'For many reasons, my dear Fergus, you must hold me excused.'
'Well, then,' said Mac-Ivor, 'I shall certainly find you exerting your poetical talents in elegies upon a prison, or your antiquarian researches in detecting the Oggam [The Oggam is a species of the old Irish character. The idea of the correspondence betwixt the Celtic and Punic, founded on a scene in Plautus, was not started till General Vallancey set up his theory, long after the date of Fergus Mac-Ivor.] character, or some Punic hieroglyphic upon the key-stones of a vault, curiously arched. Or what say you to UN PETIT PENDEMENT BIEN JOLI? against which awkward ceremony I don't warrant you, should you meet a body of the armed west-country Whigs.'
'And why should they use me so?' said Waverley.
'For a hundred good reasons,' answered Fergus: 'First, you are an Englishman; secondly, a gentleman; thirdly, a prelatist abjured; and, fourthly, they have not had an opportunity to exercise their talents on such a subject this long while. But don't be cast down, beloved: all will be done in the fear of the Lord.'
'Well, I must run my hazard,'
'You are determined, then?'
'I am.'
'Wilful will do 't,' said Fergus;—'but you cannot go on foot and I shall want no horse, as I must march on foot at the head of the children of Ivor; you shall have Brown Dermid.'
'If you will sell him, I shall certainly be much obliged.'
'If your proud English heart cannot be obliged by a gift or loan, I will not refuse money at the entrance of a campaign: his price is twenty guineas, [Remember, reader, it was Sixty Years since.] And when do you propose to depart?'