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.

PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. 673
the King, graciously, "besides your -old friends of Ormond and Arlington?'"
"I see, my liege, two worthy friends of my husband's house," replied
the Countess; " Sir Geoffrey Peveril and his son-the latter a distinguished
member of my son's household."
" Any one else?" continued the King.
"An unfortunate female of my family, who disappeared from the Island
of Man at the same time when Julian Peveril left it upon business of importance. She was thought to have fallen from the cliff into the sea."
" Had your ladyship any reason to suspect-pardon me," said the King,
"for putting such a question, any improper intimacy between Master
Peveril and this same female attendant?"
"My liege," said the Countess, colouring indignantly, "my household is
of reputation."
" Nay, my lady, be not angry," said the King; " I did but ask - such
things will befall in the best regulated families."
"' Not in mine, sire," said the Countess. " Besides that, in common pride
and in common honesty, Julian Peveril is incapable of intriguing with an
unhappy creature, removed by her misfortune almost beyond the limits of
humanity."
Zarah looked at her, and compressed her lips, as if to keep in the words
that would fain break from them.
" I know not how it is," said the King —" What your ladyship says may
be true in the main, yet men's tastes have strange vagaries. This girl
is lost in Man as soon as the youth leaves it, and is found in Saint
James's Park, bouncing and dancing like a fairy so soon as he appears in
London."
" Impossible!" said the Countess; " she cannot dance."
"I believe," said the King, "she can do more feats than your ladyship
either suspects or would approve of."
The Countess drew up, and was indignantly silent.
The King proceeded - " No sooner is Peveril in Newgate, than, by the
account of the venerable little gentleman, this merry maiden is even there
also for company. Now, without inquiring how she got in, I think charitably that she had better taste than to come there on the dwarf's account.
-Aha! I think Master Julian is touched in conscience!"
Julian did indeed start as the King spoke, for it reminded him of the
midnight visit to his cell.
The King looked fixedly at him, and then proceeded-" Well, gentlemen,
Peveril is carried to his trial, and is no sooner at liberty, than we find him
in the house where the Duke of Buckingham was arranging what he calls
a Musical mask. - Egad, I hold it next to certain, that this wench put the
change on his Grace, and popt the poor dwarf into the bass-viol, reserving
her own more precious hours to be spent with Master Julian Peveril.Think you not so, Sir Christian, you, the universal referee? Is there any
truth in this conjecture?"
Christian stole a glance at Zarah, and read that in her eye which embarrassed him. "He did not know," he said; " he had indeed engaged this
unrivalled performer to take the proposed part in the mask; and she was
to have come forth in the midst of a shower of lambent fire, very artificially
prepared with perfumes, to overcome the smell of the powder; but he knew
not why - excepting that she was wilful and capricious, like all great
geniuses,-she had certainly spoiled the concert by cramming in that more
bulky dwarf."
"I should like," said the King,; "to see this little maiden stand forth, and
bear witness, in such manner as she can express herself, on this mysterious
matter. Can any one here understand her mode of communication?'
Christian said, he knew something of it since he had become acquainted
VoL. VII. - 43 3 G