord of Huntinglen, I trust you have +acted by our advice, and studied patience before ye need it--_venienti +occurrite morbo_--mix the medicament when the disease is coming on." + +"May it please your Majesty," answered Lord Huntinglen, "I am more of +an old soldier than a scholar--and if my own rough nature will not +bear me out in any calamity, I hope I shall have grace to try a text +of Scripture to boot." + +"Ay, man, are you there with your bears?" said the king; "The Bible, +man," (touching his cap,) "is indeed _principium et fons_--but it is +pity your lordship cannot peruse it in the original. For although we +did ourselves promote that work of translation,--since ye may read, at +the beginning of every Bible, that when some palpable clouds of +darkness were thought like to have overshadowed the land, after the +setting of that bright occidental star, Queen Elizabeth; yet our +appearance, like that of the sun in his strength, instantly dispelled +these surmised mists,--I say, that although, as therein mentioned, we +countenanced the preaching of the gospel, and especially the +translation of the Scriptures out of the original sacred tongues; yet +nevertheless, we ourselves confess to have found a comfort in +consulting them in the original Hebrew, whilk we do not perceive even +in the Latin version of the Septuagint, much less in the English +traduction." + +"Please your Majesty," said Lord Huntinglen, "if your Majesty delays +communicating the bad news with which your honoured letter threatens +me, until I am capable to read Hebrew like your Majesty, I fear I +shall die in ignorance of the misfortune which hath befallen, or is +about to befall, my house." + +"You will learn it but too soon, my lord," replied the king. "I grieve +to say it, but your son Dalgarno, whom I thought a very saint, as he +was so much with Steenie and Baby Charles, hath turned out a very +villain." + +"Villain!" repeated Lord Huntinglen; and though he instantly checked +himself, and added, "but it is your Majesty speaks the word," the +effect of his first tone made the king step back as if he had received +a blow. He also recovered himself again, and said in the pettish way +which usually indicated his displeasure--"Yes, my lord, it was we that +said it--_non surdo canis_--we are not deaf--we pray you not to raise +your voice in speech with us--there is the bonny memorial--read, and +judge for yourself." + +The king then thrust into the old nobleman's hand a paper, containing +the story of the Lady Hermione, with the evidence by which it was +supported, detailed so briefly and clearly, that the infamy of Lord +Dalgarno, the lover by whom she had been so shamefully deceived, +seemed undeniable. But a father yields not up so easily the cause of +his son. + +"May it please your Majesty," he said, "why was this tale not sooner +told? This woman hath been here for years--wherefore was the claim on +my son not made the instant she touched English ground?" + +"Tell him how that came about, Geordie," said the king, dressing +Heriot. + +"I grieve to distress my Lord Huntinglen," said Heriot; but I must +speak the truth. For a long time the Lady Hermione could not brook the +idea of making her situation public; and when her mind became changed +in that particular, it was necessary to recover the evidence of the +false marriage, and letters and papers connected with it, which, when +she came to Paris, and just before I saw her, she had deposited with a +correspondent of her father in that city. He became afterwards +bankrupt, and in consequence of that misfortune the lady's papers +passed into other hands, and it was only a few days since I traced and +recovered them. Without these documents of evidence, it would have +been imprudent for her to have preferred her complaint, favoured as +Lord Dalgarno is by powerful friends." + +"Ye are saucy to say sae," said the king; "I ken what ye mean weel +eneugh--ye think Steenie wad hae putten the weight of his foot into +the scales of justice, and garr'd them whomle the bucket--ye forget, +Geordie, wha it is whose hand uphaulds them. And ye do poor Steenie +the mair wrang, for he confessed it ance before us and our privy +council, that Dalgarno would have put the quean aff on him, the puir +simple bairn, making him trow that she was a light-o'-love; in whilk +mind he remained assured even when he parted from her, albeit Steenie +might hae weel thought ane of thae cattle wadna hae resisted the like +of him." + +"The Lady Hermione," said George Heriot, "has always done the utmost +justice to the conduct of the duke, who, although strongly possessed +with prejudice against her character, yet scorned to avail himself of +her distress, and on the contrary supplied her with the means of +extricating herself from her difficulties." + +"It was e'en like himsell--blessings on his bonny face!" said the +king; "and I believed this lady's tale the mair readily, my Lord +Huntinglen, that she spake nae ill of Steenie--and to make a lang tale +short, my lord, it is the opinion of our council and ourself, as weel +as of Baby Charles and Steenie, that your son maun amend his wrong by +wedding this lady, or undergo such disgrace and discountenance as we +can bestow." + +The person to whom he spoke was incapable of answering him. He stood +before the king motionless, and glaring with eyes of which even the +lids seemed immovable, as if suddenly converted into an ancient statue +of the times of chivalry, so instantly had his hard features and +strong limbs been arrested into rigidity by the blow he had received-- +And in a second afterwards, like the same statue when the lightning +breaks upon it, he sunk at once to the ground with a heavy groan. The +king was in the utmost alarm, called upon Heriot and Maxwell for help, +and, presence of mind not being his _forte_, ran to and fro in his +cabinet, exclaiming--"My ancient and beloved servant--who saved our +anointed self! _vae atque dolor!_ My Lord of Huntinglen, look up--look +up, man, and your son may marry the Queen of Sheba if he will." + +By this time Maxwell and Heriot had raised the old nobleman, and +placed him on a chair; while the king, observing that he began to +recover himself, continued his consolations more methodically. + +"Haud up your head--haud up your head, and listen to your ain kind +native Prince. If there is shame, man, it comesna empty-handed--there +is siller to gild it--a gude tocher, and no that bad a pedigree;--if +she has been a loon, it was your son made her sae, and he can make her +an honest woman again." + +These suggestions, however reasonable in the common case, gave no +comfort to Lord Huntinglen, if indeed he fully comprehended them; but +the blubbering of his good-natured old master, which began to +accompany and interrupt his royal speech, produced more rapid effect. +The large tear gushed reluctantly from his eye, as he kissed the +withered hands, which the king, weeping with less dignity and +restraint, abandoned to him, first alternately and then both together, +until the feelings of the man getting entirely the better of the +Sovereign's sense of dignity, he grasped and shook Lord Huntinglen's +hands with the sympathy of an equal and a familiar friend." + +"_Compone lachrymas_," said the Monarch; "be patient, man, be patient; +the council, and Baby Charles, and Steenie, may a' gang to the deevil- +-he shall not marry her since it moves you so deeply." + +"He _shall_ marry her, by God!" answered the earl, drawing himself up, +dashing the tear from his eyes, and endeavouring to recover his +composure. "I pray your Majesty's pardon, but he shall marry her, with +her dishonour for her dowry, were she the veriest courtezan in all +Spain--If he gave his word, he shall make his word good, were it to +the meanest creature that haunts the streets--he shall do it, or my +own dagger shall take the life that I gave him. If he could stoop to +use so base a fraud, though to deceive infamy, let him wed infamy." + +"No, no!" the Monarch continued to insinuate, "things are not so bad +as that--Steenie himself never thought of her being a streetwalker, +even when he thought the worst of her." + +"If it can at all console my Lord of Huntinglen," said the citizen, "I +can assure him of this lady's good birth, and most fair and unspotted +fame." + +"I am sorry for it," said Lord Huntinglen--then interrupting himself, +he said--"Heaven forgive me for being ungrateful for such comfort!-- +but I am well-nigh sorry she should be as you represent her, so much +better than the villain deserves. To be condemned to wed beauty and +innocence and honest birth--" + +"Ay, and wealth, my lord--wealth," insinuated the king, "is a better +sentence than his perfidy has deserved." + +"It is long," said the embittered father, "since I saw he was selfish +and hardhearted; but to be a perjured liar--I never dreaded that such +a blot would have fallen on my race! I will never look on him again." + +"Hoot ay, my lord, hoot ay," said the king; "ye maun tak him to task +roundly. I grant you should speak more in the vein of Demea than +Mitio, _vi nempe et via pervulgata patrum_; but as for not seeing him +again, and he your only son, that is altogether out of reason. I tell +ye, man, (but I would not for a boddle that Baby Charles heard me,) +that he might gie the glaiks to half the lasses of Lonnun, ere I could +find in my heart speak such harsh words as you have said of this deil +of a Dalgarno of yours." + +"May it please your Majesty to permit me to retire," said Lord +Huntinglen, "and dispose of the case according to your own royal sense +of justice, for I desire no favour for him." + +"Aweel, my lord, so be it; and if your lordship can think," added the +Monarch, "of any thing in our power which might comfort you--" + +"Your Majesty's gracious sympathy," said Lord Huntinglen, "has already +comforted me as far as earth can; the rest must be from the King of +kings." + +"To Him I commend you, my auld and faithful servant," said James with +emotion, as the earl withdrew from his presence. The king remained +fixed in thought for some time, and then said to Heriot, "Jingling +Geordie, ye ken all the privy doings of our Court, and have dune so +these thirty years, though, like a wise man, ye hear, and see, and say +nothing. Now, there is a thing I fain wad ken, in the way of +philosophical inquiry--Did you ever hear of the umquhile Lady +Huntinglen, the departed Countess of this noble earl, ganging a wee +bit gleed in her walk through the world; I mean in the way of slipping +a foot, casting a leglin-girth, or the like, ye understand me?" + +[Footnote: A leglin-girth is the lowest hoop upon a _leglin_, or milk- +pail. Allan Ramsay applies the phrase in the same metaphorical sense. + +"Or bairns can read, they first maun spell, + I learn'd this frae my mammy, + And cast a leglin-girth mysell, + Lang ere I married Tammy." + _Christ's Kirk On The Green_.] + +"On my word as an honest man," said George Heriot, somewhat surprised +at the question, "I never heard her wronged by the slightest breath of +suspicion. She was a worthy lady, very circumspect in her walk, and +lived in great concord with her husband, save that the good Countess +was something of a puritan, and kept more company with ministers than +was altogether agreeable to Lord Huntinglen, who is, as your Majesty +well knows, a man of the old rough world, that will drink and swear." + +"O Geordie!" exclaimed the king, "these are auld-warld frailties, of +whilk we dare not pronounce even ourselves absolutely free. But the +warld grows worse from day to day, Geordie. The juveniles of this age +may weel say with the poet-- + +'Aetas parentum, pejor avis, tulit + Nos nequiores--' + +This Dalgarno does not drink so much, or swear so much, as his father; +but he wenches, Geordie, and he breaks his word and oath baith. As to +what you say of the leddy, and the ministers, we are a' fallible +creatures, Geordie, priests and kings, as weel as others; and wha kens +but what that may account for the difference between this Dalgarno and +his father? The earl is the vera soul of honour, and cares nae mair +for warld's gear than a noble hound for the quest of a foulmart; but +as for his son, he was like to brazen us a' out--ourselves, Steenie, +Baby Charles, and our council--till he heard of the tocher, and then, +by my kingly crown, he lap like a cock at a grossart! These are +discrepancies betwixt parent and son not to be accounted for +naturally, according to Baptista Porta, Michael Scott _de secretis_, +and others.--Ah, Jingling Geordie, if your clouting the caldron, and +jingling on pots, pans, and veshels of all manner of metal, hadna +jingled a' your grammar out of your head, I could have touched on that +matter to you at mair length." + +Heriot was too plain-spoken to express much concern for the loss of +his grammar learning on this occasion; but after modestly hinting that +he had seen many men who could not fill their father's bonnet, though +no one had been suspected of wearing their father's nightcap, he +inquired "whether Lord Dalgarno had consented to do the Lady Hermione +justice." + +"Troth, man, I have small doubt that he will," quoth the king; "I gave +him the schedule of her worldly substance, which you delivered to us +in the council, and we allowed him half-an-hour to chew the cud upon +that. It is rare reading for bringing him to reason. I left Baby +Charles and Steenie laying his duty before him; and if he can resist +doing what _they_ desire him--why, I wish he would teach _me_ the gate +of it. O Geordie, Jingling Geordie, it was grand to hear Baby Charles +laying down the guilt of dissimulation, and Steenie lecturing on the +turpitude of incontinence!" + +"I am afraid," said George Heriot, more hastily than prudently, "I +might have thought of the old proverb of Satan reproving sin." + +"Deil hae our saul, neighbour," said the king, reddening, "but ye are +not blate! I gie ye license to speak freely, and, by our saul, ye do +not let the privilege become lost _non utendo_--it will suffer no +negative prescription in your hands. Is it fit, think ye, that Baby +Charles should let his thoughts be publicly seen?--No--no--princes' +thoughts are _arcana imperii_--_Qui nescit dissimulare nescit +regnare_. Every liege subject is bound to speak the whole truth to the +king, but there is nae reciprocity of obligation--and for Steenie +having been whiles a dike-louper at a time, is it for you, who are his +goldsmith, and to whom, I doubt, he awes an uncomatable sum, to cast +that up to him?" + +Heriot did not feel himself called on to play the part of Zeno and +sacrifice himself for upholding the cause of moral truth; he did not +desert it, however, by disavowing his words, but simply expressed +sorrow for having offended his Majesty, with which the placable king +was sufficiently satisfied. + +"And now, Geordie, man," quoth he, "we will to this culprit, and hear +what he has to say for himself, for I will see the job cleared this +blessed day. Ye maun come wi' me, for your evidence may be wanted." + +The king led the way, accordingly, into a larger apartment, where the +Prince, the Duke of Buckingham, and one or two privy counsellors were +seated at a table, before which stood Lord Dalgarno, in an attitude of +as much elegant ease and indifference as could be expressed, +considering the stiff dress and manners of the times. + +All rose and bowed reverently, while the king, to use a north country +word, expressive of his mode of locomotion, _toddled_ to his chair or +throne, making a sign to Heriot to stand behind him. + +"We hope," said his Majesty, "that Lord Dalgarno stands prepared to do +justice to this unfortunate lady, and to his own character and +honour?" + +"May I humbly inquire the penalty," said Lord Dalgarno, + "in case I should unhappily find compliance with your Majesty's +demands impossible?" + +"Banishment frae our Court, my lord," said the king; "frae our Court +and our countenance." + +"Unhappy exile that I may be!" said Lord Dalgarno, in a tone of +subdued irony--"I will at least carry your Majesty's picture with me, +for I shall never see such another king." "And banishment, my lord," +said the Prince, sternly, "from these our dominions." + +"That must be by form of law, please your Royal Highness," said +Dalgarno, with an affectation of deep respect; "and I have not heard +that there is a statute, compelling us, under such penalty, to marry +every woman we may play the fool with. Perhaps his Grace of Buckingham +can tell me?" + +"You are a villain, Dalgarno," said the haughty and vehement +favourite. + +"Fie, my lord, fie!--to a prisoner, and in presence of your royal and +paternal gossip!" said Lord Dalgarno. "But I will cut this +deliberation short. I have looked over this schedule of the goods and +effects of Erminia Pauletti, daughter of the late noble--yes, he is +called the noble, or I read wrong, Giovanni Pauletti, of the Houee of +Sansovino, in Genoa, and of the no less noble Lady Maud Olifaunt, of +the House of Glenvarloch--Well, I declare that I was pre-contracted in +Spain to this noble lady, and there has passed betwixt us some certain +_proelibatio matrimonii_; and now, what more does this grave assembly +require of me?" + +"That you should repair the gross and infamous wrong you have done the +lady, by marrying her within this hour," said the Prince. + +"O, may it please your Royal Highness," answered Dalgarno, "I have a +trifling relationship with an old Earl, who calls himself my father, +who may claim some vote in the matter. Alas! every son is not blessed +with an obedient parent!" He hazarded a slight glance towards the +throne, to give meaning to his last words. + +"We have spoken ourselves with Lord Huntinglen," said the king, "and +are authorised to consent in his name." + +"I could never have expected this intervention of a _proxaneta_, which +the vulgar translate blackfoot, of such eminent dignity," said +Dalgarno, scarce concealing a sneer. "And my father hath consented? He +was wont to say, ere we left Scotland, that the blood of Huntinglen +and of Glenvarloch would not mingle, were they poured into the same +basin. Perhaps he has a mind to try the experiment?" + +"My lord," said James, "we will not be longer trifled with--Will you +instantly, and _sine mora_, take this lady to your wife, in our +chapel?" + +"_Statim atque instanter_," answered Lord Dalgarno; "for I perceive by +doing so, I shall obtain power to render great services to the +commonwealth--I shall have acquired wealth to supply the wants of your +Majesty, and a fair wife to be at the command of his Grace of +Buckingham." + +The Duke rose, passed to the end of the table where Lord Dalgarno was +standing, and whispered in his ear, "You have placed a fair sister at +my command ere now." + +This taunt cut deep through Lord Dalgarno's assumed composure. He +started as if an adder had stung him, but instantly composed himself, +and, fixing on the Duke's still smiling countenance an eye which spoke +unutterable hatred, he pointed the forefinger of his left hand to the +hilt of his sword, but in a manner which could scarce be observed by +any one save Buckingham. The Duke gave him another smile of bitter +scorn, and returned to his seat, in obedience to the commands of the +king, who continued calling out, "Sit down, Steenie, sit down, I +command ye--we will hae nae harnsbreaking here." + +"Your Majesty needs not fear my patience," said Lord Dalgarno; "and +that I may keep it the better, I will not utter another word in this +presence, save those enjoined to me in that happy portion of the +Prayer-Book, which begins with _Dearly Beloved_, and ends with +_amazement_." + +"You are a hardened villain, Dalgarno," said the king; "and were I the +lass, by my father's saul, I would rather brook the stain of having +been your concubine, than run the risk of becoming your wife. But she +shall be under our special protection.--Come, my lords, we will +ourselves see this blithesome bridal." He gave the signal by rising, +and moved towards the door, followed by the train. Lord Dalgarno +attended, speaking to none, and spoken to by no one, yet seeming as +easy and unembarrassed in his gait and manner as if in reality a happy +bridegroom. + +They reached the Chapel by a private entrance, which communicated from +the royal apartment. The Bishop of Winchester, in his pontifical +dress, stood beside the altar; on the other side, supported by Monna +Paula, the colourless, faded, half-lifeless form of the Lady Hermione, +or Erminia Pauletti. Lord Dalgarno bowed profoundly to her, and the +Prince, observing the horror with which she regarded him, walked up, +and said to her, with much dignity,--"Madam, ere you put yourself +under the authority of this man, let me inform you, he hath in the +fullest degree vindicated your honour, so far as concerns your former +intercourse. It is for you to consider whether you will put your +fortune and happiness into the hands of one, who has shown himself +unworthy of all trust." + +The lady, with much difficulty, found words to make reply. "I owe to +his Majesty's goodness," she said, "the care of providing me some +reservation out of my own fortune, for my decent sustenance. The rest +cannot be better disposed than in buying back the fair fame of which I +am deprived, and the liberty of ending my life in peace and +seclusion." + +"The contract has been drawn up," said the king, "under our own eye, +specially discharging the _potestas maritalis_, and agreeing they +shall live separate. So buckle them, my Lord Bishop, as fast as you +can, that they may sunder again the sooner." + +The Bishop accordingly opened his book and commenced the marriage +ceremony, under circumstances so novel and so inauspicious. The +responses of the bride were only expressed by inclinations of the head +and body; while those of the bridegroom were spoken boldly and +distinctly, with a tone resembling levity, if not scorn. When it was +concluded, Lord Dalgarno advanced as if to salute the bride, but +seeing that she drew back in fear and abhorrence, he contented himself +with making her a low bow. He then drew up his form to its height, and +stretched himself as if examining the power of his limbs, but +elegantly, and without any forcible change of attitude. "I could caper +yet," he said "though I am in fetters--but they are of gold, and +lightly worn.--Well, I see all eyes look cold on me, and it is time I +should withdraw. The sun shines elsewhere than in England! But first I +must ask how this fair Lady Dalgarno is to be bestowed. Methinks it is +but decent I should know. Is she to be sent to the harem of my Lord +Duke? Or is this worthy citizen, as before--" + +"Hold thy base ribald tongue!" said his father, Lord Huntinglen, who +had kept in the background during the ceremony, and now stepping +suddenly forward, caught the lady by the arm, and confronted her +unworthy husband.--"The Lady Dalgarno," he continued, "shall remain as +a widow in my house. A widow I esteem her, as much as if the grave had +closed over her dishonoured husband." + +Lord Dalgarno exhibited momentary symptoms of extreme confusion, and +said, in a submissive tone, "If you, my lord, can wish me dead, I +cannot, though your heir, return the compliment. Few of the first-born +of Israel," he added, recovering himself from the single touch of +emotion he had displayed, "can say so much with truth. But I will +convince you ere I go, that I am a true descendant of a house famed +for its memory of injuries." + +"I marvel your Majesty will listen to him longer," said Prince +Charles. "Methinks we have heard enough of his daring insolence." + +But James, who took the interest of a true gossip in such a scene as +was now passing, could not bear to cut the controversy short, but +imposed silence on his son, with "Whisht, Baby Charles--there is a +good bairn, whisht!--I want to hear what the frontless loon can say." + +"Only, sir," said Dalgarno, "that but for one single line in this +schedule, all else that it contains could not have bribed me to take +that woman's hand into mine." + +"That line maun have been the SUMMA TOTALIS," said the king. + +"Not so, sire," replied Dalgarno. "The sum total might indeed have +been an object for consideration even to a Scottish king, at no very +distant period; but it would have had little charms for me, save that +I see here an entry which gives me the power of vengeance over the +family of Glenvarloch; and learn from it that yonder pale bride, when +she put the wedding-torch into my hand, gave me the power of burning +her mother's house to ashes!" + +"How is that?" said the king. "What is he speaking about, Jingling +Geordie?" + +"This friendly citizen, my liege," said Lord Dalgarno, "hath expended +a sum belonging to my lady, and now, I thank heaven, to me, in +acquiring a certain mortgage, or wanset, over the estate of +Glenvarloch, which, if it be not redeemed before to-morrow at noon, +will put me in possession of the fair demesnes of those who once +called themselves our house's rivals." + +"Can this be true?" said the king. + +"It is even but too true, please your Majesty," answered the citizen. +"The Lady Hermione having advanced the money for the original +creditor, I was obliged, in honour and honesty, to take the rights to +her; and doubtless, they pass to her husband." + +"But the warrant, man," said the king--"the warrant on our Exchequer-- +Couldna that supply the lad wi' the means of redemption?" + +"Unhappily, my liege, he has lost it, or disposed of it--It is not to +be found. He is the most unlucky youth!" + +"This is a proper spot of work!" said the king, beginning to amble +about and play with the points of his doublet and hose, in expression +of dismay. "We cannot aid him without paying our debts twice over, and +we have, in the present state of our Exchequer, scarce the means of +paying them once." + +"You have told me news," said Lord Dalgarno, "but I will take no +advantage." + +"Do not," said his father, "be a bold villain, since thou must be one, +and seek revenge with arms, and not with the usurer's weapons." + +"Pardon me, my lord," said Lord Dalgarno. "Pen and ink are now my +surest means of vengeance; and more land is won by the lawyer with the +ram-skin, than by the Andrea Ferrara with his sheepshead handle. But, +as I said before, I will take no advantages. I will await in town to- +morrow, near Covent Garden; if any one will pay the redemption-money +to my scrivener, with whom the deeds lie, the better for Lord +Glenvarloch; if not, I will go forward on the next day, and travel +with all dispatch to the north, to take possession." + +"Take a father's malison with you, unhappy wretch!" said Lord +Huntinglen. + +"And a king's, who is _pater patriae_," said James. + +"I trust to bear both lightly," said Lord Dalgarno; and bowing around +him, he withdrew; while all present, oppressed, and, as it were, +overawed, by his determined effrontery, found they could draw breath +more freely, when he at length relieved them of his society. Lord +Huntinglen, applying himself to comfort his new daughter-in-law, +withdrew with her also; and the king, with his privy-council, whom he +had not dismissed, again returned to his council-chamber, though the +hour was unusually late. Heriot's attendance was still commanded, but +for what reason was not explained to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +---I'll play the eavesdropper. + _Richard III., Act V., Scene 3_. + +James had no sooner resumed his seat at the council-board than he +began to hitch in his chair, cough, use his handkerchief, and make +other intimations that he meditated a long speech. The council +composed themselves to the beseeming degree of attention. Charles, as +strict in his notions of decorum, as his father was indifferent to it, +fixed himself in an attitude of rigid and respectful attention, while +the haughty favourite, conscious of his power over both father and +son, stretched himself more easily on his seat, and, in assuming an +appearance of listening, seemed to pay a debt to ceremonial rather +than to duty. + +"I doubt not, my lords," said the Monarch, "that some of you may be +thinking the hour of refection is past, and that it is time to ask +with the slave in the comedy--_Quid de symbolo?_--Nevertheless, to do +justice and exercise judgment is our meat and drink; and now we are to +pray your wisdom to consider the case of this unhappy youth, Lord +Glenvarloch, and see whether, consistently with our honour, any thing +can be done in his favour." + +"I am surprised at your Majesty's wisdom making the inquiry," said the +Duke; "it is plain this Dalgarno hath proved one of the most insolent +villains on earth, and it must therefore be clear, that if Lord +Glenvarloch had run him through the body, there would but have been +out of the world a knave who had lived in it too long. I think Lord +Glenvarloch hath had much wrong; and I regret that, by the persuasions +of this false fellow, I have myself had some hand in it." + +"Ye speak like a child, Steenie--I mean my Lord of Buckingham," +answered the king, "and as one that does not understand the logic of +the schools; for an action may be inconsequential or even meritorious, +_quoad hominem_, that is, as touching him upon _whom_ it is acted; and +yet most criminal, _quoad locum_, or considering the place _wherein_ +it is done; as a man may lawfully dance Chrighty Beardie or any other +dance in a tavern, but not _inter parietes ecclesiae_. So that, though +it may have been a good deed to have sticked Lord Dalgarno, being such +as he has shown himself, anywhere else, yet it fell under the plain +statute, when violence was offered within the verge of the Court. For, +let me tell you, my lords, the statute against striking would be of no +small use in our Court, if it could be eluded by justifying the person +stricken to be a knave. It is much to be lamented that I ken nae Court +in Christendom where knaves are not to be found; and if men are to +break the peace under pretence of beating them, why, it will rain +Jeddart staves [Footnote: The old-fashioned weapon called the Jeddart +staff was a species of battle-axe. Of a very great tempest, it is +said, in the south of Scotland, that it rains Jeddart staffs, as in +England the common people talk of its raining cats and dogs.] in our +very ante-chamber." + +"What your Majesty says," replied Prince Charles, "is marked with your +usual wisdom--the precincts of palaces must be sacred as well as the +persons of kings, which are respected even in the most barbarous +nations, as being one step only beneath their divinities. But your +Majesty's will can control the severity of this and every other law, +and it is in your power, on consideration of his case, to grant the +rash young man a free pardon." + +"_Rem acu tetigisti, Carole, mi puerule,_" answered the king; "and +know, my lords, that we have, by a shrewd device and gift of our own, +already sounded the very depth of this Lord Glenvarloch's disposition. +I trow there be among you some that remember my handling in the +curious case of my Lady Lake, and how I trimmed them about the story +of hearkening behind the arras. Now this put me to cogitation, and I +remembered me of having read that Dionysius, King of Syracuse, whom +historians call Tyrannos, which signifieth not in the +Greek tongue, as in ours, a truculent usurper, but a royal king who +governs, it may be, something more strictly than we and other lawful +monarchs, whom the ancients termed Basileis--Now this Dionysius of +Syracuse caused cunning workmen to build for himself a _lugg_--D'ye +ken what that is, my Lord Bishop?" + +"A cathedral, I presume to guess," answered the Bishop. + +"What the deil, man--I crave your lordship's pardon for swearing--but +it was no cathedral--only a lurking-place called the king's _lugg_, or +_ear_, where he could sit undescried, and hear the converse of his +prisoners. Now, sirs, in imitation of this Dionysius, whom I took for +my pattern, the rather that he was a great linguist and grammarian, +and taught a school with good applause after his abdication, (either +he or his successor of the same name, it matters not whilk)--I have +caused them to make a _lugg_ up at the state-prison of the Tower +yonder, more like a pulpit than a cathedral, my Lord Bishop--and +communicating with the arras behind the Lieutenant's chamber, where we +may sit and privily hear the discourse of such prisoners as are pent +up there for state-offences, and so creep into the very secrets of our +enemies." + +The Prince cast a glance towards the Duke, expressive of great +vexation and disgust. Buckingham shrugged his shoulders, but the +motion was so slight as to be almost imperceptible. + +"Weel, my lords, ye ken the fray at the hunting this morning--I shall +not get out of the trembling exies until I have a sound night's sleep- +-just after that, they bring ye in a pretty page that had been found +in the Park. We were warned against examining him ourselves by the +anxious care of those around us; nevertheless, holding our life ever +at the service of these kingdoms, we commanded all to avoid the room, +the rather that we suspected this boy to be a girl. What think ye, my +lords?--few of you would have thought I had a hawk's eye for sic gear; +but we thank God, that though we are old, we know so much of such toys +as may beseem a man of decent gravity. Weel, my lords, we questioned +this maiden in male attire ourselves, and I profess it was a very +pretty interrogatory, and well followed. For, though she at first +professed that she assumed this disguise in order to countenance the +woman who should present us with the Lady Hermione's petition, for +whom she professed entire affection; yet when we, suspecting _anguis +in herba_, did put her to the very question, she was compelled to own +a virtuous attachment for Glenvarlochides, in such a pretty passion of +shame and fear, that we had much ado to keep our own eyes from keeping +company with hers in weeping. Also, she laid before us the false +practices of this Dalgarno towards Glenvarlochides, inveigling him +into houses of ill resort, and giving him evil counsel under pretext +of sincere friendship, whereby the inexperienced lad was led to do +what was prejudicial to himself, and offensive to us. But, however +prettily she told her tale, we determined not altogether to trust to +her narration, but rather to try the experiment whilk we had devised +for such occasions. And having ourselves speedily passed from +Greenwich to the Tower, we constituted ourselves eavesdropper, as it +is called, to observe what should pass between Glenvarlochides and his +page, whom we caused to be admitted to his apartment, well judging +that if they were of counsel together to deceive us, it could not be +but something of it would spunk out--And what think ye we saw, my +lords?--Naething for you to sniggle and laugh at, Steenie--for I +question if you could have played the temperate and Christian-like +part of this poor lad Glenvarloch. He might be a Father of the Church +in comparison of you, man.--And then, to try his patience yet farther, +we loosed on him a courtier and a citizen, that is Sir Mungo +Malagrowther and our servant George Heriot here, wha dang the poor lad +about, and didna greatly spare our royal selves.--You mind, Geordie, +what you said about the wives and concubines? but I forgie ye, man-- +nae need of kneeling, I forgie ye--the readier, that it regards a +certain particular, whilk, as it added not much to Solomon's credit, +the lack of it cannot be said to impinge on ours. Aweel, my lords, for +all temptation of sore distress and evil ensample, this poor lad never +loosed his tongue on us to say one unbecoming word--which inclines us +the rather, acting always by your wise advice, to treat this affair of +the Park as a thing done in the heat of blood, and under strong +provocation, and therefore to confer our free pardon on Lord +Glenvarloch." + +"I am happy your gracious Majesty," said the Duke of Buckingham, "has +arrived at that conclusion, though I could never have guessed at the +road by which you attained it." + +"I trust," said Prince Charles, "that it is not a path which your +Majesty will think it consistent with your high dignity to tread +frequently." + +"Never while I live again, Baby Charles, that I give you my royal word +on. They say that hearkeners hear ill tales of themselves--by my saul, +my very ears are tingling wi' that auld sorrow Sir Mungo's sarcasms. +He called us close-fisted, Steenie--I am sure you can contradict that. +But it is mere envy in the auld mutilated sinner, because he himself +has neither a noble to hold in his loof, nor fingers to close on it if +he had." Here the king lost recollection of Sir Mungo's irreverence in +chuckling over his own wit, and only farther alluded to it by saying-- +"We must give the old maunderer _bos in linguam_--something to stop +his mouth, or he will rail at us from Dan to Beersheba.--And now, my +lords, let our warrant of mercy to Lord Glenvarloch be presently +expedited, and he put to his freedom; and as his estate is likely to +go so sleaveless a gate, we will consider what means of favour we can +show him.--My lords, I wish you an appetite to an early supper--for +our labours have approached that term.--Baby Charles and Steenie, you +will remain till our couchee.--My Lord Bishop, you will be pleased to +stay to bless our meat.--Geordie Heriot, a word with you apart." + +His Majesty then drew the citizen into a corner, while the +counsellors, those excepted who had been commanded to remain, made +their obeisance, and withdrew. "Geordie," said the king, "my good and +trusty servant"--Here he busied his fingers much with the points and +ribbons of his dress,--"Ye see that we have granted, from our own +natural sense of right and justice, that which yon long-backed fallow, +Moniplies I think they ca' him, proffered to purchase from us with a +mighty bribe; whilk we refused, as being a crowned king, who wad +neither sell our justice nor our mercy for pecuniar consideration. +Now, what think ye should be the upshot of this?" + +"My Lord Glenvarloch's freedom, and his restoration to your Majesty's +favour," said Heriot. + +"I ken that," said the king, peevishly. "Ye are very dull to-day. I +mean, what do you think this fallow Moniplies should think about the +matter?" + +"Surely that your Majesty is a most good and gracious sovereign," +answered Heriot. + +"We had need to be gude and gracious baith," said the king, still more +pettishly, "that have idiots about us that cannot understand what we +mint at, unless we speak it out in braid Lowlands. See this chield +Moniplies, sir, and tell him what we have done for Lord Glenvarloch, +in whom he takes such part, out of our own gracious motion, though we +refused to do it on ony proffer of private advantage. Now, you may put +it till him, as if of your own mind, whether it will be a gracious or +a dutiful part in him, to press us for present payment of the two or +three hundred miserable pounds for whilk we were obliged to opignorate +our jewels? Indeed, mony men may think ye wad do the part of a good +citizen, if you took it on yourself to refuse him payment, seeing he +hath had what he professed to esteem full satisfaction, and +considering, moreover, that it is evident he hath no pressing need of +the money, whereof we have much necessity." + +George Heriot sighed internally. "O my Master," thought he--"my dear +Master, is it then fated you are never to indulge any kingly or noble +sentiment, without its being sullied by some afterthought of +interested selfishness!" + +The king troubled himself not about what he thought, but taking him by +the collar, said,--"Ye ken my meaning now, Jingler--awa wi' ye. You +are a wise man--manage it your ain gate--but forget not our present +straits." The citizen made his obeisance, and withdrew. + +"And now, bairns," said the king, "what do you look upon each other +for--and what have you got to ask of your dear dad and gossip?" + +"Only," said the Prince, "that it would please your Majesty to command +the lurking-place at the prison to be presently built up--the groans +of a captive should not be brought in evidence against him." + +"What! build up my lugg, Baby Charles? And yet, better deaf than hear +ill tales of oneself. So let them build it up, hard and fast, without +delay, the rather that my back is sair with sitting in it for a whole +hour.--And now let us see what the cooks have been doing for us, bonny +bairns." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + + To this brave man the knight repairs + For counsel in his law affairs; + And found him mounted in his pew. + With books and money placed for show, + Like nest-eggs to make clients lay, + And for his false opinion pay. + _Hudibras._ + +Our readers may recollect a certain smooth-tongued, lank-haired, +buckram-suited, Scottish scrivener, who, in the earlier part of this +history, appeared in the character of a protege of George Heriot. It +is to his house we are about to remove, but times have changed with +him. The petty booth hath become a chamber of importance--the buckram +suit is changed into black velvet; and although the wearer retains his +puritanical humility and politeness to clients of consequence, he can +now look others broad in the face, and treat them with a full +allowance of superior opulence, and the insolence arising from it. It +was but a short period that had achieved these alterations, nor was +the party himself as yet entirely accustomed to them, but the change +was becoming less embarrassing to him with every day's practice. Among +other acquisitions of wealth, you may see one of Davy Ramsay's best +timepieces on the table, and his eye is frequently observing its +revolutions, while a boy, whom he employs as a scribe, is occasionally +sent out to compare its progress with the clock of Saint Dunstan. + +The scrivener himself seemed considerably agitated. He took from a +strong-box a bundle of parchments, and read passages of them with +great attention; then began to soliloquize--"There is no outlet which +law can suggest--no back-door of evasion--none--if the lands of +Glenvarloch are not redeemed before it rings noon, Lord Dalgarno has +them a cheap pennyworth. Strange, that he should have been at last +able to set his patron at defiance, and achieve for himself the fair +estate, with the prospect of which he so long flattered the powerful +Buckingham.--Might not Andrew Skurliewhitter nick him as neatly? He +hath been my patron--true--not more than Buckingham was his; and he +can be so no more, for he departs presently for Scotland. I am glad of +it--I hate him, and I fear him. He knows too many of my secrets--I +know too many of his. But, no--no--no--I need never attempt it, there +are no means of over-reaching him.--Well, Willie, what o'clock?" + +"Ele'en hours just chappit, sir." + +"Go to your desk without, child," said the scrivener. "What to do +next--I shall lose the old Earl's fair business, and, what is worse, +his son's foul practice. Old Heriot looks too close into business to +permit me more than the paltry and ordinary dues. The Whitefriars +business was profitable, but it has become unsafe ever since--pah!-- +what brought that in my head just now? I can hardly hold my pen--if +men should see me in this way!--Willie," (calling aloud to the boy,) +"a cup of distilled waters--Soh!--now I could face the devil." + +He spoke the last words aloud, and close by the door of the apartment, +which was suddenly opened by Richie Moniplies, followed by two +gentlemen, and attended by two porters bearing money-bags. "If ye can +face the devil, Maister Skurliewhitter," said Richie, "ye will be the +less likely to turn your back on a sack or twa o' siller, which I have +ta'en the freedom to bring you. Sathanas and Mammon are near akin." +The porters, at the same time, ranged their load on the floor. + +"I--I,"--stammered the surprised scrivener--"I cannot guess what you +mean, sir." + +"Only that I have brought you the redemption-money on the part of Lord +Glenvarloch, in discharge of a certain mortgage over his family +inheritance. And here, in good time, comes Master Reginald Lowestoffe, +and another honourable gentleman of the Temple, to be witnesses to the +transaction." + +"I--I incline to think," said the scrivener, "that the term is +expired." + +"You will pardon us, Master Scrivener," said Lowestoffe. "You will not +baffle us--it wants three-quarters of noon by every clock in the +city." + +"I must have time, gentlemen," said Andrew, "to examine the gold by +tale and weight." + +"Do so at your leisure, Master Scrivener," replied Lowestoffe again. +"We have already seen the contents of each sack told and weighed, and +we have put our seals on them. There they stand in a row, twenty in +number, each containing three hundred yellow-hammers--we are witnesses +to the lawful tender." + +"Gentlemen," said the scrivener, "this security now belongs to a +mighty lord. I pray you, abate your haste, and let me send for Lord +Dalgarno,--or rather I will run for him myself." + +So saying, he took up his hat; but Lowestoffe called out,--"Friend +Moniplies, keep the door fast, an thou be'st a man! he seeks but to +put off the time.--In plain terms, Andrew, you may send for the devil, +if you will, who is the mightiest lord of my acquaintance, but from +hence you stir not till you have answered our proposition, by +rejecting or accepting the redemption-money fairly tendered--there it +lies--take it, or leave it, as you will. I have skill enough to know +that the law is mightier than any lord in Britain--I have learned so +much at the Temple, if I have learned nothing else. And see that you +trifle not with it, lest it make your long ears an inch shorter, +Master Skurliewhitter." + +"Nay, gentlemen, if you threaten me," said the scrivener, "I cannot +resist compulsion." + +"No threats--no threats at all, my little Andrew," said Lowestoffe; "a +little friendly advice only--forget not, honest Andrew, I have seen +you in Alsatia." + +Without answering a single word, the scrivener sat down, and drew in +proper form a full receipt for the money proffered. + +"I take it on your report, Master Lowestoffe," he said; "I hope you +will remember I have insisted neither upon weight nor tale--I have +been civil--if there is deficiency I shall come to loss." + +"Fillip his nose with a gold-piece, Richie," quoth the Templar. "Take +up the papers, and now wend we merrily to dine thou wot'st where." + +"If I might choose," said Richie, "it should not be at yonder roguish +ordinary; but as it is your pleasure, gentlemen, the treat shall be +given wheresoever you will have it." + +"At the ordinary," said the one Templar. + +"At Beaujeu's," said the other; "it is the only house in London for +neat wines, nimble drawers, choice dishes, and--" + +"And high charges," quoth Richie Moniplies. "But, as I said before, +gentlemen, ye have a right to command me in this thing, having so +frankly rendered me your service in this small matter of business, +without other stipulation than that of a slight banquet." + +The latter part of this discourse passed in the street, where, +immediately afterwards, they met Lord Dalgarno. He appeared in haste, +touched his hat slightly to Master Lowestoffe, who returned his +reverence with the same negligence, and walked slowly on with his +companion, while Lord Dalgarno stopped Richie Moniplies with a +commanding sign, which the instinct of education compelled Moniplies, +though indignant, to obey. + +"Whom do you now follow, sirrah?" demanded the noble. + +"Whomsoever goeth before me, my lord," answered Moniplies. + +"No sauciness, you knave--I desire to know if you still serve Nigel +Olifaunt?" said Dalgarno. + +"I am friend to the noble Lord Glenvarloch," answered Moniplies, with +dignity. + +"True," replied Lord Dalgarno, "that noble lord has sunk to seek +friends among lackeys--Nevertheless,--hark thee hither,--nevertheless, +if he be of the same mind as when we last met, thou mayst show him, +that, on to-morrow, at four afternoon, I shall pass northward by +Enfield Chase--I will be slenderly attended, as I design to send my +train through Barnet. It is my purpose to ride an easy pace through +the forest, and to linger a while by Camlet Moat--he knows the place; +and, if he be aught but an Alsatian bully, will think it fitter for +some purposes than the Park. He is, I understand, at liberty, or +shortly to be so. If he fail me at the place nominated, he must seek +me in Scotland, where he will find me possessed of his father's estate +and lands." + +"Humph!" muttered Richie; "there go twa words to that bargain." + +He even meditated a joke on the means which he was conscious he +possessed of baffling Lord Dalgarno's expectations; but there was +something of keen and dangerous excitement in the eyes of the young +nobleman, which prompted his discretion for once to rule his vit, and +he only answered-- + +"God grant your lordship may well brook your new conquest--when you +get it. I shall do your errand to my lord--whilk is to say," he added +internally, "he shall never hear a word of it from Richie. I am not +the lad to put him in such hazard." + +Lord Dalgarno looked at him sharply for a moment, as if to penetrate +the meaning of the dry ironical tone, which, in spite of Richie's awe, +mingled with his answer, and then waved his hand, in signal he should +pass on. He himself walked slowly till the trio were out of sight, +then turned back with hasty steps to the door of the scrivener, which +he had passed in his progress, knocked, and was admitted. + +Lord Dalgarno found the man of law with the money-bags still standing +before him; and it escaped not his penetrating glance, that +Skurliewhitter was disconcerted and alarmed at his approach. + +"How now, man," he said; "what! hast thou not a word of oily +compliment to me on my happy marriage?--not a word of most +philosophical consolation on my disgrace at Court?--Or has my mien, as +a wittol and discarded favourite, the properties of the Gorgon's head, +the _turbatae Palladis arma_, as Majesty might say?" + +"My lord, I am glad--my lord, I am sorry,"--answered the trembling +scrivener, who, aware of the vivacity of Lord Dalgarno's temper, +dreaded the consequence of the communication he had to make to him. + +"Glad and sorry!" answered Lord Dalgarno. "That is blowing hot and +cold, with a witness. Hark ye, you picture of petty-larceny +personified--if you are sorry I am a cuckold, remember I am only mine +own, you knave--there is too little blood in her cheeks to have sent +her astray elsewhere. Well, I will bear mine antler'd honours as I +may--gold shall gild them; and for my disgrace, revenge shall sweeten +it. Ay, revenge--and there strikes the happy hour!" + +The hour of noon was accordingly heard to peal from Saint Dunstan's. +"Well banged, brave hammers!" said Lord Dalgarno, in triumph.--"The +estate and lands of Glenvarloch are crushed beneath these clanging +blows. If my steel to-morrow prove but as true as your iron maces to- +day, the poor landless lord will little miss what your peal hath cut +him out from.--The papers--the papers, thou varlet! I am to-morrow +Northward, ho! At four, afternoon, I am bound to be at Camlet Moat, in +the Enfield Chase. To-night most of my retinue set forward. The +papers!--Come, dispatch." + +"My lord, the--the papers of the Glenvarloch mortgage--I--I have them +not." + +"Have them not!" echoed Lord Dalgarno,--"Hast thou sent them to my +lodgings, thou varlet? Did I not say I was coming hither?--What mean +you by pointing to that money? What villainy have you done for it? It +is too large to be come honestly by." + +"Your lordship knows best," answered the scrivener, in great +perturbation. "The gold is your own. It is--it is--" + +"Not the redemption-money of the Glenvarloch estate!" said Dalgarno. +"Dare not say it is, or I will, upon the spot, divorce your +pettifogging soul from your carrion carcass!" So saying, he seized the +scrivener by the collar, and shook him so vehemently, that he tore it +from the cassock. + +"My lord, I must call for help," said the trembling caitiff, who felt +at that moment all the bitterness of the mortal agony--"It was the +law's act, not mine. What could I do?" + +"Dost ask?--why, thou snivelling dribblet of damnation, were all thy +oaths, tricks, and lies spent? or do you hold yourself too good to +utter them in my service? Thou shouldst have lied, cozened, out-sworn +truth itself, rather than stood betwixt me and my revenge! But mark +me," he continued; "I know more of your pranks than would hang thee. A +line from me to the Attorney-General, and thou art sped." + +"What would you have me to do, my lord?" said the scrivener. "All that +art and law can accomplish, I will try." + +"Ah, are you converted? do so, or pity of your life!" said the lord; +"and remember I never fail my word.--Then keep that accursed gold," he +continued. "Or, stay, I will not trust you--send me this gold home +presently to my lodging. I will still forward to Scotland, and it +shall go hard but that I hold out Glenvarloch Castle against the +owner, by means of the ammunition he has himself furnished. Thou art +ready to serve me?" The scrivener professed the most implicit +obedience. + +"Then remember, the hour was past ere payment was tendered--and see +thou hast witnesses of trusty memory to prove that point." + +"Tush, my lord, I will do more," said Andrew, reviving--"I will prove +that Lord Glenvarloch's friends threatened, swaggered, and drew swords +on me.--Did your lordship think I was ungrateful enough to have +suffered them to prejudice your lordship, save that they had bare +swords at my throat?" + +"Enough said," replied Dalgarno; "you are perfect--mind that you +continue so, as you would avoid my fury. I leave my page below--get +porters, and let them follow me instantly with the gold." + +So saying, Lord Dalgarno left the scrivener's habitation. + +Skurliewhitter, having dispatched his boy to get porters of trust for +transporting the money, remained alone and in dismay, meditating by +what means he could shake himself free of the vindictive and ferocious +nobleman, who possessed at once a dangerous knowledge of his +character, and the power of exposing him, where exposure would be +ruin. He had indeed acquiesced in the plan, rapidly sketched, for +obtaining possession of the ransomed estate, but his experience +foresaw that this would be impossible; while, on the other hand, he +could not anticipate the various consequences of Lord Dalgarno's +resentment, without fears, from which his sordid soul recoiled. To be +in the power, and subject both to the humours and the extortions of a +spendthrift young lord, just when his industry had shaped out the +means of fortune,--it was the most cruel trick which fate could have +played the incipient usurer. + +While the scrivener was in this fit of anxious anticipation, one +knocked at the door of the apartment; and, being desired to enter, +appeared in the coarse riding-cloak of uncut Wiltshire cloth, fastened +by a broad leather belt and brass buckle, which was then generally +worn by graziers and countrymen. Skurliewhitter, believing he saw in +his visitor a country client who might prove profitable, had opened +his mouth to request him to be seated, when the stranger, throwing +back his frieze hood which he had drawn over his face, showed the +scrivener features well imprinted in his recollection, but which he +never saw without a disposition to swoon. + +"Is it you?" he said, faintly, as the stranger replaced the hood which +concealed his features. + +"Who else should it be?" said his visitor. + +"Thou son of parchment, got betwixt the inkhorn + And the stuff'd process-bag--that mayest call + The pen thy father, and the ink thy mother, + The wax thy brother, and the sand thy sister + And the good pillory thy cousin allied-- + Rise, and do reverence unto me, thy better!" + +"Not yet down to the country," said the scrivener, "after every +warning? Do not think your grazier's cloak will bear you out, captain- +-no, nor your scraps of stage-plays." + +"Why, what would you have me to do?" said the captain--"Would you have +me starve? If I am to fly, you must eke my wings with a few feathers. +You can spare them, I think." + +"You had means already--you have had ten pieces--What is become of +them?" + +"Gone," answered Captain Colepepper--"Gone, no matter where--I had a +mind to bite, and I was bitten, that's all--I think my hand shook at +the thought of t'other night's work, for I trowled the doctors like a +very baby." + +"And you have lost all, then?--Well, take this and be gone," said the +scrivener. + +"What, two poor smelts! Marry, plague of your bounty!--But remember, +you are as deep in as I." + +"Not so, by Heaven!" answered the scrivener; "I only thought of easing +the old man of some papers and a trifle of his gold, and you took his +life." + +"Were he living," answered Colepepper, "he would rather have lost it +than his money.--But that is not the question, Master Skurliewhitter-- +you undid the private bolts of the window when you visited him about +some affairs on the day ere he died--so satisfy yourself, that, if I +am taken, I will not swing alone. Pity Jack Hempsfield is dead, it +spoils the old catch, + +'And three merry men, and three merry men, + And three merry men are we, + As ever did sing three parts in a string, + All under the triple tree.'" + +"For God's sake, speak lower," said the scrivener; "is this a place or +time to make your midnight catches heard?--But how much will serve +your turn? I tell you I am but ill provided." + +"You tell me a lie, then," said the bully--"a most palpable and gross +lie.--How much, d'ye say, will serve my turn? Why, one of these bags +will do for the present." + +"I swear to you that these bags of money are not at my disposal." + +"Not honestly, perhaps," said the captain, "but that makes little +difference betwixt us." + +"I swear to you," continued the scrivener "they are in no way at my +disposal--they have been delivered to me by tale--I am to pay them +over to Lord Dalgarno, whose boy waits for them, and I could not +skelder one piece out of them, without risk of hue and cry." + +"Can you not put off the delivery?" said the bravo, his huge hand +still fumbling with one of the bags, as if his fingers longed to close +on it. + +"Impossible," said the scrivener, "he sets forward to Scotland to- +morrow." + +"Ay!" said the bully, after a moment's thought--"Travels he the north +road with such a charge?" + +"He is well accompanied," added the scrivener; "but yet--" + +"But yet--but what?" said the bravo. + +"Nay, I meant nothing," said the scrivener. + +"Thou didst--thou hadst the wind of some good thing," replied +Colepepper; "I saw thee pause like a setting dog. Thou wilt say as +little, and make as sure a sign, as a well-bred spaniel." + +"All I meant to say, captain, was, that his servants go by Barnet, and +he himself, with his page, pass through Enfield Chase; and he spoke to +me yesterday of riding a soft pace." + +"Aha!--Comest thou to me there, my boy?" + +"And of resting"--continued the scrivener,--"resting a space at Camlet +Moat." + +"Why, this is better than cock-fighting!" said the captain. + +"I see not how it can advantage you, captain," said the scrivener. +"But, however, they cannot ride fast, for his page rides the sumpter- +horse, which carries all that weight," pointing to the money on the +table. "Lord Dalgarno looks sharp to the world's gear." + +"That horse will be obliged to those who may ease him of his burden," +said the bravo; "and egad, he may be met with.--He hath still that +page--that same Lutin--that goblin? Well, the boy hath set game for me +ere now. I will be revenged, too, for I owe him a grudge for an old +score at the ordinary. Let me see--Black Feltham, and Dick Shakebag-- +we shall want a fourth--I love to make sure, and the booty will stand +parting, besides what I can bucket them out of. Well, scrivener, lend +me two pieces.--Bravely done--nobly imparted! Give ye good-den." And +wrapping his disguise closer around him, away he went. + +When he had left the room, the scrivener wrung his hands, and +exclaimed, "More blood--more blood! I thought to have had done with +it, but this time there was no fault with me--none--and then I shall +have all the advantage. If this ruffian falls, there is truce with his +tugs at my purse-strings; and if Lord Dalgarno dies--as is most +likely, for though as much afraid of cold steel as a debtor of a dun, +this fellow is a deadly shot from behind a bush,--then am I in a +thousand ways safe--safe--safe." + +We willingly drop the curtain over him and his reflections. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + + We are not worst at once--the course of evil + Begins so slowly, and from such slight source, + An infant's hand might stem its breach with clay; + But let the stream get deeper, and philosophy-- + Ay, and religion too--shall strive in vain + To turn the headlong torrent. + _Old Play._ + +The Templars had been regaled by our friend Richie Moniplies in a +private chamber at Beaujeu's, where he might be considered as good +company; for he had exchanged his serving-man's cloak and jerkin for a +grave yet handsome suit of clothes, in the fashion of the times, but +such as might have befitted an older man than himself. He had +positively declined presenting himself at the ordinary, a point to +which his companions were very desirous to have brought him, for it +will be easily believed that such wags as Lowestoffe and his companion +were not indisposed to a little merriment at the expense of the raw +and pedantic Scotsman; besides the chance of easing him of a few +pieces, of which he appeared to have acquired considerable command. +But not even a succession of measures of sparkling sack, in which the +little brilliant atoms circulated like motes in the sun's rays, had +the least effect on Richie's sense of decorum. He retained the gravity +of a judge, even while he drank like a fish, partly from his own +natural inclination to good liquor, partly in the way of good +fellowship towards his guests. When the wine began to make some +innovation on their heads, Master Lowestoffe, tired, perhaps, of the +humours of Richie, who began to become yet more stoically +contradictory and dogmatical than even in the earlier part of the +entertainment, proposed to his friend to break up their debauch and +join the gamesters. + +The drawer was called accordingly, and Richie discharged the reckoning +of the party, with a generous remuneration to the attendants, which +was received with cap and knee, and many assurances of--"Kindly +welcome, gentlemen." + +"I grieve we should part so soon, gentlemen," said Richie to his +companions,--"and I would you had cracked another quart ere you went, +or stayed to take some slight matter of supper, and a glass of +Rhenish. I thank you, however, for having graced my poor collation +thus far; and I commend you to fortune, in your own courses, for the +ordinary neither was, is, nor shall be, an element of mine." + +"Fare thee well, then," said Lowestoffe, "most sapient and sententious +Master Moniplies. May you soon have another mortgage to redeem, and +may I be there to witness it; and may you play the good fellow, as +heartily as you have done this day." + +"Nay, gentlemen, it is merely of your grace to say so--but, if you +would but hear me speak a few words of admonition respecting this +wicked ordinary--" + +"Reserve the lesson, most honourable Richie," said Lowestoffe, "until +I have lost all my money," showing, at the same time, a purse +indifferently well provided, "and then the lecture is likely to have +some weight." + +"And keep my share of it, Richie," said the other Templar, showing an +almost empty purse, in his turn, "till this be full again, and then I +will promise to hear you with some patience." + +"Ay, ay, gallants," said Richie, "the full and the empty gang a' ae +gate, and that is a grey one--but the time will come." + +"Nay, it is come already," said Lowestoffe; "they have set out the +hazard table. Since you will peremptorily not go with us, why, +farewell, Richie." + +"And farewell, gentlemen," said Richie, and left the house, into which +they had returned. + +Moniplies was not many steps from the door, when a person, whom, lost +in his reflections on gaming, ordinaries, and the manners of the age, +he had not observed, and who had been as negligent on his part, ran +full against him; and, when Richie desired to know whether he meant +"ony incivility," replied by a curse on Scotland, and all that +belonged to it. A less round reflection on his country would, at any +time, have provoked Richie, but more especially when he had a double +quart of Canary and better in his pate. He was about to give a very +rough answer, and to second his word by action, when a closer view of +his antagonist changed his purpose. + +"You are the vera lad in the warld," said Richie, "whom I most wished +to meet." + +"And you," answered the stranger, "or any of your beggarly countrymen, +are the last sight I should ever wish to see. You Scots are ever fair +and false, and an honest man cannot thrive within eyeshot of you." + +"As to our poverty, friend," replied Richie, "that is as Heaven +pleases; but touching our falset, I'll prove to you that a Scotsman +bears as leal and true a heart to his friend as ever beat in English +doublet." + +"I care not whether he does or not," said the gallant. "Let me go--why +keep you hold of my cloak? Let me go, or I will thrust you into the +kennel." + +"I believe I could forgie ye, for you did me a good turn once, in +plucking me out of it," said the Scot. + +"Beshrew my fingers, then, if they did so," replied the stranger. "I +would your whole country lay there, along with you; and Heaven's curse +blight the hand that helped to raise them!--Why do you stop my way?" +he added, fiercely. + +"Because it is a bad one, Master Jenkin," said Richie. "Nay, never +start about it, man--you see you are known. Alack-a-day! that an +honest man's son should live to start at hearing himself called by his +own name!" Jenkin struck his brow violently with his clenched fist. + +"Come, come," said Richie, "this passion availeth nothing. Tell me +what gate go you?" + +"To the devil!" answered Jin Vin. + +"That is a black gate, if you speak according to the letter," answered +Richie; "but if metaphorically, there are worse places in this great +city than the Devil Tavern; and I care not if I go thither with you, +and bestow a pottle of burnt sack on you--it will correct the +crudities of my stomach, and form a gentle preparative for the leg of +a cold pullet." + +"I pray you, in good fashion, to let me go," said Jenkin. "You may +mean me kindly, and I wish you to have no wrong at my hand; but I am +in the humour to be dangerous to myself, or any one." + +"I will abide the risk," said the Scot, "if you will but come with me; +and here is a place convenient, a howff nearer than the Devil, whilk +is but an ill-omened drouthy name for a tavern. This other of the +Saint Andrew is a quiet place, where I have ta'en my whetter now and +then, when I lodged in the neighbourhood of the Temple with Lord +Glenvarloch.--What the deil's the matter wi' the man, garr'd him gie +sic a spang as that, and almaist brought himself and me on the +causeway?" + +"Do not name that false Scot's name to me," said Jin Vin, "if you +would not have me go mad!--I was happy before I saw him--he has been +the cause of all the ill that has befallen me--he has made a knave and +a madman of me!" + +"If you are a knave," said Richie, "you have met an officer--if you +are daft, you have met a keeper; but a gentle officer and a kind +keeper. Look you, my gude friend, there has been twenty things said +about this same lord, in which there is no more truth than in the +leasings of Mahound. The warst they can say of him is, that he is not +always so amenable to good advice as I would pray him, you, and every +young man to be. Come wi' me--just come ye wi' me; and, if a little +spell of siller and a great deal of excellent counsel can relieve your +occasions, all I can say is, you have had the luck to meet one capable +of giving you both, and maist willing to bestow them." + +The pertinacity of the Scot prevailed over the sullenness of Vincent, +who was indeed in a state of agitation and incapacity to think for +himself, which led him to yield the more readily to the suggestions of +another. He suffered himself to be dragged into the small tavern which +Richie recommended, and where they soon found themselves seated in a +snug niche, with a reeking pottle of burnt sack, and a paper of sugar +betwixt them. Pipes and tobacco were also provided, but were only used +by Richie, who had adopted the custom of late, as adding considerably +to the gravity and importance of his manner, and affording, as it +were, a bland and pleasant accompaniment to the words of wisdom which +flowed from his tongue. After they had filled their glasses and drank +them in silence, Richie repeated the question, whither his guest was +going when they met so fortunately. + +"I told you," said Jenkin, "I was going to destruction--I mean to the +gaming-house. I am resolved to hazard these two or three pieces, to +get as much as will pay for a passage with Captain Sharker, whose ship +lies at Gravesend, bound for America--and so Eastward, ho!--I met one +devil in the way already, who would have tempted me from my purpose, +but I spurned him from me--you may be another for what I know.--What +degree of damnation do you propose for me," he added wildly, "and what +is the price of it?" + +"I would have you to know," answered Richie, "that I deal in no such +commodities, whether as buyer or seller. But if you will tell me +honestly the cause of your distress, I will do what is in my power to +help you out of it,--not being, however, prodigal of promises, until I +know the case; as a learned physician only gives advice when he has +observed the diagnostics." + +"No one has any thing to do with my affairs," said the poor lad; and +folding his arms on the table, he laid his head upon them, with the +sullen dejection of the overburdened lama, when it throws itself down +to die in desperation. + +Richard Moniplies, like most folk who have a good opinion of +themselves, was fond of the task of consolation, which at once +displayed his superiority, (for the consoler is necessarily, for the +time at least, superior to the afflicted person,) and indulged his +love of talking. He inflicted on the poor penitenta harangue of +pitiless length, stuffed full of the usual topics of the mutability of +human affairs--the eminent advantages of patience under affliction-- +the folly of grieving for what hath no remedy--the necessity of taking +more care for the future, and some gentle rebukes on account of the +past, which acid he threw in to assist in subduing the patient's +obstinacy, as Hannibal used vinegar in cutting his way through rocks. +It was not in human nature to endure this flood of commonplace +eloquence in silence; and Jin Vin, whether desirous of stopping the +flow of words--crammed thus into his ear, "against the stomach of his +sense," or whether confiding in Richie's protestations of friendship, +which the wretched, says Fielding, are ever so ready to believe, or +whether merely to give his sorrows vent in words, raised his head, and +turning his red and swollen eyes to Richie-- + +"Cocksbones, man, only hold thy tongue, and thou shall know all about +it,--and then all I ask of thee is to shake hands and part.--This +Margaret Ramsay,--you have seen her, man?" + +"Once," said Richie, "once, at Master George Heriot's in Lombard +Street--I was in the room when they dined." + +"Ay, you helped to shift their trenchers, I remember," said Jin Vin. +"Well, that same pretty girl--and I will uphold her the prettiest +betwixt Paul's and the Bar--she is to be wedded to your Lord +Glenvarloch, with a pestilence on him!" + +"That is impossible," said Richie; "it is raving nonsense, man--they +make April gouks of you cockneys every month in the year--The Lord +Glenvarloch marry the daughter of a Lonnon mechanic! I would as soon +believe the great Prester John would marry the daughter of a Jew +packman." + +"Hark ye, brother," said Jin Vin, "I will allow no one to speak +disregardfully of the city, for all I am in trouble." + +"I crave your pardon, man--I meant no offence," said Richie; "but as +to the marriage, it is a thing simply impossible." + +"It is a thing that will take place, though, for the Duke and the +Prince, and all of them, have a finger in it; and especially the old +fool of a king, that makes her out to be some great woman in her own +country, as all the Scots pretend to be, you know." + +"Master Vincent, but that you are under affliction," said the +consoler, offended on his part, "I would hear no national +reflections." + +The afflicted youth apologised in his turns, but asserted, "it + was true that the king said Peg-a-Ramsay was some far-off sort of +noblewoman; and that he had taken a great interest in the match, and +had run about like an old gander, cackling about Peggie ever since he +had seen her in hose and doublet--and no wonder," added poor Vin, with +a deep sigh. + +"This may be all true," said Richie, "though it sounds strange in my +ears; but, man, you should not speak evil of dignities---Curse not the +king, Jenkin; not even in thy bed-chamber--stone walls have ears--no +one has a right to know better than I." + +"I do not curse the foolish old man," said Jenkin; "but I would have +them carry things a peg lower.--If they were to see on a plain field +thirty thousand such pikes as I have seen in the artillery gardens, it +would not be their long-haired courtiers would help them, I trow." +[Footnote: Clarendon remarks, that the importance of the military +exercise of the citizens was severely felt by the cavaliers during the +civil war, notwithstanding the ridicule that had been showered upon it +by the dramatic poets of the day. Nothing less than habitual practice +could, at the battle of Newbury and elsewhere, have enabled the +Londoners to keep their ranks as pikemen, in spite of the repeated +charge of the fiery Prince Rupert and his gallant cavaliers.] + +"Hout tout, man," said Richie, "mind where the Stewarts come frae, and +never think they would want spears or claymores either; but leaving +sic matters, whilk are perilous to speak on, I say once more, what is +your concern in all this matter?" + +"What is it?" said Jenkin; "why, have I not fixed on Peg-a-Ramsay to +be my true love, from the day I came to her old father's shop? and +have I not carried her pattens and her chopines for three years, and +borne her prayer-book to church, and brushed the cushion for her to +kneel down upon, and did she ever say me nay?" + +"I see no cause she had," said Richie, "if the like of such small +services were all that ye proffered. Ah, man! there are few--very few, +either of fools or of wise men, ken how to guide a woman." + +"Why, did I not serve her at the risk of my freedom, and very nigh at +the risk of my neck? Did she not--no, it was not her neither, but that +accursed beldam whom she caused to work upon me--persuade me like a +fool to turn myself into a waterman to help my lord, and a plague to +him, down to Scotland? and instead of going peaceably down to the ship +at Gravesend, did not he rant and bully, and show his pistols, and +make me land him at Greenwich, where he played some swaggering pranks, +that helped both him and me into the Tower?" + +"Aha!" said Richie, throwing more than his usual wisdom into his +looks, "so you were the green-jacketed waterman that rowed Lord +Glenvarloch down the river?" + +"The more fool I, that did not souse him in the Thames," said Jenkin; +"and I was the lad who would not confess one word of who and what I +was, though they threatened to make me hug the Duke of Exeter's +daughter."[Footnote: A particular species of rack, used at the Tower +of London, was so called.] + +"Wha is she, man?" said Richie; "she must be an ill-fashioned piece, +if you're so much afraid of her, and she come of such high kin." + +"I mean the rack--the rack, man," said Jenkin. "Where were you bred +that never heard of the Duke of Exeter's daughter? But all the dukes +and duchesses in England could have got nothing out of me--so the +truth came out some other way, and I was set free.--Home I ran, +thinking myself one of the cleverest and happiest fellows in the ward. +And she--she--she wanted to pay me with _money_ for all my true +service! and she spoke so sweetly and so coldly at the same time, I +wished myself in the deepest dungeon of the Tower--I wish they had +racked me to death before I heard this Scottishman was to chouse me +out of my sweetheart!" + +"But are ye sure ye have lost her?" said Richie; "it sounds strange in +my ears that my Lord Glenvarloch should marry the daughter of a +dealer,--though there are uncouth marriages made in London, I'll allow +that." + +"Why, I tell you this lord was no sooner clear of the Tower, than he +and Master George Heriot comes to make proposals for her, with the +king's assent, and what not; and fine fair-day prospects of Court +favour for this lord, for he hath not an acre of land." + +"Well, and what said the auld watch-maker?" said Richie; "was he not, +as might weel beseem him, ready to loop out of his skin-case for very +joy?" + +"He multiplied six figures progressively, and reported the product-- +then gave his consent." + +"And what did you do?" + +"I rushed into the streets," said the poor lad, "with a burning heart +and a blood-shot eye--and where did I first find myself, but with that +beldam, Mother Suddlechop--and what did she propose to me, but to take +the road?" + +"Take the road, man? in what sense?" said Richie. + +"Even as a clerk to Saint Nicholas--as a highwayman, like Poins and +Peto, and the good fellows in the play--and who think you was to be my +captain?--for she had the whole out ere I could speak to her--I fancy +she took silence for consent, and thought me damned too unutterably to +have one thought left that savoured of redemption--who was to be my +captain, but the knave that you saw me cudgel at the ordinary when you +waited on Lord Glenvarloch, a cowardly, sharking, thievish bully about +town here, whom they call Colepepper." + +"Colepepper--umph--I know somewhat of that smaik," said Richie; "ken +ye by ony chance where he may be heard of, Master Jenkin?--ye wad do +me a sincere service to tell me." + +"Why, he lives something obscurely," answered the apprentice, "on +account of suspicion of some villainy--I believe that horrid murder in +Whitefriars, or some such matter. But I might have heard all about him +from Dame Suddlechop, for she spoke of my meeting him at Enfield +Chase, with some other good fellows, to do a robbery on one that goes +northward with a store of treasure." + +"And you did not agree to this fine project?" said Moniplies. + +"I cursed her for a hag, and came away about my business," answered +Jenkin. + +"Ay, and what said she to that, man? That would startle her," said +Richie. + +"Not a whit. She laughed, and said she was in jest," answered Jenkin; +"but I know the she-devil's jest from her earnest too well to be taken +in that way. But she knows I would never betray her.' + +"Betray her! No," replied Richie; "but are ye in any shape bound to +this birkie Peppercull, or Colepepper, or whatever they call him, that +ye suld let him do a robbery on the honest gentleman that is +travelling to the north, and may be a kindly Scot, for what we know?" + +"Ay--going home with a load of English money," said Jenkin. "But be he +who he will, they may rob the whole world an they list, for I am +robbed and ruined." + +Richie filled his friend's cup up to the brim, and insisted that he +should drink what he called "clean caup out." "This love," he said, +"is but a bairnly matter for a brisk young fellow like yourself, +Master Jenkin. And if ye must needs have a whimsy, though I think it +would be safer to venture on a staid womanly body, why, here be as +bonny lasses in London as this Peg-a-Ramsay. You need not sigh sae +deeply, for it is very true--there is as good fish in the sea as ever +came out of it. Now wherefore should you, who are as brisk and trig a +young fellow of your inches as the sun needs to shine on--wherefore +need you sit moping this way, and not try some bold way to better your +fortune?" + +"I tell you, Master Moniplies," said Jenkin, "I am as poor as any Scot +among you--I have broke my indenture, and I think of running my +country." + +"A-well-a-day!" said Richie; "but that maunna be, man--I ken weel, by +sad experience, that poortith takes away pith, and the man sits full +still that has a rent in his breeks. [Footnote: This elegant speech +was made by the Earl of Douglas, called Tineman after being wounded +and made prisoner at the battle of Shrewsbury, where + +"His well labouring sword + Had three times slain the semblance of the king,"] + +But courage, man; you have served me heretofore, and I will serve you +now. If you will but bring me to speech of this same captain, it will +be the best day's work you ever did." + +"I guess where you are, Master Richard--you would save your +countryman's long purse," said Jenkin. "I cannot see how that should +advantage me, but I reck not if I should bear a hand. I hate that +braggart, that bloody-minded, cowardly bully. If you can get me +mounted I care not if I show you where the dame told me I should meet +him--but you must stand to the risk, for though he is a coward +himself, I know he will have more than one stout fellow with him." + +"We'll have a warrant, man," said Richie, "and the hue and cry, to +boot." + +"We will have no such thing," said Jenkin, "if I am to go with you. I +am not the lad to betray any one to the harmanbeck. You must do it by +manhood if I am to go with you. I am sworn to cutter's law, and will +sell no man's blood." + +"Aweel," said Richie, "a wilful man must have his way; ye must think +that I was born and bred where cracked crowns were plentier than whole +ones. Besides, I have two noble friends here, Master Lowestoffe of the +Temple, and his cousin Master Ringwood, that will blithely be of so +gallant a party." + +"Lowestoffe and Ringwood!" said Jenkin; "they are both brave gallants- +-they will be sure company. Know you where they are to be found?" + +"Ay, marry do I," replied Richie. "They are fast at the cards and +dice, till the sma' hours, I warrant them." + +"They are gentlemen of trust and honour," said Jenkin, "and, if they +advise it, I will try the adventure. Go, try if you can bring them +hither, since you have so much to say with, them. We must not be seen +abroad together.--I know not how it is, Master Moniplies," continued +he, as his countenance brightened up, and while, in his turn, he +filled the cups, "but I feel my heart something lighter since I have +thought of this matter." + +"Thus it is to have counsellors, Master Jenkin," said Richie; "and +truly I hope to hear you say that your heart is as light as a +lavrock's, and that before you are many days aulder. Never smile and +shake your head, but mind what I tell you--and bide here in the +meanwhile, till I go to seek these gallants. I warrant you, cart-ropes +would not hold them back from such a ploy as I shall propose to them." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + + The thieves have bound the true men-- + Now, could thou and I rob the thieves, and go + merrily to London. + _Henry IV., Part I._ + +The sun was high upon the glades of Enfield Chase, and the deer, with +which it then abounded, were seen sporting in picturesque groups among +the ancient oaks of the forest, when a cavalier and a lady, on foot, +although in riding apparel, sauntered slowly up one of the long alleys +which were cut through the park for the convenience of the hunters. +Their only attendant was a page, who, riding a Spanish jennet, which +seemed to bear a heavy cloak-bag, followed them at a respectful +distance. The female, attired in all the fantastic finery of the +period, with more than the usual quantity of bugles, flounces, and +trimmings, and holding her fan of ostrich feathers in one hand, and +her riding-mask of black velvet in the other, seemed anxious, by all +the little coquetry practised on such occasions, to secure the notice +of her companion, who sometimes heard her prattle without seeming to +attend to it, and at other times interrupted his train of graver +reflections, to reply to her. + +"Nay, but, my lord--my lord, you walk so fast, you will leave me +behind you.--Nay, I will have hold of your arm, but how to manage with +my mask and my fan? Why would you not let me bring my waiting- +gentlewoman to follow us, and hold my things? But see, I will put my +fan in my girdle, soh!--and now that I have a hand to hold you with, +you shall not run away from me." + +"Come on, then," answered the gallant, "and let us walk apace, since +you would not be persuaded to stay with your gentlewoman, as you call +her, and with the rest of the baggage.--You may perhaps see _that_, +though, you will not like to see." + +She took hold of his arm accordingly; but as he continued to walk at +the same pace, she shortly let go her hold, exclaiming that he had +hurt her hand. The cavalier stopped, and looked at the pretty hand and +arm which she showed him, with exclamations against his cruelty. "I +dare say," she said, baring her wrist and a part of her arm, "it is +all black and blue to the very elbow." + +"I dare say you are a silly little fool," said the cavalier, +carelessly kissing the aggrieved arm; "it is only a pretty incarnate +which sets off the blue veins." + +"Nay, my lord, now it is you are silly," answered the dame; "but I am +glad I can make you speak and laugh on any terms this morning. I am +sure, if I did insist on following you into the forest, it was all for +the sake of diverting you. I am better company than your page, I +trow.--And now, tell me, these pretty things with horns, be they not +deer?" "Even such they be, Nelly," answered her neglectful attendant. + +"And what can the great folk do with so many of them, forsooth?" + +"They send them to the city, Nell, where wise men make venison pasties +of their flesh, and wear their horns for trophies," answered Lord +Dalgarno, whom our reader has already recognised. + +"Nay, now you laugh at me, my lord," answered his companion; "but I +know all about venison, whatever you may think. I always tasted it +once a year when we dined with Mr. Deputy," she continued, sadly, as a +sense of her degradation stole across a mind bewildered with vanity +and folly, "though he would not speak to me now, if we met together in +the narrowest lane in the Ward!" + +"I warrant he would not," said Lord Dalgarno, "because thou, Nell, +wouldst dash him with a single look; for I trust thou hast more spirit +than to throw away words on such a fellow as he?" + +"Who, I!" said Dame Nelly. "Nay, I scorn the proud princox too much +for that. Do you know, he made all the folk in the Ward stand cap in +hand to him, my poor old John Christie and all?" Here her recollection +began to overflow at her eyes. + +"A plague on your whimpering," said Dalgarno, somewhat harshly,--"Nay, +never look pale for the matter, Nell. I am not angry with you, you +simple fool. But what would you have me think, when you are eternally +looking back upon your dungeon yonder by the river, which smelt of +pitch and old cheese worse than a Welshman does of onions, and all +this when I am taking you down to a castle as fine as is in Fairy +Land!" + +"Shall we be there to-night, my lord?" said Nelly, drying her tears. + +"To-night, Nelly?--no, nor this night fortnight." + +"Now, the Lord be with us, and keep us!--But shall we not go by sea, +my lord?--I thought everybody came from Scotland by sea. I am sure +Lord Glenvarloch and Richie Moniplies came up by sea." + +"There is a wide difference between coming up and going down, Nelly," +answered Lord Dalgarno. + +"And so there is, for certain," said his simple companion. "But yet I +think I heard people speaking of going down to Scotland by sea, as +well as coming up. Are you well avised of the way?--Do you think it +possible we can go by land, my sweet lord?" + +"It is but trying, my sweet lady," said Lord Dalgarno. "Men say +England and Scotland are in the same island, so one would hope there +may be some road betwixt them by land." + +"I shall never be able to ride so far," said the lady. + +"We will have your saddle stuffed softer," said the lord. "I tell you +that you shall mew your city slough, and change from the caterpillar +of a paltry lane into the butterfly of a prince's garden. You shall +have as many tires as there are hours in the day--as many handmaidens +as there are days in the week--as many menials as there are weeks in +the year--and you shall ride a hunting and hawking with a lord, +instead of waiting upon an old ship-chandler, who could do nothing but +hawk and spit" + +"Ay, but will you make me your lady?" said Dame Nelly. + +"Ay, surely--what else?" replied the lord--"My lady-love." + +"Ay, but I mean your lady-wife," said Nelly. + +"Truly, Nell, in that I cannot promise to oblige you. A lady-wife," +continued Dalgarno, "is a very different thing from a lady-love." + +"I heard from Mrs. Suddlechop, whom you lodged me with since I left +poor old John Christie, that Lord Glenvarloch is to marry David Ramsay +the clockmaker's daughter?" + +"There is much betwixt the cup and the lip, Nelly. I wear something +about me may break the bans of that hopeful alliance, before the day +is much older," answered Lord Dalgarno. + +"Well, but my father was as good a man as old Davy Ramsay, and as well +to pass in the world, my lord; and, therefore, why should you not +marry me? You have done me harm enough, I trow--wherefore should you +not do me this justice?" + +"For two good reasons, Nelly. Fate put a husband on you, and the king +passed a wife upon me," answered Lord Dalgarno. + +"Ay, my lord," said Nelly, "but they remain in England, and we go to +Scotland." + +"Thy argument is better than thou art aware of," said Lord Dalgarno. +"I have heard Scottish lawyers say the matrimonial tie may be +unclasped in our happy country by the gentle hand of the ordinary +course of law, whereas in England it can only be burst by an act of +Parliament. Well, Nelly, we will look into that matter; and whether we +get married again or no, we will at least do our best to get +unmarried." + +"Shall we indeed, my honey-sweet lord? and then I will think less +about John Christie, for he will marry again, I warrant you, for he is +well to pass; and I would be glad to think he had somebody to take +care of him, as I used to do, poor loving old man! He was a kind man, +though he was a score of years older than I; and I hope and pray he +will never let a young lord cross his honest threshold again!" + +Here the dame was once more much inclined to give way to a passion of +tears; but Lord Dalgarno conjured down the emotion, by saying with +some asperity--"I am weary of these April passions, my pretty +mistress, and I think you will do well to preserve your tears for some +more pressing occasion. Who knows what turn of fortune may in a few +minutes call for more of them than you can render?" + +"Goodness, my lord! what mean you by such expressions? John Christie +(the kind heart!) used to keep no secrets from me, and I hope your +lordship will not hide your counsel from me?" + +"Sit down beside me on this bank," said the nobleman; "I am bound to +remain here for a short space, and if you can be but silent, I should +like to spend a part of it in considering how far I can, on the +present occasion, follow the respectable example which you recommend +to me." + +The place at which he stopped was at that time little more than a +mound, partly surrounded by a ditch, from which it derived the name of +Camlet Moat. A few hewn stones there were, which had escaped the fate +of many others that had been used in building different lodges in the +forest for the royal keepers. These vestiges, just sufficient to show +that "herein former times the hand of man had been," marked the ruins +of the abode of a once illustrious but long-forgotten family, the +Mandevilles, Earls of Essex, to whom Enfield Chase and the extensive +domains adjacent had belonged in elder days. A wild woodland prospect +led the eye at various points through broad and seemingly interminable +alleys, which, meeting at this point as at a common centre, diverged +from each other as they receded, and had, therefore, been selected by +Lord Dalgarno as the rendezvous for the combat, which, through the +medium of Richie Moniplies, he had offered to his injured friend, Lord +Glenvarloch. + +"He will surely come?" he said to himself; "cowardice was not wont to +be his fault--at least he was bold enough in the Park.--Perhaps yonder +churl may not have carried my message? But no--he is a sturdy knave-- +one of those would prize their master's honour above their life.--Look +to the palfrey, Lutin, and see thou let him not loose, and cast thy +falcon glance down every avenue to mark if any one comes.--Buckingham +has undergone my challenge, but the proud minion pleads the king's +paltry commands for refusing to answer me. If I can baffle this +Glenvarloch, or slay him--If I can spoil him of his honour or his +life, I shall go down to Scotland with credit sufficient to gild over +past mischances. I know my dear countrymen--they never quarrel with +any one who brings them home either gold or martial glory, much more +if he has both gold and laurels." + +As he thus reflected, and called to mind the disgrace which he had +suffered, as well as the causes he imagined for hating Lord +Glenvarloch, his countenance altered under the influence of his +contending emotions, to the terror of Nelly, who, sitting unnoticed at +his feet, and looking anxiously in his face, beheld the cheek kindle, +the mouth become compressed, the eye dilated, and the whole +countenance express the desperate and deadly resolution of one who +awaits an instant and decisive encounter with a mortal enemy. The +loneliness of the place, the scenery so different from that to which +alone she had been accustomed, the dark and sombre air which crept so +suddenly over the countenance of her seducer, his command imposing +silence upon her, and the apparent strangeness of his conduct in +idling away so much time without any obvious cause, when a journey of +such length lay before them, brought strange thoughts into her weak +brain. She had read of women, seduced from their matrimonial duties by +sorcerers allied to the hellish powers, nay, by the Father of Evil +himself, who, after conveying his victim into some desert remote from +human kind, exchanged the pleasing shape in which he gained her +affections, for all his natural horrors. She chased this wild idea +away as it crowded itself upon her weak and bewildered imagination; +yet she might have lived to see it realised allegorically, if not +literally, but for the accident which presently followed. + +The page, whose eyes were remarkably acute, at length called out to +his master, pointing with his finger at the same time down one of the +alleys, that horsemen were advancing in that direction. Lord Dalgarno +started up, and shading his eyes with his hand, gazed eagerly down the +alley; when, at the same instant, he received a shot, which, grazing +his hand, passed right through his brain, and laid him a lifeless +corpse at the feet, or rather across the lap, of the unfortunate +victim of his profligacy. The countenance, whose varied expression she +had been watching for the last five minutes, was convulsed for an +instant, and then stiffened into rigidity for ever. Three ruffians +rushed from the brake from which the shot had been fired, ere the +smoke was dispersed. One, with many imprecations seized on the page; +another on the female, upon whose cries he strove by the most violent +threats to impose silence; whilst the third began to undo the burden +from the page's horse. But an instant rescue prevented their availing +themselves of the advantage they had obtained. + +It may easily be supposed that Richie Moniplies, having secured the +assistance of the two Templars, ready enough to join in any thing +which promised a fray, with Jin Vin to act as their guide, had set +off, gallantly mounted and well armed, under the belief that they +would reach Camlet Moat before the robbers, and apprehend them in the +fact. They had not calculated that, according to the custom of robbers +in other countries, but contrary to that of the English highwayman of +those days, they meant to ensure robbery by previous murder. An +accident also happened to delay them a little while on the road. In +riding through one of the glades of the forest, they found a man +dismounted and sitting under a tree, groaning with such bitterness of +spirit, that Lowestoffe could not forbear asking if he was hurt. In +answer, he said he was an unhappy man in pursuit of his wife, who had +been carried off by a villain; and as he raised his countenance, the +eyes of Richie, to his great astonishment, encountered the visage of +John Christie. + +"For the Almighty's sake, help me, Master Moniplies!" he said; "I have +learned my wife is but a short mile before, with that black villain +Lord Dalgarno." + +"Have him forward by all means," said Lowestoffe; "a second Orpheus +seeking his Eurydice!--Have him forward--we will save Lord Dalgarno's +purse, and ease him of his mistress--Have him with us, were it but for +the variety of the adventure. I owe his lordship a grudge for rooking +me. We have ten minutes good." + +But it is dangerous to calculate closely in matters of life and death. +In all probability the minute or two which was lost in mounting John +Christie behind one of their party, might have saved Lord Dalgarno +from his fate. Thus his criminal amour became the indirect cause of +his losing his life; and thus "our pleasant vices are made the whips +to scourge us." + +The riders arrived on the field at full gallop the moment after the +shot was fired; and Richie, who had his own reasons for attaching +himself to Colepepper, who was bustling to untie the portmanteau from +the page's saddle, pushed against him with such violence as to +overthrow him, his own horse at the same time stumbling and +dismounting his rider, who was none of the first equestrians. The +undaunted Richie immediately arose, however, and grappled with the +ruffian with such good-will, that, though a strong fellow, and though +a coward now rendered desperate, Moniplies got him under, wrenched a +long knife from his hand, dealt him a desperate stab with his own +weapon, and leaped on his feet; and, as the wounded man struggled to +follow his example, he struck him upon the head with the butt-end of a +musketoon, which last blow proved fatal. + +"Bravo, Richie!" cried Lowestoffe, who had himself engaged at sword- +point with one of the ruffians, and soon put him to flight,--"Bravo! +why, man, there lies Sin, struck down like an ox, and Iniquity's +throat cut like a calf." + +"I know not why you should upbraid me with my upbringing, Master +Lowestoffe," answered Richie, with great composure; "but I can tell +you, the shambles is not a bad place for training one to this work." + +The other Templar now shouted loudly to them,--"If ye be men, come +hither--here lies Lord Dalgarno, murdered!" + +Lowestoffe and Richie ran to the spot, and the page took the +opportunity, finding himself now neglected on all hands, to ride off +in a different direction; and neither he, nor the considerable sum +with which his horse was burdened, were ever heard of from that +moment. + +The third ruffian had not waited the attack of the Templar and Jin +Vin, the latter of whom had put down old Christie from behind him that +he might ride the lighter; and the whole five now stood gazing with +horror on the bloody corpse of the young nobleman, and the wild sorrow +of the female, who tore her hair and shrieked in the most disconsolate +manner, until her agony was at once checked, or rather received a new +direction, by the sudden and unexpected appearance of her husband, +who, fixing on her a cold and severe look, said, in a tone suited to +his manner--"Ay, woman! thou takest on sadly for the loss of thy +paramour."--Then, looking on the bloody corpse of him from whom he had +received so deep an injury, he repeated the solemn words of +Scripture,--"'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I will repay +it.'--I, whom thou hast injured, will be first to render thee the +decent offices due to the dead." + +So saying, he covered the dead body with his cloak, and then looking +on it for a moment, seemed to reflect on what he had next to perform. +As the eye of the injured man slowly passed from the body of the +seducer to the partner and victim of his crime, who had sunk down to +his feet, which she clasped without venturing to look up, his +features, naturally coarse and saturnine, assumed a dignity of +expression which overawed the young Templars, and repulsed the +officious forwardness of Richie Moniplies, who was at first eager to +have thrust in his advice and opinion. "Kneel not to me, woman," he +said, "but kneel to the God thou hast offended, more than thou couldst +offend such another worm as thyself. How often have I told thee, when +thou wert at the gayest and the lightest, that pride goeth before +destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall? Vanity brought folly, +and folly brought sin, and sin hath brought death, his original +companion. Thou must needs leave duty, and decency, and domestic love, +to revel it gaily with the wild and with the wicked; and there thou +liest like a crushed worm, writhing beside the lifeless body of thy +paramour. Thou hast done me much wrong--dishonoured me among friends-- +driven credit from my house, and peace from my fireside--But thou wert +my first and only love, and I will not see thee an utter castaway, if +it lies with me to prevent it.--Gentlemen, I render ye such thanks as +a broken-hearted man can give.--Richard, commend me to your honourable +master. I added gall to the bitterness of his affliction, but I was +deluded.--Rise up, woman, and follow me." + +He raised her up by the arm, while, with streaming eyes, and bitter +sobs, she endeavoured to express her penitence. She kept her hands +spread over her face, yet suffered him to lead her away; and it was +only as they turned around a brake which concealed the scene they had +left, that she turned back, and casting one wild and hurried glance +towards the corpse of Dalgarno, uttered a shriek, and clinging to her +husband's arm, exclaimed wildly,--"Save me--save me! They have +murdered him!" + +Lowestoffe was much moved by what he had witnessed; but he was +ashamed, as a town-gallant, of his own unfashionable emotion, and did +a force to his feelings when he exclaimed,--"Ay, let them go--the +kind-hearted, believing, forgiving husband--the liberal, accommodating +spouse. O what a generous creature is your true London husband!--Horns +hath he, but, tame as a fatted ox, he goreth not. I should like to see +her when she hath exchanged her mask and riding-beaver for her peaked +hat and muffler. We will visit them at Paul's Wharf, coz--it will be a +convenient acquaintance." + +"You had better think of catching the gipsy thief, Lutin," said Richie +Moniplies; "for, by my faith, he is off with his master's baggage and +the siller." + +A keeper, with his assistants, and several other persons, had now come +to the spot, and made hue and cry after Lutin, but in vain. To their +custody the Templars surrendered the dead bodies, and after going +through some formal investigation, they returned, with Richard and +Vincent, to London, where they received great applause for their +gallantry.--Vincent's errors were easily expiated, in consideration of +his having been the means of breaking up this band of villains; and +there is some reason to think, that what would have diminished the +credit of the action in other instances, rather added to it in the +actual circumstances, namely, that they came too late to save Lord +Dalgarno. + +George Heriot, who suspected how matters stood with Vincent, requested +and obtained permission from his master to send the poor young fellow +on an important piece of business to Paris. We are unable to trace his +fate farther, but believe it was prosperous, and that he entered into +an advantageous partnership with his fellow-apprentice, upon old Davy +Ramsay retiring from business, in consequence of his daughter's +marriage. That eminent antiquary, Dr. Dryasdust, is possessed of an +antique watch, with a silver dial-plate, the mainspring being a piece +of catgut instead of a chain, which bears the names of Vincent and +Tunstall, Memory-Monitors. + +Master Lowestoffe failed not to vindicate his character as a man of +gaiety, by inquiring after John Christie and Dame Nelly; but greatly +to his surprise, (indeed to his loss, for he had wagered ten pieces +that he would domesticate himself in the family,) he found the good- +will, as it was called, of the shop, was sold, the stock auctioned, +and the late proprietor and his wife gone, no one knew whither. The +prevailing belief was, that they had emigrated to one of the new +settlements in America. + +Lady Dalgarno received the news of her unworthy husband's death with a +variety of emotions, among which, horror that he should have been cut +off in the middle career of his profligacy, was the most prominent. +The incident greatly deepened her melancholy, and injured her health, +already shaken by previous circumstances. Repossessed of her own +fortune by her husband's death, she was anxious to do justice to Lord +Glenvarloch, by treating for the recovery of the mortgage. + +But the scrivener, having taken fright at the late events, had left +the city and absconded, so that it was impossible to discover into +whose hands the papers had now passed. Richard Moniplies was silent, +for his own reasons; the Templars, who had witnessed the transaction, +kept the secret at his request, and it was universally believed that +the scrivener had carried off the writings along with him. We may here +observe, that fears similar to those of Skurliewhitter freed London +for ever from the presence of Dame Suddlechop, who ended her career in +the _Rasp-haus_, (viz. Bridewell,) of Amsterdam. + +The stout old Lord Huntinglen, with a haughty carriage and unmoistened +eye, accompanied the funeral procession of his only son to its last +abode; and perhaps the single tear which fell at length upon the +coffin, was given less to the fate of the individual, than to the +extinction of the last male of his ancient race. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + + +_Jacques_. There is, suie, another flood toward, and these couples are +coming to the ark!--Here comes a pair of very strange beasts.--_As You +Like It_. + +The fashion of such narratives as the present, changes like other +earthly things. Time was that the tale-teller was obliged to wind up +his story by a circumstantial description of the wedding, bedding, and +throwing the stocking, as the grand catastrophe to which, through so +many circumstances of doubt and difficulty, he had at length happily +conducted his hero and heroine. Not a circumstance was then omitted, +from the manly ardour of the bridegroom, and the modest blushes of the +bride, to the parson's new surplice, and the silk tabinet mantua of +the bridesmaid. But such descriptions are now discarded, for the same +reason, I suppose, that public marriages are no longer fashionable, +and that, instead of calling together their friends to a feast and a +dance, the happy couple elope in a solitary post-chaise, as secretly +as if they meant to go to Gretna-Green, or to do worse. I am not +ungrateful for a change which saves an author the trouble of +attempting in vain to give a new colour to the commonplace description +of such matters; but, notwithstanding, I find myself forced upon it in +the present instance, as circumstances sometimes compel a stranger to +make use of an old road which has been for some time shut up. The +experienced reader may have already remarked, that the last chapter +was employed in sweeping out of the way all the unnecessary and less +interesting characters, that I might clear the floor for a blithe +bridal. + +In truth, it would be unpardonable to pass over slightly what so +deeply interested our principal personage, King James. That learned +and good-humoured monarch made no great figure in the politics of +Europe; but then, to make amends, he was prodigiously busy, when he +could find a fair opportunity of intermeddling with the private +affairs of his loving subjects, and the approaching marriage of Lord +Glenvarloch was matter of great interest to him. He had been much +struck (that is, for him, who was not very accessible to such +emotions) with the beauty and embarrassment of the pretty Peg-a- +Ramsay, as he called her, when he first saw her, and he glorified +himself greatly on the acuteness which he had displayed in detecting +her disguise, and in carrying through the whole inquiry which took +place in consequence of it. + +He laboured for several weeks, while the courtship was in progress, +with his own royal eyes, so as wellnigh to wear out, he declared, a +pair of her father's best barnacles, in searching through old books +and documents, for the purpose of establishing the bride's pretensions +to a noble, though remote descent, and thereby remove the only +objection which envy might conceive against the match. In his own +opinion, at least, he was eminently successful; for, when Sir Mungo +Malagrowther one day, in the presence-chamber, took upon him to grieve +bitterly for the bride's lack of pedigree, the monarch cut him short +with, "Ye may save your grief for your ain next occasions, Sir Mungo; +for, by our royal saul, we will uphauld her father, Davy Ramsay, to be +a gentleman of nine descents, whase great gudesire came of the auld +martial stock of the House of Dalwolsey, than whom better men never +did, and better never will, draw sword for king and country. Heard ye +never of Sir William Ramsay of Dalwolsey, man, of whom John Fordoun +saith,--'He was _bellicosissimus, nobilissimus?_'--His castle stands +to witness for itsell, not three miles from Dalkeith, man, and within +a mile of Bannockrig. Davy Ramsay came of that auld and honoured +stock, and I trust he hath not derogated from his ancestors by his +present craft. They all wrought wi' steel, man; only the auld knights +drilled holes wi' their swords in their enemies' corslets, and he saws +nicks in his brass wheels. And I hope it is as honourable to give eyes +to the blind as to slash them out of the head of those that see, and +to show us how to value our time as it passes, as to fling it away in +drinking, brawling, spear-splintering, and such-like unchristian +doings. And you maun understand, that Davy Ramsay is no mechanic, but +follows a liberal art, which approacheth almost to the act of creating +a living being, seeing it may be said of a watch, as Claudius saith of +the sphere of Archimedes, the Syracusan-- + +"Inclusus variis famulatur spiritus astris, + Et vivum certis motibus urget opus.'" + +"Your Majesty had best give auld Davy a coat-of-arms, as well as a +pedigree," said Sir Mungo. + +"It's done, or ye bade, Sir Mungo," said the king; "and I trust we, +who are the fountain of all earthly honour, are free to spirit a few +drops of it on one so near our person, without offence to the Knight +of Castle Girnigo. We have already spoken with the learned men of the +Herald's College, and we propose to grant him an augmented coat-of- +arms, being his paternal coat, charged with the crown-wheel of a watch +in chief, for a difference; and we purpose to add Time and Eternity, +for supporters, as soon as the Garter King-at-Arms shall be able to +devise how Eternity is to be represented." + +"I would make him twice as muckle as Time," [Footnote: Chaucer says, +there is nothing new but what it has been old. The reader has here the +original of an anecdote which has since been fathered on a Scottish +Chief of our own time.] said Archie Armstrong, the Court fool, who +chanced to be present when the king stated this dilemma. "Peace, man-- +ye shall be whippet," said the king, in return for this hint; "and +you, my liege subjects of England, may weel take a hint from what we +have said, and not be in such a hurry to laugh at our Scottish +pedigrees, though they be somewhat long derived, and difficult to be +deduced. Ye see that a man of right gentle blood may, for a season, +lay by his gentry, and yet ken whare to find it, when he has occasion +for it. It would be as unseemly for a packman, or pedlar, as ye call a +travelling merchant, whilk is a trade to which our native subjects of +Scotland are specially addicted, to be blazing his genealogy in the +faces of those to whom he sells a bawbee's worth of ribbon, as it +would be to him to have a beaver on his head, and a rapier by his +side, when the pack was on his shoulders. Na, na--he hings his sword +on the cleek, lays his beaver on the shelf, puts his pedigree into his +pocket, and gangs as doucely and cannily about his peddling craft as +if his blood was nae better than ditch-water; but let our pedlar be +transformed, as I have kend it happen mair than ance, into a bein +thriving merchant, then ye shall have a transformation, my lords. + +'In nova fert animus mutatas dicere formas--' + +Out he pulls his pedigree, on he buckles his sword, gives his beaver a +brush, and cocks it in the face of all creation. We mention these +things at the mair length, because we would have you all to know, that +it is not without due consideration of the circumstances of all +parties, that we design, in a small and private way, to honour with +our own royal presence the marriage of Lord Glenvarloch with Margaret +Ramsay, daughter and heiress of David Ramsay, our horologer, and a +cadet only thrice removed from the ancient house of Dalwolsey. We are +grieved we cannot have the presence of the noble Chief of that House +at the ceremony; but where there is honour to be won abroad the Lord +Dalwolsey is seldom to be found at home. _Sic fuit, est, et erit_.- +Jingling Geordie, as ye stand to the cost of the marriage feast, we +look for good cheer." + +Heriot bowed, as in duty bound. In fact, the king, who was a great +politician about trifles, had manoeuvred greatly on this occasion, and +had contrived to get the Prince and Buckingham dispatched on an +expedition to Newmarket, in order that he might find an opportunity in +their absence of indulging himself in his own gossiping, _coshering_ +habits, which were distasteful to Charles, whose temper inclined to +formality, and with which even the favourite, of late, had not thought +it worth while to seem to sympathise. When the levee was dismissed, +Sir Mungo Malagrowther seized upon the worthy citizen in the court- +yard of the Palace, and detained him, in spite of all his efforts, for +the purpose of subjecting him to the following scrutiny:-- + +"This is a sair job on you, Master George--the king must have had +little consideration--this will cost you a bonny penny, this wedding +dinner?" + +"It will not break me, Sir Mungo," answered Heriot; "the king hath a +right to see the table which his bounty hath supplied for years, well +covered for a single day." + +"Vera true, vera true--we'll have a' to pay, I doubt, less or mair--a +sort of penny-wedding it will prove, where all men contribute to the +young folk's maintenance, that they may not have just four bare legs +in a bed together. What do you propose to give, Master George?--we +begin with the city when money is in question." [Footnote: The penny- +wedding of the Scots, now disused even among the lowest ranks, was a +peculiar species of merry-making, at which, if the wedded pair were +popular, the guests who convened, contributed considerable sums under +pretence of paying for the bridal festivity, but in reality to set the +married folk afloat in the world.] + +"Only a trifle, Sir Mungo--I give my god-daughter the marriage ring; +it is a curious jewel--I bought it in Italy; it belonged to Cosmo de +Medici. The bride will not need my help--she has an estate which +belonged to her maternal grandfather." + +"The auld soap-boiler," said Sir Mungo; "it will need some of his suds +to scour the blot out of the Glenvarloch shield--I have heard that +estate was no great things." + +"It is as good as some posts at Court, Sir Mungo, which are coveted by +persons of high quality," replied George Heriot. + +"Court favour, said ye? Court favour, Master Heriot?" replied Sir +Mungo, choosing then to use his malady of misapprehension; "Moonshine +in water, poor thing, if that is all she is to be tochered with--I am +truly solicitous about them." + +"I will let you into a secret," said the citizen, "which will relieve +your tender anxiety. The dowager Lady Dalgarno gives a competent +fortune to the bride, and settles the rest of her estate upon her +nephew the bridegroom." + +"Ay, say ye sae?" said Sir Mungo, "just to show her regard to her +husband that is in the tomb--lucky that her nephew did not send him +there; it was a strange story that death of poor Lord Dalgarno--some +folk think the poor gentleman had much wrong. Little good comes of +marrying the daughter of the house you are at feud with; indeed, it +was less poor Dalgarno's fault, than theirs that forced the match on +him; but I am glad the young folk are to have something to live on, +come how it like, whether by charity or inheritance. But if the Lady +Dalgarno were to sell all she has, even to her very wylie-coat, she +canna gie them back the fair Castle of Glenvarloch--that is lost and +gane--lost and gane." + +"It is but too true," said George Heriot; "we cannot discover what has +become of the villain Andrew Skurliewhitter, or what Lord Dalgarno has +done with the mortgage." + +"Assigned it away to some one, that his wife might not get it after he +was gane; it would have disturbed him in his grave, to think +Glenvarloch should get that land back again," said Sir Mungo; "depend +on it, he will have ta'en sure measures to keep that noble lordship +out of her grips or her nevoy's either." + +"Indeed it is but too probable, Sir Mungo," said Master Heriot; "but +as I am obliged to go and look after many things in consequence of +this ceremony, I must leave you to comfort yourself with the +reflection." + +"The bride-day, you say, is to be on the thirtieth of the instant +month?" said Sir Mungo, holloing after the citizen; "I will be with +you in the hour of cause." + +"The king invites the guests," said George Heriot, without turning +back. + +"The base-born, ill-bred mechanic!" soliloquised Sir Mungo, "if it +were not the odd score of pounds he lent me last week, I would teach +him how to bear himself to a man of quality! But I will be at the +bridal banquet in spite of him." + +Sir Mungo contrived to get invited, or commanded, to attend on the +bridal accordingly, at which there were but few persons present; for +James, on such occasions, preferred a snug privacy, which gave him +liberty to lay aside the encumbrance, as he felt it to be, of his +regal dignity. The company was very small, and indeed there were at +least two persons absent whose presence might have been expected. The +first of these was the Lady Dalgarno, the state of whose health, as +well as the recent death of her husband, precluded her attendance on +the ceremony. The other absentee was Richie Moniplies, whose conduct +for some time past had been extremely mysterious. Regulating his +attendance on Lord Glenvarloch entirely according to his own will and +pleasure, he had, ever since the rencounter in Enfield Chase, appeared +regularly at his bedside in the morning, to assist him to dress, and +at his wardrobe in the evening. The rest of the day he disposed of at +his own pleasure, without control from his lord, who had now a +complete establishment of attendants. Yet he was somewhat curious to +know how the fellow disposed of so much of his time; but on this +subject Richie showed no desire to be communicative. + +On the morning of the bridal-day, Richie was particularly attentive in +doing all a valet-de-chambre could, so as to set off to advantage the +very handsome figure of his master; and when he had arranged his dress +to the utmost exactness, and put to his long curled locks what he +called "the finishing touch of the redding-kaim," he gravely kneeled +down, kissed his hand, and bade him farewell, saying that he humbly +craved leave to discharge himself of his lordship's service. + +"Why, what humour is this?" said Lord Glenvarloch; "if you mean to +discharge yourself of my service, Richie, I suppose you intend to +enter my wife's?" + +"I wish her good ladyship that shall soon be, and your good lordship, +the blessings of as good a servant as myself, in heaven's good time," +said Richie; "but fate hath so ordained it, that I can henceforth only +be your servant in the way of friendly courtesy." + +"Well, Richie," said the young lord, "if you are tired of service, we +will seek some better provision for you; but you will wait on me to +the church, and partake of the bridal dinner?" + +"Under favour, my lord," answered Richie; "I must remind you of our +covenant, having presently some pressing business of mine own, whilk +will detain me during the ceremony; but I will not fail to prie Master +George's good cheer, in respect he has made very costly fare, whilk it +would be unthankful not to partake of." + +"Do as you list," answered Lord Glenvarloch; and having bestowed a +passing thought on the whimsical and pragmatical disposition of his +follower, he dismissed the subject for others better suited to the +day. + +The reader must fancy the scattered flowers which strewed the path of +the happy couple to church--the loud music which accompanied the +procession--the marriage service performed by a bishop--the king, who +met them at Saint Paul's, giving away the bride,--to the great relief +of her father, who had thus time, during the ceremony, to calculate +the just quotient to be laid on the pinion of report in a timepiece +which he was then putting together. + +When the ceremony was finished, the company were transported in the +royal carriages to George Heriot's, where a splendid collation was +provided for the marriage-guests in the Foljambe apartments. The king +no sooner found himself in this snug retreat, than, casting from him +his sword and belt with such haste as if they burnt his fingers, and +flinging his plumed hat on the table, as who should say, Lie there, +authority! he swallowed a hearty cup of wine to the happiness of the +married couple, and began to amble about the room, mumping, laughing, +and cracking jests, neither the wittiest nor the most delicate, but +accompanied and applauded by shouts of his own mirth, in order to +encourage that of the company. Whilst his Majesty was in the midst of +this gay humour, and a call to the banquet was anxiously expected, a +servant whispered Master Heriot forth of the apartment. When he re- +entered, he walked up to the king, and, in his turn whispered +something, at which James started. + +"He is not wanting his siller?" said the king, shortly and sharply. + +"By no means, my liege," answered Heriot. "It is a subject he states +himself as quite indifferent about, so long as it can pleasure your +Majesty." + +"Body of us, man!" said the king, "it is the speech of a true man and +a loving subject, and we will grace him accordingly--what though he be +but a carle--a twopenny cat may look at a king. Swith, man! have him-- +_pundite fores_.--Moniplies?--They should have called the chield +Monypennies, though I sall warrant you English think we have not such +a name in Scotland." + +"It is an ancient and honourable stock, the Monypennies," said Sir +Mungo Malagrowther; "the only loss is, there are sae few of the name." + +"The family seems to increase among your countrymen, Sir Mungo," said +Master Lowestoffe, whom Lord Glenvarloch had invited to be present, +"since his Majesty's happy accession brought so many of you here." + +"Right, sir--right," said Sir Mungo, nodding and looking at George +Heriot; "there have some of ourselves been the better of that great +blessing to the English nation." + +As he spoke, the door flew open, and in entered, to the astonishment +of Lord Glenvarloch, his late serving-man Richie Moniplies, now +sumptuously, nay, gorgeously, attired in a superb brocaded suit, and +leading in his hand the tall, thin, withered, somewhat distorted form +of Martha Trapbois, arrayed in a complete dress of black velvet, which +suited so strangely with the pallid and severe melancholy of her +countenance, that the king himself exclaimed, in some perturbation, +"What the deil has the fallow brought us here? Body of our regal +selves! it is a corpse that has run off with the mort-cloth!" + +"May I sifflicate your Majesty to be gracious unto her?" said Richie; +"being that she is, in respect of this morning's wark, my ain wedded +wife, Mrs. Martha Moniplies by name." + +"Saul of our body, man! but she looks wondrous grim," answered King +James. "Art thou sure she has not been in her time maid of honour to +Queen Mary, our kinswoman, of redhot memory?" + +"I am sure, an it like your Majesty, that she has brought me fifty +thousand pounds of good siller, and better; and that has enabled me to +pleasure your Majesty, and other folk." + +"Ye need have said naething about that, man," said the king; "we ken +our obligations in that sma' matter, and we are glad this rudas spouse +of thine hath bestowed her treasure on ane wha kens to put it to the +profit of his king and country.--But how the deil did ye come by her, +man?" + +"In the auld Scottish fashion, my liege. She is the captive of my bow +and my spear," answered Moniplies. "There was a convention that she +should wed me when I avenged her father's death--so I slew, and took +possession." + +"It is the daughter of Old Trapbois, who has been missed so long," +said Lowestoffe.--"Where the devil could you mew her up so closely, +friend Richie?" + +"Master Richard, if it be your will," answered Richie; "or Master +Richard Moniplies, if you like it better. For mewing of her up, I +found her a shelter, in all honour and safety, under the roof of an +honest countryman of my own--and for secrecy, it was a point of +prudence, when wantons like you were abroad, Master Lowestoffe." + +There was a laugh at Richie's magnanimous reply, on the part of every +one but his bride, who made to him a signal of impatience, and said, +with her usual brevity and sternness,--"Peace--peace, I pray you, +peace. Let us do that which we came for." So saying, she took out a +bundle of parchments, and delivering them to Lord Glenvarloch, she +said aloud,--"I take this royal presence, and all here, to witness, +that I restore the ransomed lordship of Glenvarloch to the right +owner, as free as ever it was held by any of his ancestors." + +"I witnessed the redemption of the mortgage," said Lowestoffe; "but I +little dreamt by whom it had been redeemed." + +"No need ye should," said Richie; "there would have been small wisdom +in crying roast-meat." + +"Peace," said his bride, "once more.--This paper," she continued, +delivering another to Lord Glenvarloch, "is also your property--take +it, but spare me the question how it came into my custody." + +The king had bustled forward beside Lord Glenvarloch, and fixing an +eager eye on the writing, exclaimed--"Body of ourselves, it is our +royal sign-manual for the money which was so long out of sight!--How +came you by it, Mistress Bride?" + +"It is a secret," said Martha, dryly. + +"A secret which my tongue shall never utter," said Richie, +resolutely,--"unless the king commands me on my allegiance." + +"I do--I do command you," said James, trembling and stammering with +the impatient curiosity of a gossip; while Sir Mungo, with more +malicious anxiety to get at the bottom of the mystery, stooped his +long thin form forward like a bent fishing-rod, raised his thin grey +locks from his ear, and curved his hand behind it to collect every +vibration of the expected intelligence. Martha in the meantime frowned +most ominously on Richie, who went on undauntedly to inform the king, +"that his deceased father-in-law, a good careful man in the main, had +a' touch of worldly wisdom about him, that at times marred the +uprightness of his walk; he liked to dabble among his neighbour's +gear, and some of it would at times stick to his fingers in the +handling." + +"For shame, man, for shame!" said Martha; "since the infamy of the +deed must be told, be it at least briefly.--Yes, my lord," she added, +addressing Glenvarloch, "the piece of gold was not the sole bait which +brought the miserable old man to your chamber that dreadful night--his +object, and he accomplished it, was to purloin this paper. The +wretched scrivener was with him that morning, and, I doubt not, urged +the doting old man to this villainy, to offer another bar to the +ransom of your estate. If there was a yet more powerful agent at the +bottom of this conspiracy, God forgive it to him at this moment, for +he is now where the crime must be answered!" + +"Amen!" said Lord Glenvarloch, and it was echoed by all present. + +"For my father," continued she, with her stern features twitched by an +involuntary and convulsive movement, "his guilt and folly cost him his +life; and my belief is constant, that the wretch, who counselled him +that morning to purloin the paper, left open the window for the +entrance of the murderers." + +Every body was silent for an instant; the king was first to speak, +commanding search instantly to be made for the guilty scrivener. "_I, +lictor,_" he concluded, "_colliga manus--caput obnubito-infelici +suspendite arbori_." + +Lowestoffe answered with due respect, that the scrivener had absconded +at the time of Lord Dalgarno's murder, and had not been heard of +since. + +"Let him be sought for," said the king. "And now let us change the +discourse--these stories make one's very blood grew, and are +altogether unfit for bridal festivity. Hymen, O Hymenee!" added he, +snapping his fingers, "Lord Glenvarloch, what say you to Mistress +Moniplies, this bonny bride, that has brought you back your father's +estate on your bridal day?" + +"Let him say nothing, my liege," said Martha; "that will best suit his +feelings and mine." + +"There is redemption-money, at the least, to be repaid," said Lord +Glenvarloch; "in that I cannot remain debtor." + +"We will speak of it hereafter," said Martha; "_my_ debtor _you_ +cannot be." And she shut her mouth as if determined to say nothing +more on the subject. + +Sir Mungo, however, resolved not to part with the topic, and availing +himself of the freedom of the moment, said to Richie--"A queer story +that of your father-in-law, honest man; methinks your bride thanked +you little for ripping it up." + +"I make it a rule, Sir Mungo," replied Richie, "always to speak any +evil I know about my family myself, having observed, that if I do not, +it is sure to be told by ither folks." + +"But, Richie," said Sir Mungo, "it seems to me that this bride of +yours is like to be master and mair in the conjugal state." + +"If she abides by words, Sir Mungo," answered Richie, "I thank heaven +I can be as deaf as any one; and if she comes to dunts, I have twa +hands to paik her with." + +"Weel said, Richie, again," said the king; "you have gotten it on +baith haffits, Sir Mungo.--Troth, Mistress Bride, for a fule, your +gudeman has a pretty turn of wit." + +"There are fools, sire," replied she, "who have wit, and fools who +have courage--aye, and fools who have learning, and are great fools +notwithstanding.--I chose this man because he was my protector when I +was desolate, and neither for his wit nor his wisdom. He is truly +honest, and has a heart and hand that make amends for some folly. +Since I was condemned to seek a protector through the world, which is +to me a wilderness, I may thank God that I have come by no worse." + +"And that is sae sensibly said," replied the king, "that, by my saul, +I'll try whether I canna make him better. Kneel down, Richie--somebody +lend me a rapier--yours, Mr. Langstaff, (that's a brave name for a +lawyer,)--ye need not flash it out that gate, Templar fashion, as if +ye were about to pink a bailiff!" + +He took the drawn sword, and with averted eyes, for it was a sight he +loved not to look on, endeavoured to lay it on Richie's shoulder, but +nearly stuck it into his eye. Richie, starting back, attempted to +rise, but was held down by Lowestoffe, while Sir Mungo, guiding the +royal weapon, the honour-bestowing blow was given and received: +"_Surge, carnifex_--Rise up, Sir Richard Moniplies, of Castle-Collop!- +-And, my lords and lieges, let us all to our dinner, for the cock-a- +leekie is cooling." + + + + +NOTES + + +Note I. p. l4.--DAVID RAMSAY + +David Ramsay, watchmaker and horologer to James I., was a real person, +though the author has taken the liberty of pressing him into the +service of fiction. Although his profession led him to cultivate the +exact sciences, like many at this period he mingled them with pursuits +which were mystical and fantastic. The truth was, that the boundaries +between truth and falsehood in mathematics, astronomy, and similar +pursuits, were not exactly known, and there existed a sort of _terra +incognita_ between them, in which the wisest men bewildered +themselves. David Ramsay risked his money on the success of the +vaticinations which his researches led him to form, since he sold +clocks and watches under condition, that their value should not become +payable till King James was crowned in the Pope's chair at Rome. Such +wagers were common in that day, as may be seen by looking at Jonson's +Every Man out of his Humour. + +David Ramsay was also an actor in another singular scene, in which the +notorious astrologer Lilly was a performer, and had no small +expectation on the occasion, since he brought with him a half-quartern +sack to put the treasure in. + +"David Ramsay, his Majesty's clock-maker, had been informed that there +was a great quantity of treasure buried in the cloister of Westminster +Abbey. He acquaints Dean Withnam therewith, who was also then Bishop +of Lincoln. The Dean gave him liberty to search after it, with this +proviso, that if any was discovered, his church should have a share of +it. Davy Ramsay finds out one John Scott, who pretended the use of the +Mosaical rods, to assist him herein. [Footnote: The same now called, I +believe, the Divining Rod, and applied to the discovery of water not +obvious to the eye.] I was desired to join with him, unto which I +consented. One winter's night, Davy Ramsay, with several gentlemen, +myself, and Scott, entered the cloisters. We played the hazel rods +round about the cloisters. Upon the west end of the cloisters the rods +turned one over another, an argument that the treasure was there. The +labourers digged at least six feet deep, and then we met with a +coffin; but which, in regard it was not heavy, we did not open, which +we afterwards much repented. + +"From the cloisters we went into the abbey church, where, upon a +sudden, (there being no wind when we began,) so fierce and so high, so +blustering and loud a wind did rise, that we verily believed the west +end of the church would have fallen upon us. Our rods would not move +at all; the candles and torches, also, but one were extinguished, or +burned very dimly. John Scott, my partner, was amazed, looked pale, +knew not what to think or do, until I gave directions and command to +dismiss the demons; which, when done, all was quiet again, and each +man returned unto his lodging late, about twelve o'clock at night. I +could never since be induced to join with any such like actions. + +"The true miscarriage of the business was by reason of so many people +being present at the operation; for there was about thirty, some +laughing, others deriding us; so that, if we had not dismissed the +demons, I believe most part of the abbey church would have been blown +down. Secrecy and intelligent operators, with a strong confidence and +knowledge of what they are doing, are best for the work."--LILLY'S +_Life and Times_, p. 46. + +David Ramsay had a son called William Ramsay, who appears to have +possessed all his father's credulity. He became an astrologer, and in +1651-2 published "_Vox Stellarum_, an Introduction to the Judgment of +Eclipses and the Annual Revolutions of the World." The edition of 1652 +is inscribed, to his father. It would appear, as indeed it might be +argued from his mode of disposing of his goods, that the old horologer +had omitted to make hay while the sun shone; for his son, in his +dedication, has this exception to the paternal virtues, "It's true +your carelessness in laying up while the sun shone for the tempests of +a stormy day, hath given occasion to some inferior spirited people not +to value you according to what you are by nature and in yourself, for +such look not to a man longer than he is in prosperity, esteeming none +but for their wealth, not wisdom, power, nor virtue." From these +expressions, it is to be apprehended that while old David Ramsay, a +follower of the Stewarts, sunk under the Parliamentary government, his +son, William, had advanced from being a dupe to astrology to the +dignity of being himself a cheat. + +Note II. p. 27.-GEORGE HERIOT + +This excellent person was but little known by his actions when alive, +but we may well use, in this particular, the striking phrase of +Scripture, "that being dead he yet speaketh." We have already +mentioned, in the Introduction, the splendid charity of which he was +the founder; the few notices of his personal history are slight and +meagre. + +George Heriot was born at Trabroun, in the parish of Gladsmuir; he was +the eldest son of a goldsmith in Edinburgh, descended from a family of +some consequence in East Lothian. His father enjoyed the confidence of +his fellow-citizens, and was their representative in Parliament. He +was, besides, one of the deputies sent by the inhabitants of the city +to propitiate the King, when he had left Edinburgh abruptly, after the +riot of 17th December, 1596. + +George Heriot, the son, pursued his father's occupation of a +goldsmith, then peculiarly lucrative, and much connected with that of +a money-broker. He enjoyed the favour and protection of James, and of +his consort, Anne of Denmark. He married, for his first wife, a maiden +of his own rank, named Christian Marjoribanks, daughter of a +respectable burgess. This was in 1586. He was afterwards named +jeweller to the Queen, whose account to him for a space of ten years +amounted to nearly L40,000. George Heriot, having lost his wife, +connected himself with the distinguished house of Rosebery, by +marrying a daughter of James Primrose, Clerk to the Privy Council. Of +this lady he was deprived by her dying in child-birth in 1612, before +attaining her twenty-first year. After a life spent in honourable and +successful industry, George Heriot died in London, to which city he +had followed his royal master, on the 12th February, 1624, at the age +of sixty-one years. His picture, (copied by Scougal from a lost +original,) in which he is represented in the prime of life, is thus +described: "His fair hair, which overshades the thoughtful brow and +calm calculating eye, with the cast of humour on the lower part of the +countenance, are all indicative of the genuine Scottish character, and +well distinguish a person fitted to move steadily and wisely through +the world, with a strength of resolution to ensure success, and a +disposition to enjoy it."--_Historical and Descriptive Account of +Heriot's Hospital, with a Memoir of the Founder, by Messrs James and +John Johnstone._ Edinburgh, 1827. + +I may add, as every thing concerning George Heriot is interesting, +that his second wife, Alison Primrose, was interred in Saint Gregory's +Church, from the register of which parish the Rev. Mr. Barham, Rector, +has, in the kindest manner, sent me the following extract:--"Mrs. +Alison, the wife of Mr. George Heriot, gentleman, 2Oth April, 1612." +Saint Gregory's, before the Great Fire of London which consumed the +Cathedral, formed one of the towers of old Saint Paul's, and occupied +the space of ground now filled by Queen Anne's statue. In the south +aisle of the choir Mrs. Heriot reposed under a handsome monument, +bearing the following inscription:-- + +_"Sanctissimae et charissimae conjugi ALISONAE HERIOT, Jacobi +Primrosii, Regia Majestatis in Sanctiori Concilio Regni Scotia +Amanuensis, filiae, fernina omnibus turn animi turn corporis dotibus, +ac pio cultu instructissimae, maestissimus ipsius maritus GEORGIUS +HERIOT, ARMIGER, Regis, Reginae, Principum Henrici et Caroli +Gemmarius, bene merenti, non sine lachrymis, hoc Monumentum pie +posuit. + +"Obiit Mensis Aprilis die 16, anno salutis 1612, aetatis 20, in ipso +flore juventae, et mihi, parentibus, et amicis tristissimum sui +desiderium reliquit. + + Hic Alicia Primrosa + Jacet crudo abruta fato, + Intempestivas + Ut rosa pressa manus. + Nondum bisdenos + Annorum impleverat orbes, + Pulchra, pudica, + Patris delicium atque viri: + Quum gravida, heu! Nunquam + Mater, decessit, et inde + Cura dolorq: Patri, + Cura dolorq: viro. + Non sublata tamen + Tantum translata recessit; + Nunc Rosa prima Poli + Quae fuit antea soli."_ + +The loss of a young, beautiful, and amiable partner, at a period so +interesting, was the probable reason of her husband devoting his +fortune to a charitable institution. The epitaph occurs in Strype's +edition of _Stewe's Survey of London_, Book iii., page 228. + +Note III. p. 39.--PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE SCOTS COMING TO ENGLAND + +The English agreed in nothing more unanimously than in censuring James +on account of the beggarly rabble which not only attended the King at +his coming first out of Scotland, "but," says Osborne, "which, through +his whole reign, like a fluent spring, were found still crossing the +Tweed." Yet it is certain, from the number of proclamations published +by the Privy Council in Scotland, and bearing marks of the King's own +diction, that he was sensible of the whole inconveniences and +unpopularity attending the importunate crowd of disrespectable +suitors, and as desirous to get rid of them as his Southern subjects +could be. But it was in vain that his Majesty argued with his Scottish +subjects on the disrespect they were bringing on their native country +and sovereign, by causing the English to suppose there were no well- +nurtured or independent gentry in Scotland, they who presented +themselves being, in the opinion and conceit of all beholders, "but +idle rascals, and poor miserable bodies." It was even in vain that the +vessels which brought up this unwelcome cargo of petitioners were +threatened with fine and confiscation; the undaunted suitors continued +to press forward, and, as one of the proclamations says, many of them +under pretence of requiring payment of "auld debts due to them by the +King," which, it is observed with great _naivete_, "is, of all kinds +of importunity, most unpleasing to his Majesty." The expressions in +the text are selected from these curious proclamations. + +NOTE IV. p. 59.--KING JAMES + +The dress of this monarch, together with his personal appearance, is +thus described by a contemporary:-- + +"He was of a middle stature, more corpulent through [i.e. by means of] +his clothes than in his body, yet fat enough. His legs were very weak, +having had, as was thought, some foul play in his youth, or rather +before he was born, that he was not able to stand at seven years of +age. That weakness made him ever leaning on other men's shoulders. His +walk was even circular; his hands are in that walk ever fiddling +about----[a part of dress now laid aside]. He would make a great deal +too bold with God in his passion, both with cursing and swearing, and +a strain higher verging on blasphemy; but would, in his better temper, +say, he hoped God would not impute them as sins, and lay them to his +charge, seeing they proceeded from passion. He had need of great +assistance, rather than hope, that would daily make thus bold with +God."--DALZELL'S _Sketches of Scottish History _, p. 86. + +NOTE V. p. 78.--SIR MUNGO MALAGROWTHER + +It will perhaps be recognised by some of my countrymen, that the +caustic Scottish knight, as described in the preceding chapter, +borrowed some of his attributes from a most worthy and respectable +baronet, who was to be met with in Edinburgh society about twenty-five +or thirty years ago. It is not by any means to be inferred, that the +living person resembled the imaginary one in the course of life +ascribed to him, or in his personal attributes. But his fortune was +little adequate to his rank and the antiquity of his family; and, to +avenge himself of this disparity, the worthy baronet lost no +opportunity of making the more avowed sons of fortune feel the edge of +his satire. This he had the art of disguising under the personal +infirmity of deafness, and usually introduced his most severe things +by an affected mistake of what was said around him. For example, at a +public meeting of a certain county, this worthy gentleman had chosen +to display a laced coat, of such a pattern as had not been seen in +society for the better part of a century. The young men who were +present amused themselves with rallying him on his taste, when he +suddenly singled out one of the party:--"Auld d'ye think my coat-- +auld-fashioned?--indeed it canna be new; but it was the wark of a braw +tailor, and that was your grandfather, who was at the head of the +trade in Edinburgh about the beginning of last century." Upon another +occasion, when this type of Sir Mungo Malagrowther happened to hear a +nobleman, the high chief of one of those Border clans who were accused +of paying very little attention in ancient times to the distinctions +of _Meum_ and _Tuum,_ addressing a gentleman of the same name, as if +conjecturing there should be some relationship between them, he +volunteered to ascertain the nature of the connexion by saying, that +the "chief's ancestors had _stolen_ the cows, and the other +gentleman's ancestors had _killed_ them,"--fame ascribing the origin +of the latter family to a butcher. It may be well imagined, that among +a people that have been always punctilious about genealogy, such a +person, who had a general acquaintance with all the flaws and specks +in the shields of the proud, the pretending, and the nouveaux riches, +must have had the same scope for amusement as a monkey in a china +shop. + +Note VI. p. 98.--MRS. ANNE TURNER + +Mrs. Anne Turner was a dame somewhat of the occupation of Mrs. +Suddlechop in the text; that is, half milliner half procuress, and +secret agent in all manner of proceedings. She was a trafficker in the +poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, for which so many subordinate agents +lost their lives, while, to the great scandal of justice, the Earl of +Somerset and his Countess were suffered to escape, upon a threat of +Somerset to make public some secret which nearly affected his master, +King James. Mrs. Turner introduced into England a French custom of +using yellow starch in getting up bands and cuffs, and, by Lord Coke's +orders, she appeared in that fashion at the place of execution. She +was the widow of a physician, and had been eminently beautiful, as +appears from the description of her in the poem called Overbury's +Vision. There was produced in court a parcel of dolls or puppets +belonging to this lady, some naked, some dressed, and which she used +for exhibiting fashions upon. But, greatly to the horror of the +spectators, who accounted these figures to be magical devices, there +was, on their being shown, "heard a crack from the scaffold, which +caused great fear, tumult, and confusion, among the spectators and +throughout the hall, every one fearing hurt, as if the devil had been +present, and grown angry to have his workmanship showed to such as +were not his own scholars." Compare this curious passage in the +History of King James for the First Fourteen Years, 1651, with the +Aulicus Coquinarius of Dr. Heylin. Both works are published in the +Secret History of King James. + +Note VII. p. 110.--LORD HUNTINGLEN + +The credit of having rescued James I. from the dagger of Alexander +Ruthven, is here fictitiously ascribed to an imaginary Lord +Huntinglen. In reality, as may be read in every history, his preserver +was John Ramsay, afterwards created Earl of Holderness, who stabbed +the younger Ruthven with his dagger while he was struggling with the +King. Sir Anthony Weldon informs us, that, upon the annual return of +the day, the King's deliverance was commemorated by an anniversary +feast. The time was the fifth of August, "upon which," proceeds the +satirical historian, "Sir John Ramsay, for his good service in that +preservation, was the principal guest, and so did the King grant him +any boon he would ask that day. But he had such limitation made to his +asking, as made his suit as unprofitable, as the action for which he +asked it for was unserviceable to the King." + +Note VIII. p. 115.--BUCKINGHAM + +Buckingham, who had a frankness in his high and irascible ambition, +was always ready to bid defiance to those by whom he was thwarted or +opposed. He aspired to be created Prince of Tipperary in Ireland, and +Lord High Constable of England. Coventry, then Lord Keeper, opposed +what seemed such an unreasonable extent of power as was annexed to the +office of Constable. On this opposition, according to Sir Anthony +Weldon, "the Duke peremptorily accosted Coventry, 'Who made you Lord +Keeper, Coventry?' He replied, 'The King.' Buckingham replied, 'It's +false; 'twas I did make you, and you shall know that I, who made you, +can, and will, unmake you.' Coventry thus answered him, 'Did I +conceive that I held my place by your favour, I would presently unmake +myself, by rendering up the seals to his Majesty.' Then Buckingham, in +a scorn and fury, flung from him, saying, 'You shall not keep it +long;' and surely, had not Felton prevented him, he had made good his +word."--WELDON'S _Court of King James and Charles._ + + Note IX. p. 134.--PAGES IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY + +About this time the ancient customs arising from the long prevalence +of chivalry, began to be grossly varied from the original purposes of +the institution. None was more remarkable than the change which took +place in the breeding and occupation of pages. This peculiar species +of menial originally consisted of youths of noble birth, who, that +they might be trained to the exercise of arms, were early removed from +their paternal homes, where too much indulgence might have been +expected, to be placed in the family of some prince or man of rank and +military renown, where they served, as it were, an apprenticeship to +the duties of chivalry and courtesy. Their education was severely +moral, and pursued with great strictness in respect to useful +exercises, and what were deemed elegant accomplishments. From being +pages, they were advanced to the next gradation of squires; from +squires, these candidates for the honours of knighthood were +frequently made knights. + +But in the sixteenth century the page had become, in many instances, a +mere domestic, who sometimes, by the splendour of his address and +appearance, was expected to make up in show for the absence of a whole +band of retainers with swords and bucklers. We have Sir John's +authority when he cashiers part of his train. + + "Falstaff will learn the humour of the age, + French thrift, you rogues, myself and skirted page." + +Jonson, in a high tone of moral indignation, thus reprobated the +change. The Host of the New Inn replies to Lord Lovel, who asks to +have his son for a page, that he would, with his own hands hang him, +sooner + + "Than damn him to this desperate course of life. + _LOVEL._ Call you that desperate, which, by a line + Of institution, from our ancestors + Hath been derived down to us, and received + In a succession, for the noblest way + Of brushing up our youth, in letters, arms, + Fair mien, discourses civil, exercise, + And all the blazon of a gentleman? + Where can he learn to vault, to ride, to fence, + To move his body gracefully, to speak + The language pure, or to turn his mind + Or manners more to the harmony of nature, + Than in these nurseries of nobility? + _HOST._ Ay, that was when the nursery's self was noble, + And only virtue made it, not the market, + That titles were not vended at the drum + And common outcry; goodness gave the greatness, + And greatness worship; every house became + An academy, and those parts + We see departed in the practice now + Quite from the institution. + _LOVEL._ Why do you say so, + Or think so enviously? do they not still + Learn us the Centaur's skill, the art of Thrace, + To ride? or Pollux' mystery, to fence? + The Pyrrhick gestures, both to stand and spring + In armour; to be active for the wars; + To study figures, numbers and proportions, + May yield them great in counsels and the art; + To make their English sweet upon their tongue? + As reverend Chaucer says. + _HOST._ Sir, you mistake; + To play Sir Pandarus, my copy hath it, + And carry messages to Madam Cressid; + Instead of backing the brave steed o'mornings. + To kiss the chambermaid, and for a leap + O' the vaulting horse, to ply the vaulting house; + For exercise of arms a bale of dice, + And two or three packs of cards to show the cheat + And nimbleness of hand; mistake a cloak + From my lord's back, and pawn it; ease his pockets + Of a superfluous watch, or geld a jewel + Of an odd stone or so; twinge three or four buttons + From off my lady's gown: These are the arts, + Or seven liberal deadly sciences, + Of pagery, or rather paganism, + As the tides run; to which, if he apply him, + He may, perhaps, take a degree at Tyburn, + A year the earlier come to read a lecture + Upon Aquinas, at Saint Thomas-a-Watering's + And so go forth a laureate in hemp-circle." + The New Inn, Act I. + +Note X. p. 135.--LORD HENRY HOWARD + +Lord Henry Howard was the second son of the poetical Earl of Surrey, +and possessed considerable parts and learning. He wrote, in the year +1583, a book called, _A Defensative against the Poison of supposed +Prophecies._ He gained the favour of Queen Elizabeth, by having, he +says, directed his battery against a sect of prophets and pretended +soothsayers, whom he accounted _infesti regibus,_ as he expresses it. +In the last years of the Queen, he became James's most ardent +partisan, and conducted with great pedantry, but much intrigue, the +correspondence betwixt the Scottish King and the younger Cecil. Upon +James's accession, he was created Earl of Northampton, and Lord Privy +Seal. According to De Beaumont the French Ambassador, Lord Henry +Howard, was one of the greatest flatterers and calumniators that ever +lived. + +Note XI. p. 136.--SKIRMISHES IN THE PUBLIC STREETS + +Edinburgh appears to have been one of the most disorderly towns in +Europe, during the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth century. +The Diary of the honest citizen Birrel, repeatedly records such +incidents as the following: "The 24 of November [1567], at two +afternoon, the Laird of Airth and the Laird of Weems met on the High +Gate of Edinburgh, and they and their followers fought a very bloody +skirmish, where there were many hurt on both sides with shot of +pistol." These skirmishes also took place in London itself. In +Shadwell's play of _The Scowrers,_ an old rake thus boasts of his +early exploits:--"I knew the Hectors, and before them the Muns, and +the Tityretu's; they were brave fellows indeed! In these days, a man +could not go from the Rose Garden to the Piazza once, but he must +venture his life twice, my dear Sir Willie." But it appears that the +affrays, which, in the Scottish capital, arose out of hereditary +quarrels and ancient feuds, were in London the growth of the +licentiousness and arrogance of young debauchees. + +Note XII. p. 144.--FRENCH COOKERY + +The exertion of French ingenuity mentioned in the text is noticed by +some authorities of the period; the siege of Leith was also +distinguished by the protracted obstinacy of the besieged, in which +was displayed all that the age possessed of defensive war, so that +Brantome records that those who witnessed this siege, had, from that +very circumstance, a degree of consequence yielded to their persons +and opinions. He tells a story of Strozzi himself, from which it +appears that his jests lay a good deal in the line of the cuisine. He +caused a mule to be stolen from one Brusquet, on whom he wished to +play a trick, and served up the flesh of that unclean animal so well +disguised, that it passed with Brusquet for venison. + +Note XIII. p. 145.--CUCKOO'S NEST + +The quarrel in this chapter between the pretended captain and the +citizen of London, is taken from a burlesque poem called The Counter +Scuffle, that is, the Scuffle in the Prison at Wood street, so called. +It is a piece of low humour, which had at the time very considerable +vogue. The prisoners, it seems, had fallen into a dispute amongst +themselves "which calling was of most repute," and a lawyer put in his +claim to be most highly considered. The man of war repelled his +pretence with much arrogance. + + "'Wer't not for us, thou swad,' quoth he, + 'Where wouldst thou fay to get a fee? + But to defend such things as thee + 'Tis pity; + For such as you esteem us least, + Who ever have been ready prest + To guard you and your cuckoo's nest, + The City'" + +The offence is no sooner given than it is caught up by a gallant +citizen, a goldsmith, named Ellis. + + "'Of London city I am free, + And there I first my wife did see, + And for that very cause,' said he, + 'I love it. + + And he that calls it cuckoo's nest, + Except he say he speaks in jest, + He is a villain and a beast,-- + 'I'll prove it! + + For though I am a man of trade, + And free of London city made, + Yet can I use gun, bill, and blade, + In battle. + + And citizens, if need require, + Themselves can force the foe retire, + Whatever this low country squire + May prattle.'" + +The dispute terminates in the scuffle, which is the subject of the +poem. The whole may be found in the second edition of Dryden's +_Miscellany,_ 12mo, vol. iii. 1716. + +Note XIV. p. 150.--BURBAGE + +Burbage, whom Camden terms another Roscius, was probably the original +representative of Richard III., and seems to have been early almost +identified with his prototype. Bishop Corbet, in his Iter Boreale, +tells us that mine host of Market Bosworth was full of ale and +history. + + "Hear him, See you yon wood? there Richard lay + With his whole army; look the other way, + And lo, where Richmond, in a field of gorse, + Encamp'd himself in might and all his force. + Upon this hill they met. Why, he could tell + The inch where Richmond stood, where Richard fell; + Besides, what of his knowledge he could say, + He had authentic notice from the play, + Which I might guess by's mustering up the ghosts + And policies not incident to hosts; + But chiefly by that one perspicuous thing, + Where he mistook a player for a king, + For when he would have said, that Richard died, + And call'd, a horse! a horse! he Burbage cried." + + RICHARD CORBET'S _Poems, Edition 1815,_ p. 193. + +Note XV. p. 323.--MHIC-ALLASTAR-MORE + +This is the Highland patronymic of the late gallant Chief of +Glengarry. The allusion in the text is to an unnecessary alarm taken +by some lady, at the ceremonial of the coronation of George IV., at +the sight of the pistols which the Chief wore as a part of his +Highland dress. The circumstance produced some confusion, which was +talked of at the time. All who knew Glengarry (and the author knew him +well) were aware that his principles were of devoted loyalty to the +person of his sovereign. + +Note XVI. p. 323.--KING JAMES'S HUNTING BOTTLE + +Roger Coke, in his Detection of the Court and State of England, +London, 1697, p.70, observes of James I., "The king was excessively +addicted to hunting, and drinking, not ordinary French and Spanish +wines, but strong Greek wines, and thought he would compound his +hunting with these wines; and to that purpose, he was attended by a +special officer, who was, as much as he could be, always at hand to +fill the King's cup in hunting when he called for it. I have heard my +father say, that, hunting with the King, after the King had drank of +the wine, he also drank of it; and though he was young, and of a +healthful disposition, it so deranged his head that it spoiled his +pleasure and disordered him for three days after. Whether it was from +drinking these wines, or from some other cause, the King became so +lazy and so unwieldy, that he was trussed on horseback, and as he was +set, so would he ride, without stirring himself in the saddle; nay, +when his hat was set upon his head he would not take the trouble to +alter it, but it sate as it was put on." + +The trussing, for which the demipique saddle of the day afforded +particular facility, is alluded to in the text; and the author, among +other nickcnacks of antiquity, possesses a leathern flask, like those +carried by sportsmen, which is labelled, "King James's Hunting +Bottle," with what authenticity is uncertain. Coke seems to have +exaggerated the King's taste for the bottle. Welldon says James was +not intemperate in his drinking; "However, in his old age, +Buckingham's jovial suppers, when he had any turn to do with him, made +him sometimes overtaken, which he would the next day remember, and +repent with tears. It is true he drank very often, which was rather +out of a custom than any delight; and his drinks were of that kind for +strength, as Frontiniack, Canary, high country wine, tent wine, and +Scottish ale, that had he not had a very strong brain, he might have +been daily overtaken, though he seldom drank at any one time above +four spoonfuls, many times not above one or two."--_Secret History of +King James,_ vol. ii., p. 3. Edin. 1811. + +Note XVII. p. 325.--SCENE IN GREENWICH PARK + +I cannot here omit mentioning, that a painting of the old school is in +existence, having a remarkable resemblance to the scene described in +the foregoing chapter, although it be nevertheless true that the +similarity is in all respects casual, and that the author knew not of +the existence of the painting till it was sold, amongst others, with +the following description attached to it in a well-drawn-up catalogue: + + "FREDERIGO ZUCCHERO + _"Scene as represented in the Fortunes of Nigel, by Frederigo +Zucchero, the King's painter._ + +"This extraordinary picture, which, independent of its pictorial +merit, has been esteemed a great literary curiosity, represents most +faithfully the meeting, in Greenwich Park, between King James and +Nigel Oliphaunt, as described in the Fortunes of Nigel, showing that +the author must have taken the anecdote from authenticated facts. In +the centre of the picture sits King James on horseback, very erect and +stiffly. Between the King and Prince Charles, who is on the left of +the picture, the Duke of Buckingham is represented riding a black +horse, and pointing eagerly towards the culprit, Nigel Olifaunt, who +is standing on the right side of the picture. He grasps with his right +hand a gun, or crossbow, and looks angrily towards the King, who seems +somewhat confused and alarmed. Behind Nigel, his servant is +restraining two dogs which are barking fiercely. Nigel and his servant +are both clothed in red, the livery of the Oliphaunt family in which, +to this day, the town-officers of Perth are clothed, there being an +old charter, granting to the Oliphaunt family, the privilege of +dressing the public officers of Perth in their livery. The Duke of +Buckingham is in all respects equal in magnificence of dress to the +King or the Prince. The only difference that is marked between him and +royalty is, that his head is uncovered. The King and the Prince wear +their hats. In Letitia Aikin's Memoirs of the Reign of King James, +will be found a letter from Sir Thomas Howard to Lord L. Harrington, +in which he recommends the latter to come to court, mentioning that +his Majesty has spoken favourably of him. He then proceeds to give him +some advice, by which he is likely to find favour in the King's eyes. +He tells him to wear a bushy ruff, well starched; and after various +other directions as to his dress, he concludes, 'but above all things +fail not to praise the roan jennet whereon the King doth daily ride.' +In this picture King James is represented on the identical roan +jennet. In the background of the picture are seen two or three +suspicious-looking figures, as if watching the success of some plot. +These may have been put in by the painter, to flatter the King, by +making it be supposed that he had actually escaped, or successfully +combated, some serious plot. The King is attended by a numerous band +of courtiers and attendants, all of whom seem moving forward to arrest +the defaulter. The painting of this picture is extremely good, but the +drawing is very Gothic, and there is no attempt at the keeping of +perspective. The picture is very dark and obscure, which considerably +adds to the interest of the scene." + +Note XVIII. p. 325.--KING JAMES'S TIMIDITY + +The fears of James for his personal safety were often excited without +serious grounds. On one occasion, having been induced to visit a coal- +pit on the coast of Fife, he was conducted a little way under the sea, +and brought to daylight again on a small island, or what was such at +full tide, down which a shaft had been sunk. James, who conceived his +life or liberty aimed at, when he found himself on an islet surrounded +by the sea, instead of admiring, as his cicerone hoped, the unexpected +change of scene, cried TREASON with all his might, and could not be +pacified till he was rowed ashore. At Lockmaben he took an equally +causeless alarm from a still slighter circumstance. Some vendisses, a +fish peculiar to the Loch, were presented to the royal table as a +delicacy; but the King, who was not familiar with their appearance, +concluded they were poisoned, and broke up the banquet "with most +admired disorder." + +Note XIX. p. 328.--TRAITOR'S GATE + +Traitor's Gate, which opens from the Tower of London to the Thames, +was, as its name implies, that by which persons accused of state +offences were conveyed to their prison. When the tide is making, and +the ancient gate is beheld from within the buildings, it used to be a +most striking part of the old fortress; but it is now much injured in +appearance, being half built up with masonry to support a steam- +engine, or something of that sort. + +Note XX. p. 361.--PUNISHMENT OF STUBBS BY MUTILATION + +This execution, which so captivated the imagination of Sir Mungo +Malagrowther, was really a striking one. The criminal, a furious and +bigoted Puritan, had published a book in very violent terms against +the match of Elizabeth with the Duke of Alencon, which he termed an +union of a daughter of God with a son of antichrist. Queen Elizabeth +was greatly incensed at the freedom assumed in this work, and caused +the author Stubbs, with Page the publisher, and one Singleton the +printer, to be tried on an act passed by Philip and Mary against the +writers and dispersers of seditious publications. They were convicted, +and although there was an opinion strongly entertained by the lawyers, +that the act was only temporary, and expired with Queen Mary, Stubbs +and Page received sentence to have their right hands struck off. They +accordingly suffered the punishment, the wrist being divided by a +cleaver driven through the joint by force of a mallet. The printer was +pardoned. "I remember," says the historian Camden, "being then +present, that Stubbs, when his right hand was cut off, plucked off his +hat with the left, and said, with a loud voice, 'God save the Queen!' +The multitude standing about was deeply silent, either out of horror +of this new and unwonted kind of punishment, or out of commiseration +towards the man, as being of an honest and unblamable repute, or else +out of hatred to the marriage, which most men presaged would be the +overthrow of religion."-CAMDBN'S _Annals for the Year_ 1581. + +Note XXI. p. 375.--RlCHIE MONIPLIES BEHIND THE ARRAS + +The practical jest of Richie Moniplies going behind the arras to get +an opportunity of teasing Heriot, was a pleasantry such as James might +be supposed to approve of. It was customary for those who knew his +humour to contrive jests of this kind for his amusement. The +celebrated Archie Armstrong, and another jester called Drummond, +mounted on other people's backs, used to charge each other like +knights in the tilt-yard, to the monarch's great amusement. The +following is an instance of the same kind, taken from Webster upon +Witchcraft. The author is speaking of the faculty called +ventriloquism. + +But to make this more plain and certain, we shall add a story of a +notable impostor, or ventriloquist, from the testimony of Mr. Ady, +which we have had confirmed from the mouth of some courtiers, that +both saw and knew him, and is this:--It hath been (saith he) credibly +reported, that there was a man in the court of King James his days, +that could act this imposture so lively, that he could call the King +by name, and cause the King to look round about him, wondering who it +was that called him, whereas he that called him stood before him in +his presence, with his face towards him. But after this imposture was +known, the King, in his merriment, would sometimes take occasionally +this impostor to make sport upon some of his courtiers, as, for +instance:-- + +"There was a knight belonging to the court, whom the King caused to +come before him in his private room, (where no man was but the King, +and this knight and the impostor,) and feigned some occasion of +serious discourse with the knight; but when the King began to speak +and the knight bending his attention to the King, suddenly there came +a voice as out of another room, calling the knight by name, 'Sir John, +Sir John; come away, Sir John;' at which the knight began to frown +that any man should be unmannerly as to molest the King and him; and +still listening to the King's discourse, the voice came again, 'Sir +John, Sir John; come away and drink off your sack.' At that Sir John +began to swell with anger, and looked into the next room to see who it +was that dared to call him so importunately, and could not find out +who it was, and having chid with whomsoever he found, he returned +again to the King. The King had no sooner begun to speak as formerly, +but the voice came again, 'Sir John, come away, your sack stayeth for +you.' At that Sir John began to stamp with madness, and looked out and +returned several times to the King, but could not be quiet in his +discourse with the King, because of the voice that so often troubled +him, till the king had sported enough."--WEBSTER _on Witchcraft_, p. +124. + +Note XXII. p. 393.--LADY LAKE. + +Whether out of a meddling propensity common to all who have a +gossiping disposition, or from the love of justice, which ought to +make part of a prince's character, James was very fond of enquiring +personally into the causes _celebres_ which occurred during his reign. +In the imposture of the Boy of Bilson, who pretended to be possessed, +and of one Richard Haydock, a poor scholar, who pretended to preach +during his sleep, the King, to use the historian Wilson's expression, +took delight in sounding with the line of his understanding, the +depths of these brutish impositions, and in doing so, showed the +acuteness with which he was endowed by Nature. Lady Lake's story +consisted in a clamorous complaint against the Countess of Exeter, +whom she accused of a purpose to put to death Lady Lake herself, and +her daughter, Lady Ross, the wife of the Countess's own son-in-law, +Lord Ross; and a forged letter was produced, in which Lady Exeter was +made to acknowledge such a purpose. The account given of the occasion +of obtaining this letter, was, that it had been written by the +Countess at Wimbledon, in presence of Lady Lake and her daughter, Lady +Ross, being designed to procure their forgiveness for her mischievous +intention. The King remained still unsatisfied, the writing, in his +opinion, bearing some marks of forgery. Lady Lake and her daughter +then alleged, that, besides their own attestation, and that of a +confidential domestic, named Diego, in whose presence Lady Exeter had +written the confession, their story might also be supported by the +oath of their waiting-maid, who had been placed behind the hangings at +the time the letter was written, and heard the Countess of Exeter read +over the confession after she had signed it. Determined to be at the +bottom of this accusation, James, while hunting one day near +Wimbledon, the scene of the alleged confession, suddenly left his +sport, and, galloping hastily to Wimbledon, in order to examine +personally the room, discovered, from the size of the apartment, that +the alleged conversation could not have taken place in the manner +sworn to; and that the tapestry of the chamber, which had remained in +the same state for thirty years, was too short by two feet, and, +therefore, could not have concealed any one behind it. This matter was +accounted an exclusive discovery of the King by his own spirit of +shrewd investigation. The parties were punished in the Star Chamber by +fine and imprisonment. + + + +_A,' all. BELDAM, ugly old woman. +ABYE, suffer for. BELIVE, by-and-by, presently. +ACCIDENS, grammar. BENEVOLENCES, taxes illegally +AIGRE, sour, ill-natured. exacted by the Kings of +AIN GATE, own way. England. +A' LEEVING, all living. BIDE, keep, remain. +AMBLE, a peculiar gait of a BIELDY BIT, sheltered spot. + horse, in which both legs on BIGGING, building. + one side are moved forward BILBOE, sword, rapier. + at the same time. BILLIES, brothers. +ANCE, once. BIRKIE, lively young fellow. +ANENT, concerning. BLACK-JACK, leathern drinking- +ANGEL, an ancient English gold cup. + coin, worth about 10s., and BLADES, dashing fellows, rakes. + bearing the figure of an angel. BLATE, modest, bashful. +ARRAS, tapestry. BLETHERING, foolish, silly. +AUGHT, owe. BLITHE, BLYTHE, glad. +AULD, old. BLUE-COATS, lackeys. +AULD REEKIE, Edinburgh, in BODDLE, a copper coin, value + allusion to its smoke. the sixth part of an English +AVISEMENT, counsel. penny. +AW, all. BODE, bid, offer. +AWMOUS, alms, a gift. BOOKIE, book. + BRAE, hill, hill-side. BANGED, +sprang, bounded. +BRAVE PIECE, fine thing. +BARNACLES, spectacles. BRAW, fine, handsome. +BARNS-BREAKING, idle frolics. BREAKING, kneading. +BAWBEE, halfpenny. BREEKS, breeches, trousers. +BAXTER, baker. BROCHES, kitchen spits. +BEAR-BANNOCKS, barley cakes. BROSE, pottage of mean and +BECKING, curtseying. water. +BECKS, nods. BROWNIE, domestic goblin. +BEECHEN BICKERS, dishes of BUCKET, cheat. + beechwood. BUNEMOST, uppermost. + +BURROWS-TOWN, borough-town. +BUSS, kiss. + +CALF-WARD, place where calves are kept in the field. +CALLAN, CALLANT, lad. +CANNILY, cautiously, skilfully. +CANNY, quiet. +CANTLE, crown of the head. +CARCANET, necklace. +CARLE, fellow. +CARLE-HEMPIE, the strongest stalk of hemp. +CARNIFEX, executioner. +CAUFF, chaff. +CAULDRIFE, chilly. +CA'T, call it. +CAUP, cup. +CAUSEY, pavement. +CERTIE, faith, in truth. +CHALMER, chamber. +CHANGE-HOUSE, roadside inn where horses are changed on a journey. +CHALK, slash. +CHAPPIT, struck. +CHEEK-BY-JOWL, CHEEK-BY-CHOWL, side by side. +CHEERY, dagger. +CHENZIE-MAIL, chain-mail. +CHIELD, fellow. +CHOPINES, high shoes or clogs. +CHUCKS, chuck-stones, as played by children. +CHUFFS, clowns, simpletons. +CLAITHING, clothing. + +CLAPPED LOOFS, crossed palms. +CLATTER-TRAPS, rattle-traps. +CLAUGHT, snatched. +CLAVERING, idle talking. +CLEEK, hook. +CLEW, clue. +CLOOT, hoof. +CLOUR, blow. +CLOUTING, mending. +COCK-A-LEEKIE, COCK-A-LEEKY, leek soup in which a cock has been +boiled. +COIF, linen covering for the head. +COMPLOTS, plots, intrigues. +COMPT, list, account, particulars. +COMPTING-ROOM, counting-house. +COSHERING, being familiar and intimate. +COUP, barter. +COUP THE CRANS, go to wreck and ruin. +COUPIT, tumbled. +CRAIG, rock; also neck. +CRAP, creep. +CRAW'D SAE CROUSE, crowed so proudly. +CULLY, one easily deceived, a dupe. +CURN, grain. +CUSSER, stallion. +CUTTY-QUEAN, a loose woman. + +DAFT, silly, mad. +DAIKERING, jogging or toiling along. +DANG, driven, knocked. +DEIL, devil. +DEUTEROSCOPY, a meaning beyond the original sense. +DIDNA, did not. +DIKE-LOUPER, a debauchee. +DIRDUM, uproar, tumult. DIRKED, stabbed with a dirk. +DONNERIT, stupefied. +DOOMS, very, absolutely. +DOUCE, quiet, respectable, sober. +DOVER, neither asleep nor awake. +DOWCOT, dove-cote. +DRAB, illicit sexual intercourse. +DRAFF, drains given to cows; also the wash given to pigs. +DRAFF-POKE, bag of grains. +DREDGING-BOX, a box with holes for sprinkling flour in cookery. +DROUTHY, thirsty. +DUD, rag. +DUKE OF EXETER'S DAUGHTER, a species of rack in the Tower of London. +DULE-WEEDS, mourning. +DUMMALAFONG, a common prey to all comers. +DUNTS, blows. + +EARD, earth. +EEN, eyes. +ELRITCH, hideous. +ENOW, just now. +ENSAMPLE, example. +EVITED, avoided. +EXIES, hysterics. + +FALCHION, a short broadsword with a slightly curved point. +FALSET, falsehood. +FAUSE, false. +FASH, trouble. +FASHIOUS, troublesome, annoying. +FENCE-LOUPER, rakish fellow. +FEBRIFUGE, a medicine to subdue a fever. +FIDUCIARY, trustee. +FLATCAPS, citizens, civilians. +FLEECHING, flattering. +FOOD FOR FAGGOTS, martyrs for their religious opinions. +FOOT-CLOTH, horse-cloth reaching almost to the ground. +FOUARTS, house-leeks. +FOULWART, pole-cat. +FRAE, from. +FRESCO, half-naked. +FULE, fool. +FULHAM, loaded dice. + +GAGE, pledge, trust. +GANG A' AE GATE, go all one way. +GAR, make, force. +GARR'D, made, compelled. +GATE, way, road; also kind of. +GEAR, property. +GIFF-GAFF, give and take, tit for tat. +GIE THE GLAIKS, to befool, deceive. +GILLIE-WHITE-FOOT, running footman. +GILLRAVAGER, plunderer. +GIRNED, grinned. +GLAIKS, deception. +GLEED, awry, all wrong. +GOUD-COUK, fool. +GRAFFS, graves. +GRAMERCY, great thanks. +GRANDAM, old woman, grandmother. +GRAT, cried. +GREEN GEESE, parrots. +GREET, cry. +GREW, shudder. +GRIPS, handshakings, greetings. +GROSART, GROSSART, goose-berry. +GULL, one easily befooled, +GULLEY, large knife. +GUTTERBLOOD, one meanly bred. +GYNOCRACY, petticoat government. + +HAET, thing. +HAFFITS, sides of the head. +HAFT, handle. +HAIRBOURED, resided, sojourned. +HAMESUCKEN, assaulting a man on his own premises. +HANKED, coiled. +HARLE, drag, trail. +HARMAN BECK, constable. +HEART-SCALD, disgust. +HEAD-TIRE, head-dress. +HECK AND MANGER, in comfortable quarters. +HEUGHS, glens. +HIRDIE-GIRDIE, topsy-turvy. +HIRPLING, limping, walking lame. +HIRSEL, flock. +HORSE-GRAITH, harness. +HOUGHS, hollows. +HOWFF, rendezvous, place of resort. + +ILK ANE, each one. +ILL, bad. +ILL REDD-UP, very untidy. +ILL-WILLY, ill-natured. +INGINE, ingenuity. +INGOTS, masses of unwrought metal. +INGRATE, an ungrateful person. +IRON CARLES, iron figures of men. + +JAW, wave. +JEDDART-STAFF, a species of battle-axe peculiar to Jedburgh. +JENNET, a small Spanish horse. +JINGLE, dance. +JOUP, dip, stoop down. + +KEMPING, strife. +KENNING, knowledge. +KIMMER, gossip, neighbour. +KIRK, church. +KITTLE, ticklish, difficult, precarious. +KYTHED, seemed, appeared. + +LAIGH, low. +LAIR, learning. +LAMB'S-WOOL, a beverage made of the pulp of roasted apples. +LANDLOUPER, adventurer, runagate. +LANG SYNE, long ago. +LATTEN, plated iron or brass. +LAVROCK, lark. +LEASING-MAKING, uttering treasonable language. +LEASINGS, falsehoods, treason. +LEGLIN-GIRTH, the lowest hoop on a leglin, or milk-pail. +LICK, a beating. +LIEFEST, most beloved. +LIFT, steal. +LIGHT O' LOVE, mistress, wanton woman. +LINKBOYS, juvenile torch-bearers. +LIST, like. +LITHER, soft. +LOOF, palm of the hand. +LOON, LOUN, rascal. +LOUPING, leaping. +LUG, LUGG, ear. +LUVE, love. + +MAIR THAN ANCE, more than once. +MARLE, wonder, marvel. +MAGGOT, whim, fancy. +MELL, intermeddle. +MENSEFUL, modest, mannerly. +MERK, a Scottish coin, value 13s 4d. +MESS-BOOK, mass-book, Catholic prayer-book. +MICKLE, MUCKLE, much, great, large. +MINT, attempt. +MIRK, dark. +MISLEARD, unmannerly. +MORT-CLOTH, shroud. +MOTION, puppet-show. +MUCKLE v. MICKLE. +MUFFLED, disguised. +MUSKETOON, a species of musket. +MY GERTIE, my goodness! gracious! + +NEB, nose, point. +NEEDSNA, need not. +NICHER, snigger. +NICKS, notches. +NIFFER, exchange. +NOBLE, a gold coin, value 6s. 8d. sterling. +NOWTE, black cattle. +NUNCHION, luncheon, food taken between meals. + +OR, before. +OTHER GATE, other kind of. +OWER SICKER, too careful. + +PAIK, fight, chastise. +PANGED, crammed. +PAPISTRIE, Popery. +PEASE-BOGLE, scarecrow among the pease growing. +PENNY-WEDDING, a wedding where all who attend contribute a trifle +towards the +expenses of the merrymaking. +PICKTHANK, a parasitical informer. +PIG, earthen pot, vessel, or pitcher. +PINK, stab, pierce holes into. +PLACK, a copper coin, value the third part of an English +penny. +PLOY, trick. +POCK-END, empty pocket or purse. +POCK-PUDDING, bag pudding. +POORTITH, poverty. +PORK-GRISKINS, sucking-pigs; also broiled loin of pork. +POUCH, pocket. +PRIE, taste. +PULLET, a young hen. + +QUEAN, wench, young woman. + +RAMPALLIONS, low women. +RAVE, tore. +RAXING, stretching. +REDDING-KAME, hair-comb. +REDD-UP, tidy, put in order. +RED WUD, stark mad. +REIRD, shouting. +REMEID, resource, remedy. +ROOPIT, croupy, hoarse. +ROSE-NOBLE, a gold coin, value 6s. 8d., impressed with a rose. +ROUT, ROWT, to roar or bellow. +RUDAS, wild, forward, bold. + +SAAM, same. +SACK, sherry or canary wine, warmed and spiced. +SACKLESS, innocent. +SCAT, tribute, tax. +SCAUDING, scalding. +SCAUR, scare, frighten. +SCLATE-STANE, slate-stone. +SCRIVENER, one who draws up contracts. +SHABBLE, cutlass, +SHOON, shoes. +SHOUTHER, shoulder. +SHULE, shovel. +SIB, related. +SIBYL, prophetess. +SICKER, careful. +SICLIKE, just so. +SILLER, money, silver. +SIRRAH, sir! +SKEIGH, skittish. +SKELDER, plunder, snatch. +SLEEVELESS, thriftless. +SMAIK, mean, paltry fellow. +SNAP-HAUNCHES, firelocks. +SPANG, spring. +SPEER, ask. +SPEERINGS, information, inquiries. +SPRAIKLE, to get on with difficulty. +SPUNK, slip. +SPUNKIES, will-o'-the-wisps. +STEEKING, closing. +STEEKIT, shut. +STONERN, stone. +STOT, a bullock between two and three years old. +STRAND-SCOURING, gutter-raking. +STURDIED, afflicted with the sturdy, a sheep disease. +STYPIC, astringent, something to arrest haemorrhage. +SUCCORY-WATER, sugar water. +SUNDOWN, sunset. +SUNER, sooner. +SUMPTER HORSE, pack-horse. +SWITH, begone! be off! +SYNE, ago. + +TAIT, lock. +TANE, the one. +TAWSE, leather strap used for chastisement. +TEINDS, tithes. +THROUGH-STANES, gravestones. +TIKE v. TYKE. +TINT, lost. +TITHER, the other. +TOCHER, dowry. +TOOM, empty. +TOUR, see. +TOUT, blast on the horn. +TOYS, goods. +TREEN, wooden. +TROTH, truth. +TROW, believe, guess. +TRYSTE, appointment. +TURN-BROCHE, turn-spit. +TYKE, TIKE, dog, cur. +TWA, two. +TWIRING, coquetting, making eyes at. + +UMQUHILE, late, deceased. + +VIVERS, victuals. + +WAD, pledge. +WADNA, would not. +WADSET, mortgage. +WANION, misfortune. +WARE, spend. +WARLOCKS, wizards. +WASTRIFE, waste, extravagance. +WAUR, worse. +WEEL KEND, well known. +WHA, who. +WHEEN, few, a number of. +WHIGMALEERY, trinkets, nicknacks. +WHILK, which. +WHINGER, cutlass, long knife. +WHINYARD, sword. +WHOMBLE, upset. +WIMPLED, wrapped up. +WINNA, will not. +WITHY, gallows rope. +WOO', wool. +WYLIE-COAT, under-petticoat. +WYND, street, alley. +WYTE, blame. + +YESTREEN, last night. +_ + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Fortunes of Nigel, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL *** + +This file should be named frtnl10.txt or frtnl10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, frtnl11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, frtnl10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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