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.

WOODSTOCK. 257
very noses, unless he were with us, to point out all the ports which should
be guarded. Hie hinted, too, that he might be delayed a few minutes after
his time of appointment-but we have now waited half-an-hour."
" Does your Excellency think Tomkins is certainly to be depended upon?"
said Pearson.
"As far as his interest goes, unquestionably," replied the General. " He
has ever been the pump by which I have sucked the marrow out of many a
plot, in special those of the cbnceited fool Rochecliffe, who is goose enough
to believe that such a fellow as Tomkins would value any thing beyond the
offer of the best bidder. And yet it groweth late -I fear we must to the
Lodge without him -Yet, all things well considered, I will tarry here till
midnight.-Ah! Everard, thou mightest put this gear to rights if thou wilt!
Shall some foolish principle of fantastic punctilio have more weight with
thee, man, than have the pacification and welfare of England; the keeping
of faith to thy friend and benefactor, and who will be yet more so, and the
fortune and security of thy relations? Are these, I say, lighter in the balance than the cause of a worthless boy, who, with his father and his father's
house, have troubled Israel for fifty years?"
" I do not understand your Excellency, nor at what service you point,
which I can honestly render," replied Everard. " That which is dishonest
I should be loth that you proposed."
" Then this at least might suit your honesty, or scrupulous humour, call
it which thou wilt," said Cromwell. " Thou knowest, surely, all the passages
about Jezebel's palace down yonder? - Let me know how they may be
guarded against the escape of any from within."
" I cannot pretend to aid you in this matter," said Everard; " I know not
all the entrances and posterns about Woodstock, and if I did, I am not free
in conscience to communicate with you on this occasion."
"We shall do without you, sir," replied Cromwell, haughtily; "and if
aught is found which may criminate you, remember you have lost right to
my protection."
"I shall be sorry," said Everard, "to have lost your friendship, General;
but I trust my quality as an Englishman may dispense with the necessity
of protection from any man. I know no law which obliges me to be spy or
informer, even if I were in the way of having opportunity to do service in
either honourable capacity."
" Well, sir," said Cromwell, "for all your privileges and qualities, I will
make bold to take you down to the Lodge at Woodstock to-night, to enquire
into affairs in which the State is concerned. - Come hither, Pearson." He
took a paper from his pocket, containing a rough sketch or ground-plan of
Woodstock Lodge, with the avenues leading to it. -" Look here," he said,
" we must move in two bodies on foot, and with all possible silence - thou
must march to the rear of the old house of iniquity with twenty file of men,
and dispose them around it the wisest thou canst. Take the reverend man
there along with you. HIe must be secured at any rate, and may serve as a
guide. I myself will occupy the front of the Lodge, and thus having stopt
all the earths, thou wilt come to me for farther orders-silence and dispatch
is all. —But for the dog Tomkins, who broke appointment with me, he had
need render a good excuse, or woe to his father's son! - Reverend sir, be
pleased to accompany that officer.-Colonel Everard, you are to follow me;
but first give your sword to Captain Pearson, and consider yourself as under
arrest."
Everard gave his sword to Pearson without any comment, and with the
most anxious presage of evil followed the Republican General, in obedience
to commands which it would have been useless to dispute.
VOL. X.-17 w 2