"I guess the mystery," said Nigel, "you want a little money, Richie;
will five pieces serve the present turn?"
"My lord," said Richie, "I may, it is like, want a trifle of money;
and I am glad at the same time, and sorry, that it is mair plenty with
your lordship than formerly."
"Glad and sorry, man!" said Lord Nigel, "why, you are reading riddles
to me, Richie."
"My riddle will be briefly read," said Richie; "I come to crave of
your lordship your commands for Scotland."
"For Scotland!--why, art thou mad, man?" said Nigel; "canst thou not
tarry to go down with me?"
"I could be of little service," said Richie, "since you purpose to
hire another page and groom."
"Why, thou jealous ass," said the young lord, "will not thy load of
duty lie the lighter?--Go, take thy breakfast, and drink thy ale
double strong, to put such absurdities out of thy head--I could be
angry with thee for thy folly, man--but I remember how thou hast stuck
to me in adversity."
"Adversity, my lord, should never have parted us," said Richie;
"methinks, had the warst come to warst, I could have starved as
gallantly as your lordship, or more so, being in some sort used to it;
for, though I was bred at a flasher's stall, I have not through my
life had a constant intimacy with collops."
"Now, what is the meaning of all this trash?" said Nigel; "or has it
no other end than to provoke my patience? You know well enough, that,
had I twenty serving-men, I would hold the faithful follower that
stood by me in my distress the most valued of them all.
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