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. 259
"Htis 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, _Ronz eat inquireTzndzu 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. Ha-ve 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 amn maist willing to subscrive to whatsoever may in ony wise
accommodate your Majesty, anent the redemption-money, trusting your
BMajesty's grace will be kind to me in one sma' favour."
"Ey, man," said the King, " come ye to me there? I thought you 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 mrioneys
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 stanmmering, but with embtions 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, inz terrorem of others.-Awa with him, Geordie, —pay him,
plack and bawbee, out of our moneys 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. Hie 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 wSi' himn- 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! — Te inducas in tentationem —Vadq retro, Sathanas!Amen."
In obedience to the royal mandate, George H-Ieriot 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.