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.

146 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
profession, excepting its roguery. One or two persons of less figure, amiongst
whom there was one face, which, like that of the soldier, seemed not unknown to Nigel, though he could not recollect where he had seen it, completed the council-board of Jacob Duke Hildebrod.
The strangers had full time to observe all this; for his grace the Duke,
whether irresistibly carried on by the full tide of harmony, or whether to
impress the strangers with a proper idea of his consequence, chose to sing
Ilis ditty to an end before addressing them, though, during the whole time,
he closely scrutinized them with his single optic.
When Duke HIildebrod had ended his song, he informed his Peers that a
worthy officer of the Temple attended them, and commanded the captain
and parson to abandon their easy chairs in behalf of the two strangers,
whom he placed on his right and left hand. The worthy representatives of
the army and the church of Alsatia went to place themselves on a crazy
form at the bottom of the table, which, ill-calculated to sustain men of such
weight, gave way under them, and the man of the sword and man of the
gown were rolled over each other on the floor, amidst the exulting shouts
of the company. They arose in wrath, contending which should vent his
displeasure in the loudest and deepest oaths. a strife in which the parson's
superior acquaintance with theology enabled him greatly to excel the captain, and were at length with difficulty tranquillized by the arrival of the
alarmed waiters with more stable chairs, and by a long draught of the
cooling tankard. WVhen this commotion was appeased, and the strangers
courteously accommodated with flagons, after the fashion of the others present, the Duke drank prosperity to the Temple in the most gracious manner, together with a cup of welcome to Master Reginald Lowestoffe; and,
this courtesy having been thankfully accepted, the party honoured prayed
permission to call for a gallon of Rhenish, over which he proposed to open
his business.
The mention of a liquor so superior to their usual potations had an instant
and most favourable effect upon the little senate: and its immediate appearance might be said to secure a favourable reception of Master Lowestoffe's
proposition, which, after a round or two had circulated, he explained to be
the admission of his friend Master Nigel Grahame to the benefit of the
sanctuary and other immunities of Alsatia, in the character of a grand
compounder; for so were those termed who paid a double fee at their matriculation, in order to avoid laying before the senate the peculiar circumstances which compelled them to take refuge there.
The worthy Duke heard the proposition with glee, which glittered in his
single eye; and no wonder, as it was a rare occurrence, and of peculiar
advantage to his private revenue. Accordingly, he commanded his ducal
register to be brought him, a huge book, secured with brass clasps like a
merchant's ledger, and whose leaves, stained with wine, and slabbered with
tobacco juice, bore the names probably of as many rogues as are to be found
in the Calendar of Newgate.
Nigel was then directed to lay down twvo nobles as his ransom, and to
claim privilege by reciting the following doggerel verses, which were dictated to him by the Duke:Your suppliant, by name His freedom to sue,
Nigel Grahame, Andl rescue by youIn fear of mishap Throuogh weapon and wit,
From a shoulder-tap; From warrant and writ,
And dreading a claw From bailiff's hand,
From the talons of law, From tipstaff's wand,
That are sharper than briars; Is come hither to Whitefriars."
As Duke Hildebrod with a tremulous hand began to make the entry, and
had already, with superfluous generosity, spelled Nigel with two g's instead
of one, he was interrupted by the parson.* This reverend gentleman had, This curious register is still in existence, being in possession of that eminent antiquary Dr. Drvasdust,
who liberally offered the author permission to have the autograph of Duke -lHildebrod engraved as an illustra