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 SURGEON'S DAUGHTER. 523
word, she does pretty much as she likes. The great folks here are civil to
her, though they look on her as little better than a spy. As to Hyder, it is
supposed he has ensured her fidelity by borrowing the greater part of her
treasures, which prevents her from daring to break with him-besides other
causes that smack of scandal of another sort."
"A singular story," replied Hartley to his companion, while his heart
dwelt on the question, How it was possible that the gentle and simple
Menie Gray should be in the train of such a character as this adventuress?
"But Butler has not told you the best of it," said Major Mercer, who by
this time came round to finish his own story. " Your old acquaintance,
Mr. Tresham, or Mr. Middlemas, or whatever else he chooses to be called,
has been complimented by a report, that he stood very high in the good
graces of this same Boadicea. He certainly commanded some troops which
she stills keeps on foot, and acted at their head in the Nawaub's service,
who craftily employed him in whatever could render him odious to his
countrymen. The British prisoners were intrusted to his charge, and,
to judge by what I felt myself, the devil might take a lesson from him in
severity."
"And was he attached to, or connected with, this woman?"
" So Mrs. Rumour told us in our dungeon. Poor Jack Ward had the
bastinado for celebrating their merits in a parody on the playhouse song,'Sure such a pair were never seen,
So aptly formed to meet by nature.' "
Hartley could listen no longer. The fate of Menie Gray, connected with
such a man and such a woman, rushed on his fancy in the most horrid
colours, and he was struggling through the throng to get to some place
where he might collect his ideas, and consider what could be done for her
protection, when a black attendant touched his arm, and at the same time
slipped a card into his hand. It bore, "Miss Gray, Mrs. Montreville's, at
the house of Ram Sing Cottah, in the Black Town." On the reverse was
written with a pencil, "Eight in the morning."
This intimation of her residence implied, of course, a permission, nay, an
invitation, to wait upon her at the hour specified. Hartley's heart beat at
the idea of seeing her once more, and still more highly at the thought of
being able to serve her. At least, he thought, if there is danger near her,
as is much to be suspected, she shall not want a counsellor, or, if necessary,
a protector. Yet, at the same time, he felt the necessity of making himself
better acquainted with the circumstances of her case, and the persons with
whom she seemed connected. Butler and Mercer had both spoke to their
disparagement; but Butler was a little of a coxcomb, and Mercer a great
deal of a gossip. While he was considering what credit was due to their
testimony, he was unexpectedly encountered by a gentleman of his own profession, a military surgeon, who had had the misfortune to have been in
Hyder's prison, till set at freedom by the late pacification. Mr. Esdale, for
so he was called, was generally esteemed a rising man, calm, steady, and
deliberate in forming his opinions. Hartley found it easy to turn the subject
on the Queen of Sheba, by asking whether her Majesty was not somewhat
of an adventuress.
"On my word, I cannot say," answered Esdale, smiling; "we are all
upon the adventure in India, more or less; but I do not see that the Begum
Montreville is more so than the rest."
"Why, that Amazonian dress and manner," said Hartley, " savour a little
of the picaresca."
"You must not," said Esdale, "expect a woman who has commanded
soldiers, and may again, to dress and look entirely like an ordinary person.
But I assure you, that even at this time of day, if she wished to marry, she
might easily find a respectable match."
"Why, I heard that she had betrayed her husband's fort to Hyder."