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.

THIE FORTUNES OF NIGEL. 131
" 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 sayLord 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. I-Us 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 it 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 whis'pered 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?"
" CHave 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 Glenvarloeh.-" 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
tilhe 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 i"
It must be here premised, that, during the conversation, Lord Glenvar
loch, 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