The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

THE ANTIQUARY. 141
de curiosity of all de countries, and how de great Oldenburgh horn, as they
keep still in the Museum at Copenhagen, was given to de Duke of Oldenburgh by one female spirit of de wood. Now I could not put one trick on
you if I were willing - you who know all de curiosity so well, - and dere
it is de horn full of coins; —if it had been a box or case, I would have
said nothing."
"Being a horn," said Oldbuck, "does indeed strengthen your argument.
It was an implement of nature's fashioning, and therefore much used among
rude nations, although, it may be, the metaphorical horn is more frequent
in proportion to the progress of civilization. And this present horn," he
continued, rubbing it upon his sleeve, "is a curious and venerable relic,
and no doubt was intended to prove a cornucopia, or horn of plenty, to
some one or other; but whether to the adept or his patron, may be justly
doubted."
"Well, Mr. Oldenbuck, I find you still hard of belief-but let me assure
you, de monksh understand de magisteriuzn."
"Let us leave talking of the magisterium, Mr. Dousterswivel, and think
a little about the magistrate. Are you aware that this occupation of yours
is against the law of Scotland, and that both Sir Arthur and myself are in
the commission of the peace?"
" Mine heaven t and what is dat to de purpose when I am doing you all
de goot I can?"
"Why, you must know, that when the legislature abolished the cruel
laws against witchcraft, they had no hope of destroying the superstitious
feelings of humanity on which such chimeras had been founded; and to
prevent those feelings from being tampered with by artful and designing
persons, it is enacted by the ninth of George the Second, chap. 5, that whosoever shall pretend, by his alleged skill in any occult or crafty science, to
discover such goods as are lost, stolen, or concealed, he shall suffer punishment by pillory and imprisonment, as a common cheat and impostor."
"And is dat de laws?" asked Dousterswivel, with some agitation.
" Thyself shall see the act," replied the Antiquary.
"Den, gentlemens, I shall take my leave of you, dat is all; I do not like
to stand on your what you call pillory - it is very bad way to take de air,
I think; and I do not like your prisons no more, where one cannot take de
air at all."
"If such be your taste, Mr. Dousterswivel," said the Antiquary, "I
advise you to stay where you are, for I cannot let you go, unless it be in the
society of a constable; and, moreover, I expect you will attend us just now
to the ruins of St. Ruth; and point out the place where you propose to find
this treasure."
" Mine heaven, Mr. Oldenbuck! what usage is this to your old friend, when
I tell you so plain as I can speak, dat if you go now, you will get not so
much treasure as one poor shabby sixpence?"
"I will try the experiment, however, and you shall be dealt with according to its success - always with Sir Arthur's permission."
Sir Arthur, during this investigation, had looked extremely embarrassed,
and, to use a vulgar but expressive phrase, chop-fallen. Oldbuck's obstinate disbelief led him strongly to suspect the imposture of Dousterswivel,
and the adept's mode of keeping his ground was less resolute than he had
expected. Yet he did not entirely give him up.
" Mr. Oldbuck," said the Baronet, " you do Mr. Dousterswivel less than
justice. IIe has undertaken to make this discovery by the use of his art,
and by applying characters descriptive of the Intelligences presiding over
the planetary hour in which the experiment is to be made; and you require
Shim to proceed, under pain of punishment, without allowing him the use
of any of the preliminaries which he considers as the means of procuring
success.".'