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fast in hold with the whole tribe of witnesses at his haunches."

"Nay, then, take him, Topham."

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'Topham has taken him already, my lord," said Christian; and there is, besides, a young gallant, a son of the said Knight, who was bred in the household of the Countess of Derby, and who has brought letters from her to the Provincial of the Jesuits, and others in London."

"What are their names?" said the Duke, drily. "Sir Geoffrey Peveril of Martindale Castle, in Derbyshire, and his son Julian."

"What! Peveril of the Peak?" said the Duke--66 a stout old Cavalier as ever swore an oath---A Worcester-man too---and in truth a man of all work, when blows were going. I will not consent to his ruin, Christian. These fellows must be flogged off such false scents---flogged, in every sense, they must, and will be, when the nation comes to their eye-sight again."

"It is of more than the last importance, in the mean time, to the furtherance of our plan," said Christian" that your Grace should stand for a space between them and the King's favour. The youth hath influence with the maiden, which we should find scarce favourable to our views; besides, her father holds him as high as he can any one who is no such Puritanic fool as himself."

"Well, most Christian Christian," said the Duke, "I have heard your commands at length. I will endeavour to stop the earths under the throne, that neither the lord, knight, nor squire in question, will find it possible to burrow there. For the fair one, I must leave Chiffinch and you to manage her introduction to her high destinies, since I am not to be trusted. Adieu, most Christian Christian."

He fixed his eyes on him, and then exclaimed, as he shut the door of the apartment,-" Most pre

fligate and damnable villain! and what provokes me most of all, is the knave's composed insolence. Your Grace will do this-and your Grace will condescend to do that-A pretty puppet I should be, to play the second part, or rather the third, in such a scheme! No they shall all walk according to my purpose, or I will cross them. I will find this girl out in spite of them, and judge if their scheme is like to be successful. If so, she shall be minemine entirely, before she becomes the King's; and I will command her who is to guide Charles.-Jerningham, (his gentleman re-entered,) cause Christian to be dogged wherever he goes, for the next four-and-twenty hours, and find out where he visits a female newly come to town--You smile, you knave?"

"I did but suspect a fresh rival to Araminta and the little Countess," said Jerningham.

"Away to your business, knave," said the Duke, "and let me think of mine.-To subdue a Puritan in Esse-a King's favourite in Posse-the very muster of western beauties-that is point first. The impudence of this Manx mongrel to be corrected

an important state intrigue to be furthered, or bafthe pride of Madame la Duchesse to be pulled down fled, as circumstances render most to my own honour and glory-I wished for business but now, and I have got enough of it. But Buckingham will keep his own steerage-way through shoal and through weather."

CHAPTER XIII.

-Mark you this, Bassanio

The devil can quote scripture for his purpose.

Merchant of Venice.

AFTER leaving the proud mansion of the Duke of Buckingham, Christian, full of the deep and treacherous schemes which he meditated, hastened to the city, where, in a decent inn, kept by a person of his own persuasion, he had been unexpectedly summoned to meet with Ralph Bridgenorth of Moultrassie. He was not disappointed-the Major had arrived that morning, and anxiously expected him. The usual gloom of his countenance was darkened into a yet deeper shade of anxiety, which was scarcely even relieved, while, in answer to his inquiry after his daughter, Christian gave the most favourable account of her health and spirits, naturally and unaffectedly intermingled with such praises of her beauty and her disposition, as were likely to be most grateful to her father's ear.

But Christian had too much cunning to expatiate on this theme, however soothing. He stopped short exactly at the point where, as an affectionate relative, he might be supposed to have said enough. "The lady," he said," with whom he had placed Alice, was delighted with her aspect and manners, and undertook to be responsible for her health and happiness. He had not, he said, deserved so little confidence at the hand of his brother Bridgenorth, as that the Major should, contrary to his purpose,

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and to the plan which they had adjusted together,. have hurried up from the country, as if his own presence were necessary for Alice's protection." "Brother Christian," said Bridgenorth in reply, "I must see my child-I must see this whom she is entrusted."

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"To what purpose?" answered Christian. "Have you not often confessed that the over excess of the carnal affection which you have entertained for your daughter, hath been a snare to you?-Have you not, more than once, been on the point of resigning those great designs which should place righteousness as a counsellor beside the throne, because you desired to gratify your daughter's girlish passion for this descendant of your old persecutor-this Julian Peveril?"

"I own it," said Bridgenorth; "and worlds would I have given, and would yet give, to clasp that youth to my bosom and call him my son. The spirit of his mother looks from his eye, and his stately step is as that of his father, when he daily spoke comfort to me in my distress, and said, 'The child liveth.'"

"But the youth walks," said Christian, "after his own lights, and mistakes the meteor of the marsh for the Polar star. Ralph Bridgenorth, I will speak to thee in friendly sincerity. Thou must not think to serve both the good cause and Baal. Obey, if thou wilt, thine own carnal affections, summon this Julian Peveril to thy house, and let him wed thy daughter-But mark the reception he will meet with from the proud old knight, whose spirit is now, even now, as little broken with his chains, as after the sword of the Saints had prevailed at Worcester. See thy daughter spurned from his feet like an outcast."

"Christian," said Bridgenorth, interrupting him "thou dost urge me hard; but thou doest it in love, VOL. II.- -19

my brother, and I forgive thee-Alice shall never be spurned. But this friend of thine-this ladythou art my child's uncle, and, after me, thou art next to her in love and affection-Still, thou art not her father-hast not her father's fears. Art thou sure of the character of this woman to whom my child is entrusted?"

"Am I sure of my own?-Am I sure that my name is Christian, yours Bridgenorth?-Have I not dwelt for many years in this city? Do I not know this court?--And am I likely to be imposed upon? For I will not think you can fear my imposing upon you."

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"Thou art my brother," said Bridgenorth--" the blood and bone of my departed Saint--and I am determined that I will trust thee in this matter.' "Thou doest well," said Christian; and who knows what reward may be in store for thee?--I can not look upon Alice, but it is strongly borne in on my mind, that there will be work for a creature so excellent beyond ordinary women. rageous Judith freed Bethulia by her valour, and the comely features of Esther made her a safeguard and a defence to her people in the land of captivity, when she found favour in the sight of King Ahasuerus.

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"Be it with her as Heaven wills," said Bridgenorth; "and now tell me what progress there is in the great work."

"The people are weary of the iniquity of this court," said Christian; and if this man will continue to reign, it must be by calling to his councils men of another stamp. The alarm excited by the damnable practices of the Papists, has called up. men's souls, and awakened their eyes, to the dangers of their state. He himself--for he will give up both brother and wife to save himself--is not averse to a change of measures; and though we can

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