hostility and scrutiny he bent upon the prisoner. The other members of the Council were all highly excited by the revelations recently extracted from Mr. Ichabod Bummel (by dint of hammer and screw), concerning the intrigues of the whigs with the Prince of Orange. The letters of the exiled Baron of Polwarth, and of Mynheer Fagel, the Great Pensionary of Holland, were lying before the Lord Chancellor, who played thoughtfully with the tassels of his rapier, while his secretaries wrote furiously in certain closely-written folios. Several clerks, macers, and other underlings who loitered in the background, were now ordered to withdraw. "Approach, Walter Fenton," said the Earl of Perth. "Fenton," muttered General Dalyel, "'tis a name that smacks o' the auld covenant; I hanged a cottar loon that bore it, for skirling a psalm at the foot o' the Campsie Hills, no twa months ago." "And of true valor, if we remember the old Fentons of that ilk, and the brave Sir John de Fenton of the Bruce's days," continued the chancellor. "Young man, you of course know for what you this night compear before us?" "My Lord, for permitting the escape of prisoners placed under my charge." "Prisoners charged with treason and leaguing with intercommuned enemies of the state!" added Clermistonlee, in a voice of thunder. "And you plead guilty to this?" "I cannot deny it, my Lords." "Good--you save the trouble of examining witnesses." "A bonnie piece o' wark, young Springald!" said General Dalyel scornfully; "a braw beginning for a soldier--but ken ye the price o't?" "My life, perhaps, Sir Thomas," replied Walter, gently; "yet may it please you and their Lordships to pardon this, my first offence, in consideration of my three years' faithful and, as yet, unrequited service. Heaven be my witness, noble sirs, I could not help it!" "By all the devils! Help what, thou fause loon!" "Permitting the escape of Lady Bruntisfield and her kinswoman, the young lady." "Aha! the young lady!" laughed Claverhouse and Balcarris. "I was overcome by their terror and entreaties. Oh, my Lords, I seek not to extenuate my offence." "Plague choke thee!" said Dalyel, with a grim look; "a braw birkie ye are, and a bonnie to wear a steel doublet--a fine chield to march to battle and leaguer, if ye canna hear a haveral woman greet, but your heart maun melt like snaw in the sunshine. By the head of the king, ye shall smart for this! Sic kittle times thole nae trifling." "I doubt not the young fellow was well paid for his untimely gallantry," said Clermistonlee, with a provoking sneer. "Any man who would insinuate so much, I deem a liar and coward!" said Walter, fearlessly: the eyes of the Privy Councillor shot fire; he started, but restrained himself, and the young man continued. "No, my Lord Clermistonlee! though poor, I have a soul above bribery, and would not for the most splendid coronet in Scotland change sides, as _some_ among us have done, and may do again."