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.

PEVERIL OF THlE PEAK. 645
make all ready. Be assured your services shall not be forgot. We will
have you near to us."
"My Lord Duke," said Christian, "you bind me doubly to you. But
remember, that as your Grace is spared any obnoxious proceedings which
may befall in the way of military execution, or otherwise, so it will be advisable that you hold yourself in preparation, upon a moment's notice, to put
yourself at the head of a band of honourable friends and allies, and come
presently to the palace, where you will be received by the victors as a commander, and by the vanquished as a preserver."
"I conceive you -I conceive you. I will be in prompt readiness," said
the Duke.
"Ay, my lord," continued Christian; "and, for IIeaven's sake, let none
of those toys, which are the very Delilahs of your imagination, come across
your Grace this evening, and interfere with the execution of this sublime
scheme."
"Why, Christian, dost think me mad?" was his Grace's emphatic reply.
"It is you who linger, when all should be ordered for a deed so daring. Go
then.-But hark ye, Ned; ere you go, tell me when I shall again see yonder
thing of fire and air —yon Eastern Peri, that glides into apartments by the
keyhole, and leaves them through the casement —yon black-eyed houri of
the Mahometan paradise-when, I say, shall I see her once more?"
"When your Grace has the truncheon of Lord Lieutenant of the Kingdom," said Christian, and left the apartment.
Buckingham stood fixed in contemplation for a moment after he was
gone. " Should I have done this?" he said, arguing the matter with himself; "or had I the choice, rather, of doing aught else? Should I not hasten
to the Court, and make Charles aware of the treason which besets him? I
will, by Heaven? —Here, Jerningham, my coach, with the despatch of light!
-I will throw myself at his feet, and tell him of all the follies which I have
dreamed of with this Christian.-And then he will laugh at me, and spurn
me.-No, I have kneeled to him to-day already, and my repulse was nothing
gentle. To be spurned once in the sun's daily round is enough for Buckingham."
Having made this reflection, he seated himself, and began hastily to mark
down the young nobles and gentlemen of quality, and others, their very
ignoble companions, who he supposed might be likely to assume him for
their leader in any popular disturbance. He had nearly completed it, when
Jerningham entered, to say the coach would be ready in an instant, and to
bring his master's sword, hat, and cloak.
" Let the coachman draw off," said the Duke, "but be in readiness. And
send to the gentlemen thou wilt find named in this list; say I am but ill at
ease, and wish their company to a slight collation. Let instant expedition
be made, and care not for expense; you will find most of them at the ClubHouse in Fuller's Rents."*
The preparations for festivity were speedily made, and the intended
guests, most of them persons who were at leisure for any call that promised
pleasure, though sometimes more deaf to those of duty, began speedily to
assemble. There were many youths of the highest rank, and with them,
as is usual in those circles, many of a different class, whom talents, or impudence, or wit, or a turn for gambling, had reared up into companions for
the great and the gay. The Duke of Buckingham was a general patron of
persons of this description; and a numerous attendance took place on the
present occasion.
The festivity was pursued with the usual appliances of wine, music, and
The place of meeting of the Green Ribbon Club. "Their place of meeting," says Roger North, " was inl
a sort of Carrefour at Chlancery Lale, in a centre of business and company most proper for such anglers of
fools. The house was double balconied in front, as may yet be seen, forl the clubbers to issue forth in fresco,
with hats and no perukes, pipes in their mouths, merry faces, and dilated throats for vocal encouragement of
the canaglia below on usual and unusual occasions."