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.

186 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
of any man, unless my own judgment be convinced. I shall deserve richly
to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, should any misfortune happen by my
misgovernment in this business."
" And it is therefore, Albert, that I would have thee trust the whole to
me, without interfering. Thou sayest, forsooth, thou art not subferula; but
recollect that while you have been fighting in the field, I have been plotting
in the study - that I know all the combinations of the King's friends, ay,
and all the motions of his enemies, as well as a spider knows every mesh of
his web. Think of my experience, man. Not a cavalier in the land but
has heard of Rochecliffe, the Plotter. I have been a main limb in every
thing that has been attempted since forty-two - penned declarations, conducted correspondence, communicated with chiefs, recruited followers, commissioned arms, levied money, appointed rendezvouses. I was in the Western
Riding; and before that, in the City Petition, and in Sir John Owen's stir
in Wales; in short, almost in every plot for the King, since Tomkins and
Challoner's matter."
" But were not all these plots unsuccessful?" said Albert; "and were
not Tomkins and Challoner hanged, Doctor?"
" Yes, my young friend," answered the Doctor, gravely, " as many others
have been with whom I have acted; but only because they did not follow
my advice implicitly. You never heard that I was hanged myself?"
"The time may come, Doctor," said Albert; "The pitcher goes oft to
the well. -The proverb, as my father would say, is somewhat musty. But
I, too, have some confidence in my own judgment; and, much as I honour
the Church, I cannot altogether subscribe to passive obedience. I will tell
you in one word what points I must have explanation on; and it will remain
with you to give it, or to return a message to the King that you will not
explain your plan; in which case, if he acts by my advice, he will leave
Woodstock, and resume his purpose of getting to the coast without delay."
"Well, then," said the Doctor, "thou suspicious monster, make thy
demands, and, if they be such as I can answer without betraying confidence, I will reply to them."
" In the first place, then, what is all this story about ghosts, and witchcrafts, and apparitions? and do you consider it as safe for his Majesty to
stay in a house subject to such visitations, real or pretended?"
"You must be satisfied with my answer in verbo sacerdotis - the circumstances you allude to will not give the least annoyance to Woodstock during
the King's residence. I cannot explain farther; but for this I will be
bound, at the risk of my neck."
"Then," said Lee, "we must take Dr. Rochecliffe's bail that the devil
will keep the peace towards our Sovereign Lord the King-good. Now
there lurked about this house the greater part of yesterday, and perhaps
slept here, a fellow called Tomkins,-a bitter Independent, and a secretary,
or clerk, or something or other, to the regicide dog Desborough. The man
is well known -a wild ranter in religious opinions, but in private affairs
far-sighted, cunning, and interested even as any rogue of them all."
"Be assured we will avail ourselves of his crazy fanaticism to mislead
his wicked cunning:-a child may lead a hog, if it has wit to fasten a cord
to the ring in its nose," replied the Doctor.
"You may be deceived," said Albert; "the age has many such as this
fellow, whose views of the spiritual and temporal world are so different,
that they resemble the eyes of a squinting man; one of which, oblique and
distorted, sees nothing but the end of his nose, while the other, instead of
partaking the same defect, views strongly, sharply, and acutely, whatever
is subjected to its scrutiny."
"But we will put a patch on the better eye," said the Doctor, "and he
shall only be allowed to speculate with the imperfect optic. You must
know, this fellow has always seen the greatest number, and the most hideous