He knew that Caleb
acted upon the principle of the Spanish genrals, in the campaign
of ----, who, much to the perplexity of the Prince of Orange, their
commander-in-chief, used to report their troops as full in number,
and possessed of all necessary points of equipment, not considering it
consistent with their dignity, or the honour of Spain, to confess
any deficiency either in men or munition, until the want of both was
unavoidably discovered in the day of battle. Accordingly, Ravenswood
thought it necessary to give the Marquis some hint that the fair
assurance which they had just received from Caleb did not by any means
ensure them against a very indifferent reception.
"You do yourself injustice, Master," said the Marquis, "or you wish
to surprise me agreeably. From this window I see a great light in the
direction where, if I remember aright, Wolf's Crag lies; and, to judge
from the splendour which the old Tower sheds around it, the preparations
for our reception must be of no ordinary description. I remember your
father putting the same deception on me, when we went to the Tower for
a few days' hawking, about twenty years since, and yet we spent our time
as jollily at Wolf's Crag as we could have done at my own hunting seat
at B----.
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