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.

WOODSTOCK. 85
cannot approach this cover, as though to shelter, like a coney in the rocks,
but thou wilt be sensible of his presence."
" I make a shift to comprehend your Excellency," said the cavalier; "and
I thank you heartily for the good opinion you have put upon me, and which,
I pray I may have some handsome opportunity of deserving, that I may
show my gratitude by the event. But still, with reverence, your Excellency's scheme seems unlikely, while Woodstock remains in possession of the
sequestrators. Both the old knight and his son, and far more such a fugitive
as your honor hinted at, will take special care not to approach it till they
are removed."
"It is for that I have been dealing with thee thus long," said the General
— "I told thee that I was something unwilling, upon slight occasion, to
dispossess the sequestrators by my own proper warrant, although having,
perhaps, sufficient authority in the state both to do so, and to despise the
murmurs of those who blame me. In brief, I would be loth to tamper with
my privileges, and make experiments between their strength, and the powers
of the commission granted by others, without pressing need, or at least great
prospect of advantage. So, if thy Colonel will undertake, for his love of
the Republic, to find the means of preventing its worst and nearest danger,
which must needs occur from the escape of this young Man, and will do
his endeavour to stay him, in case his flight should lead him to Woodstock,
which I hold very likely, I will give thee an order to these sequestrators, to
evacuate the palace instantly; and to the next troop of my regiment, which
lies at Oxford, to turn them out by the shoulders, if they make any scruples
-Ay, even, for example's sake, if they drag Desborough out foremost,
though he be wedded to my sister."
" So please you, sir," said Wildrake, "and with. your most powerful
warrant, I trust I might expel the commissioners, even without the aid of
your most warlike and devout troopers."
" That is what I am least anxious about," replied the General; "I should
like to see the best of them sit after I had nodded to them to begone —
always excepting the worshipful House, in whose name our commissions run;
but who, as some think, will be done with politics ere it be time to renew
them. Therefore, what chiefly concerns me to know, is, whether thy master
will embrace a traffic which hath such a fair promise of profit with it. I
am well convinced that, with a scout like thee, who hast been in the cavaliers' quarters, and canst, I should guess, resume thy drinking, ruffianly,
health-quaffing manners whenever thou hast a mind, he must discover where
this Stewart hath ensconced himself. Either the young Lee will visit the
old one in person, or he will write to him, or hold communication with him
by letter. At all events, Markham Everard and thou must have an eye in
every hair of your head." While he spoke, a flush passed over his brow,
he rose from his chair, and paced the apartment in agitation. "Woe to you,
if you suffer the young adventurer to escape me!- you had better be in
the deepest dungeon in Europe, than breathe the air of England, should you
but dream of playing me false. I have spoken freely to thee, fellow-more
freely than is my wont-the time required it. But, to share my confidence
is like keeping a watch over a powder-magazine, the least and most insignificant spark blows thee to ashes. Tell your master what I said -but not
how I said it- Fie, that I should have been betrayed into this distemperature of passion! -begone, sirrah. Pearson shall bring thee sealed orders
- Yet, stay - thou hast something to ask."
"I would know," said Wildrake, to whom the visible anxiety of the
General gave some confidence, " what is the figure of this young gallant, in
case I should find him?"
" A tall, rawboned, swarthy lad, they say he has shot up into. Here is
his picture by a good hand, some time since." He turned round one of the
H