1832.] A Warrior of the Nineteenth Century. 197 



" As you did ! my dear fellow, my twump of twavellers !" said the 

 Exquisite, f( no, no ; I can't expect that; you're one of a thousand. I 

 know of no one beside yourself who would wisk his life to see a frwend 

 in distress. Yes ; I do wemember one ; but he insured his life before 

 passing the city ; and wewy wight too 'pon my soul it was." 



" Well, but I obviated the necessity of that/' said Harrison, <( for I 

 came by water !" 



" By water ! my dear fellow," said the Guardsman, with incredulous 

 astonishment. " No, no, Harwison ; you're joking me : I never heard of 

 your ever having been at sea in your life ; you're joking 'pon my soul 

 you are." 



" Not I indeed," returned the other, " I embarked at Westminster- 

 bridge, and landed here at the Tower." 



t( Embarked at Westminster-bwidge, and landed at the Tower ! My 

 dear Harwison, this is a discovewy indeed," said the Guardsman, with as 

 much earnestness as was consistent with an Exquisite to assume. " You 

 are entitled to my gwatitude in evewy wespect, you are indeed, Harwison ; 

 I must write circulars to my fr wends diwectly. The wigors of my exile 

 will be considewably ameliowated, when they know they wun no wisk 

 of coming thrwough the city. You are entitled to my gwatitude, my 

 dear boy 'pon my soul you are. Egad, 1 think it is a hoax after all 

 'pon my soul I do." 



'' You may rely on what I say,'* said Harrison seriously. 



" Rely on what] you say ! my dear fellow, you delight me. I must wite 

 immediately and send invitations. But where the devil is that fellow 

 Buckley ? never in the way when I want him. You must be devilish 

 hungwy, Harwison 'pon my soul you must." 



" And if I were hungry/' said Harrison, " I think I can even now 

 detect the scent of some food which would destroy the appetite of a. can- 

 nibal ; faugh ! it's boiled beef !" 



' f Boiled beef ! my dear fellow, you don't say so ; what a horwor ! 

 Let us move. The man who could eat boiled beef wouldn't scrwuple 

 to commit a murder 'pon my soul he wouldn't/' 



Just at that moment, two gentleman came up the paved way leading 

 from the archway, under what is called the Children's Tower. One was 

 an elderly gentleman of almost venerable appearance ; his hair was quite 

 grey, and he carried a small book in his hand. The curiosity of Harrison 

 seemed suddenly excited, and touching the Guardsman, he exclaimed 



" Look yonder ; don't you know who that is ?" 



" Know who that is !" said the Exquisite, " how should I know ? 

 Egad ! I don't know myself in this place 'pon my soul I don't." 



" Why, my dear fellow, it's Scott." 



" Scott ! WTiat, Scott of the Guards ?" 



" No ; Walter Scott." 



" Walter Scott !" said the Guardsman, pausing ; " and prway, Harwi- 

 son, who is Walter Scott ?" 



This was a climax that I was hardly prepared for, though the intel- 

 ligence was most gratifying ; for I had the satisfaction of following the 

 '' Wizard of the North" through the departments of the Tower, and 

 the information I gained from the remarks he made, which were by no 

 means meant exclusively, fully compensated for the time I had wasted 

 on the hero in the scarlet coat that pink of chivalry and his intrepid 

 companion. 



