Judge, then, of his surprise on ascertaining that the female whom he saw with the stranger was no other than Lucy Gourlay, and in conversation with the very individual with whose name, motions, and projects he wished so anxiously to become acquainted.

If he watched Miss Gourlay and her companion well however, he himself was undergoing quite as severe a scrutiny.

Dandy Dulcimer having observed him, in consequence of some hints that he had already received from a source with which the reader may become ultimately acquainted, approached, and putting his hand to his hat, exclaimed: "Why, then, Counsellor Crackenfudge, is it here I find your honor ?" "Don't you see a'm here, Dandy, my fine fellow ?" and this he uttered in a very agreeable tone, simply because he felt a weak and pitiable ambition to be addressed by the title of "Your honor." "What does all this mean, Dandy ?" asked Crackenfudge; "it looks vary odd to see Miss Gourlay in conversation with an impostor--a' think it's an elopement, Dandy.

And pray Dandy, what brought you to town ?" "I think your honor's a friend to Sir Thomas, counsellor ?" replied Dandy, answering by another question.
"A' am, Dandy, a stanch friend to Sir Thomas." "Bekaise I know that if you aren't a friend of his, he is a friend of yours.

I was playin' a tune the other day in the hall, and while I was in the very middle of it I heard him say--'We must have Counsellor Crackenfudge on the bench;' and so they had a long palaver about you, and the whole thing ended by Sir Thomas getting the tough old Captain to promise you his support, with some great man that they called _custos rascalorum_." "A' am obliged to Sir Thomas," said Crackenfudge, "and a' know he is a true friend of mine." "Ay, but will you now be a true friend to him, plaise your honor, counsellor ?" "To be sure I will, Dandy, my fine fellow." "Well, then, listen--Sir Thomas got me put into this strange fellow's sarvice, in ordher to ah--ahem--why, you see in ordher to keep an eye upon him--and, what do you think?
but he's jist afther tellin' me that he doesn't think he'll have any further occasion for my sarvices." "Well, a' think that looks suspicious--it's an elopement, there's no doubt about it." "I think so, your honor; although I am myself completely in the dark about it, any farther than this, counsellor--listen, now--I know the road they're goin', for I heard it by accident--they'll be off, too, immediately.