I feel the distinction implied in the supposition, but I
have no title to it. For the rest, my confidence in my own merits is
too justly slight to admit of my hoping for success in any quarter after
positive rejection.'
The Chevalier was silent for a moment, looking steadily at them both,
and then said, 'Upon my word, Mr. Waverley, you are a less happy man
than I conceived I had very good reason to believe you.--But now,
gentlemen, allow me to be umpire in this matter, not as Prince Regent,
but as Charles Stuart, a brother adventurer with you in the same gallant
cause. Lay my pretensions to be obeyed by you entirely out of view, and
consider your own honour, and how far it is well, or becoming, to give
our enemies the advantage, and our friends the scandal, of showing that,
few as we are, we are not united. And forgive me if I add, that the
names of the ladies who have been mentioned, crave more respect from us
all than to be made themes of discord.'
He took Fergus a little apart, and spoke to him very earnestly for two
or three minutes, and then returning to Waverley, said--'I believe I
have satisfied Colonel Mac-Ivor that his resentment was founded upon
a misconception, to which, indeed, I myself gave rise; and I trust Mr.
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