"Name o' God! what fine talking is this?" retorted the Spaniard. "There is little chance of the triumph you predicate for your countryman. Trust me, we shall have to greet his departure from the debate with many hisses and few cheers; and if we could penetrate through the plates of yon iron door, and gaze into the court it conceals from our view, we should find that the loftiness of his pretensions has been already humbled, and his arguments graveled. _For la Litania de los Santos!_ to think of comparing an obscure student of the pitiful College of Saint Andrew with the erudite doctors of the most erudite university in the world, always excepting those of Valencia and Salamanca. It needs all thy country's assurance to keep the blush of shame from mantling in thy cheeks." "The seminary you revile," replied the Scot, haughtily, "has been the nursery of our Scottish kings. Nay, the youthful James Stuart pursued his studies under the same roof, beneath the same wise instruction, and at the self-same time as our noble and gifted James Crichton, whom you have falsely denominated an adventurer, but whose lineage is not less distinguished than his learning. His renown has preceded him hither, and he was not unknown to your doctors when he affixed his programme to these college walls. Hark!" continued the speaker, exultingly, "and listen to yon evidence of his triumph." And as he spoke, a loud and continued clapping of hands proceeding from within was distinctly heard above the roar of the students. "That may be at his defeat," muttered the Spaniard, between his teeth. "No such thing," replied the Scot. "I heard the name of Crichton mingled with the plaudits." "And who may be this Phoenix--this Gargantua of intellect--who is to vanquish us all, as Panurge did Thaumast, the Englishman?" asked the Sorbonist of the Scot. "Who is he that is more philosophic than Pythagoras?--ha!" "Who is more studious than Carneades!" said the Bernardin. "More versatile than Alcibiades!" said Montaigu. "More subtle than Averroës!" cried Harcourt. "More mystical than Plotinus!" said one of the Four Nations. "More visionary than Artemidorus!" said Cluny. "More infallible than the Pope!" added Lemoine. "And who pretends to dispute _de omni scibili_," shouted the Spaniard. "_Et quolibet ente!_! added the Sorbonist.