第68章

maisvoustesdesbravesgens，etmecompreneztrsbien。’’

TheCountnexthastenedtoputthecavalryinmotion。

Gentilmanscavalry，youmustfallin-Ah！parmafoi，Ididnotsayfalloff？Iamafeardelittlegrossfatgentilmanismochehurt。Ah，monDieu！c’estleCommissairequinousaapportlespremiresnouvellesdecemauditfracas。Jesuistropfch，Monsieur！’’

ButpoorMacwheeble，who，withaswordstuckacrosshim，andawhitecockadeaslargeasapancake，nowfiguredinthecharacterofacommissary，beingoverturnedinthebustleoccasionedbythetroopershasteningtogetthemselvesinorderinthePrince’spresence，beforehecouldrallyhisgalloway，slunktotherearamidtheunrestrainedlaughterofthespectators。

Ehbien，Messieurs，wheeltoderight-Ah！datisit！-

Eh，MonsieurdeBradwardine，ayezlabontdevousmettrelattedevotrergiment，car，parDieu，jen’enpuisplus！’’

TheBaronofBradwardinewasobligedtogototheassistanceofMonsieurdoBeaujeu，afterhehadfairlyexpendedhisfewEnglishmilitaryphrases。OnepurposeoftheChevalierwasthusanswered。Theotherheproposedwas，thatintheeagernesstohearandcomprehendcommandsissuedthroughsuchanindistinctmediuminhisownpresence，thethoughtsofthesoldiersinbothcorpsmightgetacurrentdifferentfromtheangrychannelinwhichtheywereflowingatthetime。

CharlesEdwardwasnosoonerleftwiththeChieftainandWaverley，therestofhisattendantsbeingatsomedistance，thanhesaid，IfIowedlesstoyourdisinterestedfriendship，Icouldbemostseriouslyangrywithbothofyouforthisveryextraordinaryandcauselessbroil，atamomentwhenmyfather’sservicesodecidedlydemandsthemostperfectunanimity。Buttheworstofmysituationis，thatmyverybestfriendsholdtheyhavelibertytoruinthemselves，aswellasthecausetheyareengagedin，upontheslightestcaprice。’’

Boththeyoungmenprotestedtheirresolutiontosubmiteverydifferencetohisarbitration。Indeed，’’saidEdward，IhardlyknowofwhatIamaccused。IsoughtColonelMac-IvormerelytomentiontohimthatIhadnarrowlyescapedassassinationatthehandofhisimmediatedependent-adastardlyrevenge，whichIknewhimtobeincapableofauthorising。Astothecauseforwhichheisdisposedtofastenaquarreluponme，Iamignorantofit，unlessitbethatheaccusesme，mostunjustly，ofhavingengagedtheaffectionsofayoungladyinprejudiceofhispretensions。’’

Ifthereisanerror，’’saidtheChieftain，itarisesfromaconversationwhichIheldthismorningwithhisRoyalHighnesshimself。’’

Withme？’’saidtheChevalier；howcanColonelMac-Ivorhavesofarmisunderstoodme？’’

HethenledFerguswide，and，afterfiveminutes’earnestconversation，spurredhishorsetowardsEdward。Isitpossible-

nay，rideup，Colonel，forIdesirenosecrets-Isitpossible，Mr。

Waverley，thatIammistakeninsupposingthatyouareanacceptedloverofMissBradwardine？-afactofwhichIwasbycircumstances，thoughnotbycommunicationfromyou，soabsolutelyconvinced，thatIallegedittoVichIanVohrthismorningasareasonwhy，withoutoffencetohim，youmightnotcontinuetobeambitiousofanalliance，whichtoanunengagedperson，eventhoughoncerepulsed，holdsouttoomanycharmstobelightlylaidaside。’’

YourRoyalHighness，’’saidWaverley，musthavefoundedoncircumstancesaltogetherunknowntome，whenyoudidmethedistinguishedhonourofsupposingmeanacceptedloverofMissBradwardine。Ifeelthedistinctionimpliedinthesupposition，butIhavenotitletoit。Fortherest，myconfidenceinmyownmeritsistoojustlyslighttoadmitofmyhopingforsuccessinanyquarterafterpositiverejection。’’

TheChevalierwassilentforamoment，lookingsteadilyatthemboth，andthensaid，Uponmyword，Mr。Waverley，youarealesshappymanthanIconceivedIhadverygoodreasontobelieveyou-Butnow，gentlemen，allowmetobeumpireinthismatter，nota