by wasting disease. See how his writhen features show under the
hollow helmet, like those of a corpse tenanted by a demon, whose
vindictive purpose looks out at the flashing eyes, while the visage
has the stillness of death. Yonder appears the tall form of the boy
Darnley, as goodly in person as vacillating in resolution; yonder
he advances with hesitating step, and yet more hesitating purpose,
his childish fear having already overcome his childish passion.
He is in the plight of a mischievous lad who has fired a mine, and
who now, expecting the explosion in remorse and terror, would give
his life to quench the train which his own hand lighted. Yonder--
yonder--But I forget the rest of the worthy cutthroats. Help me
if you can."

"Summon up," said I, "the postulate, George Douglas, the most active
of the gang. Let him arise at your call--the claimant of wealth
which he does not possess, the partaker of the illustrious blood of
Douglas, but which in his veins is sullied with illegitimacy. Paint
him the ruthless, the daring, the ambitious--so nigh greatness,
yet debarred from it; so near to wealth, yet excluded from possessing
it; a political Tantalus, ready to do or dare anything to terminate
his necessities and assert his imperfect claims."

"Admirable, my dear Croftangry! But what is a postulate?"

"Pooh, my dear madam, you disturb the current of my ideas. The
postulate was, in Scottish phrase, the candidate for some benefice
which he had not yet attained. George Douglas, who stabbed Rizzio,
was the postulate for the temporal possessions of the rich abbey
of Arbroath."