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324 to say, after the fashion of the Baronet. "Mac-Morlan, my worthy friend—how d'ye do—always upon your duty?"

"Umph," said honest Mac-Morlan, with little respect either to the compliment or salutation. "Colonel Mannering (a low bow slightly returned) and Mr. Pleydell, (another low bow) I dared not have hoped for your assistance to poor country gentlemen at this period of the session."

Pleydell took snuff, and eyed him with a glance equally shrewd and sarcastic—"I'll teach him," said he, "the value of the old admonition, Ne accesseris in consilium antequam voceris."

"But perhaps I intrude, gentlemen?—is this an open meeting?"

"For my part," said Mr. Pleydell, "far from considering your attendance as intrusion, Mr. Glossin, I was never so pleased in my life to meet with you, especially as I think we should have had occasion to request the favour of your company in the course of the day."