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.

THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL. 67
made their comments in whispers, until the sounds reached Ramsay, who
had not heard a word of what had previously passed, but plunged in those
studies with which he connected every other incident and event, took up
only the catchword, and replied,-" The Duke -the Duke of Buckingham
- George Villiers ay - I have spoken with Lambe about him."
"Our Lord and our Lady! Now, how can you say so, father?" said his
daughter, who had shrewdness enough to see that her father was touching
upon dangerous ground.
"Why, ay, child," answered Ramsay; "the stars do but incline, they
cannot compel. But well you wot, it is commonly said of his Grace, by
those who have the skill to cast nativities, that there was a notable conjunction of Mars and Saturn-the apparent or true time of which, reducing the
calculations of Eichstadius made for the latitude of Oranienburgh to that
of London, gives se~ven hours, fifty-five minutes, and forty-one seconds —"
"Hold your peace, old soothsayer," said HIeriot, who at that instant
entered the room with a calm and steady countenance; "your calculations
are true and undeniable when they regard brass and wire, and mechanical
force; but future events are at the pleasure of Him who bears the hearts
of kings in his hands."
" Ay, but, George," answered the watchmaker, "there was a concurrence
of signs at this gentleman's birth, which showed his course would be a
strange one. Long has it been said of him, he was born at the very meeting of night and day, and under crossing and contending influences that
may affect both us and him.'Full moon ald high sea,
Great nman shalt thou be:
Red dawning, stormy sky,
Bloody death shalt thou die."'
" It is not good to speak of such things," said Heriot, "especially of the
great; stone walls have ears, and a bird of the air shall carry the mlatter."
Several of the guests seemed to be of their host's opinion. The two
merchants took brief leave, as if under consciousness that something was
wrong. Mistress Margaret, her body-guard of'prentices being in readiness,
pluclked her father by the sleeve, and, rescuing him from a brown study,
(whether referring to the wheels of Time, or to that of Fortune, is uncertain,) wished good-night to her friend Mrs. Judith, and received her godfather's blessing, who, at the same time, put upon her slender finger a ring
of much taste and some value; for he seldom suffered her to leave him without some token of his affection. Thus honourably dismissed, and accompanied by her escort, she set forth on her return to Fleet Street.
Sir Mungo had bid adieu to Master lleriot as he came out from the back
compting-room, but such was the interest which he took in the affairs of
his friend, that, when Master George went up stairs, he could not help
walking into that sanctum sanctorum, to see how Master Roberts was employed. The knight found the cash-keeper busy in making extracts from.
those huge brass-clasped leathern-bound manuscript folios, which are the
pride and trust of dealers, and the dread of customers whose year of grace
is out. The good knight leant his elbows on the desk, and said to the functionary, in a condoling tone of voice,-" What! you have lost a good customer, I fear, Master Roberts, and are busied in making out his bill of
charges?"
Now, it chanced that Roberts, like Sir Mungo himself, was a little deaf,
and, like Sir Mungo, knew also how to make the most of it; so that he
answered at cross purposes, —" I humbly crave your pardon, Sir lungo, for
not having sent in your bill of charge sooner, but my master bade me not
disturb you. I will bring the items together in a moment." So saying, he
began to turn over the leaves of his book of fate, murmuring, "Repairing
ane silver seal-new clasp to his chain of office-ane over-gilt brooch to his