down-Michael Lambourne shall guide you to the place of your destination."

When Varney heard the adept's door shut and carefully bolted within, he stepped towards it, and with similar precaution carefully locked it on the outside, and took the key from the lock, muttering to himself, "Worse than thee, thou poisoning quack-salver and witch-monger, who, if thou art not a bounden slave to the devil, it is only because he disdains such an apprentice! I am a mortal man, and seek by mortal means the gratification of my passions, and advancement of my prospects-Thou art a vassal of hell itself.

So ho, Lambourne !" he called at another door, and Michael made his appearance, with a flushed cheek and an unsteady step.

"Thou art drunk, thou villain!" said Varney to him.

"Doubtless, noble sir," replied the unabashed Michael," we have been drinking all even to the glories of the day, and to my noble Lord of Leices ter, and his valiant master of the horse.-Drunk! odds blades and poniards, he that would refuse to swallow a dozen healths on such an evening, is a

base besognio, and a puckfist, and shall swallow six inches of my dagger!"

jack sto bude "Hark ye, scoundrel," said Varney, "be sober on the instant-I command thee. I know thou canst throw off thy drunken folly, like a fool's coat, at pleasure; and if not, it were the worse for thee."

-ulupe ody bis Lambourne drooped his head, left the apart ment, and returned in two or three minutes with his face composed, his hair adjusted, his dress in order, and exhibiting as great a difference from his former self as if the whole man had been changed, "Art thou sober now, and doest thou comprehend me ?" said Varney, sternly wasdie Lambourne bowed in acquiescence.

"Thou must presently down to Cumnor Place with the reverend man of art, who sleeps yonder in the little vaulted chamber. Here is the key, that thou may'st call him by times. Take another trusty fellow with you. Use him well on the journey, but let him not escape you-pistol him if he attempt it, and I will be your warrant. I will give thee letters to Foster. The doctor is to occupy the lower apartments of the eastern quad

15

4

rangle, with freedom to use the old elaboratory and its implements. He is to have no access to the lady but such as I shall point out only she may be amused to see his philosophical jugglery. Thou wilt await at Cumnor Place my farther or ders; and, as thou livest, beware of the ale-bench and the aqua-vitæ flask. Each breath drawn in Cumnor Place must be kept severed from com

mon air.

"Enough, my lord-I mean my worshipful mastersoon, I trust, to be my worshipful knight. ly master. You have given me my lesson and my license; I will execute the one, and not abuse the other. I will be in the saddle by day-break."

"Do so, and deserve favour.-Stay-ere thou goest fill me a cup of wine-not out of that flask, sirrah,” as Lambourne was pouring out from that which Alasco had left half finished, "fetch ત me a fresh one." n

Lambourne obeyed, and Varney, after rinsing his mouth with the liquor, drank a full cup, and said, as he took up a lamp to retreat to his sleeping apartment," It is strange-I am as little the slave of fancy as any one, yet I never speak for a

few minutes with this fellow Alasco, but my mouth and lungs feel as if soiled with the fumes of calcined arsenic-pah !"

So saying, he left the apartment. Lambourne lingered, to drink a cup of the freshly opened flask." It is from Saint-John's-Berg," he said, as he paused on the draught to enjoy its flavour, "and has the true relish of the violet. But I must forbear it now, that I may one day drink it at my own pleasure." And he quaffed a goblet of water to quench the fumes of the Rhenish wine, retired slowly towards the door, made a pause, and then, finding the temptation irresistible, walked hastily back, and took another long pull at the wine flask, without the formality of a cup.

"Were it not for this accursed custom," he said, "I might climb as high as Varney himself. But who can climb, when the room turns round with him like a parish-top? I would the distance were greater, or the road rougher, betwixt my hand and mouth!-But I will drink nothing tomorrow, save water-nothing save fair water."

I

Pistol. And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys,

And happy news of price.

Falstaff. I prythee now deliver them like to men of this world. Pistol. A foutra for the world, and worldlings base!

I speak of Africa, and golden joys.

THE public room of the Black Bear at Cumnor, to which the scene of our story now returns, boasted, on the evening which we treat of, no ordinary assemblage of guests. There had been a fair in the neighbourhood, and the cutting mercer of Abingdon, with some of the other personages whom the reader has already been made acquainted with, as friends and customers of Giles Gosling, had already formed their wonted circle around the evening fire, and were talking over the news of the day.

"

A lively, bustling, arch fellow, whose pack and oaken ell-wand, studded duly with brass points, denoted him to be of Autolycus's profession, oc