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.

144 WAVER1LEY NOVELS.
of the extent of Lord Glenvarloch's mental sufferings, and thought of his
tempoxary concealment as if it were merely the trick of a wanton boy, who
plays at hide-and-seek with his tutor. With the appearance of the place,
too, he was familiar -but on his companion it produced a deep sensation.
The ancient Sanctuary at Whitefriars lay considerably lower than the
elevated terraces and gardens of the Temple, and was therefore generally
involved in the damps and fogs arising from the Thames. The brick buildings by which it was occupied, crowded closely on each other, for, in a place
so rarely privileged, every foot of ground was valuable; but, erected in
many cases by persons whose funds were inadequate to their speculations,
the houses were generally insufficient, and exhibited the lamentable signs
of having become ruinous while they were yet new. The wailing of children, the scolding of'their mothers, the miserable exhibition of ragged
linens hung from the windows to dry, spoke the wants and distresses of the
wretched inhabitants; while the sounds of complaint were mocked and
overwhelmed in the riotous shouts, oaths, profane songs, and boisterous
laughter, that issued from the ale-houses and taverns, which, as the signs
indicated, were equal in number to all the other houses; and, that the full
character of the place might be evident, several faded, tinselled, and painted
females, looked boldly at the strangers from their open lattices, or more
modestly seemed busied with the cracked flower-pots, filled with mignonette
and rosemary, which were disposed in front of the windows, to the great
risk of the passengers.
" Semni-reducta Veenus," said the Templar, pointing to one of these nymphs,
who seemed afraid of observation, and partly concealed herself behind the
casement, as she chirped to a miserable blackbird, the tenant of a wicker
prison, which hung outside on the black brick wall. -" I know the face of
yonder waistcoateer," continued the guide; "and I could wager a rosenoble,, from the posture she stands in, that she has clean head-gear, and a
soiled night-rail. - But here come two of the male inhabitants, smoking like
moving volcanoes! These are roaring blades, whom Nicotia and Trinidado
serve, I dare swear, in lieu of beef and pudding; for be it known to you,
nly lord, that the King's counterblast against the Indian weed will no more
pass current in Alsatia, than will his writ of capias."
As he spoke, the two smokers approached; shaggy, uncombed ruffians,
whose enormous mustaches were turned back over their ears, and mingled
with the wild elf-locks of their hair, much of which was seen under the old
beavers which they wore aside upon their heads, while some straggling por.
tion escaped through the rents of the hats aforesaid. Their tarnished plush
jerkins, large slops, or trunk-breeches, their broad greasy shoulder-belts,
and discoloured scarfs, and above all, the ostentatious manner in which the
one wore a broadsword, and the other an extravagantly long rapier and
poniard, marked the true Alsatian bully, then, and for a hundred years
afterwards, a well-known character.
"Tour out," said the one ruffian to the other; "tour the bien mort twiring
at the gentry cove!"*
"I smell a spy," replied the other, looking at Nigel. " Chalk him across
the peepers with your cheery."t
"Bing avast, bing avast!" replied his companion; "yon other is rattling
Reginald Lowestoffe of the Temple-I know him; he is a good boy, and free
of the province."
So saying, and enveloping themselves in another thick cloud of smoke,
they went on without farther greeting.
"G'rasso in aere!" said the Templar. "'You hear what a character the
imnpudent knaves give me; but, so it serves your lordship's turn, I care not.
*. Look sharp. See how the girl is coquetting with the strange gallants I
% Slash him over the eyes with your dagger.