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.

140 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
"May I ask upon what account,. Master Lowestoffe?" said Lord Glenvarloch.
"Oh, my lord," replied the Templar, " it was for a hap that chanced after
you left the ordinary, one evening about three weeks since-at least I think
you were not by, as your lordship always left us before deep play began-I
mean no offence, but such was your lordship's custom -when there were
words between Lord ]Dalgarno and me concerning a certain game at gleek,
and a certain mournival of aces held by his lordship, which went for eight
- tib, which went for fifteen - twenty-three in all. Now I held king and
queen, being three-a natural towser, making fifteen-and tiddy, nineteen.
We vied the ruff, and revied, as your lordship may suppose, till the stake
was equal to half my yearly exhibition, fifty as fair yellow canary birds as
e'er chirped in the bottom of a green silk purse. Well, my lord, I gained
the cards, and lo you! it pleases his lordship to say that we played without
tiddy; and as the rest stood by and backed him, and especially the sharking
Frenchman, why, I was obliged to lose more than I shall gain all the season.-So judge if I have not a crow to pluck with his lordship. Was it ever
heard there was a game at gleek at the ordinary before, without counting
tiddy.? —marry. quep upon his lordship!-every man who comes there with
his purse in his hand, is as free to make new laws as he, I hope, since touch
pot touch penny makes every man equal."
As Master Lowestoffe ran over this jargon of the gaming-table, Lord
Glenvarloch was both ashamed and mortified, and felt a severe pang of
aristocratic pride, when he concluded in the sweeping-clause, that the dice,
like the grave, levelled those distinguishing points of society, to which Nigel's
early prejudices clung perhaps but too fondly. It was impossible, however,
to object any thing to the learned reasoning of the young Templar, and
therefore Nigel was contented to turn the conversation, by making some
inquiries respecting the present state of WVhitefriars. There also his host
was at home.
"You know, my lord," said Master Lowestoffe, " that we Templars are a
power and a dominion within ourselves, and I am proud to say that I hold
some rank in our republic-was treasurer to the Lord of Misrule last year,
and am at this present moment in nomination for that dignity myself. In
such circumstances, we are under the necessity of maintaining an amicable
intercourse with our neighbours of Alsatia, even as the Christian States find
themselves often, in mere policy, obliged to make alliance with the Grand
Turk, or the Barbary States."
" I should have imagined you gentlemen of the Temple more independent
of your neighbours," said Glenvarloch.
"You do us something too much honour, my lord," said the Templar;
"the Alsatians and we have some common enemies, and we have, under
the rose, some common friends. We are in the use of blocking all bailiffs
out of our bounds, and we are powerfully aided by our neighbours, who
tolerate not a rag belonging to them within theirs. Moreover the Alsatians
have-I beg you to understand me - the power of protecting or distressing
our friends, male or female, who may be obliged to seek sanctuary within
their bounds. In short, the two communities serve each other, though the
league is between states of unequal quality, and I may myself say, that I
have treated of sundry weighty affairs, and have been a negotiator well
approved on both, sides.-But hark-hark-what is that?"
The sound by which Master Lowestoffe was interrupted, was that of a
distant horn, winded loud and keenly, and followed by a faint and remote
buzza.
"There is something doing," said Lowestoffe, " in the Whitefriars at this
moment. That'is the signal when their privileges are invaded by tipstaff
or bailiff; and at the blast of the horn they all swarm out to the rescue, as
bees when thei: hive is disturbed.-Jump, Jemn," he said, calling out to the