e of success."

"That is true; but if you were to be obliged to take one side or the
other, which would it be by preference?"

"Certainly I would support the Protestant religion in preference to the
Catholic. I am a Protestant, and that is reason enough."

"I agree with you," replied my companion. "Is your brave friend of the
same opinion?"

"I really never put the question to him, but I think I may safely answer
that he is."

It was fortunate, Madam, that I replied as I did, for I afterwards
discovered that this precious gossiping young man, with his rings and
ribbons, was no other than a government spy, on the look-out for
malcontents. Certainly his disguise was good, for I never should have
imagined it from his foppish exterior and mincing manners.

We passed our time much more to my satisfaction now than we did before,
escorting the ladies to the theatre and to Ranelagh, and the freedom
with which Captain Levee (and I may say I also) spent his money, soon
gave us a passport to good society. About a fortnight afterwards, the
news arrived of the battle of Culloden, and great rejoicings were made.
My foppish friend remarked to me:--

"Yes, now that the hopes of the Pretender are blasted, and the
Hanoverian succession secured, there are plenty who pretend to rejoice,
and be excessively loyal, who, if the truth were known, ought to be
quartered as traitors."

And I must observe, that the day before the news of the battle, the old
gentleman with the snow-white hair was arrested and sent to the Tower,
and he afterwards suffered for high treason.

But letters from the owner, saying that the presence of both of us was
immediately required, broke off this pleasant London party. Indeed, the
bag of gold was running very low, and this, combined with the owner's
letter, occasioned our breaking up three days afterwards. We took leave
of the company at the lodgings, and there was a tender parting with one
or two buxom young women; after which we again mounted our steeds and
set off for Liverpool, where we arrived without any adventure worthy of
narration.

CHAPTER NINE.

I AM PUT IN COMMAND OF THE SPARROW-HAWK--AM DIRECTED TO TAKE FOUR
JACOBITE GENTLEMEN SECRETLY ON BOARD--RUN WITH THEM TO BORDEAUX--LAND
THEM IN SAFETY--DINE WITH THE GOVERNOR--MEET WITH THE WIDOW OF THE
FRENCH GENTLEMAN I HAD UNFORTUNATELY KILLED--AM INSULTED BY HER SECOND
HUSBAND--AGREE TO FIGHT WITH HIM--SAIL DOWN THE RIVER AND PREPARE FOR