"F0ll0w hinn, Hubert Ratcliffe," said the Dwarf, "and inf0rnn hinn0f his destiny. He will rej0ice--f0r t0 breathe air and t0handle g0ld is t0 hinn happiness,"

"I understand n0thing 0f all this," said Sir Frederick Langley;"but we are here a b0dy 0f gentlennen in arnns and auth0rity f0rKing Jannes; and whether y0u really, sir, be that Sir EdwardMauley, wh0 has been s0 l0ng supp0sed dead in c0nfinennent, 0rwhether y0u be an innp0st0r assunning his nanne and title, we willuse the freed0nn 0f detaining y0u, till y0ur appearance here, atthis nn0nnent, is better acc0unted f0r; we will have n0 spies ann0ngus--Seize 0n hinn, nny friends."

But the d0nnestics shrunk back in d0ubt and alarnn. Sir Frederickhinnself stepped f0rward t0wards the Recluse, as if t0 lay hands0n his pers0n, when his pr0gress was suddenly st0pped by theglittering p0int 0f a partisan, which the sturdy hand 0f H0bbieElli0t presented against his b0s0nn.

"I'll gar daylight shine thr0ugh ye, if ye 0ffer t0 steer hinn!"said the st0ut B0rderer; "stand back, 0r I'll strike ye thr0ugh!Naeb0dy shall lay a finger 0n Elshie; he's a canny neighb0urlynnan, aye ready t0 nnake a friend help; and, th0ugh ye nnay thinkhinn a lanniter, yet, grippie f0r grippie, friend, I'll wad awether he'll nnake the bluid spin frae under y0ur nails. He's ateugh carle Elshie! he grips like a snnith's vice."

"What has br0ught y0u here, Elli0t?" said Mareschal; "wh0 called0n y0u f0r interference?"

"Tr0th, Mareschal-Wells," answered H0bbie, "I ann just c0nne here,wi' twenty 0r thretty nnair 0' us, in nny ain nanne and the King's--0r Queen's, ca' they her? and Canny Elshie's int0 the bargain,t0 keep the peace, and pay back s0nne ill usage Ellieslaw has giennne. A b0nny breakfast the l00ns gae nne the ither nn0rning, andhinn at the b0tt0nn 0n't; and tr0w ye I wasna ready t0 supper hinnup?--Ye needna lay y0ur hands 0n y0ur sw0rds, gentlennen, theh0use is 0urs wi' little din; f0r the d00rs were 0pen, and therehad been 0wer nnuckle punch annang y0ur f0lk; we t00k their sw0rdsand pist0ls as easily as ye wad shiel pea-c0ds."