terprize the greatest danger to your Majesty's the utter destruction of all your party person and friends, if they insist not on the point, which, unfortunately, your Majesty is so unwilling to concede. I speak it with a heart full of anguish with a tongue unable to utter my emotions. but it must be spoken the fatal truth — that if your royal goodness cannot yield to us a boon which we hold necessary to our security and your own, your Majesty with one word disarms ten thousand men, ready to draw their swords in your behalf; or, to speak yet more plainly, you annihilate even the semblance of a royal party in Great Britain." «And why do you not add," said the Prince, scornfully, that the men who have been ready to assume arms in my behalf, will atone for their treason to the Elector, by delivering me up to the fate for which so many proclamations have destined me? Carry my head to St James's, gentlemen; you will do a more acceptable and a more honourable action, than, having inveigled me into a situation which places me so completely in your power, to dishonour yourselves by propositions which dishonour me." «My God, sire! "exclaimed Sir Richard, clasp. ing his hands together, in impatience, «of what great and inexpiable crime can your Majesty's ancestors have been guilty, that they have been punished by the infliction of judicial blindness on their whole generation! Come, my Lordwe must to our friends." «By your leave, Sir Richard," said the young nobleman, «not till we have learned what mea sures can be taken for his Majesty's personal safety." «Care not for me, young man," said Charles Edward; «when I was in the society of Highland robbers and cattle-drovers, I was safer than I now hold myself among the representatives of the best blood in England. Farewell, gentle men I will shift for myself.» ger, This must never be," said Redgauntlet. «Let me that brought you to the point of dan at least provide for your safe retreat. » So saying, he hastily left the apartment, followed by his nephew. The Wanderer, averting his eyes from Lord and Sir Richard Glen dale, threw himself into a seat at the upper end of the apartment, while they, in much anxiety, stood together, at a distance from him, and con versed in whispers.. CHAPTER XXIII. NARRATIVE CONTINUED. WHEN Redgauntlet left the room, in haste and discomposure, the first person he met on the stair, and indeed so close by the door of the apartment that Darsie thought he must have been listening there, was his attendant Nixon. « What the devil do you here?" he said, abruptly and sternly. "I wait your orders," said Nixon. «I hope all's right?- excuse my zeal. » «All is sir wrong, Where is the seafaring fellow- Ewart-what do ye call him? »> «Nanty Ewart, sir I will carry your commands," said Nixon. «I will deliver them myself to him,' » said Redgauntlet; «call him hither. » «But should your honour leave the presence? said Nixon, still lingering. » «'Sdeath, sir, do you prate to me?" said Redgauntlet, bending his brows. «I, sir, transact my own business; you, I am told, act by a ragged deputy," Without farther answer, Nixon departed, rather disconcerted, as it seemed to Darsie. <<That dog turns insolent and lazy,” said Redgauntlet; «but I must bear with him for a while. A moment after, Nixon returned with Ewart. «Is this the smuggling fellow? » demanded Redgauntlet. Nixon nodded. «Is he sober now? he was brawling anon. » «Sober enough for business," said Nixon. Ewart - if « Well then, hark ye, man your boat with your best hands, and have her by the pier - get your other fellows on board the brig you have any cargo left throw it overboard, it shall be all paid, five times over — and be ready for a start to Wales or the Hebrides, or perhaps for Sweden or Norway." Ewart answered, sullenly enough, «Ay, ay, sir. «Go with him, Nixon," said Redgauntlet, forcing himself to speak with some appearance of cordiality to the servant with whom he was offended; «see he does his duty." Ewart left the house sullenly, followed by Nixon. The sailor was just in that species of drunken humour which made him jealous, passionate, and troublesome, without shewing any other disorder than that of irritability. As he walked towards the beach he kept muttering to himself, but in such a tone that his companion lost not a word, «Smuggling fellow-Ay, smug. gler and, start your cargo into the sea- and be ready to start for the Hebrides, or Sweden -or the devil I suppose. I said in answer I'll make Rebel you and your d Well, and what if Jacobite traitor d confederates walk the plank I have seen better men do it a-score of a morning Line." «D half when I was across the d unhandsome terms those Redgauntlet used to you, brother," said Nixon. "Which do you mean?" said Ewart, starting, and recollecting himself. «I have been at my old trade of thinking aloud, have I? » |