CHAP. XLVII.] PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. intimidated by the Duke's increasing severity of manner. You lie, like a scoundrel !" said the Duke-"You told Christian!" "Your Grace," said Chiffinch-" your Grace-your Grace ought to remember that I told you Christian's secret, that the Countess of Derby was come up. "And you think the one point of treachery may balance for the other? But no. I must have a better atonement. Be assured I will blow your brains out, ere you leave this carriage, unless you tell me the truth of this message from Court." As Chiffinch hesitated what reply to make, a man, who, by the blaze of the torches, then always borne, as well by the lackeys who hung behind the carriage, as by the footmen who ran by the side, might easily see who sat in the coach, approached, and sung in a deep manly voice, the burden of an old French song on the battle of Marignan, in which is imitated the German French of the defeated Swiss "Tout est verlore "I am betrayed," said the Duke, who instantly conceived that this chorus, expressing "all is lost,' was sung by one of his faithful agents, as a hint to him that their machinations were discovered. He attempted to throw himself from the carriage, but Chiffinch held him with a firm, though respectful grasp. "Do not destroy yourself, my lord," he said, in a tone of deep humility-"there are soldiers and officers of the peace around the carriage, to enforce your Grace's coming to Whitehall, and to prevent your escape. To attempt it would be to confess guilt; and I advise you strongly against that-the King is your friend-be your own." The Duke, after a moment's consideration, said sullenly, "I believe you are right. Why should I fly, when I am guilty of nothing but sending some fireworks to entertain the Court, instead of a concert of music?" "And the dwarf, who came so unexpectedly out of the bass-viol". "Was a masking device of my own, Chiffinch," said the Duke, though the circumstance was then first known to him. "Chiffinch, you will bind me for ever, if you will permit me to have a minute's conversation with Christian." "With Christian, my lord?-Where could you find him?-You are aware we must go straight on to the Court.' True," said the Duke, "but I think I cannot miss finding him; and you, master Chiffinch, are no officer, and have no warrant either to detain me prisoner, or prevent my speaking to whom I please." Chiffinch replied," My Lord Duke, your genius is so great, and your escapes so numerous, that it will be from no wish of my own if I am forced to hurt a man so skilful and so popular." Nay, then, there is life in it yet," said the Duke, and whistled; when, from beside the little cutler's booth, with which the reader is acquainted, appeared, suddenly, Master Christian, and was in a moment at the side of the coach. "Ganz ist verloren," said the Duke. I know it," said Christian; "and all our godly friends are dispersed upon the news. Lucky the Colonel and these German rascals gave a hint. All Is safe-You go to Court.-Hark ye I will follow." You, Christian? that would be more friendly than wise." Why, what is there against me?" said Christian. "I am innocent as the child unborn-so is your Grace. There is but one creature who can bear witness to our guilt; but I trust to bring her on the stage in our favour-besides, if I went not, I should presently be sent for." The familiar of whom I have heard you speak, I warrant?" **Hark in your ear again." I understand," said the Duke, "and will delay Master Chiffinch,-for he, you must know, is my conductor, no longer.-Well, Chiffinch, let them 2 N VOL. IV. drive on.-Vogue la Galere!" he exclaimed as the "It is not for me to judge said Chiffinch; "your Give me a proof of your friendship," said the Duke. "Tell me what you know of Christian's familiar, as he calls her.' "I believe it to be the same dancing wench who came with Empson to my house on the morning that Mistress Alice made her escape from us. But you have seen her, my lord?" "I?" said the Duke; "when did I see her?" "She was employed by Christian, I believe, to set "Umph! I suspected so much. I will repay it," said But ere we follow Buckingham into the presence, "I have," said the Major. "And upon what pledge-that they will not carry information against you to Whitehall?" "They gave me their promise voluntarily, when I showed them our armed friends were dismissed. Tomorrow, I believe, it is their purpose to lodge informations." "And why not to-night, I pray you?" said Chris tian. "Because they allow us that time for escape." "Why, then, do you not avail yourself of it? "Nay, rather, why do you no: fly?" said BridgeWherefore are you here?" said Christian. north. "Of a surety, you are as deeply engaged as I." "Brother Bridgenorth, I am the fox, who knows a hundred modes of deceiving the hounds; you are the deer, whose sole resource is in hasty flight. Therefore lose no time-begone to the country-or rather, river, bound for Massachusetts-take the wings of Zedekiah Fish's vessel, the Good Hope, lies in the the morning, and begone-she can fall down to Gravesend with the tide." "And leave to thee, brother Christian," said Bridgenorth, "the charge of my fortune and my daughter? re-established ere I again trust thee." No, brother; my opinion of your good faith must be "Go thy ways, then, for a suspicious fool," said Christian, suppressing his strong desire to use language more offensive; "or rather stay where thou art, and take thy chance of the gallows!" It is appointed to all men to die once," said Bridgenorth; "my life hath been a living death. My fairest boughs have been stripped by the axe of the forester-that which survives must, if it shall blossom, be grafted elsewhere and at a distance from my aged trunk. The sooner, then, the root feels the axe, the stroke is more welcome. I had been pleased, indeed, had I been called to bringing yonder licentious Court to a purer character, and relieving the yoke of the suffering people of God. That youth too-son to that precious woman, to whom I owe the last tie that feebly links my wearied spirit to humanity-could I have travailed with him in the good cause!-But that with all my other hopes, is broken for ever; and since I am not worthy to be an instrument in so great a work, I have little desire to abide longer in this vale of sorrow." 'Farewell, then, desponding fool!" said Christian, unable, with all his calmness, any longer to suppress his contempt for the resigned and hopeless predestinanan. "That fate should have clogged me with such confederates!" he muttered, as he left the apartment "this bigoted fool is now nearly irreclaimable -I must to Zarah; for she, or no one, must carry us through these straits. If I can but soothe her sullen temper, and excite her vanity to action,-betwixt her address, the King's partiality for the Duke, Buckingham's matchless effrontery, and my own hand upon the helm, we may yet weather the tempest that darkens around us. But what we do must be hastily donc." In another apartment he found the person he sought -the same who visited the Duke of Buckingham's haram, and, having relieved Alice Bridgenorth from her confinement there, had occupied her place, as has been already narrated, or rather intimated. She was now much more plainly attired than when she had tantalized the Duke with her presence; but her dress had still something of the Oriental character, which corresponded with the dark complexion and quick eye of the wearer. She had the kerchief at her eyes as Christian entered the apartment, but suddenly withdrew it, and, flashing on him a glance of scorn and indignation, asked him what he meant by intruding where his company was alike unsought for and undesired. "A proper question," said Christian, "from a slave to her master!" 66 'Rather say, a proper question, and of all questions the most proper, from a mistress to her slave! Know you not, that from the hour in which you discovered your ineffable baseness, you have made me mistress of your lot? While you seemed but a demon of vengeance, you commanded terror, and to good purpose; but such a foul fiend as thou hast of late shown thyself-such a very worthless, base trickster of the devil-such a sordid grovelling imp of perdition, can gain nothing but scorn from a soul like mine." Gallantly mouthed," said Christian, "and with good emphasis." 44 Yes, answered Zarah, "I can speak-sometimes I can also be mute; and that no one knows better than thou." "Thou art a spoiled child, Zarah, and dost but abuse the indulgence I entertain for your freakish humour," replied Christian "thy wits have been disturbed since ever you landed in England, and all for the sake of one who cares for thee no more than for the most worthless object who walks the streets, amongst whom he left you to engage in a brawl for one he loved better." "It is no matter," said Zarah, obviously repressing very bitter emotion; "it signifies not that he loves another better; there is none-no, none-that ever did or can love him so well." "I pity you, Zarah!" said Christian, with some scorn. "I deserve your pity," she replied, "were your pity worth my accepting. Whom have I to thank for my wretchedness but you ?-You bred me up in thirst of vengeance, ere I knew that good and evil were any thing better than names;-to gain your applause, and to gratify the vanity you had excited, I have for years undergone a penance, from which a thousand would have shrunk." A thousand, Zarah!" answered Christian; "ay, a hundred thousand, and a million to boot; the creature is not on earth, being mere mortal woman, that would have undergone the thirtieth part of thy selfdenial." dropper. This I have done for years for years—and all for the sake of your private applause--and the hope of vengeance on a woman, who, if she did ill in murdering my father, has been bitterly repaid by nourishing a serpent in her bosom, that had the tooth, but not the deafened ear, of the adder." "Well-well-well," reiterated Christian; had you not your reward in my approbation-in the consciousness of your own unequalled dexterity-by which, superior to any thing of thy sex that history has ever known, you endured what woman never before endured, insolence without notice, admiration without answer, and sarcasm without reply ?". "and "Not without reply!" said Zarah, fiercely. "Gave not Nature to my feelings a course of expression more⚫ impressive than words? and did not those tremble at my shrieks, who would have little minded my entreaties or my complaints? And my proud lady, who sauced her charities with the taunts she thought I heard not-she was justly paid by the passing of her dearest and most secret concerns into the hands of her mortal enemy; and the vain Earl-yet he was a thing as insignificant as the plume that nodded in his cap; and the maidens and ladies who taunted meI had, or can easily have, my revenge upon them. But there is one," she added, looking upward, "who never taunted me; one whose generous feelings could treat the poor dumb girl even as his sister; who never spoke word of her but it was to excuse or defend-and you tell me I must not love him, and that it is madness to love him!--I will be mad then, for I will love him till the latest breath of my life!" "Think but an instant, silly girl-silly but in one respect, since in all others thou mayst brave the world of women. Think that I have proposed to thee, for the loss of this hopeless affection, a career so brilliant!-Think only that it rests with thyself to be the wife-the wedded wife of the princely Buckingham! With my talents-with thy wit and beauty with his passionate love of these attributes-a short space might rank you among England's Princesses.-Be but guided by me-he is now at a deadly pass-needs every assistance to retrieve his fortunes-above all, that which we alone can render him. Put yourself under my conduct, and not fate itself shall prevent your wearing a Duchess's coronet." A coronet of thistle-down, entwined with thistleleaves," said Zarah.-"I know not a slighter thing than your Buckingham! I saw him at your requestsaw him when, as a man, he should have shown himself generous and noble--I stood the proof at your desire, for I laugh at those dangers from which the poor blushing wailers of my sex shrink and withdraw themselves. What did I find him?--a poor wavering voluptuary-his nearest attempt to passion like the fire on a wretched stubble-field, that may singe, indeed, or smoke, but can neither warm nor devour Christian! were his coronet at my feet this moment, I would sooner take up a crown of gilded gingerbread, than extend my hand to raise it. "You are mad, Zarah-with all your taste and talent, you are utterly mad! But let Buckingham pass Do you owe me nothing on this emergency !-Nothing to one who rescued you from the cruelty of your owner, the posture-master, to place vou in ease and affluence?"" "Christian," she replied, "I owe you much. Had I not felt I did so, I would, as I have been often tempted to do, have denounced thee to the fierce Countess who would have gibbeted you on her feudal walls of Castle Rushin, and bid your family seek redress from the eagles, that would long since have thatched their nest with your hair, and fed their young ospreys with your flesh." "I am truly glad you have had so much forbearance for me," answered Christian. "I have it, in truth and in sincerity,” replied Zarah "I believe it," said Zarah, drawing up her slight "Not for your benefits to me-such as they were, but elegant figure; "I believe it-I have gone through they were every one interested, and conferred from a trial that few indeed could have sustained. I have the most selfish considerations. I have overpaid them renounced the dear intercourse of my kind; compelled a thousand times by the devotion to your will, my tongue only to utter, like that of a spy, the know-which I have displayed at the greatest personal risk. ledge which my ear had only collected as a base eaves- But till of late I respected your powers of mind PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. your inimitable command of passion-the force of I found you capable of discharging, to an uncommon "And if I smile," said Christian, "it is but in scorn of so odious an accusation. Girl, I will not tell thee the reason, but there exists not on earth the living thing over whose safety and honour I would keep watch as over thine. Buckingham's wife, indeed, I wished thee; and through thy own beauty and thy wit, I doubted not to bring the match to pass." "Vain flatterer," said Zarah, yet seeming soothed even by the flattery which she scoffed at, "you would persuade me that it was honourable love which you expected the Duke was to have offered me. How durst you urge so gross a deception, to which time, place, and circumstance, gave the lie ?-How dare you now again mention it, when you well know, that at the time you mention, the Duchess was still in life?" "In life, but on her deathbed," said Christian; "and for time, place, and circumstance, had your virtue, my Zarah, depended on these, how couldst thou have been the creature thou art? I knew thee all-sufficient to bid him defiance-else-for thou art dearer to me than thou thinkest-I had not risked thee to win the Duke of Buckingham; ay, and the kingdom of England to boot.-So now, wilt thou be ruled and go on with me?" Zarah, or Fenella, for our readers must have been long aware of the identity of these two personages, cast down her eyes, and was silent for a long time. "Christian," she said at last, in a solemn voice, "if my ideas of right and of wrong be wild and incoherent, I owe it, first, to the wild fever which my native sun communicated to my veins; next, to my childhood, trained amidst the shifts, tricks, and feats of jugglers and mountebanks; and then, to a youth of fraud and deception, through the course thou didst prescribe me, in which, I might, indeed, hear every thing, but communicate with no one. The last cause of my wild errors, if such they are, originates, O Christian, with you alone; by whose intrigues I was placed with yonder lady, and who taught me, that to revenge my father's death, was my first great duty on earth, and that I was bound by nature to hate and injure her by whom I was fed and fostered, though as she would have fed and caressed a dog, or any other mute animal. I also think-for I will deal fairly with you-that you had not so easily detected your niece, in the child whose surprising agility was making yonder brutal mountebank's fortune; nor so readily induced him to part with his bond-slave, had you not, for your own purposes,, placed me under his charge, and reserved the privilege of claiming me when you pleased. I could not, under any other tuition, have identified myself with the personage of a nute, which it has been your desire that I should perform through life." "You do me injustice, Zarah," said Christian-"I CHAPTER XLVIII. -But O! swer was returned, any more than could have been rendered by a herd of cattle instinctively disturbed by the approach of a thunder-storm. To add to the general apprehension, it began to be whispered, that one or two of the guests, who were desirous of leaving the palace, had been informed no one could be permitted to retire until the general hour of dismissal. And these, gliding back into the hall, communicated in whispers that the sentinels at the gates were doubled, and that there was a troop of the Horse Guards drawn up in the court-circumstances so unusual, as to excite the most anxious curiosity. Such was the state of the Court, when wheels were heard without, and the bustle which took place denoted the arrival of some person of consequence. "Here comes Chiffinch," said the King, "with his prey in his clutch." What shall I say to thee, Lord Scroop; thou cruel, Ingrateful, savage, and inhuman creature! Thou that didst bear the key of all my counsels, That knew'st the very bottom of my soul, That almost mightst have coin'd me into gold, Wouldst thou have practised on me for thy use.—Henry V. AT no period of his life, not even when that life was in imminent danger, did the constitutional gayety of Charles seem more overclouded, than when waiting for the return of Chiffinch with the Duke of Buckingham. His mind revolted at the idea, that the person to whom he had been so particularly indulgent, and whom he had selected as the friend of his lighter hours and amusements, should prove capable of having tampered with a plot apparently directed against his liberty and life. He more than once examined the dwarf anew, but could extract nothing more than It was indeed the Duke of Buckingham; nor did his first narrative contained. The apparition of the he approach the royal presence without emotion. On female to him in the cell of Newgate, he described in entering the court, the flambeaux which were borne such fanciful and romantic colours, that the King around the carriage gleamed on the scarlet coats, laced could not help thinking the poor man's head a little hats, and drawn broadswords of the Horse Guardsturned; and, as nothing was found in the kettledrum, a sight unusual, and calculated to strike terror into a and other musical instruments brought for the use of conscience which was none of the clearest. the Duke's band of foreigners, he nourished some slight hope that the whole plan might be either a mere jest, or that the idea of an actual conspiracy was founded in mistake. The Duke alighted from the carriage, and only said to the officer, whom he saw upon duty, "You are late under arms to-night, Captain Carleton." "Such are our orders, sir," answered Carleton, with military brevity; and then commanded the four dismounted sentinels at the under gate to make way for the Duke of Buckingham. His Grace had no sooner entered, than he heard behind him the command, "Move close up, sentinels-closer yet to the And he felt as if all chance of rescue were excluded by the sound. The persons who had been despatched to watch the motions of Mr. Weiver's congregation, brought back word that they had quietly dispersed. It was known, at the same time, that they had met in arms, but this augured no particular design of aggression, at a time when all true Protestants conceived them-gate.' selves in danger of immediate massacre; when the fathers of the city had repeatedly called out the Train- As he advanced up the grand staircase, there were Bands, and alarmed the citizens of London, under other symptoms of alarm and precaution. The Yeothe idea of an instant insurrection of the Catholics; men of the Guard were mustered in unusual numbers, and when, to sum the whole up, in the emphatic and carried carabines instead of their halberds; and words of an alderman of the day, there was a general the Gentleman Pensioners, with their partisans, apbelief that they would all waken some unhappy morn-peared also in proportional force. In short, all that ing with their throats cut. Who was to do these dire deeds, it was more difficult to suppose; but all admitted the possibility that they might be achieved, since one Justice of the Peace was already murdered. There was, therefore, no inference of hostile intentions against the State, to be decidedly derived from a congregation of Protestants par excellence, military from old associations, bringing their arms with them to a place of worship, in the midst of a panic so universal. sort of defence which the royal household possesses within itself, seemed, for some hasty and urgent reason, to have been placed under arms, and upon duty. Buckingham ascended the royal staircase with an eye attentive to these preparations, and a step steady and slow, as if he counted each step on which he trode. "Who," he asked himself, "shall insure Christian's fidelity? Let him but stand fast, and we are secure. Otherwise". As he shaped the alternative, he entered the presence-chamber. Neither did the violent language of the minister, supposing that to be proved, absolutely infer meditated violence. The favourite parables of the preachers, The King stood in the midst of the apartment, surand the metaphors and ornaments which they se- rounded by the personages with whom he had been lected, were at all times of a military cast; and the consulting. The rest of the brilliant assembly, scattaking the kingdom of heaven by storm, a strong tered into groups, looked on at some distance. All and beautiful metaphor, when used generally, as in were silent when Buckingham entered, in hopes of Scripture, was detailed in their sermons in all the receiving some explanation of the mysteries of the technical language of the attack and defence of a evening. All bent forward, though etiquette forbade fortified place. The danger, in short, whatever might them to advance, to catch, if possible, something of have been its actual degree, had disappeared as sud-what was about to pass betwixt the King and his denly as a bubble upon the water, when broken by a intriguing statesman. At the same time, those councasual touch, and had left as little trace behind it. It sellors who stood around Charles, drew back on either became, therefore, matter of much doubt, whether it side, so as to permit the Duke to pay his respects to had ever actually existed. his Majesty in the usual form. He went through the ceremonial with his accustomed grace, but was received by Charles with much unwonted gravity. "We have waited for you for some time, my Lord Duke. It is long since Chiffinch left us, to request your attendance here. I see you are elaborately dressed. Your toilette was needless on the present While various reports were making from without, and while their tenor was discussed by the King, and such nobles and statesmen as he thought proper to consult on the occasion, a gradual sadness and anxiety mingled with, and finally silenced, the mirth of the evening. All became sensible that something unusual was going forward; and the unwonted dis-occasion." tance which Charles maintained from his guests, while it added greatly to the dulness that began to predominate in the presence-chamber, gave intimation that something unusual was labouring in the King's mind. Thus play was neglected-the music was silent, or played without being heard-gallants ceased to make compliments, and ladies to expect them; and a sort of apprehensive curiosity pervaded the circle. Each asked the others why they were grave; and no an "Needless to the splendour of your Majesty's Court," said the Duke, “but not needless on my part. This chanced to be Black Monday at York-Place, and my club of Pendables were in full glee when your Majesty's summons arrived. I could not be in the company of Ogle, Maniduc, Dawson, and so forth, but what I must needs make some preparation, and some ablution, ere entering the circle here." "I trust the purification will be complete," said the King, without any tendency to the smile which always softened features, that, ungilded by its influence, were dark, harsh, and even severe. "We wished to ask your Grace concerning the import of a sort of musical mask which you designed us here, but which miscarried, as we are given to understand." "It must have been a great miscarriage indeed," said the Duke, "since your Majesty looks so serious on it. I thought to have done your Majesty a pleasure, (as I have seen you condescend to be pleased with such passages,) by sending the contents of that bass-viol; but I fear the jest has been unacceptable I fear the fireworks may have done mischief." "Not the mischief they were designed for, perhaps," said the King, gravely; "you see, my lord, we are all alive, and unsinged." Long may your Majesty remain so," said the Duke; yet I see that there is something misconstrued on my part-it must be a matter unpardonable, however little intended, since it hath displeased so indulgent a master." "Too indulgent a master, indeed, Buckingham," replied the King; "and the fruit of my indulgence has been to change loyal men into traitors." 46 May it please your Majesty, I cannot understand this," said the Duke. "Follow us, my lord," answered Charles, "and we will endeavour to explain our meaning." Attended by the same lords who stood around him, and followed by the Duke of Buckingham, on whom all eyes were fixed, Charles retired into the same cabinet which had been the scene of repeated consulta tions in the course of the evening. There, leaning with his arms crossed on the back of an easy chair, Charles proceeded to interrogate the suspected noble man. "Let us be plain with each other. Speak out, Buckingham. What, in one word, was to have been the regale intended for us this evening?" "A petty mask, my liege. I had destined a little dancing-girl to come out of that instrument, who, I thought, would have performed to your Majesty's liking a few Chinese fireworks there were, which, thinking the entertainment was to have taken place in the marble hall, might, I hoped, have been discharged with good effect, and without the slightest alarm, at the first appearance of my little sorceress, and were designed to have masked, as it were, her entrance upon the stage. I hope there have been no perukes singed-no ladies frightened-no hopes of noble descent interrupted by my ill-fancied jest?" "We have seen no such fireworks, my lord; and your female dancer, of whom we now hear for the first time, came forth in the form of our old acquaintance Geoffrey Hudson, whose dancing days are surely ended." "Your Majesty surprises me! I beseech you, let Christian be sent for-Edward Christian-be will be found lodging in a large old house near Sharper the cutler's, in the Strand. As I live by bread, sire, I trusted him with the arrangement of this matter, as indeed the dancing-girl was his property. If he has done aught to dishonour my concert, or disparage my character, he shall die under the baton." "That is but fair," said the King. "Bring our little friend from behind the chimney-board. [Hudson being accordingly produced, he continued.] There stands the Duke of Buckingham. Repeat before him the tale you told us. Let him hear what were those contents of the bass-viol which were removed that you might enter it. Be not afraid of any one, but speak the truth boldly." May it please your Majesty," said Hudson, "fear is a thing unknown to me." His body has no room to hold such a passion; or there is too little of it to be worth fearing for," said Buckingham.-" But let him speak." Ere Hudson had completed his tale, Buckingham interrupted him by exclaiming, "Is it possible that I can be suspected by your Majesty on the word of this pitiful variety of the baboon tribe?" Villain-Lord, I appeal thee to the combat!" said the little man, highly offended at the appellation thus bestowed on him. "La you there now!" said the Duke-"The little animal is quite crazed, and defies a man who need ask no other weapon than a corking-pin to run him through the lungs, and whose single kick could hoist him from Dover to Calais without yacht or whзrry. And what can you expect from an idiot, who is engoue of a common rope-dancing-girl, that capered on a packthread at Ghent in Flanders, unless they were to club their talents to set up a booth at BartholomewFair ?-Is it not plain, that supposing the little animal is not malicious, as indeed his whole kind bear a general and most cankered malice against those who have the ordinary proportions of humanity-Grant, I say, that this were not a malicious falsehood of his, why, what does it amount to ?-That he has mistaken squibs and Chinese crackers for arms! He says not he himself touched or handled them; and judging by the sight alone, I question if the infirm old creature, when any whim or preconception hath possession of his noddle, can distinguish betwixt a blunderbuss and a black-pudding." The horrible clamour which the dwarf made so soon as he heard this disparagement of his military skill-the haste with which he blundered out a detail of his warlike experiences-and the absurd grimaces which he made in order to enforce his story, provoked not only the risibility of Charles, but even of the statesmen around him, and added absurdity to the motley complexion of the scene. The King terminated this dispute, by commanding the dwarf to withdraw. A more regular discussion of his evidence was then resumed, and Ormond was the first who pointed out, that it went farther than had been noticed, since the little man had mentioned a certain extraordinary and treasonable conversation held by the Duke's dependents, by whom he had been conveyed to the palace. "I am sure not to lack my lord of Ormond's good word," said the Duke, scornfully; "but I defy him alike, and all my other enemies, and shall find it easy to show that this alleged conspiracy, if any grounds for it at all exist, is a mere sham-plot, got up to turn the odium justly attached to the Papists upon the Pro"It is singular," said the King, "and I have often testants. Here is a half-hanged creature, who, on observed it, that this fellow Christian bears the blame the very day he escapes from the gallows, which of all men's enormities-he performs the part which many believe was his most deserved destiny, comes in a great family is usually assigned to that mischief- to take away the reputation of a Protestant peerdoing personage, Nobody. When Chiffinch blunders, and, on what?-on the treasonable conversation of he always quotes Christian. When Sheffield writes three or four German fiddlers, heard through the a lampoon, I am sure to hear of Christian having cor- sound-holes of a violoncello, and that, too, when the rected, or copied, or dispersed it-he is the ami damnée creature was incased in it, and mounted on a man's of every one about my Court-the scapegoat who is shoulders! The urchin, too, in repeating their lanto carry away all their iniquities; and he will have a guage, shows he understands German as little as my cruel load to bear into the wilderness. But for Buck-horse does; and if he did rightly hear, truly compreingham's sins, in particular, he is the regular and uniform sponsor; and I am convinced his Grace expects Christian should suffer every penalty which he has inincurred in this world or the next.' "Not so," with the deepest reverence replied the Duke. "I have no hope of being either hanged or damned by proxy; but it is clear some one hath tampered with and altered my device. If I am accused of aught, let me at least hear the charge, and see my accuser. hend, and accurately report what they said, still, is my honour to be touched by the language held by such persons as these are, with whom I have never communicated, otherwise than men of my rank do with those of their calling and capacity?-Pardon me, sire, if I presume to say, that the profound statesmen who endeavoured to stifle the Popish conspiracy by the pretended Meal-tub Plot, will take little more credit by their figments about fiddles and concertos.' The assistant counsellors looked at each other; and |