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.

194 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
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, Duimmzalafong, 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 whatsoever
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 small 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. Hle 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