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.

604. WAVERLEY NOVELS.
"They shall be punctually obeyed, umy lord," said the Colonel; "I know
the duty of a subaltern officer. I wish your Grace a good morning."
So saying, he pocketed the purse, without either affecting hesitation, or
expressing gratitude, but merely as a part of a transaction in the regular
way of business, and stalked from the apartment with the same sullen gravity which marked his entrance. " Now, there goes a scoundrel after nmy
own heart," said the Duke; " a robber from his cradle, a murderer since
he could hold a knife, a profound hypocrite in religion, and a worse and
deeper hypocrite in honour, - would sell his soul to the devil to accomplish
any villany, and would cut the throat of his brother, did he dare to give the
villany he had so acted its right name. Now, why stand you amazed, good
M(taster Jerninghasm, and look on me as you would on some monster of Ind,
when you had paid your shilling to see it, and were staring out your pennyworth with your eyes as round as a pair of spectacles? Wink, man, and
save them, and then let thy tongue untie the mystery."
" On my word, my Lord Duke," answered Jerningham, " since I am compelled to speak, I can only say, that the longer I live with your Grace, I
am the more at a loss to fathom your motives of action. Others lay plans,
either to attain profit or pleasure by their execution; but your Grace's delight is to counteract your own schemes, when in the very act of performance; like a child-forgive me-that breaks its favourite toy, or a man who
should set fire to the house he has half built."
" And why not, if he wanted to warm his hands at the blaze?" said the
Duke.
"Ay, my lord," replied his dependant; "but what'if, in doing so, he
should burn his fingers? - My lord, it is one of your noblest qualities, that
you will sometimes listen to the truth without taking offence; but were it
otherwise, I could not, at this moment, help speaking out at every risk."
"' Well, say on, I can bear it," said the Duke, throwing himself into an
easy-chair, and using his toothpick with graceful indifference and equanimity; "I love to hear what such potsherds as thou art, think of the proceedings of us who are of the pure porcelain clay of the earth."
"In the name of Heaven, my lord, let me then ask you," said Jerningham, "what merit you claim, or what advantage you expect, from having
embroiled every thing in which you are concerned to a degree which equals
the chaos of the blind old iRoundhead's poem which your Grace is so fond
of? To begin with the King. In spite of good-humour, he will be incensed
at your repeated rivalry."
"His Majesty defied me to it."
"You have lost all hopes of the Isle, by quarrelling with Christian."
"I have ceased to care a farthing about it," replied the Duke.
"In Christian himself, whom you have insulted, and to whose family you
intend dishonour, you have lost a sagacious, artful, and cool-headed instruilent and adherent," said the monitor.
"Poor Jerningham i" answered the Duke; " Christian would say as much
for thee, I doubt not, wert thou discarded to-morrow. It is the common
error of such tools as you and he to think themselves indispensable. As to
his family, what was never honourable cannot be dishonoured by any connection with my house."
" I say nothing of Chifflinch," said Jerningham, " offended as he will be
when he learns why, and by whom, his scheme has been ruined, and the
lady spirited away-lIe and his wife, I say nothing of them."
"You need not," said the Duke; "for were they even fit persons to
speak to me about, the Duchess of Portsmouth has bargained for their disgrace."
"Then this bloodhound of a Colonel, as he calls himself, your Grace
cannot even lay him on the quest which is to do you service, but you must
do him such indignity at the same time, as he will not fail to remember,