COUNT ROBERT 
 OF PARIS 
 
 AND 
 
 THE SURGEON'S 
 DAUGHTER 
 
 BY 
 
 SIR WALTER SCOTT 
 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1913 
 BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 
 
 TALES OF MY LANDLORD 
 
 jFotirtl^ anU last Scries 
 
 The European with the Asian shore — 
 
 Sophia's cupola with golden gleam — 
 The cypress groves — Olympus high and hoar — 
 
 The twelve isles, and the more than I could dream, 
 Far less describe, present the very view 
 That charm'd the charming Mary Montagu. 
 
 Don Juan. 
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 VOLUME I
 
 Ahora Men, dijo el Cura: traedme, senor ktiesped, aquesos libros, que 
 los quiero ver. Que me place, respondio el; y entrando en su aposento, 
 saco del una malclilla vieja cerrada con una cadenilla, y abriendola, hallo 
 en ella Ires libros grandes y unos papeles de muy buena letra escritos de 
 mano. — Don Quixote, Parte I, Capitulo 32. 
 
 It is mighty well, said the priest: pray, landlord, bring me those 
 books, for I have a mind to see them. With all my heart, answered the 
 host; and going to his chamber, he brought out a little old cloke-bag, 
 with a padlock and chain to it, and opening it, he took out three large 
 volumes, and some manuscript papers written in a fine character. — 
 Jarvis's Translation.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 Sir Walter Scott transmitted from Naples, in February 
 1832, an Introduction for Castle Dangerous; but if he 
 ever wrote one for a second edition of Count Robert of 
 Paris, it has not been discovered among his papers. 
 
 Some notes, chiefly extracts from the books which he 
 had been observed to consult while dictating this novel, 
 are now appended to its pages; and in addition to what 
 the Author had given in the shape of historical informa- 
 tion respecting the principal real persons introduced, the 
 reader is here presented with what may probably amuse 
 him, the passage of The Alexiad in which Anna Com- 
 nena describes the incident which originally, no doubt, 
 determined Sir Walter's choice of a hero. 
 
 ^May, A.D. 1097. — As for the multitude of those who 
 advanced towards the great city, let it be enough to 
 say that they were as the stars in the heaven, or as the 
 sand upon the sea-shore. They were, in the words of 
 Homer, as many as the leaves and flowers of spring. 
 But for the names of the leaders, though they are pres- 
 ent in my memory, I will not relate them. The num- 
 bers of these would alone deter me, even if my language 
 furnished the means of expressing their barbarous 
 sounds; and for what purpose should I afflict my readers 
 with a long enumeration of the names of those whose 
 visible presence gave so much horror to all that beheld 
 them? As soon, therefore, as they approached the Great 
 City, they occupied the station appointed for them by 
 the Emperor, near to the monastery of Cosmidius. But 
 
 ix
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 this multitude were not, like the Hellenic one of old, 
 to be restrained and governed by the loud voices of nine 
 heralds: they required the constant superintendence of 
 chosen and valiant soldiers to keep them from violating 
 the commands of the Emperor. 
 
 ' He, meantime, laboured to obtain from the other 
 leaders that acknowledgment of his supreme authority 
 which had already been drawn from Godfrey [TovTocppe] 
 himself. But, notwithstanding the willingness of some 
 to accede to this proposal, and their assistance in working 
 on the minds of their associates, the Emperor's endeav- 
 ours had Httle success, as the majority were looking 
 for the arrival of Bohemund [BacfiovvTO<i], in whom 
 they placed their chief confidence, and resorted to every 
 art with the view of gaining time. The Emperor, whom 
 it was not easy to deceive, penetrated their motives; 
 and by granting to one powerful person demands which 
 had been supposed out of all bounds of expectation, and 
 by resorting to a variety of other devices, he at length 
 prevailed, and won general assent to the following of the 
 example of Godfrey, who also was sent for in person to 
 assist in this business. 
 
 'AH, therefore, being assembled, and Godfrey among 
 them, the oath was taken; but when all was finished, a 
 certain noble among these counts had the audacity to 
 seat himself on the throne of the Emperor. [ToX/iT^cra? 
 Tt? airb TrdvTCOv twv KOfitjrcov ev'yevrjf et? tov a-Ki/Ji'TroBa tov 
 Bao-iXeco? iKcidiaev.] The Emperor restrained himself and 
 said nothing, for he was well acquainted of old with the 
 nature of the Latins. But the Count Baldwin [BaXSoyt- 
 vo<i], stepping forth and seizing him by the hand, 
 dragged him thence, and with many reproaches said, " It
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 becomes thee not to do such things here, especially after 
 having taken the oath of fealty [SovXeiav viroaxofievo)]. 
 It is not the custom of the Roman emperors to permit 
 any of their inferiors to sit beside them, not even of such 
 as are born subjects of their empire; and it is necessary 
 to respect the customs of the country." But he, answer- 
 ing nothing to Baldwin, stared yet more fixedly upon 
 the Emperor, and muttered to himself something in his 
 own dialect, which, being interpreted, was to this effect 
 — " Behold, what rustic fellow [x(opirrj<;] is this, to be 
 seated alone while such leaders stand around him ! " The 
 movement of his lips did not escape the Emperor, who 
 called to him one that understood the Latin dialect, and 
 inquired what words the man had spoken. When he 
 heard them, the Emperor said nothing to the other Lat- 
 ins, but kept the thing to himself. When, however, the 
 business was all over, he called near to him by himself 
 that swelling and shameless Latin [vylrrjXocppova eKelvov 
 Kal avaiSr]], and asked of him, who he was, of what 
 lineage, and from what region he had come. " I am a 
 Frank," said he, " of pure blood, of the nobles. One 
 thing I know, that, where three roads meet in the place 
 from which I came, there is an ancient church, in which 
 whosover has the desire to measure himself against an- 
 other in single combat prays God to help him therein, 
 and afterwards abides the coming of one willing to en- 
 counter him. At that spot long time did I remain, but 
 the man bold enough to stand against me I found not." 
 Hearing these words, the Emperor said, "If hitherto 
 thou hast sought battles in vain, the time is at hand 
 which will furnish thee with abundance of them. And 
 I advise thee to place thyself neither before the phalanx 
 
 xi
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 nor in its rear, but to stand fast in the midst of thy fel- 
 low-soldiers; for of old time I am well acquainted with 
 the warfare of the Turks." With such advice he dis- 
 missed not only this man, but the rest of those who 
 were about to depart on that expedition.' — Alexiad, 
 Book X, pp. 237, 238. 
 
 Ducange, as is mentioned in the novel, identifies the 
 church thus described by the Crusader with that of 
 Our Lady of Soissons, of which a French poet of the 
 days of Louis VII says — 
 
 Veiller y vont encor li pelerin, 
 
 Cil qui bataille veulent fere et foumir. 
 
 Ducange in Alexiad, p. 86. 
 
 The Princess Anna Comnena, it may be proper to 
 observe, was born on the first of December a.d. 1083, 
 and was consequently in her fifteenth year when the 
 chiefs of the first crusade made their appearance in her 
 father's court. Even then, however, it is not improbable 
 that she might have been the wife of Nicephorus Brien- 
 nius, whom, many years after his death, she speaks of 
 in her history as tov ifiov Kaiaapa, and in other terms 
 equally affectionate. The bitterness with which she 
 uniformly mentions Bohemund Count of Tarentum, 
 afterwards Prince of Antioch, has, however, been as- 
 cribed to a disappointment in love; and on one re- 
 markable occasion the princess certainly expressed great 
 contempt of her husband. I am aware of no other au- 
 thorities for the liberties taken with this lady's conjugal 
 character in the novel. 
 
 Her husband, Nicephorus Briennius, was the grand- 
 son of the person of that name who figures in history as 
 
 xii
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 the rival, in a contest for the imperial throne, of Nice- 
 phorus Botoniates. He was, on his marriage with Anna 
 Comnena, invested with the rank of panhypersehastos, 
 or omnium augustissimus; but Alexius deeply offended 
 him by afterwards recognising the superior and simpler 
 dignity of a sebastos. His eminent qualities, both in peace 
 and war, are acknowledged by Gibbon; and he has left 
 us four books of Memoirs, detailing the early part of 
 his father-in-law's history, and valuable as being the 
 work of an eye-witness of the most important events 
 which he describes. Anna Comnena appears to have 
 considered it her duty to take up the task which her 
 husband had not lived to complete; and hence TJte 
 Alexiad — certainly, with all its defects, the first his- 
 torical work that has as yet proceeded from a female 
 pen. 
 
 'The life of the Emperor Alexius, says Gibbon, has 
 been delineated by the pen of a favourite daughter, 
 who was inspired by tender regard for his person and 
 a laudable zeal to perpetuate his virtues. Conscious of 
 the just suspicion of her readers, the Princess repeatedly 
 protests that, besides her personal knowledge, she had 
 searched the discourse and writings of the most respect- 
 able veterans ; and that, after an interval of thirty years, 
 forgotten by, and forgetful of, the world, her mournful 
 solitude was inaccessible to hope and fear; that truth, 
 the naked, perfect truth, was more dear than the memory 
 of her parent. Yet, instead of the simplicity of style 
 and narrative which wins our belief, an elaborate af- 
 fectation of rhetoric and science betrays in every page the 
 vanity of a female author. The genuine character of 
 Alexius is lost in a vague constellation of virtues; and 
 
 xiii
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 the perpetual strain of panegyric and apology awakens 
 our jealousy to question the veracity of the historian 
 and the merit of her hero. We cannot, however, refuse 
 her judicious and important remark, that the disorders 
 of the times were the misfortune and the glory of 
 Alexius; and that every calamity which can aiSict a de- 
 chning empire was accumulated on his reign by the 
 justice of Heaven and the vices of his predecessors. In 
 the east, the victorious Turks had spread, from Persia to 
 the Hellespont, the reign of the Koran and the Crescent; 
 the west was invaded by the adventurous valour of the 
 Normans; and, in the moments of peace, the Danube 
 poured forth new swarms, who had gained in the science 
 of war what they had lost in the ferociousness of their 
 manners. The sea was not less hostile than the land; 
 and, while the frontiers were assaulted by an open 
 enemy, the palace was distracted with secret conspiracy 
 and treason. 
 
 'On a sudden, the banner of the Cross was displayed 
 by the Latins; Europe was precipitated on Asia; and 
 Constantinople had almost been swept away by this 
 impetuous deluge. In the tempest Alexius steered the 
 imperial vessel with dexterity and courage. At the head 
 of his armies, he was bold in action, skilful in stratagem, 
 patient of fatigue, ready to improve his advantages, and 
 rising from his defeats with inexhaustible vigour. The 
 discipHne of the camp was reversed, and a new genera- 
 tion of men and soldiers was created by the precepts 
 and example of their leader. In his intercourse with the 
 Latins, Alexius was patient and artful; his discerning 
 eye pervaded the new system of an unknown world. . . . 
 
 'The increase of the male and female branches of his 
 
 xiv
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 family adorned the throne and secured the succession; 
 but their princely luxury and pride offended the patri- 
 cians, exhausted the revenue, and insulted the misery of 
 the people. Anna is a faithful witness that his happiness 
 was destroyed, and his health broken, by the cares of 
 a public life; the patience of Constantinople was fatigued 
 by the length and severity of his reign; and before Alex- 
 ius expired, he had lost the love and reverence of his 
 subjects. The clergy could not forgive his application of 
 the sacred riches to the defence of the state; but they 
 applauded his theological learning and ardent zeal for 
 the orthodox faith, which he defended with his tongue, 
 his pen, and his sword. . . . Even the sincerity of his 
 moral and religious virtues was suspected by the per- 
 sons who had passed their lives in his confidence. In his 
 last hours, when he was pressed by his wife Irene to alter 
 the succession, he raised his head and breathed a pious 
 ejaculation on the vanity of the world. The indignant 
 reply of the Empress may be inscribed as an epitaph 
 on his tomb — " You die as you have lived — a hypo- 
 crite." 
 
 * It was the wish of Irene to supplant the eldest of her 
 sons in favour of her daughter, the Princess Anna, whose 
 philosophy would not have refused the weight of a dia- 
 dem. But the order of male succession was asserted by 
 the friends of their country; the lawful heir drew the 
 royal signet from the finger of his insensible or conscious 
 father, and the empire obeyed the master of the palace. 
 Anna Comnena was stimulated by ambition and revenge 
 to conspire against the life of her brother; and when the 
 design was prevented by the fears or scruples of her 
 husband, she passionately exclaimed that nature had 
 
 XV
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 mistaken the two sexes, and had endowed Bryennius 
 with the soul of a woman. . . . After the discovery of 
 her treason, the life and fortune of Anna were justly 
 forfeited to the laws. Her life was spared by the clem- 
 ency of the emperor ; but he visited the pomp and treas- 
 ures of her palace, and bestowed the rich confiscation 
 on the most deserving of his friends.' — History of the 
 Decline and Fall of tlte Roman Empire, chap. XLvin. 
 
 The year of Anna's death is nowhere recorded. She 
 appears to have written The Alexiad in a convent; and 
 to have spent nearly thirty years in this retirement be- 
 fore her book was published. 
 
 For accurate particulars of the public events touched 
 on in Count Robert of Paris, the reader is referred to the 
 above quoted author, chapters xlviii, xlix, and l, and 
 to the first volume of Mills's History of the Crusades. 
 
 J. G. L. 
 
 London, ist March 1833.
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM, M.A./ 
 
 TO THE LOVING READER WISHETH HEALTH AND PROSPERITY 
 
 It would ill become me, whose name has been spread 
 abroad by those former collections, bearing this title 
 of Tales of my Landlord, and who have, by the candid 
 voice of a numerous crowd of readers, been taught to 
 think that I merit not the empty fame alone, but also 
 the more substantial rewards, of successful pencraft 
 — it would, I say, ill become me to suffer this, my 
 youngest literary babe, and probably at the same time 
 the last child of mine old age, to pass into the world 
 without some such modest apology for its defects as it 
 has been my custom to put forth on preceding occasions 
 of the like nature. The world has been sufficiently in- 
 structed, of a truth, that I am not individually the per- 
 son to whom is to be ascribed the actual inventing or 
 designing of the scheme upon which these Tales, which 
 men have found so pleasing, were originally constructed; 
 as also that neither am I the actual workman who, fur- 
 nished by a skilful architect with an accurate plan, in- 
 cluding elevations and directions both general and 
 particular, has from thence toiled to bring forth and 
 complete the intended shape and proportion of each 
 division of the edifice. Nevertheless, I have been indis- 
 putably the man who, in placing my name at the head 
 of the undertaking, have rendered myself mainly and 
 principally responsible for its general success. When 
 
 xvii
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 a ship of war goeth forth to battle with her crew, con- 
 sisting of sundry foremast-men and various officers, such 
 subordinate persons are not said to gain or lose the ves- 
 sel which they had manned or attacked, although each 
 was natheless sufficiently active in his own department; 
 but it is forthwith bruited and noised abroad, without 
 further phrase, that Captain Jedediah Cleishbotham, 
 hath lost such a seventy-four, or won that which, by the 
 united exertions of all thereto pertaining, is taken from 
 the enemy. In the same manner, shame and sorrow it 
 were if I, the voluntary captain and founder of these 
 adventures, after having upon three divers occasions 
 assumed to myself the emoluments and reputation 
 thereof, should now withdraw myself from the risks of 
 failure proper to this fourth and last outgoing. No! I 
 will rather address my associates in this bottom with 
 the constant spirit of Matthew Prior's heroine: 
 
 Did I but purpose to embark with thee 
 On the smooth surface of some summer sea, 
 But would forsake the waves, and make the shore, 
 When the winds whistle, and the billows roar? 
 
 As little, nevertheless, would it become my years and 
 station not to admit without cavil certain errors which 
 may justly be pointed out in these concluding Tales of 
 my Landlord — the last, and, it is manifest, never care- 
 fully revised or corrected, handiwork of Mr. Peter 
 Pattieson, now no more; the same worthy young man 
 so repeatedly mentioned in these Introductory Essays, 
 and never without that tribute to his good sense and 
 talents, nay, even genius, which his contributions to 
 this my undertaking fairly entitled him to claim at the 
 hands of his surviving friend and patron. These pages, 
 
 xviii
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 I have said, were the uUimus labor of mine ingenious 
 assistant; but I say not, as the great Dr. Pitcairne of his 
 hero, uUimus atque optimus. Alas ! even the giddiness at- 
 tendant on a journey on this Manchester railroad is not 
 so perilous to the nerves as that too frequent exercise 
 in the merry-go-round of the ideal world, whereof the 
 tendency to render the fancy confused and the judg- 
 ment inert hath in all ages been noted, not only by the 
 erudite of the earth, but even by many of the thick- 
 witted Ofelli themselves; whether the rapid pace at 
 which the fancy moveth in such exercitations, where the 
 wish of the penman is to him like Prince Houssain's 
 tapestry, in the Eastern fable, be the chief source of 
 peril, or whether, without reference to this wearing 
 speed of movement, the dwelling habitually in those 
 realms of imagination be as little suited for a man's in- 
 tellect as to breathe for any considerable space 'the 
 difficult air of the mountain top ' is to the physical struc- 
 ture of his outward frame, this question belongeth not 
 to me-; but certain it is, that we often discover in the 
 works of the foremost of this order of men marks of be- 
 wilderment and confusion, such as do not so frequently 
 occur in those of persons to whom nature hath conceded 
 fancy weaker of wing or less ambitious in flight. 
 
 It is affecting to see the great Miguel Cervantes 
 himself, even like the sons of meaner men, defending 
 himself against the critics of the day, who assailed him 
 upon such little discrepancies and inaccuracies as are 
 apt to cloud the progress even of a mind like his, when 
 the evening is closing around it. 
 
 *It is quite a common thing,' says Don Quixote, 'for 
 men who have gained a very great reputation by their 
 
 xix
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 writings before they were printed quite to lose it after- 
 wards, or, at least, the greater part.' 'The reason is 
 plain,' answers the Bachelor Carrasco; 'their faults are 
 more easily discovered after the books are printed, as 
 being then more read, and more narrowly examined, 
 especially if the author has been much cried up before, 
 for then the severity of the scrutiny is sure to be the 
 greater. Those who have raised themselves a name by 
 their own ingenuity, great poets and celebrated his- 
 torians, are commonly, if not always, envied by a set 
 of men who delight in censuring the writings of others, 
 though they could never produce any of their own.' 
 *That is no wonder,' quoth Don Quixote; 'there are 
 many divines that would make but very dull preachers, 
 and yet are quick enough at finding faults and super- 
 fluities in other men's sermons.' 'All this is true,' says 
 Carrasco, 'and therefore I could wish such censurers 
 would be more merciful and less scrupulous, and not 
 dwell ungenerously upon small spots that are in a manner 
 but so many atoms on the face of the clear sun they 
 murmur at. If aliquando dormitat Eomerus, let them 
 consider how many nights he kept himself awake to 
 bring his noble works to light as little darkened with 
 defects as might be. But, indeed, it may many times 
 happen that what is censured for a fault is rather an 
 ornament, as moles often add to the beauty of a face. 
 When all is said, he that publishes a book runs a great 
 risk, since nothing can be so unlikely as that he should 
 have composed one capable of securing the approba- 
 tion of every reader.' 'Sure,' said Don Quixote, 'that 
 which treats of me can have pleased but few?' 'Quite 
 the contrary,' says Carrasco; 'for as infinitus est 
 
 XX
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 numerus stultorum, so an infinite number have admired 
 your history. Only some there are who have taxed the 
 author with want of memory or sincerity, because he 
 forgot to give an account who it was that stole Sancho's 
 Dapple, for that particular is not mentioned there, only 
 we find, by the story, that it was stolen; and yet, by and 
 by, we find him riding the same ass again, without any 
 previous light given us into the matter. Then they say 
 that the author forgot to tell the reader what Sancho 
 did with the hundred pieces of gold he found in the 
 portmanteau in the Sierra Morena, for there is not a word 
 said of them more ; and many people have a great mind 
 to know what he did with them, and how he spent them; 
 which is one of the most material points in which the 
 work is defective,' 
 
 How amusingly Sancho is made to clear up the ob- 
 scurities thus alluded to by the Bachelor Carrasco no 
 reader can have forgotten; but there remained enough of 
 similar lacuncB, inadvertencies, and mistakes to exer- 
 cise the ingenuity of those Spanish critics who were too 
 wise in their own conceit to profit by the good-natured 
 and modest apology of this immortal author. 
 
 There can be no doubt that, if Cervantes had deigned 
 to use it, he might have pleaded also the apology of 
 indifferent health, under which he certainly laboured 
 while finishing the second part of Don Quixote. It must 
 be too obvious that the intervals of such a malady as then 
 affected Cervantes could not be the most favourable 
 in the world for revising lighter compositions, and cor- 
 recting, at least, those grosser errors and imperfections 
 which each author should, if it were but for shame's sake, 
 remove from his work, before bringing it forth into the 
 
 xxi
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 broad light of day, where they will never fail to be 
 distinctly seen, nor lack ingenious persons who will be 
 too happy in discharging the office of pointing them 
 out. 
 
 It is more than time to explain with what purpose we 
 have called thus fully to memory the many venial errors 
 of the inimitable Cervantes, and those passages in 
 which he has rather defied his adversaries than pleaded 
 his own justification; for I suppose it wiU be readily 
 granted that the difference is too wide betwixt that great 
 wit of Spain and ourselves to permit us to use a buckler 
 which was rendered sufficiently formidable only by the 
 strenuous hand in which it was placed. 
 
 The history of my first pubHcations is sufficiently 
 well known. Nor did I relinquish the purpose of con- 
 cluding these Tales of my Landlord, which had been so 
 remarkably fortunate; but death, which steals upon us 
 all with an inaudible foot, cut short the ingenious young 
 man to whose memory I composed that inscription, and 
 erected, at my own charge, that monument which pro- 
 tects his remains, by the side of the river Gander, which 
 he has contributed so much to render immortal, and in 
 a place of his own selection, not very distant from the 
 school under my care.^ In a word, the ingenious Mr. 
 Pattieson was removed from his place. 
 
 Nor did I confine my care to his posthumous fame 
 alone, but carefully inventoried and preserved the effects 
 which he left behind him, namely, the contents of his 
 small wardrobe, and a number of printed books of 
 somewhat more consequence, together with certain woe- 
 
 * See Old Mortality, vol. i, p. 289, Note i, for some circumstances 
 attending this erection. 
 
 xxii
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 fully blurred manuscripts discovered in his repository. 
 On looking these over, I found them to contain two 
 tales called Count Robert of Paris and Castle Dangerous; 
 but was seriously disappointed to perceive that they were 
 by no means in that state of correctness which would 
 induce an experienced person to pronounce any writing, 
 in the technical language of bookcraft, 'prepared for 
 press.' There were not only hiatus valde deflendi, but 
 even grievous inconsistencies, and other mistakes, 
 which the penman's leisurely revision, had he been 
 spared to bestow it, would doubtless have cleared away. 
 After a considerate perusal, I no question flattered my- 
 self that these manuscripts, with all their faults, con- 
 tained here and there passages which seemed plainly 
 to intimate that severe indisposition had been imable 
 to extinguish altogether the brilliancy of that fancy 
 which the world had been pleased to acknowledge in 
 the creations of Old Mortality, The Bride of Lammermoor, 
 and others of these narratives. But I, nevertheless, 
 threw the manuscripts into my drawer, resolving not 
 to think of committing them to the Ballantynian or- 
 deal until I could either obtain the assistance of some 
 capable person to supply deficiencies and correct errors, 
 so as they might face the public with credit, or per- 
 haps numerous and more serious avocations might 
 permit me to dedicate my own time and labour to that 
 task. 
 
 While I was in this uncertainty, I had a visit from a 
 stranger, who was announced as a young gentleman 
 desirous of speaking with me on particular business. 
 I immediately augured the accession of a new boarder, 
 but was at once checked by observing that the outward 
 
 xxiii
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 man of the stranger was, in a most remarkable degree, 
 what mine host of the Sir WiUiam Wallace, in his phrase- 
 ology calls 'seedy.' His black coat had seen service; 
 the waistcoat of grey plaid bore yet stronger marks of 
 having encountered more than one campaign; his third 
 piece of dress was an absolute veteran compared to the 
 others; his shoes were so loaded with mud as showed his 
 journey must have been pedestrian; and a grey 'maud,' 
 which fluttered around his wasted limbs, completed 
 such an equipment as, since Juvenal's days, has been the 
 livery of the poor scholar. I therefore concluded that 
 I beheld a candidate for the vacant office of usher, and 
 prepared to listen to his proposals with the dignity be- 
 coming my station; but what was my surprise when I 
 found I had before me, in this rusty student, no less a 
 man than Paul, the brother of Peter Pattieson, come 
 to gather in his brother's succession, and possessed, it 
 seemed, with no small idea of the value of that part of it 
 which consisted in the productions of his pen. 
 
 By the rapid study I made of him, this Paul was a 
 sharp lad, imbued with some tincture of letters, like his 
 regretted brother, but totally destitute of those amiable 
 qualities which had often induced me to say within my- 
 self that Peter was, like the famous John Gay — 
 
 In wit a man, simplicity a child. 
 
 He set little by the legacy of my deceased assistant's 
 wardrobe, nor did the books hold much greater value in 
 his eyes; but he peremptorily demanded to be put in 
 possession of the manuscripts, alleging, with obstinacy, 
 that no definite bargain had been completed between his 
 late brother and me, and at length produced the opinion 
 
 xxiv
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 to that effect of a writer, or man of business — a class of 
 persons with whom I have always chosen to have as little 
 concern as possible. 
 
 But I had one defence left, which came to my aid, 
 tanquam deus ex machind. This rapacious Paul Pattie- 
 son could not pretend to wrest the disputed manuscripts 
 out of my possession, unless upon repayment of a con- 
 siderable sum of money, which I had advanced from 
 time to time to the deceased Peter, and particularly to 
 purchase a small annuity for his aged mother. These 
 advances, with the charges of the funeral and other ex- 
 penses, amounted to a considerable sum, which the pov- 
 erty-struck student and his acute legal adviser equally 
 foresaw great difficulty in liquidating. The said Mr. 
 Paul Pattieson, therefore, listened to a suggestion, 
 which I dropped as if by accident, that, if he thought 
 himself capable of filling his brother's place of carrying 
 the work through the press, I would make him welcome 
 to bed and board within my mansion while he was thus 
 engaged, only requiring his occasional assistance at 
 hearing the more advanced scholars. This seemed to 
 promise a close of our dispute alike satisfactory to all 
 parties, and the first act of Paul was to draw on me for 
 a round sum, under pretence that his wardrobe must be 
 wholly refitted. To this I made no objection, though it 
 certainly showed like vanity to purchase garments in the 
 extremity of the mode, when not only great part of the 
 defunct's habiliments were very fit for a twelvemonth's 
 use, but, as I myself had been, but yesterday as it were, 
 equipped in a becoming new stand of black clothes, 
 Mr. Pattieson would have been welcome to the use of 
 such of my quondam raiment as he thought suitable, 
 
 XXV
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 as indeed had always been the case with his deceased 
 brother. 
 
 The school, I must needs say, came tolerably on. My 
 youngster was very smart, and seemed to be so active 
 in his duty of usher, if I may so speak, that he even 
 overdid his part therein, and I began to feel myself a 
 cipher in my own school. 
 
 I comforted myself with the behef that the publication 
 was advancing as fast as I could desire. On this subject 
 Paul Pattieson, like ancient Pistol, 'talked bold words 
 at the bridge,' and that not only at our house, but in the 
 society of our neighbours, amongst whom, instead of 
 imitating the retired and monastic manner of his brother 
 deceased, he became a gay visitor, and such a reveller, 
 that in process of time he was observed to vilipend the 
 modest fare which had at first been esteemed a banquet 
 by his hungry appetite, and thereby highly displeased 
 my wife, who, with justice, applauds herself for the plen- 
 tiful, cleanly, and healthy victuals wherewith she main- 
 tains her ushers and boarders. 
 
 Upon the whole, I rather hoped than entertained a 
 sincere confidence that all was going on well, and was in 
 that unpleasant state of mind which precedes the open 
 breach between two associates who have been long jeal- 
 ous of each other, but are as yet deterred by a sense of 
 mutual interest from coming to an open rupture. 
 
 The first thing which alarmed me was a rumour in 
 the village that Paul Pattieson intended, in some Httle 
 space, to undertake a voyage to the Continent — on 
 account of his health, as was pretended, but, as the 
 same report averred, much more with the view of grati- 
 fying the curiosity which his perusal of the classics had 
 
 xxvi
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 impressed upon him than for any other purpose. I was, 
 I say, rather alarmed at this susurrus, and began to re- 
 flect that the retirement of Mr. Pattieson, unless his 
 loss could be supplied in good time, was like to be a blow 
 to the estabhshment; for, in truth, this Paul had a win- 
 ning way with the boys, especially those who were 
 gentle- tempered; so that I must confess my doubts 
 whether, in certain respects, I myself could have fully 
 supplied his place in the school, with all my authority 
 and experience. My wife, jealous, as became her station, 
 of Mr. Pattieson's intentions, advised me to take the 
 matter up immediately, and go to the bottom at once; 
 and, indeed, I had always found that way answered best 
 with my boys. 
 
 Mrs. Cleishbotham was not long before renewing the 
 subject; for, like most of the race of Xantippe, though 
 my helpmate is a well-spoken woman, she loves to thrust 
 in her oar where she is not able to pull it to purpose. 
 'You are a sharp-witted man, Mr. Cleishbotham,' 
 would she observe, 'and a learned man, Mr. Cleish- 
 botham, and the schoolmaster of Gandercleuch, Mr. 
 Cleishbotham, which is saying all in one word; but 
 many a man almost as great as yourself has lost the 
 saddle by suffering an inferior to get up behind him; 
 and though with the world, Mr. Cleishbotham, you 
 have the name of doing everything, both in directing 
 the school and in this new profitable book line which 
 you have taken up, yet it begins to be the common 
 talk of Gandercleuch, both up the water and down the 
 water, that the usher both writes the dominie's books 
 and teaches the dominie's school. Ay — ay, ask maid, 
 wife, or widow, and she '11 tell ye the least gaitling among 
 
 xxvii
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 them all comes to Paul Pattieson with his lesson as 
 naturally as they come to me for their four hours, puir 
 things; and never ane thinks of applying to you aboot 
 a kittle turn, or a crabbed word, or about onything 
 else, unless it were for licet exire, or the mending of an 
 auld pen.' 
 
 Now, this address assailed me on a summer evening, 
 when I was whiling away my leisure hours with the end 
 of a cutty-pipe, and indulging in such bland imaginations 
 as the nicotian weed is wont to produce, more especially 
 in the case of studious persons, devoted musis severio- 
 ribus. I was naturally loth to leave my misty sanctu- 
 ary; and endeavoured to silence the clamour of Mrs. 
 Cleishbotham's tongue, which has something in it 
 peculiarly shrill and penetrating. * Woman,' said I, 
 with a tone of domestic authority befitting the occasion, 
 'res tuas agas — mind your washings and your wring- 
 ings, your stuffings and your physicking, or whatever 
 concerns the outward person of the pupils, and leave 
 the progress of their education to my usher, Paul Pattie- 
 son, and myself.' 
 
 *I am glad to see,' added the accursed woman (that I 
 should say so!), 'that ye have the grace to name him 
 foremost, for there is little doubt that he ranks first 
 of the troop, if ye wad but hear what the neighbours 
 speak — or whisper.' 
 
 'What do they whisper, thou sworn sister of the Eu- 
 menides?' cried I, the irritating oestrum of the woman's 
 objurgation totally counterbalancing the sedative effects 
 both of pipe and pot. 
 
 'Whisper!' resumed she in her shrillest note. 'Why, 
 they wliisper loud enough for me, at least, to hear them, 
 
 xxviii
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 that the schoolmaster of Gandercleuch is turned a 
 doited auld woman, and spends all his time in tippling 
 strong drink with the keeper of the public-house, and 
 leaves school and book-making, and a' the rest o't, to 
 the care of his usher; and, also, the wives in Gandercleuch 
 say, that you have engaged Paul Pattieson to write a 
 new book, which is to beat a' the lave that gaed afore 
 it; and, to show what a sair lift you have o' the job, you 
 didna sae muckle as ken the name o't — no, nor whether 
 it was to be about some heathen Greek or the Black 
 Douglas.' 
 
 This was said with such bitterness that it penetrated 
 to the very quick, and I hurled the poor old pipe, like one 
 of Homer's spears, not in the face of my provoking 
 helpmate, though the temptation was strong, but into 
 the river Gander, which, as is now well known to tour- 
 ists from the uttermost parts of the earth, pursues its 
 quiet meanders beneath the bank on which the school- 
 house is pleasantly situated ; and, starting up, fixed on my 
 head the cocked hat (the pride of Messrs. Grieve and 
 Scott's repository), and plunging into the valley of the 
 brook, pursued my way upwards, the voice of Mrs. 
 Cleishbotham accompanying me in my retreat with 
 something like the angry scream of triumph with which 
 the brood-goose pursues the flight of some unmannerly 
 cur or idle boy who has intruded upon her premises, and 
 fled before her. Indeed, so great was the influence of 
 this clamour of scorn and wrath which hung upon my 
 rear, that, while it rung in my ears, I was so moved that 
 I instinctively tucked the skirts of my black coat under 
 my arm, as if I had been in actual danger of being seized 
 on by tlie grasp of the pursuing enemy. Nor was it till 
 
 xxix
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 I had almost reached the well-known burial-place, in 
 which it was Peter Pattieson's hap to meet the far- 
 famed personage called Old Mortality, that I made a 
 halt for the purpose of composing my perturbed spirits, 
 and considering what was to be done; for as yet my mind 
 was agitated by a chaos of passions, of which anger was 
 predominant; and for what reason, or against whom, 
 I entertained such timaultuous displeasure, it was not 
 easy for me to determine. 
 
 Nevertheless, having settled my cocked hat with be- 
 coming accuracy on my well-powdered wig, and suffered 
 it to remain uplifted for a moment to cool my flushed 
 brow, having, moreover, readjusted and shaken to rights 
 the skirts of my black coat, I came into case to answer 
 to my own questions, which, till these manoeuvres had 
 been sedately accomplished, I might have asked myself 
 in vain. 
 
 In the first place, therefore, to use the phrase of Mr. 
 Docket, the writer (that is, the attorney) of our village 
 of Gander cleuch, I became satisfied that my anger was 
 directed against all and sundry, or, in law Latin, contra 
 omnes mortales, and more particularly against the neigh- 
 bourhood of Gandercleuch, for circulating reports to the 
 prejudice of my literary talents, as well as my accom- 
 plishments as a pedagogue, and transferring the fame 
 thereof to mine own usher. Secondly, against my spouse, 
 Dorothea Cleishbotham, for transferring the said ca- 
 lumnious reports to my ears in a prerupt and unseemly 
 manner, and without due respect either to the language 
 which she made use of or the person to whom she spoke, 
 treating affairs in which I was so intimately concerned as 
 if they were proper subjects for jest among gossips at a 
 
 XXX
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 christening, where the womankind claim the privilege 
 of worshipping the Bona Dea according to their secret 
 female rites. Thirdly, I became clear that I was entitled 
 to respond to any whom it concerned to inquire, that my 
 wrath was kindled against Paul Pattieson, my usher, for 
 giving occasion both for the neighbours of Gandercleuch 
 entertaining such opinions and for Mrs. Cleishbotham 
 disrespectfully urging them to my face, since neither cir- 
 cumstance could have existed without he had put forth 
 sinful misrepresentations of transactions private and con- 
 fidential, and of which I had myself entirely refrained 
 from dropping any the least hint to any third person. 
 
 This arrangement of my ideas having contributed to 
 soothe the stormy atmosphere of which they had been 
 the offspring gave reason a time to predominate, and to 
 ask me, with her calm but clear voice, whether, under all 
 the circumstances, I did well to nourish so indiscriminate 
 an indignation? In fine, on closer examination, the vari- 
 ous splenetic thoughts I had been indulging against 
 other parties began to be merged in that resentment 
 against my perfidious usher which, like the serpent of 
 Moses, swallowed up all subordinate objects of dis- 
 pleasure. To put myself at open feud with the whole of 
 my neighbours, unless I had been certain of some effec- 
 tual mode of avenging myself upon them, would have 
 been an imdertaking too weighty for my means, and not 
 unlikely, if rashly grappled withal, to end in my ruin. 
 To make a public quarrel with my wife, on such an ac- 
 count as her opinion of my literary accomplishments, 
 would sound ridiculous; and, besides, Mrs. C. was sure 
 to have all the women on her side, who would represent 
 her as a wife persecuted by her husband for offering him 
 
 xxxi
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 good advice, and urging it upon him with only too 
 enthusiastic sincerity. 
 
 There remained Paul Pattieson, undoubtedly, the 
 most natural and proper object of my indignation, since 
 I might be said to have him in my own power, and might 
 punish him by dismissal, at my pleasure. Yet even vin- 
 dictive proceedings against the said Paul, however easy 
 to be enforced, might be productive of serious conse- 
 quences to my own purse; and I began to reflect, with 
 anxiety, that in this world it is not often that the gratifi- 
 cation of our angry passions lies in the same road with 
 the advancement of our interest, and that the wise man, 
 the vere sapiens, seldom hesitates which of these two he 
 ought to prefer. 
 
 I recollected also that I was quite uncertain how far 
 the present usher had really been guilty of the foul acts 
 of assumption charged against him. 
 
 In a word, I began to perceive that it would be no light 
 matter, at once, and without maturer perpending of 
 sundry collateral punctiuncula, to break up a joint-stock 
 adventure, or society, as civilians term it, which, if prof- 
 itable to him, had at least promised to be no less so to 
 me, established in years and learning and reputation so 
 much his superior. Moved by which, and other the like 
 considerations, I resolved to proceed with becoming 
 caution on the occasion, and not, by stating my causes 
 of complaint too hastily in the outset, exasperate into a 
 positive breach what might only prove some small mis- 
 understanding, easily explained or apologised for, and 
 which, like a leak in a new vessel, being once discovered 
 and carefully stopped, renders the vessel but more sea- 
 worthy than it was before. 
 
 xxxii
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 About the time that I had adopted this healing reso- 
 lution, I reached the spot where the almost perpendicular 
 face of a steep hill seems to terminate the valley, or at 
 least divides it into two dells, each serving as a cradle to 
 its own mountain-stream, the Gruff quack, namely, and 
 the shallower but more noisy Gusedub, on the left hand, 
 which, at their union, form the Gander, properly so 
 called. Each of these little valleys has a walk winding 
 up to its recesses, rendered more easy by the labours of 
 the poor during the late hard season, and one of which 
 bears the name of Pattieson's Path, while the other had 
 been kindly consecrated to my own memory by the title 
 of the Dominie's Daidling-bit. Here I made certain to 
 meet my associate, Paul Pattieson, for by one or other of 
 these roads he was wont to return to my house of an 
 evening, after his lengthened rambles. 
 
 Nor was it long before I espied him descending the 
 Gusedub by that tortuous path, marking so strongly the 
 character of a Scottish glen. He was easily distinguished, 
 indeed, at some distance, by his jaunty swagger, in 
 which he presented to you the flat of his leg, like the 
 manly knave of clubs, apparently with the most perfect 
 contentment, not only with his leg and boot, but with 
 every part of his outward man, and the whole fashion of 
 his garments, and, one would almost have thought, the 
 contents of his pockets. 
 
 In this, his wonted guise, he approached me, where I 
 was seated near the meeting of the waters, and I could 
 not but discern that his first impulse was to pass me with- 
 out any prolonged or formal greeting. But, as that would 
 not have been decent, considering the terms on which we 
 stood, he seemed to adopt, on reflection, a course directly 
 
 xxxiii
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 opposite; bustled up to me with an air of alacrity, and, I 
 may add, impudence; and hastened at once into the 
 middle of the important affairs which it had been my 
 purpose to bring under discussion in a manner more be- 
 coming their gravity. 'I am glad to see you, Mr. Cleish- 
 botham,' said he, with an inimitable mixture of confu- 
 sion and effrontery; ' the most wonderful news which has 
 been heard in the literary world in my time — all Gan- 
 dercleuch rings with it: they positively speak of nothing 
 else, from Miss Buskbody's youngest apprentice to the 
 minister himself, and ask each other in amazement 
 whether the tidings are true or false — to be sure they 
 are of an astounding complexion, especially to you and 
 me.' 
 
 'Mr. Pattieson,' said I, 'I am quite at a loss to guess 
 at your meaning. Davus sum, non (Edipus — I am Jede- 
 diah Cieishbotham, schoolmaster of the parish of Gan- 
 dercleuch, no conjurer, and neither reader of riddles nor 
 expounder of enigmata.' 
 
 'Well,' replied Paul Pattieson, 'Mr. Jedediah Cieish- 
 botham, schoolmaster of the parish of Gandercleuch, 
 and so forth, all I have to inform you is, that our hopeful 
 scheme is entirely blown up. The tales, on publishing 
 which we reckoned with so much confidence, have al- 
 ready been printed: they are abroad, over all America, 
 and the British papers are clamorous.' 
 
 I received this news with the same equanimity with 
 which I should have accepted a blow addressed to my 
 stomach by a modern gladiator, with the full energy of 
 his fist. 'If this be correct information^ Mr. Pattieson,' 
 said I, 'I must of necessity suspect you to be the person 
 who have supplied the foreign press with the copy which 
 
 xxxiv
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 the printers have thus made an unscrupulous use of, 
 without respect to the rights of the undeniable proprie- 
 tors of the manuscripts; and I request to know whether 
 this American production embraces the alterations 
 which you as well as I judged necessary, before the work 
 could be fitted to meet the public eye?' 
 
 To this my gentleman saw it necessary to make a 
 direct answer, for my manner was impressive and my 
 tone decisive. His native audacity enabled him, how- 
 ever, to keep his ground, and he answered with firm- 
 ness — 
 
 'Mr. Cleishbotham, in the first place, these manu- 
 scripts, over which you claim a very doubtful right, were 
 never given to any one by me, and must have been 
 sent to America either by yourself or by some one of 
 the various gentlemen to whom, I am well aware, you 
 have afiforded opportunities of perusing my brother's 
 MS. remains.' 
 
 'Mr. Pattieson,' I replied, 'I beg to remind you that it 
 never could be my intention, either by my own hands or 
 through those of another, to remit these manuscripts to 
 the press until, by the alterations which I meditated, 
 and which you yourself engaged to make, they were ren- 
 dered fit for public perusal.' 
 
 Mr. Pattieson answered me with much heat — ' Sir, I 
 would have you to know that, if I accepted your paltry 
 offer, it was with less regard to its amount than to the 
 honour and literary fame of my late brother. I foresaw 
 that if I declined it you would not hesitate to throw the 
 task into incapable hands, or, perhaps, have taken it 
 upon yourself, the most unfit of all men to tamper with 
 the works of departed genius, and that, God willing, I 
 
 XXXV
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 was determined to prevent; but the justice of Heaven 
 has taken the matter into its own hands. Peter Pattie- 
 son's last labours shall now go down to posterity un- 
 scathed by the scalping-knife of alteration in the hands 
 of a false friend — shame on the thought that the unnat- 
 ural weapon could ever be wielded by the hand of a 
 brother!' 
 
 I heard this speech not without a species of vertigo or 
 dizziness in my head, which would probably have struck 
 me lifeless at his feet, had not a thought like that of the 
 
 old ballad — 
 
 Earl Percy sees my fall, 
 
 called to my recollection, that I should only aflford an 
 additional triumph by giving way to my feelings in the 
 presence of Mr. Paul Pattieson, who, I could not doubt, 
 must be more or less directly at the bottom of the Trans- 
 atlantic publication, and had in one way or another 
 found his own interest in that nefarious transaction. 
 
 To get quit of his odious presence, I bid him an uncere- 
 monious good-night, and marched down the glen with 
 the air not of one who has parted with a friend, but who 
 rather has shaken off an intrusive companion. On the 
 road I pondered the whole matter over with an anxiety 
 which did not in the smallest degree tend to relieve me. 
 Had I felt adequate to the exertion, I might, of course, 
 have supplanted this spurious edition (of which the liter- 
 ary gazettes are already doling out copious specimens) 
 by introducing into a copy, to be instantly published at 
 Edinburgh, adequate correction of the various inconsist- 
 encies and imperfections which have already been al- 
 luded to. I remember the easy victory of the real second 
 part of these Tales of my Landlord over the performance 
 
 xxxvi
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 sent forth by an interloper under the same title, and why 
 should not the same triumph be repeated now? There 
 would, in short, have been a pride of talent in this man- 
 ner of avenging myself, which would have been justifi- 
 able in the case of an injured man ; but the state of my 
 health has for some time been such as to render any 
 attempt of this nature in every way imprudent. 
 
 Under such circumstances, the last 'Remains' of 
 Peter Pattieson must even be accepted as they were left 
 in his desk ; and I humbly retire in the hope that, such 
 as they are, they may receive the indulgence of those 
 who have ever been but too merciful to the productions 
 of his pen, and in all respects to the courteous reader's 
 obliged servant, 
 
 J.C. 
 
 Gandercleuch, isth Oct. 1831.
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 Leonlius. That power that kindly spreads 
 
 The clouds, a signal of impending showers, 
 To warn the wandering linnet to the shade, 
 Beheld without concern expiring Greece, 
 And not one prodigy foretold our fate. 
 
 Demetrius. A thousand horrid prodigies foretold it: 
 A feeble government, eluded laws, 
 A factious populace, luxurious nobles. 
 And all the maladies of sinking states. 
 When public villainy, too strong for justice. 
 Shows his bold front, the harbinger of ruin, 
 Can brave Leontius call for airy wonders. 
 Which cheats interpret, and which fools regard? 
 
 Irene, Act I. .' 
 
 The close observers of vegetable nature have remarked 
 that, when a new graft is taken from an aged tree, it 
 possesses indeed in exterior form the appearance of a 
 youthful shoot, but has in fact attained to the same state 
 of maturity, or even decay, which has been reached by 
 the parent stem. Hence, it is said, arises the general 
 decline and death that about the same season is often 
 observed to spread itself through individual trees of some 
 particular species, all of which, deriving their vital 
 powers from the parent stock, are therefore incapable of 
 protracting their existence longer than it does. 
 
 In the same manner, efforts have been made by the 
 mighty of the earth to transplant large cities, states, and 
 communities by one great and sudden exertion, expect- 
 ing to secure to the new capital the wealth, the dignity, 
 the magnificent decorations and unlimited extent of the 
 
 43 I
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ancient city which they desire to renovate; while, at the 
 same time, they hope to begin a new succession of ages 
 from the date of the new structure, to last, they imagine, 
 as long, and with as much fame, as its predecessor, which 
 the founder hopes his new metropolis may replace in all 
 its youthful glories. But nature has her laws, which seem 
 to apply to the social as well as the vegetable system. It 
 appears to be a general rule that what is to last long 
 should be slowly matured and gradually improved, while 
 every sudden effort, however gigantic, to bring about 
 the speedy execution of a plan calculated to endure for 
 ages is doomed to exhibit symptoms of premature decay 
 from its very commencement. Thus, in a beautiful 
 Oriental tale, a dervise explains to the sultan how he had 
 reared the magnificent trees among which they walked 
 by nursing their shoots from the seed; and the prince's 
 pride is damped when he reflects that those plantations, 
 so simply raised, were gathering new vigour from each 
 returning sun, while his own exhausted cedars, which 
 had been transplanted by one violent effort, were droop- 
 ing their majestic heads in the Valley of Orez.^ 
 
 It has been allowed, I believe, by all men of taste, 
 many of whom have been late visitants of Constanti- 
 nople, that, if it were possible to survey the whole globe 
 with a view to fixing a seat of universal empire, all who 
 are capable of making such a choice would give their 
 preference to the city of Constantine, as including the 
 great recommendations of beauty, wealth, security, and 
 eminence. Yet, with all these advantages of situation 
 and climate, and with all the architectural splendour of 
 its churches and halls, its quarries of marble, and its 
 1 Tale of 'Mirglip the Persian,' in the Tales of the Genii.
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS j 
 
 treasure-houses of gold, the imperial founder must him- 
 self have learned that, although he could employ all 
 these rich materials in obedience to his own wish, it was 
 the mind of man itself, those intellectual faculties refined 
 by the ancients to the highest degree, which had pro- 
 duced the specimens of talent at which men paused and 
 wondered, whether as subjects of art or of moral labour. 
 The power of the Emperor might indeed strip other cities 
 of their statues and their shrines, in order to decorate 
 that which he had fixed upon as his new capital ; but the 
 men who had performed great actions, and those, almost 
 equally esteemed, by whom such deeds were celebrated, 
 in poetry, in painting, and in music, had ceased to exist. 
 The nation, though still the most civilised in the world, 
 had passed beyond that period of society when the desire 
 of fair fame is of itself the sole or chief motive for the 
 labour of the historian or the poet, the painter or the 
 statuary. The slavish and despotic constitution intro- 
 duced into the empire had long since entirely destroyed 
 that pubHc spirit which animated the free history of 
 Rome, leaving nothing but feeble recollections, which 
 produced no emulation. 
 
 To speak as of an animated substance, if Constantine 
 could have regenerated his new metropolis, by trans- 
 fusing into it the vital and vivifying principles of old 
 Rome, that brilliant spark no longer remained for 
 Constantinople to borrow or for Rome to lend. 
 
 In one most important circumstance, the state of the 
 capital of Constantine had been totally changed, and 
 unspeakably to its advantage. The world was now 
 Christian, and, with the pagan code, had got rid of its 
 load of disgraceful superstition. Nor is there the least
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 doubt that the better faith produced its natural and 
 desirable fruits in society, in gradually ameliorating the 
 hearts and taming the passions of the people. But while 
 many of the converts were turning meekly towards their 
 new creed, some, in the arrogance of their understanding, 
 were limiting the Scriptures by their own devices, and 
 others failed not to make religious character or spiritual 
 rank the means of rising to temporal power. Thus it 
 happened at this critical period that the effects of this 
 great change in the rehgion of the country, although pro- 
 ducing an immediate harvest, as well as sowing much 
 good seed which was to grow hereafter, did not, in the 
 fourth century, flourish so as to shed at once that pre- 
 dominating influence which its principles might have 
 taught men to expect. 
 
 Even the borrowed splendour in which Constantine 
 decked his city bore in it something which seemed to 
 mark premature decay. The imperial founder, in seizing 
 upon the ancient statues, pictures, obelisks, and works of 
 art, acknowledged his own incapacity to supply their 
 place with the productions of later genius; and when the 
 world, and particularly Rome, was plundered to adorn 
 Constantinople, the Emperor, under whom the work was 
 carried on, might be compared to a prodigal youth, who 
 strips an aged parent of her youthful ornaments, in order 
 to decorate a flaunting paramour, on whose brow all 
 must consider them as misplaced. 
 
 Constantinople, therefore, when in 324 it first arose in 
 imperial majesty out of the humble Byzantium, showed, 
 even in its birth, and amid its adventitious splendour, as 
 we have already said, some intimations of that speedy 
 decay to which the whole civilised world, then limited
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 within the Roman empire, was internally and imper- 
 ceptibly tending. Nor was it many ages ere these prog- 
 nostications of declension were fully verified. 
 
 In the year 1080 Alexius Comnenus^ ascended the 
 throne of the Empire — that is, he was declared sover- 
 eign of Constantinople, its precincts and dependencies; 
 nor, if he was disposed to lead a life of relaxation, would 
 the savage incursions of the Scythians or the Hunga- 
 rians frequently disturb the imperial slumbers, if limited 
 to his own capital. It may be supposed that this safety 
 did not extend much further; for it is said that the Em- 
 press Pulcheria had built a church to the Virgin Mary as 
 remote as possible from the gate of the city, to save her 
 devotions from the risk of being interrupted by the hos- 
 tile yell of the barbarians, and the reigning emperor had 
 constructed a palace near the same spot, and for the 
 same reason. 
 
 Alexius Comnenus was in the condition of a monarch 
 who rather derives consequence from the wealth and 
 importance of his predecessors, and the great extent of 
 their original dominions, than from what remnants of 
 fortune had descended to the present generation. This 
 emperor, except nominally, no more ruled over his dis- 
 membered provinces than a half-dead horse can exercise 
 power over those limbs on which the hooded crow and 
 the vulture have already begun to settle and select their 
 prey. 
 
 In different parts of his territory different enemies 
 arose, who waged successful or dubious war against the 
 Emperor; and of the mmierous nations with whom he 
 
 * See Gibbon, chap. XLViii, for the origin and early history of the 
 house of the Comneni.
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 was engaged in hostilities, whether the Franks from the 
 west, the Turks advancing from the east, the Cumans 
 and Scythians pouring their barbarous numbers and 
 unceasing storm of arrows from the north, and the Sara- 
 cens, or the tribes into which they were divided, pressing 
 from the south, there was not one for whom the Grecian 
 empire did not spread a tempting repast. Each of these 
 various enemies had their own particular habits of war, 
 and a way of manoeuvring in battle pecuUar to them- 
 selves. But the Roman, as the unfortunate subject of the 
 Greek empire was still called, was by far the weakest, the 
 most ignorant, and most timid who could be dragged 
 into the field; and the Emperor was happy in his own 
 good luck when he found it possible to conduct a defen- 
 sive war on a counterbalancing principle, making use of 
 the Scythian to repel the Turk, or of both these savage 
 peoples to drive back the fiery-footed Frank, whom Peter 
 the Hermit had, in the time of Alexius, waked to double 
 fury by the powerful influence of the crusades. 
 
 If, therefore, Alexius Comnenus was, during his 
 anxious seat upon the throne of the East, reduced to use 
 a base and truckling course of pohcy, if he was some- 
 times reluctant to fight when he had a conscious doubt 
 of the valour of his troops, if he commonly employed 
 cunning and dissimulation instead of wisdom, and per- 
 fidy instead of courage, his expedients were the disgrace 
 of the age rather than his own. 
 
 Again, the Emperor Alexius may be blamed for affect- 
 ing a degree of state which was closely allied to imbe- 
 cility. He was proud of assuming in his own person, and 
 of bestowing upon others, the painted show of various 
 orders of nobility, even now, when the rank within the 
 
 6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 prince's gift was become an additional reason for the free 
 barbarian despising the imperial noble. That the Greek 
 court was encumbered with unmeaning ceremonies, in 
 order to make amends for the want of that veneration 
 which ought to have been called forth by real worth and 
 the presence of actual power, was not the particular 
 fault of that prince, but belonged to the system of the 
 government of Constantinople for ages. Indeed, in its 
 trumpery etiquette, which provided rules for the most 
 trivial points of a man's behaviour during the day, the 
 Greek Empire resembled no existing power in its minute 
 folhes except that of Pekin; both, doubtless, being in- 
 fluenced by the same vain wish to add seriousness and 
 an appearance of importance to objects which, from 
 their trivial nature, could admit no such distinction. 
 
 Yet thus far we must justify Alexius, that, humble as 
 were the expedients he had recourse to, they were more 
 useful to his empire than the measures of a more proud 
 and high-spirited prince might have proved in the same 
 circumstances. He was no champion to break a lance 
 against the breastplate of his Frankish rival, the famous 
 Bohemond of Antioch,^ but there were many occasions 
 on which he hazarded his life freely; and, so far as we 
 can see from a minute perusal of his achievements, the 
 Emperor of Greece was never so dangerous 'under 
 shield' as when any foeman desired to stop him while 
 retreating from a conflict in which he had been worsted. 
 But, besides that he did not hesitate, according to 
 the custom of the time, at least occasionally, to commit 
 his person to the perils of close combat, Alexius also 
 possessed such knowledge of a general's profession as is 
 
 * See Note i.
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 required in our modern days. He knew how to occupy 
 military positions to the best advantage, and often cov- 
 ered defeats, or improved dubious conflicts, in a manner 
 highly to the disappointment of those who deemed that 
 the work of war was done only on the field of battle. 
 
 If Alexius Comnenus thus understood the evolutions 
 of war, he was still better skilled in those of politics, 
 where, soaring far above the express purpose of his 
 immediate negotiation, the Emperor was sure to gain 
 some important and permanent advantage; though very 
 often he was ultimately defeated by the unblushing 
 fickleness or avowed treachery of the barbarians, as the 
 Greeks generally termed all other nations, and particu- 
 larly those tribes (they can hardly be termed states) by 
 which their own empire was surrounded. 
 
 We may conclude our brief character of Comnenus by 
 saying that, had he not been called on to fill the station 
 of a monarch who was under the necessity of making 
 himself dreaded, as one who was exposed to all manner 
 of conspiracies, both in and out of his own family, he 
 might, in all probability, have been regarded as an 
 honest and humane prince. Certainly he showed him- 
 self a good-natured man, and dealt less in cutting off 
 heads and extinguishing eyes than had been the prac- 
 tice of his predecessors, who generally took this method 
 of shortening the ambitious views of competitors. 
 
 It remains to be mentioned, that Alexius had his full 
 share of the superstition of the age, which he covered 
 with a species of hypocrisy. It is even said that his wife, 
 Irene, who, of course, was best acquainted with the real 
 character of the Emperor, taxed her dying husband with 
 practising, in his last moments, the dissimulation which 
 
 8
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 had been his companion during lifc.^ He took also a 
 deep interest in all matters respecting the church, where 
 heresy, which the Emperor held, or affected to hold, in 
 great horror, appeared to him to lurk. Nor do we dis- 
 cover in his treatment of the Manichaeans or Paulicians 
 that pity for their speculative errors which modern 
 times might think had been well purchased by the extent 
 of the temporal services of these unfortunate sectaries. 
 Alexius knew no indulgence for those who misinter- 
 preted the mysteries of the church or of its doctrines; 
 and the duty of defending religion against schismatics 
 was, in his opinion, as peremptorily demanded from him 
 as that of protecting the empire against the numberless 
 tribes of barbarians who were encroaching on its bound- 
 aries on every side. 
 
 Such a mixture of sense and weakness, of meanness 
 and dignity, of prudent discretion and poverty of spirit, 
 which last, in the European mode of viewing things, ap- 
 proached to cowardice, formed the leading traits of the 
 character of Alexius Comnenus, at a period when the 
 fate of Greece, and all that was left in that country of art 
 and civilisation, was trembling in the balance, and likely 
 to be saved or lost according to the abilities of the 
 Emperor for playing the very difficult game which was 
 put into his hands. 
 
 These few leading circumstances will recall, to any 
 one who is tolerably well read in history, the peculi- 
 arities of the period at which we have found a resting- 
 place for the foundation of our story. 
 
 ^ See Gibbon, chap. LVi.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 Olhus. This superb successor 
 
 Of the earth's mistress, as thou vainly speakest. 
 Stands midst these ages as, on the wide ocean, 
 The last spared fragment of a spacious land, 
 That in some grand and awful ministration 
 Of mighty nature has engulfed been, 
 Doth lift aloft its dark and rocky cliffs 
 O'er the wild waste around, and sadly frowns 
 In lonely majesty. 
 
 Constantine Paleologus, Scene I. 
 
 Our scene in the capital of the Eastern Empire opens 
 at what is termed the Golden Gate of Constantinople; 
 and it may be said in passing, that this splendid epi- 
 thet is not so Ughtly bestowed as may be expected from 
 the inflated language of the Greeks, which throws such 
 an appearance of exaggeration about them, their build- 
 ings, and monuments. 
 
 The massive, and seemingly impregnable walls, with 
 which Constantine surrounded the city were greatly 
 improved and added to by Theodosius, called the Great. 
 A triumphal arch, decorated with the architecture of a 
 better, though already a degenerate, age, and serving, 
 at the same time, as a useful entrance, introduced the 
 stranger into the city. On the top, a statue of bronze rep- 
 resented Victory, the goddess who had inclined the 
 scales of battle in favour of Theodosius; and, as the 
 artist determined to be wealthy if he could not be taste- 
 ful, the gilded ornaments with which the inscriptions 
 were set off readily led to the popular name of the gate. 
 Figures carved in a distant and happier period of the 
 art glanced from the walls, without assorting happily 
 
 lO
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 with the taste in which these were built. The more mod- 
 ern ornaments of the Golden Gate bore, at the period of 
 our story, an aspect very different from those indicating 
 the 'conquest brought back to the city' and 'the eter- 
 nal peace,' which the flattering inscriptions recorded 
 as having been extorted by the sword of Theodosius. 
 Four or five military engines, for throwing darts of the 
 largest size, were placed upon the summit of the arch; 
 and what had been originally designed as a specimen of 
 architectural embellishment was now applied to the 
 purposes of defence. 
 
 It was the hour of evening, and the cool and refresh- 
 ing breeze from the sea inclined each passenger, whose 
 business was not of a very urgent description, to loiter 
 on his way, and cast a glance at the romantic gateway, 
 and the various interesting objects of nature and art 
 which the city of Constantinople presented, as well to 
 the inhabitants as to strangers.^ 
 
 One individual, however, seemed to indulge more 
 wonder and curiosity than could have been expected 
 from a native of the city, and looked upon the rarities 
 around with a quick and startled eye, that marked an 
 imagination awakened by sights that were new and 
 strange. The appearance of this person bespoke a 
 foreigner of miHtary habits, who seemed, from his com- 
 plexion, to have his birthplace far from the Grecian 
 metropolis, whatever chance had at present brought 
 him to the Golden Gate, or whatever place he filled in 
 the Emperor's service. 
 
 This young man was about two-and- twenty years 
 old, remarkably finely-formed and athletic — qualities 
 
 ^ See Note 2. 
 II
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 well understood by the citizens of Constantinople, whose 
 habits of frequenting the public games had taught them 
 at least an acquaintance with the human person, and 
 where, in the select of their own countrymen, they saw 
 the handsomest specimens of the human race. 
 
 These were, however, not generally so tall as the 
 stranger at the Golden Gate, while his piercing blue eyes, 
 and the fair hair which descended from under a light hel- 
 met gaily ornamented with silver, bearing on its summit 
 a crest resembling a dragon in the act of expanding its 
 terrible jaws, intimated a Northern descent, to which 
 the extreme purity of his complexion also bore witness. 
 His beauty, however, though he was eminently distin- 
 guished both in features and in person, was not liable 
 to the charge of effeminacy. From this it was rescued 
 both by his strength and by the air of confidence and self- 
 possession with which the youth seemed to regard the 
 wonders around him, not indicating the stupid and help- 
 less gaze of a mind equally inexperienced and incapable 
 of receiving instruction, but expressing the bold intellect 
 which at once understands the greater part of the in- 
 formation which it receives, and commands the spirit 
 to toil in search of the meaning of that which it has not 
 comprehended, or may fear it has misinterpreted. This 
 look of awakened attention and intelligence gave inter- 
 est to the young barbarian; and while the bystanders 
 were amazed that a savage from some unknown or re- 
 mote corner of the universe should possess a noble coun- 
 tenance bespeaking a mind so elevated, they respected 
 him for the composure with which he witnessed so many 
 things, the fashion, the splendour, nay, the very use, of 
 which must have been recently new to him. 
 
 12,
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 The young man's personal equipments exhibited a sin- 
 gular mixture of splendour and effeminacy, and en- 
 abled the experienced spectators to ascertain his nation, 
 and the capacity in which he served. We have already 
 mentioned the fanciful and crested helmet which was 
 a distinction of the foreigner, to which the reader must 
 add in his imagination a small cuirass or breastplate of 
 silver, so sparingly fashioned as obviously to aflford Httle 
 security to the broad chest, on which it rather hung like 
 an ornament than covered as a buckler; nor, if a well- 
 thrown dart or strongly-shod arrow should alight full on 
 this rich piece of armour, was there much hope that it 
 could protect the bosom which it partially shielded. 
 
 From betwixt the shoulders hung down over the back 
 what had the appearance of a bearskin ; but, when more 
 closely examined, it was only a very skilful imitation 
 of the spoils of the chase, being in reality a surcoat com- 
 posed of strong shaggy silk, so woven as to exhibit, at a 
 little distance, no inaccurate representation of a bear's 
 hide. A light crooked sword, or scimitar, sheathed in a 
 scabbard of gold and ivory, hung by the left side of the 
 stranger, the ornamented hilt of which appeared much 
 too small for the large-jointed hand of the young Her- 
 cules who was thus gaily attired. A dress, purple in colour 
 and sitting close to the limbs, covered the body of the 
 soldier to a little above the knee; from thence the knees 
 and legs were bare to the calf, to which the reticulated 
 strings of the sandals rose from the instep, the ligatures 
 being there fixed by a golden coin of the reigning emperor, 
 converted into a species of clasp for the purpose. 
 
 Bu t a weapon which seemed more particularly adapted 
 to the young barbarian's size, and incapable of being 
 
 13
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 used by a man of less formidable limbs and sinews, 
 was a battle-axe, the firm iron-guarded staff of which 
 was formed of tough elm, strongly inlaid and defended 
 with brass, while many a plate and ring were indented 
 in the handle, to hold the wood and the steel parts to- 
 gether. The axe itself was composed of two blades, turn- 
 ing different ways, with a sharp steel spike projecting 
 from between them. The steel part, both spike and 
 blade, was burnished as bright as a mirror; and though 
 its ponderous size must have been burdensome to one 
 weaker than himself, yet the young soldier carried it 
 as carelessly along as if it were but a feather's weight. 
 It was, indeed, a skilfully constructed weapon, so well 
 balanced, that it was much lighter in striking and in 
 recovery than he who saw it in the hands of another 
 could easily have believed. 
 
 The carrying arms of itself showed that the military 
 man was a stranger. The native Greeks had that mark 
 of a civilised people, that they never bore weapons 
 during the time of peace, unless the wearer chanced to 
 be numbered among those whose military profession and 
 emplo3rment required them to be always in arms. Such 
 soldiers by profession were easily distinguished from the 
 peaceful citizens; and it was with some evident show 
 of fear, as well as dislike, that the passengers observed 
 to each other that the stranger was a Varangian, an 
 expression which intimated a barbarian of the imperial 
 body-guard. 
 
 To supply the deficiency of valour among his own sub- 
 jects, and to procure soldiers who should be personally 
 dependent on the emperor, the Greek sovereigns had 
 been, for a great many years, in the custom of maintain- 
 
 14
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 ing in their pay, as near their person as they could, the 
 steady services of a select number of mercenaries in the 
 capacity of body-guards, which were numerous enough, 
 when their steady discipline and inflexible loyalty were 
 taken in conjunction with their personal strength and 
 indomitable courage, to defeat not only any traitorous 
 attempt on the imperial person, but to quell open re- 
 bellions, unless such were supported by a great propor- 
 tion of the military force. Their pay was therefore liberal ; 
 their rank and established character for prowess gave 
 them a degree of consideration among the people, whose 
 reputation for valour had not for some ages stood high ; 
 and if, as foreigners, and the members of a privileged 
 body, the Varangians were sometimes employed in ar- 
 bitrary and unpopular services, the natives were so apt 
 to fear, while they disliked, them, that the hardy stran- 
 gers disturbed themselves but little about the light in 
 which they were regarded by the inhabitants of Con- 
 stantinople. Their dress and accoutrements, while 
 within the city, partook of the rich, or rather gaudy, 
 costume which we have described, bearing only a sort 
 of affected resemblance to that which the Varangians 
 wore in their native forests. But the individuals of this 
 select corps were, when their services were required 
 beyond the city, furnished with armour and weapons 
 more resembling those which they were accustomed to 
 wield in their own country, possessing much less of the 
 splendour of war, and a far greater portion of its effec- 
 tive terrors ; and thus they were summoned to take the 
 field. 
 
 This body of Varangians (which term is, according 
 to one interpretation, merely a general expression for 
 
 15
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 barbarians) was, in an early age of the empire, formed 
 of the roving and piratical inhabitants of the North, 
 whom a love of adventure, the greatest perhaps that 
 ever was indulged, and a contempt of danger, which 
 never had a parallel in the history of human nature, 
 drove forth upon the pathless ocean. 'Piracy,' says 
 Gibbon, with his usual spirit, 'was the exercise, the trade, 
 the glory, and the virtue of the Scandinavian youth. 
 Impatient of a bleak climate and narrow limits, they 
 started from the banquet, grasped their arms, soimded 
 their horn, ascended their ships, and explored every 
 coast that promised either spoil or settlement.' ^ 
 
 The conquests made in France and Britain by these 
 wild sea-kings, as they were called, have obscured the 
 remembrance of other Northern champions, who, long 
 before the time of Comnenus, made excursions as far as 
 Constantinople, and witnessed with their own eyes the 
 wealth and the weakness of the Grecian empire itself. 
 Numbers found their way thither through the pathless 
 wastes of Russia; others navigated the Mediterranean 
 in their sea-serpents, as they termed their piratical ves- 
 sels. The emperors, terrified at the appearance of these 
 daring inhabitants of the frozen zone, had recourse to 
 the usual policy of a rich and unwarlike people, bought 
 with gold the service of their swords, and thus formed 
 a corps of satellites more distinguished for valour than 
 the famed Prastorian Bands of Rome, and, perhaps be- 
 cause fewer in number, unalterably loyal to their new 
 princes. 
 
 But, at a later period of the empire, it began to be 
 
 ^ Deditte and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. x, chap, lv, p. 221, 
 8vo edition. 
 
 16
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 more difficult for the emperors to obtain recruits for 
 their favourite and selected corps, the Northern nations 
 having now in a great measure laid aside the piratical 
 and roving habits which had driven their ancestors 
 from the straits of Elsinore to those of Sestos and Aby- 
 dos. The corps of the Varangians must therefore have 
 died out, or have been filled up with less worthy ma- 
 terials, had not the conquests made by the Normans in 
 the far distant west sent to the aid of Comnenus a large 
 body of the dispossessed inhabitants of the islands of 
 Britain, and particularly of England, who furnished 
 recruits to his chosen body-guard. These were, in fact, 
 Anglo-Saxons; but, in the confused idea of geography 
 received at the court of Constantinople, they were 
 naturally enough called Anglo-Danes, as their native 
 country was confounded with the Thule of the ancients, 
 by which expression the archipelago of Zetland and 
 Orkney is properly to be understood, though, according 
 to the notions of the Greeks, it comprised either Den- 
 mark or Britain. The emigrants, however, spoke a lan- 
 guage not very dissimilar to the original Varangians, 
 and adopted the name more readily, that it seemed to 
 remind them of their unhappy fate, the appellation be- 
 ing in one sense capable of being interpreted as exiles. 
 Excepting one or two chief commanders, whom the Em- 
 peror judged worthy of such high trust, the Varangians 
 were officered by men of their own nation; and with so 
 many privileges, being joined by many of their country- 
 men from time to time, as the crusades, pilgrimages, or 
 discontent at home drove fresh supplies of the Anglo- 
 Saxons, or Anglo-Danes, to the east, the Varangians sub- 
 sisted in strength to the last days of the Greek empire, 
 
 43 17
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 retaining their native language, along with the un- 
 blemished loyalty and unabated martial spirit which 
 characterised their fathers. 
 
 This account of the Varangian Guard is strictly 
 historical, and might be proved by reference to the 
 Byzantine historians; most of whom, and also Villehar- 
 douin's account of the taking of the city of Constanti- 
 nople by the Franks and Venetians, make repeated 
 mention of this celebrated and singular body of English- 
 men, forming a mercenary guard attendant on the per- 
 son of the Greek emperors.^ 
 
 Having said enough to explain why an individual 
 Varangian should be strolling about the Golden Gate, 
 we may proceed in the story which we have com- 
 menced. 
 
 Let it not be thought extraordinary that this soldier 
 of the life-guard should be looked upon with some de- 
 gree of curiosity by the passing citizens. It must be 
 supposed that, from their peculiar duties, they were not 
 encouraged to hold frequent intercourse or communi- 
 cation with the inhabitants; and, besides that they had 
 duties of police occasionally to exercise amongst them, 
 which made them generally more dreaded than be- 
 loved, they were at the same time conscious that their 
 high pay, splendid appointments, and immediate de- 
 pendence on the emperor were subjects of envy to the 
 other forces. They, therefore, kept much in the neigh- 
 bourhood of their own barracks, and were seldom seen 
 straggling remote from them, unless they had a com- 
 mission of government entrusted to their charge. 
 
 This being the case, it was natural that a people so 
 
 * See Note 3. 
 18
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 curious as the Greeks should busy themselves in eyeing 
 the stranger as he loitered in one spot, or wandered to 
 and fro, like a man who either could not find some place 
 which he was seeking, or had failed to meet some per- 
 son with whom he had an appointment, for which the 
 ingenuity of the passengers found a thousand different 
 and inconsistent reasons. * A Varangian/ said one citi- 
 zen to another, * and upon duty — ahem ! Then I pre- 
 sume to say in your ear — ' 
 
 'What do you imagine is his object?' inquired the 
 party to whom this information was addressed. 
 
 'Gods and goddesses! do you think I can tell you? 
 But suppose that he is lurking here to hear what folk say 
 of the Emperor,' answered the quidnunc of Constanti- 
 nople. 
 
 'That is not likely,' said the querist: 'these Varan- 
 gians do not speak our language, and are not extremely 
 well fitted for spies, since few of them pretend to any 
 intelligible notion of the Grecian tongue. It is not likely, 
 I think, that the Emperor would employ as a spy a man 
 who did not understand the language of the country.' 
 
 'But if there are, as all men fancy,' answered the 
 politician, 'persons among these barbarian soldiers 
 who can speak almost all languages, you will admit that 
 such are excellently qualified for seeing clearly around 
 them, since they possess the talent of beholding and re- 
 porting, while no one has the slightest idea of suspecting 
 them.' 
 
 'It may well be,' replied his companion; 'but since we 
 see so clearly the fox's foot and paws protruding from 
 beneath the seeming sheep's fleece, or rather, by your 
 leave, the hearts hide, yonder, had we not better be 
 
 19
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 jogging homeward, ere it be pretended we have insulted 
 a Varangian guard? ' 
 
 This surmise of danger insinuated by the last speaker, 
 who was a much older and more experienced politician 
 than his friend, determined both on a hasty retreat. 
 They adjusted their cloaks, caught hold of each other's 
 arm, and, speaking fast and thick as they started new 
 subjects of suspicion, they sped, close coupled together, 
 towards their habitations in a different and distant 
 quarter of the town. 
 
 In the meantime, the sunset was nigh over; and the 
 long shadows of the walls, bulwarks, and arches were 
 projecting from the westward in deeper and blacker 
 shade. The Varangian seemed tired of the short and 
 lingering circle in which he had now trodden for more 
 than an hour, and in which he still loitered like an un- 
 liberated spirit, which cannot leave the haunted spot 
 till licensed by the spell which has brought it hither. 
 Even so the barbarian, casting an impatient glance to 
 the sun, which was setting in a blaze of light behind a 
 rich grove of cypress-trees, looked for some accommoda- 
 tion on the benches of stone which were placed under 
 shadow of the triumphal arch of Theodosius, drew the 
 axe, which was his principal weapon, close to his side, 
 wrapped his cloak about him, and, though his dress was 
 not in other respects a fit attire for slumber, any more 
 than the place well selected for repose, yet in less than 
 three minutes he was fast asleep. The irresistible impulse 
 which induced him to seek for repose in a place very 
 indifferently fitted for the purpose might be weariness 
 consequent upon the military vigils which had proved a 
 part of his duty on the preceding evening. At the same 
 
 20
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 time, his spirit was so alive within him, even while he 
 gave way to this transient fit of oblivion, that he re- 
 mained almost awake even with shut eyes, and no hovmd 
 ever seemed to sleep more lightly than our Anglo-Saxon 
 at the Golden Gate of Constantinople. 
 
 And now the slumberer, as the loiterer had been before, 
 was the subject of observation to the accidental passen- 
 gers. Two men entered the porch in company. One was 
 a somewhat slight-made but alert-looking man, by name 
 Lysimachus, and by profession a designer. A roll of 
 paper in his hand, with a little satchel containing a few 
 chalks, or pencils, completed his stock-in-trade ; and his 
 acquaintance with the remains of ancient art gave him a 
 power of talking on the subject which unfortunately bore 
 more than due proportion to his talents of execution. 
 His companion, a magnificent-looking man in form, and 
 so far resembling the young barbarian, but more clown- 
 ish and peasant-like in the expression of his features, 
 was Stephanos the wrestler, well known in the palestra. 
 
 'Stop here, my friend,' said the artist, producing his 
 pencils, 'till I make a sketch for my youthful Hercules.' 
 
 'I thought Hercules had been a Greek,' said the wrest- 
 ler. 'This sleeping animal is a barbarian.' 
 
 The tone intimated some offence, and the designer 
 hastened to soothe the displeasure which he had thought- 
 lessly excited. Stephanos, known by the surname of 
 Castor, who was highly distinguished for gymnastic 
 exercises, was a sort of patron to the little artist, and not 
 unlikely by his own reputation to bring the talents of his 
 friend into notice. 
 
 'Beauty and strength,' said the adroit artist, ' are of no 
 particular nation; and may our muse never deign me her 
 
 21
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 prize, but it is my greatest pleasure to compare them as 
 existing in the uncultivated savage of the North and 
 when they are found in the darling of an enlightened 
 people, who has added the height of gymnastic skill to 
 the most distinguished natural qualities, such as we can 
 now only see in the works of Phidias and Praxiteles, or in 
 our living model of the gymnastic champions of anti- 
 quity.' 
 
 *Nay, I acknowledge that the Varangian is a proper 
 man,' said the athletic hero, softening his tone; *but the 
 poor savage hath not, perhaps in his lifetime, had a 
 single drop of oil on his bosom. Hercules instituted the 
 Isthmian games — ' 
 
 'But, hold! what sleeps he with, wrapt so close in his 
 bearskin?' said the artist. * Is it a club?' 
 
 'Away — away, my friend!' cried Stephanos, as they 
 looked closer on the sleeper. 'Do you not know that is 
 the instrument of their barbarous office? They do not 
 war with swords or lances, as if destined to attack men 
 of flesh and blood, but with maces and axes, as if they 
 were to hack limbs formed of stone and sinews of oak. 
 I will wager my crown (of withered parsley) that he lies 
 here to arrest some distinguished commander who has 
 offended the government ! He would not have been thus 
 formidably armed otherwise. Away — away, good 
 Lysimachus; let us respect the slumbers of the bear.' 
 
 So saying, the champion of the palestra made off with 
 less apparent confidence than his size and strength might 
 have inspired. 
 
 Others, now thinly straggling, passed onward as the 
 evening closed, and the shadows of the cypress-trees fell 
 darker around. Two females of the lower rank cast their 
 
 22
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 eyes on the sleeper. 'Holy Maria!' said one, 'if he does 
 not put me in mind of the Eastern tale, how the genie 
 brought a gallant young prince from his nuptial cham- 
 ber in Egypt, and left him sleeping at the gate of Damas- 
 cus. I will awake the poor lamb, lest he catch harm from 
 the night dew.' 
 
 'Harm!' answered the older and crosser-looking 
 woman. 'Ay, such harm as the cold water of the Cydnus 
 does to the wild swan. A lamb! Ay, forsooth! Why, 
 he 's a wolf or a bear, at least a Varangian, and no modest 
 matron would exchange a word with such an unmannered 
 barbarian. I '11 tell you what one of these English Danes 
 did to me — ' 
 
 So saying, she drew on her companion, who followed 
 with some reluctance, seeming to listen to her gabble, 
 while she looked back upon the sleeper. 
 
 The total disappearance of the sun, and nearly at the 
 same time the departure of the twilight, which lasts so 
 short time in that tropical region — one of the few 
 advantages which a more temperate climate possesses 
 over it being the longer continuance of that sweet and 
 placid light — gave signal to the warders of the city to 
 shut the folding leaves of the Golden Gate, leaving a 
 wicket lightly bolted for the passage of those whom 
 business might have detained too late without the walls, 
 and indeed for all who chose to pay a small coin. The 
 position and apparent insensibility of the Varangian did 
 not escape those who had charge of the gate, of whom 
 there was a strong guard which belonged to the ordinary 
 Greek forces. 
 
 'By Castor and by Pollux,' said the centurion, for the 
 Greeks swore by the ancient deities, although they no 
 
 2^
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 longer worshipped them, and preserved those military 
 distinctions with which 'the steady Romans shook the 
 world,' although they were altogether degenerated from 
 their original manners — 'by Castor and Pollux, com- 
 rades, we cannot gather gold in this gate according as 
 its legend tells us, yet it will be our fault if we cannot 
 glean a goodly crop of silver; and though the golden age 
 be the most ancient and honourable, yet in this degener- 
 ate time it is much if we see a glimpse of the inferior 
 metal.' 
 
 'Unworthy are we to follow the noble centurion 
 Harpax,' answered one of the soldiers of the watch, who 
 showed the shaven head and the single tuft ^ of a Mus- 
 sulman, 'if we do not hold silver a sufficient cause to 
 bestir ourselves, when there has been no gold to be had 
 — as, by the faith of an honest man, I think we can 
 hardly tell its colour — whether out of the imperial 
 treasury or obtained at the expense of individuals, for 
 many long moons ! ' 
 
 'But this silver,' said the centurion, 'thou shalt see 
 with thine own eye, and hear it ring a knell in the purse 
 which holds our common stock.' 
 
 'Which did hold it, as thou wouldst say, most valiant 
 commander,' replied the inferior warder; 'but what that 
 purse holds now, save a few miserable oboli for purchas- 
 ing certain pickled pot-herbs and salt fish, to relish our 
 allowance of stummed wine, I cannot tell, but willingly 
 give my share of the contents to the devil, if either purse 
 or platter exhibits symptoms of any age richer than the 
 age of copper.' 
 
 » One tuft is left on the shaven crown of the Moslem, for the angel 
 to grasp by, when conveying him to Paradise. 
 
 24
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'I will replenish our treasury,' said the centurion, 
 *were our stock yet lower than it is. Stand up close by 
 the wicket, my masters. Bethink you, we are the Im- 
 perial Guards, or the guards of the Imperial City, it is all 
 one, and let us have no man rush past us on a sudden; 
 and now that we are on our guard, I will unfold to you — 
 But stop,' said the valiant centurion, 'are we all here 
 true brothers? Do all well understand the ancient and 
 laudable customs of our watch — keeping all things 
 secret which concern the profit and advantage of this 
 our vigil, and aiding and abetting the common cause, 
 without information or treachery?' 
 
 'You are strangely suspicious to-night,' answered the 
 sentinel. 'Methinks we have stood by you without tale- 
 telling in matters which were more weighty. Have you 
 forgot the passage of the jeweller, which was neither the 
 gold nor silver age; but if there were a diamond one — ' 
 
 'Peace, good Ismail the Infidel,' said the centurion — 
 *for, I thank Heaven, we are of all religions, so it is to be 
 hoped we must have the true one amongst us — peace, I 
 say; it is unnecessary to prove thou canst keep new 
 secrets by ripping up old ones. Come hither, look 
 through the wicket to the stone bench on the shady 
 side of the grand porch — tell me, old lad, what dost 
 thou see there?' 
 
 'A man asleep,' said Ismail. 'By Heaven, I think, 
 from what I can see by the moonHght, that it is one of 
 those barbarians, one of those island dogs, whom the 
 Emperor sets such store by ! ' 
 
 'And can thy fertile brain,' said the centurion, 'spin 
 nothing out of his present situation tending towards our 
 advantage? ' 
 
 25
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'Why, ay/ said Ismail; 'they have large pay, though 
 they are not only barbarians, but pagan dogs, in com- 
 parison with us Moslems and Nazarenes. That fellow 
 hath besotted himself with liquor, and hath not found his 
 way home to his barracks in good time. He will be se- 
 verely punished, unless we consent to admit him; and to 
 prevail on us to do so, he must empty the contents of his 
 girdle.' 
 
 'That, at least — that, at least,' answered the soldiers 
 of the city watch, but carefully suppressing their voices, 
 though they spoke in an eager tone. 
 
 'And is that all that you would make of such an op- 
 portunity?' said Harpax, scornfully. 'No — no, com- 
 rades. If this outlandish animal indeed escape us, he 
 must at least leave his fleece behind. See you not the 
 gleams from his head-piece and his cuirass? I presume 
 these betoken substantial silver, though it may be of the 
 thinnest. There lies the silver mine I spoke of, ready to 
 enrich the dexterous hands who shall labour it.' 
 
 'But,' said timidly a young Greek, a companion of 
 their watch lately enlisted in the corps, and unac- 
 quainted with their habits, 'still this barbarian, as you 
 call him, is a soldier of the Emperor; and if we are con- 
 victed of depriving him of his arms, we shall be justly 
 punished for a military crime.' 
 
 ' Hear to a new Lycurgus come to teach us our duty ! ' 
 said the centurion. 'Learn first, young man, that the 
 metropolitan cohort never can commit a crime, and learn 
 next, of course, that they can never be convicted of one. 
 Suppose we found a straggling barbarian, a Varangian, 
 like this slumberer, perhaps a Frank, or some other of 
 these foreigners bearing unpronounceable names, while 
 
 26
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 they dishonour us by putting on the arms and apparel 
 of the real Roman soldier, are we, placed to defend an 
 important post, to admit a man so suspicious within our 
 postern, when the event may probably be to betray both 
 the Golden Gate and the hearts of gold who guard it — 
 to have the one seized and the throats of the others 
 handsomely cut? ' 
 
 'Keep him without side the gate, then,' repHed the 
 novice, 'if you think him so dangerous. For my part, I 
 should not fear him, were he deprived of that huge 
 double-edged axe, which gleams from under his cloak, 
 having a more deadly glare than the comet which as- 
 trologers prophesy such strange things of.' 
 
 'Nay, then, we agree together,' answered Harpax, 
 'and you speak Hke a youth of modesty and sense; and I 
 promise you the state will lose nothing in the despoiling 
 of this same barbarian. Each of these savages hath a 
 double set of accoutrements, the one wrought with gold, 
 silver, inlaid work, and ivory, as becomes their duties 
 in the prince's household; the other fashioned of triple 
 steel, strong, weighty, and irresistible. Now, in taking 
 from this suspicious character his silver helmet and 
 cuirass, you reduce him to his proper weapons, and you 
 will see him start up in arms fit for duty.' 
 
 'Yes,' said the novice; 'but I do not see that this rea- 
 soning will do more than warrant our stripping the 
 Varangian of his armour, to be afterwards heedfully 
 returned to him on the morrow, if he prove a true man. 
 How, I know not, but I had adopted some idea that it 
 was to be confiscated for our joint behoof.' 
 
 'Unquestionably,' said Harpax; 'for such has been 
 the rule of our watch ever since the days of the excellent 
 
 27
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 centurion Sisyphus, in whose time it first was determined 
 that all contraband commodities, or suspicious weapons, 
 or the like, which were brought into the city during the 
 night-watch, should be uniformly forfeited to the use 
 of the soldiery of the guard; and where the Emperor finds 
 the goods or arms unjustly seized, I hope he is rich 
 enough to make it up to the sufferer.' 
 
 'But still — but still,' said Sebastes of Mitylene, the 
 young Greek aforesaid, 'were the Emperor to dis- 
 cover — ' 
 
 *Ass!' replied Harpax, 'he cannot discover, if he had 
 all the eyes of Argus's tail. Here are twelve of us, sworn, 
 according to the rules of the watch, to abide in the 
 same story. Here is a barbarian, who, if he remembers 
 anything of the matter — which I greatly doubt, his 
 choice of a lodging arguing his familiarity with the wine- 
 pot — tells but a wild tale of losing his armour, which 
 we, my masters (looking round to his companions), deny 
 stoutly — I hope we have courage enough for that — 
 and which party will be believed? The companions of 
 the watch, surely!' 
 
 * Quite the contrary,' said Sebastes. *I was born at a 
 distance from hence; yet, even in the island of Mitylene, 
 the rumour had reached me that the cavaliers of the city- 
 guard of Constantinople were so accomplished in false- 
 hood that the oath of a single barbarian would outweigh 
 the Christian oath of the whole body, if Christian some 
 of them are — for example, this dark man with a single 
 tuft on his head.' 
 
 'And if it were even so,' said the centurion, with a 
 gloomy and sinister look, ' there is another way of mak- 
 ing the transaction a safe one.' 
 
 28
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Sebastes, fixing his eye on his commander, moved his 
 hand to the hilt of an Eastern poniard which he wore, as 
 if to penetrate his exact meaning. The centurion 
 nodded in acquiescence. 
 
 'Young as I am,' said Sebastes, * I have been already a 
 pirate five years at sea, and a robber three years now in 
 the hills, and it is the first time I have seen or heard a 
 man hesitate, in such a case, to take the only part which 
 is worth a brave man's while to resort to in a pressing 
 affair.' 
 
 Harpax struck his hand into that of the soldier, as 
 sharing his uncompromising sentiments; but when he 
 spoke it was in a tremulous voice. 
 
 'How shall we deal with him?' said he to Sebastes, 
 who, from the most raw recruit in the corps, had now 
 risen to the highest place in his estimation. 
 
 'Anyhow,' returned the islander; 'I see bows here and 
 shafts, and if no other person can use them — ' 
 
 'They are not,' said the centurion, 'the regular arms 
 of our corps.' 
 
 'The fitter you to guard the gates of a city,' said the 
 young soldier with a horse-laugh, which had something 
 insulting in it. 'Well — be it so. I can shoot like a 
 Scythian,' he proceeded: 'nod but with your head, one 
 shaft shall crash among the splinters of his skull and his 
 brains, the second shall quiver in his heart.' 
 
 ' Bravo, my noble comrade ! ' said Harpax, in a tone of 
 affected rapture, always lowering his voice, however, as 
 respecting the slumbers of the Varangian. 'Such were 
 the robbers of ancient days, the Diomedes, Corynetes, 
 Synnes, Scyrons, Procrustes, whom it required demi- 
 gods to bring to what was miscalled justice, and whose 
 
 29
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 compeers and fellows will remain masters of the conti- 
 nent and the isles of Greece, until Hercules and Theseus 
 shall again appear upon earth. Nevertheless, shoot not, 
 my valiant Sebastes — draw not the bow, my invalu- 
 able Mitylenian: you may wound and not kill.' 
 
 *I am little wont to do so,' said Sebastes, again re- 
 peating the hoarse, chuckling, discordant laugh, which 
 grated upon the ears of the centurion, though he could 
 hardly tell the reason why it was so uncommonly 
 unpleasant. 
 
 *If I look not about me,' was his internal reflection, 
 *we shall have two centurions of the watch instead of 
 one. This Mitylenian, or be he who the devil will, is a 
 bow's length beyond me. I must keep my eye on him.' 
 He then spoke aloud, in a tone of authority. 'But come, 
 young man, it is hard to discourage a young beginner. 
 If you have been such a rover of wood and river as you 
 tell us of, you know how to play the sicarius: there lies 
 your object, drunk or asleep, we know not which — 
 you will deal with him in either case.' 
 
 'Will you give me no odds to stab a stupefied or 
 drunken man, most noble centurion?' answered the 
 Greek. * You would perhaps love the commission your- 
 self? ' he continued, somewhat ironically. 
 
 *Do as you are directed, friend,' said Harpax, point- 
 ing to the turret staircase which led down from the 
 battlement to the arched entrance underneath the 
 porch. 
 
 *He has the true cat-like, stealthy pace,' half-mut- 
 tered the centurion, as his sentinel descended to do such 
 a crime as he was posted there to prevent. ' This cock- 
 erel's comb must be cut, or he will become king of the 
 
 30
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 roost. But let us see if his hand be as resolute as his 
 tongue; then we will consider what turn to give to the 
 conclusion.' 
 
 As Harpax spoke between his teeth, and rather to 
 himself than any of his companions, the Mitylenian 
 emerged from under the archway, treading on tiptoe, yet 
 swiftly, with an admirable mixture of silence and celer- 
 ity. His poniard, drawn as he descended, gleamed in his 
 hand, which was held a little behind the rest of his per- 
 son, so as to conceal it. The assassin hovered less than an 
 instant over the sleeper, as if to mark the interval be- 
 tween the ill-fated silver corslet and the body which it was 
 designed to protect, when, at the instant the blow was 
 rushing to its descent, the Varangian started up at once, 
 arrested the armed hand of the assassin, by striking it 
 upwards with the head of his battle-axe; and, while he 
 thus parried the intended stab, struck the Greek a blow 
 heavier than Sebastes had ever learned at the pancra- 
 tion, which left him scarce the power to cry ' help ' to his 
 comrades on the battlements. They saw what had hap- 
 pened, however, and beheld the barbarian set his foot 
 on their companion, and brandish high his formidable 
 weapon, the whistling sound of which made the old arch 
 ring ominously, while he paused an instant, with his 
 weapon upheaved, ere he gave the finishing blow to his 
 enemy. The warders made a bustle, as if some of them 
 would descend to the assistance of Sebastes, without, 
 however, appearing very eager to do so, when Harpax, 
 in a rapid whisper, commanded them to stand fast. 
 
 'Each man to his place,' he said, ' happen what may. 
 Yonder comes a captain of the guard; the secret is our 
 own, if the savage has killed the Mitylenian, as I well 
 
 31
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 trust, for he stirs neither hand nor foot. But if he lives, 
 my comrades, make hard your faces as flint: he is but 
 one man, we are twelve. We know nothing of his pur- 
 pose, save that he went to see wherefore the barbarian 
 slept so near the post.' 
 
 While the centurion thus bruited his purpose in busy 
 insinuation to the companions of his watch, the stately 
 figure of a tall soldier, richly armed, and presenting a 
 lofty crest, which glistened as he stept from the open 
 moonlight into the shade of the vault, became visible 
 beneath. A whisper passed among the warders on the 
 top of the gate. 
 
 'Draw bolt, shut gate, come of the Mitylenian what 
 will,' said the centurion; * we are lost men if we own him. 
 Here comes the chief of the Varangian axes, the Fol- 
 lower himself.' 
 
 'Well, Hereward,' said the officer who came last upon 
 the scene, in a sort of Imgua franca, generally used by 
 the barbarians of the guard, * hast thou caught a night- 
 hawk?' 
 
 *Ay, by St. George!' answered the soldier; 'and yet, 
 in my country, we would call him but a kite.' 
 
 'What is he?' said the leader. 
 
 'He will tell you that himself,' replied the Varangian, 
 'when I take my grasp from his windpipe.' 
 
 'Let him go, then,' said the officer. 
 
 The Englishman did as he was commanded. But, 
 escaping as soon as he felt himself at liberty, with an 
 alertness which could scarce have been anticipated, the 
 Mitylenian rushed out at the arch, and, availing himself 
 of the complicated ornaments which had originally 
 graced the exterior of the gateway, he fled around but- 
 
 32
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 tress and projection, closely pursued by the Varangian, 
 who, cumbered with his armour, was hardly a match in 
 the course for the light-footed Grecian, as he dodged his 
 pursuer from one skulking-place to another. The officer 
 laughed heartily as the two figures, like shadows appear- 
 ing, and disappearing as suddenly, held rapid flight and 
 chase around the arch of Theodosius. 
 
 * By Hercules ! it is Hector pursued round the walls of 
 Ilion by Achilles,' said the officer; 'but my Pelides will 
 scarce overtake the son of Priam. What, ho! goddess- 
 born — son of the white- footed Thetis! But the allusion 
 is lost on the poor savage. Halloo, Hereward! I say, 
 stop — know thine own most barbarous name,' These 
 last words were muttered; then raising his voice, 'Do 
 not outrun thy wind, good Hereward. Thou mayst have 
 more occasion for breath to-night.' 
 
 'If it had been my leader's will,' answered the Varan- 
 gian, coming back in sulky mood, and breathing like 
 one who had been at the top of his speed, ' I would have 
 had him as fast as ever greyhound held hare, ere I left 
 off the chase. Were it not for this fooHsh armour, which 
 encumbers without defending one, I would not have 
 made two bounds without taking him by the throat.' 
 
 * As well as it is,' said the officer, who was, in fact, the 
 Acoulouthos, or Follower, so called because it was the 
 duty of this highly-trusted officer of the Varangian 
 Guards constantly to attend on the person of the Em- 
 peror. 'But let us now see by what means we are to 
 regain our entrance through the gate; for if, as I sus- 
 pect, it was one of those warders who was willing to have 
 played thee a trick, his companions may not let us enter 
 willingly.' 
 
 « 33
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'And is it not,' said the Varangian, 'your valour's 
 duty to probe this want of discipline to the bottom?' 
 
 'Hush thee here, my simple-minded savage! I have 
 often told you, most ignorant Hereward, that the skulls 
 of those who come from your cold and muddy Bceotia 
 of the North are fitter to bear out twenty blows with a 
 sledge-hammer than turn off one witty or ingenious idea. 
 But follow me, Hereward, and although I am aware 
 that showing the fine meshes of Grecian policy to the 
 coarse eye of an unpractised barbarian like thee is much 
 like casting pearls before swine, a thing forbidden in the 
 Blessed Gospel, yet, as thou hast so good a heart and so 
 trusty, as is scarce to be met with among my Varangians 
 themselves, I care not if, while thou art in attendance on 
 my person, I endeavour to indoctrinate thee in some of 
 that policy by which I myself, the Follower, the chief 
 of the Varangians, and therefore erected by their axes 
 into the most valiant of the valiant, am content to guide 
 myself, although every way qualified to bear me through 
 the cross-currents of the court by main pull of oar and 
 press of sail — a condescension in me, to do that by 
 policy which no man in this imperial court, the chosen 
 sphere of superior wits, could so well accomplish by 
 open force as myself. What think'st thou, good savage? ' 
 
 'I know,' answered the Varangian, who walked about 
 a step and a half behind his leader, like an orderly of the 
 present day behind his oJQ&cer's shoulder, *I should be 
 sorry to trouble my head with what I could do by my 
 hands at once.' 
 
 'Did I not say so?' replied the Follower, who had now 
 for some minutes led the way from the Golden Gate, and 
 was seen gliding along the outside of the moonlight walls, 
 
 34
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 as if seeking an entrance elsewhere. *Lo, such is the stuff 
 of what you call your head is made! Your hands and 
 arms are perfect Achitophels compared to it. Hearken 
 to me, thou most ignorant of all animals — but, for that 
 very reason, thou stoutest of confidants and bravest of 
 soldiers — I will tell thee the very riddle of this night- 
 work, and yet, even then, I doubt if thou canst imder- 
 stand me.' 
 
 *It is my present duty to try to comprehend your 
 valour,' said the Varangian — 'I would say your policy, 
 since you condescend to expound it to me. As for your 
 valour,' he added, ' I should be unlucky if I did not think 
 I understand its length and breadth already.' 
 
 The Greek general coloured a little, but replied, with 
 unaltered voice, 'True, good Hereward. We have seen 
 each other in battle.' 
 
 Hereward here could not suppress a short cough, 
 which, to those grammarians of the day who were skilful 
 in applying the use of accents, would have implied no 
 peculiar eulogium on his officer's military bravery. 
 Indeed, during their whole intercourse, the conversa- 
 tion of the general, in spite of his tone of affected impor- 
 tance and superiority, displayed an obvious respect for 
 his companion, as one who, in many points of action, 
 might, if brought to the test, prove a more effective 
 soldier than himself. On the other hand, when the pow- 
 erful Northern warrior replied, although it was with all 
 observance of discipline and duty, yet the discussion 
 might sometimes resemble that between an ignorant 
 macaroni officer, before the Duke of York's reformation 
 of the British army, and a steady sergeant of the regi- 
 ment in which they both served. There was a conscious- 
 
 35
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ness of superiority, disguised by external respect, and 
 half admitted by the leader. 
 
 'You will grant me, my simple friend,' continued the 
 chief, in the same tone as before, 'in order to lead thee 
 by a short passage into the deepest principle of policy 
 which pervades this same court of Constantinople, that 
 the favour of the Emperor (here the ofl&cer raised his 
 casque, and the soldier made a semblance of doing so 
 also) , who — be the place where he puts his foot sacred ! 
 — is the vivifying principle of the sphere in which we 
 live, as the sun itself is that of humanity — ' 
 
 ' I have heard something like this said by our tribunes,' 
 said the Varangian. 
 
 'It is their duty so to instruct you,' answered the 
 leader; 'and I trust that the priests also, in their sphere, 
 forget not to teach my Varangians their constant service 
 to their emperor.' 
 
 'They do not omit it,' replied the soldier, 'though we 
 of the exiles know our duty.' 
 
 * God forbid I should doubt it,' said the commander of 
 the battle-axes. 'All I mean is to make thee understand, 
 my dear Hereward, that as there are, though perhaps 
 such do not exist in thy dark and gloomy climate, a race 
 of insects which are born in the first rays of the morn- 
 ing and expire with those of sunset, thence called by us 
 ephemercd, as enduring one day only, such is the case of a 
 favourite at court, while enjoying the smiles of the Most 
 Sacred Emperor. And happy is he whose favour, rising 
 as the person of the sovereign emerges from the level 
 space which extends around the throne, displays itself in 
 the first imperial blaze of glory, and who, keeping his 
 post during the meridian splendour of the crown, has 
 
 36
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 only the fate to disappear and die with the last beam of 
 imperial brightness.' 
 
 'Your valour,' said the islander, 'speaks higher lan- 
 guage than my Northern wits are able to comprehend. 
 Only, methinks, rather than part with life at the sunset, I 
 would, since insect I must needs be, become a moth for 
 two or three dark hours.' 
 
 *Such is the sordid desire of the vulgar, Hereward,' 
 answered the Follower, with assumed superiority, 'who 
 are contented to enjoy life, lacking distinction; whereas 
 we, on the other hand — we of choicer quality, who 
 form the nearest and innermost circle around the Im- 
 perial Alexius, in which he himself forms the central 
 point, are watchful, to woman's jealousy, of the distri- 
 bution of his favours, and omit no opportunity, whether 
 by leaguing with or against each other, to recommend 
 ourselves individually to the peculiar light of his counte- 
 nance.' 
 
 * I think I comprehend what you mean,' said the guards- 
 man; 'although as for living such a life of intrigue — but 
 that matters not.' 
 
 'It does indeed matter not, my good Hereward,' said 
 his officer, ' and thou art lucky in having no appetite for 
 the life I have described. Yet have I seen barbarians 
 rise high in the empire, and if they have not altogether 
 the flexibility — the malleability, as it is called — that 
 happy ductility which can give way to circumstances, I 
 have yet known those of barbaric tribes, especially if 
 bred up at court from their youth, who joined to a lim- 
 ited portion of this flexile quality enough of a certain 
 tough durability of temper, which, if it does not excel 
 in availing itself of opportunity, has no contemptible 
 
 37
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 talent at creating it. But letting comparisons pass, it 
 follows, from this emulation of glory — that is, of royal 
 favour — amongst the servants of the imperial and most 
 sacred court, that each is desirous of distinguishing 
 himself by showing to the Emperor, not only that he 
 fully understands the duties of his own employments, but 
 that he is capable, in case of necessity, of discharging 
 those of others.' 
 
 * I understand,' said the Saxon; 'and thence it happens 
 that the under-ministers, soldiers, and assistants of the 
 great crown-officers are perpetually engaged, not in aid- 
 ing each other, but in acting as spies on their neigh- 
 bours' actions?' 
 
 'Even so,' answered the commander; 'it is but few 
 days since I had a disagreeable instance of it. Every 
 one, however dull in the intellect, hath understood this 
 much, that the great Protospathaire,^ which title thou 
 knowest signifies the general-in-chief of the forces of 
 the empire, hath me at hatred, because I am the leader 
 of those redoubtable Varangians, who enjoy, and well 
 deserve, privileges exempting them from the absolute 
 command which he possesses over all other corps of the 
 army — an authority which becomes Nicanor, not- 
 withstanding the victorious soimd of his name, nearly as 
 well as a war-saddle would become a bullock.' 
 
 'How!' said the Varangian, 'does the Protospathaire 
 pretend to any authority over the noble exiles? By the 
 red dragon, imder which we will live and die, we will 
 obey no man alive but Alexius Comnenus himself, and 
 our own officers ! ' 
 
 'Rightly and bravely resolved,' said the leader; 'but, 
 
 * Literally, the First Swordsman. 
 38
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 my good Hereward, let not your just indignation hurry 
 you so far as to name the Most Sacred Emperor without 
 raising your hand to your casque, and adding the epi- 
 thets of his lofty rank.' 
 
 *I will raise my hand often enough and high enough,* 
 said the Norseman, 'when the Emperor's service re- 
 quires it.' 
 
 * I dare be sworn thou wilt,' said Achilles Tatius, the 
 commander of the Varangian Imperial Body-Guard, 
 who thought the time was unfavourable for distinguish- 
 ing himself by insisting on that exact observance of eti- 
 quette which was one of his great pretensions to the 
 name of a soldier. 'Yet, were it not for the constant 
 vigilance of your leader, my child, the noble Varangians 
 would be trode down, in the common mass of the army, 
 with the heathen cohorts of Huns, Scythians, or those 
 turbaned infidels the renegade Turks ; and even for this 
 is your commander here in peril, because he vindicates 
 his axe-men as worthy of being prized above the paltry 
 shafts of the Eastern tribes and the javelins of the 
 Moors, which are only fit to be playthings for chil- 
 dren,' 
 
 'You are exposed to no danger,' said the soldier, clos- 
 ing up to Achilles in a confidential manner, ' from which 
 these axes can protect you.' 
 
 'Do I not know it?' said Achilles, 'But it is to your 
 arms alone that the Follower of his Most Sacred Majesty 
 now entrusts his safety.' 
 
 ' In aught that a soldier may do,' answered Hereward; 
 'make your own computation, and then reckon this 
 single arm worth two against any man the Emperor has, 
 not being of our own corps.' 
 
 39
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'Listen, my brave friend,' continued Achilles. 'This 
 Nicanor was daring enough to throw a reproach on our 
 noble corps, accusing them — gods and goddesses! — 
 of plundering in the field, and, yet more sacrilegious, of 
 drinking the precious wine which was prepared for his 
 Most Sacred Majesty's own blessed consumption. I, 
 the sacred person of the Emperor being present, pro- 
 ceeded, as thou mayst well beheve — ' 
 
 'To give him the lie in his audacious throat! ' burst in 
 the Varangian; 'named a place of meeting somewhere 
 in the vicinity, and called the attendance of your poor 
 follower, Hereward of Hampton, who is your bond-slave 
 for life long, for such an honour! I wish only you had 
 told me to get my work-day arms; but, however, I have 
 my battle-axe, and — ' Here his companion seized a 
 moment to break in, for he was somewhat abashed at 
 the lively tone of the young soldier. 
 
 'Hush thee, my son,' said Achilles Tatius — 'speak 
 low, my excellent Hereward. Thou mistakest this thing. 
 With thee by my side, I would not, indeed, hesitate to 
 meet five such as Nicanor; but such is not the law of this 
 most hallowed empire, nor the sentiments of the three 
 times illustrious prince who now rules it. Thou art de- 
 bauched, my soldier, with the swaggering stories of the 
 Franks, of whom we hear more and more every day.' 
 
 'I would not willingly borrow anything from those 
 whom you call Franks, and we Normans,' answered the 
 Varangian, in a disappointed, dogged tone. 
 
 'Why, listen, then,' said the ofi&cer, as they proceeded 
 on their walk — 'listen to the reason of the thing, and 
 consider whether such a custom can obtain, as that which 
 they term the duello, in any country of civilisation and 
 
 40
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 common sense, to say nothing of one which is blessed 
 with the domination of the most rare Alexius Comnenus. 
 Two great lords, or high officers, quarrel in the court, 
 and before the reverend person of the Emperor. They 
 dispute about a point of fact. Now, instead of each 
 maintaining his own opinion, by argument or evidence, 
 suppose they had adopted the custom of these barbar- 
 ous Franks — ''Why, thou liest in thy throat," says the 
 one; "And thou liest in thy very lungs," says another; 
 and they measure forth the lists of battle in the next 
 meadow. Each swears to the truth of his quarrel, 
 though probably neither well knows precisely how the 
 fact stands. One, perhaps the hardier, truer, and better 
 man of the two, the Follower of the Emperor, and father 
 of the Varangians — for death, my faithful follower, 
 spares no man — lies dead on the ground, and the other 
 comes back to predominate in the court, where, had the 
 matter been inquired into by the rules of common sense 
 and reason, the victor, as he is termed, would have been 
 sent to the gallows. And yet this is the law of arms, as 
 your fancy pleases to call it, friend Hereward ! ' 
 
 'May it please your valour,' answered the barbarian, 
 'there is a show of sense in what you say; but you will 
 sooner convince me that this blessed moonUght is the 
 blackness of a wolf's mouth than that I ought to hear 
 myself called liar without cramming the epithet down 
 the speaker's throat with the spike of my battle-axe. 
 The lie is to a man the same as a blow, and a blow de- 
 grades him into a slave and a beast of burden, if endured 
 without retaliation.' 
 
 'Ay, there it is!' said Achilles; 'could I but get you to 
 lay aside that inborn barbarism, which leads you, other- 
 
 41
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 wise the most disciplined soldiers who serve the Sacred 
 Emperor, into such deadly quarrels and feuds — ' 
 
 'Sir captain,' said the Varangian, in a sullen tone, 
 'take my advice, and take the Varangians as you have 
 them; for, believe my word that, if you could teach them 
 to endure reproaches, bear the lie, or tolerate stripes, 
 you would hardly find them, when their discipline is 
 completed, worth the single day's salt which they cost to 
 his Holiness, if that be his title. I must tell you, more- 
 over, valorous sir, that the Varangians will little thank 
 their leader, who heard them called marauders, drunk- 
 ards, and what not, and repelled not the charge on the 
 spot.' 
 
 'Now, if I knew not the humours of my barbarians,' 
 thought Tatius, in his own mind, ' I should bring on my- 
 self a quarrel with these untamed islanders, who the Em- 
 peror thinks can be so easily kept in discipline. But I 
 will settle this sport presently.' Accordingly, he ad- 
 dressed the Saxon in a soothing tone. 
 
 'My faithful soldier,' he proceeded aloud, 'we Ro- 
 mans, according to the custom of our ancestors, set as 
 much glory on actually telling the truth as you do in 
 resenting the imputation of falsehood; and I could not 
 with honour return a charge of falsehood upon Nicanor, 
 since what he said was substantially true.' 
 
 'What! that we Varangians were plunderers, drunk- 
 ards, and the like?' said Hereward, more impatient 
 than before. 
 
 'No, surely, not in that broad sense,' said Achilles; 
 'but there was too much foundation for the legend.' 
 
 'When and where?' asked the Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 'You remember,' replied his leader, 'the long march 
 42
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 near Laodicea, where the Varangians beat off a cloud of 
 Turks, and retook a train of the imperial baggage? You 
 know what was done that day — how you quenched 
 your thirst, I mean? ' 
 
 * I have some reason to remember it,' said Hereward of 
 Hampton; 'for we were half choked with dust, fatigue, 
 and, which was worst of all, constantly fighting with our 
 faces to the rear, when we found some firkins of wine in 
 certain carriages which were broken down; down our 
 throats it went, as if it had been the best ale in South- 
 ampton.' 
 
 *Ah, unhappy!' said the Follower; 'saw you not 
 that the firkins were stamped with the thrice excellent 
 grand butler's own inviolable seal, and set apart for 
 the private use of his Imperial Majesty's most sacred 
 lips?' 
 
 'By good St. George of Merry England, worth a dozen 
 of your St. George of Cappadocia, I neither thought nor 
 cared about the matter,' answered Hereward. 'And I 
 know your valour drank a mighty draught yourself out 
 of my head-piece; not this silver bauble, but my steel- 
 cap, which is twice as ample. By the same token, that 
 whereas before you were giving orders to fall back, you 
 were a changed man when you had cleared your throat 
 of the dust, and cried, " Bide the other brunt, my brave 
 and stout boys of Britain!"' 
 
 'Ay,' said Achilles, 'I know I am but too apt to be 
 venturous in action. But you mistake, good Hereward: 
 the wine I tasted in the extremity of martial fatigue was 
 not that set apart for his Sacred Majesty's own peculiar 
 mouth, but a secondary sort, preserved for the grand 
 butler himself, of which, as one of the great officers of 
 
 43
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the household, I might right lawfully partake; the chance 
 was nevertheless sinfully unhappy.' 
 
 'On my life/ replied Hereward, 'I cannot see the 
 infelicity of drinking when we are dying of thirst.' 
 
 'But cheer up, my noble comrade,' said Achilles, after 
 he had hurried over his own exculpation, and without 
 noticing the Varangian's light estimation of the crime, 
 'his Imperial Majesty, in his ineffable graciousness, 
 imputes these ill-advised draughts as a crime to no one 
 who partook of them. He rebuked the Protospathaire 
 for fishing up this accusation, and said, when he had 
 recalled the bustle and confusion of that toilsome day, 
 "I thought myself well off amid that seven times heated 
 furnace when we obtained a draught of the barley-wine 
 drunk by my poor Varangians; and I drank their health, 
 as well I might, since, had it not been for their services, 
 I had drunk my last; and well fare their hearts, though 
 they quaffed my wine in return!" And with that he 
 turned off, as one who said, "I have too much of this, 
 being a finding of matter and ripping up of stories against 
 Achilles Tatius and his gallant Varangians." ' 
 
 'Now, may God bless his honest heart for it!' said 
 Hereward, with more downright heartiness than formal 
 respect. 'I'll drink to his health in what I put next to 
 my lips that quenches thirst, whether it may be ale, 
 wine, or ditch-water.' 
 
 'Why, well said, but speak not above thy breath, and 
 remember to put thy hand to thy forehead when naming, 
 or even thinking of, the Emperor. Well, thou knowest, 
 Hereward, that, having thus obtained the advantage, I 
 knew that the moment of a repulsed attack is always 
 that of a successful charge ; and so I brought against the 
 
 44
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Protospathaire, Nicanor, the robberies which have been 
 committed at the Golden Gate, and other entrances of 
 the city, where a merchant was but of late kidnapped and 
 murdered, having on him certain jewels, the property of 
 the Patriarch,' 
 
 *Ay! indeed?' said the Varangian; 'and what said 
 Alex — I mean the Most Sacred Emperor, when he heard 
 such things said of the city warders, though he had him- 
 self given, as we say in our land, the fox the geese to 
 keep?' 
 
 'It may be he did,' replied Achilles; 'but he is a sov- 
 ereign of deep policy, and was resolved not to proceed 
 against these treacherous warders, or their general, the 
 Protospathaire, without decisive proof. His Sacred 
 Majest}', therefore, charged me to obtain specific cir- 
 cumstantial proof by thy means.' 
 
 'And that I would have managed in two minutes, had 
 you not called me off the chase of yon cut-throat vag- 
 abond. But his Grace knows the word of a Varangian, 
 and I can assure him that either lucre of my silver gaber- 
 dine, which they nickname a cuirass, or the hatred of my 
 corps, would be sufficient to incite any of these knaves 
 to cut the throat of a Varangian who appeared to be 
 asleep. So we go, I suppose, captain, to bear evidence 
 before the Emperor to this night's work? ' 
 
 ' No, my active soldier, hadst thou taken the runaway 
 villain, my first act must have been to set him free again; 
 and my present charge to you is, to forget that such an 
 adventure has ever taken place.' 
 
 'Ha!' said the Varangian; 'this is a change of policy 
 indeed ! ' 
 
 'Why, yes, brave Hereward; ere I left the palace this 
 
 45
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 night, the Patriarch made overtures of reconciliation 
 betwixt me and the Protospathaire, which, as our agree- 
 ment is of much consequence to the state, I could not 
 very well reject, either as a good soldier or a good Chris- 
 tian. All offences to my honour are to be in the fullest 
 degree repaid, for which the Patriarch interposes his 
 warrant. The Emperor, who will rather wink hard 
 than see disagreements, loves better the matter should 
 be slurred over thus.' 
 
 'And the reproaches upon the Varangians — ' said 
 Hereward. 
 
 'Shall be fully retracted and atoned for,' answered 
 Achilles; 'and a weighty donative in gold dealt among 
 the corps of the Anglo-Danish axe-men. Thou, my 
 Hereward, mayst be distributor; and thus, if well man- 
 aged, mayst plate thy battle-axe with gold.' 
 
 'I love my axe better as it is,' said the Varangian. 
 ' My father bore it against the robber Normans at Hast- 
 ings. Steel instead of gold for my money.' 
 
 'Thou mayst make thy choice, Hereward,' answered 
 his officer; ' only, if thou art poor, say the fault was thine 
 own.' 
 
 But here, in the course of their circuit round Con- 
 stantinople, the officer and his soldier came to a very 
 small wicket or sally-port, opening on the interior of a 
 large and massive advanced work, which terminated an 
 entrance to the city itself. Here the officer halted, and 
 made his obedience, as a devotee who is about to enter a 
 chapel of peculiar sanctity.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 Here, youth, thy foot unbrace, 
 
 Here, youth, thy brow unbraid, 
 Each tribute that may grace 
 
 The threshold here be paid. 
 Walk with the stealthy pace 
 
 Which Nature teaches deer. 
 When, echoing in the chase, 
 
 The hunter's horn they hear. 
 
 The Court. 
 
 Before entering, Achilles Tatius made various gestic- 
 ulations, which were imitated roughly and awkwardly 
 by the unpractised Varangian, whose service with his 
 corps had been almost entirely in the field, his routine 
 of duty not having, till very lately, called him to serve 
 as one of the garrison of Constantinople. He was not, 
 therefore, acquainted with the minute observances which 
 the Greeks, who were the most formal and ceremonious 
 soldiers and courtiers in the world, rendered not merely 
 to the Greek emperor in person, but throughout the 
 sphere which peculiarly partook of his influence. 
 
 Achilles, having gesticulated after his own fashion, at 
 length touched the door with a rap, distinct at once and 
 modest. This was thrice repeated, when the captain 
 whispered to his attendant, 'The interior! — for thy life, 
 do as thou seest me do.' At the same moment he started 
 back, and stooping his head on his breast, with his hands 
 over his eyes, as if to save them from being dazzled by 
 an expected burst of light, awaited the answer to his 
 summons. The Anglo-Dane, desirous to obey his leader, 
 imitating him as near as he could, stood side by side in 
 
 47
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the posture of Oriental humiliation. The little portal 
 opened inwards, when no burst of light was seen, but 
 four of the Varangians were made visible in the entrance, 
 holding each his battle-axe, as if about to strike down 
 the intruders who had disturbed the silence of their 
 watch. 
 
 'Acoulouthos,' said the leader, by way of password. 
 
 'Tatius and Acoulouthos,' murmured the warders, as 
 a countersign. 
 
 Each sentinel sunk his weapon. 
 
 Achilles then reared his stately crest, with a conscious 
 dignity at making this display of court influence in the 
 eyes of his soldiers. Hereward observed an undisturbed 
 gravity, to the surprise of his officer, who marvelled in 
 his own mind how he could be such a barbarian as to 
 regard with apathy a scene which had in his eyes the 
 most impressive and peculiar awe. This indifference he 
 imputed to the stupid insensibility of his companion. 
 
 They passed on between the sentinels, who wheeled 
 backward in file, on each side of the portal, and gave the 
 strangers entrance to a long narrow plank, stretched 
 across the city moat, which was here drawn within the 
 inclosure of an external rampart, projecting beyond the 
 principal wall of the city. 
 
 'This,' he whispered to Hereward, 'is called the 
 Bridge of Peril, and it is said that it has been occasion- 
 ally smeared with oil, or strewed with dried peas, and 
 that the bodies of men, known to have been in company 
 with the Emperor's most sacred person, have been taken 
 out of the Golden Horn,^ into which the moat empties 
 itself.' 
 
 * The harbour of Constantinople. 
 48
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'I would not have thought/ said the islander, raising 
 his voice to its usual rough tone, 'that Alexius Com- 
 nenus — ' 
 
 'Hush, rash and regardless of your life!' said Achilles 
 Tatius; *to awaken the daughter of the imperial arch^ 
 is to incur deep penalty at all times, but when a rash de- 
 linquent has disturbed her with reflections on his Most 
 Sacred Highness the Emperor, death is a punishment 
 far too light for the effrontery which has interrupted her 
 blessed slumber. Ill hath been my fate, to have positive 
 commands laid on me, enjoining me to bring into the 
 sacred precincts a creature who hath no more of the salt 
 of civilisation in him than to keep his mortal frame from 
 corruption, since of all mental culture he is totally in- 
 capable. Consider thyself, Hereward, and bethink thee 
 what thou art, — by nature a poor barbarian — thy 
 best boast that thou hast slain certain Mussulmans in 
 thy sacred master's quarrel; and here art thou admitted 
 into the inviolable inclosure of the Blacquernal, and in 
 the hearing not only of the royal daughter of the imperial 
 arch, which means,' said the eloquent leader, 'the echo 
 of the sublime vaults, but — Heaven be our guide ! — for 
 what I know, within the natural hearing of the sacred 
 ear itself!' 
 
 'Well, my captain,' replied the Varangian, 'I cannot 
 presume to speak my mind after the fashion of this 
 place ; but I can easily suppose I am but ill qualified to 
 converse in the presence of the court, nor do I mean 
 therefore to say a word till I am spoken to, unless when I 
 shall see no better company than ourselves. To be plain, 
 
 * The 'daughter of the arch' was a courtly expression for the echo, 
 as we find explained by the courtly commander himself. 
 
 43 49
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 I find difficulty in modelling my voice to a smoother tone 
 than nature has given it; so, henceforth, my brave cap- 
 tain, I will be mute, unless when you give me a sign to 
 speak.' 
 
 ' You will act wisely,' said the captain. 'Here be cer- 
 tain persons of high rank, nay, some that have been born 
 in the purple itself, that will, Hereward — alas, for thee ! 
 — prepare to sound with the line of their courtly under- 
 standing the depths of thy barbarous and shallow con- 
 ceit. Do not, therefore, then, join their graceful smiles 
 with thy inhuman bursts of cachinnation, with which 
 thou art wont to thunder forth when opening in chorus 
 with thy messmates.' 
 
 *I tell thee I will be silent,' said the Varangian, 
 moved somewhat beyond his mood. 'If you trust my 
 word, so; if you think I am a jackdaw that must be 
 speaking, whether in or out of place and purpose, I am 
 contented to go back again, and therein we can end the 
 matter.' 
 
 Achilles, conscious perhaps that it was his best policy 
 not to drive his subaltern to extremity, lowered his tone 
 somewhat in reply to the uncourtly note of the soldier, 
 as if allowing something for the rude manners of one 
 whom he considered as not easily matched among the 
 Varangians themselves for strength and valour — quali- 
 ties which, in despite of Hereward's discourtesy, Achilles 
 suspected in his heart were fully more valuable than all 
 those nameless graces which a more courtly and accom- 
 plished soldier might possess. 
 
 The expert navigator of the intricacies of the imperial 
 residence carried the Varangian through two or three 
 small complicated courts, forming a part of the extensive 
 
 50
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 palace of the Blacquernal,* and entered the building it- 
 self by a side-door, watched in like manner by a senti- 
 nel of the Varangian Guard, whom they passed on being 
 recognised. In the next apartment was stationed the 
 Court of Guard, where were certain soldiers of the same 
 corps amusing themselves at games somewhat resem- 
 bling the modern draughts and dice, while they seasoned 
 their pastime with frequent applications to deep flagons 
 of ale, which were furnished to them while passing away 
 their hours of duty. Some glances passed between Here- 
 ward and his comrades, and he would have joined them, 
 or at least spoke to them ; for, since the adventure of the 
 Mitylenian, Hereward had rather thought himself an- 
 noyed than distinguished by his moonlight ramble in 
 the company of his commander, excepting always the 
 short and interesting period during which he conceived 
 they were on the way to fight a duel. Still, however neg- 
 ligent in the strict observance of the ceremonies of the 
 sacred palace, the Varangians had, in their own way, 
 rigid notions of calculating their military duty; in con- 
 sequence of which, Hereward, without speaking to his 
 companions, followed his leader through the guard-room, 
 and one or two antechambers adjacent, the splendid and 
 luxurious furniture of which convinced him that he could 
 be nowhere else save in the sacred residence of his master 
 the Emperor. 
 
 At length, having traversed passages and apartmenti^ 
 with which the captain seemed familiar, and which he 
 threaded with a stealthy, silent, and apparently a rev- 
 erential, pace, as if, in his own inflated phrase, afraid to 
 
 ^ This palace derived its name from the neighbouring Blachemian 
 gate and bridge. 
 
 SI
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 awaken the sounding echoes of those lofty and monu- 
 mental halls, another species of inhabitants began to 
 be visible. In different entrances, and in different apart- 
 ments, the Northern soldier beheld those unfortunate 
 slaves, chiefly of African descent, raised occasionally 
 under the emperors of Greece to great power and hon- 
 ours, who, in that respect, imitated one of the most 
 barbarous points of Oriental despotism. These slaves 
 were differently occupied — some standing, as if on 
 guard, at gates or in passages, with their drawn sabres 
 in their hands; some were sitting in the Oriental fash- 
 ion, on carpets, reposing themselves, or playing at 
 various games, all of a character profoundly silent. Not 
 a word passed between the guide of Hereward and the 
 withered and deformed beings whom they thus encount- 
 ered. The exchange of a glance with the principal soldier 
 seemed all that was necessary to ensure both an unin- 
 terrupted passage. 
 
 After making their way through several apartments, 
 empty or thus occupied, they at length entered one of 
 black marble, or some other dark-coloured stone, much 
 loftier and longer than the rest. Side passages opened 
 into it, so far as the islander could discern, descending 
 from several portals in the wall; but as the oils and 
 gums with which the lamps in these passages were fed 
 diffused a dim vapour around, it was difficult to ascer- 
 tain, from the imperfect light, either the shape of the 
 hall or the style of its architecture. At the upper and 
 lower ends of the chamber there was a stronger and 
 clearer light. It was when they were in the middle of 
 this huge and long apartment that Achilles said to the 
 soldier, in the sort of cautionary whisper which he 
 
 52
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 appeared to have substituted in place of his natural 
 voice since he had crossed the Bridge of Peril — 
 
 'Remain here till I return, and stir from this hall on 
 no account.' 
 
 *To hear is to obey,' answered the Varangian, an 
 expression of obedience which, Hke many other phrases 
 and fashions, the empire, which still affected the name of 
 Roman, had borrowed from the barbarians of the East. 
 Achilles Tatius then hastened up the steps which led to 
 one of the side-doors of the hall, which being slightly 
 pressed, its noiseless hinge gave way and admitted 
 him. 
 
 Left alone to amuse himself as he best could, within 
 the limits permitted to him, the Varangian visited in suc- 
 cession both ends of the hall, where the objects were 
 more visible than elsewhere. The lower end had in its 
 centre a small low-browed door of iron. Over it was dis- 
 played the Greek crucifix in bronze, and around and 
 on every side the representation of shackles, fetter-bolts, 
 and the like were also executed in bronze, and disposed 
 as appropriate ornaments over the entrance. The door 
 of the dark archway was half open, and Hereward natu- 
 rally looked in, the orders of his chief not prohibiting 
 his satisfying his curiosity thus far. A dense red light, 
 more like a distant spark than a lamp, afiixed to the wall 
 of what seemed a very narrow and winding stair, re- 
 sembling in shape and size a draw-well, the verge of 
 which opened on the threshold of the iron door, showed 
 a descent which seemed to conduct to the infernal re- 
 gions. The Varangian, however obtuse he might be con- 
 sidered by the quick-witted Greeks, had no difficulty 
 in comprehending that a staircase having such a gloomy 
 
 53
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 appearance, and the access to which was by a portal 
 decorated in such a melancholy style of architecture, 
 could only lead to the dungeons of the imperial palace, 
 the size and complicated number of which were neither 
 the least remarkable nor the least awe-imposing portion 
 of the sacred edifice. Listening profoundly, he even 
 thought he caught such accents as befit those graves 
 of living men, the faint echoing of groans and sighs, 
 sounding as it were from the deep abyss beneath. But in 
 this respect his fancy probably filled up the sketch which 
 his conjectures bodied out. 
 
 *I have done nothing,' he thought, 'to merit being 
 immured in one of these subterranean dens. Surely, 
 though my captain, Achilles Tatius, is, under favour, 
 little better than an ass, he cannot be so false of word as 
 to train me to prison under false pretexts? I trow he shall 
 first see for the last time how the English axe plays, if 
 such is to be the sport of the evening. But let us see the 
 upper end of this enormous vault; it may bear a better 
 omen.' 
 
 Thus thinking, and not quite ruling the tramp of his 
 armed footstep according to the ceremonies of the place, 
 the large-limbed Saxon strode to the upper end of the 
 black marble hall. The ornament of the portal here 
 was a small altar, like those in the temples of the heathen 
 deities, which projected above the centre of the arch. On 
 this altar smoked incense of some sort, the fumes of which 
 rose curling in a thin cloud to the roof, and thence ex- 
 tending through the hall, enveloped in its column of 
 smoke a singular emblem, of which the Varangian could 
 make nothing. It was the representation of two human 
 arms and hands, seeming to issue from the wall, having 
 
 54
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the palms extended and open, as about to confer some 
 boon on those who approached the altar. These arms 
 were formed of bronze, and, being placed farther back 
 than the altar with its incense, were seen through the 
 curling smoke by lamps so disposed as to illuminate the 
 whole archway. 'The meaning of this,' thought the 
 simple barbarian, 'I should well know how to explain 
 were these fists clenched, and were the hall dedicated 
 to the pancration, which we call boxing; but as even 
 these helpless Greeks use not their hands without their 
 fingers being closed, by St. George, I can make out 
 nothing of their meaning.' 
 
 At this instant Achilles entered the black marble hall 
 at the same door by which he had left it, and came up 
 to his neophyte, as the Varangian might be termed. 
 
 'Come with me now, Hereward, for here approaches 
 the thick of the onset. Now display the utmost courage 
 that thou canst summon up, for, believe me, thy credit 
 and name also depend on it.' 
 
 'Fear nothing for either,' said Hereward, 'if the heart 
 or hand of one man can bear him through the adventure 
 by the help of a toy like this.' 
 
 * Keep thy voice low and submissive, I have told thee a 
 score of times,' said the leader, 'and lower thine axe, 
 which, as I bethink me, thou hadst better leave in the 
 outer apartment.' 
 
 'With your leave, noble captain,' replied Hereward, 
 ' I am unwilling to lay aside my bread-winner. I am one 
 of those awkward clowns who cannot behave seemly un- 
 less I have something to occupy my hands, and my 
 faithful battle-axe comes most natural to me.' 
 
 'Keep it then; but remember thou dash it not about 
 
 55
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 according to thy custom, nor bellow, nor shout, nor cry 
 as in a battle-field; think of the sacred character of the 
 place, which exaggerates riot into blasphemy, and re- 
 member the persons whom thou mayst chance to see, 
 an offence to some of whom, it may be, ranks in the same 
 sense with blasphemy against Heaven itself.' 
 
 This lecture carried the tutor and the pupil so far as to 
 the side-door, and thence inducted them into a species 
 of ante-room, from which Achilles led his Varangian 
 forward, until a pair of folding-doors, opening into what 
 proved to be a principal apartment of the palace, ex- 
 hibited to the rough-hewn native of the North a sight 
 equally new and surprising. 
 
 It was an apartment of the palace of the Blacquernal, 
 dedicated to the special service of the beloved daughter 
 of the Emperor Alexius, the Princess Anna Comnena, 
 known to our times by her literary talents, which record 
 the history of her father's reign. She was seated, the 
 queen and sovereign of a literary circle, such as an im- 
 perial princess porphyrogenita, or born in the sacred 
 purple chamber itself, could assemble in those days, and 
 a glance around will enable us to form an idea of her 
 guests, or companions. 
 
 The literary princess herself had the bright eyes, 
 straight features, and comely and pleasing manners which 
 all would have allowed to the Emperor's daughter, even 
 if she could not have been, with severe truth, said to have 
 possessed them. She was placed upon a small bench or 
 sofa, the fair sex here not being permitted to recline, as 
 was the fashion of the Roman ladies. A table before her 
 was loaded with books, plants, herbs, and drawings. She 
 sat on a slight elevation, and those who enjoyed the inti- 
 
 56
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 macy of the Princess, or to whom she wished to speak in 
 particular, were allowed, during such sublime colloquy, 
 to rest their knees on the little dais or elevated place 
 where her chair found its station, in a posture half stand- 
 ing, half kneehng. Three other seats, of different heights, 
 were placed on the dais, and under the same canopy of 
 state which overshadowed that of the Princess Anna. 
 
 The first, which strictly resembled her own chair in 
 size and convenience, was one designed for her husband, 
 Nicephorus Briennius. He was said to entertain or affect 
 the greatest respect for his wife's erudition, though the 
 courtiers were of opinion he would have hked to ab- 
 sent himself from her evening parties more frequently 
 than was particularly agreeable to the Princess Anna 
 and her imperial parents. This was partly explained by 
 the private tattle of the court, which averred that the 
 Princess Anna Comnena had been more beautiful when 
 she was less learned, and that, though still a fine woman, 
 she had somewhat lost the charms of her person as she 
 became enriched in her mind. 
 
 To atone for the lowly fashion of the seat of Nice- 
 phorus Briennius, it was placed as near to his princess as 
 it could possibly be edged by the ushers, so that she 
 might not lose one look of her handsome spouse, nor he 
 the least particle of wisdom which might drop from the 
 lips of his erudite consort. 
 
 Two other seats of honour, or rather thrones — for 
 they had footstools placed for the support of the feet, 
 rests for the arms, and embroidered pillows for the com- 
 fort of the back, not to mention the glories of the out- 
 spreading canopy — were destined for the imperial cou- 
 ple, who frequently attended their daughter's studies, 
 
 57
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 which she prosecuted in public in the way we have inti- 
 mated. On such occasions, the Empress Irene enjoyed 
 the triumph peculiar to the mother of an accomplished 
 daughter, while Alexius, as it might happen, sometimes 
 listened with complacence to the rehearsal of his own 
 exploits in the inflated language of the Princess, and 
 sometimes mildly nodded over her dialogues upon the 
 mysteries of philosophy with the Patriarch Zosimus and 
 other sages. 
 
 All these four distinguished seats for the persons of 
 the imperial family were occupied at the moment which 
 we have described, excepting that which ought to have 
 been filled by Nicephorus Briennius, the husband of the 
 fair Anna Comnena. To his negligence and absence was 
 perhaps owing the angry spot on the brow of the fair 
 bride. Beside her on the platform were two white-robed 
 nymphs of her household — female slaves, in a word — 
 who reposed themselves on their knees on cushions, 
 when their assistance was not wanted as a species of 
 living book-desks, to support and extend the parchment 
 rolls in which the Princess recorded her own wisdom, or 
 from which she quoted that of others. One of these 
 young maidens, called Astarte, was so distinguished as 
 a calligrapher, or beautiful writer of various alphabets 
 and languages, that she narrowly escaped being sent 
 as a present to the Caliph (who could neither read nor 
 write), at a time when it was necessary to bribe him into 
 peace. Violante, usually called the Muse, the other 
 attendant of the Princess, a mistress of the vocal and 
 instrumental art of music, was actually sent in a compli- 
 ment to soothe the temper of Robert Guiscard, the Arch- 
 duke of Apulia, who, being aged and stone-deaf, and the 
 
 58
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 girl under ten years old at the time, returned the valued 
 present to the imperial donor, and, with the selfishness 
 which was one of that wily Norman's characteristics, 
 desired to have some one sent him who could contribute 
 to his pleasure, instead of a twangUng, squalling infant. 
 Beneath these elevated seats there sat, or reposed on 
 the floor of the hall, such favourites as were admitted. 
 The Patriarch Zosimus, and one or two old men, were 
 permitted the use of certain lowly stools, which were the 
 only seats prepared for the learned members of the Prin- 
 cess's evening parties, as they would have been called 
 in our days. As for the younger magnates, the honour 
 of being permitted to join the imperial conversation 
 was expected to render them far superior to the paltry 
 accommodation of a joint-stool. Five or six courtiers, 
 of different dress and ages, might compose the party, 
 who either stood, or relieved their posture by kneeling, 
 along the verge of an adorned fountain, which shed a 
 mist of such very small rain as to dispel almost insen- 
 sibly, cooling the fragrant breeze which breathed from 
 the flowers and shrubs, that were so disposed as to send 
 a waste of sweets around. One goodly old man, named 
 Michael Agelastes, big, burly, and dressed like an an- 
 cient Cynic philosopher, was distinguished by assuming, 
 in a great measure, the ragged garb and mad bearing of 
 that sect, and by his inflexible practice of the strictest 
 ceremonies exigible by the imperial family. He was 
 known by an affectation of cynical principal and lan- 
 guage, and of republican philosophy, strangely contra- 
 dicted by his practical deference to the great. It was 
 wonderful how long this man, now sixty years old and 
 upwards, disdained to avail himself of the accustomed 
 
 59
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 privilege of leaning or supporting his limbs, and with 
 what regularity he maintained either the standing pos- 
 ture or that of absolute kneeling; but the first was so 
 much his usual attitude, that he acquired among his 
 court friends the name of Elephas, or the Elephant, be- 
 cause the ancients had an idea that the half-reasoning 
 animal, as it is called, has joints incapable of kneeling 
 down. 
 
 ' Yet I have seen them kneel when I was in the country 
 of the Gymnosophists,' said a person present on the 
 evening of Hereward's introduction. 
 
 'To take up their master on their shoulders? so wiU 
 ours,' said the Patriarch Zosimus, with the slight sneer 
 which was the nearest advance to a sarcasm that the 
 etiquette of the Greek court permitted; for on all ordi- 
 nary occasions it would not have offended the presence 
 more surely literally to have drawn a poniard than to 
 exchange a repartee in the imperial circle. Even the 
 sarcasm, such as it was, would have been thought cen- 
 surable by that ceremonious court in any but the Patri- 
 arch to whose high rank some license was allowed. 
 
 Just as he had thus far offended decorum, Achilles 
 Tatius and his soldier Hereward entered the apartment. 
 The former bore him with even more than his usual de- 
 gree of courtliness, as if to set his own good-breeding off 
 by a comparison with the inexpert bearing of his fol- 
 lower; while, nevertheless, he had a secret pride in ex- 
 hibiting, as one under his own immediate and distinct 
 command, a man whom he was accustomed to consider 
 as one of the finest soldiers in the army of Alexius, 
 whether appearance or reality were to be considered. 
 
 Some astonishment followed the abrupt entrance of the 
 
 60
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 newcomers. Achilles indeed glided into the presence with 
 the easy and quiet extremity of respect which intimated 
 his habitude in these regions. But Hereward started on 
 his entrance, and, perceiving himself in company of the 
 court, hastily strove to remedy his disorder. His com- 
 mander, throwing round a scarce visible shrug of apol- 
 ogy, made then a confidential and monitory sign to Here- 
 ward to mind his conduct. What he meant was, that he 
 should doff his helmet and fall prostrate on the ground. 
 But the Anglo-Saxon, unaccustomed to interpret ob- 
 scure inferences, naturally thought of his military duties, 
 and advanced in front of the Emperor, as when he ren- 
 dered his military homage. He made reverence with his 
 knee, half touched his cap, and then recovering and 
 shouldering his axe, stood in advance of the imperial 
 chair, as if on duty as a sentinel. 
 
 A gentle smile of surprise went round the circle as 
 they gazed on the manly appearance, and somewhat 
 unceremonious, but martial, deportment of the Northern 
 soldier. The various spectators around consulted the 
 Emperor's face, not knowing whether they were to take 
 the intrusive manner of the Varangian's entrance as mat- 
 ter of ill-breeding, and manifest their horror, or whether 
 they ought rather to consider the bearing of the life- 
 guardsman as indicating blunt and manly zeal, and 
 therefore to be received with applause. 
 
 It was some Httle time ere the Emperor recovered 
 himself sufficiently to strike a key-note, as was usual 
 upon such occasions. Alexius Comnenus had been wrapt 
 for a moment into some species of slumber, or at least 
 absence of mind. Out of this he had been startled by the 
 sudden appearance of the Varangian; for, though he was 
 
 6i
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 accustomed to commit the outer guards of the palace to 
 this trusty corps, yet the deformed blacks whom we have 
 mentioned, and who sometimes rose to be ministers of 
 state and commanders of armies, were, on all ordinary 
 occasions, entrusted with the guard of the interior of 
 the palace. Alexius, therefore, awakened from his slum- 
 ber, and the military phrase of his daughter still ringing 
 in his ears, as she was reading a description of the great 
 historical work in which she had detailed the conflicts 
 of his reign, felt somewhat unprepared for the entrance 
 and military deportment of one of the Saxon guard, 
 with whom he was accustomed to associate, in general, 
 scenes of blows, danger, and death. 
 
 After a troubled glance around, his look rested on 
 Achilles Tatius. 'Why here,' he said, 'trusty Follower? 
 why this soldier here at this time of night?' Here, of 
 course, was the moment for modelling the visages regis 
 ad exemplum; but, ere the Patriarch could frame his 
 countenance into devout apprehension of danger, 
 Achilles Tatius had spoken a word or two, which re- 
 minded Alexius's memory that the soldier had been 
 brought there by his own special orders. 'Oh, ay! true, 
 good fellow,' said he, smoothing his troubled brow; 
 *we had forgot that passage among the cares of state.' 
 He then spoke to the Varangian with a countenance more 
 frank, and a heartier accent, than he used to his courtiers ; 
 for, to a despotic monarch, a faithful life-guardsman is a 
 person of confidence, while an officer of high rank is 
 always in some degree a subject of distrust. 'Ha!' said 
 he, ' our worthy Anglo-Dane, how fares he? ' This un- 
 ceremonious salutation surprised all but him to whom 
 it was addressed. Hereward answered, accompanying 
 
 62
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 his words with a military obeisance which partook of 
 heartiness rather than reverence, with a loud unsub- 
 dued voice, which startled the presence still more that 
 the language was Saxon, which these foreigners occasion- 
 ally used, ^Waes hael, Kaisar mirrig und machtighl' — 
 that is, 'Be of good health, stout and mighty Emperor.' 
 The Emperor, with a smile of intelligence, to show he 
 could speak to his guards in their own foreign language, 
 replied by the well-known counter-signal — 'Drinc 
 haell ' 
 
 Immediately a page brought a silver goblet of wine. 
 The Emperor put his lips to it, though he scarce tasted 
 the liquor, then commanded it to be handed to Here- 
 ward, and bade the soldier drink. The Saxon did not wait 
 till he was desired a second time, but took off the con- 
 tents without hesitation. A gentle smile, decorous as the 
 presence required, passed over the assembly at a feat 
 which, though by no means wonderful in a hyperborean, 
 seemed prodigious in the estimation of the moderate 
 Greeks. Alexius himself laughed more loudly than his 
 courtiers thought might be becoming on their part, and 
 mustering what few words of Varangian he possessed, 
 which he eked out with Greek, demanded of his life- 
 guardsman — ' Well, my bold Briton, or Edward, as 
 men call thee, dost thou know the flavour of that wine? ' 
 
 'Yes,' answered the Varangian, without change of 
 countenance, ' I tasted it once before at Laodicea — ' 
 
 Here his officer, Achilles Tatius, became sensible that 
 his soldier approached delicate ground, and in vain 
 endeavoured to gain his attention, in order that he might 
 furtively convey to him a hint to be silent, or at least 
 take heed what he said in such a presence. But the 
 
 63
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 soldier, who, with proper military observance, continued 
 to have his eye and attention fixed on the Emperor, as 
 the prince whom he was bound to answer or to serve, 
 saw none of the hints, which Achilles at length suffered 
 to become so broad, that Zosimus and the Protospath- 
 aire exchanged expressive glances, as calling on each 
 other to notice the bye-play of the leader of the Varan- 
 gians. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the dialogue between the Em- 
 peror and his soldier continued: — 'How,' said Alexius, 
 * did this draught relish, compared with the former? ' 
 
 'There is fairer company here, my hege, than that of 
 the Arabian archers,' answered Hereward, with a look 
 and bow of instinctive good-breeding. 'Nevertheless, 
 there lacks the flavour which the heat of the sun, the 
 dust of the combat, with the fatigue of wielding such a 
 weapon as this (advancing his axe) for eight hours to- 
 gether, give to a cup of rare wine.' 
 
 'Another deficiency there might be,' said Agelastes 
 the Elephant, 'provided I am pardoned hinting at it,' 
 he added, with a look to the throne: 'it might be the 
 smaller size of the cup compared with that at Lao- 
 dicea.' 
 
 'By Taranis, you say true,' answered the life-guards- 
 man; 'at Laodicea I used my helmet.' 
 
 'Let us see the cups compared together, good friend,' 
 said Agelastes, continuing his raillery, 'that we may 
 be sure thou hast not swallowed the present goblet; for 
 I thought, from the manner of the draught, there was 
 a chance of its going down with its contents.' 
 
 ' There are some things which I do not easily swallow,' 
 answered the Varangian, in a calm and indifferent tone; 
 
 64
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'but they must come from a younger and more active 
 man than you.' 
 
 The company again smiled to each other, as if to hint 
 that the philosopher, though also parcel wit by profes- 
 sion, had the worst of the encounter. 
 
 The Emperor at the same time interfered — ' Nor did 
 I send for thee hither, good fellow, to be baited by idle 
 taunts.' 
 
 Here Agelastes shrunk back in the circle, as a hound 
 that has been rebuked by the huntsman for babbling; 
 and the Princess Anna Comnena, who had indicated by 
 her fair features a certain degree of impatience, at length 
 spoke — * Will it then please you, my imperial and much- 
 beloved father, to inform those blessed with admission 
 to the Muses' temple for what it is that you have or- 
 dered this soldier to be this night admitted to a place so 
 far above his rank in life? Permit me to say, we ought 
 not to waste, in frivolous and silly jests, the time which 
 is sacred to the welfare of the empire, as every moment 
 of your leisure must be.' 
 
 'Our daughter speaks wisely,' said the Empress Irene, 
 who, like most mothers who do not possess much talent 
 themselves, and are not very capable of estimating it in 
 others, was, nevertheless, a great admirer of her favour- 
 ite daughter's accomplishments, and ready to draw them 
 out on all occasions. 'Permit me to remark, that in this 
 divine and selected palace of the Muses, dedicated to the 
 studies of our well-beloved and highly-gifted daughter, 
 whose pen will preserve your reputation, our most im- 
 perial husband, till the desolation of the universe, and 
 which enKvens and delights this society, the very flower 
 of the wits of our sublime court — permit me to say, that 
 43 65
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 we have, merely by admitting a single life-guardsman, 
 given our conversation the character of that which dis- 
 tinguishes a barrack.' 
 
 Now the Emperor Alexius Comnenus had the same 
 feeling with many an honest man in ordinary life when 
 his wife begins a long oration, especially as the Empress 
 Irene did not always retain the observance consistent 
 with his awful rule and right supremacy, although es- 
 pecially severe in exacting it from all others in reference 
 to her lord. Therefore, though he had felt some pleasure 
 in gaining a short release from the monotonous recitation 
 of the Princess's history, he now saw the necessity of 
 resuming it, or of listening to the matrimonial eloquence 
 of the Empress. He sighed, therefore, as he said, 'I crave 
 your pardon, good our imperial spouse, and our daughter 
 born in the purple chamber. I remember me, our most 
 amiable and accomplished daughter, that last night you 
 wished to know the particulars of the battle of Laodicea 
 with the heathenish Arabs, whom Heaven confound. 
 And for certain considerations which moved ourselves 
 to add other inquiries to our own recollection, Achilles 
 Tatius, our most trusty Follower, was commissioned to 
 introduce into this place one of those soldiers under his 
 command, being such a one whose courage and presence 
 of mind could best enable him to remark what passed 
 around him on that remarkable and bloody day. And 
 this I suppose to be the man brought to us for that pur- 
 pose.' 
 
 'If I am permitted to speak and live,' answered the 
 Follower, 'your Imperial Highness, with those divine 
 Princesses, whose name is to us as those of blessed 
 saints, have in your presence the flower of my Anglo- 
 
 66
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Danes, or whatsoever unbaptized name is given to my 
 soldiers. He is, as I may say, a barbarian of bar- 
 barians; for although in birth and breeding unfit to 
 soil with his feet the carpet of this precinct of accom- 
 plishment and eloquence, he is so brave, so trusty, 
 so devotedly attached, and so unhesitatingly zealous, 
 that—' 
 
 'Enough, good Follower,' said the Emperor; 'let us 
 only know that he is cool and observant, not confused 
 and fluttered during close battle, as we have sometimes 
 observed in you and other great commanders, and, to 
 speak truth, have even felt in our imperial self on ex- 
 traordinary occasions; which difference in man's consti- 
 tution is not owing to any inferiority of courage, but, in 
 us, to a certain consciousness of the importance of our 
 own safety to the welfare of the whole, and to a feeling 
 of the number of duties which at once devolve on us. 
 Speak then, and speak quickly, Tatius; for I discern 
 that our dearest consort, and our thrice fortunate daugh- 
 ter born in the imperial chamber of purple, seem to wax 
 somewhat impatient.' 
 
 *Hereward,' answered Tatius, 'is as composed and 
 observant in battle as another in a festive dance. The 
 dust of war is the breath of his nostrils; and he will 
 prove his worth in combat against any four others, 
 Varangians excepted, who shall term themselves your 
 Imperial Highness's bravest servants.' 
 
 'Follower,' said the Emperor, with a displeased look 
 and tone, 'instead of instructing these poor, ignorant 
 barbarians in the rules and civilisation of our enlightened 
 empire, you foster, by such boastful words, the idle 
 pride and fury of their temper, which hurries them into 
 
 67
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 brawls with the legions of other foreign countries, and 
 even breeds quarrels among themselves.' 
 
 * If my mouth may be opened in the way of most hum- 
 ble excuse,' said the Follower, 'I would presume to reply, 
 that I but an hour hence talked with this poor ignorant 
 Anglo-Dane on the paternal care with which the Im- 
 perial Majesty of Greece regards the preservation of that 
 concord which unites the followers of his standard, and 
 how desirous he is to promote that harmony, more 
 especially amongst the various nations who have the 
 happiness to serve you, in spite of the bloodthirsty quar- 
 rels of the Franks and other Northern men, who are 
 never free from civil broil. I think the poor youth's un- 
 derstanding can bear witness to this much in my behalf.' 
 He then looked towards Here ward, who gravely inclined 
 his head in token of assent to what his captain said. His 
 excuse thus ratified, Achilles proceeded in his apology 
 more firmly. 'What I have said even now was spoken 
 without consideration; for, instead of pretending that 
 this Hereward would face four of your Imperial High- 
 ness's servants, I ought to have said that he was willing 
 to defy six of your Imperial Majesty's most deadly 
 enemies, and permit them to choose every circumstance 
 of time, arms, and place of combat.' 
 
 'That hath a better sound,' said the Emperor; 'and in 
 truth, for the information of my dearest daughter, who 
 piously has undertaken to record the things which I have 
 been the blessed means of doing for the empire, I ear- 
 nestly wish that she should remember, that though the 
 sword of Alexius hath not slept in its sheath, yet he hath 
 never sought his own aggrandisement of fame at the 
 price of bloodshed among his subjects.' 
 
 68
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 *I trust,' said Anna Comnena, 'that, in my humble 
 sketch of the life of the princely sire from whom I derive 
 my existence, I have not forgot to notice his love of 
 peace, and care for the lives of his soldiery, and abhor- 
 rence of the bloody manners of the heretic Franks, as 
 one of his most distinguishing characteristics.' 
 
 Assimiing then an attitude more commanding, as one 
 who was about to claim the attention of the company, 
 the Princess inclined her head gently around to the 
 audience, and taking a roll of parchment from the fair 
 amanuensis, which she had, in a most beautiful hand- 
 writing, engrossed to her mistress's dictation, Anna 
 Comnena prepared to read its contents. 
 
 At this moment, the eyes of the Princess rested for an 
 instant on the barbarian Hereward, to whom she deigned 
 this greeting — ' Vahant barbarian, of whom my fancy 
 recalls some memory, as if in a dream, thou art now to 
 hear a work which, if the author be put into comparison 
 with the subject, might be likened to a portrait of Alex- 
 ander, in executing which some inferior dauber has 
 usurped the pencil of Apelles ; but which essay, however 
 it may appear unworthy of the subject in the eyes of 
 many, must yet command some envy in those who can- 
 didly consider its contents, and the difficulty of portray- 
 ing the great personage concerning whom it is written. 
 Still, I pray thee, give thine attention to what I have 
 now to read, since this account of the battle of Laodicea , 
 the details thereof being principally derived from his Im- 
 perial Highness, my excellent father, from the altogether 
 valiant Protospathaire, his invincible general, together 
 with Achilles Tatius, the faithful Follower of our victo- 
 rious Emperor, may nevertheless be in some circum- 
 
 69
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 stances inaccurate. For it is to be thought, that the high 
 ofl&ces of those great commanders retained them at a 
 distance from some particularly active parts of the fray, 
 in order that they might have more cool and accurate 
 opportunity to form a judgment upon the whole, and 
 transmit their orders, without being disturbed by any 
 thoughts of personal safety. Even so, brave barbarian, 
 in the art of embroidery — marvel not that we are a 
 proficient in that mechanical process, since it is patron- 
 ised by Minerva, whose studies we affect to follow — we 
 reserve to ourselves the superintendence of the entire 
 web, and commit to our maidens and others the execu- 
 tion of particular parts. Thus, in the same manner, 
 thou, valiant Varangian, being engaged in the very 
 thickest of the affray before Laodicea, mayst point out 
 to us, the unworthy historian of so renowned a war, those 
 chances which befell where men fought hand to hand, 
 and where the fate of war was decided by the edge of the 
 sword. Therefore, dread not, thou bravest of the axe- 
 men to whom we owe that victory, and so many others, 
 to correct any mistake or misapprehension which we 
 may have been led into concerning the details of that 
 glorious event.' 
 
 'Madam,' said the Varangian, *I shall attend with 
 diligence to what your Highness may be pleased to read 
 to me; although, as to presuming to blame the history 
 of a princess born in the purple, far be such a presump- 
 tion from me; still less would it become a barbaric Varan- 
 gian to pass a judgment on the military conduct of the 
 Emperor, by whom he is liberally paid, or of the com- 
 mander, by whom he is well treated. Before an action, 
 if our advice is required, it is ever faithfully tendered; 
 
 70
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 but, according to my rough wit, our censure after the 
 field is fought would be more invidious than useful. 
 Touching the Protospathaire, if it be the duty of a gen- 
 eral to absent himself from close action, I can safely 
 say, or swear, were it necessary, that the invincible 
 commander was never seen by me within a javelin's 
 cast of aught that looked like danger.' 
 
 This speech, boldly and bluntly delivered, had a 
 general effect on the company present. The Emperor 
 himself and Achilles Tatius looked Hke men who had 
 got off from a danger better than they expected. The 
 Protospathaire laboured to conceal a movement of re- 
 sentment. Agelastes whispered to the Patriarch, near 
 whom he was placed, 'The Northern battle-axe lacks 
 neither point nor edge.' 
 
 *Hush!' said Zosimus, 'let us hear how this is to end: 
 the Princess is about to speak.'
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 We heard the tecbir, so these Arabs call 
 Their shout of onset, when with loud acclaim 
 They challenged Heaven, as if demanding conquest. 
 The battle join'd, and, through the barb'rous herd, 
 'Fight — fightl' and 'Paradisel' was all their cry. 
 
 The Siege of Damascus. 
 
 The voice of the Northern soldier, although modified by 
 feelings of respect to the Emperor, and even attachment 
 to his captain, had more of a tone of blunt sincerity, 
 nevertheless, than was usually heard by the sacred 
 echoes of the imperial palace; and though the Princess 
 Anna Comnena began to think that she had invoked the 
 opinion of a severe judge, she was sensible, at the same 
 time, by the deference of his manner, that his respect 
 was of a character more real, and his applause, should 
 she gain it, would prove more truly flattering, than the 
 gilded assent of the whole court of her father. She gazed 
 with some surprise and attention on Hereward, already 
 described as a very handsome young man, and felt the 
 natural desire to please which is easily created in the 
 mind towards a fine person of the other sex. His attitude 
 was easy and bold, but neither clownish nor imcourtly. 
 His title of a barbarian placed him at once free from the 
 forms of civilised life and the rules of artificial polite- 
 ness. But his character for valour, and the noble self- 
 confidence of his bearing, gave him a deeper interest 
 than would have been acquired by a more studied and 
 anxious address, or an excess of reverential awe. 
 1 In short, the Princess Anna Comnena, high in rank as 
 
 72
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 she was, and born in the imperial purple, which she her- 
 self deemed the first of all attributes, felt herself, never- 
 theless, in preparing to resume the recitation of her his- 
 tory, more anxious to obtain the approbation of this 
 rude soldier than that of all the rest of the courteous 
 audience. She knew them well, it is true, and felt no- 
 wise solicitous about the applause which the daughter of 
 the Emperor was sure to receive with full hands from 
 those of the Grecian court to whom she might choose 
 to communicate the productions of her father's daugh- 
 ter. But she had now a judge of a new character, whose 
 applause, if bestowed, must have something in it intrin- 
 sically real, since it could only be obtained by affecting 
 his head or his heart. 
 
 It was perhaps under the influence of these feelings 
 that the Princess was somewhat longer than usual in 
 finding out the passage in the roll of history at which she 
 purposed to commence. It was also noticed that she 
 began her recitation with a diffidence and embarrass- 
 ment surprising to the noble hearers, who had often 
 seen her in full possession of her presence of mind 
 before what they conceived a more distinguished, and 
 even more critical, audience. 
 
 Neither were the circumstances of the Varangian such 
 as rendered the scene indifferent to him. Anna Com- 
 nena had indeed attained her fifth lustre, and that is a 
 period after which Grecian beauty is understood to com- 
 mence its decline. How long she had passed that critical 
 period was a secret to all but the trusted ward- women of 
 the purple chamber. Enough, that it was affirmed by 
 the popular tongue, and seemed to be attested by that 
 bent towards philosophy and literature, which is not 
 
 73
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 supposed to be congenial to beauty in its earlier buds, to 
 amount to one or two years more. She might be seven- 
 and-twenty. 
 
 Still Anna Comnena was, or had very lately been, a 
 beauty of the very first rank, and must be supposed to 
 have still retained charms to captivate a barbarian of 
 the North; if, indeed, he himself was not careful to main- 
 tain a heedful recollection of the immeasurable distance 
 between them. Indeed, even this recollection might 
 hardly have saved Hereward from the charms of this 
 enchantress, bold, free-born, and fearless as he was; for, 
 during that time of strange revolutions, there were many 
 instances of successful generals sharing the couch of 
 imperial princesses, whom perhaps they had themselves 
 rendered widows, in order to make way for their own 
 pretensions. But, besides the influence of other recollec- 
 tions, which the reader may learn hereafter, Hereward, 
 though flattered by the unusual degree of attention 
 which the Princess bestowed upon him, saw in her only 
 the daughter of his Emperor and adopted liege lord, and 
 the wife of a noble prince, whom reason and duty alike 
 forbade him to think of in any other light. 
 
 It was after one or two preliminary efforts that the 
 Princess Anna began her reading, with an uncertain 
 voice, which gained strength and fortitude as she pro- 
 ceeded with the following passage from a well-known 
 part of her history of Alexius Comnenus, but which un- 
 fortunately has not been republished in the Byzantine 
 historians. The narrative cannot, therefore, be other- 
 wise than acceptable to the antiquarian reader; and the 
 Author hopes to receive the thanks of the learned world 
 for the recovery of a curious fragment, which, without 
 
 74
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 his exertions, must probably have passed to the gulf of 
 total oblivion. 
 
 Cbe Kctrcat of taoUtcea, 
 
 NOW FIRST PUBLISHED FROM THE GREEK OF THE PRIN- 
 CESS COMNENA's HISTORY OF HER FATHER 
 
 'The sun had betaken himself to his bed in the ocean, 
 ashamed, it would seem, to see the immortal army of our 
 Most Sacred Emperor Alexius surrounded by those bar- 
 barous hordes of unbelieving barbarians who, as de- 
 scribed in our last chapter, had occupied the various 
 passes both in front and rear of the Romans,* secured 
 during the preceding night by the wily barbarians. 
 Although, therefore, a triumphant course of advance 
 had brought us to this point, it now became a serious 
 and doubtful question whether our victorious eagles 
 might be able to penetrate any farther into the country 
 of the enemy, or even to retreat with safety into their 
 own. 
 
 'The extensive acquaintance of the Emperor with 
 military affairs, in which he exceeds most living princes, 
 had induced him, on the preceding evening, to ascertain, 
 with marvellous exactitude and foresight, the precise 
 position of the enemy. In this most necessary service he 
 employed certain light-armed barbarians, whose habits 
 and discipline had been originally derived from the wilds 
 of Syria; and, if I am required to speak according to the 
 dictation of truth, seeing she ought always to sit upon 
 the pen of a historian, I must needs say they were infidels 
 like their enemies; faithfully attached, however, to the 
 
 ' More properly termed the Greeks; but we follow the phraseology 
 of the fair authoress. 
 
 75
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Roman service, and, as I believe, true slaves of the Em- 
 peror, to whom they communicated the information 
 required by him respecting the position of his dreaded 
 opponent Jezdegerd. These men did not bring in their 
 information till long after the hour when the Emperor 
 usually betook himself to rest. 
 
 * Notwithstanding this derangement of his most sacred 
 time, our imperial father, who had postponed the cere- 
 mony of disrobing, so important were the necessities of 
 the moment, continued, until deep in the night, to hold 
 a council of his wisest chiefs, men whose depth of judg- 
 ment might have saved a sinking world, and who now 
 consulted what was to be done under the pressure of the 
 circumstances in which they were now placed. And so 
 great was the urgency, that all ordinary observances of 
 the household were set aside, since I have heard from 
 those who witnessed the fact, that the royal bed was dis- 
 played in the very room where the council assembled, 
 and that the sacred lamp, called the Light of the Council, 
 and which always burns when the Emperor presides in 
 person over the deliberations of his servants, was for 
 that night — a thing unknown in our annals — fed with 
 unperfumed oil!!' 
 
 The fair speaker here threw her fine form into an 
 attitude which expressed holy horror, and the hearers 
 intimated their sympathy in the exciting cause by cor- 
 responding signs of interest; as to which we need only 
 say, that the sigh of Achilles Tatius was the most 
 pathetic; while the groan of Agelastes the Elephant was 
 deepest and most tremendously bestial in its sound. 
 Hereward seemed little moved, except by a slight motion 
 of surprise at the wonder expressed by the others. The 
 
 76
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Princess, having allowed due time for the sympathy of 
 her hearers to exhibit itself, proceeded as follows: — 
 
 *In this melancholy situation, when even the best- 
 established and most sacred rites of the imperial house- 
 hold gave way to the necessity of a hasty provision for 
 the morrow, the opinions of the counsellors were differ- 
 ent, according to their tempers and habits — a thing, by 
 the way, which may be remarked as likely to happen 
 among the best and wisest on such occasions of doubt 
 and danger. 
 
 *I do not in this place put down the names and opin- 
 ions of those whose counsels were proposed and rejected, 
 herein paying respect to the secrecy and freedom of de- 
 bate justly attached to the imperial cabinet. Enough it 
 is to say, that some there were who advised a speedy 
 attack upon the enemy, in the direction of our original 
 advance. Others thought it was safer, and might be 
 easier, to force our way to the rear, and retreat by the 
 same course which had brought us hither; nor must it be 
 concealed that there were persons of unsuspected fidelity 
 who proposed a third course, safer indeed than the others, 
 but totally alien to the mind of our most magnanimous 
 father. They recommended that a confidential slave, 
 in com.pany with a minister of the interior of our im- 
 perial palace, should be sent to the tent of Jezdegerd, in 
 order to ascertain upon what terms the barbarian would 
 permit our triumphant father to retreat in safety at the 
 head of his victorious army. On learning such opinion, 
 our imperial father was heard to exclaim, ''Sancta 
 Sophia!" being the nearest approach to an adjuration 
 which he has been known to permit himself, and was 
 apparently about to say something violent both con- 
 
 77
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 cerning the dishonour of the advice and the cowardice 
 of those by whom it was preferred, when, recollecting 
 the mutability of human things, and the misfortune of 
 several of his Majesty's gracious predecessors, some of 
 whom had been compelled to surrender their sacred 
 persons to the infidels in the same region, his Imperial 
 Majesty repressed his generous feelings, and only suf- 
 fered his army counsellors to understand his sentiments 
 by a speech, in which he declared so desperate and so 
 dishonourable a course would be the last which he would 
 adopt even in the last extremity of danger. Thus did the 
 judgment of this mighty prince at once reject counsel 
 that seemed shameful to his arms, and thereby encour- 
 age the zeal of his troops, while privately he kept this 
 postern in reserve, which in utmost need might serve 
 for a safe, though not altogether, in less urgent circum- 
 stances, an honourable, retreat. 
 
 'When the discussion had reached this melancholy 
 crisis, the renowned Achilles Tatius arrived with the 
 hopeful intelligence that he himself and some soldiers of 
 his corps had discovered an opening on the left flank of 
 our present encampment, by which, making, indeed, a 
 considerable circuit, but reaching, if we marched with 
 vigour, the town of Laodicea, we might, by falling back 
 on our resources, be in some measure in surety from the 
 enemy. 
 
 'So soon as this ray of hope darted on the troubled 
 mind of our gracious father, he proceeded to make such 
 arrangements as might secure the full benefit of the 
 advantage. His Imperial Highness would not permit the 
 brave Varangians, whose battle-axes he accounted the 
 flower of his imperial army, to take the advanced post of 
 
 78
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 assailants on the present occasion. He repressed the love 
 of battle by which these generous foreigners have been 
 at all times distinguished, and directed that the Syrian 
 forces in the army, who have been before mentioned, 
 should be assembled with as Uttle noise as possible in the 
 vicinity of the deserted pass, with instructions to occupy 
 it. The good genius of the empire suggested that, as 
 their speech, arms, and appearance resembled those of 
 the enemy, they might be permitted unopposed to take 
 post in the defile with their light-armed forces, and thus 
 secure it for the passage of the rest of the army, of which 
 he proposed that the Varangians, as immediately at- 
 tached to his own sacred person, should form the van- 
 guard. The well-known battalions termed the Immor- 
 tals came next, comprising the gross of the army, and 
 forming the centre and rear. Achilles Tatius, the faithful 
 Follower of his royal master, although mortified that he 
 was not permitted to assume the charge of the rear, 
 which he had proposed for himself and his valiant 
 troops, as the post of danger at the time, cheerfully 
 acquiesced, nevertheless, in the arrangement proposed 
 by the Emperor, as most fit to effect the imperial safety, 
 and that of the army. 
 
 'The imperial orders, as they were sent instantly 
 abroad, were in like manner executed with the readiest 
 punctuality, the rather that they indicated a course of 
 safety which had been almost despaired of even by the 
 oldest soldiers. During the dead period of time, when, 
 as the divine Homer tells us, gods and men are alike 
 asleep, it was found that the vigilance and prudence of a 
 single individual had provided safety for the whole 
 Roman army. The pinnacles of the mountain passes 
 
 79
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 were scarcely touched by the earliest beams of the dawn, 
 when these beams were also reflected from the steel caps 
 and spears of the Syrians, under the command of a cap- 
 tain named Monastras, who, with his tribe, had attached 
 himself to the empire. The Emperor, at the head of his 
 faithful Varangians, defiled through the passes, in order 
 to gain that degree of advance on the road to the city of 
 Laodicea which was desired, so as to avoid coming into 
 collision with the barbarians. 
 
 * It was a goodly sight to see the dark mass of North- 
 em warriors, who now led the van of the army, moving 
 slowly and steadily through the defiles of the mountains, 
 around the insulated rocks and precipices, and surmount- 
 ing the gentler acclivities, like the course of a strong and 
 mighty river; while the loose bands of archers and jave- 
 lin-men, armed after the Eastern manner, were dispersed 
 on the steep sides of the defiles, and might be compared 
 to light foam upon the edge of the torrent. In the midst 
 of the squadrons of the life-guard might be seen the 
 proud war-horse of his Imperial Majesty, which pawed 
 the earth indignantly, as if impatient at the delay which 
 separated him from his august burden. The Emperor 
 Alexius himself travelled in a litter, borne by eight strong 
 African slaves, that he might rise perfectly refreshed if 
 the army should be overtaken by the enemy. The valiant 
 Achilles Tatius rode near the couch of his master, that 
 none of those luminous ideas by which our august sire 
 so often decided the fate of battle might be lost for want 
 of instant communication to those whose duty it was 
 to execute them. I may also say, that there were close 
 to the litter of the Emperor three or four carriages of the 
 same kind; one prepared for the Moon, as she may be 
 
 80
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 termed, of the universe, the gracious Empress Irene. 
 Among the others which might be mentioned was that 
 which contained the authoress of this history, unworthy 
 as she may be of distinction, save as the daughter of the 
 eminent and sacred persons whom the narration chiefly 
 concerns. In this manner the imperial army pressed on 
 through the dangerous defiles, where their march was 
 exposed to insults from the barbarians. They were 
 happily cleared without any opposition. When we came 
 to the descent of the pass which looks down on the city 
 of Laodicea, the sagacity of the Emperor commanded 
 the van — which, though the soldiers composing the 
 same were heavily armed, had hitherto marched ex- 
 tremely fast — to halt, as well that they themselves 
 might take some repose and refreshment as to give the 
 rearward forces time to come up, and close various gaps 
 which the rapid movement of those in front had occa- 
 sioned in the line of march. 
 
 'The place chosen for this purpose was eminently 
 beautiful, from the small and comparatively insignifi- 
 cant ridge of hills which melt irregularly down into the 
 plains stretching between the pass which we occupied 
 and Laodicea. The town was about one hundred stadia 
 distant, and some of our more sanguine warriors pre- 
 tended that they could already discern its towers and 
 pinnacles, glittering in the early beams of the sun, which 
 had not as yet risen high into the horizon. A mountain 
 torrent, which found its source at the foot of a huge rock, 
 that yawned to give it birth, as if struck by the rod of the 
 prophet Moses, poured its liquid treasure down to the 
 more level country, nourishing herbage, and even large 
 trees, in its descent, until, at the distance of some four or 
 
 43 8i
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 j&ve miles, the stream, at least in dry seasons, was lost 
 amid heaps of sand and stones, which in the rainy season 
 marked the strength and fury of its current. 
 
 ' It was pleasant to see the attention of the Emperor to 
 the comforts of the companions and guardians of his 
 march. The trumpets from time to time gave license to 
 various parties of the Varangians to lay down their arms, 
 to eat the food which was distributed to them, and 
 quench their thirst at the pure stream, which poured its 
 bounties down the hill, or they might be seen to extend 
 their bulky forms upon the turf around them. The 
 Emperor, his most serene spouse, and the princesses and 
 ladies were also served with breakfast, at the fountain 
 formed by the small brook in its very birth, and which 
 the reverent feelings of the soldiers had left unpolluted 
 by vulgar touch, for the use of that family emphatically 
 said to be born in the purple. Our beloved husband was 
 also present on this occasion, and was among the first 
 to detect one of the disasters of the day. For, although 
 all the rest of the repast had been, by the dexterity of the 
 officers of the imperial mouth, so arranged, even on so 
 awful an occasion, as to exhibit little difference from the 
 ordinary provisions of the household, yet, when his 
 Imperial Highness called for wine, behold, not only was 
 the sacred liquor dedicated to his own peculiar imperial 
 use wholly exhausted or left behind, but, to use the lan- 
 guage of Horace, not the vilest Sabine vintage could 
 be procured; so that his Imperial Highness was glad to 
 accept the offer of a rude Varangian, who proffered his 
 modicum of decocted barley, which these barbarians 
 prefer to the juice of the grape. The Emperor, never- 
 theless, accepted of this coarse tribute.' 
 
 82
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'Insert,' said the Emperor, who had been hitherto 
 either plunged in deep contemplation or in an incipient 
 slumber — 'insert, I say, these very words: "And with 
 the heat of the morning, and anxiety of so rapid a march, 
 with a numerous enemy in his rear, the Emperor was so 
 thirsty as never in his Hfe to think beverage more 
 delicious.'" 
 
 In obedience to her imperial father's orders, the Prin- 
 cess resigned the manuscript to the beautiful slave by 
 whom it was written, repeating to the fair scribe the com- 
 manded addition, requiring her to note it as made by 
 the express sacred command of the Emperor, and then 
 proceeded thus: 'More I had said here respecting the 
 favourite liquor of your Imperial Highness's faithful 
 Varangians; but your Highness having once graced it 
 with a word of commendation, this ail, as they call it, 
 doubtless because removing all disorders, which they 
 term "ailments," becomes a theme too lofty for the dis- 
 cussion of any inferior person. Suffice it to say, that thus 
 were we all pleasantly engaged, the ladies and slaves 
 trying to find some amusement for the imperial ears; the 
 soldiers, in a long line down the ravine, seen in different 
 postures, some straggling to the watercourse, some keep- 
 ing guard over the arms of their comrades, in which duty 
 they relieved each other, while body after body of the 
 remaining troops, under command of the Protospath' 
 aire, and particularly those called Immortals,^ joined 
 the main army as they came up. Those soldiers who were 
 already exhausted were allowed to take a short repose, 
 after which they were sent forward, with directions to 
 advance steadily on the road to Laodicea; while their 
 
 * See Note 4. 
 83
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 leader was instructed, so soon as he should open a free 
 communication with that city, to send thither a com- 
 mand for reinforcements and refreshments, not forget- 
 ting fitting provision of the sacred wine for the imperial 
 mouth. Accordingly, the Roman bands of Immortals 
 and others had resumed their march, and held some 
 way on their journey, it being the imperial pleasure that 
 the Varangians, lately the vanguard, should now form 
 the rear of the whole army, so as to bring off in safety 
 the Syrian light troops, by whom the hilly pass was still 
 occupied, when we heard upon the other side of this 
 defile, which we had traversed with so much safety, the 
 awful sound of the lelies, as the Arabs name their shout 
 of onset, though in what language it is expressed it would 
 be hard to say. Perchance some in this audience may 
 enlighten my ignorance? ' 
 
 * May I speak and live? ' said the Acoulouthos Achilles, 
 proud of his literary knowledge, * the words are. Alia ilia 
 Alia; Mohammed resoul Alia} These, or something like 
 them, contain the Arabs' profession of faith, which they 
 always call out when they join battle; I have heard 
 them many times.' 
 
 'And so have I,' said the Emperor; * and as thou didst, 
 I warrant me, I have sometimes wished myself anywhere 
 else than within hearing.' 
 
 All the circle were alive to hear the answer of Achilles 
 Tatius. He was too good a courtier, however, to make 
 any imprudent reply. 'It was my duty,' he repHed, ' to 
 desire to be as near your Imperial Highness as your 
 faithful Follower ought, wherever you might wish your- 
 self for the time.' 
 
 1 That is, 'God is God — Mahomet is the prophet of God.' 
 84
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Agelastes and Zosimus exchanged looks; and the 
 Princess Anna Comnena proceeded in her recitation. 
 
 ' The cause of these ominous sounds, which came in wild 
 confusion up the rocky pass, was soon explained to us 
 by a dozen cavaliers, to whom the task of bringing 
 intelligence had been assigned. 
 
 'These informed us that the barbarians, whose host 
 had been dispersed around the position in which we had 
 encamped the preceding day, had not been enabled to 
 get their forces together until our light troops were 
 evacuating the post they had occupied for securing the 
 retreat of our army. They were then drawing off from 
 the tops of the hills into the pass itself, when, in despite 
 of the rocky ground, they were charged furiously by 
 Jezdegerd, at the head of a large body of his followers, 
 which, after repeated exertions, he had at length brought 
 to operate on the rear of the Syrians. Notwithstanding 
 that the pass was unfavourable for cavalry, the personal 
 exertions of the infidel chief made his followers advance 
 with a degree of resolution unknown to the Syrians of the 
 Roman army, who, finding themselves at a distance 
 from their companions, formed the injurious idea that 
 they were left there to be sacrificed, and thought of 
 flight in various directions rather than of a combined 
 and resolute resistance. The state of affairs, therefore, 
 at the further end of the pass, was less favourable than 
 we could wish, and those whose curiosity desired to see 
 something which might be termed the rout of the rear of 
 an army beheld the Syrians pursued from the hill-tops, 
 overwhelmed, and individually cut down and made 
 prisoners by the bands of caitiff Mussulmen. 
 
 ' His Imperial Highness looked upon the scene of battle 
 
 85
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 for a few minutes, and, much commoved at what he 
 saw, was somewhat hasty in his directions to the Varan- 
 gians to resume their arms, and precipitate their march 
 towards Laodicea; whereupon one of those Northern sol- 
 diers said boldly, though in opposition to the imperial 
 command, " If we attempt to go hastily down this hill, 
 our rear-guard will be confused, not only by our own 
 hurry, but by these runaway scoundrels of Syrians, who 
 in their headlong flight will not fail to mix themselves 
 among our ranks. Let two hundred Varangians, who 
 will Uve and die for the honour of England, abide in the 
 very throat of this pass with me, while the rest escort 
 the Emperor to this Laodicea, or whatever it is called. 
 We may perish in our defence, but we shall die in our 
 duty; and I have little doubt but we shall furnish such a 
 meal as will stay the stomach of these yelping hounds 
 from seeking any further banquet this day." 
 
 ' My imperial father at once discovered the importance 
 of this advice, though it made him well-nigh weep to see 
 with what unshrinking fidelity these poor barbarians 
 pressed to fill up the number of those who were to under- 
 take this desperate duty, with what kindness they took 
 leave of their comrades, and with what jovial shouts they 
 followed their sovereign with their eyes as he proceeded 
 on his march down the hill, leaving them behind to resist 
 and perish. The imperial eyes were filled with tears ; and I 
 am not ashamed to confess that, amid the terror of the 
 moment, the Empress, and I myself, forgot our rank in 
 paying a similar tribute to these bold and self-devoted 
 men. 
 
 'We left their leader carefully arraying his handful of 
 comrades in defence of the pass, where the middle path 
 
 86
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 was occupied by their centre, while their wings on either 
 side were so disposed as to act upon the flanks of the 
 enemy, should he rashly press upon such as appeared 
 opposed to him in the road. We had not proceeded half- 
 way towards the plain when a dreadful shout arose, in 
 which the yells of the Arabs were mingled with the deep 
 and more regular shout which these strangers usually 
 repeat thrice, as well when bidding hail to their com- 
 manders and princes as when in the act of engaging in 
 battle. Many a look was turned back by their comrades, 
 and many a form was seen in the ranks which might have 
 claimed the chisel of a sculptor, while the soldier hesi- 
 tated whether to follow the line of his duty, which called 
 him to march forward with his Emperor, or the impulse 
 of courage, which prompted him to rush back to join his 
 companions. Discipline, however, prevailed, and the 
 main body marched on. 
 
 'An hour had elapsed, during which we heard, from 
 time to time, the noise of battle, when a mounted Var- 
 angian presented himself at the side of the Emperor's 
 litter. The horse was covered with foam, and had obvi- 
 ously, from his trappings, the fineness of his limbs, and 
 the smallness of his joints, been the charger of some chief 
 of the desert, which had fallen by the chance of battle 
 into the possession of the Northern warrior. The broad 
 axe which the Varangian bore was also stained with 
 blood, and the paleness of death itself was upon his 
 countenance. These marks of recent battle were held 
 sufficient to excuse the irregularity of his salutation, 
 while he exclaimed — "Noble prince, the Arabs are 
 defeated, and you may pursue your march at more 
 leisure." 
 
 87
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 '"Where is Jezdegerd? " said the Emperor, who had 
 many reasons for dreading this celebrated chief. 
 
 '"Jezdegerd," continued the Varangian, ''is where 
 brave men are who fall in their duty." 
 
 '"And that is — " said the Emperor, impatient to 
 know distinctly the fate of so formidable an adversary. 
 
 '"Where I am now going," answered the faithful sol- 
 dier, who dropped from his horse as he spoke, and expired 
 at the feet of the htter-bearers. 
 
 'The Emperor called to his attendants to see that the 
 body of this faithful retainer, to whom he destined an 
 honourable sepulchre, was not left to the jackal or vul- 
 ture ; and some of his brethren, the Anglo-Saxons, among 
 whom he was a man of no mean repute, raised the body 
 on their shoulders, and resumed their march with this 
 additional encumbrance, prepared to fight for their 
 precious burden, like the vaHant Menelaus for the body 
 of Patroclus.' 
 
 The Princess Anna Comnena here naturally paused; 
 for, having attained what she probably considered as the 
 rounding of a period, she was willing to gather an idea 
 of the feehngs of her audience. Indeed, but that she had 
 been intent upon her own manuscript, the emotions of 
 the foreign soldier must have more early attracted her 
 attention. In the beginning of her recitation, he had 
 retained the same attitude which he had at first assumed, 
 stijEf and rigid as a sentinel upon duty, and apparently 
 remembering nothing, save that he was performing that 
 duty in presence of the imperial court. As the narrative 
 advanced, however, he appeared to take more interest 
 in what was read. The anxious fears expressed by the 
 various leaders in the midnight council he listened to
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 with a smile of suppressed contempt, and he almost 
 laughed at the praises bestowed upon the leader of his 
 own corps, Achilles Tatius. Nor did even the name of 
 the Emperor, though listened to respectfully, gain that 
 applause for which his daughter fought so hard, and 
 used so much exaggeration. 
 
 Hitherto the Varangian's countenance indicated very 
 slightly any internal emotions ; but they appeared to take 
 a deeper hold on his mind as she came to the description 
 of the halt after the main army had cleared the pass, the 
 unexpected advance of the Arabs, the retreat of the 
 column which escorted the Emperor, and the account of 
 the distant engagement. He lost, on hearing the narra- 
 tion of these events, the rigid and constrained look of a 
 soldier, who listened to the history of his Emperor with 
 the same feelings with which he would have mounted 
 guard at his palace. His colour began to come and go, his 
 eyes to fill and to sparkle, his limbs to become more agi- 
 tated than their owner seemed to assent to, and his whole 
 appearance was changed into that of a listener highly 
 interested by the recitation which he hears, and insen- 
 sible, or forgetful, of whatever else is passing before him, 
 as well as of the quality of those who are present. 
 
 As the historian proceeded, Hereward became less 
 able to conceal his agitation; and at the moment the 
 Princess looked round, his feelings became so acute that, 
 forgetting where he was, he dropped his ponderous axe 
 upon the floor, and, clasping his hands together, ex- 
 claimed, * My unfortunate brother ! ' 
 
 All were startled by the clang of the falling weapon, 
 and several persons at once attempted to interfere, as 
 called upon to explain a circumstance so unusual. 
 
 89
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Achilles Tatlus made some small progress in a speech 
 designed to apologise for the rough mode of venting 
 his sorrows to which Hereward had given way, by assur- 
 ing the eminent persons present that the poor unculti- 
 vated barbarian was actually younger brother to him 
 who had commanded and fallen at the memorable defile. 
 The Princess said nothing, but was evidently struck and 
 affected, and not ill-pleased, perhaps, at having given 
 rise to feelings of interest so flattering to her as an 
 authoress. The others, each in their character, uttered 
 incoherent words of what was meant to be consolation; 
 for distress which flows from a natural cause generally 
 attracts sympathy even from the most artificial charac- 
 ters. The voice of Alexius silenced all these imperfect 
 speakers. *Hah, my brave soldier, Edward!' said the 
 Emperor, *I must have been blind that I did not sooner 
 recognise thee, as I think there is a memorandum entered 
 respecting five hundred pieces of gold due from us to 
 Edward the Varangian; we have it in our secret scroll 
 of such liberahties for which we stand indebted to our 
 servitors, nor shall the payment be longer deferred.' 1 
 $k 'Not to me, if it may please you, my liege,' said the 
 Anglo-Dane, hastily composing his countenance into its 
 rough gravity of Uneament, ' lest it should be to one who 
 can claim no interest in your imperial munificence. My 
 name is Hereward ; that of Edward is borne by three of 
 my companions, all of them as likely as I to have deserved 
 your Highness's reward for the faithful performance of 
 their duty.' 
 
 Many a sign was made by Tatius in order to guard his 
 soldier against the folly of declining the liberaUty of the 
 Emperor. 
 
 90
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Agelastes spoke more plainly. 'Young man/ he said, 
 * rejoice in an honour so unexpected, and answer hence- 
 forth to no other name save that of Edward, by which it 
 hath pleased the hght of the world, as it poured a ray 
 upon thee, to distinguish thee from other barbarians. 
 What is to thee the font-stone, or the priest officiating 
 thereat, shouldst thou have derived from either any epi- 
 thet different from that by which it hath now pleased 
 the Emperor to distinguish thee from the common mass 
 of humanity, and by which proud distinction thou hast 
 now a right to be known ever afterwards? ' 
 
 'Here ward was the name of my father,' said the sol- 
 dier, who had now altogether recovered his composure. 
 'I cannot abandon it while I honour his memory in 
 death. Edward is the title of my comrade; I must not 
 run the risk of usurping his interest.' 
 
 'Peace all!' interrupted the Emperor. 'If we have 
 made a mistake, we are rich enough to right it; nor shall 
 Hereward be the poorer, if an Edward shall be found to 
 merit this gratuity.' 
 
 'Your Highness may trust that to your affectionate 
 consort,' answered the Empress Irene. 
 
 'His Most Sacred Highness,' said the Princess Anna 
 Comnena, ' is so avariciously desirous to do whatever is 
 good and gracious, that he leaves no room even for his 
 nearest connexions to display generosity or munificence. 
 Nevertheless, I, in my degree, will testify my gratitude 
 to this brave man; for where his exploits are mentioned 
 in this history I will cause to be recorded, "This feat 
 was done by Hereward the Anglo-Dane, whom it hath 
 pleased his Imperial Majesty to call Edward." Keep 
 this, good youth,' she continued, bestowing at the same 
 
 91
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 time a ring of price, ' in token that we will not forget our 
 engagement.' 
 
 Hereward accepted the token with a profound obei- 
 sance, and a discomposure which his station rendered not 
 unbecoming. It was obvious to most persons present 
 that the gratitude of the beautiful princess was expressed 
 in a manner more acceptable to the youthful Kfe-guards- 
 man than that of Alexius Comnenus. He took the ring 
 with great demonstration of thankfulness. 'Precious 
 relic!' he said, as he saluted this pledge of esteem by 
 pressing it to his lips; 'we may not remain long together, 
 but be assured,' bending reverently to the Princess, 'that 
 death alone shall part us.' 
 
 'Proceed, our princely daughter,' said the Empress 
 Irene; 'you have done enough to show that valour is 
 precious to her who can confer fame, whether it be found 
 in a Roman or a barbarian.' 
 
 The Princess resumed her narrative with some slight 
 appearance of embarrassment. 
 
 ' Our movement upon Laodicea was now resumed, and 
 continued with good hopes on the part of those engaged 
 in the march. Yet instinctively we could not help cast- 
 ing our eyes to the rear, which had been so long the direc- 
 tion in which we feared attack. At length, to our sur- 
 prise, a thick cloud of dust was visible on the descent of 
 the hill, half-way betwixt us and the place at which we 
 had halted. Some of the troops who composed our re- 
 treating body, particularly those in the rear, began to 
 exclaim, "The Arabs — the Arabs!" and their march 
 assumed a more precipitate character when they believed 
 themselves pursued by the enemy. But the Varangian 
 guards affirmed with one voice that the dust was raised 
 
 92
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 by the remains of their own comrades, who, left in the 
 defence of the pass, had marched off after having so 
 valiantly maintained the station entrusted to them. 
 They fortified their opinion by professional remarks 
 that the cloud of dust was more concentrated than if 
 raised by the Arab horse, and they even pretended to 
 assert, from their knowledge of such cases, that the 
 number of their comrades had been much diminished in 
 the action. Some Syrian horsemen, despatched to recon- 
 noitre the approaching body, brought intelligence cor- 
 responding with the opinion of the Varangians in every 
 particular. The portion of the body-guard had beaten 
 back the Arabs, and their gallant leader had slain their 
 chief Jezdegerd, in which service he was mortally 
 wounded, as this history hath already mentioned. The 
 survivors of the detachment, diminished by one half, 
 were now on their march to join the Emperor, as fast as 
 the encumbrance of bearing their wounded to a place of 
 safety would permit. 
 
 'The Emperor Alexius, with one of those brilliant and 
 benevolent ideas which mark his paternal character 
 towards his soldiers, ordered all the Utters, even that for 
 his own most sacred use, to be instantly sent back to 
 relieve the bold Varangians of the task of bearing the 
 woimded. The shouts of the Varangians' gratitude may 
 be more easily conceived than described, when they be- 
 held the Emperor himself descend from his litter, like an 
 ordinary cavalier, and assume his war-horse, at the same 
 time that the Most Sacred Empress, as well as the 
 authoress of this history, with other princesses born in 
 the purple, mounted upon mules, in order to proceed 
 upon the march, while their litters were unhesitatingly 
 
 93
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 assigned for the accommodation of the wounded men. 
 This was indeed a mark as well of military sagacity as of 
 humanity; for the relief afforded to the bearers of the 
 wounded enabled the survivors of those who had de- 
 fended the defile at the fountain to join us sooner than 
 would otherwise have been possible. 
 
 'It was an awful thing to see those men who had left 
 us in the full splendour which military equipment gives 
 to youth and strength again appearing in diminished 
 numbers — their armour shattered, their shields full of 
 arrows, their offensive weapons marked with blood, and 
 they themselves exhibiting all the signs of desperate and 
 recent battle. Nor was it less interesting to remark the 
 meeting of the soldiers who had been engaged with the 
 comrades whom they had rejoined. The Emperor, at the 
 suggestion of the trusty Acoulouthos, permitted them a 
 few moments to leave their ranks, and learn from each 
 other the fate of the battle. 
 
 'As the two bands mingled, it seemed a meeting where 
 grief and joy had a contest together. The most rugged 
 of these barbarians — and I who saw it can bear witness 
 to the fact — as he welcomed with a grasp of his strong 
 hand some comrade whom he had given up for lost, had 
 his large blue eyes filled with tears at hearing of the loss 
 of some one whom he had hoped might have survived. 
 Other veterans reviewed the standards which had been 
 in the conflict, satisfied themselves that they had all 
 been brought back in honour and safety, and counted the 
 fresh arrow-shots with which they had been pierced, in 
 addition to similar marks of former battles. All were 
 loud in the praises of the brave young leader they had 
 lost, nor were the acclamations less general in laud of 
 
 94
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 him who had succeeded to the command, who brought 
 up the party of his deceased brother, and whom,' said 
 the Princess, in a few words which seemed apparently- 
 interpolated for the occasion, ' I now assure of the high 
 honour and estimation in which he is held by the author 
 of this history — that is, I would say, by every member 
 of the imperial family — for his gallant services in such 
 an important crisis.' 
 
 Having hurried over her tribute to her friend the 
 Varangian, in which emotions mingled that are not will- 
 ingly expressed before so many hearers, Anna Com- 
 nena proceeded with composure in the part of her history 
 which was less personal. 
 
 *We had not much time to make more observations 
 on what passed among those brave soldiers; for, a few 
 minutes having been allowed to their feelings, the trum- 
 pet sounded the advance towards Laodicea, and we soon 
 beheld the town, now about four miles from us, in fields 
 which were chiefly covered with trees. Apparently the 
 garrison had already some notice of our approach, for 
 carts and wains were seen advancing from the gates 
 with refreshments, which the heat of the day, the 
 length of the march, and columns of dust, as well as the 
 want of water, had rendered of the last necessity to us. 
 The soldiers joyfully mended their pace in order to meet 
 the sooner with the supplies of which they stood so 
 much in need. But as the cup doth not carry in all 
 cases the Hquid treasure to the hps for which it was 
 intended, however much it may be longed for, what was 
 our mortification to behold a cloud of Arabs issue at full 
 gallop from the wooded plain betwixt the Roman army 
 and the city, and throw themselves upon the waggons, 
 
 95
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 slaying the drivers, and making havoc and spoil of the 
 contents! This, we afterwards learned, was a body of 
 the enemy, headed by Varanes, equal in military fame 
 among those infidels to Jezdegerd, his slain brother.* 
 When this chieftain saw that it was probable that the 
 Varangians would succeed in their desperate defence of 
 the pass, he put himself at the head of a large body of 
 cavalry; and, as these infidels are mounted on horses 
 unmatched either in speed or wind, performed a long 
 circuit, traversed the stony ridge of hills at a more north- 
 erly defile, and placed himself in ambuscade in the 
 wooded plain I have mentioned, with the hope of making 
 an unexpected assault upon the Emperor and his army, 
 at the very time when they might be supposed to reckon 
 upon an undisputed retreat. This surprise would cer- 
 tainly have taken place, and it is not easy to say what 
 might have been the consequence, had not the unex- 
 pected appearance of the train of waggons awakened the 
 unbridled rapacity of the Arabs, in spite of their com- 
 mander's prudence and attempts to restrain them. In 
 this manner the proposed ambuscade was discovered. 
 
 'But Varanes, willing still to gain some advantage 
 from the rapidity of his movements, assembled as many 
 of his horsemen as could be collected from the spoil, and 
 pushed forward towards the Romans, who had stopt 
 short on their march at so unlooked-for an apparition. 
 There was an uncertainty and wavering in our first 
 ranks which made their hesitation known even to so 
 poor a judge of military demeanour as myself. On the 
 contrary, the Varangians joined in a unanimous cry of 
 "Bills" ^ — that is, in their language, battle-axes — 
 
 * Villehardouin says, 'Les Anglois et Danois mult bien combattoient 
 avec leurs haches.' 
 
 96
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 "to the front!" and the Emperor's most gracious will 
 acceding to their valorous desire, they pressed forward 
 from the rear to the head of the column. I can hardly 
 say how this manoeuvre was executed, but it was doubt- 
 less by the wise directions of my most serene father, 
 distinguished for his presence of mind upon such difi&cult 
 occasions. It was, no doubt, much facilitated by the 
 good- will of the troops themselves; the Roman bands, 
 called the Immortals, showing, as it seemed to me, no 
 less desire to fall into the rear than did the Varangians 
 to occupy the places which the Immortals left vacant in 
 front. The manoeuvre was so happily executed that, 
 before Varanes and his Arabs had arrived at the van of 
 our troops, they found it occupied by the inflexible guard 
 of Northern soldiers. I might have seen with my own 
 eyes, and called upon them as sure evidences of that 
 which chanced upon the occasion. But, to confess the 
 truth, my eyes were little used to look upon such sights; 
 for of Varanes's charge I only beheld, as it were, a thick 
 cloud of dust rapidly driven forward, through which 
 were seen the glittering points of lances, and the waving 
 plumes of turbaned cavaliers imperfectly visible. The 
 tecbir was so loudly uttered, that I was scarcely aware 
 that kettledrums and brazen cymbals were sounding in 
 concert with it. But this wild and outrageous storm was 
 met as effectually as if encountered by a rock. 
 
 'The Varangians, unshaken by the furious charge of 
 the Arabs, received horse and rider with a shower of 
 blows from their massive battle-axes, which the bravest 
 of the enemy could not face, nor the strongest endure. 
 The guards strengthened their ranks also, by the hind- 
 most pressing so close upon those that went before, after 
 43 97
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the manner of the ancient Macedonians, that the fine- 
 limbed, though slight, steeds of these Idmneans could 
 not make the least inroad upon the Northern phalanx. 
 The bravest men, the most gallant horses, fell in the 
 first rank. The weighty, though short, horse javelins, 
 flung from the rear ranks of the brave Varangians with 
 good aim and sturdy arm, completed the confusion of 
 the assailants, who turned their back in affright and fled 
 from the field in total confusion. 
 
 ' The enemy thus repulsed, we proceeded on our march, 
 and only halted when we recovered our half-plundered 
 waggons. Here, also, some invidious remarks were made 
 by certain officers of the interior of the household, who 
 had been on duty over the stores, and, having fled from 
 their posts on the assault of the infidels, had only re- 
 turned upon their being repulsed. These men, quick in 
 malice, though slow in perilous service, reported that, 
 on this occasion, the Varangians so far forgot their duty 
 as to consume a part of the sacred wine reserved for the 
 imperial lips alone. It would be criminal to deny that 
 this was a great and culpable oversight; nevertheless, our 
 imperial hero passed it over as a pardonable offence, 
 remarking, in a jesting manner, that since he had drunk 
 the ail, as they termed it, of his trusty guard, the Varan- 
 gians had acquired a right to quench the thirst and to 
 reHeve the fatigue which they had undergone that day 
 in his defence, though they used for these purposes the 
 sacred contents of the imperial cellar. 
 
 * In the meantime, the cavalry of the army were des- 
 patched in pursuit of the fugitive Arabs; and having suc- 
 ceeded in driving them behind the chain of hills which 
 had so recently divided them from the Romans, the 
 
 98
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 imperial arms might justly be considered as having ob- 
 tained a complete and glorious victory. 
 
 'We are now to mention the rejoicings of the citizens 
 of Laodicea, who, having witnessed from their rampartSj 
 with alternate fear and hope, the fluctuations of the 
 battle, now descended to congratulate the imperial 
 conqueror.* 
 
 Here the fair narrator was interrupted. The principal 
 entrance of the apartment flew open, noiselessly indeed, 
 but with both folding leaves at once, not as if to accom- 
 modate the entrance of an ordinary courtier, studying 
 to create as little disturbance as possible, but as if there 
 was entering a person who ranked so high as to make it 
 indifferent how much attention was drawn to his mo- 
 tions. It could only be one born in the purple, or nearly 
 allied to it, to whom such freedom was lawful; and most 
 of the guests, knowing who were likely to appear in that 
 temple of the Muses, anticipated, from the degree of 
 bustle, the arrival of Nicephorus Briennius, the son-in- 
 law of Alexius Comnenus, the husband to the fair his- 
 torian, and in the rank of Csesar, which, however, did 
 not at that period imply, as in early ages, the dignity of 
 second person in the empire. The policy of Alexius had 
 interposed more than one person of condition between 
 the Cassar and his original rights and rank, which had 
 once been second to those only of the Emperor himself.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 The storm increases; 't is no sunny shower 
 Foster'd in the moist breast of March or April, 
 Or such as parched summer cools his lip with. 
 Heaven's windows are flung wide; the inmost deeps 
 Call in hoarse greeting one upon another; 
 On comes the flood in all its foaming horrors, 
 And where 's the dike shall stop it? 
 
 The Deluge, a Poem. 
 
 The distinguished individual who entered was a noble 
 Grecian, of stately presence, whose habit was adorned 
 with every mark of dignity, saving those which Alexius 
 had declared sacred to the Emperor's own person and 
 that of the Sebastocrator, whom he had estabHshed as 
 next in rank to the head of the empire. Nicephorus Bri- 
 ennius, who was in the bloom of youth, retained all the 
 marks of that manly beauty which had made the match 
 acceptable to Anna Comnena; while pohtical considera- 
 tions, and the desire of attaching a powerful house as 
 friendly adherents of the throne, recommended the union 
 to the Emperor. 
 
 We have already hinted that the royal bride had, 
 though in no great degree, the very doubtful advantage 
 of years. Of her hterary talents we have seen tokens- 
 Yet it was not believed by those who best knew that, 
 with the aid of those claims to respect, Anna Comnena 
 was successful in possessing the unlimited attachment of 
 her handsome husband. To treat her with apparent 
 neglect her connexion with the crown rendered impos- 
 sible; while, on the other hand, the power of Nicepho- 
 rus's family was too great to permit his being dictated to 
 
 lOO
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 even by the Emperor himself. He was possessed of tal- 
 ents, as it was believed, calculated both for war and 
 peace. His advice was, therefore, listened to, and his 
 assistance required, so that he claimed complete liberty 
 with respect to his own time, which he sometimes used 
 with less regular attendance upon the temple of the 
 Muses than the goddess of the place thought herself 
 entitled to, or than the Empress Irene was disposed to 
 exact on the part of her daughter. The good-humoured 
 Alexius observed a sort of neutrality in this matter, and 
 kept it as much as possible from becoming visible to the 
 public, conscious that it required the whole united 
 strength of his family to maintain his place in so agi- 
 tated an empire. 
 
 He pressed his son-in-law's hand, as Nicephorus, pass- 
 ing his father-in-law's seat, bent his knee in token of 
 homage. The constrained manner of the Empress indi- 
 cated a more cold reception of her son-in-law, while the 
 fair muse herself scarcely deigned to signify her atten- 
 tion to his arrival, when her handsome mate assumed the 
 vacant seat by her side, which we have already made 
 mention of. 
 
 There was an awkward pause, during which the im- 
 perial son-in-law, coldly received when he expected to be 
 welcomed, attempted to enter into some light conversa- 
 tion with the fair slave Astarte, who knelt behind her 
 mistress. This was interrupted by the Princess com- 
 manding her attendant to inclose the manuscript within 
 its appropriate casket, and convey it with her own hands 
 to the cabinet of Apollo, the usual scene of the Princess's 
 studies, as the temple of the Muses was that commonly 
 dedicated to her recitations. 
 
 lOI 
 
 ^mk %mm state cohek :.;
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The Emperor himself was the first to break an unpleas- 
 ant silence. 'Fair son-in-law/ he said, 'though it now 
 wears something late in the night, you will do yourself 
 wrong if you permit our Anna to send away that volume, 
 with which this company have been so delectably enter- 
 tained that they may well say that the desert hath pro- 
 duced roses, and the barren rocks have poured forth 
 milk and honey, so agreeable is the narrative of a toil- 
 some and dangerous campaign in the language of our 
 daughter.' 
 
 'The Caesar,' said the Empress, 'seems to have little 
 taste for such dainties as this family can produce. He 
 hath of late repeatedly absented himself from this tem- 
 ple of the Muses, and found doubtless more agreeable 
 conversation and amusement elsewhere.' 
 
 'I trust, madam,' said Nicephorus, 'that my taste 
 may vindicate me from the charge implied. But it is 
 natural that our sacred father should be most delighted 
 with the milk and honey which is produced for his own 
 special use.' 
 
 The Princess spoke in the tone of a handsome woman 
 offended by her lover, and feeling the offence, yet not 
 indisposed to a reconciliation. 
 
 'If,' she said, 'the deeds of Nicephorus Briennius are 
 less frequently celebrated in that poor roll of parchment 
 than those of my illustrious father, he must do me the 
 justice to remember that such was his own special re- 
 quest; either proceeding from that modesty which is 
 justly ascribed to him as serving to soften and adorn his 
 other attributes, or because he with justice distrusts his 
 wife's power to compose their eulogium.' 
 
 'We will then summon back Astarte,' said the Em- 
 
 I02
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 press, 'who cannot yet have carried her offering to the 
 cabinet of Apollo.' 
 
 'With your imperial pleasure,' said Nicephorus, *it 
 might incense the Pythian god were a deposit to be re- 
 called of which he alone can fitly estimate the value. I 
 came hither to speak with the Emperor upon pressing 
 affairs of state, and not to hold a literary conversation 
 with a company which I must needs say is something of 
 a miscellaneous description, since I behold an ordinary 
 life-guardsman in the imperial circle.' 
 
 *By the rood, son-in-law,' said Alexius, 'you do this 
 gallant man wrong. He is the brother of that brave 
 Anglo-Dane who secured the victory at Laodicea by his 
 vaUant conduct and death ; he himself is that Edmund — 
 or Edward — or Hereward — to whom we are ever 
 bound for securing the success of that victorious day. He 
 was called into our presence, son-in-law, since it imports 
 that you should know so much, to refresh the memory of 
 my follower, Achilles Tatius, as well as mine own, con- 
 cerning some transactions of the day of which we had 
 become in some degree obUvious.' 
 
 'Truly, imperial sir,' answered Briennius, 'I grieve 
 that, by having intruded on such important researches, I 
 may have, in some degree, intercepted a portion of that 
 light which is to illuminate future ages. Methinks that in 
 a battlefield, fought under your imperial guidance and 
 that of your great captains, your evidence might well 
 supersede the testimony of such a man as this. Let me 
 know,' he added, turning haughtily to the Varangian, 
 * what particular thou canst add, that is unnoticed in the 
 Princess's narrative? ' 
 
 The Varangian replied instantly, ' Only that, when we 
 
 103
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 made a halt at the fountain, the music that was there 
 made by the ladies of the Emperor's household, and 
 particularly by those two whom I now behold, was the 
 most exquisite that ever reached my ears.' 
 
 ' Hah ! darest thou to speak so audacious an opinion? ' 
 exclaimed Nicephorus. ' Is it for such as thou to suppose 
 for a moment that the music which the wife and daugh- 
 ter of the Emperor might condescend to make was in- 
 tended to afford either matter of pleasure or of criticism 
 to every plebeian barbarian who might hear them? Be- 
 gone from this place ! nor dare, on any pretext, again to 
 appear before mine eyes — under allowance always of 
 our imperial father's pleasure.' 
 
 The Varangian bent his looks upon Achilles Tatius, 
 as the person from whom he was to take his orders to 
 stay or withdraw. But the Emperor himself took up the 
 subject with considerable dignity. 
 
 * Son,' he said, 'we cannot permit this. On account of 
 some love quarrel, as it would seem, betwixt you and 
 our daughter, you allow yourself strangely to forget our 
 imperial rank, and to order from our presence those whom 
 we have pleased to call to attend us. This is neither right 
 nor seemly, nor is it our pleasure that this same Here- 
 ward — or Edward — or whatever be his name — either 
 leave us at this present moment or do at any time here- 
 after regulate himself by any commands save our own, 
 or those of our Follower, Achilles Tatius. And now, 
 allowing this foolish affair, which I think was blown 
 among us by the wind, to pass as it came, without further 
 notice, we crave to know the grave matters of state which 
 brought you to our presence at so late an hour. You look 
 again at this Varangian. Withhold not your words, I 
 
 104
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 pray you, on account of his presence; for he stands as 
 high in our trust, and we are convinced with as good rea- 
 son, as any counsellor who has been sworn our domestic 
 servant.' 
 
 *To hear is to obey,' returned the Emperor's son-in- 
 law, who saw that Alexius was somewhat moved, and 
 knew that in such cases it was neither safe nor expedi- 
 ent to drive him to extremity, 'What I have to say,' 
 continued he, * must so soon be public news, that it Uttle 
 matters who hears it; and yet the West, so fuU of strange 
 changes, never sent to the Eastern half of the globe tid- 
 ings so alarming as those I now come to tell your Im- 
 perial Highness. Europe, to borrow an expression from 
 this lady, who honours me by caUing me husband, seems 
 loosened from its foundations and about to precipitate 
 itself upon Asia — ' 
 
 * So I did express myself,' said the Princess Anna Com- 
 nena, ' and, as I trust, not altogether unforcibly, when we 
 first heard that the wild impulse of those restless barba- 
 rians of Europe had driven a tempest as of a thousand 
 nations upon our western frontier, with the extravagant 
 purpose, as they pretended, of possessing themselves of 
 Syria, and the holy places there marked as the sepulchres 
 of prophets, the martyrdom of saints, and the great 
 events detailed in the blessed Gospel. But that storm, by 
 all accounts, hath burst and passed away, and we well 
 hoped that the danger had gone with it. Devoutly shall 
 we sorrow to find it otherwise.' 
 
 'And otherwise we must expect to find it,' said her 
 husband. ' It is very true, as reported to us, that a huge 
 body of men of low rank, and little understanding, as- 
 sumed arms at the instigation of a mad hermit, and took 
 
 105
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the road from Germany to Hungary, expecting miracles 
 to be wrought in their favour, as when Israel was guided 
 through the wilderness by a pillar of flame and a cloud. 
 But no showers of marma or of quails relieved their ne- 
 cessities, or proclaimed them the chosen people of God. 
 No waters gushed from the rock for their refreshment. 
 They were enraged at their sufferings, and endeavoured 
 to obtain supplies by pillaging the country. The Hun- 
 garians, and other nations on our western frontiers. 
 Christians, like themselves, did not hesitate to fall upon 
 this disorderly rabble; and immense piles of bones in 
 wild passes and unfrequented deserts attest the calami- 
 tous defeats which extirpated these unholy pilgrims.' 
 
 * All this,' said the Emperor, * we knew before ; but what 
 new evil now threatens, since we have already escaped 
 so important a one? ' 
 
 * Knew before ! ' said the Prince Nicephonis. * We knew 
 nothing of our real danger before, save that a wild herd 
 of animals, as brutal and as furious as wild bulls, threat- 
 ened to bend their way to a pasture for which they had 
 formed a fancy, and deluged the Grecian empire and its 
 vicinity in their passage, expecting that Palestine, with 
 its streams of milk and honey, once more awaited them, 
 as God's predestined people. But so wild and disorderly 
 an invasion had no terrors for a civilised nation like the 
 Romans. The brute herd was terrified by our Greek 
 fire; it was snared and shot down by the wild nations 
 who, while they pretend to independence, cover our 
 frontier as with a protecting fortification. The vile 
 multitude has been consumed even by the very quality 
 of the provisions thrown in their way — those wise means 
 of resistance which were at once suggested by the pater- 
 
 io6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 nal care of the Emperor and by his unfailing policy. Thus 
 wisdom has played its part, and the bark over which the 
 tempest had poured its thunder has escaped, notwith- 
 standing all its violence. But the second storm, by which 
 the former is so closely followed, is of a new descent 
 of these Western nations, more formidable than any 
 which we or our fathers have yet seen. This consists not 
 of the ignorant or of the fanatical, not of the base, the 
 needy, and the improvident. Now, all that wide Europe 
 possesses of what is wise and worthy, brave and noble, 
 are united by the most religious vows in the same pur- 
 pose.' 
 
 'And what is that purpose? Speak plainly,' said Alex- 
 ius. * The destruction of our whole Roman empire, and 
 the blotting out the very name of its chief from among 
 the princes of the earth, among which it has long been 
 predominant, can alone be an adequate motive for a con- 
 federacy such as thy speech infers.' 
 
 *No such design is avowed,' said Nicephorus; 'and so 
 many princes, wise men, and statesmen of eminence 
 aim, it is pretended, at nothing else than the same ex- 
 travagant purpose announced by the brute multitude 
 who first appeared in these regions. Here, most gracious 
 Emperor, is a scroll, in which you will find marked down 
 a list of the various armies which, by different routes, 
 are approaching the vicinity of the empire. Behold, 
 Hugh of Vermandois, called from his dignity Hugh the 
 Great, has set sail from the shores of Italy. Twenty 
 knights have already announced their coming, sheathed 
 in armour of steel, inlaid with gold, bearing this proud 
 greeting: "Let the Emperor of Greece and his lieuten- 
 ants understand that Hugo Earl of Vermandois is 
 
 107
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 approaching his territories. He is brother to the king of 
 kings — the king of France/ namely — and is attended 
 by the flower of the French nobility. He bears the blessed 
 banner of St. Peter, entrusted to his victorious care by 
 the holy successor of the apostle, and warns thee of all 
 this, that thou mayst provide a reception suitable to his 
 rank.'" 
 
 'Here are sounding words,' said the Emperor; 'but the 
 wind which whistles loudest is not always most danger- 
 ous to the vessel. We know something of this nation of 
 France, and have heard more. They are as petulant at 
 least as they are valiant; we will flatter their vanity till 
 we get time and opportunity for more effectual defence. 
 Tush! if words can pay debt, there is no fear of our ex- 
 chequer becoming insolvent. What follows here, Nice- 
 phorus? A list, I suppose, of the followers of this great 
 count? ' 
 
 'My liege, no,' answered Nicephorus Briennius; 'so 
 many independent chiefs as your Imperial Highness sees 
 in that memorial, so many independent European armies 
 are advancing by different routes towards the East, and 
 announce the conquest of Palestine from the infidels as 
 their common object.' 
 
 'A dreadful enumeration,' said the Emperor, as he pe- 
 rused the list ; ' yet so far happy, that its very length as- 
 sures us of the impossibility that so many princes can 
 be seriously and consistently united in so wild a project. 
 Thus already my eyes catch the well-known name of an 
 old friend, our enemy — for such are the alternate chances 
 of peace and war — Bohemond of Antioch. Is not he the 
 son of the celebrated Robert of Apulia, so renowned 
 
 1 See Note $• 
 loS
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 among his countrymen, who raised himself to the rank of 
 grand duke from a simple cavalier, and became sover- 
 eign of those of his warlike nation, both in Sicily and Italy? 
 Did not the standards of the German Emperor, of the 
 Roman Pontiff, nay, our own imperial banners, give way 
 before him ; until, equally a wily statesman and a brave 
 warrior, he became the terror of Europe, from being a 
 knight whose Norman castle would have been easily 
 garrisoned by six cross-bows and as many lances? It is 
 a dreadful family, a race of craft as well as power. But 
 Bohemond, the son of old Robert, will follow his father's 
 politics. He may talk of Palestine and of the interests of 
 Christendom, but if I can make his interests the same 
 with mine, he is not likely to be guided by any other ob- 
 ject. So, then, with the knowledge I already possess of 
 his wishes and projects, it may chance that Heaven 
 sends us an ally in the guise of an enemy. Whom have 
 we next? Godfrey ^ Duke of Bouillon — leading, I see, 
 a most formidable band from the banks of a huge river 
 called the Rhine. What is this person's character? ' 
 
 'As we hear,' replied Nicephorus, ' this Godfrey is one 
 of the wisest, noblest, and bravest of the leaders who have 
 thus strangely put themselves in motion; and among a 
 list of independent princes, as many in number as those 
 who assembled for the siege of Troy, and followed, most 
 of them, by subjects ten times more numerous, this God- 
 frey may be regarded as the Agamemnon. The princes 
 and counts esteem him, because he is the foremost in the 
 ranks of those whom they fantastically call knights, and 
 also on account of the good faith and generosity which he 
 
 ^ Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine, the great captain of 
 the first Crusade, afterwards King of Jerusalem. See Gibbon, or Mills, 
 passim. 
 
 109
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 practises in all his transactions. The clergy give him 
 credit for the highest zeal for the doctrines of religion, 
 and a corresponding respect for the church and its dig- 
 nitaries. Justice, liberality, and frankness have equally 
 attached to this Godfrey the lower class of the people. 
 His general attention to moral obligations is a pledge to 
 them that his religion is real; and, gifted with so much 
 that is excellent, he is already, although inferior in rank, 
 birth, and power to many chiefs of the crusade, justly 
 regarded as one of its principal leaders.' 
 
 'Pity,' said the Emperor, 'that a character such as 
 you describe this prince to be should be under the do- 
 minion of a fanaticism scarce worthy of Peter the Her- 
 mit, or the clownish multitude which he led, or of the 
 very ass which he rode upon; which I am apt to think 
 the wisest of the first multitude whom we beheld, seeing 
 that it ran away towards Europe as soon as water and 
 barley became scarce.' 
 
 'Might I be permitted here to speak and yet live,' 
 said Agelastes, 'I would remark, that the Patriarch 
 himself made a similar retreat so soon as blows became 
 plenty and food scarce.' 
 
 'Thou hast hit it, Agelastes,' said the Emperor; 'but 
 the question now is, whether an honourable and impor- 
 tant principality could not be formed out of part of the 
 provinces of the Lesser Asia, now laid waste by the 
 Turks. Such a principality, methinks, with its various 
 advantages of soil, climate, industrious inhabitants, and 
 a healthy atmosphere, were well worth the morasses of 
 Bouillon. It might be held as a dependence upon the 
 sacred Roman em^pire, and garrisoned, as it were, by 
 Godfrey and his victorious Franks would be a bulwark 
 
 no
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 on that point to our just and sacred person. Ha ! most 
 holy Patriarch, would not such a prospect shake the 
 most devout crusader's attachment to the burning sands 
 of Palestine?' 
 
 'Especially,' answered the Patriarch, 'if the prince 
 for whom such a rich "theme" ^ was changed into a feu- 
 dal appanage should be previously converted to the only 
 true faith, as your Imperial Highness undoubtedly 
 means.' 
 
 'Certainly — most unquestionably,' answered the 
 Emperor, with a due affectation of gravity, notwithstand- 
 ing he was internally conscious how often he had been 
 compelled, by state necessities, to admit, not only Latin 
 Christians, but Manichaeans, and other heretics, nay, 
 Mohammedan barbarians, into the number of his sub- 
 jects, and that without experiencing opposition from the 
 scruples of the Patriarch. 'Here I find,' continued the 
 Emperor, ' such a numerous list of princes and princi- 
 palities in the act of approaching our boundaries as might 
 well rival the armies of old, who were said to have drunk 
 up rivers, exhausted realms, and trode down forests, in 
 their wasteful advance.' As he pronounced these words, 
 a shade of paleness came over the imperial brow, simi- 
 lar to that which had already clothed in sadness most of 
 his counsellors. 
 
 'This war of nations,' said Nicephorus, 'has also cir- 
 cumstances distinguishing it from every other, save that 
 which his Imperial Highness hath waged in former times 
 against those whom we are accustomed to call Franks. 
 We must go forth against a people to whom the strife of 
 combat is as the breath of their nostrils ; who, rather than 
 
 ^ The provinces were called ' themes.' 
 Ill
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 not be engaged in war, will do battle with their nearest 
 neighbours, and challenge each other to mortal fight, as 
 much in sport as we would defy a comrade to a chariot 
 race. They are covered with an impenetrable armour of 
 steel, defending them from blows of the lance and sword, 
 and which the uncommon strength of their horses ren- 
 ders them able to support, though one of ours could as 
 well bear Mount Olympus upon his loins. Their foot 
 ranks carry a missile weapon unknown to us, termed 
 an arblast, or cross-bow. It is not drawn with the right 
 hand, like the bow of other nations, but by placing the 
 feet upon the weapon itself, and pulHng with the whole 
 force of the body ; and it despatches arrows called bolts, 
 of hard wood pointed with iron, which the strength of 
 the bow can send through the strongest breastplates, and 
 even through stone walls, where not of uncommon thick- 
 ness.' 
 
 'Enough,' said the Emperor; 'we have seen with our 
 own eyes the lances of Frankish knights and the cross- 
 bows of their infantry. If Heaven has allotted them a 
 degree of bravery which to other nations seems well-nigh 
 preternatural, the Divine will has given to the Greek 
 councils that wisdom which it hath refused to barbarians 
 — the art of achieving conquest by wisdom rather than 
 brute force, obtaining by our skill in treaty advantages 
 which victory itself could not have procured. If we have 
 not the use of that dreadful weapon which our son-in-law 
 terms the cross-bow. Heaven, in its favour, has concealed 
 from these Western barbarians the composition and use of 
 the Greek fire — well so called, since by Grecian hands 
 alone it is prepared, and by such only can its lightnings be 
 darted upon the astonished foe.' The Emperor paused 
 
 112
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and looked around him; and although the faces of his 
 counsellors still looked blank, he boldly proceeded : ' But 
 to return yet again to this black scroll, containing the 
 names of those nations who approach our frontier, here 
 occur more than one with which, me thinks, old memory 
 should make us familiar, though our recollections are 
 distant and confused. It becomes us to know who these 
 men are, that we may avail ourselves of those feuds and 
 quarrels among them which, being blown into life, may 
 happily divert them from the prosecution of this extra- 
 ordinary attempt in which they are now united. Here 
 is, for example, one Robert, styled Duke of Normandy, 
 who commands a goodly band of counts, with which title 
 we are but too well acquainted; of "earls," a word to- 
 tally strange to us, but apparently some barbaric title 
 of honour; and of knights, whose names are compounded, 
 as we think, chiefly of the French language, but also of 
 another jargon, which we are not ourselves competent 
 to understand. To you, most reverend and most learned 
 Patriarch, we may fittest apply for information on this 
 subject.' 
 
 'The duties of my station,' replied the Patriarch Zosi- 
 mus, 'have withheld my riper years from studying the 
 history of distant realms; but the wise Agelastes, who 
 hath read as many volumes as would fill the shelves of 
 the famous Alexandrian Ubrary, can no doubt satisfy 
 your Imperial Majesty's inquiries.' 
 
 Agelastes erected himself on those enduring legs 
 which had procured him the surname of Elephant, and 
 began a reply to the inquiries of the Emperor rather re- 
 markable for readiness than accuracy. 'I have read,' 
 said he, ' in that brilliant mirror which reflects the time 
 43 113
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 of our fathers, the volumes of the learned Procopius, 
 that the people separately called Normans and Angles 
 are in truth the same race, and that Normandy, some- 
 times so called, is in fact a part of a district of Gaul. 
 Beyond and nearly opposite to it, but separated by an 
 arm of the sea, lies a ghastly region, on which clouds 
 and tempests for ever rest, and which is well known to its 
 continental neighbours as the abode to which departed 
 spirits are sent after this life. On one side of the strait 
 dwell a few fishermen, men possessed of a strange char- 
 ter, and enjoying singular privileges, in consideration of 
 their being the Hving ferr3nnen who, performing the office 
 of the heathen Charon, carry the spirits of the departed 
 to the island which is their residence after death. At the 
 dead of night these fishermen are, in rotation, summoned 
 to perform the duty by which they seem to hold the per- 
 mission to reside on this strange coast. A knock is heard 
 at the door of his cottage who holds the turn of this sin- 
 gular service, sounded by no mortal hand. A whispering, 
 as of a decaying breeze, summons the ferryman to his 
 duty. He hastens to his bark on the sea-shore, and has 
 no sooner launched it than he perceives its hull sink 
 sensibly in the water, so as to express the weight of the 
 dead with whom it is filled. No form is seen, and though 
 voices are heard, yet the accents are undistinguishable, 
 as of one who speaks in his sleep. Thus he traverses the 
 strait between the continent and the island, impressed 
 with the mysterious awe which affects the living when 
 they are conscious of the presence of the dead. They ar- 
 rive upon the opposite coast, where the cliffs of white 
 chalk form a strange contrast with the eternal darkness 
 of the atmosphere. They stop at a landing-place ap- 
 
 114
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 pointed, but disembark not, for the land is never trodden 
 by earthly feet. Here the passage-boat is gradually 
 lightened of its unearthly inmates, who wander forth in 
 the way appointed to them, while the mariners slowly 
 return to their own side of the strait, having performed 
 for the time this singular service, by which they hold 
 their fishing-huts and their possessions on that strange 
 coast.' 
 
 Here he ceased; and the Emperor replied — 'If this 
 legend be actually told us by Procopius, most learned 
 Agelastes, it shows that that celebrated historian came 
 more near the heathen than the Christian belief respect- 
 ing the future state. In truth, this is little more than the 
 old fable of the infernal Styx. Procopius, we believe, 
 lived before the decay of heathenism, and, as we would 
 gladly disbelieve much which he hath told us respecting 
 our ancestor and predecessor Justinian, so we will not 
 pay him much credit in future in point of geographical 
 knowledge. Meanwhile, what ails thee, Achilles Tatius, 
 and why dost thou whisper with that soldier? ' 
 
 'My head,' answered Achilles Tatius, 'is at your im- 
 perial command, prompt to pay for the unbecoming tres- 
 pass of my tongue. I did but ask of this Hereward here 
 what he knew of this matter; for I have heard my Varan- 
 gians repeatedly call themselves Anglo-Danes, Normans, 
 Britons, or some other barbaric epithet, and I am sure 
 that one or other, or it may be all, of these barbarous, 
 sounds at different times serve to designate the birth- 
 place of these exiles, too happy in being banished from 
 the darkness of barbarism to the luminous vicinity of 
 your imperial presence.' 
 
 'Speak, then, Varangian, in the name of Heaven/ 
 
 "5
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 said the Emperor, 'and let us know whether we are to 
 look for friends or enemies in those men of Normandy 
 who are now approaching our frontier. Speak with cour- 
 age, man; and if thou apprehendest danger, remember 
 thou servest a prince well quahfied to protect thee.' 
 
 'Since I am at liberty to speak,' answered the life- 
 guardsman, 'although my knowledge of the Greek lan- 
 guage, which you term the Roman, is but slight, I trust it 
 is enough to demand of his Imperial Highness, in place of 
 all pay, donative, or gift whatsoever, since he has been 
 pleased to talk of designing such for me, that he would 
 place me in the first hne of battle which shall be formed 
 against these same Normans and their Duke Robert; 
 and if he pleases to allow me the aid of such Varangians 
 as, for love of me, or hatred of their ancient tyrants, may 
 be disposed to join their arms to mine, I have little 
 doubt so to settle our long accounts with these men, that 
 the Grecian eagles and wolves shall do them the last of- 
 fice, by tearing the flesh from their bones.' 
 
 'What dreadful feud is this, my soldier,' said the Em- 
 peror, ' that after so many years still drives thee to such 
 extremities when the very name of Normandy is men- 
 tioned? ' 
 
 'Your Imperial Highness shall be judge,' said the 
 Varangian. ' My fathers, and those of most, though not 
 all, of the corps to whom I belong, are descended from 
 a valiant race who dwelt in the north of Germany, called 
 Anglo-Saxons. Nobody, save a priest possessed of the 
 art of consulting ancient chronicles, can even guess how 
 long it is since they came to the island of Britain, then 
 distracted with civil war. They came, however, on the 
 petition of the natives of the island, for the aid of the 
 
 ii6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Angles was requested by the southern inhabitants. Pro- 
 vinces were granted in recompense of the aid thus liber- 
 ally afforded, and the greater proportion of the island be- 
 came, by degrees, the property of the Anglo-Saxons, who 
 occupied it at first as several principalities, and latterly 
 as one kingdom, speaking the language, and observing 
 the laws, of most of those who now form your imperial 
 body-guard of Varangians, or exiles. In process of time, 
 the Northmen became known to the people of the more 
 southern climates. They were so called from their com- 
 ing from the distant regions of the Baltic Sea — an im- 
 mense ocean, sometimes frozen with ice as hard as the 
 cliffs of Mount Caucasus. They came seeking milder 
 regions than nature had assigned them at home; and 
 the climate of France being delightful, and its people 
 slow in battle, they extorted from them the grant of a 
 large province, which was, from the name of the new set- 
 tlers, called Normandy, though I have heard my father 
 say that was not its proper appellation. They settled 
 there under a duke, who acknowledged the superior au- 
 thority of the king of France, that is to say, obeying 
 him when it suited his convenience so to do. 
 
 'Now it chanced many years since, while these two 
 nations of Normans and Anglo-Saxons were quietly re- 
 siding upon different sides of the salt-water channel 
 which divides France from England, that WilUam, Duke 
 of Normandy, suddenly levied a large army, came over 
 to Kent, which is on the opposite side of the channel, and 
 there defeated, in a great battle, Harold, who was at 
 that time king of the Anglo-Saxons. It is but grief to 
 tell what followed. Battles have been fought in old time 
 that have had dreadful results, which years, neverthe- 
 
 117
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 less, could wash away; but at Hastings — O woe's me! 
 — the banner of my country fell, never again to be raised 
 up. Oppression has driven her wheel over us. All that 
 was valiant amongst us have left the land; and of ling- 
 lishmen — for such is our proper designation — no one 
 remains in England save as the thrall of the invaders. 
 Many men of Danish descent, who had found their way 
 on different occasions to England, were blended in the 
 common calamity. All was laid desolate by the com- 
 mand of the victors. My father's home Ues now an un- 
 distinguished ruin, amid an extensive forest, composed 
 out of what were formerly fair fields and domestic pas- 
 tures, where a manly race derived nourishment by cul- 
 tivating a friendly soil. The fire has destroyed the 
 church where sleep the fathers of my race; and I, the 
 last of their fine, am a wanderer in other climates, a 
 fighter of the battles of others, the servant of a foreign, 
 though a kind, master, in a word, one of the banished 
 — a Varangian.' 
 
 * Happier in that station,' said Achilles Tatius, 'than 
 in all the barbaric simplicity which your forefathers 
 prized so highly, since you are now under the cheering 
 influence of that smile which is the Hfe of the world.' 
 
 *It avails not talking of this,' said the Varangian, with 
 a cold gesture. 
 
 'These Normans,' said the Emperor, *are then the 
 people by whom the celebrated island of Britain is now 
 conquered and governed?' 
 
 *It is but too true,' answered the Varangian. 
 
 'They are, then, a brave and warlike people?' said 
 Alexius. 
 
 'It would be base and false to say otherwise of an 
 ii8
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 enemy/ said Hereward. 'Wrong have they done me, 
 and a wrong never to be atoned ; but to speak falsehood 
 of them were but a woman's vengeance. Mortal enemies 
 as they are to me, and mingling with all my recollections 
 as that which is hateful and odious, yet were the troops 
 of Europe mustered, as it seems they are likely to be, no 
 nation or tribe dared in gallantry claim the advance 
 of the haughty Norman.' 
 
 'And this Duke Robert, who is he?' 
 
 'That,' answered the Varangian, 'I cannot so well ex- 
 plain. He is the son — the eldest son, as men say, of the 
 tyrant William, who subdued England when I hardly 
 existed, or was a child in the cradle. That William, the 
 victor of Hastings, is now dead, we are assured by con- 
 curring testimony; but while it seems his eldest son Duke 
 Robert has become his heir to the duchy of Normandy, 
 some other of his children have been so fortunate as to 
 acquire the throne of England — unless, indeed, like 
 the petty farm of some obscure yeoman, the fair king- 
 dom has been divided among the tyrant's issue.' 
 
 'Concerning this,' said the Emperor, 'we have heard 
 something, which we shall try to reconcile with the sol- 
 dier's narrative at leisure, holding the words of this hon- 
 est Varangian as positive proof, in whatsoever he avers 
 from his own knowledge. And now, my grave and worthy 
 counsellors, we must close this evening's service in the 
 temple of the Muses, this distressing news, brought us by 
 our dearest son-in-law, the Caesar, having induced us to 
 prolong our worship of these learned goddesses deeper 
 into the night than is consistent with the health of our 
 beloved wife and daughter; while, to ourselves, this in- 
 telligence brings subject for grave deliberation.' 
 
 119
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The courtiers exhausted their ingenuity in forming 
 the most ingenious prayers that all evil consequences 
 should be averted which could attend this excessive 
 vigilance. 
 
 Nicephorus and his fair bride spoke together as a pair 
 equally desirous to close an accidental breach between 
 them. *Some things thou hast said, my Caesar,' observed 
 the lady, * in detailing this dreadful intelligence, as ele- 
 gantly turned as if the nine goddesses, to whom this 
 temple is dedicated, had lent each her aid to the sense 
 and expression.' 
 
 *I need none of their assistance,' answered Nicephorus, 
 * since I possess a muse of my own, in whose genius are 
 included all those attributes which the heathens vainly 
 ascribed to the nine deities of Parnassus.' 
 
 'It is well,' said the fair historian, retiring by the as- 
 sistance of her husband's arm; 'but if you will load your 
 wife with praises far beyond her merits, you must lend 
 her your arm to support her under the weighty burden 
 you have been pleased to impose. ' The council parted 
 when the imperial persons had retired, and most of them 
 sought to indemnify themselves in more free, though less 
 dignified, circles for the constraint which they had prac- 
 tised in the temple of the Muses.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 Vain man! thou mayst esteem thy love as fair 
 
 As fond hyperboles suffice to raise. 
 
 She may be all that 's matchless in her person, 
 
 And all-divine in soul to match her body; 
 
 But take this from me — thou shalt never call her 
 
 Superior to her sex, while one survives. 
 
 And I am her true votary. 
 
 Old Play. 
 
 Achilles Tatius, with his faithful Varangian close by 
 his shoulder, melted from the dispersing assembly 
 silently and almost invisibly, as snow is dissolved from its 
 Alpine abodes as the days become more genial. No lordly 
 step or clash of armour betokened the retreat of the miH- 
 tary persons. The very idea of the necessity of guards 
 was not ostentatiously brought forward, because, so near 
 the presence of the Emperor, the emanation supposed to 
 flit around that divinity of earthly sovereigns had credit 
 for rendering it impassive and unassailable. Thus the 
 oldest and most skilful courtiers, among whom our friend 
 Agelastes was not to be forgotten, were of opinion that, 
 although the Emperor employed the ministry of the 
 Varangians and other guards, it was rather for form's 
 sake than from any danger of the commission of a crime 
 of a kind so heinous that it was the fashion to account 
 it almost impossible. And this doctrine, of the rare oc- 
 currence of such a crime, was repeated from month to 
 month in those very chambers where it had oftener 
 than once been perpetrated, and sometimes by the very 
 persons who monthly laid schemes for carrying some 
 
 121
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 dark conspiracy against the reigning emperor into posi- 
 tive execution. 
 
 At length the captain of the Hfe-guardsmen and his 
 faithful attendant found themselves on the outside of 
 the Blacquernal Palace. The passage which Achilles 
 found for their exit was closed by a postern which a single 
 Varangian shut behind them, drawing, at the same time, 
 bolt and bar with an ill-omened and jarring sound. Look- 
 ing back at the mass of turrets, battlements and spires 
 out of which they had at length emerged, Here ward could 
 not but feel his heart hghten to find himself once more 
 under the deep blue of a Grecian heaven, where the plan- 
 ets were burning with unusual lustre. He sighed and 
 rubbed his hands with pleasure, like a man newly re- 
 stored to liberty. He even spoke to his leader, contrary 
 to his custom unless addressed. 'Methinks the air of 
 yonder halls, valorous captain, carries with it a perfume 
 which, though it may be well termed sweet, is so suffo- 
 cating as to be more suitable to sepulchrous chambers 
 than to the dwellings of men. Happy I am that I am 
 free, as I trust, from its influences.' 
 
 *Be happy, then,' said Achilles Tatius, 'since thy 
 vile, cloddish spirit feels suffocation rather than refresh- 
 ment in gales which, instead of causing death, might re- 
 call the dead themselves to life. Yet this I will say for 
 thee, Hereward, that, born a barbarian within the narrow 
 circle of a savage's desires and pleasures, and having no 
 idea of life save what thou derivest from such vile and 
 base connexions, thou art, nevertheless, designed by na- 
 ture for better things, and hast this day sustained a 
 trial in which, I fear me, not even one of mine own noble 
 corps, frozen as they are into lumps of unfashioned bar- 
 
 122
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 barity, could have equalled thy bearing. And speak now 
 in true faith, hast not thou been rewarded? ' 
 
 'That will I never deny,' said the Varangian. 'The 
 pleasure of knowing, twenty-four hours perhaps before 
 my comrades, that the Normans are coming hither to 
 afford us a full revenge of the bloody day of Hastings is a 
 lordly recompense for the task of spending some hours 
 in hearing the lengthened chat of a lady, who has written 
 about she knows not what, and the flattering commen- 
 taries of the bystanders, who pretended to give her an 
 account of what they did not themselves stop to wit- 
 ness.' 
 
 ' Hereward, my good youth,' said Achilles Tatius, * thou 
 ravest, and I think I should do well to place thee under 
 the custody of some person of skill. Too much hardi- 
 hood, my valiant soldier, is in soberness allied to over- 
 daring. It was only natural that thou shouldst feel 
 becoming pride in thy late position ; yet, let it but taint 
 thee with vanity, and the effect will be little short of 
 madness. Why, thou hast looked boldly in the face of a 
 princess born in the purple, before whom my own eyes, 
 though well used to such spectacles, are never raised 
 beyond the foldings of her veil.' 
 
 'So be it, in the name of Heaven!' replied Hereward. 
 ' Nevertheless, handsome faces were made to look upon, 
 and the eyes of young men to see withal.' 
 
 'If such be their final end,' said Achilles, 'never did 
 thine, I will freely suppose, find a richer apology for the 
 somewhat overbold license which thou tookest in thy 
 gaze upon the Princess this evening.' 
 
 ' Good leader, or Follower, whichever is your favourite 
 title,' said the Anglo-Briton, 'drive hot to extremity a 
 
 123
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 plain man, who desires to hold his duty in all honour to 
 the imperial family. The Princess, wife of the Csesar, 
 and born, you tell me, of a purple colour, has now in- 
 herited, notwithstanding, the features of a most lovely 
 woman. She hath composed a history, of which I pre- 
 sume not to form a judgment, since I cannot understand 
 it; she sings like an angel; and to conclude, after the 
 fashion of the knights of this day — though I deal not 
 ordinarily with their language — I would say cheerfully 
 that I am ready to place myself in lists against any one 
 whomsoever who dares detract from the beauty of the 
 imperial Anna Comnena's person, or from the virtues of 
 her mind. Having said this, my noble captain, we have 
 said all that it is competent for you to inquire into or for 
 me to answer. That there are handsomer women than 
 the Princess is unquestionable; and I question it the less, 
 that I have myself seen a person whom I think far her 
 superior; and with that let us close the dialogue.' 
 
 'Thy beauty, thou imparalleled fool,' said Achilles, 
 'must, I ween, be the daughter of the large-bodied 
 Northern boor, living next door to him upon whose farm 
 was brought up the person of an ass, curst with such 
 intolerable want of judgment.' 
 
 'You may say your pleasure, captain,' replied Here- 
 ward; 'because it is the safer for us both that thou canst 
 not on such a topic either offend me, who hold thy judg- 
 ment as light as thou canst esteem mine, or speak any 
 derogation of a person whom you never saw, but whom, 
 if you had seen, perchance I might not so patiently have 
 brooked any reflections upon, even at the hands of a 
 military superior.' 
 
 Achilles Tatius had a good deal of the penetration 
 124
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 necessary for one in his situation. He never provoked to 
 extremity the daring spirits whom he commanded, and 
 never used any freedom with them beyond the extent 
 that he knew their patience could bear. Hereward was a 
 favourite soldier, and had, in that respect at least, a 
 sincere liking and regard for his commander; when, 
 therefore, the Follower, instead of resenting his petu- 
 lance, good-humouredly apologised for having hurt his 
 feelings, the momentary displeasure between them was 
 at an end : the officer at once reassumed his superiority, 
 and the soldier sunk back with a deep sigh, given to 
 some period which was long past, into his wonted silence 
 and reserve. Indeed, the Follower had another and fur- 
 ther design upon Hereward, of which he was as yet un- 
 willing to do more than give a distant hint. 
 
 After a long pause, during which they approached the 
 barracks, a gloomy fortified building constructed for the 
 residence of their corps, the captain motioned his soldier 
 to draw close up to his side, and proceeded to ask him, in 
 a confidential tone — 'Hereward, my friend, although it 
 it scarce to be supposed that in the presence of the im- 
 perial family thou shouldst mark any one who did not 
 partake of their blood, or rather, as Homer has it, who 
 did not participate of the divine ichor, which, in their 
 sacred persons, supplies the place of that vulgar fluid, 
 yet, during so long an audience, thou mightst possibly, 
 from his uncourtly person and attire, have distinguished 
 Agelastes, whom we courtiers call the Elephant, from his 
 strict observation of the rule which forbids any one to 
 sit down or rest in the imperial presence? ' 
 
 *I think,' replied the soldier, 'I marked the man you 
 mean: his age was some seventy and upwards — a big, 
 
 125
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 burly person; and the baldness which reached to the top 
 of his head was well atoned for by a white beard of pro- 
 digious size, which descended in waving curls over his 
 breast, and reached to the towel with which his loins 
 were girded, instead of the silken sash used by other 
 persons of rank.' 
 
 *Most accurately marked, my Varangian,' said the 
 ofl&cer. 'What else didst thou note about this person?' 
 
 * His cloak was in its texture as coarse as that of the 
 meanest of the people, but it was strictly clean, as if it 
 had been the intention of the wearer to exhibit poverty, 
 or carelessness and contempt of dress, avoiding, at the 
 same time, every particular which implied anything negli- 
 gent, sordid, or disgusting.' 
 
 'By St. Sophia,' said the officer, ' thou astonishest me! 
 The prophet Balaam was not more surprised when his 
 ass turned round her head and spoke to him. And what 
 else didst thou note concerning this man? I see those who 
 meet thee must beware of thy observation as well as of 
 thy battle-axe.' 
 
 'If it please your valour,' answered the soldier, 'we 
 English have eyes as well as hands ; but it is only when 
 discharging our duty that we permit our tongues to dwell 
 on what we have observed. I noted but little of this 
 man's conversation ; but from what I heard, it seemed he 
 was not unwilling to play what we call the jester, or jack- 
 pudding, in the conversation — a character which, con- 
 sidering the man's age and physiognomy, is not, I should 
 be tempted to say, natural, but assumed for some pur- 
 pose of deeper import.' 
 
 'Hereward,' answered his officer, 'thou hast spoken 
 like an angel sent down to examine men's bosoms: that 
 
 126
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 man, Agelastes, is a contradiction such as earth has sel- 
 dom witnessed. Possessing all that wisdom which in 
 former times united the sages of this nation with the gods 
 themselves, Agelastes has the same cunning as the elder 
 Brutus, who disguised his talents under the semblance of 
 an idle jester. He appears to seek no office — he desires 
 no consideration — he pays suit at court only when posi- 
 tively required to do so; yet what shall I say, my soldier, 
 concerning the cause of an influence gained without 
 apparent effort, and extending almost into the very 
 thoughts of men, who appear to act as he would desire, 
 without his soliciting them to that purpose? Men say 
 strange things concerning the extent of his communica- 
 tions with other beings, whom our fathers worshipped 
 with prayer and sacrifice. I am determined, however, to 
 know the road by which he climbs so high and so easily 
 towards the point to which all men aspire at court, and it 
 will go hard but he shall either share his ladder with me 
 or I will strike its support from under him. Thee, Here- 
 ward, I have chosen to assist me in this matter, as 
 the knights among these Prankish infidels select, when 
 going upon an adventure, a sturdy squire, or inferior 
 attendant, to share the dangers and the recompense ; and 
 this I am moved to, as much by the shrewdness thou 
 hast this night manifested as by the courage which thou 
 mayst boast, in common with, or rather beyond, thy 
 companions.' 
 
 *I am obliged, and I thank your valour,' replied the 
 Varangian, more coldly perhaps than his officer ex- 
 pected; 'I am ready, as is my duty, to serve you in any- 
 thing consistent with God and the Emperor's claims upon 
 my service. I would only say that, as a sworn inferior 
 
 127
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 soldier, I will do nothing contrary to the laws of the em- 
 pire, and, as a sincere though ignorant Christian, I will 
 have nothing to do with the gods of the heathens, save 
 to defy them in the name and strength of the holy 
 saints.' 
 
 'Idiot!' said Achilles Tatius, 'dost thou think that I, 
 already possessed of one of the first dignities of the em- 
 pire, could meditate anything contrary to the interests 
 of Alexius Comnenus? or, what would be scarce more 
 atrocious, that I, the chosen friend and ally of the rever- 
 end Patriarch Zosimus, should meddle with anything 
 bearing a relation, however remote, to heresy or idola- 
 try?' 
 
 'Truly,' answered the Varangian, 'no one would be 
 more surprised or grieved than I should; but when we 
 walk in a labyrinth, we must assume and announce that 
 we have a steady and forward purpose, which is one mode 
 at least of keeping a straight path. The people of this 
 country have so many ways of saying the same thing, 
 that one can hardly know at last what is their real mean- 
 ing. We English, on the other hand, can only express 
 ourselves in one set of words, but it is one out of which 
 all the ingenuity of the world could not extract a double 
 meaning.' 
 
 "T is well,' said his officer; 'to-morrow we will talk 
 more of this, for which purpose thou wilt come to my 
 quarters a little after sunset. And hark thee, to-morrow, 
 while the sun is in heaven, shall be thine own, either to 
 sport thyself or to repose. Employ thy time in the latter, 
 by my advice, since to-morrow night, like the present, 
 may find us both watchers.' 
 
 So saying, they entered the barracks, where they 
 
 128
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 parted company — the commander of the life-guards 
 taking his way to a splendid set of apartments which 
 belonged to him in that capacity, and the Anglo-Saxon 
 seeking his more humble accommodations as a subaltern 
 officer of the same corps. 
 
 48
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 Such forces met not, nor so wide a camp. 
 
 When Agrican, with all his northern powers, 
 
 Besieged Albracca, as romances tell, 
 
 The city of Gallaphrone, from thence to win 
 
 The fairest of her sex, Angelica, 
 
 His daughter, sought by many prowess'd knigbis. 
 
 Both Paynim and the peers of Charlemagne. 
 
 Paradise Regained. 
 
 Early on the morning of the day following that which 
 we have commemorated, the imperial council was assem- 
 bled, where the number of general oflBcers with sounding 
 titles disguised under a thin veil the real weakness of the 
 Grecian empire. The commanders were numerous, and 
 the distinctions of their rank minute, but the soldiers 
 were very few in comparison. 
 
 The offices formerly filled by prefects, praetors, and 
 questors were now held by persons who had gradually 
 risen into the authority of those officers, and who, though 
 designated from their domestic duties about the Em- 
 peror, yet, from that very circumstance, possessed what, 
 in that despotic court, was the most effectual source of 
 power. A long train of ofiicers entered the great hall of 
 the Castle of Blacquernal, and proceeded so far together 
 as their different grades admitted, while in each chamber 
 through which they passed in succession a certain num- 
 ber of the train, whose rank permitted them to advance 
 no further, remained behind the others. Thus, when the 
 interior cabinet of audience was gained, which was not 
 until their passage through ten ante-rooms, five persons 
 only found themselves in the presence of the Emperor 
 
 130
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 in this innermost and most sacred recess of royalty, 
 decorated by all the splendour of the period. 
 
 The Emperor Alexius sat upon a stately throne, rich 
 with barbaric gems and gold, and flanked on either hand, 
 in imitation probably of Solomon's magnificence, with 
 the form of a couchant lion in the same precious metal. 
 Not to dwell upon other marks of splendour, a tree, whose 
 trunk seemed also of gold, shot up behind the throne, 
 which it overcanopied with its branches. Amid the 
 boughs were birds of various kinds, curiously wrought 
 and enamelled, and fruit composed of precious stones 
 seemed to glisten among the leaves. Five officers alone, 
 the highest in the state, had the privilege of entering this 
 sacred recess when the Emperor held council. These 
 were the Grand Domestic, who might be termed of rank 
 with a modern prime minister; the Logothete, or chan- 
 cellor; the Protospathaire, or commander of the guards, 
 already mentioned ; the Acolyte, or Follower, and leader 
 of the Varangians; and the Patriarch. 
 
 The doors of this secret apartment and the adjacent 
 ante-chamber were guarded by six deformed Nubian 
 slaves, whose writhen and withered countenances formed 
 a hideous contrast with their snow-white dresses and 
 splendid equipment. They were mutes, a species of 
 wretches borrowed from the despotism of the East, that 
 they might be unable to proclaim the deeds of tyranny 
 of which they were the unscrupulous agents. They were 
 generally held in a kind of horror rather than compas- 
 sion, for men considered that slaves of this sort had a 
 malignant pleasure in avenging upon others the irrepa- 
 rable wrongs which had severed themselves from hu- 
 manity. 
 
 131
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 It was a general custom, though, like many other 
 usages of the Greeks, it would be held childish in modern 
 times, that, by means of machinery easily conceived, 
 the lions, at the entrance of a stranger, were made, as it 
 were, to rouse themselves and roar, after which a wind 
 seemed to rustle the foliage of the tree, the birds hopped 
 from branch to branch, pecked the fruit, and appeared 
 to fill the chamber with their carolling. This display 
 had alarmed many an ignorant foreign ambassador, and 
 even the Grecian counsellors themselves were expected 
 to display the same sensations of fear, succeeded by sur- 
 prise, when they heard the roar of the lions, followed 
 by the concert of the birds, although perhaps it was for 
 the fiftieth time. On this occasion, as a proof of the ur- 
 gency of the present meeting of the council, these cere- 
 monies were entirely omitted. 
 
 The speech of the Emperor himself seemed to supply 
 by its commencement the bellowing of the lions, while it 
 ended in a strain more resembling the warbling of the 
 birds. 
 
 In his first sentences, he treated of the audacity and 
 unheard-of boldness of the millions of Franks, who, under 
 the pretence of wresting Palestine from the infidels, had 
 ventured to invade the sacred territories of the empire. 
 He threatened them with such chastisement as his 
 innumerable forces and officers would, he affirmed, find 
 it easy to inflict. To all this the audience, and especially 
 the military officers, gave symptoms of ready assent. 
 
 Alexius, however, did not long persist in the warlike 
 intentions which he at first avowed. The Franks, he at 
 length seemed to reflect, were, in profession, Christians. 
 They might possibly be serious in their pretext of a 
 
 132
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 crusade, in which case their motives claimed a degree 
 of indulgence, and, although erring, a certain portion of 
 respect. Their numbers also were great, and their valour 
 could not be despised by those who had seen them fight 
 at Durazzo ^ and elsewhere. They might also, by the 
 permission of Supreme Providence, be in the long-run, 
 the instruments of advantage to the most sacred empire, 
 though they approached it with so little ceremony. He 
 had, therefore, mingling the virtues of prudence, hu- 
 manity, and generosity with that valour which must al- 
 ways burn in the heart of an Emperor, formed a plan, 
 which he was about to submit to their consideration, 
 for present execution; and, in the first place, he requested 
 of the Grand Domestic to let him know what forces he 
 might count upon on the western side of the Bosphorus. 
 
 * Innumerable are the forces of the empire as the stars 
 in heaven, or the sand on the sea-shore,' answered the 
 Grand Domestic. 
 
 'That is a goodly answer,' said the Emperor, 'pro- 
 vided there were strangers present at this conference; 
 but, since we hold consultation in private, it is necessary 
 that I know precisely to what number that army amounts 
 which I have to rely upon. Reserve your eloquence till 
 some fitter time, and let me know what you, at this 
 present moment, mean by the word "innumerable."' 
 
 The Grand Domestic paused, and hesitated for a short 
 space; but, as he became aware that the moment was 
 one in which the Emperor could not be trifled with, for 
 Alexius Comnenus was at times dangerous, he answered 
 thus, but not without hesitation — * Imperial master 
 
 1 For the battle of Durazzo, October, 1081, in which Alexius was de- 
 feated with great slaughter by Robert Guiscard, and escaped only by 
 the swiftness of his horse, see Gibbon, ch. lvi.
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 and lord, none better knows that such an answer cannot 
 be hastily made, if it is at the same time to be correct in 
 its results. The number of the imperial host betwixt this 
 city and the western frontier of the empire, deducting 
 those absent upon furlough, cannot be counted upon as 
 amounting to more than twenty-five thousand men, or 
 thirty thousand at most.' 
 
 Alexius struck his forehead with his hand; and the 
 counsellors, seeing him give way to such violent expres- 
 sions of grief and surprise, began to enter into discus- 
 sions which they would otherwise have reserved for a 
 fitter place and time. 
 
 *By the trust your Highness reposes in me,' said the 
 Logothete, ' there has been drawn from your Highness's 
 coffers during the last year gold enough to pay double 
 the number of the armed warriors whom the Grand 
 Domestic now mentions.' 
 
 'Your Imperial Highness,' retorted the impeached 
 minister, with no small animation, ' will at once remember 
 the stationary garrisons, in addition to the movable 
 troops, for which this figure-caster makes no allowance.' 
 
 'Peace, both of you!' said Alexius, composing himself 
 hastily; 'our actual numbers are in truth less than we 
 counted on, but let us not by wrangling augment the 
 difficulties of the time. Let those troops be dispersed in 
 valleys, in passes, behind ridges of hills, and in difficult 
 ground, where a little art being used in the position can 
 make few men supply the appearance of numbers, be- 
 tween this city and the western frontier of the empire. 
 While this disposal is made, we will continue to adjust 
 with these crusaders, as they call themselves, the terms 
 on which we will consent to let them pass through our 
 
 134
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 dominions; nor are we without hope of negotiating with 
 them, so as to gain great advantage to our kingdom. We 
 will insist that they pass through our country only by 
 armies of perhaps fifty thousand at once, whom we will 
 successively transport into Asia, so that no greater 
 number shall, by assembling beneath our walls, ever 
 endanger the safety of the metropolis of the world. 
 
 * On their way towards the banks of the Bosphorus, we 
 will supply them with provisions, if they march peace- 
 ably and in order; and if any straggle from their stand- 
 ards, or insult the country by marauding, we suppose 
 our valiant peasants will not hesitate to repress their 
 excesses, and that without our giving positive orders, 
 since we would not willingly be charged with anything 
 like a breach of engagement. We suppose, also, that the 
 Scythians, Arabs, Syrians, and other mercenaries in our 
 service will not suffer our subjects to be overpowered in 
 their own just defence; as, besides that there is no justice 
 in stripping our own country of provisions, in order to 
 feed strangers, we will not be surprised, nor unpardon- 
 ably displeased, to learn that, of the ostensible quantity 
 of flour, some sacks should be foimd filled with chalk, or 
 lime, or some such substance. It is, indeed, truly won- 
 derful what the stomach of a Frank will digest comfort- 
 ably. Their guides, also, whom you shall choose with 
 reference to such duty, will take care to conduct the 
 crusaders by difficult and circuitous routes; which will 
 be doing them a real service, by inuring them to the 
 hardships of the country and climate, which they would 
 otherwise have to face without seasoning. 
 
 ' In the meantime, in your intercourse with their chiefs, 
 whom they call coimts, each of whom thinks himself as 
 
 135
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 great as an emperor, you will take care to give no offence 
 to their natural presumption, and omit no opportunity 
 of informing them of the wealth and bounty of our gov- 
 ernment. Sums of money may be even given to persons 
 of note, and largesses of less avail to those under them. 
 You, our Logothete, will take good order for this, and 
 you, our Grand Domestic, will take care that such sol- 
 diers as may cut off detached parties of the Franks shall 
 be presented, if possible, in savage dress, and under the 
 show of infidels. In commending these injunctions to 
 your care, I purpose that the crusaders, having found the 
 value of our friendship, and also in some sort the danger 
 of our enmity, those whom we shall safely transport to 
 Asia shall be, however unwieldy, still a small and more 
 compact body, whom we may deal with in all Christian 
 prudence. Thus, by using fair words to one, threats to 
 another, gold to the avaricious, power to the ambitious, 
 and reasons to those that are capable of listening to 
 them, we doubt not but to prevail upon those Franks, 
 met as they are from a thousand points, and enemies 
 of each other, to acknowledge us as their common supe- 
 rior, rather than choose a leader among themselves, 
 when they are made aware of the great fact that every 
 village in Palestine, from Dan to Beersheba, is the 
 original property of the sacred Roman empire, and 
 that whatever Christian goes to war for their recovery 
 must go as our subject, and hold any conquest which he 
 may make as our vassal. Vice and virtue, sense and folly, 
 ambition and disinterested devotion, will alike recom- 
 mend to the survivors of these singular-minded men to 
 become the feudatories of the empire, not its foe, and the 
 shield, not the enemy, of your paternal Emperor.' 
 
 136
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 There was a general inclination of the head among the 
 courtiers, with the Eastern exclamation of, *Long live 
 the Emperor!' 
 
 When the murmur of this applausive exclamation had 
 subsided, Alexius proceeded — ' Once more, I say, that 
 my faithful Grand Domestic, and those who act under 
 him, will take care to commit the execution of such part 
 of these orders as may seem aggressive to troops of for- 
 eign appearance and language, which, I grieve to say, 
 are more mmierous in our imperial army than our natural 
 born and orthodox subjects.' 
 
 The Patriarch here interposed his opinion. 'There is 
 a consolation,' he said, * in the thought that the genuine 
 Romans in the imperial army are but few, since a trade 
 so bloody as war is most fitly prosecuted by those whose 
 doctrines, as well as their doings, on earth merit eternal 
 condemnation in the next world.' 
 
 'Reverend Patriarch,' said the Emperor, 'we would 
 not willingly hold, with the wild infidels, that Paradise 
 is to be gained by the sabre; nevertheless, we would hope 
 that a Roman dying in battle for his religion and his Em- 
 peror may find as good hope of acceptation, after the 
 mortal pang is over, as a man who dies in peace, and with 
 unblooded hand.' 
 
 'It is enough for me to say,' resumed the Patriarch, 
 'that the church's doctrine is not so indulgent: she is 
 herself peaceful, and her promises of favour are for those 
 who have been men of peace. Yet think not I bar the 
 gates of Heaven against a soldier, as such, if believing all 
 the doctrines of our church, and complying with all our 
 observances; far less would I condemn your Imperial 
 Majesty's wise precautions, both for diminishing the 
 
 137
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 power and thinning the ranks of those Latin heretics, 
 who come hither, to despoil us, and plunder perhaps 
 both church and temple, under the vain pretext that 
 Heaven would permit them, stained with so many 
 heresies, to reconquer that Holy Land which true ortho- 
 dox Christians, your Majesty's sacred predecessors, have 
 not been enabled to retain from the infidel. And well I 
 trust that no settlement made under the Latins will be 
 permitted by your Majesty to establish itself in which 
 the cross shall not be elevated with Umbs of the same 
 length, instead of that irregular and most damnable error 
 which prolongs, in Western churches, the nether limb 
 of that most holy emblem/ 
 
 'Reverend Patriarch,' answered the Emperor, 'do not 
 deem that we think lightly of your weighty scruples; but 
 the question is now, not in what manner we may convert 
 these Latin heretics to the true faith, but how we may 
 avoid being overrun by their myriads, which resemble 
 those of the locusts by which their approach was pre- 
 ceded and intimated.' 
 
 'Your Majesty,' said the Patriarch, 'will act with your 
 usual wisdom ; for my part, I have only stated my doubts, 
 that I may save my own soul alive.' 
 
 'Our construction,' said the Emperor, 'does your sen- 
 timents no wrong, most reverend Patriarch; and you,' 
 addressing himself to the other counsellors, 'will attend 
 to these separate charges given out for directing the exe- 
 cution of the commands which have been generally 
 intimated to you. They are written out in the sacred 
 ink, and our sacred subscription is duly marked with the 
 fitting tinge of green and purple. Let them, therefore, 
 be strictly obeyed. Ourselves will assume the command 
 
 138
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 of such of the Immortal Bands as remain in the city, 
 and join to them the cohorts of our faithful Varangians. 
 At the head of these troops we will await the arrival of 
 these strangers under the walls of the city, and, avoiding 
 combat while our policy can postpone it, we will be ready, 
 in case of the worst, to take whatsoever chance it shall 
 please the Almighty to send us.' 
 
 Here the council broke up, and the different chiefs 
 began to exert themselves in the execution of their va- 
 rious instructions, civil and military, secret or public, fa- 
 vourable or hostile to the crusaders. The pecuUar genius 
 of the Grecian people was seen upon this occasion. Their 
 loud and boastful talking corresponded with the ideas 
 which the Emperor wished to enforce upon the crusaders 
 concerning the extent of his power and resources. Nor 
 is it to be disguised that the wily selfishness of most of 
 those in the service of Alexius endeavoured to find some 
 indirect way of applying the imperial instruction so as 
 might best suit their own private ends. 
 
 Meantime, the news had gone abroad in Constantinople 
 of the arrival of the huge miscellaneous army of the West 
 upon the limits of the Grecian empire, and of their pur- 
 pose to pass to Palestine. A thousand reports magnified, 
 if that was possible, an event so wonderful. Some said 
 that their ultimate view was the conquest of Arabia, the 
 destruction of the Prophet's tomb, and the conversion 
 of his green banner into a horse-cloth for the king of 
 France's brother. Others supposed that the ruin and 
 sack of Constantinople was the real object of the war. 
 A third class thought it was in order to compel the Pa- 
 triarch to submit himself to the Pope, adopt the Latin 
 form of the cross, and put an end to the schism. 
 
 139
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The Varangians enjoyed an addition to this wonder- 
 ful news, seasoned as it everywhere was with something 
 peculiarly suited to the prejudices of the hearers. It was 
 gathered originally from what our friend Hereward, who 
 was one of their inferior officers, called sergeants or con- 
 stables, had suffered to transpire of what he had heard 
 the preceding evening. Considering that the fact must 
 be soon matter of notoriety, he had no hesitation to give 
 his comrades to understand that a Norman army was 
 coming hither under Duke Robert, the son of the far- 
 famed William the Conqueror, and with hostile inten- 
 tions, he concluded, against them in particular. Like 
 all other men in peculiar circumstances, the Varan- 
 gians adopted an explanation apphcable to their own 
 condition. These Normans, who hated the Saxon nation, 
 and had done so much to dishonour and oppress them, 
 were now following them, they supposed, to the foreign 
 capital where they had found refuge, with the purpose 
 of making war on the bountiful prince who protected 
 their sad remnant. Under this belief, many a deep 
 oath was sworn in Norse and Anglo-Saxon, that their 
 keen battle-axes should avenge the slaughter of Hast- 
 ings, and many a pledge, both in wine and ale, was 
 quaffed, who should most deeply resent and most 
 effectually revenge the wrongs which the Anglo-Saxons 
 of England had received at the hand of their oppres- 
 sors. 
 
 Hereward, the author of this intelHgence, began soon 
 to be sorry that he had ever suffered it to escape him, so 
 closely was he cross-examined concerning its precise im- 
 port, by the inquiries of his comrades, from whom he 
 thought himself obliged to keep concealed the adven- 
 
 140
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 tures of the preceding evening, and the place in which 
 he had gained his information. 
 
 About noon, when he was effectually tired with return- 
 ing the same answer to the same questions, and evading 
 similar others which were repeatedly put to him, the 
 sound of trumpets announced the presence of the Acolyte 
 Achilles Tatius, who came immediately, it was indus- 
 triously whispered, from the sacred interior, with news 
 of the immediate approach of war. 
 
 The Varangians and the Roman bands called Immor- 
 tal, it was said, were to form a camp under the city, in 
 order to be prompt to defend it at the shortest notice. 
 This put the whole barracks into commotion, each man 
 making the necessary provision for the approaching 
 campaign. The noise was chiefly that of joyful bustle 
 and acclamation; and it was so general, that Hereward, 
 whose rank permitted him to commit to a page, or es- 
 quire, the task of preparing his equipments, took the 
 opportunity to leave the barracks, in order to seek some 
 distant place apart from his comrades, and enjoy his 
 solitary reflections upon the singular connexion into 
 which he had been drawn, and his direct communication 
 with the imperial family. 
 
 Passing through the narrow streets, then deserted on 
 account of the heat of the sun, he reached at length one 
 of those broad terraces which, descending, as it were by 
 steps, upon the margin of the Bosphorus, formed one 
 of the most splendid walks in the universe, and still, it 
 is believed, preserved as a public promenade for the 
 pleasure of the Turks, as formerly for that of the Chris- 
 tians. These graduated terraces were planted with many 
 trees, among which the cypress, as usual, was most 
 
 141
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 generally cultivated. Here bands of the inhabitants 
 were to be seen — some passing to and fro, with business 
 and anxiety in their faces; some standing still in groups, 
 as if discussing the strange and weighty tidings of the 
 day; and some, with the indolent carelessness of an 
 Eastern climate, eating their noon-tide refreshment in 
 the shade, and spending their time as if their sole object 
 was to make much of the day as it passed, and let the 
 cares of to-morrow answer for themselves. 
 
 While the Varangian, afraid of meeting some acquaint- 
 ance in this concourse, which would have been incon- 
 sistent with the desire of seclusion which had brought 
 him thither, descended or passed from one terrace to 
 another, all marked him with looks of curiosity and in- 
 quiry, considering him to be one who, from his arms and 
 connexion with the court, must necessarily know more 
 than others concerning the singular invasion by numer- 
 ous enemies, and from various quarters, which was the 
 news of the day. None, however, had the hardihood to 
 address the soldier of the guard, though all looked at him 
 with uncommon interest. He walked from the lighter 
 to the darker alleys, from the more closed to the more 
 open terraces, without interruption from any one, yet 
 not without a feeling that he must not consider himself 
 as alone. 
 
 The desire that he felt to be solitary rendered him at 
 last somewhat watchful, so that he became sensible that 
 he was dogged by a black slave, a personage not so un- 
 frequent in the streets of Constantinople as to excite 
 any particular notice. His attention, however, being at 
 length fixed on this individual, he began to be desirous 
 to escape his observation; and the change of place which 
 
 142
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 he had at first adopted to avoid society in general he had 
 now recourse to, in order to rid himself of this distant, 
 though apparently watchful, attendant. Still, however, 
 though he by change of place had lost sight of the negro 
 for a few minutes, it was not long ere he again discovered 
 him, at a distance too far for a companion, but near 
 enough to serve all the purposes of a spy. Displeased at 
 this, the Varangian turned short in his walk, and, choos- 
 ing a spot where none was in sight but the object of his 
 resentment, walked suddenly up to him, and demanded 
 wherefore, and by whose orders, he presumed to dog his 
 footsteps. The negro answered in a jargon as bad as that 
 in which he was addressed, though of a different kind, 
 *that he had orders to remark whither he went.* 
 
 'Orders from whom?' said the Varangian. 
 
 'From my master and yours,' answered the negro, 
 boldly. 
 
 'Thou uifidel villain!' exclaimed the angry soldier, 
 'when was it that we became fellow-servants, and who 
 is it that thou darest to call my master? ' 
 
 'One who is master of the world,' said the slave, 'since 
 he commands his own passions.' 
 
 'I shall scarce command mine,' said the Varangian, 
 'if thou repliest to my earnest questions with thine af- 
 fected quirks of philosophy. Once more, what dost thou 
 want with me? and why hast thou the boldness to watch 
 me?' 
 
 ' I have told thee already,' said the slave, ' that I do my 
 master's commands.' 
 
 'But I must know who thy master is,' said Here- 
 ward. 
 
 'He must tell thee that himself,' replied the negro: 
 
 143
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 *he trusts not a poor slave like me with the purpose of 
 the errands on which he sends me.' 
 
 'He has left thee a tongue, however/ said the Varan- 
 gian, 'which some of thy countrymen would, I think, 
 be glad to possess. Do not provoke me to abridge it by 
 refusing me the information which I have a right to de- 
 mand.' 
 
 The black meditated, as it seemed from the grin on 
 his face, further evasions, when Hereward cut them short 
 by raising the staff of his battle-axe. 'Put me not,' he 
 said, ' to dishonour myself by striking thee with this 
 weapon, calculated for a use so much more noble.' 
 
 'I may not do so, vaHant sir,' said the negro, laying 
 aside an impudent, half -gibing tone which he had hitherto 
 made use of, and betrajdng personal fear in his manner. 
 *If you beat the poor slave to death, you cannot learn 
 what his master hath forbid him to tell. A short walk 
 will save your honour the stain, and yourself the trouble, 
 of beating what cannot resist, and me the pain of en- 
 during what I can neither retaliate nor avoid.' 
 
 'Lead on, then,' said the Varangian. 'Be assured thou 
 shalt not fool me by thy fair words, and I will know the 
 person who is impudent enough to assume the right of 
 watching my motions.' 
 
 The black walked on with a species of leer peculiar 
 to his physiognomy, which might be construed as ex- 
 pressive either of malice or of mere humour. The Varan- 
 gian followed him with some suspicion, for it happened 
 that he had had little intercourse with the unhappy race 
 of Africa, and had not totally overcome the feeling of sur- 
 prise with which he had at first regarded them when he 
 arrived a stranger from the North. So often did this 
 
 144
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 man look back upon him during their walk, and with so 
 penetrating and observing a cast of countenance, that 
 Hereward felt irresistibly renewed in his mind the Eng- 
 lish prejudices which assigned to the demons the sable 
 colour and distorted cast of visage of his conductor. The 
 scene into which he was guided strengthened an associa- 
 tion which was not of itself unlikely to occur to the ig- 
 norant and martial islander. 
 
 The negro led the way from the splendid terraced walks 
 which we have described to a path descending to the 
 sea-shore, when a place appeared which, far from being 
 trimmed, like other parts of the coast, into walks or 
 embankments, seemed, on the contrary, abandoned to 
 neglect, and was covered with the mouldering ruins of 
 antiquity, where these had not been overgrown by the 
 luxuriant vegetation of the climate. These fragments of 
 building, occupying a sort of recess of the bay, were 
 hidden by steep banks on each side, and although, in fact, 
 they formed part of the city, yet they were not seen from 
 any part of it, and, embosomed in the manner we have 
 described, did not in turn command any view of the 
 churches, palaces, towers, and fortifications amongst 
 which they lay. The sight of this soHtary, and apparently 
 deserted, spot, enciunbered with ruins and overgrown 
 with cypress and other trees, situated as it was in the 
 midst of a populous city, had something in it impressive 
 and awful to the imagination. The ruins were of an 
 ancient date, and in the style of a foreign people. The 
 gigantic remains of a portico, the mutilated fragments of 
 statues of great size, but executed in a taste and attitude 
 so narrow and barbaric as to seem perfectly the reverse 
 of the Grecian, and the half-defaced hieroglyphics which 
 
 43 I4S
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 could be traced on some part of the decayed sculpture, 
 corroborated the popular account of their origin, which 
 we shall briefly detail. 
 
 According to tradition, this had been a temple dedi- 
 cated to the Egyptian goddess Cybele, built while the 
 Roman empire was yet heathen, and while Constanti- 
 nople was still called by the name of Byzantium. It is 
 well known that the superstition of the Egyptians — 
 vulgarly gross in its Hteral meaning as well as in its 
 mystical interpretation, and peculiarly the foundation 
 of many wild doctrines — was disowned by the principles 
 of general toleration, and the system of polytheism re- 
 ceived by Rome, and was excluded by repeated laws 
 from the respect paid by the empire to almost every 
 other religion, however extravagant or absurd. Never- 
 theless, these Egyptian rites had charms for the curious 
 and the superstitious, and had, after long opposition, 
 obtained a footing in the empire. 
 
 Still, although tolerated, the Egyptian priests were 
 rather considered as sorcerers than as pontiffs, and their 
 whole ritual had a nearer relation to magic, in popular 
 estimation, than to any regular system of devotion. 
 
 Stained with these accusations, even among the hea- 
 then themselves, the worship of Egypt was held in more 
 mortal abhorrence by the Christians than the other and 
 more rational kinds of heathen devotion — that is, if 
 any at all had a right to be termed so. The brutal wor- 
 ship of Apis and Cybele was regarded not only as a pre- 
 text for obscene and profligate pleasures, but as having a 
 direct tendency to open and encourage a dangerous com- 
 merce with evil spirits, who were supposed to take upon 
 themselves, at these unhallowed altars, the names and 
 
 146
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 characters of these foul deities. Not only, therefore, the 
 temple of Cybele, with its gigantic portico, its huge and 
 inelegant statues, and its fantastic hieroglyphics, was 
 thrown down and defaced when the empire was converted 
 to the Christian faith, but the very ground on which it 
 stood was considered as polluted and unhallowed ; and 
 no emperor having yet occupied the site with a Christian 
 church, the place still remained neglected and deserted, 
 as we have described it. 
 
 The Varangian Hereward was perfectly acquainted 
 with the evil reputation of the place ; and when the negro 
 seemed disposed to advance into the interior of the ruins, 
 he hesitated, and addressed his guide thus: 'Hark thee, 
 my black friend, these huge fantastic images, some hav- 
 ing dogs' heads, some cows' heads, and some no heads 
 at all, are not held reverently in popular estimation. 
 Your own colour, also, my comrade, is greatly too like 
 that of Satan himself to render you an unsuspicious com- 
 panion amid ruins in which the false spirit, it is said, 
 daily walks his rounds. Midnight and noon are the 
 times, it is rumoured, of his appearance. I will go no 
 farther with you, unless you assign me a fit reason for 
 so doing.' 
 
 *In making so childish a proposal,' said the negro, 
 'you take from me, in effect, all desire to guide you to 
 my master. I thought I spoke to a man of invincible 
 courage, and of that good sense upon which courage is 
 best founded. But your valour only emboldens you to 
 beat a black slave, who has neither strength nor title 
 to resist you ; and your courage is not enough to enable 
 you to look without trembling on the dark side of a wall, 
 even when the sun is in the heaven.' 
 
 147
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ' *Thou art insolent/ said Hereward, raising his axe. 
 
 'And thou art foolish,' said the negro, 'to attempt to 
 prove thy manhood and thy wisdom by the very mode 
 which gives reason for calling them both in question. 
 I have already said there can be httle valour in beating 
 a wretch like me; and no man, surely, who wishes to dis- 
 cover his way would begin by chasing away his guide.' 
 
 *I follow thee,' said Hereward, stung with the insinu- 
 ation of cowardice; 'but if thou leadest me into a snare, 
 thy free talk shall not save thy bones, if a thousand of 
 thy complexion from earth or hell were standing ready 
 to back thee.' 
 
 'Thou objectest sorely to my complexion,' said the 
 negro ; ' how knowest thou that it is, in fact, a thing to be 
 counted and acted upon as matter of reaUty? Thine own 
 eyes daily apprise thee that the colour of the sky nightly 
 changes from bright to black, yet thou knowest that 
 this is by no means owing to any habitual colour of the 
 heavens themselves. The same change that takes place 
 in the hue of the heavens has existence in the tinge of the 
 deep sea. How canst thou tell but what the difference of 
 my colour from thine own may be owing to some de- 
 ceptious change of a similar nature — not real in itself, 
 but only creating an apparent reaUty? ' 
 
 'Thou mayst have painted thyself, no doubt,' an- 
 swered the Varangian, upon reflection, 'and thy black- 
 ness, therefore, may be only apparent; but I think thy 
 old friend himself could hardly have presented these 
 grinning lips, with the white teeth and flattened nose, so 
 much to the life, unless that peculiarity of Nubian physi- 
 ognomy, as they call it, had accurately and really an 
 existence; and, to save thee some trouble, my dark friend, 
 
 148
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 I will tell thee that, though thou speakest to an unedu- 
 cated Varangian, I am not entirely unskilled in the 
 Grecian art of making subtle words pass upon the hearers 
 instead of reason.' 
 
 *Ay?' said the negro, doubtfully, and somewhat sur- 
 prised; 'and may the slave Diogenes — for so my master 
 has christened me — inquire into the means by which 
 you reached knowledge so unusual? ' 
 
 *It is soon told,' replied Hereward. 'My countryman, 
 Witikind, being a constable of our bands, retired from 
 active service, and spent the end of a long life in this 
 city of Constantinople. Being past all toils of battle, 
 either those of reality, as you word it, or the pomp and 
 fatigue of the exercising ground, the poor old man, in 
 despair of something to pass his time, attended the lec- 
 tures of the philosophers.' 
 
 'And what did he learn there?' said the negro; 'for a 
 barbarian, grown grey under the helmet, was not, as 
 I think, a very hopeful student in our schools.' 
 
 'As much though, I should think, as a menial slave, 
 which I understand to be thy condition,' replied the sol- 
 dier. ' But I have understood from him that the masters 
 of this idle science make it their business to substitute, 
 in their argumentations, mere words instead of ideas; 
 and as they never agree upon the precise meaning of the 
 former, their disputes can never arrive at a fair or 
 settled conclusion, since they do not agree in the language 
 in which they express them. Their theories, as they call 
 them, are built on the sand, and the wind and tide shall 
 prevail against them.' 
 
 ' Say so to my master,' answered the black, in a serious 
 tone. 
 
 149
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 *I will,' said the Varangian; 'and he shall know me as 
 an ignorant soldier, having but few ideas, and those only 
 concerning my religion and my military duty. But out 
 of these opinions I will neither be beaten by a battery 
 of sophisms nor cheated by the arts or the terrors of the 
 friends of heathenism, either in this world or the next.' 
 
 'You may speak your mind to him, then, yourself,' 
 said Diogenes. He stepped aside, as if to make way 
 for the Varangian, to whom he motioned to go forward. 
 
 Hereward advanced accordingly, by a half-worn and 
 almost imperceptible path leading through the long 
 rough grass, and, turning round a half-demolished shrine, 
 which exhibited the remains of Apis, the bovine deity, 
 he came immediately in front of the philosopher, Age- 
 lastes, who, sitting among the ruins, reposed his limbs on 
 the grass.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Through the vain webs which puzzle sophists' skill. 
 Plain sense and honest meaning work their way; 
 So sink the varying clouds upon the hill, 
 When the dear dawning brightens into day. 
 
 Dr. Watis. 
 
 The old man rose from the ground with alacrity, as Here- 
 ward approached. ' My bold Varangian,' he said, ' thou 
 who valuest men and things not according to the false 
 estimate ascribed to them in this world, but to their real 
 importance and actual value, thou art welcome, what- 
 ever has brought thee hither — thou art welcome to a 
 place where it is held the best business of philosophy to 
 strip man of his borrowed ornaments, and reduce him 
 to the just value of his own attributes of body and mind, 
 singly considered.' 
 
 * You are a courtier, sir,' said the Saxon, 'and, as a per- 
 mitted companion of the Emperor's Highness, you must 
 be aware that there are twenty times more ceremonies 
 than such a man as I can be acquainted with for regu- 
 lating the different ranks in society; while a plain man 
 like myself may be well excused from pushing himself 
 into the company of those above him, where he does not 
 exactly know how he should comport himself.' 
 
 'True,' said the philosopher; 'but a man like yourself, 
 noble Hereward, merits more consideration in the eyes 
 of a real philosopher than a thousand of those mere in- 
 sects whom the smiles of a court call into life, and whom 
 its frowns reduce to annihilation.' 
 
 151
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'You are yourself, grave sir, a follower of the court,' 
 said Hereward. 
 
 * And a most punctilious one,' said Agelastes. 'There 
 is not, I trust, a subject in the empire who knows better 
 the ten thousand punctilios exigible from those of differ- 
 ent ranks, and due to different authorities. The man is 
 yet to be born who has seen me take advantage of any 
 more commodious posture than that of standing in the 
 presence of the royal family. But though I use those 
 false scales in society, and so far conform to its errors, 
 my real judgment is of a more grave character, and more 
 worthy of man, as said to be formed in the image of his 
 Creator.' 
 
 'There can be small occasion,' said the Varangian, 
 *to exercise your judgment in any respect upon me, nor 
 am I desirous that any one should think of me otherwise 
 than I am — a poor exile, namely, who endeavours to 
 fix his faith upon Heaven, and to perform his duty to 
 the world he lives in, and to the prince in whose service 
 he is engaged. And now, grave sir, permit me to ask 
 whether this meeting is by your desire, and for what is 
 its purpose? An African slave, whom I met in the public 
 walks, and who calls himself Diogenes, tells me that 
 you desired to speak with me; he hath somewhat the 
 humour of the old scoffer, and so he may have lied. If 
 so, I will even forgive him the beating which I owe his 
 assurance, and make my excuse at the same time for hav- 
 ing broken in upon your retirement, which I am totally 
 unfit to share.' 
 
 'Diogenes has not played you false,' answered Age- 
 lastes; 'he has his humours, as you remarked even now, 
 and with these some qualities also that put him upon 
 
 152
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 a level with those of fairer complexion and better 
 features.' 
 
 'And for what/ said the Varangian, 'have you so em- 
 ployed him? Can your wisdom possibly entertain a wish 
 to converse with me?' 
 
 *I am an observer of nature and of humanity/ an- 
 swered the philosopher; 'is it not natural that I should 
 tire of those beings who are formed entirely upon arti- 
 fice, and long to see something more fresh from the hand 
 of nature? ' 
 
 'You see not that in me,' said the Varangian: 'the 
 rigour of military discipline, the camp, the centurion, the 
 armour frame a man's sentiments and limbs to them, as 
 the sea-crab is framed to its shell. See one of us, and you 
 see us all.' 
 
 'Permit me to doubt that,' said Agelastes, 'and to 
 suppose that, in Hereward, the son of WaltheofE, I see 
 an extraordinary man, although he himself may be ig- 
 norant, owing to his modesty, of the rarity of his own 
 good qualities.' 
 
 'The son of Waltheoff!' answered the Varangian, 
 somewhat startled. ' Do you know my father's name? ' 
 
 'Be not surprised,' answered the philosopher, at my 
 possessing so simple a piece of information. It has cost 
 me but little trouble to attain it, yet I would gladly hope 
 that the labour I have taken in that matter may convince 
 you of my real desire to call you friend.' 
 
 'It was indeed an unusual compliment,' said Here- 
 ward, ' that a man of your knowledge and station should 
 be at the trouble to inquire among the Varangian co- 
 horts concerning the descent of one of their constables. 
 I scarcely think that my commander, the Acolyte him- 
 
 153
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 self, would think such knowledge worthy of being col- 
 lected or preserved.' 
 
 'Greater men than he/ said Agelastes, 'certainly 
 would not — You know one in high office who thinks the 
 names of his most faithful soldiers of less moment than 
 those of his hunting dogs or his hawks, and would will- 
 ingly save himself the trouble of calling them otherwise 
 than by a whistle.' 
 
 *I may not hear this,' answered the Varangian. 
 
 *I would not offend you,' said the philosopher, 'I 
 would not even shake your good opinion of the person 
 I allude to; yet it surprises me that such should be enter- 
 tained by one of your great qualities.' 
 
 *A truce with this, grave sir, which is in fact trifling 
 in a person of your character and appearance,' answered 
 the Anglo-Saxon. 'I am like the rocks of my country: 
 the fierce winds cannot shake me, the soft rains cannot 
 melt me, flattery and loud words are alike lost upon me.' 
 
 'And it is even for that inflexibility of mind,' replied 
 Agelastes, * that steady contempt of everything that ap- 
 proaches thee, save in the light of a duty, that I demand, 
 almost like a beggar, that personal acquaintance which 
 thou refusest like a churl.' 
 
 'Pardon me,' said Hereward, 'if I doubt this. What- 
 ever stories you may have picked up concerning me, not 
 unexaggerated probably- — since the Greeks do not keep 
 the privilege of boasting so entirely to themselves but the 
 Varangians have learned a little of it — you can have 
 heard nothing of me which can authorise your using 
 your present language, excepting in jest.' 
 
 'You mistake, my son,' said Agelastes; 'believe me 
 not a person to mix in the idle talk respecting you with 
 
 154
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 your comrades at the ale-cup. Such as I am, I can strike 
 on this broken image of Anubis (here he touched a gi- 
 gantic fragment of a statue by his side), and bid the 
 spirit who long prompted the oracle descend and once 
 more reanimate the trembling mass. We that are in- 
 itiated enjoy high privileges : we stamp upon those ruined 
 vaults, and the echo which dwells there answers to our 
 demand. Do not think that, although I crave thy 
 friendship, I need therefore supplicate thee for informa- 
 tion either respecting thyself or others.' 
 
 'Your words are wonderful,' said the Anglo-Saxon; 
 *but by such promising words I have heard that many 
 souls have been seduced from the path of Heaven. My 
 grandsire, Kenelm, was wont to say that the fair words 
 of the heathen philosophy were more hurtful to the 
 Christian faith than the menaces of the heathen tyrants.' 
 
 * I knew him,' said Agelastes. ' What avails it whether 
 it was in the body or in the spirit? He was converted 
 from the faith of Woden by a noble monk, and died a 
 priest at the shrine of St. Augustine.' ^ 
 
 'True,' said Hereward — ' all this is certain, and I am 
 the rather bound to remember his words now that he is 
 dead and gone. When I hardly knew his meaning, he 
 bid me beware of the doctrine which causeth to err, which 
 is taught by false prophets, who attest their doctrine by 
 unreal miracles.' 
 
 'This,' said Agelastes, 'is mere superstition. Thy 
 grandsire was a good and excellent man, but narrow- 
 minded, like other priests; and, deceived by their ex- 
 ample, he wished but to open a small wicket in the gate 
 of truth, and admit the world only on that limited scale. 
 * At Canterbury.
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Seest thou, Hereward, thy grandsire and most men of 
 religion would fain narrow our intellect to the considera- 
 tion of such parts of the immaterial world as are essen- 
 tial to our moral guidance here and our final salvation 
 hereafter; but it is not the less true that man has liberty, 
 provided he has wisdom and courage, to form intimacies 
 with beings more powerful than himself, who can defy 
 the bounds of space by which he is circumscribed, and 
 overcome, by their metaphysical powers, difficulties 
 which, to the timid and unlearned, may appear wild and 
 impossible.' 
 
 'You talk of a folly,' answered Hereward, *at which 
 childhood gapes and manhood smiles.' 
 
 *0n the contrary,' said the sage, 'I talk of a longing 
 wish which every man feels at the bottom of his heart to 
 hold communication with beings more powerful than 
 himself, and who are not naturally accessible to our or- 
 gans. Believe me, Hereward, so ardent and universal an 
 aspiration had not existed in our bosoms had there not 
 also been means, if steadily and wisely sought, of attain- 
 ing its accomplishment. I will appeal to thine own heart, 
 and prove to thee, even by a single word, that what I 
 say is truth. Thy thoughts are even now upon a being 
 long absent or dead, and with the name of Bertha a 
 thousand emotions rush to thy heart, which in thy igno- 
 rance thou hadst esteemed furled up for ever, like spoils 
 of the dead hung above a tombstone ! Thou startest and 
 changest thy colour: I joy to see by these signs that the 
 firmness and indomitable courage which men ascribe to 
 thee have left the avenues of the heart as free as ever to 
 kindly and to generous affections, while they have barred 
 them against those of fear, uncertainty, and all the caitiff^ 
 
 iS6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 tribe of meaner sensations. I have proffered to esteem 
 thee, and I have no hesitation in proving it. I will tell 
 thee, if thou desirest to know it, the fate of that very 
 Bertha whose memory thou hast cherished in thy breast 
 in spite of thee, amidst the toil of the day and the repose 
 of the night, in the battle and in the truce, when sport- 
 ing with thy companions in fields of exercise, or attempt- 
 ing to prosecute the study of Greek learning, in which, 
 if thou wouldst advance, I can teach it by a short 
 road.' 
 
 While Agelastes thus spoke, the Varangian in some 
 degree recovered his composure, and made answer, 
 though his voice was somewhat tremulous — * Who thou 
 art, I know not; what thou wouldst with me, I cannot 
 tell; by what means thou hast gathered intelligence of 
 such consequence to me, and of so little to another, I 
 have no conception; but this I know, that by intention 
 or accident thou hast pronounced a name which agitates 
 my heart to its deepest recesses; yet am I a Christian 
 and Varangian, and neither to my God nor to my adopted 
 prince will I willingly stagger in my faith. What is to be 
 wrought by idols or by false deities must be a treason 
 to the real divinity. Nor is it less certain that thou hast 
 let glance some arrows, though the rules of thy allegiance 
 strictly forbid it, at the Emperor himself. Henceforward, 
 therefore, I refuse to communicate with thee, be it for 
 weal or woe. I am the Emperor's waged soldier, and 
 although I affect not the nice precisions of respect and 
 obedience which are exacted in so many various cases 
 and by so many various rules, yet I am his defence, and 
 my battle-axe is his body-guard.' 
 
 *No one doubts it,' said the philosopher. *But art not 
 
 157
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 thou also bound to a nearer dependence upon the great 
 Acolyte, Achilles Tatius? ' 
 
 *No. He is my general, according to the rules of our 
 service,' answered the Varangian; *to me he has always 
 shown himself a kind and good-natured man, and, his 
 dues of rank apart, I may say has deported himself as a 
 friend rather than a commander. He is, however, my 
 master's servant as well as I am; nor do I hold the 
 difference of great amount which the word of a man can 
 give or take away at pleasure.' 
 
 'It is nobly spoken,' said Agelastes; 'and you yourself 
 are surely entitled to stand erect before one whom you 
 supersede in courage and in the art of war.' 
 
 'Pardon me,' returned the Briton, 'if I decline the 
 attributed compliment, as what in no respect belongs to 
 me. The Emperor chooses his own officers, in respect of 
 their power of serving him as he desires to be served. In 
 this it is likely I might fail; I have said already I owe 
 my Emperor my obedience, my duty, and my service, 
 nor does it seem to me necessary to carry our explana- 
 tion further.' 
 
 'Singular man!' said Agelastes; 'is there nothing that 
 can move thee but things that are foreign to thyself? 
 The name of thy Emperor and thy commander are no 
 spell upon thee, and even that of the object thou hast 
 loved — ' 
 
 Here the Varangian interrupted him. 
 
 *I have thought,' he said, 'upon the words thou hast 
 spoken — thou hast found the means to shake my heart- 
 strings, but not to unsettle my principles. I will hold no 
 converse with thee on a matter in which thou canst not 
 have interest. Necromancers, it is said, perform their 
 
 158
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 spells by means of the epithets of the Holiest; no marvel, 
 then, should they use the names of the purest of His 
 creation to serve their unhallowed purposes. I will none 
 of such truckling, disgraceful to the dead perhaps as to 
 the living. Whatever has been thy purpose, old man — 
 for think not thy strange words have passed unnoticed 
 — be thou assured I bear that in my heart which defies 
 alike the seduction of men and of fiends.' 
 
 With this the soldier turned and left the ruined temple, 
 after a slight inclination of his head to the philosopher. 
 
 Agelastes, after the departure of the soldier, remained 
 alone, apparently absorbed in meditation, until he was 
 suddenly disturbed by the entrance into the ruins of 
 Achilles Tatius. The leader of the Varangians spoke not 
 until he had time to form some result from the philoso- 
 pher's features. He then said, 'Thou remainest, sage 
 Agelastes, confident in the purpose of which we have 
 lately spoke together? ' 
 
 'I do,' said Agelastes, with gravity and firmness. 
 
 'But,' replied Achilles Tatius, 'thou hast not gained 
 to our side that proselyte whose coolness and courage 
 would serve us better in our hour of need than the serv- 
 ice of a thousand cold-hearted slaves?' 
 
 *I have not succeeded,' answered the philosopher. 
 
 'And thou dost not blush to own it?' said the imperial 
 officer in reply. 'Thou, the wisest of those who yet 
 pretend to Grecian wisdom, the most powerful of those 
 who still assert the skill by words, signs, names, periapts, 
 and spells to exceed the sphere to which thy faculties 
 belong, hast been foiled in thy trade of persuasion, like 
 an infant worsted in debate with its domestic tutor? 
 Out upon thee, that thou canst not sustain in argument 
 
 159
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the character which thou wouldst so fain assume to thy- 
 self!' 
 
 'Peace!' said the Grecian. *I have as yet gained 
 nothing, it is true, over this obstinate and inflexible 
 man; but, Achilles Tatius, neither have I lost. We both 
 stand where yesterday we did, with this advantage on 
 my side, that I have suggested to him such an object of 
 interest as he shall never be able to expel from his mind, 
 until he hath had recourse to me to obtain further knowl- 
 edge concerning it. And now let this singular person 
 remain for a time immentioned; yet trust me, though 
 flattery, avarice, and ambition may fail to gain him, a 
 bait nevertheless remains that shall make him as com- 
 pletely our own as any that is bound within our mystic 
 and inviolable contract. Tell me, then, how go on the 
 affairs of the empire? Does this tide of Latin warriors, 
 so strangely set aflowing, still rush on to the banks of the 
 Bosphorus? and does Alexius still entertain hopes to 
 diminish and divide the strength of numbers which he 
 could in vain hope to defy? ' 
 
 'Something further of intelligence has been gained, 
 even within a very few hours,' answered Achilles Tatius. 
 'Bohemond came to the city with some six or eight light 
 horse, and in a species of disguise. Considering how often 
 he had been the Emperor's enemy, his project was a 
 perilous one. But when is it that these Franks draw back 
 on account of danger? The Emperor perceived at once 
 that the Count was come to see what he might obtain by 
 presenting himself as the very first object of his liberal- 
 ity, and by offering his assistance as mediator with 
 Godfrey of Bouillon and the other princes of the 
 crusade.' 
 
 i6o
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 * It is a species of policy,' answered the sage, 'for which 
 he would receive full credit from the Emperor.' 
 
 Achilles Tatius proceeded — 'Count Bohemond was 
 discovered to the imperial court as if it were by mere 
 accident, and he was welcomed with marks of favour 
 and splendour which had never been even mentioned as 
 being fit for any one of the Frankish race. There was no 
 word of ancient enmity or of former wars, no mention of 
 Bohemond as the ancient usurper of Antioch, and the 
 encroacher upon the empire. But thanks to Heaven 
 were returned on all sides, which had sent a faithful 
 ally to the imperial assistance at a moment of such immi- 
 nent peril.' 
 
 'And what said Bohemond?' inquired the philoso- 
 pher. 
 
 'Little or nothing,' said the captain of the Varangians, 
 'until, as I learned from the domestic slave Narses, a 
 large sum of gold had been abandoned to him. Consider- 
 able districts were afterwards agreed to be ceded to him, 
 and other advantages granted, on condition he should 
 stand on this occasion the steady friend of the empire 
 and its master. Such was the Emperor's munificence 
 towards the greedy barbarian, that a chamber in the 
 palace was, by chance, as it were, left exposed to his 
 view, containing large quantities of manufactured silks, 
 of jewellers' work, of gold and silver, and other articles 
 of great value. When the rapacious Frank could not for- 
 bear some expressions of admiration, he was assured 
 that the contents of the treasure-chamber were his own, 
 provided he valued them as showing forth the warmth 
 and sincerity of his imperial ally towards his friends; and 
 these precious articles were accordingly conveyed to the 
 A3 i6i
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 tent of the Norman leader. By such measures the 
 Emperor must make himself master of Bohemond, both 
 body and soul; for the Franks themselves say it is strange 
 to see a man of undaunted bravery and towering ambi- 
 tion so infected, nevertheless, with avarice, which they 
 term a mean and unnatural vice.' 
 
 'Bohemond,' said Agelastes, 'is then the Emperor's 
 for life and death — always, that is, till the recollection 
 of the royal munificence be effaced by a greater gratuity. 
 Alexius, proud as he naturally is of his management 
 with this important chieftain, will no doubt expect to 
 prevail by his counsels on most of the other crusaders, 
 and even on Godfrey of Bouillon himself, to take an oath 
 of submission and fidelity to the Emperor, which, were 
 it not for the sacred nature of their warfare, the meanest 
 gentleman among them would not submit to, were it to 
 be lord of a province. There, then, we rest. A few days 
 must determine what we have to do. An earlier discovery 
 would be destruction.' 
 
 *We meet not, then, to-night?' said the Acolyte. 
 
 *No,' replied the sage; 'unless we are summoned to 
 that foolish stage-play or recitation; and then we meet 
 as playthings in the hand of a silly woman, the spoiled 
 child of a weak-minded parent.' 
 
 Tatius then took his leave of the philosopher, and, as 
 if fearful of being seen in each other's company, they 
 left their solitary place of meeting by different routes. 
 The Varangian, Hereward, received, shortly after, a 
 summons from his superior, who acquainted him that he 
 should not, as formerly intimated, require his attend- 
 ance that evening. 
 
 Achilles then paused, and added — ' Thou hast some- 
 162
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 thing on thy lips thou wouldst say to me, which, never- 
 theless, hesitates to break forth.' 
 
 *It is only this,' answered the soldier: *I have had an 
 interview with the man called Agelastes, and he seems 
 something so different from what he appeared when we 
 last spoke of him, that I cannot forbear mentioning to 
 you what I have seen. He is not an insignificant trifler, 
 whose object it is to raise a laugh at his own expense 
 or that of any other. He is a deep-thinking and far- 
 reaching man, who, for some reason or other, is desir- 
 ous of forming friends, and drawing a party to himself. 
 Your own wisdom will teach you to beware of him.' 
 
 'Thou art an honest fellow, my poor Hereward,' said 
 Achilles Tatius, with an affectation of good-natured 
 contempt. * Such men as Agelastes do often frame their 
 severest jests in the shape of formal gravity: they will 
 pretend to possess the most unbounded power over ele- 
 ments and elemental spirits, they will make themselves 
 masters of the names and anecdotes best known to those 
 whom they make their sport; and any one who shall 
 listen to them shall, in the words of the divine Homer, 
 only expose himself to a flood of inextinguishable laugh- 
 ter. I have often known him select one of the rawest and 
 most ignorant persons in presence, and to him, for the 
 amusement of the rest, he has pretended to cause the 
 absent to appear, the distant to draw near, and the dead 
 themselves to burst the cerements of the grave. Take 
 care, Hereward, that his arts make not a stain on the 
 credit of one of my bravest Varangians.' 
 
 'There is no danger,' answered Hereward. *I shall not 
 be fond of being often with this man. If he jests upon 
 one subject which he hath mentioned to me, I shall 
 
 163
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 be but too likely to teach him seriousness after a rough 
 manner. And if he is serious in his pretensions in such 
 mystical matters, we should, according to the faith of 
 my grandfather, Kenelm, do insult to the deceased, 
 whose name is taken in the mouth of a soothsayer or 
 impious enchanter. I will not, therefore, again go near 
 this Agelastes, be he wizard or be he impostor.' 
 
 'You apprehend me not,' said the Acolyte, hastily — 
 *you mistake my meaning. He is a man from whom, if 
 he pleases to converse with such as you, you may derive 
 much knowledge, keeping out of the reach of those pre- 
 tended secret arts, which he will only use to turn thee 
 into ridicule.' With these words, which he himself would 
 perhaps have felt it difificult to reconcile, the leader and 
 his follower parted.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 Between the foaming jaws of the white torrent 
 The skilful artist draws a sudden mound; 
 By level long he subdivides their strength, 
 Stealing the waters from their rocky bed. 
 First to diminish what he means to conquer; 
 Then, for the residue he forms a road, 
 Easy to keep, and painful to desert. 
 And guiding to the end the planner aim'd at. 
 
 The Engineer. 
 
 It would have been easy for Alexius, by a course of 
 avowed suspicion, or any false step in the manner of 
 receiving this tumultuary invasion of the European 
 nations, to have blown into a flame the numerous but 
 smothered grievances under which they laboured; and a 
 similar catastrophe would not have been less certain, 
 had he at once abandoned all thoughts of resistance, and 
 placed his hope of safety in surrendering to the multi- 
 tudes of the West whatsoever they accounted worth 
 taking. The Emperor chose a middle course; and, un- 
 questionably, in the weakness of the Greek empire, it 
 was the only one which would have given him at once 
 safety and a great degree of consequence in the eyes of 
 the Frank invaders, and those of his own subjects. The 
 means with which he acted were of various kinds, and, 
 rather from policy than inclination, were often stained 
 with falsehood or meanness ; therefore it follows that the 
 measures of the Emperor resembled those of the snake, 
 who twines himself through the grass, with the purpose 
 of stinging insidiously those whom he fears to approach 
 with the step of the bold and generous lion. We are not, 
 
 165
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 however, writing the history of the crusades, and what 
 we have already said of the Emperor's precautions on the 
 first appearance of Godfrey of Bouillon and his associ- 
 ates may suffice for the elucidation of our story. 
 
 About four weeks had now passed over, marked by 
 quarrels and reconcilements between the crusaders and 
 the Grecians of the empire. The former were, as Alexius's 
 policy dictated, occasionally and individually received 
 with extreme honour, and their leaders loaded with 
 respect and favour; while, from time to time, such bodies 
 of them as sought distant or circuitous routes to the 
 capital were intercepted and cut to pieces by light-armed 
 troops, who easily passed upon their ignorant opponents 
 for Turks, Scythians, or other infidels, and sometimes 
 were actually such, but in the service of the Grecian 
 monarch. Often, too, it happened that, while the more 
 powerful chiefs of the crusade were feasted by the Em- 
 peror and his ministers with the richest delicacies, and 
 their thirst slaked with iced wines, their followers were 
 left at a distance, where, intentionally suppHed with adul- 
 terated flour, tainted provisions, and bad water, they 
 contracted diseases, and died in great numbers, without 
 having once seen a foot of the Holy Land, for the recov- 
 ery of which they had abandoned their peace, their 
 competence, and their native country. These aggres- 
 sions did not pass without complaint. Many of the cru- 
 sading chiefs impugned the fidelity of their allies, exposed 
 the losses sustained by their armies as evils voluntarily 
 inflicted on them by the Greeks, and on more than one 
 occasion the two nations stood opposed to each other 
 on such terms that a general war seemed to be inevit- 
 able. 
 
 i66
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Alexius, however, though obliged to have recourse to 
 every finesse, still kept his ground, and made peace with 
 the most powerful chiefs, under one pretence or other. 
 The actual losses of the crusaders by the sword he im- 
 puted to their own aggressions; their misguidance, to 
 accident and to wilfulness; the effects produced on them 
 by the adulterated provisons, to the vehemence of their 
 own appetite for raw fruits and unripened wines. In 
 short, there was no disaster of any kind whatsoever 
 which could possibly befall the unhappy pilgrims but the 
 Emperor stood prepared to prove that it was the natu- 
 ral consequence of their own violence, wilfulness of con- 
 duct, or hostile precipitancy. 
 
 The chiefs, who were not ignorant of their strength, 
 would not, it was likely, have tamely suffered injuries 
 from a power so inferior to their own, were it not that 
 they had formed extravagant ideas of the wealth of the 
 Eastern empire, which Alexius seemed willing to share 
 with them with an excess of bounty as new to the leaders 
 as the rich productions of the East were tempting to their 
 followers. 
 
 The French nobles would perhaps have been the most 
 difficult to be brought into order when differences arose, 
 but an accident, which the Emperor might have termed 
 providential, reduced the high-spirited Count of Ver- 
 mandois to the situation of a suppUant, when he expected 
 to hold that of a dictator. A fierce tempest surprised his 
 fleet after he set sail from Italy, and he was finally 
 driven on the coast of Greece. Many ships were de- 
 stroyed, and those troops who got ashore were so much 
 distressed that they were obliged to surrender them- 
 selves to the lieutenants of Alexius. So that the Count 
 
 167
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 of Vermandois, so haughty in his bearing when he first 
 embarked, was sent to the court of Constantinople not 
 as a prince, but as a prisoner. In this case, the Em- 
 peror instantly set the soldiers at Uberty, and loaded 
 them with presents.^ 
 
 Grateful, therefore, for attentions in which Alexius 
 was unremitting, Count Hugh was, by gratitude as well 
 as interest, inclined to join the opinion of those who, for 
 other reasons, desired the subsistence of peace betwixt 
 the crusaders and the empire of Greece. A better prin- 
 ciple determined the celebrated Godfrey, Raymond of 
 Toulouse, and some others, in whom devotion was 
 something more than a mere burst of fanaticism. These 
 princes considered with what scandal their whole jour- 
 ney must be stained, if the first of their exploits should 
 be a war upon the Grecian empire, which might justly 
 be called the barrier of Christendom. If it was weak and 
 at the same time rich — if at the same time it invited 
 rapine and was unable to protect itself against it — it 
 was the more their interest and duty, as Christian sol- 
 diers, to protect a Christian state whose existence was of 
 so much consequence to the common cause, even when 
 it could not defend itself. It was the wish of these frank- 
 hearted men to receive the Emperor's professions of 
 friendship with such sincere returns of amity, to return 
 his kindness with so much usury, as to convince him that 
 their purpose towards him was in every respect fair and 
 honourable, and that it would be his interest to abstain 
 from every injurious treatment which might induce or 
 compel them to alter their measures towards him. 
 
 It was with this accommodating spirit towards Alexius, 
 1 See Mills's History of the Crusades, vol. i, p. 96. 
 168
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 which, for many different and complicated reasons, had 
 now animated most of the crusaders, that the chiefs con- 
 sented to a measure which, in other circumstances, they 
 would probably have refused, as undue to the Greeks 
 and dishonourable to themselves. This was the famous 
 resolution that, before crossing the Bosphorus to go in 
 quest of that Palestine which they had vowed to regain, 
 each chief of crusaders would acknowledge individually 
 the Grecian Emperor, originally lord paramount of all 
 these regions, as their Hege lord and suzerain. 
 
 The Emperor Alexius, with trembhng joy, beheld the 
 crusaders approach a conclusion to which he had hoped 
 to bribe them rather by interested means than by rea- 
 soning, although much might be said why provinces 
 reconquered from the Turks or Saracens should, if re- 
 covered from the infidel, become again a part of the 
 Grecian empire, from which they had been rent without 
 any pretence save that of violence. 
 
 Though fearful, and almost despairing, of being able to 
 manage the rude and discordant army of haughty chiefs, 
 who were wholly independent of each other, Alexius 
 failed not, with eagerness and dexterity, to seize upon the 
 admission of Godfrey and his compeers, that the Emperor 
 was entitled to the allegiance of all who should war on 
 Palestine, and natural lord paramount of all the con- 
 quests which should be made in the course of the expedi- 
 tion. He was resolved to make this ceremony so pubHc, 
 and to interest men's minds in it by such a display of 
 the imperial pomp and munificence, that it should not 
 either pass unknown or be readily forgotten. 
 
 An extensive terrace, one of the numerous spaces which 
 extend along the coast of the Propontis, was chosen for 
 
 169
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the site of the magnificent ceremony. Here was placed 
 an elevated and august throne, calculated for the use of 
 the Emperor alone. On this occasion, by suffering no other 
 seats within view of the pageant, the Greeks endeavoured 
 to secure a point of ceremony peculiarly dear to their 
 vanity, namely, that none of that presence, save the Em- 
 peror himself, should be seated. Around the throne of 
 Alexius Comnenus were placed in order, but standing, 
 the various dignitaries of his splendid court, in their dif- 
 ferent ranks, from the Protosebastos and the Caesar to 
 the Patriarch, splendid in his ecclesiastic robes, and to 
 Agelastes, who, in his simple habit, gave also the neces- 
 sary attendance. Behind and around the splendid display 
 of the Emperor's court were drawn many dark circles of 
 the exiled Anglo-Saxons. These, by their own desire, 
 were not, on that memorable day, accoutred in the silver 
 corslets which were the fashion of an idle court, but 
 sheathed in mail and plate. They desired, they said, to 
 be known as warriors to warriors. This was the more 
 readily granted, as there was no knowing what trifle 
 might infringe a truce between parties so inflammable as 
 were now assembled. 
 
 Beyond the Varangians, in much greater numbers, 
 were drawn up the bands of Grecians, or Romans, then 
 known by the title of Immortals, which had been bor- 
 rowed by the Romans originally from the empire of 
 Persia. The stately forms, lofty crests, and splendid 
 apparel of these guards would have given the foreign 
 princes present a higher idea of their miHtary prowess, 
 had there not occurred in their ranks a frequent indi- 
 cation of loquacity and of motion, forming a strong con- 
 trast to the steady composure and death-like silence 
 
 170
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 with which the well-trained Varangians stood in the 
 parade, like statues made of iron. 
 
 The reader must then conceive this throne in all the 
 pomp of Oriental greatness, surrounded by the foreign 
 and Roman troops of the empire, and closed on the rear 
 by clouds of light horse, who shifted their places repeat- 
 edly, so as to convey an idea of their multitude, without 
 affording the exact means of estimating it. Through the 
 dust which they raised by these evolutions might be 
 seen banners and standards, among which could be 
 discovered, by glances, the celebrated Labarum,^ the 
 pledge of conquest to the imperial banners, but whose 
 sacred efficacy had somewhat failed of late days. The 
 rude soldiers of the West, who viewed the Grecian army, 
 maintained that the standards which were exhibited in 
 front of their Une were at least sufficient for the array of 
 ten times the number of soldiers. 
 
 Far on the right, the appearance of a very large body of 
 European cavalry drawn up on the sea-shore intimated 
 the presence of the crusaders. So great was the desire to 
 follow the example of the chief princes, dukes, and counts, 
 in making the proposed fealty, that the number of inde- 
 pendent knights and nobles who were to perform their 
 service seemed very great when collected together for 
 that purpose ; for every crusader who possessed a tower 
 and led six lances would have thought himself abridged 
 of his dignity if he had not been called to acknowledge 
 the Grecian Emperor, and hold the lands he should con- 
 quer of his throne, as well as Godfrey of Bouillon, or 
 Hugh the Great, Count of Vermandois. And yet, with 
 strange inconsistency, though they pressed to fulfil the 
 
 ^ See Note 6. 
 171
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 homage as that which was paid by greater persons than 
 themselves, they seemed, at the very same time, de- 
 sirous to find some mode of intimating that the homage 
 which they rendered they felt as an idle degradation, 
 and in fact held the whole show as a mere piece of 
 mockery. 
 
 The order of the procession had been thus settled : — 
 The crusaders, or, as the Grecians called them, the 
 * counts ' — that being the most common title among 
 them — were to advance from the left of their body, and, 
 passing the Emperor one by one, were apprised that, in 
 passing, each was to render to him, in as few words as pos- 
 sible, the homage which had been previously agreed on. 
 Godfrey of Bouillon, his brother Baldwin, Bohemond of 
 Antioch, and several other crusaders of eminence, were 
 the first to perform the ceremony, ahghting when their 
 own part was performed, and remaining in attendance 
 by the Emperor's chair, to prevent, by the awe of their 
 presence, any of their numerous associates from being 
 guilty of petulance or presumption during the solemnity. 
 Others crusaders of less degree retained their station 
 near the Emperor, when they had once gained it, out of 
 mere curiosity, or to show that they were as much at 
 liberty to do so as the greater commanders who assumed 
 that privilege. 
 
 Thus two great bodies of troops, Grecian and Euro- 
 pean, paused at some distance from each other on the 
 banks of the Bosphorus canal, differing in language, 
 arms, and appearance. The small troops of horse which 
 from time to time issued forth from these bodies resem- 
 bled the flashes of hghtning passing from one thunder- 
 cloud to another, which communicate to each other by 
 
 172
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 such emissaries their overcharged contents. After some 
 halt on the margin of the Bosphorus, the Franks who 
 had performed homage straggled irregularly forward to 
 a quay on the shore, where innumerable galleys and 
 smaller vessels, provided for the purpose, lay with sails 
 and oars prepared to waft the warlike pilgrims across 
 the passage, and place them on that Asia which they 
 longed so passionately to visit, and from which but few 
 of them were Hkely to return. The gay appearance of 
 the vessels which were to receive them, the readiness 
 with which they were supplied with refreshments, the 
 narrowness of the strait they had to cross, the near ap- 
 proach of that active service which they had vowed and 
 longed to discharge, put the warriors into gay spirits, 
 and songs and music bore chorus to the departing 
 oars. 
 
 While such was the temper of the crusaders, the Gre- 
 cian Emperor did his best through the whole ceremonial 
 to impress on the armed multitude the highest ideas of 
 his own grandeur, and the importance of the occasion 
 which had brought them together. This was readily ad- 
 mitted by the higher chiefs — some because their vanity 
 had been propitiated, some because their avarice had 
 been gratified, some because their ambition had been in- 
 flamed, and a few — a very few, because to remain 
 friends with Alexius was the most probable means of 
 advancing the purposes of their expedition. Accordingly, 
 the great lords, from these various motives, practised a 
 humility which perhaps they were far from feeling, and 
 carefully abstained from all which might seem Hke ir- 
 reverence at the solemn festival of the Grecians. But 
 there were very many of a different temper. 
 
 173
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Of the great number of counts, lords, and knights under 
 whose variety of banners the crusaders were led to the 
 walls of Constantinople, many were too insignificant to 
 be bribed to this distasteful measure of homage; and 
 these, though they felt it dangerous to oppose resistance, 
 yet mixed their submission with taunts, ridicule, and such 
 contraventions of decorum as plainly intimated that they 
 entertained resentment and scorn at the step they were 
 about to take, and esteemed it as proclaiming themselves 
 vassals to a prince heretic in his faith, limited in the ex- 
 ercise of his boasted power, their enemy when he dared 
 show himself such, and the friend of those only among 
 their number who were able to compel him to be so, and 
 who, though to them an obsequious ally, was to the 
 others, when occasion offered, an insidious and murder- 
 ous enemy. 
 
 The nobles of Prankish origin and descent were chiefly 
 remarkable for their presumptuous contempt of every 
 other nation engaged in the crusade, as well as for their 
 dauntless bravery, and for the scorn with which they 
 regarded the power and authority of the Greek empire. 
 It was a common saying among them that, if the skies 
 should fall, the French crusaders alone were able to hold 
 them up with their lances. The same bold and arrogant 
 disposition showed itself in occasional quarrels with their 
 unwilling hosts, in which the Greeks, notwithstanding 
 all their art, were often worsted; so that Alexius was 
 determined, at all events, to get rid of these intractable 
 and fiery allies, by ferrying them over the Bosphorus 
 with all manner of diligence. To do this with safety, he 
 availed himself of the presence of the Count of Verman- 
 dois, Godfrey of Bouillon, and other chiefs of great in- 
 
 174
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 fluence, to keep in order the lesser Frankish knights, 
 who were so numerous and unruly.^ 
 
 Struggling with his feelings of offended pride, tempered 
 by a prudent degree of apprehension, the Emperor en- 
 deavoured to receive with complacence a homage ten- 
 dered in mockery. An incident shortly took place of a 
 character highly descriptive of the nations brought to- 
 gether in so extraordinary a manner, and with such 
 different feelings and sentiments. Several bands of 
 French had passed, in a sort of procession, the throne 
 of the Emperor, and rendered, with some appearance 
 of gravity, the usual homage. On this occasion they bent 
 their knees to Alexius, placed their hands within his, 
 and in that posture paid the ceremonies of feudal fealty. 
 But when it came to the turn of Bohemond of Antioch, 
 already mentioned, to render this fealty, the Emperor, 
 desirous to show every species of honour to this wily 
 person, his former enemy, and now apparently his ally, 
 advanced two or three paces towards the seaside, where 
 the boats lay as if in readiness for his use. 
 
 The distance to which the Emperor moved was very 
 small, and it was assumed as a piece of deference to Bohe- 
 mond; but it became the means of exposing Alexius him- 
 self to a cutting affront, which his guards and subjects 
 felt deeply, as an intentional humihation. A half-score 
 of horsemen, attendants of the Frankish count who was 
 next to perform the homage, with their lord at their 
 head, set off at full gallop from the right flank of the 
 French squadrons, and arriving before the throne, which 
 was yet empty, they at once halted. The rider at the head 
 of the band was a strong, herculean figure, with a decided 
 
 * See Mills, vol. i, chap. iii. 
 
 175
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 and stern countenance, though extremely handsome, 
 looking out from thick black curls. His head was sur- 
 mounted with a barret cap, while his hands, limbs, and 
 feet were covered with garments of chamois leather, over 
 which he in general wore the ponderous and complete 
 armour of his country. This, however, he had laid aside 
 for personal convenience, though in doing so he evinced a 
 total neglect of the ceremonial which marked so important 
 a meeting. He waited not a moment for the Emperor's 
 return, nor regarded the impropriety of obliging Alexius 
 to hurry his steps back to his throne, but sprung from 
 his gigantic horse, and threw the reins loose, which were 
 instantly seized by one of the attendant pages. Without 
 a moment's hesitation, the Frank seated himself in the 
 vacant throne of the Emperor, and extending his half- 
 armed and robust figure on the golden cushions which 
 were destined for Alexius, he indolently began to caress 
 a large wolf-hound which had followed him, and which, 
 feeling itself as much at ease as its master, reposed its 
 grim form on the carpets of silk and gold damask which 
 tapestried the imperial footstool. The very hound 
 stretched itself with a bold, ferocious insolence, and 
 seemed to regard no one with respect save the stern 
 knight whom it called master. 
 
 The Emperor, turning back from the short space which, 
 as a special mark of favour, he had accompanied Bohe- 
 mond, beheld with astonishment his seat occupied 
 by this insolent Frank. The bands of the half-savage 
 Varangians who were stationed around would not have 
 hesitated an instant in avenging the insult, by pros- 
 trating the violator of their master's throne even in this 
 act of his contempt, had they not been restrained by 
 
 176
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Achilles Tatius and other officers, who were uncertain 
 what the Emperor would do, and somewhat timorous 
 of taking a resolution for themselves. 
 
 Meanwhile, the unceremonious knight spoke aloud, in 
 a speech which, though provincial, might be understood 
 by all to whom the French language was known, while 
 even those who understood it not gathered its interpre- 
 tation from his tone and manner. 'What churl is this,' 
 he said, 'who has remained sitting stationary like a block 
 of wood or the fragment of a rock, when so many noble 
 knights, the flower of chivalry and muster of gallantry, 
 stand uncovered around among the thrice conquered 
 Varangians? ' 
 
 A deep, clear accent replied, as if from the bottom of 
 the earth, so like it was to the accents of some being 
 from the other world — ' If the Normans desire battle of 
 the Varangians, they will meet them in the lists man to 
 man, without the poor boast of insulting the Emperor 
 of Greece, who is well known to fight only by the battle- 
 axes of his guard.' 
 
 The astonishment was so great when this answer was 
 heard as to affect even the knight whose insult upon the 
 Emperor had occasioned it; and amid the efforts of 
 Achilles to retain his soldiers within the bounds of sub- 
 ordination and silence, a loud murmur seemed to inti- 
 mate that they would not long remain so. Bohemond 
 returned through the press with a celerity which did not 
 so well suit the dignity of Alexius, and catching the cru- 
 sader by the arm, he, something between fair means 
 and a gentle degree of force, obliged him to leave the 
 chair of the Emperor, in which he had placed himself 
 so boldly. 
 
 43 177
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'How is it,' said Bohemond, 'noble Count of Paris? 
 Is there one of this great assembly who can see with 
 patience that your name, so widely renowned for valour, 
 is now to be quoted in an idle brawl with hirelings, whose 
 utmost boast it is to bear a mercenary battle-axe in the 
 ranks of the Emperor's guards? For shame — for shame ; 
 do not, for the discredit of Norman chivalry, let it be so ! ' 
 
 *I know not,' said the crusader, rising reluctantly. 
 * I am not nice in choosing the degree of my adversary, 
 when he bears himself like one who is willing and for- 
 ward in battle. I am good-natured, I tell thee, Count 
 Bohemond; and Turk or Tartar, or wandering Anglo- 
 Saxon, who only escapes from the chain of the Normans 
 to become the slave of the Greek, is equally welcome to 
 whet his blade clean against my armour, if he desires to 
 achieve such an honourable office.' 
 
 The Emperor had heard what passed — had heard it 
 with indignation, mixed with fear; for he imagined the 
 whole scheme of his poHcy was about to be overturned 
 at once by a premeditated plan of personal affront, and 
 probably an assault upon his person. He was about to 
 call to arms, when, casting his eyes on the right flank 
 of the crusaders, he saw that all remained quiet after the 
 Frank baron had transferred himself from thence. He 
 therefore instantly resolved to let the insult pass, as one 
 of the rough pleasantries of the Franks, since the ad- 
 vance of more troops did not give any symptom of an 
 actual onset. 
 
 Resolving on his line of conduct with the quickness of 
 thought, he glided back to his canopy and stood beside 
 his throne, of which, however, he chose not instantly 
 to take possession, lest he should give the insolent 
 
 178
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 stranger some ground for renewing and persisting in a 
 competition for it. 
 
 'What bold vavasour is this,' said he to Count Bald- 
 win, 'whom, as is apparent from his dignity, I ought to 
 have received upon my throne, and who thinks proper 
 thus to vindicate his rank?' 
 
 'He is reckoned one of the bravest men in our host,' 
 answered Baldwin, ' though the brave are as numerous 
 there as the sands of the sea. He will himself tell you his 
 name and rank.' 
 
 Alexius looked at the vavasour. He saw nothing in 
 his large, well-formed features, lighted by a wild touch 
 of enthusiasm which spoke in his quick eye, that inti- 
 mated premeditated insult, and was induced to suppose 
 that what had occurred, so contrary to the form and 
 ceremonial of the Grecian court, was neither an inten- 
 tional affront nor designed as the means of introducing 
 a quarrel. He therefore spoke with comparative ease 
 when he addressed the stranger thus — 'We know not 
 by what dignified name to salute you; but we are aware, 
 from Count Baldwin's information, that we are honoured 
 in having in our presence one of the bravest knights whom 
 a sense of the wrongs done to the Holy Land has brought 
 thus far on his way to Palestine, to free it from its bond- 
 age.' 
 
 'If you mean to ask my name,' answered the Euro- 
 pean knight, 'any one of these pilgrims can readily sat- 
 isfy you, and more gracefully than I can myself, since we 
 use to say in our country that many a fierce quarrel is 
 prevented from being fought out by an untimely dis- 
 closure of names, when men, who might have fought 
 with the fear of God before their eyes, must, when their 
 
 179
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 names are manifested, recognise each other as spiritual 
 allies, by baptism, gossipred, or some such irresistible 
 bond of friendship; whereas, had they fought first, and 
 told their names afterwards, they could have had some 
 assurance of each other's valour, and have been able to 
 view their relationship as an honour to both.' 
 
 'Still,' said the Emperor, 'methinks I would know if 
 you, who, in this extraordinary press of knights, seem to 
 assert a precedence to yourself, claim the dignity due 
 to a king or prince?' 
 
 ' How speak you that? ' said the Frank, with a brow 
 somewhat overclouded; 'do you feel that I have not left 
 you un jostled by my advance to these squadrons of 
 yours? ' 
 
 Alexius hastened to answer, that he felt no particular 
 desire to connect the count with an affront or offence; 
 observing that, in the extreme necessity of the empire, 
 it was no time for him, who was at the helm, to engage 
 in idle or unnecessary quarrels. 
 
 The Frankish knight heard him, and answered drily — 
 ' Since such are your sentiments, I wonder that you have 
 ever resided long enough within the hearing of the French 
 language to learn to speak it as you do. I would have 
 thought some of the sentiments of the chivalry of the 
 nation, since you are neither a monk nor a woman, 
 would, at the same time with the words of the dialect, 
 have found their way into your heart.' 
 
 'Hush, sir count,' said Bohemond, who remained by 
 the Emperor to avert the threatening quarrel. 'It is 
 surely requisite to answer the Emperor with civility; 
 and those who are impatient for warfare will have in- 
 fidels enough to wage it with. He only demanded your 
 
 1 80
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 name and lineage, which you of all men can have least 
 objection to disclose.' 
 
 ' I know not if it will interest this prince, or emperor, 
 as you term him,' answered the Frank count; 'but all 
 the account I can give of myself is this: In the midst of 
 one of the vast forests which occupy the centre of France, 
 my native country, there stands a chapel, sunk so low 
 into the ground that it seems as if it were become de- 
 crepid by its own great age. The image of the Holy 
 Virgin who presides over its altar is called by all men Our 
 Lady of the Broken Lances, and is accounted through 
 the whole kingdom the most celebrated for miHtary ad- 
 ventures. Four beaten roads, each leading from an op- 
 posite point in the compass, meet before the principal 
 door of the chapel; and ever and anon, as a good knight 
 arrives at this place, he passes in to the performance of 
 his devotions in the chapel, having first sounded his horn 
 three times, till ash and oak-tree quiver and ring. Hav- 
 ing then kneeled down to his devotions, he seldom arises 
 from the mass of Her of the Broken Lances but there is 
 attending on his leisure some adventurous knight ready 
 to satisfy the new-comer's desire of battle. This station 
 have I held for a month and more against all comers, 
 and all gave me fair thanks for the knightly manner of 
 quitting myself towards them, except one, who had 
 the evil hap to fall from his horse, and did break his 
 neck; and another, who was struck through the body, so 
 that the lance came out behind his back about a cloth- 
 yard, all dripping with blood. Allowing for such acci- 
 dents, which cannot easily be avoided, my opponents 
 parted with me with fair acknowledgment of the grace 
 I had done them.' 
 
 i8i
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 *I conceive, sir knight/ said the Emperor, 'that a 
 form like yours, animated by the courage you display, 
 is likely to find few equals even among your adventur- 
 ous countrymen; far less among men who are taught 
 that to cast away their lives in a senseless quarrel among 
 themselves is to throw away, like a boy, the gift of Provi- 
 dence.' 
 
 'You are welcome to your opinion,' said the Frank, 
 somewhat contemptuously; 'yet I assure you, if you 
 doubt that our gallant strife was unmixed with sullen- 
 ness and anger, and that we hunt not the hart or the boar 
 with merrier hearts in the evening than we discharge 
 our task of chivalry by the morn had arisen, before the 
 portal of the old chapel, you do us foul injustice.' 
 
 'With the Turks you will not enjoy this amiable ex- 
 change of courtesies,' answered Alexius. 'Wherefore I 
 would advise you neither to stray far into the van nor 
 into the rear, but to abide by the standard, where the 
 best infidels make their efforts, and the best knights are 
 required to repel them.' 
 
 ' By Our Lady of the Broken Lances,' said the crusader, 
 ' I would not that the Turks were more courteous than 
 they are Christian, and am well pleased that unbeHever 
 and heathen hound are a proper description for the best 
 of them, as being traitor alike to their God and to the laws 
 of chivalry; and devoutly do I trust that I shall meet 
 with them in the front rank of our army, beside our stand- 
 ard, or elsewhere, and have an open field to do my devoir 
 against them, both as the enemies of Our Lady and the 
 holy saints and as, by their evil customs, more expressly 
 my own. Meanwhile, you have time to seat yourself 
 and receive my homage, and I will be bound to you for 
 
 182
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 despatching this foolish ceremony with as little waste 
 and delay of time as the occasion will permit.' 
 
 The Emperor hastily seated himself, and received into 
 his the sinewy hands of the crusader, who made the 
 acknowledgment of his homage, and was then guided 
 off by Count Baldwin, who walked with the stranger to 
 the ships, and then, apparently well pleased at seeing 
 him in the course of going on board, returned back to 
 the side of the Emperor. 
 
 'What is the name,' said the Emperor, 'of that singular 
 and assuming man? ' 
 
 *It is Robert Count of Paris,' answered Baldwin, 'ac- 
 counted one of the bravest peers who stand around the 
 throne of France.' 
 
 After a moment's recollection, Alexius Comnenus is- 
 sued orders that the ceremonial of the day should be 
 discontinued, afraid, perhaps, lest the rough and careless 
 humour of the strangers should produce some new quar- 
 rel. The crusaders were led, nothing loth, back to palaces 
 in which they had already been hospitably received, and 
 readily resumed the interrupted feast from which they 
 had been called to pay their homage. The trumpets of 
 the various leaders blew the recall of the few troops of 
 an ordinary character who were attendant, together with 
 the host of knights and leaders, who, pleased with the 
 indulgences provided for them, and obscurely foreseeing 
 that the passage of the Bosphorus would be the com- 
 mencement of their actual suffering, rejoiced in being 
 called to the hither side. 
 
 It was not probably intended, but the hero, as he 
 might be styled, of the tumultuous day, Count Robert 
 of Paris, who was already on his road to embarkation on 
 
 183
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the strait, was disturbed in his purpose by the sound of 
 recall which was echoed around; nor could Bohemond, 
 Godfrey, or any who took upon him to explain the sig- 
 nal, alter his resolution of returning to Constantinople. 
 He laughed to scorn the threatened displeasure of the 
 Emperor, and seemed to think there would be a pecu- 
 liar pleasure in braving Alexius at his own board, or, 
 at least, that nothing could be more indifferent than 
 whether he gave offence or not. 
 
 To Godfrey of Bouillon, to whom he showed some re- 
 spect, he was still far from paying deference; and that 
 sagacious prince, having used every argument which 
 might shake his purpose of returning to the imperial 
 city, to the very point of making it a quarrel with him 
 in person, at length abandoned him to his own discretion, 
 and pointed him out to the Count of Toulouse, as he 
 passed, as a wild knight-errant, incapable of being in- 
 fluenced by anything save his own wajn^^ard fancy. 
 *He brings not five hundred men to the crusade,' said 
 Godfrey; *and I dare be sworn, that even in this, the 
 very outset of the undertaking, he knows not where these 
 five hundred men are, and how their wants are pro- 
 vided for. There is an eternal trumpet in his ear sounding 
 to assault, nor has he room or time to hear a milder or 
 more rational signal. See how he strolls along yonder, 
 the very emblem of an idle school-boy, broke out of the 
 school-bounds upon a holyday, half animated by curi- 
 osity and half by love of mischief.' 
 
 'And,' said Raymond Count of Toulouse, 'with reso- 
 lution sufficient to support the desperate purpose of the 
 whole army of devoted crusaders. And yet so passionate 
 a Rodomont is Count Robert, that he would rather risk 
 
 184
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the success of the whole expedition than omit an oppor- 
 tunity of meeting a worthy antagonist en champ clos, or 
 lose, as he terms it, a chance of worshipping Our Lady of 
 the Broken Lances. Who are yon with whom he has now 
 met, and who are apparently walking, or rather strolling, 
 in the same way with him, back to Constantinople?' 
 
 'An armed knight, briUiantly equipped, yet of some- 
 thing less than knightly stature,' answered Godfrey. * It 
 is, I suppose, the celebrated lady who won Robert's 
 heart in the lists of battle, by bravery and valour equal 
 to his own ; and the pilgrim form in the long vestments 
 may be their daughter or niece.' 
 
 'A singular spectacle, worthy knight,' said the Count 
 of Toulouse, ' do our days present to us, to which we have 
 had nothing similar since Gaita,^ wife of Robert Guis- 
 card, first took upon her to distinguish herself by manly 
 deeds of emprise, and rival her husband, as well in the 
 front of battle as at the dancing-room or banquet.' 
 
 'Such is the custom of this pair, most noble knight,' 
 answered another crusader, who had joined them, 'and 
 Heaven pity the poor man who has no power to keep 
 domestic peace by an appeal to the stronger hand ! ' 
 
 'Well,' replied Raymond, 'if it be rather a mortifying 
 reflection that the lady of our love is far past the bloom 
 of youth, it is a consolation that she is too old-fashioned 
 to beat us, when we return back with no more of youth 
 or manhood than a long crusade has left. But come, 
 follow on the road to Constantinople, and in the rear of 
 this most doughty knight.' 
 
 1 See Note 7.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 These were wild times — the antipodes of ours: 
 Ladies were there, who oftener saw themselves 
 In the broad lustre of a foeman's shield 
 Than in a mirror, and who rather sought 
 To match themselves in battle than in dalliance 
 To meet a lover's onset. But though Nature 
 Was outraged thus, she was not overcome. 
 
 Feudal Times. 
 
 Brenhilda, Countess of Paris, was one of those stal- 
 wart dames who willingly hazarded themselves in the 
 front of battle, which, during the first crusade, was as 
 common as it was possible for a very unnatural custom 
 to be, and, in fact, gave the real instances of the Marphi- 
 sas and Bradamantes, whom the writers of romance 
 delighted to paint, assigning them sometimes the ad- 
 vantage of invulnerable armour, or a spear whose thrust 
 did not admit of being resisted, in order to soften the 
 improbability of the weaker sex being frequently vic- 
 torious over the male part of the creation. 
 
 But the spell of Brenhilda was of a more simple nature, 
 and rested chiefly in her great beauty. 
 
 From a girl, she despised the pursuits of her sex; and 
 they who ventured to become suitors for the hand of the 
 young Lady of Aspramonte, to which warhke fief she 
 had succeeded, and which perhaps encouraged her in her 
 fancy, received for answer, that they must first merit it 
 by their good behaviour in the lists. The father of Bren- 
 hilda was dead; her mother was of a gentle temper, and 
 easily kept under management by the young lady her- 
 self. 
 
 i86
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Brenhilda's numerous suitors readily agreed to terms 
 which were too much according to the manners of the 
 age to be disputed. A tournament was held at the 
 Castle of Aspramonte, in which one half of the gallant 
 assembly rolled headlong before their successful rivals, 
 and withdrew from the lists mortified and disappointed. 
 The successful party among the suitors were expected 
 to be summoned to joust among themselves. But they 
 were surprised at being made acquainted with the lady's 
 further will. She aspired to wear armour herself, to 
 wield a lance, and back a steed, and prayed the knights 
 that they would permit a lady, whom they professed to 
 honour so highly, to mingle in their games of chivalry. 
 The young knights courteously received their young 
 mistress in the hsts, and smiled at the idea of her hold- 
 ing them triumphantly against so many gallant cham- 
 pions of the other sex. But the vassals and old serv- 
 ants of the count, her father, smiled to each other, and 
 intimated a different result than the gallants anticipated. 
 The knights who encountered the fair Brenhilda were 
 one by one stretched on the sand ; nor was it to be denied 
 that the situation of tilting with one of the handsomest 
 women of the time was an extremely embarrassing one. 
 Each youth was bent to withhold his charge in full volley, 
 to cause his steed to swerve at the full shock, or in some 
 other way to flinch from doing the utmost which was 
 necessary to gain the victory, lest, in so gaining it, he 
 might cause irreparable injury to the beautiful oppo- 
 nent he tilted with. But the Lady of Aspramonte was 
 not one who could be conquered by less than the exertion 
 of the whole strength and talents of the victor. The 
 defeated suitors departed from the lists the more morti- 
 
 \^ 187
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 fied at their discomfiture, because Robert of Paris arrived 
 at sunset, and, understanding what was going forward, 
 sent his name to the barriers, as that of a knight who 
 would willingly forego the reward of the tournament, in 
 case he had the fortune to gain it, declaring, that neither 
 lands nor ladies' charms were what he came thither to 
 seek. Brenhilda, piqued and mortified, chose a new 
 lance, mounted her best steed, and advanced into the hsts 
 as one determined to avenge upon the new assailant's 
 brow the slight of her charms which he seemed to express. 
 But whether her displeasure had somewhat interfered 
 with her usual skill, or whether she had, like others of her 
 sex, felt a partiality towards one whose heart was not 
 particularly set upon gaining hers, or whether, as is often 
 said on such occasions, her fated hour was come, so it 
 was that Count Robert tilted with his usual address and 
 good fortune. Brenhilda of Aspramonte was unhorsed 
 and unhelmed, and stretched on the earth, and the beau- 
 tiful face, which faded from very red to deadly pale before 
 the eyes of the victor, produced its natural effect in rais- 
 ing the value of his conquest. He would, in conformity 
 with his resolution, have left the castle, after having 
 mortified the vanity of the lady; but her mother oppor- 
 tunely interposed, and, when she had satisfied herself 
 that no serious injury had been sustained by the young 
 heiress, she returned her thanks to the stranger knight 
 who had taught her daughter a lesson, which, she trusted, 
 she would not easily forget. Thus tempted to do what he 
 secretly wished, Count Robert gave ear to those senti- 
 ments which naturally whispered to him to be in no 
 hurry to withdraw. 
 He was of the blood of Charlemagne, and, what was
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 still of more consequence in the young lady's eyes, one 
 of the most renowned of Norman knights in that joust- 
 ing day. After a residence of ten days in the Castle of 
 Aspramonte, the bride and bridegroom set out, for such 
 was Count Robert's will, with a competent train, to Our 
 Lady of the Broken Lances, where it pleased him to be 
 wedded. Two knights, who were waiting to do battle, 
 as was the custom of the place, were rather disappointed 
 at the nature of the cavalcade, which seemed to inter- 
 rupt their purpose. But greatly were they surprised 
 when they received a cartel from the betrothed couple, 
 offering to substitute their own persons in the room 
 of other antagonists, and congratulating themselves in 
 commencing their married Ufe in a manner so con- 
 sistent with that which they had hitherto led. They 
 were victorious as usual ; and the only persons having 
 occasion to rue the complaisance of the Count and his 
 bride were the two strangers, one of whom broke an 
 arm in the rencontre and the other dislocated a collar- 
 bone. 
 
 Count Robert's course of knight-errantry did not 
 seem to be in the least intermitted by his marriage; on 
 the contrary, when he was called upon to support his 
 renown, his wife was often known also in mihtary ex- 
 ploits, nor was she inferior to him in thirst after fame. 
 They both assumed the cross at the same time, that 
 being then the predominating folly in Europe. 
 
 The Countess Brenhilda was now above six-and- 
 twenty years old, with as much beauty as can well fall 
 to the share of an amazon. A figure of the largest femi- 
 nine size was surmounted by a noble countenance, to 
 which even repeated warlike toils had not given more 
 
 189
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 than a sunny hue, relieved by the dazzling whiteness 
 of such parts of her face as were not usually dis- 
 played. 
 
 As Alexius gave orders that his retinue should return 
 to Constantinople, he spoke in private to the Follower, 
 Achilles Tatius. The satrap answered with a submissive 
 bend of the head, and separated with a few attendants 
 from the main body of the Emperor's train. The princi- 
 pal road to the city was, of course, filled with the troops, 
 and with the numerous crowds of spectators, all of 
 whom were inconvenienced in some degree by the dust 
 and heat of the weather. 
 
 Count Robert of Paris had embarked his horses on 
 board of ship, and all his retinue, except an old squire 
 or valet of his own and an attendant of his wife. He felt 
 himself more incommoded in this crowd than he desired, 
 especially as his wife shared it with him, and began to 
 look among the scattered trees which fringed the shores 
 down almost to the tide-mark, to see if he could discern 
 any bye-path which might carry them more circuitously, 
 but more pleasantly, to the city, and afford them at the 
 same time, what was their principal object in the East, 
 strange sights or adventures of chivalry. A broad and 
 beaten path seemed to promise them all the enjoyment 
 which shade could give in a warm climate. The ground 
 through which it wound its way was beautifully broken 
 by the appearance of temples, churches, and kiosks, and 
 here and there a fountain distributed its silver produce, 
 like a benevolent individual, who, self-denying to him- 
 self, is Hberal to all others who are in necessity. The dis- 
 tant sound of the martial music still regaled their way; 
 and, at the same time, as it detained the populace on the 
 
 190
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 highroad, prevented the strangers from becoming incom- 
 moded with fellow-travellers. 
 
 Rejoicing in the abated heat of the day, wondering, 
 at the same time, at the various kinds of architecture, the 
 strange features of the landscape, or accidental touches 
 of manners exhibited by those who met or passed them 
 upon their journey, they strolled easily onwards. One 
 figure particularly caught the attention of the Countess 
 Brenhilda. This was an old man of great stature, en- 
 gaged, apparently, so deeply with the roll of parchment 
 which he held in his hand, that he paid no attention 
 to the objects which were passing around him. Deep 
 thought appeared to reign on his brow, and his eye was 
 of that piercing kind which seems designed to search and 
 winnow the frivolous from the edifying part of human 
 discussion, and limit its inquiry to the last. Raising his 
 eyes slowly from the parchment on which he had been 
 gazing, the look of Agelastes — for it was the sage him- 
 self — encountered those of Count Robert and his lady, 
 and addressing them with the kindly epithet of *my 
 children,' he asked if they had missed their road, or 
 whether there was anything in which he could do them 
 any pleasure. 
 
 *We are strangers, father,' was the answer, 'from a 
 distant country, and belonging to the army which has 
 passed hither upon pilgrimage; one object brings us here 
 in common, we hope, with all that host. We desire to 
 pay our devotions where the great ransom was paid for 
 us, and to free, by our good swords, enslaved Palestine 
 from the usurpation and tyranny of the infidel. When 
 we have said this, we have announced our highest human 
 motive. Yet Robert of Paris and his Countess would 
 
 191
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 not willingly set their foot on a land save what should 
 resound its echo. They have not been accustomed to 
 move in silence upon the face of the earth, and they 
 would purchase an eternal life of fame, though it were 
 at the price of mortal existence.' 
 
 'You seek, then, to barter safety for fame,' said 
 Agelastes, 'though you may, perchance, throw death 
 into the scale by which you hope to gain it? ' 
 
 'Assuredly,' said Count Robert; 'nor is there one 
 wearing such a belt as this to whom such a thought is 
 stranger.' 
 
 'And, as I understand,' said Agelastes, 'your lady 
 shares with your honourable self in these valorous resolu- 
 tions? Can this be? ' 
 
 'You may undervalue my female courage, father, if 
 such is your will,' said the Countess; 'but I speak in 
 presence of a witness who can attest the truth when I 
 say, that a man of half your years had not doubted the 
 truth with impunity.' 
 
 ' Nay, Heaven protect me from the Hghtning of your 
 eyes,' said Agelastes, 'whether in anger or in scorn. I 
 bear an aegis about myself against what I should else 
 have feared. But age, with its incapacities, brings also 
 its apologies. Perhaps, indeed, it is one like me whom 
 you seek to find, and in that case I should be happy to 
 render to you such services as it is my duty to offer to all 
 worthy knights.' 
 
 'I have already said,' replied Count Robert, 'that, 
 after the accomplishment of my vow ' — he looked up- 
 wards and crossed himself — ' there is nothing on earth 
 to which I am more bound than to celebrate my name in 
 arms as becomes a valiant cavalier. When men die 
 
 192
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 obscurely, they die for ever. Had my ancestor Charles 
 never left the paltry banks of the Saale, he had not 
 now been much better known than any vine-dresser who 
 wielded his pruning-hook in the same territories. But he 
 bore him like a brave man, and his name is deathless in 
 the memory of the worthy.' 
 
 'Young man,' said the old Grecian, 'although it is but 
 seldom that such as you, whom I was made to serve and 
 to value, visit this country, it is not the less true that I 
 am well qualified to serve you in the matter which you 
 have so much at heart. My acquaintance with nature 
 has been so perfect and so long, that, during its continu- 
 ance, she has disappeared, and another world has been 
 spread before me, in which she has but little to do. Thus 
 the curious stores which I have assembled are beyond 
 the researches of other men, and not to be laid before 
 those whose deeds of valour are to be bounded by the or- 
 dinary probabilities of every-day nature. No romancer 
 of your romantic country ever devised such extraor- 
 dinary adventures out of his own imagination, and to 
 feed the idle wonder of those who sat listening around, as 
 those which I know, not of idle invention, but of real 
 positive existence, with the means of achieving and 
 accomplishing the conditions of each adventure.' 
 
 *If such be your real profession,' said the French 
 count, 'you have met one of those whom you chiefly 
 search for; nor will my Countess and I stir farther upon 
 our road until you have pointed out to us some one of 
 those adventures which it is the business of errant- 
 knights to be industrious in seeking out.' 
 
 So saying, he sat down by the side of the old 
 man; and his lady, with a degree of reverence which 
 49 193
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 had something in it almost diverting, followed his 
 example. 
 
 'We have fallen right, Brenhilda,' said Count Robert: 
 'our guardian angel has watched his charge carefully. 
 Here have we come among an ignorant set of pedants, 
 chattering their absurd language, and holding more im- 
 portant the least look that a cowardly emperor can give 
 than the best blow that a good knight can deal. Believe 
 me, I was well-nigh thinking that we had done ill to take 
 the cross — God forgive such an impious doubt ! Yet 
 here, when we were even despairing to find the road to 
 fame, we have met with one of those excellent men 
 whom the knights of yore were wont to find sitting by 
 springs, by crosses, and by altars, ready to direct the 
 wandering knight where fame was to be found. Disturb 
 him not, my Brenhilda,' said the Count, 'but let him 
 recall to himself his stories of the ancient time, and thou 
 shalt see he will enrich us with the treasures of his 
 information.' 
 
 'If,* replied Agelastes, after some pause, 'I have 
 waited for a longer term than human life is granted to 
 most men, I shall still be overpaid by dedicating what 
 remains of existence to the service of a pair so devoted to 
 chivalry. What first occurs to me is a story of our Greek 
 country, so famous in adventures, and which I shall 
 briefly detail to you : — 
 
 'Afar hence, in our renowned Grecian Archipelago^ 
 amid storms and whirlpools, rocks which, changing their 
 character, appear to precipitate themselves against each 
 other, and billows that are never in a pacific state, lies 
 the rich island of Zulichium, inhabited, notwithstanding 
 its wealth, by a very few natives, who live only upon the 
 
 194
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 sea-coast. The inland part of the island is one immense 
 mountain, or pile of mountains, amongst which, those 
 who dare approach near enough may, we are assured, 
 discern the moss-grown and antiquated towers and pin^ 
 nacles of a stately but ruinous castle, the habitation of 
 the sovereign of the island, in which she has been en- 
 chanted for a great many years. 
 
 'A bold knight, who came upon a pilgrimage to Jeru- 
 salem, made a vow to deliver this unhappy victim of 
 pain and sorcery, feeling, with justice, vehemently 
 offended that the fiends of darkness should exercise any 
 authority near the Holy Land, which might be termed 
 the very fountain of light. Two of the oldest inhabitants 
 of the island undertook to guide him as near to the main 
 gate as they durst, nor did they approach it more closely 
 than the length of a bow-shot. Here, then, abandoned 
 to himself, the brave Frank set forth upon his enter- 
 prise, with a stout heart, and Heaven alone to friend. 
 The fabric which he approached showed, by its gigantic 
 size and splendour of outline, the power and wealth of the 
 potentate who had erected it. The brazen gates unfolded 
 themselves as if with hope and pleasure; and aerial voices 
 swept around the spires and turrets, congratulating the 
 genius of the place, it might be, upon the expected ap- 
 proach of its deliverer. 
 
 'The knight passed on, not unmoved with wonder, 
 though untainted by fear; and the Gothic splendours 
 which he saw were of a kind highly to exalt his idea of 
 the beauty of the mistress for whom a prison-house had 
 been so richly decorated. Guards there were in Eastern 
 dress and arms, upon bulwark and buttress, in readiness, 
 it appeared, to bend their bows; but the warriors were 
 
 195
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 motionless and silent, and took no more notice of the 
 armed step of the knight than if a monk or hermit had 
 approached their guarded post. They were Hving, and 
 yet, as to all power and sense, they might be considered 
 among the dead. If there was truth in the old tradition, 
 the sun had shone and the rain had fallen upon them for 
 more than four hundred changing seasons, without their 
 being sensible of the gem'al warmth of the one or the cold- 
 ness of the other. Like the Israehtes in the desert, their 
 shoes had not decayed, nor their vestments waxed old. 
 As Time left them, so and without alteration was he 
 again to find them.' The philosopher began now to recall 
 what he had heard of the cause of their enchantment. 
 
 * The sage to whom this potent charm is imputed was 
 one of the Magi who followed the tenets of Zoroaster. He 
 had come to the court of this youthful princess, who 
 received him with every attention which gratified vanity 
 could dictate, so that in a short time her awe of this grave 
 personage was lost in the sense of ascendency which her 
 beauty gave her over him. It was no difficult matter — 
 in fact it happens every day — for the beautiful woman 
 to lull the wise man into what is not unaptly called a 
 fool's paradise. The sage was induced to attempt feats 
 of youth which his years rendered ridiculous: he could 
 command the elements, but the common course of nature 
 was beyond his power. When, therefore, he exerted his 
 magic strength, the mountains bent and the seas receded; 
 but when the philosopher attempted to lead forth the 
 Princess of Zulichium in the youthful dance, youths and 
 maidens turned their heads aside lest they should make 
 too manifest the ludicrous ideas with which they were 
 impressed. 
 
 196
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'Unhappily, as the aged, even the wisest of them, will 
 forget themselves, so the young naturally enter into an 
 alliance to spy out, ridicule, and enjoy their foibles. 
 Many were the glances which the Princess sent among 
 her retinue, intimating the nature of the amusement 
 which she received from the attentions of her formidable 
 lover. In process of time, she lost her caution, and a 
 glance was detected, expressing to the old man the ridi- 
 cule and contempt in which he had been all along held by 
 the object of his affections. Earth has no passion so bitter 
 as love converted to hatred ; and while the sage bitterly 
 regretted what he had done, he did not the less resent 
 the light-hearted folly of the Princess by whom he had 
 been duped. 
 
 *If, however, he was angry, he possessed the art to 
 conceal it. Not a word, not a look expressed the bitter 
 disappointment which he had received. A shade of 
 melancholy, or rather gloom, upon his brow alone inti- 
 mated the coming storm. The Princess became some- 
 what alarmed; she was, besides, extremely good-natured, 
 nor had her intentions of leading the old man into 
 what would render him ridiculous been so accurately 
 planned with malice prepense as they were the effect 
 of accident and chance. She saw the pain which he 
 suffered, and thought to end it by going up to him, 
 when about to retire, and kindly wishing him good- 
 night. 
 
 "'You say well, daughter," said the sage, "good- 
 night; but who, of the numbers who hear me, shall say 
 good-morning?" 
 
 'The speech drew little attention, although two or 
 three persons to whom the character of the sage was 
 
 197
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 known fled from the island that very night, and by their 
 report made known the circumstances attending the 
 first infliction of this extraordinary spell on those who 
 remained within the castle. A sleep like that of death fell 
 upon them, and was not removed. Most of the inhabit- 
 ants left the island ; the few who remained were cautious 
 how they approached the castle, and watched until some 
 bold adventurer should bring that happy awakening 
 which the speech of the sorcerer seemed in some degree 
 to intimate. 
 
 'Never seemed there a fairer opportunity for that 
 awakening to take place than when the proud step of 
 Artavan de Hautlieu was placed upon those enchanted 
 courts. On the left lay the palace and donjon-keep ; but 
 the right, more attractive, seemed to invite to the apart- 
 ment of the women. At a side door reclined on a couch 
 two guards of the haram, with their naked swords grasped 
 in their hands, and features fiendishly contorted between 
 sleep and dissolution seemed to menace death to any who 
 should venture to approach. This threat deterred not 
 Artavan de Hautlieu. He approached the entrance, 
 when the doors, like those of the great entrance to the 
 castle, made themselves instantly accessible to him. A 
 guard-room of the same effeminate soldiers received him, 
 nor could the strictest examination have discovered to 
 him whether it was sleep or death which arrested the 
 eyes that seemed to look upon and prohibit his advance. 
 Unheeding the presence of these ghastly sentinels, Arta- 
 van pressed forward into an inner apartment, where 
 female slaves of the most distinguished beauty were 
 visible in the attitude of those who had already assumed 
 their dress for the night. There was much in this scene 
 
 198
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 which might have arrested so young a pilgrim as Artavan 
 of Hautlieu ; but his heart was fixed upon achieving the 
 freedom of the beautiful princess, nor did he suffer him- 
 self to be withdrawn from that object by any inferior 
 consideration. He passed on, therefore, to a little ivory 
 door, which, after a moment's pause, as if in maidenly 
 hesitation, gave way like the rest, and yielded access to 
 the sleeping-apartment of the Princess herself. A soft 
 light, resembling that of evening, penetrated into a 
 chamber where everything seemed contrived to exalt 
 the luxury of slumber. The heaps of cushions which 
 formed a stately bed seemed rather to be touched than 
 impressed by the form of a nymph of fifteen, the re- 
 nowned Princess of Zulichium..' 
 
 'Without interrupting you, good father,' said the 
 Countess Brenhilda, 'it seems to me that we can com- 
 prehend the picture of a woman asleep without much 
 dilating upon it, and that such a subject is little recom- 
 mended either by our age or by yours.' 
 
 'Pardon me, noble lady,' answered Agelastes, 'the 
 most approved part of my story has ever been this pas- 
 sage, and while I now suppress it in obedience to your 
 command, bear notice, I pray you, that I sacrifice the 
 most beautiful part of the tale.' 
 
 'Brenhilda,' added the Count, 'I am surprised you 
 think of interrupting a story which has hitherto pro- 
 ceeded with so much fire: the telling of a few words 
 more or less will surely have a much greater influence 
 upon the sense of the narrative than such an addition 
 can possibly possess over our sentiments of action.' 
 
 'As you will,' said his lady, throwing herself carelessly 
 back upon the seat; 'but methinks the worthy father 
 
 199
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 protracts this discourse till it becomes of a nature more 
 trifling than interesting.' 
 
 'Brenhilda,' said the Count, 'this is the first time I 
 have remarked in you a woman's weakness.' 
 
 *I may as well say, Count Robert, that it is the first 
 time,' answered Brenhilda, ' that you have shown to me 
 the inconstancy of your sex.' 
 
 'Gods and goddesses,' said the philosopher, 'was ever 
 known a quarrel more absurdly founded ! The Countess 
 is jealous of one whom her husband probably never 
 will see, nor is there any prospect that the Princess of 
 Zulichium will be hereafter better known to the modern 
 world than if the curtain hung before her tomb.' 
 
 'Proceed,' said Count Robert of Paris; ' if Sir Artavan 
 of Hautlieu has not accomplished the enfranchisement 
 of the Princess of Zulichium, I make a vow to Our Lady 
 of the Broken Lances — ' 
 
 'Remember,' said his lady, interfering, 'that you are 
 already under a vow to free the Sepulchre of God; and 
 to that, methinks, all lighter engagements might give 
 place.' 
 
 'Well, lady — well,' said Count Robert, but half 
 satisfied with this interference, 'I will not engage my- 
 self, you may be assured, on any adventure which may 
 claim precedence of the enterprise of the Holy Sepul- 
 chre, to which we are all bound.' 
 
 'Alas ! ' said Agelastes, ' the distance of Zulichium from 
 the speediest route to the sepulchre is so small, that — ' 
 
 'Worthy father,' said the Countess, 'we will, if it 
 pleases you, hear your tale to an end, and then deter- 
 mine what we will do. We Norman ladies, descendants 
 of the old Germans, claim a voice with our lords in the 
 
 200
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 council which precedes the battle, nor has our assistance 
 in the conflict been deemed altogether useless.' 
 
 The tone in which this was spoken conveyed an awk- 
 ward innuendo to the philosopher, who began to foresee 
 that the guidance of the Norman knight would be more 
 difiicult than he had foreseen, while his consort remained 
 by his side. He took up, therefore, his oratory on some- 
 what a lower key than before, and avoided those warm 
 descriptions which had given such offence to the Count- 
 ess Brenhilda. 
 
 'Sir Artavan de HautUeu, says the story, considered 
 in what way he should accost the sleeping damsel, when 
 it occurred to him in what manner the charm would be 
 most likely to be reversed. I am in your judgment, fair 
 lady, if he judged wrong in resolving that the method of 
 his address should be a kiss upon the lips.' 
 
 The colour of Brenhilda was somewhat heightened, 
 but she did not deem the observation worthy of notice. 
 
 'Never had so innocent an action,' continued the phi- 
 losopher, 'an effect more horrible. The delightful light 
 of a summer evening was instantly changed into a 
 strange lurid hue, which, infected with sulphur, seemed 
 to breathe suffocation through the apartment. The rich 
 hangings and splendid furniture of the chamber, the 
 very walls themselves, were changed into huge stones 
 tossed together at random, like the inside of a wild 
 beast's den; nor was the den without an inhabitant. 
 The beautiful and innocent Hps to which Artavan de 
 Hautlieu had approached his own were now changed 
 into the hideous and bizarre form and bestial aspect of a 
 fiery dragon. A moment she hovered upon the wing, and 
 it is said, had Sir Artavan found courage to repeat his 
 
 20I 
 
 OJi 
 
 «i 
 
 Ss'i?^-
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 salute three times, he would then have remained master 
 of all the wealth and of the disenchanted princess. But 
 the opportunity was lost, and the dragon, or the creature 
 who seemed such, sailed out at a side window upon its 
 broad pennons, uttering loud wails of disappointment.' 
 
 Here ended the story of Agelastes. 'The Princess,' he 
 said, 'is still supposed to abide her doom in the Island 
 of Zulichium, and several knights have undertaken the 
 adventure; but I know not whether it was the fear of 
 saluting the sleeping maiden, or that of approaching the 
 dragon into which she was transformed, but so it is, the 
 spell remains unachieved. I know the way, and if you 
 say the word, you may be to-morrow on the road to the 
 castle of enchantment.' 
 
 The Countess heard this proposal with the deepest 
 anxiety, for she knew that she might, by opposition, 
 determine her husband irrevocably upon following out 
 the enterprise. She stood therefore with a timid and 
 bashful look, strange in a person whose bearing was 
 generally so dauntless, and prudently left it to the unin- 
 fluenced mind of Coimt Robert to form the resolution 
 which should best please him. 
 
 'Brenhilda,' he said, taking her hand, 'fame and hon- 
 our are dear to thy husband as ever they were to knight 
 who buckled a brand upon his side. Thou hast done, 
 perhaps, I may say, for me what I might in vain have 
 looked for from ladies of thy condition; and therefore 
 thou mayst well expect a casting voice in such points of 
 deliberation. Why dost thou wander by the side of a 
 foreign and unhealthy shore, instead of the banks of the 
 lovely Seine? Why dost thou wear a dress unusual to 
 thy sex? Why dost thou seek death, and think it little, 
 
 202
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 in comparison of shame? Why? but that the Count of 
 Paris may have a bride worthy of him. Dost thou think 
 that this affection is thrown away? No, by the saints! 
 Thy knight repays it as he best ought, and sacrifices to 
 thee every thought which thy affection may less than 
 entirely approve.' 
 
 Poor Brenhilda, confused as she was by the various 
 emotions with which she was agitated, now in vain 
 endeavoured to maintain the heroic deportment which 
 her character as an amazon required from her. She 
 attempted to assume the proud and lofty look which was 
 properly her own, but, failing in the effort, she threw 
 herself into the Count's arms, hung round his neck, and 
 wept like a village maiden whose true love is pressed for 
 the wars. Her husband, a little ashamed, while he was 
 much moved, by this burst of affection in one to whose 
 character it seemed an unusual attribute, was, at the 
 same time, pleased and proud that he could have awak- 
 ened an affection so genuine and so gentle in a soul so 
 high-spirited and so unbending. 
 
 *Not thus,' he said, 'my Brenhilda! I would not have 
 it thus, either for thine own sake or for mine. Do not 
 let this wise old man suppose that thy heart is made of 
 the malleable stuff which forms that of other maidens ; 
 and apologise to him, as may well become thee, for 
 having prevented my undertaking the adventure of 
 Zulichium, which he recommends.' 
 
 It was not easy for Brenhilda to recover herself, after 
 having afforded so notable an instance how nature can 
 vindicate her rights, with whatever rigour she may have 
 been disciplined and tyrannised over. With a look of 'm-> 
 effable affection, she disjoined herself from her husband, 
 
 203
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 still keeping hold of his hand, and turning to the old 
 man with a countenance in which the half -effaced tears 
 were succeeded by smiles of pleasure and of modesty, 
 she spoke to Agelastes as she would to a person whom 
 she respected, and towards whom she had some offence 
 to atone. 'Father,' she said, respectfully, *be not angry 
 with me that I should have been an obstacle to one of 
 the best knights that ever spurred steed undertaking the 
 enterprise of thine enchanted princess; but the truth is 
 that, in our land, where knighthood and rehgion agree 
 in permitting only one lady love, and one lady wife, we 
 do not quite so willingly see our husbands run into dan- 
 ger, especially of that kind where lonely ladies are the 
 parties relieved — and — and kisses are the ransom 
 paid. I have as much confidence in my Robert's fidelity 
 as a lady can have in a loving knight, but still — ' 
 
 'Lovely lady,' said Agelastes, who, notwithstanding 
 his highly artificial character, could not help being 
 moved by the simple and sincere affection of the hand- 
 some young pair, 'you have done no evil. The state of 
 the Princess is no worse than it was, and there cannot be 
 a doubt that the knight fated to relieve her will appear 
 at the destined period.' 
 
 The Countess smiled sadly, and shook her head. 'You 
 do not know,' she said, 'how powerful is the aid of which 
 I have unhappily deprived this unfortunate lady, by a 
 jealousy which I now feel to have been alike paltry and 
 unworthy; and, such is my regret, that I could find in 
 my heart to retract my opposition to Count Robert's 
 undertaking this adventure.' She looked at her husband 
 with some arLxiety, as one that had made an offer she 
 would not willingly see accepted, and did not recover 
 
 204
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 her courage until he said decidedly, 'Brenhilda, that 
 may not be.' 
 
 'And why, then, may not Brenhilda herself take the 
 adventure,' continued the Countess, 'since she can 
 neither fear the charms of the Princess nor the terrors 
 of the dragon?' 
 
 'Lady,' said Agelastes, 'the Princess must be awak- 
 ened by the kiss of love, and not by that of friendship.' 
 
 'A sufficient reason,' said the Countess, smiUng, 'why 
 a lady may not wish her lord to go forth upon an adven- 
 ture of which the conditions are so regulated.' 
 
 'Noble minstrel, or herald, or by whatever name this 
 country calls you,' said Count Robert, 'accept a small 
 remuneration for an hour pleasantly spent, though spent, 
 unhappily, in vain. I should make some apology for the 
 meanness of my offering, but French knights, you may 
 have occasion to know, are more full of fame than of 
 wealth.' 
 
 'Not for that, noble sir,' replied Agelastes, 'would I 
 refuse your munificence: a besant from your worthy 
 hand or that of your noble-minded lady were centupled 
 in its value by the eminence of the persons from whom it 
 came. I would hang it round my neck by a string of 
 pearls, and when I came into the presence of knights and 
 of ladies I would proclaim that this addition to my 
 achievement of armorial distinction was bestowed by the 
 renowned Count Robert of Paris and his unequalled 
 lady.' The knight and the countess looked on each other, 
 and the lady, taking from her finger a ring of pure gold, 
 prayed the old man to accept of it as a mark of her esteem 
 and her husband's. 'With one other condition,' said the 
 philosopher, 'which I trust you will not find altogether 
 
 205
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 unsatisfactory. I have, on the way to the city by the 
 most pleasant road, a small kiosk, or hermitage, where I 
 sometimes receive my friends, who, I venture to say, are 
 among the most respectable personages of this empire. 
 Two or three of these will probably honour my residence 
 to-day, and partake of the provision it affords. Could I 
 add to these the company of the noble Count and Count- 
 ess of Paris, I should deem my poor habitation hon- 
 oured for ever.' 
 
 'How say you, my noble wife? ' said the Count. 'The 
 company of a minstrel befits the highest birth, honours 
 the highest rank, and adds to the greatest achieve- 
 ments; and the invitation does us too much credit to be 
 rejected.' 
 
 . 'It grows somewhat late,' said the Countess; 'but we 
 came not here to shun a sinking sun or a darkening sky, 
 and I feel it my duty, as well as my satisfaction, to place 
 at the command of the good father every pleasure which 
 it is in my power to offer to him, for having been the 
 means of your neglecting his advice.' 
 
 'The path is so short,' said Agelastes, 'that we had 
 better keep our present mode of travelKng, if the lady 
 should not want the assistance of horses.' 
 
 'No horses on my account,' said the Lady Brenhilda. 
 *My waiting-woman, Agatha, has what necessaries I 
 may require; and, for the rest, no knight ever travelled 
 so little embarrassed with baggage as my husband.' 
 
 Agelastes, therefore, led the way through the deepen- 
 ing wood, which was freshened by the cooler breath of 
 evening, and his guests accompanied him.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 Without, a ruin, broken, tangled, cumbrous, 
 Within, it was a little paradise, 
 Where Taste had made her dwelling. Statuary, 
 First-born of human art, moulded her images, 
 And bade men mark and worship. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 The Count of Paris and his lady attended the old man, 
 whose advanced age, his excellence in the use of the 
 French language, which he spoke to admiration — above 
 all, his skill in applying it to poetical and romantic sub- 
 jects, which was essential to what was then termed his- 
 tory and belles-lettres — drew from the noble hearers- a 
 degree of applause which, as Agelastes had seldom been 
 vain enough to consider as his due, so, on the part of the 
 Knight of Paris and his lady, had it been but rarely 
 conferred. 
 
 They had walked for some time by a path which some- 
 times seemed to hide itself among the woods that came 
 down to the shore of the Propontis, sometimes emerged 
 from concealment, and skirted the open margin of the 
 strait, while at every turn it seemed guided by the desire 
 to select a choice and contrast of beauty. Variety of 
 scenes and manners enHvened, from their novelty, the 
 landscape to the pilgrims. By the sea-shore, nymphs 
 were seen dancing and shepherds piping, or beating the 
 tambourine to their steps, as represented in some groups 
 of ancient statuary. The very faces had a singular re- 
 semblance to the antique. If old, their long robes, their 
 attitudes, and magnificent heads, presented the ideas 
 
 207
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 which distinguish prophets and saints; while, on the 
 other hand, the features of the young recalled the expres- 
 sive countenances of the heroes of antiquity, and the 
 charms of those lovely females by whom their deeds were 
 inspired. 
 
 But the race of the Greeks was no longer to be seen, 
 even in its native country, unmixed, or in absolute 
 purity; on the contrary, they saw groups of persons with 
 features which argued a different descent. 
 
 In a retiring bosom of the shore, which was traversed 
 by the path, the rocks, receding from the beach, rounded 
 off a spacious portion of level sand, and, in some degree, 
 inclosed it. A party of heathen Scythians whom they 
 beheld presented the deformed features of the demons 
 they were said to worship — flat noses with expanded 
 nostrils, which seemed to admit the sight to their very 
 brain; faces which extended rather in breadth than 
 length, with strange unintellectual eyes placed in the 
 extremity; figures short and dwarfish, yet garnished with 
 legs and arms of astonishing sinewy strength, dispropor- 
 tioned to their bodies. As the travellers passed, the 
 savages held a species of tournament, as the Count 
 termed it. In this they exercised themselves by darting 
 at each other long reeds, or canes, balanced for the pur- 
 pose, which, in this rude sport, they threw with such 
 force as not unfrequently to strike each other from their 
 steeds, and otherwise to cause serious damage. Some 
 of the combatants being, for the time, out of the play, 
 devoured with greedy looks the beauty of the Countess, 
 and eyed her in such a manner that she said to Count 
 Robert — *I have never known fear, my husband, nor 
 is it for me to acknowledge it now; but if disgust be an 
 
 208
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 ingredient of it, these misformed brutes are qualified to 
 inspire it.' 
 
 'What, ho, sir knight!' exclaimed one of the infidels, 
 'your wife, or your lady love, has committed a fault 
 against the privileges of the imperial Scythians, and not 
 small will be the penalty she has incurred. You may go 
 your way as fast as you will out of this place, which is, 
 for the present, our hippodrome or atmeidan, call it 
 which you will, as you prize the Roman or the Saracen 
 language; but for your wife, if the sacrament has united 
 you, beheve my word, that she parts not so soon nor so 
 easy.' 
 
 'Scoundrel heathen,' said the Christian knight, 'dost 
 thou hold that language to a peer of France? ' 
 
 Agelastes here interposed, and, using the sounding 
 language of a Grecian courtier, reminded the Scythians 
 (mercenary soldiers, as they seemed, of the empire) 
 that all violence against the European pilgrims was, by 
 the imperial orders, strictly prohibited under pain of 
 death. 
 
 *I know better,' said the exulting savage, shaking one 
 or two javelins with broad steel heads and wings of the 
 eagle's feather, which last were dabbled in blood. *Ask 
 the wings of my javelin,' he said, 'in whose heart's blood 
 these feathers have been dyed. They shall reply to you 
 that, if Alexius Comnenus be the friend of the European 
 pilgrims, it is only while he looks upon them; and we are 
 too exemplary soldiers to serve our emperor otherwise 
 than he wishes to be served.' 
 
 'Peace, Toxartis,' said the philosopher, 'thou behest 
 thine emperor.' 
 
 'Peace thou!' said Toxartis, 'or I will do a deed that 
 43 209
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 misbecomes a soldier, and rid the world of a prating old 
 man.' 
 
 So sa5^ng, he put forth his hand to take hold of the 
 Countess's veil. With the readiness which frequent use 
 had given to the warlike lady, she withdrew herself from 
 the heathen's grasp, and with her trenchant sword dealt 
 him so sufficient a blow, that Toxartis lay lifeless on the 
 plain. The Count leapt on the fallen leader's steed, and 
 crying his war-cry, 'Son of Charlemagne, to the rescue!' 
 he rode amid the rout of heathen cavaliers with a battle- 
 axe, which he found at the saddle-bow of the deceased 
 chieftain, and wielding it with remorseless dexterity, he 
 soon slew or wounded, or compelled to flight, the objects 
 of his resentment; nor was there any of them who 
 abode an instant to support the boast which they had 
 made. 
 
 'The despicable churls!' said the Countess to Agelas- 
 tes; *it irks me that a drop of such coward blood should 
 stain the hands of a noble knight. They call their exer- 
 cise a tournament, although in their whole exertions 
 every blow is aimed behind the back, and not one has 
 the courage to throw his windlestraw while he perceives 
 that of another pointed against himself.' 
 
 'Such is their custom,' said Agelastes; 'not perhaps so 
 much from cowardice as from habit, in exercising before 
 his Imperial Majesty. I have seen that Toxartis liter- 
 ally turn his back upon the mark when he bent his bow 
 in full career, and when in the act of galloping the far- 
 thest from his object, he pierced it through the very 
 centre with a broad arrow.' 
 
 'A force of such soldiers,' said Count Robert, who had 
 now rejoined his friends, ' could not, methinks, be very 
 
 2IO
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 formidable where there was but an ounce of genuine 
 courage in the assailants.' 
 
 'Meantime, let us pass on to my kiosk,' said Agelastes, 
 'lest the fugitives find friends to encourage them in 
 thoughts of revenge.' 
 
 * Such friends,' said Count Robert, * methinks, the inso- 
 lent heathens ought not to find in any land which calls 
 itself Christian; and if I survive the conquest of the Holy 
 Sepulchre, I shall make it my first business to inquire by 
 what right your emperor retains in his service a band 
 of paynim and unmannerly cut-throats, who dare offer 
 injury upon the highway, which ought to be sacred to 
 the peace of God and the king, and to noble ladies and 
 inoffensive pilgrims. It is one of a fist of many questions, 
 which, my vow accompUshed, I will not fail to put to 
 him — ay, and expecting an answer, as they say, prompt 
 and categorical.' 
 
 'You shall gain no answer from me, though,' said 
 Agelastes to himself. 'Your demands, sir knight, are 
 over-peremptory, and imposed under too rigid con- 
 ditions, to be replied to by those who can evade them.' 
 
 He changed the conversation, accordingly, with easy 
 dexterity; and they had not proceeded much farther, 
 before they reached a spot the natural beauties of which 
 called forth the admiration of his foreign companions. 
 A copious brook, gushing out of the woodland, descended 
 to the sea with no small noise and tumult; and, as if dis- 
 daining a quieter course, which it might have gained by 
 a little circuit to the right, it took the readiest road to 
 the ocean, plunging over the face of a lofty and barren 
 precipice which overhung the sea-shore, and from thence 
 led its little tribute, with as much noise as if it had the 
 
 211
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 stream of a full river to boast of, to the waters of the 
 Hellespont. 
 
 The rock, we have said, was bare, unless in so far as it 
 was clothed with the foaming waters of the cataract; 
 but the banks on each side were covered with plane-trees, 
 walnut-trees, cypresses, and other kinds of large timber 
 proper to the East. The fall of water, always agreeable 
 in a warm climate, and generally produced by arti- 
 ficial means, was here natural, and had been chosen, 
 something like the Sibyl's temple at Tivoli, for the seat 
 of a goddess to whom the invention of polytheism had 
 assigned a sovereignty over the department around. The 
 shrine was small and circular, like many of the lesser 
 temples of the rustic deities, and inclosed by the wall of 
 an outer court. After its desecration, it had probably 
 been converted into a luxurious summer retreat by Age- 
 lastes, or some Epicurean philosopher. As the building, 
 itself of a light, airy, and fantastic character, was dimly 
 seen through the branches and foliage on the edge of 
 the rock, so the mode by which it was accessible was not 
 at first apparent amongst the mist of the cascade. A 
 pathway, a good deal hidden by vegetation, ascended 
 by a gentle acclivity, and, prolonged by the architect 
 by means of a few broad and easy marble steps, making 
 part of the original approach, conducted the passenger to 
 a small, but exquisitely lovely, velvet lawn in front of the 
 turret or temple we have described, the back part of 
 which building overhung the cataract.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 The parties met. The wily, wordy Greek, 
 Weighing each word, and canvassing each syllable, 
 Evading, arguing, equivocating; 
 And the stern Frank came with his two-hand sword 
 Watching to see which way the balance sways, 
 That he may throw it in, and turn the scales. 
 
 Palestine. 
 
 At a signal made by Agelastes, the door of this romantic 
 retreat was opened by Diogenes, the negro slave, to 
 whom our readers have been already introduced; nor did 
 it escape the wily old man that the Count and his lady 
 testified some wonder at his form and lineaments, being 
 the first African perhaps whom they had ever seen so 
 closely. The philosopher lost not the opportunity of 
 making an impression on their minds, by a display of 
 the superiority of his knowledge. 
 
 'This poor being,' he observed, 'is of the race of 
 Ham, the undutiful son of Noah; for his transgressions 
 against his parent, he was banished to the sands of 
 Africa, and was condemned to be the father of a race 
 doomed to be the slaves of the issue of his more dutiful 
 brethren.' 
 
 The knight and his lady gazed on the wonderful ap- 
 pearance before them, and did not, it may be believed, 
 think of doubting the information, which was so much of 
 a piece with their prejudices, while their opinion of their 
 host was greatly augmented by the supposed extent of 
 his knowledge. 
 
 'It gives pleasure to a man of humanity,' continued 
 213
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Agelastes, 'when, in old age or sickness, we must employ 
 the services of others, which is at other times scarce law- 
 ful, to choose his assistants out of a race of beings, hewers 
 of wood and drawers of water, from their birth upwards 
 destined to slavery; and to whom, therefore, by employ- 
 ing them as slaves, we render no injury, but carry into 
 effect, in a shght degree, the intentions of the Great Being 
 who made us all.' 
 
 'Are there many of a race,' said the Countess, 'so sin- 
 gularly unhappy in their destination? I have hitherto 
 thought the stories of black men as idle as those which 
 minstrels tell of fairies and ghosts,' 
 
 'Do not believe so,' said the philosopher; 'the race is 
 numerous as the sands of the sea, neither are they alto- 
 gether unhappy in discharging the duties which their 
 fate has allotted them. Those who are of worse character 
 suffer even in this life the penance due to their guilt: 
 they become the slaves of the cruel and tyrannical, are 
 beaten, starved, and mutilated. To those whose moral 
 characters are better, better masters are provided, who 
 share with their slaves, as with their children, food and 
 raiment, and the other good things which they them- 
 selves enjoy. To some, Heaven allots the favour of kings 
 and of conquerors, and to a few, but those the chief 
 favourites of the species, hath been assigned a place in 
 the mansions of philosophy, where, by availing them- 
 selves of the lights which their masters can afford, they 
 gain a prospect into that world which is the residence 
 of true happiness.' 
 
 'Methinks I understand you,' replied the Countess, 
 'and if so, I ought rather to envy our sable friend here 
 than to pity him, for having been allotted in the parti- 
 
 214
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 tion of his kind to the possession of his present master, 
 from whom, doubtless, he has acquired the desirable 
 knowledge which you mention.' 
 
 'He learns, at least,' said Agelastes, modestly, *what 
 I can teach, and, above all, to be contented with his 
 situation. Diogenes, my good child,' said he, changing 
 his address to the slave, * thou seest I have company — 
 what does the poor hermit's larder afford, with which 
 he may regale his honoured guests? ' 
 
 Hitherto they had advanced no farther than a sort of 
 outer room, or hall of entrance, fitted up with no more 
 expense than might have suited one who desired at some 
 outlay, and more taste, to avail himself of the ancient 
 building for a sequestered and private retirement. The 
 chairs and couches were covered with Eastern wove mats, 
 and were of the simplest and most primitive form. But 
 on touching a spring, an interior apartment was dis- 
 played, which had considerable pretension to splendour 
 and magnificence. 
 
 The furniture and hangings of this apartment were of 
 straw-coloured silk, wrought on the looms of Persia, 
 and crossed with embroidery, which produced a rich yet 
 simple effect. The ceiling was carved in arabesque, and 
 the four corners of the apartment were formed into re- 
 cesses for statuary, which had been produced in a better 
 age of the art than that which existed at the period of 
 our story. In one nook a shepherd seemed to withdraw 
 himself, as if ashamed to produce his scantily-covered 
 person, while he was willing to afford the audience the 
 music of the reed which he held in his hand. Three dam- 
 sels, resembling the Graces in the beautiful proportions 
 of their limbs, and the slender clothing which they wore, 
 
 215
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 lurked in different attitudes, each in her own niche, and 
 seemed but to await the first sound of the music to 
 bound forth from thence and join in the froh'c dance. 
 The subject was beautiful, yet somewhat light, to orna- 
 ment the study of such a sage as Agelastes represented 
 himself to be. 
 
 He seemed to be sensible that this might attract obser- 
 vation. 'These figures,' he said, 'executed at the period 
 of the highest excellence of Grecian art, were considered 
 of old as the choral nymphs assembled to adore the god- 
 dess of the place, waiting but the music to join in the 
 worship of the temple. And, in truth, the wisest may be 
 interested in seeing how near to animation the genius of 
 these wonderful men could bring the inflexible marble. 
 Allow but for the absence of the divine afiiatus, or breath 
 of animation, and an unenlightened heathen might sup- 
 pose the miracle of Prometheus was about to be realised. 
 But we,' said he, looking upwards, 'are taught to form 
 a better judgment between what man can do and the 
 productions of the Deity.' 
 
 Some subjects of natural history were painted on the 
 walls, and the philosopher fixed the attention of his 
 guests upon the half-reasoning elephant, of which he 
 mentioned several anecdotes, which they listened to with 
 great eagerness. 
 
 A distant strain was here heard, as if of music in the 
 woods, penetrating by fits through the hoarse roar of 
 the cascade, which, as it sunk immediately below the 
 windows, filled the apartment with its deep voice. 
 
 'Apparently,' said Agelastes, 'the friends whom I ex- 
 pected are approaching, and bring with them the means 
 of enchanting another sense. It is well they do so, since 
 
 216
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 wisdom tells us that we best honour the Deity by enjoy- 
 ing the gifts he has provided us.' 
 
 These words called the attention of the philosopher's 
 Frankish guests to the preparations exhibited in this 
 tasteful saloon. These were made for an entertainment 
 in the manner of the ancient Romans, and couches, 
 which were laid beside a table ready decked, aimounced 
 that the male guests, at least, were to assist at the ban- 
 quet in the usual recumbent posture of the ancients, 
 while seats, placed among the couches, seemed to say 
 that females were expected, who would observe the Gre- 
 cian customs, in eating seated. The preparations for good 
 cheer were such as, though Hmited in extent, could 
 scarce be excelled in quality, either by the splendid 
 dishes which decked Trimalchio's banquet of former days, 
 or the lighter delicacies of Grecian cookery, or the suc- 
 culent and highly-spiced messes indulged in by the na- 
 tions of the East, to whichever they happened to give the 
 preference ; and it was with an air of some vanity that 
 Agelastes asked his guests to share a poor pilgrim's meal. 
 
 *We care little for dainties,' said the Count; 'nor does 
 our present course of life as pilgrims, bound by a vow, 
 allow us much choice on such subjects. Whatever is 
 food for soldiers suffices the Countess and myself; for, 
 with our will, we would at every hour be ready for battle, 
 and the less time we use in preparing for the field, it is 
 even so much the better. Sit then, Brenhilda, since the 
 good man will have it so, and let us lose no time in re- 
 freshment, lest we waste that which should be otherwise 
 employed.' 
 
 *A moment's forgiveness,' said Agelastes, 'until the 
 arrival of my other friends, whose music you may now 
 
 217
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 hear is close at hand, and who will not long, I may 
 safely promise, divide you from your meal.' 
 
 'For that,' said the Count, 'there is no haste; and 
 since you seem to account it a part of civil manners, 
 Brenhilda and I can with ease postpone our repast; 
 unless you will permit us, what I own would be more 
 pleasing, to take a morsel of bread and a cup of water 
 presently, and, thus refreshed, to leave the space clear 
 for your more curious and more familiar guests? ' 
 
 'The saints above forbid!' said Agelastes. 'Guests 
 so honoured never before pressed these cushions, nor 
 could do so, if the sacred family of the imperial Alexius 
 himseK even now stood at the gate.' 
 
 He had hardly uttered these words, when the full- 
 blown peal of a trumpet, louder in a tenfold degree than 
 the strains of music they had before heard, was now 
 sounded in the front of the temple, piercing through the 
 murmur of the waterfall, as a Damascus blade penetrates 
 the armour, and assailing the ears of the hearers, as the 
 sword pierces the flesh of him who wears the harness. 
 
 'You seem surprised or alarmed, father,' said Count 
 Robert. ' Is there danger near, and do you distrust our 
 protection? ' 
 
 'No,' said Agelastes, 'that would give me confidence 
 in any extremity; but these sounds excite awe, not fear. 
 They tell me that some of the imperial family are about 
 to be my guests. Yet fear nothing, my noble friends; 
 they, whose look is life, are ready to shower their favours 
 with profusion upon strangers so worthy of honour as 
 they will see here. Meantime, my brow must touch my 
 threshold in order duly to welcome them.' So saying, he 
 hurried to the outer door of the building. 
 
 218
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 *Each land has its customs,' said the Count, as he 
 followed his host, with his wife hanging on his arm; ' but, 
 Brenhilda, as they are so various, it is Httle wonder that 
 they appear unseemly to each other. Here, however, in 
 deference to my entertainer, I stoop my crest, in the 
 manner which seems to be required.' So saying, he fol- 
 lowed Agelastes into the ante-room, where a new scene 
 awaited them.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 Agelastes gained his threshold before Count Robert of 
 Paris and his lady. He had, therefore, time to make his 
 prostrations before a huge animal, then unknown to the 
 Western world, but now universally distinguished as the 
 elephant. On its back was a pavihon, or palanquin, 
 within which were enclosed the august persons of the 
 Empress Irene and her daughter Anna Comnena, Ni- 
 cephorus Briennius attended the princesses in the com- 
 mand of a gallant body of light horse, whose splendid 
 armour would have given more pleasure to the crusader 
 if it had possessed less an air of useless wealth and efifemi- 
 nate magnificence. But the effect which it produced in 
 its appearance was as brilliant as could well be conceived. 
 The officers alone of this corps de garde followed Niceph- 
 orus to the platform, prostrated themselves while the 
 ladies of the imperial house descended, and rose up again 
 under a cloud of waving plumes and flashing lances 
 when they stood secure upon the platform in front of the 
 building. Here the somewhat aged, but commanding, 
 form of the Empress, and the still juvenile beauties of 
 the fair historian, were seen to great advantage. In 
 the front of a deep background of spears and waving 
 crests stood the sounder of the sacred trumpet, conspicu- 
 ous by his size and the richness of his apparel; he kept his 
 post on a rock above the stone staircase, and, by an oc- 
 casional note of his instrument, intimated to the squad- 
 rons beneath that they should stay their progress, and 
 
 220
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 attend the motions of the Empress and the wife of the 
 Cassar. 
 
 The fair form of the Countess Brenhilda, and the fan- 
 tastic appearance of her half-mascuUne garb, attracted 
 the attention of the ladies of Alexius's family, but was 
 too extraordinary to command their admiration. Age- 
 lastes became sensible there was a necessity that he 
 should introduce his guests to each other, if he desired 
 they should meet on satisfactory terms. 'May I speak,' 
 he said, 'and live? The armed strangers whom you 
 find now with me are worthy companions of those 
 myriads whom zeal for the suffering inhabitants of 
 Palestine has brought from the western extremity of 
 Europe, at once to enjoy the countenance of Alexius 
 Comnenus and to aid him, since it pleases him to 
 accept their assistance, in expelling the paynims from 
 the bounds of the sacred empire, and garrison those 
 regions in their stead as vassals of his Imperial Maj- 
 esty.' 
 
 * We are pleased,' said the Empress, 'worthy Agelastes, 
 that you should be kind to those who are disposed to be 
 so reverent to the Emperor. And we are rather disposed 
 to talk with them ourselves, that our daughter, whom 
 Apollo hath gifted with the choice talent of recording 
 what she sees, may become acquainted with one of 
 those female warriors of the West of whom we have 
 heard so much by common fame, and yet know so little 
 with certainty.' 
 
 'Madam,' said the Count, 'I can but rudely express 
 to you what I have to find fault with in the explanation 
 which this old man hath given of our purpose in coming 
 hither. Certain it is, we neither owe Alexius fealty nor 
 
 221
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 had we the purpose of paying him any, when we took 
 the vow upon ourselves which brought us against Asia. 
 We came, because we understood that the Holy Land 
 had been torn from the Greek Emperor by the Pagans, 
 Saracens, Turks, and other infidels from whom we are 
 come to win it back. The wisest and most prudent 
 among us have judged it necessary to acknowledge the 
 Emperor's authority, since there was no such safe way 
 of passing to the discharge of our vow as that of acknowl- 
 edging fealty to him, as the best mode of preventing 
 quarrels among Christian states. We, though independ- 
 ent of any earthly king, do not pretend to be greater 
 men than they, and therefore have condescended to pay 
 the same homage.' 
 
 The Empress coloured several times with indignation 
 in the course of this speech, which, in more passages than 
 one, was at variance with those imperial maxims of the 
 Grecian court which held its dignity so high, and plainly 
 intimated a tone of opinion which was depreciating to 
 the Emperor's power. But the Empress Irene had re- 
 ceived instructions from her imperial spouse to beware 
 how she gave, or even took, any ground of quarrel with 
 the crusaders, who, though coming in the appearance 
 of subjects, were, nevertheless, too punctihous and ready 
 to take fire to render them safe discussers of dehcate dif- 
 ferences. She made a graceful reverence accordingly, as 
 if she had scarce understood what the Count of Paris 
 had explained so bluntly. 
 
 At this moment the appearance of the principal per- 
 sons on either hand attracted, in a wonderful degree, the 
 attention of the other party, and there seemed to exist 
 among them a general desire of further acquaintance, 
 
 222
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and, at the same time, a manifest difficulty in expressing 
 such a wish. 
 
 Agelastes — to begin with the master of the house — 
 had risen from the ground indeed, but without venturing 
 to assume an upright posture: he remained before the 
 imperial ladies with his body and head still bent, his hand 
 interposed between his eyes and their faces, like a man 
 that would shade his eyesight from the level sun, and 
 awaited in silence the commands of those to whom he 
 seemed to think it disrespectful to propose the slightest 
 action, save by testifying in general that his house and his 
 slaves were at their unlimited command. The Countess 
 of Paris, on the other hand, and her warlike husband, 
 were the peculiar objects of curiosity to Irene and her 
 accomplished daughter, Anna Comnena; and it occurred 
 to both these imperial ladies that they had never seen 
 finer specimens of human strength and beauty; but, 
 by a natural instinct, they preferred the manly bearing 
 of the husband to that of the wife, which seemed to 
 her own sex rather too haughty and too masculine to be 
 altogether pleasing. 
 
 Count Robert and his lady had also their own object 
 of attention in the newly arrived group, and, to speak 
 truth, it was nothing else than the peculiarities of the 
 monstrous animal which they now saw, for the first time, 
 employed as a beast of burden in the service of the fair 
 Irene and her daughter. The dignity and splendour of 
 the elder princess, the grace and vivacity of the younger, 
 were alike lost in Brenhilda's earnest inquiries into the 
 history of the elephant, and the use which it made of its 
 trunk, tusks, and huge ears, upon different occasions. 
 
 Another person who took a less direct opportunity to 
 223
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 gaze on Brenhilda with a deep degree of interest was the 
 Caesar, Nicephorus. This prince kept his eye as steadily 
 upon the Frankish countess as he could well do without 
 attracting the attention, and exciting perhaps the sus- 
 picions, of his wife and mother-in-law; he therefore en- 
 deavoured to restore speech to an interview which would 
 have been awkward without it. *It is possible,' he said, 
 'beautiful countess, that, this being your first visit to 
 the Queen of the World, you have never hitherto seen 
 the singularly curious animal called the elephant.' 
 
 'Pardon me,' said the Countess, *I have been treated 
 by this learned gentleman to a sight and some account 
 of that wonderful creature.' 
 
 By all who heard this observation, the Lady Bren- 
 hilda was supposed to have made a satirical thrust at 
 the philosopher himself, who, in the imperial court, usu- 
 ally went by the name of the Elephant. 
 
 'No one could describe the beast more accurately 
 than Agelastes,' said the Princess, with a smile of intelli- 
 gence, which went round her attendants. 
 
 'He knows its docility, its sensibility, and its fidelity,' 
 said the philosopher in a subdued tone. 
 
 'True, good Agelastes,' said the Princess; 'we should 
 not criticise the animal which kneels to take us up. 
 Come, lady of a foreign land,' she continued, turning 
 to the Frank count, and especially his countess, 'and 
 you her gallant lord ! When you return to your native 
 country, you shall say you have seen the imperial family 
 partake of their food, and in so far acknowledge them- 
 selves to be of the same clay with other mortals, sharing 
 their poorest wants, and relieving them in the same 
 maimer.' 
 
 224
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'That, gentle lady, I can well believe,' said Count 
 Robert; 'my curiosity would be more indulged by seeing 
 this strange animal at his food.' 
 
 'You will see the elephant more conveniently at his 
 mess within doors,' answered the Princess, looking at 
 Agelastes. 
 
 'Lady,' said Brenhilda, 'I would not willingly refuse 
 an invitation given in courtesy, but the sun has waxed 
 low unnoticed, and we must return to the city.' 
 
 'Be not afraid,' said the fair historian: 'you shall have 
 the advantage of our imperial escort to protect you in 
 your return.' 
 
 'Fear — afraid — escort — protect! These are words 
 I know not. Know, lady, that my husband, the noble 
 Count of Paris, is my sufficient escort; and even were he 
 not with me, Brenhilda de Aspramonte fears nothing, 
 and can defend herself.' 
 
 'Fair daughter,' said Agelastes, 'if I may be per- 
 mitted to speak, you mistake the gracious intentions of 
 the Princess, who expresses herself as to a lady of her 
 own land. What she desires is to learn from you some of 
 the most marked habits and manners of the Franks, of 
 which you are so beautiful an example; and in return for 
 such information the illustrious princess would be glad 
 to procure your entrance to those spacious collections 
 where animals from all corners of the habitable world 
 have been assembled at the command of our Emperor 
 Alexius, as if to satisfy the wisdom of those sages to 
 whom all creation is known, from the deer so small in 
 size that it is exceeded by an ordinary rat to that huge 
 and singular inhabitant of Africa that can browse on the 
 tops of trees that are forty feet high, while the length of 
 43 225
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 its hind legs does not exceed the half of that wondrous 
 height.' 
 
 ' It is enough/ said the Countess, with some eagerness; 
 but Agelastes had got a point of discussion after his 
 own mind. 
 
 'There is also/ he said, 'that huge lizard, which, re- 
 sembling in shape the harmless inhabitant of the moors 
 of other countries, is in Egypt a monster thirty feet in 
 length, clothed in impenetrable scales, and moaning 
 over his prey when he catches it, with the hope and 
 purpose of drawing others within his danger, by mimick- 
 ing the lamentations of humanity.' 
 
 'Say no more, father!' exclaimed the lady. 'My 
 Robert, we will go, will we not, where such objects are 
 to be seen?' 
 
 'There is also,' said Agelastes, who saw that he would 
 gain his point by addressing himself to the curiosity of 
 the strangers, 'the huge animal, wearing on its back an 
 invulnerable vestment, having on its nose a horn, and 
 sometimes two, the folds of whose hide are of the most 
 immense thickness, and which never knight was able to 
 wound.' 
 
 'We will go, Robert, will we not?' reiterated the 
 Countess. 
 
 'Ay,' rephed the Count, 'and teach these Easterns 
 how to judge of a knight's sword by a single blow of my 
 trusty Tranchefer.' 
 
 'And who knows,' said Brenhilda, 'since this is a land 
 of enchantment, but what some person, who is languish- 
 ing in a foreign shape, may have their enchantment unex- 
 pectedly dissolved by a stroke of the good weapon?' 
 
 ' Say no more, father ! ' exclaimed the Count. ' We will 
 226
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 attend this princess, since such she is, were her whole 
 escort bent to oppose our passage, instead of being by 
 her command to be our guard. For know, all who hear 
 me, thus much of the nature of the Franks, that, when 
 you tell us of danger and difficulties, you give us the same 
 desire to travel the road where they lie as other men 
 have in seeking either pleasure or profit in the paths in 
 which such are to be found.' 
 
 As the Count pronounced these words, he struck his 
 hand upon his Tranchefer, as an illustration of the man- 
 ner in which he purposed upon occasion to make good his 
 way. The courtly circle startled somewhat at the clash 
 of steel and the fiery look of the chivalrous Count Robert. 
 The Empress indulged her alarm by retreating into the 
 inner apartment of the pavilion. 
 
 With a grace which was rarely deigned to any but those 
 in close alliance with the imperial family, Anna Com- 
 nena took the arm of the noble count. * I see,' she said, 
 * that the imperial mother has honoured the house of the 
 learned Agelastes by leading the way; therefore, to 
 teach you Grecian breeding must fall to my share.' Say- 
 ing this, she conducted him to the inner apartment. 
 
 ' Fear not for your wife,' she said, as she noticed the 
 Frank look round: 'our husband, like ourselves, has 
 pleasure in showing attention to the stranger, and will 
 lead the Countess to our board. It is not the custom of 
 the imperial family to eat in company with strangers; 
 but we thank Heaven for having instructed us in that 
 civility which can know no degradation in dispensing 
 with ordinary rules to do honour to strangers of such 
 merit as yours. I know it will be my mother's request 
 that you will take your places without ceremony ; and 
 
 227
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 also, although the grace be somewhat particular, I am 
 sure that it will have my imperial father's approbation.' 
 
 'Be it as your ladyship lists,' said Count Robert. 
 'There are few men to whom I would yield place at the 
 board, if they had not gone before me in the battle-field. 
 To a lady, especially so fair a one, I wilHngly yield my 
 place and bend my knee, whenever I have the good hap 
 to meet her.' 
 
 The Princess Anna, instead of feeling herself awkward 
 in the discharge of the extraordinary, and, as she might 
 have thought it, degrading, office of ushering a barbarian 
 chief to the banquet, felt, on the contrary, flattered at 
 having bent to her purpose a heart so obstinate as that of 
 Count Robert, and elated, perhaps, with a certain degree 
 of satisfied pride while under his momentary protec- 
 tion. 
 
 The Empress Irene had already seated herself at the 
 head of the table. She looked with some astonishment 
 when her daughter and son-in-law, taking their seats 
 at her right and left hand, invited the Count and Count- 
 ess of Paris, the former to rechne, the latter to sit at the 
 board, in the places next to themselves; but she had 
 received the strictest orders from her husband to be 
 deferential in every respect to the strangers, and did 
 not think it right, therefore, to interpose any ceremonious 
 scruples. 
 
 The Countess took her seat, as indicated, beside the 
 Caesar; and the Count, instead of reclining in the mode 
 of the Grecian men, also seated himself in the European 
 fashion by the Princess. 
 
 *I will not lie prostrate,' said he, laughing, 'except in 
 consideration of a blow weighty enough to compel me 
 
 228
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 to do so ; nor then either, if I am able to start up and 
 return it.' 
 
 The service of the table then began, and, to say truth, 
 it appeared to be an important part of the business of 
 the day. The officers who attended to perform their sev- 
 eral duties of deckers of the table, sewers of the banquet, 
 removers and tasters to the imperial family, thronged 
 into the banqueting-room, and seemed to vie with each 
 other in calHng upon Agelastes for spices, condiments, 
 sauces, and wines of various kinds, the variety and mul- 
 tiplicity of their demands being apparently devised, ex 
 preposito, for stirring the patience of the philosopher. But 
 Agelastes, who had anticipated most of their requests, 
 however unusual, supplied them completely, or in the 
 greatest part, by the ready agency of his active slave 
 Diogenes, to whom, at the same time, he contrived to 
 transfer all blame for the absence of such articles as he 
 was unable to provide. 
 
 'Be Homer my witness, the accomplished Virgil, and 
 the curious felicity of Horace, that, trifling and un- 
 worthy as this banquet was, my note of directions to this 
 thrice-unhappy slave gave the instructions to procure 
 every ingredient necessary to convey to each dish its 
 proper gusto. Ill-omened carrion that thou art, where- 
 fore placedst thou the pickled cucumber so far apart 
 from the boar's head, and why are these superb congers 
 unprovided with a requisite quantity of fennel? The 
 divorce betwixt the shell-fish and the Chian wine, in a 
 presence like this, is worthy of the divorce of thine own 
 soul from thy body; or, to say the least, of a Hfe-long 
 residence in the pistrinumJ While thus the philosopher 
 proceeded with threats, curses, and menaces against his 
 
 229
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 slave, the stranger might have an opportunity of com- 
 paring the little torrent of his domestic eloquence, which 
 the manners of the times did not consider as ill-bred, 
 with the louder and deeper share of adulation towards 
 his guests. They mingled like the oil with the vinegar 
 and pickles which Diogenes mixed for the sauce. Thus 
 the Count and Countess had an opportunity to estimate 
 the happiness and the felicity reserved for those slaves 
 whom the omnipotent Jupiter, in the plenitude of com- 
 passion for their state, and in guerdon of their good 
 morals, had dedicated to the service of a philosopher. 
 The share they themselves took in the banquet was 
 finished with a degree of speed which gave surprise not 
 only to their host, but also to the imperial guests. 
 
 The Count helped himself carelessly out of a dish 
 which stood near him, and partaking of a draught of 
 wine, without inquiring whether it was of the vintage 
 which the Greeks held it matter of conscience to mingle 
 with that species of food, he declared himself satisfied; 
 nor could the obliging entreaties of his neighbour, Anna 
 Comnena, induce him to partake of other messes repre- 
 sented as being either delicacies or curiosities. His 
 spouse eat still more moderately of the food which 
 seemed most simply cooked, and stood nearest her at the 
 board, and partook of a cup of crystal water, which she 
 slightly tinged with wine, at the persevering entreaty 
 of the Caesar. They then relinquished the further business 
 of the banquet, and, leaning back upon their seats, occu- 
 pied themselves in watching the liberal credit done to the 
 feast by the rest of the guests present. 
 
 A modern synod of gourmands would hardly have 
 equalled the imperial family of Greece seated at a philo- 
 
 230
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 sophlcal banquet, whether in the critical knowledge dis- 
 played of the science of eating in all its branches or in the 
 practical cost and patience with which they exercised it; 
 the ladies, indeed, did not eat much of any one dish, but 
 they tasted of almost all that were presented to them, 
 and their name was legion. Yet, after a short time, in 
 Homeric phrase, the rage of thirst and hunger was as- 
 suaged, or, more probably, the Princess Anna Comnena 
 was tired of being an object of some inattention to the 
 guest who sat next her, and who, joining his high mili- 
 tary character to his very handsome presence, was a per- 
 son by whom few ladies would willingly be neglected. 
 There is no new guise, says our father Chaucer, but what 
 resembles an old one ; and the address of Anna Comnena 
 to the Frankish count might resemble that of a modern 
 lady of fashion in her attempts to engage in conversation 
 the exquisite who sits by her side in an apparently absent 
 fit. *We have piped unto you,' said the Princess, 'and 
 you have not danced. We have sung to you the jovial 
 chorus of Evoe, evoe, and you will neither worship Comus 
 nor Bacchus. Are we then to judge you a follower of 
 the Muses, in whose service, as well as in that of Phoebus, 
 we ourselves pretend to be enlisted? ' 
 
 'Fair lady,' replied the Frank, 'be not offended at my 
 stating once for all, in plain terms, that I am a Christian 
 man, spitting at and bidding defiance to Apollo, Bacchus, 
 Comus, and all other heathen deities whatsoever.' 
 
 'O! cruel interpretation of my unwary words!' said 
 the Princess. 'I did but mention the gods of music, 
 poetry, and eloquence, worshipped by our divine philos- 
 ophers, and whose names are still used to distinguish 
 the arts and sciences over which they presided, and the 
 
 231
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Count interprets it seriously into a breach of the Second 
 Commandment! Our Lady preserve me, we must take 
 care how we speak, when our words are so sharply 
 interpreted.' 
 
 The Count laughed as the Princess spoke. *I had no 
 offensive meaning, madam,' he said, 'nor would I wish 
 to interpret your words otherwise than as being most in- 
 nocent and praiseworthy . I shall suppose that your speech 
 contained all that was fair and blameless. You are, I 
 have understood, one of those who, like our worthy host, 
 express in composition the history and feats of the war- 
 like time in which you live, and give to the posterity 
 which shall succeed us the knowledge of the brave deeds 
 which have been achieved in our day. I respect the task 
 to which you have dedicated yourself, and know not 
 how a lady could lay after ages under an obligation to 
 her in the same degree, unless, like my wife, Brenhilda, 
 she were herself to be the actress of deeds which she 
 recorded. And, by the way, she now looks towards her 
 neighbour at the table as if she were about to rise and 
 leave him ; her inclinations are towards Constantinople, 
 and, with your ladyship's permission, I cannot allow her 
 to go thither alone.' 
 
 'That you shall neither of you do,' said Anna Com- 
 nena; 'since we all go to the capital directly, and for the 
 purpose of seeing those wonders of nature of which 
 numerous examples have been collected by the splen- 
 dour of my imperial father. If my husband seems to 
 have given offence to the Countess, do not suppose that 
 it was intentionally dealt to her; on the contrary, you 
 will find the good man, when you are better acquainted 
 with him, to be one of those simple persons who manage 
 
 232
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 so unhappily what they mean for civilities, that those 
 to whom they are addressed receive them frequently in 
 another sense.' 
 
 The Countess of Paris, however, refused again to sit 
 down to the table from which she had risen, so that 
 Agelastes and his imperial guests saw themselves under 
 the necessity either to permit the strangers to depart, 
 which they seemed unwilling to do; or to detain them by 
 force, to attempt which might not perhaps have been 
 either safe or pleasant; or, lastly, to have waived the 
 etiquette of rank, and set out along with them, at the 
 same time managing their dignity so as to take the 
 initiatory step, though the departure took place upon 
 the motion of their wilful guests. Much timiult there 
 was — bustling, disputing, and shouting — among the 
 troops and officers who were thus moved from their re- 
 past two hours at least sooner than had been experienced 
 upon similar occasions in the memory of the oldest 
 among them. A different arrangement of the imperial 
 party likewise seemed to take place by mutual consent. 
 
 Nicephorus Briennius ascended the seat upon the 
 elephant, and remained there placed beside his august 
 mother-in-law. Agelastes, on a sober-minded palfrey, 
 which permitted him to prolong his philosophical 
 harangues at his own pleasure, rode beside the Countess 
 Brenhilda, whom he made the principal object of his 
 oratory. The fair historian, though she usually travelled 
 in a litter, preferred upon this occasion a spirited horse, 
 which enabled her to keep pace with Count Robert 
 of Paris, on whose imagination, if not his feelings, she 
 seemed to have it in view to work a marked impression. 
 The conversation of the Empress with her son-in-law
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 requires no special detail. It was a tissue of criticisms 
 upon the manners and behaviour of the Franks, and a 
 hearty wish that they might be soon transported from 
 the realms of Greece, never more to return. Such was 
 at least the tone of the Empress, nor did the Cassar find 
 it convenient to express any more tolerant opinion of the 
 strangers. On the other hand, Agelastes made a long 
 circuit ere he ventured to approach the subject which he 
 wished to introduce. He spoke of the menagerie of the 
 Emperor as a most superb collection of natural history; 
 he extolled different persons at court for having encour- 
 aged Alexius Comnenus in this wise and philosophical 
 amusement; but, finally, the praise of all others was 
 abandoned that the philosopher might dwell upon that 
 of Nicephorus Briennius, to whom the cabinet or collec- 
 tion of Constantinople was indebted, he said, for the 
 principal treasures it contained. 
 
 *I am glad it is so,' said the haughty countess, without 
 lowering her voice or affecting any change of manner — 
 * I am glad that he understands some things better worth 
 understanding than whispering with stranger young 
 women. Credit me, if he gives much license to his tongue 
 among such women of my country as these stirring times 
 may bring hither, some one or other of them will fling 
 him into the cataract which dashes below.' 
 
 'Pardon me, fair lady,' said Agelastes; *no female 
 heart could meditate an action so atrocious against so 
 fine a form as that of the Caesar Nicephorus Briennius.' 
 
 'Put it not on that issue, father,' said the offended 
 countess; 'for, by my patroness saint, Our Lady of the 
 Broken Lances, had it not been for regard to these two 
 ladies, who seemed to intend some respect to my husband 
 
 234
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and myself, that same Nicephorus should have been as 
 perfectly a Lord of the Broken Bones as any Caesar who 
 has borne the title since the great Julius.' 
 
 The philosopher, upon this explicit information, began 
 to entertain some personal fear for himself, and hastened, 
 by diverting the conversation, which he did with great 
 dexterity, to the story of Hero and Leander, to put the 
 afifront received out of the head of this unscrupulous 
 amazon. 
 
 Meantime, Count Robert of Paris was engrossed, as it 
 may be termed, by the fair Anna Comnena. She spoke 
 on all subjects, on some better, doubtless, others worse, 
 but on none did she suspect herself of any deficiency; 
 while the good count wished heartily within himself that 
 his companion had been safely in bed with the enchanted 
 Princess of Zulichium. She performed, right or wrong, 
 the part of a panegyrist of the Normans, until at length 
 the Count, tired of hearing her prate of she knew not 
 exactly what, broke in as follows : — 
 
 'Lady,' he said, 'notwithstanding I and my followers 
 are sometimes so named, yet we are not Normans, who 
 come hither as a numerous and separate body of pilgrims, 
 under the command of their Duke Robert, a vahant, 
 though extravagant, thoughtless, and weak man. I say 
 nothing against the fame of these Normans. They con- 
 quered, in our fathers' days, a kingdom far stronger than 
 their own, which men call England; I see that you enter- 
 tain some of the natives of which country in your pay, 
 under the name of Varangians. Although defeated, as I 
 said, by the Normans, they are, nevertheless, a brave 
 race; nor would we think ourselves much dishonoured 
 by mixing in battle with them. Still, we are the valiant 
 
 235
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Franks, who had their dwelling on the eastern banks of 
 the Rhine and of the Saale, who were converted to the 
 Christian faith by the celebrated Clovis, and are sufficient 
 by our numbers and courage, to reconquer the Holy 
 Land, should all Europe besides stand neutral in the 
 contest.' 
 
 There are few things more painful to the vanity of a 
 person like the Princess than the being detected in an 
 egregious error at the moment she is taking credit to 
 herself for being peculiarly accurately informed. 
 
 *A false slave, who knew not what he was saying, I 
 suppose,' said the Princess, ' imposed upon me the belief 
 that the Varangians were the natural enemies of the 
 Normans. I see him marching there by the side of 
 Achilles Tatius, the leader of his corps. Call him hither, 
 you oflQcers, — yonder tall man, I mean, with the battle- 
 axe upon his shoulder.' 
 
 Hereward, distinguished by his post at the head of the 
 squadron, was summoned from thence to the presence of 
 the Princess, where he made his military obeisance with 
 a cast of sternness in his aspect, as his glance lighted 
 upon the proud look of the Frenchman who rode beside 
 Anna Comnena. 
 
 'Did I not understand thee, fellow,' said Anna Com- 
 nena, 'to have informed me, nearly a month ago, that 
 the Normans and the Franks were the same people, and 
 enemies to the race from which you spring? ' 
 
 * The Normans are our mortal enemies, lady,' answered 
 Hereward, 'by whom we were driven from our native 
 land. The Franks are subjects of the same lord-para- 
 mount with the Normans, and therefore they neither 
 love the Varangians nor are beloved by them.' 
 
 236
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'Good fellow,' said the French count, 'you do the 
 Franks wrong, and ascribe to the Varangians, although 
 not unnaturally, an undue degree of importance, when 
 you suppose that a race which has ceased to exist as an 
 independent nation for more than a generation can be 
 either an object of interest or resentment to such as we 
 are.' 
 
 ' I am no stranger,' said the Varangian, *to the pride of 
 your heart, or the precedence which you assume over 
 those who have been less fortunate in war than your- 
 selves. It is God who casteth down and who buildeth 
 up, nor is there in the world a prospect to which the 
 Varangians would look forward with more pleasure than 
 that a hundred of their number should meet in a fair 
 field, either with the oppressive Normans or their modern 
 compatriots, the vain Frenchmen, and let God be the 
 judge which is most worthy of victory.' 
 
 'You take an insolent advantage of the chance,' said 
 the Count of Paris, 'which gives you an unlooked-for 
 opportunity to brave a nobleman.' 
 
 ' It is my sorrow and shame,' said the Varangian, ' that 
 that opportunity is not complete; and that there is a 
 chain around me which forbids me to say, " Slay me, or 
 I'll kill thee before we part from this spot!"' 
 
 'Why, thou foolish and hot-brained churl,' replied 
 the Count, ' what right hast thou to the honour of dying 
 by my blade? Thou art mad, or hast drained the ale-cup 
 so deeply that thou knowest not what thou thinkest or 
 sayest.' 
 
 'Thou liest,' said the Varangian, 'though such a re- 
 proach be the utmost scandal of thy race.' 
 
 The Frenchman motioned his hand quicker than light 
 
 237
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 to his sword, but instantly withdrew it, and said with 
 dignity, 'Thou canst not offend me.* 
 
 'But thou,' said the exile, 'hast offended me in a 
 matter which can only be atoned by thy manhood.' 
 
 'Where and how? ' answered the Count; 'although it is 
 needless to ask the question, which thou canst not 
 answer rationally.' 
 
 'Thou hast this day,' answered the Varangian, 'put a 
 mortal affront upon a great prince, whom thy master 
 calls his ally, and by whom thou hast been received with 
 every rite of hospitality. Him thou hast affronted as one 
 peasant at a merry-making would do shame to another, 
 and this dishonour thou hast done to him in the very 
 face of his own chiefs and princes, and the nobles from 
 every court of Europe.' 
 
 'it was thy master's part to resent my conduct,' 
 said the Frenchman, 'if in reality he so much felt it 
 as an affront.' 
 
 'But that,' said Hereward, 'did not consist with the 
 manners of his country to do. Besides that, we trusty 
 Varangians esteem ourselves bound by our oath as much 
 to defend our Emperor, while the service lasts, on every 
 inch of his honour as on every foot of his territory; I 
 therefore tell thee, sir knight, sir count, or whatever 
 thou callest thyself, there is mortal quarrel between thee 
 and the Varangian Guard, ever and until thou hast 
 fought it out in fair and manly battle, body to body, with 
 one of the said Imperial Varangians, when duty and 
 opportunity shall permit — and so God schaw the right ! ' 
 
 As this passed in the French language, the meaning 
 escaped the understanding of such imperialists as were 
 within hearing at the time; and the Princess, who waited 
 
 238
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 with some astonishment till the crusader and the Varan- 
 gian had finished their conference, when it was over, 
 said to him with interest, 'I trust you feel that poor 
 man's situation to be too much at a distance from your 
 own to admit of your meeting him in what is termed 
 knightly battle?' 
 
 *0n such a question,' said the knight, 'I have but one 
 answer to any lady who does not, like my Brenhilda, 
 cover herself with a shield, and bear a sword by her side 
 and the heart of a knight in her bosom.' 
 
 *And suppose for once,' said the Princess Anna Com- 
 nena, *that I possessed such titles to your confidence, 
 what would your answer be to me? ' 
 
 'There can be little reason for concealing it,' said the 
 Count. 'The Varangian is a brave man and a strong 
 one; it is contrary to my vow to shun his challenge, and 
 perhaps I shall derogate from my rank by accepting it; 
 but the world is wide, and he is yet to be born who has 
 seen Robert of Paris shun the face of mortal man. By 
 means of some gallant officer among the Emperor's 
 guards this poor fellow, who nourishes so strange an 
 ambition, shall learn that he shall have his wish grati- 
 fied.' 
 
 'And then — ?' said Anna Comnena. 
 
 'Why, then,' said the Count, 'in the poor man's own 
 language, God schaw the right!' 
 
 'Which is to say,' said the Princess, 'that, if my father 
 has an officer of his guards honourable enough to forward 
 so pious and reasonable a purpose, the Emperor must 
 lose an ally, in whose faith he puts confidence, or a most 
 trusty and faithful soldier of his personal guard, who has 
 distinguished himself upon many occasions?' 
 
 239
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 *I am happy to hear/ said the Count, 'that the man 
 bears such a character. In truth, his ambition ought to 
 have some foundation. The more I think of it, the rather 
 am I of opinion that there is something generous, rather 
 than derogatory, in giving to the poor exile, whose 
 thoughts are so high and noble, those privileges of a man 
 of rank which some who were born in such lofty station 
 are too cowardly to avail themselves of. Yet despond 
 not, noble princess: the challenge is not yet accepted 
 of, and if it was, the issue is in the hand of God. As for 
 me, whose trade is war, the sense that I have something 
 so serious to transact with this resolute man will keep 
 me from other less honourable quarrels, in which a lack 
 of occupation might be apt to involve me.' 
 
 The Princess made no further observation, being 
 resolved, by private remonstrance to Achilles Tatius, 
 to engage him to prevent a meeting which might be 
 fatal to the one or the other of two brave men. The town 
 now darkened before them, sparkling, at the same 
 time, through its obscurity, by the many lights which 
 illuminated the houses of the citizens. The royal cav- 
 alcade held their way to the Golden Gate, where the 
 trusty centurion put his guard under arms to receive 
 them. 
 
 'We must now break off, fair ladies,' said the Count, 
 as the party, having now dismounted, were standing 
 together at the private gate of the Blacquernal Palace, 
 * and find as we can the lodgings which we occupied last 
 night.' 
 
 * Under your favour, no,' said the Empress. ' You must 
 be content to take your supper and repose in quarters 
 more fitting your rank; and,' added Irene, 'with no 
 
 240
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 worse quartermaster than one of the imperial family 
 who has been your travelling companion.' 
 
 This the Count heard with considerable inclination to 
 accept the hospitality which was so readily offered. Al- 
 though as devoted as a man could well be to the charms 
 of his Brenhilda, the very idea never having entered his 
 head of preferring another's beauty to hers, yet, never- 
 theless, he had naturally felt himself flattered by the 
 attentions of a woman of eminent beauty and very high 
 rank ; and the praises with which the Princess had loaded 
 him had not entirely fallen to the ground. He was no 
 longer in the humour in which the morning had found 
 him, disposed to outrage the feelings of the Emperor 
 and to insult his dignity; but, flattered by the adroit 
 sycophancy which the old philosopher had learned from 
 the schools, and the beautiful princess had been gifted 
 with by nature, he assented to the Empress's proposal; 
 the more readily, perhaps, that the darkness did not per- 
 mit him to see that there was distinctly a shade of dis- 
 pleasure on the brow of Brenhilda. Whatever the cause, 
 she cared not to express it, and the married pair had 
 just entered that labyrinth of passages through which 
 Hereward had formerly wandered, when a chamberlain 
 and a female attendant, richly dressed, bent the knee 
 before them, and offered them the means and place to 
 adjust their attire, ere they entered the imperial pres- 
 ence. Brenhilda looked upon her apparel and arms, 
 spotted with the blood of the insolent Scythian, and, 
 amazon as she was, felt the shame of being carelessly 
 and improperly dressed. The arms of the knight were 
 also bloody, and in disarrangement. 
 
 'Tell my female squire, Agatha, to give her attend- 
 43 241
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ance/ said the Countess. 'She alone is in the habit of 
 assisting to unarm and to attire me.' 
 
 'Now, God be praised,' thought the Grecian lady of 
 the bed-chamber, 'that I am not called to a toilet where 
 smiths' hammers and tongs are like to be the instru- 
 ments most in request!' 
 
 'Tell Marcian, my armourer,' said the Count, 'to 
 attend with the silver and blue suit of plate and mail 
 which I won in a wager from the Coimt of Toulouse.'^ 
 
 'Might I not have the honour of adjusting your ar- 
 mour,' said a splendidly drest courtier, with some marks 
 of the armourer's profession, 'since I have pat on that 
 of the Emperor himself, may his name be sacred? ' 
 
 'And how many rivets hast thou clenched upon the 
 occasion with this hand,' said the Count, catching hold 
 of it, 'which looks as if it had never been washed save 
 with milk of roses, — and with this childish toy?' point- 
 ing to a hammer, with ivory haft and silver head, which, 
 stuck into a milk-white kidskin apron, the official wore 
 as badges of his duty. 
 
 The armourer fell back in some confusion. 'His 
 grasp,' he said to another domestic, 'is like the seizure 
 of a vice.' 
 
 While this little scene passed apart, the Empress Irene, 
 her daughter, and her son-in-law left the company, under 
 pretence of making a necessary change in their apparel. 
 Immediately after, Agelastes was required to attend the 
 Emperor, and the strangers were conducted to two adja- 
 cent chambers of retirement, splendidly fitted up, and 
 placed for the present at their disposal and that of their 
 attendants. There we shall for a time leave them, assum- 
 
 * See Note 8. 
 242
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 ing, with the assistance of their own attendants, a dress 
 which their ideas regarded as most fit for a great occa- 
 sion; those of the Grecian court willingly keeping apart 
 from a task which they held nearly as formidable as 
 assisting at the lair of a royal tiger or his bride. 
 
 Agelastes found the Emperor sedulously arranging 
 his most splendid court-dress; for, as in the court of 
 Pekin, the change of ceremonial attire was a great part 
 of the ritual observed at Constantinople. 
 
 *Thou hast done well, wise Agelastes,' said Alexius to 
 the philosopher, as he approached with abundance of 
 prostrations and genuflexions — * thou hast done well, 
 and we are content with thee. Less than thy wit and 
 address must have failed in separating from their com- 
 pany this tameless bull and unyoked heifer, over whom, 
 if we obtain influence, we shall command, by every ac- 
 count, no small interest among those who esteem them 
 the bravest in the host.' 
 
 *My humble understanding,' said Agelastes, 'had 
 been infinitely inferior to the management of so prudent 
 and sagacious a scheme, had it not been shaped forth 
 and suggested by the inimitable wisdom of your Most 
 Sacred Imperial Highness.' 
 
 * We are aware,' said Alexius, 'that we had the merit of 
 blocking forth the scheme of detaining these persons, 
 either by their choice as allies or by main force as hos- 
 tages. Their friends, ere yet they have missed them, will 
 be engaged in war with the Turks, and at no liberty, if 
 the devil should suggest such an undertaking, to take 
 arms against the sacred empire. Thus, Agelastes, we 
 shall obtain hostages at least as important and as valu- 
 able as that Count of Vermandois, whose liberty the 
 
 243
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 tremendous Godfrey of Bouillon extorted from us by 
 threats of instant war.' 
 
 'Pardon,' said Agelastes, 'if I add another reason to 
 those which of themselves so happily support your au- 
 gust resolution. It is possible that we may, by observing 
 the greatest caution and courtesy towards these strangers, 
 win them in good earnest to our side.' 
 
 *I conceive you — I conceive you,' said the Emperor; 
 'and this very night I will exhibit myself to this count 
 and his lady in the royal presence-chamber, in the rich- 
 est robes which our wardrobe can furnish. The lions of 
 Solomon shall roar, the golden tree of Comnenus shall 
 display its wonders, and the feeble eyes of these Franks 
 shall be altogether dazzled by the splendour of the em- 
 pire. These spectacles cannot but sink into their minds, 
 and dispose them to become the alHes and servants of a 
 nation so much more powerful, skilful, and wealthy than 
 their own. Thou hast something to say, Agelastes. Years 
 and long study have made thee wise; though we have 
 given our opinion, thou mayst speak thine own and 
 live.' 
 
 Thrice three times did Agelastes press his brow against 
 the hem of the Emperor's garment, and great seemed his 
 anxiety to find such words as might intimate his dis- 
 sent from his sovereign, yet save him from the informal- 
 ity of contradicting him expressly. 
 
 'These sacred words, in which your Sacred Highness 
 has uttered your most just and accurate opinions, are 
 undeniable, and incapable of contradiction, were any 
 vain enough to attempt to impugn them. Nevertheless, 
 be it lawful to say, that men show the wisest arguments 
 in vain to those who do not understand reason, just as 
 
 244
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 you would in vain exhibit a curious piece of limning to 
 the blind, or endeavour to bribe, as Scripture saith, a sow 
 by the offer of a precious stone. The fault is not, in such 
 a case, in the accuracy of your sacred reasoning, but in 
 the obtuseness and perverseness of the barbarians to 
 whom it is applied.' 
 
 'Speak more plainly,' said the Emperor; 'how often 
 must we tell thee that, in cases in which we really want 
 counsel, we know we must be contented to sacrifice 
 ceremony?' 
 
 ' Then, in plain words,' said Agelastes, ' these European 
 barbarians are like no others under the cope of the uni- 
 verse, either in the things on which they look with desire 
 or in those which they consider as discouraging. The 
 treasures of this noble empire, so far as they affected their 
 wishes, would merely inspire them with the desire to go 
 to war with a nation possessed of so much wealth, and 
 who, in their self-conceited estimation, were less able to 
 defend than they themselves are powerful to assail. Of 
 such a description, for instance, is Bohemond of Taren- 
 tum, and such a one is many a crusader less able and 
 sagacious than he; for I think I need not tell your Im- 
 perial Divinity that he holds his own self-interest to be 
 the devoted guide of his whole conduct through this 
 extraordinary war; and that, therefore, you can justly 
 calculate his course when once you are aware from which 
 point of the compass the wind of avarice and self-inter- 
 est breathes with respect to him. But there are spirits 
 among the Franks of a very different nature, and who 
 must be acted upon by very different motives, if we would 
 make ourselves masters of their actions and the prin- 
 ciples by which they are governed. If it were lawful 
 
 245
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 to do so, I would request your Majesty to look at the 
 manner by which an artful juggler of your court achieves 
 his imposition upon the eyes of spectators, yet heedfuUy 
 disguises the means by which he attains his object. This 
 people — I mean the more lofty-minded of these cru- 
 saders, who act up to the pretences of the doctrine which 
 they call chivalry — despise the thirst of gold, and gold 
 itself, unless to hilt their swords, or to furnish forth some 
 necessary expenses, as alike useless and contemptible. 
 The man who can be moved by the thirst of gain they 
 contemn, scorn, and despise, and Hken him, in the mean- 
 ness of his objects, to the most paltry serf that ever fol- 
 lowed the plough or wielded the spade. On the other 
 hand, if it happens that they actually need gold, they 
 are sufficiently unceremonious in taking it where they 
 can most easily find it. Thus, they are neither easily to 
 be bribed by giving them sums of gold nor to be starved 
 into comphance by withholding what chance may render 
 necessary for them. In the one case, they set no value 
 upon the gift of a httle paltry yellow dross; in the other, 
 they are accustomed to take what they want.' 
 
 'Yellow dross!' interrupted Alexius. 'Do they call 
 that noble metal, equally respected by Roman and bar- 
 barian, by rich and poor, by great and mean, by church- 
 men and laymen, which all mankind are fighting for, 
 plotting for, planning for, intriguing for, and damning 
 themselves for, both soul and body, by the opprobrious 
 name of yellow dross? They are mad, Agelastes — ut- 
 terly mad. Perils and dangers, penalties and scourges, 
 are the only arguments to which men who are above the 
 universal influence which moves all others can possibly 
 be accessible.' 
 
 246
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'Nor are they,' said Agelastes, 'more accessible to fear 
 than they are to self-interest. They are indeed, from their 
 boyhood, brought up to scorn those passions which in- 
 fluence ordinary minds, whether by means of avarice to 
 impel or of fear to hold back. So much is this the case, 
 that what is enticing to other men must, to interest them, 
 have the piquant sauce of extreme danger. I told, for 
 instance, to this very hero a legend of a Princess of Zu- 
 lichium, who lay on an enchanted couch, beautiful a:s an 
 angel, awaiting the chosen knight who should, by dis- 
 pelling her enchanted slumbers, become master of her 
 person, of her kingdom of ZuHchium, and of her countless 
 treasures; and, would your Imperial Majesty believe 
 me, I could scarce get the gallant to attend to my legend, 
 or take any interest in the adventure, till I assured him 
 he would have to encounter a winged dragon, compared 
 to which the largest of those in the Frank romances was 
 but like a mere dragon-fly? * 
 
 'And did this move the gallant?' said the Em- 
 peror. 
 
 'So much so,' replied the philosopher, 'that, had I 
 not unfortunately, by the earnestness of my description, 
 awakened the jealousy of his Penthesilea of a countess, 
 he had forgotten the crusade and all belonging to it, to 
 go in quest of Zulichium and its slumbering sovereign.' 
 
 'Nay, then,' said the Emperor, 'we have in our empire 
 — make us sensible of the advantage ! — innumerable 
 tale-tellers who are not possessed in the slightest degree 
 of that noble scorn of gold which is proper to the Franks, 
 but shall, for a brace of besants, lie with the devil, and 
 beat him to boot, if in that manner we can gain, as mari- 
 ners say, the weather-gage of the Franks.' 
 
 247
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'Discretion/ said Agelastes, 'is in the highest degree 
 necessary. Simply to He is no very great matter: it is 
 merely a departure from the truth, which is little differ- 
 ent from missing a mark at archery, where the whole 
 horizon, one point alone excepted, will alike serve the 
 shooter's purpose; but to move the Frank as is desired 
 requires a perfect knowledge of his temper and disposi- 
 tion, great caution and presence of mind, and the most 
 versatile readiness in changing from one subject to an- 
 other. Had I not myself been somewhat alert, I might 
 have paid the penalty of a false step in your Majesty's 
 service by being flung into my own cascade by the virago 
 whom I offended.' 
 
 ' A perfect Thalestris ! ' said the Emperor. ' I shall take 
 care what offence I give her.' 
 
 'If I might speak and live,' said Agelastes, 'the Caesar 
 Nicephorus Briennius had best adopt the same precau- 
 tion.' 
 
 'Nicephorus,' said the Emperor, 'must settle that with 
 our daughter. I have ever told her that she gives him 
 too much of that history, of which a page or two is suf- 
 ficiently refreshing; but by our own self we must swear 
 it, Agelastes, that, night after night, hearing nothing 
 else would subdue the patience of a saint. Forget, good 
 Agelastes, that thou hast heard me say such a thing — 
 more especially, remember it not when thou art in 
 presence of our imperial wife and daughter.' 
 
 'Nor were the freedoms taken by the Caesar beyond 
 the bounds of an innocent gallantry,' said Agelastes ; ' but 
 the Countess, I must needs say, is dangerous. She killed 
 this day the Scythian Toxartis, by what seemed a mere 
 fillip on the head.' 
 
 248
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'Hah!' said the Emperor, *I knew that Toxartis, and 
 he was like enough to deserve his death, being a bold, 
 unscrupulous marauder. Take notes, however, how it 
 happened, the names of witnesses, etc., that, if neces- 
 sary, we may exhibit the fact as a deed of aggression on 
 the part of the Count and Countess of Paris, to the 
 assembly of the crusaders.' 
 
 'I trust,' said Agelastes, 'your Imperial Majesty will 
 not easily resign the golden opportunity of gaining to 
 your standard persons whose character stand so very 
 high in chivalry. It would cost you but little to bestow 
 upon them a Grecian island, worth a hundred of their 
 own paltry lordship of Paris; and if it were given under 
 the condition of their expelling the infidels or the disaf- 
 fected who may have obtained the temporary possession, 
 it would be so much the rnore likely to be an acceptable 
 offer. I need not say that the whole knowledge, wis- 
 dom, and skill of the poor Agelastes is at your Imperial 
 Majesty's disposal.' 
 
 The Emperor paused for a moment, and then said, as 
 if on full consideration, ' Worthy Agelastes, I dare trust 
 thee in this difficult and somewhat dangerous matter; 
 but I will keep my purpose of exhibiting to them the 
 lions of Solomon and the golden tree of our imperial 
 house.' 
 
 *To that there can be no objection,' returned the 
 philosopher; 'only remember to exhibit few guards, for 
 these Franks are like a fiery horse: when in temper he 
 may be ridden with a silk thread, but when he has 
 taken umbrage or suspicion, as they would likely do if 
 they saw many armed men, a steel bridle would not 
 restrain him.' 
 
 249
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'I will be cautious,' said the Emperor, 'in that par- 
 ticular, as well as others. Sound the silver bell, Age- 
 lastes, that the officers of our wardrobe may attend.' 
 
 'One single word while your Highness is alone,' said 
 Agelastes. 'Will your Imperial Majesty transfer to 
 me the direction of your menagerie or collection of 
 extraordinary creatures? ' 
 
 'You make me wonder,' said the Emperor, taking a 
 signet, bearing upon it a lion, with the legend, VicU Leo ex 
 tribu JudcB. 'This,' he said, 'will give thee the command 
 of our dens. And now be candid for once with thy 
 master, for deception is thy nature even with me — by 
 what charm wilt thou subdue these untamed savages?' 
 
 'By the power of falsehood,' replied Agelastes, with 
 deep reverence. 
 
 'I believe thee an adept in it,' said the Emperor. 'And 
 to which of their foibles wilt thou address it? ' 
 
 'To their love of fame,' said the philosopher; and 
 retreated backwards out of the royal apartment, as 
 the officers of the wardrobe entered to complete the 
 investment of the Emperor in his imperial habiliments.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 I will converse with iron-witted fools 
 And unrespective boys; none are for me 
 That look into me with considerate eyes; — 
 High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect. 
 
 Richard III. 
 
 As they parted from each other, the Emperor and phi- 
 losopher had each their own anxious thoughts on the 
 interview which had passed between them — thoughts 
 which they expressed in broken sentences and ejacula- 
 tions, though, for the better understanding of the degree 
 of estimation in which they held each other, we will give 
 them a more regular and intelligible form. 
 
 'Thus, then,' half -muttered, half-said Alexius, but so 
 low as to hide his meaning from the officers of the ward- 
 robe, who entered to do their office — ' thus, then, this 
 bookworm, this remnant of old heathen philosophy, who 
 hardly believes, so God save me, the truth of the Christian 
 creed, has topped his part so well that he forces his Em- 
 peror to dissemble in his presence. Beginning by being 
 the buffoon of the court, he has wormed himself into all 
 its secrets, made himself master of all its intrigues, con- 
 spired with my own son-in-law against me, debauched 
 my guards — indeed so woven his web of deceit, that my 
 life is safe no longer than he believes me the imperial 
 dolt which I have affected to seem, in order to deceive 
 him ; fortunate that even so I can escape his cautionary 
 anticipation of my displeasure, by avoiding to precipi- 
 tate his measures of violence. But, were this sudden 
 
 251
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 storm of the crusade fairly passed over, the ungrateful 
 Csesar, the boastful coward Achilles Tatius, and the 
 bosom serpent Agelastes shall know whether Alexius 
 Comnenus has been born their dupe. When Greek meets 
 Greek, comes the strife of subtlety, as well as the tug 
 of war.' Thus saying, he resigned himself to the officers 
 of his wardrobe, who proceeded to ornament him as the 
 solemnity required. 
 
 'I trust him not,' said Agelastes, the meaning of 
 whose gestures and exclamation, we, in like manner, 
 render into a connected meaning. * I cannot and do not 
 trust him: he somewhat overacts his part. He has borne 
 himself upon other occasions with the shrewd wit of his 
 family the Comneni; yet he now trusts to the effect of 
 his trumpery lions upon such a shrewd people as the 
 Franks and Normans, and seems to rely upon me for 
 the character of men with whom he has been engaged in 
 peace and war for many years. This can be but to gain 
 my confidence ; for there were imperfect looks and broken 
 sentences which seemed to say,* 'Agelastes, the Emperor 
 knows thee, and confides not in thee." Yet the plot is 
 successful and undiscovered, as far as can be judged; 
 and were I to attempt to recede now, I were lost for ever. 
 A little time to carry on this intrigue with the Frank, 
 when possibly, by the assistance of this gallant, Alexius 
 shall exchange the crown for a cloister, or a still narrower 
 abode; and then, Agelastes, thou deservest to be blotted 
 from the roll of philosophers if thou canst not push out 
 of the throne the conceited and luxurious Caesar, and 
 reign in his stead, a second Marcus Antoninus, when the 
 wisdom of thy rule, long unfelt in a world which has been 
 guided by tyrants and voluptuaries, shall soon obliterate 
 
 252
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 recollection of the manner in which thy power was ac- 
 quired. To work then — be active, and be cautious. The 
 time requires it, and the prize deserves it.' 
 
 While these thoughts passed through his mind, he ar- 
 rayed himself, by the assistance of Diogenes, in a clean 
 suit of that simple apparel in which he always frequented 
 the court — a garb as unlike that of a candidate for 
 royalty as it was a contrast to the magnificent robes with 
 which Alexius was now investing himself. 
 
 In their separate apartments, or dressing-rooms, the 
 Count of Paris and his lady put on the best apparel which 
 they had prepared to meet such a chance upon their 
 journey. Even in France, Robert was seldom seen in the 
 peaceful cap and sweeping mantle whose high plumes 
 and flowing folds were the garb of knights in times of 
 peace. He was now arrayed in a splendid suit of armour, 
 all except the head, which was bare otherwise than as 
 covered by his curled locks. The rest of his person was 
 sheathed in the complete mail of the time, richly inlaid 
 with silver, which contrasted with the azure in which 
 the steel was damasked. His spurs were upon his heels, 
 his sword was by his side, and his triangular shield was 
 suspended round his neck, bearing, painted upon it, 
 number of fleurs-de-lis semees, as it is called, upon the 
 field, being the origin of those lily flowers which after 
 times reduced to three only, and which were the terror 
 of Europe, until they suffered so many reverses in our 
 own time. 
 
 The extreme height of Count Robert's person adapted 
 him for a garb which had a tendency to make persons 
 of a lower stature appear rather dwarfish and thick when 
 arrayed cap-d-pie. The features, with their self-collected 
 
 253
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 composure, and noble contempt of whatever could have 
 astounded or shaken an ordinary mind, formed a well- 
 fitted capital to the excellently proportioned and vigor- 
 ous frame which they terminated. The Countess was in 
 more peaceful attire ; but her robes were short and suc- 
 cinct, like those of one who might be called to hasty exer- 
 cise. The upper part of her dress consisted of more than 
 one tunic, sitting close to the body, while a skirt, de- 
 scending from the girdle, and reaching to the ankles, 
 embroidered elegantly but richly, completed an attire 
 which a lady might have worn in much more modern 
 times. Her tresses were covered with a light steel head- 
 piece, though some of them, escaping, played round her 
 face, and gave relief to those handsome features which 
 might otherwise have seemed too formal, if closed en- 
 tirely within the verge of steel. Over these under-gar- 
 ments was flung a rich velvet cloak of a deep green 
 colour, descending from the head, where a species of 
 hood was loosely adjusted over the helmet, deeply laced 
 upon its verges and seams, and so long as to sweep the 
 ground behind. A dagger of rich materials ornamented 
 a girdle of curious goldsmith's work, and was the only 
 offensive weapon which, notwithstanding her military 
 occupation, she bore upon this occasion. 
 
 The toilet, as modern times would say, of the Countess 
 was not nearly so soon ended as that of Count Robert, 
 who occupied his time, as husbands of every period are 
 apt to do, in little sub-acid complaints between jest and 
 earnest upon the dilatory nature of ladies, and the time 
 which they lose in doffing and donning their garments. 
 But when the Countess Brenhilda came forth in the 
 pride of loveliness from the inner chamber where she 
 
 254
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 had attired herself, her husband, who was still her lover, 
 clasped her to his breast, and expressed his privilege by 
 the kiss which he took as of right from a creature so 
 beautiful. Chiding him for his folly, yet almost return- 
 ing the kiss which she received, Brenhilda began now to 
 wonder how they were to find their way to the presence 
 of the Emperor. 
 
 The query was soon solved, for a gentle knock at the 
 door announced Agelastes, to whom, as best acquainted 
 with the Prankish manners, had been committed by the 
 Emperor the charge of introducing the noble strangers. 
 A distant sound, like that of the roaring of a lion, or not 
 unsimilar to a large and deep gong of modern times, in- 
 timated the commencement of the ceremonial. The black 
 slaves upon guard, who, as hath been observed, were in 
 small numbers, stood ranged in their state dresses of 
 white and gold, bearing in one hand a naked sabre, and 
 in the other a torch of white wax, which served to guide 
 the Count and Countess through the passages that led 
 to the interior of the palace, and to the most secret hall 
 of audience. 
 
 The door of this sanctum sanctorum was lower than 
 usual, a simple stratagem devised by some superstitious 
 officer of the imperial household to compel the lofty- 
 crested Frank to lower his body as he presented himself 
 in the imperial presence. Robert, when the door flew 
 open, and he discovered in the background the Emperor 
 seated upon his throne amidst a glare of light, which 
 was broken and. reflected in ten thousand folds by the 
 jewels with which his vestments were covered, stopt 
 short, and demanded the meaning of introducing him 
 through so low an arch? Agelastes pointed to the Em- 
 
 255
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 peror, by way of shifting from himself a question which 
 he could not have answered. The mute, to apologise for 
 his silence, yawned, and showed the loss of his tongue. 
 
 'Holy Virgin!' said the Countess, 'what can these 
 unhappy Africans have done, to have deserved a con- 
 demnation which involves so cruel a fate? ' 
 
 'The hour of retribution is perhaps come,' said the 
 Count, in a displeased tone, while Agelastes, with such 
 hurry as time and place permitted, entered, making his 
 prostrations and genuflexions, little doubting that the 
 Frank must follow him, and to do so must lower his body 
 to the Emperor. The Count, however, in the height of 
 displeasure at the trick which he conceived had been 
 intended him, turned himself round and entered the 
 presence-chamber with his back purposely turned to 
 the sovereign, and did not face Alexius until he reached 
 the middle of the apartment, when he was joined by 
 the Countess, who had made her approach in a more 
 seemly manner. The Emperor, who had prepared to 
 acknowledge the Count's expected homage in the most 
 gracious manner, found himself now even more unpleas- 
 antly circumstanced than when this uncompromising 
 Frank had usurped the royal throne in the course of the 
 day. 
 
 The ofiBcers and nobles who stood around, though a 
 very select number, were more numerous than usual, as 
 the meeting was not held for counsel, but merely for 
 state. These assumed such an appearance of mingled 
 displeasure and confusion as might best suit with the 
 perplexity of Alexius, while the wily features of the Nor- 
 man-ItaHan, Bohemond of Tarentum, who was also 
 present, had a singular mixture of fantastical glee and 
 
 256
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 derision. It is the misfortune of the weaker on such occa- 
 sions, or at least the more timid, to be obliged to take 
 the petty part of winking hard, as if not able to see what 
 they cannot avenge. 
 
 Alexius made the signal that the ceremonial of the 
 grand reception should immediately commence. In- 
 stantly the lions of Solomon, which had been newly fur- 
 bished, raised their heads, erected their manes, bran- 
 dished their tails, until they excited the imagination of 
 Count Robert, who, being already on fire at the circum- 
 stances of his reception, conceived the bellowing of these 
 automata to be the actual annunciation of immediate 
 assault. Whether the lions whose forms he beheld were 
 actually lords of the forest, whether they were mortals 
 who had suffered transformation, whether they were 
 productions of the skill of an artful juggler or profound 
 naturalist, the Count neither knew nor cared. All that 
 he thought of the danger was, that it was worthy of his 
 courage; nor did his heart permit him a moment's irres- 
 olution. He strode to the nearest lion, which seemed in 
 the act of springing up, and said, in a tone loud and for- 
 midable as its own, ' How now, dog ! ' At the same time 
 he struck the figure with his clenched fist and steel 
 gauntlet with so much force that its head burst, and the 
 steps and carpet of the throne were covered with wheels, 
 springs, and other machinery, which had been the means 
 of producing its mimic terrors. 
 
 On this display of the real nature of the cause of his 
 anger, Count Robert could not but feel a little ashamed 
 of having given way to passion on such an occasion. He 
 was still more confused when Bohemond, descending 
 from his station near the Emperor, addressed him in the 
 
 43 257
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Frank language — ' You have done a gallant deed, truly, 
 Count Robert, in freeing the court of Byzantium from 
 an object of fear which has long been used to frighten 
 peevish children and unruly barbarians ! ' 
 
 Enthusiasm has no greater enemy than ridicule. 
 'Why, then,' said Count Robert, blushing deeply at the 
 same time, * did they exhibit its fantastic terrors to me? 
 I am neither child nor barbarian.' 
 
 'Address yourself to the Emperor, then, as an intelli- 
 gent man,' answered Bohemond. ' Say something to him 
 in excuse of your conduct, and show that our bravery has 
 not entirely run away with our common sense. And hark 
 you also, while I have a moment's speech of you : do you 
 and your wife heedfully follow my example at supper.' 
 These words were spoken with a significant tone and 
 corresponding look. 
 
 The opinion of Bohemond, from his long intercourse, 
 both in peace and war, with the Grecian Emperor, gave 
 him great influence with the other crusaders, and Count 
 Robert yielded to his advice. He turned towards the 
 Emperor with something liker an obeisance than he had 
 hitherto paid. ' I crave your pardon,' he said, ' for break- 
 ing that gilded piece of pageantry; but, in sooth, the 
 wonders of sorcery and the portents of accomplished and 
 skilful jugglers are so numerous in this country that one 
 does not clearly distinguish what is true from what is 
 false, or what is real from what is illusory.' 
 
 The Emperor, notwithstanding the presence of mind 
 for which he was remarkable, and the courage in which 
 he was not held by his countrymen to be deficient, 
 received this apology somewhat awkwardly. Perhaps 
 the rueful complaisance with which he accepted the 
 
 258
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Count's apology might be best compared to that of a 
 lady of the present day when an awkward guest has 
 broken a valuable piece of china. He muttered some- 
 thing about the machines having been long preserved in 
 the imperial family, as being made on the model of those 
 which guarded the throne of the wise king of Israel; to 
 which the blunt, plain-spoken Count expressed his doubt 
 in reply, whether the wisest prince in the world ever con- 
 descended to frighten his subjects or guests by the mimic 
 roarings of a wooden lion. 'If,' said he, *I too hastily 
 took it for a living creature, I have had the worst, by 
 damaging my excellent gauntlet in dashing to pieces its 
 timber skull.' 
 
 The Emperor, after a little more had been said, chiefly 
 on the same subject, proposed that they should pass to 
 the banquet-room. Marshalled, accordingly, by the 
 grand sewer of the imperial table, and attended by all 
 present, excepting the Emperor and the immediate mem- 
 bers of his family, the Prankish guests were guided 
 through a labyrinth of apartments, each of which was 
 filled with wonders of nature and art, calculated to en- 
 hance their opinion of the wealth and grandeur which 
 had assembled together so much that was wonderful. 
 Their passage, being necessarily slow and interrupted, 
 gave the Emperor time to change his dress, according 
 to the ritual of his court, which did not permit his 
 appearing twice in the same vesture before the same 
 spectators. He took the opportunity to summon Age- 
 lastes into his presence, and, that their conference 
 might be secret, he used, in assisting his toilet, the 
 agency of some of the mutes destined for the service of 
 the interior. 
 
 259
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The temper of Alexius Comnenus was considerably 
 moved, although it was one of the peculiarities of his 
 situation to be ever under the necessity of disguising 
 the emotions of his mind, and of affecting, in presence of 
 his subjects, a superiority to human passion which he 
 was far from feeling. It was therefore with gravity, and 
 even reprehension, that he asked, 'By whose error it 
 was that the wily Bohemond, half-Italian and half- 
 Norman, was present at this interview? Surely, if there 
 be one in the crusading army likely to conduct that 
 foolish youth and his wife behind the scenes of the 
 exhibition by which we hoped to impose upon them, 
 the Count of Tarentum, as he entitles himself, is that 
 person.' 
 
 ' It was that old man,' said Agelastes — ' if I may reply 
 and live — Michael Cantacuzene, who deemed that his 
 presence was peculiarly desired; but he returns to the 
 camp this very night.' 
 
 'Yes,' said Alexius, ' to inform Godfrey and the rest of 
 the crusaders that one of the boldest and most highly 
 esteemed of their number is left, with his wife, a hostage 
 in our imperial city, and to bring back, perhaps, an alter- 
 native of instant war, unless they are delivered up ! ' 
 
 'If it is your Imperial Highness's will to think so,' 
 said Agelastes, 'you can suffer Count Robert and his 
 wife to return to the camp with the Italian-Norman.' 
 
 'What!' answered the Emperor, 'and to lose all the 
 fruits of an enterprise the preparations for which have 
 already cost us so much in actual expense; and, were our 
 heart made of the same stuff with that of ordinary mor- 
 tals, would have cost us so much more in vexation and 
 anxiety? No — no; issue warning to the crusaders who 
 
 260
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 are still on the hither side that further rendering of 
 homage is dispensed with, and that they repair to the 
 quays on the banks of the Bosphorus by peep of light to- 
 morrow. Let our admiral, as he values his head, pass 
 every man of them over to the farther side before noon. 
 Let there be largesses, a princely banquet on the farther 
 bank — all that may increase their anxiety to pass. Then, 
 Agelastes, we will trust to ourselves to meet this addi- 
 tional danger, either by bribing the venality of Bohemond 
 or by bidding defiance to the crusaders. Their forces are 
 scattered, and the chief of them, with the leaders them- 
 selves, are all now — or by far the greater part — on the 
 east side of the Bosphorus. And now to the banquet, 
 seeing that the change of dress has been made sufi&cient 
 to answer the statutes of the household, since our ances- 
 tors chose to make rules for exhibiting us to our subjects 
 as priests exhibit their images at their shrines.' 
 
 'Under grant of hfe,' said Agelastes, 'it was not done 
 inconsiderately, but in order that the emperor, ruled 
 ever by the same laws from father to son, might ever 
 be regarded as something beyond the common laws of 
 humanity — the divine image of a saint, therefore, 
 rather than a human being.' 
 
 'We know it, good Agelastes,' answered the Emperor, 
 with a smile, 'and we are also aware that many of our 
 subjects, like the worshippers of Bel in Holy Writ, treat 
 us so far as an image as to assist us in devouring the reve- 
 nues of our provinces, which are gathered in our name 
 and for our use. These things we now only touch lightly, 
 the time not suiting them.' 
 
 Alexius left the secret council accordingly, after the 
 order for the passage of the crusaders had been written 
 
 261
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 out and subscribed in due form, and in the sacred ink of 
 the imperial chancery. 
 
 Meantime, the rest of the company had arrived in a hall 
 which, like the other apartments in the palace, was most 
 tastefully as well as gorgeously fitted up, except that a 
 table, which presented a princely banquet, might have 
 been deemed faulty in this respect, that the dishes, which 
 were most splendid, both in the materials of which they 
 were composed and in the viands which they held, were 
 elevated by means of feet, so as to be upon a level with 
 female guests as they sat, and with men as they lay 
 recumbent, at the banquet which it offered. 
 
 Around stood a number of black slaves richly attired, 
 while the grand sewer, Michael Cantacuzene, arranged 
 the strangers with his golden wand, and conveyed orders 
 to them, by signs, that all should remain standing around 
 the table until a signal should be given. 
 
 The upper end of the board, thus furnished and thus 
 surrounded, was hidden by a curtain of muslin and silver, 
 which fell from the top of the arch under which the upper 
 part seemed to pass. On this curtain the sewer kept a 
 wary eye; and when he observed it slightly shake, he 
 waved his wand of office, and all expected the result. 
 
 As if self-moved, the mystic curtain arose, and dis- 
 covered behind it a throne eight steps higher than the 
 end of the table, decorated in the most magnificent 
 manner, and having placed before it a small table of 
 ivory inlaid with silver, behind which was seated Alexius 
 Comnenus, in a dress entirely different from what he had 
 worn in the course of the day, and so much more gor- 
 geous than his former vestments, that it seemed not 
 unnatural that his subjects should prostrate themselves 
 
 262
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 before a figure so splendid. His wife, his daughter, and 
 his son-in-law the Caesar stood behind him with faces 
 bent to the ground, and it was with deep humility that, 
 descending from the throne at the Emperor's command, 
 they mingled with the guests of the lower table, and, 
 exalted as they were, proceeded to the festive board at 
 the signal of the grand sewer; so that they could not be 
 said to partake of the repast with the Emperor nor to be 
 placed at the imperial table, although they supped in his 
 presence, and were encouraged by his repeated request 
 to them to make good cheer. No dishes presented at the 
 lower table were offered at the higher; but wines and 
 more delicate sorts of food, which arose before the Em- 
 peror as if by magic, and seemed designed for his own 
 proper use, were repeatedly sent, by his special direc- 
 tions, to one or other of the guests whom Alexius 
 delighted to honour, among these the Franks being par- 
 ticularly distinguished. 
 
 The behaviour of Bohemond was on this occasion 
 particularly remarkable. 
 
 Count Robert, who kept an eye upon him, both from his 
 recent words and owing to an expressive look which he 
 once or twice darted towards him, observed, that in no 
 liquors or food, not even those sent from the Emperor's 
 own table, did this astucious prince choose to indulge. 
 A piece of bread, taken from the canister at random, and 
 a glass of pure water was the only refreshment of which 
 he was pleased to partake. His alleged excuse was the 
 veneration due to the Holy Festival of the Advent, 
 which chanced to occur that very night, and which both 
 the Greek and Latin rule agreed to hold sacred. 
 
 *I had not expected this of you, Sir Bohemond,' said 
 263 ^
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the Emperor, 'that you should have refused my per- 
 sonal hospitality at my own board, on the very day on 
 which you honoured me by entering into my service as 
 vassal for the principahty of Antioch.' 
 
 'Antioch is not yet conquered,' said Sir Bohemond; 
 *and conscience, dread sovereign, must always have its 
 exceptions in whatever temporal contracts we may 
 engage.' 
 
 * Come, gentle coimt,' said the Emperor, who obviously 
 regarded Bohemond's inhospitable humour as something 
 arising more from suspicion than devotion, 'we invite, 
 though it is not our custom, our children, our noble 
 guests, and our principal ofi&cers here present to a general 
 carouse. Fill the cups called the Nine Muses ; let them be 
 brimful of the wine which is said to be sacred to the 
 imperial lips.' 
 
 At the Emperor's command the cups were filled; they 
 were of pure gold, and there was richly engraved upon 
 each the eflfigy of the Muse to whom it was dedicated. 
 
 'You at least,' said the Emperor, 'my gentle Count 
 Robert — you and your lovely lady, will not have any 
 scruple to pledge your imperial host? ' 
 
 ' If that scruple is to imply suspicion of the provisions 
 with which we are here served, I disdain to nourish such,' 
 said Count Robert. 'If it is a sin which I commit by 
 tasting wine to-night, it is a venial one ; nor shall I greatly 
 augment my load by carrying it, with the rest of my 
 trespasses, to the next confessional.' 
 
 ' Will you then, Prince Bohemond, not be ruled by the 
 conduct of your friend? ' said the Emperor. 
 
 'Methinks,' replied the Norman-Italian, 'my friend 
 might have done better to have been ruled by mine ; but 
 
 264
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 be it as his wisdom pleases. The flavour of such exquisite 
 wine is sufhcient for me.' 
 
 So saying, he emptied the wine into another goblet, 
 and seemed alternately to admire the carving of the cup 
 and the flavour of what it had lately contained. 
 
 'You are right, Sir Bohemond,' said the Emperor, 'the 
 fabric of that cup is beautiful ; it was done by one of the 
 ancient gravers of Greece. The boasted cup of Nestor, 
 which Homer has handed down to us, was a good deal 
 larger perhaps, but neither equalled these in the value 
 of the material nor the exquisite beauty of the workman- 
 ship. Let each one, therefore, of my stranger guests 
 accept of the cup which he either has or might have 
 drunk out of, as a recollection of me ; and may the expe- 
 dition against the infidels be as propitious as their confi- 
 dence and courage deserve ! ' 
 
 *If I accept your gift, mighty emperor,' said Bohe- 
 mond, 'it is only to atone for the apparent discourtesy, 
 when my devotion compels me to decline your imperial 
 pledge, and to show you that we part on the most inti- 
 mate terms of friendship.' 
 
 So saying, he bowed deeply to the Emperor, who 
 answered him with a smile, into which was thrown a 
 considerable portion of sarcastic expression. 
 
 'And I,' said the Count of Paris, 'having taken upon 
 my conscience the fault of meeting your imperial pledge, 
 may stand excused from incurring the blame of aiding to 
 dismantle your table of these curious drinking-cups. We 
 empty them to your health, and we cannot in any other 
 respect profit by them.' 
 
 'But Prince Bohemond can,' said the Emperor; 'to 
 whose quarters they shall be carried, sanctioned by your 
 
 265
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 generous use. And we have still a set for you, and for 
 your lovely countess, equal to that of the Graces, though 
 no longer matching in niunber the nymphs of Parnassus. 
 The evening bell rings, and calls us to remember the 
 hour of rest, that we may be ready to meet the labours of 
 to-morrow.' 
 
 The party then broke up for the evening. Bohemond 
 left the palace that night, not forgetting the Muses, of 
 whom he was not in general a devotee. The result was, 
 as the wily Greek had intended, that he had established 
 between Bohemond and the Count, not indeed a quarrel, 
 but a kind of difference of opinion, Bohemond feeling 
 that the fiery Count of Paris must think his conduct sor- 
 did and avaricious, while Count Robert was far less 
 inclined than before to rely on him as a counsellor.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 The Count of Paris and his lady were that night lodged 
 in the Imperial Palace of Blacquernal. Their apart- 
 ments were contiguous, but the communication between 
 them was cut off for the night by the mutual door being 
 locked and barred. They marvelled somewhat at this 
 precaution. The observance, however, of the festival of 
 the church was pleaded as an admissible, and not unnat- 
 ural, excuse for this extraordinary circumstance. Neither 
 the Count nor his lady entertained, it may be believed, 
 the slightest personal fear for anything which could 
 happen to them. Their attendants, Marcian and 
 Agatha, having assisted their master and mistress in the 
 performance of their usual offices, left them, in order to 
 seek the places of repose assigned to them among persons 
 of their degree. 
 
 The preceding day had been one of excitation, and of 
 much bustle and interest; perhaps, also, the wine, sacred 
 to the imperial lips, of which Count Robert had taken a 
 single, indeed, but a deep draught, was more potent than 
 the delicate and high-flavoured juice of the Gascogne 
 grape, to which he was accustomed; at any rate, it 
 seemed to him that, from the time he felt that he had 
 slept, daylight ought to have been broad in his chamber 
 when he awakened, and yet it was still darkness almost 
 palpable. Somewhat surprised, he gazed eagerly around, 
 but could discern nothing, except two balls of red light 
 which shone from among the darkness with a self- 
 
 267
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 emitted brilliancy, like the eyes of a wild animal while it 
 glares upon its prey. The Count started from bed to put 
 on his armour, a necessary precaution if what he saw 
 should really be a wild creature and at liberty; but the 
 instant he stirred, a deep growl was uttered, such as the 
 Count had never heard, but which might be compared 
 to the sound of a thousand monsters at once ; and, as the 
 symphony, was heard the clash of iron chains, and the 
 springing of a monstrous creature towards the bedside, 
 which appeared, however, to be withheld by some 
 fastening from attaining the end of its bound. The 
 roars which it uttered now ran thick on each other. They 
 were most tremendous, and must have been heard 
 throughout the whole palace. The creature seemed to 
 gather itself many yards nearer to the bed than by its 
 glaring eyeballs it appeared at first to be stationed, and 
 how much nearer, or what degree of motion might place 
 him within the monster's reach, the Count was totally 
 uncertain. Its breathing was even heard, and Count 
 Robert thought he felt the heat of its respiration, while 
 his defenceless limbs might not be two yards distant from 
 the fangs which he heard grinding against each other, 
 and the claws which tore up fragments of wood from the 
 oaken floor. The Count of Paris was one of the bravest 
 men who lived in a time when bravery was the universal 
 property of all who claimed a drop of noble blood, and 
 the knight was a descendant of Charlemagne. He was, 
 however, a man, and therefore cannot be said to have 
 endured unappalled a sense of danger so unexpected and 
 so extraordinary. But his was not a sudden alarm or 
 panic: it was a calm sense of extreme peril, qualified by a 
 resolution to exert his faculties to the uttermost, to save 
 
 268
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 his life if it were possible. He withdrew himself within 
 the bed, no longer a place of rest, being thus a few feet 
 farther from the two glaring eyeballs which remained 
 so closely fixed upon him that, in spite of his courage, 
 nature painfully suggested the bitter imagination of his 
 limbs being mangled, torn, and churned with their life- 
 blood, in the jaws of some monstrous beast of prey. One 
 saving thought alone presented itself: this might be a 
 trial, an experiment of the philosopher Agelastes, or of 
 the Emperor his master, for the purpose of proving the 
 courage of which the Christians vaunted so highly, and 
 punishing the thoughtless insult which the Count had 
 been unadvised enough to put upon the Emperor the 
 preceding day. 
 
 'Well is it said,' he reflected in his agony, 'beard not 
 the lion in his den. Perhaps even now some base slave 
 deliberates whether I have yet tasted enough of the 
 preliminary agonies of death, and whether he shall yet 
 slip the chain which keeps the savage from doing his 
 work. But come death when it will, it shall never be 
 said that Count Robert was heard to receive it with 
 prayers for compassion or with cries of pain or terror.* 
 He turned his face to the wall, and waited, with a strong 
 mental exertion, the death which he conceived to be 
 fast approaching. 
 
 His first feelings had been unavoidably of a selfish 
 nature. The danger was too instant, and of a descrip- 
 tion too horrible, to admit of any which involved a more 
 comprehensive view of his calamity; and other reflections 
 of a more distant kind were at first swallowed up in the 
 all-engrossing thought of immediate death. But as his 
 ideas became clearer, the safety of his countess rushed 
 
 269
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 upon his mind — what might she now be suffering: and, 
 while he was subjected to a trial so extraordinary, for 
 what were her weaker frame and female courage re- 
 served? Was she still within a few yards of him, 
 as when he lay down the last night? or had the bar- 
 barians, who had devised for him a scene so cruel, 
 availed themselves of his and his lady's incautious 
 confidence to inflict upon her some villainy of the 
 same kind, or even yet more perfidious? Did she sleep 
 or wake, or could she sleep within the close hearing of 
 that horrible cry, which shook all around? He resolved 
 to utter her name, warning her, if possible, to be upon 
 her guard, and to answer without venturing rashly 
 into the apartment which contained a guest so horribly 
 perilous. 
 
 He uttered, therefore, his wife's name, but in trem- 
 bling accents, as if he had been afraid of the savage beast 
 overhearing him. 
 
 'Brenhilda — Brenhilda, there is danger; awake and 
 speak to me, but do not arise.' There was no answer. 
 'What am I become,' he said to himself, ' that I call upon 
 Brenhilda of Aspramonte, like a child on its sleeping 
 nurse, and all because there is a wild cat in the same 
 room with me? Shame on thee, Count of Paris! Let thy 
 arms be rent and thy spurs be hacked from thy heels! 
 What ho!' he cried aloud, but still with a tremulous 
 voice, 'Brenhilda, we are beset: the foe are upon us. 
 Answer me, but stir not.' 
 
 A deep growl from the monster which garrisoned his 
 apartment was the only answer. The sound seemed to 
 say, 'Thou hast no hope'; and it ran to the knight's 
 bosom as the genuine expression of despair. 
 
 270
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 * Perhaps, however, I am still too cold in making my 
 misery known. What, ho! my love — Brenhilda!' 
 
 A voice, hollow and disconsolate as that which might 
 have served an inhabitant of the grave, answered as if 
 from a distance. 'What disconsolate wretch art thou, 
 who expectest that the living can answer thee from the 
 habitations of the dead? ' 
 
 *I am a Christian man, a free noble of the kingdom of 
 France,' answered the Count, — 'yesterday the captain 
 of five hundred men, the bravest in France — the brav- 
 est, that is, who breathe mortal air — and I am here 
 without a glimpse of light to direct me how to avoid the 
 corner in which lies a wild tiger-cat, prompt to spring 
 upon and to devour me.' 
 
 'Thou art an example,' replied the voice, 'and wilt 
 not long be the last, of the changes of fortune. I, who 
 am now suffering in my third year, was that mighty 
 Ursel who rivalled Alexius Comnenus for the crown of 
 Greece, was betrayed by my confederates, and being 
 deprived of that eyesight which is the chief blessing of 
 humanity, I inhabit these vaults, no distant neighbour 
 of the wild animals by whom they are sometimes occu- 
 pied, and whose cries of joy I hear when unfortunate 
 victims like thyself are delivered up to their fury.' 
 
 'Didst thou not then hear,' said Count Robert, in 
 return, 'a warlike guest and his bride conducted hither 
 last night, with sounds as it might seem of bridal music? 
 O, Brenhilda! hast thou, so young, so beautiful, been 
 so treacherously done to death by means so unutterably 
 horrible?' 
 
 'Think not,' answered Urscl, as the voice had called 
 its owner, ' that the Greeks pamper their wild beasts on 
 
 271
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 such lordly fare. For their enemies, which term includes 
 not only all that are really such, but all those whom 
 they fear or hate, they have dungeons whose locks never 
 revolve; hot instruments of steel, to sear the eyeballs 
 in the head; lions and tigers, when it pleases them to 
 make a speedy end of their captives — but these are 
 only for the male prisoners. While for the women, if 
 they be young and beautiful, the princes of the land 
 have places in their bed and bower; nor are they em- 
 ployed, like the captives of Agamemnon's host, to draw 
 water from an Argive spring, but are admired and adored 
 by those whom fate has made the lords of their destiny.' 
 
 'Such shall never be the doom of Brenhilda,' ex- 
 claimed Count Robert : ' her husband still lives to assist 
 her, and should he die, she knows well how to follow him 
 without leaving a blot in the epitaph of either.' 
 
 The captive did not immediately reply, and a short 
 pause ensued, which was broken by Ursel's voice. 
 'Stranger,' he said, 'what noise is that I hear?' 
 
 'Nay, I hear nothing,' said Count Robert. 
 
 'But I do,' said Ursel. 'The cruel deprivation of my 
 eyesight renders my other senses more acute.' 
 
 'Disquiet not thyself about the matter, fellow-pris- 
 oner,' answered the Count, 'but wait the event in 
 silence.' 
 
 Suddenly a light arose in the apartment, lurid, red, 
 and smoky. The knight had bethought him of a flint 
 and match which he usually carried about him, and with 
 as little noise as possible had lighted the torch by the 
 bedside; this he instantly applied to the curtains of the 
 bed, which, being of thin muslin, were in a moment in 
 flames. The knight sprung at the same instant from his 
 
 272
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 bed. The tiger, for such it was, terrified at the flame, 
 leaped backwards as far as his chain would permit, heed- 
 less of anything save this new object of terror. Count 
 Robert upon this seized on a massive wooden stool, 
 which was the only offensive weapon on which he could 
 lay his hand, and, marking at those eyes which now re- 
 flected the blaze of fire, and which had recently seemed 
 so appalling, he discharged against them this fragment 
 of ponderous oak, with a force which less resembled hu- 
 man strength than the impetus with which an engine 
 hurls a stone. He had employed his instant of time so 
 well, and his aim was so true, that the missile went right 
 to the mark and with incredible force. The skull of the 
 tiger, which might be, perhaps, somewhat exaggerated if 
 described as being of the very largest size, was fractured 
 by the blow, and with the assistance of his dagger, which 
 had fortunately been left with him, the French count 
 despatched the monster, and had the satisfaction to see 
 him grin his last, and roll, in the agony of death, those 
 eyes which were lately so formidable. 
 
 Looking around him, he discovered, by the light of the 
 fire which he had raised, that the apartment in which he 
 now lay was different from that in which he had gone to 
 bed overnight; nor could there be a stronger contrast 
 between the furniture of both than the flickering, half- 
 burnt remains of the thin muslin curtains, and the strong, 
 bare, dungeon-looking walls of the room itself, or the 
 very serviceable wooden stool, of which he had made 
 such good use. 
 
 The knight had no leisure to form conclusions upon 
 such a subject. He hastily extinguished the fire, which 
 had, indeed, nothing that it could lay hold of, and pro- 
 43 273
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ceeded, by the light of the flambeau, to examine the apart- 
 ment and its means of entrance. It is scarce necessary 
 to say, that he saw no communication with the room of 
 Brenhilda, which convinced him that they had been sepa- 
 rated the evening before, under pretence of devotional 
 scruples, in order to accomphsh some most villainous de- 
 sign upon one or both of them. His own part of the night's 
 adventure we have already seen ; and success so far, over 
 so formidable a danger, gave him a trembling hope that 
 Brenhilda, by her own worth and valour, would be able 
 to defend herself against all attacks of fraud or force 
 until he could find his way to her rescue. ' I should have 
 paid more regard,' he said, 'to Bohemond's caution last 
 night, who, I think, intimated to me as plainly as if he 
 had spoke it in direct terms that that same cup of wine 
 was a drugged potion. But then, fie upon him for an ava- 
 ricious hound! how was it possible I should think he 
 suspected any such thing, when he spoke not out like a 
 man, but, for sheer coldness of heart or base self-interest, 
 suffered me to run the risk of being poisoned by the wily 
 despot?' 
 
 Here he heard a voice from the same quarter as before. 
 'Ho, there! Ho, stranger! Do you live, or have you 
 been murdered? What means this stifling smell of smoke? 
 For God's sake, answer him who can receive no informa- 
 tion from eyes closed, alas, for ever!' 
 
 'I am at liberty,' said the Count, 'and the monster 
 destined to devour me has groaned its last. I would, my 
 friend Ursel, since such is thy name, thou hadst the ad- 
 vantage of thine eyes, to have borne witness to yonder 
 combat; it had been worth thy while, though thou 
 shouldst have lost them a minute afterwards, and it 
 
 274
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 would have greatly advantaged whoever shall have the 
 task of compiling my history.' 
 
 While he gave a thought to that vanity which strongly 
 ruled him, he lost no time in seeking some mode of es- 
 cape from the dungeon, for by that means only might he 
 hope to recover his countess. At last he found an en- 
 trance in the wall, but it was strongly locked and bolted. 
 *I have found the passage,' he called out; 'and its direc- 
 tion is the same in which thy voice is heard. But how 
 shall I undo the door? ' 
 
 'I'll teach thee that secret,' said Ursel. 'I would I 
 could as easily unlock each bolt that withholds us from 
 the open air; but as for thy seclusion within the dun- 
 geon, heave up the door by main strength, and thou 
 shalt lift the locks to a place where, pushing then the 
 door from thee, the fastenings will find a grooved pas- 
 sage in the wall, and the door itself will open. Would 
 that I could indeed see thee, not only because, being a 
 gallant man, thou must be a goodly sight, but also be- 
 cause I should thereby know that I was not caverned in 
 darkness for ever.' 
 
 While he spoke thus, the Count made a bundle of his 
 armour, from which he missed nothing except his sword, 
 Tranchefer, and then proceeded to try what efforts he 
 could make, according to the blind man's instructions, 
 to open the door of his prison-house. Pushing in a direct 
 line was, he soon found, attended with no effect; but 
 when he applied his gigantic strength, and raised the door 
 as high as it would go, he had the satisfaction to find that 
 the bolts yielded, though reluctantly. A space had been 
 cut so as to allow them to move out of the socket into 
 which they had been forced; and without the turn of a 
 
 275
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 key, but by a powerful thrust forwards, a small passage 
 was left open. The knight entered, bearing his armour 
 in his hand. 
 
 *I hear thee,' said Ursel, *0 stranger! and am aware 
 thou art come into my place of captivity. For three years 
 have I been employed in cutting these grooves, corre- 
 sponding to the sockets which hold these iron bolts, and 
 preserving the knowledge of the secret from the prison- 
 keepers. Twenty such bolts, perhaps, must be sawn 
 through ere my steps shall approach the upper air. 
 What prospect is there that I shall have strength of 
 mind sufficient to continue the task? Yet, credit me, 
 noble stranger, I rejoice in having been thus far aiding 
 to thy deliverance; for if Heaven blesses not, in any 
 further degree, our aspirations after freedom, we may 
 still be a comfort to each other, while tyranny permits 
 our mutual life.' 
 
 Count Robert looked around, and shuddered that a 
 human being should talk of anything approaching to 
 comfort connected with his residence in what seemed 
 a living tomb. Ursel 's dungeon was not above twelve 
 feet square, vaulted in the roof, and strongly built in the 
 walls by stones which the chisel had morticed closely 
 together. A bed, a coarse footstool, like that which 
 Robert had Just launched at the head of the tiger, and a 
 table of equally massive materials, were its only articles 
 of furniture. On a long stone above the bed were these 
 few, but terrible words: 'Zedekias Ursel, imprisoned here 
 
 on the Ides of March, a.d. , Died and interred on 
 
 the spot .' A blank was left for filling up the period. 
 
 The figure of the captive could hardly be discerned amid 
 the wildness of his dress and dishabille. The hair of his 
 
 276
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 head, uncut and uncombed, descended in elf-locks, and 
 mingled with a beard of extravagant length. 
 
 'Look on me,' said the captive, 'and rejoice that thou 
 canst yet see the wretched condition to which iron- 
 hearted tyranny can reduce a fellow-creature, both in 
 mortal existence and in future hope.' 
 
 'Was it thou,' said Count Robert, whose blood ran 
 cold in his veins, ' that hadst the heart to spend thy time 
 in sawing through the blocks of stone by which these 
 bolts are secured?' 
 
 'Alas!' said Ursel, 'what could a blind man do? Busy 
 I must be, if I would preserve my senses. Great as the 
 labour was, it was to me the task of three years; nor can 
 you wonder that I should have devoted to it my whole 
 time, when I had no other means of occupying it. Per- 
 haps, and most likely, my dungeon does not admit the 
 distinction of day and night; but a distant cathedral 
 clock told me how hour after hour fled away, and found 
 me expending them in rubbing one stone against an- 
 other. But when the door gave way, I found I had only 
 cut an access into a prison more strong than that which 
 held me. I rejoice, nevertheless, since it has brought us 
 together, given thee an entrance to my dungeon, and me 
 a companion in my misery.' 
 
 'Think better than that,' said Count Robert — ' think 
 of liberty — think of revenge. I cannot believe such un- 
 just treachery will end successfully, else needs must I 
 say the Heavens are less just than priests tell us of. How 
 art thou supplied with food in this dungeon of thine? ' 
 
 *A warder,' said Ursel, 'and who, I think, under- 
 stands not the Greek language — at least he never 
 either answers or addresses me — brings a loaf and a 
 
 277
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 pitcher of water, enough to supply my miserable life till 
 two days are past. I must, therefore, pray that you will 
 retire for a space into the next prison, so that the warder 
 may have no means of knowing that we can hold corre- 
 spondence together.' 
 
 'I see not,' said Count Robert, 'by what access the 
 barbarian, if he is one, can enter my dungeon without 
 passing through yours; but no matter, I will retire into 
 the inner or outer room, whichever it happens to be, 
 and be thou then well aware that the warder will have 
 some one to grapple with ere he leaves his prison-work 
 to-day. Meanwhile, think thyself dumb as thou art 
 blind, and be assured that the offer of freedom itself 
 would not induce me to desert the cause of a companion 
 in adversity.' 
 
 'Alas,' said the old man, 'I listen to thy promises as I 
 should to those of the morning gale, which tells me that 
 the sun is about to arise, although I know that I at least 
 shall never behold it. Thou art one of those wild and un- 
 despairing knights whom for so many years the west of 
 Europe hath sent forth to attempt impossibilities, and 
 from thee, therefore, I can only hope for such a fabric 
 of relief as an idle boy would blow out of soap bubbles.' 
 
 'Think better of us, old man,' said Count Robert, re- 
 tiring; 'at least let me die with my blood warm, and be- 
 lieving it possible for me to be once more united to my 
 beloved Brenhilda.' 
 
 So sa}dng, he retired into his own cell, and replaced 
 the door, so that the operations of Ursel, which indeed 
 were only such as three years' solitude could have 
 achieved, should escape observation when again visited 
 by the warder. 'It is ill luck,' said he, when once more 
 
 278
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 within his own prison — for that in which the tiger had 
 been secured he instinctively concluded to be destined 
 for him — ' it is ill luck that I had not found a young and 
 able fellow-captive, instead of one decrepit by imprison- 
 ment, blind, and broken down past exertion. But God's 
 will be done ! I will not leave behind me the poor wretch 
 whom I have found in such a condition, though he is 
 perfectly unable to assist me in accomplishing my es- 
 cape, and is rather more likely to retard it. Meantime, 
 before we put out the torch, let us see if, by close exami- 
 nation, we can discover any door in the wall save that 
 to the blind man's dungeon. If not, I much suspect that 
 my descent has been made through the roof. That cup 
 of wine — that Muse, as they called it — had a taste 
 more like medicine than merry companions' pledge.' 
 
 He began accordingly a strict survey of the walls, 
 which he resolved to conclude by extinguishing the torch, 
 that he might take the person who should enter his dun- 
 geon darkling and by surprise. For a similar reason, he 
 dragged into the darkest corner the carcass of the tiger, 
 and covered it with the remains of the bedclothes, swear- 
 ing at the same time, that a half tiger should be his crest 
 in future, if he had the fortune, which his bold heart would 
 not suffer him to doubt, of getting through the present 
 danger. 'But,' he added, 'if these necromantic vassals 
 of hell shall raise the devil upon me, what shall I do then? 
 And so great is the chance, that methinks I would fain 
 dispense with extinguishing the flambeau. Yet it is 
 childish for one dubbed in the chapel of Our Lady of the 
 Broken Lances to make much difference between a light 
 room and a dark one. Let them come, as many fiends as 
 the cell can hold, and we shall see if we receive them not 
 
 279
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 as becomes a Christian knight; and surely Our Lady, to 
 whom I was ever a true votary, will hold it an acceptable 
 sacrifice that I tore myself from my Brenhilda, even for 
 a single moment, in honour of her Advent, and thus led 
 the way for our woful separation. Fiends ! I defy ye in 
 the body as in the spirit, and I retain the remains of this 
 flambeau until some more convenient opportunity.' He 
 dashed it against the wall as he spoke, and then quietly 
 sat down in a corner to watch what should next happen. 
 Thought after thought chased each other through his 
 mind. His confidence in his wife's fidelity, and his trust 
 in her uncommon strength and activity, were the great- 
 est comforts which he had ; nor could her danger present 
 itself to him in any shape so terrible, but that he found 
 consolation in these reflections: 'She is pure,' he said, 
 *as the dew of heaven, and Heaven will not abandon its 
 own.'
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 strange ape of man! who loathes thee while he scorns thee; 
 
 Half a reproach to us and half a jest. 
 
 What fancies can be ours ere we have pleasure 
 
 In viewing our own form, our pride and passions, 
 
 Reflected in a shape grotesque as thine? 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 Count Robert of Paris, having ensconced himself 
 behind the ruins of the bed, so that he could not well be 
 observed, unless a strong light was at once flung upon the 
 place of his retreat, waited with anxiety how and in 
 what manner the warder of the dungeon, charged with 
 the task of bringing food to the prisoners, should make 
 himself visible; nor was it long ere symptoms of his 
 approach began to be heard and observed. 
 
 A light was partially seen, as from a trap-door open- 
 ing in the roof, and a voice was heard to utter these 
 words in Anglo-Saxon, 'Leap, sirrah; come, no delay; 
 leap, my good Sylvan, show your honour's activity.' A 
 strange, chuckling hoarse voice, in a language totally 
 unintelligible to Count Robert, was heard to respond, 
 as if disputing the orders which were received. 
 
 'What, sir,' said his companion, 'you must contest the 
 point, must you? Nay, if thou art so lazy, I must give 
 your honour a ladder, and perhaps a kick to hasten your 
 journey.' Something then, of very great size, in the 
 form of a human being, jumped down from the trap- 
 door, though the height might be above fourteen feet. 
 This figure was gigantic, being upwards of seven feet 
 high. In its left hand it held a torch, and in its right a 
 
 281
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 skein of fine silk, which, unwinding itself as it descended, 
 remained unbroken, though it was easy to conceive it 
 could not have afforded a creature so large any support in 
 his descent from the roof. He alighted with perfect safety 
 and activity upon his feet, and, as if rebounding from the 
 floor, he sprung upwards again, so as almost to touch the 
 roof. In this last gambaud the torch which he bore was 
 extinguished ; but this extraordinary warder whirled it 
 round his head with infinite velocity, so that it again 
 ignited. The bearer, who appeared to intend the ac- 
 complishment of this object, endeavoured to satisfy 
 himself that it was really attained, by approaching, as if 
 cautiously, its left hand to the flame of the torch. This 
 practical experiment seemed attended with consequences 
 which the creature had not expected, for it howled with 
 pain, shaking the burnt hand, and chattering as if 
 bemoaning itself. 
 
 'Take heed there, Sylvanus,' said the same voice in 
 Anglo-Saxon, and in a tone of rebuke. 'Ho, there! mind 
 thy duty, Sylvan. Carry food to the blind man, and 
 stand not there to play thyself, lest I trust thee not 
 again alone on such an errand.' 
 
 The creature — for it would have been rash to have 
 termed it a man — turning its eye upwards to the place 
 from whence the voice came, answered with a dreadful 
 grin and shaking of its fist, yet presently began to undo a 
 parcel, and rummage in the pockets of a sort of jerkin 
 and pantaloons which it wore, seeking, it appeared, a 
 bunch of keys, which at length it produced, while it 
 took from the pocket a loaf of bread. Heating the stone 
 of the wall, it affixed the torch to it by a piece of wax, and 
 then cautiously looked out for the entrance to the old 
 
 282
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 man's dungeon, which it opened with a key selected 
 from the bunch. Within the passage it seemed to look 
 for and discover the handle of a pump, at which it filled 
 a pitcher that it bore, and bringing back the fragments of 
 the former loaf, and remains of the pitcher of water, it 
 eat a Uttle, as if it were in sport, and very soon, making a 
 frightful grimace, flung the fragments away. The Count 
 of Paris, in the meanwhile, watched anxiously the pro- 
 ceedings of this unknown animal. His first thought was, 
 that the creature, whose limbs were so much larger than 
 humanity, whose grimaces were so frightful, and whose 
 activity seemed supernatural, could be no other than the 
 Devil himself, or some of his imps, whose situation and 
 office in those gloomy regions seemed by no means hard 
 to conjecture. The human voice, however, which he had 
 heard was less that of a necromancer conjuring a fiend 
 than that of a person giving commands to a wild animal, 
 over whom he had, by training, obtained a great superi- 
 ority. 
 
 *A shame on it,' said the Count, 'if I suffer a common 
 jackanapes — for such I take this devil-seeming beast 
 to be, although twice as large as any of its fellows whom 
 I have ever seen — to throw an obstacle in the way of 
 my obtaining daylight and freedom! Let us but watch, 
 and the chance is that we make that furry gentleman our 
 guide to the upper regions.' 
 
 Meantime the creature, which rummaged about every- 
 where, at length discovered the body of the tiger, touched 
 it, stirred it, with many strange motions, and seemed to 
 lament and wonder at its death. At once it seemed 
 struck with the idea that some one must have slain it, 
 and Count Robert had the mortification to see it once 
 
 283
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 more select the key, and spring towards the door of 
 Ursel's prison with such alacrity that, had its intention 
 been to strangle him, it would have accomplished its 
 purpose before the interference of Count Robert could 
 have prevented its revenge taking place. Apparently, 
 however, it reflected that, for reasons which seemed 
 satisfactory, the death of the tiger could not be caused 
 by the unfortunate Ursel, but had been accompHshed by 
 some one concealed within the outer prison. 
 
 Slowly grumbHng, therefore, and chattering to itself, 
 and peeping anxiously into every corner, the tremendous 
 creature, so like, yet so very unlike, to the human form, 
 came stealing along the walls, moving whatever he 
 thought could seclude a man from his observation. Its 
 extended legs and arms were protruded forward with 
 great strides, and its sharp eyes, on the watch to dis- 
 cover the object of its search, kept prying, with the 
 assistance of the torch, into every corner. 
 
 Considering the vicinity of Alexius's collection of ani- 
 mals, the reader, by this time, can have little doubt that 
 the creature in question, whose appearance seemed to 
 the Count of Paris so very problematical, was a speci- 
 men of that gigantic species of ape — if it is not indeed 
 some animal more nearly allied to ourselves — to which, 
 I believe, naturalists have given the name of the ourang- 
 outang. This creature differs from the rest of its frater- 
 nity, in being comparatively more docile and service- 
 able ; and though possessing the power of imitation which 
 is common to the whole race, yet making use of it less in 
 mere mockery than in the desire of improvement and 
 instruction perfectly unknown to his brethren. The apti- 
 tude which it possesses of acquiring information is sur- 
 
 284
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 prisingly great, and probably, if placed in a favourable 
 situation, it might admit of being domesticated in a 
 considerable degree; but such advantages the ardour of 
 scientific curiosity has never afforded this creature. The 
 last we have heard of was seen, we believe, in the Island 
 of Sumatra ; it was of great size and strength, and up- 
 wards of seven feet high. It died defending desperately 
 its innocent life against a party of Europeans, who, we 
 cannot help thinking, might have better employed the 
 superiority which their knowledge gave them over the 
 poor native of the forest. It was probably this creature, 
 seldom seen, but when once seen never forgotten, which 
 occasioned the ancient belief in the god Pan, with his 
 sylvans and satyrs. Nay, but for the gift of speech, 
 which we cannot suppose any of the family to have 
 attained, we should have believed the satyr seen by St. 
 Anthony in the desert to have belonged to this tribe. 
 
 We can, therefore, the more easily credit the annals 
 which attest that the collection of natural history belong- 
 ing to Alexius Comnenus preserved an animal of this 
 kind, which had been domesticated and reclaimed to a 
 surprising extent, and showed a degree of intelligence 
 never perhaps to be attained in any other case. These 
 explanations being premised, we return to the thread of 
 our story. 
 
 The animal advanced with long noiseless steps; its 
 shadow on the wall, when it held the torch so as to make 
 it visible to the Frank, forming another fiend-resembling 
 mimicry of its own large figure and extravagant-looking 
 members. Count Robert remained in his lurking-hole, 
 in no hurry to begin a strife of which it was impossible to 
 foretell the end. In the meantime, the man of the woods 
 
 28s
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 came nigh, and every step by which he approached 
 caused the Count's heart to vibrate almost audibly, at 
 the idea of meeting danger of a nature so strange and 
 new. At length the creature approached the bed; his hid- 
 eous eyes were fixed on those of the Count; and, as much 
 surprised at seeing him as Robert was at the meeting, 
 he skipped about fifteen paces backwards at one spring, 
 with a cry of instinctive terror, and then advanced on tip- 
 toe, holding his torch as far forward as he could between 
 him and the object of his fears, as if to examine him at 
 the safest possible distance. Count Robert caught up a 
 fragment of the bedstead, large enough to form a sort of 
 club, with which he menaced the native of the wilds. 
 
 Apparently this poor creature's education, like educa- 
 tion of most kinds, had not been acquired without blows, 
 of which the recollection was as fresh as that of the les- 
 sons which they enforced. Sir Robert of Paris was a 
 man at once to discover and to avail himself of the ad- 
 vantage obtained by finding that he possessed a degree 
 of ascendency over his enemy which he had not sus- 
 pected. He erected his warlike figure, assumed a step as 
 if triumphant in the lists, and advanced threatening his 
 enemy with his club, as he would have menaced his 
 antagonist with the redoubtable Tranchefer. The man 
 of the woods, on the other hand, obviously gave way, 
 and converted his cautious advance into a retreat no 
 less cautious. Yet apparently the creature had not re- 
 noimced some plan of resistance : he chattered in an angry 
 and hostile tone, held out his torch in opposition, and 
 seemed about to strike the crusader with it. Count 
 Robert, however, determined to take his opponent at 
 advantage, while his fears influenced him, and for this 
 
 286
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 purpose resolved, if possible, to deprive him of his natu- 
 ral superiority in strength and agility, which his singular 
 form showed he could not but possess over the human 
 species. A master of his weapon, therefore, the Count 
 menaced his savage antagonist with a stroke on the 
 right side of his head, but suddenly averting the blow, 
 struck him with his whole force on the left temple, and 
 in an instant was kneeling above him, when, drawing his 
 dagger, he was about to deprive him of life. 
 
 The ourang-outang, ignorant of the nature of this new 
 weapon with which he was threatened, attempted at 
 one and the same moment to rise from the ground, over- 
 throw his antagonist, and wrench the dagger from his 
 grasp. In the first attempt he would probably have suc- 
 ceeded; and as it was, he gained his knees, and seemed 
 likely to prevail in the struggle, when he became sensible 
 that the knight, drawing his poniard sharply through his 
 grasp, had cut his paw severely, and seeing him aim the 
 trenchant weapon at his throat, became probably aware 
 that his enemy had his life at command. He suffered 
 himself to be borne backwards without further resist- 
 ance, with a deep wailing and melancholy cry, having in 
 it something human, which excited compassion. He 
 covered his eyes with the unwounded hand, as if he 
 would have hid from his own sight the death which 
 seemed approaching him. 
 
 Count Robert, notwithstanding his military frenzy, 
 was, in ordinary matters, a calm-tempered and mild 
 man, and particularly benevolent to the lower classes of 
 creation. The thought rushed through his mind, 'Why 
 take from this unfortunate monster the breath which is 
 in its nostrils, after which it cannot know another exist- 
 
 287
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ence? And then, may it not be some prince or knight 
 changed to this grotesque shape, that it may help to 
 guard these vaults, and the wonderful adventures that 
 attach to them? Should I not, then, be guilty of a crime 
 by slaying him, when he has rendered himself, rescue or 
 no rescue, which he has done as completely as his trans- 
 formed figure permits; and if he be actually a bestial 
 creature, may he not have some touch of gratitude? I 
 have heard the minstrels sing the lay of " Androcles and 
 the Lion." I will be on my guard with him.' 
 
 So saying, he rose from above the man of the woods, 
 and permitted him also to arise. The creature seemed 
 sensible of the clemency, for he muttered, in a low and 
 supplicating tone, which seemed at once to crave for 
 mercy and to return thanks for what he had already 
 experienced. He wept too, as he saw the blood dropping 
 from his wound, and with an anxious countenance, which 
 had more of the human now that it was composed into 
 an expression of pain and melancholy, seemed to await 
 in terror the doom of a being more powerful than him- 
 self. 
 
 The pocket which the knight wore under his armour, 
 capable of containing but few things, had, however, 
 some vulnerary balsam, for which its owner had often 
 occasion, a little lint, and a small roll of linen; these the 
 knight took out, and motioned to the animal to hold 
 forth his wounded hand. The man of the woods obeyed 
 with hesitation and reluctance, and Count Robert ap- 
 plied the balsam and the dressings, acquainting his 
 patient, at the same time, in a severe tone of voice, that 
 perhaps he did wrong in putting to his use a balsam 
 compounded for the service of the noblest knights; but
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 that, if he saw the least sign of his making an ungrateful 
 use of the benefit he had conferred, he would bury the 
 dagger, of which he had felt the efficacy, to the very 
 handle in his body. 
 
 The sylvan looked fixedly upon Count Robert almost 
 as if he understood the language used to him, and, mak- 
 ing one of its native murmurs, it stooped to the earth, 
 kissed the feet of the knight, and, embracing his knees, 
 seemed to swear to him eternal gratitude and fidelity. 
 Accordingly, when the Count retired to the bed and 
 assumed his armour, to await the reopening of the trap- 
 door, the animal sat down by his side, directing its eyes 
 in the line with his, and seemed quietly to wait till the 
 door should open. 
 
 After waiting about an hour, a slight noise was heard 
 in the upper chamber, and the wild man plucked the 
 Frank by the cloak, as if to call his attention to what 
 was about to happen. The same voice which had before 
 spoken, was, after a whistle or two, heard to call, ' Sylvan 
 — Sylvan, where loiterest thou? Come instantly, or, 
 by the rood, thou shalt abye thy sloth.' 
 
 The poor monster, as Trinculo might have called him, 
 seemed perfectly aware of the meaning of this threat, 
 and showed his sense of it by pressing close to the side of 
 Count Robert, making at the same time a kind of whin- 
 ing, entreating, it would seem, the knight's protection. 
 Forgetting the great improbability there was, even in his 
 own opinion, that the creature could understand him. 
 Count Robert said, 'Why, my friend, thou hast already 
 learned the principal court prayer of this country, by 
 which men entreat permission to speak and live. Fear 
 nothing, poor creature — I am thy protector.' 
 
 43 289
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'Sylvan, what, ho!' said the voice again; 'whom hast 
 thou got for a companion? Some of the fiends, or ghosts 
 of murdered men, who they say are frequent in these 
 dungeons? Or dost thou converse with the old blind 
 rebel Grecian? Or, finally, is it true what men say of 
 thee, that thou canst talk intelligibly when thou wilt, 
 and only gibberest and chatterest for fear thou art sent 
 to work? Come, thou lazy rascal, thou shalt have the 
 advantage of the ladder to ascend by, though thou 
 needst it no more than a daw to ascend the steeple of the 
 cathedral of St. Sophia.^ Come along, then,' he said, 
 putting a ladder down the trap-door, 'and put me not to 
 the trouble of descending to fetch thee, else, by St. 
 Swithin, it shall be the worse for thee. Come along, 
 therefore, like a good fellow, and for once I shall spare 
 the whip.' 
 
 The animal, apparently, was moved by this rhetoric, 
 for, with a doleful look, which Count Robert saw by 
 means of the nearly extinguished torch, he seemed to bid 
 him farewell, and to creep away towards the ladder with 
 the same excellent good-will wherewith a condemned 
 criminal performs the like evolution. But no sooner did 
 the Count look angry and shake the formidable dagger 
 than the intelligent animal seemed at once to take his 
 resolution, and clenching his hands firmly together in 
 the fashion of one who has made up his mind, he returned 
 from the ladder's foot, and drew up behind Count 
 Robert, with the air, however, of a deserter, who feels 
 himself but little at home when called into the field 
 against his ancient commander. 
 
 In a short time the warder's patience was exhausted, 
 
 ' Now the chief mosque of the Ottoman capital. 
 290
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and despairing of the syl van's voluntary return, he 
 resolved to descend in quest of him. Down the ladder he 
 came, a bundle of keys in one hand, the other assisting 
 his descent, and a sort of dark lantern, whose bottom 
 was so fashioned that he could wear it upon his head 
 like a hat. He had scarce stept on the floor when he was 
 surrounded by the nervous arms of the Count of Paris. 
 At first the warder's idea was that he was seized by the 
 recusant Sylvan. 
 
 'How now, villain,' he said; 'let me go, or thou shalt 
 die the death.' 
 
 'Thou diest thyself,' said the Count, who, between 
 the surprise and his own skill in wrestling, felt fully his 
 advantage in the struggle. 
 
 ' Treason — treason ! ' cried the warder, hearing by the 
 voice that a stranger had mingled in the contest. 'Help, 
 ho! above there! — help, Here ward — Varangian — 
 Anglo-Saxon, or whatever accursed name thou callest 
 thyself!' 
 
 While he spoke thus, the irresistible grasp of Count 
 Robert seized his throat and choked his utterance. They 
 fell heavily, the jailer undermost, upon the floor of the 
 dungeon, and Robert of Paris, the necessity of whose case 
 excused the action, plunged his dagger in the throat of 
 the unfortunate. Just as he did so, a noise of armour was 
 heard, and, rattling down the ladder, our acquaintance 
 Hereward stood on the floor of the dungeon. The light, 
 which had rolled from the head of the warder, continued 
 to show him streaming with blood and in the death- 
 grasp of the stranger. Hereward hesitated not to fly to 
 his assistance, and, seizing upon the Count of Paris, at 
 the same advantage which that knight had gained over 
 
 291
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 his own adversary a moment before, held him forcibly 
 down with his face to the earth. 
 
 Count Robert was one of the strongest men of that 
 military age, but then so was the Varangian; and, save 
 that the latter had obtained a decided advantage by 
 having his antagonist beneath him, it could not certainly 
 have been conjectured which way the combat was to go. 
 
 'Yield, as your own jargon goes, rescue or no rescue.' 
 said the Varangian, 'or die on the point of my dagger.' 
 
 'A French count never yields,' answered Robert, who 
 began to conjecture with what sort of person he was 
 engaged, 'above all to a vagabond slave like thee.' With 
 this he made an effort to rise, so sudden, so strong, so 
 powerful, that he had almost freed himself from the 
 Varangian's grasp, had not Hereward, by a violent exer- 
 tion of his great strength, preserved the advantage he 
 had gained, and raised his poniard to end the strife for 
 ever ; but a loud chuckling laugh of an unearthly sound 
 was at this instant heard. The Varangian's extended 
 arm was seized with vigour, while a rough arm, embrac- 
 ing his throat, turned him over on his back, and gave 
 the French count an opportunity of springing up. 
 
 'Death to thee, wretch!' said the Varangian, scarce 
 knowing whom he threatened; but the man of the woods 
 apparently had an awful recollection of the prowess of 
 human beings. He fled, therefore, swiftly up the ladder, 
 and left Hereward and his deliverer to fight it out with 
 what success chance might determine between them. 
 
 The circumstances seemed to argue a desperate com- 
 bat. Both were tall, strong, and courageous, both had 
 defensive armour, and the fatal and desperate poniard 
 was their only offensive weapon. They paused facing 
 
 292
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 each other, and examined eagerly into their respective 
 means of defence before hazarding a blow which, if it 
 missed its attaint, would certainly be fatally requited. 
 During this deadly pause, a gleam shone from the trap- 
 door above, as the wild and alarmed visage of the man 
 of the woods was seen peering down by the light of a 
 newly-kindled torch which he held as low into the dun- 
 geon as he well could. 
 
 'Fight bravely, comrade,' said Coimt Robert of Paris, 
 'for we no longer battle in private, this respectable per- 
 son having chosen to constitute himself judge of the 
 field.' 
 
 Hazardous as his situation was, the Varangian looked 
 up, and was so struck with the wild and terrified expres- 
 sion which the creature had assumed, and the strife be- 
 tween curiosity and terror which its grotesque features 
 exhibited, that he could not help bursting into a fit of 
 laughter. 
 
 'Sylvan is among those,' said Hereward, 'who would 
 rather hold the candle to a dance so formidable than join 
 in it himself.' 
 
 'Is there, then,' said Count Robert, 'any absolute 
 necessity that thou and I perform this dance at all?' 
 
 'None but our own pleasure,' answered Hereward, 
 'for I suspect there is not between us any legitimate 
 cause of quarrel demanding to be fought out in such a 
 place, and before such a spectator. Thou art, if I mis- 
 take not, the bold Frank who was yesternight imprisoned 
 in this place with a tiger, chained within no distant 
 spring of his bed?' 
 
 'I am,' answered the Count. 
 
 ' And where is the animal who was opposed to thee? ' 
 
 293
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'He lies yonder,' answered the Count, 'never again to 
 be the object of more terror than the deer whom he may 
 have preyed on in his day.' He pointed to the body of 
 the tiger, which Hereward examined by the light of the 
 dark lantern already mentioned. 
 
 'And this, then, was thy handiwork?' said the won- 
 dering Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 'Sooth to say it was,' answered the Count, with indif- 
 ference. 
 
 'And thou hast slain my comrade of this strange 
 watch?' said the Varangian. 
 
 'Mortally wounded him at the least,' said Count 
 Robert. 
 
 'With your patience, I will be beholden to you for a 
 moment's truce, while I examine his wound,' said Here- 
 ward. 
 
 'Assuredly,' answered the Count; 'blighted be the 
 arm which strikes a foul blow at an open antagonist ! ' 
 
 Without demanding further security, the Varangian 
 quitted his posture of defence and precaution, and set 
 himself, by the assistance of the dark lantern, to exam- 
 ine the wound of the first warder who appeared on the 
 field, who seemed, by his Roman military dress, to be a 
 soldier of the bands called Immortals. He found him in 
 the death-agony, but still able to speak. 
 
 ' So, Varangian, thou art come at last, and it is to thy 
 sloth or treachery that I am to impute my fate? Nay, 
 answer me not. The stranger struck me over the collar- 
 bone; had we lived long together, or met often, I had 
 done the like by thee, to wipe out the memory of certain 
 transactions at the Golden Gate. I know the use of the 
 knife too well to doubt the effect of a blow aimed over 
 
 294
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the collar-bone by so strong a hand — I feel it coming. 
 The Immortal, so called, becomes now, if priests say 
 true, an immortal indeed, and Sebastes of Mitylene's 
 bow is broken ere his quiver is half -emptied.' 
 
 The robber Greek sunk back in Hereward's arms, and 
 closed his life with a groan, which was the last sound he 
 uttered. The Varangian laid the body at length on the 
 dungeon floor. 
 
 'This is a perplexed matter,' he said; *I am certainly 
 not called upon to put to death a brave man, although 
 my national enemy, because he hath killed a miscreant 
 who was privately meditating my own murder. Neither 
 is this a place or a light by which to fight as becomes the 
 champions of two nations. Let that quarrel be still for 
 the present. How say you, then, noble sir, if we adjourn 
 the present dispute till we effect your dehverance from the 
 dungeons of the Blacquernal, and your restoration to your 
 own friends and followers? If a poor Varangian should 
 be of service to you in this matter, would you, when it 
 was settled, refuse to meet him in fair fight, with your 
 national weapons or his own? ' 
 
 *If,' said Count Robert, 'whether friend or enemy, 
 thou wilt extend thy assistance to my wife, who is also 
 imprisoned somewhere in this inhospitable palace, be 
 assured that, whatever be thy rank, whatever be thy 
 country, whatever be thy condition, Robert of Paris will, 
 at thy choice, proffer thee his right hand in friendship, 
 or raise it against thee in fair and manly battle — a strife 
 not of hatred, but of honour and esteem; and this I 
 vow by the soul of Charlemagne, my ancestor, and by 
 the shrine of my patroness. Our Lady of the Broken 
 Lances.' 
 
 295
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'Enough said,' replied Hereward. *I am as much 
 bound to the assistance of your lady countess, being a 
 poor exile, as if I were the first in the ranks of chivalry; 
 for if anything can make the cause of worth and bravery 
 yet more obligatory, it must be its being united with that 
 of a helpless and suffering female.' 
 
 *I ought,' said Count Robert, 'to be here silent, with- 
 out loading thy generosity with further requests; yet 
 thou art a man whom, if fortune has not smiled at thy 
 birth, by ordaining thee to be born within the ranks of 
 noblesse and knighthood, yet Providence hath done thee 
 more justice by giving thee a more gallant heart than is 
 always possessed, I fear, by those who are inwoven in 
 the gayest wreath of chivalry. There Hngers here in these 
 dungeons — for I cannot say he Uves — a blind old man, 
 to whom for three years everything beyond his prison 
 has been a universal blot. His food is bread and water, 
 his intercourse limited to the conversation of a sullen 
 warder, and if death can ever come as a deliverer, it must 
 be to this dark old man. What sayest thou? Shall he, 
 so unutterably miserable, not profit by perhaps the only 
 opportunity of freedom that may ever occur to him? ' 
 
 ' By St. Dunstan,' answered the Varangian, ' thou keep- 
 est over truly the oath thou hast taken as a redresser of 
 wrongs. Thine own case is well-nigh desperate, and thou 
 art willing to make it utterly so by uniting with it that 
 of every unhappy person whom fate throws in thy way.' 
 
 *The more of human misery we attempt to relieve,' 
 said Robert of Paris, 'the more we shall carry with us 
 the blessing of our merciful saints and Our Lady of the 
 Broken Lances, who views with so much pain every 
 species of human suffering or misfortune save that which 
 
 296
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 occurs within the inclosure of the lists. But come, valiant 
 Anglo-Saxon, resolve me on my request as speedily as 
 thou canst. There is something in thy face of candour 
 as well as sense, and it is with no small confidence that 
 I desire to see us set forth in quest of my beloved count- 
 ess, who, when her deliverance is once achieved, will be 
 a powerful aid to us in recovering that of others.' 
 
 ' So be it, then,' said the Varangian; ' we will proceed in 
 quest of the Countess Brenhilda; and if, on recovering 
 her, we find ourselves strong enough to procure the free- 
 dom of the dark old man, my cowardice, or want of com- 
 passion, shall never stop the attempt.'
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 'T is strange that, in the dark sulphureous mine. 
 Where wild ambition piles its ripening stores 
 Of slumbering thunder, Love will interpose 
 His tiny torch, and cause the stern explosion 
 To burst, when the deviser's least aware. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 About noon of the same day, Agelastes met with 
 Achilles Tatius, the commander of the Varangian Guard, 
 in those ruins of the Egyptian temple in which we form- 
 erly mentioned Hereward having had an interview with 
 the philosopher. They met, as it seemed, in a very differ- 
 ent humour. Tatius was gloomy, melancholy, and down- 
 cast; while the philosopher maintained the calm indiffer- 
 ence which procured for him, and in some sort deserved, 
 the title of the Elephant. 'Thou blenchest, Achilles 
 Tatius,' said the philosopher, 'now that thou hast 
 frankly opposed thyself to all the dangers which stood 
 between thee and greatness. Thou art like the idle boy 
 who turned the mill-stream upon the machine, and that 
 done, instead of making a proper use of it, was terrified 
 at seeing it in motion.' 
 
 ' Thou dost me wrong, Agelastes, ' answered the Acolyte 
 — 'foul wrong; I am but like the mariner, who, although 
 determined upon his voyage, yet cannot forbear a sorrow- 
 ing glance at the shore, before he parts with it, it may be 
 for ever.' 
 
 'It may have been right to think of this, but pardon 
 me, valiant Tatius, when I tell you the account should 
 have been made up before; and the grandson of Alguric 
 
 298
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the Hun ought to have computed chances and conse- 
 quences ere he stretched his hand to his master's dia- 
 dem.' 
 
 'Hush ! for Heaven's sake,' said Tatius, looking round; 
 'that, thou knowest, is a secret between our two selves; 
 for if Nicephorus, the Caesar, should learn it, where were 
 we and our conspiracy? ' 
 
 'Our bodies on the gibbet, probably,' answered Age- 
 lastes, 'and our souls divorced from them, and in the 
 way of discovering the secrets which thou hast hitherto 
 taken upon trust.' 
 
 'Well,' said Achilles, 'and should not the conscious- 
 ness of the possibility of this fate render us cautious?' 
 
 'Cautious men if you will,' answered Agelastes, 'but 
 not timid children.' 
 
 'Stone walls can hear,' said the Follower, lowering 
 his voice. 'Dionysius the tyrant, I have read, had an ear 
 which conveyed to him the secrets spoken within his 
 state-prison at Syracuse.' 
 
 'And that ear is still stationary at Syracuse,' said the 
 philosopher. 'Tell me, my most simple friend, art thou 
 afraid it has been transported hither in one night, as the 
 Latins believe of Our Lady's House of Loretto? ' 
 
 'No,' answered Achilles, 'but in an affair so important 
 too much caution cannot be used.' 
 
 'Well, thou most cautious of candidates for empire, 
 and most cold of military leaders, know that the Caesar, 
 deeming, I think, that there is no chance of the empire 
 falling to any one but himself, hath taken in his head to 
 consider his succession to Alexius as a matter of course 
 whenever the election takes place. In consequence, as 
 matters of course are usually matters of indifference, he 
 
 299
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 has left all thoughts of securing his interest upon this 
 material occasion to thee and to me, while the foolish 
 voluptuary hath himself run mad — for what, think 
 you? Something between man and woman — female in 
 her lineaments, her limbs, and a part at least of her 
 garments; but, so help me St. George, most masculine 
 in the rest of her attire, in her propensities, and in her 
 exercises.* 
 
 'The amazonian wife, thou meanest,' said Achilles, 
 *of that iron-handed Frank, who dashed to pieces last 
 night the golden lion of Solomon with a blow of his fist? 
 By St. George, the least which can come of such an amour 
 is broken bones.' 
 
 'That,' said Agelastes, 'is not quite so improbable as 
 that Dionysius's ear should fly hither from Syracuse in 
 a single night ; but he is presumptuous in respect of the 
 influence which his supposed good looks have gained him 
 among the Grecian dames.' 
 
 'He was too presumptuous, I suppose,' said Achilles 
 Tatius, ' to make a proper allowance for his situation as 
 Cassar and the prospect of his being emperor.' 
 
 'Meantime,' said Agelastes, 'I have promised him an 
 interview with his Bradamante, who may perhaps reward 
 his tender epithets of zoe kai psyche ^ by divorcing his 
 amorous soul from his unrivalled person.' 
 
 'Meantime,' said the Follower, 'thou obtainest, I 
 conclude, such orders and warrants as the Caesar can 
 give for the furtherance of our plot? ' 
 
 'Assuredly,' said Agelastes, 'it is an opportunity not 
 
 to be lost. This love fit, or mad fit, has blinded him; and 
 
 without exciting too much attention to the progress of the 
 
 ^ Life and soul. 
 
 300
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 plot, we can thus in safety conduct matters our own way, 
 without causing malevolent remarks; and though I am 
 conscious that in doing so I act somewhat at variance 
 with my age and character, yet the end being to convert 
 a worthy follower into an imperial leader, I shame me 
 not in procuring that interview with the lady of which 
 the Caesar, as they term him, is so desirous. What prog- 
 ress, meanwhile, hast thou made with the Varangians, 
 who are, in respect of execution, the very arm of our 
 design ? ' 
 
 'Scarce so good as I could wish,' said Achilles Tatius; 
 'yet I have made sure of some two or three score of those 
 whom I found most accessible; nor have I any doubt 
 that, when the Caesar is set aside, their cry will be for 
 Achilles Tatius.' 
 
 'And what of the gallant who assisted at our pre- 
 lections,' said Agelastes — 'your Edward, as Alexius 
 termed him?' 
 
 'I have made no impression upon him,' said the Fol- 
 lower; 'and I am sorry for it, for he is one whom his 
 comrades think well of, and would gladly follow. Mean- 
 time, I have placed him as an additional sentinel upon 
 the iron-witted Count of Paris, whom, both having an 
 inveterate love of battle, he is very likely to put to death ; 
 and if it is afterwards challenged by the crusaders as a 
 cause of war, it is only delivering up the Varangian, 
 whose personal hatred will needs be represented as hav- 
 ing occasioned the catastrophe. All this being prepared 
 beforehand, how and when shall we deal with the 
 Emperor? ' 
 
 'For that,' said Agelastes, 'we must consult the Caesar, 
 who, although his expected happiness of to-day is not 
 
 301 
 
 %^ IC? .^
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 more certain than the state preferment that he expects 
 to-morrow, and although his ideas are much more 
 anxiously fixed upon his success with this said countess 
 than his succession to the empire, will, nevertheless, ex- 
 pect to be treated as the^ head of the enterprise for 
 accelerating the latter. But, to speak my opinion, val- 
 iant Tatius, to-morrow will be the last day that Alexius 
 shall hold the reins of empire.' 
 
 'Let me know for certain,' said the Follower, *as soon 
 as thou canst, that I may warn our brethren, who are to 
 have in readiness the insurgent citizens, and those of the 
 Immortals who are combined with us, in the neighbour- 
 hood of the court, and in readiness to act; and, above all, 
 that I may disperse upon distant guards such Varangians 
 as I cannot trust.' 
 
 *Rely upon me,' said Agelastes, 'for the most accu- 
 rate information and instructions, so soon as I have seen 
 Nicephorus Briennius. One word permit me to ask — 
 In what manner is the wife of the Caesar to be disposed 
 of?' 
 
 'Somewhere,' said the Follower, 'where I can never 
 be compelled to hear more of her history. Were it not 
 for that nightly pest of her lectures, I could be good- 
 natured enough to take care of her destiny myself, and 
 teach her the difference betwixt a real emperor and this 
 Briennius, who thinks so much of himself.' So saying, 
 they separated, the Follower elated in look and manner 
 considerably above what he had been when they met. 
 
 Agelastes looked after his companion with a scornful 
 laugh. 'There,' he said, 'goes a fool, whose lack of sense 
 prevents his eyes from being dazzled by the torch which 
 cannot fail to consume him. A half-bred, half-acting, 
 
 302
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 half-thinking, half-daring caitiff, whose poorest thoughts 
 — and those which deserve that name must be poor 
 indeed — are not the produce of his own understanding. 
 He expects to circumvent the fiery, haughty, and proud 
 Nicephorus Briennius! If he does so, it will not be by his 
 own policy, and still less by his valour. Nor shall Anna 
 Comnena, the soul of wit and genius, be chained to 
 such an unimaginative log as yonder half -barbarian. No; 
 she shall have a husband of pure Grecian extraction, 
 and well stored with that learning which was studied 
 when Rome was great and Greece illustrious. Nor will 
 it be the least charm of the imperial throne, that it is 
 partaken by a partner whose personal studies have taught 
 her to esteem and value those of the emperor.' He took 
 a step or two with conscious elevation, and then, as 
 conscience-checked, he added, in a suppressed voice, 
 'But then, if Anna were destined for empress, it follows 
 of course that Alexius must die: no consent could be 
 trusted to. And what then? the death of an ordinary 
 man is indifferent, when it plants on the throne a phi- 
 losopher and a historian ; and at what time were the pos- 
 sessors of the empire curious to inquire when or by whose 
 agency their predecessors died? Diogenes — ho, Di- 
 ogenes!' The slave did not immediately come, so that 
 Agelastes, wrapt in the anticipation of his greatness, had 
 time to add a few more words. 'Tush! I must reckon 
 with Heaven, say the priests, for many things, so I will 
 throw this also into the account. The death of the Em- 
 peror may be twenty ways achieved without my having 
 the blame of it. The blood which we have shed may spot 
 our hand, if closely regarded, but it shall scarce stain our 
 forehead.' 
 
 303
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Diogenes here entered. 
 
 'Has the Frank lady been removed?' said the philoso- 
 pher. 
 
 The slave signified his assent. 
 
 'How did she bear her removal?' 
 
 *As authorised by your lordship, indifferently well. 
 She had resented her separation from her husband, and 
 her being detained in the palace, and committed some 
 violence upon the slaves of the household, several of 
 whom were said to be slain, although we perhaps ought 
 only to read sorely frightened. She recognised me at 
 once, and when I told her that I came to offer her a day's 
 retirement in your own lodgings, until it should be in 
 your power to achieve the liberation of her husband, she 
 at once consented, and I deposited her in the secret 
 Cytherean garden-house.' 
 
 'Admirably done, my faithful Diogenes,' said the phi- 
 losopher; 'thou art Hke the genii who attended on the 
 Eastern talismans: I have but to intimate my will to 
 thee, and it is accomplished.' 
 
 Diogenes bowed deeply and withdrew. 
 
 'Yet remember, slave,' said Agelastes, speaking to 
 himself; 'there is danger in knowing too much; and 
 should my character ever become questioned, too many 
 of my secrets are in the power of Diogenes.' 
 
 At this moment a blow thrice repeated, and struck 
 upon one of the images without, which had been so framed 
 as to return a tingling sound, and in so far deserved the 
 praise of being vocal, interrupted his soliloquy. 
 
 'There knocks,' said he, 'one of our allies; who can 
 it be that comes so late? ' He touched the figure of Isis 
 with his staff, and the Caesar Nicephorus Briennius en- 
 
 304
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 tered in the full Grecian habit, and that graceful dress 
 anxiously arranged to the best advantage. * Let me hope, 
 my lord,' said Agelastes, receiving the Cassar with an ap- 
 parently grave and reserved face, ' your Highness comes 
 to tell me that your sentiments are changed on reflection, 
 and that whatever you had to confer about with this 
 Prankish lady may be at least deferred until the prin- 
 cipal part of our conspiracy has been successfully exe- 
 cuted.' 
 
 'Philosopher,' answered the Caesar, *no. My resolu- 
 tion, once taken, is not the sport of circumstances. Be- 
 lieve me, that I have not finished so many labours with- 
 out being ready to undertake others. The favour of 
 Venus is the reward of the labours of Mars, nor would 
 I think it worth while to worship the god armipotent 
 with the toil and risk attending his service, unless I 
 had previously attained some decided proofs that I was 
 wreathed with the myrtle, intimating the favour of his 
 beautiful mistress.' 
 
 ' I beg pardon for my boldness,' said Agelastes ; * but has 
 your Imperial Highness reflected that you were wager- 
 ing, with the wildest rashness, an empire, including thine 
 own life, mine, and all who are joined with us in a 
 hardy scheme? And against what were they waged? 
 Against the very precarious favour of a woman, who is 
 altogether divided betwixt fiend and female, and in either 
 capacity is most likely to be fatal to our present scheme, 
 either by her good wiH or by the offence which she may 
 take. If she prove such as you wish, she will desire to 
 keep her lover by her side, and to spare him the danger 
 of engaging in a perilous conspiracy; and if she remains, 
 as the world believe her, constant to her husband, and 
 
 48 305
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 to the sentiments she vowed to him at the altar, you may 
 guess what cause of offence you are likely to give, by 
 urging a suit which she has already received so very ill.' 
 
 'Pshaw, old man! Thou turnest a dotard, and in the 
 great knowledge thou possessest of other things, hast for- 
 gotten the knowledge best worth knowing — that of the 
 beautiful part of the creation. Think of the impression 
 likely to be made by a gallant, neither ignoble in situa- 
 tion nor unacceptable in presence, upon a lady who must 
 fear the consequences of refusal. Come, Agelastes, let 
 me have no more of thy croaking, auguring bad fortune 
 like the raven from the blasted oak on the left hand; but 
 declaim, as well thou canst, how faint heart never won 
 fair lady, and how those best deserve empire who can 
 wreathe the myrtles of Venus with the laurels of Mars. 
 Come, man, undo me the secret entrance which combines 
 these magical ruins with groves that are fashioned 
 rather like those of Cytheros or Naxos.' 
 
 *It must be as you will,' said the philosopher, with a 
 deep and somewhat affected sigh. 
 
 'Here, Diogenes!' called aloud the Caesar; 'when thou 
 art svunmoned, mischief is not far distant. Come, undo 
 the secret entrance. Mischief, my trusty negro, is not so 
 distant but she will answer the first clatter of the stones.' 
 
 The negro looked at his master, who returned him a 
 glance acquiescing in the Caesar's proposal. Diogenes 
 then went to a part of the ruined wall which was covered 
 by some climbing shrub, all of which he carefully re- 
 moved. This showed a little postern door, closed irregu- 
 larly, and filled up, from the threshold to the top, with 
 large square stones, all of which the slave took out and 
 piled aside, as if for the purpose of replacing them. 'I 
 
 306
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 leave thee,' said Agelastes to the negro, *to guard this 
 door, and let no one enter, except he has the sign, upon 
 the peril of thy life. It were dangerous it should be left 
 open at this period of the day.' 
 
 The obsequious Diogenes put his hand to his sabre 
 and to his head, as if to signify the usual promise of 
 fidelity or death, by which those of his condition usually 
 expressed their answer to their master's commands. 
 Diogenes then Hghted a small lantern, and, pulling out 
 a key, opened an inner door of wood, and prepared to 
 step forward. 
 
 'Hold, friend Diogenes,' said the Cssar; 'thou want- 
 est not thy lantern to discern an honest man, whom, if 
 thou didst seek, I must needs say thou hast come to the 
 wrong place to find one. Nail thou up these creeping 
 shrubs before the entrance of the place, and abide thou 
 there, as already directed, till our return, to parry the 
 curiosity of any who may be attracted by the sight of the 
 private passage.' 
 
 The black slave drew back as he gave the lamp to the 
 Caesar, and Agelastes followed the light through a long, 
 but narrow, arched passage, well supplied with air from 
 space to space, and not neglected in the inside to the 
 degree which its exterior would have implied. 
 
 'I will not enter with you into the gardens,' said Age- 
 lastes, ' or to the bower of Cytherea, where I am too old 
 to be a worshipper. Thou thyself, I think. Imperial Cae- 
 sar, art well aware of the road, having travelled it divers 
 times, and, if I mistake not, for the fairest reasons.' 
 
 'The more thanks,' said the Caesar, 'are due to mine 
 excellent friend Agelastes, who forgets his own age to 
 accommodate the youth of his friends.'
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 We must now return to the dungeon of the Blacquernal, 
 where circumstances had formed at least a temporary 
 union between the stout Varangian and Count Robert of 
 Paris, who had a stronger resemblance to each other in 
 their dispositions than probably either of them would 
 have been willing to admit. The virtues of the Varangian 
 were all of that natural and unrefined kind which nature 
 herself dictates to a gallant man, to whom a total want of 
 fear, and the most prompt alacrity to meet danger, had 
 been attributes of a Hfe-long standing. The Count, on 
 the other hand, had all that bravery, generosity, and 
 love of adventure which was possessed by the rude sol- 
 dier, with the virtues, partly real, partly fantastic, which 
 those of his rank and country acquired from the spirit 
 of chivalry. The one might be compared to the diamond 
 as it came from the mine, before it had yet received the 
 advantages of cutting and setting; the other was the 
 ornamented gem, which, cut into facets and richly set, 
 had lost perhaps a little of its original substance, yet 
 still, at the same time, to the eye of an inspector, had 
 something more showy and splendid than when it was, 
 according to the phrase of lapidaries, en brut. In the 
 one case, the value was more artificial ; in the other, it was 
 the more natural and real of the two. Chance, therefore, 
 had made a temporary alliance between two men the 
 foundation of whose characters bore such strong resem- 
 blance to each other that they were only separated by a 
 
 308
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 course of education, which had left rigid prejudices on 
 both sides, and which prejudices were not unlikely to 
 run counter to each other. The Varangian commenced 
 his conversation with the Count in a tone of familiarity, 
 approaching nearer to rudeness than the speaker was 
 aware of, and much of which, though most innocently 
 intended by Hereward, might be taken amiss by his 
 new brother-in-arms. The most offensive part of his 
 deportment, however, was a blxmt, bold disregard to the 
 title of those whom he addressed, adhering thereby to 
 the manners of the Saxons, from whom he drew his 
 descent, and which was likely to be at least unpleasing 
 to the Franks as well as Normans, who had already re- 
 ceived and become very tenacious of the privileges of 
 the feudal system, the mummery of heraldry, and the 
 warlike claims assumed by knights, as belonging only to 
 their own order. 
 
 Hereward was apt, it must be owned, to think too little 
 of these distinctions; while he had at least a sufficient 
 tendency to think enough of the power and wealth of the 
 Greek empire which he served, of the dignity inherent 
 in Alexius Comnenus, and which he was also disposed to 
 grant to the Grecian officers who, under the Emperor, 
 commanded his own corps, and particularly to Achilles 
 Tatius. This man Hereward knew to be a coward, and 
 half-suspected to be a villain. Still, however, the Fol- 
 lower was always the direct channel through which the 
 imperial graces were conferred on the Varangians in 
 general, as well as upon Hereward himself; and he had 
 always the policy to represent such favours as being 
 more or less indirectly the consequence of his own inter- 
 cession. He was supposed vigorously to espouse the 
 
 309
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 quarrel of the Varangians, in all the disputes between 
 them and the other corps; he was hberal and open- 
 handed; gave every soldier his due; and, bating the 
 trifling circumstance of valour, which was not particu- 
 larly his forte, it would have been difficult for these 
 strangers to have demanded a leader more to their wishes. 
 Besides this, our friend Hereward was admitted by him 
 into his society, attended him, as we have seen, upon 
 secret expeditions, and shared, therefore, deeply in what 
 may be termed by an expressive, though vulgar, phrase 
 the sneaking kindness entertained for this new Achilles 
 by the greater part of his myrmidons. 
 
 Their attachment might be explained, perhaps, as a 
 liking to their commander as strong as could well exist 
 with a marvellous lack of honour and esteem. The 
 scheme, therefore, formed by Hereward to effect the 
 deliverance of the Count of Paris comprehended as much 
 faith to the Emperor and his representative, the Acolyte 
 or Follower, as was consistent with rendering justice to 
 the injured Frank. 
 
 In furtherance of this plan, he conducted Count 
 Robert from the subterranean vaults of the Blacquernal, 
 of the intricacies of which he was master, having been 
 repeatedly of late stationed sentinel there, for the pur- 
 pose of acquiring that knowledge of which Tatius prom- 
 ised himself the advantage in the ensuing conspiracy. 
 When they were in the open air, and at some distance 
 from the gloomy towers of the palace, he bluntly asked 
 the Count of Paris whether he knew Agelastes the 
 Philosopher. The other answered in the negative. 
 
 'Look you now, sir knight, you hurt yourself in at- 
 tempting to impose upon me,' said Hereward. 'You 
 
 310
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 must know him; for I saw you dined with him yester- 
 day.' 
 
 *0! with that learned old man?' said the Count. 'I 
 know nothing of him worth owning or disguising to thee 
 or any one. A wily person he is, half herald and half 
 minstrel.' 
 
 'Half procurer and whole knave,' subjoined the Varan- 
 gian. 'With the mask of apparent good-humour, he 
 conceals his pandering to the vices of others; with the 
 specious jargon of philosophy, he has argued himself out 
 of religious belief and moral principle; and, with the 
 appearance of the most devoted loyalty, he will, if he is 
 not checked in time, either argue his too confiding mas- 
 ter out of life and empire, or, if he fails in this, reason his 
 simple associates into death and misery.' 
 
 'And do you know all this,' said Count Robert, 'and 
 permit this man to go unimpeached? ' 
 
 'O, content you, sir,' replied the Varangian; 'I cannot 
 yet form any plot which Agelastes may not countermine; 
 but the time will come, nay, it is already approaching, 
 when the Emperor's attention shall be irresistibly turned 
 to the conduct of this man, and then let the philosopher 
 sit fast, or by St. Dunstan the barbarian overthrows 
 him ! I would only fain, methinks, save from his clutches 
 a foolish friend, who has listened to his delusions.' 
 
 'But what have I to do,' said the Count, 'with this 
 man or with his plots? ' 
 
 'Much,' said Hereward, 'although you know it not. 
 The main supporter of this plot is no other than the 
 Caesar, who ought to be the most faithful of men; but 
 ever since Alexius has named a Scbastocrator, an officer 
 that is higher in rank, and nearer to the throne^ than the 
 
 3"
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Caesar himself, so long has Nicephorus Briennius been 
 displeased and dissatisfied, though for what length of 
 time he has joined the schemes of the astucious Agelas- 
 tes it is more difficult to say. This I know, that for many 
 months he has fed liberally, as his riches enable him 
 to do, the vices and prodigality of the Caesar. He has 
 encouraged him to show disrespect to his wife, although 
 the Emperor's daughter; has put ill-will between him 
 and the royal family. And if Briennius bears no longer 
 the fame of a rational man and the renown of a good 
 leader, he is deprived of both by following the advice 
 of this artful sycophant.' 
 
 'And what is all this to me?' said the Frank. *Age- 
 lastes may be a true man or a time-serving slave; his 
 master, Alexius Comnenus, is not so much allied to me 
 or mine that I should meddle in the intrigues of his 
 court? ' 
 
 'You may be mistaken in that,' said the blunt Varan- 
 gian; 'if these intrigues involve the happiness and 
 virtue — ' 
 
 'Death of a thousand martyrs!' said the Frank, 'do 
 paltry intrigues and quarrels of slaves involve a single 
 thought of suspicion of the noble Countess of Paris? 
 The oaths of thy whole generation were ineffectual to 
 prove but that one of her hairs had changed its colour to 
 silver.' 
 
 *WeU imagined, gallant knight,' said the Anglo- 
 Saxon; 'thou art a husband fitted for the atmosphere 
 of Constantinople, which calls for little vigilance and 
 a strong belief. Thou wilt find many followers and 
 fellows in this court of ours.' 
 
 'Hark thee, friend,' replied the Frank, 'let us have no 
 312
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 more words, nor walk farther together than just to the 
 most solitary nook of this bewildered city, and let us 
 there set to that work which we left even now unfinished.' 
 
 'If thou wert a duke, sir count,' replied the Varan- 
 gian, *thou couldst not invite to a combat one who is 
 more ready for it. Yet consider the odds on which we 
 fight. If I fall, my moan is soon made ; but will my death 
 set thy wife at liberty if she is under restraint, or restore 
 her honour if it is tarnished? Will it do anything more 
 than remove from the world the only person who is will- 
 ing to give thee aid, at his own risk and danger, and who 
 hopes to unite thee to thy wife, and replace thee at the 
 head of thy forces?' 
 
 *I was wrong,' said the Count of Paris — 'I was en- 
 tirely wrong; but beware, my good friend, how thou 
 couplest the name of Brenhilda of Aspramonte with the 
 word of dishonour, and tell me, instead of this irritating 
 discourse, whither go we now?' 
 
 * To the Cytherean gardens of Agelastes, from which 
 we are not far distant,' said the Anglo-Saxon; *yet he 
 hath a nearer way to it than that by which we now 
 travel, else I should be at a loss to account for the short 
 space in which he could exchange the charms of his gar- 
 den for the gloomy ruins of the Temple of Isis and the 
 Imperial Palace of the Blacquernal.' 
 
 'And wherefore, and how long,' said Count Robert, 
 'dost thou conclude that my countess is detained in 
 these gardens?' 
 
 'Ever since yesterday,' replied Hereward. 'When 
 both I and several of my companions, at my request, 
 kept close watch upon the Caesar and your lady, we did 
 plainly perceive passages of fiery admiration on his part, 
 
 313
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 and anger, as it seemed, on hers, which Agelastes, being 
 Nicephorus's friend, was likely, as usual, to bring to an 
 end by a separation of you both from the army of the cru- 
 saders, that your wife, like many a matron before, might 
 have the pleasure of taking up her residence in the gar- 
 dens of that worthy sage; while you, my lord, might take 
 up your own permanently in the castle of Blacquernal.' 
 
 'Villain! why didst thou not apprise me of this yester- 
 day?' 
 
 *A Hkely thing,' said Hereward, 'that I should feel 
 myself at liberty to leave the ranks and make such a 
 communication to a man whom, far from a friend, I then 
 considered in the light of a personal enemy! Methinks 
 that, instead of such language as this, you should be 
 thankful that so many chance circumstances have at 
 length brought me to befriend and assist you.' 
 
 Count Robert felt the truth of what was said, though 
 at the same time his fiery temper longed to avenge itself, 
 according to its wont, upon the party which was nearest 
 at hand. 
 
 But now they arrived at what the citizens of Constan- 
 tinople called the Philosopher's Gardens. Here Here- 
 ward hoped to obtain entrance, for he had gained a 
 knowledge of some part, at least, of the private signals 
 of Achilles and Agelastes, since he had been introduced 
 to the last at the ruins of the Temple of Isis. They had 
 not indeed admitted him to their entire secret; yet, con- 
 fident in his connexion with the Follower, they had no 
 hesitation in communicating to him snatches of knowl- 
 edge such as, committed to a man of shrewd natural 
 sense like the Anglo-Saxon, could scarce fail, in time and 
 by degrees, to make him master of the whole. Count 
 
 314
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Robert and his companion stood before an arched door, 
 the only opening in a high wall, and the Anglo-Saxon 
 was about to knock, when, as if the idea had suddenly 
 struck him — 
 
 'What if the wretch Diogenes opens the gate? We 
 must kill him ere he can fly back and betray us. Well, it 
 is a matter of necessity, and the villain has deserved 
 his death by a hundred horrid crimes.' 
 
 'Kill him then, thyself,' retorted Count Robert; 'he is 
 nearer thy degree, and assuredly I will not defile the 
 name of Charlemagne with the blood of a black slave.' 
 
 'Nay, God-a-mercy!' answered the Anglo-Saxon, 'but 
 you must bestir yourself in the action supposing there 
 come rescue, and that I be overborne by odds.' 
 
 'Such odds,' said the knight, 'will render the action 
 more like a melee, or general battle; and assure yourself 
 I will not be slack when I may, with my honour, be 
 active.' 
 
 *I doubt it not,' said the Varangian; 'but the distinc- 
 tion seems a strange one, that, before permitting a man 
 to defend himself or annoy his enemy, requires him to 
 demand the pedigree of his ancestor.' 
 • 'Fear you not, sir,' said Count Robert. 'The strict 
 rule of chivalry indeed bears what I tell thee, but when 
 the question is. Fight or not? there is great allowance 
 to be made for a decision in the affirmative.' 
 
 'Let me give, then, the exorciser's rap,' replied Here- 
 ward, 'and see what fiend will appear.' 
 
 So saying, he knocked in a particular manner, and the 
 door opened inwards; a dwarfish negress stood in the 
 gap, her white hair contrasted singularly with her dark 
 complexion, and with the broad, laughing look peculiar 
 
 315
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 to these slaves. She had something in her physiognomy 
 which, severely construed, might argue malice and a 
 delight in human misery, 
 
 ' Is Agelastes — ' said the Varangian ; but he had not 
 completed the sentence when she answered him by point- 
 ing down a shadowed walk. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxon and Frank turned in that direction, 
 when the hag rather muttered than said distinctly, 
 'You are one of the initiated, Varangian; take heed 
 whom you take with you, when you may hardly, perad- 
 venture, be welcomed even going alone.' 
 
 Hereward made a sign that he understood her, and 
 they were instantly out of her sight. The path winded 
 beautifully through the shades of an Eastern garden, 
 where clumps of flowers and labyrinths of flowering 
 shrubs, and the tall boughs of the forest trees, rendered 
 even the breath of noon cool and acceptable. 
 
 'Here we must use our utmost caution,' said Here- 
 ward, speaking in a low tone of voice ; ' for here it is most 
 likely the deer that we seek has found its refuge. Better 
 allow me to pass before, since you are too deeply agitated 
 to possess the coolness necessary for a scout. Keep con- 
 cealed beneath yon oak, and let no vain scruples of 
 honour deter you from creeping beneath the underwood, 
 or beneath the earth itself, if you should hear a footfall. 
 If the lovers have agreed, Agelastes, it is probable, 
 walks his round, to prevent intrusion.' 
 
 'Death and furies, it cannot be!' exclaimed the fiery 
 Frank. 'Lady of the Broken Lances, take thy votary's 
 life ere thou torment him with this agony.' 
 
 He saw, however, the necessity of keeping a strong 
 force upon himself, and permitted, without further re- 
 
 316
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 monstrance, the Varangian to pursue his way, looking, 
 however, earnestly after him. By advancing forward a 
 little, he could observe Hereward draw near to a pavil- 
 ion which arose at no great distance from the place where 
 they had parted. Here he observed him apply first his 
 eye and then his ear to one of the casements, which were 
 in a great measure grown over and excluded from the 
 light by various flowering shrubs. He almost thought he 
 saw a grave interest take place in the countenance of 
 the Varangian, and he longed to have his share of the 
 information which he had doubtless obtained. 
 
 He crept, therefore, with noiseless steps, through the 
 same labyrinth of foliage which had covered the ap- 
 proaches of Hereward; and so silent were his move- 
 ments, that he touched the Anglo-Saxon, in order to 
 make him aware of his presence, before he observed his 
 approach. 
 
 Hereward, not aware at first by whom he was ap- 
 proached, turned on the intruder with a coxmtenance 
 like a burning coal. Seeing, however, that it was the 
 Frank, he shrugged his shoulders, as if pitying the impa- 
 tience which could not be kept under prudent restraint, 
 and, drawing himself back, allowed the Count the priv- 
 ilege of a peeping-place through plinths of the casement, 
 which could not be decerned by the sharpest eye from the 
 inner side. The sombre character of the light which pene- 
 trated into this abode of pleasure was suited to that 
 species of thought to which a temple of Cytherea was 
 supposed to be dedicated. Portraits and groups of statu- 
 ary were also to be seen, in the taste of those which they 
 had beheld at the kiosk of the waterfall, yet something 
 more free in the ideas which they conveyed than were 
 
 317
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 to be found at their first resting-place. Shortly after, the 
 door of the pavilion opened, and the Countess entered, 
 followed by her attendant Agatha. The lady threw her- 
 self on a couch as she came in, while her attendant, who 
 was a young and very handsome woman, kept herself 
 modestly in the background, so much so as hardly to be 
 distinguished. 
 
 'What dost thou think,' said the Countess, 'of so sus- 
 picious a friend as Agelastes, so gallant an enemy as the 
 Ccesar, as he is called?' 
 
 'What should I think,' returned the damsel, 'except 
 that what the old man calls friendship is hatred, and 
 what the Caesar terms a patriotic love for his country, 
 which will not permit him to set its enemies at Uberty, 
 is in fact too strong an affection for his fair captive?' 
 
 'For such an affection,' said the Countess, 'he shall 
 have the same requital as if it were indeed the hostility 
 of which he would give it the colour. IMy true and noble 
 lord, hadst thou an idea of the calamities to which they 
 have subjected me, how soon wouldst thou break through 
 every restraint to hasten to my relief ! ' 
 
 'Art thou a man,' said Count Robert to his compan- 
 ion, 'and canst thou advise me to remain still and hear 
 this?' 
 
 'I am one man,' said the Anglo-Saxon, 'you, sir, are 
 another; but all our arithmetic will not make us more 
 than two ; and in this place it is probable that a whistle 
 from the Ceesar, or a scream from Agelastes, would 
 bring a thousand to match us, if we were as bold as Bevis 
 of Hampton. Stand still and keep quiet. I counsel this 
 less as respecting my own life, which, by embarking 
 upon a wildgoose chase with so strange a partner, I have 
 
 318
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Bhown I put at little value, than for thy safety, and that 
 of the lady thy countess, who shows herself as virtuous 
 as beautiful.' 
 
 *I was imposed on at first,' said the Lady Brenhilda 
 to her attendant. 'Affectation of severe morals, of deep 
 learning, and of rigid rectitude, assumed by this wicked 
 old man, made me believe in part the character which he 
 pretended ; but the gloss is rubbed off since he let me see 
 into his alliance with the unworthy Caesar, and the ugly 
 picture remains in its native loathsomeness. Neverthe- 
 less, if I can, by address or subtlety, deceive this arch- 
 deceiver — as he has taken from me, in a great measure, 
 every other kind of assistance — I will not refuse that of 
 craft, which he may find perhaps equal to his own?' 
 
 * Hear you that? ' said the Varangian to the Count of 
 Paris, ' Do not let your impatience mar the web of your 
 lady's prudence. I will weigh a woman's wit against a 
 man's valour where there is aught to do. Let us not 
 come in with our assistance until time shall show us that 
 it is necessary for her safety and our success.' 
 
 'Amen,' said the Count of Paris; 'but hope not, sir 
 Saxon, that thy prudence shall persuade me to leave this 
 garden without taking full vengeance on that unworthy 
 Caesar, and the pretended philosopher, if indeed he 
 turns out to have assumed a character — ' The Count 
 was here beginning to raise his voice, when the Saxon, 
 without ceremony, placed his hand on his mouth. ' Thou 
 takest a liberty,' said Count Robert, lowering, however, 
 his tones. 
 
 *Ay, truly,' said Hereward; 'when the house is on fire, 
 I do not stop to ask whether the water which I pour on it 
 be perfumed or no.' 
 
 319
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 This recalled the Frank to a sense of his situation; and 
 if not contented with the Saxon's mode of making an 
 apology, he was at least silenced. A distant noise was 
 now heard; the Countess Hstened, and changed colour. 
 'Agatha/ she said, 'we are like champions in the lists, 
 and here comes the adversary. Let us retreat into this 
 side apartment, and so for a while put off an encounter 
 thus alarming.' So saying, the two females withdrew 
 into a sort of ante-room, which opened from the prin- 
 cipal apartment behind the seat which Brenhilda had 
 occupied. 
 
 They had scarcely disappeared, when, as the stage 
 direction has it, enter from the other side the Caesar and 
 Agelastes. They had perhaps heard the last words of 
 Brenhilda, for the Caesar repeated in a low tone — 
 
 'Militat omnis amans, habet et sua castra Cupido. 
 
 What, has our fair opponent withdrawn her forces? No 
 matter, it shows she thinks of the warfare, though the 
 enemy be not in sight. Well, thou shalt not have to 
 upbraid me this time, Agelastes, with precipitating my 
 amours, and depriving myself of the pleasure of pur- 
 suit. By Heavens, I will be as regular in my progress as 
 if in reaUty I bore on my shoulders the whole load of 
 years which make the difference between us; for I 
 shrewdly suspect that with thee, old man, it is that en- 
 vious churl Time that hath plucked the wings of Cupid.* 
 
 'Say not so, mighty Cassar,' said the old man; 'it is 
 the hand of Prudence, which, depriving Cupid's wing of 
 some wild feathers, leaves him still enough to fly with 
 an equal and steady flight.' 
 
 'Thy flight, however, was less measured, Agelastes, 
 
 320
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 when thou didst collect that armoury — that magazine 
 of Cupid's panoply, out of which thy kindness permitted 
 me but now to arm myself, or rather to repair my accou- 
 trements.' 
 
 So saying, he glanced his eye over his own person, 
 blazing with gems, and adorned with a chain of gold, 
 bracelets, rings, and other ornaments, which, with a new 
 and splendid habit, assumed since his arrival at these 
 Cytherean gardens, tended to set off his very handsome 
 figure. 
 
 'I am glad,' said Agelastes, 'if you have found among 
 toys, which I now never wear, and seldom made use of 
 even when life was young with me, anything which may 
 set off your natural advantages. Remember only this 
 slight condition, that such of these trifles as have made 
 part of your wearing-apparel on this distinguished day 
 cannot return to a meaner owner, but must of necessity 
 remain the property of that greatness of which they had 
 once formed the ornament.' 
 
 *I cannot consent to this, my worthy friend,' said the 
 Caesar; 'I know thou valuest these jewels only in so far 
 as a philosopher may value them — that is, for nothing 
 save the remembrances which attach to them. This 
 large seal-ring, for instance, was, I have heard you say, 
 the property of Socrates; if so, you cannot view it save 
 with devout thankfulness that your own philosophy has 
 never been tried with the exercise of a Xantippe. These 
 clasps released, in older times, the lovely bosom of 
 Phryne; and they now belong to one who could do 
 better homage to the beauties they concealed or dis- 
 covered than could the cynic Diogenes. These buckles, 
 too—' 
 
 43 321
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'I will spare thy ingenuity, good youth,' said Age- 
 lastes, somewhat nettled — ' or rather, noble Caesar. 
 Keep thy wit; thou wilt have ample occasion for it.' 
 
 'Fear not me,' said the Caesar. 'Let us proceed, since 
 you will, to exercise the gifts which we possess, such as 
 they are, either natural or bequeathed to us by our dear 
 and respected friend. Hah!' he said, the door opening 
 suddenly and the Countess almost meeting him, 'our 
 wishes are here anticipated.' 
 
 He bowed accordingly with the deepest deference to 
 the Lady Brenhilda, who, having made some altera- 
 tions to enhance the splendour of her attire, now moved 
 forward from the withdrawing-room into which she had 
 retreated. 
 
 'Hail, noble lady,' said the Caesar, 'whom I have 
 visited with the intention of apologising for detaining 
 you, in some degree against your will, in those strange 
 regions in which you unexpectedly find yourself.' 
 
 'Not in some degree,' answered the lady, 'but entirely 
 contrary to my inchnations, which are, to be with my 
 husband the Count of Paris, and the followers who have 
 taken the cross under his banner.' 
 
 'Such, doubtless, were your thoughts when you left 
 the land of the West,' said Agelastes; 'but, fair countess, 
 have they experienced no change? You have left a shore 
 streaming with human blood when the slightest provo- 
 cation occurred, and thou hast come to one whose princi- 
 pal maxim is to increase the sum of human happiness by 
 every mode which can be invented. In the West yonder, 
 he or she is respected most who can best exercise their 
 tyrannical strength in making others miserable, while 
 in these more placid realms we reserve our garlands for 
 
 322
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the ingenious youth or lovely lady who can best make 
 happy the person whose affection is fixed upon her.' 
 
 'But, reverend philosopher,' said the Countess, 'who 
 labourest so artificially in recommending the yoke of 
 pleasure, know that you contradict every notion which 
 I have been taught from my infancy. In the land where 
 my nurture lay, so far are we from acknowledging your 
 doctrines, that we match not except, like the lion and the 
 lioness, when the male has compelled the female to 
 acknowledge his superior worth and valour. Such is our 
 rule, that a damsel, even of mean degree, would think 
 herself heinously undermatched, if wedded to a gaUant 
 whose fame in arms was yet unknown.' 
 
 'But, noble lady,' said the Caesar, 'a dying man may 
 then find room for some faint hope. Were there but a 
 chance that distinction in arms could gain those affec- 
 tions which have been stolen, rather than fairly con- 
 ferred, how many are there who would willingly enter 
 into the competition where the prize is so fair! What 
 is the enterprise too bold to be undertaken on such 
 a condition? And where is the individual whose heart 
 would not feel that, in baring his sword for the prize, 
 he made vow never to return it to the scabbard with- 
 out the proud boast, "What I have not yet won, I 
 have deserved"?' 
 
 'You see, lady,' said Agelastes, who, apprehending 
 that the last speech of the Caisar had made some impres- 
 sion, hastened to follow it up with a suitable observa- 
 tion — ' you see that the fire of chivalry burns as gal- 
 lantly in the bosom of the Grecians as in that of the 
 Western nations.' 
 
 'Yes,' answered Brenhilda, 'and I have heard of the 
 
 323
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 celebrated siege of Troy, on which occasion a dastardly 
 coward carried off the wife of a brave man, shunned every 
 proffer of encounter with the husband whom he had 
 wronged, and finally caused the death of his numerous 
 brothers, the destruction of his native city, with all the 
 w^ealth which it contained, and died himself the death 
 of a pitiful poltroon, lamented only by his worthless 
 leman, to show how well the rules of chivalry were under- 
 stood by your predecessors.' 
 
 'Lady, you mistake,' said the Caesar; 'the offences of 
 Paris were those of a dissolute Asiatic; the courage 
 which avenged them was that of the Greek Empire.' 
 
 'You are learned, sir,' said the lady; 'but think not 
 that I will trust your words until you produce before me 
 a Grecian knight gallant enough to look upon the armed 
 crest of my husband without quaking.' 
 
 ' That, methinks, were not extremely difficult,' returned 
 the Caesar: 'if they have not flattered me, I have myself 
 been thought equal in battle to more dangerous men than 
 him who has been strangely mated with the Lady Bren- 
 hilda.' 
 
 'That is soon tried,' answered the Countess. 'You 
 will hardly, I think, deny that my husband, separated 
 from me by some unworthy trick, is still at thy com- 
 mand, and could be produced at thy pleasure. I will ask 
 no armour for him save what he wears, no weapon but 
 his good sword Tranchefer; then place him in this cham- 
 ber, or any other lists equally narrow, and if he flinch, 
 or cry craven, or remain dead under shield, let Bren- 
 hilda be the prize of the conqueror. Merciful Heaven!' 
 she concluded, as she sunk back upon her seat, 'forgive 
 me for the crime of even imagining such a termination, 
 
 324
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 which is equal almost to doubting Thine unerring judg- 
 ment.' 
 
 'Let me, however,' said the Cassar, 'catch up these 
 precious words before they fall to the ground. Let me 
 hope that he to whom the Heavens shall give power 
 and strength to conquer this highly-esteemed Count of 
 Paris shall succeed him in the affections of Brenhilda; 
 and believe me, the sun plunges not through the sky 
 to his resting-place with the same celerity that I shall 
 hasten to the encounter.' 
 
 'Now, by Heaven!' said Count Robert, in an anxious 
 whisper to Hereward, 'it is too much to expect me to 
 stand by and hear a contemptible Greek, who durst not 
 stand even the rattling farewell which Tranchefer takes 
 of his scabbard, brave me in my absence, and affect to 
 make love to my lady par amours. And she, too — me- 
 thinks Brenhilda allows more license than she is wont 
 to do to yonder chattering popinjay. By the rood! I 
 will spring into the apartment, front them with my per- 
 sonal appearance, and confute yonder braggart in a man- 
 ner he is like to remember.' 
 
 'Under favour,' said the Varangian, who was the only 
 auditor of this violent speech, 'you shall be ruled by calm 
 reason while I am with you. When we are separated, let 
 the devil of knight-errantry, which has such possession 
 of thee, take thee upon his shoulders and carry thee full 
 tilt wheresoever he lists.' 
 
 'Thou art a brute,' said the Count, looking at him with 
 a contempt corresponding to the expression he made 
 use of; 'not only without humanity, but without the 
 sense of natural honour or natural shame. The most 
 despicable of animals stands not by tamely and sees 
 
 325
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 another assail his mate. The bull offers his horns to a 
 rival, the mastiff uses his Jaws, and even the timid stag 
 becomes furious and gores.' 
 
 'Because they are beasts,' said the Varangian, 'and 
 their mistresses also creatures without shame or reason, 
 who are not aware of the sanctity of a choice. But thou, 
 too, Count, canst thou not see the obvious purpose of 
 this poor lady, forsaken by all the world, to keep her 
 faith towards thee, by eluding the snares with which 
 wicked men have beset her? By the souls of my fathers! 
 my heart is so much moved by her ingenuity, mingled as 
 I see it is with the most perfect candour and faith, that 
 I myself, in fault of a better champion, would willingly 
 raise the axe in her behalf.' 
 
 *I thank thee, my good friend,' said the Count — 'I 
 thank thee as heartily as if it were possible thou shouldst 
 be left to do that good office for Brenhilda, the beloved 
 of many a noble lord, the mistress of many a powerful 
 vassal; and, what is more — much more than thanks, 
 I crave thy pardon for the wrong I did thee but now.' 
 
 'My pardon you cannot need,' said the Varangian; 
 'for I take no offence that is not seriously meant. Stay, 
 they speak again.' 
 
 'It is strange it should be so,' said the Caesar, as he 
 paced the apartment; 'but methinks, nay, I am almost 
 certain, Agelastes, that I hear voices in the vicinity of 
 this apartment of thy privacy.' 
 
 'It is impossible,' said Agelastes; 'but I will go and 
 see.' 
 
 Perceiving him to leave the pavilion, the Varangian 
 made the Frank sensible that they must crouch down 
 among the little thicket of evergreens, where they lay 
 
 326
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 completely obscured. The philosopher made his rounds 
 with a heavy step but a watchful eye; and the two 
 listeners were obliged to observe the strictest silence, 
 without motion of any kind, until he had completed an 
 ineffectual search, and returned into the pavilion. 
 
 *By my faith, brave man,' said the Count, 'ere we 
 return to our skulking-place, I must tell thee in thine 
 ear that never in my life was temptation so strong upon 
 me as that which prompted me to beat out that old 
 hypocrite's brains, provided I could have reconciled it 
 with my honour; and heartily do I wish that thou, whose 
 honour no way withheld thee, had experienced and given 
 way to some impulse of a similar nature.' 
 
 'Such fancies have passed through my head,' said the 
 Varangian; 'but I will not follow them till they are con- 
 sistent both with our own safety and more particularly 
 with that of the Countess.' 
 
 ' I thank thee again for thy good- will to her,' said Count 
 Robert; 'and, by Heaven! if fight we must at length, as 
 it seems likely, I will neither grudge thee an honourable 
 antagonist nor fair quarter if the combat goes against 
 thee.' 
 
 'Thou hast my thanks,' was the reply of Hereward; 
 'only, for Heaven's sake, be silent in this conjuncture, 
 and do what thou wilt afterwards.' 
 
 Before the Varangian and the Count had again re- 
 sumed their posture of listeners, the parties within the 
 pavilion, conceiving themselves unwatched, had re- 
 sumed their conversation, speaking low, yet with con- 
 siderable animation. 
 
 ' It is in vain you would persuade me,' said the Count- 
 ess, ' that you know not where my husband is, or that 
 
 327
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 you have not the most absolute influence over his cap- 
 tivity. Who else could have an interest in banishing or 
 putting to death the husband but he that affects to 
 admire the wife? ' 
 
 'You do me wrong, beautiful lady,' answered the 
 Caesar, * and forget that I can in no shape be termed the 
 moving-spring of this empire; that my father-in-law, 
 Alexius, is the Emperor; and that the woman who terms 
 herself my wife is jealous as a fiend can be of my slightest 
 motion. What possibility was there that I should work 
 the captivity of your husband and your own? The open 
 affront which the Count of Paris put upon the Emperor 
 was one which he was likely to avenge, either by secret 
 guile or by open force. Me it no way touched, save as the 
 humble vassal of thy charms; and it was by the wisdom 
 and the art of the sage, Agelastes, that I was able to ex- 
 tricate thee from the gulf in which thou hadst else cer- 
 tainly perished. Nay, weep not, lady, for as yet we know 
 not the fate of Count Robert; but, credit me, it is wis- 
 dom to choose a better protector, and consider him as 
 no more.' 
 
 'A better than him,' said Brenhilda, ' I can never have, 
 were I to choose out of the knighthood of all the world.' 
 
 'This hand,' said the Caesar, drawing himself into a 
 martial attitude, ' should decide that question, were the 
 man of whom thou thinkest so much yet moving on 
 the face of this earth, and at liberty.' 
 
 'Thou art,' said Brenhilda, looking fixedly at him, with 
 the fire of indignation flashing from every feature — ■ 
 ' thou art — but it avails not telling thee what is thy 
 real name; believe me, the world shall one day ring with 
 it, and be justly sensible of its value. Observe what I 
 
 328
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 am about to say. Robert of Paris is gone, or captive, I 
 know not where. He cannot fight the match of which 
 thou seemest so desirous; but here stands Brenhilda, 
 born heiress of Aspramonte, by marriage the wedded 
 wife of the good Count of Paris. She was never matched 
 in the hsts by mortal man except the valiant Count, and 
 since thou art so grieved that thou canst not meet her 
 husband in battle, thou canst not surely object if she is 
 willing to meet thee in his stead? ' 
 
 'How, madam!' said the Caesar, astonished; 'do you 
 propose yourself to hold the lists against me?' 
 
 'Against you!' said the Countess — 'against all the 
 Grecian empire, if they shall affirm that Robert of Paris 
 is justly used and lawfully confined.' 
 
 'And are the conditions,' said the Caesar, 'the same as 
 if Count Robert himself held the lists? The vanquished 
 must then be at the pleasure of the conqueror for good 
 or evil.' 
 
 'It would seem so,' said the Countess, 'nor do I refuse 
 the hazard; only that, if the other champion shall bite the 
 dust, the noble Count Robert shall be set at liberty, and 
 permitted to depart with all suitable honours.' 
 
 'This I refuse not,' said the Caesar, 'provided it is in 
 my power.' 
 
 A deep growling sound, like that of a modern gong, 
 here interrupted the conference.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 The Varangian and Count Robert, at every risk of dis- 
 covery, had remained so near as fully to conjecture, 
 though they could not expressly overhear, the purport of 
 the conversation. 
 
 *He has accepted her challenge?* said the Count of 
 Paris. 
 
 *And with apparent willingness,' said Hereward. 
 
 '0, doubtless — doubtless,' answered the crusader; 
 'but he knows not the skill in war which a woman may 
 attain ; for my part, God knows I have enough depending 
 upon the issue of this contest, yet such is my confidence, 
 that I would to God I had more. I vow to Our Lady of 
 the Broken Lances that I desire every furrow of land I 
 possess, every honour which I can call my own, from the 
 countship of Paris down to the leather that binds my 
 spur, were dependent and at issue upon this fair field 
 between your Caesar, as men term him, and Brenhilda 
 of Aspramonte.' 
 
 * It is a noble confidence,' said the Varangian, *nor 
 durst I say it is a rash one ; only I cannot but remember 
 that the Caesar is a strong man as well as a handsome, 
 expert in the use of arms, and, above all, less strictly 
 bound than you esteem yourself by the rules of honour. 
 There are many ways in which advantage may be given 
 and taken, which will not, in the Caesar's estimation, 
 alter the character of the field from an equal one, al- 
 though it might do so in the opinion of the chivalrous 
 
 33°
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Count of Paris, or even in that of the poor Varangian. 
 But first let me conduct you to some place of safety, for 
 your escape must be soon, if it is not already, detected. 
 The sounds which we heard intimate that some of his 
 confederate plotters have visited the garden on other 
 than love affairs. I will guide thee to another avenue 
 than that by which we entered. But you would hardly, I 
 suppose, be pleased to adopt the wisest alternative?' 
 
 'And what may that be?' said the Count. 
 
 'To give thy purse, though it were thine all, to some 
 poor ferryman to waft thee over the Hellespont, then 
 hasten to carry thy complaint to Godfrey of Bouillon, 
 and what friends thou mayst have among thy brethren 
 crusaders, and determine, as thou easily canst, on a suf- 
 ficient number of them to come back and menace the city 
 with instant war, unless the Emperor should deliver up 
 thy lady, most unfairly made prisoner, and prevent, by 
 his authority, this absurd and unnatural combat.' 
 
 *And would you have me, then,' said Count Robert, 
 'move the crusaders to break a fairly appointed field of 
 battle ? Do you think that Godfrey of Bouillon would 
 turn back upon his pilgrimage for such an unworthy 
 purpose ; or that the Countess of Paris would accept as a 
 service means of safety which would stain her honour 
 for ever, by breaking an appointment solemnly made on 
 her own challenge? Never.' 
 
 *My judgment is then at fault,' said the Varangian, 
 'for I see I can hammer out no expedient which is not, 
 in some extravagant manner or another, controlled by 
 your foolish notions. Here is a man who has been trapped 
 into the power of his enemy, that he might not interfere 
 to prevent a base stratagem upon his lady, involving 
 
 331
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 both her life and honour; yet he thinks it a matter of 
 necessity that he keeps faith as precisely with these 
 midnight poisoners as he would had it been pledged to 
 the most honourable men!' 
 
 'Thou say 'st a painful truth,' said Count Robert; 'but 
 my word is the emblem of my faith ; and if I pass it to a 
 dishonourable or faithless foe, it is imprudently done on 
 my part; but if I break it, being once pledged, it is a dis- 
 honourable action, and the disgrace can never be washed 
 from my shield.' 
 
 'Do you mean, then,' said the Varangian, 'to suffer 
 your wife's honour to remain pledged as it at present is 
 on the event of an unequal combat? ' 
 
 'God and the saints pardon thee such a thought!' 
 said the Count of Paris. 'I will go to see this combat 
 with a heart as firm, if not as light, as any time I ever 
 saw spears splintered. If by the influence of any acci- 
 dent or treachery — for fairly, and with such an antago- 
 nist, Brenhilda of Aspramonte cannot be overthrown — 
 I step into the lists, proclaim the Ca3sar as he is — a 
 villain, show the falsehood of his conduct from beginning 
 to end, appeal to every noble heart that hears me, and 
 then — God show the right!' 
 
 Hereward paused, and shook his head. 'All this,' he 
 said, ' might be feasible enough, provided the combat were 
 to be fought in the presence of your own countrymen, or 
 even, by the mass ! if the Varangians were to be guards 
 of the lists. But treachery of every kind is so familiar 
 to the Greeks, that I question if they would view the 
 conduct of their Csesar as anything else than a pardon- 
 able and natural stratagem of Dan Cupid, to be smiled 
 at rather than subjected to disgrace or punishment.' 
 
 332
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'A nation,' said Count Robert, 'who could smile at 
 such a jest, may Heaven refuse them sympathy at their 
 utmost need, when their sword is broken in their hand, 
 and their wives and daughters shrieking in the relentless 
 grasp of a barbarous enemy ! ' 
 
 Hereward looked upon his companion, whose flushed 
 cheeks and sparkling eyes bore witness to his enthu- 
 siasm. 
 
 *I see,' he said, 'you are resolved, and I know that 
 your resolution can in justice be called by no other name 
 than an act of heroic folly. What then? It is long since 
 life has been bitter to the Varangian exile. Morn has 
 raised him from a joyless bed, which night has seen him 
 lie down upon, wearied with wielding a mercenary weapon 
 in the wars of strangers. He has longed to lay down 
 his life in an honourable cause, and this is one in which 
 the extremity and very essence of honour is implicated. 
 It tallies also with my scheme of saving the Emperor, 
 which will be greatly facilitated by the downfall of his 
 ungrateful son-in-law.' Then addressing himself to the 
 Count, he continued, 'Well, sir count, as thou art the 
 person principally concerned, I am willing to yield to 
 thy reasoning in this affair; but I hope you will permit 
 me to mingle with your resolution some advices of a more 
 everyday and less fantastic nature. For example, thy 
 escape from the dungeons of the Blacquernal must soon 
 be generally known. In prudence, indeed, I myself must 
 be the first to communicate it, since otherwise the sus- 
 picion will fall on me. Where do you think of concealing 
 yourself, for assuredly the search will be close and 
 general?' 
 
 ' For that,' said the Count of Paris, ' I must be indebted 
 
 333
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 to thy suggestion, with thanks for every lie which thou 
 findest thyself obliged to make, to contrive, and produce 
 in my behalf, entreating thee only to render them as 
 few as possible, they being a coin which I myself never 
 fabricate.' 
 
 'Sir knight,' answered Hereward, 'let me begin first 
 by saying that no knight that ever belted sword is more 
 a slave to truth, when truth is observed towards him, 
 than the poor soldier who talks to thee; but when the 
 game depends not upon fair play, but upon lulUng men's 
 cautiousness asleep by falsehood, and drugging their 
 senses by opiate draughts, they who would scruple at no 
 means of deceiving me can hardly expect that I, who am 
 paid in such base money, should pass nothing on my part 
 but what is lawful and genuine. For the present thou 
 must remain concealed within my poor apartment in the 
 barracks of the Varangians, which is the last place where 
 they will think of seeking for thee. Take this, my upper 
 cloak, and follow me ; and now that we are about to leave 
 these gardens, thou mayst follow me unsuspected as a 
 sentinel attending his officer; for, take it along with you, 
 noble count, that we Varangians are a sort of persons 
 upon whom the Greeks care not to look very long or 
 fixedly.' 
 
 They now reached the gate where they had been ad- 
 mitted by the negress, and Hereward, who was entrusted 
 with the power, it seems, of letting himself out of the 
 philosopher's premises, though not of entering without 
 assistance from the portress, took out a key which turned 
 the lock on the garden side, so that they soon found them- 
 selves at liberty. They then proceeded by bye-paths 
 through the city, Hereward leading the way, and the 
 
 334
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Count following, without speech or remonstrance, until 
 they stood before the portal of the barracks of the Varan- 
 gians. 
 
 'Make haste,' said the sentinel who was on duty, 
 'dinner is already begun.' The communication sounded 
 joyfully in the ears of Here ward, who was much afraid 
 that his companion might have been stopt and examined. 
 By a side passage he reached his own quarters, and intro- 
 duced the Count into a small room, the sleeping-chamber 
 of his squire, where he apologised for leaving him for 
 some time; and, going out, locked the door, for fear, as 
 he said, of intrusion. 
 
 The demon of suspicion was not very likely to molest 
 a mind so frankly constituted as that of Count Robert, 
 and yet the last action of Hereward did not fail to occa- 
 sion some painful reflections. 
 
 'This man,' he said, 'had needs be true, for I have re- 
 posed in him a mighty trust, which few hirelings in his 
 situation would honourably discharge. What is to pre- 
 vent him to report to the principal ofiicer of his watch 
 that the Frank prisoner, Robert Count of Paris, whose 
 wife stands engaged for so desperate a combat with the 
 Caesar, has escaped, indeed, this morning from the prisons 
 of the Blacquernal, but has suffered himself to be tre- 
 panned at noon, and is again a captive in the barracks of 
 the Varangian Guard? What means of defence are mine, 
 were I discovered to these mercenaries? What man could 
 do, by the favour of Our Lady of the Broken Lances, I 
 have not failed to achieve. I have slain a tiger in single 
 combat. I have killed one warder, and conquered the 
 desperate and gigantic creature by whom he was sup- 
 ported. I have had terms enough at command to bring 
 
 335
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 over this Varangian to my side, in appearance at least; 
 yet all this does not encourage me to hope that I could 
 long keep at bay ten or a dozen such men as these beef- 
 fed knaves appear to be, led in upon me by a fellow of 
 thewes and sinews such as those of my late companion. 
 Yet, for shame, Robert! such thoughts are unworthy a 
 descendant of Charlemagne. When wert thou wont so 
 curiously to count thine enemies, and when wert thou 
 wont to be suspicious, since he whose bosom may truly 
 boast itself incapable of fraud ought in honesty to be the 
 last to expect it in another? The Varangian's look is 
 open, his coolness in danger is striking, his speech is more 
 frank and ready than ever was that of a traitor. If he is 
 false, there is no faith in the hand of nature, for truth, 
 sincerity, and courage are written upon his forehead.' 
 
 While Count Robert was thus reflecting upon his con- 
 dition, and combating the thick-coming doubts and sus- 
 picions which its uncertainties gave rise to, he began to 
 be sensible that he had not eaten for many hours; and 
 amidst many doubts and fears of a more heroic nature, 
 he half entertained a lurking suspicion that they meant 
 to let hunger undermine his strength before they adven- 
 tured into the apartment to deal with him. 
 
 We shall best see how far these doubts were deserved 
 by Hereward, or how far they were unjust, by following 
 his course after he left his barrack-room. Snatching a 
 morsel of dinner, which he eat with an affectation of great 
 hunger, but, in fact, that his attention to his food might 
 be a pretence for dispensing with disagreeable questions, 
 or with conversation of any kind, he pleaded duty, and, 
 immediately leaving his comrades, directed his course to 
 the lodgings of Achilles Tatius, which were a part of the 
 
 336
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 same building. A Syrian slave, who opened the door, 
 after a deep reverence to Hereward, whom he knew as a 
 favourite attendant of the Acolyte, said to him that his 
 master was gone forth, but had desired him to say that, 
 if he wished to see him, he would find him at the Phi- 
 losopher's Gardens, so called as belonging to the sage 
 Agelastes. 
 
 Hereward turned about instantly, and, availing himself 
 of his knowledge of Constantinople to thread its streets 
 in the shortest time possible, at length stood alone before 
 the door in the garden-wall at which he and the Count 
 of Paris had previously been admitted in the earlier part 
 of the day. The same negress appeared at the same pri- 
 vate signal, and when he asked for Achilles Tatius, she 
 replied, with some sharpness, 'Since you were here this 
 morning, I marvel you did not meet him, or that, hav- 
 ing business with him, you did not stay till he arrived. 
 Sure I am, that not long after you entered the garden the 
 Acolyte was inquiring for you.' 
 
 'It skills not, old woman,' said the Varangian; 'I com- 
 municate the reason of my motions to my commander, 
 but not to thee.' He entered the garden accordingly, and, 
 avoiding the twilight-path that led to the Bower of Love 
 — so was the pavilion named in which he had overheard 
 the dialogue between the Caesar and the Countess of 
 Paris — he arrived before a simple garden-house, whose 
 humble and modest front seemed to announce that it 
 was the abode of philosophy and learning. Here, passing 
 before the windows, he made some little noise, expecting 
 to attract the attention either of Achilles Tatius or his 
 accomplice Agelastes, as chance should determine. It 
 was the first who heard, and who replied. The door 
 
 43 337
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 opened; a lofty plume stooped itself, that its owner 
 might cross the threshold, and the stately form of Achilles 
 Tatius entered the gardens. 'What now,' he said, 'our 
 trusty sentinel? what hast thou, at this time of day, come 
 to report to us? Thou art our good friend and highly- 
 esteemed soldier, and well we wot thine errand must be 
 of importance since thou hast brought it thyself, and at 
 an hour so unusual.' 
 
 'Pray Heaven,' said Hereward, 'that the news I have 
 brought deserve a welcome.' 
 
 'Speak them instantly,' said the Acolyte, 'good or 
 bad: thou speakest to a man to whom fear is unknown.' 
 But his eye, which quailed as he looked on the soldier; 
 his colour, which went and came; his hands, which 
 busied themselves in an uncertain manner in adjusting 
 the belt of his sword — all argued a state of mind very 
 different from that which his tone of defiance would 
 fain have implied. 'Courage,' he said, 'my trusty sol- 
 dier! speak the news to me. I can bear the worst thou 
 hast to tell.' 
 
 'In a word, then,' said the Varangian, 'your valour 
 directed me this morning to play the office of master of 
 the rounds upon those dungeons of the Blacquernal 
 Palace where last night the boisterous Count Robert of 
 Paris was incarcerated — ' 
 
 ' I remember well,' said Achilles Tatius. ' What then? ' 
 
 'As I reposed me,' said Hereward, 'in an apartment 
 above the vaults, I heard cries from beneath, of a kind 
 which attracted my attention. I hastened to examine, 
 and my surprise was extreme when, looking down into 
 the dungeon, though I could see nothing distinctly, yet, 
 by the wailing and whimpering sounds, I conceived that 
 
 338
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the man of the forest, the animal called Sylvan, whom 
 our soldiers have so far indoctrinated in our Saxon tongue 
 as to make him useful in the wards of the prison, was be- 
 moaning himself on account of some violent injury. De- 
 scending with a torch, I found the bed on which the 
 prisoner had been let down burnt to cinders, the tiger 
 which had been chained within a spring of it with its 
 skull broken to pieces, the creature called Sylvan pros- 
 trate and writhing under great pain and terror, and no 
 prisoner whatever in the dungeon. There were marks 
 that all the fastenings had been withdrawn by a Mytile- 
 nian soldier, companion of my watch, when he visited the 
 dungeon at the usual hour; and as, in my anxious search, 
 I at length found his dead body, slain apparently by a 
 stab in the throat, I was obliged to believe that, while I 
 was examining the cell, he, this Count Robert, with whose 
 daring life the adventure is well consistent, had escaped 
 to the upper air, by means, doubtless, of the ladder and 
 trap-door by which I had descended.' 
 
 'And wherefore did'st thou not instantly call "trea- 
 son," and raise the hue and cry? ' demanded the Acolyte. 
 
 *I dared not venture to do so,' replied the Varangian, 
 ' till I had instructions from your valour. The alarming 
 cry of " treason," and the various rumours likely at this 
 moment to ensue, might have involved a search so close 
 as perchance would have discovered matters in which 
 the Acolyte himself would have been rendered subject 
 to suspicion.' 
 
 'Thou art right,' said Achilles Tatius, in a whisper; 
 *and yet it will be necessary that we do not pretend any 
 longer to conceal the flight of this important prisoner, if 
 we would not pass for being his accomplices. Where 
 
 339
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 thinkest thou this unhappy fugitive can have taken 
 refuge? ' 
 
 'That I was in hopes of learning from your valour's 
 greater wisdom,' said Hereward. 
 
 'Thinkest thou not,' said Achilles, 'that he may have 
 crossed the Hellespont, in order to rejoin his own coun- 
 trymen and adherents? ' 
 
 ' It is much to be dreaded,' said Hereward. ' Undoubt- 
 edly, if the Count hstened to the advice of any one who 
 knew the face of the country, such would be the very 
 counsel he would receive.' 
 
 ' The danger, then, of his return at the head of a venge- 
 ful body of Franks,' said the Acolyte, ' is not so immediate 
 as I apprehended at first, for the Emperor gave positive 
 orders that the boats and galleys which yesterday trans- 
 ported the crusaders to the shores of Asia should recross 
 the strait, and bring back no single one of them from the 
 step upon their journey on which he had so far furthered 
 them. Besides, they all — their leaders, that is to say — • 
 made their vows before crossing that they would not 
 turn back so much as a foot's pace, now that they had 
 set actually forth on the road to Palestine.' 
 
 'So, therefore,' said Hereward, 'one of two proposi- 
 tions is unquestionable — either Count Robert is on the 
 eastern side of the strait, having no means of returning 
 with his brethren to avenge the usage he has received, 
 and may therefore be securely set at defiance; or else he 
 lurks somewhere in Constantinople, without a friend or 
 ally to take his part, or encourage him openly to state 
 his supposed wrongs. In either case, there can, I think, 
 be no tact in conveying to the palace the news that he 
 has freed himself, since it would only alarm the court, 
 
 340
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and afford the Emperor ground for many suspicions. But 
 it is not for an ignorant barbarian like me to prescribe 
 a course of conduct to your valour and wisdom, and me- 
 thinks the sage Agelastes were a fitter counsellor than 
 such as I am.' 
 
 'No — no — no,' said the Acolyte, in a hurried whis- 
 per; 'the philosopher and I are right good friends — 
 sworn good friends, very especially bound together; but 
 should it come to this that one of us must needs throw 
 before the footstool of the Emperor the head of the other, 
 I think thou wouldst not advise that I, whose hairs have 
 not a trace of silver, should be the last in making the 
 offering; wherefore, we will say nothing of this mishap, 
 but give thee full power and the highest charge to seek 
 for Count Robert of Paris, be he dead or alive, to secure 
 him within the dungeons set apart for the discipline of 
 our own corps, and when thou hast done so, to bring me 
 notice. I may make him my friend in many ways, by 
 extricating his wife from danger by the axes of my Varan- 
 gians. What is there in this metropolis that they have 
 to oppose them?' 
 
 'When raised in a just cause,' answered Here ward, 
 'nothing.' 
 
 'Hah! say'st thou?' said the Acolyte. 'How meanest 
 thou by that? But I know. Thou art scrupulous about 
 having the just and lawful command of thy officer in 
 every action in which thou art engaged, and, thinking 
 in that dutiful and soldierlike manner, it is my duty as 
 thine Acolyte to see thy scruples satisfied. A warrant 
 shalt thou have, with full powers, to seek for and imprison 
 this foreign count of whom we have been speaking. And, 
 hark thee, my excellent friend/ he continued, with some 
 
 341
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 hesitation, ' I think thou hadst better begone, and begin, 
 or rather continue, thy search. It is unnecessary to in- 
 form our friend Agelastes of what has happened, until his 
 advice be more needful than as yet it is on the occasion. 
 Home — home to the barracks ; I will account to him 
 for thy appearance here, if he be curious on the subject, 
 which, as a suspicious old man, he is likely to be. Go to 
 the barracks, and act as if thou hadst a warrant in every 
 respect full and ample. I will provide thee with one 
 when I come back to my quarters.' 
 
 The Varangian turned hastily homewards. 
 
 'Now, is it not,' he said, 'a strange thing, and enough 
 to make a man a rogue for life, to observe how the devil 
 encourages young beginners in falsehood? I have told 
 a greater lie — at least I have suppressed more truth — 
 than on any occasion before in my whole life, and what 
 is the consequence? Why, my commander throws al- 
 most at my head a warrant sufficient to guarantee and 
 protect me in all I have done, or propose to do. If the 
 foul fiend were thus regular in protecting his votaries, 
 methinks they would have little reason to complain of 
 him, or better men to be astonished at their number. 
 But a time comes, they say, when he seldom fails to 
 desert them. Therefore, get thee behind me, Satan. If I 
 have seemed to be thy servant for a short time, it is but 
 with an honest and Christian purpose.' 
 
 As he entertained these thoughts, he looked back 
 upon the path, and was startled at an apparition of a 
 creature of a much greater size, and a stranger shape, 
 than human, covered, all but the face, with a reddish- 
 dun fur; his expression an ugly, and yet a sad, melan- 
 choly; a cloth was wrapt round one hand, and an air of 
 
 342
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 pain and languor bespoke suffering from a wound. So 
 much was Hereward preoccupied with his own reflec- 
 tions, that at first he thought his imagination had 
 actually raised the devil; but, after a sudden start of 
 surprise, he recognised his acquaintance Sylvan. 'Hah! 
 old friend,' he said, 'I am happy thou hast made thy 
 escape to a place where thou wilt find plenty of fruit 
 to support thee. Take my advice — keep out of the 
 way of discovery. Keep thy friend's counsel.' 
 
 The man of the wood uttered a chattering noise in 
 return to this address. 
 
 'I understand thee,' said Hereward, 'thou wilt tell 
 no tales, thou sayest; and faith I will trust thee rather 
 than the better part of my own two-legged race, who are 
 eternally circumventing or murdering each other.' 
 
 A minute after the creature was out of sight Here- 
 ward heard the shriek of a female, and a voice which 
 cried for help. The accents must have been uncommonly 
 interesting to the Varangian, since, forgetting his own 
 dangerous situation, he immediately turned and flew to 
 the suppliant's assistance.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 She comes! she comes! in all the channs of youth, 
 Unequall'd love, and unsuspected truth! 
 
 Hereward was not long in tracing the cry through the 
 wooded walks, when a female rushed into his arms, 
 alarmed, as it appeared, by Sylvan, who was pursuing 
 her closely. The figure of Hereward, with his axe up- 
 lifted, put an instant stop to his career, and with a terri- 
 fied note of his native cries he withdrew into the thickest 
 of the adjoining foliage. 
 
 Relieved from his presence, Hereward had time to 
 look at the female whom he had succoured. She was 
 arrayed in a dress which consisted of several colours, 
 that which predominated being a pale yellow; her tunic 
 was of this colour, and, like a modern gown, was closely 
 fitted to the body, which, in the present case, was that 
 of a tall but very well-formed person. The mantle, or 
 upper garment, in which the whole figure was wrapped, 
 was of fine cloth; and the kind of hood which was at- 
 tached to it having flown back with the rapidity of her 
 motion, gave to view the hair, beautifully adorned and 
 twisted into a natural head-dress. Beneath this natural 
 head-gear appeared a face pale as death, from a sense of 
 the supposed danger, but which preserved, even amidst 
 its terrors, an exquisite degree of beauty. 
 
 Hereward was thunderstruck at this apparition. The 
 dress was neither Grecian, Italian, nor of the costume 
 of the Franks; it was Saxon, connected by a thou- 
 
 344
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 sand tender remembrances with Hereward's childhood 
 and youth. The circumstance was most extraordinary. 
 Saxon women, indeed, there were in Constantinople, 
 who had united their fortunes with those of the Varan- 
 gians ; and those often chose to wear their national dress 
 in the city, because the character and conduct of their 
 husbands secured them a degree of respect which they 
 might not have met with either as Grecian or as stranger 
 females of a similar rank. But almost all these were per- 
 sonally known to Hereward. It was no time, however, 
 for reverie : he was himself in danger, the situation of the 
 young female might be no safe one. In every case, it was 
 judicious to quit the more public part of the gardens ; he 
 therefore lost not a moment in conveying the fainting 
 Saxon to a retreat he fortunately was acquainted with. 
 A covered path, obscured by vegetation, led through a 
 species of labyrinth to an artificial cave, at the bottom 
 of which, half-paved with shells, moss, and spar, lay the 
 gigantic and half-recumbent statue of a river deity, with 
 its usual attributes — that is, its front crowned with 
 water-lilies and sedges, and its ample hand half-resting 
 upon an empty urn. The attitude of the whole figure 
 corresponded with the motto — ' I sleep — awake me 
 
 NOT.' 
 
 'Accursed relic of paganism,' said Hereward, who was, 
 in proportion to his light, a zealous Christian — ' brut- 
 ish stock or stone that thou art! I will wake thee with a 
 vengeance.' So saying, he struck the head of the slum- 
 bering deity with his battle-axe, and deranged the play 
 of the fountain so much that the water began to pour 
 into the basin. 
 
 'Thou art a good block, nevertheless,' said the Varan- 
 
 345
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 gian, 'to send succour so needful to the aid of my poor 
 countr>-woman. Thou shalt give her also, with thy leave, 
 a portion of thy couch.' So saying, he arranged his fair 
 burden, who was as yet insensible, upon the pedestal 
 where the figure of the river god reclined. In doing this, 
 his attention was recalled to her face, and again and again 
 he was thrilled with an emotion of hope, but so excessively 
 like fear that it could only be compared to the flickering 
 of a torch, uncertain whether it is to light up or be in- 
 stantly extinguished. With a sort of mechanical atten- 
 tion, he continued to make such efforts as he could to 
 recall the intellect of the beautiful creature before him. 
 His feelings were those of the astronomical sage, to 
 whom the rise of the moon slowly restores the contem- 
 plation of that heaven which is at once, as a Christian, 
 his hope of felicity, and, as a philosopher, the source 
 of his knowledge. The blood returned to her cheek, 
 and reanimation, and even recollection, took place in 
 her earlier than in the astonished Varangian. 
 
 'Blessed Mary!' she said, 'have I indeed tasted the 
 last bitter cup, and is it here where thou reunitest thy 
 votaries after death? Speak, Hereward, if thou art aught 
 but an empty creature of the imagination — speak, and 
 tell me if I have but dreamed of that monstrous ogre!' 
 
 'Collect thyself, my beloved Bertha,' said the Anglo- 
 Saxon, recalled by the sound of her voice, ' and prepare 
 to endure what thou Kvest to witness, and thy Hereward 
 survives to tell. That hideous thing exists — nay, do not 
 start, and look for a hiding-place — thy own gentle 
 hand with a riding-rod is sufficient to tame its courage. 
 And am I not here. Bertha? Wouldst thou wish another 
 safeguard?' 
 
 346
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'No — no,' exclaimed she, seizing on the arm of her 
 recovered lover. 'Do I not know you now?' 
 
 'And is it but now you know me. Bertha?' said Here- 
 ward. 
 
 *I suspected before,' she said, casting down her eyes; 
 'but I know with certainty that mark of the boar's 
 tusk.' 
 
 Hereward suffered her imagination to clear itself from 
 the shock it had received so suddenly before he ventured 
 to enter upon present events, in which there was so much 
 both to doubt and to fear. He permitted her, therefore, 
 to recall to her memory all the circumstances of the rous- 
 ing the hideous animal, assisted by the tribes of both 
 their fathers. She mentioned in broken words the flight 
 of arrows discharged against the boar by young and old, 
 male and female, and how her own well-aimed but feeble 
 shaft wounded him sharply; she forgot not how, incensed 
 at the pain, the creature rushed upon her as the cause, 
 laid her palfrey dead upon the spot, and would soon have 
 slain her, had not Hereward, when every attempt failed 
 to bring his horse up to the monster, thrown himself 
 from his seat and interposed personally between the 
 boar and Bertha. The battle was not decided without 
 a desperate struggle; the boar was slain, but Here- 
 ward received the deep gash upon his brow which she 
 whom he had saved now recalled to her memory. 
 'Alas!' she said, 'what have we been to each other 
 since that period? and what are we now, in this foreign 
 land?' 
 
 'Answer for thyself, my Bertha,' said the Varangian, 
 'if thou canst; and if thou canst with truth say that thou 
 art the same Bertha who vowed affection to Hereward, 
 
 347
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 believe me, it were sinful to suppose that the saints have 
 brought us together with a view of our being afterwards 
 separated.' 
 
 'Hereward/ said Bertha, 'you have not preserved the 
 bird in your bosom safer than I have : at home or abroad, 
 in servitude or in freedom, amidst sorrow or joy, plenty 
 or want, my thought was always on the troth I had 
 plighted to Hereward at the stone of Odin.' 
 
 'Say no more of that,' said Hereward; 'it was an im- 
 pious rite, and good could not come of it.' 
 
 'Was it then so impious?' she said, the unbidden tear 
 rushing into her large blue eye. 'Alas! it was a pleasure 
 to reflect that Hereward was mine by that solemn en- 
 gagement.' 
 
 'Listen to me, my Bertha,' said Hereward, taking her 
 hand. 'We were then almost children; and though our 
 vow was in itself innocent, yet it was so far wrong, as 
 being sworn in the presence of a dumb idol, representing 
 one who was, while alive, a bloody and cruel magician 
 But we will, the instant an opportunity offers itself, re- 
 new our vow before a shrine of real sanctity, and promise 
 suitable penance for our ignorant acknowledgment of 
 Odin, to propitiate the real Deity, who can bear us 
 through those storms of adversity which are like to sur- 
 round us.' 
 
 Leaving them for the time to their love-discourse, of a 
 nature pure, simple, and interesting, we shall give, in 
 few words, all that the reader needs to know of their 
 separate history between the boar's hunt and the time 
 of their meeting in the gardens of Agelastes. 
 
 In that doubtful state experienced by outlaws, Wal- 
 theoff, the father of Hereward, and Engelred, the parent 
 
 348
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 of Bertha, used to assemble their unsubdued tribes, 
 sometimes in the fertile regions of Devonshire, sometimes 
 in the dark wooded solitudes of Hampshire, but as much 
 as possible within the call of the bugle of the famous 
 Ederic the Forester, so long leader of the insurgent 
 Saxons. The chiefs we have mentioned were among 
 the last bold men who asserted the independence of the 
 Saxon race of England; and like their captain, Ederic, 
 they were generally known by the name of Foresters, as 
 men who lived by hunting, when their power of making 
 excursions was checked and repelled. Hence they made 
 a step backwards in civilisation, and became more like 
 to their remote ancestors of German descent than they 
 were to their more immediate and civilised predecessors, 
 who, before the battle of Hastings, had advanced con- 
 siderably in the arts of civilised life. 
 
 Old superstitions had begun to revive among them, 
 and hence the practice of youths and maidens plighting 
 their troth at the stone circles dedicated, as it was sup- 
 posed, to Odin, in whom, however, they had long ceased 
 to nourish any of the sincere belief which was entertained 
 by their heathen ancestors. 
 
 In another respect these outlaws were fast reassuming 
 a striking peculiarity of the ancient Germans. Their 
 circumstances naturally brought the youth of both 
 sexes much together, and by early marriage, or less per- 
 manent connexions, the population would have increased 
 far beyond the means which the outlaws had to maintain, 
 or even to protect, themselves. The laws of the Foresters, 
 therefore, strictly enjoined that marriages should be 
 prohibited until the bridegroom was twenty-one years 
 complete. Future alliances were indeed often formed by 
 
 349
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the young people, nor was this discountenanced by their 
 parents, provided that the lovers waited until the period 
 when the majority of the bridegroom should permit them 
 to marry. Such youths as infringed this rule incurred the 
 dishonourable epithet of 'niddering,' or worthless — an 
 epithet of a nature so insulting, that men were known 
 to have slain themselves rather than endure life under 
 such opprobrium. But the offenders were very few amidst 
 a race trained in moderation and self-denial ; and hence 
 it was that woman, worshipped for so many years like 
 something sacred, was received, when she became the 
 head of a family, into the arms and heart of a husband 
 who had so long expected her, was treated as something 
 more elevated than the mere idol of the moment, and, 
 feeling the rate at which she was valued, endeavoured 
 by her actions to make her life correspond with it. 
 
 It was by the whole population of these tribes as well 
 as their parents, that, after the adventure of the boar- 
 hunt, Hereward and Bertha were considered as lovers 
 whose alliance was pointed out by Heaven, and they were 
 encouraged to approximate as much as their mutual 
 inclinations prompted them. The youths of the tribe 
 avoided asking Bertha's hand at the dance, and the 
 maidens used no maidenly entreaty or artifice to detain 
 Hereward beside them if Bertha was present at the feast. 
 They clasped each other's hands through the perforated 
 stone which they called the altar of Odin, though later 
 ages have ascribed it to the Druids, and they implored 
 that, if they broke their faith to each other, their fault 
 might be avenged by the twelve swords which were now 
 drawn around them during the ceremony by as many 
 youths, and that their misfortunes might be so many 
 
 3SO
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 as twelve maidens, who stood around with their hair 
 loosened, should be unable to recount, either in prose 
 or verse. 
 
 The torch of the Saxon Cupid shone for some years as 
 brilliant as when it was first lighted. The time, however, 
 came when they were to be tried by adversity, though 
 undeserved by the perfidy of either. Years had gone 
 past, and Hereward had to count with anxiety how 
 many months and weeks were to separate him from the 
 bride who was beginning already by degrees to shrink 
 less shyly from the expressions and caresses of one who 
 was soon to term her all his own. Wilham Rufus, how- 
 ever, had formed a plan of totally extirpating the For- 
 esters, whose implacable hatred and restless love of free- 
 dom had so often disturbed the quiet of his kingdom, 
 and despised his forest laws. He assembled his Norman 
 forces, and united to them a body of Saxons who had 
 submitted to his rule. He thus brought an overpowering 
 force upon the bands of Waltheoff and Engelred, who 
 found no resource but to throw the females of their tribe, 
 and such as could not bear arms, into a convent dedi- 
 cated to St. Augustine, of which Kenelm their relation 
 was prior, and then turning to the battle, vindicated their 
 ancient valour by fighting it to the last. Both the unfor- 
 tunate chiefs remained dead on the field, and Hereward 
 and his brother had well-nigh shared their fate; but some 
 Saxon inhabitants of the neighbourhood, who adven- 
 tured on the field of battle, which the victors had left 
 bare of everything save the booty of the kites and the 
 ravens, found the bodies of the youths still retaining life. 
 As they were generally well known and much beloved by 
 these people, Hereward and his brother were taken care 
 
 3SI
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 of till their wounds began to close and their strength re- 
 turned. Hereward then heard the doleful news of the 
 death of his father and Engelred. His next inquiry was 
 concerning his betrothed bride and her mother. The 
 poor inhabitants could give him little information. Some 
 of the females who had taken refuge in the convent the 
 Norman knights and nobles had seized upon as their 
 slaves, and the rest, with the monks who had harboured 
 them, were turned adrift, and their place of retreat was 
 completely sacked and burnt to the ground. 
 
 Half -dead himself at hearing these tidings, Hereward 
 sallied out, and at every risk of death, for the Saxon For- 
 esters were treated as outlaws, commenced inquiries 
 after those so dear to him. He asked concerning the par- 
 ticular fate of Bertha and her mother among the miser- 
 able creatures who yet hovered about the neighbourhood 
 of the convent, like a few half-scorched bees about their 
 smothered hive. But, in the magnitude of their own 
 terrors, none had retained eyes for their neighbours, and 
 all that they could say was, that the wife and daughter 
 of Engelred were certainly lost; and their imaginations 
 suggested so many heart-rending details to this conclu- 
 sion, that Hereward gave up all thoughts of further re- 
 searches, likely to terminate so uselessly and so horribly. 
 
 The young Saxon had been all his life bred up in a 
 patriotic hatred to the Normans, who did not, it was 
 likely, become dearer to his thoughts in consequence of 
 this victory. He dreamed at first of crossing the strait, 
 to make war against the hated enemy in their own coun- 
 try; but an idea so extravagant did not long retain pos- 
 session of his mind. His fate was decided by his encoun- 
 tering an aged palmer, who knew, or pretended to have 
 
 352
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 known, his father, and to be a native of England. This 
 man was a disguised Varangian, selected for the purpose, 
 possessed of art and dexterity, and well provided with 
 money. He had little difficulty in persuading Here ward, 
 in the hopeless desolation of his condition, to join the 
 Varangian Guard, at this moment at war with the Nor- 
 mans, under which name it suited Hereward's prepos- 
 sessions to represent the Emperor's wars with Robert 
 Guiscard, his son Bohemond, and other adventurers, in 
 Italy, Greece, or Sicily. A journey to the East also in- 
 ferred a pilgrimage, and gave the unfortunate Hereward 
 the chance of purchasing pardon for his sins by visiting 
 the Holy Land. In gaining Hereward, the recruiter also 
 secured the services of his elder brother, who had vowed 
 not to separate from him. 
 
 The high character of both brothers for courage in- 
 duced this wily agent to consider them as a great prize, 
 and it was from the memoranda respecting the history 
 and character of those whom he recruited, in which the 
 elder had been unreservedly communicative, that Agel- 
 astes picked up the information respecting Hereward's 
 family and circumstances, which, at their first secret in- 
 terview, he made use of to impress upon the Verangian 
 the idea of his supernatural knowledge. Several of his 
 companions-in-arms were thus gained over; for it will 
 easily be guessed that these memorials were entrusted to 
 the keeping of Achilles Tatius, and he, to further their 
 joint purposes, imparted them to Agelastes, who thus 
 obtained a general credit for supernatural knowledge 
 among these ignorant men. But Hereward's blunt faith 
 and honesty enabled him to shun the snare. 
 
 Such being the fortunes of Hereward, those of Bertha 
 
 « 353
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 formed the subject of a broken and passionate communi- 
 cation between the lovers, broken Hke an April day, and 
 mingled with many a tender caress, such as modesty 
 permits to lovers when they meet again unexpectedly 
 after a separation which threatened to be eternal. But 
 the story may be comprehended in few words. Amid the 
 general sack of the monastery, an old Norman knight 
 seized upon Bertha as his prize. Struck with her beauty, 
 he designed her as an attendant upon his daughter, just 
 then come out of the years of childhood, and the very ap- 
 ple of her father's eye, being the only child of his beloved 
 countess, and sent late in life to bless their marriage bed. 
 It was in the order of things that the Lady of Aspra- 
 monte, who was considerably younger than the knight, 
 should govern her husband, and that Brenhilda, their 
 daughter, should govern both her parents. 
 
 The knight of Aspramonte, however, it may be ob- 
 served, entertained some desire to direct his young off- 
 spring to more feminine amusements than those which 
 began already to put her life frequently in danger. Con- 
 tradiction was not to be thought of, as the good old 
 knight knew by experience. The influence and example 
 of a companion a little older than herself might be of 
 some avail, and it was with this view that, in the con- 
 fusion of the sack, Aspramonte seized upon the youthful 
 Bertha. Terrified to the utmost degree, she clung to her 
 mother, and the knight of Aspramonte, who had a softer 
 heart than was then usually found under a steel cuirass, 
 moved by the affliction of the mother and daughter, 
 and recollecting that the former might also be a useful 
 attendant upon his lady, extended his protection to both, 
 and, conveying them out of the press, paid the soldiers 
 
 354
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 who ventured to dispute the spoil with him partly in 
 some small pieces of money, and partly in dry blows 
 with the reverse of his lance. 
 
 The well-natured knight soon after returned to his 
 own castle, and being a man of an orderly life and vir- 
 tuous habits, the charming beauties of the Saxon virgin, 
 and the more ripened charms of her mother, did not pre- 
 vent their travelling in all honour as well as safety to his 
 family fortress, the Castle of Aspramonte. Here such 
 masters as could be procured were got together to teach 
 the young Bertha every sort of female accomplishment, 
 in the hope that her mistress, Brenhilda, might be in- 
 spired with a desire to partake in her education; but al- 
 though this so far succeeded that the Saxon captive be- 
 came highly skilled in such music, needlework, and other 
 female accomplishments as were known to the time, yet 
 her young mistress, Brenhilda, retained the taste for 
 those martial amusements which had so sensibly grieved 
 her father, but to which her mother, who herself had 
 nourished such fancies in her youth, readily gave sanc- 
 tion. 
 
 The captives, however, were kindly treated. Bren- 
 hilda became infinitely attached to the young Anglo- 
 Saxon, whom she loved less for her ingenuity in arts than 
 for her activity in field sports, to which her early state of 
 independence had trained her. 
 
 The Lady of Aspramonte was also kind to both the 
 captives; but in one particular she exercised a piece of 
 petty tyranny over them. She had imbibed an idea, 
 strengthened by an old doting father-confessor, that the 
 Saxons were heathens at that time, or at least heretics, 
 and made a positive point with her husband that the 
 
 355
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 bondswoman and girl who were to attend on her person 
 
 and that of her daughter should be quaHfied for the office 
 by being anew admitted into the Christian Church by 
 baptism. 
 
 Though feeling the falsehood and injustice of the accu- 
 sation, the mother had sense enough to submit to neces- 
 sity, and received the name of Martha in all form at the 
 altar, to which she answered during the rest of her life. 
 
 But Bertha showed a character upon this occasion in- 
 consistent with the general docility and gentleness of her 
 temper. She boldly refused to be admitted anew into the 
 pale of the church, of which her conscience told her she 
 was already a member, or to exchange for another the 
 name originally given her at the font. It was in vain 
 that the old knight commanded, that the lady threat- 
 ened, and that her mother advised and entreated. More 
 closely pressed in private by her mother, she let her mo- 
 tive be known, which had not before been suspected. ' I 
 know,' she said, with a flood of tears, 'that my father 
 would have died ere I was subjected to this insult; and 
 then — who shall assure me that vows which were made 
 to the Saxon Bertha will be binding if a French Agatha 
 be substituted in her stead? They may banish me,' she 
 said, 'or kill me if they will, but if the son of Waltheoff 
 should again meet with the daughter of Engelred, he 
 shall meet that Bertha whom he knew in the forests of 
 Hampton.' 
 
 All argument was in vain: the Saxon maiden remained 
 obstinate, and to try to break her resolution, the Lady 
 of Aspramonte at length spoke of dismissing her from 
 the service of her young mistress, and banishing her 
 from the castle. To this also she had made up her mind, 
 
 356
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and she answered firmly, though respectfully, that she 
 would sorrow bitterly at parting with her young lady; 
 but as to the rest, she would rather beg under her own 
 name than be recreant to the faith of her fathers, and 
 condemn it as heresy, by assuming one of Frank origin. 
 The Lady Brenhilda, in the meantime, entered the 
 chamber where her mother was just about to pass the 
 threatened doom of banishment. *Do not stop for my 
 entrance, madam,' said the dauntless young lady; *I am 
 as much concerned in the doom which you are about to 
 pass as is Bertha; if she crosses the drawbridge of Aspra- 
 monte as an exile, so will I, when she has dried her 
 tears, of which even my petulance could never wring 
 one from her eyes. She shall be my squire and body at- 
 tendant, and Launcelot, the bard, shall follow with my 
 spear and shield.' 
 
 'And you will return, mistress,' said her mother, 'from 
 so foohsh an expedition before the sun sets? ' 
 
 * So Heaven further me in my purpose, lady,' answered 
 the young heiress, ' the sun shall neither rise nor set that 
 sees us return till this name of Bertha, and of her mis- 
 tress, Brenhilda, are wafted as far as the trumpet of fame 
 can sound them. Cheer up, my sweetest Bertha!' she 
 said, taking her attendant by the hand, 'if Heaven hath 
 torn thee from thy country and thy plighted troth, it 
 hath given thee a sister and a friend, with whom thy 
 fame shall be for ever blended.' 
 
 The Lady of Aspramonte was confounded. She knew 
 that her daughter was perfectly capable of the wild 
 course which she had announced, and that she herself, 
 even with her husband's assistance, would be unable to 
 prevent her following it. She passively listened, there- 
 
 357
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 fore, while the Saxon matron, fonnerly Urica, but now 
 Martha, addressed her daughter. * My child, ' she said, 
 *as you value honour, virtue, safety, and gratitude, 
 soften your heart towards your master and mistress, and 
 follow the advice of a parent, who has more years and 
 more judgment than you. And you, my dearest young 
 lady, let not your lady-mother think that an attachment 
 to the exercises you excel in has destroyed in your bosom 
 filial affection and a regard to the delicacy of your sex. 
 As they seem both obstinate, madam,' continued the 
 matron, after watching the influence of this advice upon 
 the young women, 'perhaps, if it may be permitted me, 
 I could state an alternative which might, in the mean- 
 while, satisfy your ladyship's wishes, accommodate 
 itself to the wilfulness of my obstinate daughter, and 
 answer the kind purpose of her generous mistress.' 
 
 The Lady of Aspramonte signed to the Saxon matron 
 to proceed. She went on accordingly : ' The Saxons, dear- 
 est lady, of the present day, are neither pagans nor here- 
 tics: they are, in the time of keeping Easter, as well as in 
 all other disputable doctrine, humbly obedient to the 
 Pope of Rome; and this our good bLshop well knows, 
 since he upbraided some of the domestics for calling me 
 an old heathen. Yet our names are uncouth in the ears of 
 the Franks, and bear, perhaps, a heathenish sound. If it 
 be not exacted that my daughter submit to a new rite of 
 baptism, she will lay aside her Saxon name of Bertha 
 upon all occasions while in your honourable household. 
 This will cut short a debate which, with forgiveness, I 
 think is scarce of importance enough to break the peace 
 of this castle. I will engage that, in gratitude for this 
 indulgence of a trifling scruple, my daughter, if possible, 
 
 358
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PAkIS 
 
 shall double the zeal and assiduity of her service to her 
 young lady.' 
 
 The Lady of Aspramonte was glad to embrace the 
 means which this offer presented of extricating herself 
 from the dispute with as little compromise of dignity as 
 could well be. 'If the good Lord Bishop approved of 
 such a compromise,' she said, 'she would for herself 
 withdraw her opposition.' The prelate approved accord- 
 ingly, the more readily that he was informed that the 
 young heiress desired earnestly such an agreement. The 
 peace of the castle was restored, and Bertha recognised 
 her new name of Agatha as a name of service, but not a 
 name of baptism. 
 
 One effect the dispute certainly produced, and that 
 was, increasing in an enthusiastic degree the love of 
 Bertha for her young mistress. With that amiable fail- 
 ing of attached domestics and humble friends, she en- 
 deavoured to serve her as she knew she loved to be served ; 
 and therefore indulged her mistress in those chivalrous 
 fancies which distinguished her even in her own age, and 
 in ours would have rendered her a female Quixote. 
 Bertha, indeed, never caught the frenzy of her mistress; 
 but, strong, willing, and able-bodied, she readily quali- 
 fied herself to act upon occasion as a squire of the body 
 to a lady adventuress; and, accustomed from her child- 
 hood to see blows dealt, blood flowing, and men dying, 
 she could look with an undazzled eye upon the dangers 
 which her mistress encoimtered, and seldom teazed her 
 with remonstrances, unless when those were unusually 
 great. This compliance on most occasions gave Bertha 
 a right of advice upon some, which, always given with 
 the best intentions and at fitting times, strengthened her 
 
 359
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 influence with her mistress, which a course of conduct 
 savouring of diametrical opposition would certainly have 
 destroyed. 
 
 A few more words serve to announce the death of the 
 knight of Aspramonte, the romantic marriage of the 
 young lady with the Count of Paris, their engagement in 
 the crusade, and the detail of events with which the 
 reader is acquainted. 
 
 Hereward did not exactly comprehend some of the 
 later incidents of the story, owing to a slight strife which 
 arose between Bertha and him during the course of her 
 narrative. When she avowed the girlish simplicity with 
 which she obstinately refused to change her name, be- 
 cause, in her apprehension, the troth-plight betwixt her 
 and her lover might be thereby prejudiced, it was im- 
 possible for Hereward not to acknowledge her tender- 
 ness by snatching her to his bosom and impressing his 
 grateful thanks upon her lips. She extricated herself 
 immediately from his grasp, however, with cheeks more 
 crimsoned in modesty than in anger, and gravely ad- 
 dressed her lover thus: 'Enough — enough, Hereward, 
 this may be pardoned to so unexpected a meeting, but 
 we must in future remember that we are probably the 
 last of our race; and let it not be said that the manners 
 of their ancestors were forgotten by Hereward and by 
 Bertha. Think that, though we are alone, the shades of 
 our fathers are not far off, and watch to see what use we 
 make of the meeting which, perhaps, their intercession 
 has procured us.' 
 
 'You wrong me, Bertha,' said Hereward, 'if you think 
 me capable of forgetting my own duty and yours at a 
 moment when our thanks are due to Heaven, to be testi- 
 
 360
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 fied very differently than by infringing on its behests or 
 the commands of our parents. The question is now, How 
 we shall rejoin each other when we separate, since sepa- 
 rate, I fear, we must?' 
 
 'O! do not say so,' exclaimed the unfortunate Bertha. 
 
 *It must be so,' said Hereward, *for a time; but I 
 swear to thee, by the hilt of my sword and the handle 
 of my battle-axe, that blade was never so true to shaft 
 as I will be to thee.' 
 
 'But wherefore, then, leave me, Hereward?' said the 
 maiden; 'and, oh! wherefore not assist me in the release 
 of my mistress? ' 
 
 * Of thy mistress ! ' said Hereward. * Shame ! that thou 
 canst give that name to mortal woman ! ' 
 
 'But she is my mistress,' answered Bertha, 'and by a 
 thousand kind ties, which cannot be separated so long as 
 gratitude is the reward of kindness.' 
 
 * And what is her danger,' said Hereward — 'what is it 
 she wants, this accomplished lady whom thou callest 
 mistress? ' 
 
 'Her honour, her life, are alike in danger,' said Bertha. 
 ' She has agreed to meet the Caesar in the field, and he will 
 not hesitate, like a base-born miscreant, to take every 
 advantage in the encounter, which, I grieve to say, may 
 in all likelihood be fatal to my mistress.' 
 
 'Why dost thou think so?' answered Hereward. 
 'This lady has won many single combats, unless she is 
 belied, against adversaries more formidable than the 
 Caesar.' 
 
 'True,' said the Saxon maiden; 'but you speak of 
 things that passed in a far different land, where faith 
 and honour are not empty sounds, as, alas! they seem 
 
 361
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 but too surely to be here. Trust me, it is no girlish ter- 
 ror which sends me out in this disguise of my country 
 dress, which, they say, finds respect at Constantinople : 
 I go to let the chiefs of the crusade know the peril in 
 which the noble lady stands, and trust to their humanity, 
 to their religion, to their love of honour, and fear of dis- 
 grace, for assistance in this hour of need ; and now that I 
 have had the blessing of meeting with thee, all besides 
 will go well — all will go well — and I will back to my 
 mistress and report whom I have seen.' 
 
 'Tarry yet another moment, my recovered treasure,' 
 said Hereward, ' and let me balance this matter carefully. 
 This Frankish lady holds the Saxons like the very dust 
 that thou brushest from the hem of her garment. She 
 treats, she regards, the Saxons as pagans and heretics. 
 She has dared to impose slavish tasks upon thee, born in 
 freedom. Her father's sword has been embrued to the 
 hilt with Anglo-Saxon blood; perhaps that of Waltheoff 
 and Engelred has added depth to the stain. She has been, 
 besides, a presumptuous fool, usurping for herself the 
 trophies and warlike character which belong to the other 
 sex. Lastly, it will be hard to find a champion to fight in 
 her stead, since all the crusaders have passed over to 
 Asia, which is the land, they say, in which they have 
 come to war; and by orders of the Emperor no means of 
 return to the hither shore will be permitted to any of 
 them.' 
 
 'Alas — alas!' said Bertha, 'how does this world 
 change us! The son of Waltheoff I once knew brave, 
 ready to assist distress, bold and generous. Such was 
 what I pictured him to myself during his absence. I have 
 met him again, and he is calculating, cold, and selfish.' 
 
 362
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'Hush, damsel,' said the Varangian, 'and know him of 
 whom thou speakest ere thou judgest him. The Count- 
 ess of Paris is such as I have said; yet let her appear 
 boldly in the lists, and when the trumpet shall sound 
 thrice another shall reply, which shall announce the 
 arrival of her own noble lord to do battle in her stead; or, 
 should he fail to appear, I will requite her kindness to 
 thee, Bertha, and be ready in his place.' 
 
 *Wilt thou? — wilt thou indeed?' said the damsel. 
 * That was spoken like the son of Waltheoff — like the 
 genuine stock. I will home and comfort my mistress; for 
 surely if the judgment of God ever directed the issue of a 
 judicial combat, its influence will descend upon this. But 
 you hint that the Count is here — that he is at liberty; 
 she will inquire about that,' 
 
 'She must be satisfied,' replied Hereward, 'to know 
 that her husband is under the guidance of a friend who 
 will endeavour to protect him from his own extrava- 
 gancies and follies; or, at all events, of one who, if he can- 
 not properly be called a friend, has certainly not acted, 
 and will not act, towards him the part of an enemy. And 
 now, farewell, long lost — long loved — !' Before he could 
 say more, the Saxon maiden, after two or three vain 
 attempts to express her gratitude, threw herself into her 
 lover's arms, and, despite the coyness which she had 
 recently shown, impressed upon his lips the thanks 
 which she could not speak. 
 
 They parted, Bertha returning to her mistress at the 
 lodge, which she had left both with trouble and danger, 
 and Hereward by the portal kept by the negro-portress, 
 who, complimenting the handsome Varangian on his 
 success among the fair, intimated that she had been in 
 
 363
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 some sort a witness of his meeting with the Saxon dam- 
 sel. A piece of gold, part of a late largesse, amply served 
 to bribe her tongue; and the soldier, clear of the gardens 
 of the philosopher, sped back as he might to the barrack, 
 judging that it was full time to carry some supply to 
 Coimt Robert, who had been left without food the 
 whole day. 
 
 It is a common popular saying that, as the sensation of 
 hunger is not connected with any pleasing or gentle emo- 
 tion, so it is particularly remarkable for irritating those 
 of anger and spleen. It is not, therefore, very surprising 
 that Count Robert, who had been so unusually long 
 without sustenance, should receive Hereward with a de- 
 gree of impatience beyond what the occasion merited, 
 and injurious certainly to the honest Varangian, who 
 had repeatedly exposed his life that day for the interest 
 of the Countess and the Count himself. 
 
 *Soh, sir!' he said, in that accent of affected restraint 
 by which a superior modifies his displeasure against his 
 inferior into a cold and scornful expression, 'you have 
 played a Uberal host to us! Not that it is of conse- 
 quence; but methinks a count of the most Christian 
 kingdom dines not every day with a mercenary soldier, 
 and might expect, if not the ostentatious, at least the 
 needful, part of hospitality.' 
 
 'And methinks,' repHed the Varangian, '0 most 
 Christian Count, that such of your high rank as, by 
 choice or fate, become the guests of such as I may think 
 themselves pleased, and blame not their host's niggard- 
 liness, but the difficulty of his circumstances, if dinner 
 should not present itself oftener than once in four-and- 
 twenty hours.' So saying, he clapt his hands together, 
 
 364
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and his domestic Edric entered. His guest looked aston- 
 ished at the entrance of this third party into their retire- 
 ment. *I will answer for this man,' said Hereward, and 
 addressed him in the following words : ' What food hast 
 thou, Edric, to place before the honourable Count?' 
 
 * Nothing but the cold pasty,' replied the attendant, 
 'marvellously damaged by your honour's encounter at 
 breakfast.' 
 
 The military domestic, as intimated, brought forward 
 a large pasty, but which had already that morning sus- 
 tained a furious attack, insomuch that Count Robert of 
 Paris, who, like all noble Normans, was somewhat nice 
 and delicate in his eating, was in some doubt whether 
 his scrupulousness should not prevail over his hunger; 
 but, on looking more closely, sight, smell, and a fast of 
 twenty hours joined to convince him that the pasty was 
 an excellent one, and that the charger on which it was 
 presented possessed corners yet untouched. At length, 
 having suppressed his scruples and made bold inroad 
 upon the remains of the dish, he paused to partake of a 
 flask of strong red wine which stood invitingly beside 
 him, and a lusty draught increased the good-humour 
 which had begun to take place towards Hereward, in ex- 
 change for the displeasure with which he had received 
 him. 
 
 *Now, by Heaven!' he said, *I myself ought to be 
 ashamed to lack the courtesy which I recommend to 
 others. Here have I, with the manners of a Flemish 
 boor, been devouring the provisions of my gallant host, 
 without even asking him to sit down at his own table 
 and to partake of his own good cheer ! ' 
 
 *I will not strain courtesies with you for that,' said 
 
 365
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Hereward; and, thrusting his hand into the pasty, he 
 proceeded with great speed and dexterity to devour the 
 miscellaneous contents, a handful of which was inclosed 
 in his grasp. The Count now withdrew from the table, 
 partly in disgust at the rustic proceedings of Hereward, 
 who, however, by now calling Edric to join him in his 
 attack upon the pasty, showed that he had, in fact, ac- 
 cording to his manners, subjected himself previously to 
 some observance of respect towards his guest, while the 
 assistance of his attendant enabled him to make a clear 
 caccahulum of what was left. Count Robert at length 
 summoned up courage sufl6cient to put a question which 
 had been trembling upon his lips ever since Hereward 
 had returned. 
 
 'Have thine inquiries, my gallant friend, learned more 
 concerning my unfortunate wife, my faithful Bren- 
 hilda?' 
 
 'Tidings I have,' said the Anglo-Saxon, 'but whether 
 pleasing or not, yourself must be the judge. This much 
 I have learned: she hath, as you know, come under an 
 engagement to meet the Caesar in arms in the hsts, but 
 under conditions which you may perhaps think strange ; 
 these, however, she hath entertained without scruple.' 
 
 'Let me know these terms,' said the Count of Paris; 
 *they will, I think, appear less strange in my eyes than in 
 thine.' But while he affected to speak with the utmost 
 coolness, the husband's sparkUng eye and crimsoned 
 cheek betrayed the alteration which had taken place in 
 his feelings. 
 
 'The lady and the Caesar,' said Hereward, 'as you 
 partly heard yourself, are to meet in fight; if the Count- 
 ess wins, of course she remains the wife of the noble 
 
 366
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Count of Paris; if she loses, she becomes the paramour 
 of the Caesar Nicephorus Briennius.' 
 
 'Saints and angels forbid!' said Count Robert; 'were 
 they to permit such treason to triumph, we might be 
 pardoned for doubting their divinity.' 
 
 'Yet methinks,' said the Anglo-Saxon, 'it were no dis- 
 graceful precaution that both you and I, with other 
 riends, if we can obtain such, should be seen under 
 shield in the lists on the morning of the conflict. To tri- 
 umph or to be defeated is in the hand of fate ; but what 
 we cannot fail to witness is, whether or not the lady re- 
 ceives that fair-play which is the due of an honourable 
 combatant, and which, as you have yourself seen, can be 
 sometimes basely transgressed in this Grecian empire.' 
 
 'On that condition,' said the Count, 'and protesting 
 that not even the extreme danger of my lady shall make 
 me break through the rule of a fair fight, I will surely 
 attend the lists, if thou, brave Saxon, canst find me any 
 means of doing so. Yet stay,' he continued, after reflect- 
 ing for a moment, 'thou shalt promise not to let her 
 know that her count is on the field, far less to point him 
 out to her eye among the press of warriors. O, thou dost 
 not know that the sight of the beloved will sometimes 
 steal from us our courage, even when it has most to 
 achieve ! ' 
 
 'We will endeavour,' said the Varangian, 'to arrange 
 matters according to thy pleasure, so that thou findest 
 out no more fantastical difficulties; for, by my word, an 
 afl'air so compUcated in itself requires not to be confused 
 by the fine-spun whims of thy national gallantry. Mean- 
 time, much must be done this night; and while I go about 
 it, thou, sir knight, hadst best remain here, with such dis- 
 
 367
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 guise of garments and such food as Edric may be able 
 to procure for thee. Fear nothing from intrusion on 
 the part of thy neighbours. We Varangians respect 
 each other's secrets, of whatever nature they may 
 chance to be.'
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 But for our tmsty brother-in-law and the abbot, 
 With all the rest of that consorted crew, — 
 Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels. 
 Good uncle, help to order several powers 
 To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are. 
 They shall not live within this world, I swear. 
 
 Richard II. 
 
 As Hereward spoke the last words narrated in the fore- 
 going chapter, he left the Count in his apartment, and 
 proceeded to the Blacquernal Palace. We traced his first 
 entrance into the court, but since then he had frequently 
 been summoned, not only by order of the Princess Anna 
 Comnena, who delighted in asking him questions con- 
 cerning the customs of his native country, and marking 
 down the replies in her own inflated language, but also 
 by the direct command of the Emperor himself, who had 
 the humour of many princes, that of desiring to obtain 
 direct information from persons in a very inferior station 
 in their court. The ring which the Princess had given 
 to the Varangian served as a pass-token more than once, 
 and was now so generally known by the slaves of the 
 palace, that Hereward had only to slip it into the hand 
 of a principal person among them, and was introduced 
 into a small chamber, not distant from the saloon 
 already mentioned, dedicated to the Muses. In this 
 small apartment, the Emperor, his spouse Irene, and 
 their accomplished daughter Anna Comnena were 
 seated together, clad in very ordinary apparel, as in- 
 deed the furniture of the room itself was of the kind 
 43 369
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Used by respectable citizens, saving that mattrasses, 
 composed of eider-down, hung before each door to 
 ^irevent the risk of eavesdropping. 
 
 'Our trusty Varangian,' said the Empress. 
 
 ' My guide and tutor respecting the manners of those 
 steel-clad men,' said the Princess Anna Comnena, 'of 
 whom it is so necessary that I should form an accurate 
 idea.' 
 
 'Your Imperial Majesty,' said the Empress, 'will not, 
 I trust, think your consort and your muse-inspired 
 daughter are too many to share with you the intelligence 
 brought by this brave and loyal man? ' 
 
 'Dearest wife and daughter,' returned the Emperor, 
 'I have hitherto spared you the burden of a painful 
 secret, which I have locked in my own bosom, at what- 
 ever expense of solitary sorrow and unimparted anxiety. 
 Noble daughter, you in particular will feel this calamity, 
 learning, as you must learn, to think odiously of one 
 of whom it has hitherto been your duty to hold a very 
 different opinion.' 
 
 'Holy Mary!' exclaimed the Princess. 
 
 ' Rally yourself,' said the Emperor ; ' remember you are 
 a child of the purple chamber, born not to weep for your 
 father's wrongs, but to avenge them; not to regard even 
 him who has lain by your side as half so important as 
 the sacred imperial grandeur, of which you are yourself 
 a partaker.' 
 
 'What can such words preface?' said Anna Comnena, 
 in great agitation. 
 
 'They say,' answered the Emperor, 'that the Caesar 
 is an ungrateful man to all my bounties, and even to that 
 which annexed him to my own house, and made him by 
 
 370
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 adoption my own son. He hath consorted himself with a 
 knot of traitors, whose very names are enough to raise the 
 foul fiend, as if to snatch his assured prey.' 
 
 ' Could Nicephorus do this? ' said the astonished and 
 forlorn Princess — ' Nicephorus, who has so often called 
 my eyes the lights by which he steered his path? Could 
 he do this to my father, to whose exploits he has listened 
 hour after hour, protesting that he knew not whether it 
 was the beauty of the language or the heroism of the ac- 
 tion which most enchanted him? Thinking with the 
 same thought, seeing with the same eye, loving with the 
 same heart — O, my father! it is impossible that he 
 could be so false. Think of the neighhouring temple of 
 the Muses.' 
 
 'And if I did,' murmured Alexius in his heart, *I 
 should think of the only apology which could be pro- 
 posed for the traitor. A Httle is well enough, but the full 
 soul loathe th the honeycomb.' Then speaking aloud, 
 *My daughter,' he said, 'be comforted. We ourselves 
 were unwilling to believe the shameful truth; but our 
 guards have been debauched; their commander, that 
 ungrateful Achilles Tatius, with the equal traitor, Age- 
 lastes, have been seduced to favour our imprisonment 
 or murder; and, alas for Greece! in the very moment 
 when she required the fostering care of a parent, she 
 was to be deprived of him by a sudden and merciless 
 blow.' 
 
 Here the Emperor wept, whether for the loss to be 
 sustained by his subjects or of his own Hfe it is hard to 
 say. 
 
 'Methinks,' said Irene, 'your Imperial Highness is 
 slow in taking measures against the danger.' 
 
 371
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ' Under your gracious permission, mother,' answered 
 the Princess, ' I would rather say he was hasty in giving 
 belief to it. Methinks the evidence of a Varangian, 
 granting him to be ever so stout a man-at-arms, is but a 
 frail guarantee against the honour of your son-in-law, 
 the approved bravery and fidelity of the captain of your 
 guards, the deep sense, virtue, and profound wisdom of 
 the greatest of your philosophers — ' 
 
 'And the conceit of an over-educated daughter,' said 
 the Emperor, 'who will not allow her parent to judge in 
 what most concerns him. I will tell thee, Anna, I know 
 every one of them, and the trust which may be reposed 
 in them : the honour of your Nicephorus, the bravery and 
 fidelity of the Acolyte, and the virtue and wisdom of 
 Agelastes — have I not had them all in my purse? And 
 had my purse continued well filled, and my arm strong as 
 it was of late, there they would have still remained. But 
 the butterflies went off as the weather became cold, and 
 I must meet the tempest without their assistance. You 
 talk of want of proof? I have proof sufficient when I see 
 danger: this honest soldier brought me indications which 
 corresponded with my own private remarks, made on 
 purpose. Varangian he shall be of Varangians; Acolyte 
 he shall be named, in place of the present traitor; and 
 who knows what may come thereafter? ' 
 
 'May it please your Highness,' said the Varangian, 
 who had been hitherto silent, ' many men in this empire 
 rise to dignity by the fall of their original patrons, but it 
 is a road to greatness to which I cannot reconcile my 
 conscience; moreover, having recovered a friend from 
 whom I was long ago separated, I shall require, in short 
 space, your imperial license for going hence, where I 
 
 372
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 shall leave thousands of enemies behind me, and, spend- 
 ing my life, like many of my countrymen, under the 
 banner of King William of Scotland — ' 
 
 'Part with thee, most inimitable man!' cried the Em- 
 peror, with emphasis; 'where shall I get a soldier — a 
 champion — a friend, so faithful? ' 
 
 * Noble sir,' replied the Anglo-Saxon. * I am every way 
 sensible to your goodness and munificence; but let me 
 entreat you to call me by my own name, and to prom- 
 ise me nothing but your forgiveness for my having been 
 the agent of such confusion among your imperial serv- 
 ants. Not only is the threatened fate of Achilles Tatius, 
 my benefactor; of the Caesar, whom I think my well- 
 wisher; and even of Agelastes himself, painful, so far 
 as it is of my bringing round ; but also I have known it 
 somehow happen that those on whom your Imperial 
 Majesty has lavished the most valuable expressions of 
 your favour one day were the next day food to fatten the 
 chough and crow. And this, I acknowledge, is a purpose 
 for which I would not willingly have it said I had brought 
 my English limbs to these Grecian shores.' 
 
 'Call thee by thine own name, my Edward,' said the 
 Emperor (while he muttered aside, ' By Heaven, I have 
 again forgot the name of the barbarian ! ') — 'by thine 
 own name certainly for the present, but only until we 
 shall devise one more fitted for the trust we repose in 
 thee. Meantime, look at this scroll, which contains, I 
 think, all the particulars which we have been able to 
 learn of this plot, and give it to these unbelieving women, 
 who will not credit that an emperor is in danger till the 
 blades of the conspirators' poniards are clashing within 
 his ribs.' 
 
 373
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Hereward did as he was commanded, and having 
 looked at the scroll, and signified, by bending his head, 
 his acquiescence in its contents, he presented it to Irene, 
 who had not read long ere, with a countenance so em- 
 bittered that she had difl&culty in pointing out the cause 
 of her displeasure to her daughter, she bade her, with 
 animation, ' Read that — read that, and judge of the 
 gratitude and affection of thy Caesar.' 
 
 The Princess Anna Comnena awoke from a state of 
 profound and overpowering melancholy, and looked at 
 the passage pointed out to her, at first with an air of 
 languid curiosity, which presently deepened into the 
 most intense interest. She clutched the scroll as a falcon 
 does his prey, her eye lightened with indignation; and it 
 was with the cry of the bird when in fury that she ex- 
 claimed, 'Bloody-minded, double-hearted traitor! what 
 wouldst thou have? Yes, father,' she said, rising in fury, 
 * it is no longer the voice of a deceived princess that shall 
 intercede to avert from the traitor Nicephorus the doom 
 he has deserved. Did he think that one born in the pur- 
 ple chamber could be divorced — murdered perhaps — 
 with the petty formula of the Romans, "Restore the 
 keys, be no longer my domestic drudge "? ^ Was a daugh- 
 ter of the blood of Comnenus liable to such insults as the 
 meanest of Quirites might bestow on a family house- 
 keeper? ' 
 
 So sa3H[ng, she dashed the tears from her eyes, and her 
 countenance, naturally that of beauty and gentleness, 
 became animated with the expression of a fury. Here- 
 ward looked at her with a mixture of fear, disHke, and 
 compassion. She again burst forth, for nature, having 
 ^ The laconic form of the Roman divorce. 
 374
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 given her considerable abilities, had lent her at the same 
 time an energy of passion far superior in power to the 
 cold ambition of Irene, or the wily, ambidexter, shuffling 
 policy of the Emperor. 
 
 'He shall abye it,' said the Princess — 'he shall 
 dearly abye it! False, smiling, cozening traitor! and 
 for that unfeminine barbarian! Something of this 
 I guessed even at that old fool's banqueting-house ; 
 and yet if this unworthy Caesar submits his body to 
 the chance of arms, he is less prudent than I have 
 some reason to believe. Think you he will have the 
 madness to brand us with such open neglect, my 
 father? and will you not invent some mode of ensuring 
 our revenge? ' 
 
 'Soh!' thought the Emperor, 'this difficulty is over: 
 she will run downhill to her revenge, and will need the 
 snaffle and curb more than the lash. If every jealous 
 dame in Constantinople were to pursue her fury as un- 
 relentingly, our laws should be written, like Draco's, 
 not in ink, but in blood. Attend to me now,' he said 
 aloud, ' my wife, my daughter, and thou, dear Edward, 
 and you shall learn, and you three only, my mode 
 of navigating the vessel of the state through these 
 shoals.' 
 
 'Let us see distinctly,' continued Alexius, 'the means 
 by which they propose to act, and these shall instruct 
 us how to meet them. A certain number of the Varan- 
 gians are unhappily seduced, under pretence of wrongs, 
 artfully stirred up by their villainous general. A part 
 of them are studiously to be arranged nigh our person. 
 The traitor Ursel, some of them suppose, is dead; but if 
 it were so, his name is sufficient to draw together his old 
 
 375
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 factionaries. I have a means of satisfying them on that 
 point, on which I shall remain silent for the present. A 
 considerable body of the Immortal Guards have also 
 given way to seduction; they are to be placed to sup- 
 port the handful of treacherous Varangians, who are 
 in the plot to attack our person. Now, a slight change 
 in the stations of the soldiery, which thou, my faithful 
 Edward — or — a — a — whatever thou art named — 
 for which thou, I say, shalt have full authority, will de- 
 range the plans of the traitors, and place the true men in 
 such position around them as to cut them to pieces with 
 little trouble.' 
 
 'And the combat, my lord?' said the Saxon. 
 
 'Thou hadst been no true Varangian hadst thou not 
 inquired after that,' said the Emperor, nodding good- 
 humouredly towards him. 'As to the combat, the Caesar 
 has devised it, and it shall be my care that he shall not 
 retreat from the dangerous part of it. He cannot in 
 honour avoid fighting with this woman, strange as the 
 combat is; and however it ends, the conspiracy will break 
 forth, and as assuredly as it comes against persons pre- 
 pared and in arms shall it be stifled in the blood of the 
 conspirators.* 
 
 'My revenge does not require this,' said the Princess; 
 'and your imperial honour is also interested that this 
 countess shall be protected.' 
 
 'It is little business of mine,' said the Emperor. 'She 
 comes here with her husband altogether iminvited. He 
 behaves with insolence in my presence, and deserves 
 whatever may be the issue to himself or his lady of their 
 mad adventure. In sooth, I desired little more than to 
 give him a fright with those animals whom their igno- 
 
 376
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 ranee judged enchanted, and to give his wife a slight 
 alarm about the impetuosity of a Grecian lover, and 
 there my vengeance should have ended. But it may be 
 that his wife may be taken under my protection, now 
 that little revenge is over.' 
 
 'And a paltry revenge it was,' said the Empress, * that 
 you, a man past middle life, and with a wife who might 
 command some attention, should constitute yourself 
 the object of alarm to such a handsome man as Count 
 Robert, and the amazon his wife.' 
 
 * By your favour, dame Irene, no,' said the Emperor. 
 *I left that part of the proposed comedy to my son-in- 
 law the Caesar.' 
 
 But when the poor emperor had in some measure 
 stopt one floodgate, he effectually opened another, and 
 one which was more formidable. 'The more shame to 
 your imperial wisdom, my father!' exclaimed the Prin- 
 cess Anna Comnena; 'it is a shame that, with wisdom 
 and a beard like yours, you should be meddling in such 
 indecent follies as admit disturbance into private fam- 
 ilies, and that family your own daughter's. Who can 
 say that the Csesar Nicephorus Briennius ever looked 
 astray towards another woman than his wife till the 
 Emperor taught him to do so, and involved him in a web 
 of intrigue and treachery, in which he has endangered 
 the life of his father-in-law? ' 
 
 'Daughter — daughter — daughter!' said the Em- 
 press ; ' daughter of a she-wolf, I think, to goad her parent 
 at such an unhappy time, when all the leisure he has is 
 too little to defend his life ! ' 
 
 'Peace, I pray you, women both, with your senseless 
 clamours,' answered Alexius, 'and let me at least swim 
 
 377
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 for my life undisturbed with your folly. God knows if I 
 am a man to encourage, I will not say the reality of 
 wrong, but even its mere appearance.' 
 
 These words he uttered, crossing himself, with a de- 
 vout groan. His wife Irene, in the meantime, stept be- 
 fore him, and said, with a bitterness in her looks and 
 accent which only long-concealed nuptial hatred break- 
 ing forth at once could convey — 'Alexius, terminate 
 this affair how it will, you have lived a hypocrite, and 
 thou wilt not fail to die one.' So saying, with an air of 
 noble indignation, and carrying her daughter along with 
 her, she swept out of the apartment. 
 
 The Emperor looked after her in some confusion. He 
 soon, however, recovered his self-possession, and turn- 
 ing to Hereward, with a look of injured majesty, said, 
 *Ah! my dear Edward' — for the word had become 
 rooted in his mind instead of the less euphonic name of 
 Hereward — ' thou seest how it is even with the greatest, 
 and that the Emperor, in moments of difficulty, is a sub- 
 ject of misconstruction, as well as the meanest burgess 
 of Constantinople ; nevertheless, my trust is so great in 
 thee, Edward, that I would have thee believe that my 
 daughter, Anna Comnena, is not of the temper of her 
 mother, but rather of my own; honouring, thou mayst 
 see, with religious fidelity, the unworthy ties which I 
 hope soon to break, and assort her with other fetters of 
 Cupid which shall be borne more lightly. Edward, my 
 main trust is in thee. Accident presents us with an op- 
 portunity, happy of the happiest so it be rightly im- 
 proved, of having all the traitors before us assembled 
 on one fair field. Think, then, on that day, as the Franks 
 say at their tournaments, that fair eyes behold thee. 
 
 378
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Thou canst not devise a gift within my power but I will 
 gladly load thee with it.' 
 
 *It needs not/ said the Varangian, somewhat coldly: 
 *my highest ambition is to merit the epitaph upon my 
 tomb, "Hereward was faithful." I am about, however, 
 to demand a proof of your imperial confidence, which, 
 perhaps, you may think a startling one.' 
 
 'Indeed!' said the Emperor. 'What, in one word, is 
 thy demand? ' 
 
 'Permission,' replied Hereward, 'to go to the Duke of 
 Bouillon's encampment, and entreat his presence in the 
 lists, to witness this extraordinary combat.' 
 
 'That he may return with his crusading madmen,* 
 said the Emperor, ' and sack Constantinople, under pre- 
 tence of doing justice to his confederates? This, Varan- 
 gian, is at least speaking thy mind openly.' 
 
 'No, by Heavens!' said Hereward, suddenly; 'the 
 Duke of Bouillon shall come with no more knights than 
 may be a reasonable guard, should treachery be offered 
 to the Countess of Paris.' 
 
 'Well, even in this,' said the Emperor, 'will I be con- 
 formable; and if thou, Edward, betrayest my trust, 
 think that thou forfeitest all that my friendship has 
 promised, and dost incur, besides, the damnation that is 
 due to the traitor who betrays with a kiss.' 
 
 ' For thy reward, noble sir,' answered the Varangian, 
 * I hereby renounce all claim to it. When the diadem is 
 once more firmly fixed upon thy brow, and the sceptre 
 in thy hand, if I am then alive, if my poor services should 
 deserve so much, I will petition thee for the means of 
 leaving this court, and returning to the distant island in 
 which I was born. Meanwhile, think me not unfaithful, 
 
 379
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 because I have for a time the means of being so with 
 effect. Your Imperial Highness shall learn that Here- 
 ward is as true as is your right hand to your left.' So say- 
 ing, he took his leave with a profound obeisance. 
 
 The Emperor gazed after him with a countenance in 
 which doubt was mingled with admiration. 
 
 *I have trusted him,' he said, 'with all he asked, and 
 with the power of ruining me entirely, if such be his pur- 
 pose. He has but to breathe a whisper, and the whole 
 mad crew of crusaders, kept in humour at the expense of 
 so much current falsehood and so much more gold, will 
 return with fire and sword to burn down Constantinople, 
 and sow with salt the place where it stood. I have done 
 what I had resolved never to do : I have ventured king- 
 dom and life on the faith of a man born of woman. How 
 often have I said, nay, sworn, that I would not hazard 
 myself on such peril, and yet, step by step, I have done 
 so ! I cannot tell — there is in that man's looks and 
 words a good faith which overwhelms me; and, what is 
 almost incredible, my belief in him has increased in pro- 
 portion to his showing me how shght my power was 
 over him. I threw, Hke the wily angler, every bait I 
 could devise, and some of them such as a king would 
 scarcely have disdained. To none of these would he rise; 
 but yet he gorges, I may say, the bare hook, and enters 
 upon my service without a shadow of self-interest. Can 
 this be double- distilled treachery? or can it be what 
 men call disinterestedness? If I thought him false, the 
 moment is not yet past: he has not yet crossed the 
 bridge — he has not passed the guards of the palace,who 
 have no hesitation and know no disobedience. But no; 
 I were then alone in the land, and without a friend or 
 
 380
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 confidant. I hear the sound of the outer gate unclose: 
 the sense of danger certainly renders my ears more acute 
 than usual. It shuts again; the die is cast. He is at lib- 
 erty; and Alexius Comnenus must stand or fall accord- 
 ing to the imcertain faith of a mercenary Varangian.' 
 He clapt his hands; a slave appeared, of whom he de- 
 manded wine. He drank, and his heart was cheered 
 within him. * I am decided,' he said, 'and will abide with 
 resolution the cast of the throw, for good or for evil.* 
 
 So saying, he retired to his apartment, and was not 
 again seen during that night.
 
 NOTES AND GLOSSARY
 
 NOTES 
 
 Note i, p. 7 
 
 BoHEMOND, son of Robert Guiscard, the Norman conqueror of 
 Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily, was, at the time when the first cru- 
 sade began, Count of Tarentum. Though far advanced in life, he 
 eagerly joined the expedition of the Latins, and became Prince of 
 Antioch. For details of his adventures, death, and extraordinary 
 character, see Gibbon, chap. LDC, and Mills's History of the Cru- 
 sades, vol. I. 
 
 Note 2, p. 11 
 
 The impression which the imperial city was calculated to make 
 on such visitors as the crusaders of the West is given by the an- 
 cient French chronicler Villehardouin, who was present at the 
 capture of a.d. 1203: — 
 
 'When we had come,' he says, 'within three leagues, to a certain 
 abbey, then we could plainly survey Constantinople. There the 
 ships and the galleys came to anchor; and much did they who had 
 never been in that quarter before gaze upon the city. That such a 
 city could be in the world they had never conceived, and they were 
 never weary of staring at the high walls and towers with which it 
 was entirely encompassed, the rich palaces and lofty churches, of 
 which there were so many that no one could have believed it, if he 
 had not seen with his own eyes that city, the queen of all cities. 
 And know that there was not so bold a heart there, that it did 
 not feel some terror at the strength of Constantinople.' — Chap. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 Again, 'And now many of those of the host went to see Con- 
 stantinople within, and the rich palaces and stately churches of 
 which it possesses so many, and the riches of the place, which are 
 such as no other city ever equalled. I need not speak of the 
 sanctuaries, which are as many as are in all the world beside.' — 
 Chap. c. 
 
 Note 3, p. 18 
 
 Ducange has poured forth a tide of learning on this curious sub- 
 ject, which will be found in his notes on Villehardouin's Constanti- 
 
 385
 
 NOTES 
 
 nople under the French Emperors. Paris, 1657, folio, p. 296. Gib. 
 bon's History may also be consulted, vol. x, p. 221. Villehardouin, 
 in describing the siege of Constantinople, a.d. 1203, says, 'Li murs; 
 fu mult garnis d'Anglois et de Danois'; hence the dissertation of 
 Ducange here quoted, and several articles besides in his Glossa- 
 rium, as 'Varangi,' 'Warengangi,' etc. The etymology of the 
 name is left uncertain, though the German /or/gawger, i.e. 'forth- 
 gocr,' 'wanderer,' 'exile,' seems the most probable. The term oc- 
 curs in various Italian and Sicilian documents, anterior to the 
 establishment of the Varangian Guards at Constantinople, and 
 collected by Muratori: as, for instance, in an edict of one of the 
 Lombard kings — 
 
 'Omnes Warengangi, qui deexteris finibus in regni nostrifini- 
 bus advenerint, seque sub scuto potestatis nostrse subdiderint, 
 legibus nostris Longobardorum vivere debeant'; and in another, 
 *De Warengangis nobilibus, mediocribus, et rusticis hominibus, 
 qui usque nunc in terra vestra fugiti sunt, habeatis eos.' — Mura- 
 tori, vol. II, p. 261. 
 
 With regard to the origin of the Varangian Guard, the most dis- 
 tinct testimony is that of Ordericus Vitalis, who says: — 
 
 'When, therefore, the English had lost their liberty, they turned 
 themselves with zeal to discover the means of throwing off the un- 
 accustomed yoke. Some fled to Sueno, King of the Danes, to ex- 
 cite him to the recovery of the inheritance of his grandfather, 
 Canute. Not a few fled into exile in other regions, either from the 
 mere desire of escaping from under the Norman rule, or in the hope 
 of acquiring wealth, and so being one day in a condition to renew 
 the struggle at home. Some of these, in the bloom of youth, pen- 
 etrated into a far distant land, and offered themselves to the mili- 
 tary service of the Constantinopolitan Emperor — that wise 
 prince, against whom Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia, had then 
 raised all his forces. . . . The English exiles were favourably 
 received, and opposed in battle to the Normans, for whose encoun- 
 ter the Greeks themselves were too weak. Alexius began to build 
 a town for the English, a little above Constantinople, at a place 
 called Chevelot, but the trouble of the Normans from Sicily still 
 increasing, he soon recalled them to the capital, and intrusted the 
 principal palace with all its treasures to their keeping. This was 
 the method in which the Saxon English found their way to Ionia, 
 where they still remain, highly valued by the Emperor and the 
 people.' — Book iv. p. 508. 
 
 386
 
 NOTES 
 
 Note 4, p. 83 
 
 The 'AOdvaroi, or Immortals, of the army of Constantinople 
 were a select body, so named in imitation of the ancient Persians. 
 They were first embodied, according to Ducange, by Michael 
 Ducas. 
 
 Note 5, p. 108 
 
 Ducange pours out a whole ocean of authorities to show that the 
 king of France was in those days styled rex, by way of eminence. 
 See his notes on The Alexiad. Anna Comnena in her history makes 
 Hugh of Vermandois assume to himself the titles which could 
 only, in the most enthusiastic Frenchman's opinion, have been 
 claimed by his elder brother, the reigning monarch. 
 
 Note 6, p. 171 
 
 Ducange fills half a column of his huge page with the mere 
 names of the authors who have written at length on the Labarum, 
 or principal standard of the empire for the time of Constantine. 
 It consisted of a spear of silver, or plated with that metal, having 
 suspended from a cross beam below the spoke a small square 
 silken banner, adorned with portraits of the reigning family, and 
 over these the famous monogram which expresses at once the 
 figure of the cross and the initial letters of the name of Christ. 
 The bearer of the Labarum was an officer of high rank down to 
 the last days of the Byzantine government. — See Gibbon, chap. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Ducange seems to have proved, from the evidence of coins and 
 triumphal monuments, that a standard of the form of the Laba- 
 rum was used by various barbarous nations long before it was 
 adopted by their Roman conquerors, and he is of opinion that 
 its name also was borrowed from either Teutonic Germany, or 
 Celtic Gaul, or Sclavonic Illyria. It is certain that either the 
 German language or the Welsh may afford at this day a perfectly 
 satisfactory etymon, lapheer in the former, and lahhair in the 
 latter, having precisely the same meaning — 'the cloth of the 
 host.' 
 
 The form of the Labarum may still be recognised in the banners 
 carried in ecclesiastical processions, in all Roman Catholic coun- 
 tries. 
 
 387
 
 NOTES 
 
 Note 7, p. 185 
 
 This amazon makes a conspicuous figure in Anna Comnena's 
 account of her father's campaigns against Robert Guiscard. On 
 one occasion (Alexiad, lib. iv. p. 93), she represents her as thus re- 
 calHng the fugitive soldiery of her husband to their duty — 'H Se 
 yc FatTa . . . IlaXXa? aWrj, Kav /jlt) 'AOijvrj . . . Kar^ auruii/ 
 fxeyi(TTr)v d<f>L€L<Ta (fioii'rjv, fxovovov to 'Ofj.r]pLKOv tiro's rrj ISia 8ta- 
 Ae/cTw Ae'yetv iwKCL ' fi^XP'- ''"oo'ou (fiev$€(T6e ; OTrJTe, dvcpes €<TTe.' 
 (1)5 8k eTL (f)€vyovTa<: toutous kiapa, 86pv fiaKpov ivayKaXiaafxeur], 
 0A.0VS pvTTJpa^ iv8ov(ra Kara rOiv (favyovrtav itrai. — That is, ex- 
 horting them, in all but Homeric language, at the top of her voice; 
 and when this failed, brandishing a long spear, and rushing upon 
 the fugitives at the utmost speed of her horse. This heroic lady, 
 according to the chronique scandaleuse of those days, was after- 
 wards deluded by some cunning overtures of the Greek Emperor, 
 and poisoned her husband in expectation of gaining a place on 
 the throne of Constantinople. Ducange, however, rejects the 
 story, and so does Gibbon. 
 
 Note 8, p. 242 
 
 Raymond Count of Toulouse and St. Giles, Duke of Carboune, 
 and Marquis of Provence, an aged warrior who had won high dis- 
 tinction in the contests against the Saracens in Spain, was the 
 chief leader of the crusaders from the South of France. His title 
 of St. Giles is corrupted by Anna Comnena into Sangeles, by 
 which name she constantly mentions him in The Alexiad.
 
 GLOSSARY 
 
 a', all. 
 
 aboot, about. 
 
 abye, pay for, atone for. 
 
 afore, before. 
 
 ane, one. 
 
 arblast, a cross-bow. 
 
 annipotent, mighty in arms, — an 
 
 epithet of Mars, the Roman god of 
 
 war. 
 astucious, astute, crafty, 
 attaint, a successful stroke. 
 auld, old. 
 
 barret-cap, a military cap. 
 
 besant, a gold coin worth at different 
 
 periods from 105. to 20 j. 
 bide, await. 
 brunt, an assault, an onset. 
 
 caccabulum, a clean dish. 
 cutty-pipe, a short tobacco pipe. 
 
 daidling, dawdling, sauntering. 
 Dan, a title of familiarity used by 
 
 some old English writers, 
 didna, did not. 
 doited, stupid. 
 drinchael, drink health, 
 duello, a duel. 
 
 en brut, in the rough, unpolished, 
 eremite, a hermit. 
 
 etymon, the root or original form of a 
 word. 
 
 faitour, an evil-doer. 
 
 fleurs-de-lis semees, scattered lilies, 
 — a heraldic term. 
 
 four hours, a light repast taken be- 
 tween dinner and supper, generally 
 at four o'clock. 
 
 franklin, a yeoman or small land- 
 owner. 
 
 gaed, went. 
 
 gaitling, an infant or child, 
 gambaud, a leap or spring, 
 gossipred, intimate acquaintance. 
 
 jackanapes, an ape, a monkey, 
 jerkin, a close-fitting jacket. 
 
 ken, know. 
 
 kiosk, a Turkish pavilion or summer- 
 house. 
 
 kittle, difficult. 
 
 kittle turn, a hard sentence, a diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 lave, the remainder, the rest, 
 lelies, the shout of the Arabs when 
 
 making an onset. 
 leman, a courtesan, a mistress. 
 
 macaroni, a fop, a beau of the eight- 
 eenth century. 
 
 maud, a shepherd's grey woollen 
 plaid. 
 
 muckle, much. 
 
 natheless, nevertheless. 
 Diddering, worthless. 
 
 obolus, obol, a silver or bronze coin of 
 
 ancient Greece, worth about i^d. 
 oestrum, frenzy, torment. 
 
 palestra, an arena for athletic games, 
 palmer, a pilgrim to the Holy Land, 
 panhypersebastos, the all supremely 
 
 august. 
 par amours, unlawfully, illicitly, 
 pajmim, pagan, heathen. 
 periapt, a charm, a talisman. 
 perpending, weighing, considering, 
 pistrinum, a corn-mill. 
 porphyrogenita, born in the purple, 
 
 — i.e., of imperial birth. 
 
 389
 
 GLOSSARY 
 
 prelection, a lecture, 
 prerupt, abrupt, sudden. 
 protospathaire, the First Swordsman, 
 puir, poor. 
 
 sae, so. 
 
 sair lift, a sore or heavy burden, a 
 
 task. 
 schaw, show, indicate, reveal. 
 semee, sown, strewn. 
 sequin, a gold coin worth about gs. 
 
 6d. 
 sewer, the officer who had charge of 
 
 the arrangements of the table, 
 skills, avails, matters. 
 stummed, unfermented. 
 
 sylvan, a faun, a woodland deity, a 
 creature of the woods. 
 
 theme, a province. 
 thrall, a slave. 
 
 vavasour, a vassal of intermediate 
 
 rank. 
 vilipend, speak of with scorn, slander. 
 
 wad, would. 
 
 waes hael, Kaisar mirrig und 
 machtighl Good health to thee, 
 stout and mighty emperor! 
 
 windlestraw, a stalk of grass, a lance. 
 
 wot, know. 
 
 END OF VOLUME I
 
 COUNT ROBERT 
 OF PARIS 
 
 AND 
 
 THE SURGEON'S 
 DAUGHTER 
 
 BY 
 
 SIR WALTER SCOTT 
 
 VOLUME II 
 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1 913 
 BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 
 TALES OF MY LANDLORD 
 iFourtIb anH last Sterne 
 
 The European with the Asian shore — 
 
 Sophia's cupola with golden gleam — 
 The cypress groves — Olympus high and hoar — 
 
 The twelve isles, and the more than I could dream, 
 Far less describe, present the very view 
 That charm'd the charming Mary Montagu. 
 
 Don Juan. 
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 VOLUME II
 
 Ahora bien, dijo el Cura: traedme, senor huesped, aquesos libros, que 
 los quiero ver. Que me place, respondio el; y entrando en su aposenlo, 
 saco del una malelilla vieja cerrada con una cadenilla, y abriendola, halld 
 en ella tres libros grandes y unos papeles de tnuy buena letra escritos de 
 mano. — Don Quixote, Parte I, Capitulo 32. 
 
 It is mighty well, said the priest: pray, landlord, bring me those 
 books, for I have a mind to see them. With all my heart, answered the 
 host; and going to his chamber, he brought out a little old cloke-bag, 
 with a padlock and chain to it, and opening it, he took out three large 
 volumes, and some manuscript papers written in a fine character. — ■ 
 Jarvis's Translation.
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 And aye, as if for death, some lonely trumpet peal'd. 
 
 Caupbeu. 
 
 The Varangian, his head agitated with the weighty 
 matters which were imposed on him, stopt from time 
 to time as he journeyed through the moonlight streets, 
 to arrest passing ideas as they shot through his mind, 
 and consider them with accuracy in all their bearings. 
 His thoughts were such as animated or alarmed him 
 alternately, each followed by a confused throng of ac- 
 companiments which it suggested, and banished again 
 in its turn by reflections of another description. It was 
 one of those conjunctures when the minds of ordinary 
 men feel themselves unable to support a burden which 
 is suddenly flung upon them, and when, on the contrary, 
 those of uncommon fortitude, and that best of Heaven's 
 gifts, good sense, founded on presence of mind, feel 
 their talents awakened and regulated for the occasion, 
 like a good steed under the management of a rider of 
 courage and experience. 
 
 As he stood in one of those fits of reverie which re- 
 peatedly during that night arrested his stern military 
 march, Hereward thought that his ear caught the note 
 of a distant trumpet. This surprised him: a trumpet 
 blown at that late hour, and in the streets of Constanti- 
 
 44 I
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 nople, argued something extraordinary; for, as all mili- 
 tary movements were the subject of special ordinance, 
 the etiquette of the night could hardly have been trans- 
 gressed without some great cause. The question was, 
 what that cause could be? 
 
 Had the insurrection broken out unexpectedly, and 
 in a different manner from what the conspirators pro- 
 posed to themselves? If so, his meeting with his plighted 
 bride, after so many years' absence, was but a delusive 
 preface to their separating for ever. Or had the cru- 
 saders, a race of men upon whose motions it was difficult 
 to calculate, suddenly taken arms and returned from 
 the opposite shore to surprise the city? This might very 
 possibly be the case; so numerous had been the different 
 causes of complaint afforded to the crusaders, that, 
 when they were now for the first time assembled into one 
 body, and had heard the stories which they could recip- 
 rocally tell concerning the perfidy of the Greeks, nothing 
 was so likely, so natural, even perhaps so justifiable, as 
 that they should study revenge. 
 
 But the sound rather resembled a point of war regu- 
 larly blown than the tumultuous blare of bugle-horns 
 and trumpets, the accompaniments at once and the 
 annunciation of a taken town, in which the horrid cir- 
 cumstances of storm had not yet given place to such 
 stern peace as the victors' weariness of slaughter and 
 rapine allows at length to the wretched inhabitants. 
 Whatever it was, it was necessary that Hereward should 
 learn its purport, and therefore he made his way into a 
 broad street near the barracks, from which the sound 
 seemed to come, to which point, indeed, his way was 
 directed for other reasons.
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 The inhabitants of that quarter of the town did not 
 appear violently startled by this military signal. The 
 moonlight slept on the street, crossed by the gigantic 
 shadowy towers of Sancta Sophia. No human being 
 appeared in the streets, and such as for an instant looked 
 from their doors or from their lattices seemed to have 
 their curiosity quickly satisfied, for they withdrew their 
 heads, and secured the opening through which they had 
 peeped. 
 
 Hereward could not help remembering the traditions 
 which were recounted by the fathers of his tribe, in the 
 deep woods of Hampshire, and which spoke of invisible 
 huntsmen, who were heard to follow with viewless 
 horses and hounds the unseen chase through the 
 depths of the forests of Germany. Such it seemed 
 were the sounds with which these haunted woods were 
 wont to ring while the wild chase was up, and with 
 such apparent terror did the hearers listen to their 
 clamour. 
 
 ' Fie ! ' he said , as he suppressed within him a tendency 
 to the same superstitious fears; *do such childish fancies 
 belong to a man trusted with so much, and from whom 
 so much is expected?' He paced down the street, there- 
 fore, with his battle-axe over his shoulder, and the first 
 person whom he saw venturing to look out of his door he 
 questioned concerning the cause of this military music 
 at such an unaccustomed hour. 
 
 *I cannot tell, so please you, my lord,' said the 
 citizen, unwilling, it appeared, to remain in the open air 
 or to enter into conversation, and greatly disposed to 
 decline further questioning. This was the political 
 citizen of Constantinople whom we met with at the
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 beginning of this history, and who, hastily stepping into 
 his habitation, eschewed all further conversation. 
 
 The wrestler Stephanos showed himself at the next 
 door, which was garlanded with oak and ivy leaves, in 
 honour of some recent victory. He stood unshrinking, 
 partly encouraged by the consciousness of personal 
 strength, and partly by a rugged sarliness of temper, 
 which is often mistaken among persons of this kind for 
 real courage. His admirer and flatterer, Lysimachus, 
 kept himself ensconced behind his ample shoulders. 
 
 As Hereward passed, he put the same question as he 
 did to the former citizen — ' Know you the meaning of 
 these trumpets sounding so late?' 
 
 'You should know best yourself,* answered Stephanos, 
 doggedly; 'for, to judge by your axe and helmet, they 
 are your trumpets, and not ours, which disturb honest 
 men in their first sleep,' 
 
 'Varlet!' answered the Varangian, with an emphasis 
 which made the prizer start; 'but — when that trumpet 
 sounds, it is no time for a soldier to punish insolence as 
 it deserves.' 
 
 The Greek started back and bolted into his house, 
 nearly overthrowing in the speed of his retreat the 
 artist Lysimachus, who was listening to what passed. 
 
 Hereward passed on to the barracks, where the mili- 
 tary music had seemed to halt; but on the Varangian 
 crossing the threshold of the ample courtyard, it broke 
 forth again with a tremendous burst, whose clangour 
 almost stunned him, though well accustomed to the 
 sounds. 'What is the meaning of this, Engelbrecht? ' he 
 said to the Varangian sentinel, who paced axe in hand 
 before the entrance.
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'The proclamation of a challenge and combat,* an- 
 swered Engelbrecht. ' Strange things toward, comrade: 
 the frantic crusaders have bit the Grecians, and in- 
 fected them with their humour of tilting, as they say 
 dogs do each other with madness.' 
 
 Hereward made no reply to the sentinel's speech, but 
 pressed forward into a knot of his fellow-soldiers who 
 were assembled in the court, half-armed, or, more 
 properly, in total disarray, as just arisen from their 
 beds, and huddled around the trumpets of their corps, 
 which were drawn out in full pomp. He of the gigantic 
 instrument, whose duty it was to intimate the express 
 commands of the Emperor, was not wanting in his 
 place, and the musicians were supported by a band of 
 the Varangians in arms, headed by Achilles Tatius him- 
 self. Hereward could also notice on approaching nearer, 
 as his comrades made way for him, that six of the im- 
 perial heralds were on duty on this occasion; four of 
 these (two acting at the same time) had already made 
 proclamation, which was to be repeated for the third 
 time by the two last, as was the usual fashion in Constan- 
 tinople with imperial mandates of great consequence. 
 Achilles Tatius, the moment he saw his confidant, made 
 him a sign, which Hereward understood as conveying a 
 desire to speak with him after the proclamation was over. 
 
 The herald, after the flourish of trumpets was finished, 
 commenced in these words: 
 
 'By the authority of the resplendent and divine 
 Prince Alexius Comnenus, Emperor of the most holy 
 Roman Empire, his Imperial Majesty desires it to be 
 made known to all and sundry the subjects of his empire, 
 whatever their race of blood may be, or at whatever 
 
 5
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 shrine of divinity they happen to bend — Know ye, 
 therefore, that upon the second day after this is dated, 
 our beloved son-in-law, the much-esteemed Caesar, hath 
 taken upon him to do battle with our sworn enemy, 
 Robert Count of Paris, on account of his insolent con- 
 duct, by presuming publicly to occupy our royal seat, 
 and no less by breaking, in our imperial presence, those 
 curious specimens of art, ornamenting our throne, called 
 by tradition the Lions of Solomon. And that there may 
 not remain a man in Europe who shall dare to say that 
 the Grecians are behind other parts of the world in any 
 of the manly exercises which Christian nations use, the 
 said noble enemies, renouncing all assistance from 
 falsehood, from spells, or from magic, shall debate this 
 quarrel in three courses with grinded spears, and three 
 passages of arms with sharpened swords; the field to be 
 at the judgment of the honourable Emperor, and to be 
 decided at his most gracious and unerring pleasure. And 
 so God show the right!' 
 
 Another formidable flourish of the trumpets concluded 
 the ceremony. Achilles then dismissed the attendant 
 troops, as well as the heralds and musicians, to their 
 respective quarters; and having got Hereward close to 
 his side, inquired of him whether he had learned any- 
 thing of the prisoner, Robert Count of Paris. 
 
 'Nothing,' said the Varangian, 'save the tidings your 
 proclamation contains.' 
 
 'You think, then,' said Achilles, 'that the Count has 
 been a party to it? ' 
 
 'He ought to have been so,' answered the Varangian. 
 ' 1 know no one but himself entitled to take burden for 
 his appearance in the lists.' 
 
 6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 ■ * Why, look you,' said the Acolyte, 'my most excellent, 
 though blunt-witted, Hereward, this Caesar of ours hath 
 had the extravagance to venture his tender wit in com- 
 parison to that of Achilles Tatius. He stands upon his 
 honour too, this ineffable fool, and is displeased with the 
 idea of being supposed either to challenge a woman or to 
 receive a challenge at her hand. He has substituted, 
 therefore, the name of the lord instead of the lady. If the 
 Count fail to appear, the Caesar walks forward chal- 
 lenger and successful combatant at a cheap rate, since 
 no one has encountered him, and claims that the lady 
 should be delivered up to him as captive of his dreaded 
 bow and spear. This will be the signal for a general 
 tumult, in which, if the Emperor be not slain on the spot, 
 he will be conveyed to the dungeon of his own Blac- 
 quernal, there to endure the doom which his cruelty 
 has inflicted upon so many others.' 
 
 'But — ' said the Varangian. 
 
 'But — but — but,' said his officer — 'but thou art a 
 fool. Canst thou not see that this gallant Caesar is willing 
 to avoid the risk of encountering with this lady, while 
 he earnestly desires to be supposed willing to meet her 
 husband? It is our business to fix the combat in such a 
 shape as to bring all who are prepared for insurrection 
 together in arms to play their parts. Do thou only see 
 that our trusty friends are placed near to the Emperor's 
 person, and in such a manner as to keep from him the 
 officious and meddling portion of guards who may be 
 disposed to assist him; and whether the Caesar fights 
 a combat with lord or lady, or whether there be any 
 combat at all or not, the revolution shall be accom- 
 plished, and the Tatii shall replace the Comneni upon 
 
 7
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the imperial throne of Constantinople. Go, my trusty 
 Hereward. Thou wilt not forget that the signal word 
 of the insurrection is "Ursel," who lives in the affec- 
 tions of the people, although his body, it is said, 
 has long lain a corpse in the dungeons of the Blac- 
 quernal.' 
 
 'What was this Ursel,' said Hereward, 'of whom I 
 hear men talk so variously? ' 
 
 *A competitor for the crown with Alexius Comnenus 
 — good, brave, and honest; but overpowered by the 
 cunning, rather than the skill or bravery, of his foe. He 
 died, as I beheve, in the Blacquernal; though when or 
 how there are few that can say. But, up and be doing, 
 my Hereward ! Speak encouragement to the Varangians. 
 Interest whomsoever thou canst to join us. Of the 
 Immortals, as they are called, and of the discontented 
 citizens, enough are prepared to fill up the cry, and fol- 
 low in the wake of those on whom we must rely as the 
 beginners of the enterprise. No longer shall Alexius's 
 cunning in avoiding popular assemblies avail to protect 
 him: he cannot, with regard to his honour, avoid being 
 present at a combat to be fought beneath his own eye ; 
 and Mercury be praised for the eloquence which inspired 
 him, after some hesitation, to determine for the proc- 
 lamation ! ' 
 
 'You have seen him, then, this evening?' said the 
 Varangian. 
 
 'Seen him! Unquestionably,' answered the Acolyte. 
 'Had I ordered these trumpets to be sounded without 
 his knowledge, the blast had blown the head from my 
 shoulders.' 
 
 ' I had wellnigh met you at the palace,' said Hereward, 
 
 8
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 while his heart throbbed as high as if he had actually 
 had such a dangerous encounter. 
 
 'I heard something of it,' said Achilles — 'that you 
 came to take the parting orders of him who now acts 
 the sovereign. Surely, had I seen you there, with that 
 steadfast, open, seemingly honest countenance, cheating 
 the wily Greek by very dint of bluntness, I had not for- 
 borne laughing at the contrast between that and the 
 thoughts of thy heart.' 
 
 *God alone,' said Hereward, 'knows the thoughts of 
 our hearts; but I take Him to witness that I am faithful 
 to my promise, and will discharge the task entrusted to 
 me.' 
 
 'Bravo! mine honest Anglo-Saxon,' said Achilles. 'I 
 pray thee to call my slaves to unarm me; and when thou 
 thyself doffest those weapons of an ordinary lifeguard's- 
 man, tell them they never shall above twice more inclose 
 the Umbs of one for whom fate has much more fitting 
 garments in store.' 
 
 Hereward dared not entrust his voice with an answer 
 to so critical a speech; he bowed profoundly, and retired 
 to his own quarters in the building. 
 
 Upon entering the apartment, he was immediately 
 saluted by the voice of Count Robert, in joyful accents, 
 not suppressed by the fear of making himself heard, 
 though prudence should have made that uppermost in 
 his mind. 
 
 'Hast thou heard it, my dear Hereward,' he said — 
 'hast thou heard the proclamation, by which this Greek 
 antelope hath defied me to tilting with grinded spears, 
 and fighting three passages of anns with sharpened 
 swords? Yet there is something strange, too, that he
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 should not think it safer to hold my lady to the 
 encounter? He may think, perhaps, that the crusaders 
 would not permit such a battle to be fought. But, by 
 Our Lady of the Broken Lances! he little knows that the 
 men of the West hold their ladies' character for courage 
 as jealously as they do their own. This whole night have 
 I been considering in what armour I shall clothe me, 
 what shift I shall make for a steed, and whether I shall 
 not honour him sufficiently by using Tranchefer, as my 
 only weapon, against his whole armour, offensive and 
 defensive.' 
 
 ' I shall take care, however,' said Hereward, * that thou 
 art better provided in case of need. Thou knowest not 
 the Greeks.'
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 The Varangian did not leave the Count of Paris until 
 the latter had placed in his hands his signet-ring, seme, 
 as the heralds express it, with lances spHntered, and 
 bearing the proud motto, 'Mine yet unscathed.' Pro- 
 vided with this symbol of confidence, it was now his 
 business to take order for communicating the approach- 
 ing solemnity to the leader of the crusading army, and 
 demanding for him, in the name of Robert of Paris and 
 the Lady Brenhilda, such a detachment of Western 
 cavaliers as might ensure strict observance of honour 
 and honesty in the arrangement of the lists and during 
 the progress of the combat. The duties imposed on 
 Hereward were such as to render it impossible for 
 him to proceed personally to the camp of Godfrey; and 
 though there were many of the Varangians in whose 
 fidelity he could have trusted, he knew of none among 
 those under his immediate command whose intelligence, 
 on so novel an occasion, might be entirely depended on. 
 In this perplexity he strolled, perhaps without well 
 knowing why, to the gardens of Agelastes, where fortune 
 once more produced him an interview with Bertha. 
 
 No sooner had Hereward made her aware of his diffi- 
 culty than the faithful bower-maiden's resolution was 
 taken. 
 
 'I see,' said she, 'that the peril of this part of the 
 adventure must rest with me; and wherefore should it 
 not? My mistress, in the bosom of prosperity, offered 
 
 II
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 herself to go forth into the wide world for my sake; 
 I will for hers go to the camp of this Frankish lord. 
 He is an honourable man and a pious Christian, and 
 his followers are faithful pilgrims. A woman can have 
 nothing to fear who goes to such men upon such an 
 errand.' 
 
 The Varangian, however, was too well acquainted 
 with the manners of camps to permit the fair Bertha to 
 go alone. He provided, therefore, for her safeguard a 
 trusty old soldier, bound to his person by long kindness 
 and confidence; and having thoroughly possessed her 
 of the particulars of the message she was to deliver, and 
 desired her to be in readiness without the inclosure at 
 peep of dawn, returned once more to his barracks. 
 
 With the earUest Hght, Hereward was again at the 
 spot where he had parted overnight with Bertha, accom- 
 panied by the honest soldier to whose care he meant to 
 confide her. In a short time, he had seen them safely on 
 board of a ferry-boat lying in the harbour, the master of 
 which readily admitted them, after some examination 
 of their license, to pass to Scutari, which was forged 
 in the name of the Acolyte, as authorised by that foul 
 conspirator, and which agreed with the appearance of 
 old Osmund and his young charge. 
 
 The morning was lovely, and ere long the town of 
 Scutari opened on the view of the travellers, glittering, 
 as now, with a variety of architecture, which, though it 
 might be termed fantastical, could not be denied the 
 praise of beauty. These buildings rose boldly out of a 
 thick grove of cypresses and other huge trees, the larger, 
 probably, as they were respected for filling the ceme- 
 teries and being the guardians of the dead. 
 
 12
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 At the period we mention, another circumstance, no 
 less striking than beautiful, rendered doubly interesting 
 a scene which must have been at all times greatly so. 
 A large portion of that miscellaneous army which came 
 to regain the holy places of Palestine, and the blessed 
 Sepulchre itself, from the infidels, had established them- 
 selves in a camp within a mile or thereabouts of Scutari. 
 Although, therefore, the crusaders were destitute in a 
 great measure of the use of tents, the army (excepting 
 the pavilions of some leaders of high rank) had con- 
 structed for themselves temporary huts, not unpleasing 
 to the eye, being decorated with leaves and flowers, 
 while the tall pennons and banners that floated over 
 them with various devices showed that the flower of 
 Europe were assembled at that place. A loud and varied 
 murmur, resembling that of a thronged hive, floated 
 from the camp of the crusaders to the neighbouring town 
 of Scutari, and every now and then the deep tone was 
 broken by some shriller sound, the note of some musical 
 instrument, or the treble scream of some child or female, 
 in fear or in gaiety. 
 
 The party at length landed in safety; and as they 
 approached one of the gates of the camp, there sallied 
 forth a brisk array of gallant cavaliers, pages, and 
 squires, exercising their masters' horses or their own. 
 From the noise they made, conversing at the very top 
 of their voices, galloping, curvetting, and prancing 
 their palfreys, it seemed as if their early discipline 
 had called them to exercise ere the fumes of last 
 night's revel were thoroughly dissipated by repose. 
 So soon as they saw Bertha and her party, they 
 approached them with cries which marked their country 
 
 13
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 was Italy — 'AW ertal alV erta! Roha de guadagno, 
 earner adi!^^ 
 
 They gathered round the Anglo-Saxon maiden and 
 her companions, repeating their cries in a manner which 
 made Bertha tremble. Their general demand was, 
 * What was her business in their camp? ' 
 
 *I would to the general-in-chief, cavaHers,' answered 
 Bertha, 'having a secret message to his ear,' 
 
 * For whose ear? ' said a leader of the party, a hand- 
 some youth of about eighteen years of age, who seemed 
 either to have a sounder brain than his fellows, or to 
 have overflowed it with less wine. 'Which of our leaders 
 do you come hither to see? ' he demanded. 
 
 * Godfrey of Bouillon.' 
 
 'Indeed!' said the page who had spoken first; 'can 
 nothing of less consequence serve thy turn? Take a look 
 amongst us; young are we all, and reasonably wealthy. 
 My Lord of Bouillon is old, and if he has any sequins, he 
 is not Uke to lavish them in this way.' 
 
 'Still I have a token to Godfrey of Bouillon,' answered 
 Bertha, 'an assured one; and he will little thank any 
 who obstructs my free passage to him ' ; and therewithal 
 showing a little case, in which the signet of the Count of 
 Paris was inclosed, 'I will trust it in your hands,' she 
 said, 'if you promise not to open it, but to give me free 
 access to the noble leader of the crusaders.' 
 
 'I will,' said the youth, 'and if such be the Duke's 
 pleasure, thou shalt be admitted to him.' 
 
 'Ernest the ApuHan, thy dainty Italian wit is caught 
 in a trap,' said one of his companions. 
 
 'Thou art an ultramontane fool, Polydore,' returned 
 
 ' That is, ' Take heed! take heed! There is booty, comrades! ' >. 
 14
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Ernest; 'there may be more in this than either thy wit 
 or mine is able to fathom. This maiden and one of 
 her attendants wear a dress belonging to the Varangian 
 Imperial Guard. They have perhaps been entrusted 
 with a message from the Emperor, and it is not irrecon- 
 cilable with Alexius's politics to send it through such 
 messengers as these. Let us, therefore, convey them in 
 all honour to the general's tent.' 
 
 'With all my heart,' said Polydore. *A blue-eyed 
 wench is a pretty thing, but I like not the sauce of the 
 camp-marshal, nor his taste in attiring men who give 
 way to temptation.^ Yet, ere I prove a fool like my com- 
 panion, I would ask who or what this pretty maiden is, 
 who comes to put noble princes and holy pilgrims in 
 mind that they have in their time had the follies of 
 men?' 
 
 Bertha advanced and whispered in the ear of Ernest. 
 Meantime joke followed jest, among Polydore and the 
 rest of the gay youths, in riotous and ribald succession, 
 which, however characteristic of the rude speakers, may 
 as well be omitted here. Their effect was to shake in 
 some degree the fortitude of the Saxon maiden, who had 
 some difficulty in mustering courage to address them. 
 * As you have mothers, gentlemen,' she said, 'as you have 
 fair sisters, whom you would protect from dishonour 
 with your best blood, as you love and honour those 
 holy places which you are sworn to free from the infidel 
 enemy, have compassion on me, that you may merit 
 success in your undertaking ! ' 
 
 'Fear nothing, maiden,' said Ernest, 'I will be your 
 protector; and you, my comrades, be ruled by me. I 
 
 * See Note i. 
 15
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 have, during your brawling, taken a view, though some- 
 what against my promise, of the pledge which she bears, 
 and if she who presents it is affronted or maltreated, be 
 assured Godfrey of Bouillon will severely avenge the 
 wrong done her.' 
 
 'Nay, comrade, if thou canst warrant us so much,* 
 said Polydore, *I will myself be most anxious to 
 conduct the young woman in honour and safety to Sir 
 Godfrey's tent.' 
 
 'The princes,' said Ernest, 'must be nigh meeting 
 there in council. What I have said I will warrant and 
 uphold with hand and life. More I might guess, but 
 I conclude this sensible young maiden can speak for 
 herself.' 
 
 'Now, Heaven bless thee, gallant squire,' said Bertha, 
 'and make thee alike brave and fortunate! Embarrass 
 yourself no further about me than to dehver me safe to 
 your leader Godfrey.' 
 
 'We spend time,' said Ernest, springing from his 
 horse. 'You are no soft Eastern, fair maid, and I 
 presume you will find yourself imder no difficulty in 
 managing a quiet horse? ' 
 
 'Not the least,' said Bertha, as, wrapping herself in 
 her cassock, she sprung from the ground, and ahghted 
 upon the spirited palfrey as a linnet stoops upon a rose- 
 bush. 'And now, sir, as my business really brooks no 
 delay, I will be indebted to you to show me instantly to 
 the tent of Duke Godfrey of Bouillon.' 
 
 By availing herself of this courtesy of the young 
 Apulian, Bertha imprudently separated herself from the 
 old Varangian; but the intentions of the youth were 
 honourable, and he conducted her through the tents and 
 
 i6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 huts to the pavilion of the celebrated general-in-chief of 
 the crusade. 
 
 'Here,' he said, 'you must tarry for a space, under the 
 guardianship of my companions (for two or three of the 
 pages had accompanied them, out of curiosity to see 
 the issue), and I will take the commands of the Duke 
 of Bouillon upon the subject.' 
 
 To this nothing could be objected, and Bertha had no- 
 thing better to do than to admire the outside of the tent, 
 which, in one of Alexius's fits of generosity and munifi- 
 cence, had been presented by the Greek emperor to the 
 chief of the Franks. It was raised upon tall spear-shaped 
 poles, which had the semblance of gold; its curtains were 
 of a thick stuff, manufactured of silk, cotton, and gold 
 thread. The warders who stood round were (at least dur- 
 ing the time that the council was held) old grave men, the 
 personal squires of the body, most of them, of the sover- 
 eigns who had taken the cross, and who could, therefore, 
 be trusted as a guard over the assembly, without danger 
 of their blabbing what they might overhear. Their ap- 
 pearance was serious and considerate, and they looked 
 like men who had taken upon them the cross, not as an 
 idle adventure of arms, but as a purpose of the most sol- 
 emn and serious nature. One of these stopt the Italian, 
 and demanded what business authorised him to press 
 forward into the council of the crusaders, who were al- 
 ready taking their seats. The page answered by giving 
 his name, 'Ernest of Otranto, page of Prince Tancred'; 
 and stated that he announced a young woman, who bore 
 a token to the Duke of Bouillon, adding that it was 
 accompanied by a message for his own ear. 
 
 Bertha, meantime, laid aside her mantle, or upper 
 
 44 17
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 garment, and disposed the rest of her dress according to 
 the Anglo-Saxon costume. She had hardly completed 
 this task before the page of Prince Tancred returned, to 
 conduct her into the presence of the council of the cru- 
 sade. She followed his signal; while the other young 
 men who had accompanied her, wondering at the appar- 
 ent ease with which she gained admittance, drew back 
 to a respectful distance from the tent, and there can- 
 vassed the singularity of their morning's adventure. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the ambassadress herself entered 
 the council-chamber, exhibiting an agreeable mixture of 
 shamefacedness and reserve, together with a bold deter- 
 mination to do her duty at all events. There were about 
 fifteen of the principal crusaders assembled in council, 
 with their chieftain Godfrey. He himself was a tall 
 strong man, arrived at that period of hfe in which men 
 are supposed to have lost none of their resolution, while 
 they have acquired a wisdom and circumspection un- 
 known to their earlier years. The countenance of God- 
 frey bespoke both prudence and boldness, and resem- 
 bled his hair, where a few threads of silver were already 
 mingled with his raven locks. 
 
 Tancred, the noblest knight of the Christian chivalry, 
 sat at no great distance from him, with Hugh Earl of Ver- 
 mandois, generally called the Great Count, the selfish 
 and wily Bohemond, the powerful Raymond of Prov- 
 ence, and others of the principal crusaders, all more or 
 less completely sheathed in armour. 
 
 Bertha did not allow her courage to be broken down, 
 but advancing with a timid grace towards Godfrey, she 
 placed in his hands the signet, which had been restored 
 to her by the young page, and, after a deep obeisance, 
 
 i8
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 spoke these words: 'Godfrey, Count of Bouillon, Duke 
 of Lorraine the Lower, chief of the holy enterprise called 
 the crusade, and you, his gallant comrades, peers, and 
 companions, by whatever titles you may be honoured, I, 
 an humble maiden of England, daughter of Engelred, 
 originally a franklin of Hampshire, and since chieftain 
 of the Foresters, or free Anglo-Saxons, under the com- 
 mand of the celebrated Ederic, do claim what credence 
 is due to the bearer of the true pledge which I put into 
 your hand, on the part of one not the least considerable 
 of your own body, Count Robert of Paris — ' 
 
 'Our most honourable confederate,' said Godfrey, 
 looking at the ring. 'Most of you, my lords, must, I 
 think, know this signet — a field sown with the frag- 
 ments of many splintered lances.' The signet was 
 handed from one of the assembly to another, and gen- 
 erally recognised. 
 
 When Godfrey had signified so much, the maiden re- 
 sumed her message. 'To all true crusaders, therefore, 
 comrades of Godfrey of Bouillon, and especially to the 
 Duke himself — to all, I say, excepting Bohemond of 
 Tarentum, whom he counts unworthy of his notice — ' 
 
 'Hah! me unworthy of his notice,' said Bohemond. 
 'What mean you by that, damsel? But the Count of 
 Paris shall answer it to me.' 
 
 'Under your favour. Sir Bohemond,' said Godfrey, 
 'no. Our articles renounce the sending of challenges 
 among ourselves, and the matter, if not dropt betwixt 
 the parties, must be referred to the voice of this honour- 
 able council.' 
 
 'I think I guess the business now, my lord,' said Bohe- 
 mond. 'The Count of Paris is disposed to turn and tear 
 
 19
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 me, because I offered him good counsel on the evening 
 before we left Constantinople, when he neglected to 
 accept or be guided by it — ' 
 
 'It will be the more easily explained when we have 
 heard his message,' said Godfrey. 'Speak forth Lord 
 Robert of Paris's charge, damsel, that we may take some 
 order with that which now seems a perplexed business.' 
 
 Bertha resumed her message; and, having briefly 
 narrated the recent events, thus concluded: 'The battle 
 is to be done to-morrow, about two hours after day- 
 break, and the Count entreats of the noble Duke of Lor- 
 raine that he will permit some fifty of the lances of 
 France to attend the deed of arms, and secure that fair 
 and honourable conduct which he has otherwise some 
 doubts of receiving at the hands of his adversary. Or if 
 any young and gallant knight should, of his own free 
 will, wish to view the said combat, the Count will feel 
 his presence as an honour; always he desires that the 
 name of such knight be numbered carefully with the 
 armed crusaders who shall attend in the lists, and that 
 the whole shall be limited, by Duke Godfrey's own in- 
 spection, to fifty lances only, which are enough to obtain 
 the protection required, while more would be considered 
 as a preparation for aggression upon the Grecians, and 
 occasion the revival of disputes which are now happily 
 at rest.' 
 
 Bertha had no sooner finished delivering her manifesto, 
 and made with great grace her obeisance to the council, 
 than a sort of whisper took place in the assembly, which 
 soon assumed a more lively tone. 
 
 Their solemn vow not to turn their back upon Pales- 
 tine, now that they had set their hands to the plough, 
 
 20
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 was strongly urged by some of the elder knights of the 
 council, and two or three high prelates, who had by this 
 time entered to take share in the deliberations. The 
 young knights, on the other hand, were fired with in- 
 dignation on hearing the manner in which their com- 
 rade had been trepanned; and few of them could think 
 of missing a combat in the lists in a country in which 
 such sights were so rare, and where one was to be fought 
 so near them. 
 
 Godfrey rested his brow on his hand, and seemed in 
 great perplexity. To break with the Greeks, after hav- 
 ing suffered so many injuries in order to maintain the 
 advantage of keeping the peace with them, seemed very 
 impolitic, and a sacrifice of all he had obtained by a long 
 course of painful forbearance towards Alexius Comnenus. 
 On the other hand, he was bound as a man of honour to 
 resent the injury offered to Count Robert of Paris, whose 
 reckless spirit of chivalry made him the darling of the 
 army. It was the cause, too, of a beautiful lady, and a 
 brave one. Every knight in the host would think him- 
 self bound by his vow to hasten to her defence. When 
 Godfrey spoke, it was to complain of the difficulty of the 
 determination, and the short time there was to consider 
 the case. 
 
 * With submission to my Lord Duke of Lorraine,' said 
 Tancred, 'I was a knight ere I was a crusader, and took 
 on me the vows of chivalry ere I placed this blessed sign 
 upon my shoulder : the vow first made must be first dis- 
 charged. I will therefore do penance for neglecting, for 
 a space, the obligations of the second vow, while I ob- 
 serve that which recalls me to the first duty of knight- 
 hood — the relief of a distressed lady in the hands of 
 
 21
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 men whose conduct towards her, and towards this host, 
 in every respect entitles me to call them treacherous 
 faitours.' 
 
 ' If my kinsman Tancred,' said Bohemond, 'will check 
 his impetuosity, and you, my lords, will listen, as you 
 have sometimes deigned to do, to my advice, I think I 
 can direct you how to keep clear of any breach of your 
 oath, and yet fully to relieve our distressed fellow-pil- 
 grims. I see some suspicious looks are cast towards me, 
 which are caused perhaps by the churUsh manner in 
 which this violent, and, in this case, almost insane, 
 young warrior has protested against receiving my assist- 
 ance. My great offence is the having given him warn- 
 ing, by precept and example, of the treachery which was 
 about to be practised against him, and instructed him 
 to use forbearance and temperance. My warning he 
 altogether contemned, my example he neglected to fol- 
 low, and fell into the snare which was spread, as it were, 
 before his very eyes. Yet the Count of Paris, in rashly 
 contemning me, has acted only from a temper which 
 misfortune and disappointment have rendered irrational 
 and frantic. I am so far from bearing him ill-will, that 
 with your lordship's permission, and that of the present 
 council, I will hasten to the place of rendezvous with 
 fifty lances, making up the retinue which attends upon 
 each to at least ten men, which will make the stipulated 
 auxiliary force equal to five hundred; and with these I 
 can have little doubt of rescuing the Count and his 
 lady.' 
 
 'Nobly proposed,' said the Duke of Bouillon, 'and 
 with a charitable forgiveness of injuries which becomes 
 our Christian expedition. But thou hast forgot the main 
 
 22
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 difficulty, brother Bohemond, that we are sworn never 
 to turn back upon the sacred journey.' 
 
 * If we can elude that oath upon the present occasion,' 
 said Bohemond, ' it becomes our duty to do so. Are we 
 such bad horsemen, or are our steeds so awkward, that 
 we cannot rein them back from this to the landing- 
 place of Scutari? We can get them on shipboard in the 
 same retrograde manner, and when we arrive in Europe, 
 where our vow binds us no longer, the Count and 
 Countess of Paris are rescued, and our vow remains 
 entire in the chancery of Heaven.' 
 
 A general shout arose — 'Long life to the gallant 
 Bohemond! Shame to us if we do not fly to the assist- 
 ance of so valiant a knight and a lady so lovely, since 
 we can do- so without breach of our vow.' 
 
 *The question,' said Godfrey, 'appears to me to be 
 eluded rather than solved ; yet such evasions have been 
 admitted by the most learned and scrupulous clerks; nor 
 do I hesitate to admit of Bohemond's expedient, any 
 more than if the enemy had attacked our rear, which 
 might have occasioned our countermarching to be a 
 case of absolute necessity.' 
 
 Some there were in the assembly, particularly the 
 churchmen, inclined to think that the oath by which 
 the crusaders had solemnly bound themselves ought to 
 be as literally obeyed. But Peter the Hermit, who had 
 a place in the council, and possessed great weight, de- 
 clared it as his opinion, 'That since the precise observ- 
 ance of their vow would tend to diminish the forces 
 of the crusade, it was in fact unlawful, and should not 
 be kept according to the literal meaning, if, by a fair 
 construction, it could be eluded.' 
 
 23
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 He offered himself to back the animal which he be- 
 strode — that is, his ass; and though he was diverted 
 from showing this example by the remonstrances of 
 Godfrey of Bouillon, who was afraid of his becoming a 
 scandal in the eyes of the heathen, yet he so prevailed 
 by his arguments, that the knights, far from scrupling 
 to countermarch, eagerly contended which should have 
 the honour of making one of the party which should 
 retrograde to Constantinople, see the combat, and bring 
 back to the host in safety the valorous Count of Paris, 
 of whose victory no one doubted, and his amazonian 
 countess. 
 
 This emulation was also put an end to by the author- 
 ity of Godfrey, who himself selected the fifty knights 
 who were to compose the party. They were chosen from 
 different nations, and the command of the whole was 
 given to young Tancred of Otranto. Notwithstanding 
 the claim of Bohemond, Godfrey detained the latter, 
 under the pretext that his knowledge of the country and 
 people was absolutely necessary to enable the council to 
 form the plan of the campaign in Syria; but in reality 
 he dreaded the selfishness of a man of great ingenuity as 
 well as military skill, who, finding himself in a separate 
 command, might be tempted, should opportunities arise, 
 to enlarge his own power and dominion at the expense 
 of the pious purposes of the crusade in general. The 
 younger men of the expedition were chiefly anxious to 
 procure such horses as had been thoroughly trained, and 
 could go through with ease and temper the manoeuvre 
 of equitation by which it was designed to render legiti- 
 mate the movement which they had recourse to. The 
 selection was at length made, and the detachment 
 
 24
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 ordered to draw up in the rear, or upon the eastward 
 line of the Christian encampment. In the meanwhile, 
 Godfrey charged Bertha with a message for the Count 
 of Paris, in which, slightly censuring him for not observ- 
 ing more caution in his intercourse with the Greeks, he 
 informed him that he had sent a detachment of fifty 
 lances, with the corresponding squires, pages, men-at- 
 arms, and cross-bows, five hundred in number, com- 
 manded by the valiant Tancred, to his assistance. The 
 Duke also informed him that he had added a suit of 
 armour of the best temper Milan could afford, to- 
 gether with a trusty war-horse, which he entreated him 
 to use upon the field of battle; for Bertha had not 
 omitted to intimate Count Robert's want of the means 
 of knightly equipment. The horse was brought before 
 the pavilion accordingly, completely barbed or armed in 
 steel, and laden with armour for the knight's body. 
 Godfrey himself put the bridle into Bertha's hand. 
 
 *Thou need'st not fear to trust thyself with this steed: 
 he is as gentle and docile as he is fleet and brave. Place 
 thyself on his back, and take heed thou stir not from the 
 side of the noble Prince Tancred of Otranto, who will 
 be the faithful defender of a maiden that has this day 
 shown dexterity, courage, and fidelity.' 
 
 Bertha bowed low, as her cheeks glowed at praise 
 from one whose talents and worth were in such general 
 esteem as to have raised him to the distinguished situa- 
 tion of leader of a host which numbered in it the bravest 
 and most distinguished captains of Christendom. 
 
 ' Who are yon two persons? ' continued Godfrey, speak- 
 ing of the companions of Bertha, whom he saw in the 
 distance before the tent. 
 
 25
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'The one/ answered the damsel, *is the master 
 of the ferryboat which brought me over; and the 
 other an old Varangian who came hither as my pro- 
 tector.' 
 
 *As they may come to employ their eyes here, and 
 their tongues on the opposite side,' returned the general 
 of the crusaders, *I do not think it prudent to let them 
 accompany you. They shall remain here for some short 
 time. The citizens of Scutari will not comprehend for 
 some space what our intention is, and I could wish Prince 
 Tancred and his attendants to be the first to announce 
 their own arrival.* 
 
 Bertha accordingly intimated the pleasure of the 
 French general to the parties, without naming his 
 motives; when the ferryman began to exclaim on the 
 hardship of intercepting him in his trade, and Osmund 
 to complain of being detained from his duties. But 
 Bertha, by the orders of Godfrey, left them with the 
 assurance that they would be soon at liberty. Finding 
 themselves thus abandoned, each applied himself to his 
 favourite amusement. The ferryman occupied himself 
 in staring about at all that was new; and Osmund, having 
 in the meantime accepted an offer of breakfast from 
 some of the domestics, was presently engaged with a 
 flask of such red wine as would have reconciled him to a 
 worse lot than that which he at present experienced. 
 
 The detachment of Tancred, fifty spears and their 
 armed retinue, which amounted fully to five hundred 
 men, after having taken a short and hasty refreshment, 
 were in arms and mounted before the sultry hour of 
 noon. After some manoeuvres, of which the Greeks of 
 Scutari, whose curiosity was awakened by the prepara- 
 
 26
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 tions of the detachment, were at a loss to comprehend 
 the purpose, they formed into a single column, having 
 four men in front. When the horses were in this position, 
 the whole riders at once began to rein back. The action 
 was one to which both the cavaliers and their horses 
 were well accustomed, nor did it at first afford much 
 surprise to the spectators; but when the same retrograde 
 evolution was continued, and the body of crusaders 
 seemed about to enter the town of Scutari in so extraor- 
 dinary a fashion, some idea of the truth began to occupy 
 the citizens. The cry at length was general, when Tan- 
 cred and a few others, whose horses were unusually well 
 trained, arrived at the port, and possessed themselves 
 of a galley, into which they led their horses, and, dis- 
 regarding all opposition from the imperial officers of the 
 haven, pushed the vessel off from the shore. 
 
 Other cavaliers did not accomplish their purpose so 
 easily; the riders, or the horses, were less accustomed to 
 continue in the constrained pace for such a considerable 
 length of time, so that many of the knights, having 
 retrograded for one or two hundred yards, thought their 
 vow was sufficiently observed by having so far deferred 
 to it, and riding in the ordinary manner into the town, 
 seized without further ceremony on some vessels, which, 
 notwithstanding the orders of the Greek emperor, had 
 been allowed to remain on the Asiatic side of the strait. 
 Some less able horsemen met with various accidents; 
 for though it was a proverb of the time that nothing was 
 so bold as a blind horse, yet from this mode of equitation, 
 where neither horse nor rider saw the way he was going, 
 some steeds were overthrown, others backed upon dan- 
 gerous obstacles; and the bones of the cavaliers them- 
 
 27
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 selves suffered much more than would have been the 
 case in an ordinary march. 
 
 Those horsemen, also, who met with falls incurred the 
 danger of being slain by the Greeks, had not Godfrey, 
 surmounting his religious scruples, despatched a squad- 
 ron to extricate them, a task which they performed with 
 great ease. The greater part of Tancred's followers 
 succeeded in embarking, as was intended, nor was there 
 more than a score or two finally amissing. To accomplish 
 their voyage, however, even the Prince of Otranto him- 
 self, and most of his followers, were obliged to betake 
 themselves to the unknightly labours of the oar. This 
 they found extremely difficult, as well from the state 
 both of the tide and the wind as from the want of prac- 
 tice at the exercise. Godfrey in person viewed their 
 progress anxiously from a neighbouring height, and per- 
 ceived with regret the difficulty which they found in 
 making their way, which was still more increased by the 
 necessity for their keeping in a body, and waiting for the 
 slowest and worst-manned vessels, which considerably 
 detained those that were more expeditious. They made 
 some progress, however; nor had the commander-in- 
 chief the least doubt that before sunset they would 
 safely reach the opposite side of the strait. 
 
 He retired at length from his post of observation, 
 having placed a careful sentinel in his stead, with direc- 
 tions to bring him word the instant that the detachment 
 reached the opposite shore. This the soldier could easily 
 discern by the eye, if it was daylight at the time; if, on 
 the contrary, it was night before they could arrive, the 
 Prince of Otranto had orders to show certain lights, 
 which, in case of their meeting resistance from the 
 
 28
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Greeks, should be arranged in a peculiar manner, so as 
 to indicate danger. 
 
 Godfrey then explained to the Greek authorities of 
 Scutari, whom he summoned before him, the necessity 
 there was that he should keep in readiness such vessels 
 as could be procured, with which, in case of need, he was 
 determined to transport a strong division from his army 
 to support those who had gone before. He then rode 
 back to his camp, the confused murmurs of which, ren- 
 dered more noisy by the various discussions concerning 
 the events of the day, rolled off from the numerous host 
 of the crusaders, and mingled with the hoarse sound of 
 the many-billowed Hellespont.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 All is prepared: the chambers of the mine 
 
 Are cramm'd with the combustible, which, harmless 
 
 While yet unkindled as the sable sand. 
 
 Needs but a spark to change its nature so 
 
 That he, who wakes it from its slumbrous mood, 
 
 Dreads scarce the explosion less than he who knows 
 
 That 't is his towers which meet its fury. 
 
 Anonytnous. 
 
 When the sky is darkened suddenly, and the atmos- 
 phere grows thick and stifling, the lower ranks of crea- 
 tion entertain the ominous sense of a coming tempest. 
 The birds fly to the thickets, the wild creatures retreat 
 to the closest covers which their instinct gives them the 
 habit of frequenting, and domestic animals show their 
 apprehension of the approaching thunder-storm by sin- 
 gular actions and movements inferring fear and dis- 
 turbance. 
 
 It seems that human nature, when its original habits 
 are cultivated and attended to, possesses, on similar 
 occasions, something of that prescient foreboding which 
 announces the approaching tempest to the inferior ranks 
 of creation. The cultivation of our intellectual powers 
 goes perhaps too far when it teaches us entirely to sup- 
 press and disregard those natural feelings which were 
 originally designed as sentinels by which nature warned 
 us of impending danger. 
 
 Something of the kind, however, still remains, and 
 that species of feeling which announces to us sorrowful 
 or alarming tidings may be said, like the prophecies of 
 the weird sisters, to come over us like a sudden cloud. 
 
 30
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 During the fatal day which was to precede the combat 
 of the Caesar with the Count of Paris, there were current 
 through the city of Constantinople the most contra- 
 dictory, and at the same time the most terrific, reports. 
 Privy conspiracy, it was alleged, was on the very eve of 
 breaking out; open war, it was reported by others, was 
 about to shake her banners over the devoted city; the 
 precise cause was not agreed upon, any more than the 
 nature of the enemy. Some said that the barbarians 
 from the borders of Thracia, the Hungarians, as they 
 were termed, and the Comani were on their march from 
 the frontiers to surprise the city; another report stated 
 that the Turks, who during this period were established 
 in Asia, had resolved to prevent the threatened attack 
 of the crusaders upon Palestine, by surprising not only 
 the Western pilgrims, but the Christians of the East, by 
 one of their innumerable invasions, executed with their 
 characteristic rapidity. 
 
 Another report, approaching more near to the truth, 
 declared that the crusaders themselves, having discov- 
 ered their various causes of complaint against Alexius 
 Comnenus, had resolved to march back their united 
 forces to the capital, with a view of dethroning or chas- 
 tising him ; and the citizens were dreadfully alarmed for 
 the consequences of the resentment of men so fierce in 
 their habits and so strange in their manners. In short, 
 although they did not all agree on the precise cause of 
 danger, it was yet generally allowed that something of a 
 dreadful kind was impending, which appeared to be in a 
 certain degree confirmed by the motions that were tak- 
 ing place among the troops. The Varangians, as well as 
 the Immortals, were gradually assembled, and placed 
 
 31
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 in occupation of the strongest parts of the city, until at 
 length the fleet of galleys, row-boats, and transports, 
 occupied by Tancred and his party, were observed to 
 put themselves in motion from Scutari, and attempt to 
 gain such a height in the narrow sea as upon the turn of 
 the tide should transport them to the port of the capital. 
 
 Alexius Comnenus was himself struck at this unex- 
 pected movement on the part of the crusaders. Yet, 
 after some conversation with Hereward, on whom he had 
 determined to repose his confidence, and had now gone 
 too far to retreat, he became reassured, the more espe- 
 cially by the limited size of the detachment which seemed 
 to meditate so bold a measure as an attack upon his 
 capital. To those around him he said, with carelessness, 
 that it was hardly to be supposed that a trumpet could 
 blow to the charge, within hearing of the crusaders' 
 camp, without some out of so many knights coming 
 forth to see the cause and the issue of the conflict. 
 
 The conspirators also had their secret fears when the 
 little armament of Tancred had been seen on the straits. 
 Agelastes mounted a mule and went to the shore of the 
 sea, at the place now called Galata. He met Bertha's 
 old ferryman, whom Godfrey had set at liberty, partly 
 in contempt, and partly that the report he was likely to 
 make might serve to amuse the conspirators in the city. 
 Closely examined by Agelastes, he confessed that the 
 present detachment, so far as he understood, was 
 despatched at the instance of Bohemond, and was under 
 the command of his kinsman, Tancred, whose well- 
 known banner was floating from the headmost vessel. 
 This gave courage to Agelastes, who, in the course of his 
 intrigues, had opened a private communication with the 
 
 32
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 wily and ever mercenary prince of Antioch. The object 
 of the philosopher had been to obtain from Bohemond a 
 body of his followers to cooperate in the intended con- 
 spiracy, and fortify the party of insurgents. It is true, 
 that Bohemond had returned no answer; but the account 
 now given by the ferryman, and the sight of Tancred 
 the kinsman of Bohemond's banner displayed on the 
 straits, satisfied the philosopher that his offers, his 
 presents, and his promises had gained to his side the 
 avaricious Italian, and that this band had been se- 
 lected by Bohemond, and were coming to act in his 
 favour. 
 
 As Agelastes turned to go off, he almost jostled a per- 
 son as much muffled up, and apparently as unwilling 
 to be known, as the philosopher himself. Alexius Com- 
 nenus, however — for it was the Emperor himself — 
 knew Agelastes, though rather from his stature and 
 gestures than his countenance; and could not forbear 
 whispering in his ear, as he passed, the well-known lines, 
 to which the pretended sage's various acquisitions gave 
 some degree of point : — 
 
 ' Grammaticus, rhetor, geometres, pictor, aliptes, 
 Augur, schoenobates, medicus, magus; omnia novit. 
 Graiculus esuriens in coelum, jusseris, ibit.' ^ 
 
 Agelastes first started at the unexpected sound of the 
 Emperor's voice, yet immediately recovered presence of 
 mind, the want of which had made him suspect himself 
 betrayed; and without taking notice of the rank of the 
 person to whom he spoke, he answered by a quotation 
 which should return the alarm he had received. The 
 speech that suggested itself was said to be that which 
 
 ^ Sec Note 2. 
 44 33
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the phantom of Cleonice dinned into the ears of the 
 tyrant who murdered her — 
 
 *Tu cole justitiam; tequc atque alios manet ultor.' * 
 
 The sentence, and the recollections which accompanied 
 it, thrilled through the heart of the Emperor, who 
 walked on, however, without any notice or reply. 
 
 'The vile conspirator,' he said, 'had his associates 
 around him, otherwise he had not hazarded that threat. 
 Or it may have been worse: Agelastes himself, on the 
 very brink of this world, may have obtained that singu- 
 lar glance into futurity proper to that situation, and 
 perhaps speaks less from his own reflection than from a 
 strange spirit of prescience, which dictates his words. 
 Have I then in earnest sinned so far in my imperial duty 
 as to make it just to apply to me the warning used by 
 the injured Cleonice to her ravisher and murderer? 
 Methinks I have not. Methinks that, at less expense 
 than that of a just severity, I could ill have kept my 
 seat in the high place where Heaven has been pleased to 
 seat me, and where, as a ruler, I am bound to maintain 
 my station. Methinks the sum of those who have experi- 
 enced my clemency may be well numbered with that of 
 such as have sustained the deserved punishments of their 
 guilt. But has that vengeance, however deserved in 
 itself, been always taken in a legal or justifiable manner? 
 My conscience, I doubt, will hardly answer so home a 
 question; and where is the man, had he the virtues of 
 Antoninus himself, that can hold so high and responsible 
 a place, yet sustain such an interrogation as is implied in 
 that sort of warning which I have received from this 
 
 ^ See Note 2. 
 34
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 traitor? Tu cole justitiam; we all need to use justice to 
 others. Teque atque alios manet uUor; we are all amen- 
 able to an avenging being. I will see the Patriarch — 
 instantly will I see him; and by confessing my trans- 
 gressions to the church, I will, by her plenary indul- 
 gence, acquire the right of spending the last day of my 
 reign in a consciousness of innocence, or at least of par- 
 don — a state of mind rarely the lot of those whose Unes 
 have fallen in lofty places.' 
 
 So saying, he passed to the palace of Zosimus the 
 Patriarch, to whom he could unbosom himself with 
 more safety because he had long considered Agelastes 
 as a private enemy to the church, and a man attached 
 to the ancient doctrines of heathenism. In the councils 
 of the state they were also opposed to each other, nor did 
 the Emperor doubt that, in communicating the secret of 
 the conspiracy to the Patriarch, he was sure to attain a 
 loyal and firm supporter in the defence which he pro- 
 posed to himself. He therefore gave a signal by a low 
 whistle, and a confidential officer, well mounted, ap- 
 proached him, who attended him in his ride, though 
 unostentatiously, and at some distance. 
 
 In this manner, therefore, Alexius Comnenus pro- 
 ceeded to the palace of the Patriarch, with as much 
 speed as was consistent with his purpose of avoiding to 
 attract any particular notice as he passed through the 
 street. During the whole ride, the warning of Agelastes 
 repeatedly occurred to him, and his conscience reminded 
 him of too many actions of his reign which could only 
 be justified by necessity, emphatically said to be the 
 tyrant's plea, and which were of themselves deserving 
 the dire vengeance so long delay • 
 
 35
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 When he came in sight of the splendid towers which 
 adorned the front of the patriarchal palace, he turned 
 aside from the lofty gates, repaired to a narrow court, 
 and again giving his mule to his attendant, he stopt 
 before a postern, whose low arch and humble architrave 
 seemed to exclude the possibility of its leading to any 
 place of importance. On knocking, however, a priest of 
 an inferior order opened the door, who, with a deep 
 reverence, received the Emperor so soon as he had made 
 himself known, and conducted him into the interior of 
 the palace. Demanding a secret interview with the 
 Patriarch, Alexius was then ushered into his private 
 library, where he was received by the aged priest with 
 the deepest respect, which the nature of his communica- 
 tion soon changed into horror and astonishment. 
 
 Although Alexius was supposed by many of his own 
 court, and particularly by some members of his own 
 family, to be little better than a hypocrite in his religious 
 professions, yet such severe observers were unjust in 
 branding him with a name so odious. He was indeed 
 aware of the great support which he received from the 
 good opinion of the clergy, and to them he was willing 
 to make sacrifices for the advantage of the church, or of 
 individual prelates who manifested fideUty to the crown; 
 but though, on the one hand, such sacrifices were rarely 
 made by Alexius without a view to temporal policy, yet, 
 on the other, he regarded them as recommended by his 
 devotional feelings, and took credit to himself for various 
 grants and actions, as dictated by sincere piety, which, 
 in another aspect, were the fruits of temporal policy. 
 His m.ode of looking on these measures was that of 
 a person with oblique vision, who sees an object in a 
 
 36
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 different manner according to the point from which he 
 chances to contemplate it. 
 
 The Emperor placed his own errors of government 
 before the Patriarch in his confession, giving due weight 
 to every breach of morality as it occurred, and stripping 
 from them the lineaments and palliative circumstances 
 which had in his own imagination lessened their guilt. 
 The Patriarch heard, to his astonishment, the real 
 thread of many a court intrigue, which had borne a very 
 different appearance till the Emperor's narrative either 
 justified his conduct upon the occasion or left it totally 
 unjustifiable. Upon the whole, the balance was cer- 
 tainly more in favour of Alexius than the Patriarch had 
 supposed Hkely in that more distant view he had taken 
 of the intrigues of the court, when, as usual, the minis- 
 ters and the courtiers endeavoured to make up for the 
 applause which they had given in council to the most 
 blameable actions of the absolute monarch by elsewhere 
 imputing to his motives greater guilt than really be- 
 longed to them. Many men who had fallen sacrifices, 
 it was supposed, to the personal spleen or jealousy of the 
 Emperor, appeared to have been in fact removed from 
 life, or from hberty, because their enjoying either was 
 inconsistent with the quiet of the state and the safety 
 of the monarch. 
 
 Zosimus also learned, what he perhaps already sus- 
 pected, that, amidst the profound silence of despotism 
 which seemed to pervade the Grecian empire, it heaved 
 frequently with convulsive throes, which ever and anon 
 made obvious the existence of a volcano under the sur- 
 face. Thus, while smaller delinquencies, or avowed dis- 
 content with the imperial government, seldom occurred, 
 
 37
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 and were severely punished when they did, the deepest 
 and most mortal conspiracies against the life and the 
 authority of the Emperor were cherished by those near- 
 est to his person; and he was often himself aware of 
 them, though it was not until they approached an ex- 
 plosion that he dared act upon his knowledge and 
 punish the conspirators. 
 
 The whole treason of the Caesar, with his associates, 
 Agelastes and Achilles Tatius, was heard by the 
 Patriarch with wonder and astonishment, and he was 
 particularly surprised at the dexterity with which the 
 Emperor, knowing the existence of so dangerous a con- 
 spiracy at home, had been able to parry the danger from 
 the crusaders occurring at the same moment. 
 
 *In that respect,' said the Emperor, to whom indeed 
 the churchman hinted his surprise, ' I have been singu- 
 larly unfortunate. Had I been secure of the forces of my 
 own empire, I might have taken one out of two manly 
 and open courses with these frantic warriors of the 
 West: I might, my reverend father, have devoted the 
 sums paid to Bohemond and other of the more selfish 
 among the crusaders to the honest and open support of 
 the army of Western Christians, and safely transported 
 them to Palestine, without exposing them to the great 
 loss which they are likely to sustain by the opposition of 
 the infidels; their success would have been in fact my 
 own, and a Latin kingdom in Palestine, defended by its 
 steel-clad warriors, would have been a safe and unex- 
 pugnable barrier of the empire against the Saracens, 
 Or, if it was thought more expedient for the protection 
 of the empire and the holy church, over which you are 
 ruler, we might at once, and by open force, have de- 
 
 38
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 fended the frontiers of our states against a host com- 
 manded by so many different and discording chiefs, and 
 advancing upon us with such equivocal intentions. If 
 the first swarm of these locusts, under him whom they 
 called Walter the Penniless, was thinned by the Hun- 
 garians, and totally destroyed by the Turks, as the 
 pyramids of bones on the frontiers of the country still 
 keep in memory, surely the united forces of the Grecian 
 empire would have had Uttle difficulty in scattering this 
 second flight, though commanded by these Godfreys, 
 Bohemonds, and Tancreds.' 
 
 The Patriarch was silent, for though he disliked 
 or rather detested, the crusaders, as members of the 
 Latin Church, he yet thought it highly doubtful that in 
 feats of battle they could have been met and overcome 
 by the Grecian forces. 
 
 *At any rate,' said Alexius, rightly interpreting his 
 silence, 'if vanquished, I had fallen under my shield as a 
 Greek emperor should, nor had I been forced into these 
 mean measures of attacking men by stealth, and with 
 forces disguised as infidels; while the lives of the faithful 
 soldiers of the empire, who have fallen in obscure skir- 
 mishes, had better, both for them and me, been lost 
 bravely in their ranks, avowedly fighting for their native 
 emperor and their native country. Now, and as the 
 matter stands, I shall be handed down to posterity as a 
 wily tyrant, who engaged his subjects in fatal feuds for 
 the safety of his own obscure life. Patriarch, these crimes 
 rest not with me, but with the rebels whose intrigues 
 compelled mc into such courses. What, reverend father, 
 will be my fate hereafter, and in what light shall I 
 descend to posterity, the author of so many disasters?' 
 
 39
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'For futurity/ said the Patriarch, 'your Grace hath 
 referred yourself to the holy church, which hath power 
 to bind and to loose; your means of propitiating her are 
 ample, and I have already indicated such as she may 
 reasonably expect, in consequence of your repentance 
 and forgiveness.' 
 
 'They shall be granted,' replied the Emperor, 'in their 
 fullest extent; nor will I injure you in doubting their 
 effect in the next world. In this present state of exist- 
 ence, however, the favourable opinion of the church may 
 do much for me during this important crisis. If we 
 understand each other, good Zosimus, her doctors and 
 bishops are to thunder in my behalf, nor is my benefit 
 from her pardon to be deferred till the funeral monu- 
 ment closes upon me?' 
 
 'Certainly not,' said Zosimus, 'the conditions which 
 I have already stipulated being strictly attended to.' 
 
 'And my memory in history,' said Alexius, 'in what 
 manner is that to be preserved? ' 
 
 'For that,' answered the Patriarch, 'your Imperial 
 Majesty must trust to the filial piety and literary 
 talents of your accomplished daughter, Anna Com- 
 nena.' 
 
 The Emperor shook his head. ' This unhappy Caesar,' 
 he said, 'is Hke to make a quarrel between us; for I shall 
 scarce pardon so ungrateful a rebel as he is because my 
 daughter clings to him with a woman's fondness. Be- 
 sides, good Zosimus, it is not, I believe, the page of a 
 historian such as my daughter that is most likely to 
 be received without challenge by posterity. Some Proco- 
 pius, some philosophical slave, starving in a garret, as- 
 pires to write the life of an emperor when he durst not 
 
 40
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 approach; and although the principal merit of his pro- 
 duction be that it contains particulars upon the subject 
 which no man durst have promulgated while the prince 
 was living, yet no man hesitates to admit such as true 
 when he has passed from the scene.' 
 
 'On that subject/ said Zosimus, 'I can neither afford 
 your Imperial Majesty relief or protection. If, however, 
 your memory is unjustly slandered upon earth, it will be 
 a matter of indifference to your Highness, who will be 
 then, I trust, enjoying a state of beatitude which idle 
 slander cannot assail. The only way, indeed, to avoid 
 it while on this side of time would be to write your 
 Majesty's own memoirs while you are yet in the 
 body; so convinced am I that it is in your power to 
 assign legitimate excuses for those actions of your Hfe 
 which, without your doing so, would seem most worthy 
 of censure.' 
 
 * Change we the subject,' said the Emperor; 'and since 
 the danger is imminent, let us take care for the present, 
 and leave future ages to judge for themselves. What 
 circumstance is it, reverend father, in your opinion, 
 which encourages these conspirators to make so auda- 
 cious an appeal to the populace and the Grecian sol- 
 diers? ' 
 
 'Certainly,' answered the Patriarch, 'the most irritat- 
 ing incident of your Highness's reign was the fate of 
 Ursel, who, submitting, it is said, upon capitulation, for 
 life, limb, and liberty, was starved to death by your 
 orders in the dungeons of the Blacquernal, and whose 
 courage, Uberality, and other popular virtues are still 
 fondly remembered by the citizens of this metropolis, 
 and by the soldiers of the guard called Immortal.' 
 
 41.
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'And this,' said the Emperor, fixing his eye upon his 
 confessor, 'your reverence esteems actually the most 
 dangerous point of the popular tvmiult? ' 
 
 'I cannot doubt,' said the Patriarch, 'that his very 
 name, boldly pronounced and artfully repeated, will 
 be the watchword, as has been plotted, of a horrible 
 tumult.' 
 
 ' I thank Heaven ! ' said the Emperor, 'on that particu- 
 lar I will be on my guard. Good-night to your reverence; 
 and believe me that all in this scroll, to which I have set 
 my hand, shall be with the utmost fidelity accomplished. 
 Be not, however, over-impatient in this business: such a 
 shower of benefits falling at once upon the church would 
 make men suspicious that the prelates and ministers 
 proceeded rather as acting upon a bargain between the 
 Emperor and Patriarch than as paying or receiving an 
 atonement offered by a sinner in excuse of his crimes. 
 This would be injurious, father, both to yourself and 
 me.' 
 
 'All regular delay,' said the Patriarch, 'shall be inter- 
 posed at your Highness's pleasure; and we shall trust 
 to you for recollection that the bargain, if it could be 
 termed one, was of your own seeking, and that the 
 benefit to the church was contingent upon the par- 
 don and the support which she has afforded to your 
 Majesty.' 
 
 'True,' said the Emperor — 'most true; nor shall I 
 forget it. Once more adieu, and forget not what I have 
 told thee. This is a night, Zosimus, in which the 
 Emperor must toil like a slave, if he means not to return 
 to the humble Alexius Comnenus, and even then there 
 were no resting-place.' 
 
 42
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 So saying, he took leave of the Patriarch, who was 
 highly gratified with the advantages he had obtained 
 for the church, which many of his predecessors had 
 struggled for in vain. He resolved, therefore, to support 
 the staggering Alexius.
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 Heaven knows its time; the bullet has its billet, 
 Arrow anil javelin each its destined purpose; 
 The fated beasts of nature's lower strain 
 Have each their separate task. 
 
 Old Play. 
 
 Agelastes, after crossing the Emperor in the manner 
 we have already described, and after having taken such 
 measures as occurred to him to ensure the success of the 
 conspiracy, returned to the lodge of his garden, where 
 the lady of the Count of Paris still remained, her only 
 companion being an old woman named Vexhelia, the wife 
 of the soldier who accompanied Bertha to the camp of 
 the crusaders, the kind-hearted maiden having stipu- 
 lated that, during her absence, her mistress was not to 
 be left without an attendant, and that attendant con- 
 nected with the Varangian Guard. He had been all day 
 playing the part of the ambitious poHtician, the selfish 
 time-server, the dark and subtle conspirator; and now 
 it seemed, as if to exhaust the catalogue of his various 
 parts in the human drama, he chose to exhibit himself 
 in the character of the wily sophist, and justify, or seem 
 to justify, the arts by which he had risen to wealth and 
 eminence, and hoped even now to arise to royalty itself. 
 
 'Fair countess,' he said, 'what occasion is there for 
 your wearing this veil of sadness over a countenance so 
 lovely? ' 
 
 'Do you suppose me,' said Brenhilda, 'a stock, a stone, 
 or a creature without the feelings of a sensitive being, 
 
 44
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 that I should endure mortification, imprisonment, dan- 
 ger, and distress, without expressing the natural feelings 
 of humanity? Do you imagine that to a lady like me, as 
 free as the unreclaimed falcon, you can ofEer the insult 
 of captivity, without my being sensible to the disgrace, 
 or incensed against the authors of it? And dost thou 
 think that I will receive consolation at thy hands — at 
 thine — one of the most active artificers in this web of 
 treachery in which I am so basely entangled? ' 
 
 'Not entangled certainly by my means,' answered 
 Agelastes; 'clap your hands, call for what you wish, and 
 the slave who refuses instant obedience had better been 
 unborn. Had I not, with reference to your safety and 
 your honour, agreed for a short time to be your keeper, 
 that office would have been usurped by the Caesar, 
 whose object you know, and may partly guess the modes 
 by which it would be pursued. Why then dost thou 
 childishly weep at being held for a short space in an hon- 
 ourable restraint, which the renowned arms of your hus- 
 band will probably put an end to long ere to-morrow at 
 noon? ' 
 
 'Canst thou not comprehend,' said the Countess, 
 'thou man of many words, but of few honourable 
 thoughts, that a heart Hke mine, which has been trained 
 in the feelings of reliance upon my own worth and valour, 
 must be necessarily affected with shame at being obliged 
 to accept, even from the sword of a husband, that safety 
 which I would gladly have owed only to my own? ' 
 
 'Thou art misled, Countess,' answered the philoso- 
 pher, 'by thy pride, a failing predominant in woman. 
 Thinkest thou there has been no offensive assumi^tion 
 in laying aside the character of a mother and a wife, and 
 
 45
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 adopting that of one of those brain-sick female fools 
 who, like the bravoes of the other sex, sacrifice every- 
 thing that is honourable or useful to a frantic and in- 
 sane affectation of courage? BeHeve me, fair lady, that 
 the true system of virtue consists in filling thine own 
 place gracefully in society, breeding up thy children, and 
 delighting those of the other sex; and anything beyond 
 this may well render thee hateful or terrible, but can add 
 nothing to thy amiable qualities.' 
 
 'Thou pretendest,' said the Countess, * to be a philos- 
 opher; methinks thou shouldst know that the fame 
 which hangs its chaplet on the tomb of a brave hero or 
 heroine is worth all the petty engagements in which 
 ordinary persons spend the current of their time. One 
 hour of life, crowned to the full with glorious action, and 
 filled with noble risks, is worth whole years of those 
 mean observances of paltry decorum in which men steal 
 through existence, like sluggish waters through a marsh, 
 without either honour or observation.' 
 
 'Daughter,' said Agelastes, approaching nearer to the 
 lady, ' it is with pain I see you bewildered in errors which 
 a little calm reflection might remove. We may flatter 
 ourselves, and human vanity usually does so, that beings 
 infinitely more powerful than those belonging to mere 
 himianity are employed daily in measuring out the good 
 and evil of this world, the termination of combats, or the 
 fate of empires, according to their own ideas of what is 
 right or wrong, or, more properly, according to what we 
 ourselves conceive to be such. The Greek heathens, 
 renowned for their wisdom and glorious for their actions, 
 explained to men of ordinary minds the supposed exist- 
 ence of Jupiter and his pantheon, where various deities 
 
 46
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 presided over various virtues and vices, and regulated 
 the temporal fortune and future happiness of such as 
 practised them. The more learned and wise of the 
 ancients rejected such the vulgar interpretation, and 
 wisely, although affecting a deference to the public 
 faith, denied before their disciples in private the gross 
 fallacies of Tartarus and Olympus, the vain doctrines 
 concerning the gods themselves, and the extravagant 
 expectations which the vulgar entertained of an immor- 
 tality supposed to be possessed by creatures who were 
 in every respect mortal, both in the conformation of 
 their bodies and in the internal belief of their souls. Of 
 these wise and good men some granted the existence of 
 the supposed deities, but denied that they cared about 
 the actions of mankind any more than those of the infe- 
 rior animals. A merry, jovial, careless life, such as the 
 followers of Epicurus would choose for themselves, was 
 what they assigned for those gods whose being they 
 admitted. Others, more bold or more consistent, entirely 
 denied the existence of deities who apparently had no 
 proper object or purpose, and believed that such of them 
 whose being and attributes were proved to us by no 
 supernatural appearances had in reality no existence 
 whatever.' 
 
 'Stop, wretch!' said the Countess, 'and know that 
 thou speakest not to one of those blinded heathens of 
 whose abominable doctrines you are detailing the result. 
 Know that, if an erring, I am nevertheless a sincere, 
 daughter of the church, and this cross displayed on my 
 shoulder is a sufficient emblem of the vows I have under- 
 taken in its cause. Be therefore wary, as thou art wily; 
 for, believe me, if thou scoffest or uttercst reproach 
 
 47
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 against my holy religion, what I am unable to answer in 
 language I will reply to, without hesitation, with the 
 point of my dagger.' 
 
 'To that argument,' said Agelastes, drawing back 
 from the neighbourhood of Brenhilda, 'believe me, fair 
 lady, I am very unwilling to urge your gentleness. But, 
 although I shall not venture to say anything of those 
 superior and benevolent powers to whom you ascribe 
 the management of the world, you will surely not take 
 offence at my noticing those base superstitions which 
 have been adopted in explanation of what is called by 
 the Magi the Evil Principle. Was there ever received 
 into a human creed a being so mean — almost so ridicu- 
 lous — as the Christian Satan? A goatish figure and 
 limbs, with grotesque features, formed to express the 
 most execrable passions; a degree of power scarce in- 
 ferior to that of the Deity; and a talent at the same 
 time scarce equal to that of the stupidest of the lowest 
 order! What is he, this being, who is at least the second 
 arbiter of the human race, save an immortal spirit, 
 with the petty spleen and spite of a vindictive old man 
 or old woman? ' 
 
 Agelastes made a singular pause in this part of his dis- 
 course. A mirror of considerable size hung in the apart- 
 ment, so that the philosopher could see in its reflection 
 the figure of Brenhilda, and remark the change of her 
 countenance, though she had averted her face from him 
 in hatred of the doctrines which he promulgated. On 
 this glass the philosopher had his eyes naturally fixed, 
 and he was confounded at perceiving a figure glide 
 from behind the shadow of a curtain, and glare at 
 him with the supposed mien and expression of the 
 
 48
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Satan of monkish mythology, or a satyr of the heathen 
 age. 
 
 'Man!' said Brenhilda, whose attention was attracted 
 by this extraordinary apparition, as it seemed, of the 
 Fiend, 'have thy wicked words, and still more wicked 
 thoughts, brought the Devil amongst us? If so, dismiss 
 him instantly, else, by Our Lady of the Broken Lances! 
 thou shalt know better than at present what is the tem- 
 per of a Frankish maiden when in presence of the Fiend 
 himself, and those who pretend skill to raise him. I wish 
 not to enter into a contest unless compelled; but if I am 
 obliged to join battle with an enemy so horrible, believe 
 me, no one shall say that Brenhilda feared him.' 
 
 Agelastes, after looking with surprise and horror at 
 the figure as reflected in the glass, turned back his head 
 to examine the substance, of which the reflection was so 
 strange. The object, however, had disappeared behind 
 the curtain, under which it probably lay hid, and it was 
 after a minute or two that the half-gibing, half-scowling 
 countenance showed itself again in the same position 
 in the mirror. 
 
 'By the gods — !' said Agelastes. 
 
 'In whom but now,' said the Countess, 'you pro- 
 fessed unbelief.' 
 
 'By the gods!' repeated Agelastes, in part recovering 
 himself, 'it is Sylvan, that singular mockery of human- 
 ity, who was said to have been brought from Taprobana. 
 I warrant he also believes in his jolly god Pan, or the 
 veteran Sylvanus. He is to the uninitiated a creature 
 whose appearance is full of terrors, but he shrinks before 
 the philosopher like ignorance before knowledge.' So 
 saying, he with one hand pulled down the curtain, under 
 
 44 49
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 which the animal had nestled itself when it entered from 
 the garden-window of the pavilion, and with the other, 
 in which he had a staff uplifted, threatened to chastise 
 the creature, with the words — ' How now, Sylvanus ! 
 what insolence is this? To your place!' 
 
 As, in uttering these words, he struck the animal, the 
 blow unluckily lighted upon his wounded hand, and 
 recalled its bitter smart. The wild temper of the crea- 
 ture returned, unsubdued for the moment by any awe 
 of man; uttering a fierce, and at the same time stifled, 
 cry, it flew on the philosopher, and clasped its strong 
 and sinewy arms about his throat with the utmost fury. 
 The old man twisted and struggled to deliver himself 
 from the creature's grasp, but in vain. Sylvan kept hold 
 of his prize, compressed his sinewy arms, and abode by 
 his purpose of not quitting his hold of the philosopher's 
 throat until he had breathed his last. Two more bitter 
 yells, accompanied each with a desperate contortion of 
 the countenance and squeeze of the hands, concluded, in 
 less than five minutes, the dreadful strife. 
 
 Agelastes lay dead upon the ground, and his assassin 
 Sylvan, springing from the body as if terrified and 
 alarmed at what he had done, made his escape by the 
 window. The Countess stood in astonishment, not 
 knowing exactly whether she had witnessed a supernat- 
 ural display of the judgment of Heaven or an instance 
 of its vengeance by mere mortal means. Her new at- 
 tendant Vexhelia was no less astonislied, though her 
 acquaintance with the animal was considerably more 
 intimate. 
 
 'Lady,' she said, 'that gigantic creature is an animal 
 of great strength, resembhng mankind in form, but huge 
 
 so
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 in its size, and, encouraged by its immense power, some- 
 times malevolent in its intercourse with mortals. I have 
 heard the Varangians often talk of it as belonging to 
 the imperial museum. It is fitting we remove the body 
 of this unhappy man, and hide it in a plot of shrubbery 
 in the garden. It is not likely that he will be missed to- 
 night, and to-morrow there will be other matter astir, 
 which will probably prevent much inquiry about him.' 
 The Countess Brenhilda assented, for she was not one 
 of those timorous females to whom the countenances of 
 the dead are objects of terror. 
 
 Trusting to the parole which she had given, Agelastes 
 had permitted the Countess and her attendant the free- 
 dom of his gardens, of that part at least adjacent to the 
 pavilion. They therefore were in little risk of interrup- 
 tion as they bore forth the dead body between them, 
 and without much trouble disposed of it in the thickest 
 part of one of the bosquets with which the garden was 
 studded. 
 
 As they returned to their place of abode or confine- 
 ment, the Countess, half speaking to herself, half ad- 
 dressing Vexhelia, said — * I am sorry for this ; not that 
 the infamous wretch did not deserve the full punishment 
 of Heaven coming upon him in the very moment of 
 blasphemy and infidelity, but because the courage and 
 truth of the unfortunate Brenhilda may be brought into 
 suspicion, as his slaughter took place when he was alone 
 with her and her attendant, and as no one was witness of 
 the singular manner in which the old blasphemer met his 
 end. Thou knowest,' she added, addressing herself to 
 Heaven — 'thou! blessed Lady of the Broken Lances, 
 the protectress both of Brenhilda and her husband, well 
 
 SI
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 knowest that, whatever faults may be mine, I am free 
 from the slightest suspicion of treachery; and into thy 
 hands I put my cause, with a perfect reliance upon thy 
 wisdom and bounty to bear evidence in my favour.' So 
 saying, they returned to the lodge unseen, and with 
 pious and submissive prayers the Countess closed that 
 eventful evening.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 Wil! you hear of a Spanish lady. 
 
 How she wooed an Englishman ? 
 Garments gay, as rich as may be, 
 Deck'd with jewels she had on. 
 Of a comely countenance and grace was she, 
 And by birth and parentage of high degree. 
 
 Old Ballad. 
 
 We left Alexius Comnenus after he had unloaded his 
 conscience in the ears of the Patriarch, and received from 
 him a faithful assurance of the pardon and patronage 
 of the national church. He took leave of the dignitary 
 with some exulting exclamations, so unexphcitly ex- 
 pressed, however, that it was by no means easy to con- 
 ceive the meaning of what he said. His first inquiry, 
 when he reached the Blacquernal, being for his daughter, 
 he was directed to the room encrusted with beautifully 
 carved marble, from which she herself, and many of her 
 race, derived the proud appellation of porphyrogenita, or 
 born in the purple. Her coimtenance was clouded with 
 anxiety, which, at the sight of her father, broke out into 
 open and uncontrollable grief. 
 
 'Daughter,' said the Emperor, with a harshness little 
 common to his manner, and a seriousness which he 
 sternly maintained, instead of sympathising with his 
 daughter's affliction, *as you would prevent the silly fool 
 with whom you are connected from displaying himself to 
 the public both as an ungrateful monster and a traitor, 
 you will not fail to exhort him, by due submission, to 
 make his petition for pardon, accompanied with a full 
 
 5S
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 confession of his crimes, or, by my sceptre and my 
 crown, he shall die the death! Nor will I pardon any 
 who rushes upon his doom in an open tone of defiance, 
 under such a standard of rebellion as my ungrateful 
 son-in-law has hoisted.' 
 
 'What can you require of me, father?' said the Prin- 
 cess. ' Can you expect that I am to dip my own hands 
 in the blood of this unfortimate man; or wilt thou seek a 
 revenge yet more bloody than that which was exacted 
 by the deities of antiquity upon those criminals who 
 ofif ended against their divine power? ' 
 
 * Think not so, my daughter,' said the Emperor; 'but 
 rather believe that thou hast the last opportunity af- 
 forded by my filial affection of rescuing, perhaps from 
 death, that silly fool thy husband, who has so richly 
 deserved it.' 
 
 'My father,' said the Princess, 'God knows it is not 
 at your risk that I would wish to purchase the life of 
 Nicephorus; but he has been the father of my children, 
 though they are now no more, and women cannot forget 
 that such a tie has existed, even though it has been 
 broken by fate. Permit me only to hope that the unfor- 
 tunate culprit shall have an opportunity of retrieving 
 his errors; nor shall it, believe me, be my fault if he 
 resumes those practices, treasonable at once and unnatu- 
 ral, by which his life is at present endangered.' 
 
 'Follow me, then, daughter,' said the Emperor, 'and 
 know, that to thee alone I am about to entrust a secret, 
 upon which the safety of my life and crown, as well as 
 the pardon of my son-in-law's life, will be found even- 
 tually to depend.' 
 
 He then assumed in haste the garment of a slave of the 
 
 54
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 seraglio, and commanded his daughter to arrange her 
 dress in a more succinct form, and to take in her hand 
 a lighted lamp. 
 
 'Whither are we going, my father?' said Anna 
 Comnena. 
 
 'It matters not,' replied her father, 'since my destiny 
 calls me, and since thine ordains thee to be my torch- 
 bearer. Believe it, and record it, if thou darest, in thy 
 book, that Alexius Comnenus does not, without alarm, 
 descend into those awful dungeons which his predeces- 
 sors built for men, even when his intentions are innocent 
 and free from harm. Be silent, and should we meet any 
 inhabitant of those inferior regions, speak not a word, 
 nor make any observation upon his appearance.' 
 
 Passing through the intricate apartments of the pal- 
 ace, they now came to that large hall through which 
 Hereward had passed on the first night of his introduc- 
 tion to the place of Anna's recitation, called the temple 
 of the Muses. It was constructed, as we have said, of 
 black marble, dimly illuminated. At the upper end of 
 the apartment was a small altar, on which was laid some 
 incense, while over the smoke were suspended, as if pro- 
 jecting from the wall, two imitations of human hands 
 and arms, which were but imperfectly seen. 
 
 At the bottom of this hall, a small iron door led to a 
 narrow and winding staricase, resembling a draw-well 
 in shape and size, the steps of which were excessively 
 steep, and which the Emperor, after a solemn gesture to 
 his daughter commanding her attendance, began to de- 
 scend with the imperfect light, and by the narrow and 
 difficult steps by which those who visited the under 
 regions of the Blacquernal seemed to bid adieu to the 
 
 55
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 light of day. Door after door they passed in their 
 descent, leading, it was probable, to different ranges of 
 dungeons, from which was obscurely heard the stifled 
 voice of groans and sighs, such as attracted Hereward's 
 attention on a former occasion. The Emperor took no 
 notice of these signs of human misery, and three stories, 
 or ranges of dungeons, had been already passed, ere the 
 father and daughter arrived at the lowest story of the 
 building, the base of which was the solid rock, roughly 
 carved, upon which were erected the side- walls and 
 arches of solid but unpolished marble, 
 
 'Here,' said Alexius Comnenus, 'all hope, all expecta- 
 tion takes farewell, at the turn of a hinge or the grating 
 of a lock. Yet shall not this be always the case: the dead 
 shall revive and resume their right, and the disinherited 
 of these regions shall again prefer their claim to inhabit 
 the upper world. If I cannot entreat Heaven to my 
 assistance, be assured, my daughter, that rather than 
 be the poor animal which I have stooped to be thought, 
 and even to be painted in thy history, I would sooner 
 brave every danger of the multitude which now erect 
 themselves betwixt me and safety. Nothing is resolved 
 save that I will live and die an emperor; and thou, Anna, 
 be assured that, if there is power in the beauty or in the 
 talents of which so much has been boasted, that power 
 shall be this evening exercised to the advantage of thy 
 parent, from whom it is derived.' 
 
 'What is it that you mean, imperial father? Holy 
 Virgin ! is this the promise you made me to save the life 
 of the unfortunate Nicephorus? ' 
 
 ' And so I will,' said the Emperor ; * and I am now about 
 that action of benevolence. But think not I will once 
 
 S6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 more warm in my bosom the household snake which had 
 so nearly stung me to death. No, daughter, I have pro- 
 vided for thee a fitting husband, in one who is able to 
 maintain and defend the rights of the Emperor thy 
 father; and beware how thou opposest an obstacle to 
 what is my pleasure! for behold these walls of marble, 
 though unpolished, and recollect it is as possible to die 
 within the marble as to be born there.' 
 
 The Princess Anna Comnena was frightened at seeing 
 her father in a state of mind entirely different from any 
 which she had before witnessed. *0, Heaven! that my 
 mother were here!' she ejaculated, in the terror of some- 
 thing she hardly knew what. 
 
 'Anna,' said the Emperor, 'your fears and your 
 screams are alike in vain. I am one of those who, on 
 ordinary occasions, hardly nourish a wish of my own, 
 and accoxmt myself obliged to those who, like my wife 
 and daughter, take care to save me all the trouble of 
 free judgment. But when the vessel is among the 
 breakers, and the master is called to the helm, believe 
 that no meaner hand shall be permitted to interfere with 
 him, nor will the wife and daughter whom he indulged 
 in prosperity be allowed to thwart his will while he can 
 yet call it his own. Thou couldst scarcely fail to under- 
 stand that I was almost prepared to have given thee as 
 a mark of my sincerity to yonder obscure Varangian, 
 without asking question of either birth or blood. Thou 
 mayst hear when I next promise thee to a three years' 
 inhabitant of these vaults, who shall be Cassar in 
 Briennius's stead, if I can move him to accept a princess 
 for his bride, and an imperial crown for his inheritance, 
 in place of a starving dungeon.' 
 
 57
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 * I tremble at your words, father/ said Anna Comnena. 
 'How canst thou trust a man who has felt thy cruelty? 
 How canst thou dream that aught can ever in sincerity 
 reconcile thee to one whom thou hast deprived of his 
 eyesight? ' 
 
 'Care not for that,' said Alexius; 'he becomes mine, 
 or he shall never know what it is to be again his own. 
 And thou, girl, mayst rest assured that, if I will it, thou 
 art next day the bride of my present captive, or thou 
 retirest to the most severe nunnery, never again to mix 
 with society. Be silent, therefore, and await thy doom, 
 as it shall come, and hope not that thy utmost endeav- 
 ours can avert the current of thy destiny.' 
 
 As he concluded this singular dialogue, in which he 
 had assumed a tone to which his daughter was a 
 stranger, and before which she trembled, he passed on 
 through more than one strictly fastened door, while his 
 daughter, with a faltering step, illuminated him on the 
 obscure road. At length he found admittance by another 
 passage into the cell in which Ursel was confined, and 
 found him reclining in hopeless misery, all those expec- 
 tations having faded from his heart which the Count of 
 Paris had by his indomitable gallantry for a time ex- 
 cited. He turned his sightless eyes towards the place 
 where he heard the moving of bolts and the approach 
 of steps. 
 
 'A new feature,' he said, 'in my imprisonment — a 
 man comes with heavy and determined step, and a 
 woman or a child with one that scarcely presses the 
 floor! Is it my death that you bring? Believe me, that I 
 have lived long enough in these dungeons to bid my 
 doom welcome.' 
 
 58
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'It is not thy death, noble Ursel,' said the Emperor, 
 in a voice somewhat disguised. *Life, Hberty, whatever 
 the world has to give, is placed by the Emperor Alexius 
 at the feet of his noble enemy, and he trusts that many 
 years of happiness and power, together with the com- 
 mand of a large share of the empire, will soon obUterate 
 the recollection of the dungeons of the Blacquernal.' 
 
 *It cannot be,' said Ursel, with a sigh. 'He upon 
 whose eyes the sun has set even at middle day can have 
 nothing left to hope from the most advantageous change 
 of circumstances.' 
 
 'You are not entirely assured of that,' said the Em- 
 peror; 'allow us to convince you that what is intended 
 towards you is truly favourable and Uberal, and I hope 
 you will be rewarded by finding that there is more possi- 
 bility of amendment in your case than your first appre- 
 hensions are willing to receive. Make an effort, and try 
 whether your eyes are not sensible of the light of the 
 lamp.' 
 
 'Do with me,' said Ursel, 'according to your pleasure; 
 I have neither strength to remonstrate nor the force of 
 mind equal to make me set your cruelty at defiance. Of 
 something like light I am sensible; but whether it is 
 reality or illusion I cannot determine. If you are come 
 to deliver me from this living sepulchre, I pray God to 
 requite you; and if, under such deceitful pretence, you 
 mean to take my life, I can only commend my soul to 
 Heaven, and the vengeance due to my death to Him 
 who can behold the darkest places in which injustice 
 can shroud itself.' 
 
 So saying, and the revulsion of his spirits rendering 
 him unable to give almost any other signs of existence, 
 
 59
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Ursel sunk back upon his seat of captivity, and spoke 
 not another word during the time that Alexius disem- 
 barrassed him of those chains which had so long hung 
 about him that they almost seemed to make a part of 
 his person. 
 
 ' This is an affair in which thy aid can scarce be suffi- 
 cient, Anna,' said the Emperor: 'it would have been 
 well if you and I could have borne him into the open air 
 by our joint strength, for there is little wisdom in show- 
 ing the secrets of this prison-house to those to whom they 
 are not yet known; nevertheless, go, my child, and at a 
 short distance from the head of the staircase which we 
 descended thou wilt find Edward, the bold and trusty 
 Varangian, who, on your communicating to him my 
 orders, will come hither and render his assistance; and 
 see that you send also the experienced leech, Douban.* 
 
 Terrified, half-stifled, and half-struck with horror, the 
 lady yet felt a degree of relief from the somewhat milder 
 tone in which her father addressed her. With tottering 
 steps, yet in some measure encouraged by the tenor 
 of her instructions, she ascended the staircase which 
 yawned upon these infernal dungeons. As she ap- 
 proached the top, a large and strong figure threw its 
 broad shadow between the lamp and the opening of the 
 hall. Frightened nearly to death at the thoughts of 
 becoming the wife of a squalid wretch like Ursel, a 
 moment of weakness seized upon the Princess's mind, 
 and, when she considered the melancholy option which 
 her father had placed before her, she could not but think 
 that the handsome and gallant Varangian, who had 
 already rescued the royal family from such imminent 
 danger, was a fitter person with whom to unite herself, 
 
 60
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 if she must needs make a second choice, than the 
 singular and disgusting being whom her father's 
 policy had raked from the bottom of the Blacquernal 
 dungeons. 
 
 I will not say of poor Anna Comnena, who was a 
 timid but not an unfeeling woman, that she would have 
 embraced such a proposal, had not the life of her present 
 husband, Nicephorus Briennius, been in extreme dan- 
 ger; and it was obviously the determination of the Em- 
 peror that, if he spared him, it should be on the sole 
 condition of unloosing his daughter's hand, and binding 
 her to some one of better faith, and possessed of a greater 
 desire to prove an affectionate son-in-law. Neither did 
 the plan of adopting the Varangian as a second husband 
 enter decidedly into the mind of the Princess. The 
 present was a moment of danger, in which her rescue to 
 be successful must be sudden, and perhaps, if once 
 achieved, the lady might have had an opportunity of 
 freeing herself both from Ursel and the Varangian, with- 
 out disjoining either of them from her father's assist- 
 ance, or of herself losing it. At any rate, the surest 
 means of safety were to secure, if possible, the young 
 soldier, whose features and appearance were of a kind 
 which rendered the task no way disagreeable to a beauti- 
 ful woman. The schemes of conquest are so natural to 
 the fair sex, and the whole idea passed so quickly through 
 Anna Comnena's mind, that, having first entered while 
 the soldier's shadow was interposed between her and the 
 lamp, it had fully occupied her quick imagination, when, 
 with deep reverence and great surprise at her sudden 
 appearance on the ladder of Acheron, the Varangian, 
 advancing, knelt down and lent his arm to the assistance 
 
 6i
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 of the fair lady, in order to help her out of the dreary 
 staircase. 
 
 'Dearest Hereward,' said the lady, with a degree of 
 intimacy which seemed unusual, 'how much do I rejoice, 
 in this dreadful night, to have fallen under your protec- 
 tion! I have been in places which the spirit of Hell 
 appears to have contrived for the human race.' The 
 alarm of the Princess, the familiarity of a beautiful 
 woman, who, while in mortal fear, seeks refuge, like a 
 frightened dove, in the bosom of the strong and the 
 brave, must be the excuse of Anna Comnena for the 
 tender epithet with which she greeted Hereward; nor, 
 if he had chosen to answer in the same tone, which, 
 faithful as he was, might have proved the case if the 
 meeting had chanced before he saw Bertha, would the 
 daughter of Alexius have been, to say the truth, irre- 
 concilably ofifended. Exhausted as she was, she suffered 
 herself to repose upon the broad breast and shoulder of 
 the Anglo-Saxon; nor did she make an attempt to 
 recover herself, although the decorum of her sex and 
 station seemed to recommend such an exertion. Here- 
 ward was obliged himself to ask her, with the unim- 
 passioned and reverential demeanour of a private soldier 
 to a princess, whether he ought to simimon her female 
 attendants, to which she faintly uttered a negative. 
 *No — no,' said she, 'I have a duty to execute for my 
 father, and I must not summon eye-witnesses; he knows 
 me to be in safety, Hereward, since he knows I am with 
 thee; and if I am a burden to you in my present state of 
 weakness, I shall soon recover, if you will set me down 
 upon the marble steps.' 
 
 'Heaven forbid, lady,' said Hereward, 'that I were 
 62
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 thus neglectful of your Highness's gracious health! I 
 see your two young ladies, Astarte and Violante, are in 
 quest of you. Permit me to summon them hither, and I 
 will keep watch upon you if you are unable to retire to 
 your chamber, where, methinks, the present disorder of 
 your nerves will be most properly treated.' 
 
 'Do as thou wilt, barbarian,' said the Princess, rally- 
 ing herself, with a certain degree of pique, arising per- 
 haps from her not thinking more dramatis personcB were 
 appropriate to the scene than the two who were already 
 upon the stage. Then, as if for the first time appearing 
 to recollect the message with which she had been com- 
 missioned, she exhorted the Varangian to repair in- 
 stantly to her father. 
 
 On such occasions, the slightest circumstances have 
 their effect on the actors. The Anglo-Saxon was sensi- 
 ble that the Princess was somewhat offended, though 
 whether she was so on account of her being actually in 
 Hereward's arms, or whether the cause of her anger was 
 the being discovered there by the two young maidens, 
 the sentinel did not presume to guess, but departed for 
 the gloomy vaults to join Alexius, with the never-failing 
 double-edged axe, the bane of many a Turk, glittering 
 upon his shoulder. 
 
 Astarte and her companion had been despatched by 
 the Empress Irene in search of Anna Comnena, through 
 those apartments of the palace which she was wont to 
 inhabit. The daughter of Alexius could nowhere be 
 found, although the business on which they were seeking 
 her was described by the Empress as of the most pressing 
 nature. Nothing, however, in a palace passes altogether 
 unespied, so that the Empress's messengers at length 
 
 63
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 received information that their mistress and the 
 Emperor had been seen to descend that gloomy access 
 to the dungeons which, by. allusion to the classical 
 infernal regions, was termed the Pit of Acheron. They 
 came thither, accordingly, and we have related the con- 
 sequences. Hereward thought it necessary to say that 
 her Imperial Highness had swooned upon being sud- 
 denly brought into the upper air. The Princess, on the 
 other part, briskly shook off her juvenile attendants, 
 and declared herself ready to proceed to the chamber of 
 her mother. The obeisance which she made Hereward 
 at parting had something in it of haughtiness, yet 
 evidently quahfied by a look of friendship and regard. 
 As she passed an apartment in which some of the royal 
 slaves were in waiting, she addressed to one of them, an 
 old, respectable man, of medical skill, a private and 
 hurried order, desiring him to go to the assistance of her 
 father, whom he would find at the bottom of the stair- 
 case called the Pit of Acheron, and to take his scimitar 
 along with him. To hear, as usual, was to obey, and 
 Douban, for that was his name, only repUed by that 
 significant sign which indicates immediate acquiescence. 
 In the meantime, Anna Comnena herself hastened on- 
 ward to her mother's apartments, in which she found 
 the Empress alone. 
 
 'Go hence, maidens,' said Irene, 'and do not let any 
 one have access to these apartments, even if the 
 Emperor himself should command it. Shut the door,' 
 she said, 'Anna Comnena; and if the jealousy of the 
 stronger sex do not allow us the masculine privilege of 
 bolts and bars to secure the insides of our apartments, 
 let us avail ourselves, as quickly as may be, of such 
 
 64
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 opportunities as are permitted us; and remember, 
 Princess, that however impHcit your duty to your 
 father, it is yet more so to me, who am of the same sex 
 with thyself, and may truly call thee, even according to 
 the letter, blood of my blood and bone of my bone. Be 
 assured thy father knows not at this moment the 
 feelings of a woman. Neither he nor any man alive can 
 justly conceive the pangs of the heart which beats under 
 a woman's robe. These men, Anna, would tear asunder 
 without scruple the tenderest ties of affection, the 
 whole structure of domestic felicity, in which lie a 
 woman's cares, her joy, her pain, her love, and her 
 despair. Trust, therefore, to me, my daughter, and 
 believe me, I will at once save thy father's crown and 
 thy happiness. The conduct of thy husband has been 
 wrong — most cruelly wrong; but, Anna, he is a man, 
 and in calling him such I lay to his charge, as natural 
 frailties, thoughtless treachery, wanton infidelity, every 
 species of folly and inconsistency to which his race is 
 subject. You ought not, therefore, to think of his faults, 
 unless it be to forgive them.' 
 
 'Madam,' said Anna Comnena, 'forgive me if I 
 remind you that you recommend to a princess born in 
 the purple itself a line of conduct which would hardly 
 become the female who carries the pitcher for the need- 
 ful supply of water to the village well. All who are 
 around me have been taught to pay me the obeisance 
 due to my birth, and while this Nicephorus Briennius 
 crept on his knees to your daughter's hand, which you 
 extended towards him, he was rather receiving the yoke 
 of a mistress than accepting a household alliance with a 
 wife. He has incurred his doom, without a touch even 
 44 6s
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 of that temptation which may be pled by lesser culprits 
 in his condition; and if it is the will of my father that he 
 should die, or suffer banishment or imprisonment, for 
 the crime he has committed, it is not the business of 
 Anna Comnena to interfere, she being the most injured 
 among the imperial family, who have in so many and 
 such gross respects the right to complain of his false- 
 hood.' 
 
 'Daughter,' rephed the Empress, *so far I agree with 
 you, that the treason of Nicephorus towards your 
 father and myself has been in a great degree unpardon- 
 able; nor do I easily see on what footing, save that of 
 generosity, his life could be saved. But still you are 
 yourself in different circumstances from me, and may, 
 as an affectionate and fond wife, compare the intimacies 
 of your former habits with the bloody change which is 
 so soon to be the consequence and the conclusion of his 
 crimes. He is possessed of that person and of those 
 features which women most readily recall to their mem- 
 ory, whether alive or dead. Think what it will cost you 
 to recollect that the rugged executioner received his last 
 salute, that the shapely neck had no better repose than 
 the rough block, that the tongue the sound of which you 
 used to prefer to the choicest instruments of music is 
 silent in the dust ! ' 
 
 Anna, who was not insensible to the personal graces 
 of her husband, was much affected by this forcible 
 appeal. 'Why distress me thus, mother?' she rephed, 
 in a weeping accent. 'Did I not feel as acutely as you 
 would have me to do, this moment, however awful, 
 would be easily borne. I had but to think of him as he 
 is, to contrast his personal quahties with those of the 
 
 66
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 mind, by which they are more than overbalanced, and 
 resign myself to his deserved fate with unresisting sub- 
 mission to my father's will.' 
 
 'And that,' said the Empress, 'would be to bind thee, 
 by his sole fiat, to some obscure wretch, whose habits of 
 plotting and intriguing had, by some miserable chance, 
 given him the opportunity of becoming of importance 
 to the Emperor, and who is therefore to be rewarded by 
 the hand of Anna Comnena.' 
 
 'Do not think so meanly of me, madam,' said the 
 Princess. 'I know, as well as ever Grecian maiden did, 
 how I should free myself from dishonour; and, you may 
 trust me, you shall never blush for your daughter.' 
 
 'Tell me not that,' said the Empress, 'since I shall 
 blush alike for the relentless cruelty which gives up a 
 once beloved husband to an ignominious death, and 
 for the passion, for which I want a name, which would 
 replace him by an obscure barbarian from the extremity 
 of Thule, or some wretch escaped from the Blacquernal 
 dungeons.' 
 
 The Princess was astonished to perceive that her mo- 
 ther was acquainted with the purposes, even the most 
 private, which her father had formed for his governance 
 during this emergency. She was ignorant that Alexius 
 and his royal consort, in other respects living together 
 with a decency ever exemplary in people of their rank, 
 had sometimes, on interesting occasions, family de- 
 bates, in which the husband, provoked by the seeming 
 unbelief of his partner, was tempted to let her guess 
 more of his real purposes than he would have coolly 
 imparted of his own calm choice. 
 
 The Princess was affected at the anticipation of the 
 
 67
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 death of her husband, nor could this have been reason- 
 ably supposed to be otherwise; but she was still more 
 hurt and affronted by her mother taking it for granted 
 that she designed upon the instant to replace the Caesar 
 by an uncertain, and at all events an unworthy, suc- 
 cessor. Whatever considerations had operated to make 
 Hereward her choice, their ejBfect was lost when the 
 match was placed in this odious and degrading point of 
 view; besides which is to be remembered, that women 
 almost instinctively deny their first thoughts in favour 
 of a suitor, and seldom willingly reveal them, unless 
 time and circumstance concur to favour them. She 
 called Heaven, therefore, passionately to witness, while 
 she repelled the charge. 
 
 'Bear witness,' she said, 'Our Lady, Queen of Heaven! 
 bear witness, saints and martyrs all, ye blessed ones, 
 who are, more than ourselves, the guardians of our 
 mental purity! that I know no passion which I dare not 
 avow, and that, if Nicephorus's life depended on my 
 entreaty to God and men, all his injurious acts towards 
 me disregarded and despised, it should be as long as 
 Heaven gave to those servants whom it snatched from 
 the earth without suffering the pangs of mortahty.' 
 
 *You have sworn boldly,' said the Empress. 'See, 
 Anna Comnena, that you keep your word, for beUeve 
 me it will be tried.' 
 
 'What will be tried, mother?' said the Princess; 'or 
 what have I to do to pronounce the doom of the Caesar, 
 who is not subject to my power? ' 
 
 'I will show you,' said the Empress, gravely; and, 
 leading her towards a sort of wardrobe, which formed 
 a closet in the wall, she withdrew a curtain which hung 
 
 68
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 before it, and placed before her her unfortunate hus- 
 band, Nicephorus Briennius, half-attired, with his sword 
 drawn in his hand. Looking upon him as an enemy, and 
 conscious of some schemes with respect to him which 
 had passed through her mind in the course of these trou- 
 bles, the Princess screamed faintly, upon perceiving him 
 so near her with a weapon in his hand. 
 
 *Be more composed,' said the Empress, 'or this 
 wretched man, if discovered, falls no less a victim to thy 
 idle fears than to thy baneful revenge.' 
 
 Nicephorus at this speech seemed to have adopted his 
 cue, for, dropping the point of his sword, and falling on 
 his knees before the Princess, he clasped his hands to 
 entreat for mercy, 
 
 'What hast thou to ask from me?' said his wife, na- 
 turally assured, by her husband's prostration, that the 
 stronger force was upon her own side — * what hast thou 
 to ask from me, that outraged gratitude, betrayed affec- 
 tion, the most solemn vows violated, and the fondest 
 ties of nature torn asunder like the spider's broken web, 
 will permit thee to put in words for very shame?' 
 
 'Do not suppose, Anna,' replied the suppliant, 'that I 
 am at this eventful period of my life to play the hypo- 
 crite, for the purpose of saving the wretched remnant of 
 a dishonoured existence. I am but desirous to part in 
 charity with thee, to make my peace with Heaven, and 
 to nourish the last hope of making my way, though bur- 
 dened with many crimes, to those regions in which 
 alone I can find thy beauty, thy talents, equalled at 
 least, if not excelled.' 
 
 'You hear him, daughter?' said Irene. 'His boon is 
 for forgiveness alone; thy condition is the more godlike, 
 
 69
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 since thou mayst unite the safety of his life with the 
 pardon of his offences.' 
 
 'Thou art deceived, mother,' answered Anna. *It is 
 not mine to pardon his guilt, far less to remit his punish- 
 ment. You have taught me to think of myself as future 
 ages shall know me; what will they say of me, those 
 future ages, when I am described as the unfeeling 
 daughter who pardoned the intended assassin of her 
 father because she saw in him her own unfaithful hus- 
 band?' 
 
 'See, there,' said the Caesar, 'is not that, most serene 
 Empress, the very point of despair? and have I not in 
 vain offered my life-blood to wipe out the stain of parri- 
 cide and ingratitude? Have I not also vindicated my- 
 self from the most unpardonable part of the accusation, 
 which charged me with attempting the murder of the 
 godlike emperor? Have I not sworn by all that is sacred 
 to man, that my purpose went no farther than to seques- 
 trate Alexius for a httle time from the fatigues of empire, 
 and place him where he should quietly enjoy ease and 
 tranquillity; while, at the same time, his empire should 
 be as implicitly regulated by himself, his sacred pleasure 
 being transmitted through me, as in any respect, or at 
 any period, it had ever been? ' 
 
 ' Erring man ! ' said the Princess, ' hast thou approached 
 so near to the footstool of Alexius Comnenus, and durst 
 thou form so false an estimate of him as to conceive it 
 possible that he would consent to be a mere puppet by 
 whose intervention you might have brought his empire 
 to submission? Know that the blood of Comnenus is 
 not so poor: my father would have resisted the treason 
 in arms, and by the death of thy benefactor only couldst 
 
 70
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 thou have gratified the suggestions of thy criminal 
 ambition.' 
 
 'Be such your belief,' said the Caesar: 'I have said 
 enough for a life which is not and ought not to be dear 
 to me. Call your guards, and let them take the life of 
 the unfortunate Briennius, since it has become hateful 
 to his once beloved Anna Comnena, Be not afraid that 
 any resistance of mine shall render the scene of my ap- 
 prehension dubious or fatal. Nicephorus Briennius is 
 Caesar no longer, and he thus throws at the feet of his 
 princess and spouse the only poor means which he has 
 of resisting the just doom which is therefore at her pleas- 
 ure to pass.' 
 
 He cast his sword before the feet of the Princess, while 
 Irene exclaimed, weeping, or seeming to weep, bitterly 
 — *I have indeed read of such scenes; but could I ever 
 have thought that my own daughter would have been 
 the principal actress in one of them ; could I ever have 
 thought that her mind, admired by every one as a pal- 
 ace for the occupation of Apollo and the Muses, should 
 not have had room enough for the humbler but more 
 amiable virtue of feminine charity and compassion, 
 which builds itself a nest in the bosom of the lowest 
 village girl? Do thy gifts, accomplishments, and talents 
 spread hardness as well as polish over thy heart? If so, 
 a hundred times better renounce them all, and retain in 
 their stead those gentle and domestic virtues which are 
 the first honours of the female heart. A woman who is 
 pitiless is a worse monster than one who is unsexed by 
 any other passion.' 
 
 'What would you have me do?' said Anna. 'You, 
 mother, ought to know better than I that the life of my 
 
 71
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 father is hardly consistent with the existence of this 
 bold and cruel man. O, I am sure he still meditates 
 his purpose of conspiracy! He that could deceive a 
 woman in the manner he has done me will not relin- 
 quish a plan which is founded upon the death of his 
 benefactor.' 
 
 'You do me injustice, Anna,' said Briennius, starting 
 up and imprinting a kiss upon her lips ere she was aware. 
 'By this caress, the last that will pass between us, I 
 swear that, if in my hfe I have yielded to folly, I have, 
 notwithstanding, never been guilty of a treason of the 
 heart towards a woman as superior to the rest of the 
 female world in talents and accomplishments as in per- 
 sonal beauty.' 
 
 The Princess, much softened, shook her head as she 
 rephed — * Ah, Nicephorus, such were once your words; 
 such, perhaps, were then your thoughts; but who or 
 what shall now warrant to me the veracity of either? ' 
 
 'Those very accomplishments and that very beauty 
 itself,' replied Nicephorus. 
 
 'And if more is wanting,' said Irene, 'thy mother will 
 enter her security for him. Deem her not an insuflficient 
 pledge in this affair: she is thy mother, and the wife of 
 Alexius Comnenus, interested beyond all human beings 
 in the growth and increase of the power and dignity of 
 her husband and her child ; and one who sees on this occa- 
 sion an opportunity for exercising generosity, for solder- 
 ing up the breaches of the imperial house, and recon- 
 structing the frame of government upon a basis which, 
 if there be faith and gratitude in man, shall never be 
 again exposed to hazard.' 
 
 'To the reality of that faith and gratitude, then,' said 
 
 72
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the Princess, 'we must trust implicitly, as it is your will, 
 mother; although even my own knowledge of the sub- 
 ject, both through study and experience of the world, 
 has called me to observe the rashness of such confidence. 
 But although we two may forgive Nicephorus's errors, 
 the Emperor is still the person to whom the final refer- 
 ence must be had, both as to pardon and favour.* 
 
 'Fear not Alexius,' answered her mother; 'he will 
 speak determinedly and decidedly, but, if he acts not in 
 the very moment of forming the resolution, it is no more 
 to be relied on than an icicle in time of thaw. Do thou 
 apprise me, if thou canst, what the Emperor is at pre- 
 sent doing, and take my word I will find means to bring 
 him round to our opinion.* 
 
 'Must I then betray secrets which my father has 
 entrusted to me?' said the Princess; 'and to one who has 
 so lately held the character of his avowed enemy?' 
 
 'Call it not betray,' said Irene, 'since it is written, 
 thou shalt betray no one, least of all thy father, and the 
 father of the empire. Yet again it is written by the holy 
 Luke, that men shall be betrayed, both by parents and 
 brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends, and therefore surely 
 also by daughters ; by which I only mean thou shalt dis- 
 cover to us thy father's secrets, so far as may enable us 
 to save the Ufe of thy husband. The necessity of the 
 case excuses whatever may be otherwise considered as 
 irregular.' 
 
 'Be it so then, mother. Having yielded my consent, 
 perhaps too easily, to snatch this malefactor from my 
 father's justice, I am sensible I must secure his safety 
 by such means as are in my power. I left my father at 
 the bottom of those stairs called the Pit of Acheron, in 
 
 73
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the cell of a blind man, to whom he gave the name of 
 UrseL' 
 
 'Holy Mary!' exclaimed the Empress, 'thou hast 
 named a name which has been long unspoken in the 
 open air.' 
 
 'Has the Emperor's sense of his danger from the liv- 
 ing,' said the Caesar, 'induced him to invoke the dead? 
 for Ursel has been no living man for the space of three 
 years.' 
 
 'It matters not,' said Anna Comnena; 'I tell you true. 
 My father even now held conference with a miserable- 
 looking prisoner whom he so named.' 
 
 'It is a danger the more,' said the Caesar: 'he cannot 
 have forgotten the zeal with which I embraced the cause 
 of the present emperor against his own; and so soon as he 
 is at hberty, he will study to avenge it. For this we must 
 endeavour to make some provision, though it increases 
 our difficulties. Sit down then, my gentle, my benefi- 
 cent mother; and thou, my wife, who hast preferred thy 
 love for an unworthy husband to the suggestions of 
 jealous passion and of headlong revenge, sit down, and 
 let us see in what manner it may be in our power, con- 
 sistently with your duty to the Emperor, to bring our 
 broken vessel securely into port.' 
 
 He employed much natural grace of manner in hand- 
 ing the mother and daughter to their seats; and, taking 
 his place confidently between them, all were soon en- 
 gaged in concerting what measures should be taken for 
 the morrow, not forgetting such as should at once have 
 the effect of preserving the Caesar's life, and at the 
 same time of securing the Grecian empire against the 
 conspiracy of which he had been the chief instigator. 
 
 74
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Briennius ventured to hint that perhaps the best way 
 would be to suffer the conspiracy to proceed as origin- 
 ally intended, pledging his own faith that the rights of 
 Alexius should be held inviolate during the struggle; but 
 his influence over the Empress and her daughter did 
 not extend to obtaining so great a trust. They plainly 
 protested against permitting him to leave the palace, 
 or taking the least share in the confusion which to- 
 morrow was certain to witness. 
 
 'You forget, noble ladies,' said the Caesar, 'that my 
 honour is concerned in meeting the Count of Paris.' 
 
 'Pshaw! tell me not of your honour, Briennius,' said 
 Anna Comnena; 'do I not well know that, although the 
 honour of the Western knights be a species of Moloch, 
 a flesh - devouring, blood - quaffing demon, yet that 
 which is the god of idolatry to the Eastern warriors, 
 though equally loud and noisy in the hall, is far less im- 
 placable in the field? Believe not that I have forgiven 
 great injuries and insults, in order to take such false coin 
 as honour in payment. Your ingenuity is but poor, if 
 you cannot devise some excuse which will satisfy the 
 Greeks; and in good sooth, Briennius, to this battle you 
 go not, whether for your good or for your ill. Believe 
 not that I will consent to your meeting either Count or 
 Countess, whether in warlike combat or amorous parley. 
 So you may at a word count ui3on remaining prisoner 
 here until the hour appointed for such gross folly be past 
 and over.' 
 
 The Ca3sar, perhaps, was not in his heart angry that 
 his wife's pleasure was so bluntly and resolutely ex- 
 pressed against the intended combat. ' If,' said he, ' you 
 are determined to take my honour into your own keep- 
 
 75
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ing, I am here for the present your prisoner, nor have I the 
 means of interfering with your pleasure. When once at 
 liberty, the free exercise of my valour and my lance is 
 once more my own,' 
 
 *Be it 30, sir paladin,' said the Princess, very com- 
 posedly. 'I have good hope that neither of them will 
 involve you with any of yon daredevils of Paris, whether 
 male or female, and that we will regulate the pitch to 
 which your courage soars by the estimation of Greek 
 philosophy, and the judgment of our blessed Lady of 
 Mercy, not her of the Broken Lances.' 
 
 At this moment, an authoritative knock at the door 
 alarmed the consultation of the Cassar and the ladies.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 Physician. Be comforted, good madam; the great rage. 
 You see, is kill'd in him; and yet it is danger 
 To make him even o'er the time he has lost. 
 Desire him to go in; trouble him no more 
 Till further settling. 
 
 King Lear. 
 
 We left the Emperor Alexius Comnenus at the bottom 
 of a subterranean vault, with a lamp expiring, and hav- 
 ing charge of a prisoner who seemed himself nearly re- 
 duced to the same extremity. For the first two or three 
 moments he listened after his daughter's retiring foot- 
 steps. He grew impatient, and began to long for her 
 return before it was possible she could have traversed 
 the path betwixt him and the summit of these gloomy 
 stairs. A minute or two he endured with patience the 
 absence of the assistance which he had sent her to sum- 
 mon ; but strange suspicions began to cross his imagina- 
 tion. Could it be possible? Had she changed her pur- 
 pose on account of the hard words which he had used 
 towards her? Had she resolved to leave her father to 
 his fate in his hour of utmost need? and was he to rely 
 no longer upon the assistance which he had implored her 
 to send? 
 
 The short time which the Princess trifled away in a 
 sort of gallantry with the Varangian Hereward was 
 magnified tenfold by the impatience of the Emperor, 
 who began to think that she was gone to fetch the accom- 
 plices of the Caisar to assault their prince in his defence- 
 
 77
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 less condition, and carry into effect their half-discon- 
 certed conspiracy. 
 
 After a considerable time, filled up with this feeling of 
 agonizing uncertainty, he began at length, more com- 
 posedly, to recollect the little chance there was that the 
 Princess would, even for her own sake, resentful as she 
 was in the highest degree of her husband's ill behaviour, 
 join her resources to his, to the destruction of one who 
 had so generally showed himself an indulgent and 
 affectionate father. When he had adopted this better 
 mood, a step was heard upon the staircase, and, after 
 a long and unequal descent, Hereward, in his heavy 
 armour, at length coolly arrived at the bottom of the 
 steps. Behind him, panting and trembling, partly with 
 cold and partly with terror, came Douban, the slave well 
 skilled in medicine. 
 
 'Welcome, good Edward! Welcome, Douban!' he 
 said, 'whose medical skill is sufficiently able to counter- 
 balance the weight of years which hang upon him.' 
 
 'Your Highness is gracious — ' said Douban; but 
 what he would have further said was cut off by a vio- 
 lent fit of coughing, the consequence of his age, of his 
 feeble habit, of the damps of the dungeon, and the 
 rugged exercise of descending the long and difficult stair- 
 case. 
 
 'Thou art unaccustomed to visit thy patients in so 
 rough an abode,' said Alexius; 'and, nevertheless, to the 
 damps of these dreary regions state necessity obliges us 
 to confine many who are no less our beloved subjects 
 in reality than they are in title.' 
 
 The medical man continued his cough, perhaps as an 
 apology for not giving that answer of assent with which 
 
 78
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 his conscience did not easily permit him to reply to an 
 observation which, though stated by one who should 
 know the fact, seemed not to be in itself altogether 
 likely. 
 
 'Yes, my Douban,' said the Emperor, *in this strong 
 case of steel and adamant have we found it necessary 
 to inclose the redoubted Ursel, whose fame is spread 
 through the whole world, both for military skill, political 
 wisdom, personal bravery, and other noble gifts, which 
 we have been obliged to obscure for a time, in order that 
 we might, at the fittest conjuncture, which is now 
 arrived, restore them to the world in their full lustre. 
 Feel his pulse, therefore, Douban; consider him as one 
 who hath suffered severe confinement, with all its pri- 
 vations, and is about to be suddenly restored to the full 
 enjoyment of life and whatever renders life valuable.' 
 
 *I will do my best,' said Douban; 'but your Majesty 
 must consider that we work upon a frail and exhausted 
 subject, whose health seems already well-nigh gone, and 
 may perhaps vanish in an instant, like this pale and 
 trembling light, whose precarious condition the life- 
 breath of this unfortunate patient seems closely to 
 resemble.' 
 
 'Desire, therefore, good Douban, one or two of the 
 mutes who serve in the interior, and who have repeatedly 
 been thy assistants in such cases — or stay — Edward, 
 thy motions will be more speedy; do thou go for the 
 mutes; make them bring some kind of litter to transport 
 the patient; and, Douban, do thou superintend the 
 whole. Transport him instantly to a suitable apartment, 
 only taking care that it be secret, and let him enjoy the 
 comforts of the bath, and whatever else may tend to 
 
 79
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 restore his feeble animation, keeping in mind that he 
 must, if possible, appear to-morrow in the field.' 
 
 'That will be hard,' said Douban, 'after having been, 
 it would appear, subjected to such fare and such usage 
 as his fluctuating pulse intimates but too plainly.* 
 
 ' 'T was a mistake of the dungeon-keeper, the inhuman 
 villain, who should not go without his reward,' contin- 
 ued the Emperor, 'had not Heaven already bestowed 
 it by the strange means of a sylvan man or native of the 
 woods, who yesterday put to death the jailer who medi- 
 tated the death of his prisoner. Yes, my dear Douban, a 
 private sentinel of our guards called the Immortal had 
 well-nigh annihilated this flower of our trust, whom for 
 a time we were compelled to immure in secret. Then, 
 indeed, a rude hammer had dashed to pieces an unpar- 
 alleled brilliant, but the fates have arrested such a mis- 
 fortune.' 
 
 The assistance having arrived, the physician, who 
 seemed more accustomed to act than to speak, directed 
 a bath to be prepared with medicated herbs, and gave it 
 as his opinion that the patient should not be disturbed 
 till to-morrow's sun was high in the heavens. Ursel 
 accordingly was assisted to the bath, which was em- 
 ployed according to the directions of the physician, but 
 without affording any material symptoms of recovery. 
 From thence he was transferred to a cheerful bed- 
 chamber, opening by an ample window to one of the 
 terraces of the palace, which commanded an extensive 
 prospect. These operations were performed upon a 
 frame so extremely stupefied by previous suffering, so 
 dead to the usual sensations of existence, that it was not 
 till the sensibility should be gradually restored, by fric- 
 
 80
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 tion of the stiffened limbs and other means, that the 
 leech hoped the mists of the intellect should at length 
 begin to clear away. 
 
 Douban readily undertook to obey the commands of 
 the Emperor, and remained by the bed of the patient 
 until the dawn of morning, ready to support nature as 
 far as the skill of leechcraft admitted. 
 
 From the mutes, much more accustomed to be the 
 executioners of the Emperor's displeasure than of his 
 humanity, Douban selected one man of milder mood, 
 and by Alexius's order made him understand that the 
 task in which he was engaged was to be kept most 
 strictly secret, while the hardened slave was astonished 
 to find that the attentions paid to the sick were to be 
 rendered with yet more mystery than the bloody oflSces 
 of death and torture. 
 
 The passive patient received the various acts of 
 attention which were rendered to him in silence; and 
 if not totally without consciousness, at least without 
 a distinct comprehension of their object. After the 
 soothing operation of the bath, and the voluptuous 
 exchange of the rude and musty pile of straw on which 
 he had stretched himself for years for a couch of the 
 softest down, Ursel was presented with a sedative 
 draught, slightly tinctured with an opiate. The balmy 
 restorer of nature came thus invoked, and the captive 
 sunk into a delicious slumber long unknown to him, 
 and which seemed to occupy equally his mental facul- 
 ties and his bodily frame, while the features were re- 
 leased from their rigid tenor, and the posture of the 
 limbs, no longer disturbed by fits of cramp and sud- 
 den and agonizing twists and throes, seemed changed
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 for a placid state of the most perfect ease and tran- 
 quillity. 
 
 The morn was already colouring the horizon, and the 
 freshness of the breeze of dawn had insinuated itself 
 into the lofty halls of the Palace of the Blacquernal, 
 when a gentle tap at the door of the chamber awakened 
 Douban, who, undisturbed from the calm state of his 
 patient, had indulged himself in a brief repose. The door 
 opened, and a figure appeared, disguised in the robes 
 worn by an ofl&cer of the palace, and concealed beneath 
 an artificial beard of great size, and of a white colour, 
 the features of the Emperor himself. 'Douban,' said 
 Alexius, ' how fares it with thy patient, whose safety is 
 this day of such consequence to the Grecian state? ' 
 
 'Well, my lord,' replied the physician — 'excellently 
 well; and if he is not now disturbed, I will wager what- 
 ever skill I possess that nature, assisted by the art of the 
 physician, will triumph over the damps and the unwhole- 
 some air of the impure dungeon. Only be prudent, my 
 lord, and let not an untimely haste bring this Ursel for- 
 ward into the contest ere he has arranged the disturbed 
 current of his ideas, and recovered, in some degree, the 
 spring of his mind and the powers of his body.' 
 
 'I will rule my impatience,' said the Emperor, 'or 
 rather, Douban, I will be ruled by thee. Thinkst thou he 
 is awake? ' 
 
 'I am inclined to think so,' said the leech, 'but he opens 
 not his eyes, and seems to me as if he absolutely resisted 
 the natural impulse to rouse himself and look around 
 him.' 
 
 'Speak to him,' said the Emperor, 'and let us know 
 what is passing in his mind.' 
 
 82
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'It is at some risk,' replied the physician, 'but you 
 shall be obeyed. Ursel,' he said, approaching the bed of 
 his blind patient; and then, in a louder tone, he repeated 
 again — ' Ursel — Ursel ! ' 
 
 'Peace — hush!' muttered the patient; 'disturb not 
 the blest in their ecstasy, nor again recall the most 
 miserable of mortals to finish the draught of bitterness 
 which his fate had compelled him to commence.' 
 
 'Again — again,' said the Emperor, aside to Douban 
 — ' try him yet again; it is of importance for me to know 
 in what degree he possesses his senses, or in what meas- 
 ure they have disappeared from him.' 
 
 'I would not, however,' said the physician, 'be the 
 rash and guilty person who, by an ill-timed urgency, 
 should produce a total alienation of mind, and plunge 
 him back either into absolute lunacy or produce a stupor 
 in which he might remain for a long period.' 
 
 'Surely not,' replied the Emperor; 'my commands are 
 those of one Christian to another, nor do I wish them 
 further obeyed than as they are consistent with the 
 laws of God and man.' 
 
 He paused for a moment after this declaration, and 
 yet but few minutes had elapsed ere he again urged the 
 leech to pursue the interrogation of his patient. ' If you 
 hold me not competent,' said Douban, somewhat vain 
 of the trust necessarily reposed in him, 'to judge of the 
 treatment of my patient, your Imperial Highness must 
 take the risk and the trouble upon yourself.' 
 
 'Marry, I shall,' said the Emperor, 'for the scruples 
 of leeches are not to be indulged when the fate of king- 
 doms and the lives of monarchs are placed against them 
 in the scales. Rouse thee, my noble Ursel; hear a voice 
 
 83
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 with which thy ears were once well acquainted welcome 
 thee back to glory and command. Look around thee, 
 and see how the world smiles to welcome thee back from 
 imprisonment to empire.' 
 
 'Cunning fiend,' said Ursel, 'who usest the most wily 
 baits, in order to augment the misery of the wretched! 
 Know, tempter, that I am conscious of the whole trick 
 of the soothing images of last night — thy baths, thy 
 beds, and thy bowers of bliss; but sooner shalt thou be 
 able to bring a smile upon the cheek of St. Anthony the 
 Eremite than induce me to curl mine after the fashion 
 of earthly voluptuaries.' 
 
 'Try it, foolish man,' insisted the Emperor, 'and trust 
 to the evidence of thy senses for the reality of the pleas- 
 ures by which thou art now surrounded ; or, if thou art 
 obstinate in thy lack of faith, tarry as thou art for a single 
 moment, and I will bring with me a being so unparalleled 
 in her loveliness that a single glance of her were worth 
 the restoration of thine eyes, were it only to look upon 
 her for a moment.' So saying, he left the apartment. 
 
 'Traitor,' said Ursel, 'and deceiver of old, bring no one 
 hither; and strive not, by shadowy and ideal forms of 
 beauty, to increase the delusion that gilds my prison- 
 house for a moment, in order, doubtless, to destroy 
 totally the spark of reason, and then exchange this 
 earthly hell for a dungeon in the infernal regions them- 
 selves.' 
 
 'His mind is somewhat shattered,' mused the physi- 
 cian, 'which is often the consequence of a long solitary 
 confinement. I marvel much,' was his further thought, 
 'if the Emperor can shape out any rational service 
 which this man can render him, after being so long im- 
 
 84
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 mured in so horrible a dungeon. Thou thinkest, then/ 
 continued he, addressing the patient, 'that the seeming 
 release of last night, with its baths and refreshments, 
 was only a delusive dream, without any reality? ' 
 
 'Ay — what else?' answered Ursel. 
 
 'And that the arousing thyself, as we desire thee to do, 
 would be but a resigning to a vain temptation, in order 
 to wake to more unhappiness than formerly? ' 
 
 'Even so,' returned the patient. 
 
 'What, then, are thy thoughts of the Emperor, by 
 whose command thou suff erest so severe a restraint? ' 
 
 Perhaps Douban wished he had forborne this ques- 
 tion, for, in the very moment when he put it, the door of 
 the chamber opened, and the Emperor entered, with his 
 daughter hanging upon his arm, dressed with simplicity, 
 yet with becoming splendour. She had found time, it 
 seems, to change her dress for a white robe, which re- 
 sembled a kind of mourning, the chief ornament of which 
 was a diamond chaplet, of inestimable value, which sur- 
 rounded and bound the long sable tresses, that reached 
 from her head to her waist. Terrified almost to death, 
 she had been surprised by her father in the company of 
 her husband the Caesar and her mother; and the same 
 thundering mandate had at once ordered Briennius, in 
 the character of a more than suspected traitor, under 
 the custody of a strong guard of Varangians and com- 
 manded her to attend her father to the bedchamber of 
 Ursel, in which she now stood; resolved, however, that 
 she would stick by the sinking fortunes of her husband, 
 even in the last extremity, yet no less determined that 
 she would not rely upon her own entreaties or remon- 
 strances until she should see whether her father's inter- 
 
 85
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ference was likely to reassume a resolved and positive 
 character. Hastily as the plans of Alexius had been 
 formed, and hastily as they had been discon'certed by 
 accident, there remained no slight chance that he might 
 be forced to come round to the purpose on which his wife 
 and daughter had fixed their heart, the forgiveness, 
 namely, of the guilty Nicephorus Briennius. To his 
 astonishment, and not perhaps greatly to his satisfac- 
 tion, he heard the patient deeply engaged with the phy- 
 sician in canvassing his own character. 
 
 'Think not,' said Ursel in reply to him, 'that, though 
 I am immured in this dungeon, and treated as something 
 worse than an outcast of humanity — and although I 
 am, moreover, deprived of my eyesight, the dearest gift 
 of Heaven — think not, I say, though I suffer all this 
 by the cruel will of Alexius Comnenus, that therefore I 
 hold him to be mine enemy; on the contrary, it is by his 
 means that the blinded and miserable prisoner has been 
 taught to seek a liberty far more unconstrained than this 
 poor earth can afford, and a vision far more clear than 
 any Mount Pisgah on this wretched side of the grave 
 can give us. Shall I therefore account the Emperor 
 among mine enemies — he who has taught me the vanity 
 of earthly things, the nothingness of earthly enjoyments, 
 and the pure hope of a better world, as a certain ex- 
 change for the misery of the present? No.' 
 
 The Emperor had stood somewhat disconcerted at 
 the beginning of this speech, but hearing it so very unex- 
 pectedly terminate, as he was willing to suppose, much 
 in his own favour, he threw himself into an attitude 
 which was partly that of a modest person listening to 
 his own praises, and partly that of a man highly struck 
 
 86
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 with the commendations heaped upon him by a generous 
 adversary. 
 
 *My friend/ he said aloud, 'how truly do you read my 
 purpose, when you suppose that the knowledge which 
 men of your disposition can extract from evil was all the 
 experience which I wished you to derive from a cap- 
 tivity protracted by adverse circumstances far — very 
 far beyond my wishes! Let me embrace the generous 
 man who knows so well how to construe the purpose of a 
 perplexed but still faithful friend.' 
 
 The patient raised himself in his bed. 
 
 'Hold, there,' he said; 'methinks my faculties begin 
 to collect themselves. Yes,' he muttered, 'that is the 
 treacherous voice which first bid me welcome as a friend, 
 and then commanded fiercely that I should be deprived 
 of the sight of my eyes. Increase thy rigour if thou wilt, 
 Comnenus — add, if thou canst, to the torture of my 
 confinement; but, since I cannot see thy hypocritical 
 and inhuman features, spare me, in mercy, the sound of a 
 voice more distressing to mine ear than toads, than ser- 
 pents, than whatever nature has most offensive and 
 disgusting.' 
 
 This speech was delivered with so much energy, that 
 it was in vain that the Emperor strove to interrupt its 
 tenor, although he himself, as well as Douban and his 
 daughter, heard a great deal more of the language of un- 
 adorned and natural passion than he had counted upon, 
 
 'Raise thy head, rash man,' he said, 'and charm thy 
 tongue, ere it proceed in a strain which may cost thee 
 dear. Look at me, and see if I have not reserved a reward 
 capable of atoning for all the evil which thy folly may 
 charge to my account.' 
 
 87
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Hitherto the prisoner had remained with his eyes 
 obstinately shut, regarding the imperfect recollection he 
 had of sights which had been before his eyes the fore- 
 going evening as the mere suggestion of a deluded imagi- 
 nation, if not actually presented by some seducing spirit. 
 But now, when his eyes fairly encountered the stately 
 figure of the Emperor, and the graceful form of his lovely 
 daughter, painted in the tender rays of the morning 
 dawn, he ejaculated faintly, *I see — I see!' and with 
 that ejaculation fell back on the pillow in a swoon, which 
 instantly found employment for Douban and his restora- 
 tives. 
 
 * A most wonderful cure indeed! ' exclaimed the physi- 
 cian, 'and the height of my wishes would be to possess 
 such another miraculous restorative.' 
 
 ' Fool ! ' said the Emperor ; ' canst thou not conceive that 
 what has never been taken away is restored with little 
 difficulty? He was made,' he said, lowering his voice, *to 
 undergo a painful operation, which led him to believe 
 that the organs of sight were destroyed; and as light 
 scarcely ever visited him, and when it did, only in doubt- 
 ful and almost invisible glimmerings, the prevailing 
 darkness, both physical and mental, that surrounded 
 him prevented him from being sensible of the existence 
 of that precious faculty, of which he imagined himself 
 bereft. Perhaps thou wilt ask my reason for inflicting 
 upon him so strange a deception? Simply it was that, 
 being by it conceived incapable of reigning, his memory 
 might pass out of the minds of the public, while, at the 
 same time, I reserved his eyesight, that, in case occasion 
 should call, it might be in my power once more to liber- 
 ate him from his dungeon, and employ, as I now propose 
 
 88
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 to do, his courage and talents in the service of the em- 
 pire, to counterbalance those of other conspirators.' 
 
 *And can your Imperial Highness,' said Douban, 
 'hope that you have acquired this man's duty and affec- 
 tion by the conduct you have observed to him? ' 
 
 *I cannot tell,' answered the Emperor; 'that must be 
 as futurity shall determine. All I know is, that it is no 
 fault of mine if Ursel does not reckon freedom and a long 
 course of empire — perhaps sanctioned by an alliance 
 with our own blood — and the continued enjoyment of 
 the precious organs of eyesight, of which a less scrupu- 
 lous man would have deprived him, against a maimed 
 and darkened existence.' 
 
 'Since such is your Highness's opinion and resolution,' 
 said Douban, ' it is for me to aid and not to counteract 
 it. Permit me, therefore, to pray your Highness and the 
 Princess to withdraw, that I may use such remedies as 
 may confirm a mind which has been so strangely shaken, 
 and restore to him fully the use of those eyes of which 
 he has been so long deprived.' 
 
 'I am content, Douban,' said the Emperor; 'but take 
 notice, Ursel is not totally at liberty until he has ex- 
 pressed the resolution to become actually mine. It may 
 behoove both him and thee to know that, although there 
 is no purpose of remitting him to the dungeons of the 
 Blacquernal Palace, yet if he, or any on his part, should 
 aspire to head a party in these feverish times, by the 
 honour of a gentleman, to swear a Prankish oath, he 
 shall find that he is not out of the reach of the battle-axes 
 of my Varangians. I trust to thee to communicate this 
 fact, which concerns alike him and all who have interest 
 in his fortunes. Come, daughter, we will withdraw, and 
 
 89
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 leave the leech with his patient. Take notice, Douban, it 
 is of importance that you acquaint me the very first 
 moment when the patient can hold rational communi- 
 cation with me.' 
 
 Alexius and his accomplished daughter departed ac- 
 cordingly.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 Sweet are the uses of adversity, 
 
 Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous. 
 
 Wears yet a precious jewel in bis head. 
 
 As You Like It. 
 
 From a terraced roof of the Blacquernal Palace, accessi- 
 ble by a sash-door, which opened from the bedchamber 
 of Ursel, there was commanded one of the most lovely 
 and striking views which the romantic neighbourhood 
 of Constantinople afforded. 
 
 After suffering him to repose and rest his agitated 
 faculties, it was to this place that the physician led his 
 patient; for, when somewhat composed, he had of him- 
 self requested to be permitted to verify the truth of his 
 restored eyesight by looking out once more upon the 
 majestic face of nature. 
 
 On the one hand, the scene which he beheld was a 
 masterpiece of human art. The proud city, ornamented 
 with stately buildings, as became the capital of the 
 world, showed a succession of glittering spires and orders 
 of architecture, some of them chaste and simple, like 
 those the capitals of which were borrowed from baskets- 
 full of acanthus; some deriving the fluting of their shafts 
 from the props made originally to support the lances of 
 the earlier Greeks — forms simple, yet more graceful in 
 their simplicity than any which human ingenuity has 
 been able since to invent. With the most splendid speci- 
 mens which ancient art could afford of those strictly 
 classical models were associated those of a later age, 
 
 91
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 where more modern taste had endeavoured at improve- 
 ment, and, by mixing the various orders, had produced 
 such as were either composite or totally out of rule. The 
 size of the buildings in which they were displayed, how- 
 ever, procured them respect; nor could even the most 
 perfect judge of architecture avoid being struck by the 
 grandeur of their extent and effect, although hurt by the 
 incorrectness of the taste in which they were executed. 
 Arches of triumph, towers, obelisks, and spires, designed 
 for various purposes, rose up into the air in confused 
 magnificence; while the lower view was filled by the 
 streets of the city, the domestic habitations forming 
 long narrow alleys, on either side of which the houses 
 arose to various and unequal heights, but, being gener- 
 ally finished with terraced coverings, thickset with 
 plants and flowers, and fountains, had, when seen from 
 an eminence, a more noble and interesting aspect than is 
 ever afforded by the sloping and uniform roofs of streets 
 in the capitals of the north of Europe. 
 
 It has taken us some time to give in words the idea 
 which was at a single glance conveyed to Ursel, and 
 affected him at first with great pain. His eyeballs had 
 been long strangers to that daily exercise which teaches 
 us the habit of correcting the scenes as they appear to 
 our sight, by the knowledge which we derive from the use 
 of our other senses. His idea of distance was so confused 
 that it seemed as if all the spires, turrets, and minarets 
 which he beheld were crowded forward upon his eyeballs, 
 and almost touching them. With a shriek of horror, 
 Ursel turned himself to the further side, and cast his 
 eyes upon a different scene. Here also he saw towers, 
 steeples, and turrets, but they were those of the churches 
 
 92
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and public buildings beneath his feet, reflected from the 
 dazzling piece of water which formed the harbour of 
 Constantinople, and which, from the abundance of 
 wealth which it transported to the city, was well termed 
 the Golden Horn. In one place, this superb basin was 
 lined with quays, where stately dromonds and argosies 
 unloaded their wealth; while, by the shore of the haven, 
 galleys, feluccas, and other small craft idly flapped the 
 singularly shaped and snow-white pinions which served 
 them for sails. In other places, the Golden Horn lay 
 shrouded in a verdant mantle of trees, where the private 
 gardens of wealthy or distinguished individuals, or places 
 of public recreation, shot down upon and were bounded 
 by the glassy waters. 
 
 On the Bosphorus, which might be seen in the dis- 
 tance, the Httle fleet of Tancred was lying in the same 
 station they had gained during the night, which was 
 fitted to command the opposite landing; this their gen- 
 eral had preferred to a midnight descent upon Con- 
 stantinople, not knowing whether, so coming, they 
 might be received as friends or enemies. This delay, 
 however, had given the Greeks an opportunity, either 
 by the orders of Alexius or the equally powerful man- 
 dates of some of the conspirators, to tow six ships of war, 
 full of armed men, and provided with the maritime of- 
 fensive weapons pecuHar to the Greeks at that period, 
 which they had moored so as exactly to cover the place 
 where the troops of Tancred must necessarily land. 
 
 This preparation gave some surprise to the valiant 
 Tancred, who did not know that such vessels had arrived 
 in the harbour from Lemnos on the preceding night. The 
 undaunted courage of that prince was, however, in no 
 
 93
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 respect to be shaken by the degree of unexpected danger 
 with which his adventure now appeared to be attended. 
 
 This splendid view, from the description of which we 
 have in some degree digressed, was seen by the physician 
 and Ursel from a terrace, the loftiest almost on the Pal- 
 ace of the Blacquernal. To the cityward, it was bounded 
 by a solid wall of considerable height, giving a resting- 
 place for the roof of a lower building, which, sloping out- 
 ward, broke to the view the vast height, unobscured other- 
 wise save by a high and massy balustrade, composed of 
 bronze, which, to the havenward, sunk sheer down upon 
 an uninterrupted precipice. 
 
 No sooner, therefore, had Ursel turned his eyes that 
 way than, though placed far from the brink of the ter- 
 race, he exclaimed, with a shriek, * Save me — save me, 
 if you are not indeed the destined executors of the Em- 
 peror's will.' 
 
 ' We are indeed such,' saidDouban, ' to save and if pos- 
 sible to bring you to complete recovery; but by no 
 means to do you injury, or to suffer it to be offered by 
 others.' 
 
 'Guard me then from myself,' said Ursel, 'and save 
 me from the reeling and insane desire which I feel to 
 plunge myself into the abyss to the edge of which you 
 have guided me.' 
 
 * Such a giddy and dangerous temptation is,' said the 
 physician, 'common to those who have not for a long 
 time looked down from precipitous heights, and are sud- 
 denly brought to them. Nature, however bounteous, 
 hath not provided for the cessation of our faculties for 
 years and for their sudden resumption in full strength 
 and vigour. An interval, longer or shorter, must needs 
 
 94
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 intervene. Can you not believe this terrace a safe sta- 
 tion while you have my support and that of this faithful 
 slave? ' 
 
 'Certainly,' said Ursel; 'but permit me to turn my 
 face towards this stone wall, for I cannot bear to look at 
 the flimsy piece of wire which is the only battlement of 
 defence that interposes betwixt me and the precipice.' 
 He spoke of the bronze balustrade, six feet high, and 
 massive in proportion. Thus saying, and holding fast by 
 the physician's arm, Ursel, though himseK a younger 
 and more able man, trembled, and moved his feet as 
 slowly as if made of lead, until he reached the sashed- 
 door, where stood a kind of balcony-seat, in which he 
 placed himself. 'Here,' he said, 'will I remain.' 
 
 'And here,' said Douban, 'will I make the communica- 
 tion of the Emperor, which it is necessary you should be 
 prepared to reply to. It places you, you will observe, at 
 your own disposal for liberty or captivity, but it condi- 
 tions for your resigning that sweet but sinful morsel 
 termed revenge, which, I must not conceal from you, 
 chance appears willing to put into your hand. You know 
 the degree of rivalry in which you have been held by the 
 Emperor, and you know the measure of evil you have 
 sustained at his hand. The question is, Can you forgive 
 what has taken place? ' 
 
 'Let me wrap my head round with my mantle,' said 
 Ursel, ' to dispel this dizziness which still oppresses my 
 poor brain, and as soon as the power of recollection is 
 granted to me, you shall know my sentiments.' 
 
 He sunk upon the seat, mufiled in the way which he 
 described, and after a few minutes' reflection, with a 
 trepidation which argued the patient still to be under 
 
 95
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the nervous feeling of extreme horror mixed with terror, 
 he addressed Douban thus — ' The operation of wrong 
 and cruelty, in the moment when they are first inflicted, 
 excites, of course, the utmost resentment of the sufferer; 
 nor is there, perhaps, a passion which liyes so long in his 
 bosom as the natural desire of revenge. If, then, during 
 the first month, when I lay stretched upon my bed of 
 want and misery, you had offered me an opportunity of 
 revenge upon my cruel oppressor, the remnant of miser- 
 able life which remained to me should have been willingly 
 bestowed to purchase it. But a suffering of weeks, or 
 even months, must not be compared in effect with that 
 of years. For a short space of endurance, the body, as 
 well as the mind, retains that vigorous habit which holds 
 the prisoner still connected with life, and teaches him to 
 thrill at the long-forgotten chain of hopes, of wishes, of 
 disappointments, and mortifications which affected his 
 former existence. But the wounds become callous as 
 they harden, and other and better feelings occupy their 
 place, while they gradually die away in forgetfulness. 
 The enjoyments, the amusements of this world occupy 
 no part of his time upon whom the gates of despair have 
 once closed. I tell thee, my kind physician, that for a 
 season, in an insane attempt to effect my hberty, I cut 
 through a large portion of the living rock. But Heaven 
 cured me of so foolish an idea ; and if I did not actually 
 come to love Alexius Comnenus — for how could that 
 have been a possible effect in any rational state of my 
 intellects? — yet, as I became convinced of my own 
 crimes, sins, and follies, the more and more I was also 
 persuaded that Alexius was but the agent through whom 
 Heaven exercised a dearly-purchased right of jmnishing 
 
 96
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 me for my manifold offences and transgressions; and that 
 it was not therefore upon the Emperor that my resent- 
 ment ought to visit itself. And I can now say to thee 
 that, so far as a man who has undergone so dreadful a 
 change can be supposed to know his own mind, I feel no 
 desire either to rival Alexius in a race for empire or to 
 avail myself of any of the various proffers which he pro- 
 poses to me as the price of withdrawing my claim. Let 
 him keep unpurchased the crown, for which he has paid, 
 in my opinion, a price which it is not worth.' 
 
 'This is extraordinary stoicism, noble Ursel,' an- 
 swered the physician Douban. 'Am I then to under- 
 stand that you reject the fair offers of Alexius, and de- 
 sire, instead of all which he is willing, nay, anxious, to 
 bestow, to be committed safely back to thy old blinded 
 dungeon in the Blacquernal, that you may continue at 
 ease those pietistic meditations which have already con- 
 ducted thee to so extravagant a conclusion? ' 
 
 'Physician,' said Ursel, while a shuddering fit that af- 
 fected his whole body testified his alarm at the alterna- 
 tive proposed, ' one would imagine thine own profession 
 might have taught thee that no mere mortal man, unless 
 predestined to be a glorified saint, could ever prefer 
 darkness to the light of day, bhndness itself to the en- 
 joyment of the power of sight, the pangs of starving to 
 competent sustenance, or the damps of a dungeon to the 
 free air of God's creation. No! it may be virtue to do 
 so, but to such a pitch mine does not soar. All I require 
 of the Emperor for standing by him with all the power 
 my name can give him at this crisis is, that he will pro- 
 vide for my reception as a monk in some of those pleas- 
 ant and well-endowed seminaries of piety to which his 
 
 44 97
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 devotion, or his fears, have given rise. Let me not be 
 again the object of his suspicion, the operation of which 
 is more dreadful than that of being the object of his hate. 
 Forgotten by power, as I have myself lost the remem- 
 brance of those that wielded it, let me find my way to 
 the grave, unnoticed, unconstrained, at liberty, in pos- 
 session of my dim and disused organs of sight, and, above 
 all, at peace/ 
 
 *If such be thy serious and earnest wish, noble Ursel,' 
 said the physician, ' I myself have no hesitation to war- 
 rant to thee the full accomplishment of thy religious and 
 moderate desires. But, bethink thee, thou art once more 
 an inhabitant of the court, in which thou mayst obtain 
 what thou wilt to-day, while to-morrow, shouldst thou 
 regret thy indifference, it may be thy utmost entreaty 
 will not suffice to gain for thee the slightest extension of 
 thy present conditions.' 
 
 *Be it so,' said Ursel; * I will then stipulate for another 
 condition, which indeed has only reference to this day. 
 I will solicit his Imperial Majesty, with all humility, to 
 spare me the pain of a personal treaty between himself 
 and me, and that he will be satisfied with the solemn 
 assurance that I am most willing to do in his favour all 
 that he is desirous of dictating ; while, on the other hand, 
 I desire only the execution of those moderate conditions 
 of my future aUment which I have already told thee at 
 length.' 
 
 'But wherefore,' said Douban, 'shouldst thou be 
 afraid of announcing to the Emperor thy disposition to 
 an agreement which cannot be esteemed otherwise than 
 extremely moderate on thy part? Indeed, I fear the 
 Emperor will insist on a brief personal conference.' 
 
 98
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 *I am not ashamed,' said Ursel, 'to confess the truth. 
 It is true that I have, or think I have, renounced what 
 the Scripture calls the pride of life; but the old Adam 
 still Hves within us, and maintains against the better 
 part of our nature an inextinguishable quarrel, easy to 
 be aroused from its slumber, but as difficult to be again 
 couched in peace. While last night I but half understood 
 that mine enemy was in my presence, and while my facul- 
 ties performed but half their duty in recalling his deceit- 
 ful and hated accents, did not my heart throb in my 
 bosom with all the agitation of a taken bird, and shall 
 I again have to enter into a personal treaty with the man 
 who, be his general conduct what it may, has been the 
 constant and unprovoked cause of my unequalled mis- 
 ery? Douban, no ! to listen to his voice again were to hear 
 an alarm sounded to every violent and vindictive passion 
 of my heart; and though, may Heaven so help me as my 
 intentions towards him are upright, yet it is impossible 
 for me to listen to his professions with a chance of safety 
 either to him or to myself.' 
 
 *If you be so minded,' replied Douban, 'I shall only 
 repeat to him your stipulation, and you must swear to 
 him that you will strictly observe it. Without this being 
 done, it must be difficult, or perhaps impossible, to settle 
 the league of which both are desirous.' 
 
 'Amen!' said Ursel; 'and as I am pure in my purpose, 
 and resolved to keep it to the uttermost, so may Heaven 
 guard me from the influence of precipitate revenge, 
 ancient grudge, or new quarrel ! ' 
 
 An authoritative knock at the door of the sleeping- 
 chamber was now heard, and Ursel, relieved by more 
 powerful feelings from the giddiness of which he had com- 
 
 99
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 plained, walked firmly into the bedroom, and, seating 
 himself, waited with averted eyes the entrance of the 
 person who demanded admittance, and who proved to 
 be no other than Alexius Comnenus. 
 
 The Emperor appeared at the door in a warlike 
 dress, suited for the decoration of a prince who was 
 to witness a combat in the lists fought out before 
 him. 
 
 'Sage Douban,' he said, 'has our esteemed prisoner, 
 Ursel, made his choice between our peace and enmity?' 
 
 'He hath, my lord,' replied the physician, 'embraced 
 the lot of that happy portion of mankind whose hearts 
 and lives are devoted to the service of your Majesty's 
 government.' 
 
 'He will then this day,' continued the Emperor, 
 * render me the oflEice of putting down all those who may 
 pretend to abet insurrection in his name, and under pre- 
 text of his wrongs ? ' 
 
 'He will, my lord,' replied the physician, 'act to the 
 fullest the part which you require.' 
 
 'And in what way,' said the Emperor, adopting his 
 most gracious tone of voice, 'would our faithful Ursel 
 desire that services like these, rendered in the hour of 
 extreme need, should be acknowledged by the Em- 
 peror? ' 
 
 'Simply,' answered Douban, 'by saying nothing upon 
 the subject. He desires only that all jealousies between 
 you and him may be henceforth forgotten, and that he 
 may be admitted into one of your Highness's monastic 
 institutions, with leave to dedicate the rest of his life to 
 the worship of Heaven and its saints.' 
 
 'Hath he persuaded thee of this, Douban?' said the 
 
 lOO
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Emperor, in a low and altered voice. * By Heaven ! when 
 I consider from what prison he was brought, and in what 
 guise he inhabited it, I cannot believe in this gall-less 
 disposition. He must at least speak to me himself, ere I 
 can believe, in some degree, the transformation of the 
 fiery Ursel into a being so little capable of feeling the 
 ordinary impulses of mankind.' 
 
 'Hear me, Alexius Comnenus,' said the prisoner; 'and 
 so may thine own prayers to Heaven find access and 
 acceptation, as thou believest the words which I speak 
 to thee in simplicity of heart. If thine empire of Greece 
 were made of coined gold, it would hold out no bait for 
 my acceptance; nor, I thank Heaven, have even the 
 injuries I have experienced at thy hand, cruel and exten- 
 sive as they have been, impressed upon me the slightest 
 desire of requiting treachery with treachery. Think of 
 me as thou wilt, so thou seek'st not again to exchange 
 words with me; and believe me that, when thou hast 
 put me under the most rigid of thy ecclesiastical founda- 
 tions, the discipline, the fare, and the vigils will be far 
 superior to the existence falling to the share of those 
 whom the king delights to honour, and who therefore 
 must afford the king their society whenever they are 
 summoned to do so.' 
 
 'It is hardly for me,' said the physician, 'to interpose 
 in so high a matter; yet, as trusted both by the noble 
 Ursel and by his Highness the Emperor, I have made a 
 brief abstract of these short conditions to be kept by the 
 high parties towards each other, sub crimine falsi.'' 
 
 The Emperor protracted the intercourse with Ursel 
 until he more fully explained to him the occasion which 
 he should have that very day for his services. When they 
 
 lOI 
 
 m %mm, state mm.
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 parted, Alexius, with a great show of affection, embraced 
 his late prisoner, while it required all the self-command 
 and stoicism of Ursel to avoid expressing in plain terms 
 the extent to which he abhorred the person who thus 
 caressed him.
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 O conspiracy! 
 Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night. 
 When evils are most free? O, then, by day, 
 Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough 
 To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy: 
 Hide it in smiles and affability; 
 For if thou path, thy native semblance on, 
 Not Erebus itsrlf were dim enough 
 To hide thee from prevention. 
 
 Julius CtBsar. 
 
 The important morning at last arrived on which, by the 
 imperial proclamation, the combat between the Csesar 
 and Robert Count of Paris was appointed to take place. 
 This was a circumstance in a great measure foreign to 
 the Grecian manners, and to which, therefore, the people 
 annexed different ideas from those which were associ- 
 ated with the same solemn decision of God, as the Latins 
 called it, by the Western nations. The consequence was 
 a vague but excessive agitation among the people, who 
 connected the extraordinary strife which they were to 
 witness with the various causes which had been whis- 
 pered abroad as likely to give occasion to some general 
 insurrection of a great and terrible nature. 
 
 By the imperial order, regular lists had been prepared 
 for the combat, with opposite gates, or entrances, as was 
 usual, for the admittance of the two champions; and it 
 was understood that the appeal was to be made to the 
 Divinity by each, according to the forms prescribed by 
 the church of which the combatants were respectively 
 members. The situation of these lists was on the side of 
 the shore adjoining on the west to the continent. At no 
 
 103
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 great distance, the walls of the city were seen, of various 
 architecture, composed of lime and of stone, and fur- 
 nished with no less than four-and-twenty gates, or pos- 
 terns, five of which regarded the land and nineteen the 
 water. All this formed a beautiful prospect, much of 
 which is still visible. The town itself is about nineteen 
 miles in circumference ; and as it is on all sides surrounded 
 with lofty C3^resses, its general appearance is that of a 
 city arising out of a stately wood of these magnificent 
 trees, partly shrouding the pinnacles, obelisks, and mina- 
 rets which then marked the site of many noble Chris- 
 tian temples, but now, generally speaking, intimate the 
 position of as many Mohammedan mosques. 
 
 These hsts, for the convenience of spectators, were 
 surrounded on all sides by long rows of seats, sloping 
 downwards. In the middle of these seats, and exactly 
 opposite the centre of the Hsts, was a high throne, 
 erected for the Emperor himself, and which was sepa- 
 rated from the more vulgar galleries by a circuit of 
 wooden barricades, which an experienced eye could per- 
 ceive might, in case of need, be made serviceable for pur- 
 poses of defence. 
 
 The lists were sixty yards in length, by perhaps about 
 forty in breadth, and these afforded ample space for the 
 exercise of the combat, both on horseback and on foot. 
 Numerous bands of the Greek citizens began, with the 
 very break of day, to issue from the gates and posterns 
 of the city, to examine and wonder at the construction 
 of the lists, pass their criticisms upon the purposes of 
 the peculiar parts of the fabric, and occupy places, to 
 secure them for the spectacle. Shortly after arrived a 
 large band of those soldiers who were called the Roman 
 
 104
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 Immortals. These entered without ceremony, and 
 placed themselves on either hand of the wooden barri- 
 cade which fenced the Emperor's seat. Some of them 
 took even a greater liberty; for, affecting to be pressed 
 against the boundary, there were individuals who ap- 
 proached the partition itself, and seemed to meditate 
 climbing over it, and placing themselves on the same side 
 with the Emperor. Some old domestic slaves of the 
 household now showed themselves, as if for the purpose 
 of preserving this sacred circle for Alexius and his court; 
 and, in proportion as the Immortals began to show 
 themselves encroaching and turbulent, the strength of 
 the defenders of the prohibited precincts seemed gradu- 
 ally to increase. 
 
 There was, though scarcely to be observed, besides 
 the grand access to the imperial seat from without, 
 another opening also from the outside, secured by a very 
 strong door, by which different persons received admis- 
 sion beneath the seats destined for the imperial party. 
 These persons, by their length of limb, breadth of shoul- 
 ders, by the fur of their cloaks, and especially by the 
 redoubted battle-axes which all of them bore, appeared 
 to be Varangians ; but, although neither dressed in their 
 usual habit of pomp nor in their more effectual garb of 
 war, still, when narrowly examined, they might be seen 
 to possess their usual offensive weapons. These men, 
 entering in separate and straggling parties, might be 
 observed to join the slaves of the interior of the palace 
 in opposing the intrusion of the Immortals upon the 
 scat of the Emperor and the benches around. Two or 
 three Immortals, who had actually made good their 
 frolic and climbed over the division, were flung back
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 again, very unceremoniously, by the barbaric strength 
 and sinewy arms of the Varangians. 
 
 The people around and in the adjacent galleries, most 
 of whom had the air of citizens in their holyday dresses, 
 commented a good deal on these proceedings, and were 
 inclined strongly to make part with the Immortals. ' It 
 was a shame to the Emperor,' they said, 'to encourage 
 these British barbarians to interpose themselves by 
 violence between his person and the Immortal cohorts 
 of the city, who were in some sort his own children.' 
 
 Stephanos, the gymnastic, whose bulky strength and 
 stature rendered him conspicuous amid this party, said, 
 without hesitation, ' If there are two people here who will 
 join in saying that the Immortals are unjustly deprived 
 of their right of guarding the Emperor's person, here is 
 the hand that shall place them beside the imperial chair.' 
 
 'Not so,' quoth a centurion of the Immortals, whom 
 we have already introduced to our readers by the name 
 of Harpax — 'not so, Stephanos; that happy time may 
 arrive, but it is not yet come, my gem of the circus. 
 Thou knowest that on this occasion it is one of these 
 counts, or Western franks, who undertakes the combat ; 
 and the Varangians, who call these people their enemies, 
 have some reason to claim a precedency in guarding the 
 lists, which it might not at this moment be conven- 
 ient to dispute with them. Why, man, if thou wert half 
 so witty as thou art long, thou wouldst be sensible that 
 it were bad woodmanship to raise the hollo upon the 
 game ere it had been driven within compass of the nets.' 
 
 While the athlete rolled his huge grey eyes as if to 
 conjure out the sense of this intimation, his httle friend 
 Lysimachus, the artist, putting himself to pain to stand 
 
 io6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 upon his tiptoe and look intelligent, said, approaching 
 as near as he could to Harpax's ear, * Thou mayst trust 
 me, gallant centurion, that this man of mould and muscle 
 shall neither start like a babbling hound on a false scent 
 nor become mute and inert when the general signal is 
 given. But tell me,' said he, speaking very low, and for 
 that purpose mounting a bench, which brought him on a 
 level with the centurion's ear, 'would it not have been 
 better that a strong guard of the valiant Immortals had 
 been placed in this wooden citadel, to ensure the object 
 of the day? ' 
 
 'Without question,' said the centurion, 'it was so 
 meant; but these strolling Varangians have altered their 
 station of their own authority.' 
 
 'Were it not well,' said Lysimachus, 'that you who 
 are greatly more numerous than the barbarians, should 
 begin a fray before more of these strangers arrive? ' 
 
 'Content ye, friend,' said the centurion, coldly, 'we 
 know our time. An attack commenced too early would 
 be worse than thrown away, nor would an opportunity 
 occur of executing our project in the fitting time, if an 
 alarm were prematurely given at this moment.' 
 
 So saying, he shufHed off among his fellow-soldiers, so 
 as to avoid suspicious intercourse with such persons as 
 were only concerned with the civic portion of the con- 
 spirators. 
 
 As the morning advanced, and the sun took a higher 
 station in the horizon, the various persons whom curi- 
 osity, or some more decided motive, brought to see the 
 proposed combat were seen streaming from different 
 parts of the town, and rushing to occupy such accommo- 
 dation as the circuit round the lists afforded them. In 
 
 107
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 their road to the place where preparation for combat 
 was made, they had to ascend a sort of cape, which, in 
 the form of a small hill, projected into the Hellespont, 
 and the butt of which, connecting it with the shore, 
 afforded a considerable ascent, and, of course, a more 
 commanding view of the strait between Europe and 
 Asia than either the immediate vicinity of the city or the 
 still lower ground upon which the lists were erected. In 
 passing this height, the earlier visitants of the lists made 
 little or no halt; but after a time, when it became ob- 
 vious that those who had hurried forward to the place 
 of combat were lingering there without any object or 
 occupation, they that followed them in the same route, 
 with natural curiosity, paid a tribute to the landscape, 
 bestowing some attention on its beauty, and paused to 
 see what auguries could be collected from the water 
 which were likely to have any concern in indicating the 
 fate of the events that were to take place. Some strag- 
 gling seamen were the first who remarked that a squad- 
 ron of the Greek small craft (being that of Tancred) 
 were in the act of making their way from Asia, and 
 threatening a descent upon Constantinople. 
 
 'It is strange,' said a person, by rank the captain of a 
 galley, 'that these small vessels, which were ordered to 
 return to Constantinople as soon as they disembarked 
 the Latins, should have remained so long at Scutari, 
 and should not be rowing back to the imperial city until 
 this time, on the second day after their departure from 
 thence.' 
 
 'I pray to Heaven,' said another of the same profes- 
 sion, ' that these seamen may come alone. It seems to me 
 as if their ensign-staffs, bowsprits, and topmasts were 
 
 ic8
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 decorated with the same ensigns, or nearly the same, 
 with those which the Latins displayed upon them when, 
 by the Emperor's order, they were transported towards 
 Palestine; so methinks the voyage back again resem- 
 bles that of a fleet of merchant vessels who have been 
 prevented from discharging their cargo at the place of 
 their destination.' 
 
 'There is little good,' said one of the politicians whom 
 we formerly noticed, * in dealing with such commodities, 
 whether they are imported or exported. Yon ample 
 banner which streams over the foremost galley intimates 
 the presence of a chieftain of no small rank among the 
 counts, whether it be for valour or for nobility.' 
 
 The seafaring leader added, with the voice of one who 
 hints alarming tidings, * They seem to have got to a point 
 in the straits as high as will enable them to run down 
 with the tide, and clear the cape which we stand on, 
 although with what purpose they aim to land so close 
 beneath the walls of the city, he is a wiser man than I 
 who pretends to determine.' 
 
 'Assuredly,' returned his comrade, 'the intention is 
 not a kind one. The wealth of the city has temptations 
 to a poor people, who only value the iron which they 
 possess as affording them the means of procuring the 
 gold which they covet.' 
 
 'Ay, brother,' answered Demetrius the politician, 'but 
 see you not, lying at anchor within this bay which is 
 formed by the cape, and at the very point where these 
 heretics are likely to be carried by the tide, six strong 
 vessels, having the power of sending forth, not merely 
 showers of darts and arrows, but of Grecian fire, as it is 
 called, from their hollow decks? If these Frank gentry 
 
 109
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 continue directing their course upon the imperial city, 
 being, as they are, 
 
 Propago 
 
 Contemptrix Superilm sane, saevaeque avidissima caedis, 
 
 Et violenta,^ 
 
 we shall speedily see a combat better worth witnessing 
 than that announced by the great trumpet of the Varan- 
 gians. If you love me, let us sit down here for a moment, 
 and see how this matter is to end.' 
 
 *An excellent motion, my ingenious friend,' said Las- 
 caris, which was the name of the other citizen; 'but, 
 bethink you, shall we not be in danger from the missiles 
 with which the audacious Latins will not fail to return 
 the Greek fire, if, according to your conjecture, it shall 
 be poured upon them by the imperial squadron? ' 
 
 'That is not ill argued, my friend,' said Demetrius; 
 * but know that you have to do with a man who has been 
 in £uch extremities before now; and if such a discharge 
 should open from the sea, I would propose to you to step 
 back some fifty yards inland, and thus to interpose the 
 very crest of the cape between us and the discharge of 
 missiles; a mere child might thus learn to face them 
 without any alarm.' 
 
 'You are a wise man, neighbour,' said Lascaris, 'and 
 possess such a mixture of valour and knowledge as be- 
 comes a man whom a friend might be supposed safely to 
 risk his life with. There be those, for instance, who can- 
 not show you the slightest glimpse of what is going on 
 without bringing you within peril of your life; whereas 
 you, my worthy friend Demetrius, between your accu- 
 rate knowledge of military affairs and your regard for 
 
 1 Ovid, Me/, 
 no
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 your friend, are sure to show him all that is to be seen 
 without the least risk to a person who is naturally unwill- 
 ing to think of exposing himself to injury. But, Holy 
 Virgin! what is the meaning of that red flag which the 
 Greek admiral has this instant hoisted? ' 
 
 'Why, you see, neighbour,' answered Demetrius, 
 'yonder Western heretic continues to advance without 
 minding the various signs which our admiral has made 
 to him to desist, and now he hoists the bloody colours, 
 as if a man should clench his fist and say, "If you per- 
 severe in your uncivil intention, I will do so and so.'" 
 
 'By St. Sophia,' said Lascaris, 'and that is giving him 
 fair warning. But what is it the imperial admiral is 
 about to do? ' 
 
 'Run — run, friend Lascaris,' said Demetrius, 'or 
 you will see more of that than perchance you have any 
 curiosity for.' 
 
 Accordingly, to add the strength of example to pre- 
 cept, Demetrius himself girt up his loins, and retreated 
 with the most edifying speed to the opposite side of the 
 ridge, accompanied by the greater part of the crowd, 
 who had tarried there to witness the contest which the 
 newsmonger promised, and were determined to take his 
 word for their own safety. The sound and sight which 
 had alarmed Demetrius was the discharge of a large 
 portion of Greek fire, which perhaps may be best com- 
 pared to one of those immense Congreve rockets of the 
 present day, which takes on its shoulders a small grapnel 
 or anchor, and proceeds groaning through the air, like a 
 fiend overburdened by the mandate of some inexorable 
 magician, and of which the operation was so terrifying, 
 that the crews of the vessels attacked by this strange 
 
 III
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 weapon frequently forsook every means cf defence and 
 run themselves ashore. One of the principal ingredients 
 of this dreadful fire was supposed to be naphtha, or the 
 bitumen which is collected on the banks of the Dead Sea, 
 and which, when in a state of ignition, could only be 
 extinguished by a very singular mixture, and which it 
 was not likely to come in contact with. It produced a 
 thick smoke and loud explosion, and was capable, says 
 Gibbon, of communicating its flames with equal vehe- 
 mence in descent or lateral progress.^ In sieges, it was 
 poured from the ramparts, or launched, like our bombs, 
 in red-hot balls of stone or iron, or it was darted in flax 
 twisted round arrows and in javelins. It was considered 
 as a state secret of the greatest importance; and for well- 
 nigh four centuries it was unknown to the Mohammed- 
 ans. But at length the composition was discovered by 
 the Saracens, and used by them for repelling the crusa- 
 ders, and overpowering the Greeks, upon whose side it 
 had at one time been the most formidable implement of 
 defence. Some exaggeration we must allow for a barbar- 
 ous period; but there seems no doubt that the general 
 description of the crusader Joinville should be admitted 
 as correct. 'It came flying through the air,' says that 
 good knight, 'like a winged dragon, about the thickness 
 of a hogshead, with the report of thunder and the speed 
 of Hghtning, and the darkness of the night was dispelled 
 by this horrible illumination.' 
 
 Not only the bold Demetrius and his pupil Lascaris, 
 but all the crowd whom they influenced, fled manfully 
 when the commodore of the Greeks fired the first dis- 
 charge; and as the other vessels in the squadron followed 
 * For a full account of the Greek fire, see Gibbon, chapter liii. 
 112
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 his example, the heavens were filled with the unusual 
 and outrageous noise, while the smoke was so thick as to 
 darken the very air. As the fugitives passed the crest of 
 the hill, they saw the seaman whom we formerly men- 
 tioned as a spectator snugly reclining under cover of a 
 dry ditch, where he managed so as to secure himself as 
 far as possible from any accident. He could not, how- 
 ever, omit breaking his jest on the politicians. 
 
 'What, ho!' he cried, 'my good friends,' without 
 raising himself above the counterscarp of his ditch, 
 'will you not remain upon your station long enough to 
 finish that hopeful lecture upon battle by sea and land 
 which you had so happy an opportunity of commencing? 
 Believe me, the noise is more alarming than hurtful ; the 
 fire is all pointed in a direction opposite to yours, and if 
 one of those dragons which you see does happen to fly 
 landward instead of seaward, it is but the mistake of 
 some cabin-boy, who has used his linstock with more 
 willingness than ability.' 
 
 Demetrius and Lascaris Just heard enough of the naval 
 hero's harangue to acquaint them with the new danger 
 with which they might be assailed by the possible mis- 
 direction of the weapons, and, rushing down towards 
 the lists at the head of a crowd half desperate with fear, 
 they hastily propagated the appalling news that the 
 Latins were coming back from Asia with the purpose of 
 landing in arms, pillaging, and burning the city. 
 
 The uproar, in the meantime, of this unexpected oc- 
 currence, was such as altogether to vindicate, in public 
 opinion, the reported cause, however exaggerated. The 
 thunder of the Greek fire came successively, one hard 
 upon the other, and each in its turn spread a blot of 
 
 44 113
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 black smoke upon the face of the landscape, which, thick- 
 ened by so many successive clouds, seemed at last, like 
 that raised by a sustained fire of modern artillery, to 
 overshadow the whole horizon. 
 
 The small squadron of Tancred were completely hid 
 from view in the surging volumes of darkness which the 
 breath of the weapons of the enemy had spread around 
 him ; and it seemed by a red light, which began to show 
 itself among the thickest of the veil of darkness, that one 
 of the flotilla at least had caught fire. Yet the Latins 
 resisted, with an obstinacy worthy of their own courage 
 and the fame of their celebrated leader. Some advantage 
 they had, on account of their small size and their lowness 
 in the water, as well as the clouded state of the atmo- 
 sphere, which rendered them diflicult marks for the fire 
 of the Greeks. 
 
 To increase these advantages, Tancred, as well by 
 boats as by the kind of rude signals made use of at the 
 period, dispersed orders to his fleet that each bark, dis- 
 regarding the fate of the others, should press forward 
 individually, and that the men from each should be put 
 on shore wheresoever and howsoever they could effect 
 that manoeuvre. Tancred himself set a noble example: 
 he was on board a stout vessel, fenced in some degree 
 against the effect of the Greek fire by being in a great 
 measure covered with raw hides, which hides had also 
 been recently steeped in water. This vessel contained 
 upwards of a hundred valiant warriors, several of them 
 of knightly order, who had all night toiled at the humble 
 labours of the oar, and now in the morning applied their 
 chivalrous hands to the arblast and to the bow, which 
 were in general accounted the weapons of persons of a 
 
 114
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 lower rank. Thus armed and thus manned, Prince 
 Tancred bestowed upon his bark the full velocity which 
 wind, and tide, and oar could enable her to obtain, and 
 placing her in the situation to profit by them as much as 
 his maritime skill could direct, he drove with the speed 
 of lightning among the vessels of Lemnos, plying on 
 either side bows, cross-bows, javelins, and military mis- 
 siles of every kind, with the greater advantage that the 
 Greeks, trusting to their artificial fire, had omitted arm- 
 ing themselves with other weapons; so that when the 
 vaUant crusader bore down on them with so much fury, 
 repaying the terrors of their fire with a storm of bolts 
 and arrows no less formidable, they began to feel that 
 their own advantage was much less than they had sup- 
 posed, and that, like most other dangers, the maritime 
 fire of the Greeks, when undauntedly confronted, lost at 
 least one-half of its terrors. The Grecian sailors, too, 
 when they observed the vessels approach so near, filled 
 with the steel-clad Latins, began to shrink from a contest 
 to be maintained hand-to-hand with so terrible an 
 enemy. 
 
 By degrees, smoke began to issue from the sides of the 
 great Grecian argosy, and the voice of Tancred an- 
 nounced to his soldiers that the Grecian admiral's vessel 
 had taken fire, owing to negligence in the management 
 of the means of destruction she possessed, and that all 
 they had now to do was to maintain such a distance as to 
 avoid sharing her fate. Sparkles and flashes of flame 
 were next seen leaping from place to place on board of 
 the great hulk, as if the element had had the sense and 
 purpose of spreading wider the consternation, and disa- 
 bling the few who still paid attention to the commands 
 
 "5
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 of their admiral and endeavoured to extinguish the fire. 
 The consciousness of the combustible nature of the 
 freight began to add despair to terror; from the bolt- 
 sprit, the rigging, the yards, the sides, and every part of 
 the vessel, the unfortunate crew were seen dropping 
 themselves, to exchange for the most part a watery 
 death for one by the more dreadful agency of fire. The 
 crew of Tancred's bark, ceasing, by that generous 
 prince's commands, to offer any additional annoyance to 
 an enemy who was at once threatened by the perils of the 
 ocean and of conflagration, ran their vessel ashore in a 
 smooth part of the bay, and, jumping into the shallow 
 sea, made the land without difficulty, many of their 
 steeds being, by the exertions of the owners and the do- 
 cility of the animals, brought ashore at the same time 
 with their masters. Their commander lost no time in 
 forming their serried ranks into a phalanx of lancers, 
 few indeed at first, but perpetually increasing as ship 
 after ship of the little flotilla ran ashore, or, having 
 more deliberately moored their barks, landed their men 
 and joined their companions. 
 
 The cloud which had been raised by the conflict was 
 now driven to leeward before the wind, and the strait 
 exhibited only the relics of the combat. Here tossed 
 upon the billows the scattered and broken remains of 
 one or two of the Latin vessels which had been burnt at 
 the commencement of the combat, though their crews, 
 by the exertions of their comrades, had in general been 
 saved. Lower down were seen the remaining five vessels 
 of the Lemnos squadron, holding a disorderly and diffi- 
 cult retreat, with the purpose of gaining the harbour of 
 Constantinople. In the place so late the scene of com- 
 
 ii6
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 bat lay moored the hulk of the Grecian admiral, burnt 
 to the water's edge, and still sending forth a black smoke 
 from its scathed beams and planks. The flotilla of Tan- 
 cred, busied in discharging its troops, lay irregularly 
 scattered along the bay, the men making ashore as they 
 could, and taking their course to join the standard of 
 their leader. Various black substances floated on the 
 surface of the water, nearer or more distant to the shore; 
 some proved to be the wreck of the vessels which had 
 been destroyed, and others, more ominous still, the life- 
 less bodies of mariners who had fallen in the conflict. 
 
 The standard had been borne ashore by the Prince's 
 favourite page, Ernest of Apulia, so soon as the keel of 
 Tancred's galley had grazed upon the sand. It was then 
 pitched on the top of that elevated cape between Con- 
 stantinople and the Hsts where Lascaris, Demetrius, and 
 other gossips had held their station at the commence- 
 ment of the engagement, but from which all had fled, 
 between the mingled dread of the Greek fire and the 
 missiles of the Latin crusaders.
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 Sheathed in complete armour, and supporting with his 
 right hand the standard of his fathers, Tancred remained 
 with his handful of warriors like so many statues of steel, 
 expecting some sort of attack from the Grecian party 
 which had occupied the lists, or from the numbers whom 
 the city gates began now to pour forth — soldiers some 
 of them, and others citizens, many of whom were arrayed 
 as if for conflict. These persons, alarmed by the various 
 accounts which were given of the combatants and the 
 progress of the fight, rushed towards the standard of 
 Prince Tancred, with the intention of beating it to the 
 earth, and dispersing the guards who owed it homage 
 and defence. But if the reader shall have happened to 
 have ridden at any time through a pastoral country, with 
 a dog of a noble race following him, he must have re- 
 marked, in the deference ultimately paid to the high- 
 bred animal by the shepherd's cur as he crosses the lonely 
 glen, of which the latter conceives himself the lord and 
 guardian, something very similar to the demeanour of 
 the incensed Greeks when they approached near to the 
 little band of Franks. At the first symptom of the intru- 
 sion of a stranger, the dog of the shepherd starts from 
 his slumbers, and rushes towards the noble intruder with 
 a clamorous declaration of war; but when the diminu- 
 tion of distance between them shows to the aggressor 
 the size and strength of his opponent, he becomes like a 
 cruiser who, in a chase, has, to his surprise and alarm, 
 
 ii8
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 found two tier of guns opposed to him instead of one. 
 He halts, suspends his clamorous yelping, and, in fine, 
 ingloriously retreats to his master, with all the dishon- 
 ourable marks of positively declining the combat. It was 
 in this manner that the troops of the noisy Greeks, with 
 much hallooing and many a boastful shout, hastened 
 both from the town and from the Hsts, with the apparent 
 intention of sweeping from the field the few companions 
 of Tancred. As they advanced, however, within the 
 power of remarking the calm and regular order of those 
 men who had landed and arranged themselves under 
 this noble chieftain's banner, their minds were altogether 
 changed as to the resolution of instant combat; their 
 advance became an uncertain and staggering gait ; their 
 heads were more frequently turned back to the point 
 from which they came than towards the enemy; and 
 their desire to provoke an instant scuffle vanished totally 
 when there did not appear the least symptom that their 
 opponents cared about the matter. 
 
 It added to the extreme confidence with which the 
 Latins kept their ground, that they were receiving fre- 
 quent, though small, reinforcements from their comrades, 
 who were landing by detachments all along the beach; 
 and that, in the course of a short hour, their amount had 
 been raised, on horseback and foot, to a number, allow- 
 ing for a few casualties, not much less than that which 
 set sail from Scutari, 
 
 Another reason why the Latins remained unassailed 
 was certainly the indisposition of the two principal armed 
 parties on shore to enter into a quarrel with them. 
 The guards of every kind who were faithful to the Em- 
 peror, and more especially the Varangians, had their 
 
 119
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 orders to remain firm at their posts, some in the lists and 
 others at various places of rendezvous in Constantinople, 
 where their presence was necessary to prevent the effects 
 of the sudden insurrection which Alexius knew to be 
 meditated against him. These, therefore, made no hostile 
 demonstration towards the band of Latins, nor was it 
 the purpose of the Emperor they should do so. 
 
 On the other hand, the greater part of the Immortal 
 Guards, and those citizens who were prepared to play a 
 part in the conspiracy, had been impressed by the agents 
 of the deceased Agelastes with the opinion that this band 
 of Latins, commanded by Tancred, the relative of Bohe- 
 mond, had been despatched by the latter to their assist- 
 ance. These men, therefore, stood still, and made no 
 attempt to guide or direct the popular efforts of such as 
 inclined to attack these unexpected visitors; in which 
 purpose, therefore, no very great party were united, 
 while the majority were willing enough to find an apol- 
 ogy for remaining quiet. 
 
 In the meantime, the Emperor, from his Palace of 
 Blacquernal, observed what passed upon the straits, and 
 beheld his navy from Lemnos totally foiled in their 
 attempt, by means of the Greek fire, to check the 
 intended passage of Tancred and his men. He had no 
 sooner seen the leading ship of this squadron begin to 
 beacon the darkness with its own fire than the Emperor 
 formed a secret resolution to disown the unfortunate 
 admiral, and make peace with the Latins, if that should 
 be absolutely necessary, by sending them his head. He 
 had hardly, therefore, seen the flames burst forth, and 
 the rest of the vessels retreat from their moorings, than 
 in his own mind the doom of the unfortunate Phraortes, 
 
 1 20
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 for such was the name of the admiral, was signed and 
 sealed. 
 
 Achilles Tatius, at the same instant, determining to 
 keep a close eye upon the Emperor at this important 
 crisis, came precipitately into the palace with an appear- 
 ance of great alarm. 
 
 * My lord — my imperial lord, I am unhappy to be the 
 messenger of such unlucky news; but the Latins have 
 in great numbers succeeded in crossing the strait from 
 Scutari. The Lemnos squadron endeavoured to stop 
 them, as was last night determined upon in the imperial 
 council of war. By a heavy discharge of the Greek fire, 
 one or two of the crusaders' vessels were consumed, but 
 by far the greater number of them pushed on their 
 course, burnt the leading ship of the unfortunate 
 Phraortes, and it is strongly reported he has himself 
 perished, with almost all his men. The rest have cut 
 their cables and abandoned the defence of the passage 
 of the Hellespont.' 
 
 'And you, Achilles Tatius,' said the Emperor, 'with 
 what purpose is it that you now bring me this melan- 
 choly news, at a period so late when I cannot amend the 
 consequences?' 
 
 'Under favour, most gracious Emperor,' replied the 
 conspirator, not without colouring and stammering, 
 'such was not my intention: I had hoped to submit a 
 plan by which I might easily have prepared the way for 
 correcting this little error.' 
 
 'Well, your plan, sir?' said the Emperor, drily. 
 
 'With your Sacred Majesty's leave,' said the Aco- 
 lyte, 'I would myself have undertaken instantly to lead 
 against this Tancred and his Italians the battle-axes 
 
 121
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 of the faithful Varangian Guard, who will make no more 
 account of the small number of Franks who have come 
 ashore than the farmer holds of the hordes of rats and 
 mice, and such-like mischievous vermin, who have har- 
 boured in his granaries.' 
 
 'And what mean you,' said the Emperor, 'that I am 
 to do, while my Anglo-Saxons fight for my sake? ' 
 
 ' Your majesty,' replied Achilles, not exactly satisfied 
 with the dry and caustic manner in which the Emperor 
 addressed him, 'may put yourself at the head of the 
 Immortal cohorts of Constantinople; and I am your se- 
 curity, that you may either perfect the victory over the 
 Latins, or at least redeem the most distant chance of a 
 defeat, by advancing at the head of this choice body of 
 domestic troops, should the day appear doubtful.' 
 
 * You yourself, Achilles Tatius,' returned the Emperor, 
 'have repeatedly assured us that these Immortals retain 
 a perverse attachment to our rebel Ursel. How is it, 
 then, you would have us entrust our defence to these 
 bands, when we have engaged our valiant Varangians 
 in the proposed conflict with the flower of the Western 
 army? Did you think of this risk, sir Follower? ' 
 
 Achilles Tatius, much alarmed at an intimation indic- 
 ative of his purpose being known, answered, ' that in his 
 haste he had been more anxious to recommend the plan 
 which should expose his own person to the greater danger 
 than that perhaps which was most attended with per- 
 sonal safety to his imperial master.' 
 
 *I thank you for so doing,' said the Emperor; 'you 
 have anticipated my wishes, though it is not in my 
 power at present to follow the advice you have given 
 me. I would have been well contented, undoubtedly, 
 
 122
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 had these Latins measured their way over the strait 
 again, as suggested by last night's council; but since 
 they have arrived, and stand embattled on our shores, 
 it is better that we pay them with money and with spoil 
 than with the lives of our gallant subjects. We cannot, 
 after all, believe that they come with any serious inten- 
 tion of doing us injury: it is but the insane desire of wit- 
 nessing feats of battle and single combat, which is to 
 them the breath of their nostrils, that can have impelled 
 them to this partial counter-march. I impose upon 
 you, Achilles Tatius, combining the Protospathaire in 
 the same commission with you, the duty of riding up to 
 yonder standard, and learning of their chief, called the 
 Prince Tancred, if he is there in person, the purpose of 
 his return, and the cause of his entering into debate with 
 Phraortes and the Lemnos squadron. If they send us 
 any reasonable excuse, we shall not be averse to receive 
 it at their hands; for we have not made so many sacri- 
 fices for the preservation of peace, to break forth into 
 war, if, after all, so great an evil can be avoided. Thou 
 wilt receive, therefore, with a candid and complacent 
 mind, such apologies as they may incline to bring for- 
 ward ; and be assured that the sight of this puppet-show 
 of a single combat will be enough of itself to banish 
 every other consideration from the reflection of these 
 giddy crusaders.' 
 
 A knock was at this moment heard at the door of the 
 Emperor's apartment; and upon the word being given 
 to enter, the Protospathaire made his appearance. Ho 
 was arrayed in a splendid suit of ancient Roman-fash- 
 ioned armour. The want of a visor left his countenance 
 entirely visible, which, pale and anxious as it was, did 
 
 123
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 not well become the martial crest and dancing plume 
 with which it was decorated. He received the commis- 
 sion already mentioned with the less alacrity because the 
 Acolyte was added to him as his colleague; for, as the 
 reader may have observed, these two officers were of 
 separate factions in the army, and on indifferent terms 
 with each other. Neither did the Acolyte consider his 
 being united in commission with the Protospathaire 
 as a mark either of the Emperor's confidence or of his 
 own safety. He was, however, in the meantime in the 
 Blacquernal, where the slaves of the interior made not 
 the least hesitation, when ordered, to execute any officer 
 of the court. The two generals had, therefore, no other 
 alternative than that which is allowed two greyhounds 
 who are reluctantly coupled together. The hope of 
 Achilles Tatius was, that he might get safely through his 
 mission to Tancred, after which he thought the success- 
 ful explosion of the conspiracy might take place and 
 have its course, either as a matter desired and counte- 
 nanced by those Latins, or passed over as a thing in 
 which they took no interest on either side. 
 
 By the parting order of the Emperor, they were to 
 mount on horseback at the sounding of the great Varan- 
 gian trumpet, put themselves at the head of those Anglo- 
 Saxon guards in the courtyard of their barrack, and 
 await the Emperor's further orders. 
 
 There was something in this arrangement which 
 pressed hard on the conscience of Achilles Tatius, yet 
 he was at a loss to justify his apprehensions to himself, 
 unless from a conscious feeling of his own guilt. He felt, 
 however, that in being detained, under pretence of an 
 honourable mission, at the head of the Varangians, he 
 
 124
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 was deprived of the liberty of disposing of himself, by 
 which he had hoped to communicate with the Caesar and 
 Hereward, whom he reckoned upon as his active accom- 
 plices, not knowing that the first was at this moment a 
 prisoner in the Blacquernal, where Alexius had arrested 
 him in the apartments of the Empress, and that the 
 second was the most important support of Comnenus 
 during the whole of that eventful day. 
 
 When the gigantic trvmipet of the Varangian Guards 
 sent forth its deep signal through the city, the Proto- 
 spathaire hurried Achilles along with him to the rendez- 
 vous of the Varangians, and on the way said to him, in 
 an easy and indifferent tone, *As the Emperor is in the 
 field in person, you, his representative, or Follower, will, 
 of course, transmit no orders to the body-guard, except 
 such as shall receive their origin from himself, so that 
 you will consider your authority as this day suspended.' 
 
 *I regret,' said Achilles, 'that there should have 
 seemed any cause for such precautions; I had hoped my 
 own truth and fidelity — but I am obsequious to his 
 imperial pleasure in all things.' 
 
 'Such are his orders,' said the other officer, 'and you 
 know under what penalty obedience is enforced.' 
 
 'If I did not,' said Achilles, 'the composition of this 
 body of guards would remind me, since it comprehends 
 not only great part of those Varangians who are the 
 immediate defenders of the Emperor's throne, but those 
 slaves of the interior who are the executioners of his 
 pleasure.' 
 
 To this the Protospathaire returned no answer, while 
 the more closely the Acolyte looked upon the guard which 
 attended, to the unusual number of nearly three thou- 
 
 125
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 sand men, the more had he reason to believe that he 
 might esteem himself fortunate if, by the intervention of 
 either the Ca3sar, Agelastes, or Hcreward, he could pass 
 to the conspirators a signal to suspend the intended 
 explosion, which seemed to be provided against by the 
 Emperor with unusual caution. He would have given 
 the full dream of empire, with which he had been for a 
 short time lulled asleep, to have seen but a glimpse of the 
 azure plume of Nicephorus, the white mantle of the phi- 
 losopher, or even a glimmer of Hereward's battle-axe. 
 No such objects could be seen an3rwhere, and not a little 
 was the faithless Follower displeased to see that, which- 
 ever way he turned his eyes, those of the Protospathaire, 
 but especially of the trusty domestic ofl&cers of the em- 
 pire, seemed to follow and watch their occupation. 
 
 Amidst the numerous soldiers whom he saw on all 
 sides, his eye did not recognise a single man with whom 
 he could exchange a friendly or confidential glance, and 
 he stood in all that agony of terror which is rendered the 
 more discomfiting because the traitor is conscious that, 
 beset by various foes, his own fears are the most Ukely 
 of all to betray him. Internally, as the danger seemed to 
 increase, and as his alarmed imagination attempted to 
 discern new reasons for it, he could only conclude that 
 either one of the three principal conspirators, or at least 
 some of the inferiors, had turned informers; and his 
 doubt was, whether he should not screen his own share 
 of what had been premeditated by flinging himself at 
 the feet of the Emperor, and making a full confession. 
 But still the fear of being premature in having recourse 
 to such a base means of saving himself, joined to the 
 absence of the Emperor, united to keep within his lips a 
 
 126
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 secret which concerned not only all his future fortunes, 
 but life itself. He was in the meantime, therefore, 
 plunged as it were in a sea of trouble and uncertainty, 
 while the specks of land, which seemed to promise him 
 refuge, were distant, dimly seen, and extremely difl&cult 
 of attainment.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 To-morrowl O, that's sudden 1 Spare him, spare himi 
 He 's not prepared for death. 
 
 Sbakespears. 
 
 At the moment when Achilles Tatius, with a feeling of 
 much insecurity, awaited the unwinding of the perilous 
 skein of state politics, a private council of the imperial 
 family was held in the hall termed the temple of the 
 Muses, repeatedly distinguished as the apartment in 
 which the Princess Anna Comnena was wont to make 
 her evening recitations to those who were permitted the 
 honour of hearing prelections of her history. The council 
 consisted of the Empress Irene, the Princess herself, and 
 the Emperor, with the Patriarch of the Greek Church, 
 as a sort of mediator between a course of severity and a 
 dangerous degree of lenity. 
 
 'Tell not me, Irene,' said the Emperor, 'of the fine 
 things attached to the praise of mercy. Here have I 
 sacrificed my just revenge over my rival Ursel, and what 
 good do I obtain by it? Why, the old obstinate man, 
 instead of being tractable, and sensible of the generosity 
 which has spared his life and eyes, can be with difficulty 
 brought to exert himself in favour of the prince to whom 
 he owes them. I used to think that eyesight and the 
 breath of life were things which one would preserve at 
 any sacrifice; but, on the contrary, I now believe men 
 value them like mere toys. Talk not to me, therefore, of 
 the gratitude to be excited by saving this ungrateful 
 
 128
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 cub; and believe me, girl,' turning to Anna, 'that not 
 only will all my subjects, should I follow your advice, 
 laugh at me for sparing a man so predetermined to work 
 my ruin, but even thou thyself wilt be the first to up- 
 braid me with the foolish kindness thou art now so 
 anxious to extort from me.' 
 
 'Your imperial pleasure, then,' said the Patriarch, 'is 
 fixed that your unfortunate son-in-law shall suffer death 
 for his accession to this conspiracy, deluded by that 
 heathen villain Agelastes and the traitorous Achilles 
 Tatius?' 
 
 'Such is my purpose,' said the Emperor; 'and in evi- 
 dence that I mean not again to pass over a sentence of 
 this kind with a seeming execution only, as in the case of 
 Ursel, this ungrateful traitor of ours shall be led from 
 the top of the staircase, or Ladder of Acheron, as it is 
 called, through the large chamber named the Hall of 
 Judgment, at the upper end of which are arranged the 
 apparatus for execution, by which I swear — ' 
 
 'Swear not at all!' said the Patriarch. 'I forbid thee, 
 in the name of that Heaven whose voice — though un- 
 worthy — speaks in my person to quench the smoking 
 flax, or destroy the slight hope which there may remain 
 that you may finally be persuaded to alter your purpose 
 respecting your misguided son-in-law, within the space 
 allotted to him to sue for your mercy. Remember, I 
 pray you, the remorse of Constantine.' 
 
 ' What means your reverence? ' said Irene. 
 
 'A trifle,' replied the Emperor, 'not worthy being 
 quoted from such a mouth as the Patriarch's, being, as 
 it probably is, a relic of paganism.' 
 
 'What is it?' exclaimed the females anxiously, in the 
 u 129
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 hope of hearing something which might strengthen their 
 side of the argument, and something moved, perhaps, by 
 curiosity, a motive which seldom slumbers in a female 
 bosom, even when the stronger passions are in arms. 
 
 'The Patriarch will tell you,' answered Alexius, 'since 
 you must needs know; though, I promise you, you will 
 not receive any assistance in your argument from a silly 
 legendary tale.' 
 
 'Hear it, however,' said the Patriarch; 'for, though 
 it is a tale of the olden time, and sometimes supposed 
 to refer to the period when heathenism predominated, 
 it is no less true that it was a vow made and regis- 
 tered in the chancery of the rightful Deity by an 
 emperor of Greece. 
 
 'What I am now to relate to you,' continued he, 'is, in 
 truth, a tale not only of a Christian emperor, but of 
 him who made the whole empire Christian; and of that 
 very Constantine who was also the first who declared 
 Constantinople to be the metropolis of the empire. This 
 hero, remarkable alike for his zeal for rehgion and for his 
 warhke achievements, was crowned by Heaven with 
 repeated victory, and with all manner of blessings, save 
 that unity in his family which wise men are most ambi- 
 tious to possess. Not only was the blessing of concord 
 among brethren denied to the family of this triumphant 
 emperor, but a deserving son of mature age, who had 
 been supposed to aspire to share the throne with his 
 father, was suddenly, and at midnight, called upon to 
 enter his defence against a capital charge of treason. 
 You will readily excuse my referring to the arts by which 
 the son was rendered guilty in the eyes of the father. Be 
 it enough to say, that the unfortunate young man fell a 
 
 130
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 victim to the guilt of his stepmother, Fausta, and that he 
 disdained to exculpate himself from a charge so gross and 
 so erroneous. It is said that the anger of the Emperor 
 was kept up against his son by the sycophants who called 
 upon Constantine to observe that the culprit disdained 
 even to supplicate for mercy or vindicate his innocence 
 from so foul a charge. 
 
 'But the death-blow had no sooner struck the inno- 
 cent youth than his father obtained proof of the rashness 
 with which he had acted. He had at this period been 
 engaged in constructing the subterranean parts of the 
 Blacquernal Palace, which his remorse appointed to 
 contain a record of his paternal grief and contrition. At 
 the upper part of the staircase, called the Pit of Acheron, 
 he caused to be constructed a large chamber, still called 
 the Hall of Judgment, for the purpose of execution. A 
 passage through an archway in the upper wall leads from 
 the hall to the place of misery, where the axe, or other 
 engine, is disposed for the execution of state prisoners 
 of consequence. Over this archway was placed a species 
 of marble altar, surmounted by an image of the unfortu- 
 nate Crispus; the materials were gold, and it bore the 
 memorable inscription. To my son, whom I rashly 
 CONDEMNED, AND TOO HASTILY EXECUTED. When Con- 
 structing this passage, Constantine made a vow that he 
 himself and his posterity, being reigning emperors, would 
 stand beside the statue of Crispus at the time when any 
 individual of their family should be led to execution, and, 
 before they suffered him to pass from the Hall of Judg- 
 ment to the chamber of death, that they should them- 
 selves be personally convinced of the truth of the charge 
 under which he suffered. 
 
 131
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'Time rolled on; the memory of Constantine was re- 
 membered almost like that of a saint, and the respect 
 paid to it threw into shadow the anecdote of his son's 
 death. The exigencies of the state rendered it difficult 
 to keep so large a sum in specie invested in a statue, 
 which called to mind the unpleasant failings of so great 
 a man. Your Imperial Highness's predecessors applied 
 the metal which formed the statue to support the Turk- 
 ish wars; and the remorse and penance of Constantine 
 died away in an obscure tradition of the church or of the 
 palace. Still, however, unless your Imperial Majesty 
 has strong reasons to the contrary, I should give it as 
 my opinion that you will hardly achieve what is due to 
 the memory of the greatest of your predecessors unless 
 you give this unfortunate criminal, being so near a rela- 
 tion of your own, an opportunity of pleading his cause 
 before passing by the altar of refuge, being the name 
 which is commonly given to the monument of the unfor- 
 tunate Crispus, son of Constantine, although now de- 
 prived both of the golden letters which composed the 
 inscription and the golden image which represented the 
 royal sufferer.' 
 
 A mournful strain of music was now heard to ascend 
 the stair so often mentioned. 
 
 *If I must hear the Caesar Nicephorus Briennius ere 
 he pass the altar of refuge, there must be no loss of time,' 
 said the Emperor ; ' for these melancholy sounds announce 
 that he has already approached the Hall of Judgment.' 
 
 Both the imperial ladies began instantly, with the 
 utmost earnestness, to deprecate the execution of the 
 Caesar's doom, and to conjure Alexius, as he hoped for 
 quiet in his household, and the everlasting gratitude of 
 
 132
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 his wife and daughter, that he would listen to their 
 entreaties in behalf of an unfortunate man, who had 
 been seduced into guilt, but not from his heart. 
 
 'I will at least see him,' said the Emperor, *and the 
 holy vow of Constantine shall be in the present instance 
 strictly observed. But remember, you foolish women, 
 that the state of Crispus and the present Caesar is as 
 different as guilt from innocence, and that their fates, 
 therefore, may be justly decided upon opposite princi- 
 ples and with opposite results. But I will confront this 
 criminal; and you. Patriarch, may be present to render 
 what help is in your power to a dying man ; for you, the 
 wife and mother of the traitor, you will, methinks, do 
 well to retire to the church, and pray God for the soul of 
 the deceased, rather than disturb his last moments with 
 unavailing lamentations.' 
 
 'Alexius,' said the Empress Irene, *I beseech you to 
 be contented ; be assured that we will not leave you in 
 this dogged humour of blood-shedding, lest you make 
 such materials for history as are fitter for the time of 
 Nero than of Constantine.' 
 
 The Emperor, without reply, led the way into the 
 Hall of Judgment, where a much stronger light than 
 usual was already shining up the stair of Acheron, from 
 which were heard to sound, by sullen and intermitted 
 fits, the penitential psalms which the Greek Church has 
 appointed to be sung at executions. Twenty mute slaves, 
 the pale colour of whose turbans gave a ghastly look to 
 the withered cast of their features and the glaring white- 
 ness of their eyeballs, ascended two by two, as it were 
 from the bowels of the earth, each of them bearing in 
 one hand a naked sabre and in the other a lighted torch. 
 
 133
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 After these came the unfortunate Nicephorus; his looks 
 were those of a man half-dead from the terror of imme- 
 diate dissolution, and what he possessed of remaining 
 attention was turned successively to two black-stoled 
 monks, who were anxiously repeating religious passages 
 to him alternately from the Greek Scripture and the form 
 of devotion adopted by the court of Constantinople. 
 The CjEsar's dress also corresponded to his mournful 
 fortunes : his legs and arms were bare, and a simple white 
 tunic, the neck of which was already open, showed that 
 he had assumed the garments which were to serve his 
 last turn. A tall muscular Nubian slave, who consid- 
 ered himself obviously as the principal person in the 
 procession, bore on his shoulder a large heavy heads- 
 man's axe, and, hke a demon waiting on a sorcerer, 
 stalked step for step after his victim. The rear of the 
 procession was closed by a band of four priests, each of 
 whom chanted from time to time the devotional psalm 
 which was thundered forth on the occasion ; and another 
 of slaves, armed with bows and quivers, and with lances, 
 to resist any attempt at rescue, if such should be offered. 
 
 It would have required a harder heart than that of the 
 unlucky princess to have resisted this gloomy apparatus 
 of fear and sorrow, surrounding, at the same time di- 
 rected against, a beloved object, the lover of her youth, 
 and the husband of her bosom, within a few minutes of 
 the termination of his mortal career. 
 
 As the mournful train approached towards the altar 
 of refuge, half -encircled as it now was by the two great 
 and expanded arms which projected from the wall, the 
 Emperor, who stood directly in the passage, threw upon 
 the flame of the altar some chips of aromatic wood, 
 
 134
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 steeped in spirit of wine, which, leaping at once into a 
 blaze, illuminated the doleful procession, the figure of 
 the principal culprit, and the slaves, who had most of 
 them extinguished their flambeaux so soon as they had 
 served the purpose of lighting them up the staircase. 
 
 The sudden light spread from the altar failed not to 
 make the Emperor and the Princesses visible to the 
 mournful group which approached through the hall. 
 All halted — all were silent. It was a meeting, as the 
 Princess has expressed herself in her historical work, 
 such as took place betwixt Ulysses and the inhabitants 
 of the other world, who, when they tasted of the blood 
 of his sacrifices, recognised him indeed, but with empty 
 lamentations, and gestures feeble and shadowy. The 
 hymn of contrition sunk also into silence; and, of the 
 whole group, the only figure rendered more distinct was 
 the gigantic executioner, whose high and furrowed fore- 
 head, as well as the broad steel of his axe, caught and 
 reflected back the bright gleam from the altar. Alexius 
 saw the necessity of breaking the silence which ensued, 
 lest it should give the intercessors for the prisoner an 
 opportunity of renewing their entreaties. 
 
 'Nicephorus Briennius,' he said, with a voice which, 
 although generally interrupted by a slight hesitation, 
 which procured him, among his enemies, the nickname 
 of the Stutterer, yet, upon important occasions like the 
 present, was so judiciously tuned and balanced in its 
 sentences that no such defect was at all visible — 
 'Nicephorus Briennius,' he said, 'late Caesar, the lawful 
 doom hath been spoken, that, having conspired against 
 the life of thy rightful sovereign and affectionate father, 
 Alexius Comnenus, thou shalt suffer the appropriate 
 
 135
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 sentence, by having thy head struck from thy body. 
 Here, therefore, at the last altar of refuge, I meet thee, 
 according to the vow of the immortal Constantine, for 
 the purpose of demanding whether thou hast anything 
 to allege why this doom should not be executed? Even 
 at this eleventh hour thy tongue is unloosed to speak 
 with freedom what may concern thy life. All is prepared 
 in this world and in the next. Look forward beyond yon 
 archway — the block is fixed. Look behind thee, thou 
 see'st the axe already sharpened. Thy place for good or 
 evil in the next world is already determined; time flies, 
 — eternity approaches. If thou hast aught to say, speak 
 it freely; if nought, confess the justice of thy sentence, 
 and pass on to death.' 
 
 The Emperor commenced this oration with those 
 looks described by his daughter as so piercing that they 
 dazzled like lightning, and his periods, if not precisely 
 flowing like burning lava, were yet the accents of a man 
 having the power of absolute command, and as such 
 produced an effect not only on the criminal, but also 
 upon the Prince himself, whose watery eyes and falter- 
 ing voice acknowledged his sense and feeling of the fatal 
 import of the present moment. 
 
 Rousing himself to the conclusion of what he had com- 
 menced, the Emperor again demanded whether the 
 prisoner had anything to say in his own defence. 
 
 Nicephorus was not one of those hardened criminals 
 who may be termed the very prodigies of history, from 
 the coolness with which they contemplated the consum- 
 mation of their crimes, whether in their own punishment 
 or the misfortunes of others. *I have been tempted,' he 
 said, dropping on his knees, 'and I have fallen. I have 
 
 136
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 nothing to allege in excuse of my folly and ingratitude; 
 but I stand prepared to die to expiate my guilt.' A deep 
 sigh, almost amounting to a scream, was here heard, close 
 behind the Emperor, and its cause assigned by the sud- 
 den exclamation of Irene — ' My lord — my lord, your 
 daughter is gone ! ' And in fact Anna Comnena had sunk 
 into her mother's arms without either sense or motion. 
 The father's attention was instantly called to support 
 his swooning child, while the unhappy husband strove 
 with the guards to be permitted to go to the assistance 
 of his wife. 'Give me but five minutes of that time 
 which the law has abridged; let my efforts but assist in 
 recalling her to a Ufe which should be as long as her 
 virtues and her talents deserve; and then let me die at 
 her feet, for I care not to go an inch beyond.' 
 
 The Emperor, who in fact had been more astonished 
 at the boldness and rashness of Nicephorus than alarmed 
 by his power, considered him as a man rather misled 
 than misleading others, and felt, therefore, the full effect 
 of this last interview. He was, besides, not naturally 
 cruel, where severities were to be enforced under his own 
 eye. 
 
 'The divine and immortal Constantine,' he said, 'did 
 not, I am persuaded, subject his descendants to this 
 severe trial in order further to search out the innocence 
 of the criminals, but rather to give to those who came 
 after him an opportunity of generously forgiving a crime 
 which could not without pardon — the express pardon 
 of the prince — escape without punishment. I rejoice 
 that I am born of the willow rather than of the oak, and 
 I acknowledge my weakness, that not even the safety 
 of my own life, or resentment of this unhappy man's 
 
 137
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 treasonable machinations, have the same effect with me 
 as the tears of my wife and the swooning of my daughter. 
 Rise up, Nicephorus Briennius, freely pardoned, and 
 restored even to the rank of Cassar. We will direct thy 
 pardon to be made out by the great Logothete, and 
 sealed with the golden bull. For four-and-twenty hours 
 thou art a prisoner, until an arrangement is made for 
 preserving the public peace. Meanwhile, thou wilt 
 remain under the charge of the Patriarch, who will be 
 answerable for thy forthcoming. Daughter and wife, 
 you must now go hence to your own apartment; a future 
 time will come, during which you may have enough of 
 weeping and embracing, mourning and rejoicing. Pray 
 Heaven that I, who, having been trained on till I have 
 sacrificed justice and true policy to uxorious compassion 
 and paternal tenderness of heart, may not have cause at 
 last for grieving in good earnest for all the events of this 
 miscellaneous drama.' 
 
 The pardoned Cassar, who endeavoured to regulate 
 his ideas according to this unexpected change, found it as 
 difficult to reconcile himself to the reality of his situa- 
 tion as Ursel to the face of nature, after having been 
 long deprived of enjo3dng it; so much do the dizziness 
 and confusion of ideas occasioned by moral and physical 
 causes of surprise and terror resemble each other in their 
 effects on the understanding. 
 
 At length he stammered forth a request that he might 
 be permitted to go to the field with the Emperor, and 
 divert, by the interposition of his own body, the traitor- 
 ous blows which some desperate man might aim against 
 that of his prince, in a day which was too likely to be one 
 of danger and bloodshed. 
 
 138
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 'Hold there!' said Alexius Comnenus. *We will not 
 begin thy newly-redeemed life by renewed doubts of 
 thine allegiance; yet it is but fitting to remind thee that 
 thou art still the nominal and ostensible head of those 
 who expect to take a part in this day's insurrection, and 
 it will be the safest course to trust its pacification to 
 others than to thee. Go, sir, compare notes with the 
 Patriarch, and merit your pardon by confessing to him 
 any traitorous intentions concerning this foul conspiracy 
 with which we may be as yet unacquainted. Daughter 
 and wife, farewell ! I must now depart for the lists, where 
 I have to speak with the traitor Achilles Tatius and the 
 heathenish infidel Agelastes, if he still lives, but of whose 
 providential death I hear a confirmed rumour.' 
 
 *Yet do not go, my dearest father,' said the Princess; 
 * but let me rather go to encourage the loyal subjects in 
 your behalf. The extreme kindness which you have 
 extended towards my guilty husband convinces me of 
 the extent of your affection towards your unworthy 
 daughter, and the greatness of the sacrifice which you 
 have made to her almost childish affection for an ungrate- 
 ful man who put your life in danger.' 
 
 'That is to say, daughter,' said the Emperor, smiling, 
 'that the pardon of your husband is a boon which has 
 lost its merit when it is granted? Take my advice, Anna, 
 and think otherwise : wives and their husbands ought in 
 prudence to forget their offences towards each other as 
 soon as human nature will permit them. Life is too short 
 and conjugal tranquillity too uncertain, to admit of 
 dwelling long upon such irritating subjects. To your 
 apartments. Princesses, and prepare the scarlet buskins 
 and the embroidery which is displayed on the cuffs and 
 
 139
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 collars of the Ca3sar's robe, indicative of his high rank. 
 He must not be seen without them on the morrow. 
 Reverend father, I remind you once more that the 
 Caesar is in your personal custody from this moment until 
 to-morrow at the same hour.' 
 
 They parted ; the Emperor repairing to put himself 
 at the head of his Varangian Guards; the Ceesar, under 
 the superintendence of the Patriarch, withdrawing into 
 the interior of the Blacquernal Palace, where Nicephorus 
 Briennius was under the necessity of 'unthreading the 
 rude eye of rebellion,' and throwing such lights as were 
 in his power upon the progress of the conspiracy. 
 
 'Agelastes,' he said, 'Achilles Tatius, and Hereward 
 the Varangian were the persons principally entrusted in 
 its progress. But whether they had been all true to their 
 engagements he did not pretend to be assured.' 
 
 In the female apartments there was a violent discus- 
 sion betwixt Anna Comnena and her mother. The 
 Princess had undergone during the day many changes 
 of sentiment and feeling; and though they had finally 
 united themselves into one strong interest in her hus- 
 band's favour, yet no sooner was the fear of his punish- 
 ment removed than the sense of his ungrateful behav- 
 iour began to revive. She became sensible also that a 
 woman of her extraordinary attainments, who had been 
 by a universal course of flattery disposed to entertain a 
 very high opinion of her own consequence, made rather 
 a poor figure when she had been the passive subject of 
 a long series of intrigues, by which she was destined to 
 be disposed of in one way or the other, according to the 
 humour of a set of subordinate conspirators, who never 
 so much as dreamed of regarding her as a being capable 
 
 140
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 of forming a wish in her own behalf, or even yielding or 
 refusing a consent. Her father's authority over her, and 
 right to dispose of her, was less questionable; but even 
 then it was something derogatory to the dignity of a 
 princess born in the purple — an authoress besides, and 
 giver of immortality — to be, without her own consent, 
 thrown, as it were, at the head now of one suitor, now of 
 another, however mean or disgusting, whose alliance 
 could for the time benefit the Emperor. The consequence 
 of these moody reflections was, that Anna Comnena 
 deeply toiled in spirit for the discovery of some means 
 by which she might assert her sullied dignity, and various 
 were the expedients which she revolved.
 
 CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 But now the hand of fate is on the curtain, 
 And brings the scene to light. 
 
 Don Sebastian. 
 
 The gigantic trumpet of the Varangians sounded its 
 loudest note of march, and the squadrons of the faithful 
 guards, sheathed in complete mail, and inclosing in their 
 centre the person of their imperial master, set forth upon 
 their procession through the streets of Constantinople. 
 The form of Alexius, ghttering in his splendid armour, 
 seemed no unmeet central point for the force of an em- 
 pire ; and while the citizens crowded in the train of him 
 and his escort, there might be seen a visible difference 
 between those who came with the premeditated inten- 
 tion of tumult and the greater part, who, Hke the multi- 
 tude of every great city, thrust each other and shout for 
 rapture on account of any cause for which a crowd may 
 be collected together. The hope of the conspirators was 
 lodged chiefly in the Immortal Guards, who were levied 
 principally for the defence of Constantinople, partook 
 of the general prejudices of the citizens, and had been 
 particularly influenced by those in favour of Ursel, by 
 whom, previous to his imprisonment, they had them- 
 selves been commanded. The conspirators had deter- 
 mined that those of this body who were considered as 
 most discontented should early in the morning take 
 possession of the posts in the lists most favourable for 
 their purpose of assaulting the Emperor's person. But, 
 in spite of all efforts short of actual violence, for which 
 
 142
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the time did not seem to be come, they found them- 
 selves disappointed in this purpose by parties of the 
 Varangian Guards, planted with apparent carelessness, 
 but, in fact, with perfect skill, for the prevention of their 
 enterprise. Somewhat confounded at perceiving that a 
 design which they could not suppose to be suspected was, 
 nevertheless, on every part controlled and counter- 
 checked, the conspirators began to look for the principal 
 persons of their own party, on whom they depended 
 for orders in this emergency; but neither the Caesar 
 nor Agelastes was to be seen, whether in the lists or on 
 the military march from Constantinople; and though 
 Achilles Tatius rode in the latter assembly, yet it might 
 be clearly observed that he was rather attending upon 
 the Protospathaire than assuming that independence as 
 an officer which he loved to affect. 
 
 In this manner, as the Emperor with his glittering 
 bands approached the phalanx of Tancred and his fol- 
 lowers, who were drawn up, it will be remembered, upon 
 a rising cape between the city and the lists, the main body 
 of the imperial procession deflected in some degree from 
 the straight road in order to march past them without 
 interruption; while the Protospathaire and the Acolyte 
 passed, under the escort of a band of Varangians, to 
 bear the Emperor's inquiries to Prince Tancred con- 
 cerning the purpose of his being there with his band. 
 The short march was soon performed ; the large trumpet 
 which attended the two officers sounded a parley, and 
 Tancred himself, remarkable for that personal beauty 
 which Tasso has preferred to any of the crusaders, 
 except Rinaldo D'Este, the creature of his own poetical 
 imagination, advanced to parley with them. 
 
 143
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'The Emperor of Greece,' said the Protospathaire to 
 Tancred, 'requires the Prince of Otranto to show, by 
 the two high officers who shall deliver him this message, 
 with what purpose he has returned, contrary to his oath, 
 to the right side of these straits; assuring Prince Tan- 
 cred, at the same time, that nothing will so much please 
 the Emperor as to receive an answer not at variance 
 with his treaty with the Duke of Bouillon, and the oath 
 which was taken by the crusading nobles and their sol- 
 diers; since that would enable the Emperor, in conform- 
 ity to his own wishes, by his kind reception of Prince 
 Tancred and his troop, to show how high is his estima- 
 tion of the dignity of the one and the bravery of both. 
 We wait an answer.' 
 
 The tone of the message had nothing in it very alarm- 
 ing, and its substance cost Prince Tancred very little 
 trouble to answer. ' The cause,' he said, ' of the Prince of 
 Otranto appearing here with fifty lances is this cartel, 
 in which a combat is appointed betwixt Nicephorus 
 Briennius, called the Caesar, a high member of this 
 empire, and a worthy knight of great fame, the partner 
 of the pilgrims who have taken the cross, in their high 
 vow to rescue Palestine from the infidels. The name of 
 the said knight is the redoubted Robert of Paris. It 
 becomes, therefore, an obligation, indispensable upon 
 the holy pilgrims of the crusade, to send one chief of their 
 number, with a body of men-at-arms, sufficient to see, as 
 is usual, fair-play between the combatants. That such 
 is their intention may be seen from their sending no 
 more than fifty lances, with their furniture and follow- 
 ing; whereas it would have cost them no trouble to have 
 detached ten tiines the number, had they nourished any 
 
 144
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 purpose of interfering by force, or disturbing the fair 
 combat which is about to take place. The Prince of 
 Otranto, therefore, and his followers, will place them- 
 selves at the disposal of the imperial court, and witness 
 the proceedings of the combat, with the most perfect 
 confidence that the rules of fair battle will be punctually 
 observed.' 
 
 The two Grecian officers transmitted this reply to the 
 Emperor, who heard it with pleasure, and, immediately 
 proceeding to act upon the principle which he had laid 
 down, of maintaining peace, if possible, with the crusa- 
 ders, named Prince Tancred with the Protospathaire as 
 field-marshals of the lists, fully empowered, under the 
 Emperor, to decide all the terms of the combat, and to 
 have recourse to Alexius himself where their opinions 
 disagreed. This was made known to the assistants, who 
 were thus prepared for the entry into the lists of the 
 Grecian officer and the ItaHan prince in full armour, 
 while a proclamation announced to all the spectators 
 their solemn office. The same annunciation commanded 
 the assistants of every kind to clear a convenient part 
 of the seats which surrounded the lists on one side, that 
 it might serve for the accommodation of Prince Tan- 
 cred's followers. 
 
 Achilles Tatius, who was a heedful observer of all 
 these passages, saw with alarm that by the last colloca- 
 tion the armed Latins were interposed between the Im- 
 mortal Guards and the discontented citizens, which 
 made it most probable that the conspiracy was discov- 
 ered, and that Alexius found he had a good right to 
 reckon upon the assistance of Tancred and his forces in 
 the task of suppressing it. This, added to the cold and 
 
 44 145
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 caustic manner in which the Emperor communicated his 
 commands to him, made the Acolyte of opinion that his 
 best chance of escape from the danger in which he was 
 now placed was, that the whole conspiracy should fall 
 to the ground, and that the day should pass without the 
 least attempt to shake the throne of Alexius Comnenus. 
 Even then it continued highly doubtful whether a des- 
 pot so wily and so suspicious as the Emperor would 
 think it sufl&cient to rest satisfied with the private know- 
 ledge of the imdertaking and its failure, with which he 
 appeared to be possessed, without putting into exercise 
 the bow-strings and the blinding-irons of the mutes of 
 the interior. There was, however, Httle possibility either 
 of flight or of resistance. The least attempt to withdraw 
 himself from the neighbourhood of those faithful follow- 
 ers of the Emperor, personal foes of his own, by whom 
 he was gradually and more closely surrounded, became 
 each moment more perilous, and more certain to provoke 
 a rupture which it was the interest of the weaker party 
 to delay, with whatever difficulty. And while the sol- 
 diers under Achilles's immediate authority seemed still 
 to treat him as their superior ofi&cer, and appeal to him 
 for the word of command, it became more and more evi- 
 dent that the slightest degree of suspicion which should 
 be excited would be the instant signal for his being 
 placed under arrest. With a trembling heart, therefore, 
 and eyes dimmed by the powerful idea of soon parting 
 with the light of day and all that made it visible, the 
 Acolyte saw himself condemned to watch the turn of 
 circumstances, over which he could have no influence, 
 and to content himself with waiting the result of a 
 drama, in which his own life was concerned, although 
 
 146
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the piece was played by others. Indeed, it seemed as if 
 through the whole assembly some signal was waited for, 
 which no one was in readiness to give. 
 
 The discontented citizens and soldiers looked in vain 
 for Agelastes and the Caesar; and when they observed 
 the condition of Achilles Tatius, it seemed such as rather 
 to express doubt and consternation than to give encour- 
 agement to the hopes they had entertained. Many of 
 the lower classes, however, felt too secure in their own 
 insignificance to fear the personal consequences of a 
 tumult, and were desirous, therefore, to provoke the dis- 
 turbance, which seemed hushing itself to sleep. 
 
 A hoarse murmur, which attained almost the import- 
 ance of a shout, exclaimed — ' Justice — justice ! Ursel 
 — Ursel! The rights of the Immortal Guards!' etc. At 
 this the trumpet of the Varangians awoke, and its tre- 
 mendous tones were heard to peal loudly over the whole 
 assembly, as the voice of its presiding deity. A dead 
 silence prevailed in the multitude, and the voice of a 
 herald announced, in the name of Alexius Comnenus, 
 his sovereign will and pleasure. 
 
 'Citizens of the Roman empire, your complaints, 
 stirred up by factious men, have reached the ear of your 
 Emperor; you shall yourselves be witness to his power 
 of gratifying his people. At your request, and before 
 your own sight, the visual ray which hath been quenched 
 shall be rcillumincd; the mind whose efforts were re- 
 stricted to the imperfect supply of individual wants shall 
 be again extended, if such is the owner's will, to the 
 charge of an ample theme or division of the empire. Po- 
 litical jealousy, more hard to receive conviction than the 
 blind to receive sight, shall yield itself conquered, by the 
 
 147
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Emperor's paternal love of his people and his desire to 
 give them satisfaction. Ursel, the darling of your wishes, 
 supposed to be long dead, or at least believed to exist in 
 blinded seclusion, is restored to you well in health, clear 
 in eyesight, and possessed of every faculty necessary to 
 adorn the Emperor's favour or merit the affection of 
 the people.' 
 
 As the herald thus spoke, a figure, which had hitherto 
 stood shrouded behind some officers of the interior, now 
 stepped forth, and flinging from him a dusky veil, in 
 which he was wrapt, appeared in a dazzHng scarlet gar- 
 ment, of which the sleeves and buskins displayed those 
 ornaments which expressed a rank nearly adjacent to 
 that of the Emperor himself. He held in his hand a silver 
 truncheon, the badge of delegated command over the 
 Immortal Guards, and, kneeling before the Emperor, 
 presented it to his hands, intimating a virtual resigna- 
 tion of the command which it implied. The whole as- 
 sembly were electrified at the appearance of a person 
 long supposed either dead or by cruel means rendered 
 incapable of public trust. Some recognised the man 
 whose appearance and features were not easily forgot, 
 and gratulated him upon his most unexpected return 
 to the service of his country. Others stood suspended in 
 amazement, not knowing whether to trust their eyes, 
 while a few determined malcontents eagerly pressed upon 
 the assembly an allegation that the person presented 
 as Ursel was only a counterfeit, and the whole a trick of 
 the Emperor. 
 
 'Speak to them, noble Ursel,' said the Emperor. 'Tell 
 them that, if I have sinned against thee, it has been be- 
 cause I was deceived, and that my disposition to make 
 
 148
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 thee amends is as ample as ever was my purpose of doing 
 thee wrong.' 
 
 'Friends and countrymen/ said Ursel, turning himself 
 to the assembly, 'his Imperial Majesty permits me to 
 offer my assurance that, if in any former part of my life 
 I have suffered at his hand, it is more than wiped out by 
 the feelings of a moment so glorious as this; and that I 
 am well satisfied, from the present instant, to spend 
 what remains of my life in the service of the most gener- 
 ous and beneficent of sovereigns, or, with his permission, 
 to bestow it in preparing, by devotional exercises, for an 
 infinite immortality to be spent in the society of saints 
 and angels. Whichever choice I shall make, I reckon 
 that you, my beloved countrymen, who have remem- 
 bered me so kindly during years of darkness and captiv- 
 ity, will not fail to afford me the advantage of your 
 prayers.' 
 
 This sudden apparition of the long-lost Ursel had too 
 much of that which elevates and surprises not to capti- 
 vate the multitude, and they sealed their reconciliation 
 with three tremendous shouts, which are said so to have 
 shaken the air that birds, incapable of sustaining them- 
 selves, sunk down exhausted out of their native element.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 'What, leave the combat out!' exclaimed the knight. 
 'Yea! or we must renounce the Stagy rite.' 
 'So large a crowd the stage will ne'er contain.' 
 'Then build a new, or act it on a plain.' 
 
 Pope. 
 
 The sounds of the gratulating shout had expanded over 
 the distant shores of the Bosphorus by mountain and 
 forest, and died at length in the farthest echoes, when the 
 people, in the silence which ensued, appeared to ask each 
 other what next scene was about to adorn a pause so 
 solemn and a stage so august. The pause would probably 
 have soon given place to some new clamour, for a multi- 
 tude, from whatever cause assembled, seldom remains 
 long silent, had not a new signal from the Varangian 
 trumpet given notice of a fresh purpose to solicit their 
 attention. The blast had something in its tone spirit- 
 stirring and yet melancholy, partaking both of the char- 
 acter of a point of war and of the doleful sounds which 
 might be chosen to announce an execution of pecuHar 
 solemnity. Its notes were high and widely extended, 
 and prolonged and long dwelt upon, as if the brazen 
 clamour had been waked by something more tremend- 
 ous than the lungs of mere mortals. 
 
 The multitude appeared to acknowledge these awful 
 sounds, which were indeed such as habitually solicited 
 their attention to imperial edicts of melancholy import, 
 by which rebelHons were announced, dooms of treason 
 discharged, and other tidings of a great and affecting 
 
 150
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 import intimated to the people of Constantinople. When 
 the trumpet had in its turn ceased, with its thrilhng and 
 doleful notes, to agitate the immense assembly, the voice 
 of the herald again addressed them. 
 
 It announced in a grave and affecting strain, that it 
 sometimes chanced how the people failed in their duty 
 to a sovereign, who was unto them as a father, and how 
 it became the painful duty of the prince to use the rod 
 of correction rather than the olive sceptre of mercy. 
 
 'Fortunate,' continued the herald, 'it is when the 
 supreme Deity, having taken on Himself the preserva- 
 tion of a throne in beneficence and justice resembling 
 His own, has also assumed the most painful task of His 
 earthly delegate, by punishing those whom His unerring 
 judgment acknowledges as most guilty, and leaving to 
 His substitute the more agreeable task of pardoning such 
 of those as art has misled, and treachery hath involved 
 in its snares. Such being the case, Greece and its accom- 
 panying themes are called upon to listen and learn, that 
 a villain, named Agelastes, who had insinuated himself 
 into the favour of the Emperor, by affectation of deep 
 knowledge and severe virtue, had formed a treacherous 
 plan for the murder of the Emperor Alexius Comnenus, 
 and a revolution in the state. This person, who, under 
 pretended wisdom, hid the doctrines of a heretic and the 
 vices of a sensualist, had found proselytes to his doc- 
 trines even among the Emperor's household, and those 
 persons who were most bound to him, and down to the 
 lower order, to excite the last of whom were dispersed a 
 multitude of forged rumours, similar to those concerning 
 Urscl's death and blindness, of which your own eyes have 
 witnessed the falsehood.' 
 
 151
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The people, who had hitherto listened in silence, upon 
 this appeal broke forth in a clamorous assent. They had 
 scarcely been again silent ere the iron- voiced herald con- 
 tinued his proclamation. 
 
 'Not Korah, Dathan, and Abiram/ he said, 'had more 
 justly, or more directly, fallen under the doom of an 
 offended Deity than this villain Agelastes. The stead- 
 fast earth gaped to devour the apostate sons of Israel, 
 but the termination of this wretched man's existence has 
 been, as far as can now be known, by the direct means 
 of an evil spirit, whom his own arts had evoked into the 
 upper air. By the spirit, as would appear by the testi- 
 mony of a noble lady and other females, who witnessed 
 the termination of his life, Agelastes was strangled, a 
 fate well becoming his odious crimes. Such a death, even 
 of a guilty man, must, indeed, be most painful to the 
 humane feelings of the Emperor, because it involves suf- 
 fering beyond this world. But the awful catastrophe 
 carries with it this comfort, that it absolves the Emperor 
 from the necessity of carrying any further a vengeance 
 which Heaven itself seems to have limited to the exem- 
 plary punishment of the principal conspirator. Some 
 changes of offices and situations shall be made, for the 
 sake of safety and good order; but the secret who had or 
 who had not been concerned in this awful crime shall 
 sleep in the bosoms of the persons themselves implicated, 
 since the Emperor is determined to dismiss their offence 
 from his memory, as the effect of a transient delusion. 
 Let all, therefore, who now hear me, whatever conscious- 
 ness they may possess of a knowledge of what was this 
 day intended, return to their houses, assured that their 
 own thoughts will be their only punishment. Let them 
 
 152
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 rejoice that Almighty goodness has saved them from the 
 meditations of their own hearts, and, according to the 
 affecting language of Scripture, "Let them repent and 
 sin no more, lest a worse thing befall them.'" 
 
 The voice of the herald then ceased, and was again 
 answered by the shouts of the audience. These were 
 unanimous; for circumstances contributed to convince 
 the malcontent party that they stood at the sovereign's 
 mercy, and the edict that they heard having shown his 
 acquaintance with their guilt, it lay at his pleasure to 
 let loose upon them the strength of the Varangians, 
 while, from the terms on which it had pleased him to re- 
 ceive Tancred, it was probable that the Apulian forces 
 were also at his disposal. 
 
 The voices, therefore, of the bulky Stephanos, of Har- 
 pax the centurion, and other rebels, both of the camp 
 and city, were the first to thunder forth their gratitude 
 for the clemency of the Emperor, and their thanks to 
 Heaven for his preservation. 
 
 The audience, reconciled to the thoughts of the discov- 
 ered and frustrated conspiracy, began meantime, accord- 
 ing to their custom, to turn themselves to the consider- 
 ation of the matter which had more avowedly called 
 them together, and private whispers, swelling by degrees 
 into murmurs, began to express the dissatisfaction of the 
 citizens at being thus long assembled, without receiving 
 any communication respecting the announced purpose of 
 their meeting. 
 
 Alexius was not slow to perceive the tendency of their 
 thoughts; and, on a signal from his hand, the trumpets 
 blew a point of war, in sounds far more lively than those 
 which had prefaced the imperial edict. 'Robert Count 
 
 153
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 of Paris/ then said a herald, 'art thou here in thy place, 
 or by knightly proxy, to answer the challenge brought 
 against thee by his Imperial Highness Nicephorus Brien- 
 nius, Caesar of this empire?' 
 
 The Emperor conceived himself to have equally pro- 
 vided against the actual appearance at this call of either 
 of the parties named, and had prepared an exhibition of 
 another kind, namely, certain cages, tenanted by wild 
 animals, which, being now loosened, should do their 
 pleasure with each other in the eyes of the assembly. 
 His astonishment and confusion, therefore, were great 
 when, as the last note of the proclamation died in the 
 echo. Count Robert of Paris stood forth, armed cap-a-pie^ 
 his mailed charger led behind him from within the cur- 
 tained inclosure, at one end of the lists, as if ready to 
 mount at the signal of the marshal. 
 
 The alarm and the shame that were visible in every 
 countenance near the imperial presence, when no Caesar 
 came forth in Hke fashion to confront the formidable 
 Frank, were not of long duration. Hardly had the style 
 and title of the Count of Paris been duly announced by 
 the heralds, and their second summons of his antagonist 
 uttered in due form, when a person, dressed like one of 
 the Varangian Guards, sprung into the lists, and an- 
 nounced himself as ready to do battle in the name and 
 place of the Caesar Nicephorus Briennius, and for the 
 honour of the empire. 
 
 Alexius, with the utmost joy, beheld this unexpected 
 assistance, and readily gave his consent to the bold 
 soldier who stood thus forward in the hour of utmost 
 need to take upon himself the dangerous office of cham- 
 pion. He the more readily acquiesced as, from the size 
 
 154
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 and appearance of the soldier, and the gallant bearing 
 he displayed, he had no doubt of his individual person, 
 and fully confided in his valour. 
 
 But Prince Tancred interposed his opposition. 'The 
 lists,' he said, 'were only open to knights and nobles; or, 
 at any rate, men were not permitted to meet therein 
 who were not of some equality of birth and blood; nor 
 could he remain a silent witness where the laws of chiv- 
 alry were in such respects forgotten.' 
 
 'Let Count Robert of Paris,' said the Varangian, 
 'look upon my countenance, and say whether he has not, 
 by promise, removed all objection to our contest which 
 might be founded upon an inequality of condition, and 
 let him be judge himself whether, by meeting me in this 
 field, he will do more than comply with a compact which 
 he has long since become bound by.' 
 
 Count Robert, upon this appeal, advanced and ac- 
 knowledged, without further debate, that, notwith- 
 standing their difference of rank, he held himself bound 
 by his solemn word to give this valiant soldier a meeting 
 in the field; that he regretted, on account of this gallant 
 man's eminent virtues, and the high services he had 
 received at his hands, that they should now stand upon 
 terms of such bloody arbitration ; but, since nothing was 
 more common than that the fate of war called on friends 
 to meet each other in mortal combat, he would not 
 shrink from the engagement he had pledged himself to ; 
 nor did he think his quality in the slightest degree in- 
 fringed or diminished by meeting in battle a warrior so 
 well known and of such good account as Hereward, the 
 brave Varangian. He added, that * he willingly admitted 
 that the combat should take place on foot, and with the 
 
 155
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 battle-axe, which was the ordinary weapon of the Va- 
 rangian guard.' 
 
 Hereward had stood still, almost like a statue, while 
 this discourse passed ; but when the Count of Paris had 
 made this speech, he inclined himself towards him with 
 a graceful obeisance, and expressed himself honoured 
 and gratified by the manly manner in which the Count 
 acquitted himself, according to his promise, with com- 
 plete honour and fidelity. 
 
 *What we are to do,' said Count Robert, with a sigh 
 of regret, which even his love of battle could not pre- 
 vent, ' let us do quickly: the heart may be affected, but 
 the hand must do its duty.' 
 
 Hereward assented, with the additional remark, 'Let 
 us then lose no more time, which is already flying fast.' 
 And, grasping his axe, he stood prepared for combat. 
 
 'I also am ready,' said Count Robert of Paris, taking 
 the same weapon from a Varangian soldier, who stood 
 by the lists. Both were immediately upon the alert, nor 
 did further forms or circumstances put off the intended 
 duel. 
 
 The first blows were given and parried with great 
 caution, and Prince Tancred and others thought that on 
 the part of Count Robert the caution was much greater 
 than usual; but, in combat as in food, the appetite in- 
 creases with the exercise. The fiercer passions began, as 
 usual, to awaken with the clash of arms and the sense of 
 deadly blows, some of which were made with great fury 
 on either side, and parried with considerable difi&culty, 
 and not so completely but what blood flowed on both 
 their parts. The Greeks looked with astonishment on a 
 single combat such as they had seldom witnessed, and 
 
 156
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 held their breath as they beheld the furious blows dealt 
 by either warrior, and expected with each stroke the 
 annihilation of one or other of the combatants. As yet 
 their strength and agility seemed somewhat equally 
 matched, although those who judged with more preten- 
 sion to knowledge were of opinion that Count Robert 
 spared putting forth some part of the mihtary skill for 
 which he was celebrated; and the remark was generally 
 made and allowed that he had surrendered a great 
 advantage by not insisting upon his right to fight upon 
 horseback. On the other hand, it was the general opin- 
 ion that the gallant Varangian omitted to take advan- 
 tage of one or two opportunities afforded him by the 
 heat of Count Robert's temper, who obviously was 
 incensed at the duration of the combat. 
 
 Accident at length seemed about to decide what had 
 been hitherto an equal contest. Count Robert, making a 
 feint on one side of his antagonist, struck him on the 
 other, which was uncovered, with the edge of his wea- 
 pon, so that the Varangian reeled, and seemed in the act 
 of faUing to the earth. The usual sound made by spec- 
 tators at the sight of any painful or unpleasant circum- 
 stance, by drawing the breath between the teeth, was 
 suddenly heard to pass through the assembly, while a 
 female voice loud and eagerly exclaimed — * Count 
 Robert of Paris, forget not this day that thou owest a 
 hfe to Heaven and me.' The Count was in the act of 
 again seconding his blow, with what effect could hardly 
 be judged, when this cry reached his cars, and appar- 
 ently took away his disposition for further combat. 
 
 'I acknowledge the debt,' he said, sinking his battle- 
 axe, and retreating two steps from his antagonist, who 
 
 157
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 stood in astonishment, scarcely recovered from the 
 stunning effect of the blow by which he was so nearly 
 prostrated. He sank the blade of his battle-axe in imi- 
 tation of his antagonist, and seemed to wait in suspense 
 what was to be the next process of the combat. 'I 
 acknowledge my debt,' said the valiant Count of Paris, 
 'alike to Bertha of Britain and to the Almighty, who 
 has preserved me from the crime of ungrateful blood- 
 guiltiness. You have seen the fight, gentlemen,' turning 
 to Tancred and his chivalry, 'and can testify, on your 
 honour, that it has been maintained fairly on both sides, 
 and without advantage on either. I presume my honour- 
 able antagonist has by this time satisfied the desire 
 which brought me under his challenge, and which cer- 
 tainly had no taste in it of personal or private quarrel. 
 On my part, I retain towards him such a sense of per- 
 sonal obligation as would render my continuing this 
 combat, unless compelled to it by self-defence, a shame- 
 ful and sinful action.' 
 
 Alexius gladly embraced the terms of truce, which he 
 was far from expecting, and threw down his warder, in 
 signal that the duel was ended. Tancred, though some- 
 what surprised, and perhaps even scandalised, that a 
 private soldier of the Emperor's guard should have so 
 long resisted the utmost efforts of so approved a knight, 
 could not but own that the combat had been fought with 
 perfect fairness and equality, and decided upon terms 
 dishonourable to neither party. The Count's character 
 being well known and established amongst the crusaders, 
 they were compelled to believe that some motive of a 
 most potent nature formed the principle upon which, 
 very contrary to his general practice, he had proposed a 
 
 iS8
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 cessation of the combat before it was brought to a 
 deadly, or at least to a decisive, conclusion. The edict of 
 the Emperor upon the occasion, therefore, passed into a 
 law, acknowledged by the assent of the chiefs present, 
 and especially affirmed and gratulated by the shouts of 
 the assembled spectators. 
 
 But perhaps the most interesting figure in the assem- 
 bly was that of the bold Varangian, arrived so suddenly 
 at a promotion of military renown which the extreme 
 difficulty he had experienced in keeping his ground 
 against Count Robert had prevented him from antici- 
 pating, although his modesty had not diminished the 
 indomitable courage with which he maintained the con- 
 test. He stood in the middle of the lists, his face ruddy 
 with the exertion of the combat, and not less so from the 
 modest consciousness proper to the plainness and sim- 
 plicity of his character, which was disconcerted by find- 
 ing himself the central point of the gaze of the multitude. 
 
 * Speak to me, my soldier,' said Alexius, strongly 
 affected by the gratitude which he felt was due to Here- 
 ward upon so singular an occasion — * speak to thine 
 Emperor as his superior, for such thou art at this mo- 
 ment, and tell him if there is any manner, even at the 
 expense of half his kingdom, to atone for his own life 
 saved, and, what is yet dearer, for the honour of his 
 country, which thou hast so manfully defended and 
 preserved? ' 
 
 *My lord,' answered Hereward, 'your Imperial High- 
 ness values my poor services over highly, and ought to 
 attribute them to the noble Count of Paris — first, for 
 his condescending to accept of an antagonist so mean in 
 quality as myself; and next, in generously relinquishing 
 
 159
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 victory when he might have achieved it by an additional 
 blow ; for I here confess before your Majesty, my breth- 
 ren, and the assembled Grecians, that my power of pro- 
 tracting the combat was ended when the gallant Count, 
 by his generosity, put a stop to it.' 
 
 'Do not thyself that wrong, brave man,' said Count 
 Robert; 'for I vow to Our Lady of the Broken Lances 
 that the combat was yet within the undetermined doom 
 of Providence when the pressure of my own feelings 
 rendered me incapable of continuing it, to the necessary 
 harm, perhaps to the mortal damage, of an antagonist 
 to whom I owe so much kindness. Choose, therefore, 
 the recompense which the generosity of thy Emperor 
 offers in a manner so just and grateful, and fear not lest 
 mortal voice pronounces that reward unmerited which 
 Robert of Paris shall avouch with his sword to have 
 been gallantly won upon his own crest.' 
 
 'You are too great, my lord, and too noble,' answered 
 the Anglo-Saxon, 'to be gainsaid by such as I am, and I 
 must not awaken new strife between us by contesting 
 the circumstances under which our combat so suddenly 
 closed, nor would it be wise or prudent in me further to 
 contradict you. My noble Emperor generously offers 
 me the right of naming what he calls my recompense; 
 but let not his generosity be dispraised, although it is 
 from you, my lord, and not from his Imperial Highness, 
 that I am to ask a boon, to me the dearest to which my 
 voice can give utterance.' 
 
 'And that,' said the Count, 'has reference to Bertha, 
 the faithful attendant of my wife? ' 
 
 'Even so,' said Here ward; 'it is my proposal to re- 
 quest my discharge from the Varangian Guard, and 
 
 1 60
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 permission to share in your lordship's pious and hon- 
 ourable vow for the recovery of Palestine, with liberty 
 to fight under your honoured banner, and permission 
 from time to time to recommend my love-suit to Bertha, 
 the attendant of the Countess of Paris, in the hope that 
 it may find favour in the eyes of her noble lord and lady. 
 I may thus finally hope to be restored to a country which 
 I have never ceased to love over the rest of the world.' 
 
 * Thy service, noble soldier,' said the Count, ' shall be as 
 acceptable to me as that of a born earl ; nor is there an 
 opportunity of acquiring honour which I can shape for 
 thee to which, as it occurs, I will not gladly prefer thee. 
 I will not boast of what interest I have with the King of 
 England, but something I can do with him, and it shall 
 be strained to the uttermost to settle thee in thine own 
 beloved native country.' 
 
 The Emperor then spoke. * Bear witness, heaven and 
 earth, and you my faithful subjects, and you my gal- 
 lant allies — above all, you my bold and true Varangian 
 Guard, that we would rather have lost the brightest 
 jewel from our imperial crown than have relinquished 
 the service of this true and faithful Anglo-Saxon. But 
 since go he must and will, it shall be my study to distin- 
 guish him by such marks of beneficence as may make it 
 known through his future life that he is the person to 
 whom the Emperor Alexius Comnenus acknowledged a 
 debt larger than his empire could discharge. You, my 
 Lord Tancred, and your principal leaders, will sup with 
 us this evening, and to-morrow resume your honourable 
 and religious purpose of pilgrimage. We trust both the 
 combatants will also oblige us by their presence. Trum- 
 pets, give the signal for dismission.' 
 44 i6i
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The trumpets sounded accordingly, and the different 
 classes of spectators, armed and unarmed, broke up 
 into various parties, or formed into their military ranks, 
 for the purpose of their return to the city. 
 
 The screams of women, suddenly and strangely 
 raised, was the first thing that arrested the departure 
 of the multitude, when those who glanced their eyes 
 back saw Sylvan, the great ourang-outang, produce 
 himself in the lists, to their surprise and astonishment. 
 The women, and many of the men who were present, 
 unaccustomed to the ghastly look and savage appear- 
 ance of a creature so extraordinary, raised a yell of terror 
 so loud that it discomposed the animal who was the 
 occasion of its being raised. Sylvan, in the course of the 
 night, having escaped over the garden-wall of Agelastes, 
 and clambered over the rampart of the city, found no 
 difl&culty in hiding himself in the lists which were in the 
 act of being raised, having found a lurking-place in some 
 dark corner under the seats of the spectators. From this 
 he was probably dislodged by the tumult of the dispers- 
 ing multitude, and had been compelled, therefore, to 
 make an appearance in public when he least desired it, 
 not unlike that of the celebrated Puliccinello, at the 
 conclusion of his own drama, when he enters in mortal 
 strife -with the Foul Fiend himself — a scene which 
 scarcely excites more terror among the juvenile audience 
 than did the unexpected apparition of Sylvan among the 
 spectators of the duel. Bows were bent and javelins 
 pointed by the braver part of the soldiery against an 
 animal of an appearance so ambiguous, and whom his 
 uncommon size and grizzly look caused most who beheld 
 him to suppose either the Devil himself or the apparition 
 
 162
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 of some fiendish deity of ancient days whom the hea- 
 thens worshipped. Sylvan had so far improved such 
 opportunities as had been afforded him as to become suf- 
 ficiently aware that the attitudes assumed by so many 
 military men inferred immediate danger to his person, 
 from which he hastened to shelter himself by fl3ang to 
 the protection of Hereward, with whom he had .been in 
 some degree famiHarised. He seized him, accordingly, 
 by the cloak, and, by the absurd and alarmed look of his 
 fantastic features, and a certain wild and gibbering 
 chatter, endeavoured to express his fear and to ask pro- 
 tection. Hereward understood the terrified creature, 
 and, turning to the Emperor's throne, said aloud — 
 'Poor frightened being, turn thy petition, and gestures, 
 and tones to a quarter which, having to-day pardoned 
 so many offences which were wilfully and maliciously 
 schemed, will not be, I am sure, obdurate to such as 
 thou, in thy half-reasoning capacity, mayst have been 
 capable of committing.' 
 
 The creature, as is the nature of its tribe, caught from 
 Hereward himself the mode of applying with most effect 
 his gestures and pitiable supplication, while the Emperor, 
 notwithstanding the serious scene which had just passed, 
 could not help laughing at the touch of comedy flung into 
 it by this last incident. 
 
 *My trusty Hereward,' he said, (aside — 'I will not 
 again call him Edward if I can help it) — thou art the 
 refuge of the distressed, whether it be man or beast, and 
 nothing that sues through thy intercession, while thou 
 remainest in our service, shall find its supplication in 
 vain. Do thou, good Hereward,' for the name was now 
 pretty well established in his imperial memory, 'and 
 
 163
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 such of thy companions as know the habits of the crea- 
 ture, lead him back to his old quarters in the Blacquernal ; 
 and that done, my friend, observe that we request thy 
 company, and that of thy faithful mate Bertha, to par- 
 take supper at our court with our wife and daughter, and 
 such of our servants and allies as we shall request to 
 share the same honour. Be assured that, while thou 
 remainest with us, there is no point of dignity which shall 
 not be willingly paid to thee. And do thou approach, 
 Achilles Tatius, as much favoured by thine emperor as 
 before this day dawned. What charges are against thee 
 have been only whispered in a friendly ear which remem- 
 bers them not, unless — which Heaven forefend! — their 
 remembrance is renewed by fresh offences.' 
 
 Achilles Tatius bowed till the plume of his helmet 
 mingled with the mane of his fiery horse, but held it 
 wisest to forbear any answer in words, leaving his crime 
 and his pardon to stand upon those general terms in 
 which the Emperor had expressed them. 
 
 Once more the multitude of all ranks returned on their 
 way to the city, nor did any second interruption arrest 
 their march. Sylvan, accompanied by one or two Varan- 
 gians, who led him in a sort of captivity, took his way 
 to the vaults of the Blacquernal, which were in fact his 
 proper habitation. 
 
 Upon the road to the city, Harpax, the notorious cor- 
 poral of the Immortal Guards, held a discourse with one 
 or two of his own soldiers, and of the citizens who had 
 been members of the late conspiracy. 
 
 *So,' said Stephanos, the prize-fighter, *a fine affair 
 we have made of it, to suffer ourselves to be all antici- 
 pated and betrayed by a thick-skulled Varangian; every 
 
 164
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 chance turning against us as they would against Cory- 
 don, the shoemaker, if he were to defy me to the circus. 
 Ursel, whose death made so much work, turns out not to 
 be dead after all; and, what is worse, he lives not to our 
 advantage. This fellow Hereward, who was yesterday 
 no better than myself — what do I say? better! he was 
 a great deal worse, an insignificant nobody in every 
 respect — is now crammed with honours, praises, and 
 gifts, till he well-nigh returns what they have given him, 
 and the Caesar and the Acolyte, our associates, have lost 
 the Emperor's love and confidence, and if they are 
 suffered to survive, it must be like the tame domestic 
 poultry, whom we pamper with food one day, that 
 upon the next their necks may be twisted for spit or 
 pot.' 
 
 'Stephanos,' replied the centurion, 'thy form of body 
 fits thee well for the palestra, but thy mind is not so 
 acutely formed as to detect that which is real from that 
 which is only probable in the political world, of which 
 thou art now judging. Considering the risk incurred 
 by lending a man's ear to a conspiracy, thou oughtest to 
 reckon it a saving in every particular where he escapes 
 with his life and character safe. This has been the case 
 with Achilles Tatius and with the Caisar. They have re- 
 mained also in their high places of trust and power, and 
 may be confident that the Emperor will hardly dare to 
 remove them at a future period, since the possession of 
 the full knowledge of their guilt has not emboldened him 
 to do so. Their power, thus left with them, is in fact ours ; 
 nor is there a circumstance to be supposed which can in- 
 duce them to betray their confederates to the govern- 
 ment. It is much more likely that they will remember 
 
 165
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 them with the probability of renewing, at a fitter time, 
 the aUiance which binds them together. Cheer up thy 
 noble resolution, therefore, my prince of the circus, and 
 think that thou shalt still retain that predominant influ- 
 ence which the favourites of the amphitheatre are sure 
 to possess over the citizens of Constantinople.' 
 
 *I cannot tell,' answered Stephanos; 'but it gnaws at 
 my heart Hke the worm that dieth not to see this beg- 
 garly foreigner betray the noblest blood in the land, not 
 to mention the best athlete in the palestra, and move off 
 not only without punishment for his treachery, but with 
 praise, honour, and preferment.' 
 
 'True,' said Harpax; 'but observe, my friend, that he 
 does move off to purpose. He leaves the land, quits the 
 corps in which he might claim preferment and a few vain 
 honours, being valued at what such trifles amount to. 
 Hereward, in the course of one or two days, shall be 
 little better than a disbanded soldier, subsisting by the 
 poor bread which he can obtain as a follower of this beg- 
 garly count, or which he is rather bound to dispute with 
 the infidel, by encountering with his battle-axe the 
 Turkish sabres. What will it avail him amidst the dis- 
 asters, the slaughter, and the famine of Palestine that he 
 once upon a time was admitted to supper with the Em- 
 peror? We know Alexius Comnenus: he is willing to 
 discharge, at the highest cost, such obhgations as are in- 
 curred to men like this Hereward; and, believe me, I 
 think that I see the wily despot shrug his shoulders in 
 derision when one morning he is saluted with the news of 
 a battle in Palestine lost by the crusaders, in which his 
 old acquaintance has fallen a dead man. I will not in- 
 sult thee by telling thee how easy it might be to acquire 
 
 i66
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 the favour of a gentlewoman in waiting upon a lady of 
 quality; nor do I think it would be difficult, should that 
 be the object of the prize-fighter, to acquire the property 
 of a large baboon like Sylvan, which no doubt would set 
 up as a juggler any Frank who had meanness of spirit to 
 propose to gain his bread in such a capacity from the 
 alms of the starving chivalry of Europe. But he who can 
 stoop to envy the lot of such a person ought not to be 
 one whose chief personal distinctions are sufficient to 
 place him first in rank over all the favourites of the 
 amphitheatre.' 
 
 There was something in this sophistical kind of reason- 
 ing which was but half -satisfactory to the obtuse intel- 
 lect of the prize-fighter, to whom it was addressed, al- 
 though the only answer which he attempted was couched 
 in this observation — 
 
 *Ay, but, noble centurion, you forget that, besides 
 empty honours, this Varangian Hereward, or Edward, 
 whichever is his name, is promised a mighty donative of 
 gold.' . ^ 
 
 'Marry, you touch me there,' said the centurion; ' and 
 when you tell me that the promise is fulfilled, I will will- 
 ingly agree that the Anglo-Saxon hath gained something 
 to be envied for; but while it remains in the shape of 
 a naked promise, you shall pardon me, my worthy 
 Stephanos, if I hold it of no more account than the 
 mere pledges which are distributed among ourselves as 
 well as to the Varangians, promising upon future occa- 
 sions mints of money, which we are likely to receive at 
 the same time with the last year's snow. Keep up your 
 heart, therefore, noble Stephanos, and believe not that 
 your affairs are worse for the miscarriage of this day ; and 
 
 167
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 let not thy gallant courage sink, but, remembering those 
 principles upon which it was called into action, believe 
 that thy objects are not the less secure because fate has 
 removed their acquisition to a more distant day.' The 
 veteran and unbending conspirator, Harpax, thus 
 strengthened for some future renewal of their enterprise 
 the failing spirits of Stephanos. 
 
 After this, such leaders as were included in the invi- 
 tation given by the Emperor repaired to the evening 
 meal, and, from the general content and complaisance 
 expressed by Alexius and his guests of every description, 
 it could little have been supposed that the day just 
 passed over was one which had inferred a purpose so 
 dangerous and treacherous. 
 
 The absence of the Countess Brenhilda during this 
 eventful day created no small surprise to the Emperor 
 and those in his immediate confidence, who knew her 
 enterprising spirit, and the interest she must have felt 
 in the issue of the combat. Bertha had made an early 
 communication to the Count that his lady, agitated with 
 the many anxieties of the few preceding days, was un- 
 able to leave her apartment. The valiant knight, there- 
 fore, lost no time in acquainting his faithful countess of 
 his safety; and afterwards joining those who partook of 
 the banquet at the palace, he bore himself as if the least 
 recollection did not remain on his mind of the perfidious 
 conduct of the Emperor at the conclusion of the last en- 
 tertainment. He knew, in truth, that the knights of 
 Prince Tancred not only maintained a strict watch 
 round the house where Brenhilda remained, but also, 
 that they preserved a severe ward in the neighbourhood 
 of the Blacquernal, as well for the safety of their heroic 
 
 i68
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 leader as for that of Count Robert, the respected com- 
 panion of their military pilgrimage. 
 
 It was the general principle of the European chivalry 
 that distrust was rarely permitted to survive open quar- 
 rels, and that whatever was forgiven was dismissed from 
 their recollection, as unlikely to recur; but on the present 
 occasion there was a more than usual assemblage of 
 troops, which the occurrences of the day had drawn to- 
 gether, so that the crusaders were called upon to be par- 
 ticularly watchful. 
 
 It may be believed that the evening passed over with- 
 out any attempt to renew the ceremonial in the council- 
 chamber of the lions, which had been upon a former oc- 
 casion terminated in such misunderstanding. Indeed, it 
 would have been lucky if the explanation between the 
 mighty Emperor of Greece and the chivalrous knight of 
 Paris had taken place earlier; for reflection on what had 
 passed had convinced the Emperor that the Franks were 
 not a people to be imposed upon by pieces of clockwork 
 and similar trifles, and that what they did not under- 
 stand was sure, instead of procuring their awe or admira- 
 tion, to excite their anger and defiance. Nor had it alto- 
 gether escaped Count Robert that the manners of the 
 Eastern people were upon a different scale from those to 
 which he had been accustomed ; that they neither were so 
 deeply affected by the spirit of chivalry nor, in his own 
 language, was the worship of the Lady of the Broken 
 Lances so congenial a subject of adoration. This not- 
 withstanding, Count Robert observed that Alexius Com- 
 nenus was a wise and politic prince; his wisdom perhaps 
 too much allied to cunning, but yet aiding him to main- 
 tain with great address that empire over the minds of 
 
 169
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 his subjects which was necessary for their good, and for 
 maintaining his own authority. He therefore resolved 
 to receive with equanimity whatever should be offered 
 by the Emperor, either in civility or in the way of jest, 
 and not again to disturb an understanding which might 
 be of advantage to Christendom, by a quarrel founded 
 upon misconception of terms or misapprehension of 
 manners. To this prudent resolution the Count of Paris 
 adhered during the whole evening; with some difficulty, 
 however, since it was somewhat inconsistent with his 
 own fiery and inquisitive temper, which was equally 
 desirous to know the precise amount of whatever was 
 addressed to him, and to take umbrage at it, should it 
 appear in the least degree offensive, whether so intended 
 or not.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 It was not until after the conquest of Jerusalem that 
 Count Robert of Paris returned to Constantinople, and, 
 with his wife, and such proportion of his followers as the 
 sword and pestilence had left after that bloody warfare, 
 resumed his course to his native kingdom. Upon reach- 
 ing Italy, the first care of the noble count and countess 
 was to celebrate in princely style the marriage of Here- 
 ward and his faithful Bertha, who had added to their 
 other claims upon their master and mistress those ac- 
 quired by Hereward's faithful services in Palestine, and 
 no less by Bertha's affectionate ministry to her lady in 
 Constantinople. 
 
 As to the fate of Alexius Comnenus, it may be read at 
 large in the history of his daughter Anna, who has re- 
 presented him as the hero of many a victory, achieved, 
 says the purple-born, in the third chapter and fifteenth 
 book of her history, sometimes by his arms and some- 
 times by his prudence. 'His boldness alone has gained 
 some battles; at other times his success has been won 
 by stratagem. He has erected the most illustrious of his 
 trophies by confronting danger, by combating like a 
 simple soldier, and throwing himself bareheaded into 
 the thickest of the foe. But there are others,' continues 
 the accomplished lady, * which he gained an opportunity 
 of erecting by assuming the appearance of terror, and 
 even of retreat. In a word, he knew alike how to triumph, 
 either in flight or in pursuit, and remained upright even 
 
 171
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 before those enemies who appeared to have struck him 
 down; resembling the military implement termed the 
 calthrop, which remains always upright in whatever 
 direction it is thrown on the ground.' 
 
 It would be unjust to deprive the Princess of the de- 
 fence she herself makes against the obvious charge of 
 partiality. 
 
 * I must still once more repel the reproach which some 
 bring against me, as if my history was composed merely 
 according to the dictates of the natural love for parents 
 which is engraved in the hearts of children. In truth, it 
 is not the effect of that affection which I bear to mine, 
 but it is the evidence of matter of fact, which obliges me 
 to speak as I have done. Is it not possible that one can 
 have at the same time an affection for the memory of a 
 father and for truth? For myself, I have never directed 
 my attempt to write history otherwise than for the ascer- 
 tainment of the matter of fact. With this purpose, I 
 have taken for my subject the history of a worthy man. 
 Is it just that, by the single accident of his being the 
 author of my birth, his quality of my father ought to form 
 a prejudice against me which would ruin my credit with 
 my readers? I have given, upon other occasions, proofs 
 sufficiently strong of the ardour which I had for the de- 
 fence of my father's interests, which those that know me 
 can never doubt; but, on the present, I have been Hmited 
 by the inviolable fidelity with which I respect the truth, 
 which I should have felt conscience to have veiled, under 
 pretence of serving the renown of my father.'^ 
 
 This much we have deemed it our duty to quote, in 
 justice to the fair historian; we will extract also her de- 
 
 * Alexiad, chap, iii, book xv. 
 172
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 scrip tion of the Emperor's death, and are not unwilling 
 to allow that the character assigned to the Princess by 
 our own Gibbon has in it a great deal of fairness and of 
 truth. 
 
 Notwithstanding her repeated protests of sacrificing 
 rather to the exact and absolute truth than to the mem- 
 ory of her deceased parent, Gibbon remarks truly that, 
 ' instead of the simplicity of style and narrative which 
 wins our belief, an elaborate affectation of rhetoric and 
 science betrays in every page the vanity of a female 
 author. The genuine character of Alexius is lost in a 
 vague constellation of virtues; and the perpetual strain 
 of panegyric and apology awakens our jealousy to ques- 
 tion the veracity of the historian and the merit of the 
 hero. We cannot, however, refuse her judicious and im- 
 portant remark, that the disorders of the times were the 
 misfortune and the glory of Alexius; and that every ca- 
 lamity which can afflict a decHning empire was accumu- 
 lated on his reign by the justice of Heaven and the vices 
 of his predecessors.' ^ 
 
 The Princess accordingly feels the utmost assurance 
 that a number of signs which appeared in heaven and 
 on earth were interpreted by the soothsayers of the day 
 as foreboding the death of the Emperor. By these means, 
 Anna Comnena assigned to her father those indications 
 of consequence which ancient historians represent as nec- 
 essary intimations of the sympathy of nature with the 
 removal of great characters from the world; but she 
 fails not to inform the Christian reader that her father's 
 belief attached to none of these prognostics, and that 
 even on the following remarkable occasion he maintained 
 
 '■ Gibbon's Roman Empire, vol. ix, p. 83, footnote. 
 173
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 his incredulity: — A splendid statue, supposed generally 
 to be a relic of paganism, holding in its hand a golden 
 sceptre, and standing upon a base of porphyry, was over- 
 turned by a tempest, and was generally believed to be 
 an intimation of the death of the Emperor. This, how- 
 ever, he generously repelled. Phidias, he said, and other 
 great sculptors of antiquity, had the talent of imitating 
 the human frame with surprising accuracy; but to sup- 
 pose that the power of foretelling future events was re- 
 posed in these masterpieces of art would be to ascribe to 
 their makers the faculties reserved by the Deity for him- 
 self, when he says, ' It is I who kill and make alive.' Dur- 
 ing his latter days, the Emperor was greatly afflicted 
 with the gout, the nature of which has exercised the wit 
 of many persons of science as well as of Anna Comnena. 
 The poor patient was so much exhausted that, when the 
 Empress was talking of most eloquent persons who 
 should assist in the composition of his history, he said, 
 with a natural contempt of such vanities, ' The passages 
 of my unhappy hfe call rather for tears and lamentation 
 than for the praises you speak of.' 
 
 A species of asthma having come to the assistance of 
 the gout, the remedies of the physicians became as vain 
 as the intercession of the monks and clergy, as well as 
 the alms which were indiscriminately lavished. Two or 
 three deep successive swoons gave ominous warning of 
 the approaching blow ; and at length was terminated the 
 reign and Hfe of Alexius Comnenus — a prince who, with 
 all the faults which may be imputed to him, still pos- 
 sesses a real right, from the purity of his general inten- 
 tions, to be accounted one of the best sovereigns of the 
 Lower Empire. 
 
 174
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 For some time, the historian forgot her pride of liter- 
 ary rank, and, like an ordinary person, burst into tears 
 and shrieks, tore her hair, and defaced her countenance, 
 while the Empress Irene cast from her her princely habits, 
 cut off her hair, changed her purple buskins for black 
 mourning shoes, and her daughter Mary, who had her- 
 self been a widow, took a black robe from one of her own 
 wardrobes, and presented it to her mother. 'Even in the 
 moment when she put it on,' says Anna Comnena, 'the 
 Emperor gave up the ghost, and in that moment the sun 
 of my life set.' 
 
 We shall not pursue her lamentations farther. She up- 
 braids herself that, after the death of her father, that 
 light of the world, she had also survived Irene, the de- 
 light alike of the East and of the West, and survived her 
 husband also. ' I am indignant,' she said, * that my soul, 
 suffering under such torrents of misfortune, should still 
 deign to animate my body. Have I not,' said she, 'been 
 more hard and unfeeling than the rocks themselves; and 
 is it not just that one who could survive such a father 
 and mother, and such a husband, should be subjected to 
 the influence of so much calamity? But let me finish this 
 history, rather than any longer fatigue my readers with 
 my unavailing and tragical lamentation.' 
 
 Having thus concluded her history, she adds the fol- 
 lowing two lines: — 
 
 The learned Comnena lays her pen aside, 
 What time her subject and her father died.^ 
 
 These quotations will probably give the readers as 
 much as they wish to know of the real character of this 
 
 * Ari^ev onov ^loToio 'AAef los 6 KofjLvrjvot 
 "EvBa (taAr) ^uyarjjp A^fcv 'AAe^idfot. 
 
 175
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 imperial historian. Fewer words will suffice to dispose 
 of the other parties who have been selected from her 
 pages, as persons in the foregoing drama. 
 
 There is very little doubt that the Count Robert of 
 Paris, whose audacity in seating himself upon the throne 
 of the Emperor gives a peculiar interest to his character, 
 was in fact a person of the highest rank; being no other, 
 as has been conjectured by the learned Ducange, than 
 an ancestor of the house of Bourbon, which has so long 
 given kings to France. He was a successor, it has been 
 conceived, of the Counts of Paris, by whom the city was 
 vahantly defended against the Normans, and an ances- 
 tor of Hugh Capet. There are several hypotheses upon 
 this subject, deriving the well-known Hugh Capet, first 
 from the family of Saxony; secondly, from St. Arnoul, 
 afterwards Bishop of Altex; third, from Nibilong; 
 fourth, from the Duke of Bavaria; and fifth, from a 
 natural son of the Emperor Charlemagne. Variously 
 placed, but in each of these contested pedigrees, appears 
 this Robert, surnamed the Strong, who was count of 
 that district of which Paris was the capital, most pecul- 
 iarly styled the County, or Isle of France. Anna Com- 
 nena, who has recorded the bold usurpation of the 
 Emperor's seat by this haughty chieftain, has also ac- 
 quainted us with his receiving a severe, if not a mortal, 
 wound at the battle of Dorylaeum, owing to his neglect- 
 ing the warlike instructions with which her father had 
 favoured him on the subject of the Turkish wars. The 
 antiquary who is disposed to investigate this subject may 
 consult the late Lord Ashburnham's elaborate ' Geneal- 
 ogy of the Royal House of France ' ; also a note of Du- 
 
 176
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 cange's on the Princess's history (p. 362), arguing for the 
 identity of her 'Robert of Paris, a haughty barbarian,' 
 with the 'Robert called the Strong,' mentioned as an an- 
 cestor of Hugh Capet. Gibbon (vol. xi, p. 52) may also 
 be consulted. The French antiquary and the English 
 historian seem aHke disposed to find the church called in 
 the tale that of the Lady of the Broken Lances in that 
 dedicated to St. Drusas, or Drosin, of Soissons, who was 
 supposed to have pecuHar influence on the issue of com- 
 bats, and to be in the habit of determining them in favour 
 of such champions as spent the night preceding at his 
 shrine. 
 
 In consideration of the sex of one of the parties con- 
 cerned, the Author has selected Our Lady of the Broken 
 Lances as a more appropriate patroness than St. Drusas 
 himself for the amazons, who were not uncommon in 
 that age. Gaita, for example, the wife of Robert Guis- 
 card, a redoubted hero, and the parent of a most heroic 
 race of sons, was herself an amazon, fought in the fore- 
 most ranks of the Normans, and is repeatedly commem- 
 orated by our imperial historian, Anna Comnena. 
 
 The reader can easily conceive to himself that Robert 
 of Paris distinguished himself among his brethren-at- 
 arms and fellow-crusaders. His fame resounded from 
 the walls of Antioch; but, at the battle of Doryla^um, he 
 was so desperately wounded as to be disabled from tak- 
 ing a part in the grandest scene of the expedition. His 
 heroic countess, however, enjoyed the great satisfaction 
 of mounting the walls of Jerusalem, and in so far dis- 
 charging her own vows and those of her husband. This 
 was the more fortunate, as the sentence of the physi- 
 cians pronounced that the wounds of the Count had been 
 44 177
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 inflicted by a poisoned weapon, and that complete re- 
 covery was only to be hoped for by having recourse to 
 his native air. After some time spent in the vain hope of 
 averting by patience this unpleasant alternative, Count 
 Robert subjected himself to necessity, or what was rep- 
 resented as such, and, with his wife and the faithful 
 Hereward, and all others of his followers who had been 
 like himself disabled from combat, took the way to 
 Europe by sea. 
 
 A light galley, procured at a high rate, conducted 
 them safely to Venice, and from that then glorious city 
 the moderate portion of spoil which had fallen to the 
 Count's share among the conquerors of Palestine served 
 to convey them to his own dominions, which, more for- 
 tunate than those of most of his fellow-pilgrims, had 
 been left uninjured by their neighbours during the time 
 of their proprietor's absence on the Crusade. The report 
 that the Count had lost his health, and the power of con- 
 tinuing his homage to the Lady of the Broken Lances, 
 brought upon him the hostiUties of one or two ambitious 
 or envious neighbours, whose covetousness was, however, 
 sufficiently repressed by the brave resistance of the Coun- 
 tess and the resolute Hereward. Less than a twelve- 
 month was required to restore the Count of Paris to his 
 full health, and to render him, as formerly, the assured 
 protector of his own vassals and the subject in whom the 
 possessors of the French throne reposed the utmost con- 
 fidence. This latter capacity enabled Count Robert to 
 discharge his debt towards Hereward in a manner as 
 ample as he could have hoped or expected. Being now 
 respected alike for his wisdom and his sagacity, as much 
 as he always was for his intrepidity and his character as 
 
 178
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS 
 
 a successful crusader, he was repeatedly employed by 
 the court of France in settling the troublesome and intri- 
 cate affairs in which the Norman possessions of the Eng- 
 lish crown involved the rival nations. William Rufus 
 was not insensible to this merit, nor blind to the impor- 
 tance of gaining his good- will ; and finding out his anxiety 
 that Hereward should be restored to the land of his fa- 
 thers, he took, or made, an opportunity, by the forfeiture 
 of some rebellious noble, of conferring upon our Varan- 
 gian a large district adjacent to the New Forest, being 
 part of the scenes which his father chiefly frequented, 
 and where it is said the descendants of the valiant squire 
 and his Bertha have subsisted for many a long year, sur- 
 viving turns of time and chance, which are in general 
 fatal to the continuance of more distinguished families.
 
 CHRONICLES OF THE CANON- 
 GATE 
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S PREFACE 
 
 Indite, my muse, indite, 
 
 Subpcena'd is thy lyre, 
 The praises to requite 
 
 Which rules of court require. 
 
 Probationary Odes. 
 
 The concluding a literary undertaking, in whole or in 
 part, is, to the inexperienced at least, attended with an 
 irritating titillation, like that which attends on the heal- 
 ing of a wound — a prurient impatience, in short, to 
 know what the world in general, and friends in particu- 
 lar, will say to our labours. Some authors, I am told, 
 profess an oyster-like indifference upon this subject; for 
 my own part, I hardly believe in their sincerity. Others 
 may acquire it from habit; but in my poor opinion a neo- 
 phyte like myself must be for a long time incapable of 
 such sang froid. 
 
 Frankly, I was ashamed to feel how childishly I felt 
 on the occasion. No person could have said prettier 
 things than myself upon the importance of stoicism con- 
 cerning the opinion of others, when their applause or 
 censure refers to literary character only; and I had deter- 
 mined to lay my work before the public with the same 
 unconcern with which the ostrich lays her eggs in the 
 sand, giving herself no further trouble concerning the 
 incubation, but leaving to the atmosphere to bring forth 
 the young, or otherwise, as the climate shall serve. But, 
 though an ostrich in theory, I became in practice a poor 
 hen, who has no sooner made her deposit but she runs 
 
 183
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 cackling about, to call the attention of every one to the 
 wonderful work which she has performed. 
 
 As soon as I became possessed of my first volume, 
 neatly stitched up and boarded, my sense of the neces- 
 sity of communicating with some one became ungovern- 
 able. Janet was inexorable, and seemed already to have 
 tired of my literary confidence ; for whenever I drew near 
 the subject, after evading it as long as she could, she 
 made, under some pretext or other, a bodily retreat to 
 the kitchen or the cock-loft, her own pecuHar and invio- 
 late domains. My publisher would have been a natural 
 resource; but he understands his business too well, and 
 follows it too closely, to desire to enter into hterary dis- 
 cussions, wisely considering that he who has to sell books 
 has seldom leisure to read them. Then my acquaintance, 
 now that I have lost Mrs. Bethune Baliol, are of that 
 distant and accidental kind to whom I had not face 
 enough to communicate the nature of my uneasiness, 
 and who probably would only have laughed at me had I 
 made any attempt to interest them in my labours. 
 
 Reduced thus to a sort of despair, I thought of my 
 friend and man of business, Mr. Fairscribe. His habits, 
 it was true, were not likely to render him indulgent to 
 light literature, and, indeed, I had more than once no- 
 ticed his daughters, and especially my little songstress, 
 whip into her reticule what looked very like a circulating 
 library volume, as soon as her father entered the room. 
 Still, he was not only my assured, but almost my only, 
 friend, and I had httle doubt that he would take an 
 interest in the volume for the sake of the author which 
 the work itself might fail to inspire. I sent him, there- 
 fore, the book, carefully sealed up, with an intimation 
 
 184
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S PREFACE 
 
 that I requested the favour of his opinion upon the con- 
 tents, of which I affected to talk in the depreciatory style 
 which calls for point-blank contradiction, if your corre- 
 spondent possess a grain of civility. 
 
 This communication took place on a Monday, and I 
 daily expected (what I was ashamed to anticipate by 
 volunteering my presence, however sure of a welcome) 
 an invitation to eat an egg, as was my friend's favourite 
 phrase, or a card to drink tea with Misses Fairscribe, 
 or a provocation to breakfast, at least, with my hospi- 
 table friend and benefactor and to talk over the contents 
 of my inclosure. But the hours and days passed on from 
 Monday till Saturday, and I had no acknowledgment 
 whatever that my packet had reached its destination. 
 
 'This is very unlike my good friend's punctuality,' 
 thought I; and having again and again vexed James, 
 my male attendant, by a close examination concerning 
 the time, place, and delivery, I had only to strain my 
 imagination to conceive reasons for my friend's silence. 
 Sometimes I thought that his opinion of the work had 
 proved so unfavourable, that he was averse to hurt my 
 feelings by communicating it; sometimes that, escaping 
 his hands to whom it was destined, it had found its way 
 into his writing-chamber, and was become the subject of 
 criticism to his smart clerks and conceited apprentices. 
 ' 'Sdcath!' thought I, 'if I were sure of this, I would — ' 
 
 'And what would you do?' said Reason, after a few 
 moments' reflection. 'You are ambitious of introducing 
 your book into every writing and reading chamber in 
 Edinburgh, and yet you take fire at the thoughts of its 
 being criticised by Mr. Fairscribe's young people! Be a 
 little consistent, for shame.' 
 
 185
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'I will be consistent,' said I, doggedly; 'but for all 
 that, I will call on Mr. Fairscribe this evening.' 
 
 I hastened my dinner, donned my greatcoat, for the 
 evening threatened rain, and went to Mr. Fairscribe's 
 house. The old domestic opened the door cautiously, 
 and before I asked the question, said, 'Mr. Fairscribe is 
 at home, sir; but it is Sunday night.' Recognising, how- 
 ever, my face and voice, he opened the door wider, 
 admitted me, and conducted me to the parlour, where I 
 found Mr. Fairscribe and the rest of his family engaged 
 in listening to a sermon by the late Mr. Walker of Edin- 
 burgh,^ which was read by Miss Catherine with unusual 
 distinctness, simplicity, and judgment. Welcomed as a 
 friend of the house, I had nothing for it but to take my 
 seat quietly, and, making a virtue of necessity, endear 
 vour to derive my share of the benefit arising from an 
 excellent sermon. But I am afraid Mr. Walker's force of 
 logic and precision of expression were somewhat lost 
 upon me. I was sensible I had chosen an improper time 
 to disturb Mr. Fairscribe, and when the discourse was 
 ended I rose to take my leave, somewhat hastily, I 
 believe. 'A cup of tea, Mr. Croftangry?' said the young 
 lady. 'You will wait and take part of a Presbyterian 
 supper?' said Mr. Fairscribe. 'Nine o'clock — I make 
 it a point of keeping my father's hours on Sunday at 
 
 e'en. Perhaps Dr. (naming an excellent clergyman) 
 
 may look in.' 
 
 I made my apology for declining his invitation; and I 
 fancy my unexpected appearance and hasty retreat had 
 rather surprised my friend, since, instead of accompany- 
 
 * Robert Walker, the colleague and rival of Dr. Hugh Blair, in St. 
 Giles's Church, Edinburgh. 
 
 i86
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S PREFACE 
 
 ing me to the door, he conducted me into his own apart- 
 ment. 
 
 'What is the matter,' he said, *Mr. Croftangry? This 
 is not a night for secular business, but if anything sudden 
 or extraordinary has happened — ' 
 
 'Nothing in the world,' said I, forcing myself upon 
 confession, as the best way of clearing myself out of the 
 scrape; 'only — only I sent you a little parcel, and as 
 you are so regular in acknowledging letters and commu- 
 nications, I — I thought it might have miscarried — 
 that's all.' 
 
 My friend laughed heartily, as if he saw into and 
 enjoyed my motives and my confusion. 'Safe! It came 
 safe enough,' he said. 'The wind of the world always 
 blows its vanities into haven. But this is the end of the 
 session, when I have little time to read anything printed 
 except Inner House papers; yet if you will take your kail 
 with us next Saturday, I will glance over your work, 
 though I am sure I am no competent judge of such 
 matters.' 
 
 With this promise I was fain to take my leave, not 
 without half persuading myself that, if once the phleg- 
 matic lawyer began my lucubrations, he would not be 
 able to rise from them till he had finished the perusal, 
 nor to endure an interval betwixt his reading the last 
 page and requesting an interview with the author. 
 
 No such marks of impatience displayed themselves. 
 Time, blunt or keen, as my friend Joanna says, swift or 
 leisurely, held his course; and on the appointed Saturday 
 I was at the door precisely as it struck four. The dinner 
 hour, indeed, was five punctually, but what did I know 
 but my friend might want half an hour's conversation 
 
 187
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 with me before that time? I was ushered into an empty 
 drawing-room, and, from a needle-book and work-bas- 
 ket, hastily abandoned, I had some reason to think I 
 interrupted my little friend, Miss Katie, in some domes- 
 tic labour more praiseworthy than elegant. In this criti- 
 cal age fihal piety must hide herself in a closet if she 
 has a mind to darn her father's linen. 
 
 Shortly after I was the more fully convinced that I 
 had been too early an intruder, when a wench came to 
 fetch away the basket, and recommend to my courtesies 
 a red and green gentleman in a cage, who answered all 
 my advances by croaking out, ' You 're a fool — you 're a 
 fool, I tell you ! ' until, upon my word, I began to think 
 the creature was in the right. At last my friend arrived a 
 little overheated. He had been taking a turn at golf to 
 prepare him for 'colloquy sublime.' And, wherefore not, 
 since the game, with its variety of odds, lengths, bun- 
 kers, tee'd balls, and so on, may be no inadequate repre- 
 sentation of the hazards attending literary pursuits? In 
 particular, those formidable buffets which make one 
 ball spin through the air Uke a rifle-shot, and strike 
 another down into the very earth it is placed upon, by 
 the maladroitness or the mahcious purpose of the player 
 ■ — what are they but parallels to the favourable or 
 depreciating notices of the reviewers, who play at golf 
 with the pubhcations of the season, even as Altisidora, 
 in her approach to the gates of the infernal regions, saw 
 the devils playing at racket with the new books of Ccr- 
 vantes's days. 
 
 Well, every hour has its end. Five o'clock came, and 
 my friend, with his daughters and his handsome young 
 son, who, though fairly buckled to the desk, is every now
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S PREFACE 
 
 and then looking over his shoulder at a smart uniform, 
 set seriously about satisfying the corporeal wants of na- 
 ture; while I, stimulated by a nobler appetite after fame, 
 wished that the touch of a magic wand could, without 
 all the ceremony of picking and choosing, carving and 
 slicing, masticating and swallowing, have transported a 
 quantum sufficit of the good things on my friend's hos- 
 pitable board into the stomachs of those who surrounded 
 it, to be there at leisure converted into chyle, while their 
 thoughts were turned on higher matters. At length all 
 was over. But the young ladies sat still and talked of the 
 music of The Freischiitz, for nothing else was then 
 thought of : so we discussed the wild hunters' song, and 
 the tame hunters' song, etc., etc., in all which my young 
 friends were quite at home. Luckily for me, all this 
 horning and hooping drew on some allusion to the 
 Seventh Hussars, which gallant regiment, I observe, is a 
 more favourite theme with both Miss Catherine and her 
 brother than with my old friend, who presently looked 
 at his watch, and said something significantly to Mr. 
 James about office hours. The youth got up with the 
 ease of a youngster that would be thought a man of 
 fashion rather than of business, and endeavoured, with 
 some success, to walk out of the room as if the locomo- 
 tion was entirely voluntary; Miss Catherine and her 
 sisters left us at the same time, and now, thought I, my 
 trial comes on. 
 
 Reader, did you ever, in the course of your life, cheat 
 the courts of justice and lawyers by agreeing to refer a 
 dubious and important question to the decision of a 
 mutual friend? If so, you may have remarked the rela- 
 tive change which the arbiter undergoes in your cstima- 
 
 189
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 tion, when raised, though by your own free choice, from 
 an ordinary acquaintance, whose opinions were of as 
 little consequence to you as yours to him, into a superior 
 personage, on whose decision your fate must depend pro 
 tanto, as my friend Mr. Fairscribe would say. His looks 
 assume a mysterious, if not a minatory, expression; his 
 hat has a loftier air, and his wig, if he wears one, a 
 more formidable buckle. 
 
 I felt, accordingly, that my good friend Fairscribe, on 
 the present occasion, had acquired something of a 
 similar increase of consequence. But a week since, he 
 had, in my opinion, been indeed an excellent-meaning 
 man, perfectly competent to everything within his own 
 profession, but immured at the same time among its 
 forms and technicalities, and as incapable of judging of 
 matters of taste as any mighty Goth whatsoever, of or 
 belonging to the ancient Senate House of Scotland. But 
 what of that? I had made him my judge by my own 
 election; and I have often observed that an idea of 
 declining such a reference on account of his own con- 
 sciousness of incompetency is, as it perhaps ought to be, 
 the last which occurs to the referee himself. He that has 
 a Uterary work subjected to his judgment by the author 
 immediately throws his mind into a critical attitude, 
 though the subject be one which he never before thought 
 of. No doubt the author is well quahfied to select his 
 own judge, and why should the arbiter whom he has 
 chosen doubt his own talents for condemnation or 
 acquittal, since he has been doubtless picked out by his 
 friend from his indubitable reliance on their competence? 
 Surely the man who wrote the production is likely to 
 know the person best qualified to judge of it. 
 
 190
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S PREFACE 
 
 Whilst these thoughts crossed my brain, I kept my 
 eyes fixed on my good friend, whose motions appeared 
 unusually tardy to me, while he ordered a bottle of par- 
 ticular claret, decanted it with scrupulous accuracy with 
 his own hand, caused his old domestic to bring a saucer 
 of olives, and chips of toasted bread, and thus, on hos- 
 pitable thoughts intent, seemed to me to adjourn the 
 discussion which I longed to bring on, yet feared to 
 precipitate. 
 
 'He is dissatisfied,' thought I, 'and is ashamed to 
 show it — afraid, doubtless, of hurting my feeUngs. 
 What had I to do to talk to him about anything save 
 charters and sasines? Stay, he is going to begin.' 
 
 'We are old fellows now, Mr. Croftangry,' said my 
 landlord; 'scarcely so fit to take a poor quart of claret 
 between us as we would have been in better days to 
 take a pint, in the old Scottish Hberal acceptation of the 
 phrase. Maybe you would have liked me to have kept 
 James to help us. But if it is not on a holyday or so, I 
 think it is best he should observe ofiice hours.' 
 
 Here the discourse was about to fall. I relieved it by 
 saying, Mr. James was at the happy time of life when he 
 had better things to do than to sit over the bottle. 'I 
 suppose,' said I, 'your son is a reader.' 
 
 ' Um — yes — James may be called a reader in a sense ; 
 but I doubt there is little solid in his studies — poetry 
 and plays, Mr. Croftangry, all nonsense; they set his 
 head a-gadding after the army, when he should be mind- 
 ing his business.' 
 
 'I suppose, then, that romances do not find much 
 more grace in your eyes than dramatic and poetical 
 compositions? ' 
 
 191
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 *Deil a bit — deil a bit, Mr. Croftangry, nor historical 
 productions either. There is too much fighting in his- 
 tory, as if men only were brought into this world to send 
 one another out of it. It nourishes false notions of our 
 being, and chief and proper end, Mr. Croftangry.' 
 
 Still all this was general, and I became determined to 
 bring our discourse to a focus. ' I am afraid, then, I have 
 done very ill to trouble you with my idle manuscripts, 
 Mr. Fairscribe; but you must do me the justice to remem- 
 ber that I had nothing better to do than to amuse myself 
 by writing the sheets I put into your hands the other 
 day. I may truly plead — 
 
 I left no calling for this idle trade.' 
 
 *I cry your mercy, Mr. Croftangry,' said my old 
 friend, suddenly recollecting; *yes — yes, I have been 
 very rude; but I had forgotten entirely that you had 
 taken a spell yourself at that idle man's trade.' 
 
 'I suppose,' replied I, 'you, on your side, have been 
 too busy a man to look at my poor Chronicles ? ' 
 
 'No — no,' said my friend, *I am not so bad as that 
 neither. I have read them bit by bit, just as I could get 
 a moment's time, and I believe I shall very soon get 
 through them.' 
 
 ' Well, my good friend? ' said I, interrogatively. 
 
 And 'Well, Mr. Croftangry,' cried he, 'I really think 
 you have got over the ground very tolerably well. I have 
 noted down here two or three bits of things, which I 
 presume to be errors of the press, otherwise it might be 
 alleged, perhaps, that you did not fully pay that atten- 
 tion to the grammatical rules which one would desire to 
 see rigidly observed.' 
 
 192
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S. PREFACE 
 
 I looked at my friend's notes, which, in fact, showed 
 that, in one or two grossly obvious passages, I had left 
 uncorrected such solecisms in grammar. 
 
 'Well — well, I own my fault; but, setting apart these 
 casual errors, how do you like the matter and the manner 
 of what I have been writing, Mr. Fairscribe?' 
 
 'Why,' said my friend, pausing, with more grave and 
 important hesitation than I thanked him for, 'there is 
 not much to be said against the manner. The style is 
 terse and intelligible, Mr. Croftangry — very intelligi- 
 ble ; and that I consider as the first point in everything 
 that is intended to be understood. There are, indeed, 
 here and there some flights and fancies, which I compre- 
 hended with difficulty ; but I got to your meaning at last. 
 There are people that are Hke ponies : their judgments 
 cannot go fast, but they go sure.' 
 
 'That is a pretty clear proposition, my friend; but 
 then how did you like the meaning when you did get at 
 it? or was that, like some ponies, too difficult to catch, 
 and, when catched, not worth the trouble?' 
 
 * I am far from saying that, my dear sir, in respect it 
 would be downright uncivil; but since you ask my opin- 
 ion, I wish you could have thought about something 
 more appertaining to civil policy than all this bloody 
 work about shooting and dirking, and downright hang- 
 ing. I am told it was the Germans who first brought in 
 such a practice of choosing their heroes out of the Por- 
 teous RoU;^ but, by my faith, we are hke to be upsides 
 with them. The first was, as I am credibly informed, 
 Mr. Scolar, as they call him — a scholar-Hke piece of 
 work he has made of it, with his robbers and thieves.' 
 * List of criminal indictments, so termed in Scotland. 
 a 193
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS ' 
 
 'Schiller,' said I, 'my dear sir — let it be Schiller.' 
 
 'Shiller, or what you like/ said Mr. Fairscribe. 'I 
 found the book where I wish I had found a better one, 
 and that is, in Kate's work-basket. I sat down, and, Hke 
 an old fool, began to read ; but there, I grant, you have 
 the better of Shiller, Mr. Croftangry.' 
 
 ' I should be glad, my dear sir, that you really think I 
 have approached that admirable author; even your 
 friendly partiality ought not to talk of my having excelled 
 him.' 
 
 ' But I do say you have excelled him, Mr. Croftangry, 
 in a most material particular. For surely a book of 
 amusement should be something that one can take up 
 and lay down at pleasure; and I can say justly, I was 
 never at the least loss to put aside these sheets of yours 
 when business came in the way. But, faith, this Shiller, 
 sir, does not let you off so easily. I forgot one appoint- 
 ment on particular business, and I wilfully broke through 
 another, that I might stay at home and finish his con- 
 founded book, which, after all, is about two brothers, 
 the greatest rascals I ever heard of. The one, sir, goes 
 near to murder his own father, and the other — which 
 you would think still stranger — sets about to debauch 
 his own wife.' 
 
 *I find, then, Mr. Fairscribe, that you have no taste 
 for the romance of real life, no pleasure in contemplating 
 those spirit-rousing impulses which force men of fiery 
 passions upon great crimes and great virtues?' 
 
 'Why, as to that, I am not just so sure. But then, to 
 mend the matter,' continued the critic, 'you have 
 brought in Highlanders into every story, as if you were 
 going back again, velis et remis, into the old days of 
 
 194
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S PREFACE 
 
 Jacobitism. I must speak my plain mind, Mr. Croft- 
 angry. I cannot tell what innovations in kirk and state 
 may now be proposed, but our fathers were friends to 
 both, as they were settled at the glorious Revolution, 
 and liked a tartan plaid as little as they did a white 
 surplice. I wish to Heaven all this tartan fever bode well 
 to the Protestant succession and the Kirk of Scotland.' 
 
 'Both too well settled, I hope, in the minds of the 
 subject,' said I, 'to be affected by old remembrances, on 
 which we look back as on the portraits of our ancestors, 
 without recollecting, while we gaze on them, any of the 
 feuds by which the originals were animated while aUve. 
 But most happy should I be to light upon any topic to 
 supply the place of the Highlands, Mr. Fairscribe. I have 
 been just reflecting that the theme is becoming a little 
 exhausted, and your experience may perhaps supply — ' 
 
 ' Ha — ha — ha, my experience supply ! ' interrupted 
 Mr. Fairscribe, with a laugh of derision. 'Why, you 
 might as well ask my son James's experience to supply a 
 case about thirlage. No — no, my good friend, I have 
 lived by the law and in the law all my life; and when you 
 seek the impulses that make soldiers desert and shoot 
 their sergeants and corporals, and Highland drovers dirk 
 English graziers, to prove themselves men of fiery pas- 
 sions, it is not to a man like me you should come. I 
 could tell you some tricks of my own trade, perhaps, and 
 a queer story or two of estates that have been lost and 
 recovered. But, to tell you the truth, I think you might 
 do with your Muse of Fiction, as you call her, as many 
 an honest man does with his own sons in flesh and blood.' 
 
 'And how is that, my dear sir?' 
 
 ' Send her to India, to be sure. That is the true place 
 
 195
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 for a Scot to thrive in; and if you carry your story fifty 
 years back, as there is nothing to hinder you, you will 
 find as much shooting and stabbing there as ever was 
 in the wild Highlands. If you want rogues, as they are 
 so much in fashion with you, you have that gallant caste 
 of adventurers who laid down their consciences at the 
 Cape of Good Hope as they went out to India, and forgot 
 to take them up again when they returned. Then, for 
 great exploits, you have in the old history of India, 
 before Europeans were numerous there, the most won- 
 derful deeds, done by the least possible means, that per- 
 haps the annals of the world can afford.' 
 
 *I know it,' said I, kindling at the ideas his speech 
 inspired. * I remember, in the delightful pages of Orme, 
 the interest which mingles in his narratives, from the 
 very small number of English which are engaged. Each 
 ofiicer of a regiment becomes known to you by name — 
 nay, the non-commissioned officers and privates acquire 
 an individual share of interest. They are distinguished 
 among the natives like the Spaniards among the Mexi- 
 cans. What do I say? They are like Homer's demigods 
 among the warring mortals. Men Hke Clive and Cail- 
 liaud influenced great events like Jove himself. Inferior 
 officers are hke Mars or Neptune, and the sergeants and 
 corporals might well pass for demigods. Then the various 
 rehgious costumes, habits, and manners of the people of 
 Hindostan — the patient Hindoo, the warhke Rajah- 
 poot, the haughty Moslemah, the savage and vindictive 
 Malay. Glorious and unbounded subjects! The only 
 objection is, that I have never been there, and know 
 nothing at all about them.' 
 
 'Nonsense, my good friend. You will tell us about
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S PREFACE 
 
 them all the better that you know nothing of what you 
 are saying. And come, we '11 finish the bottle, and when 
 Katie — her sisters go to the assembly — has given us 
 tea, she will tell you the outline of the story of poor 
 Menie Gray, whose picture you will see in the drawing- 
 room, a distant relation of my father's, who had, how- 
 ever, a handsome part of cousin Menie's succession. 
 There are none living that can be hurt by the story now, 
 though it was thought best to smother it up at the time, 
 as indeed even the whispers about it led poor cousin 
 Menie to live very retired. I mind her well when a child. 
 There was something very gentle, but rather tiresome, 
 about poor cousin Menie.' 
 
 When we came into the drawing-room, my friend 
 pointed to a picture which I had before noticed, without, 
 however, its having attracted more than a passing look ; 
 now I regarded it with more attention. It was one of 
 those portraits of the middle of the eighteenth century, 
 in which artists endeavoured to conquer the stiffness of 
 hoops and brocades, by throwing a fancy drapery around 
 the figure, with loose folds hke a mantle or dressing- 
 gown, the stays, however, being retained, and the bosom 
 displayed in a manner which shows that our mothers, 
 like their daughters, were as Hberal of their charms as 
 the nature of their dress might permit. To this, the well- 
 known style of the period, the features and form of the 
 individual added, at first sight, httle interest. It repre- 
 sented a handsome woman of about thirty, her hair 
 wound simply about her head, her features regular, and 
 her complexion fair. But on looking more closely, espe- 
 cially after having had a hint that the original had been 
 the heroine of a tale, I could observe a melancholy sweet- 
 
 197
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ness in the countenance, that seemed to speak of woes 
 endured and injuries sustained with that resignation 
 which women can and do sometimes display under the 
 insults and ingratitude of those on whom they have 
 bestowed their affections. 
 
 'Yes, she was an excellent and an ill-used woman,' 
 said Mr. Fairscribe, his eye fixed like mine on the pic- 
 ture. * She left our family not less, I dare say, than five 
 thousand pounds, and I believe she died worth four 
 times that sum; but it was divided among the nearest 
 of kin, which was all fair.' 
 
 'But her history, Mr. Fairscribe,' said I; *to judge 
 from her look, it must have been a melancholy one.' 
 
 'You may say that, Mr. Croftangry. Melancholy 
 enough, and extraordinary enough too. But,' added he, 
 swallowing in haste a cup of the tea which was presented 
 to him, 'I must away to my business: we cannot be 
 gowffing all the morning, and telKng old stories all the 
 afternoon. Katie knows all the outs and the ins of cousin 
 Menie's adventures as well as I do, and when she has 
 given you the particulars, then I am at your service, to 
 condescend more articulately upon dates or particulars.' 
 
 Well, here was I, a gay old bachelor, left to hear a love 
 tale from my young friend Katie Fairscribe, who, when 
 she is not surrounded by a bevy of gallants, at which 
 time, to my thinking, she shows less to advantage, is as 
 pretty, well-behaved, and unaffected a girl as you see 
 tripping the new walks of Princes Street or Heriot Row. 
 Old bachelorship so decided as mine has its privileges 
 in such a tete-d-tete, providing you are, or can seem for 
 the time, perfectly good-humoured and attentive, and 
 do not ape the manners of your younger years, in 
 
 198
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S PREFACE 
 
 attempting which you will only make yourself ridicu- 
 lous. I don't pretend to be so indifferent to the company 
 of a pretty young woman as was desired by the poet, 
 who wished to sit beside his mistress — 
 
 As unconcern'd, as when 
 Her infant beauty could beget 
 Nor happiness nor pain. 
 
 On the contrary, I can look on beauty and innocence as 
 something of which I know and esteem the value, with- 
 out the desire or hope to make them my own. A young 
 lady can afford to talk with an old stager like me without 
 either artifice or affectation; and we may maintain a 
 species of friendship, the more tender, perhaps, because 
 we are of different sexes, yet with which that distinction 
 has very little to do. 
 
 Now, I hear my wisest and most critical neighbour 
 remark, * Mr. Crof tangry is in the way of doing a f oohsh 
 thing. He is well to pass — Old Fairscribe knows to a 
 penny what he is worth, and Miss Katie, with all her airs, 
 may like the old brass that buys the new pan. I thought 
 Mr. Crof tangry was looking very cadgy when he came in 
 to play a rubber with us last night. Poor gentleman, I am 
 sure I should be sorry to see him make a fool of himself.' 
 
 Spare your compassion, dear madam, there is not the 
 least danger. The heaux yeux de ma cassette are not bril- 
 liant enough to make amends for the spectacles which 
 must supply the dimness of my own. I am a little deaf 
 too, as you know to your sorrow when we are partners; 
 and if I could get a nymph to marry me with all these 
 imperfections, who the deuce would marry Janet 
 M'Evoy? and from Janet M'Evoy Chrystal Croftangry 
 will not part. 
 
 199
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Miss Katie Fairscribe gave me the tale of Menie Gray 
 with much taste and simplicity, not attempting to sup- 
 press the feelings, whether of grief or resentment, which 
 justly and naturally arose from the circumstances of the 
 tale. Her father afterwards confirmed the principal out- 
 lines of the story, and furnished me with some additional 
 circumstances, which Miss Katie had suppressed or for- 
 gotten. Indeed, I have learned on this occasion what 
 old Lintot meant when he told Pope that he used to 
 propitiate the critics of importance, when he had a work 
 in the press, by now and then letting them see a sheet 
 of the blotted proof, or a few leaves of the original manu- 
 script. Our mystery of authorship hath something about 
 it so fascinating, that if you admit anyone, however little 
 he may previously have been disposed to such studies, 
 into your confidence, you will find that he considers 
 himself as a party interested, and, if success follows, will 
 think himself entitled to no inconsiderable share of the 
 praise. 
 
 The reader has seen that no one could have been 
 naturally less interested than was my excellent friend 
 Fairscribe in my lucubrations, when I first consulted him 
 on the subject; but since he has contributed a subject to 
 the work, he has become a most zealous coadjutor; and, 
 half-ashamed, I believe, yet half-proud, of the literary 
 stock-company in which he has got a share, he never 
 meets me without jogging my elbow, and dropping some 
 mysterious hints, as, 'I am saying, when will you give 
 us any more of yon?' or, ' Yon's not a bad narrative — 
 I like yon.' 
 
 Pray Heaven the reader may be of his opinion.
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 The tale of The Surgeon's Daughter formed part of the 
 Second ^ Series of Chronicles of the Canongate, published 
 in 1827; but has been separated from the stories of The 
 Highland Widow, etc., which it originally accompanied, 
 and deferred to the close of this collection, for reasons 
 which printers and publishers will understand, and 
 which would hardly interest the general reader. 
 
 The Author has nothing to say now in reference to this 
 little novel, but that the principal incident on which it 
 turns was narrated to him one morning at breakfast by 
 his worthy friend, Mr. Train, of Castle Douglas, in 
 Galloway, whose kind assistance he has so often had 
 occasion to acknowledge in the course of these prefaces; 
 and that the miUtary friend who is alluded to as having 
 furnished him with some information as to Eastern mat- 
 ters was Colonel James Ferguson of Huntly Burn, one 
 of the sons of the venerable historian and philosopher of 
 that name, which name he took the liberty of concealing 
 under its Gaelic form of MacErries. 
 
 W. S. 
 
 Abbotsford, Sept. 1831. 
 
 * Evidently a misprint for 'First.' 
 
 MA i^RSAM Sl^iE COLLEai
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 When fainting Nature call'd for aid, 
 
 And hovering Death prepared the blow, 
 His vigorous remedy display'd 
 
 The power of Art without the show. 
 In Misery's darkest caverns known. 
 
 His useful care was ever nigh, 
 Where hopeless Anguish pour'd his groan, 
 
 And lonely Want retired to die; 
 No summons mock'd by cold delay. 
 
 No petty gains disclaim'd by pride, 
 The modest wants of every day 
 
 The toil of every day supplied. 
 
 Samuel Johnson. 
 
 The exquisitely beautiful portrait which the Rambler 
 has painted of his friend Levett well describes Gideon 
 Gray and many other village doctors, from whom Scot- 
 land reaps more benefit, and to whom she is perhaps 
 more ungrateful, than to any other class of men, except- 
 ing her schoolmasters. 
 
 Such a rural man of medicine is usually the inhabitant 
 of some petty borough or village, which forms the cen- 
 tral point of his practice. But, besides attending to 
 such cases as the village may afford, he is day and night 
 at the service of every one who may command his assist- 
 ance within a circle of forty miles in diameter, untrav- 
 ersed by roads in many directions, and including moors, 
 mountains, rivers, and lakes. For late and dangerous 
 journeys through an inaccessible country, for services 
 of the most essential kind, rendered at the expense, or 
 
 203
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 risk at least, of his own health and life, the Scottish vil- 
 lage doctor receives at best a very moderate recompense, 
 often one which is totally inadequate, and very fre- 
 quently none whatsoever. He has none of the ample 
 resources proper to the brothers of the profession in an 
 English town. The burgesses of a Scottish borough are 
 rendered, by their limited means of luxury, inaccessible 
 to gout, surfeits, and all the comfortable chronic diseases 
 which are attendant on wealth and indolence. Four years 
 or so of abstemiousness enable them to stand an election 
 dinner; and there is no hope of broken heads among a 
 score or two of quiet electors, who settle the business over 
 a table. There the mothers of the state never make a 
 point of pouring, in the course of every revolving year, a 
 certain quantity of doctor's stuff through the bowels of 
 their beloved children. Every old woman from the 
 * townhead to the townfit ' can prescribe a dose of salts 
 or spread a plaster; and it is only when a fever or a palsy 
 renders matters serious that the assistance of the doctor 
 is invoked by his neighbours in the borough. 
 
 But still the man of science cannot complain of 
 inactivity or want of practice. If he does not find pa- 
 tients at his door, he seeks them through a wide circle. 
 Like the ghostly lover of Burger's 'Leonora,' he mounts 
 at midnight, and traverses in darkness paths which, to 
 those less accustomed to them, seem formidable in day- 
 light, through straits where the slightest aberration 
 would plunge him into a morass, or throw him over a 
 precipice, on to cabins which his horse might ride over 
 without knowing they lay in his way, unless he happened 
 to fall through the roofs. When he arrives at such a 
 stately termination of his journey, where his services are 
 
 204
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 required either to bring a wretch into the world or pre- 
 vent one from leaving it, the scene of misery is often 
 such that, far from touching the hard-saved shillings 
 which are gratefully offered to him, he bestows his 
 medicines as well as his attendance — for charity. I 
 have heard the celebrated traveller, Mungo Park, who 
 had experienced both courses of life, rather give the 
 preference to travelling as a discoverer in Africa than to 
 wandering by night and day the wilds of his native land 
 in the capacity of a country medical practitioner. He 
 mentioned having once upon a time rode forty miles, 
 sat up all night, and successfully assisted a woman under 
 influence of the primitive curse, for which his sole 
 remuneration was a roasted potato and a draught of 
 buttermilk. But his was not the heart which grudged 
 the labour that relieved human misery. In short, there 
 is no creature in Scotland that works harder and is more 
 poorly requited than the country doctor, unless perhaps 
 it may be his horse. Yet the horse is, and indeed must 
 be, hardy, active, and indefatigable, in spite of a rough 
 coat and indifferent condition; and so you will often find 
 in his master, under an unpromising and blunt exterior, 
 professional skill and enthusiasm, intelligence, humanity, 
 courage, and science. 
 
 Mr. Gideon Gray, surgeon in the village of Middle- 
 mas, situated in one of the midland counties of Scotland, 
 led the rough, active, and ill-rewarded course of Hfe 
 which we have endeavoured to describe. He was a man 
 between forty and fifty, devoted to his profession, and of 
 such reputation in the medical world that he had been 
 more than once, as opportunities occurred, advised to 
 exchange Middlcmas and its meagre circle of practice 
 
 205
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 for some of the larger towns in Scotland, or for Edin- 
 burgh itself. This advice he had always declined. He 
 was a plain, blunt man, who did not love restraint, and 
 was unwilling to subject himself to that which was 
 exacted in polite society. He had not himself found out, 
 nor had any friend hinted to him, that a slight touch of 
 the cynic, in manner and habits, gives the physician, to 
 the common eye, an air of authority which greatly tends 
 to enlarge his reputation. Mr. Gray, or, as the country 
 people called him. Dr. Gray (he might hold the title by 
 diploma for what I know, though he only claimed the 
 rank of Master of Arts) , had few wants, and these were 
 amply supplied by a professional income which generally 
 approached two hundred pounds a year, for which, upon 
 an average, he travelled about five thousand miles on 
 horseback in the course of the twelve months. Nay, so 
 liberally did this revenue support himself and his ponies, 
 called Pestle and Mortar, which he exercised alternately, 
 that he took a damsel to share it, Jean Watson, namely, 
 the cherry-cheeked daughter of an honest farmer, who, 
 being herself one of twelve children, who had been 
 brought up on an income of fourscore pounds a year, 
 never thought there could be poverty in more than 
 double the sum ; and looked on Gray, though now termed 
 by irreverent youth the Old Doctor, as a very advan- 
 tageous match. For several years they had no children, 
 and it seemed as if Dr. Gray, who had so often assisted 
 the efforts of the goddess Lucina, was never to invoke 
 her in his own behalf. Yet his domestic roof was, on a 
 remarkable occasion, decreed to be the scene where the 
 goddess's art was required. 
 Late of an autumn evening three old women might be 
 206
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 observed plying their aged limbs through the single 
 street of the village at Middlemas towards the honoured 
 door, which, fenced off from the vulgar causeway, was 
 defended by a broken paling, inclosing two slips of 
 ground, half arable, half overrun with an abortive at- 
 tempt at shrubbery. The door itself was blazoned 
 with the name of Gideon Gray, M.A., Surgeon, etc. etc. 
 Some of the idle young fellows who had been a minute or 
 two before loitering at the other end of the street before 
 the door of the ale-house (for the pretended inn deserved 
 no better name) now accompanied the old dames with 
 shouts of laughter, excited by their unwonted agility; 
 and with bets on the winner, as loudly expressed as if 
 they had been laid at the starting-post of Middlemas 
 races. ' Half-a-mutchkin on Luckie Simson!' ' Auld Peg 
 Tamson against the field!' *Mair speed, Alison Jaup, 
 ye '11 tak the wind out of them yet ! ' * Canny against the 
 hill, lasses, or we may have a brusten auld carline amang 
 ye!' These, and a thousand such gibes, rent the air, 
 without being noticed, or even heard, by the anxious 
 racers, whose object of contention seemed to be which 
 should first reach the doctor's door. 
 
 * Guide us, doctor, what can be the matter now? ' said 
 Mrs. Gray, whose character was that of a good-natured 
 simpleton ; ' here 's Peg Tamson, Jean Simson, and Ahson 
 Jaup running a race on the Hie Street of the burgh ! ' 
 
 The doctor, who had but the moment before hung his 
 wet greatcoat before the fire (for he was just dismounted 
 from a long journey), hastened downstairs, auguring 
 some new occasion for his services, and happy that, from 
 the character of the messengers, it was likely to be within 
 burgh, and not landward. 
 
 207
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 He had just reached the door as Luckie Simson, one 
 of the racers, arrived in the little area before it. She had 
 got the start and kept it, but at the expense for the 
 time of her power of utterance; for, when she came in 
 presence of the doctor, she stood blowing Hke a grampus, 
 her loose toy flying back from her face, making the most 
 violent efforts to speak, but without the power of utter- 
 ing a single intelligible word. 
 
 Peg Thomson whipped in before her. ' The leddy, sir 
 — theleddy— ' 
 
 * Instant help — instant help — ' screeched, rather 
 than uttered, Alison Jaup ; while Luckie Simson, who had 
 certainly won the race, found words to claim the prize 
 which had set them all in motion. 'And I hope, sir, you 
 will recommend me to be the sick-nurse; I was here to 
 bring you the tidings lang before ony o' thae lazy queans.' 
 Loud were the counter protestations of the two com- 
 petitors, and loud the laugh of the idle * loons ' who 
 listened at a little distance. 
 
 'Hold your tongue, ye flyting fools,' said the doctor; 
 'and you, ye idle rascals, if I come out among you — ' 
 So saying, he smacked his long-lashed whip with great 
 emphasis, producing much the effect of the celebrated 
 Quos ego of Neptune, in the First '^neid.' 'And 
 now,' said the doctor, 'where or who is this lady?' 
 
 The question was scarce necessary; for a plain car- 
 riage, with four horses, came at a foot's-pace towards 
 the door of the doctor's house, and the old women, now 
 more at their ease, gave the doctor to understand that 
 the gentleman thought the accommodation of the Swan 
 Inn totally unfit for his lady's rank and condition, and 
 had, by their advice (each claiming the merit of the sug- 
 
 208
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 gestion), brought her here, to experience the hospitality 
 of the 'west room' — a spare apartment in which Dr. 
 Gray occasionally accommodated such patients as he 
 desired to keep for a space of time under his own eye. 
 
 There were two persons only in the vehicle. The one, 
 a gentleman in a riding-dress, sprung out, and having 
 received from the doctor an assurance that the lady 
 would receive tolerable accommodation in his house, he 
 lent assistance to his companion to leave the carriage, 
 and with great apparent satisfaction saw her safely 
 deposited in a decent sleeping-apartment, and under the 
 respectable charge of the doctor and his lady, who 
 assured him once more of every species of attention. 
 To bind their promise more firmly, the stranger slipped 
 a purse of twenty guineas (for this story chanced in the 
 golden age) into the hand of the doctor, as an earnest of 
 the most liberal recompense, and requested he would 
 spare no expense in providing all that was necessary or 
 desirable for a person in the lady's condition, and for the 
 helpless being to whom she might immediately be ex- 
 pected to give birth. He then said he would retire to 
 the inn, where he begged a message might instantly 
 acquaint him with the expected change in the lady's 
 condition. 
 
 *She is of rank,' he said, 'and a foreigner; let no ex- 
 pense be spared. We designed to have reached Edin- 
 burgh, but were forced to turn off the road by an acci- 
 dent.' Once more he said, 'Let no expense be spared, 
 and manage that she may travel as soon as possible.' 
 
 'That,' said the doctor, 'is past my control. Nature 
 must not be hurried, and she avenges herself of every 
 attempt to do so.' 
 
 44 209
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'But art,' said the stranger, 'can do much,' and he 
 proffered a second purse, which seemed as heavy as the 
 first. 
 
 'Art,' said the doctor, 'may be recompensed, but can- 
 not be purchased. You have already paid me more than 
 enough to take the utmost care I can of your lady ; should 
 I accept more money, it could only be for promising, by 
 implication at least, what is beyond my power to per- 
 form. Every possible care shall be taken of your lady, 
 and that affords the best chance of her being speedily 
 able to travel. Now, go you to the inn, sir, for I may be 
 instantly wanted, and we have not yet provided either 
 an attendant for the lady or a nurse for the child; but 
 both shall be presently done.' 
 
 'Yet a moment, doctor — what languages do you un- 
 derstand? ' 
 
 'Latin and French I can speak indifferently, and so as 
 to be understood; and I read a little Italian.' 
 
 'But no Portuguese or Spanish?' continued the 
 stranger. 
 
 'No, sir.' 
 
 'That is unlucky. But you may make her understand 
 you by means of French. Take notice, you are to comply 
 with her request in everything; if you want means to 
 do so, you may apply to me.' 
 
 ' May I ask, sir, by what name the lady is to be — ' 
 
 'It is totally indifferent,' said the stranger, interrupt- 
 ing the question; 'you shall know it at more leisure.' 
 
 So saying, he threw his ample cloak about him, turn- 
 ing himself half round to assist the operation, with an 
 air which the doctor would have found it difficult to 
 imitate, and walked down the street to the little inn. 
 
 210
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Here he paid and dismissed the postilions, and shut 
 himself up in an apartment, ordering no one to be ad- 
 mitted till the doctor should call. 
 
 The doctor, when he returned to his patient's apart- 
 ment, found his wife in great surprise, which, as is usual 
 with persons of her character, was not unmixed with fear 
 and anxiety. 
 
 * She cannot speak a word like a Christian being,' said 
 Mrs. Gray. 
 
 *I know it,' said the doctor. 
 
 'But she threeps to keep on a black fause-face, and 
 skirls if we offer to take it away.' 
 
 *Well, then, let her wear it. What harm will it do?' 
 
 'Harm, doctor! Was ever honest woman brought to 
 bed with a fause-face on? ' 
 
 'Seldom, perhaps. But, Jean, my dear, those who 
 are not quite honest must be brought to bed all the 
 same as those who are, and we are not to endanger 
 the poor thing's life by contradicting her whims at 
 present.' 
 
 Approaching the sick woman's bed, he observed that 
 she indeed wore a thin silk mask, of the kind which 
 do such uncommon service in the Elder Comedy; such 
 as women of rank still wore in travelling, but certainly 
 never in the situation of this poor lady. It would seem 
 she had sustained importunity on the subject, for when 
 she saw the doctor she put her hand to her face, as if she 
 was afraid he would insist on pulling off the vizard. He 
 hastened to say, in tolerable French, that her will should 
 be a law to them in every respect, and that she was at 
 perfect liberty to wear the mask till it was her pleasure 
 to lay it aside. She understood him; for she replied, by a 
 
 211
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 very imperfect attempt, in the same language, to express 
 her gratitude for the permission, as she seemed to regard 
 it, of retaining her disguise. 
 
 The doctor proceeded to other arrangements; and, 
 for the satisfaction of those readers who may love 
 minute information, we record that Luckie Simson, the 
 first in the race, carried as a prize the situation of sick- 
 nurse beside the delicate patient; that Peg Thomson 
 was permitted the privilege of recommending her good- 
 daughter. Bet Jamieson, to be wet-nurse; and an oe, or 
 grandchild, of Luckie Jaup was hired to assist in the 
 increased drudgery of the family; the doctor thus, like a 
 practised minister, dividing among his trusty adherents 
 such good things as fortune placed at his disposal. 
 
 About one in the morning the doctor made his appear- 
 ance at the Swan Inn, and acquainted the stranger 
 gentleman that he wished him joy of being the father of 
 a healthy boy, and that the mother was, in the usual 
 phrase, as well as could be expected. 
 
 The stranger heard the news with seeming satisfac- 
 tion, and then exclaimed, *He must be christened, doc- 
 tor — he must be christened instantly.' 
 
 'There can be no hurry for that,' said the doctor. 
 
 'We think otherwise,' said the stranger, cutting his 
 argument short. * I am a Cathohc, doctor, and as I may 
 be obhged to leave this place before the lady is able to 
 travel, I desire to see my child received into the pale of 
 the church. There is, I understand, a Catholic priest in 
 this wretched place? ' 
 
 'There is a Catholic gentleman, sir, Mr. Goodriche, 
 who is reported to be in orders.' 
 
 'I commend your caution, doctor,' said the stranger: 
 
 212
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 *it is dangerous to be too positive on any subject. I will 
 bring that same Mr. Goodriche to your house to- 
 morrow.' 
 
 Gray hesitated for a moment. *I am a Presbyterian 
 Protestant, sir,' he said, *a friend to the constitution as 
 established in church and state, as I have a good right, 
 having drawn his Majesty's pay, God bless him, for four 
 years, as surgeon's mate in the Cameronian regiment, as 
 my regimental Bible and commission can testify. But 
 although I be bound especially to abhor all trafficking or 
 trinketing with Papists, yet I will not stand in the way 
 of a tender conscience. Sir, you may call with Mr. Good- 
 riche when you please at my house; and undoubtedly, 
 you being, as I suppose, the father of the child, you will 
 arrange matters as you please; only, I do not desire to be 
 thought an abettor or countenancer of any part of the 
 Popish ritual.' 
 
 ' Enough, sir,' said the stranger, haughtily, * we under- 
 stand each other.' 
 
 The next day he appeared at the doctor's house with 
 Mr. Goodriche, and two persons understood to belong 
 to that reverend gentleman's communion. The party 
 were shut up in an apartment with the infant, and it 
 may be presumed that the solemnity of baptism w^as 
 administered to the unconscious being thus strangely 
 launched upon the world. When the priest and witnesses 
 had retired, the strange gentleman informed Mr. Gray 
 that, as the lady had been pronounced unfit for travelHng 
 for several days, he was himself about to leave the 
 neighbourhood, but would return thither in the space of 
 ten days, when he hoped to find his companion able to 
 leave it. 
 
 213
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'And by what name are we to call the child and 
 mother? ' 
 
 'The infant's name is Richard.' 
 
 'But it must have some surname; so must the lady — 
 she cannot reside in my house, yet be without a name.' 
 
 'Call them by the name of your town here — Middle- 
 mas, I think it is? ' 
 
 'Yes, sir.' 
 
 'Well, Mrs. Middlemas is the name of the mother, and 
 Richard Middlemas of the child — and I am Matthew 
 Middlemas, at your service. This,' he continued, 'will 
 provide Mrs. Middlemas in everything she may wish to 
 possess — or assist her in case of accidents.' With that 
 he placed £ioo in Mr. Gray's hand, who rather scrupled 
 receiving it, saying, ' He supposed the lady was qualified 
 to be her own purse-bearer.' 
 
 'The worst in the world, I assure you, doctor,' replied 
 the stranger. 'If she wished to change that piece of 
 paper, she would scarce know how many guineas she 
 should receive for it. No, Mr. Gray, I assure you you 
 will find Mrs. Middleton — Middlemas — what did I 
 call her? — as ignorant of the affairs of this world as 
 any one you have met with in your practice. So you will 
 please to be her treasurer and administrator for the 
 time, as for a patient that is incapable to look after her 
 own affairs.' 
 
 This was spoke, as it struck Dr. Gray, in rather a 
 haughty and supercilious manner. The words intimated 
 nothing in themselves more than the same desire of 
 preserving incognito which might be gathered from all 
 the rest of the stranger's conduct ; but the manner seemed 
 to say, * I am not a person to be questioned by any one. 
 
 214
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 What I say must be received without comment, how 
 little soever you may believe or understand it.' It 
 strengthened Gray in his opinion, that he had before him 
 a case either of seduction or of private marriage, betwixt 
 persons of the very highest rank; and the whole bearing, 
 both of the lady and the gentleman, confirmed his sus- 
 picions. It was not in his nature to be troublesome or 
 inquisitive, but he could not fail to see that the lady 
 wore no marriage-ring; and her deep sorrow and perpet- 
 ual tremor seemed to indicate an unhappy creature who 
 had lost the protection of parents without acquiring a 
 legitimate right to that of a husband. He was therefore 
 somewhat anxious when Mr. Middlemas, after a private 
 conference of some length with the lady, bade him fare- 
 well. It is true, he assured him of his return within ten 
 days, being the very shortest space which Gray could be 
 prevailed upon to assign for any prospect of the lady 
 being moved with safety. 
 
 *I trust in Heaven that he will return,' said Gray to 
 himself, 'but there is too much mystery about all this 
 for the matter being a plain and well-meaning transac- 
 tion. If he intends to treat this poor thing as many a poor 
 girl has been used before, I hope that my house will not 
 be the scene in which he chooses to desert her. The 
 leaving the money has somewhat a suspicious aspect, 
 and looks as if my friend were in the act of making some 
 compromise with his conscience. Well, I must hope the 
 best. Meantime my path plainly is to do what I can 
 for the poor lady's benefit.' 
 
 Mr. Gray visited his patient shortly after Mr. Middle- 
 mas's departure — as soon, indeed, as he could be 
 admitted. He found her in violent agitation. Gray's 
 
 215
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 experience dictated the best mode of relief and tran- 
 quillity. He caused her infant to be brought to her. She 
 wept over it for a long time, and the violence of her 
 agitation subsided under the influence of parental feel- 
 ings, which, from her appearance of extreme youth, she 
 must have experienced for the first time. 
 
 The observant physician could, after this paroxysm, 
 remark that his patient's mind was chiefly occupied in 
 computing the passage of the time, and anticipating the 
 period when the return of her husband — if husband he 
 was — might be expected. She consulted almanacks, 
 inquired concerning distances, though so cautiously as 
 to make it evident she desired to give no indication of the 
 direction of her companion's journey, and repeatedly 
 compared her watch with those of others, exercising, it 
 was evident, all that delusive species of mental arithme- 
 tic by which mortals attempt to accelerate the passage 
 of time while they calculate his progress. At other times 
 she wept anew over her child, which was by all judges 
 pronounced as goodly an infant as needed to be seen; 
 and Gray sometimes observed that she murmured sen- 
 tences to the unconscious infant, not only the words, but 
 the very sound and accents, of which were strange to 
 him, and which, in particular, he knew not to be Portu- 
 guese. 
 
 Mr. Goodriche, the Catholic priest, demanded access 
 to her upon one occasion. She at first declined his visit, 
 but afterwards received it, under the idea, perhaps, that 
 he might have news from Mr. Middlemas, as he called 
 himself. The interview was a very short one, and the 
 priest left the lady's apartment in displeasure, which his 
 prudence could scarce disguise from Mr. Gray. He never 
 
 216
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 returned, although the lady's condition would have 
 made his attentions and consolations necessary, had she 
 been a member of the Catholic Church. 
 
 Our doctor began at length to suspect his fair guest 
 was a Jewess, who had yielded up her person and affec- 
 tions to one of a different religion ; and the peculiar style 
 of her beautiful countenance went to enforce this opin- 
 ion. The circumstance made no difference to Gray, who 
 saw only her distress and desolation, and endeavoured 
 to remedy both to the utmost of his power. He was, 
 however, desirous to conceal it from his wife and the 
 others around the sick person, whose prudence and 
 liberality of thinking might be more justly doubted. He 
 therefore so regulated her diet that she could not be 
 either offended or brought under suspicion by any of the 
 articles forbidden by the Mosaic law being presented to 
 her. In other respects than what concerned her health or 
 convenience, he had but little intercourse with her. 
 
 The space passed within which the stranger's return 
 to the borough had been so anxiously expected by his 
 female companion. The disappointment occasioned by 
 his non-arrival was manifested in the convalescent by 
 inquietude, which was at first mingled with peevishness, 
 and afterwards with doubt and fear. When two or three 
 days had passed without message or letter of any kind, 
 Gray himself became anxious, both on his own account 
 and the poor lady's, lest the stranger should have actually 
 entertained the idea of deserting this defenceless and 
 probably injured woman. He longed to have some com- 
 munication with her, which might enable him to judge 
 what inquiries could be made, or what else was most 
 fitting to be done. But so imperfect was the poor young 
 
 217
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 woman's knowledge of the French language, and perhaps 
 so unwilling she herself to throw any light on her situa- 
 tion, that every attempt of this kind proved abortive. 
 When Gray asked questions concerning any subject 
 which appeared to approach to explanation, he observed 
 she usually answered him by shaking her head, in token 
 of not understanding what he said; at other times by 
 silence and with tears, and sometimes referring him to 
 Monsieur. 
 
 For Monsieur's arrival, then. Gray began to become 
 very impatient, as that which alone could put an end to 
 a disagreeable species of mystery, which the good com- 
 pany of the borough began now to make the principal 
 subject of their gossip; some blaming Gray for taking 
 foreign 'landloupers' into his house, on the subject of 
 whose morals the most serious doubts might be enter- 
 tained; others envying the 'bonny hand' the doctor was 
 like to make of it, by having disposal of the wealthy 
 stranger's travelling funds — a circumstance which could 
 not be well concealed from the public, when the honest 
 man's expenditure for trifling articles of luxury came far 
 to exceed its ordinary bounds. 
 
 The conscious probity of the honest doctor enabled 
 him to despise this sort of tittle-tattle, though the secret 
 knowledge of its existence could not be agreeable to him. 
 He went his usual rounds with his usual perseverance, 
 and waited with patience until time should throw light 
 on the subject and history of his lodger. It was now the 
 fourth week after her confinement, and the recovery of 
 the stranger might be considered as perfect, when Gray, 
 returning from one of his ten-mile visits, saw a post- 
 chaise and four horses at the door. ' This man has re- 
 
 218
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 turned,' he said, 'and my suspicions have done him less 
 than justice.' With that he spurred his horse, a signal 
 which the trusty steed obeyed the more readily as its 
 progress was in the direction of the stable door. But 
 when, dismounting, the doctor hurried into his own 
 house, it seemed to him that the departure as well as the 
 arrival of this distressed lady was destined to bring 
 confusion to his peaceful dwelling. Several idlers had 
 assembled about his door, and two or three had impu- 
 dently thrust themselves forward almost into the pas- 
 sage to listen to a confused altercation which was heard 
 from within. 
 
 The doctor hastened forward, the foremost of the 
 intruders retreating in confusion on his approach, while 
 he caught the tones of his wife's voice, raised to a pitch 
 which he knew by experience boded no good; for Mrs. 
 Gray, good-humoured and tractable in general, could 
 sometimes perform the high part in a matrimonial duet. 
 Having much more confidence in his wife's good inten- 
 tions than her prudence, he lost no time in pushing into 
 the parlour, to take the matter into his own hands. Here 
 he found his helpmate at the head of the whole militia 
 of the sick lady's apartment — that is, wet-nurse, and 
 sick-nurse, and girl of all work — engaged in violent dis- 
 pute with two strangers. The one was a dark-featured 
 elderly man, with an eye of much sharpness and severity 
 of expression, which now seemed partly quenched by a 
 mixture of grief and mortification. The other, who ap- 
 peared actively sustaining the dispute with Mrs. Gray, 
 was a stout, bold-looking, hard-faced person, armed 
 with pistols, of which he made rather an unnecessary 
 and ostentatious display. 
 
 219
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ' Here is my husband, sir,' said Mrs. Gray, in a tone of 
 triumph, for she had the grace to believe the doctor one 
 of the greatest men living — 'here is the doctor; let us 
 see what you will say now.' 
 
 'Why, just what I said before, ma'am,' answered the 
 man, 'which is, that my warrant must be obeyed. It is 
 regular, ma'am — regular.' 
 
 So saying, he struck the forefinger of his right hand 
 against a paper which he held towards Mrs. Gray with 
 his left. 
 
 'Address yourself to me, if you please, sir,' said the 
 doctor, seeing that he ought to lose no time in removing 
 the cause into the proper court. 'I am the master of 
 this house, sir, and I wish to know the cause of this 
 visit.' 
 
 'My business is soon told,' said the man. 'I am a 
 king's messenger, and this lady has treated me as if I 
 was a baron-baihe's oiSScer.' 
 
 'That is not the question, sir,' replied the doctor. 'If 
 you are a king's messenger, where is your warrant, and 
 what do you propose to do here? ' At the same time he 
 whispered the little wench to call Mr. Lawford, the 
 town-clerk, to come thither as fast as he possibly could. 
 The good-daughter of Peg Thomson started off with an 
 activity worthy of her mother-in-law. 
 
 'There is my warrant,' said the ofiicial, 'and you may 
 satisfy yourself.' 
 
 ' The shameless loon dare not tell the doctor his errand,' 
 said Mrs. Gray, exultingly. 
 
 'A bonny errand it is,' said old Luckie Simson, 'to 
 carry away a lying-in woman, as a gled would do a 
 clocking-hen.' 
 
 220
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 'A woman no a month delivered,' echoed the nurse 
 Jamieson. 
 
 * Twenty-four days eight hours and seven minutes to a 
 second,' said Mrs. Gray. 
 
 The doctor, having looked over the warrant, which 
 was regular, began to be afraid that the females of his 
 family, in their zeal for defending the character of their 
 sex, might be stirred up into some sudden fit of mutiny, 
 and therefore commanded them to be silent. 
 
 'This,' he said, 'is a warrant for arresting the bodies 
 of Richard Treshamand of Zilia deMongada, on account 
 of high treason. Sir, I have served his Majesty, and this 
 is not a house in which traitors are harboured. I know 
 nothing of any of these two persons, nor have I ever 
 heard even their names.' 
 
 'But the lady whom you have received into your 
 family,' said the messenger, 'is Ziha de Mongada, and 
 here stands her father, Matthias de Mongada, who will 
 make oath to it.' 
 
 'If this be true,' said Mr. Gray, looking towards the 
 alleged officer, 'you have taken a singular duty on you. 
 It is neither my habit to deny my own actions nor to 
 oppose the laws of the land. There is a lady in this house 
 slowly recovering from confinement, having become un- 
 der this roof the mother of a healthy child. If she be 
 the person described in this warrant, and this gentle- 
 man's daughter, I must surrender her to the laws of the 
 country.' 
 
 Here the Esculapian militia were once more in motion. 
 
 ' Surrender, Dr. Gray ! It 's a shame to hear you speak, 
 and you that lives by women and weans, abune your 
 other means ! ' so exclaimed his fair better part. 
 
 221
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 *I wonder to hear the doctor!' said the younger nurse; 
 ^there's no a wife in the town would believe it o' him.' 
 
 ' I aye thought the doctor was a man till this moment,' 
 said Luckie Simson ; ' but I believe him now to be an auld 
 wife, little baulder than mysell; and I dinna wonder now 
 that poor Mrs. Gray — ' 
 
 ' Hold your peace, you foolish women,' said the doctor. 
 * Do you think this business is not bad enough already, 
 that you are making it worse with your senseless claver? 
 Gentlemen, this is a very sad case. Here is a warrant for 
 a high crime against a poor creature who is little fit to be 
 moved from one house to another, much more dragged 
 to a prison. I tell you plainly, that I think the execution 
 of this arrest may cause her death. It is your business, 
 sir, if you be really her father, to consider what you can 
 do to soften this matter rather than drive it on.' 
 
 'Better death than dishonour,' replied the stern- 
 looking old man, with a voice as harsh as his aspect ; ' and 
 you, messenger,' he continued, 'look what you do, and 
 execute the warrant at your peril.' 
 
 'You hear,' said the man, appealing to the doctor 
 himself, 'I must have immediate access to the lady.' 
 
 'In a lucky time,' said Mr. Gray, 'here comes the 
 town-clerk. Youare very welcome, Mr. Lawford. Your 
 opinion here is much wanted as a man of law, as well as 
 of sense and humanity. I was never more glad to see 
 you in all my life.' 
 
 He then rapidly stated the case; and the messenger, 
 understanding the new-comer to be a man of some 
 authority, again exhibited his warrant. 
 
 'This is a very sufficient and valid warrant. Dr. Gray,' 
 replied the man of law. 'Nevertheless, if you are dis- 
 
 222
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 posed to make oath that instant removal would be 
 unfavourable to the lady's health, unquestionably she 
 must remain here, suitably guarded.' 
 
 ' It is not so much the mere act of locomotion which I 
 am afraid of/ said the surgeon; 'but I am free to depone, 
 on soul and conscience, that the shame and fear of her 
 father's anger, and the sense of the affront of such an 
 arrest, with terror for its consequences, may occasion 
 violent and dangerous illness — even death itself.' 
 
 ' The father must see the daughter, though they may 
 have quarrelled,' said Mr.Lawford; 'the officer of justice 
 must execute his warrant, though it should frighten the 
 criminal to death; these evils are only contingent, not 
 direct and immediate consequences. You must give up 
 the lady, Mr. Gray, though your hesitation is very 
 natural.' 
 
 'At least, Mr. Lawford, I ought to be certain that the 
 person in my house is the party they search for.' 
 
 'Admit me to her apartment,' replied the man whom 
 the messenger termed Mongada. 
 
 The messenger, whom the presence of Lawford had 
 made something more placid, began to become impudent 
 once more. He hoped, he said, by means of his female 
 prisoner, to acquire the information necessary to appre- 
 hend the more guilty person. If more delays were thrown 
 in his way, that information might come too late, and he 
 would make all who were accessory to such delay respon- 
 sible for the consequences. 
 
 'And I,' said Mr. Gray, 'though I were to be brought 
 to the gallows for it, protest that this course may be the 
 murder of my patient. Can bail not be taken, Mr. Law- 
 ford?' 
 
 223
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'Not in cases of high treason,' said the official person; 
 and then continued in a confidential tone, 'Come, Mr. 
 Gray, we all know you to be a person well affected to our 
 royal sovereign King George and the Government; but 
 you must not push this too far, lest you bring yourself 
 into trouble, which everybody in Middlemas would be 
 sorry for. The forty-five has not been so far gone by 
 but we can remember enough of warrants of high treason 
 — ay, and ladies of quality cormnitted upon such charges. 
 But they were all favourably dealt with — Lady Ogilvy, 
 Lady Macintosh, Flora Macdonald, and all. No doubt 
 this gentleman knows what he is doing, and has assur- 
 ances of the young lady's safety. So you must just jouk 
 and let the jaw gae by, as we say.' 
 
 'Follow me, then, gentlemen,' said Gideon, 'and you 
 shall see the young lady ' ; and then, his strong features 
 working with emotion at anticipation of the distress 
 which he was about to inflict, he led the way up the small 
 staircase, and, opening the door, said to Mongada, who 
 had followed him, 'This is your daughter's only place of 
 refuge, in which I am, alas ! too weak to be her protector. 
 Enter, sir, if your conscience will permit you.' 
 
 The stranger turned on him a scowl, into which it 
 seemed as if he would willingly have thrown the power 
 of the fabled basilisk. Then stepping proudly forward, 
 he stalked into the room. He was followed by Lawford 
 and Gray at a little distance. The messenger remained 
 in the doorway. The unhappy young woman had heard 
 the disturbance, and guessed the cause too truly. It is 
 possible she might even have seen the strangers on their 
 descent from the carriage. When they entered the room 
 she was on her knees, beside an easy-chair, her face in a 
 
 224
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 silk wrapper that was hung over it. The man called 
 Mongada uttered a single word; by the accent it might 
 have been something equivalent to 'wretch,' but none 
 knew its import. The female gave a convulsive shudder, 
 such as that by which a half-dying soldier is affected on 
 receiving a second wound. But, without minding her 
 emotion, Mongada seized her by the arm, and with little 
 gentleness raised her to her feet, on which she seemed to 
 stand only because she was supported by his strong 
 grasp. He then pulled from her face the mask which she 
 had hitherto worn. The poor creature still endeavoured 
 to shroud her face, by covering it with her left hand, as 
 the manner in which she was held prevented her from 
 using the aid of the right. With little effort her father 
 secured that hand also, which, indeed, was of itself far 
 too little to serve the purpose of concealment, and 
 showed her beautiful face, burning with blushes and 
 covered with tears. 
 
 'You, alcalde, and you, surgeon,' he said to Lawford 
 and Gray, with a foreign action and accent, ' this woman 
 is my daughter, the same Zilia Mongada who is signalled 
 in that protocol. Make way, and let me carry her where 
 her crimes may be atoned for.' 
 
 ' Are you that person's daughter? ' said Lawford to the 
 lady. 
 
 ' She understands no English,' said Gray; and address- 
 ing his patient in French, conjured her to let him know 
 whether she was that man's daughter or not, assuring 
 her of protection if the fact were otherwise. The answer 
 was murmured faintly, but was too distinctly intelligible 
 — 'He was her father.' 
 
 All further title of interference seemed now ended, 
 
 44 225
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The messenger arrested his prisoner, and, with some 
 delicacy, required the assistance of the females to get her 
 conveyed to the carriage in waiting. 
 
 Gray again interfered. *You will not,' he said, 'sepa- 
 rate the mother and the infant? ' 
 
 Zilia de Mongada heard the question (which, being 
 addressed to the father. Gray had inconsiderately ut- 
 tered in French), and it seemed as if it recalled to her 
 recollection the existence of the helpless creature to 
 which she had given birth, forgotten for a moment 
 amongst the accumulated horrors of her father's pres- 
 ence. She uttered a shriek, expressing poignant grief, 
 and turned her eyes on her father with the most intense 
 supplication. 
 
 'To the parish with the bastard!' said Mongada; 
 while the helpless mother sunk lifeless into the arms of 
 the females, who had now gathered round her. 
 
 'That will not pass, sir,' said Gideon. 'If you are 
 father to that lady, you must be grandfather to the help- 
 less child; and you must settle in some manner for its 
 future provision, or refer us to some responsible per- 
 son.' 
 
 Mongada looked towards Lawford, who expressed 
 himself satisfied of the propriety of what Gray said. 
 
 ' I object not to pay for whatever the wretched child 
 may require,' said he; 'and if you, sir,' addressing Gray, 
 'choose to take charge of him, and breed him up, you 
 shall have what will better your hving.' 
 
 The doctor was about to refuse a charge so uncivilly 
 offered; but after a moment's reflection he replied, 'I 
 think so indifferently of the proceedings I have wit- 
 nessed, and of those concerned in them, that, if the 
 
 226
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 mother desires that I should retain the charge of this 
 child, I will not refuse to do so.' 
 
 Mongada spoke to his daughter, who was just begin- 
 ning to recover from her swoon, in the same language in 
 which he had first addressed her. The proposition which 
 he made seemed highly acceptable, as she started from 
 the arms of the females, and, advancing to Gray, seized 
 his hand, kissed it, bathed it in her tears, and seemed 
 reconciled, even in parting with her child, by the con- 
 sideration that the infant was to remain under his 
 guardianship. 
 
 ' Good, kind man,' she said in her indifferent French, 
 'you have saved both mother and child.' 
 
 The father, meanwhile, with mercantile deliberation, 
 placed in Mr. Lawford's hands notes and bills to the 
 amount of a thousand pounds, which he stated was to be 
 vested for the child's use, and advanced in such portions 
 as his board and education might require. In the event 
 of any correspondence on his account being necessary, as 
 in case of death or the like, he directed that communi- 
 cation should be made to Signior Matthias Mongada, 
 under cover to a certain banking-house in London. 
 
 'But beware,' he said to Gray, 'how you trouble me 
 about these concerns, unless in case of absolute neces- 
 sity.' 
 
 'You need not fear, sir,' replied Gray: 'I have seen 
 nothing to-day which can induce me to desire a more 
 intimate correspondence with you than may be indis- 
 pensable.' 
 
 While Lawford drew up a proper minute of this trans- 
 action, by which he himself and Gray were named trus- 
 tees for the child, Mr. Gray attempted to restore to the 
 
 227
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 lady the balance of the considerable sum of money which 
 Tresham (if such was his real name) had formerly depos- 
 ited with him. With every species of gesture by which 
 hands, eyes, and even feet, could express rejection, as 
 well as in her own broken French, she repelled the pro- 
 posal of reimbursement, while she entreated that Gray 
 would consider the money as his own property; and at 
 the same time forced upon him a ring set with brilliants, 
 which seemed of considerable value. The father then 
 spoke to her a few stem words, which she heard with an 
 air of mingled agony and submission. 
 
 ' I have given her a few minutes to see and weep over 
 the miserable being which has been the seal of her dis- 
 honour,' said the stern father. 'Let us retire and leave 
 her alone. You,' to the messenger, 'watch the door of 
 the room on the outside.' 
 
 Gray, Lawford, and Mongada retired to the parlour 
 accordingly, where they waited in silence, each busied 
 with his own reflections, till, within the space of half an 
 hour, they received information that the lady was ready 
 to depart. 
 
 'It is well,' replied Mongada; 'I am glad she has yet 
 sense enough left to submit to that which needs must be.' 
 
 So saying, he ascended the stair, and returned, lead- 
 ing down his daughter, now again masked and veiled. 
 As she passed Gray she uttered the words, ' My child — 
 my child!' in a tone of unutterable anguish; then en- 
 tered the carriage, which was drawn up as close to the 
 door of the doctor's house as the Httle inclosure would 
 permit. The messenger, mounted on a led horse, and 
 accompanied by a servant and assistant, followed the 
 carriage, which drove rapidly off, taking the road which 
 
 228
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 leads to Edinburgh. All who had witnessed this strange 
 scene now departed to make their conjectures, and 
 some to count their gains; for money had been distrib- 
 uted among the females who had attended on the lady 
 with so much Hberality as considerably to reconcile 
 them to the breach of the rights of womanhood inflicted 
 by the precipitate removal of the patient.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 The last cloud of dust which the wheels of the carriage 
 had raised was dissipated, when dinner, which claims a 
 share of human thoughts even in the midst of the most 
 marvellous and affecting incidents, recurred to those of 
 Mrs. Gray. 
 
 'Indeed, doctor, you will stand glowering out of the 
 window till some other patient calls for you, and then 
 have to set off without your dinner. And I hope Mr. 
 Lawford will take pot-luck with us, for it is just his own 
 hour; and indeed we had something rather better than 
 ordinary for this poor lady — lamb and spinage and a 
 veal florentine.' 
 
 The surgeon started as from a dream, and joined in 
 his wife 's hospitable request, to which Lawford wiUingly 
 assented. 
 
 We will suppose the meal finished, a bottle of old and 
 generous Antigua upon the table, and a modest little 
 punch-bowl judiciously replenished for the accommo- 
 dation of the doctor and his guest. Their conversation 
 naturally turned on the strange scene which they had 
 witnessed, and the town-clerk took considerable merit 
 for his presence of mind. 
 
 'I am thinking, doctor,' said he, 'you might have 
 brewed a bitter browst to yourself if I had not come in 
 as I did.' 
 
 'Troth, and it might very well so be,' answered Gray; 
 'for, to tell the truth, when I saw yonder fellow vapour- 
 
 230
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 ing with his pistols among the women folk in my own 
 house, the old Cameronian spirit began to rise in me, and 
 little thing would have made me cleek to the poker.' 
 
 'Hoot — hoot! that would never have done. Na — 
 na,' said the man of law, 'this was a case where a little 
 prudence was worth all the pistols and pokers in the 
 world.' 
 
 ' And that was just what I thought when I sent to you, 
 Clerk Lawford,' said the doctor. 
 
 'A wiser man he could not have called on to a difficult 
 case,' added Mrs. Gray, as she sat with her work at a 
 little distance from the table. 
 
 'Thanks t 'ye, and here's t 'ye, my good neighbour,' 
 answered the scribe ; ' will you not let me help you to an- 
 other glass of punch, Mrs. Gray? ' This being declined, 
 he proceeded. 'I am jalousing that the messenger and 
 his warrant were just brought in to prevent any opposi- 
 tion. Ye saw how quietly he behaved after I had laid 
 down the law; I'll never believe the lady is in any risk 
 from him. But the father is a dour chield; depend upon 
 it, he has bred up the young filly on the curb-rein, and 
 that has made the poor thing start off the course. I 
 should not be surprised that he took her abroad and 
 shut her up in a convent,' 
 
 'Hardly,' replied Dr. Gray, 'if it be true, as I suspect, 
 that both the father and daughter are of the Jewish per- 
 suasion.' 
 
 'A Jew!' said Mrs. Gray, 'and have I been taking a' 
 this fyke about a Jew? I thought she seemed to gie a 
 scunner at the eggs and bacon that Nurse Simson spoke 
 about to her. But I thought Jews had aye had lang 
 beards, and yon man's face is just like one of our ain 
 
 231
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 folks.' I have seen the doctor with a langer beard him- 
 sell, when he has not had leisure to shave.' 
 
 'That might have been Mr. Mongada's case,' said 
 Lawford, ' for he seemed to have had a hard journey. 
 But the Jews are often very respectable people, Mrs. 
 Gray ; they have no territorial property, because the law 
 is against them there, but they have a good hank in the 
 money market — plenty of stock in the funds, Mrs. 
 Gray; and, indeed, I think this poor young woman is 
 better with her ain father, though he be a Jew and a 
 dour chield into the bargain, than she would have been 
 with the loon that wranged her, who is, by your account, 
 Dr. Gray, baith a Papist and a rebel. The Jews are well 
 attached to government ; they hate the Pope, the Devil, 
 and the Pretender as much as any honest man among 
 ourselves.' 
 
 'I cannot admire either of the gentlemen,' said Gideon. 
 *But it is but fair to say, that I saw Mr. Mongada when 
 he was highly incensed, and to all appearance not with- 
 out reason. Now, this other man, Tresham, if that be 
 his name, was haughty to me, and I think something 
 careless of the poor young woman, just at the time when 
 he owed her most kindness, and me some thankfulness. 
 I am, therefore, of your opinion. Clerk Lawford, that 
 the Christian is the worse bargain of the two.' 
 
 ' And you think of taking care of this wean yourself, 
 doctor? That is what I call the good Samaritan.' 
 
 'At cheap cost, clerk: the child, if it lives, has enough 
 to bring it up decently, and set it out in Hfe, and I can 
 teach it an honourable and useful profession. It will be 
 rather an amusement than a trouble to me, and I want 
 to make some remarks on the childish diseases, which, 
 
 232
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 with God's blessing, the child must come through under 
 my charge; and since Heaven has sent us no children — ' 
 
 ' Hoot — hoot ! ' said the town-clerk, * you are in ower 
 great a hurry now — you havena been sae lang married 
 yet. Mrs. Gray, dinna let my daffing chase you away; 
 we will be for a dish of tea beHve, for the doctor and I 
 are nae glass-breakers.' 
 
 Four years after this conversation took place the event 
 happened at the possibiUty of which the town-clerk had 
 "hinted; and Mrs. Gray presented her husband with an 
 infant daughter. But good and evil are strangely min- 
 gled in this sublunary world. The fulfilment of his anx- 
 ious longing for posterity was attended with the loss of 
 his simple and kind-hearted wife, one of the most heavy 
 blows which fate could inflict on poor Gideon, and his 
 house was made desolate even by the event which had 
 promised for months before to add new comforts to its 
 humble roof. Gray felt the shock as men of sense and 
 firmness feel a decided blow, from the effects of which 
 they never hope again fully to raise themselves. He dis- 
 charged the duties of his profession with the same punc- 
 tuahty as ever, was easy, and even to appearance cheer- 
 ful, in his intercourse with society; but the sunshine of 
 existence was gone. Every morning he missed the affec- 
 tionate charges wliich recommended to him to pay atten- 
 tion to his own health while he was labouring to restore 
 that blessing to his patients. Every evening, as he re- 
 turned from his weary round, it was without the con- 
 sciousness of a kind and affectionate reception from one 
 eager to tell, and interested to hear, all the little events 
 of the day. His whistle, wliich used to arise clear and 
 strong so soon as Middlemas steeple was in view, was 
 
 233
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 now for ever silenced, and the rider's head drooped, 
 while the tired horse, lacking the stimulus of his mas- 
 ter's hand and voice, seemed to shuffle along as if it ex- 
 perienced a share of his despondency. There were times 
 when he was so much dejected as to be unable to endure 
 even the presence of his little Menie, in whose infant 
 countenance he could trace the lineaments of the mother, 
 of whose loss she had been the innocent and unconscious 
 cause. 'Had it not been for this poor child — ' he would 
 think; but, instantly aware that the sentiment was sin- 
 ful, he would snatch the infant to his breast and load it 
 with caresses, then hastily desire it to be removed from 
 the parlour. 
 
 The Mahometans have a fanciful idea that the true 
 believer, in his passage to Paradise, is under the necessity 
 of passing barefooted over a bridge composed of red-hot 
 iron. But on this occasion all the pieces of paper which 
 the Moslem has preserved during his Ufe, lest some holy 
 thing being written upon them might be profaned, ar- 
 range themselves between his feet and the burning metal, 
 and so save him from injury. In the same manner, the 
 effects of kind and benevolent actions are sometimes 
 found, even in this world, to assuage the pangs of sub- 
 sequent afflictions. 
 
 Thus, the greatest consolation which poor Gideon 
 could find after his heavy deprivation was in the froUc 
 fondness of Richard Middlemas, the child who was in so 
 singular a manner thrown upon his charge. Even at this 
 early age he was eminently handsome. When silent or 
 out of humour, his dark eyes and striking countenance 
 presented some recollections of the stern character im- 
 printed on the features of his supposed father; but when 
 
 234
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 he was gay and happy, which was much more frequently 
 the case, these clouds were exchanged for the most 
 froHcsome, mirthful expression that ever dwelt on the 
 laughing and thoughtless aspect of a child. He seemed 
 to have a tact beyond his years in discovering and con- 
 forming to the peculiarities of human character. His 
 nurse, one prime object of Richard's observance, was 
 Nurse Jamieson, or, as she was more commonly called 
 for brevity, and par excellence, Nurse. This was the per- 
 son who had brought him up from infancy. She had lost 
 her own child, and soon after her husband, and being 
 thus a lone woman, had, as used to be common in Scot- 
 land, remained a member of Dr. Gray's family. After 
 the death of his wife, she gradually obtained the princi- 
 pal superintendence of the whole household; and being 
 an honest and capable manager, was a person of very 
 great importance in the family. 
 
 She was bold in her temper, violent in her feelings, and, 
 as often happens with those in her condition, was as 
 much attached to Richard Middlemas, whom she had 
 once nursed at her bosom, as if he had been her own son. 
 This affection the child repaid by all the tender atten- 
 tions of which his age was capable. 
 
 Little Dick was also distinguished by the fondest and 
 kindest attachment to his guardian and benefactor, Dr. 
 Gray. He was officious in the right time and place, quiet 
 as a lamb when his patron seemed incHned to study or to 
 muse, active and assiduous to assist or divert him when- 
 ever it seemed to be wished, and, in choosing his oppor- 
 tunities, he seemed to display an address far beyond his 
 childish years. 
 
 As time passed on, this pleasing character seemed to 
 
 23s
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 be still more refined. In everything like exercise or 
 amusement he was the pride and the leader of the boys 
 of the place, over the most of whom his strength and 
 activity gave him a decided superiority. At school his 
 abilities were less distinguished, yet he was a favourite 
 with the master, a sensible and useful teacher. 
 
 'Richard is not swift,' he used to say to his patron. 
 Dr. Gray, 'but then he is sure; and it is impossible not to 
 be pleased with a child who is so very desirous to give 
 satisfaction.' 
 
 Young Middlemas's grateful affection to his patron 
 seemed to increase with the expanding of his faculties, 
 and found a natural and pleasing mode of displaying 
 itself in his attentions to little Menie^ Gray. Her slight- 
 est hint was Richard's law, and it was in vain that 
 he was summoned forth by a hundred shrill voices to 
 take the lead in hye-spye or at football if it was little 
 Menie's pleasure that he should remain within and 
 build card-houses for her amusement. At other times, 
 he would take the charge of the little damsel entirely 
 under his own care, and be seen wandering with her on 
 the borough common, collecting wild flowers or knitting 
 caps made of bulrushes. Menie was attached to Dick 
 Middlemas in proportion to his affectionate assiduities; 
 and the father saw with pleasure every new mark of at- 
 tention to his child on the part of his protege. 
 
 During the time that Richard was silently advancing 
 from a beautiful child into a fine boy, and approaching 
 from a fine boy to the time when he must be termed a 
 handsome youth, Mr. Gray wrote twice a year with 
 much regularity to Mr. Mon^ada, through the channel 
 
 1 Marion. 
 236
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 that gentleman had pointed out. The benevolent man 
 thought that, if the wealthy grandfather could only see 
 his relative, of whom any family might be proud, he 
 would be unable to persevere in his resolution of treating 
 as an outcast one so nearly connected with him in blood, 
 and so interesting in person and disposition. He thought 
 it his duty, therefore, to keep open the slender and 
 oblique communication with the boy's maternal grand- 
 father, as that which might, at some future period, lead 
 to a closer connexion. Yet the correspondence could not, 
 in other respects, be agreeable to a man of spirit hke Mr. 
 Gray. His own letters were as short as possible, merely 
 rendering an account of his ward's expenses, including 
 a moderate board to himself, attested by Mr. Lawford, 
 his co-trustee; and intimating Richard's state of health, 
 and his progress in education, with a few words of brief 
 but warm eulogy upon his goodness of head and heart. 
 But the answers he received were still shorter. 'Mr. 
 Monfada,' such was their usual tenor, 'acknowledges 
 Mr. Gray's letter of such a date, notices the contents, 
 and requests Mr. Gray to persist in the plan which he 
 has hitherto prosecuted on the subject of their corre- 
 spondence.' On occasions where extraordinary expenses 
 seemed likely to be incurred, the remittances were made 
 with readiness. 
 
 That day fortnight after Mrs. Gray's death, fifty 
 pounds were received, with a note, intimating that it was 
 designed to put the child R. M. into proper mourning. 
 The writer had added two or three words, desiring that 
 the surplus should be at Mr. Gray's disposal, to meet the 
 additional expenses of this period of calamity; but Mr. 
 Mon^ada had left the phrase unfinished, apparently in 
 
 237
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 despair of turning it suitably into English. Gideon, with- 
 out further investigation, quietly added the sum to the 
 account of his ward's little fortune, contrary to the opin- 
 ion of Mr. Lawford, who, aware that he was rather a loser 
 than a gainer by the boy's residence in his house, was 
 desirous that his friend should not omit an opportunity 
 of recovering some part of his expenses on that score. 
 But Gray was proof against all remonstrance. 
 
 As the boy advanced towards his fourteenth year, Dr. 
 Gray wrote a more elaborate account of his ward's char- 
 acter, acquirements, and capacity. He added, that he 
 did this for the purpose of enabling Mr. Mongada to 
 judge how the young man's future education should be 
 directed. Richard, he observed, was arrived at the point 
 where education, losing its original and general character, 
 branches off into different paths of knowledge, suitable 
 to particular professions, and when it was therefore be- 
 come necessary to determine which of them it was his 
 pleasure that young Richard should be trained for ; and 
 he would, on his part, do all he could to carry Mr. Mon- 
 fada's wishes into execution, since the amiable qualities 
 of the boy made him as dear to him, though but a guard- 
 ian, as he could have been to his own father. 
 
 The answer, which arrived in the course of a week or 
 ten days, was fuller than usual, and written in the first 
 person. 'Mr. Gray,' such was the tenor, 'our meeting 
 has been under such circumstances as could not make us 
 favourably know^n to each other at the time. But I have 
 the advantage of you, since, knowing your motives for 
 entertaining an indifferent opinion of me, I could respect 
 them, and you at the same time; whereas you, unable to 
 comprehend the motives — I say, you, being unac- 
 
 238
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 quainted with the infamous treatment I had received, 
 could not understand the reasons that I have for acting 
 as I have done. Deprived, sir, by the act of a villain, of 
 my child, and she despoiled of honour, I cannot bring 
 myself to think of beholding the creature, however inno- 
 cent, whose look must always remind me of hatred and 
 of shame. Keep the poor child by you, educate him to 
 your own profession, but take heed that he looks no 
 higher than to fill such a situation in life as you yourself 
 worthily occupy, or some other line of like importance. 
 For the condition of a farmer, a country lawyer, a med- 
 ical practitioner, or some such retired course of life, the 
 means of outfit and education shall be amply supplied. 
 But I must warn him and you that any attempt to in- 
 trude himself on me further than I may especially per- 
 mit will be attended with the total forfeiture of my fa- 
 vour and protection. So, having made known my mind 
 to you, I expect you will act accordingly.' 
 
 The receipt of this letter determined Gideon to have 
 some explanation with the boy himself, in order to learn 
 if he had any choice among the professions thus opened 
 to him; convinced, at the same time, from his docility of 
 temper, that he would refer the selection to his (Dr. 
 Gray's) better judgment. 
 
 He had previously, however, the unpleasing task of ac- 
 quainting Richard Middlemas with the mysterious cir- 
 cumstances attending his birth, of which he presumed 
 him to be entirely ignorant, simply because he himself 
 had never communicated them, but had let the boy con- 
 sider himself as the orphan child of a distant relation. 
 But, though the doctor himself was silent, he might have 
 remembered that Nurse Jamieson had the handsome 
 
 239
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 enjoyment of her tongue, and was disposed to use it lib- 
 erally. 
 
 From a very early period Nurse Jamieson, amongst 
 the variety of legendary lore which she instilled into 
 her foster-son, had not forgotten what she called the 
 awful season of his coming into the world; the person- 
 able appearance of his father, a grand gentleman, who 
 looked as if the whole world lay at his feet ; the beauty of 
 his mother, and the terrible blackness of the mask which 
 she wore, her een that glanced like diamonds, and the 
 diamonds she wore on her fingers, that could be com- 
 pared to nothing but her own een, the fairness of her 
 skin, and the colour of her silk rokelay, with much 
 proper stuff to the same purpose. Then she expatiated 
 on the arrival of his grandfather, and the awful man, 
 armed with pistol, dirk, and claymore (the last weapons 
 existed only in Nurse's imagination), the very ogre of a 
 fairy tale; then all the circumstances of the carrying off 
 his mother, while bank-notes were flying about the house 
 like screeds of brown paper, and gold guineas were as 
 plenty as chuckie-stanes. All this, partly to please and 
 interest the boy, partly to indulge her own talent for 
 amplification. Nurse told with so many additional cir- 
 cumstances and gratuitous commentaries, that the real 
 transaction, mysterious and odd as it certainly was, 
 sunk into tameness before the nurse's edition, like 
 humble prose contrasted with the boldest flights of 
 poetry. 
 
 To hear all this did Richard seriously incline, and still 
 more was he interested with the idea of his valiant father 
 coming for him unexpectedly at the head of a gallant 
 regiment, with music playing and colours flying, and 
 
 240
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 carrying his son away on the most beautiful pony eyes 
 ever beheld; or his mother, bright as the day, might sud- 
 denly appear in her coach-and-six, to reclaim her beloved 
 child; or his repentant grandfather, with his pockets 
 stuffed out with bank-notes, would come to atone for his 
 past cruelty, by heaping his neglected grandchild with 
 unexpected wealth. Sure was Nurse Jamieson * that it 
 wanted but a blink of her bairn's bonny ee to turn their 
 hearts, as Scripture sayeth; and as strange things had 
 been, as they should come a'thegither to the town at the 
 same time, and make such a day as had never been seen 
 in Middlemas ; and then her bairn would never be called 
 by that Lowland name of Middlemas any more, which 
 sounded as if it had been gathered out of the town gutter; 
 but would be called Galatian,^ or Sir William Wallace, 
 or Robin Hood, or after some other of the great princes 
 named in story-books.' 
 
 Nurse Jamieson's history of the past and prospects of 
 the future were too flattering not to excite the most am- 
 bitious visions in the mind of a boy who naturally felt a 
 strong desire of rising in the world, and was conscious of 
 possessing the powers necessary to his advancement. 
 The incidents of his birth resemble'd those he found com- 
 memorated in the tales which he read or listened to; 
 and there seemed no reason why his own adventures 
 should not have a termination corresponding to those of 
 such veracious histories. In a word, while good Dr. 
 Gray imagined that his pupil was dwelling in utter igno- 
 rance of his origin, Richard was meditating upon nothing 
 else than the time and means by which he anticipated 
 his being extricated from the obscurity of his present 
 
 * Galatian is a name of a person famous in Christmas gambols. 
 44 241
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 condition, and enabled to assume the rank to which, in 
 his own opinion, he was entitled by birth. 
 
 So stood the feeUngs of the young man, when, one day 
 after dinner, the doctor, snuffing the candle, and taking 
 from his pouch the great leathern pocket-book in which 
 he deposited particular papers, with a small supply of 
 the most necessary and active medicines, he took from it 
 Mr. Mongada's letter, and requested Richard Middle- 
 mas's serious attention, while he told him some circum- 
 stances concerning himself, which it greatly imported 
 him to know. Richard's dark eyes flashed fire, the blood 
 flushed his broad and well-formed forehead — the hour 
 of explanation was at length come. He Hstened to the 
 narrative of Gideon Gray, which, the reader may beHeve, 
 being altogether divested of the gilding which Nurse 
 Jamieson's imagination had bestowed upon it, and re- 
 duced to what mercantile men termed the 'needful,' 
 exhibited Httle more than the tale of a child of shame, 
 deserted by its father and mother, and brought up on the 
 reluctant charity of a more distant relation, who regarded 
 him as the Hving, though unconscious, evidence of the 
 disgrace of his family, and would more wilHngly have 
 paid for the expenses of his funeral than that of the food 
 which was grudgingly provided for him. 'Temple and 
 tower,' a hundred flattering edifices of Richard's childish 
 imagination went to the ground at once, and the pain 
 which attended their demohtion was rendered the more 
 acute by a sense of shame that he should have nursed 
 such reveries. He remained, while Gideon continued his 
 explanation, in a dejected posture, his eyes fixed on the 
 ground, and the veins of his forehead swoln with con- 
 tending passions. 
 
 242
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 *And now, my dear Richard,' said the good surgeon, 
 * you must think what you can do for yourself, since your 
 grandfather leaves you the choice of three honourable 
 professions, by any of which, well and wisely prosecuted, 
 you may become independent if not wealthy, and re- 
 spectable if not great. You will naturally desire a little 
 time for consideration.' 
 
 ' Not a minute,' said the boy, raising his head and look- 
 ing boldly at his guardian. 'I am a free-born English- 
 man, and will return to England if I think fit.' 
 
 * A free-born fool you are,' said Gray. 'You were born, 
 as I think, and no one can know better than I do, in the 
 blue room of Stevenlaw's Land, in the townhead of Mid- 
 dlemas, if you call that being a free-born Englishman.' 
 
 * But Tom Hillary ' — this was an apprentice of Clerk 
 Lawford, who had of late been a great friend and adviser 
 of young Middlemas — * Tom Hillary says that I am a 
 free-born Englishman, notwithstanding, in right of my 
 parents.' 
 
 'Pooh, child! what do we know of your parents? But 
 what has your being an Englishman to do with the pres- 
 ent question?' 
 
 'Oh, doctor!' answered the boy, bitterly, 'you know 
 we from the south side of Tweed cannot scramble so 
 hard as you do. The Scots are too moral, and too pru- 
 dent, and too robust for a poor pudding-eater to live 
 amongst them, whether as a parson, or as a lawyer, or as 
 a doctor — with your pardon, sir.' 
 
 'Upon my life, Dick,' said Gray, 'this Tom Hillary 
 will turn your brain. What is the meaning of all this 
 trash?' 
 
 ' Tom Hillary says that the parson lives by the sins of 
 
 243
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the people, the lawyer by their distresses, and the doctor 
 by their diseases — always asking your pardon, sir.' 
 
 ' Tom Hillary,' repKed the doctor, ' should be drummed 
 out of the borough. A whipper-snapper of an attorney's 
 apprentice, run away from Newcastle! If I hear him 
 talking so, I '11 teach him to speak with more reverence 
 of the learned professions. Let me hear no more of Tom 
 Hillary, whom you have seen far too much of lately. 
 Think a little, like a lad of sense, and tell me what answer 
 I am to give to Mr. Mongada.' 
 
 'Tell him,' said the boy, the tone of afifected sarcasm 
 laid aside, and that of injured pride substituted in its 
 room — * tell him that my soul revolts at the obscure 
 lot he recommends to me. I am determined to enter my 
 father's profession, the army, unless my grandfather 
 chooses to receive me into his house and place me in his 
 own line of business.' 
 
 'Yes, and make you his partner, I suppose, and 
 acknowledge you for his heir?' said Dr. Gray; *a thing 
 extremely likely to happen, no doubt, considering the 
 way in which he has brought you up all along, and the 
 terms in which he now writes concerning you.' 
 
 ' Then, sir, there is one thing which I can demand of 
 you,' replied the boy. 'There is a large sum of money in 
 your hands belonging to me; and since it is consigned to 
 you for my use, I demand you should make the neces- 
 sary advances to procure a commission in the army, 
 account to me for the balance; and so, with thanks for 
 past favours, I will give you no trouble in future.' 
 
 'Young man,' said the doctor, gravely, 'I am very 
 sorry to see that your usual prudence and good-humour 
 are not proof against the disappointment of some idle 
 
 244
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 expectations which you had not the slightest reason to 
 entertain. It is very true that there is a sum which, in 
 spite of various expenses, may still approach to a thou- 
 sand pounds or better, which remains in my hands for 
 your behoof. But I am bound to dispose of it according 
 to the will of the donor; and, at any rate, you are not 
 entitled to call for it until you come to years of discre- 
 tion — a period from which you are six years distant 
 according to law, and which, in one sense, you will never 
 reach at all, unless you alter your present unreasonable 
 crotchets. But come, Dick, this is the first time I h^ve 
 seen you in so absurd a humour, and you have many 
 things, I own, in your situation to apologise for impa- 
 tience even greater than you have displayed. But you 
 should not turn your resentment on me, that am no way 
 in fault. You should remember that I was your earliest 
 and only friend, and took charge of you when every other 
 person forsook you.' 
 
 ' I do not thank you for it,' said Richard, giving way to 
 a burst of uncontrolled passion. ' You might have done 
 better for me had you pleased.' 
 
 * And in what manner, you ungrateful boy? ' said Gray, 
 whose composure was a little ruffled. 
 
 * You might have flung me under the wheels of their 
 carriages as they drove off, and have let them trample on 
 the body of their child, as they have done on his feelings.' 
 
 So sa>^ng, he rushed out of the room, and shut the 
 door behind him with great violence, leaving his guardian 
 astonished at his sudden and violent change of temper 
 and manner. 
 
 'What the deuce can have possessed him? Ah, well. 
 High-spirited, and disappointed in some follies which 
 
 245
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 that Tom Hillary has put into his head. But his is a case 
 for anodynes, and shall be treated accordingly.' 
 
 While the doctor formed this good-natured resolution, 
 young Middlemas rushed to Nurse Jamieson's apart- 
 ment, where poor Menie, to whom his presence always 
 gave holyday feelings, hastened to exhibit for his admi- 
 ration a new doll, of which she had made the acquisition. 
 No one, generally, was more interested in Menie's amuse- 
 ments than Richard; but at present Richard, hke his 
 celebrated namesake, was not i' the vein. He threw off 
 the little damsel so carelessly, almost so rudely, that the 
 doll flew out of Menie's hand, fell on the hearthstone, 
 and broke its waxen face. The rudeness drew from Nurse 
 Jamieson a rebuke, even although the culprit was her 
 darling. 
 
 ' Hout awa', Richard, that wasna like yoursell, to guide 
 Miss Menie that gate. Haud your tongue, Miss Menie, 
 and I'll soon mend the baby's face.' 
 
 But if Menie cried, she did not cry for the doll; and 
 while the tears flowed silently down her cheeks, she sat 
 looking at Dick Middlemas with a childish face of fear, 
 sorrow, and wonder. Nurse Jamieson was soon diverted 
 from her attention to Menie Gray's distresses, especially 
 as she did not weep aloud, and her attention became 
 fixed on the altered countenance, red eyes, and swoln 
 features of her darling foster-child. She instantly com- 
 menced an investigation into the cause of his distress, 
 after the usual inquisitorial manner of matrons of her 
 class. ' What is the matter wi' my bairn? ' and ' Wha has 
 been vexing my bairn?' with similar questions, at last 
 extorted this reply — 
 
 * I am not your bairn — I am no one's bairn — no 
 
 246
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 one's son. I am an outcast from my family, and belong 
 to no one. Dr. Gray has told me so himself.' 
 
 'And did he cast up to my bairn that he was a bas- 
 tard? Troth he wasna blate. My certie, your father was 
 a better man than ever stood on the doctor's shanks — 
 a handsome grand gentleman, with an ee like a gled's 
 and a step Hke a Highland piper.' 
 
 Nurse Jamieson had got on a favourite topic, and 
 would have expatiated long enough, for she was a pro- 
 fessed admirer of masculine beauty, but there was some- 
 thing which displeased the boy in her last simile ; so he 
 cut the conversation short by asking whether she knew 
 exactly how much money his grandfather had left with 
 Dr. Gray for his maintenance. ' She could not say — 
 didna ken — an awfu' sum it was to pass out of ae man's 
 hand. She was sure it wasna less than ae hundred pounds 
 and it might weel be twa.' In short, she knew nothing 
 about the matter; 'but she was sure Dr. Gray would 
 count to him to the last farthing, for everybody kenn'd 
 that he was a just man where siller was concerned. How- 
 ever, if her bairn wanted to ken mair about it, to be sure 
 the town-clerk could tell him all about it.' 
 
 Richard Middlemas arose and left the apartment, 
 without saying more. He went immediately to visit the 
 old town-clerk, to whom he had made himself accepta- 
 ble, as indeed he had done to most of the dignitaries 
 about the burgh. He introduced the conversation by the 
 proposal which had been made to him for choosing a 
 profession, and after speaking of the mysterious circum- 
 stances of his birth and the doubtful prospects which lay 
 before him, he easily led the town-clerk into conversa- 
 tion as to the amount of the funds, and heard the exact 
 
 247
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 state of the money in his guardian's hands, which cor- 
 responded with the information he had already received. 
 He next sounded the worthy scribe on the possibility of 
 his going into the army; but received a second confirma- 
 tion of the intelligence Mr. Gray had given him, being 
 informed that no part of the money could be placed at 
 his disposal till he was of age, and then not without the 
 especial consent of both his guardians, and particularly 
 that of his master. He therefore took leave of the town- 
 clerk, who, much approving the cautious manner in 
 which he spoke, and his prudent selection of an adviser 
 at this important crisis of his Hfe, intimated to him that, 
 should he choose the law, he would himself receive him 
 into his office upon a very moderate apprentice-fee, and 
 would part with Tom Hillary to make room for him, as 
 the lad was 'rather pragmatical, and plagued him with 
 speaking about his EngHsh practice, which they had 
 nothing to do with on this side of the Border — the Lord 
 be thanked!' 
 
 Middlemas thanked him for his kindness, and prom- 
 ised to consider his kind ofifer, in case he should deter- 
 mine upon following the profession of the law. 
 
 From Tom Hillary's master Richard went to Tom 
 Hillary himself, who chanced then to be in the office. He 
 was a lad about twenty, as smart as small, but distin- 
 guished for the accuracy with which he dressed his hair, 
 and the splendour of a laced hat and embroidered waist- 
 coat, with which he graced the church of Middlemas on 
 Sundays. Tom Hillary had been bred an attorney's 
 clerk in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but, for some reason or 
 other, had found it more convenient of late years to 
 reside in Scotland, and was recommended to the town- 
 
 248
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 clerk of Middlemas by the accuracy and beauty with 
 which he transcribed the records of the burgh. It is not 
 improbable that the reports concerning the singular 
 circumstances of Richard Middlemas's birth, and the 
 knowledge that he was actually possessed of a consider- 
 able sum of money, induced Hillary, though so much his 
 senior, to admit the lad to his company, and enrich his 
 youthful mind with some branches of information which, 
 in that retired corner, his pupil might otherwise have 
 been some time in attaining. Amongst these were certain 
 games at cards and dice, in which the pupil paid, as was 
 reasonable, the price of initiation by his losses to his 
 instructor. After a long walk with this youngster, whose 
 advice, like the unwise son of the wisest of men, he prob- 
 ably valued more than that of his more aged counsellors, 
 Richard Middlemas returned to his lodgings in Steven- 
 law's Land, and went to bed sad and supperless. 
 
 The next morning Richard arose with the sun, and his 
 night's rest appeared to have had its frequent effect, in 
 cooUng the passions and correcting the understanding. 
 Little Menie was the first person to whom he made the 
 amende honorable ; and a much smaller propitiation than 
 the new doll with which he presented her would have 
 been accepted as an atonement for a much greater of- 
 fence. Menie was one of those pure spirits to whom a 
 state of unkindness, if the estranged person has been a 
 friend, is a state of pain, and the slightest advance of her 
 friend and protector was sufficient to regain all her child- 
 ish confidence and affection. 
 
 The father did not prove more inexorable than Menie 
 had done. Mr. Gray, indeed, thought he had good reason 
 to look cold upon Richard at their next meeting, being 
 
 249
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 not a little hurt at the ungrateful treatment which he 
 had received on the preceding evening. But Middlemas 
 disarmed him at once by frankly pleading that he had 
 suffered his mind to be carried away by the supposed 
 rank and importance of his parents into an idle convic- 
 tion that he was one day to share them. The letter of 
 his grandfather, which condemned him to banishment 
 and obscurity for life, was, he acknowledged, a very se- 
 vere blow; and it was with deep sorrow that he reflected 
 that the irritation of his disappointment had led him to 
 express himself in a manner far short of the respect and 
 reverence of one who owed Mr. Gray the duty and affec- 
 tion of a son, and ought to refer to his decision every ac- 
 tion of his life. Gideon, propitiated by an admission so 
 candid, and made with so much humility, readily dis- 
 missed his resentment, and kindly inquired of Richard 
 whether he had bestowed any reflection upon the choice 
 of profession which had been subjected to him ; offering, 
 at the same time, to allow him all reasonable time to 
 make up his mind. 
 
 On this subject, Richard Middlemas answered with the 
 same promptitude and candour. 'He had,' he said, 'in 
 order to forming his opinion more safely, consulted with 
 his friend, the town-clerk.' The doctor nodded appro- 
 bation. 'Mr. Lawford had, indeed, been most friendly 
 and had even offered to take him into his own office. But 
 if his father and benefactor would permit him to study, 
 under his instructions, the noble art in which he himself 
 enjoyed such a deserved reputation, the mere hope that 
 he might by and by be of some use to Mr. Gray in his 
 business would greatly overbalance every other consid- 
 eration. Such a course of education, and such a use of 
 
 250
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 professional knowledge when he had acquired it, would 
 be a greater spur to his industry than the prospect even 
 of becoming town-clerk of Middlemas in his proper 
 person.' 
 
 As the young man expressed it to be his firm and un- 
 alterable choice to study medicine under his guardian, 
 and to remain a member of his family, Dr. Gray informed 
 Mr. Mongada of the lad's determination; who, to testify 
 his approbation, remitted to the doctor the sum of £ioo 
 as apprentice-fee — a sum nearly three times as much as 
 Gray's modesty had hinted at as necessary. 
 
 Shortly after, when Dr. Gray and the town-clerk met 
 at the small club of the burgh, their joint theme was the 
 sense and steadiness of Richard Middlemas. 
 
 'Indeed,' said the town-clerk, 'he is such a friendly 
 and disinterested boy, that I could not get him to accept 
 a place in my office for fear he should be thought to be 
 pushing himself forward at the expense of Tam Hillary.' 
 
 'And, indeed, clerk,' said Gray, 'I have sometimes 
 been afraid that he kept too much company with that 
 Tam Hillary of yours; but twenty Tam Hillarys would 
 not corrupt Dick Middlemas.'
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 Dick was come to high renown 
 Since he commenced physician; 
 
 Tom was held by all the town 
 The better politician. 
 
 Tom and Dick. 
 
 At the same period when Dr. Gray took under his charge 
 his youthful lodger Richard Middlemas, he received pro- 
 posals from the friends of one Adam Hartley, to receive 
 him also as an apprentice. The lad was the son of a re- 
 spectable farmer on the English side of the Border, who, 
 conducting his eldest son to his own occupation, desired 
 to make his second a medical man, in order to avail him- 
 self of the friendship of a great man, his landlord, who 
 had offered to assist his views in life, and represented a 
 doctor or surgeon as the sort of person to whose advan- 
 tage his interest could be most readily applied. Middle- 
 mas and Hartley were therefore associated in their stu- 
 dies. In winter they were boarded in Edinburgh, for 
 attending the medical classes, which were necessary for 
 taking their degree. Three or four years thus passed on, 
 and, from being mere boys, the two medical aspirants 
 shot up into young men, who, being both very good- 
 looking, well dressed, well bred, and having money in 
 their pockets, became personages of some importance 
 in the little town of Middlemas, where there was scarce 
 anything that could be termed an aristocracy, and in 
 which beaux were scarce and belles were plenty. 
 
 Each of the two had his especial partizans; for, though 
 252
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 the young men themselves lived in tolerable harmony 
 together, yet, as usual in such cases, no one could ap- 
 prove of one of them without at the same time compar- 
 ing him with, and asserting his superiority over, his 
 companion. 
 
 Both were gay, fond of dancing, and sedulous atten- 
 dants on the 'practeezings,' as he called them, of Mr. 
 MTittoch, a dancing-master who, itinerant during the 
 summer, became stationary in the winter season, and 
 afforded the youth of Middlemas the benefit of his in- 
 structions at the rate of twenty lessons for five shillings 
 sterling. On these occasions each of Dr. Gray's pupils 
 had his appropriate praise. Hartley danced with most 
 spirit, Middlemas with a better grace. Mr. M'Fittoch 
 would have turned out Richard against the country-side 
 in the minuet, and wagered the thing dearest to him in 
 the world, and that was his kit, upon his assured supe- 
 riority; but he admitted Hartley was superior to him in 
 hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels. 
 
 In dress Hartley was most expensive, perhaps because 
 his father afforded him better means of being so ; but his 
 clothes were neither so tasteful when new nor so well 
 preserved when they began to grow old as those of 
 Richard Middlemas. Adam Hartley was sometimes fine, 
 at other times rather slovenly, and on the former occa- 
 sions looked rather too conscious of his splendour. His 
 chum was at all times regularly neat and well dressed; 
 while at the same time he had an air of good-breeding 
 which made him appear always at ease; so that his dress, 
 whatever it was, seemed to be just what he ought to have 
 worn at the time. 
 
 In their persons there was a still more strongly-marked 
 
 2 S3
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 distinction. Adam Hartley was full middle-size, stout, 
 and well limbed; and an open English countenance, of 
 the genuine Saxon mould, showed itself among chestnut 
 locks, until the hairdresser destroyed them. He loved 
 the rough exercises of wrestling, boxing, leaping, and 
 quarter-staff, and frequented, when he could obtain lei- 
 sure, the bull-baitings and football matches by which 
 the burgh was sometimes enhvened. 
 
 Richard, on the contrary, was dark, like his father and 
 mother, with high features, beautifully formed, but 
 exhibiting something of a foreign character; and his per- 
 son was tall and slim, though muscular and active. His 
 address and manners must have been natural to him, 
 for they were, in elegance and ease, far beyond any 
 example which he could have found in his native burgh. 
 He learned the use of the small-sword while in Edin- 
 burgh, and took lessons from a performer at the theatre, 
 with the purpose of refining his mode of speaking. He 
 became also an amateur of the drama, regularly attend- 
 ing the play-house, and assuming the tone of a critic in 
 that and other lighter departments of literature. To fill 
 up the contrast, so far as taste was concerned, Richard 
 was a dexterous and successful angler, Adam a bold and 
 unerring shot. Their efforts to surpass each other in sup- 
 plying Dr. Gray's table rendered his housekeeping much 
 preferable to what it had been on former occasions; 
 and, besides, small presents of fish and game are always 
 agreeable amongst the inhabitants of a country town, 
 and contributed to increase the popularity of the young 
 sportsmen. 
 
 While the burgh was divided, for lack of better sub- 
 ject of disputation, concerning the comparative merits of 
 
 254
 
 TPIE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Dr. Gray's two apprentices, he himself was sometimes 
 chosen the referee. But in this, as in other matters, the 
 doctor was cautious. He said the lads were both good 
 lads, and would be useful men in the profession if their 
 heads were not carried with the notice which the foolish 
 people of the burgh took of them, and the parties of 
 pleasure that were so often taking them away from their 
 business. No doubt it was natural for him to feel more 
 confidence in Hartley, who came of 'kenned folk,' and 
 was very near as good as a born Scotsman. But if he did 
 feel such a partiality, he blamed himself for it, since the 
 stranger child, so oddly cast upon his hands, had peculiar 
 good right to such patronage and affection as he had to 
 bestow; and truly the young man himself seemed so 
 grateful that it was impossible for him to hint the slight- 
 est wish that Dick Middlemas did not hasten to execute. 
 
 There were persons in the burgh of Middlemas who 
 were indiscreet enough to suppose that Miss Menie must 
 be a better judge than any other person of the compar- 
 ative merits of these accomplished personages, respect- 
 ing which the public opinion was generally divided. No 
 one even of her greatest intimates ventured to put the 
 question to her in precise terms; but her conduct was nar- 
 rowly observed, and the critics remarked that to Adam 
 Hartley her attentions were given more freely and 
 frankly. She laughed with him, chatted with him, and 
 danced with him ; while to Dick Middlemas her conduct 
 was more shy and distant. The premises seemed certain; 
 but the public were divided in the conclusions which 
 were to be drawn from them. 
 
 It was not possible for the young men to be the sub- 
 ject of such discussions without being sensible that they 
 
 255
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 existed; and thus contrasted together by the little so- 
 ciety in which they moved, they must have been made 
 of better than ordinary clay if they had not themselves 
 entered by degrees into the spirit of the controversy, and 
 considered themselves as rivals for public applause. 
 
 Nor is it to be forgotten that Menie Gray was by this 
 time shot up into one of the prettiest young women, not 
 of Middlemas only, but of the whole county in which 
 the little burgh is situated. This, indeed, had been set- 
 tled by evidence which could not be esteemed short of 
 decisive. At the time of the races there were usually 
 assembled in the burgh some company of the higher 
 classes from the country around, and many of the sober 
 burghers mended their incomes by letting their apart- 
 ments, or taking in lodgers of quahty, for the busy week. 
 All the rural thanes and thanesses attended on these 
 occasions ; and such was the number of cocked hats and 
 silken trains, that the little town seemed for a time to- 
 tally to have changed its inhabitants. On this occasion 
 persons of a certain quahty only were permitted to 
 attend upon the nightly balls which were given in the old 
 town-house, and the line of distinction excluded Mr. 
 Gray's family. 
 
 The aristocracy, however, used their privileges with 
 some feelings of deference to the native beaux and belles 
 of the burgh, who were thus doomed to hear the fiddles 
 nightly without being permitted to dance to them. One 
 evening in the race-week, termed the Hunter's Ball, was 
 dedicated to general amusement, and liberated from the 
 usual restrictions of etiquette. On this occasion all the 
 respectable famiHes in the town were invited to share 
 the amusement of the evening, and to wonder at the 
 
 256
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 finery, and be grateful for the condescension, of their 
 betters. This was especially the case with the females, 
 for the number of invitations to the gentlemen of the 
 town was much more limited. Now, at this general mus- 
 ter, the beauty of Miss Gray's face and person had 
 placed her, in the opinion of all competent judges, de- 
 cidedly at the head of all the belles present, saving those 
 with whom, according to the ideas of the place, it would 
 hardly have been decent to compare her. 
 
 The laird of the ancient and distinguished house of 
 Louponheight did not hesitate to engage her hand dur- 
 ing the greater part of the evening; and his mother, 
 renowned for her stern assertion of the distinctions of 
 rank, placed the little plebeian beside her at supper, and 
 was heard to say that the surgeon's daughter behaved 
 very prettily indeed, and seemed to know perfectly well 
 where and what she was. As for the young laird himself, 
 he capered so high, and laughed so uproariously, as to 
 give rise to a rumour that he was minded to * shoot madly 
 from his sphere,' and to convert the village doctor's 
 daughter into a lady of his own ancient name. 
 
 During this memorable evening, Middlemas and 
 Hartley, who had found room in the music gallery, wit- 
 nessed the scene, and, as it would seem, with very differ- 
 ent feelings. Hartley was evidently annoyed by the 
 excess of attention which the gallant laird of Loupon- 
 height, stimulated by the influence of a couple of bottles 
 of claret and by the presence of a partner who danced 
 remarkably well, paid to Miss Mcnie Gray. He saw from 
 his lofty stand all the dumb show of gallantry with the 
 comfortable feelings of a famishing creature looking upon 
 a feast which he is not permitted to share, and regarded 
 
 44 257
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 every extraordinary frisk of the jovial laird as the same 
 might have been looked upon by a gouty person, who 
 apprehended that the dignitary was about to descend on 
 his toes. At length, unable to restrain his emotion, he 
 left the gallery, and returned no more. 
 
 Far diflferent was the demeanour of Middlemas. He 
 seemed gratified and elevated by the attention which 
 was generally paid to Miss Gray, and by the admiration 
 she excited. On the valiant laird of Louponheight he 
 looked with indescribable contempt, and amused him- 
 self with pointing out to the burgh dancing-master, who 
 acted pro tempore as one of the band, the frolicsome 
 bounds and pirouettes, in which that worthy displayed a 
 great deal more of vigour than of grace. 
 
 'But he shouldna laugh sae loud. Master Dick,' said 
 the master of capers; *he hasna had the advantage of a 
 real gracefu' teacher, as ye have had; and troth, if he 
 listed to tak some lessons, I think I could make some 
 hand of his feet, for he is a souple chield, and has a gal- 
 lant instep of his ain ; and sic a laced hat hasna been seen 
 on the causeway of Middlemas this mony a day. Ye are 
 standing laughing there, Dick Middlemas; I would have 
 you be sure he does not cut you out with your bonny 
 partner yonder.' 
 
 * He be — ! ' Middlemas was beginning a sentence 
 which could not have concluded with strict attention to 
 propriety, when the master of the band summoned 
 M'Fittoch to his post by the following ireful expostula- 
 tion — 'What are ye about, sir? Mind your bow-hand. 
 How the deil d 'ye think three fiddles is to keep down a 
 bass, if yin o' them stands girning and gabbling as ye 're 
 doing? Play up, sir ! ' 
 
 258
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Dick Middlemas, thus reduced to silence, continued, 
 from his lofty station, like one of the gods of the Epicu- 
 reans, to survey what passed below, without the gaieties 
 which he witnessed being able to excite more than a 
 smile, which seemed, however, rather to indicate a good- 
 humoured contempt for what was passing than a benev- 
 olent sympathy with the pleasures of others.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 Now hold thy tongue, Billy Bewick, he said, 
 
 Of peaceful talking let roe be; 
 But if thou art a man, as I think thou art, 
 
 Come ower the dike and fight with me. 
 
 Border Minstrelsy, 
 
 On the morning after this gay evening, the two young 
 men were labouring together in a plot of ground behind 
 Stevenlaw's Land which the doctor had converted into a 
 garden, where he raised, with a view to pharmacy as well 
 as botany, some rare plants, which obtained the place 
 from the vulgar the sounding name of the Physic Gar- 
 den.^ Mr. Gray's pupils readily complied with his wishes, 
 that they would take some care of this favourite spot, to 
 which both contributed their labours, after which Hart- 
 ley used to devote himself to the cultivation of the 
 kitchen garden, which he had raised into this respecta- 
 bility from a spot not excelling a common kail-yard, 
 while Richard Middlemas did his utmost to decorate 
 with flowers and shrubs a sort of arbour, usually called 
 Miss Menie's bower. 
 
 At present, they were both in the botanic patch of the 
 garden, when Dick Middlemas asked Hartley why he 
 had left the ball so soon the evening before. 
 
 'I should rather ask you,' said Hartley, 'what 
 pleasure you felt in staying there? I tell you, Dick, 
 it is a shabby, low place this Middlemas of ours. 
 In the smallest burgh in England every decent free- 
 
 ^ The Botanic Garden is so termed by the vulgar of Edinburgh. 
 260
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 holder would have been asked if the member gave 
 a ball.' 
 
 'What, Hartley!' said his companion, 'are you, of all 
 men, a candidate for the honour of mixing with the first- 
 born of the earth? Mercy on us! How will canny North- 
 umberland (throwing a true Northern accent on the 
 letter R) acquit himself? Methinks I see thee in thy 
 pea-green suit, dancing a jig with the Honourable Miss 
 Maddie MacFudgeon, while chiefs and thanes around 
 laugh as they would do at a hog in armour!' 
 
 'You don't, or perhaps you won't, understand me/ 
 said Hartley. 'I am not such a fool as to desire to be 
 hail-fellow-well-met with these fine folks : I care as little 
 for them as they do for me. But as they do not choose 
 to ask us to dance, I don't see what business they have 
 with our partners.' 
 
 'Partners, said you!' answered Middlemas; *I don't 
 think Menie is very often yours.' 
 
 'As often as I ask her,' answered Hartley, rather 
 haughtily. 
 
 'Ay? Indeed? I did not think that. And hang me if I 
 think so yet,' said Middlemas, with the same sarcastic 
 tone. ' I tell thee, Adam, I will bet you a bowl of punch 
 that Miss Gray will not dance with you the next time 
 you ask her. All I stipulate is to know the day,* 
 
 'I will lay no bets about Miss Gray,' said Hartley; 
 ' her father is my master, and I am obliged to him — I 
 think I should act very scurvily if I were to make her the 
 subject of any idle debate betwixt you and me.' 
 
 'Very right,' replied Middlemas; 'you should finish 
 one quarrel before you begin another. Pray, saddle your 
 pony, ride up to the gate of Louponhcight Castle, and 
 
 261
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 defy the baron to mortal combat for having presumed 
 to touch the fair hand of Menie Gray.' 
 
 ' I wish you would leave Miss Gray's name out of the 
 question, and take your defiances to your fine folks in 
 your own name, and see what they will say to the 
 surgeon's apprentice.' 
 
 ' Speak for yourself, if you please, Mr. Adam Hartley. 
 I was not born a clown, like some folks, and should care 
 little, if I saw it fit, to talk to the best of them at the 
 ordinary, and make myself understood too.' 
 
 'Very likely,' answered Hartley, losing patience; 'you 
 are one of themselves, you know — Middlemas of that 
 Ilk.' 
 
 'You scoundrel!' said Richard, advancing on him in 
 fury, his taunting humour entirely changed into rage. 
 
 'Stand back,' said Hartley, 'or you will come by the 
 worst; if you will break rude jests, you must put up with 
 rough answers.' 
 
 'I will have satisfaction for this insult, by Heaven!' 
 
 'Why, so you shall, if you insist on it,' said Hartley; 
 'but better, I think, to say no more about the matter. 
 We have both spoken what would have been better left 
 unsaid. I was in the wrong to say what I said to you, 
 although you did provoke me. And now I have given 
 you as much satisfaction as a reasonable man can ask.' 
 
 'Sir,' repeated Middlemas, 'the satisfaction which I 
 demand is that of a gentleman: the doctor has a pair of 
 pistols.' 
 
 'And a pair of mortars also, which are heartily at your 
 service, gentlemen,' said Mr. Gray, coming forward 
 from behind a yew hedge, where he had listened to the 
 whole or greater part of this dispute. 'A fine story it 
 
 262
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 would be of my apprentices shooting each other with my 
 own pistols ! Let me see either of you fit to treat a gun- 
 shot wound before you think of inflicting one. Go, you 
 are both very foolish boys, and I cannot take it kind of 
 either of you to bring the name of my daughter into such 
 disputes as these. Hark ye, lads, ye both owe me, I 
 think, some portion of respect, and even of gratitude; 
 it will be a poor return if, instead of living quietly with 
 this poor motherless girl, like brothers with a sister, you 
 should oblige me to increase my expense, and abridge 
 my comfort, by sending my child from me for the few 
 months that you are to remain here. Let me see you 
 shake hands, and let us have no more of this non- 
 sense.' 
 
 While their master spoke in this manner, both the 
 young men stood before him in the attitude of self- 
 convicted criminals. At the conclusion of his rebuke, 
 Hartley turned frankly round and offered his hand to 
 his companion, who accepted it, but after a moment's 
 hesitation. There was nothing further passed on the 
 subject, but the lads never resumed the same sort of 
 intimacy which had existed betwixt them in their earlier 
 acquaintance. On the contrary, avoiding every con- 
 nexion not absolutely required by their situation, and 
 abridging as much as possible even their indispensable 
 intercourse in professional matters, they seemed as 
 much estranged from each other as two persons residing 
 in the same small house had the means of being. 
 
 As for Menie Gray, her father did not appear to enter- 
 tain the least anxiety upon her account, although, from 
 his frequent and almost daily absence from home, she 
 was exposed to constant intercourse with two handsome 
 
 203
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 young men, both, it might be supposed, ambitious of 
 pleasing her more than most parents would have deemed 
 entirely prudent. Nor was Nurse Jamieson — her me- 
 nial situation and her excessive partiality for her foster- 
 son considered — altogether such a matron as could 
 afford her protection. Gideon, however, knew that his 
 daughter possessed, in its fullest extent, the upright and 
 pure integrity of his own character, and that never 
 father had less reason to apprehend that a daughter 
 should deceive his confidence; and, justly secure of her 
 principles, he overlooked the danger to which he exposed 
 her feelings and affections. 
 
 The intercourse betwixt Menie and the young men 
 seemed now of a guarded kind on all sides. Their meet- 
 ing was only at meals, and Miss Gray was at pains, per- 
 haps by her father's recommendation, to treat them with 
 the same degree of attention. This, however, was no 
 easy matter; for Hartley became so retiring, cold, and 
 formal that it was impossible for her to sustain any 
 prolonged intercourse with him; whereas Middlemas, 
 perfectly at his ease, sustained his part as formerly upon 
 all occasions that occurred, and, without appearing to 
 press his intimacy assiduously, seemed nevertheless to 
 retain the complete possession of it. 
 
 The time drew nigh at length when the young men, 
 freed from the engagements of their indentures, must 
 look to play their own independent part in the world. 
 Mr. Gray informed Richard Middlemas that he had 
 written pressingly upon the subject to Mongada, and 
 that more than once, but had not yet received an an- 
 swer; nor did he presume to offer his own advice until 
 the pleasure of his grandfather should be known. 
 
 264
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Richard seemed to endure this suspense with more 
 patience than the doctor thought belonged naturally 
 to his character. He asked no questions, stated no 
 conjectures, showed no anxiety, but seemed to await 
 with patience the turn which events should take. *My 
 young gentleman,' thought Mr. Gray, 'has either fixed 
 on some course in his own mind, or he is about to be 
 more tractable than some points of his character have 
 led me to expect.' 
 
 In fact, Richard had made an experiment on this 
 inflexible relative, by sending Mr. Mongada a letter full 
 of duty, and affection, and gratitude, desiring to be 
 permitted to correspond with him in person, and prom- 
 ising to be guided in every particular by his will. The 
 answer to this appeal was his own letter returned, with 
 a note from the bankers whose cover had been used, 
 saying, that any future attempt to intrude on Mr. 
 Mongada would put a final period to their remittances. 
 
 While things were in this situation in Stevenlaw's 
 Land, Adam Hartley one evening, contrary to his cus- 
 tom for several months, sought a private interview with 
 his fellow-apprentice. He found him in the little arbour, 
 and could not omit observing that Dick Middlemas, on 
 his appearance, shoved into his bosom a small packet, 
 as if afraid of its being seen, and, snatching up a hoe, 
 began to work with great devotion, like one who wished 
 to have it thought that his whole soul was in his occu- 
 pation. 
 
 'I wished to speak with you, Mr. Middlemas,' said 
 Hartley; 'but I fear I interrupt you.' 
 
 'Not in the least,' said the other, laying down his hoe; 
 *I was only scratching up the weeds which the late 
 
 265
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 showers have made rush up so numerously. I am at your 
 service.' 
 
 Hartley proceeded to the arbour, and seated himself. 
 Richard imitated this example, and seemed to wait for 
 the proposed communication. 
 
 'I have had an interesting communication with Mr. 
 Gray — ' said Hartley, and there stopped, like one who 
 finds himself entering upon a diflEicult task. 
 
 *I hope the explanation has been satisfactory?' said 
 Middlemas. 
 
 * You shall judge. Dr. Gray was pleased to say some- 
 thing to me very civil about my proficiency in the duties 
 of our profession; and, to my great astonishment, asked 
 me whether, as he was now becoming old, I had any 
 particular objection to continue in my present situation, 
 but with some pecuniary advantages, for two years 
 longer; at the end of which he promised to me that I 
 should enter into partnership with him.' 
 
 'Mr. Gray is an undoubted judge,' said Middlemas, 
 'what person will best suit him as a professional assist- 
 ant. The business may be worth £200 a year, and an 
 active assistant might go nigh to double it by riding 
 Strath-Devon and the Carse. No great subject for 
 division after all, Mr. Hartley.' 
 
 'But,' continued Hartley, 'that is not all. The doctor 
 says — he proposes — in short, if I can render myself 
 agreeable, in the course of these two years, to Miss 
 Menie Gray — he proposes that, when they terminate, 
 I should become his son as well as his partner.' 
 
 As he spoke, he kept his eye fixed on Richard's face, 
 which was for a moment strongly agitated ; but instantly 
 recovering, he answered, in a tone where pique and 
 
 266
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 offended pride vainly endeavoured to disguise them- 
 selves under an affectation of indifference, 'Well, 
 Master Adam, I cannot but wish you joy of the patri- 
 archal arrangement. You have served five years for a 
 professional diploma — a sort of Leah, that privilege of 
 killing and curing. Now you begin a new course of 
 servitude for a lovely Rachel. Undoubtedly — perhaps 
 it is rude in me to ask — but undoubtedly you have ac- 
 cepted so flattering an arrangement? ' 
 
 * You cannot but recollect there was a condition an- 
 nexed,' said Hartley, gravely. 
 
 'That of rendering yourself acceptable to a girl you 
 have known for so many years? ' said Middlemas, with a 
 half-suppressed sneer. *No great difficulty in that, I 
 should think, for such a person as Mr. Hartley, with 
 Dr. Gray's favour to back him. No — no, there could 
 be no great obstacle there.' 
 
 * Both you and I know the contrary, Mr. Middlemas/ 
 said Hartley, very seriously. 
 
 *I know! How should I know anything more than 
 yourself about the state of Miss Gray's inclinations?' 
 said Middlemas. *I am sure we have had equal access 
 to know them.' 
 
 'Perhaps so; but some know better how to avail 
 themselves of opportunities. Mr. Middlemas, I have 
 long suspected that you have had the inestimable ad- 
 vantage of possessing Miss Gray's affections, and — ' 
 
 'I!' interrupted Middlemas. 'You are jesting, or you 
 are jealous. You do yourself less, and me more, than 
 justice; but the compliment is so great that I am 
 obliged to you for the mistake.' 
 
 'That you may know,' answered Hartley, 'I do not 
 267
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 speak either by guess or from what you call jealousy, 
 I tell you frankly that Menie Gray herself told me 
 the state of her affections. I naturally communicated 
 to her the discourse I had with her father. I told her I 
 was but too well convinced that at the present moment 
 I did not possess that interest in her heart which alone 
 might entitle me to request her acquiescence in the 
 views which her father's goodness held out to me; but I 
 entreated her not at once to decide against me, but give 
 me an opportunity to make way in her affections, if 
 possible, trusting that time, and the services which I 
 should render to her father, might have an ultimate 
 effect in my favour.' 
 
 'A most natural and modest request. But what did 
 the young lady say in reply? ' 
 
 'She is a noble-hearted girl, Richard Middlemas; and 
 for her frankness alone, even without her beauty and her 
 good sense, deserves an emperor. I cannot express the 
 graceful modesty with which she told me that she knew 
 too well the kindliness, as she was pleased to call it, of 
 my heart to expose me to the protracted pain of an 
 unrequited passion. She candidly informed me that she 
 had been long engaged to you in secret, that you had 
 exchanged portraits; and though without her father's 
 consent she would never become yours, yet she felt it 
 impossible that she should ever so far change her senti- 
 ments as to afford the most distant prospect of success 
 to another.' 
 
 'Upon my word,' said Middlemas, 'she has been 
 extremely candid indeed, and I am very much obhged 
 to her!' 
 
 'And upon my honest word, Mr. Middlemas,' re- 
 
 268
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 turned Hartley, 'you do Miss Gray the greatest injus- 
 tice — nay, you are ungrateful to her — if you are 
 displeased at her making this declaration. She loves 
 you as a woman loves the first object of her affection; 
 she loves you better — ' He stopped, and Middlemas 
 completed the sentence. 
 
 ' Better than I deserve, perhaps? Faith, it may well 
 be so, and I love her dearly in return. But after all, you 
 know, the secret was mine as well as hers, and it would 
 have been better that she had consulted me before 
 making it public' 
 
 'Mr. Middlemas,' said Hartley, earnestly, *if the least 
 of this feehng on your part arises from the apprehension 
 that your secret is less safe because it is in my keeping, I 
 can assure you that such is my grateful sense of Miss 
 Gray's goodness, in communicating, to save me pain, 
 an affair of such deHcacy to herself and you, that wild 
 horses should tear me Hmb from limb before they forced 
 a word of it from my lips.' 
 
 * Nay — nay, my dear friend,' said Middlemas, with a 
 frankness of manner indicating a cordiality that had not 
 existed between them for some time, 'you must allow 
 me to be a little jealous in my turn. Your true lover 
 cannot have a title to the name unless he be sometimes 
 unreasonable; and somehow it seems odd she should 
 have chosen for a confidant one whom I have often 
 thought a formidable rival; and yet I am so far from 
 being displeased, that I do not know that the dear, 
 sensible girl could after all have made a better choice. 
 It is time that the fooHsh coldness between us should be 
 ended, as you must be sensible that its real cause lay in 
 our rivalry. I have much need of good advicCj and who 
 
 269
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 can give it to me better than the old companion whose 
 soundness of judgment I have always envied, even when 
 some injudicious friends have given me credit for 
 quicker parts?' 
 
 Hartley accepted Richard's proffered hand, but with- 
 out any of the buoyancy of spirit with which it was 
 offered. 
 
 'I do not intend,' he said, 'to remain many days in 
 this place, perhaps not very many hours. But if, in the 
 meanwhile, I can benefit you, by advice or otherwise, 
 you may fully command me. It is the only mode in 
 which I can be of service to Menie Gray.' 
 
 'Love my mistress, love me; a happy pendant to the 
 old proverb, "Love me, love my dog." Well, then, for 
 Menie Gray's sake, if not for Dick Middlemas's — 
 plague on that vulgar, tell-tale name! — will you, that 
 are a stander-by, tell us who are the unlucky players 
 what you think of this game of ours? ' 
 
 ' How can you ask such a question, when the field lies 
 so fair before you? I am sure that Dr. Gray would retain 
 you as his assistant upon the same terms which he pro- 
 posed to me. You are the better match, in all worldly 
 respects, for his daughter, having some capital to begin 
 the world with.' 
 
 'All true; but methinks Mr. Gray has showed no 
 great predilection for me in this matter.' 
 
 *If he has done injustice to your indisputable merit,' 
 said Hartley, drily, ' the preference of his daughter has 
 more than atoned for it.' 
 
 'Unquestionably; and dearly, therefore, do I love her; 
 otherwise, Adam, I am not a person to grasp at the 
 leavings of other people.' 
 
 270
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 * Richard,' replied Hartley, 'that pride of yours, if you 
 do not check it, will render you both ungrateful and 
 miserable. Mr. Gray's ideas are most friendly. He told 
 me plainly that his choice of me as an assistant, and as 
 a member of his family, had been a long time balanced 
 by his early affection for you, until he thought he had 
 remarked in you a decisive discontent with such limited 
 prospects as his offer contained, and a desire to go 
 abroad into the world and push, as it is called, your 
 fortune. He said that, although it was very probable 
 that you might love his daughter well enough to rehn- 
 quish these ambitious ideas for her sake, yet the demons 
 of Ambition and Avarice would return after the exorciser 
 Love had exhausted the force of his spells, and then he 
 thought he would have just reason to be anxious for his 
 daughter's happiness.' 
 
 ' By my faith, the worthy senior speaks scholarly and 
 wisely,' answered Richard: 'I did not think he had been 
 so clear-sighted. To say the truth, but for the beautiful 
 Menie Gray, I should feel hke a mill-horse, walking my 
 daily round in this dull country, while other gay rovers 
 are trying how the world will receive them. For in- 
 stance, where do you yourself go? ' 
 
 *A cousin of my mother's commands a ship in the 
 Company's service. I intend to go with him as surgeon's 
 mate. If I like the sea service, I will continue in it; if 
 not, I will enter some other line.' This Hartley said 
 with a sigh. 
 
 *To India!' answered Richard; 'happy dog — to 
 India! You may well bear with equanimity all disap- 
 pointments sustained on this side of the globe. Oh, 
 Delhi! oh^ Golconda! have your names no power to 
 
 271
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 conjure down idle recollections? India, where gold is 
 won by steel ; where a brave man cannot pitch his desire 
 of fame and wealth so high but that he may realise it, if 
 he have fortune to his friend? Is it possible that the bold 
 adventurer can fix his thoughts on you, and still be 
 dejected at the thoughts that a bonny blue-eyed lass 
 looked favourably on a less lucky fellow than himseK? 
 Can this be?' 
 
 'Less lucky!' said Hartley. *Can you, the accepted 
 lover of Menie Gray, speak in that tone, even though it 
 be in jest?' 
 
 'Nay, Adam,' said Richard, 'don't be angry with me 
 because, being thus far successful, I rate my good 
 fortune not quite so rapturously as perhaps you do, who 
 have missed the luck of it. Your philosophy should tell 
 you that the object which we attain, or are sure of 
 attaining, loses, perhaps, even by that very certainty, a 
 little of the extravagant and ideal value which attached 
 to it while the object of feverish hopes and aguish fears. 
 But for all that I cannot live without my sweet Menie. 
 I would wed her to-morrow, with all my soul, without 
 thinking a minute on the clog which so early a marriage 
 would fasten on our heels. But to spend two additional 
 years in this infernal wilderness, cruising after crowns 
 and half-crowns, when worse men are making lacs and 
 crores of rupees — it is a sad falling off, Adam. Counsel 
 me, my friend; can you not suggest some mode of getting 
 off from these two years of destined dulness?' 
 
 'Not I,' replied Hartley, scarce repressing his dis- 
 pleasure; 'and if I could induce Dr. Gray to dispense 
 with so reasonable a condition, I should be very sorry 
 to do so. You are but twenty-one, and if such a period 
 
 272
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 of probation was, in the doctor's prudence, judged 
 necessary for me, who am full two years older, I have no 
 idea that he will dispense with it in yours.' 
 
 'Perhaps not,' replied Middlemas; 'but do you not 
 think that these two, or call them three, years of pro- 
 bation had better be spent in India, where much may be 
 done in a Uttle while, than here, where nothing can be 
 done save just enough to get salt to our broth, or broth 
 to our salt? Methinks I have a natural turn for India, 
 and so I ought. My father was a soldier, by the conjec- 
 ture of all who saw him, and gave me a love of the 
 sword, and an arm to use one. My mother's father was 
 a rich trafficker , who loved wealth, I warrant me, and 
 knew how to get it. This petty two hundred a year, 
 with its miserable and precarious possibilities, to be 
 shared with the old gentleman, sounds in the ears of 
 one like me, who have the world for the winning, and a 
 sword to cut my way through it, like something little 
 better than a decent kind of beggary. Menie is in herself 
 a gem — a diamond — I admit it. But then one would 
 not set such a precious jewel in lead or copper, but in 
 pure gold — ay, and add a circlet of brilHants to set it 
 off with. Be a good fellow, Adam, and undertake the 
 setting my project in proper colours before the doctor. 
 I am sure the wisest thing for him and Menie both is to 
 permit me to spend this short time of probation in the 
 land of cowries. I am sure my heart will be there at any 
 rate, and while I am bleeding some bumpkin for an 
 inflammation, I shall be in fancy relieving some nabob 
 or rajahpoot of his plethora of wealth. Come, will you 
 assist — will you be auxiliary? Ten chances but you 
 plead your own cause, man, for I may be brought up by 
 44 273
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 a sabre or a bow-string before I make my pack up; then 
 your road to Menie will be free and open, and, as you 
 will be possessed of the situation of comforter ex officio, 
 you may take her "with the tear in her ee," as old saws 
 advise.' 
 
 *Mr. Richard Middlemas,' said Hartley, 'I wish it 
 were possible for me to tell you, in the few words which I 
 intend to bestow on you, whether I pity you or despise 
 you the most. Heaven has placed happiness, compe- 
 tence, and content within your power, and you are will- 
 ing to cast them away to gratify ambition and avarice. 
 Were I to give an advice on this subject, either to Dr. 
 Gray or his daughter, it would be to break off all con- 
 nexion with a man who, however clever by nature, may 
 soon show himself a fool, and however honestly brought 
 up, may also, upon temptation, prove himself a villain. 
 You may lay aside the sneer which is designed to be a 
 sarcastic smile. I will not attempt to do this, because I 
 am convinced that my advice would be of no use, unless 
 it could come unattended with suspicion of my motives. 
 I will hasten my departure from this house, that we may 
 not meet again; and I will leave it to God Almighty 
 to protect honesty and innocence against the dangers 
 which must attend vanity and folly.' So saying, he 
 turned contemptuously from the youthful votary of 
 ambition, and left the garden. 
 
 'Stop,' said Middlemas, struck with the picture which 
 had been held up to his conscience — 'stop, Adam Hart- 
 ley, and I will confess to you — ' But his words were 
 uttered in a faint and hesitating manner, and either 
 never reached Hartley's ear or failed in changing his 
 purpose of departure. 
 
 274
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 When he was out of the garden, Middlemas began to 
 recall his usual boldness of disposition. ' Had he stayed a 
 moment longer,' he said, 'I would have turned Papist, 
 and made him my ghostly confessor. The yeomanly 
 churl ! I would give something to know how he has got 
 such a hank over me. What are Menie Gray's engage- 
 ments to him? She has given him his answer, and what 
 right has he to come betwixt her and me? If old Mon- 
 gada had done a grandfather's duty, and made suitable 
 settlements on me, this plan of marrying the sweet girl 
 and settling here in her native place might have done 
 well enough. But to live the life of the poor drudge her 
 father — to be at the command and call of every boor 
 for twenty miles round ! — why, the labours of a higgler, 
 who travels scores of miles to barter pins, ribands, snuff, 
 and tobacco against the housewife's private stock of 
 eggs, mort-skins, and tallow, is more profitable, less 
 laborious, and faith, I think, equally respectable. No — 
 no, unless I can find wealth nearer home, I will seek it 
 where every one can have it for the gathering ; and so I 
 will down to the Swan Inn and hold a final consultation 
 with my friend.'
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 The friend whom Middlemas expected to meet at the 
 Swan was a person already mentioned in this history by 
 the name of Tom Hillary, bred an attorney's clerk in the 
 ancient town of Novum Castrum, doctus utriusque juris, 
 as far as a few months in the service of Mr. Lawford, 
 town-clerk of Middlemas, could render him so. The last 
 mention that we made of this gentleman was when his 
 gold-laced hat veiled its splendour before the fresher- 
 mounted beavers of the 'prentices of Dr. Gray. That 
 was now about five years since, and it was within six 
 months that he had made his appearance in Middlemas, 
 a very different sort of personage from that which he 
 seemed at his departure. 
 
 He was now called Captain; his dress was regimental, 
 and his language martial. He seemed to have plenty of 
 cash, for he not only, to the great surprise of the parties, 
 paid certain old debts which he had left unsettled be- 
 hind him, and that notwithstanding his having, as his 
 old practice told him, a good defence of prescription, but 
 even sent the minister a guinea to the assistance of the 
 parish poor. These acts of justice and benevolence were 
 bruited abroad greatly to the honour of one who, so long 
 absent, had neither forgotten his just debts nor hardened 
 his heart against the cries of the needy. His merits were 
 thought the higher when it was understood he had served 
 the Honourable East India Company — that wonderful 
 company of merchants, who may indeed, with the strict- 
 
 276
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 est propriety, be termed princes. It was about the mid- 
 dle of the eighteenth century, and the directors in Lead- 
 enhall Street were silently laying the foundation of that 
 immense empire which afterwards rose like an exhala- 
 tion, and now astonishes Europe, as well as Asia, with 
 its formidable extent and stupendous strength. Britain 
 had now begun to lend a wondering ear to the account of 
 battles fought and cities won in the East ; and was sur- 
 prised by the return of individuals who had left their 
 native country as adventurers, but now reappeared 
 there surrounded by Oriental wealth and Oriental lux- 
 ury, which dimmed even the splendour of the most 
 wealthy of the British nobihty. In this new-found El 
 Dorado, Hillary had, it seems, been a labourer, and, if he 
 told truth, to some purpose, though he was far from hav- 
 ing completed the harvest which he meditated. He spoke, 
 indeed, of making investments, and, as a mere matter of 
 fancy, he consulted his old master. Clerk Lawford, con- 
 cerning the purchase of a moorland farm of three thou- 
 sand acres, for which he would be content to give three 
 or four thousand guineas, providing the game was plenty 
 and the trouting in the brook such as had been repre- 
 sented by advertisement. But he did not wish to make 
 any extensive landed purchase at present. It was neces- 
 sary to keep up his interest in Leadenhall Street; and in 
 that view, it would be impolitic to part with his India 
 stock and India bonds. In short, it was folly to think of 
 settling on a poor thousand or twelve hundred a year, 
 when one was in the prime of life, and had no liver com- 
 plaint; and so he was determined to double the Cape 
 once again ere he retired to the chimney-corner for life. 
 All he wished was, to pick up a few clever fellows for his 
 
 277
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 regiment, or rather for his own company; and as in all his 
 travels he had never seen finer fellows than about Mid- 
 dlemas, he was willing to give them the preference in 
 completing his levy. In fact, it was making men of 
 them at once, for a few white faces never failed to strike 
 terror into these black rascals ; and then, not to mention 
 the good things that were going at the storming of a pet- 
 tah or the plundering of a pagoda, most of these tawny 
 dogs carried so much treasure about their persons that a 
 won battle was equal to a mine of gold to the victors. 
 
 The natives of Middlemas listened to the noble cap- 
 tain's marvels with different feelings, as their tempera- 
 ments were saturnine or sanguine. But none could deny 
 that such things had been ; and as the narrator was known 
 to be a bold, dashing fellow, possessed of some abilities, 
 and, according to the general opinion, not likely to be 
 withheld by any peculiar scruples of conscience, there 
 was no giving any good reason why Hillary should not 
 have been as successful as others in the field which India, 
 agitated as it was by war and intestine disorders, seemed 
 to offer to every enterprising adventurer. He was ac- 
 cordingly received by his old acquaintances at Middle- 
 mas rather with the respect due to his supposed wealth 
 than in a manner corresponding with his former humble 
 pretensions. 
 
 Some of the notables of the village did indeed keep 
 aloof. Among these, the chief was Dr. Gray, who was an 
 enemy to everything that approached to fanfaronade, 
 and knew enough of the world to lay it down as a sort of 
 general rule that he who talks a great deal of fighting is 
 seldom a brave soldier, and he who always speaks about 
 wealth is seldom a rich man at bottom. Clerk Lawford 
 
 278
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 was also shy, notwithstanding his communings with 
 Hillary upon the subject of his intended purchase. The 
 coolness of the captain's old employer towards him was 
 by some supposed to arise out of certain circumstances 
 attending their former connexion ; but as the clerk him- 
 self never explained what these were, it is unnecessary 
 to make any conjectures upon the subject. 
 
 Richard Middlemas very naturally renewed his inti- 
 macy with his former comrade, and it was from Hillary's 
 conversation that he had adopted the enthusiasm re- 
 specting India which we have heard him express. It was 
 indeed impossible for a youth at once inexperienced in 
 the world and possessed of a most sanguine disposition 
 to listen without sympathy to the glowing descriptions 
 of Hillary, who, though only a recruiting captain, had all 
 the eloquence of a recruiting sergeant. Palaces rose Hke 
 mushrooms in his descriptions ; groves of lofty trees and 
 aromatic shrubs, unknown to the chilly soils of Europe, 
 were tenanted by every object of the chase, from the 
 royal tiger down to the jackall. The luxuries of a natch, 
 and the peculiar Oriental beauty of the enchantresses 
 who performed their voluptuous Eastern dances for the 
 pleasure of the haughty EngHsh conquerors, were no less 
 attractive than the battles and sieges on which the cap- 
 tain at other times expatiated. Not a stream did he men- 
 tion but flowed over sands of gold, and not a palace that 
 was inferior to those of the celebrated Fata Morgana. 
 His descriptions seemed steeped in odours, and his every 
 phrase perfumed in ottar of roses. The interviews at 
 which these descriptions took place often ended in a 
 bottle of choicer wine than the Swan Inn afforded, with 
 some other appendages of the table, which the captain, 
 
 279
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 who was a bon vivant, had procured from Edinburgh. 
 From this good cheer Middlemas was doomed to retire 
 to the homely evening meal of his master, where not all 
 the simple beauties of Menie were able to overcome his 
 disgust at the coarseness of the provisions, or his unwill- 
 ingness to answer questions concerning the diseases of 
 the wretched peasants who were subjected to his inspec- 
 tion. 
 
 Richard's hopes of being acknowledged by his father 
 had long since vanished, and the rough repulse and sub- 
 sequent neglect on the part of Mongada had satisfied 
 him that his grandfather was inexorable, and that neither 
 then nor at any future time did he mean to realise the 
 visions which Nurse Jamieson's splendid figments had 
 encouraged him to entertain. Ambition, however, was 
 not lulled to sleep, though it was no longer nourished by 
 the same hopes which had at first awakened it. The 
 Indian captain's lavish oratory suppHed the themes 
 which had been at first derived from the legends of the 
 nursery; the exploits of a Lawrence and a Clive, as well 
 as the magnificent opportunities of acquiring wealth to 
 which these exploits opened the road, disturbed the slum- 
 bers of the young adventurer. There was nothing to 
 counteract these except his love for Menie Gray and the 
 engagements into which it had led him . But his addresses 
 had been paid to Menie as much for the gratification of 
 his vanity as from any decided passion for that innocent 
 and guileless being. He was desirous of carrying off the 
 prize for which Hartley, whom he never loved, had the 
 courage to contend with him. Then Menie Gray had 
 been beheld with admiration by men his superiors in 
 rank and fortune, but with whom his ambition incited
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 him to dispute the prize. No doubt, though urged to 
 play the gallant at first rather from vanity than any 
 other cause, the frankness and modesty with which his 
 suit was admitted made their natural impression on his 
 heart. He was grateful to the beautiful creature who 
 acknowledged the superiority of his person and accom- 
 plishments, and fancied himself as devotedly attached 
 to her as her personal charms and mental merits would 
 have rendered any one who was less vain or selfish than 
 her lover. Still his passion for the surgeon's daughter 
 ought not, he prudentially determined, to bear more 
 than its due weight in a case so very important as the 
 determining his line of fife; and this he smoothed over 
 to his conscience by repeating to himself that Menie's 
 interest was as essentially concerned as his own in post- 
 poning their marriage to the estabhshment of his for- 
 tune. How many young couples had been ruined by a 
 premature union! 
 
 The contemptuous conduct of Hartley in their last 
 interview had done something to shake his comrade's 
 confidence in the truth of this reasoning, and to lead him 
 to suspect that he was playing a very sordid and unmanly 
 part in trifling with the happiness of this amiable and 
 unfortunate young woman. It was in this doubtful 
 humour that he repaired to the Swan Inn, where he was 
 anxiously expected by his friend the captain 
 
 When they were comfortably seated over a bottle of 
 Paxarete, Middlemas began, with characteristical cau- 
 tion, to sound his friend about the ease or difficulty with 
 which an individual, desirous of entering the Company's 
 service, might have an opportunity of getting a commis- 
 sion. If Hillary had answered truly, he would have re- 
 
 281
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 plied that it was extremely easy; for, at that time, the 
 East India service presented no charms to that superior 
 class of people who have since struggled for admittance 
 under its banners. But the worthy captain rephed that, 
 though in the general case it might be difficult for a 
 young man to obtain a commission without serving for 
 some years as a cadet, yet, under his own protection, a 
 young man entering his regiment, and fitted for such a 
 situation, might be sure of an ensigncy, if not a lieuten- 
 ancy, as soon as ever they set foot in India. 'If you, my 
 dear fellow,' continued he, extending his hand to Middle- 
 mas, 'would think of changing sheep-head broth and 
 haggis for mulligatawny and curry, I can only say that, 
 though it is indispensable that you should enter the serv- 
 ice at first simply as a cadet, yet, by , you should 
 
 live like a brother on the passage with me; and no soonef 
 were we through the surf at Madras than I would put 
 you in the way of acquiring both wealth and glory. You 
 have, I think, some trifle of money — a couple of thou- 
 sands or so? ' 
 
 'About a thousand or twelve hundred,' said Richard, 
 affecting the indifference of his companion, but feeling 
 privately humbled by the scantiness of his resources. 
 
 ' It is quite as much as you will find necessary for the 
 outfit and passage,' said his adviser; 'and, indeed, if you 
 had not a farthing, it would be the same thing; for if I 
 once say to a friend, " I '11 help you," Tom Hillary is not 
 the man to start for fear of the cowries. However, it is as 
 well you have something of a capital of your own to 
 begin upon.' 
 
 ' Yes,' replied the proselyte. *I should not like to be a 
 burden on any one. I have some thoughts, to tell you the 
 
 282
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 truth, to marry before I leave Britain; and in that case, 
 you know, cash will be necessary, whether my wife goes 
 out with us or remains behind till she hear how luck goes 
 with me. So, after all, I may have to borrow a few hun- 
 dreds of you.' 
 
 'What the devil is that you say, Dick, about marrying 
 and giving in marriage?' replied his friend. 'What can 
 put it into the head of a gallant young fellow like you, 
 just rising twenty-one, and six feet high on your stock- 
 ing-soles, to make a slave of yourself for life? No — no, 
 Dick, that will never do. Remember the old song — 
 
 Bachelor Bluff, bachelor Bluflf, 
 
 Hey for a heart that's rugged and tough!' 
 
 * Ay — ay, that sounds very well,' replied Middlemas; 
 *but then one must shake o£E a number of old recollec- 
 tions.' 
 
 'The sooner the better, Dick; old recollections are like 
 old clothes, and should be sent off by wholesale: they 
 only take up room in one's wardrobe, and it would be 
 old-fashioned to wear them. But you look grave upon 
 it. Who the devil is it has made such a hole in your 
 heart?' 
 
 'Pshaw!' answered Middlemas, 'I'm sure you must 
 remember — Menie — my master's daughter.' 
 
 'What, Miss Green, the old potter-carrier's daughter? 
 A likely girl enough, I think.' 
 
 ' My master is a surgeon,' said Richard, ' not an apoth- 
 ecary, and his name is Gray.' 
 
 'Ay — ay, Green or Gray — what does it signify? He 
 sells his own drugs, I think, which we in the south call 
 being a potter-carrier. The girl is a likely girl enough 
 
 283
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 for a Scottish ball-room. But is she up to anything? Has 
 she any nouz V 
 
 'Why, she is a sensible girl, save in loving me/ an- 
 swered Richard; 'and that, as Benedict says, is no proof 
 of her wisdom and no great argument of her folly.' 
 
 * But has she spirit — spunk — dash — a spice of the 
 devil about her? ' 
 
 * Not a pennyweight — the kindest, simplest, and most 
 manageable of human beings,' answered the lover. 
 
 'She won't do, then,' said the monitor, in a decisive 
 tone. ' I am sorry for it, Dick, but she will never do. 
 There are some women in the world that can bear their 
 share in the bustling life we live in India — ay, and I 
 have known some of them drag forward husbands that 
 would otherwise have stuck fast in the mud till the day 
 of judgment. Heaven knows how they paid the turnpikes 
 they pushed them through ! But these were none of your 
 simple Susans, that think their eyes are good for nothing 
 but to look at their husbands, or their fingers but to sew 
 baby-clothes. Depend on it, you must give up your mat- 
 rimony or your views of preferment. If you wilfully tie 
 a log round your throat, never think of running a race. 
 But do not suppose that your breaking ofif with the lass 
 will make any very terrible catastrophe. A scene there 
 may be at parting; but you will soon forget her among 
 the native girls, and she will fall in love with Mr. Tapeit- 
 out, the minister's assistant and successor. She is not 
 goods for the Indian market, I assure you.' 
 
 Among the capricious weaknesses of humanity, that 
 one is particularly remarkable which inclines us to esteem 
 persons and things not by their real value, or even by our 
 own judgment, so much as by the opinion of others, who 
 
 284
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 are often very incompetent judges. Dick Middlemas 
 had been urged forward in his suit to Menie Gray by his 
 observing how much her partner, a booby laird, had 
 been captivated by her; and she was now lowered in his 
 esteem because an impudent, low-lived coxcomb had 
 presumed to talk of her with disparagement. Either of 
 these worthy gentlemen would have been as capable of 
 enjoying the beauties of Homer as judging of the merits 
 of Menie Gray. 
 
 Indeed, the ascendancy which this bold-talking, prom- 
 ise-making soldier had acquired over Dick Middlemas, 
 wilful as he was in general, was of a despotic nature; 
 because the captain, though greatly inferior in informa- 
 tion and talent to the youth whose opinions he swayed, 
 had skill in suggesting those tempting views of rank and 
 wealth to which Richard's imagination had been from 
 childhood most accessible. One promise he exacted from 
 Middlemas, as a condition of the services which he was 
 to render him : it was absolute silence on the subject of 
 his destination for India, and the views upon which it 
 took place. 'My recruits,' said the captain, *have been 
 all marched oflf for the depot at the Isle of Wight; and I 
 want to leave Scotland, and particularly this little burgh 
 without being worried to death, of which I must despair, 
 should it come to be known that I can provide young 
 griffins, as we call them, with commissions. Gad, I should 
 carry oflf all the first-born of Middlemas as cadets, and 
 none are so scrupulous as I am about making promises. 
 I am as trusty as a Trojan for that ; and you know I can- 
 not do that for every one which I would for an old friend 
 like Dick Middlemas.' 
 
 Dick promised secrecy, and it was agreed that the two 
 
 2S5
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 friends should not even leave the burgh in company, but 
 that the captain should set off first, and his recruit should 
 join him at Edinburgh, where liis enlistment might be 
 attested; and then they were to travel together to town, 
 and arrange matters for their Indian voyage. 
 
 Notwithstanding the definitive arrangement which 
 was thus made for his departure, Middlemas thought 
 from time to time with anxiety and regret about quitting 
 Menie Gray, after the engagement which had passed 
 between them. The resolution was taken, however; the 
 blow was necessarily to be struck; and her ungrateful 
 lover, long since determined against the hfe of domestic 
 happiness which he might have enjoyed had his views 
 been better regulated, was now occupied with the means, 
 not indeed of breaking off with her entirely, but of post- 
 poning all thoughts of their union until the success of his 
 expedition to India. 
 
 He might have spared himself all anxiety on this last 
 subject. The wealth of that India to which he was boimd 
 would not have bribed Menie Gray to have left her 
 father's roof against her father's commands; still less 
 when, deprived of his two assistants, he must be reduced 
 to the necessity of continued exertion in his declining 
 life, and therefore might have accounted himself alto- 
 gether deserted had his daughter departed from him at 
 the same time. But though it would have been her unal- 
 terable determination not to accept any proposal of an 
 immediate union of their fortunes, Menie could not, with 
 all a lover's power of self-deception, succeed in persuad- 
 ing herself to be satisfied with Richard's conduct towards 
 her. Modesty and a becoming pride prevented her from 
 seeming to notice, but could not prevent her from bit- 
 
 2S6
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 terly feeling, that her lover was preferring the pursuits of 
 ambition to the humble lot which he might have shared 
 with her, and which promised content at least, if not 
 wealth. 
 
 'If he had loved me as he pretended,' such was the 
 unwilling conviction that rose on her mind, 'my father 
 would surely not have ultimately refused him the same 
 terms which he held out to Hartley. His objections would 
 have given way to my happiness, nay, to Richard's im- 
 portunities, which would have removed his suspicions 
 of the unsettled cast of his disposition. But I fear — I 
 fear Richard hardly thought the terms proposed were 
 worthy of his acceptance. Would it not have been natu- 
 ral, too, that he should have asked me, engaged as we 
 stand to each other, to have united our fate before his 
 quitting Europe, when I might either have remained 
 here with my father, or accompanied him to India, in 
 quest of that fortune which he is so eagerly pushing for? 
 It would have been wrong — very wrong — in me to have 
 consented to such a proposal, unless my father had au- 
 thorised it; but surely it would have been natural that 
 Richard should have offered it? Alas ! men do not know 
 how to love like women. Their attachment is only one of 
 a thousand other passions and predilections: they are 
 daily engaged in pleasures which blunt their feelings, and 
 in business which distracts them. We — we sit at home to 
 weep, and to think how coldly our affections are repaid ! ' 
 
 The time was now arrived at which Richard Middle- 
 mas had a right to demand the property vested in the 
 hands of the town-clerk and Dr. Gray. He did so, and 
 received it accordingly. His late guardian naturally 
 inquired what views he had formed in entering on life? 
 
 2S7
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The imagination of the ambitious aspirant saw in this 
 simple question a desire, on the part of the worthy man, 
 to offer, and perhaps press upon him, the same proposal 
 which he had made to Hartley. He hastened, therefore, 
 to answer drily, that he had some hopes held out to him 
 which he was not at liberty to communicate; but that 
 the instant he reached London he would write to the 
 guardian of his youth and acquaint him with the nature 
 of his prospects, which he was happy to say were rather 
 of a pleasing character. 
 
 Gideon, who supposed that at this critical period of 
 his life the father or grandfather of the young man might 
 perhaps have intimated a disposition to open some inter- 
 course with him, only replied, 'You have been the child 
 of mystery, Richard; and as you came to me, so you leave 
 me. Then I was ignorant from whence you came, and 
 now I know not whither you are going. It is not, perhaps, 
 a very favourable point in your horoscope that every- 
 thing connected with you is a secret. But as I shall al- 
 ways think with kindness on him whom I have known so 
 long, so when you remember the old man, you ought not 
 to forget that he has done his duty to you to the extent 
 of his means and power, and taught you that noble pro- 
 fession by means of which, wherever your lot casts 
 you, you may always gain your bread, and alleviate, at 
 the same time, the distresses of your fellow-creatures.' 
 Middlemas was excited by the simple kindness of his 
 master, and poured forth his thanks with the greater pro- 
 fusion, that he was free from the terror of the emblemati- 
 cal collar and chain, which a moment before seemed to 
 glisten in the hand of his guardian, and gape to inclose 
 his neck. 
 
 288
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 *One word more/ said Mr, Gray, producing a small 
 ring-case. 'This valuable ring was forced upon me by 
 your unfortunate mother. I have no right to it, having 
 been amply paid for my services; and I only accepted it 
 with the purpose of keeping it for you till this moment 
 should arrive. It may be useful, perhaps, should there 
 occur any question about your identity.' 
 
 'Thanks, once more, my more than father, for this 
 precious relic, which may indeed be useful. You shall be 
 repaid, if India has diamonds left.' 
 
 'India and diamonds!' said Gray. 'Is your head 
 turned, child?' 
 
 'I mean,' stammered Middlemas, 'if London has any 
 Indian diamonds.' 
 
 'Pooh! you foolish lad,' answered Gray, 'how should 
 you buy diamonds, or what should I do with them, if you 
 gave me ever so many? Get you gone with you while I 
 am angry.' The tears were glistening in the old man's 
 eyes. 'If I get pleased with you again, I shall not know 
 how to part with you.' 
 
 The parting of Middlemas with poor Menie v/as yet 
 more affecting. Her sorrow revived in his mind all the 
 livehness of a first love, and he redeemed his character 
 for sincere attachment by not only imploring an instant 
 union, but even going so far as to propose renouncing his 
 more splendid prospects, and sharing Mr. Gray's humble 
 toil, if by doing so he could secure his daughter's hand. 
 But, though there was consolation in this testimony of 
 her lover's faith, Menie Gray was not so unwise as to 
 accept of sacrifices which might afterwards have been 
 repented of. 
 
 'No, Richard,' she said, 'it seldom ends happily when 
 44 2S9
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 people alter, in a moment of agitated feeling, plans which 
 have been adopted under mature deliberation. I have 
 long seen that your views were extended far beyond so 
 humble a station as this place affords promise of. It is 
 natural they should do so, considering that the circum- 
 stances of your birth seem connected with riches and 
 with rank. Go, then, seek that riches and rank. It is 
 possible your mind may be changed in the pursuit, and 
 if so, think no more about Menie Gray. But if it should 
 be otherwise, we may meet again, and do not beHeve for 
 a moment that there can be a change in Menie Gray's 
 feelings towards you.' 
 
 At this interview much more was said than it is neces- 
 sary to repeat, much more thought than was actually 
 said. Nurse Jamieson, in whose chamber it took place, 
 folded her 'bairns,' as she called them, in her arms, and 
 declared that Heaven had made them for each other, 
 and that she would not ask of Heaven to live beyond the 
 day when she should see them bridegroom and bride. 
 
 At length it became necessary that the parting scene 
 should end; and Richard Middlemas, mounting a horse 
 which he had hired for the journey, setoff for Edinburgh, 
 to which metropolis he had already forwarded his heavy 
 baggage. Upon the road the idea more than once oc- 
 curred to him that even yet he had better return to Mid- 
 dlemas, and secure his happiness by uniting himself at 
 once to Menie Gray and to humble competence. But 
 from the moment that he rejoined his friend Hillary at 
 their appointed place of rendezvous he became ashamed 
 even to hint at any change of purpose; and his late 
 excited feelings were forgotten, unless in so far as they 
 confirmed his resolution that, as soon as he had attained 
 
 290
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 a certain portion of wealth and consequence, he would 
 haste to share them with Menie Gray. Yet his gratitude 
 to her father did not appear to have slumbered, if we 
 may judge from the gift of a very handsome cornelian 
 seal, set in gold, and bearing engraved upon it gules, a 
 lion rampant within a bordure or, which was carefully 
 despatched to Stevenlaw's Land, Middlemas, with a 
 suitable letter. Menie knew the handwriting, and 
 watched her father's looks as he read it, thinking, per- 
 haps, that it had turned on a different topic. Her father 
 pshawed and poohed a good deal when he had finished 
 the billet, and examined the seal. 
 
 'Dick Middlemas,' he said, *is but a fool after all, 
 Menie. I am sure I am not Uke to forget him, that he 
 should send me a token of remembrance; and if he would 
 be so absurd, could he not have sent me the improved 
 lithotomical apparatus? And what have I, Gideon Gray, 
 to do with the arms of my Lord Gray? No — no, my 
 old silver stamp, with the double G upon it, will serve 
 my turn. But put the bonny die away, Menie, my dear; 
 it was kindly meant, at any rate.' 
 
 The reader cannot doubt that the seal was safely and 
 carefully preserved.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 A lazar-house it seemed, wherein were laid 
 Numbers of all diseased. 
 
 Milton. 
 
 After the captain had finished his business, amongst 
 which he did not forget to have his recruit regularly at- 
 tested as a candidate for glory in the service of the Hon- 
 ourable East India Company , the friends left Edinburgh. 
 From thence they got a passage by sea to Newcastle, 
 where Hillary had also some regimental affairs to trans- 
 act before he joined his regiment. At Newcastle the 
 captain had the good luck to find a small brig, com- 
 manded by an old acquaintance and schoolfellow, which 
 was just about to sail for the Isle of Wight. *I have 
 arranged for our passage with him,' he said to Middle- 
 mas; 'for when you are at the depot you can learn a little 
 of your duty, which cannot be so well taught on board of 
 ship, and then I will find it easier to have you promoted.' 
 
 'Do you mean,' said Richard, 'that I am to stay at 
 the Isle of Wight all the time that you are jigging it 
 away in London? ' 
 
 'Ay, indeed do I,' said his comrade, 'and it's best for 
 you too ; whatever business you have in London, I can do 
 it for you as well or something better than yourself.' 
 
 'But I choose to transact my own business myself. 
 Captain Hillary,' said Richard. 
 
 ' Then you ought to have remained your own master, 
 Mr. Cadet Middlemas. At present you are an enlisted 
 
 292
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 recruit of the Honourable East India Company; I am 
 your officer, and should you hesitate to follow me aboard, 
 why, you foolish fellow, I could have you sent on board 
 in handcuffs.' 
 
 This was jestingly spoken; but yet there was some- 
 thing in the tone which hurt Middlemas's pride and 
 alarmed his fears. He had observed of late that his friend, 
 especially when in company of others, talked to him with 
 an air of command or superiority, difficult to be endured, 
 and yet so closely allied to the freedom often exercised 
 betwixt two intimates, that he could not find any proper 
 mode of rebuffing or resenting it. Such manifestations of 
 authority were usually followed by an instant renewal of 
 their intimacy; but in the present case that did not so 
 speedily ensue. 
 
 Middlemas, indeed, consented to go with his compan- 
 ion, to the Isle of Wight, perhaps because if he should 
 quarrel with him the whole plan of his Indian voyage, 
 and all the hopes built upon it, must fall to the ground. 
 But he altered his purpose of entrusting his comrade 
 with his little fortune, to lay out as his occasions might 
 require, and resolved himself to overlook the expendi- 
 ture of his money, which, in the form of Bank of England 
 notes, was safely deposited in his travelling-trunk. Cap- 
 tain Hillary, finding that some hint he had thrown out 
 on this subject was disregarded, appeared to think no 
 more about it. 
 
 The voyage was performed with safety and celerity; 
 and having coasted the shores of that beautiful island, 
 which he who once sees never forgets, through whatever 
 part of the world his future path may lead him, the ves- 
 sel was soon anchored off the little town of Ryde; and, 
 
 293
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 as the waves were uncommonly still, Richard felt the 
 sickness diminish which, for a considerable part of the 
 passage, had occupied his attention more than anything 
 else. 
 
 The master of the brig, in honour to his passengers and 
 affection to his old schoolfellow, had formed an awning 
 upon deck, and proposed to have the pleasure of giving 
 them a little treat before they left his vessel. Lobscouse, 
 sea-pie, and other delicacies of a naval description had 
 been provided in a quantity far disproportionate to the 
 number of the guests. But the punch which succeeded 
 was of excellent quality, and portentously strong. Cap- 
 tain Hillary pushed it round, and insisted upon his com- 
 panion taking his full share in the merry bout, the rather 
 that, as he facetiously said, there had been some dryness 
 between them, which good liquor would be sovereign 
 in removing. He renewed, with additional splendours, 
 the various panoramic scenes of India and Indian ad- 
 ventures which had first excited the ambition of Mid- 
 dlemas, and assured him that, even if he should not be 
 able to get him a commission instantly, yet a short delay 
 would only give him time to become better acquainted 
 with his military duties; and Middlemas was too much 
 elevated by the liquor he had drank to see any difficulty 
 which could oppose itself to his fortunes. Whether those 
 who shared in the compotation were more seasoned 
 topers, whether Middlemas drank more than they, or 
 whether, as he himself afterwards suspected, his cup had 
 been drugged, like those of King Duncan's body-guard, 
 it is certain that on this occasion he passed, with unusual 
 rapidity, through all the different phases of the respect- 
 able state of drunkenness — laughed, sung, whooped, 
 
 294
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 and hallooed, was maudlin in his fondness and frantic 
 in his wrath, and at length fell into a fast and imperturb- 
 able sleep. 
 
 The effect of the liquor displayed itself, as usual, in a 
 hundred wild dreams of parched deserts, and of serpents 
 whose bite inflicted the most intolerable thirst, of the 
 suffering of the Indian on the death-stake, and the tor- 
 ments of the infernal regions themselves, when at length 
 he awakened, and it appeared that the latter vision was 
 in fact realised. The sounds which had at first influenced 
 his dreams, and at length broken his slumbers, were of 
 the most horrible as well as the most melancholy descrip- 
 tion. They came from the ranges of pallet-beds which 
 were closely packed together in a species of military hos- 
 pital, where a burning fever was the prevalent complaint. 
 Many of the patients were under the influence of a high 
 delirium, during which they shouted, shrieked, laughed, 
 blasphemed, and uttered the most horrible imprecations. 
 Others, sensible of their condition, bewailed it with low 
 groans and some attempts at devotion, which showed 
 their ignorance of the principles, and even the forms, of 
 religion. Those who were convalescent talked ribaldry 
 in a loud tone, or whispered to each other in cant lan- 
 guage, upon schemes which, as far as a passing phrase 
 could be understood by a novice, had relation to violent 
 and criminal exploits. 
 
 Richard Middlemas's astonishment was equal to his 
 horror. He had but one advantage over the poor wretches 
 with whom he was classed, and it was in enjoying the 
 luxury of a pallet to himself, most of the others being 
 occupied by two unhappy beings. He saw no one who 
 appeared to attend to the wants, or to heed the com- 
 
 29s
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 plaints, of the wretches around him, or to whom he 
 could offer any appeal against his present situation. He 
 looked for his clothes, that he might arise and extricate 
 himself from this den of horrors; but his clothes were 
 nowhere to be seen, nor did he see his portmanteau or 
 sea-chest. It was much to be apprehended he would 
 never see them more. 
 
 Then, but too late, he remembered the insinuations 
 which had passed current respecting his friend the cap- 
 tain, who was supposed to have been discharged by Mr. 
 Lawford on account of some breach of trust in the town- 
 clerk's service. But that he should have trepanned the 
 friend who had reposed his whole confidence in him, that 
 he should have plundered him of his fortune, and placed 
 him in this house of pestilence, with the hope that death 
 might stifle his tongue, were iniquities not to have been 
 anticipated, even if the worst of these reports were true. 
 
 But Middlemas resolved not to be awanting to him- 
 self. This place must be visited by some officer, military 
 or medical, to whom he would make an appeal, and alarm 
 his fears at least, if he could not awaken his conscience. 
 While he revolved these distracting thoughts, tormented 
 at the same time by a burning thirst which he had no 
 means of satisfying, he endeavoured to discover if, 
 among those stretched upon the pallets nearest him, he 
 could not discern some one likely to enter into conversa- 
 tion with him, and give him some information about the 
 nature and customs of this horrid place. But the bed 
 nearest him was occupied by two fellows who, although, 
 to judge from their gaunt cheeks, hollow eyes, and 
 ghastly looks, they were apparently recovering from the 
 disease, and just rescued from the jaws of death, were 
 
 296
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 deeply engaged in endeavouring to cheat each other of a 
 few halfpence at a game of cribbage, mixing the terms of 
 the game with oaths not loud but deep ; each turn of luck 
 being hailed by the winner as well as the loser with 
 execrations, which seemed designed to blight both body 
 and soul, now used as the language of triumph, and now 
 as reproaches against fortune. 
 
 Next to the gamblers was a pallet occupied indeed by 
 two bodies, but only one of which was living: the other 
 sufiferer had been recently reheved from his agony. 
 
 * He is dead — he is dead ! ' said the wretched survivor. 
 
 'Then do you die too, and be d — d,' answered one of 
 the players, 'and then there will be a pair of you, as 
 Pugg says.' 
 
 'I tell you he is growing stiff and cold,' said the poor 
 wretch: 'the dead is no bedfellow for the living. For 
 God's sake, help to rid me of the corpse.' 
 
 ' Ay, and get the credit of having done him — as may 
 be the case with yourself, friend, for he had some two or 
 three hoggs about him — ' 
 
 'You know you took the last rap from his breeches- 
 pocket not an hour ago,' expostulated the poor convales- 
 cent. ' But help me to take the body out of the bed, and 
 I will not tell the jigger-dubber that you have been be- 
 forehand with him.' 
 
 'You tell the jigger-dubber!' answered the cribbage- 
 player. ' Such another word, and I will twist your head 
 round till your eyes look at the drummer's handwriting 
 on your back. Hold your peace, and don't bother our 
 game with your gammon, or I will make you as mute as 
 your bedfellow.' 
 
 The unhappy wretch, exhausted, sunk back beside his 
 297
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 hideous companion, and the usual jargon of the game, 
 interlarded with execrations, went on as before. 
 
 From this specimen of the most obdurate indifference, 
 contrasted with the last excess of misery, Middlemas 
 became satisfied how Httle could be made of an appeal 
 to the humanity of his fellow-sufiferers. His heart sunk 
 within him, and the thoughts of the happy and peaceful 
 home which he might have called his own arose before his 
 overheated fancy with a vividness of perception that 
 bordered upon insanity. He saw before him the rivulet 
 which wanders through the burgh muir of Middlemas, 
 where he had so often set little mills for the amusement 
 of Menie while she was a child. One draught of it would 
 have been worth all the diamonds of the East, which of 
 late he had worshipped with such devotion; but that 
 draught was denied to him as to Tantalus. 
 
 Rallying his senses from this passing illusion, and 
 knowing enough of the practice of the medical art to 
 be aware of the necessity of preventing his ideas from 
 wandering, if possible, he endeavoured to recollect that 
 he was a surgeon, and, after all, should not have the ex- 
 treme fear for the interior of a military hospital which 
 its horrors might inspire into strangers to the profession. 
 But, though he strove by such recollections to rally his 
 spirits, he was not the less aware of the difference betwixt 
 the condition of a surgeon who might have attended such 
 a place in the course of his duty and a poor inhabitant 
 who was at once a patient and a prisoner. 
 
 A footstep was now heard in the apartment, which 
 seemed to silence all the varied sounds of woe that filled 
 it. The cribbage-party hid their cards and ceased their 
 oaths; other wretches, whose complaints had arisen to 
 
 298
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 frenzy, left off their wild exclamations and entreaties for 
 assistance. Agony softened her shriek, Insanity hushed 
 its senseless clamours, and even Death seemed desirous 
 to stifle his parting groan in the presence of Captain 
 Seelencooper. This ofhcial was the superintendent, or, 
 as the miserable inhabitants termed him, the governor, 
 of the hospital. He had all the air of having been origi- 
 nally a turnkey in some ill-regulated jail — a stout, short, 
 bandy-legged man, with one eye, and a double portion of 
 ferocity in that which remained. He wore an old-fash- 
 ioned tarnished uniform, which did not seem to have 
 been made for him ; and the voice in which this minister 
 of humanity addressed the sick was that of a boatswain 
 shouting in the midst of a storm. He had pistols and a 
 cutlass in his belt; for his mode of administration being 
 such as provoked even hospital patients to revolt, his hfe 
 had been more than once in danger amongst them. He 
 was followed by two assistants, who carried handcuffs 
 and strait-jackets. 
 
 As Seelencooper made his rounds, complaint and 
 pain were hushed, and the flourish of the bamboo which 
 he bore in his hand seemed powerful as the wand of a 
 magician to silence all complaint and remonstrance. 
 
 ' I tell you the meat is as sweet as a nosegay ; and for 
 the bread, it's good enough, and too good, for a set of 
 lubbers that lie shamming Abraham, and consuming the 
 Right Honourable Company's victuals. I don't speak to 
 them that are really sick, for God knows I am always 
 for humanity.' 
 
 'If that be the case, sir,' said Richard Middlcmas, 
 whose lair the captain had approached, while he was 
 thus answering the low and humble complaints of those 
 
 299
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 by whose bedside he passed — ' if that be the case, sir, I 
 hope your humanity will make you attend to what I 
 say.' 
 
 'And who the devil are you?' said the governor, turn- 
 ing on him his single eye of fire, while a sneer gathered 
 on his harsh features, which were so well qualified to 
 express it. 
 
 'My name is Middlemas; I come from Scotland, and 
 have been sent here by some strange mistake. I am 
 neither a private soldier nor am I indisposed, more than 
 by the heat of this cursed place.' 
 
 'Why then, friend, all I have to ask you is, whether 
 you are an attested recruit or not? ' 
 
 *I was attested at Edinburgh,' said Middlemas, 
 'but—' 
 
 ' But what the devil would you have, then? You are 
 enlisted. The captain and the doctor sent you here; 
 surely they know best whether you are private or of- 
 ficer, sick or well.' 
 
 'But I was promised,' said Middlemas — 'promised 
 by Tom Hillary— ' 
 
 ' Promised, were you? Why, there is not a man here 
 that has not been promised something by somebody or 
 another, or perhaps has promised something to himself. 
 This is the land of promise, my smart fellow, but you 
 know it is India that must be the land of performance. 
 So good morning to you. The doctor will come his 
 rounds presently, and put you all to rights.' 
 
 'Stay but one moment — one moment only: I have 
 been robbed.' 
 
 'Robbed! look you there now,' said the governor, 
 'everybody that comes here has been robbed. Egad, I 
 
 300
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 am the luckiest fellow in Europe: other people in my 
 line have only thieves and blackguards upon their hands; 
 but none come to my ken but honest, decent, unfortu- 
 nate gentlemen that have been robbed ! ' 
 
 *Take care how you treat this so lightly, sir,' said 
 Middlemas; * I have been robbed of a thousand pounds.' 
 
 Here Governor Seelencooper's gravity was totally 
 overcome, and his laugh was echoed by several of the 
 patients, either because they wished to curry favour with 
 the superintendent or from the feeling which influences 
 evil spirits to rejoice in the tortures of those who are sent 
 to share their agony. 
 
 *A thousand pounds!' exclaimed Captain Seelencoo- 
 per, as he recovered his breath. 'Come, that's a good 
 one — I like a fellow that does not make two bites of a 
 cherry; why, there is not a cull in the ken that pretends 
 to have lost more than a few hoggs, and here is a servant 
 to the Honourable Company that has been robbed of a 
 thousand pounds! Well done, Mr. Tom of Ten Thou- 
 sand, you 're a credit to the house, and to the service, and 
 so good morning to you.' 
 
 He passed on, and Richard, starting up in a storm of 
 anger and despair, found, as he would have called after 
 him, that his voice, betwixt thirst and agitation, refused 
 its office. 'Water — water!' he said, laying hold, at the 
 same time, of one of the assistants who followed Seelen- 
 cooper by the sleeve. The fellow looked carelessly round ; 
 there was a jug stood by the side of the cribbage-players, 
 which he reached to Middlemas, bidding him, 'Drink 
 and be d — d.' 
 
 The man's back was no sooner turned than the 
 gamester threw himself from his own bed into that of 
 
 301
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Middlemas, and grasping firm hold of the arm of 
 Richard, ere he could carry the vessel to his head, swore 
 he should not have his booze. It may be readily con- 
 jectured that the pitcher thus anxiously and desperately 
 reclaimed contained something better than the pure 
 element. In fact, a large proportion of it was gin. The 
 jug was broken in the struggle and the Hquor spilt. 
 Middlemas dealt a blow to the assailant, which was 
 amply and heartily repaid, and a combat would have 
 ensued, but for the interference of the superintendent 
 and his assistants, who, with a dexterity that showed 
 them well acquainted with such emergencies, clapped a 
 strait- waistcoat upon each of the antagonists. Richard's 
 efforts at remonstrance only procured him a blow from 
 Captain Seelencooper's rattan, and a tender admonition 
 to hold his tongue if he valued a whole skin. 
 
 Irritated at once by sufferings of the mind and of the 
 body, tormented by raging thirst, and by the sense of 
 his own dreadful situation, the mind of Richard Middle- 
 mas seemed to be on the point of becoming unsettled. 
 He felt an insane desire to imitate and reply to the 
 groans, oaths, and ribaldry which, as soon as the super- 
 intendent quitted the hospital, echoed around him. He 
 longed, though he struggled against the impulse, to vie 
 in curses with the reprobate, and in screams with the 
 maniac. But his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, 
 his mouth itself seemed choked with ashes; there came 
 upon him a dimness of sight, a rushing sound in his ears, 
 and the powers of life were for a time suspended.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 A wise physician, skill'd our wounds to heal, 
 Is more than armies to the common weal. 
 
 Pope's Homer. 
 
 As Middlemas returned to his senses, he was sensible 
 that his blood felt more cool, that the feverish throb of 
 his pulsation was diminished, that the ligatures on his 
 person were removed, and his lungs performed their 
 functions more freely. One assistant was binding up a 
 vein, from which a considerable quantity of blood had 
 been taken; another, who had just washed the face of 
 the patient, was holding aromatic vinegar to his nostrils. 
 As he began to open his eyes, the person who had just 
 completed the bandage said in Latin, but in a very low 
 tone, and without raising his head, 'Annon sis Ricardus 
 illc Middlemas, ex civitate Middlemassiense? Responde 
 in lingua Latina.' 
 
 'Sum ille miserrimus,' replied Richard, again shutting 
 his eyes; for, strange as it may seem, the voice of his 
 comrade Adam Hartley, though his presence might be 
 of so much consequence in this emergency, conveyed a 
 pang to his wounded pride. He was conscious of un- 
 kindly, if not hostile, feehngs towards his old companion; 
 he remembered the tone of superiority which he used 
 to assume over him, and thus to lie stretched at his feet, 
 and in a manner at his mercy, aggravated his distress 
 by the feelings of the dying chieftain, 'Earl Percy sees 
 my fall.' This was, however, too unreasonable an 
 
 303
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 emotion to subsist above a minute. In the next, he 
 
 availed himself of the Latin language, with which both 
 were familiar, for in that time the medical studies at the 
 celebrated University of Edinburgh were, in a great 
 measure, conducted in Latin, to tell in a few words his 
 own folly, and the villainy of Hillary. 
 
 *I must be gone instantly,' said Hartley. 'Take 
 courage; I trust to be able to assist you. In the mean- 
 time, take food and physic from none but my servant, 
 who you see holds the sponge in his hand. You are in a 
 place where a man's life has been taken for the sake of 
 his gold sleeve-buttons.' 
 
 'Stay yet a moment,' said Middlemas. 'Let me re- 
 move this temptation from my dangerous neighbours.* 
 
 He drew a small packet from his under waistcoat, and 
 put it into Hartley's hands. 
 
 'If I die,' he said, 'be my heir. You deserve her 
 better than L' 
 
 All answer was prevented by the hoarse voice of 
 Seelencooper. 
 
 'Well, doctor, will you carry through your patient?' 
 
 'Symptoms are dubious yet,' said the doctor. 'That 
 was an alarming swoon. You must have him carried 
 into the private ward, and my young man shall attend 
 him.' 
 
 'Why, if you command it, doctor, needs must; but I 
 can tell you there is a man we both know that has a 
 thousand reasons at least for keeping him in the pubHc 
 ward.' 
 
 ' I know nothing of your thousand reasons,' said Hart- 
 ley ; ' I can only tell you that this young fellow is as well- 
 limbed and likely a lad as the Company have among 
 
 304
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 their recruits. It is my business to save him for their 
 service, and if he dies by your neglecting what I direct, 
 depend upon it I will not allow the blame to lie at my 
 door. I will tell the General the charge I have given 
 you.' 
 
 * The General ! ' said Seelencooper, much embarrassed. 
 'Tell the General? Ay, about his health. But you will 
 not say anything about what he may have said in his 
 light-headed fits? My eyes ! if you listen to what feverish 
 patients say when the tantivy is in their brain, your 
 back will soon break with tale-bearing, for I will warrant 
 you plenty of them to carry.' 
 
 'Captain Seelencooper,' said the doctor, *I do not 
 meddle with your department in the hospital. My ad- 
 vice to you is, not to trouble yourself with mine. I 
 suppose, as I have a commission in the service, and have 
 besides a regular diploma as a physician, I know when 
 my patient is Hght-headed or otherwise. So do you let 
 the man be carefully looked after, at your peril.' 
 
 Thus saying, he left the hospital, but not till, under 
 pretext of again consulting the pulse, he pressed the 
 patient's hand, as if to assure him once more of his 
 exertions for his liberation. 
 
 *My eyes!' muttered Seelencooper, 'this cockerel 
 crows gallant, to come from a Scotch roost; but I would 
 know well enough how to fetch the youngster off the 
 perch, if it were not for the cure he has done on the 
 General's pickaninnies.' 
 
 Enough of this fell on Richard's ear to suggest hopes 
 of deliverance, which were increased when he was 
 shortly afterwards removed to a separate ward, a place 
 much more decent in appearance, and inhabited only 
 
 44 305
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 by two patients, who seemed petty officers. Although 
 sensible that he had no illness save that weakness which 
 succeeds violent agitation, he deemed it wisest to suffer 
 himself still to be treated as a patient, in consideration 
 that he should thus remain under his comrade's super- 
 intendence. Yet, while preparing to avail himself of 
 Hartley's good offices, the prevailing reflection of his 
 secret bosom was the ungrateful sentiment, 'Had 
 Heaven no other means of saving me than by the hands 
 of him I Uke least on the face of the earth?' 
 
 Meanwhile, ignorant of the ungrateful sentiments of 
 his comrade, and indeed wholly indifferent how he felt 
 towards him, Hartley proceeded in doing him such 
 service as was in his power, without any other object 
 than the discharge of his own duty as a man and as 
 a Christian. The manner in which he became qualified 
 to render his comrade assistance requires some short 
 explanation. 
 
 Our story took place at a period when the Directors 
 of the East India Company, with that hardy and per- 
 severing policy which has raised to such a height the 
 British Empire in the East, had determined to send a 
 large reinforcement of European troops to the support 
 of their power in India, then threatened by the king- 
 dom of Mysore, of which the celebrated Hyder AH had 
 usurped the government, after dethroning his master. 
 Considerable difficulty was found in obtaining recruits 
 for that service. Those who might have been otherwise 
 disposed to be soldiers were afraid of the climate, and of 
 the species of banishment which the engagement im- 
 plied ; and doubted also how far the engagements of the 
 Company might be faithfully observed towards them, 
 
 306
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 when they were removed from the protection of the 
 British laws. For these and other reasons, the military 
 service of the king was preferred, and that of the Com- 
 pany could only procure the worst recruits, although 
 their zealous agents scrupled not to employ the worst 
 means. Indeed, the practice of kidnapping, or crimping, 
 as it is technically called, was at that time general, 
 whether for the colonies or even for the king's troops; 
 and as the agents employed in such transactions must 
 be of course entirely unscrupulous, there was not only 
 much villainy committed in the direct prosecution of 
 the trade, but it gave rise incidentally to remarkable 
 cases of robbery, and even murder. Such atrocities 
 were, of course, concealed from the authorities for whom 
 the levies were made, and the necessity of obtaining 
 soldiers made men whose conduct was otherwise unex- 
 ceptionable cold in looking closely into the mode in 
 which their recruiting service was conducted. 
 
 The principal depot of the troops which were by these 
 means assembled was in the Isle of Wight, where, the 
 season proving unhealthy, and the men themselves 
 being many of them of a bad habit of body, a fever of a 
 malignant character broke out amongst them, and 
 speedily crowded with patients the military hospital, 
 of which Mr, Seelencooper, himself an old and experi- 
 enced crimp and kidnapper, had obtained the superin- 
 tendence. Irregularities began to take place also among 
 the soldiers who remained healthy, and the necessity of 
 subjecting them to some discipline before they sailed 
 was so evident, that several officers of the Company's 
 naval service expressed their beUef that otherwise there 
 would be dangerous mutinies on the passage. 
 
 307
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 To remedy the first of these evils, the Court of 
 Directors sent down to the island several of their medi- 
 cal servants, amongst whom was Hartley, whose quali- 
 fications had been amply certified by a medical board, 
 before which he had passed an examination, besides his 
 possessing a diploma from the University of Edinburgh 
 as M.D. 
 
 To enforce the discipline of their soldiers, the Court 
 committed full power to one of their own body. General 
 Witherington. The General was an officer who had 
 distinguished himself highly in their service. He had 
 returned from India five or six years before, with a large 
 fortune, which he had rendered much greater by an 
 advantageous marriage with a rich heiress. The General 
 and his lady went little into society, but seemed to live 
 entirely for their infant family, those in number being 
 three, two boys and a girl. Although he had retired 
 from the service, he willingly undertook the temporary 
 charge committed to him, and taking a house at a con- 
 siderable distance from the town of Ryde, he proceeded 
 to enrol the troops into separate bodies, appoint officers 
 of capacity to each, and, by regular training and disci- 
 pline, gradually to bring them into something resem- 
 bling good order. He heard their complaints of ill-usage 
 in the articles of provisions and appointments, and did 
 them upon all occasions the strictest justice, save that 
 he was never known to restore one recruit to his freedom 
 from the service, however unfairly or even illegally his 
 attestation might have been obtained. 
 
 'It is none of my business,' said General Withering- 
 ton, 'how you became soldiers, — soldiers I found you, 
 and soldiers I will leave you. But I will take especial 
 
 308
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 care that, as soldiers you shall have everything, to a 
 penny or a pin's head, that you are justly entitled to.* 
 He went to work without fear or favour, reported many 
 abuses to the Board of Directors, had several officers, 
 commissaries, etc., removed from the service, and made 
 his name as great a terror to the peculators at home as it 
 had been to the enemies of Britain in Hindostan. 
 
 Captain Seelencooper and his associates in the hos- 
 pital department heard and trembled, fearing that their 
 turn should come next; but the General, who elsewhere 
 examined all with his own eyes, showed a reluctance to 
 visit the hospital in person. Public report industriously 
 imputed this to fear of infection. Such was certainly 
 the motive; though it was not fear for his own safety 
 that influenced General Witherington, but he dreaded 
 lest he should carry the infection home to the nursery, 
 on which he doated. The alarm of his lady was yet more 
 unreasonably sensitive: she would scarcely suffer the 
 children to walk abroad, if the wind but blew from the 
 quarter where the hospital was situated. 
 
 But Providence bafHes the precautions of mortals. 
 In a walk across the fields, chosen as the most sheltered 
 and sequestered, the children, with their train of Eastern 
 and European attendants, met a woman who carried 
 a child that was recovering from the small-pox. The 
 anxiety of the father, joined to some religious scruples 
 on the mother's part, had postponed inoculation, which 
 was then scarcely come into general use. The infection 
 caught Uke a quick-match, and ran like wildfire through 
 all those in the family who had not previously had the 
 disease. One of the General's children, the second boy, 
 died, and two of the ayahs, or black female servants, 
 
 309
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 had the same fate. The hearts of the father and mother 
 would have been broken for the child they had lost, had 
 not their grief been suspended by anxiety for the fate 
 of those who lived, and who were confessed to be in 
 imminent danger. They were like persons distracted, 
 as the symptoms of the poor patients seemed gradu- 
 ally to resemble more nearly that of the child already 
 lost. 
 
 While the parents were in this agony of apprehension, 
 the General's principal servant, a native of Northum- 
 berland like himself, informed him one morning that 
 there was a young man from the same county among 
 the hospital doctors who had pubHcly blamed the mode 
 of treatment observed towards the patients, and spoken 
 of another which he had seen practised with eminent 
 success. 
 
 ' Some impudent quack,' said the General, 'who would 
 force himself into business by bold assertions. Dr. 
 Tourniquet and Dr. Lancelot are men of high reputa- 
 tion.' 
 
 *Do not mention their reputation,' said the mother, 
 with a mother's impatience; 'did they not let my sweet 
 Reuben die? What avails the reputation of the physi- 
 cian when the patient perisheth? ' 
 
 'If his honour would but see Dr. Hartley,' said 
 Winter, turning half towards the lady, and then turning 
 back again to his master. 'He is a very decent young 
 man, who, I am sure, never expected what he said 
 to reach your honour's ears — and he is a native of 
 Northumberland . ' 
 
 'Send a servant with a led horse,' said the General; 
 'let the young man come hither instantly.' 
 
 310
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 It is well known that the ancient mode of treating the 
 small-pox was to refuse to the patient everything which 
 nature urged him to desire ; and, in particular, to confine 
 him to heated rooms, beds loaded with blankets, and 
 spiced wine, when nature called for cold water and fresh 
 air. A different mode of treatment had of late been 
 adventured upon by some practitioners, who preferred 
 reason to authority, and Gideon Gray had followed it 
 for several years with extraordinary success. 
 
 When General Witherington saw Hartley, he was 
 startled at his youth ; but when he heard him modestly, 
 but with confidence, state the difference of the two 
 modes of treatment, and the rationale of his practice, he 
 listened with the most serious attention. So did his 
 lady, her streaming eyes turning from Hartley to her 
 husband, as if to watch what impression the arguments 
 of the former were making upon the latter. General 
 Witherington was silent for a few minutes after Hartley 
 had finished his exposition, and seemed buried in pro- 
 found reflection. *To treat a fever,' he said, *in a man- 
 ner which tends to produce one seems indeed to be 
 adding fuel to fire.' 
 
 * It is — it is,' said the lady. 'Let us trust this young 
 man. General Witherington. We shall at least give our 
 darlings the comforts of the fresh air and cold water for 
 which they are pining.' 
 
 But the General remained undecided. 'Your reason- 
 ing,' he said to Hartley, 'seems plausible; but still it is 
 only hypothesis. What can you show to support your 
 theory in opposition to the general practice? ' 
 
 'My own observation,' replied the young man. 'Here 
 is a memorandum-book of medical cases which I have 
 
 3^1
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 witnessed. It contains twenty cases of small-pox, of 
 which eighteen were recoveries.' 
 
 *And the two others?' said the General. 
 
 'Terminated fatally/ replied Hartley; 'we can as yet 
 but partially disarm this scourge of the human race.' 
 
 'Young man,' continued the General, 'were I to say 
 that a thousand gold mohurs were yours in case my 
 children live under your treatment, what have you to 
 peril in exchange?' 
 
 'My reputation,' answered Hartley, firmly. 
 
 'And you could warrant on your reputation the re- 
 covery of your patients? ' 
 
 ' God forbid I should be so presumptuous ! But I think 
 I could warrant my using those means which, with God's 
 blessing, afford the fairest chance of a favourable result.' 
 
 ' Enough — you are modest and sensible, as well as 
 bold, and I will trust you.' 
 
 The lady, on whom Hartley's words and manner had 
 made a great impression, and who was eager to discon- 
 tinue a mode of treatment which subjected the patients 
 to the greatest pain and privation, and had already 
 proved unfortunate, eagerly acquiesced, and Hartley 
 was placed in full authority in the sick-room. 
 
 Windows were thrown open, fires reduced or discon- 
 tinued, loads of bed-clothes removed, cooHng drinks 
 superseded mulled wine and spices. The sick-nurses 
 cried out murder. Doctors Tourniquet and Lancelot 
 retired in disgust, menacing something like a general 
 pestilence, in vengeance of what they termed rebellion 
 against the neglect of the aphorisms of Hippocrates. 
 Hartley proceeded quietly and steadily, and the patients 
 got into a fair road of recovery. 
 
 312
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 The young Northumbrian was neither conceited nor 
 artful ; yet, with all his plainness of character, he could 
 not but know the influence which a successful physician 
 obtains over the parents of the children whom he has 
 saved from the grave, and especially before the cure is 
 actually completed. He resolved to use this influence in 
 behalf of his old companion, trusting that the military 
 tenacity of General Witherington would give way on 
 consideration of the obligation so lately conferred upon 
 him. 
 
 On his way to the General's house, which was at 
 present his constant place of residence, he examined the 
 packet which Middlemas had put into his hand. It 
 contained the picture of Menie Gray, plainly set, and 
 the ring, with brilliants, which Doctor Gray had given 
 to Richard as his mother's last gift. The first of these 
 tokens extracted from honest Hartley a sigh, perhaps a 
 tear, of sad remembrance, *I fear,' he said, *she has not 
 chosen worthily; but she shall be happy, if I can make 
 her so.' 
 
 Arrived at the residence of General Witherington, our 
 doctor went first to the sick apartment, and then carried 
 to their parents the dehghtful account that the recov- 
 ery of the children might be considered as certain. 
 'May the God of Israel bless thee, young man!' said the 
 lady, trembhng with emotion; 'thou hast wiped the 
 tear from the eye of the despairing mother. And yet — 
 alas ! alas ! still it must flow when I think of my cherub 
 Reuben. Oh! Mr. Hartley, why did we not know you a 
 week sooner — my darling had not then died? ' 
 
 'God gives and takes away, my lady,' answered 
 Hartley ; ' and you must remember that two arc restored 
 
 313
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 to you out of three. It is far from certain that the 
 treatment I have used towards the convalescents would 
 have brought through their brother; for the case, as 
 reported to me, was of a very inveterate description.' 
 
 'Doctor,' said Witherington, his voice testifying more 
 emotion than he usually or wilKngly gave way to, 'you 
 can comfort the sick in spirit as well as the sick in body. 
 But it is time we settle our wager. You betted your 
 reputation, which remains with you, increased by all the 
 credit due to your eminent success, against a thousand 
 gold mohurs, the value of which you will find in that 
 pocket-book.' 
 
 'General Witherington,' said Hartley, 'you are 
 wealthy, and entitled to be generous; I am poor, and 
 not entitled to decline whatever may be, even in a 
 liberal sense, a compensation for my professional 
 attendance. But there is a bound to extravagance, 
 both in giving and accepting; and I must not hazard 
 the newly-acquired reputation with which you flatter 
 me by giving room to have it said that I fleeced the 
 parents when their feelings were all afloat with anxiety 
 for their children. Allow me to divide this large sum: 
 one half I will thankfully retain, as a most Uberal 
 recompense for my labour; and if you still think you 
 owe me anything, let me have it in the advantage of 
 your good opinion and countenance.' 
 
 ' If I acquiesce in your proposal, Dr. Hartley,' said the 
 General, reluctantly receiving back a part of the con- 
 tents of the pocket-book, 'it is because I hope to serve 
 you with my interest even better than with my purse.' 
 
 'And indeed, sir,' replied Hartley, 'it was upon your 
 interest that I am just about to make a small claim.' 
 
 314
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 The General and his lady spoke both in the same 
 breath, to assure him his boon was granted before asked. 
 
 * I am not so sure of that/ said Hartley ; * for it respects 
 a point on which I have heard say that your Excellency 
 is rather inflexible — the discharge of a recruit.' 
 
 'My duty makes me so/ repUed the General. 'You 
 know the sort of fellows that we are obliged to content 
 ourselves with : they get drunk, grow pot-valiant, enlist 
 over-night, and repent next morning. If I am to dismiss 
 all those who pretend to have been trepanned, we 
 should have few volunteers remain behind. Every one 
 has some idle story of the promises of a swaggering 
 Sergeant Kite. It is impossible to attend to them. 
 But let me hear yours, however.' 
 
 'Mine is a very singular case. The party has been 
 robbed of a thousand pounds.' 
 
 *A recruit for this service possessing a thousand 
 pounds ! My dear doctor, depend upon it the fellow has 
 gulled you. Bless my heart, would a man who had a 
 thousand pounds think of enlisting as a private sen- 
 tinel?' 
 
 'He had no such thoughts,' answered Hartley. 'He 
 was persuaded by the rogue whom he trusted that he 
 was to have a commission.' 
 
 ' Then his friend must have been Tom Hillary, or the 
 devil; for no other could possess so much cunning and 
 impudence. He will certainly find his way to the gallows 
 at last. Still this story of the thousand pounds seems a 
 touch even beyond Tom Hillary. What reason have you 
 to think that this fellow ever had such a sum of money?' 
 
 'I have the best reason to know it for certain,' 
 answered Hartley. ' He and I served our time together, 
 
 31S
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 under the same excellent master; and when he came of 
 age, not liking the profession which he had studied, and 
 obtaining possession of his little fortune, he was deceived 
 by the promises of this same Hillary.' 
 
 'Who has had him locked up in our well-ordered hos- 
 pital yonder?' said the General. 
 
 'Even so, please your Excellency,' replied Hartley; 
 * not, I think, to cure him of any complaint, but to give 
 him the opportunity of catching one, which would si- 
 lence all inquiries.' 
 
 *The matter shall be closely looked into. But how 
 miserably careless the young man's friends must have 
 been to let a raw lad go into the world with such a 
 companion and guide as Tom Hillary, and such a sum 
 as a thousand pounds in his pocket. His parents had 
 better have knocked him on the head. It certainly was 
 not done like canny Northumberland, as my servant 
 Winter calls it.' 
 
 'The youth must indeed have had strangely hard- 
 hearted or careless parents,' said Mrs. Witherington, in 
 accents of pity. 
 
 'He never knew them, madam,' said Hartley: 'there 
 was a mystery on the score of his birth. A cold, unwill- 
 ing, and almost unknown hand dealt him out his portion 
 when he came of lawful age, and he was pushed into the 
 world like a bark forced from shore without rudder, 
 compass, or pilot.' 
 
 Here General Witherington involuntarily looked to 
 his lady, while, guided by a similar impulse, her looks 
 were turned upon him. They exchanged a momentary 
 glance of deep and peculiar meaning, and then the eyes 
 of both were fixed on the ground. 
 
 316
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 *Were you brought up in Scotland?' said the lady, 
 addressing herself, in a faltering voice, to Hartley. 'And 
 what was your master's name?' 
 
 * I served my apprenticeship with Mr. Gideon Gray, of 
 the town of Middlemas,' said Hartley. 
 
 'Middlemas! Gray!' repeated the lady, and fainted 
 away. 
 
 Hartley offered the succours of his profession; the 
 husband flew to support her head, and the instant that 
 Mrs. Witherington began to recover he whispered to 
 her, in a tone betwixt entreaty and warning, 'Zilia, be- 
 ware — beware ! ' 
 
 Some imperfect sounds which she had begun to frame 
 died away upon her tongue. 
 
 *Let me assist you to your dressing-room, my love,' 
 said her obviously anxious husband. 
 
 She arose with the action of an automaton, which 
 moves at the touch of a spring, and half-hanging upon 
 her husband, half-dragging herself on by her own efforts, 
 had nearly reached the door of the room, when Hartley, 
 following, asked if he could be of any service. 
 
 *No, sir,' said the General, sternly: 'this is no case for 
 a stranger's interference; when you are wanted I will 
 send for you.' 
 
 Hartley stepped back on receiving a rebuff in a tone 
 so different from that which General Witherington had 
 used towards him in their previous intercourse, and 
 felt disposed, for the first time, to give credit to public 
 report, which assigned to that gentleman, with several 
 good qualities, the character of a very proud and 
 haughty man. 'Hitherto,' he thought, *I have seen him 
 tamed by sorrow and anxiety; now the mind is regaining 
 
 317
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 its natural tension. But he must in decency interest 
 himself for this unhappy Middlemas.' 
 
 The General returned into the apartment a minute or 
 two afterwards, and addressed Hartley in his usual tone 
 of politeness, though apparently still under great em- 
 barrassment, which he in vain endeavoured to conceal. 
 
 'Mrs. Witherington is better,' he said, 'and will be 
 glad to see you before dinner. You dine with us, I hope?' 
 
 Hartley bowed. 
 
 'Mrs. Witherington is rather subject to this sort of 
 nervous fits, and she has been much harassed of late by 
 grief and apprehension. When she recovers from them, 
 it is a few minutes before she can collect her ideas, and 
 during such intervals — to speak very confidentially to 
 you, my dear Dr. Hartley — she speaks sometimes 
 about imaginary events which have never happened, 
 and sometimes about distressing occurrences in an 
 early period of life. I am not, therefore, willing that any 
 one but myself, or her old attendant, Mrs. Lopez, should 
 be with her on such occasions.' 
 
 Hartley admitted that a certain degree of Hght- 
 headedness was often the consequence of nervous fits. 
 
 The General proceeded. 'As to this young man — 
 this friend of yours — this Richard Middlemas — did 
 you not call him so? ' 
 
 'Not that I recollect,' answered Hartley; 'but your 
 Excellency has hit upon his name.' 
 
 'That is odd enough. Certainly you said something 
 about Middlemas? ' replied General Witherington. 
 
 *I mentioned the name of the town,' said Hartley. 
 
 *Ay, and I caught it up as the name of the recruit. I 
 was indeed occupied at the moment by my anxiety 
 
 318
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 about my wife. But this Middlemas, since such is his 
 name, is a wild young fellow, I suppose?' 
 
 *I should do him wrong to say so, your Excellency. 
 He may have had his follies like other young men; but 
 his conduct has, so far as I know, been respectable; but, 
 considering we Uved in the same house, we were not very 
 intimate.' 
 
 'That is bad; I should have hked him — that is — it 
 would have been happy for him to have had a friend 
 like you. But I suppose you studied too hard for him. 
 He would be a soldier, ha? Is he good-looking? ' 
 
 'Remarkably so,' repHed Hartley; 'and has a very 
 prepossessing manner.' 
 
 ' Is his complexion dark or fair? ' asked the General. 
 
 'Rather uncommonly dark,' said Hartley — 'darker, 
 if I may use the freedom, than your Excellency's.' 
 
 'Nay, then, he must be a black ouzel indeed! Does 
 he understand languages?' 
 
 'Latin and French tolerably well.' 
 
 ' Of course he cannot fence or dance? ' 
 
 'Pardon me, sir, I am no great judge; but Richard is 
 reckoned to do both with uncommon skill.' 
 
 ' Indeed ! Sum this up, and it sounds well. Handsome, 
 accomplished in exercises, moderately learned, perfectly 
 well-bred, not unreasonably wild. All this comes too high 
 for the situation of a private sentinel. He must have a 
 commission, doctor — entirely for your sake.' 
 
 'Your Excellency is generous.' 
 
 'It shall be so; and I will find means to make Tom 
 Hillary disgorge his plunder, unless he prefers being 
 hanged, a fate he has long deserved. You cannot go 
 back to the hospital to-day. You dine with us, and you 
 
 319
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 know Mrs. Witherington's fears of infection; but to- 
 morrow find out your friend. Winter shall see him 
 equipped with everything needful. Tom Hillary shall 
 repay advances, you know; and he must be off with the 
 first detachment of the recruits, in the ''Middlesex" 
 Indiaman, which sails from the Downs on Monday 
 fortnight; that is, if you think him fit for the voyage, I 
 dare say the poor fellow is sick of the Isle of Wight.' 
 
 'Your Excellency will permit the young man to pay 
 his respects to you before his departure? ' 
 
 *To what purpose, sir?' said the General, hastily and 
 peremptorily; but instantly added, 'You are right; I 
 should like to see him. Winter shall let him know the 
 time, and take horses to fetch him hither. But he must 
 have been out of the hospital for a day or two; so the 
 sooner you can set him at Hberty the better. In the 
 meantime, take him to your own lodgings, doctor; and 
 do not let him form any intimacies with the oflScers, or 
 any others, in this place, where he may light on another 
 Hillary.' 
 
 Had Hartley been as well acquainted as the reader 
 with the circumstances of young Middlemas's birth, he 
 might have drawn decisive conclusions from the behav- 
 iour of General Witherington while his comrade was the 
 topic of conversation. But as Mr. Gray and Middlemas 
 himself were both silent on the subject, he knew little of 
 it but from general report, which his curiosity had never 
 induced him to scrutinise minutely. Nevertheless, what 
 he did apprehend interested him so much, that he re- 
 solved upon trying a little experiment, in which he 
 thought there could be no great harm. He placed on 
 his finger the remarkable ring entrusted to his care 
 
 320
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 by Richard Middlemas, and endeavoured to make it 
 conspicuous in approaching Mrs. Witherington, taking 
 care, however, that this occurred during her husband's 
 absence. Her eyes had no sooner caught a sight of the 
 gem than they became riveted to it, and she begged a 
 nearer sight of it, as strongly resembling one which she 
 had given to a friend. Taking the ring from his linger, 
 and placing it in her emaciated hand, Hartley informed 
 her it was the property of the friend in whom he had just 
 been endeavouring to interest the General. Mrs. With- 
 erington retired in great emotion, but next day sum- 
 moned Hartley to a private interview, the particulars 
 of which, so far as are necessary to be known, shall be 
 afterwards related. 
 
 On the succeeding day after these important dis- 
 coveries, Middlemas, to his great delight, was rescued 
 from his seclusion in the hospital, and transferred to his 
 comrade's lodgings in the town of Ryde, of which 
 Hartley himself was a rare inmate, the anxiety of Mrs. 
 Witherington detaining him at the General's house long 
 after his medical attendance might have been dispensed 
 with. 
 
 Within two or three days a commission arrived for 
 Richard Middlemas as a lieutenant in the service of the 
 East India Company. Winter, by his master's orders, 
 put the wardrobe of the young officer on a suitable 
 footing; while Middlemas, enchanted at finding himself 
 at once emancipated from his late dreadful difiiculties 
 and placed under the protection of a man of such impor- 
 tance as the General, obeyed impHcitly the hints trans- 
 mitted to him by Hartley, and enforced by Winter, and 
 abstained from going into public, or forming acquain- 
 44 321
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 tances with any one. Even Hartley himself he saw 
 seldom; and, deep as were his obligations, he did not 
 perhaps greatly regret the absence of one whose pres- 
 ence always affected him with a sense of humiliation 
 and abasement.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 The evening before he was to sail for the Downs, where 
 the 'Middlesex' lay ready to weigh anchor, the new 
 lieutenant was summoned by Winter to attend him to 
 the General's residence, for the purpose of being intro- 
 duced to his patron, to thank him at once and to bid him 
 farewell. On the road the old man took the liberty of 
 schooling his companion concerning the respect which 
 he ought to pay to his master, * who was, though a kind 
 and generous man as ever came from Northumberland, 
 extremely rigid in punctiliously exacting the degree of 
 honour which was his due.' 
 
 While they were advancing towards the house, the 
 General and his wife expected their arrival with breath- 
 less anxiety. They were seated in a superb drawing- 
 room, the General behind a large chandelier, which, 
 shaded opposite to his face, threw all the light to the 
 other side of the table, so that he could observe any 
 person placed there without becoming the subject of 
 observation in turn. On a heap of cushions, wrapped in 
 a glittering drapery of gold and silver muslins, mingled 
 with shawls, a luxury which was then a novelty in 
 Europe, sate, or rather reclined, his lady, who, past the 
 full meridian of beauty, retained charms enough to 
 distinguish her as one who had been formerly a very 
 fine woman, though her mind seemed occupied by the 
 deepest emotion. 
 
 'Zilia,' said her husband, 'you are unable for what 
 
 323
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 you have undertaken; take my advice! — retire; you 
 shall know all and everything that passes — but retire. 
 To what purpose should you cling to the idle wish of 
 beholding for a moment a being whom you can never 
 again look upon?' 
 
 'Alas!' answered the lady, 'and is not your declara- 
 tion that I shall never see him more a sufl&cient rea- 
 son that I should wish to see him now — should wish 
 to imprint on my memory the features and the form 
 which I am never again to behold while we are in the 
 body? Do not, my Richard, be more cruel than was 
 my poor father, even when his wrath was in its bitter- 
 ness. He let me look upon my infant, and its cherub 
 face dwelt with me, and was my comfort, among the 
 years of unutterable sorrow in which my youth wore 
 away.' 
 
 'It is enough, Zilia: you have desired this boon: I have 
 granted it, and, at whatever risk, my promise shall be 
 kept. But think how much depends on this fatal secret 
 — your rank and estimation in society — my honour 
 interested that that estimation should remain uninjured. 
 Zilia, the moment that the promulgation of such a secret 
 gives prudes and scandalmongers a right to treat you 
 with scorn will be fraught with unutterable misery, 
 perhaps with bloodshed and death, should a man dare 
 to take up the rumour.' 
 
 'You shall be obeyed, my husband,' answered Zilia, 
 *in all that the frailness of nature will permit. But oh, 
 God of my fathers, of what clay hast Thou fashioned us, 
 poor mortals, who dread so much the shame which 
 follows sin, yet repent so little for the sin itself!' In a 
 minute afterwards steps were heard; the door opened, 
 
 324
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Winter announced Lieutenant Middlemas, and the un- 
 conscious son stood before his parents. 
 
 Witherington started involuntarily up, but immedi- 
 ately constrained himself to assume the easy deportment 
 with which a superior receives a dependent, and which, 
 in his own case, was usually mingled with a certain 
 degree of hauteur. The mother had less command of 
 herself. She too sprung up, as if with the intention of 
 throwing herself on the neck of her son, for whom she 
 had travailed and sorrowed. But the warning glance of 
 her husband arrested her, as if by magic, and she re- 
 mained standing, with her beautiful head and neck 
 somewhat advanced, her hands clasped together, and 
 extended forward in the attitude of motion, but motion- 
 less, nevertheless, as a marble statue, to which the sculp- 
 tor has given all the appearance of life, but cannot im- 
 part its powers. So strange a gesture and posture might 
 have excited the young ofl&cer's surprise; but the lady 
 stood in the shade, and he was so intent in looking upon 
 his patron that he was scarce even conscious of Mrs. 
 Witherington's presence. 
 
 *I am happy in this opportunity,' said Middlemas, 
 observing that the General did not speak, * to return my 
 thanks to General Witherington, to whom they never 
 can be sufficiently paid.' 
 
 The sound of his voice, though uttering words so 
 indifferent, seemed to dissolve the charm which kept his 
 mother motionless. She sighed deeply, relaxed the 
 rigidity of her posture, and sunk back on the cushions 
 from which she had started up. Middlemas turned a 
 look towards her at the sound of the sigh and the 
 rustling of her drapery. 
 
 325
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The General hastened to speak. 'My wife, Mr. 
 Middlemas, has been unwell of late; your friend, Mr. 
 Hartley, might mention it to you — an affection of the 
 nerves.' 
 
 Mr. Middlemas was, of course, sorry and concerned. 
 
 'We have had distress in our family, Mr. Middlemas, 
 from the ultimate and heart-breaking consequences of 
 which we have escaped by the skill of your friend, Mr. 
 Hartley. We will be happy if it is in our power to 
 repay a part of our obligations in services to his friend 
 and protege, Mr. Middlemas.' 
 
 *I am only acknowledged as his protege, then,' 
 thought Richard ; but he said, ' Every one must envy his 
 friend in having had the distinguished good fortune to 
 be of use to General Witherington and his family.' 
 
 'You have received your commission, I presume. 
 Have you any particular wish or desire respecting your 
 destination? ' 
 
 'No, may it please your Excellency,' answered Mid- 
 dlemas. ' I suppose Hartley would tell your Excellency 
 my unhappy state — that I am an orphan, deserted by 
 the parents who cast me on the wide world, an outcast 
 about whom nobody knows or cares, except to desire 
 that I should wander far enough, and live obscurely 
 enough, not to disgrace them by their connexion with 
 me.' 
 
 Zilia wrung her hands as he spoke, and drew her 
 muslin veil closely around her head, as if to exclude the 
 sounds which excited her mental agony. 
 
 'Mr. Hartley was not particularly communicative 
 about your affairs,' said the General, 'nor do I wish to 
 give you the pain of entering into them. What I desire 
 
 326
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 to know is, if you are pleased with your destination to 
 
 Madras?' 
 
 'Perfectly, please your Excellency — anywhere, so 
 that there is no chance of meeting the villain Hillary/ 
 
 ' Oh ! Hillary's services are too necessary in the pur 
 lieus of St. Giles's, the Lowlights of Newcastle, and 
 such-like places, where human carrion can be picked up, 
 to be permitted to go to India. However, to show you 
 the knave has some grace, there are the notes of which 
 you were robbed. You will find them the very same 
 paper which you lost, except a small sum which the 
 rogue had spent, but which a friend has made up, in 
 compassion for your sufferings.' 
 
 Richard Middlemas sunk on one knee, and kissed the 
 hand which restored him to independence. 
 
 'Pshaw!' said the General, 'you are a silly young 
 man'; but he withdrew not his hand from his caresses. 
 This was one of the occasions on which Dick Middlemas 
 could be oratorical. 
 
 'O, my more than father,' he said, 'how much greater 
 a debt do I owe to you than to the unnatural parents 
 who brought me into this world by their sin, and 
 deserted me through their cruelty!' 
 
 Zilia, as she heard these cutting words, flung back her 
 veil, raising it on both hands till it floated behind her like 
 a mist, and then giving a faint groan, sunk down in a 
 swoon. Pushing Middlemas from him with a hasty 
 movement. General Witherington flew to his lady's 
 assistance, and carried her in his arms, as if she had been 
 a child, into the ante-room, where an old servant waited 
 with the means of restoring suspended animation, which 
 the unhappy husband too truly anticipated might be 
 
 327
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 useful. These were hastily employed, and succeeded in 
 calling the sufferer to life, but in a state of mental emo- 
 tion that was terrible. 
 
 Her mind was obviously impressed by the last words 
 which her son had uttered. * Did you hear him, Richard? ' 
 she exclaimed, in accents terribly loud, considering the 
 exhausted state of her strength — ' did you hear the 
 words? It was Heaven speaking our condemnation by 
 the voice of our own child. But do not fear, my Richard, 
 do not weep ! I will answer the thunder of Heaven with 
 its own music' 
 
 She flew to a harpsichord which stood in the room, 
 and, while the servant and master gazed on each other, 
 as if doubting whether her senses were about to leave her 
 entirely, she wandered over the keys, producing a wil- 
 derness of harmony, composed of passages recalled by 
 memory, or combined by her own musical talent, until at 
 length her voice and instrument united in one of those 
 magnificent hymns in which her youth had praised her 
 Maker, with voice and harp, like the royal Hebrew who 
 composed it. The tear ebbed insensibly from the eyes 
 which she turned upwards; her vocal tones, combining 
 with those of the instrument, rose to a pitch of brilliancy 
 seldom attained by the most distinguished performers, 
 and then sunk into a dying cadence, which fell, never 
 again to rise — for the songstress had died with her 
 strain. 
 
 The horror of the distracted husband may be con- 
 ceived, when all efforts to restore life proved totally inef- 
 fectual. Servants were despatched for medical men — 
 Hartley, and every other who could be found. The Gen- 
 eral precipitated himself into the apartment they had so 
 
 328
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 lately left, and in his haste ran against Middlemas, who, 
 at the sound of the music from the adjoining apartment, 
 had naturally approached nearer to the door, and, sur- 
 prised and startled by the sort of clamour, hasty steps, 
 and confused voices which ensued, had remained stand- 
 ing there, endeavouring to ascertain the cause of so 
 much disorder. 
 
 The sight of the unfortunate young man wakened the 
 General's stormy passions to frenzy. He seemed to rec- 
 ognise his son only as the cause of his wife's death. He 
 seized him by the collar, and shook him violently as he 
 dragged him into the chamber of mortahty. 
 
 ' Come hither,' he said, ' thou for whom a Hfe of lowest 
 obscurity was too mean a fate — come hither, and look 
 on the parents whom thou hast so much envied — whom 
 thou hast so often cursed. Look at that pale emaciated 
 form, a figure of wax, rather than flesh and blood: that is 
 thy mother — that is the unhappy Ziha Mongada, to 
 whom thy birth was the source of shame and misery, and 
 to whom thy ill-omened presence has now brought death 
 itself. And behold me' — he pushed the lad from him, 
 and stood up erect, looking well-nigh in gesture and fig- 
 ure the apostate spirit he described — ' behold me,' he 
 said — * see you not my hair streaming with sulphur, my 
 brow scathed with hghtning? I am the Arch Fiend — I 
 am the father whom you seek — I am the accursed 
 Richard Tresham, the seducer of Zilia, and the father 
 of her murderer!' 
 
 Hartley entered while this horrid scene was passing. 
 All attention to the deceased, he instantly saw, would be 
 thrown away; and understanding, partly from Winter, 
 partly from the tenor of the General's frantic discourse, 
 
 329
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the nature of the disclosure which had occurred, he has- 
 tened to put an end, if possible, to the frightful and scan- 
 dalous scene which had taken place. Aware how deli- 
 cately the General felt on the subject of reputation, he 
 assailed him with remonstrances on such conduct, in 
 presence of so many witnesses. But the mind had ceased 
 to answer to that once powerful key-note. 
 
 'I care not if the whole world hear my sin and my 
 punishment,' said Witherington. 'It shall not be again 
 said of me that I fear shame more than I repent sin. I 
 feared shame only for Ziha, and Zilia is dead.' 
 
 * But her memory. General — spare the memory of 
 your wife, in which the character of your children is 
 involved.' 
 
 *I have no children,' said the desperate and violent 
 man. ' My Reuben is gone to Heaven, to prepare a lodg- 
 ing for the angel who has now escaped from earth in a 
 flood of harmony, which can only be equalled where she 
 is gone. The other two cherubs will not survive their 
 mother. I shall be, nay, I already feel myself, a childless 
 man.' 
 
 'Yet I am your son,' replied Middlemas, in a tone sor- 
 rowful, but at the same time tinged with sullen resent- 
 ment — ' your son by your wedded wife. Pale as she lies 
 there, I call upon you both to acknowledge my rights, 
 and all who are present to bear witness to them.' 
 
 'Wretch!' exclaimed the maniac father, 'canst thou 
 think of thine own sordid rights in the midst of death and 
 frenzy? My son! Thou art the fiend who hast occa- 
 sioned my wretchedness in this world, and who will 
 share my eternal misery in the next. Hence from my 
 sight, and my curse go with thee!' 
 
 330
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 His eyes fixed on the ground, his arms folded on his 
 breast, the haughty and dogged spirit of Middlemas yet 
 seemed to meditate reply. But Hartley, Winter, and 
 other bystanders interfered, and forced him from the 
 apartment. As they endeavoured to remonstrate with 
 him, he twisted himself out of their grasp, ran to the 
 stables, and seizing the first saddled horse that he found, 
 out of many that had been in haste got ready to seek for 
 assistance, he threw himself on its back and rode furiously 
 off. Hartley was about to mount and follow him; but 
 Winter and the other domestics threw themselves around 
 him, and implored him not to desert their unfortunate 
 master at a time when the influence which he had ac- 
 quired over him might be the only restraint on the vio- 
 lence of his passions. 
 
 *He had a coup de soleil in India,' whispered Winter, 
 *and is capable of anything in his fits. These cowards 
 cannot control him, and I am old and feeble.' 
 
 Satisfied that General Witherington was a greater 
 object of compassion than Middlemas, whom besides he 
 had no hope of overtaking, and who he believed was safe 
 in his own keeping, however violent might be his present 
 emotions, Hartley returned where the greater emergency 
 demanded his immediate care. 
 
 He found the unfortunate general contending with the 
 domestics, who endeavoured to prevent his making his 
 way to the apartment where his children slept, and 
 exclaiming furiously, ' Rejoice, my treasures — rejoice — 
 He has fled who would proclaim your father's crime and 
 your mother's dishonour! He has fled, never to return, 
 whose life has been the death of one parent and the ruin 
 of another! Courage, my children, your father is with 
 
 331
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 you — he will make his way to you through a hundred 
 obstacles ! ' 
 
 The domestics, intimidated and undecided, were giv- 
 ing way to him, when Adam Hartley approached, and, 
 placing himself before the unhappy man, fixed his eye 
 firmly on the General's, while he said in a low but stern 
 voice — 'Madman, would you kill your children?' 
 
 The General seemed staggered in his resolution, but 
 still attempted to rush past him. But Hartley, seizing 
 him by the collar of his coat on each side, * You are my 
 prisoner,' he said; 'I command you to foUow me.' 
 
 *Ha! prisoner, and for high treason? Dog, thou hast 
 met thy death!' 
 
 The distracted man drew a poniard from his bosom, 
 and Hartley's strength and resolution might not perhaps 
 have saved his life, had not Winter mastered the Gen- 
 eral's right hand, and contrived to disarm him. 
 
 *I am your prisoner, then,' he said; 'use me civilly — 
 and let me see my wife and children.' 
 
 'You shall see them to-morrow,' said Hartley; 'foUow 
 us instantly, and without the least resistance.' 
 
 General Witherington followed hke a child, with the 
 air of one who is suffering for a cause in which he 
 glories. 
 
 'I am not ashamed of my principles,' he said — 'I am 
 willing to die for my king.' 
 
 Without exciting his frenzy, by contradicting the fan- 
 tastic idea which occupied his imagination. Hartley con- 
 tinued to maintain over his patient the ascendency he 
 had acquired. He caused him to be led to his apartment, 
 and beheld him suffer himself to be put to bed. Adminis- 
 tering then a strong composing-draught, and causing a 
 
 332
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 servant to sleep in the room, he watched the unfortunate 
 man till dawn of morning. 
 
 General Witherington awoke in his full senses, and 
 apparently conscious of his real situation, which he testi- 
 fied by low groans, sobs, and tears. When Hartley drew 
 near his bedside he knew him perfectly, and said, 'Do 
 not fear me — the fit is over; leave me now, and see 
 after yonder unfortunate. Let him leave Britain as soon 
 as possible, and go where his fate calls him, and where we 
 can never meet more. Winter knows my ways, and will 
 take care of me.' 
 
 Winter gave the same advice. * I can answer,' he said, 
 'for my master's security at present; but in Heaven's 
 name, prevent his ever meeting again with that obdu- 
 rate young man!'
 
 CHAPTER DC 
 
 Well, then, the world 's mine oyster, 
 Which I with sword will open. 
 
 Merry Wives of Windsor. 
 
 When Adam Hartley arrived at his lodgings in the sweet 
 little town of Ryde, his first inquiries were after his com- 
 rade. He had arrived last night late, man and horse all 
 in a foam. He made no reply to any questions about 
 supper or the hke, but, snatching a candle, ran upstairs 
 into his apartment, and shut and double-locked the 
 door. The servants only supposed that, being something 
 intoxicated, he had ridden hard, and was unwilling to 
 expose himself. 
 
 Hartley went to the door of his chamber, not without 
 some apprehensions; and after knocking and calling more 
 than once, received at length the welcome return, ' Who 
 is there?' 
 
 On Hartley announcing himself, the door opened, and 
 Middlemas appeared, well dressed, and with his hair 
 arranged and powdered; although, from the appearance 
 of the bed, it had not been slept in on the preceding 
 night, and Richard's countenance, haggard and ghastly, 
 seemed to bear witness to the same fact. It was, how- 
 ever, with an affectation of indifference that he spoke. 
 
 'I congratulate you on your improvement in 
 worldly knowledge, Adam. It is just the time to desert 
 the poor heir, and stick by him that is in immediate pos- 
 session of the wealth.' 
 
 334
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 ' I staid last night at General Witherington's/ answered 
 Hartley, ' because he is extremely ill.' 
 
 'Tell him to repent of his sins, then,' said Richard. 
 * Old Gray used to say, a doctor had as good a title to 
 give ghostly advice as a parson. Do you remember Dr. 
 Dulberry, the minister, calling him an interloper ? Ha ! 
 ha! ha!' 
 
 * I am surprised at this style of language from one in 
 your circumstances.' 
 
 'Why, ay,' said Middlemas, with a bitter smile, 'it 
 would be difficult to most men to keep up their spirits, 
 after gaining and losing father, mother, and a good 
 inheritance, all in the same day. But I had always a 
 turn for philosophy.' 
 
 'I really do not understand you, Mr. Middlemas.' 
 
 'Why, I found my parents yesterday, did I not?' 
 answered the young man. 'My mother, as you know, 
 had waited but that moment to die, and my father to 
 become distracted; and I conclude both were contrived 
 purposely to cheat me of my inheritance, as he has taken 
 up such a prejudice against me.' 
 
 ' Inheritance ! ' repeated Hartley, bewildered by Rich- 
 ard's calmness, and half suspecting that the insanity of 
 the father was hereditary in the family. 'In Heaven's 
 name, recollect yourself, and get rid of these hallucina- 
 tions. What inheritance are you dreaming of? ' 
 
 'That of my mother, to be sure, who must have 
 inherited old Mongada's wealth; and to whom should it 
 descend, save to her children? I am the eldest of them — 
 that fact cannot be denied.' 
 
 ' But consider, Richard — recollect yourself.' 
 
 *I do,' said Richard; 'and, what then?' 
 
 335
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 'Then you cannot but remember,' said Hartley, ' that, 
 unless there was a will in your favour, your birth pre- 
 vents you from inheriting.' 
 
 'You are mistaken, sir: I am legitimate. Yonder 
 sickly brats whom you rescued from the grave are not 
 more legitimate than I am. Yes, our parents could not 
 allow the air of Heaven to breathe on them; me they 
 committed to the winds and the waves. I am neverthe- 
 less their lawful child, as well as their puling offspring of 
 advanced age and decayed health. I saw them, Adam: 
 Winter showed the nursery to me while they were gath- 
 ering courage to receive me in the drawing-room. There 
 they lay, the children of predilection, the riches of the 
 East expended that they might sleep soft and wake in 
 magnificence. I, the eldest brother — the heir — I stood 
 beside their bed in the borrowed dress which I had so 
 lately exchanged for the rags of an hospital. Their 
 couches breathed the richest perfumes, while I was reek- 
 ing from a pest-house ; and I — I repeat it — the heir, 
 the produce of their earliest and best love, was thus 
 treated. No wonder that my look was that of a basi- 
 Usk.' 
 
 'You speak as if you were possessed with an evil 
 spirit,' said Hartley; 'or else you labour under a strange 
 delusion.' 
 
 ' You think those only are legally married over whom 
 a drowsy parson has read the ceremony from a dog's- 
 eared prayer-book? It may be so in your English law; 
 but Scotland makes Love himself the priest. A vow be- 
 twixt a fond couple, the blue heaven alone witnessing, 
 will protect a confiding girl against the perjury of a fickle 
 swain, as much as if a dean had performed the rites in the 
 
 336
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 loftiest cathedral in England. Nay, more; if the child of 
 love be acknowledged by the father at the time when 
 he is baptized, if he present the mother to strangers 
 of respectability as his wife, the laws of Scotland will 
 not allow him to retract the justice which has, in these 
 actions, been done to the female whom he has wronged, 
 or the offspring of their mutual love. This General 
 Tresham, or Witherington, treated my unhappy mother 
 as his wife before Gray and others, quartered her as such 
 in the family of a respectable man, gave her the same 
 name by which he himself chose to pass for the time. He 
 presented me to the priest as his lawful offspring; and the 
 law of Scotland, benevolent to the helpless child, will not 
 allow him now to disown what he so formally admitted. 
 I know my rights, and am determined to claim them.' 
 
 * You do not then intend to go on board the "Middle- 
 sex"? Think a little. You will lose your voyage and 
 your commission.' 
 
 'I will save my birthright,' answered Middlemas. 
 'When I thought of going to India, I knew not my par- 
 ents, or how to make good the rights which I had through 
 them. That riddle is solved. I am entitled to at least a 
 third of Mongada's estate, which, by Winter's account, is 
 considerable. But for you, and your mode of treating the 
 small-pox, I should have had the whole. Little did I 
 think, when old Gray was likely to have his wig pulled 
 off for putting out fires, throwing open windows, and 
 exploding whisky and water, that the new system of 
 treating the small-pox was to cost me so many thousand 
 pounds.' 
 
 'You are determined, then,' said Hartley, 'on this 
 wild course? ' 
 
 44 337
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 *I know my rights, and am determined to make them 
 available/ answered the obstinate youth. 
 
 * Mr. Richard Middlemas, I am sorry for you.' 
 
 ' Mr. Adam Hartley, I beg to know why I am honoured 
 by your sorrow.' 
 
 'I pity you,' answered Hartley, 'both for the obsti- 
 nacy of selfishness which can think of wealth after the 
 scene you saw last night, and for the idle vision which 
 leads you to believe that you can obtain possession of 
 it.' 
 
 'Selfish!' cried Middlemas; 'why, I am a dutiful son, 
 labouring to clear the memory of a calumniated mother. 
 And am I a visionary? Why, it was to this hope that I 
 awakened when old Mongada's letter to Gray, devoting 
 me to perpetual obscurity, first roused me to a sense of 
 my situation, and dispelled the dreams of my childhood. 
 Do you think that I would ever have submitted to the 
 drudgery which I shared with you, but that, by doing 
 so, I kept in view the only traces of these unnatural par- 
 ents, by means of which I proposed to introduce myself 
 to their notice, and, if necessary, enforce the rights of a 
 legitimate child? The silence and death of Mongada 
 broke my plans, and it was then only I reconciled myself 
 to the thoughts of India.' 
 
 ' You were very young to have known so much of the 
 Scottish law, at the time when we were first acquainted,' 
 said Hartley. 'But I can guess your instructor.' 
 
 'No less authority than Tom Hillary's,' replied 
 Middlemas. 'His good counsel on that head is a reason 
 why I do not now prosecute him to the gallows.' 
 
 'I judged as much,' replied Hartley; 'for I heard him, 
 before I left Middlemas, debating the point with Mr. 
 
 338
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Lawford; and I recollect perfectly that he stated the 
 law to be such as you now lay down.' 
 
 'And what said Lawford in answer?' demanded 
 Middlemas. 
 
 ' He admitted,' replied Hartley, ' that, in circumstances 
 where the case was doubtful, such presumptions of legiti- 
 macy might be admitted. But he said they were liable 
 to be controlled by positive and precise testimony, as, 
 for instance, the evidence of the mother declaring the 
 illegitimacy of the child.' 
 
 * But there can exist none such in my case,' said Mid- 
 dlemas hastily, and with marks of alarm. 
 
 * I will not deceive you, Mr. Middlemas, though I fear 
 I cannot help giving you pain. I had yesterday a long 
 conference with your mother, Mrs. Witherington, in 
 which she acknowledged you as her son, but a son born 
 before marriage. This express declaration will, therefore, 
 put an end to the suppositions on which you ground your 
 hopes. If you please, you may hear the contents of her 
 declaration, which I have in her own handwriting.' 
 
 * Confusion ! is the cup to be for ever dashed from my 
 lips?' muttered Richard; but recovering his composure 
 by exertion of the self-command of which he possessed 
 so large a portion, he desired Hartley to proceed with his 
 communication. Hartley accordingly proceeded to in- 
 form him of the particulars preceding his birth and those 
 which followed after it; while Middlemas, seated on a 
 sea-chest, hstened with inimitable composure to a tale 
 which went to root up the flourishing hopes of wealth 
 which he had lately so fondly entertained. 
 
 Ziha Mongada was the only child of a Portuguese Jew 
 of great wealth, who had come to London in prosecu- 
 
 359
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 tion of his commerce. Among the few Christians who 
 frequented his house, and occasionally his table, was 
 Richard Tresham, a gentleman of a high Northumbrian 
 family, deeply engaged in the service of Charles Edward 
 during his short invasion, and, though holding a com- 
 mission in the Portuguese service, still an object of sus- 
 picion to the British government on account of his 
 well-known courage and Jacobitical principles. The 
 highbred elegance of this gentleman, together with his 
 complete acquaintance with the Portuguese language 
 and manners, had won the intimacy of old Mongada, 
 and, alas! the heart of the inexperienced ZiUa, who, 
 beautiful as an angel, had as little knowledge of the 
 world and its wickedness as the lamb that is but a 
 week old. 
 
 Tresham made his proposals to Mongada, perhaps in 
 a manner which too evidently showed that he conceived 
 the high-born Christian was degrading himself in asking 
 an alliance with the wealthy Jew. Mon^ada rejected his 
 proposals, forbade him his house, but could not prevent 
 the lovers from meeting in private. Tresham made a 
 dishonourable use of the opportunities which the poor 
 Zilia so incautiously afforded, and the consequence was 
 her ruin. The lover, however, had every purpose of 
 righting the injury which he had inflicted, and, after 
 various plans of secret marriage, which were rendered 
 abortive by the difference of religion and other circum- 
 stances, flight for Scotland was determined on. The 
 hurry of the journey, the fear and anxiety to which Zilia 
 was subject, brought on her confinement several weeks 
 before the usual time, so that they were compelled to 
 accept of the assistance and accommodation offered by 
 
 340
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Mr. Gray. They had not been there many hours ere 
 Tresham heard, by the medium of some sharp-sighted 
 or keen-eared friend, that there were warrants out 
 against him for treasonable practices. His correspond- 
 ence with Charles Edward had become known to Mon- 
 f ada during the period of their friendship ; he betrayed it 
 in vengeance to the British cabinet, and warrants were 
 issued, in which, at Mongada's request, his daughter's 
 name was included. This might be of use, he appre- 
 hended, to enable him to separate his daughter from 
 Tresham, should he find the fugitives actually married. 
 How far he succeeded the reader already knows, as well 
 as the precautions which he took to prevent the living 
 evidence of his child's frailty from being known to exist. 
 His daughter he carried with him, and subjected her to 
 severe restraint, which her own reflections rendered 
 doubly bitter. It would have completed his revenge had 
 the author of Ziha's misfortunes been brought to the 
 scaffold for his political offences. But Tresham skulked 
 among friends in the Highlands, and escaped until the 
 affair blew over. 
 
 He afterwards entered into the East India Company's 
 service, under his mother's name of Witherington, which 
 concealed the Jacobite and rebel until these terms were 
 forgotten. His skill in military affairs soon raised him to 
 riches and eminence. When he returned to Britain his 
 first inquiries were after the family of Mongada. His 
 fame, his wealth, and the late conviction that his daugh- 
 ter never would marry any but him who had her first 
 love induced the old man to give that encouragement to 
 General Witherington which he had always denied to 
 the poor and outlawed Major Tresham; and the lovers, 
 
 341
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 after having been fourteen years separated, were at 
 length united in wedlock- 
 General Witherington eagerly concurred in the earnest 
 wish of his father-in-law, that every remembrance of 
 former events should be buried, by leaving the fruit of 
 the early and unhappy intrigue suitably provided for, 
 but in a distant and obscure situation. Zilia thought far 
 otherwise. Her heart longed, with a mother's longing, 
 towards the object of her first maternal tenderness, but 
 she dared not place herself in opposition at once to the 
 will of her father and the decision of her husband. The 
 former, his reUgious prejudices much effaced by his long 
 residence in England, had given consent that she should 
 conform to the established religion of her husband and 
 her country; the latter, haughty as we have described 
 him, made it his pride to introduce the beautiful convert 
 among his high-born kindred. The discovery of her for- 
 mer frailty would have proved a blow to her respectabil- 
 ity which he dreaded like death; and it could not long 
 remain a secret from his wife that, in consequence of a 
 severe illness in India, even his reason became occasion- 
 ally shaken by anything which violently agitated his 
 feelings. She had, therefore, acquiesced in patience and 
 silence in the course of policy which Mongada had 
 devised, and which her husband anxiously and warmly 
 approved. Yet her thoughts, even when their marriage 
 was blessed with other offspring, anxiously reverted to 
 the banished and outcast child who had first been 
 clasped to the maternal bosom. 
 
 All these feelings, 'subdued and cherished along,' 
 were set afloat in full tide by the unexpected discovery 
 of this son, redeemed from a lot of extreme misery, and 
 
 342
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 placed before his mother's imagination in circumstances 
 so disastrous. 
 
 It was in vain that her husband had assured her that 
 he would secure the young man's prosperity by his purse 
 and his interest. She could not be satisfied until she 
 had herself done something to alleviate the doom of 
 banishment to which her eldest-born was thus con- 
 demned. She was the more eager to do so, as she felt the 
 extreme delicacy of her health, which was undermined 
 by so many years of secret suffering. 
 
 Mrs. Witherington was, in conferring her maternal 
 bounty, naturally led to employ the agency of Hartley, 
 the companion of her son, and to whom, since the recov- 
 ery of her younger children, she almost looked up as to a 
 tutelar deity. She placed in his hands a sum of £2000, 
 which she had at her own unchallenged disposal, with a 
 request, uttered in the fondest and most affectionate 
 terms, that it might be applied to the service of Richard 
 Middlemas in the way Hartley should think most useful 
 to him. She assured him of further support as it should 
 be needed ; and a note to the following purport was also 
 entrusted to him, to be delivered when and where the 
 prudence of Hartley should judge it proper to confide to 
 him the secret of his birth. 
 
 *0h, Benoni! Oh, child of my sorrow!' said this 
 interesting document, 'why should the eyes of thy un- 
 happy mother be about to obtain permission to look on 
 thee, since her arms were denied the right to fold thee to 
 her bosom? May the God of Jews and of Gentiles watch 
 over thee and guard thee ! May He remove, in His good 
 time, the darkness which rolls between me and the 
 
 343
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 beloved of my heart — the first fruit of my imhappy, 
 nay, unhallowed, afifection. Do not — do not, my 
 beloved, think thyself a lonely exile, while thy mother's 
 prayers arise for thee at sunrise and at sunset, to call 
 down every blessing on thy head — to invoke every 
 power in thy protection and defence. Seek not to see me. 
 Oh, why must I say so? But let me humble myself in the 
 dust, since it is my own sin, my own folly, which I must 
 blame; but seek not to see or speak with me — it might 
 be the death of both. Confide thy thoughts to the excel- 
 lent Hartley, who hath been the guardian angel of us all, 
 even as the tribes of Israel had each their guardian angel. 
 What thou shalt wish, and he shall advise in thy behalf, 
 shall be done, if in the power of a mother. And the love 
 of a mother, — is it bounded by seas, or can deserts and 
 distance measure its limits? Oh, child of my sorrow! 
 Oh, Benoni! let thy spirit be with mine, as mine is with 
 thee. Z. M.' 
 
 All these arrangements being completed, the unfortu- 
 nate lady next insisted with her husband that she should 
 be permitted to see her son in that parting interview 
 which terminated so fatally. Hartley, therefore, now 
 discharged as her executor the duty entrusted to him as 
 her confidential agent. 
 
 ' Surely,' he thought, as, having finished his communi- 
 cation, he was about to leave the apartment — ' surely 
 the demons of ambition and avarice will unclose the 
 talons which they have fixed upon this man, at a charm 
 like this.' 
 
 And indeed Richard's heart had been formed of the 
 nether millstone had he not been duly affected by these 
 
 344
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 first and last tokens of his mother's affection. He leant 
 his head upon a table, and his tears flowed plentifully. 
 Hartley left him undisturbed for more than an hour, and 
 on his return foimd him in nearly the same attitude in 
 which he had left him. 
 
 'I regret to disturb you at this moment,' he said, 'but 
 I have still a part of my duty to discharge. I must place 
 in your possession the deposit which your mother made 
 in my hands; and I must also remind you that time flies 
 fast, and that you have scarce an hour or two to deter- 
 mine whether you will prosecute your Indian voyage 
 imder the new view of circumstances which I have 
 opened to you.' 
 
 Middlemas took the bills which his mother had be- 
 queathed him. As he raised his head Hartley could ob- 
 serve that his face was stained with tears. Yet he 
 counted over the money with mercantile accuracy; and 
 though he assumed the pen for the purpose of writing a 
 discharge with an air of inconsolable dejection, yet he 
 drew it up in good set terms, Uke one who had his senses 
 much at his command. 
 
 'And now,' he said, in a mournful voice, 'give me my 
 mother's narrative.' 
 
 Hartley almost started, and answered hastily, 'You 
 have the poor lady's letter, which was addressed to 
 yourself ; the narrative is addressed to me. It is my war- 
 rant for disposing of a large sum of money; it concerns 
 the rights of third parties, and I cannot part with it.' 
 
 ' Surely — surely it were better to deliver it into my 
 hands, were it but to weep over it,' answered Middlemas. 
 * My fortune, Hartley, has been very cruel. You see that 
 my parents purposed to have made me their undoubted 
 
 345
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 heir; yet their purpose was disappointed by accident. 
 And now my mother comes with well-intended fondness, 
 and, while she means to advance my fortune, furnishes 
 evidence to destroy it. Come — come, Hartley, you 
 must be conscious that my mother wrote those details 
 entirely for my information. I am the rightful owner, 
 and insist on having them.' 
 
 'I am sorry I must insist on refusing your demand,* 
 answered Hartley, putting the papers in his pocket. 
 * You ought to consider that, if this communication has 
 destroyed the idle and groundless hopes which you have 
 indulged in, it has, at the same time, more than trebled 
 your capital; and that if there are some hundreds or 
 thousands in the world richer than yourself, there are 
 many millions not half so well provided. Set a braver 
 spirit, then, against your fortune, and do not doubt your 
 success in life.' 
 
 His words seemed to sink into the gloomy mind ol 
 Middlemas. He stood silent for a moment, and then 
 answered with a reluctant and insinuating voice, — 
 
 'My dear Hartley, we have long been companions; 
 you can have neither pleasure nor interest in ruining 
 my hopes — you may find some in forwarding them. 
 Mon^ada's fortune will enable me to allow five thou- 
 sand pounds to the friend who should aid me in my 
 difiiculties.' 
 
 ' Good morning to you, Mr. Middlemas,' said Hartley, 
 endeavouring to withdraw. 
 
 'One moment — one moment,' said Middlemas, hold- 
 ing his friend by the button at the same time, ' I meant 
 to say ten thousand — and — and — marry whomso- 
 ever you like — I will not be your hinderance.' 
 
 346
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 *You are a villain!' said Hartley, breaking from him, 
 *and I always thought you so.' 
 
 'And you,' answered Middlemas, 'are a fool, and I 
 never thought you better. Off he goes. Let him — the 
 game has been played and lost. I must hedge my bets: 
 India must be my back-play.' 
 
 All was in readiness for his departure. A small vessel 
 and a favouring gale conveyed him and several other 
 military gentlemen to the Downs, where the Indiaman 
 which was to transport them from Europe lay ready for 
 their reception. 
 
 His first feelings were sufficiently disconsolate. But 
 accustomed from his infancy to conceal his internal 
 thoughts, he appeared in the course of a week the gayest 
 and best-bred passenger who ever dared the long and 
 weary space betwixt Old England and her Indian posses- 
 sions. At Madras, where the sociable feelings of the 
 resident inhabitants give ready way to enthusiasm in 
 behalf of any stranger of agreeable qualities, he experi- 
 enced that warm hospitality which distinguishes the 
 British character in the East. 
 
 Middlemas was well received in company, and in the 
 way of becoming an indispensable guest at every enter- 
 tainment in the place, when the vessel on board of which 
 Hartley acted as surgeon's mate arrived at the same 
 settlement. The latter would not, from his situation, 
 have been entitled to expect much civility and atten- 
 tion; but this disadvantage was made up by his possess- 
 ing the most powerful introductions from General With- 
 erington, and from other persons of weight in Leadenhall 
 Street, the General's friends, to the principal inhabi- 
 tants in the settlement. He found himself once more, 
 
 347
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 therefore, moving in the same sphere with Middlemas, 
 and under the alternative of living with him on decent 
 and distant terms, or of breaking off with him altogether. 
 
 The first of these courses might perhaps have been the 
 wisest; but the other was most congenial to the blunt 
 and plain character of Hartley, who saw neither propri- 
 ety nor comfort in maintaining a show of friendly inter- 
 course, to conceal hate, contempt, and mutual dislike. 
 
 The circle at Fort St. George was much more re- 
 stricted at that time than it has been since. The coldness 
 of the young men did not escape notice. It transpired 
 that they had been once intimates and fellow-students; 
 yet it was now found that they hesitated at accepting 
 invitations to the same parties. Rumour assigned many 
 different and incompatible reasons for this deadly 
 breach, to which Hartley gave no attention whatever, 
 while Lieutenant Middlemas took care to countenance 
 those which represented the cause of the quarrel most 
 favourably to himself. 
 
 *A little bit of rivalry had taken place,' he said, when 
 pressed by gentlemen for an explanation; 'he had only 
 had the good luck to get further in the good graces of a 
 fair lady than his friend Hartley, who had made a quar- 
 rel of it, as they saw. He thought it very silly to keep up 
 spleen, at such a distance of time and space. He was 
 sorry, more for the sake of the strangeness of the appear- 
 ance of the thing than anything else, although his friend 
 had really some very good points about him.' 
 
 While these whispers were working their effect in 
 society, they did not prevent Hartley from receiving the 
 most flattering assurances of encouragement and official 
 promotion from the Madras government as opportunity 
 
 348
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 should arise. Soon after, it was intimated to him that a 
 medical appointment of a lucrative nature in a remote 
 settlement was conferred on him, which removed him 
 for some time from Madras and its neighbourhood. 
 
 Hartley accordingly sailed on his distant expedition; 
 and it was observed that after his departure the charac- 
 ter of Middlemas, as if some check had been removed, 
 began to display itself in disagreeable colours. It was 
 noticed that this young man, whose manners were so 
 agreeable and so courteous during the first months after 
 his arrival in India, began now to show symptoms of a 
 haughty and overbearing spirit. He had adopted, for 
 reasons which the reader may conjecture, but which 
 appeared to be mere whim at Fort St. George, the name 
 of Tresham in addition to that by which he had hitherto 
 been distinguished, and in this he persisted with an 
 obstinacy which belonged more to the pride than the 
 craft of his character. The Heutenant-colonel of the regi- 
 ment, an old cross-tempered martinet, did not choose to 
 indulge the captain (such was now the rank of Middle- 
 mas) in this humour. 
 
 'He knew no officer,' he said, 'by any name save that 
 which he bore in his commission/ and he Middlemas'd 
 the captain on all occasions. 
 
 One fatal evening, the captain was so much provoked 
 as to intimate peremptorily 'that he knew his own 
 name best.' 
 
 'Why, Captain Middlemas,' replied the colonel, 'it is 
 not every child that knows its own father, so how can 
 every man be so sure of his own name?' 
 
 The bow was drawn at a venture, but the shaft found 
 the rent in the armour and stung deeply. In spite of all 
 
 349
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the interposition which could be attempted, Middlemas 
 insisted on challenging the colonel, who could be per- 
 suaded to no apology. 
 
 'If Captain Middlemas,' he said, 'thought the cap 
 fitted, he was welcome to wear it.' 
 
 The result was a meeting, in which, after the parties 
 had exchanged shots, the seconds tendered their media- 
 tion. It was rejected by Middlemas, who at the second 
 fire had the misfortune to kill his commanding ofificer. 
 In consequence, he was obliged to fly from the British 
 settlements; for, being universally blamed for having 
 pushed the quarrel to extremity, there was little doubt 
 that the whole severity of military discipline would be 
 exercised upon the deUnquent. Middlemas, therefore, 
 vanished from Fort St. George, and, though the affair 
 had made much noise at the time, was soon no longer 
 talked of. It was understood, in general, that he had 
 gone to seek that fortune at the court of some native 
 prince which he could no longer hope for in the British 
 settlements.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 Three years passed away after the fatal rencounter 
 mentioned in the last chapter, and Dr. Hartley, return- 
 ing from his appointed mission, which was only tempo- 
 rary, received encouragement to settle in Madras in a 
 medical capacity; and, upon having done so, soon had 
 reason to think he had chosen a line in which he might 
 rise to wealth and reputation. His practice was not con- 
 fined to his countrymen, but much sought after among 
 the natives, who, whatever may be their prejudices 
 against the Europeans in other respects, universally 
 esteem their superior powers in the medical profession. 
 This lucrative branch of practice rendered it necessary 
 that Hartley should make the Oriental languages his 
 study, in order to hold communication with his patients 
 without the intervention of an interpreter. He had 
 enough of opportunities to practise as a Unguist, for, in 
 acknowledgment, as he used jocularly to say, of the large 
 fees of the wealthy Moslemah and Hindoos, he attended 
 the poor of all nations gratis, whenever he was called 
 upon. 
 
 It so chanced, that one evening he was hastily sum- 
 moned, by a message from the Secretary of the Govern- 
 ment, to attend a patient of consequence. 'Yet he is, 
 after all, only a fakir,' said the message. 'You will find 
 him at the tomb of Cara Razi, the Mohammedan saint 
 and doctor, about one coss from the fort. Inquire for 
 him by the name of Barak el Hadgi. Such a patient 
 
 351
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 promises no fees; but we know how little you care about 
 the pagodas, and, besides, the Government is your pay- 
 master on this occasion.' 
 
 'That is the last matter to be thought on,' said Hart- 
 ley, and instantly repaired in his palanquin to the place 
 pointed out to him. 
 
 The tomb of the owliah, or Mohammedan saint, Cara 
 Razi, was a place held in much reverence by every good 
 Mussulman. It was situated in the centre of a grove of 
 mangos and tamarind-trees, and was built of red stone, 
 having three domes, and minarets at every corner. 
 There was a court in front, as usual, around which were 
 cells constructed for the accommodation of the fakirs 
 who visited the tomb from motives of devotion, and 
 made a longer or shorter residence there as they thought 
 proper, subsisting upon the alms which the faithful never 
 fail to bestow on them in exchange for the benefit of 
 their prayers. These devotees were engaged day and 
 night in reading verses of the Koran before the tomb, 
 which was constructed of white marble, inscribed with 
 sentences from the book of the Prophet, and with the 
 various titles conferred by the Koran upon the Supreme 
 Being. Such a sepulchre, of which there are many, is, with 
 its appendages and attendants, respected during wars 
 and revolutions, and no less by Feringis (Franks, that 
 is) and Hindoos than by Mohammedans themselves. 
 The fakirs, in return, act as spies for all parties, and are 
 often employed in secret missions of importance. 
 
 Complying with the Mohammedan custom, our friend 
 Hartley laid aside his shoes at the gates of the holy pre- 
 cincts, and avoiding to give offence by approaching near 
 to the tomb, he went up to the principal moullah, or 
 
 352
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 priest, who was distinguishable by the length of his 
 beard and the size of the large wooden beads, with which 
 the Mohammedans, like the CathoUcs, keep register of 
 their prayers. Such a person, venerable by his age, 
 sanctity of character, and his real or supposed contempt 
 of worldly pursuits and enjoyments, is regarded as the 
 head of an estabUshment of this kind. 
 
 The moullah is permitted by his situation to be more 
 communicative with strangers than his younger breth- 
 ren, who in the present instance remained with their 
 eyes fixed on the Koran, muttering their recitations 
 without noticing the European, or attending to what he 
 said, as he inquired at their superior for Barak el Hadgi. 
 
 The moullah was seated on the earth, from which he 
 did not arise, or show any mark of reverence; nor did he 
 interrupt the tale of his beads, which he continued to 
 count assiduously while Hartley was speaking. When he 
 finished, the old man raised his eyes, and looking at him 
 with an air of distraction, as if he was endeavouring to 
 recollect what he had been saying, he at length pointed 
 to one of the cells, and resumed his devotions like one 
 who felt impatient of whatever withdrew his attention 
 from his sacred duties, were it but for an instant. 
 
 Hartley entered the cell indicated, with the usual 
 salutation of 'Salam alaikum.' His patient lay on a little 
 carpet in a corner of the small whitewashed cell. He was 
 a man of about forty, dressed in the black robe of his 
 order, very much torn and patched. He wore a high, 
 conical cap of Tartarian felt, and had round his neck the 
 string of black beads belonging to his order. His eyes 
 and posture indicated suffering, which he was enduring 
 with stoical patience. 
 
 « 353
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ^Salam alaikum/ said Hartley; 'you are in pain, my 
 father?' a title which he gave rather to the profession 
 than to the years of the person he addressed. 
 
 ^Salam alaikum bema sebastem/ answered the fakir. 
 * Well is it for you that you have suffered patiently. The 
 Book saith, such shall be the greeting of the angels to 
 those who enter paradise.' 
 
 The conversation being thus opened, the physician 
 proceeded to inquire into the complaints of the patient, 
 and to prescribe what he thought advisable. Having done 
 this, he was about to retire, when, to his great surprise, 
 the fakir tendered him a ring of some value. 
 
 'The wise,' said Hartley, declining the present, and 
 at the same time paying a suitable compliment to 
 the fakir's cap and robe — ' the wise of every country 
 are brethren. My left hand takes no guerdon of my 
 right.' 
 
 *A Feringi can then refuse gold!' said the fakir. 'I 
 thought they took it from every hand, whether pure as 
 that of an houri or leprous Uke Gehazi's, even as the 
 hungry dog recketh not whether the flesh he eateth be 
 of the camel of the prophet Saleth or of the ass of Degial, 
 on whose head be curses ! ' 
 
 'The Book says,' replied Hartley, 'that it is Allah 
 who closes and who enlarges the heart. Frank and 
 Mussulman are all alike moulded by His pleasure.' 
 
 'My brother hath spoken wisely,' answered the pa- 
 tient. 'Welcome the disease, if it bring thee acquainted 
 with a wise physician. For what saith the poet — " It is 
 well to have fallen to the earth, if while grovelling there 
 thou shalt discover a diamond"?' 
 
 The physician made repeated visits to his patient, and 
 
 354
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 continued to do so even after the health of El Hadgi was 
 entirely restored. He had no difficulty in discerning in 
 him one of those secret agents frequently employed by 
 Asiatic sovereigns. His intelligence, his learning, above 
 all, his versatility and freedom from prejudices of every 
 kind, left no doubt of Barak's possessing the necessary 
 qualifications for conducting such delicate negotiations ; 
 while his gravity of habit and profession could not 
 prevent his features from expressing occasionally a 
 perception of humour, not usually seen in devotees of 
 his class. 
 
 Barak el Hadgi talked often, amidst their private 
 conversations, of the power and dignity of the Nawaub 
 of Mysore; and Hartley had Uttle doubt that he came 
 from the court of Hyder AH on some secret mission, per- 
 haps for achieving a more solid peace betwixt that able 
 and sagacious prince and the East India Company's 
 Government, that which existed for the time being 
 regarded on both parts as little more than a hollow and 
 insincere truce. He told many stories to the advantage 
 of this prince, who certainly was one of the wisest that 
 Hindostan could boast, and, amidst great crimes, per- 
 petrated to gratify his ambition, displayed many in- 
 stances of princely generosity, and, what was a little 
 more surprising, of even-handed justice. 
 
 On one occasion, shortly before Barak el Hadgi left 
 Madras, he visited the doctor, and partook of his sher- 
 bet, which he preferred to his own, perhaps because a 
 few glasses of rum or brandy were usually added to 
 enrich the compound. It might be owing to repeated 
 applications to the jar which contained this generous 
 fluid, that the pilgrim became more than usually frank 
 
 355
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 in his communications, and, not contented with praising 
 his Nawaub with the most hyperbolic eloquence, he 
 began to insinuate the influence which he himself en- 
 joyed with the Invincible, the Lord and Shield of the 
 Faith of the Prophet. 
 
 'Brother of my soul,' he said, 'do but think if thou 
 needest aught that the all-powerful Hyder Ali Khan 
 Bahauder can give; and then use not the intercession of 
 those who dwell in palaces, and wear jewels in their 
 turbans, but seek the cell of thy brother at the great 
 city, which is Seringapatam. And the poor fakir, in his 
 torn cloak, shall better advance thy suit with the 
 Nawaub ' — for Hyder did not assume the title of 
 Sultaim — 'than they who sit upon seats of honour in 
 the divan.' 
 
 With these and sundry other expressions of regard, he 
 exhorted Hartley to come into the Mysore, and look 
 upon the face of the great prince, whose glance inspired 
 wisdom and whose nod conferred wealth, so that folly 
 or poverty could not appear before him. He offered at 
 the same time to requite the kindness which Hartley 
 had evinced to him, by showing him whatever was 
 worthy the attention of a sage in the land of Mysore. 
 
 Hartley was not reluctant to promise to undertake the 
 proposed journey, if the continuance of good under- 
 standing betwixt their governments should render it 
 practicable, and in reality looked forward to the possi- 
 bility of such an event with a good deal of interest. The 
 friends parted with mutual good wishes, after exchang- 
 ing, in the Oriental fashion, such gifts as became sages, 
 to whom knowledge was to be supposed dearer than 
 wealth. Barak el Hadgi presented Hartley with a small 
 
 356
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 quantity of the balsam of Mecca, very hard to be pro- 
 cured in an unadulterated form, and gave him at the 
 same time a passport in a peculiar character, which he 
 assured him would be respected by every officer of the 
 Nawaub, should his friend be disposed to accomplish 
 his visit to the Mysore. 'The head of him who should 
 disrespect this safe-conduct,' he said, "'shall not be more 
 safe than that of the barley-stalk which the reaper has 
 grasped in his hand.' 
 
 Hartley requited these civilities by the present of a 
 few medicines Httle used in the East, but such as he 
 thought might, with suitable directions, be safely en- 
 trusted to a man so inteUigent as his Moslem friend. 
 
 It was several months after Barak had returned to 
 the interior of India that Hartley was astonished by an 
 unexpected rencounter. 
 
 The ships from Europe had but lately arrived, and 
 had brought over their usual cargo of boys longing to be 
 commanders, and young women without any purpose of 
 being married, but whom a pious duty to some brother, 
 some uncle, or other male relative, brought to India to 
 keep his house, until they should find themselves 
 unexpectedly in one of their own. Dr. Hartley hap- 
 pened to attend a public breakfast given on this occasion 
 by a gentleman high in the service. The roof of his friend 
 had been recently enriched by a consignment of three 
 nieces, whom the old gentleman, justly attached to his 
 quiet hookah, and, it was said, to a pretty girl of colour, 
 desired to offer to the pubUc, that he might have the 
 fairest chance to get rid of his new guests as soon as 
 possible. Hartley, who was thought a fish worth casting 
 a fly for, was contemplating this fair investment with 
 
 357
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 very little interest, when he heard one of the company 
 say to another in a low voice — 
 
 'Angels and ministers! there is our old acquaintance, 
 the Queen of Sheba, returned upon our hands like 
 unsaleable goods.' 
 
 Hartley looked in the same direction with the two 
 who were speaking, and his eye was caught by a Semira- 
 mis-looking person, of unusual stature and amplitude, 
 arrayed in a sort of riding-habit, but so formed, and so 
 looped and gallooned with lace, as made it resemble the 
 upper tunic of a native chief. Her robe was composed of 
 crimson silk, rich with flowers of gold. She wore wide 
 trowsers of hght blue silk, a fine scarlet shawl around her 
 waist, in which was stuck a creeze, with a richly orna- 
 mented handle. Her throat and arms were loaded with 
 chains and bracelets, and her turban, formed of a shawl 
 similar to that worn around her waist, was decorated by 
 a magnificent aigrette, from which a blue ostrich plume 
 flowed in one direction and a red one in another. The 
 brow, of European complexion, on which this tiara 
 rested, was too lofty for beauty, but seemed made for 
 command; the aquiline nose retained its form, but the 
 cheeks were a little sunken, and the complexion so very 
 brilliant as to give strong evidence that the whole 
 countenance had undergone a thorough repair since the 
 lady had left her couch. A black female slave, richly 
 dressed, stood behind her with a chowry, or cow's tail, 
 having a silver handle, which she used to keep off the 
 flies. From the mode in which she was addressed by 
 those who spoke to her, this lady appeared a person 
 of too much importance to be affronted or neglected, 
 and yet one with whom none desired further com- 
 
 358
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 munication than the occasion seemed in propriety to 
 demand. 
 
 She did not, however, stand in need of attention. The 
 well-known captain of an East Indian vessel lately 
 arrived from Britain was sedulously polite to her; and 
 two or three gentlemen, whom Hartley knew to be 
 engaged in trade, tended upon her as they would have 
 done upon the safety of a rich argosy. 
 
 * For Heaven's sake, what is that for a Zenobia? ' said 
 Hartley to the gentleman whose whisper had first 
 attracted his attention to this lofty dame. 
 
 *Is it possible you do not know the Queen of Sheba?' 
 said the person of whom he inquired, no way loth to 
 communicate the information demanded. 'You must 
 know, then, that she is the daughter of a Scotch emi- 
 grant, who lived and died at Pondicherry, a sergeant in 
 Lally's regiment. She managed to marry a partizan 
 officer named Montreville, a Swiss or Frenchman, I 
 cannot tell which. After the surrender of Pondicherry, 
 this hero and heroine — But hey — what the devil are 
 you thinking of? If you stare at her that way you will 
 make a scene; for she will think nothing of scolding you 
 across the table.' 
 
 But, without attending to his friend's remonstrances, 
 Hartley bolted from the table at which he sat, and made 
 his way, with something less than the decorum which 
 the rules of society enjoin, towards the place where the 
 lady in question was seated. 
 
 'The doctor is surely mad this morning — ' said his 
 friend Major Mercer to old Quartermaster Calder. 
 
 Indeed, Hartley was not perhaps strictly in his senses; 
 for, looking at the Queen of Sheba as he listened to 
 
 359
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Major Mercer, his eye fell on a light female form beside 
 her, so placed as if she desired to be eclipsed by the 
 bulky form and flowing robes we have described, and to 
 his extreme astonishment he recognised the friend of 
 his childhood, the love of his youth — Menie Gray her- 
 self! 
 
 To see her in India was in itself astonishing. To see 
 her apparently under such strange patronage greatly 
 increased his surprise. To make his way to her and 
 address her seemed the natural and direct mode of 
 satisfying the feelings which her appearance excited. 
 
 His impetuosity was, however, checked when, 
 advancing close upon Miss Gray and her companion, 
 he observed that the former, though she looked at him, 
 exhibited not the slightest token of recognition, unless 
 he could interpret as such that she shghtly touched her 
 upper lip with her forefinger, which, if it happened 
 otherwise than by mere accident, might be construed 
 to mean, 'Do not speak to me just now.' 
 
 Hartley, adopting such an interpretation, stood stock 
 still, blushing deeply; for he was aware that he made for 
 the moment but a silly figure. He was the rather 
 convinced to this when, with a voice which in the force 
 of its accents corresponded with her commanding air, 
 Mrs. Montreville addressed him in English, which 
 savoured slightly of a Swiss patois — ' You haave come 
 to us very fast, sir, to say nothing at all. Are you sure 
 you did not get your tongue stolen by de way? ' 
 
 *I thought I had seen an old friend in that lady, 
 madam,' stammered Hartley, 'but it seems I am mis- 
 taken.' 
 
 * The good people do tell me that you are one Doc- 
 
 360
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 tors Hartley, sir. Now, my friend and I do not know 
 Doctors Hartley at all.' 
 
 *I have not the presumption to pretend to your ac- 
 quaintance, madam, but him — ' 
 
 Here Menie repeated the sign in such a manner that, 
 though it was only momentary, Hartley could not mis- 
 understand its purpose ; he therefore changed the end of 
 his sentence, and added, 'But I have only to make my 
 bow, and ask pardon for my mistake.' 
 
 He retired back accordingly among the company, 
 unable to quit the room, and inquiring at those whom 
 he considered as the best newsmongers for such informa- 
 tion as — ' Who is that stately-looking woman, Mr. 
 Butler?' 
 
 'Oh, the Queen of Sheba, to be sure.' 
 
 'And who is that pretty girl who sits beside her?* 
 
 'Or rather behind her,' answered Butler, a military 
 chaplain. ' Faith, I cannot say. Pretty did you call her?' 
 turning his opera-glass that way. 'Yes, faith, she is 
 pretty — very pretty. Gad, she shoots her glances as 
 smartly from behind the old pile yonder as Teucer from 
 behind Ajax Telamon's shield.' 
 
 'But who is she, can you tell me?' 
 
 'Some fair-skinned speculation of old Montreville's, I 
 suppose, that she has got either to toady herself or take, 
 in some of her black friends with. Is it possible you have 
 never heard of old Mother Montreville?' 
 
 'You know I have been so long absent from 
 Madras — ' 
 
 'Well,' continued Butler, 'this lady is the widow of a 
 Swiss officer in the French service, who, after the sur- 
 render of Pondicherry, went off into the interior, and 
 
 361
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 commenced soldier on his own account. He got posses- 
 sion of a fort, under pretence of keeping it for some 
 simple rajah or other; assembled around him a parcel of 
 desperate vagabonds, of every colour in the rainbow; 
 occupied a considerable territory, of which he raised the 
 duties in his own name, and declared for independence. 
 But Hyder Naig understood no such interloping pro- 
 ceedings, and down he came, besieged the fort and took 
 it, though some pretend it was betrayed to him by this 
 very woman. Be that as it may, the poor Swiss was 
 found dead on the ramparts. Certain it is, she received 
 large sums of money, under pretence of paying off her 
 troops, surrendering of hill-forts, and Heaven knows 
 what besides. She was permitted also to retain some 
 insignia of royalty; and, as she was wont to talk of 
 Hyder as the Eastern Solomon, she generally became 
 known by the title of Queen of Sheba. She leaves her 
 court when she pleases, and has been as far as Fort St. 
 George before now. In a word, she does pretty much as 
 she likes. The great folks here are civil to her, though 
 they look on her as little better than a spy. As to Hyder, 
 it is supposed he has ensured her fidelity by borrowing 
 the greater part of her treasures, which prevents her 
 from daring to break with him — besides other causes 
 that smack of scandal of another sort.' 
 
 *A singular story,' rephed Hartley to his companion, 
 while his heart dwelt on the question, How it was pos- 
 sible that the gentle and simple Menie Gray should be 
 in the train of such a character as this adventuress? 
 
 'But Butler has not told you the best of it,' said 
 Major Mercer, who by this time came round to finish 
 his own story. * Your old acquaintance, Mr. Tresham, 
 
 362
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 or Mr. Middlemas, or whatever else he chooses to be 
 called, has been complimented by a report that he stood 
 very high in the good graces of this same Boadicea. He 
 certainly commanded some troops which she still keeps 
 on foot, and acted at their head in the Nawaub's service, 
 who craftily employed him in whatever could render 
 him odious to his countrymen. The British prisoners 
 were entrusted to his charge, and, to judge by what I 
 felt myself, the devil might take a lesson from him in 
 severity.' 
 
 'And was he attached to, or connected with, this 
 woman? ' 
 
 *So Mrs. Rumour told us in our dungeon. Poor Jack 
 Ward had the bastinado for celebrating their merits in a 
 parody on the playhouse song, 
 
 Sure such a pair were never seen, 
 So aptly formed to meet by nature.' 
 
 Hartley could listen no longer. The fate of Menie 
 Gray, connected with such a man and such a woman, 
 rushed on his fancy in the most horrid colours, and he 
 was struggUng through the throng to get to some place 
 where he might collect his ideas, and consider what 
 could be done for her protection, when a black attendant 
 touched his arm, and at the same time slipt a card into 
 his hand. It bore, 'Miss Gray, Mrs. Montreville's, at 
 the house of Ram Sing Cottah, in the Black Town.' On 
 the reverse was written with a pencil, 'Eight in the 
 morning.' 
 
 This intimation of her residence implied, of course, a 
 permission, nay, an invitation, to wait upon her at the 
 hour specified. Hartley's heart beat at the idea of seeing 
 
 3^3
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 her once more, and still more highly at the thought of 
 being able to serve her. 'At least/ he thought, 'if there 
 is danger near her, as is much to be suspected, she shall 
 not want a counsellor, or, if necessary, a protector.' Yet, 
 at the same time, he felt the necessity of making himself 
 better acquainted with the circumstances of her case, 
 and the persons with whom she seemed connected. 
 Butler and Mercer had both spoke to their disparage- 
 ment; but Butler was a little of a coxcomb, and Mercer 
 a great deal of a gossip. While he was considering what 
 credit was due to their testimony, he was unexpectedly 
 encountered by a gentleman of his own profession, a mili- 
 tary surgeon, who had had the misfortune to have been 
 in Hyder's prison, till set at freedom by the late pacifi- 
 cation. Mr. Esdale, for so he was called, was generally 
 esteemed a rising man, calm, steady, and dehberate in 
 forming his opinions. Hartley found it easy to turn the 
 subject on the Queen of Sheba, by asking whether her 
 Majesty was not somewhat of an adventuress. 
 
 *0n my word, I cannot say,' answered Esdale, smil- 
 ing; 'we are all upon the adventure in India, more or 
 less; but I do not see that the Begum Montreville is 
 more so than the rest.' 
 
 'Why, that amazonian dress and manner,* said 
 Hartley, 'savour a little of the picaresca.' 
 
 'You must not,' said Esdale, 'expect a woman who 
 has commanded soldiers, and may again, to dress and 
 look entirely like an ordinary person; but I assure you 
 that, even at this time of day, if she wished to marry, 
 she might easily find a respectable match.' 
 
 'Why, I heard that she had betrayed her husband's 
 fort to Hyder.' 
 
 364
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 * Ay, that is a specimen of Madras gossip. The fact is, 
 that she defended the place long after her husband fell, 
 and afterwards surrendered it by capitulation. Hyder, 
 who piques himself on observing the rules of justice, 
 would not otherwise have admitted her to such inti- 
 macy.' 
 
 'Yes, I have heard,' rephed Hartley, 'that their in- 
 timacy was rather of the closest.' 
 
 'Another calumny, if you mean any scandal,' an- 
 swered Esdale. 'Hyder is too zealous a Mohammedan 
 to entertain a Christian mistress; and besides, to enjoy 
 the sort of rank which is yielded to a woman in her 
 condition, she must refrain, in appearance at least, from 
 all correspondence in the way of gallantry. Just so 
 they said that the poor woman had a connexion with 
 poor Middlemas of the regiment.' 
 
 'And was that also a false report?' said Hartley, in 
 breathless anxiety. 
 
 'On my soul, I beUeve it was,' answered Mr. Esdale. 
 'They were friends, Europeans in an Indian court, and 
 therefore intimate; but I beheve nothing more. By the 
 by, though, I beheve there was some quarrel between 
 Middlemas, poor fellow, and you; yet I am sure that 
 you will be glad to hear there is a chance of his affair 
 being made up?' 
 
 'Indeed!' was again the only word which Hartley 
 could utter. 
 
 'Ay, indeed,' answered Esdale. 'The duel is an old 
 story now; and it must be allowed that poor Middle- 
 mas, though he was rash in that business, had provo- 
 cation.' 
 
 'But his desertion, his accepting of command under 
 
 3^5
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Hyder, his treatment of our prisoners — how can all 
 these be passed over? ' replied Hartley. 
 
 * Why it is possible — I speak to you as a cautious 
 man, and in confidence — that he may do us better 
 service in Hyder's capital, or Tippoo's camp, than he 
 could have done if serving with his own regiment. And 
 then, for his treatment of prisoners, I am sure I can 
 speak nothing but good of him in that particular. He 
 was obliged to take the office, because those that serve 
 Hyder Naig must do or die. But he told me himself — 
 and I believe him — that he accepted the office chiefly 
 because, while he made a great bullying at us before the 
 black fellows, he could privately be of assistance to us. 
 Some fools could not understand this, and answered him 
 with abuse and lampoons ; and he was obliged to punish 
 them, to avoid suspicion. Yes — yes, I and others can 
 prove he was willing to be kind, if men would give him 
 leave. I hope to thank him at Madras one day soon. 
 All this in confidence. Good morrow to you.' 
 
 Distracted by the contradictory intelligence he had 
 received. Hartley went next to question old Captain 
 Capstern, the captain of the Indiaman, whom he had 
 observed in attendance upon the Begum Montreville. 
 On inquiring after that commander's female passengers, 
 he heard a pretty long catalogue of names, in which that 
 he was so much interested in did not occur. On closer 
 inquiry, Capstern recollected that Menie Gray, a young 
 Scotchwoman, had come out under charge of Mrs. 
 Duffer, the master's wife. *A good, decent girl,' Cap- 
 stern said, 'and kept the mates and guinea-pigs at a 
 respectable distance. She came out,' he believed, 'to be 
 a sort of female companion, or upper servant, in Ma- 
 
 366
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 dame Montreville's family. Snug birth enough,' he 
 concluded, ' if she can find the length of the old girl's 
 foot.' 
 
 This was all that could be made of Capstern ; so 
 Hartley was compelled to remain in a state of uncer- 
 tainty until the next morning, when an explanation 
 might be expected with Menie Gray in person.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 The exact hour assigned found Hartley at the door of 
 the rich native merchant, who, having some reasons for 
 wishing to oblige the Begum Montreville, had relin- 
 quished, for her accommodation and that of her numer- 
 ous retinue, almost the whole of his large and sumptuous 
 residence in the Black Town of Madras, as that district 
 of the city is called which the natives occupy. 
 
 A domestic, at the first summons, ushered the visitor 
 into an apartment, where he expected to be joined by 
 Miss Gray. The room opened on one side into a small 
 garden or parterre, filled with the brilliant-coloured 
 flowers of Eastern climates, in the midst of which the 
 waters of a fountain rose upwards in a sparkling jet, and 
 fell back again into a white marble cistern. 
 
 A thousand dizzy recollections thronged on the mind 
 of Hartley, whose early feelings towards the companion 
 of his youth, if they had slumbered during distance and 
 the various casualties of a busy life, were revived when he 
 found himself placed so near her, and in circumstances 
 which interested from their unexpected occurrence and 
 mysterious character. A step was heard, the door 
 opened, a female appeared; but it was the portly form of 
 Madame de Montreville. 
 
 'What do you please to want, sir?' said the lady; 'that 
 is, if you have found your tongue this morning, which 
 you had lost yesterday.' 
 
 'I proposed myself the honour of waiting upon the 
 
 368
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 young person whom I saw in your Excellency's company 
 yesterday morning,' answered Hartley, with assumed 
 respect. * I have had long the honour of being known to 
 her in Europe, and I desire to offer my services to her in 
 India.' 
 
 * Much obliged — much obliged ; but Miss Gray is 
 gone out, and does not return for one or two days. You 
 may leave your commands with me.' 
 
 'Pardon me, madam,' replied Hartley; 'but I have 
 some reason to hope you may be mistaken in this matter. 
 And here comes the lady herself.' 
 
 'How is this, my dear?' said Mrs. Montreville, with 
 imruflfled front, to Menie, as she entered; 'are you not 
 gone out for two or three days, as I tell this gentleman? 
 Mais c'est egal: it is all one thing. You will say "How 
 d' ye do," and " Good-bye," to monsieur, who is so polite 
 as to come to ask after our healths, and as he sees us 
 both very well, he will go away home again.' 
 
 'I believe, madam,' said Miss Gray, with appearance 
 of effort, ' that I must speak with this gentleman for a 
 few minutes in private, if you will permit us.' 
 
 'That is to say, get you gone? But I do not allow 
 that: I do not hke private conversation between young 
 man and pretty young woman; cela n'est pas honnete. It 
 cannot be in my house.' 
 
 'It may be out of it, then, madam,' answered Miss 
 Gray, not pettishly nor pertly, but with the utmost sim- 
 plicity. 'Mr. Hartley, will you step into that garden? 
 And you, madam, may observe us from the window, if it 
 be the fashion of the country to watch so closely.' 
 
 As she spoke this, she stepped through a lattice-door 
 into the garden, and with an air so simple that she 
 
 44 369
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 seemed as if she wished to comply with her patroness's 
 ideas of decorum, though they appeared strange to her. 
 The Queen of Sheba, notwithstanding her natural assur- 
 ance, was disconcerted by the composure of Miss Gray's 
 manner, and left the room, apparently in displeasure. 
 Menie turned back to the door which opened into the 
 garden, and said, in the same manner as before, but with 
 less nonchalance — 
 
 'I am sure I would not willingly break through the 
 rules of a foreign country; but I cannot refuse myself 
 the pleasure of speaking to so old a friend, if, indeed,' 
 she added, pausing and looking at Hartley, who was 
 much embarrassed, 'it be as much pleasure to Mr. 
 Hartley as it is to me.' 
 
 *It would have been,' said Hartley, scarce knowing 
 what he said — * it must be a pleasure to me in every 
 circumstance. But this extraordinary meeting — but 
 your father — ' 
 
 Menie Gray's handkerchief was at her eyes. *He is 
 gone, Mr. Hartley. After he was left unassisted, his 
 toilsome business became too much for him ; he caught a 
 cold, which hung about him, as you know he was the 
 last to attend to his own complaints, till it assumed a 
 dangerous, and, finally, a fatal, character. I distress 
 you, Mr. Hartley, but it becomes you well to be affected. 
 My father loved you dearly.' 
 
 *0h, Miss Gray!' said Hartley, 'it should not have 
 been thus with my excellent friend at the close of his 
 useful and virtuous life. Alas, wherefore — the question 
 bursts from me involuntarily — wherefore could you 
 not have complied with his wishes? Wherefore — ' 
 
 *Do not ask me,' said she, stopping the question 
 
 370
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 which was on his lips; 'we are not the formers of our own 
 destiny. It is painful to talk on such a subject; but for 
 once, and for ever, let me tell you that I should have 
 done Mr. Hartley wrong if, even to secure his assistance 
 to my father, I had accepted his hand, while my way- 
 ward affections did not accompany the act.' 
 
 * But wherefore do I see you here, Menie? Forgive me, 
 Miss Gray, my tongue as well as my heart turns back 
 to long-forgotten scenes. But why here? Why with this 
 woman? ' 
 
 'She is not, indeed, everything that I expected,' 
 answered Menie; 'but I must not be prejudiced by for- 
 eign manners, after the step I have taken. She is, be- 
 sides, attentive, and generous in her way, and I shall 
 soon' — she paused a moment, and then added, 'be 
 under better protection.' 
 
 'That of Richard Middlemas?' said Hartley, with a 
 faltering voice. 
 
 'I ought not, perhaps, to answer the question,' said 
 Menie; 'but I am a bad dissembler, and those whom I 
 trust I trust entirely. You have guessed right, Mr. 
 Hartley,' she added, colouring a good deal, 'I have come 
 hither to unite my fate to that of your old comrade.' 
 
 'It is, then, just as I feared!' exclaimed Hartley. 
 
 'And why should Mr. Hartley fear? ' said Menie Gray. 
 'I used to think you too generous; surely the quarrel 
 which occurred long since ought not to perpetuate sus- 
 picion and resentment.' 
 
 'At least, if the feehng of resentment remained in my 
 own bosom, it would be the last I should intrude upon 
 you. Miss Gray,' answered Hartley. 'But it is for you, 
 and for you alone, that I am watchful. This person — 
 
 371
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 this gentleman whom you mean to entrust with your 
 happiness — do you know where he is, and in what 
 service?' 
 
 'I know both, more distinctly perhaps than Mr. 
 Hartley can do. Mr. Middlemas has erred greatly, and 
 has been severely punished. But it was not in the time 
 of his exile and sorrow that she who has plighted her 
 faith to him should, with the flattering world, turn her 
 back upon him. Besides, you have, doubtless, not 
 heard of his hopes of being restored to his country and 
 his rank? ' 
 
 * I have,' answered Hartley, thrown off his guard; 'but 
 I see not how he can deserve it, otherwise than by be- 
 coming a traitor to his new master, and thus rendering 
 himself even more unworthy of confidence than I hold 
 him to be at this moment.' 
 
 'It is well that he hears you not,' answered Menie 
 Gray, resenting, with natural feehng, the imputation on 
 her lover. Then instantly softening her tone, she added, 
 'My voice ought not to aggravate, but to soothe, your 
 quarrel. Mr. Hartley, I phght my word to you that you 
 do Richard wrong.' 
 
 She said these words with affecting calmness, sup- 
 pressing all appearance of that displeasure of which she 
 was evidently sensible, upon this depreciation of a be- 
 loved object. 
 
 Hartley compelled himself to answer in the same 
 strain. 
 
 'Miss Gray,' he said, 'your actions and motives will 
 always be those of an angel; but let me entreat you to 
 view this most important matter with the eyes of worldly 
 wisdom and prudence. Have you well weighed the risks 
 
 372
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 attending the course which you are taking in favour of a 
 man, who — nay, I will not again offend you — who 
 may, I hope, deserve your favour? ' 
 
 'When I wished to see you in this manner, Mr. Hart- 
 ley, and decHned a communication in public, where we 
 could have had less freedom of conversation, it was with 
 the view of telling you everything. Some pain I thought 
 old recollections might give, but I trusted it would be 
 momentary; and, as I desire to retain your friendship, 
 it is proper I should show that I still deserve it. I must 
 then first tell you my situation after my father's death. 
 In the world's opinion, we were always poor, you know; 
 but in the proper sense I had not known what real pov- 
 erty was until I was placed in dependence upon a distant 
 relation of my poor father, who made our relationship a 
 reason for casting upon me all the drudgery of her house- 
 hold, while she would not allow that it gave me a claim 
 to countenance, kindness, or anything but the relief of 
 my most pressing wants. In these circumstances I re- 
 ceived from Mr. Middlemas a letter, in which he related 
 his fatal duel and its consequence. He had not dared to 
 write to me to share his misery. Now, when he was in a 
 lucrative situation, under the patronage of a powerful 
 prince, whose wisdom knew how to prize and protect 
 such Europeans as entered his service — now, when he 
 had every prospect of rendering our government such 
 essential service by his interest with Hyder Ali, and 
 might eventually nourish hopes of being permitted to 
 return and stand his trial for the death of his command- 
 ing officer — now, he pressed me to come to India, and 
 share his reviving fortunes, by accomplishing the engage- 
 ment into which we had long ago entered. A consider- 
 
 373
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 able sum of money accompanied this letter. Mrs. Duffer 
 was pointed out as a respectable woman, who would pro- 
 tect me during the passage. Mrs. Montreville, a lady of 
 rank, having large possessions and high interest in the 
 Mysore, would receive me on my arrival at Fort St. 
 George, and conduct me safely to the dominions of Hy- 
 der. It was further recommended that, considering the 
 peculiar situation of Mr. Middlemas, his name should 
 be concealed in the transaction, and that the ostensible 
 cause of my voyage should be to fill an office in that lady's 
 family. What was I to do? My duty to my poor father 
 was ended, and my other friends considered the proposal 
 as too advantageous to be rejected. The references 
 given, the sum of money lodged, were considered as put- 
 ting all scruples out of the question, and my immediate 
 protectress and kinswoman was so earnest that I should 
 accept of the offer made me, as to intimate that she 
 would not encourage me to stand in my own light by 
 continuing to give me shelter and food — she gave me 
 little more — if I was foolish enough to refuse compli- 
 ance.' 
 
 'Sordid wretch,' said Hartley, 'how little did she 
 deserve such a charge ! ' 
 
 'Let me speak a proud word, Mr. Hartley, and then 
 you will not perhaps blame my relations so much. All 
 their persuasions, and even their threats, would have 
 failed in inducing me to take a step which has an appear- 
 ance, at least, to which I found it difficult to reconcile 
 myself. But I had loved Middlemas — I love him still, 
 why should I deny it? — and I have not hesitated to 
 trust him. Had it not been for the small still voice which 
 reminded me of my engagements, I had maintained more 
 
 374
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 stubbornly the pride of womanhood, and, as you would 
 perhaps have recommended, I might have expected, at 
 least, that my lover should have come to Britain in per- 
 son, and might have had the vanity to think,' she added, 
 smiling faintly, ' that, if I were worth having, I was worth 
 fetching,' 
 
 'Yet now — even now,' answered Hartley, *be just to 
 yourself while you are generous to your lover. Nay, do 
 not look angrily, but hear me. I doubt the propriety of 
 your being under the charge of this unsexed woman, 
 who can no longer be termed a European. I have interest 
 enough with females of the highest rank in the settle- 
 ment — this climate is that of generosity and hospitality 
 — there is not one of them who, knowing your character 
 and history, will not desire to have you in her society, 
 and under her protection, until your lover shall be able 
 to vindicate his title to your hand in the face of the 
 world. I myself will be no cause of suspicion to him, 
 or of inconvenience to you, Menie. Let me but have 
 your consent to the arrangement I propose, and the 
 same moment that sees you under honourable and 
 imsuspected protection I will leave Madras, not to 
 return till your destiny is in one way or other per- 
 manently fixed.' 
 
 'No, Hartley,' said Miss Gray. 'It may — it must be, 
 friendly in you thus to advise me; but it would be most 
 base in me to advance my own affairs at the expense of 
 your prospects. Besides, what would tliis be but taking 
 the chance of contingencies, with the view of sharing 
 poor Middlemas's fortunes should they prove prosper- 
 ous, and casting him off should they be otherwise? Tell 
 me only, do you, of your own positive knowledge, aver 
 
 375
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 that you consider this woman as an unworthy and unfit 
 protectress for so young a person as I am? ' 
 
 ' Of my own knowledge I can say nothing — nay, I 
 must own that reports differ even concerning Mrs. Mon- 
 treville's character. But surely the mere suspicion — ' 
 
 ' The mere suspicion, Mr. Hartley, can have no weight 
 with me, considering that I can oppose to it the testi- 
 mony of the man with whom I am willing to share my 
 future fortunes. You acknowledge the question is but 
 doubtful, and should not the assertion of him of whom I 
 think so highly decide my belief in a doubtful matter? 
 What, indeed, must he be, should this Madame Mon- 
 treville be other than he represented her? ' 
 
 'What must he be, indeed!' thought Hartley inter- 
 nally, but his lips uttered not the words. He looked down 
 in a deep reverie, and at length started from it at the 
 words of Miss Gray. 
 
 *It is time to remind you, Mr. Hartley, that we must 
 needs part. God bless and preserve you.' 
 
 'And you, dearest Menie,' exclaimed Hartley, as he 
 sunk on one knee, and pressed to his lips the hand which 
 she held out to him, ' God bless you ! — you must deserve 
 blessing. God protect you ! — you must need protection. 
 Oh, should things prove different from what you hope, 
 send for me instantly, and if man can aid you, Adam 
 Hartley will.' 
 
 He placed in her hand a card containing his address. 
 He then rushed from the apartment. In the hall he met 
 the lady of the mansion, who made him a haughty rever- 
 ence in token of adieu, while a native servant of the 
 upper class, by whom she was attended, made a low and 
 reverential salam. 
 
 376
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Hartley hastened from the Black Town, more satisfied 
 than before that some deceit was about to be practised 
 towards Menie Gray, more determined than ever to exert 
 himself for her preservation; yet more completely per- 
 plexed, when he began to consider the doubtful charac- 
 ter of the danger to which she might be exposed, and 
 the scanty means of protection which he had to oppose 
 to it.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 As Hartley left the apartment in the house of Ram Sing 
 Cottah by one mode of exit, Miss Gray retired by an- 
 other to an apartment destined for her private use. She, 
 too, had reason for secret and anxious reflection, since 
 all her love for Middlemas, and her full confidence in his 
 honour, could not entirely conquer her doubts concerning 
 the character of the person whom he had chosen for her 
 temporary protectress. And yet she could not rest these 
 doubts upon anything distinctly conclusive : it was rather 
 a dislike of her patroness's general manners, and a dis- 
 gust at her masculine notions and expressions, that dis- 
 pleased her, than anything else. 
 
 Meantime, Madame Montreville, followed by her 
 black domestic, entered the apartment where Hartley 
 and Menie had just parted. It appeared from the con- 
 versation which follows that they had from some place of 
 concealment overheard the dialogue we have narrated 
 in the former chapter. 
 
 *It is good luck, Sadoc,' said the lady, 'that there is 
 in this world the great fool.' 
 
 'And the great villain,' answered the Sadoc, in good 
 English, but in a most sullen tone. 
 
 'This woman, now,' continued the lady, 'is what in 
 Frangistan you call an angel.' 
 
 'Ay, and I have seen those in Hindostan you may well 
 call devil.' 
 
 'I am sure that this — how you call him — Hartley 
 
 378
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 is a meddling devil. For what has he to do? She will not 
 have any of him. What is his business who has her? I 
 wish we were well up the Ghauts again, my dear Sadoc' 
 
 'For my part/ answered the slave, 'I am half deter- 
 mined never to ascend the Ghauts more. Hark you, 
 Adela, I begin to sicken of the plan we have laid. This 
 creature's confiding purity — call her angel or woman, 
 as you will — makes my practices appear too vile, even 
 in my own eyes. I feel myself unfit to be your compan- 
 ion farther in the daring paths which you pursue. Let 
 us part, and part friends.' 
 
 'Amen, coward. But the woman remains with me,* 
 answered the Queen of Sheba.^ 
 
 ' With thee ! ' replied the seeming black — ' never. No, 
 Adela. She is under the shadow of the British flag, and 
 she shall experience its protection.' 
 
 'Yes, and what protection will it afford to you your- 
 self?' retorted the amazon. 'What if I should clap my 
 hands, and command a score of my black servants to 
 bind you like a sheep, and then send word to the Gov- 
 ernor of the Presidency that one Richard Middlemas, 
 who had been guilty of mutiny, murder, desertion, and 
 serving of the enemy against his countrymen, is here, at 
 Ram Sing Cottah's house, in the disguise of a black serv- 
 ant? ' Middlemas covered his face with his hands, while 
 Madame Montreville proceeded to load him with re- 
 proaches. 'Yes,' she said, 'slave, and son of a slave! 
 Since you wear the dress of my household, you shall obey 
 me as fully as the rest of them, otherwise — whips, fet- 
 ters — the scaffold, renegade — the gallows, murderer! 
 
 1 In order to maintain uninjured the tone of passion throughout this 
 dialogue, it has been judged expedient to discard, in the language of the 
 Begum, the paiois of Madame Montreville. 
 
 379
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Dost thou dare to reflect on the abyss of misery from 
 which I raised thee, to share my wealth and my affec- 
 tions? Dost thou not remember that the picture of this 
 pale, cold, unimpassioned girl was then so indifferent to 
 thee that thou didst sacrifice it as a tribute due to the 
 benevolence of her who relieved thee, to the affection 
 of her who, wretch as thou art, condescended to love 
 thee?' 
 
 'Yes, fell woman,' answered Middlemas, 'but was it I 
 who encouraged the young tyrant's outrageous passion 
 for a portrait, or who formed the abominable plan of 
 placing the original within his power? ' 
 
 *No, for to do so required brain and wit. But it 
 was thine, flimsy villain, to execute the device which 
 a bolder genius planned: it was thine to entice the 
 woman to this foreign shore, under pretence of a love 
 which, on thy part, cold-blooded miscreant, never had 
 existed.' 
 
 'Peace, screech-owl!' answered Middlemas, 'nor drive 
 me to such madness as may lead me to forget thou art a 
 woman.' 
 
 'A woman, dastard! Is this thy pretext for sparing 
 me? What, then, art thou, who tremblest at a woman's 
 looks, a woman's words? I am a woman, renegade, but 
 one who wears a dagger, and despises alike thy strength 
 and thy courage. I am a woman who has looked on more 
 dying men than thou hast killed deer and antelopes. 
 Thou must traffic for greatness? Thou hast thrust thy- 
 self like a five-years' child into the rough sports of men, 
 and wilt only be borne down and crushed for thy pains. 
 Thou wilt be a double traitor, forsooth : betray thy be- 
 trothed to the prince, in order to obtain the means of 
 
 380
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 betraying the prince to the English, and thus gain thy 
 pardon from thy countrymen. But me thou shalt not 
 betray. I will not be made the tool of thy ambition. I 
 will not give thee the aid of my treasures and my soldiers, 
 to be sacrificed at last to this Northern icicle. No, I will 
 watch thee as the fiend watches the wizard. Show but a 
 symptom of betraying me while we are here, and I de- 
 nounce thee to the English, who might pardon the suc- 
 cessful villain, but not him who can only offer prayers for 
 his life in place of useful services. Let me see thee flinch 
 when we are beyond the Ghauts, and the Nawaub shall 
 know thy intrigues with the Nizam and the Mahrattas, 
 and thy resolution to deliver up Bangalore to the Eng- 
 lish, when the imprudence of Tippoo shall have made 
 thee killedar. Go where thou wilt, slave, thou shalt find 
 me thy witness.' 
 
 'And a fair, though an unkind, one,' said the counter- 
 feit Sadoc, suddenly changing his tone to an affectation 
 of tenderness. *It is true I pity this unhappy woman — 
 true I would save her if I could ; but most unjust to sup- 
 pose I would in any circumstances prefer her to my 
 nourjehan, my light of the world, my mootee mahul, my 
 pearl of the palace — ' 
 
 *A11 false coin and empty compliment,' said the 
 Begum. * Let me hear, in two brief words, that you leave 
 this woman to my disposal.' 
 
 ' But not to be interred alive under your seat, like the 
 Circassian of whom you were jealous,' said Middlemas, 
 shuddering. 
 
 'No, fool; her lot shall not be worse than that of being 
 the favourite of a prince. Hast thou, fugitive and crimi- 
 nal as thou art, a better fate to offer her? ' 
 
 381
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 *But,' replied Middlemas, blushing even through his 
 base disgmse at the consciousness of his abject conduct, 
 'I will have no force on her inclinations.' 
 
 ' Such truce she shall have as the laws of the zenana 
 allow,' replied the female tyrant. ' A week is long enough 
 for her to determine whether she will be the willing mis- 
 tress of a princely and generous lover.' 
 
 'Ay,' said Richard, 'and before that week expires — ' 
 He stopped short. 
 
 ' What will happen before the week expires? ' said the 
 Begum Montreville. 
 
 'No matter — nothing of consequence. I leave the 
 woman's fate with you.' 
 
 "T is well; we march to-night on our return, so soon 
 as the moon rises. Give orders to our retinue.' 
 
 'To hear is to obey,' replied the seeming slave, and 
 left the apartment. 
 
 The eyes of the Begum remained fixed on the door 
 through which he had passed. 'Villain — double-dyed 
 villain ! ' she said, ' I see thy drift : thou wouldst betray 
 Tippoo, in policy ahke and in love. But me thou canst 
 not betray. Ho, there, who waits? Let a trusty messen- 
 ger be ready to set off instantly with letters, which I will 
 presently make ready. His departure must be a secret 
 to every one. And now shall this pale phantom soon 
 know her destiny, and learn what it is to have rivalled 
 Adela Montreville.' 
 
 While the amazonian princess meditated plans of 
 vengeance against her innocent rival and the guilty 
 lover, the latter plotted as deeply for his own purposes. 
 He had waited until such brief twilight as India enjoys 
 rendered his disguise complete, then set out in haste for 
 
 382
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 the part of Madras inhabited by the Europeans, or, as it 
 is termed, Fort St. George. 
 
 *I will save her yet,' he said: 'ere Tippoo can seize his 
 prize, we will raise around his ears a storm which would 
 drive the God of War from the arms of the Goddess of 
 Beauty. The trap shall close its fangs upon this Indian 
 tiger ere he has time to devour the bait which enticed 
 him into the snare.' 
 
 While Middlemas cherished these hopes, he approached 
 the residency. The sentinel on duty stopped him, as of 
 course; but he was in possession of the countersign, and 
 entered without opposition. He rounded the building in 
 which the President of the Council resided — an able 
 and active, but unconscientious man, who neither in his 
 own affairs nor in those of the Company was supposed 
 to embarrass himself much about the means which he 
 used to attain his object. A tap at a small postern-gate 
 was answered by a black slave, who admitted Middle- 
 mas to that necessary appurtenance of every govern- 
 ment, a back stair, which, in its turn, conducted him to 
 the office of the Bramin Paupiah, the dubash, or steward, 
 of the great man, and by whose means chiefly he com- 
 municated with the native courts, and carried on many 
 mysterious intrigues, which he did not communicate to 
 his brethren at the council-board. 
 
 It is perhaps justice to the guilty and unhappy Middle- 
 mas to suppose that, if the agency of a British officer had 
 been employed, he might have been induced to throw 
 himself on his mercy, might have explained the whole of 
 his nefarious bargain with Tippoo, and, renouncing his 
 guilty projects of ambition, might have turned his whole 
 thoughts upon saving Menie Gray, ere she was trans- 
 
 383
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ported beyond the reach of British protection. But the 
 thin, dusky form which stood before him, wrapped in 
 robes of muslin embroidered with gold, was that of 
 Paupiah, known as a master-counsellor of dark projects, 
 an Oriental Machiavel, whose premature wrinkles were 
 the result of many an intrigue, in which the existence of 
 the poor, the happiness of the rich, the honour of men, 
 and the chastity of women had been sacrificed without 
 scruple to attain some private or political advantage. 
 He did not even inquire by what means the renegade 
 Briton proposed to acquire that influence with Tippoo 
 which might enable him to betray him: he only desired 
 to be assured that the fact was real. 
 
 'You speak at the risk of your head if you deceive 
 Paupiah, or make Paupiah the means of deceiving his 
 master. I know, so does all Madras, that the Nawaub 
 has placed his young son, Tippoo, as vice-regent of his 
 newly conquered territory of Bangalore, which Hyder 
 hath lately added to his dominions. But that Tippoo 
 should bestow the government of that important place 
 on an apostate Feringi seems more doubtful.' 
 
 'Tippoo is young,' answered Middlemas, 'and to 
 youth the temptation of the passions is what a lily on the 
 surface of the lake is to childhood: they will risk Ufe to 
 reach it, though, when obtained, it is of little value. 
 Tippoo has the cunning of his father and his military 
 talents, but he lacks his cautious wisdom.' 
 
 'Thou speakest truth; but when thou art governor of 
 Bangalore, hast thou forces to hold the place till thou 
 art relieved by the Mahrattas or by the British?' 
 
 ' Doubt it not : the soldiers of the Begum Mootee Ma- 
 hul, whom the Europeans call Montreville, are less hers 
 
 384
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 than mine. I am myself her bukshee (general), and her 
 sirdars are at my devotion. With these I could keep 
 Bangalore for two months, and the British army may 
 be before it in a week. What do you risk by advanc- 
 ing General Smith's army nearer to the frontier? ' 
 
 * We risk a settled peace with Hyder,' answered Pau- 
 piah, 'for which he has made advantageous offers. Yet I 
 say not but thy plan may be most advantageous. Thou 
 sayest Tippoo's treasures are in the fort? ' 
 
 * His treasures and his zenana ; I may even be able to 
 secure his person.' 
 
 'That were a goodly pledge,' answered the Hindoo 
 minister. 
 
 'And you consent that the treasures shall be divided 
 to the last rupee, as in this scroll?' 
 
 'The share of Paupiah's master is too small,' said the 
 Bramin; 'and the name of Paupiah is unnoticed.' 
 
 'The share of the Begum may be divided between 
 Paupiah and his master,' answered Middlemas. 
 
 'But the Begum will expect her proportion,' replied 
 Paupiah. 
 
 'Let me alone to deal with her,' said Middlemas. 
 'Before the blow is struck, she shall not know of our 
 private treaty, and afterwards her disappointment will 
 be of little consequence. And now, remember my stip- 
 ulations — my rank to be restored, my full pardon to be 
 granted.' 
 
 'Ay,' repHed Paupiah, cautiously, 'should you suc- 
 ceed. But were you to betray what has here passed, I 
 will find the dagger of a lootie which shall reach thee, 
 wert thou sheltered under the folds of the Nawaub's 
 garment. In the meantime, take this missive, and when 
 
 44 385
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 you are in possession of Bangalore despatch it to General 
 Smith, whose division shall have orders to approach as 
 near the frontiers of Mysore as may be, without causing 
 suspicion.' 
 
 Thus parted this worthy pair, Paupiah to report to 
 his principal the progress of these dark machinations, 
 Middlemas to join the Begum on her return to the My- 
 sore. The gold and diamonds of Tippoo, the importance 
 which he was about to acquire, the ridding himself at 
 once of the capricious authority of the irritable Tippoo 
 and the troublesome claims of the Begum, were such 
 agreeable subjects of contemplation, that he scarcely 
 thought of the fate of his European victim, unless to 
 salve his conscience with the hope that the sole injury 
 she could sustain might be the alarm of a few days, 
 during the course of which he would acquire the means 
 of delivering her from the tyrant in whose zenana she 
 was to remain a temporary prisoner. He resolved, at the 
 same time, to abstain from seeing her till the moment he 
 could afford her protection, justly considering the danger 
 which his whole plan might incur if he again awakened 
 the jealousy of the Begum. This, he trusted, was now 
 asleep; and, in the course of their return to Tippoo's 
 camp, near Bangalore, it was his study to soothe this 
 ambitious and crafty female by blandishments, inter- 
 mingled with the more splendid prospects of wealth and 
 power to be opened to them both, as he pretended, by 
 the success of his present enterprise.^ 
 * See Note 3.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 It appears that the jealous and tyrannical Begum did 
 not long suspend her purpose of agonizing her rival by 
 acquainting her with her intended fate. By prayers or 
 rewards, Menie Gray prevailed on a servant of Ram 
 Sing Cottah to deliver to Hartley the following distracted 
 note: — 
 
 'All is true your fears foretold. He has delivered me 
 up to a cruel woman, who threatens to sell me to the 
 tyrant Tippoo. Save me if you can; if you have not 
 pity, or cannot give me aid, there is none left upon 
 earth. — M.G.' 
 
 The haste with which Dr. Hartley sped to the Fort, 
 and demanded an audience of the governor, was de- 
 feated by the delays interposed by Paupiah. 
 
 It did not suit the plans of this artful Hindoo that any 
 interruption should be opposed to the departure of the 
 Begum and her favourite, considering how much the 
 plans of the last corresponded with his own. He affected 
 increduhty on the charge when Hartley complained of 
 an Englishwoman being detained in the train of the 
 Begum against her consent, treated the complaint of 
 Miss Gray as the result of some female quarrel un- 
 worthy of particular attention, and when at length he 
 took some steps for examining further into the mat- 
 ter, he contrived they should be so tardy, that the 
 
 387
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Begum and her retinue were far beyond the reach of 
 interruption. 
 
 Hartley let his indignation betray him into reproaches 
 against Paupiah, in which his principal was not spared. 
 This only served to give the impassible Bramin a pretext 
 for excluding him from the residency, with a hint that, 
 if his language continued to be of such an imprudent 
 character, he might expect to be removed from Madras, 
 and stationed at some hill-fort or village among the 
 mountains, where his medical knowledge would find full 
 exercise in protecting himself and others from the iin- 
 healthiness of the climate. 
 
 As he retired, bursting with ineffectual indignation, 
 Esdale was the first person whom Hartley chanced to 
 meet with, and to him, stung with impatience, he com- 
 municated what he termed the infamous conduct of the 
 governor's dubash, connived at, as he had but too much 
 reason to suppose, by the governor himself; exclaiming 
 against the want of spirit which they betrayed, in aban- 
 doning a British subject to the fraud of renegades and 
 the force of a tyrant. 
 
 Esdale listened with that sort of anxiety which prudent 
 men betray when they feel themselves like to be drawn 
 into trouble by the discourse of an imprudent friend. 
 
 *If you desire to be personally righted in this matter,' 
 said he at length, 'you must apply to Leadenhall Street, 
 where, I suspect — betwixt ourselves — complaints are 
 accumulating fast, both against Paupiah and his mas- 
 ter.' 
 
 'I care for neither of them,' said Hartley; *I need no 
 personal redress — I desire none. I only want succour 
 for Menie Gray.' 
 
 388
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 *In that case,' said Esdale, 'you have only one re- 
 source: you must apply to Hyder himseK — ' 
 
 ' To Hyder — to the usurper — the tyrant? * 
 
 'Yes, to this usurper and tyrant,' answered Esdale, 
 'you must be contented to apply. His pride is, to be 
 thought a strict administrator of justice; and perhaps he 
 may on this, as on other occasions, choose to display 
 himself in the light of an impartial magistrate.' 
 
 'Then I go to demand justice at his footstool,' said 
 Hartley. 
 
 'Not so fast, my dear Hartley,' answered his friend; 
 'first consider the risk. Hyder is just by reflection, and 
 perhaps from political considerations; but by tempera- 
 ment his blood is as unruly as ever beat under a black 
 skin, and if you do not find him in the vein of judging, he 
 is likely enough to be in that of killing. Stakes and bow- 
 strings are as frequently in his head as the adjustment 
 of the scales of justice.' 
 
 'No matter, I will instantly present myself at his 
 durbar. The governor cannot for very shame refuse me 
 letters of credence.' 
 
 'Never think of asking them,' said his more experi- 
 enced friend ; ' it would cost Paupiah little to have them 
 so worded as to induce Hyder to rid our sable dubash at 
 once and for ever of the sturdy, free-spoken Dr. Adam 
 Hartley. A vakeel, or messenger of government, sets out 
 to-morrow for Seringapatam ; contrive to join him on 
 the road, his passport will protect you both. Do you 
 know none of the chiefs about Hyder's person? ' 
 
 'None, excepting his late emissary to this place, 
 Barak el Hadgi,' answered Hartley. 
 
 'His support,' said Esdale, 'although only a fakir, 
 
 389
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 may be as effectual as that of persons of more essential 
 consequence. And, to say the truth, where the caprice 
 of a despot is the question in debate, there is no knowing 
 upon what it is best to reckon. Take my advice, my dear 
 Hartley, leave this poor girl to her fate. After all, by 
 placing yourself in an attitude of endeavouring to save 
 her, it is a hundred to one that you only ensure your own 
 destruction.' 
 
 Hartley shook his head, and bade Esdale hastily fare- 
 well; leaving him in the happy and self -applauding state 
 of mind proper to one who has given the best advice pos- 
 sible to a friend, and may conscientiously wash his hands 
 of all consequences. 
 
 Having furnished himself with money, and with the 
 attendance of three trusty native servants, mounted like 
 himself on Arab horses, and carrying with them no tent, 
 and very little baggage, the anxious Hartley lost not a 
 moment in taking the road to Mysore, endeavouring, in 
 the meantime, by recollecting every story he had ever 
 heard of Hyder's justice and forbearance, to assure him- 
 self that he should find the Nawaub disposed to protect 
 a helpless female, even against the future heir of his 
 empire. 
 
 Before he crossed the Madras territory, he overtook 
 the vakeel, or messenger of the British government, of 
 whom Esdale had spoken. This man, accustomed for a 
 sum of money to permit adventurous European traders 
 who desired to visit Hyder's capital to share his pro- 
 tection, passport, and escort, was not disposed to refuse 
 the same good office to a gentleman of credit at Madras ; 
 and, propitiated by an additional gratuity, undertook 
 to travel as speedily as possible. It was a journey which 
 
 390
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 was not prosecuted without much fatigue and consider- 
 able danger, as they had to traverse a country frequently 
 exposed to all the evils of war, more especially when they 
 approached the Ghauts, those tremendous mountain- 
 passes which descend from the tableland of Mysore, and 
 through which the mighty streams that arise in the cen- 
 tre of the Indian peninsula find their way to the ocean. 
 
 The sun had set ere the party reached the foot of one 
 of these perilous passes, up which lay the road to Sering- 
 apatam. A narrow path, which in summer resembled an 
 empty watercourse, winding upwards among immense 
 rocks and precipices, was at one time completely over- 
 shadowed by dark groves of teak-trees, and at another 
 found its way beside impenetrable jungles, the habita- 
 tion of jackals and tigers. 
 
 By means of this unsocial path the travellers threaded 
 their way in silence — Hartley, whose impatience kept 
 him before the vakeel, eagerly inquiring when the moon 
 would enlighten the darkness, which, after the sun's dis- 
 appearance, closed fast around them. He was answered 
 by the natives according to their usual mode of expres- 
 sion, that the moon was in her dark side, and that he was 
 not to hope to behold her bursting through a cloud to 
 illuminate the thickets and strata of black and slaty 
 rocks amongst which they were winding. Hartley had 
 therefore no resource save to keep his eye steadily fixed 
 on the lighted match of the sowar, or horseman, who rode 
 before him, which, for sufficient reasons, was always 
 kept in readiness to be applied to the priming of the 
 matchlock. The vidette, on his part, kept a watchful 
 eye on the dowrah, a guide supplied at the last village, 
 who, having got more than halfway from his own house, 
 
 391
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 was much to be suspected of meditating how to escape 
 the trouble of going farther.^ The dowrah, on the other 
 hand, conscious of the Hghted match and loaded gun 
 behind him, hollowed from time to time to show that he 
 was on his duty, and to accelerate the march of the trav- 
 ellers. His cries were answered by an occasional ejacu- 
 lation of 'Ulla!' from the black soldiers, who closed the 
 rear, and who were meditating on former adventures, 
 the plundering of a kaffila (party of travelling mer- 
 chants), or some such exploit, or perhaps reflecting that 
 a tiger, in the neighbouring jungle, might be watching 
 patiently for. the last of the party, in order to spring 
 upon him, according to his usual practice. 
 
 The sun, which appeared almost as suddenly as it 
 had left them, served to light the travellers in the re- 
 mainder of the ascent, and called forth from the Moham- 
 medans belonging to the party the morning prayer of 
 Allah ackbar, which resounded in long notes among the 
 rocks and ravines, and they continued with better 
 advantage their forced march until the pass opened upon 
 a boundless extent of jungle, with a single high mud fort 
 rising through the midst of it. Upon this plain rapine 
 and war had suspended the labours of industry, and the 
 rich vegetation of the soil had in a few years converted a 
 fertile champaign country into an almost impenetrable 
 thicket. Accordingly, the banks of a small nullah, or 
 brook, were covered with the footmarks of tigers and 
 other animals of prey. 
 
 Here the travellers stopped to drink, and to refresh 
 themselves and their horses; and it was near this spot 
 that Hartley saw a sight which forced him to compare 
 
 * See Note 4.
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 the subject which engrossed his own thoughts with the 
 distress that had afflicted another. 
 
 At a spot not far distant from the brook, the guide 
 called their attention to a most wretched-looking man, 
 overgrown with hair, who was seated on the skin of a 
 tiger. His body was covered with mud and ashes, his 
 skin sun-burnt, his dress a few wretched tatters. He 
 appeared not to observe the approach of the strangers, 
 neither moving nor speaking a word, but remaining with 
 his eyes fixed on a small and rude tomb, formed of the 
 black slate-stones which lay around, and exhibiting a 
 small recess for a lamp. As they approached the man, 
 and placed before him a rupee or two and some rice, they 
 observed that a tiger's skull and bones lay beside him, 
 with a sabre almost consumed by rust. 
 
 While they gazed on this miserable object, the guide 
 acquainted them with his tragical history. Sadhu Sing 
 had been a sipahee, or soldier, and freebooter of course, 
 the native and the pride of a half-ruined village which 
 they had passed on the preceding day. He was betrothed 
 to the daughter of a sipahee, who served in the mud fort 
 which they saw at a distance rising above the jungle. In 
 due time, Sadhu, with his friends, came for the purpose 
 of the marriage, and to bring home the bride. She was 
 mounted on a tatoo, a small horse belonging to the coun- 
 try, and Sadhu and his friends preceded her on foot in all 
 their joy and pride. As they approached the nullah near 
 which the travellers were resting, there was heard a 
 dreadful roar, accompanied by a shriek of agony. Sadhu 
 Sing, who instantly turned, saw no trace of his bride, 
 save that her horse ran wild in one direction, whilst in 
 the other the long grass and reeds of the jungle were 
 
 393
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 moving like the ripple of the ocean, when distorted by 
 the course of a shark holding its way near the surface. 
 Sadhu drew his sabre and rushed forward in that direc- 
 tion; the rest of the party remained motionless until 
 roused by a short roar of agony. They then plunged into 
 the jungle with their drawn weapons, where they speedily 
 found Sadhu Sing holding in his arms the lifeless corpse 
 of his bride, while a little farther lay the body of the 
 tiger, slain by such a blow over the neck as desperation 
 itself could alone have discharged. The brideless bride- 
 groom would permit none to interfere with his sorrow. 
 He dug a grave for his Mora, and erected over it the rude 
 tomb they saw, and never afterwards left the spot. The 
 beasts of prey themselves seemed to respect or dread the 
 extremity of his sorrow. His friends brought him food 
 and water from the nullah; but he neither smiled nor 
 showed any mark of acknowledgment unless when they 
 brought him flowers to deck the grave of Mora. Four or 
 five years, according to the guide, had passed away, and 
 there Sadhu Sing still remained among the trophies of 
 his grief and his vengeance, exhibiting all the symptoms 
 of advanced age, though still in the prime of youth. 
 
 The tale hastened the travellers from their resting- 
 place; the vakeel because it reminded him of the dangers 
 of the jungle, and Hartley because it coincided too well 
 with the probable fate of his beloved, almost within the 
 grasp of a more formidable tiger than that whose skele- 
 ton lay beside Sadhu Sing. 
 
 It was at the mud fort already mentioned that the 
 travellers received the first accounts of the progress of 
 the Begum and her party, by a peon, or foot-soldier, who 
 had been in their company, but was now on his return 
 
 394
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 to the coast. 'They had travelled,' he said, 'with great 
 speed, until they ascended the Ghauts, where they were 
 joined by a party of the Begum's own forces; and he 
 and others, who had been brought from Madras as a 
 temporary escort, were paid and dismissed to their 
 homes. After this, he understood, it was the purpose of 
 the Begum Mootee Mahul to proceed by slow marches 
 and frequent halts to Bangalore, the vicinity of which 
 place she did not desire to reach until Prince Tippoo, 
 with whom she desired an interview, should have re- 
 turned from an expedition towards Vandicotta, in which 
 he had lately been engaged.' 
 
 From the result of his anxious inquiries, Hartley had 
 reason to hope that, though Seringapatam was seventy- 
 five miles more to the eastward than Bangalore, yet, by 
 using dihgence, he might have time to throw himself at 
 the feet of Hyder and beseech his interposition before the 
 meeting betwixt Tippoo and the Begum should decide 
 the fate of Menie Gray. On the other hand, he trembled 
 as the peon told him that the Begum's bukshee, or gen- 
 eral, who had travelled to Madras with her in disguise, 
 had now assumed the dress and character belonging to 
 his rank, and it was expected he was to be honoured by 
 the Mohammedan prince with some high office of dig- 
 nity. With still deeper anxiety, he learned that a palan- 
 quin, watched with sedulous care by the slaves of Orien- 
 tal jealousy, contained, it was whispered, a Feringi, or 
 Frankish woman, beautiful as a houri, who had been 
 brought from England by the Begum as a present to 
 Tippoo. The deed of villainy was therefore in full train 
 to be accomplished; it remained to see whether, by dili- 
 gence on Hartley's side, its course could be interrupted. 
 
 395
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS - 
 
 When this eager vindicator of betrayed innocence 
 arrived in the capital of Hyder, it may be believed that 
 he consumed no time in viewing the temple of the cele- 
 brated Vishnoo, or in surveying the splendid gardens 
 called Loll-bang, which were the monument of Hyder's 
 magnificence, and now hold his mortal remains. On the 
 contrary, he was no sooner arrived in the city than he 
 hastened to the principal mosque, having no doubt that 
 he was there most likely to learn some tidings of Barak 
 el Hadgi. He approached, accordingly, the sacred spot, 
 and as to enter it would have cost a Feringi his life, he 
 employed the agency of a devout Mussulman to obtain 
 information concerning the person whom he sought. He 
 was not long in learning that the fakir Barak was within 
 the mosque, as he had anticipated, busied with his holy 
 office of reading passages from the Koran and its most 
 approved commentators. To interrupt him in his devout 
 task was impossible, and it was only by a high bribe that 
 he could prevail on the same Moslem whom he had before 
 employed to slip into the sleeve of the holy man's robe a 
 paper containing his name and that of the khan in which 
 the vakeel had taken up his residence. The agent brought 
 back for answer, that the fakir, immersed, as was to be 
 expected, in the holy service which he was in the act of 
 discharging, had paid no visible attention to the symbol 
 of intimation which the Feringi sahih (European gentle- 
 man) had sent to him. Distracted with the loss of time, 
 of which each moment was precious, Hartley next en- 
 deavoured to prevail on the Mussulman to interrupt 
 the fakir's devotions with a verbal message; but the man 
 was indignant at the very proposal. 
 
 *Dog of a Christian!' he said, 'what art thou and thy 
 
 396
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 whole generation, that Barak el Hadgi should lose a 
 divine thought for the sake of an infidel Hke thee?' 
 
 Exasperated beyond self-possession, the unfortunate 
 Hartley was now about to intrude upon the precincts of 
 the mosque in person, in hopes of interrupting the for- 
 mal prolonged recitation which issued from its recesses, 
 when an old man laid his hand on his shoulder, and pre- 
 vented him from a rashness which might have cost him 
 his life, saying, at the same time, 'You are a sahih 
 Angrezie (English gentleman); I have been a telinga (a 
 private soldier) in the Company's service, and have 
 eaten their salt. I will do your errand for you to the 
 fakir Barak el Hadgi.' 
 
 So saying, he entered the mosque, and presently 
 returned with the fakir's answer, in these enigmatical 
 words — * He who would see the sun rise must watch 
 till the dawn.' 
 
 With this poor subject of consolation. Hartley retired 
 to his inn, to meditate on the futility of the professions 
 of the natives, and to devise some other mode of finding 
 access to Hyder than that which he had hitherto trusted 
 to. On this point, however, he lost all hope, being in- 
 formed by his late fellow-traveller, whom he found at 
 the khan, that the Nawaub was absent from the city on 
 a secret expedition, which might detain him for two or 
 three days. This was the answer which the vakeel him- 
 self had received from the dewan, with a further inti- 
 mation, that he must hold himself ready, when he was 
 required, to deliver his credentials to Prince Tippoo, 
 instead of the Nawaub, his business being referred to the 
 former in a way not very promising for the success of his 
 mission. 
 
 397
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 Hartley was now nearly thrown into despair. He 
 applied to more than one officer supposed to have credit 
 with the Nawaub, but the slightest hint of the nature of 
 his business seemed to strike all with terror. Not one of 
 the persons he applied to would engage in the affair, or 
 even consent to give it a hearing ; and the dewan plainly 
 told him, that to engage in opposition to Prince Tippoo's 
 wishes was the ready way to destruction, and exhorted 
 him to return to the coast. Driven almost to distraction 
 by his various failures. Hartley betook himself in the 
 evening to the khan. The call of the muezzins thunder- 
 ing from the minarets had invited the faithful to prayers, 
 when a black servant, about fifteen years old, stood 
 before Hartley, and pronounced these words, deliber- 
 ately, and twice over — 'Thus says Barak el Hadgi, the 
 watcher in the mosque — He that would see the sun 
 rise, let him turn towards the east.' He then left the 
 caravanserai ; and it may be well supposed that Hartley, 
 starting from the carpet on which he had lain down to 
 repose himself, followed his youthfxil guide with re- 
 newed vigour and palpitating hope.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 'T was the hour when rites unholy 
 
 Call'd each paynitn voice to prayer, 
 And the star that faded slowlj' 
 
 Left to dews the freshen'd air. 
 
 Day his sultry fires had wasted, 
 
 Calm and cool the moonbeams shone; 
 To the vizier's lofty palace 
 
 One bold Christian came alone. 
 
 Thomas Campbell. Quoted from memory. 
 
 The twilight darkened into night so fast, that it was 
 only by his white dress that Hartley could discern his 
 guide, as he tripped along the splendid bazaar of the 
 city. But the obscurity was so far favourable, that it 
 prevented the inconvenient attention which the natives 
 might otherwise have bestowed upon the European in 
 his native dress, a sight at that time very rare in 
 Seringapatam. 
 
 The various turnings and windings through which he 
 was conducted ended at a small door in a wall, which, 
 from the branches that hung over it, seemed to surround 
 a garden or grove. 
 
 The postern opened on a tap from his guide, and a 
 slave having entered, Hartley prepared to follow, but 
 stepped back as a gigantic African brandished at his 
 head a scimitar three fingers broad. The young slave 
 touched his countryman with a rod which he held in his 
 hand, and it seemed as if the touch disabled the giant, 
 whose arm and weapon sunk instantly. Hartley entered 
 without further opposition, and was now in a grove of 
 mango-trees, through which an infant moon was twink- 
 
 399
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ling faintly amid the murmur of waters, the sweet song 
 of the nightingale, and the odours of the rose, yellow 
 jasmine, orange and citron flowers, and Persian nar- 
 cissus. Huge domes and arches, which were seen imper- 
 fectly in the quivering light, seemed to intimate the 
 neighbourhood of some sacred edifice, where the fakir 
 had doubtless taken up his residence. 
 
 Hartley pressed on with as much haste as he could, 
 and entered a side-door and narrow vaulted passage, at 
 the end of which was another door. Here his guide 
 stopped, but pointed and made indications that the 
 European should enter. Hartley did so, and found 
 himself in a small cell, such as we have formerly de- 
 scribed, wherein sate Barak el Hadgi, with another 
 fakir, who, to judge from the extreme dignity of a white 
 beard, which ascended up to his eyes on each side, must 
 be a man of great sanctity, as well as importance. 
 
 Hartley pronounced the usual salutation of ^ Salam 
 alaikum' in the most modest and deferential tone; but 
 his former friend was so far from responding in their 
 former strain of intimacy, that, having consulted the eye 
 of his older companion, he barely pointed to a third 
 carpet, upon which the stranger seated himself cross- 
 legged after the country fashion, and a profound silence 
 prevailed for the space of several minutes. Hartley 
 knew the Oriental customs too well to endanger the 
 success of his suit by precipitation. He waited an inti- 
 mation to speak. At length it came, and from Barak. 
 
 'When the pilgrim Barak,' he said, 'dwelt at Madras 
 he had eyes and a tongue ; but now he is guided by those 
 of his father, the holy Scheik Hali ben Khaledoun, the 
 superior of his convent.' 
 
 400
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 This extreme humility Hartley thought inconsistent 
 with the afifectation of possessing superior influence 
 which Barak had shown while at the presidency; but 
 exaggeration of their own consequence is a foible com- 
 mon to all who find themselves in a land of strangers. 
 Addressing the senior fakir, therefore, he told him in as 
 few words as possible the villainous plot which was laid 
 to betray Menie Gray into the hands of the Prince 
 Tippoo. He made his suit for the reverend father's 
 intercession with the prince himself, and with his father 
 the Nawaub, in the most persuasive terms. The fakir 
 listened to him with an inflexible and immovable 
 aspect, similar to that with which a wooden saint re- 
 gards his eager supplicants. There was a second pause, 
 when, after resuming his pleading more than once, 
 Hartley was at length compelled to end it for want of 
 matter. 
 
 The silence was broken by the elder fakir, who, after 
 shooting a glance at his younger companion by a turn of 
 the eye, without the least alteration of the position of 
 the head and body, said, 'The unbeliever has spoken 
 like a poet. But does he think that the Nawaub Hyder 
 AH Khan Behauder will contest with his son, Tippoo 
 the Victorious, the possession of an infidel slave? ' 
 
 Hartley received at the same time a side glance from 
 Barak, as if encouraging him to plead his own cause. He 
 suffered a minute to elapse, and then replied, — 
 
 * The Nawaub is in the place of the Prophet — a judge 
 over the low as well as high. It is written that, when the 
 Prophet decided a controversy between the two spar- 
 rows concerning a grain of rice, his wife Fatima said to 
 him, "Doth the missionary of Allah well to bestow his 
 
 401 
 
 ? 15 pjiT a t:- :^ r '^ 1 *" ■;. r- "^ f tt 
 
 
 mim -w.
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 time in distributing justice on a matter so slight, and 
 between such despicable litigants?" "Know, woman," 
 answered the Prophet, " that the sparrows and the grain 
 of rice are the creation of Allah. They are not worth 
 more than thou hast spoken; but justice is a treasure 
 of inestimable price, and it must be imparted by him 
 who holdeth power to all who require it at his hand. 
 The prince doth the will of Allah, who gives it ahke in 
 small matters as in great, and to the poor as well as the 
 powerful. To the hungry bird a grain of rice is as a 
 chaplet of pearls to a sovereign." I have spoken.' 
 
 'Bismallahl — Praised be God! he hath spoken like a 
 moullah,' said the elder fakir, with a little more emotion, 
 and some inclination of his head towards Barak, for on 
 Hartley he scarcely deigned even to look. 
 
 'The Hps have spoken it which cannot lie,' replied 
 Barak, and there was again a pause. 
 
 It was once more broken by Scheik Hali, who, address- 
 ing himself directly to Hartley, demanded of him, 
 'Hast thou heard, Feringi, of aught of treason meditated 
 by this kafr (infidel) against the Nawaub Behauder?' 
 
 'Out of a traitor cometh treason,' said Hartley, 'but, 
 to speak after my knowledge, I am not conscious of such 
 design.' 
 
 'There is truth in the words of him,' said the fakir, 
 'who accuseth not his enemy save on his knowledge. 
 The things thou hast spoken shall be laid before the 
 Nawaub; and as Allah and he will, so shall the issue be. 
 Meantime, return to thy khan, and prepare to attend 
 the vakeel of thy government, who is to travel with 
 dawn to Bangalore, the strong, the happy, the holy city. 
 Peace be with thee! Is it not so, my son?' 
 
 402
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Barak, to whom this appeal was made, replied, 'Even 
 as my father hath spoken.' 
 
 Hartley had no alternative but to arise and take his 
 leave with the usual phrase, ^Salam — God's peace be 
 with you!' 
 
 His youthful guide, who waited his return without, con- 
 ducted him once more to his khan, through bye-paths 
 which he could not have found out without pilotage. 
 His thoughts were in the meantime strongly engaged on 
 his late interview. He knew the Moslem men of religion 
 were not implicitly to be trusted. The whole scene might 
 be a scheme of Barak to get rid of the trouble of patron- 
 ising a European in a deHcate affair; and he determined 
 to be guided by what should seem to confirm or discredit 
 the intimation which he had received. 
 
 On his arrival at the khan he found the vakeel of the 
 British government in a great bustle, preparing to obey 
 directions transmitted to him by the Nawaub's dewan, 
 or treasurer, directing him to depart the next morning 
 with break of day for Bangalore. 
 
 He expressed great discontent at the order, and when 
 Hartley intimated his purpose of accompanying him, 
 seemed to think him a fool for his pains, hinting the 
 probability that Hyder meant to get rid of them both 
 by means of the freebooters, through whose countries 
 they were to pass with such a feeble escort. This fear 
 gave way to another when the time of departure came, 
 at which moment there rode up about two hundred of 
 the Nawaub's native cavalry. The sirdar who com- 
 manded these troops behaved with civility, and stated 
 that he was directed to attend upon the travellers, and 
 to provide for their safety and convenience on the jour- 
 
 403
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 ney; but his manner was reserved and distant, and the 
 vakeel insisted that the force was intended to prevent 
 their escape rather than for their protection. Under 
 such unpleasant auspices, the journey between Seringa- 
 patam and Bangalore was accomplished in two days and 
 part of a third, the distance being nearly eighty miles. 
 
 On arriving in view of this fine and populous city, they 
 found an encampment already established within a mile 
 of its walls. It occupied a tope, or knoll, covered with 
 trees, and looked full on the gardens which Tippoo had 
 created in one quarter of the city. The rich pavilions of 
 the principal persons flamed with silk and gold; and 
 spears with gilded points, or poles supporting gold 
 knobs, displayed numerous little banners, inscribed with 
 the name of the Prophet. This was the camp of the 
 Begum Mootee Mahul, who, with a small body of her 
 troops, about two hundred men, was waiting the return 
 of Tippoo under the walls of Bangalore. Their private 
 motives for desiring a meeting the reader is acquainted 
 with; to the public the visit of the Begum had only the 
 appearance of an act of deference, frequently paid by 
 inferior and subordinate princes to the patrons whom 
 they depend upon. 
 
 These facts ascertained, the sirdar of the Nawaub 
 took up his own encampment within sight of that of the 
 Begum, but at about half a mile's distance, despatching 
 to the city a messenger to announce to the Prince 
 Tippoo, so soon as he should arrive, that he had come 
 hither with the English vakeel. 
 
 The bustle of pitching a few tents was soon over, and 
 Hartley, solitary and sad, was left to walk under the 
 shade of two or three mango-trees, and, looking to the 
 
 404
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 displayed streamers of the Begum's encampment, to 
 reflect that amid these insignia of Mohammedanism 
 Menie Gray remained, destined by a profligate and 
 treacherous lover to the fate of slavery to a heathen 
 tyrant. The consciousness of being in her vicinity 
 added to the bitter pangs with which Hartley contem- 
 plated her situation, and reflected how little chance 
 there appeared of his being able to rescue her from it by 
 the mere force of reason and justice, which was all he 
 could oppose to the selfish passions of a voluptuous 
 tyrant. A lover of romance might have meditated some 
 means of effecting her release by force or address; but 
 Hartley, though a man of courage, had no spirit of 
 adventure, and would have regarded as desperate any 
 attempt of the kind. 
 
 His sole gleam of comfort arose from the impression 
 which he had apparently made upon the elder fakir, 
 which he could not help hoping might be of some avail 
 to him. But on one thing he was firmly resolved, and 
 that was, not to relinquish the cause he had engaged in 
 whilst a grain of hope remained. He had seen in his own 
 profession a quickening and a revival of life in the 
 patient's eye, even when glazed apparently by the hand 
 of death; and he was taught confidence amidst moral 
 evil by his success in relieving that which was physical 
 only. 
 
 While Hartley was thus meditating, he was roused to 
 attention by a heavy firing of artillery from the high 
 bastions of the town; and, turning his eyes in that direc- 
 tion, he could see advancing, on the northern side of 
 Bangalore, a tide of cavalry, riding tumultuously for- 
 ward, brandishing their spears in all different attitudes, 
 
 40s
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 and pressing their horses to a gallop. The clouds of dust 
 which attended this vanguard, for such it was, combined 
 with the smoke of the guns, did not permit Hartley to 
 see distinctly the main body which followed; but the 
 appearance of howdahed elephants and royal banners, 
 dimly seen through the haze, plainly intimated the 
 return of Tippoo to Bangalore; while shouts and irregu- 
 lar discharges of musketry announced the real or pre- 
 tended rejoicing of the inhabitants. The city gates 
 received the living torrent which rolled towards them; 
 the clouds of smoke and dust were soon dispersed, and 
 the horizon was restored to serenity and silence. 
 
 The meeting between persons of importance, more 
 especially of royal rank, is a matter of very great conse- 
 quence in India, and generally much address is employed 
 to induce the person receiving the visit to come as far as 
 possible to meet the visitor. From merely rising up, or 
 going to the edge of the carpet, to advancing to the gate 
 of the palace, to that of the city, or, finally, to a mile or 
 two on the road, is all subject to negotiation. But 
 Tippoo 's impatience to possess the fair European in- 
 duced him to grant on this occasion a much greater 
 degree of courtesy than the Begum had dared to expect, 
 and he appointed his garden, adjacent to the city walls, 
 and indeed included within the precincts of the fortifi- 
 cations, as the place of their meeting; the hour noon, on 
 the day succeeding his arrival; for the natives seldom 
 move early in the morning, or before having broken their 
 fast. This was intimated to the Begum's messenger by 
 the prince in person, as, kneeling before him, he pre- 
 sented the nuzzur (a tribute consisting of three, five, or 
 seven gold mohurs, always an odd number), and re- 
 
 406
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 ceived in exchange a khelaut, or dress of honour. The 
 messenger, in return, was eloquent in describing the 
 importance of his mistress, her devoted veneration for 
 the prince, the pleasure which she experienced on the 
 prospect of their motakul, or meeting, and concluded 
 with a more modest compliment to his own extraordi- 
 nary talents, and the confidence which the Begum 
 reposed in him. He then departed; and orders were 
 given that on the next day all should be in readiness for 
 the sowarree, a grand procession, when the prince was to 
 receive the Begum as his honoured guest at his pleasure- 
 house in the gardens. 
 
 Long before the appointed hour, the rendezvous of 
 fakirs, beggars, and idlers, before the gate of the palace, 
 intimated the excited expectations of those who usually 
 attend processions; while a more urgent set of mendi- 
 cants, the courtiers, were hastening thither, on horses 
 or elephants, as their means afforded, always in a hurry 
 to show their zeal, and with a speed proportioned to 
 what they hoped or feared. 
 
 At noon precisely, a discharge of cannon, placed in the 
 outer courts, as also of matchlocks and of small swivels, 
 carried by camels (the poor animals shaking their long 
 ears at every discharge), announced that Tippoo had 
 mounted his elephant. The solemn and deep sound of 
 the naggra, or state drum, borne upon an elephant, was 
 then heard like the distant discharge of artillery, fol- 
 lowed by a long roll of musketry, and was instantly 
 answered by that of numerous trumpets and tom-toms, 
 or common drums, making a discordant, but yet a 
 martial, din. The noise increased as the procession 
 traversed the outer courts of the palace in succession, 
 
 407
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 and at length issued from the gates, having at their head 
 the chohdars, bearing silver sticks and clubs, and shout- 
 ing at the pitch of their voices the titles and the virtues 
 of Tippoo, the great, the generous, the invincible — 
 strong as Rustan, just as Noushirvan — with a short 
 prayer for his continued health. 
 
 After these came a confused body of men on foot, 
 bearing spears, matchlocks, and banners, and intermixed 
 with horsemen, some in complete shirts of mail, with 
 caps of steel under their turbans, some in a sort of 
 defensive armour, consisting of rich silk dresses, ren- 
 dered sabre-proof by being stuffed with cotton. These 
 champions preceded the prince, as whose bodyguards 
 they acted. It was not till after this time that Tippoo 
 raised his celebrated tiger-regiment, disciplined and 
 armed according to the European fashion. Immediately 
 before the prince came, on a small elephant, a hard-faced, 
 severe-looking man, by office the distributer of alms, 
 which he flung in showers of small copper money among 
 the fakirs and beggars, whose scrambles to collect them 
 seemed to augment their amount; while the grim-looking 
 agent of Mohammedan charity, together with his ele- 
 phant, which marched with half angry eyes, and its 
 trunk curled upwards, seemed both alike ready to 
 chastise those whom poverty should render too import- 
 unate. 
 
 Tippoo himself next appeared richly apparelled, and 
 seated on an elephant, which, carrying its head above 
 all the others in the procession, seemed proudly con- 
 scious of superior dignity. The howdah, or seat, which 
 the prince occupied was of silver, embossed and gilt, 
 having behind a place for a confidential servant, who 
 
 408
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 waved the great chowry, or cow-tail, to keep ofiF the 
 flies; but who could also occasionally perform the task 
 of spokesman, being well versed in all terms of flattery 
 and compliment. The caparisons of the royal elephant 
 were of scarlet cloth, richly embroidered with gold. 
 Behind Tippoo came the various courtiers and officers 
 of the household, mounted chiefly on elephants, all 
 arrayed in their most splendid attire, and exhibiting the 
 greatest pomp. 
 
 In this manner the procession advanced down the 
 principal street of the town, to the gate of the royal 
 gardens. The houses were ornamented by broadcloth, 
 silk shawls, and embroidered carpets of the richest 
 colours, displayed from the verandahs and windows; 
 even the meanest hut was adorned with some piece of 
 cloth, so that the whole street had a singularly rich and 
 gorgeous appearance. 
 
 This splendid procession having entered the royal 
 gardens, approached, through a long avenue of lofty 
 trees, a chabootra, or platform of white marble, canopied 
 by arches of the same material, which occupied the 
 centre. It was raised four or five feet from the ground, 
 covered with white cloth and Persian carpets. In the 
 centre of the platform was the musnud, or state cushion 
 of the prince, six feet square, composed of crimson vel- 
 vet, richly embroidered. By especial grace, a small low 
 cushion was placed on the right of the prince, for the 
 occupation of the Begum. In front of this platform was 
 a square tank, or pond, of marble, four feet deep, and 
 filled to the brim with water as clear as crystal, having 
 a large jet or fountain in the middle, which threw up a 
 column of it to the height of twenty feet. 
 
 409
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 The Prince Tippoo had scarcely dismounted from his 
 elephant and occupied the musnud, or throne of cush- 
 ions, when the stately form of the Begum was seen ad- 
 vancing to the place of rendezvous. The elephant being 
 left at the gate of the gardens opening into the country, 
 opposite to that by which the procession of Tippoo had 
 entered, she was carried in an open litter, richly orna- 
 mented with silver, and borne on the shoulders of six 
 black slaves. Her person was as richly attired as silks 
 and gems could accomplish. 
 
 Richard Middlemas, as the Begum's general or 
 bukshee, walked nearest to her litter, in a dress as 
 magnificent in itself as it was remote from all European 
 costume, being that of a banka, or Indian courtier. His 
 turban was of rich silk and gold, twisted very hard, and 
 placed on one side of his head, its ends hanging down on 
 the shoulder. His mustaches were turned and curled, 
 and his eyelids stained with antimony. The vest was of 
 gold brocade, with a cummerbund, or sash, around his 
 waist, corresponding to his turban. He carried in his 
 hand a large sword, sheathed in a scabbard of crimson 
 velvet, and wore around his middle a broad embroidered 
 sword-belt. What thoughts he had under this gay attire, 
 and the bold bearing which corresponded to it, it would 
 be fearful to unfold. His least detestable hopes were 
 perhaps those which tended to save Menie Gray, by 
 betraying the prince who was about to confide in him, 
 and the Begum, at whose intercession Tippoo's confi- 
 dence was to be reposed. 
 
 The litter stopped as it approached the tank, on the 
 opposite side of which the prince was seated on his mus- 
 nud. Middlemas assisted the Begum to descend, and 
 
 410
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 led her, deeply veiled with silver muslin, towards the 
 platform of marble. The rest of the retinue of the 
 Begum followed in their richest and most gaudy attire 
 — all males, however; nor was there a symptom of 
 woman being in her train, except that a close litter, 
 guarded by twenty black slaves, having their sabres 
 drawn, remained at some distance in a thicket of flow- 
 ering shrubs. 
 
 When Tippoo Sahib, through the dim haze which 
 hung over the waterfall, discerned the splendid train of 
 the Begum advancing, he arose from his musnud, so as 
 to receive her near the foot of his throne, and exchanged 
 greetings with her upon the pleasure of meeting, and 
 inquiries after their mutual health. He then conducted 
 her to the cushion placed near to his own, while his 
 courtiers anxiously showed their politeness in accom- 
 modating those of the Begum with places upon the 
 carpets around, where they all sat down cross-legged, 
 Richard Middlemas occupying a conspicuous situation. 
 
 The people of inferior note stood behind, and amongst 
 them was the sirdar of Hyder Ali, with Hartley and the 
 Madras vakeel. It would be impossible to describe the 
 feelings with which Hartley recognised the apostate 
 Middlemas and the amazonian Mrs. Montreville. The 
 sight of them worked up his resolution to make an ap- 
 peal against them, in full durbar, to the justice which 
 Tippoo was obliged to render to all who should complain 
 of injuries. In the meanwhile, the prince, who had 
 hitherto spoken in a low voice, while acknowledging, it 
 is to be supposed, the services and the fidelity of the 
 Begum, now gave the sign to his attendant, who said, in 
 an elevated tone, 'Wherefore, and to requite these 
 
 411
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 services, the mighty prince, at the request of the 
 mighty Begum Mootee Mahul, beautiful as the moon, 
 and wise as the daughter of Giamschid, had decreed to 
 take into his service the bukshee of her armies, and to 
 invest him, as one worthy of all confidence, with the 
 keeping of his beloved capital of Bangalore.' 
 
 The voice of the crier had scarce ceased, when it was 
 answered by one as loud, which sounded from the crowd 
 of bystanders, 'Cursed is he who maketh the robber 
 Leik his treasurer, or trusteth the lives of Moslemah to 
 the command of an apostate ! ' 
 
 With unutterable satisfaction, yet with trembling 
 doubt and anxiety, Hartley traced the speech to the 
 elder fakir, the companion of Barak. Tippoo seemed 
 not to notice the interruption, which passed for that of 
 some mad devotee, to whom the Moslem princes permit 
 great freedoms. The durbar, therefore, recovered from 
 their surprise; and, in answer to the proclamation, 
 united in the shout of applause which is expected to 
 attend every annunciation of the royal pleasure. 
 
 Their acclamation had no sooner ceased than Middle- 
 mas arose, bent himself before the musnud, and, in a set 
 speech, declared his un worthiness of such high honour 
 as had now been conferred, and his zeal for the prince's 
 service. Something remained to be added, but his 
 speech faltered, his limbs shook, and his tongue seemed 
 to refuse its office. 
 
 The Begum started from her seat, though contrary to 
 etiquette, and said, as if to supply the deficiency in the 
 speech of her officer, 'My slave would say that, in 
 acknowledgment of so great an honour conferred on my 
 bukshee, I am so void of means that I can only pray 
 
 412
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 your Highness will deign to accept a lily from Frangistan, 
 to plant within the recesses of the secret garden of thy 
 pleasures. Let my lord's guards carry yonder litter to 
 the zenana,' 
 
 A female scream was heard, as, at a signal from Tip- 
 poo, the guards of his seraglio advanced to receive the 
 closed litter from the attendants of the Begum. 
 
 The voice of the old fakir was heard louder and 
 sterner than before — ' Cursed is the prince who barters 
 justice for lust! He shall die in the gate by the sword 
 of the stranger.' 
 
 'This is too insolent!' said Tippoo. 'Drag forward 
 that fakir, and cut his robe into tatters on his back with 
 your chabouks J 
 
 But a scene ensued like that in the hall of Seyd. All 
 who attempted to obey the command of the incensed 
 despot fell back from the fakir, as they would from the 
 Angel of Death. He flung his cap and fictitious beard 
 on the ground, and the incensed countenance of Tippoo 
 was subdued in an instant, when he encountered the stern 
 and awful eye of his father. A sign dismissed him from 
 the throne, which Hyder himself ascended, while the 
 ofhcious menials hastily disrobed him of his tattered 
 cloak, and flung on him a robe of regal splendour, and 
 placed on his head a jewelled turban. The durbar rung 
 with acclamations to Hyder Ali Khan Behauder, 'the 
 good, the wise, the discoverer of hidden things, who 
 Cometh into the divan like the sun bursting from the 
 clouds.' 
 
 The Nawaub at length signed for silence, and was 
 promptly obeyed. He looked majestically around him, 
 and at length bent his look upon Tippoo, whose down- 
 
 413
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 cast eyes, as he stood before the throne with his arms 
 folded on his bosom, were strongly contrasted with the 
 haughty air of authority which he had worn but a 
 moment before. 'Thou hast been willing,' said the 
 Nawaub, *to barter the safety of thy capital for the 
 possession of a white slave. But the beauty of a fair 
 woman caused Solomon ben David to stumble in his 
 path; how much more, then, should the son of Hyder 
 Naig remain firm under temptation ! That men may see 
 clearly, we must remove the light which dazzles them. 
 Yonder Feringi woman must be placed at my disposal.' 
 
 *To hear is to obey,' replied Tippoo, while the deep 
 gloom on his brow showed what his forced submission 
 cost his proud and passionate spirit. 
 
 In the hearts of the courtiers present reigned the 
 most eager curiosity to see the denouement of the scene, 
 but not a trace of that wish was suffered to manifest 
 itself on features accustomed to conceal all internal 
 sensations. The feelings of the Begum were hidden 
 under her veil; while, in spite of a bold attempt to con- 
 ceal his alarm, the perspiration stood in large drops on 
 the brow of Richard Middlemas. 
 
 The next words of the Nawaub sounded like music 
 in the ear of Hartley. 
 
 'Carry the Feringi woman to the tent of the Sirdar 
 B clash Cassim (the chief to whom Hartley had been 
 committed). Let her be tended in all honour, and let 
 him prepare to escort her, with the vakeel and the 
 hakim Hartley, to the Payeen-Ghaut (the country 
 beneath the passes), answering for their safety with his 
 head.' The Utter was on its road to the sirdar's tents 
 ere the Nawaub had done speaking. 'For thee, Tippoo,' 
 
 414
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 continued Hyder, 'I am not come hither to deprive 
 thee of authority, or to disgrace thee before the durbar. 
 Such things as thou hast promised to this Feringi, pro- 
 ceed to make them good. The sun calleth not back the 
 splendour which he lends to the moon; and the father 
 obscures not the dignity which he has conferred on the 
 son. What thou hast promised, that do thou proceed 
 to make good.' 
 
 The ceremony of investiture was therefore recom- 
 menced, by which the Prince Tippoo conferred on 
 Middlemas the important government of the city of 
 Bangalore, probably with the internal resolution that, 
 since he was himself deprived of the fair European, he 
 would take an early opportunity to remove the new 
 killedar from his charge; while Middlemas accepted it 
 with the throbbing hope that he might yet outwit both 
 father and son. The deed of investiture was read aloud, 
 the robe of honour was put upon the newly-created 
 killedar, and a hundred voices, while they blessed the 
 prudent choice of Tippoo, wished the governor good 
 fortune, and victory over his enemies. 
 
 A horse was led forward, as the prince's gift. It was a 
 fine steed of the Cuttyawar breed, high-crested, with 
 broad hindquarters; he was of a white colour, but had 
 the extremity of his tail and mane stained red. His 
 saddle was red velvet, the bridle and crupper studded 
 with gilded knobs. Two attendants on lesser horses led 
 this prancing animal, one holding the lance and the 
 other the long spear of their patron. The horse was 
 shown to the applauding courtiers, and withdrawn, in 
 order to be led in state through the streets, while the 
 new killedar should follow on the elephant, another 
 
 415
 
 VVAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 present usual on such an occasion, which was next made 
 to advance, that the world might admire the munificence 
 of the prince. 
 
 The huge ardmal approached the platform, shaking 
 his large wrinkled head, which he raised and sunk, as if 
 impatient, and curling upwards his trunk from time to 
 time, as if to show the gulf of his tongueless mouth. 
 Gracefully retiring with the deepest obeisance, the kille- 
 dar, well pleased the audience was finished, stood by the 
 neck of the elephant, expecting the conductor of the 
 animal would make him kneel down, that he might 
 ascend the gilded howdah which awaited his occupancy. 
 
 'Hold, Feringi,' said Hyder. 'Thou hast received all 
 that was promised thee by the bounty of Tippoo. Ac- 
 cept now what is the fruit of the justice of Hyder.' 
 
 As he spoke, he signed with his finger, and the driver 
 of the elephant instantly conveyed to the animal the 
 pleasure of the Nawaub. Curling his long trunk around 
 the neck of the ill-fated European, the monster sud- 
 denly threw the wretch prostrate before him, and, 
 stamping his huge shapeless foot upon his breast, put 
 an end at once to his fife and to his crimes. The cry 
 which the victim uttered was mimicked by the roar of 
 the monster, and a sound like an hysterical laugh 
 mingling with a scream, which rung from under the veil 
 of the Begum. The elephant once more raised his trunk 
 aloft, and gaped fearfully. 
 
 The courtiers preserved a profound silence; but 
 Tippoo, upon whose muslin robe a part of the victim's 
 blood had spirted, held it up to the Nawaub, exclaiming, 
 in a sorrowful yet resentful tone — ' Father — father, 
 was it thus my promise should have been kept? ' 
 
 416
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 'Know, foolish boy,' said Hyder Ali, 'that the carrion 
 which Hes there was in a plot to deliver Bangalore to the 
 Feringis and the Mahrattas. This Begum (she started 
 when she heard herself named) has given us warning 
 of the plot, and has so merited her pardon for having 
 originally concurred in it, — whether altogether out of 
 love to us we will not too curiously inquire. Hence with 
 that lump of bloody clay, and let the Hakim Hartley 
 and the English vakeel come before me.' 
 
 They were brought forward, while some of the 
 attendants flung sand upon the bloody traces, and 
 others removed the crushed corpse. 
 
 'Hakim,' said Hyder, 'thou shalt return with the 
 Feringi woman, and with gold to compensate her in- 
 juries, wherein the Begum, as is fitting, shall contribute 
 a share. Do thou say to thy nation, Hyder Ali acts 
 justly.' The Nawaub then inclined himself graciously 
 to Hartley, and then turning to the vakeel, who ap- 
 peared much discomposed, 'You have brought to me,' 
 he said, 'words of peace, while your masters meditated 
 a treacherous war. It is not upon such as you that my 
 vengeance ought to alight. But tell the kafr, or infidel, 
 Paupiah and his unworthy master that Hyder Ali sees 
 too clearly to suffer to be lost by treason the advantages 
 he has gained by war. Hitherto I have been in the 
 Carnatic as a mild prince ; in future I will be a destroying 
 tempest. Hitherto I have made inroads as a compas- 
 sionate and merciful conqueror; hereafter I will be the 
 messenger whom Allah sends to the kingdoms which 
 He visits in judgment.' 
 
 It is well known how dreadfully the Nawaub kept this 
 promise, and how he and his son afterwards sunk before 
 44 417
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 the discipline and bravery of the Europeans. The scene 
 of just punishment which he so faithfully exhibited might 
 be owing to his policy, his internal sense of right, and to 
 the ostentation of displaying it before an Englishman of 
 sense and intelligence, or to all of these motives mingled 
 together, but in what proportions it is not for us to 
 distinguish. 
 
 Hartley reached the coast in safety with his precious 
 charge, rescued from a dreadful fate when she was almost 
 beyond hope. But the nerves and constitution of Menie 
 Gray had received a shock from which she long suffered 
 severely, and never entirely recovered. The principal 
 ladies of the settlement, moved by the singular tale of 
 her distress, received her with the utmost kindness, and 
 exercised towards her the most attentive and affection- 
 ate hospitality. The Nawaub, faithful to his promise, 
 remitted to her a sum of no less than ten thousand gold 
 mohurs, extorted, as was surmised, almost entirely from 
 the hoards of the Begum Mootee Mahul, or Montreville. 
 Of the fate of that adventuress nothing was known for 
 certainty ; but her forts and government were taken into 
 Hyder's custody, and report said that, her power being 
 abolished and her consequence lost, she died by poison, 
 either taken by herself or administered by some other 
 person. 
 
 It might be thought a natural conclusion of the his- 
 tory of Menie Gray that she should have married Hart- 
 ley, to whom she stood much indebted for his heroic 
 interference in her behalf. But her feelings were too 
 much and too painfully agitated, her health too much 
 shattered, to permit her to entertain thoughts of a 
 
 418
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 matrimonial connexion, even with the acquaintance of 
 her youth and the champion of her freedom. Time 
 might have removed these obstacles, but not two years 
 after their adventures in Mysore the gallant and disin- 
 terested Hartley fell a victim to his professional courage 
 in withstanding the progress of a contagious distemper, 
 .which he at length caught, and under which he sunk. 
 He left a considerable part of the moderate fortune 
 which he had acquired to Menie Gray, who, of course, 
 did not want many advantageous offers of a matrimonial 
 character. But she respected the memory of Hartley too 
 much to subdue in behalf of another the reasons which 
 induced her to refuse the hand which he had so well 
 deserved — nay, it may be thought, had so fairly won. 
 She returned to Britain — what seldom occurs — 
 unmarried though wealthy; and, settling in her native 
 village, appeared to find her only pleasure in acts of 
 benevolence, which seemed to exceed the extent of her 
 fortune, had not her very retired life been taken into 
 consideration. Two or three persons with whom she 
 was intimate could trace in her character that generous 
 and disinterested simplicity and affection which were 
 the groundwork of her character. To the world at large 
 her habits seemed those of the ancient Roman matron, 
 which is recorded on her tomb in these four words, 
 
 DOMUM MANSIT — LaNAM FECIT.
 
 MR. CROFTANGRY'S CONCLUSION 
 
 If you tell a good jest. 
 And please all the rest, 
 
 Comes Dingley, and asks you, 'What was it?' 
 And before she can know 
 Away she will go 
 
 To seek an old rag in the closet. 
 
 Dean Swift. 
 
 While I was inditing the goodly matter which my read- 
 ers have just perused, I might be said to go through a 
 course of breaking-in to stand criticism, like a shooting- 
 pony to stand fire. By some of those venial breaches of 
 confidence which always take place on the like occasions, 
 my private flirtations with the muse of fiction became 
 a matter whispered in Miss Fairscribe's circle, some 
 ornaments of which were, I suppose, highly interested 
 in the progress of the affair, while others ' really thought 
 Mr. Chrystal Croftangry might have had more wit at 
 his time of day.' Then came the sly intimation, the 
 oblique remark, all that sugar-lipped raillery which is 
 fitted for the situation of a man about to do a foolish 
 thing, whether it be to publish or to marry, and that 
 accompanied with the discreet nods and winks of such 
 friends as are in the secret, and the obliging eagerness of 
 others to know all about it. 
 
 At length the affair became so far public that I was 
 induced to face a tea-party with my manuscript in my 
 pocket, looking as simple and modest as any gentleman 
 of a certain age need to do upon such an occasion. 
 When tea had been carried round, handkerchiefs and 
 
 420
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 smelling bottles prepared, I had the honour of reading 
 ' The Surgeon's Daughter,' for the entertainment of the 
 evening. It went off excellently. My friend Mr. Fair- 
 scribe, who had been seduced from his desk to join the 
 Hterary circle, only fell asleep twice, and readily recov- 
 ered his attention by help of his snuff-box. The ladies 
 were politely attentive, and when the cat, or the dog, or 
 a next neighbour tempted an individual to relax, Katie 
 Fairscribe was on the alert, like an active whipper-in, 
 with look, touch, or whisper, to recall them to a sense 
 of what was going on. Whether Miss Katie was thus 
 active merely to enforce the hterary discipline of her 
 coterie, or whether she was really interested by the 
 beauties of the piece, and desirous to enforce them on 
 others, I will not venture to ask, in case I should end in 
 liking the girl — and she is really a pretty one — better 
 than wisdom would warrant, either for my sake or hers. 
 I must own my story here and there flagged a good 
 deal; perhaps there were faults in my reading, for, while 
 I should have been attending to nothing but how to give 
 the words effect as they existed, I was feeUng the chilHng 
 consciousness that they might have been, and ought to 
 have been, a great deal better. However, we kindled up 
 at last when we got to the East Indies, although, on the 
 mention of tigers, an old lady, whose tongue had been 
 impatient for an hour, broke in with, 'I wonder if Mr. 
 Croftangry ever heard the story of Tiger Tullideph?' 
 and had nearly inserted the whole narrative as an epi- 
 sode in my tale. She was, however, brought to reason, 
 and the subsequent mention of shawls, diamonds, tur- 
 bans, and cummerbunds had their usual effect in awak- 
 ening the imaginations of the fair auditors. At the 
 
 421
 
 WAVERLEY NOVELS 
 
 extinction of the faithless lover in a way so horribly new, 
 I had, as indeed I expected, the good fortune to excite 
 that expression of painful interest which is produced by 
 drawing in the breath through the compressed lips — 
 nay, one miss of fourteen actually screamed. 
 
 At length my task was ended, and the fair circle 
 rained odours upon me, as they pelt beaux at the carni- 
 val with sugar-plums, and drench them with scented 
 spices. There was 'Beautiful,' and 'Sweetly interest- 
 ing,' and 'O, Mr. Croftangry,' and, 'How much obliged,' 
 and 'What a delightful evening,' and '0, Miss Katie, 
 how could you keep such a secret so long!' While the 
 dear souls were thus smothering me with rose-leaves, 
 the merciless old lady carried them all off by a disquisi- 
 tion upon shawls, which she had the impudence to say 
 arose entirely out of my story. Miss Katie endeavoured 
 to stop the flow of her eloquence in vain: she threw all 
 other topics out of the field, and from the genuine 
 Indian she made a digression to the imitation shawls 
 now made at Paisley out of real Thibet wool, not to be 
 known from the actual country shawl, except by some 
 inimitable cross-stitch in the border. 'It is well,' said 
 the old lady, wrapping herself up in a rich Kashmire, 
 'that there is some way of knowing a thing that cost 
 fifty guineas from an article that is sold for five; but I 
 venture to say there are not one out of ten thousand 
 that would understand the difference.' 
 
 The pohteness of some of the fair ladies would now 
 have brought back the conversation to the forgotten 
 subject of our meeting. 'How could you, Mr. Croft- 
 angry, collect all these hard words about India — you 
 were never there?' 'No, madam, I have not had that 
 
 422
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 advantage; but, like the imitative operatives of Paisley, 
 I have composed my shawl by incorporating into the 
 woof a little Thibet wool, which my excellent friend and 
 neighbour, Colonel MacErries, one of the best fellows 
 who ever trode a Highland moor, or dived into an Indian 
 jungle, had the goodness to supply me with.' 
 
 My rehearsal, however, though not absolutely and 
 altogether to my taste, has prepared me in some measure 
 for the less tempered and guarded sentence of the world. 
 So a man must learn to encounter a foil before he con- 
 fronts a sword; and to take up my original simile, a 
 horse must be accustomed to a /cm dejoie before you can 
 ride him against a volley of balls. Well, Corporal Nym's 
 philosophy is not the worst that has been preached, 
 'Things must be as they may.' If my lucubrations give 
 pleasure, I may again require the attention of the 
 courteous reader; if not, here end the 
 
 Chronicles of the Canongate.
 
 APPENDIX, NOTES, AND 
 GLOSSARY
 
 APPENDIX TO INTRODUCTION 
 
 TO 
 
 THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER 
 
 Mr. Train was requested by Sir Walter Scott to give him in 
 writing the story as nearly as possible in the shape in which he 
 had told it; but the following narrative, which he drew up accord- 
 ingly, did not reach Abbotsford imtil July 1832: — 
 
 In the old stock of Fife there was not perhaps an individual 
 whose exertions were followed by consequences of such a remark- 
 able nature as those of Davie Duflf, popularly called the 'Thane 
 of Fife,' who, from a very humble parentage, rose to fill one of 
 the chairs of the magistracy of his native burgh. By industry and 
 economy in early life, he obtained the means of erecting, solely 
 on his own account, one of those ingenious manufactories for 
 which Fifeshire is justly celebrated. From the day on which the 
 industrious artisan first took his seat at the council board, he 
 attended so much to the interests of the little privileged com- 
 munity, that civic honours were conferred on him as rapidly as 
 the set of the royalty ^ could legally admit. 
 
 To have the right of walking to church on holyday, preceded 
 by a phalanx of halberdiers, in habiliments fashioned as in former 
 times, seems, in the eyes of many a guild brother, to be a very 
 enviable pitch of worldly grandeur. Few persons were ever more 
 proud of civic honours than the Thane of Fife, but he knew well 
 how to turn his political influence to the best account. The coun- 
 cil, court, and other business of the burgh occupied much of his 
 time, which caused him to entrust the management of his manu- 
 factory to a near relation whose name was D , a young man 
 
 of dissolute habits; but the Thane, seeing at last that, by con- 
 tinuing that extravagant person in that charge, his affairs would, 
 in all probability, fall into a state of bankruptcy, applied to the 
 member of Parliament for that district to obtain a situation for 
 his relation in the civil department of the state. The knight, 
 whom it is here unnecessary to name, knowing how effectually the 
 
 1 The constitution of the borough. 
 427
 
 APPENDIX TO INTRODUCTION 
 
 Thane ruled the little burgh, applied in the proper quarter, and 
 
 actually obtained an appointment for D in the civil service of 
 
 the East India Company. 
 
 A respectable surgeon, whose residence was in a neighbouring 
 village, had a beautiful daughter named Emma, who had long 
 
 been courted by D . Immediately before his departure to 
 
 India, as a mark of mutual affection, they exchanged miniatures, 
 taken by an eminent artist in Fife, and each set in a locket, for 
 the purpose of having the object of affection always in view. 
 
 The eyes of the old Thane were now turned towards Hindostan 
 with much anxiety; but his relation had not long arrived in that 
 distant quarter of the globe before he had the satisfaction of 
 receiving a letter, conveying the welcome intelligence of his having 
 taken possession of his new station in a large frontier town of the 
 Company's dominions, and that great emoluments were attached 
 to the situation; which was confirmed by several subsequent 
 communications of the most gratifying description to the old 
 Thane, who took great pleasure in spreading the news of the 
 reformed habits and singular good fortune of his intended heir. 
 None of all his former acquaintances heard with such joy the 
 favourable report of the successful adventurer in the East as did 
 the fair and accomplished daughter of the village surgeon; but his 
 previous character caused her to keep her own correspondence 
 with him secret from her parents, to whom even the circumstance 
 
 of her being acquainted with D was wholly unknown, till her 
 
 father received a letter from him, in which he assured him of his 
 attachment to Emma long before his departure from Fife; that, 
 having been so happy as to gain her affections, he would have 
 made her his wife before leaving his native country, had he then 
 had the means of supporting her in a suitable rank through life; 
 and that, having it now in his power to do so, he only waited the 
 consent of her parents to fulfil the vow he had formerly made. 
 
 The doctor having a large family, with a very limited income to 
 
 support them, and understanding that D had at last become 
 
 a person of sober and industrious habits, he gave his consent, in 
 which Emma's mother fully concurred. 
 
 Aware of the straitened circumstances of the doctor, D 
 
 remitted a sum of money to complete at Edinburgh Emma's 
 Oriental education, and fit her out in her journey to India; she 
 was to embark at Sheemess, on board one of the Company's ships, 
 for a port in India, at which place, he said, he would wait her 
 arrival, with a retinue suited to a person of his rank in society. 
 
 428
 
 APPENDIX TO INTRODUCTION 
 
 Emma set out from her father's house just in time to secure a 
 passage, as proposed by her intended husband, accompanied by 
 her only brother, who, on their arrival at Sheemess, met one 
 
 C , an old schoolfellow, captain of the ship by which Emma 
 
 was to proceed to India. 
 
 It was the particular desire of the doctor that his daughter 
 should be committed to the care of that gentleman, from the 
 time of her leaving the shores of Britain till the intended marriage 
 ceremony was duly performed on her arrival in India — a charge 
 that was frankly undertaken by the generous sea-captain. 
 
 On the arrival of the fleet at the appointed port, D , with a 
 
 large cavalcade of mounted Pindarees, was, as expected, in attend- 
 ance, ready to salute Emma on landing, and to carry her direct 
 
 into the interior of the country. C , who had made several 
 
 voyages to the shores of Hindostan, knowing something of Hindoo 
 manners and customs, was surprised to see a private individual 
 in the Company's service with so many attendants; and when 
 D declined having the marriage ceremony performed, accord- 
 ing to the rites of the church, till he returned to the place of his 
 
 abode, C , more and more confirmed in his suspicion that all 
 
 was not right, resolved not to part with Emma till he had fulfilled, 
 in the most satisfactory manner, the promise he had made before 
 leaving England, of giving her duly away in marriage. Not being 
 
 able by her entreaties to alter the resolution of D , Emma 
 
 solicited her protector C to accompany her to the place of her 
 
 intended destination, to which he most readily agreed, taking 
 with him as many of his crew as he deemed sufficient to ensure the 
 safe custody of his innocent proUgie, should any attempt be made 
 to carry her away by force. 
 
 Both parties journeyed onwards till they arrived at a frontier 
 town, where a native rajah was waiting the arrival of the fair 
 maid of Fife, with whom he had fallen deeply in love, from seeing 
 
 her miniature likeness in the possession of D , to whom he had 
 
 paid a large sum of money for the original, and had only entrusted 
 him to convey her in state to the seat of his government. 
 
 No sooner was this villainous action of D known to C 
 
 than he communicated the whole particulars to the commanding 
 officer of a regiment of Scotch Highlanders that happened to be 
 quartered in that part of India, begging at the same time, for the 
 honour of Caledonia and protection of injured innocence, that he 
 would use the means in his power of resisting any attempt that 
 might be made by the native chief to wrest from their hands the 
 
 429
 
 APPENDIX TO INTRODUCTION 
 
 virtuous female who had been so shamefully decoyed from her 
 native country by the worst of mankind. Honour occupies too 
 large a space in the heart of the Gael to resist such a call of 
 humanity. 
 
 The rajah, finding his claim was not to be acceded to, and re- 
 solving to enforce the same, assembled his troops, and attacked 
 with great fury the place where the affrighted Emma was for a 
 time secured by her countrymen, who fought in her defence with 
 all their native valour, which at length so overpowered their 
 assailants, that they were forced to retire in every direction, 
 leaving behind many of their slain, among whom was found the 
 mangled corpse of the perfidious D . 
 
 C was immediately afterwards married to Emma, and 
 
 my informant assured me he saw them many years afterwards, 
 living happily together in the county of Kent, on the fortune 
 bequeathed by the 'Thane of Fife.' 
 
 J. T. 
 
 Castle Douglas, July 1832.
 
 NOTES 
 
 Note i, p. 15. 
 
 Persons among the Crusaders found guilty of certain offence 
 did penance in a dress of tar and feathers, though it is supposed 
 a punishment of modern invention. 
 
 Note 2, pp. 33 and 34. 
 The lines of Juvenal imitated by Johnson in his London — 
 
 All sciences a fasting Monsieur knows ; 
 And bid him go to Hell — to Hell he goes. 
 
 *Do thou cultivate justice: for thee and for others there remains 
 an avenger.' — Ovid, Met. 
 
 Note 3, p. 386. 
 
 It is scarce necessary to say, that such things could only be 
 acted in the earlier period of our Indian settlements, when the 
 check of the Directors was imperfect, and that of the Crown did 
 not exist. My friend Mr. Fairscribe is of opinion that there is an 
 anachronism in the introduction of Paupiah, the Bramin dubash 
 of the English governor. — C. C. 
 
 Note 4, p. 392. 
 
 In every village the dowrah, or guide, is an official person, upon 
 the public establishment, and receives a portion of the harvest 
 or other revenue, along with the smith, the sweeper, and the 
 barber. As he gets nothing from the travellers whom it is his 
 oflBce to conduct, he never scruples to shorten his own journey 
 and prolong theirs by taking them to the nearest village, without 
 reference to the most direct line of route, and sometimes deserts 
 them entirely. If the regular dowrah is sick or absent, no wealth 
 can procure a substitute.
 
 GLOSSARY 
 
 a», all. 
 
 abune, above. 
 
 abye, pay for, atone for. 
 
 accolade, the touch of the sword 
 on the shoulder when conferring 
 knighthood. 
 
 ae, one. 
 
 aigrette, a small plume. 
 
 ain, own. 
 
 allah ackbar, God is great. 
 
 alia ilia alia, Mohamed resoal alia, 
 God is God, Mohammed the 
 prophet of God. 
 
 amang, among. 
 
 arblast, a cross-bow. 
 
 argosy, a merchant vessel of the larg- 
 est size and burden. 
 
 assoilzie, pardon, acquit, absolve. 
 
 a'thegither, altogether. 
 
 atmeidan, a circus, an exercise ring. 
 
 attaint, a successful hit, strol^e. 
 
 auld, old. 
 
 ayah, a black female nurse, generally 
 a native of India. 
 
 bairn, a child. 
 
 baith, both. 
 
 banka, a courtier. 
 
 baron-bailie, the baron's deputy in 
 a burgh or barony. 
 
 barret-cap, a flat military cap. 
 
 bastinado, a mode of eastern punish- 
 ment, the culprit being beaten on 
 the bare soles of the feet with rods. 
 
 baulder, bolder. 
 
 bedral, a sexton or beadle. 
 
 begum, a lady of high rank. 
 
 belive, immediately. 
 
 bent, ta'en the, taken to the open 
 field, provided for one's safety. 
 
 bismallah! in the name of God! 
 
 blate, civil, bashful. 
 
 blink, a glance. 
 
 bonny, fine; bonny dye, pretty toy. 
 
 browst, a brewing; as much as is 
 
 brewed at one time, 
 brusten, burst. 
 bukshee, a general. 
 
 cacaabulum, a small cooking pot. 
 
 cadgy, sportive, lively. 
 
 canny, careful. 
 
 carle, a fellow, a person. 
 
 carline, an old woman. 
 
 chabootra, a platform. 
 
 chabouk, a long whip. 
 
 chield, a fellow, a person. 
 
 chodbar, an usher, a macebearer. 
 
 chowry, a flap or fan made of a cow's 
 
 tail, 
 chuckie-stanes, pebbles used in a 
 
 child's game. 
 claver, chatter, tattling, 
 cleek to, seize upon, 
 clocking-hen, a hen sitting on eggs. 
 cowries, small shells used as money 
 
 in India. 
 creeze, kris, a short knife or sword 
 
 worn in the East. 
 cresset, a fixed candlestick, or small 
 
 portable fire. 
 crimping, kidnapping men for the 
 
 army or the navy. 
 crore, ten million rupees, about 
 
 £1,000,000. 
 cull in the ken, fellow in the house, 
 cummerbund, a sash. 
 
 daffing, free conversation, frolicking, 
 daidling-bit, a path for dawdling or 
 
 sauntering on. 
 dais, a canopy; also, the chief table, 
 
 usually placed somewhat higher 
 
 than the others, 
 dewan, a treasurer. 
 dinna, do not. 
 divan, the council of an Eastern 
 
 sovereign. 
 
 44 
 
 433
 
 GLOSSARY 
 
 dormant table, a stationary table, as 
 distinguished from one made of 
 boards laid on trestles, which was 
 the usual fashion in the Middle 
 Ages. 
 
 dour, stubborn, hard and impene- 
 trable in body or mind. 
 
 dowrah, the official guide of a Hindoo 
 village. 
 
 dromond, a large transport vessel. 
 
 dubash, a steward. 
 
 durbar, an official reception. 
 
 dye, a toy. 
 
 ee, een, the eye, eyes. 
 
 faitour, an evil doer, a scoundrel, a 
 traitor. 
 
 fakir, a religious enthusiast. 
 
 fanfaronade, vain boasting, swagger- 
 ing. 
 
 fash, trouble. 
 
 fause-face, a false face, a mask. 
 
 felucca, a light vessel. 
 
 feringis, Franks, Europeans of all na- 
 tionalities. 
 
 Feringi sahibt a European gentle- 
 man. 
 
 florentine (veal), a pie. 
 
 flyting, scolding. 
 
 forty-five, the, the attempt of the 
 Young Pretender in 1745. 
 
 fyke, trouble, pains, worry. 
 
 gambade, gambaud, a leap, a spring. 
 
 gate, way, direction. 
 
 genie, a supernatural being or agent 
 
 in Oriental myths and tales. 
 gie, give. 
 girning and gabbling, grinning and 
 
 talking. 
 gled, a kite. 
 glowering, staring, 
 gowffing, playing golf, 
 guide, treat; guide us, keep us. 
 
 hakim, a physician. 
 
 baud, hold. 
 
 hie, high, principal (street). 
 
 higgler, a huckster, a pedlar. 
 
 hank, a hold, a position. 
 
 haram, the women's apartments in an 
 
 Oriental's house; also the women, 
 the wives and their attendants 
 taken collectively. 
 
 hoggs, shillings. 
 
 hookah, the Oriental tobacco pipe. 
 
 houri, a lovely maiden in the Mo- 
 hammedan paradise. 
 
 howdahed (of an elephant) provided 
 with a howdah, an enclosed seat for 
 persons to ride in. 
 
 hye-spye, a child's game. 
 
 ichor, a fluid that in the gods an- 
 swered to the blood of human 
 bodies. 
 
 ilk, of that, of the same place or name. 
 
 jalousing, suspecting, opining. 
 jigger-dubber, a door shutter, a 
 
 porter. 
 jouk and let the jaw gae by, stoop, or 
 
 give way, and let the wave pass. 
 
 kaffila, a caravan of merchants. 
 
 kafr, an infidel, from the standpoint 
 of a Mohammedan. 
 
 kail, cabbage. 
 
 ken, know. 
 
 kend, knew, known. 
 
 kerne, light-armed foot-soldiers. 
 
 khan, an Oriental inn. 
 
 khelaut, a dress of honour. 
 
 killedar, the governor or command- 
 ant of a fort. 
 
 kirk, church. 
 
 kirtle, a gown, an outer petticoat. 
 
 lac, the sum of 100,000 rupees, worth 
 
 about £10,000. 
 landloupers, strollers. 
 lang, long, 
 leddy, a lady. 
 lelies, the name given to the Arab 
 
 shout of onset. 
 lesuries, pastures. 
 loon, a fellow, a rogue, a rustic boy. 
 lootie, a plunderer, a marauder. 
 lucky, dame; a title given to old 
 
 women. 
 
 mair, more. 
 
 maud, a Lowland plaid. 
 
 434
 
 GLOSSARY 
 
 Menle, Marion. 
 
 mohur, an Indian gold coin, worth 
 
 30s. 
 mony, many. 
 mootee mahul, pearl of the palace, a 
 
 term of endearment. 
 mort-skin, the skin of a lamb or sheep 
 
 that has died by accident. 
 mosque, a Mohammedan place of 
 
 worship. 
 motakul, a meeting. 
 mouUah, a Mohammedan priest. 
 muezzin, the officer of a mosque who 
 
 announces the hour of prayer from 
 
 a lofty minaret or slender tower, 
 muscadel, a sweet strong wine of 
 
 Italy and France. 
 musnud, a state cushion, 
 mutchkin, an English pint. 
 
 nabob, a provincial governor or com- 
 mander of an army in India; also a 
 rich man who has made his fortune 
 in India. 
 
 nae, no. 
 
 nautch, an exhibition by professional 
 dancers. 
 
 Diddering, nithing, a worthless per- 
 son. 
 
 no, not. 
 
 nourjehan, light of the world, a term 
 of endearment. 
 
 nullah, a small brook, a torrent. 
 
 nuzzar, a present from an inferior to a 
 superior. 
 
 oe, a grandchild. 
 
 ony, any. 
 
 ower, over, too. 
 
 owliah, wall, a Mohammedan saint. 
 
 pagoda, a Hindoo temple. 
 
 palmer, a pilgrim to the Holy Land. 
 
 paynim, pagan, heathen. 
 
 pettah, the town or suburb outside a 
 fortified place. 
 
 pibroch, an air on the bagpipes. 
 
 pistrinum, a corn-mill worked by an 
 ass or a horse; slaves were some- 
 times harnessed to it as a mode of 
 punishment. 
 
 podagra, the gout. 
 
 queans, wenches. 
 
 rajah, a Hindoo prince who is a ruler 
 of territories. 
 
 rajahpoot, a noble or aristocrat of 
 India. 
 
 rap, a counterfeit coin worth about 
 half a farthing. 
 
 raploch, coarse woolen homespun. 
 
 rokelay, a woman's short cloak. 
 
 rose-noble, an old gold coin worth 6*. 
 8d. 
 
 rupee, a silver coin of India, nomi- 
 nally worth 2s. 
 
 sae, so. 
 
 Sahib Angrezie, an English gentle- 
 man, 
 salam, a curtsey or obeisance, 
 salam alaikum, Peace be with you! 
 salam alaikimi bema sebartemi 
 
 Peace abide with you, for that ye 
 
 have endured patiently, 
 screeds, shreds, pieces, 
 scunner, to gie a, to exhibit loathing 
 
 or disgust at. 
 sebastos, august. 
 sem^e, strewn, sown. 
 sequin, a gold coin worth about gs. 
 seraglio, women's quarters in the 
 
 palace of an eastern prince, 
 shieling, a hut. 
 sic, such. 
 
 sicarius, an assassin. 
 siller, silver, money, 
 sipahi, sepoy, a native foot soldier in 
 
 India, 
 sirdar, a chieftain, an officer, 
 skaithless, unhurt, uninjured, 
 skirls, screams. 
 souple, supple, active, 
 sowar, a native cavalryman in Indian 
 
 armies. 
 sowarree, a grand procession, 
 springald, a youth, an active young 
 
 man. 
 stadia, stadium, a Greek measure of 
 
 distance equivalent to 200 yards. 
 syllabub, a dish of wine with milk or 
 
 cream, a sort of curd. 
 
 tak, take. 
 
 435
 
 GLOSSARY 
 
 tantivy, a violent outbreak, 
 tatoo, a small horse of Southern India, 
 tecbii, an Arab shout of onset, 
 telinga, a native soldier in the East 
 
 India Company's service. 
 thae, these, those. 
 
 thane, the chief of a clan, a retainer, 
 theme, a province or division of the 
 
 Byzantine Empire. 
 threep, persist. 
 
 townfit, the foot or end of the town, 
 toy, a woman's headdress. 
 twa, two. 
 
 ultramontane, beyond the mountains 
 — that is, north of the Alps. 
 
 upsides with, even with. 
 
 vakeel, a government messenger. 
 vavasour, a vassal of intermediate 
 
 rank. 
 vizard, the front of a helmet, a mask. 
 
 weans, children. 
 
 well to pass, well to do, prosperous. 
 
 yin, one. 
 
 zenana, the harem or wives of an In- 
 dian prince or noble with theii 
 attendants.
 
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