. Oldbuck) - who
mimicked the motion of snuff-taking and its effects.«
    »These indications, however singular as proceeding from such a personage,
seem to have been apropos to the matter,« said the Antiquary; »for you see the
case, which includes these coins, has all the appearance of being an
old-fashioned Scottish snuff-mull. But you persevered, in spite of the terrors
of this sneezing goblin?«
    »Why, I think it probable that a man of inferior sense or consequence might
have given way; but I was jealous of an imposture, conscious of the duty I owed
to my family in maintaining my courage under every contingency, and therefore I
compelled Dousterswivel, by actual and violent threats, to proceed with what he
was about to do; - and, sir, the proof of his skill and honesty is this parcel
of gold and silver pieces, out of which I beg you to select such coins or medals
as will best suit your collection.«
    »Why, Sir Arthur, since you are so good, and on condition you will permit me
to mark the value according to Pinkerton's catalogue and appreciation, against
your account in my red book, I will with pleasure select« -
    »Nay,« said Sir Arthur Wardour, »I do not mean you should consider them as
anything but a gift of friendship and least of all would I stand by the
valuation of your friend Pinkerton, who has impugned the ancient and trustworthy
authorities upon which, as upon venerable and moss-grown pillars, the credit of
Scottish antiquities reposed.«
    »Ay, ay,« rejoined Oldbuck, »you mean, I suppose, Mair and Boece, the Jachin
and Boaz, not of history but of falsification and forgery. And notwithstanding
all you have told me, I look on your friend Dousterswivel to be as apocryphal as
any of them.«
    »Why then, Mr. Oldbuck,« said Sir Arthur, »not to awaken old disputes, I
suppose you think, that because I believe in the ancient history of my country,
I have neither eyes nor ears to ascertain what modern events pass before me?«
    »Pardon me, Sir Arthur,« rejoined the Antiquary; »but I consider all the
affectation of terror which this worthy gentleman, your coadjutor, chose to play
off, as being merely one part of his trick or mystery. And with respect to the
gold or silver coins, they are so mixed and mingled in country and date, that I
cannot suppose they could be any genuine hoard, and rather suppose
