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.

672 WAVER LEY NOVELS.
drunken witness like the father, and now a dumb witness. - Young man,'
he continued, addressing Julian, "your behaviour is less frank than I expected from your father's son. I must know who this person is with whom
you held such familiar intercourse-you know him, I presume?"
Julian acknowledged that he did, but, kneeling on one knee, entreated
his Majesty's forgiveness for concealing his name; " he had been freed," he
said, "from his confinement, on promising to that effect."
" That was a promise made, by your own account, under compulsion,"
answered the King, "and I cannot authorize your keeping it; it is your
duty to speak the truth -if you are afraid of Buckingham, the Duke shall
withdraw."
"I have no reason to fear the Duke of Buckingham," said Peveril;
"that I had an afftir with one of his household, was the man's own fault,
and not mine."
"Oddsfish!" said the King, "the light begins to break in on me — I
thought I remembered thy physiognomy. Wert thou not the very fellow
whom I met at Chiffinch's yonder morning? —The matter escaped me since;
but now I recollect thou saidst then, that thou wert the son of that jolly
old three-bottle Baronet yonder."
"It is true," said Julian, "that I met your Majesty at Master Chiffinch's,
and I arm afraid had the misfortune to displease you; but -"
" No more of that, young man-no more of that-But I recollect you had
with you that beautiful dancing siren.- Buckingham, I will hold you gold
to silver, that she was the intended tenant of that bass-fiddle?"
" Your Majesty has rightly guessed it," said the Duke; " and I suspect she
has put a trick upon me, by substituting the dwarf in her place; for Christian thinks "
" Damn Christian!" said the King, hastily —" I wish they would bring him
hither, that universal referee." - And as the wish was uttered, Christian's
arrival was announced. " Let him attend," said the King: " But hark-a
thought strikes me. - Here, Master Peveril -yonder dancing maiden, that
introduced you to us by the singular agility of her performance, is she not,
by your account, a dependant on the Countess of Derby?"
" I have known her such for years," answered Julian.
" Then will we call lthe Countess hither," said the King: " It is fit we
should learn who this little fairy really is; and if she be now so absolutely
at the beck of Buckingham, and this Master Christian of his-why I think
it would be but charity to let her ladyship know so much, since I question
if she will wish, in that case, to retain her in her service. Besides," he
continued, speaking apart, "this Julian, to whom suspicion attaches in
these matters from his obstinate silence, is also of the Countess's household.
We will sift this matter to the bottom, and do justice to all."
The Countess of Derby, hastily summoned, entered the royal closet at one
door, just as Christian and Zarah, or Fenella, were ushered in by the other.
The old Knight of Martindale, who had ere this returned to the presence,
was scarce controlled, even by the signs which she made, so much was he
desirous of greeting his old friend; but as Ormond laid a kind restraining
hand upon his arm, he was prevailed on to sit still.
The Countess, after a deep reverence to the King, acknowledged the rest
of the nobility present by a slighter reverence, smiled to Julian Peveril,
and looked with surprise at the unexpected apparition of Fenella. Buckingham bit his lip, for he saw the introduction of Lady Derby was likely to
confuse and embroil every preparation which he had arranged for his defence; and he stole a glance at Christian, whose eye, when fixed on the
Countess, assumed the deadly sharpness which sparkles in the adder's, while
his cheek grew almost black under the influence of strong emotion.
"Is there any one in this presence whom your ladyship recognizes," said