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.

48 WAVEiRLEY NOVELS.
"First let me satisfy you that it is real," said the citizen; "I blame you
not for being unwilling to credit the fair professions of a stranger in my
inferior class of society, when you have met so little friendship from relations, and those of your own rank, bound to have assisted you by so many
ties. But mark the cause. There is a mortgage over your father's extensive estate, to the amount of 40,000 merks, due ostensibly to Peregrine
Peterson, the Conservator of Scottish Privileges at Campvere."
" I know nothing of a mortgage," said the young lord; " but there is a
wadset for such a sum, which, if unredeemed, will occasion the forfeiture
of my whole paternal estate, for a sum not above a fourth of its value-and
it is for that very reason that I press the King's government for a settlement
of the debts due to my father, that I may be able to redeem my land from
this rapacious creditor."
" A wadset in Scotland," said Heriot, "is the same with.a mortgage on
this side of the Tweed; but you are not acquainted with your real creditor.
The Conservator Peterson only lends his name to shroud no less a man than
the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, who hopes, under cover of this debt, to
gain possession of the estate himself, or perhaps to gratify a yet more powerful third party. I-e will probably suffer his creature Peterson to take possession, and when the odium of the transaction shall be forgotten, the
property and lordship of Glenvarloch will be conveyed to the great man by
his obsequious instrument, under cover of a sale, or some similar device."
" Can this be possible?" said Lord Nigel; "the Chancellor wept when I
took leave of him-called me his cousin-even his son —furnished me with
letters, and, though I asked him for no pecuniary assistance, excused himself unnecessarily for not pressing it on me, alleging the expenses of his
rank and his large family. No, I cannot believe a nobleman would carry
deceit so far."
" I am not, it is true, of noble blood," said the citizen; "but once more
I bid you look on my gray hairs, and think what can be my interest in dishonouring them with falsehood in affairs in which I have no interest, save
as they regard the son of my benefactor. Reflect also, have you had any
advantage from the Lord Chancellor's letters?"
"None," said Nigel Olifaunt, " except cold deeds and fair words. I have
thought for some time, their only object was to get rid of me —one yesterday
pressed money on me when I talked of going abroad, in order that I might
not want the means of exiling myself."
" Right," said HIeriot; " rather than you fled not, they would themselves
furnish wings for you to fly withal."
" I will to him this instant," said the incensed youth, " and tell him my
mind of his baseness."
" Under your favour," said Heriot, detaining him, "you shall not do so.
By a quarrel you would become the ruin of me your informer; and though
I would venture half my shop to do your lordship a service, I think you
would hardly wish me to come by damage, when it can be of no service to
you."
The word shop sounded harshly in the ears of the young nobleman, who
replied hastily -" Damage, sir?-so far am I from wishing you to incur
damage, that I would to HIeaven you would cease your fruitless offers of
serving one whom there is no chance of ultimately assisting!"
" Leave me alone for that," said the citizen; " you have now erred as far
on the bow-hand. Permit me to take this Supplication-I will have it suitably engrossed, and take my own time (and it shall be an early one) for
placing it, with more prudence, I trust, than that used by your follower, in
the King's hand-I will almost answer for his taking up the matter as you
would have him -but should he fail to do so, even then I will not give up
the good cause."
"Sir," said the young nobleman, "your speech is so friendly, and my