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 FORTUNES OF NIGEL. 239
ing on my telling the retreat of a fugitive of whom I know nothing
earthly."
"It is well, my lord," answered Hleriot, 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 i" said IHeriot. " 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 IIeriot; "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
valaubles-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 watermnan'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 ease of Lord Sanquhar, hanged for the murder of a fencing
master; and exclaim, they will not have their wives whored, and their pro.
perty 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 Ileriot, "that he denies all knowledge of
your lordship's motions, after having despatched 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."
" IIe lies!" said Lord Glenvarloch, hastily;-" IHe 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