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.

524 WAVEPRLEY NOVELS.
"I pledge you most devoutly," answered his friend. "But you have not
told me how the acquaintance is to be made; for you cannot, I think, carry
her to Whitehall."
" Aha, my dear lord, you would have the whole secret! but that I cannot
afford -I can spare a friend a peep at my ends, but no one must look on
the means by which, they are achieved." —So saying, he shook his drunken
head most wisely.
The villanous design whichi this discourse implied, and which his heart
told him was designed against Alice Bridgenorth, stirred Julian so extremely, that he involuntarily shifted his posture, and laid his hand on his
sword hilt.
Chiffinch heard a rustling, and broke off, exclaiming, " IHark! - Zounds,
something moved-I trust I have told the tale to no ears but thine."
"I will cut off any which have drunk in but a syllable of thy words,"
said the nobleman; and raising a candle, he took a hasty survey of the
apartment. Seeing nothing that could incur his menaced resentment, he
replaced the light and continued:- "Well, suppose the Belle Louise de
Querouaille* shoots from her high station in the firmanient, how will you
rear up the downfallen Plot again -for without that same Plot, think of it
as thou wilt, we have no change of hands - and matters remain as they
were, with a Protestant courtesan instead of a Papist-Little Anthony can
but little speed without that Plot of his -I believe, in my conscience, he
begot it himself." t
"Whoever begot it," said Chiffinch, " he hath adopted it; and a thriving
babe it has been to him. Well, then, though it lies out of my way, I will
play Saint Peter again-up with t' other key, and unlock t' other mystery."
"Now thou speakest like a good fellow; and I will, with my own hands,
unwire this fresh flask, to begin a brimmer to the success of thy achievement."
"Well, then," continued the communicative Chiffinch, "thou knowest
that they have long had a nibbling at the old Countess of Derby. - So Ned
was sent down - he owes her an old accompt, thou knowest - with private
instructions to possess himself of the island, if he could, by help of some
of his old friends. HI-e bath ever kept up spies upon her; and happy man
was he, to think his hour of vengeance was come so nigh. But he missed
his blow; and the old girl being placed on her guard, was soon in a condition to make Ned smoke for it. Out of the island he came with little
advantage for having entered it; when, by some means -for the devil, I
think, stands ever his friend — he obtained information concerning a messenger, whom her old Majesty of Man had sent to London to make party
in her behalf. Ned stuck himself to this fellow- a raw, half-bred lad, son
of an old blundering Cavalier of the old stamp, down in Derbyshire -and
so managed the swain, that he brought him to the place where I was waiting, in anxious expectation of the pretty one I told you of. By Saint
Anthony, for I will swear by no meaner oath, I stared when I saw this great
lout-not that the fellow is so ill-looked neither-I stared like-like-good
now, help me to a simile."
" Like Saint Anthony's pig, an it were sleek," said the young lord; "your
eyes, Chiffie, have the very blink of one. But what hath all this to do with
the Plot? -Hold -I have had wine enough."
"You shall not baulk me," said Chiffinch; and a jingling was heard, as
if he were filling his comrade's glass with a very unsteady hand. " HeyWhat the devil is the matter? -I used to carry my glass steady -very
steady."
"Well, but this stranger?"
* Charles's principal mistress en titre. She was created Duchess of Portsmouth.
t Shaftesbury himself is supposed to have said that he linew not who was the inventor of the Plot, but
%hat lie himself had all the advantage of the discovery.