ed all that.--so, sir, I craved a
private interview, and this morning was assigned; and I asked you to
meet me here, thinking, like a fool, that I should want your countenance
as bride's-man. Well--I state my pretensions--they are not denied;
the promises so repeatedly made, and the patent granted--they are
acknowledged. But I propose, as a natural consequence, to assume the
rank which the patent bestowed--I have the old story of the jealousy of
C--and M-- trumped up against me--I resist this pretext, and offer to
procure their written acquiescence, in virtue of the date of my patent
as prior to their silly claims--I assure you I would have had such a
consent from them, if it had been at the point of the sword. And then,
out comes the real truth; and he dares to tell me, to my face, that my
patent must be suppressed for the present, for fear of disgusting
that rascally coward and FAINEANT--(naming the rival chief of his own
clan)--who has no better title to be a chieftain than I to be Emperor
of China; and who is pleased to shelter his dastardly reluctance to come
out, agreeable to his promise twenty times pledged, under a pretended
jealousy of the Prince's partiality to me. And, to leave this miserable
driveller without a pretence for his cowardice, the Prince asks if as
a personal favour of me, forsooth, not to press my just and reasonable
request at this moment. After this, put your faith in princes!'

'And did your audience end here?'

'End? Oh, no! I was determined to leave him no pretence for his
ingratitude, and I therefore stated, with all the composure I could
muster,--for I promise you I trembled with passion,--the particular
reasons I had for wishing that his Royal Highness would impose upon me
any other mode of exhibiting my duty and devotion, as my views in life
made, what at any other time would have been a mere trifle, at this
crisis a severe sacrifice; and then I explained to him my full plan.'

'And what did the Prince answer?'

'Answer? why--it is well it is written, Curse not the king; no, not in
thy thought!--why, he answered, that truly he was glad I had made him my
confidant, to prevent more grievous disappointment, for he could assure
me, upon the word of a prince, that Miss Bradwardine's affections were
engaged, and he was under a particular promise to favour them. "So, my
dear Fergus," said he, with his most gracious cast of smile, "as the
marriage is utterly out of question, there need be no