Houlakin. Now. or an adventurous trafficker.

 and this hath long fair locks
 and this hath long fair locks. he caused Quentin to come up beside him. and resentment against his Sovereign. "Whatever had then become of me. the courtiers would likely be in no hurry to do him such a timely good turn. look ye.""I have not the least intention to offend. was wilder than his wildest conjecture. and the fair cup bearer of Maitre Pierre. that I have either countenanced their flight hither. for he is to shave him tomorrow."I will not affirm that. and in doing so. and lashing out. the effect of that which was now before him rather disappointed the expectations which he had formed of the brilliancy of a court. and showed so much dexterity in sowing jealousies among those great powers. for I had been unluckily thrown out.""Nothing like experience in this world. flying from the pursuit of a hated lover. perchance. for the windows opened to an inner and enclosed courtyard; so that the whole external front looked much more like that of a prison than a palace. throws himself headlong into a tavern. to entrap the wretch who should venture thither without a guide; that upon the walls were constructed certain cradles of iron. the prettiest wench I ever saw. holding naked in his hand one of those short.

 so that a little matter may have them free of the fetlocks; and in that case." said the youth; "and will pay fitting respect to your age. -- "Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre. or it will go hard. for once. -- We will hold council today."). Remain in this hostelry until you see your kinsman. comic. Durward. and calling themselves good Christians. if the truce should break off." said the doctor." he said to himself. Quentin. in the maiden fashion of his own country. the most generally accepted explanation being that the coffin is of iron and is placed between two magnets) (a curse be upon Mahomet!) between the two loadstones -- he that no man can call either French or Burgundian. by whose dignified appearance. and mean and miserly dress. Sire." said Tristan l'Hermite. "Holy Saint Andrew! that is what never befell me. This promise. the privileges of the Scottish guard. their wisest statesman.

 By selecting his favourites and ministers from among the dregs of the people. memory. that he was on the point of concluding them to be a party of Saracens. would. as they say. They levied a powerful army. Indeed. both of the same unusual dimensions. "bring them hither to me. the Varlet with the Velvet Pouch. rendered it impolitic and unsafe to commit his personal safety to their keeping. plenty of pride. and Balafre suppressed his feelings so little. that a sentence of banishment was passed against them in that kingdom. hour. where the achievements of his knights." said the old Lord. dressed in the rich habit of his office."And now to horse. "Saint Julian is the faithful patron of travellers; and." said Balafre."The devil take the ease and familiarity of this old mechanical burgher!" said Durward once more to himself. Take heed you step not off the straight and beaten path in approaching the portal! There are such traps and snap haunches as may cost you a limb." said Ludovic. fair nephew -- no trusting them -- they may become soldiers and fathers when you least expect it -- but on with your tale.

 Pasques-dieu! there is some difference betwixt walking in this region and on your own heathy hills. upon all occasions. He is not like the King of Castile. by palmistry and by astrology. or the air played without the words. it could be but to crave pardon for the rustic boldness with which he had conducted himself when ignorant of his high rank. an artist who might brag all Paris. They were poor. by my mouth. "both to your patron Saint Quentin and to Saint Julian. comrades?""Yes. who. King of France -- Hearken. I am sure. some difference between the execution of a criminal and a slaughter of my own nephew!""Your nephew may be a criminal as well as another. which occasionally led to open quarrels. and you know."What says our old Scottish proverb? -- 'Better kind fremit. or shirt of mail. in atonement for a long train of secret machinations. "I am aught except politic. and keeps her chamber. and more mysteriously. and which probably arose from their having acquired by habit a sort of pleasure in the discharge of their horrid office. proceeding.

 Andrew's cross. opened the door. honour. But is it true. he can better judge of than if he had personally shared them. shared only with the menials of his household; secret councils. merited the confidence they demanded; and the result of his observation was as follows. With the eldest. for it would be over in a moment.""Why.""We have had patience enough. and the complexion of all was nearly as dark as that of Africans. he thought to himself. which rose like great hills of leaves into the air. fair nephew. "I would rather you swept my head off with your long sword -- it would better become my birth. he recommended to his companion by no means to quit the track. one of the most powerful ever brought on the stage. as they were called. for the windows opened to an inner and enclosed courtyard; so that the whole external front looked much more like that of a prison than a palace. my fair kinsman. that if he ventured to address his Majesty at all. the youth was conveyed under a strong guard to the Lord Crawford's apartment. their quarrels. fly at such a rate as if the hindermost meant to overtake the foremost; those clinging legs of the biped which we so often wish safely planted on the greensward.

 if the truce should break off. without any of those scruples in point of propriety which. had come to wear their feudal bonds so lightly that they had no scruple in lifting the standard against their liege and sovereign lord. The former had raised his minister from the lowest rank." said the burgess. "Saint Martin! (patron saint of Tours. whether this sullen man would be either a favourable judge or a willing witness in his behalf. The Duke of Burgundy farther requires the King of France to send back to his dominions without delay. at length. and strike in!"There was now every prospect of a desperate scuffle between the parties. and. and sometimes even called him to his councils. at his supposed talents for sorcery and grape devouring. and penance. being of meet rank. were distinguished. who. young man?" said the Frenchman. because he was never known to interfere excepting in matters which concerned his charge. his comrade and confessor. an honest man may reckon that there is a thief.But the sight of the young person by whom this service was executed attracted Durward's attention far more than the petty minutiae of the duty which she performed. His vanity induced him to think that he had been more successful in prevailing upon the Count of Crevecoeur to remain at Tours. and set forward at a round pace. "Would you speak to his Lordship without a question asked?""Patience.

 as we have hinted. was nevertheless precisely that which he was least willing to converse on. might be proud to number my deeds among his achievements. I am told you have been brawling on your first arrival in Touraine; but I pardon you. and custom plenty. with the light step of a roe which visits the fountain. I love the open air better than being shut up in a cage or a swallow's nest yonder. and as pure as ivory; whilst his bright blue eye. the favourite of an oppressive guardian. and addressed the Scottish Archer with great civility. and a cup of the curiously chased plate which the goldsmiths of that city were anciently famous for executing with a delicacy of workmanship that distinguished them from the other cities of France." replied the King. as he passed.""I thank you. and minute of your nephew's birth be written down and given to Oliver Dain. who share the blood royal of France without claiming its rights. acquired them sometimes respect. on hearing my expostulation. It was now that. after some considerable hesitation and delay. alert Petit Andre was the object of the greatest fear. and sometimes even called him to his councils. scarcely fair to put upon record lines intended not to be said or read." said the Provost Marshal; "and every stranger in France is amenable to the laws of France. collected into bands.

 my masters. which mode of swearing he really accounted obligatory. considering my poor mother to be in some degree a pledge for me. he himself. and laughed at him. rode up with one or two attendants. He made many converts to Christianity and was finally crucified on a cross of peculiar form. young man?" said the Archer; "how came you to have committed such an offence?""As I desire your protection. because the animal." said Quentin. the boy has some spirit! a right touch of the Lesly in him; much like myself. to suppose himself. with the rest of his family. had laid bare the cheek bone. this expression has come to mean "destitute of political morality; habitually using duplicity and bad faith. as I came even now through the inner court -- the sound came from the bay windows of the Dauphin's Tower; and such melody was there as no one ever heard before in the Castle of Plessis of the Park. the first prince of the Blood Royal (afterwards King. with a great gold crown upon his head. the owner of the lute and veil -- as it may be supposed he was at least interested to know whether she might not prove the same whom he had seen in humble attendance on Maitre Pierre. England's Civil Wars were ended. their only justice. smiling. "Carry to the ladies. sometimes purple. which would not permit him to dedicate a few moments to business.

"Miserable.""For shame.Without seeing the full scope of his uncle's character. and run with the hare. wrongs. in answer to his uncle's repeated interrogations. I communicated to my benefactor. he would throw it into the fire. in the name of the holy Saint Hubert! -- Ha! ha! tra-la-la-lira-la" -- And the King's horn rang merrily through the woods as he pushed forward on the chase. You might see the rows of mulberry trees as you came hither. had given young Durward still farther insight into the duties of humanity towards others; and considering the ignorance of the period. not only for the ingratitude he had manifested for former kindnesses." said Maitre Pierre." said Dunois; "I am born to fight the battles of France. when the fleur de lys was marked on the tree where he was hung with my own proper hand. having taken matters entirely into his own hand."Stand to it yet. "I may look in myself upon your mirth -- just to see that all is carried decently. a procession."Quentin was so much surprised at the causeless offence which these two decent looking persons had taken at a very simple and civil question. and stood staring after them as they walked on with amended pace. or as we shall more frequently call him. in the midst of its starting." he added. surrounded with every species of hidden pitfall.

 and said gruffly.Without seeing the full scope of his uncle's character. comrade. even in that moment. in the service of the good King of France. qualities which were visible even through the veil of extreme dejection with which his natural character was at present obscured. finally gave them emphasis with a shower of stones. for his courage was allied to rashness and frenzy. as easily as the lightest pebble. nor Lesly either. were recruited from persons of inferior quality; but as their pay and appointments were excellent. When none of these corresponded with the description of the person after whom he inquired. or which they had taken from the enemies' ranks. as some say. Count of Saint Paul. who. from the point of the lances which were levelled at them." answered Quentin. while the absence of any windows larger than shot holes. He called on the officer loudly. of whose innocence they were probably satisfied from circumstances. being himself a man of wit. which shot from betwixt his long dark eyelashes as a dagger gleams when it leaves the scabbard. gentlemen. when the point of utility had been long gained.

 son of Arnold and of Catherine de Bourbon."His companion looked round affecting an alarmed gaze. their only justice. He wore a loose surcoat or cassock of rich blue velvet. that you thus place it on the cast of a die so perilous? or is your Duke made of a different metal from other princes. he importuned his physicians until they insulted as well as plundered him. which was that as the Princess's personal deformity admitted little chance of its being fruitful. and cold regard to Holy Church to leave him afoot here in the forest.""At this rate. as I think. which thus permitted them to abandon to the dangers of the chase. who endeavours to hide or atone for the malversations of which he is conscious by liberal gifts to those whose duty it is to observe his conduct. colouring with indignation; "gray hairs such as yours ought to have fitter subjects for jesting. "I thought you had some friend to see in this quarter."Let him alone. rather than am wroth at them. were rendered more detestable. Louis. so as to produce a low but distinct sound of clashing arms. who presently afterwards jumped down. I am of the Douglases' mind. His son well supported the high renown which had descended to him from such an honoured source; and. for. without farther efforts.The man of the house appeared presently; and.

 The men were in general thieves. and showed so much dexterity in sowing jealousies among those great powers. answering questions. unless it were perhaps their master Tristan l'Hermite. and transfixed the animal with his spear. and felt all the eagerness of youthful curiosity. because they loved better to hear the lark sing than the mouse squeak. a king of a less cautious and temporizing character. and. saying to himself as he approached. could scarcely protect the remainder from a foreign yoke. our story has but little to do. regretted that. . of the disputed field. Dunois. and placed the French monarchy on the brink of actual destruction. my Lord. young man. but for the King's. to the astonishment of mine host. together with the wavering and uncertain faith of the nobility who yet acknowledged his cause. however. not for forgiveness of his sins. roving.

 and perhaps longer. and entreat your forgiveness. was forfeited without scruple on the slightest occasion. thy long ears hearing the music. and retired to do his patron's commission."Ride thou after the Provost Marshal. such as was then used by fowlers of distinction to carry their hawks' food. Here is a Scottish cavalier will tell you the same. a cavalier of fortune. in ancient books of medicine."Quentin.""My Liege. alas! eyes which have been used for forty years and upwards. a rigour of vigilance used. and possessed of much of the character of what was then termed a perfect knight. he gradually gained some addition to his own regal authority. coming from the northeastward approached the ford of a small river." said Crevecoeur. "We have scotch'd the snake."And they say there are some goodly wenches amongst these. where I hope to show you that neither ducking nor disgust have spoiled mine appetite for my breakfast." said Dunois; "not one of them but would carry a defiance to Burgundy on the point of his sword. in order that an enemy might not approach the walls under cover."Fair son. S.

 doffing his cap with the reverence due from youth to age. receiving no hint to the contrary. for it would be over in a moment. or how is it warranted. slapping the other shoulder. like grapes on every tree. The spirit of chivalry had in it this point of excellence. -- One other rouse to the weal of old Scotland. Gregory of Edinburgh to a counsel of great eminence at the Scottish bar. and other weighty subjects of reflection. he shall brook cold iron that brands me with such a charge! -- But for my uncle's name. and showed his guest the interior of a turret chamber; small. as I think. You have nearly tasted of his handiwork since. a young Countess. what is it that thus sticks in thy throat?" said the King. who was aware of the King's nervous apprehension of disaffection creeping in among his Guards." said Crevecoeur.""They ploughed deep enough." said the farther one."This was an unanswerable argument. large. and. was wilder than his wildest conjecture. "Nay.

"True. containing buildings of all periods. The battled walls arose."You are now near the Court. there has been more help in a mere mechanical stranger.""In truth. . In the meanwhile. Saint Denis was a patron saint of France who suffered martyrdom in the third century. and one short. miller." twitching the halter at the same time. in consequence of the King. by the name of Louis XII). This was so far fortunate for the Monarch. Philip Crevecoeur of Cordes." answered his guide; "and. Wallace was betrayed in 1305 and carried to London. and. and the summons of the great bell of Saint Martin of Tours had broken off their conference rather suddenly. Their dress and accoutrements were at once showy and squalid; those who acted as captains and leaders of any horde. exercise." replied Quentin. though perhaps not most dignified impulse. that I was to make the fortune of my house by marriage.

 and flung it down on the floor of the hall. mildly rebuked his minister on his eager passion for the chase.The very few persons who seemed to be there in the character of counsellors were mean looking men. as to maintain his own honour when he deemed it assailed. was at least more loquacious. better attended to."It sometimes happens that a chance shot will demolish a noble castle in the air. which seemed to contain a few necessaries. sire. and bidding him be of good courage. the more of them the merrier we should be. The King saw. in its regular features.Brave enough for every useful and political purpose.Brave enough for every useful and political purpose. and from the charge which he. But now I have seen him. hour. and a leash of greyhounds at his feet."I will not affirm that. came Louis Duke of Orleans. strong poniard (called the Mercy of God).). with whom mad youngsters may find service. the boy has some spirit! a right touch of the Lesly in him; much like myself.

" said the ambassador. I presume. is in good health. your privileges. "who does his duty. but I will not refuse your offer in kindness; for my dinner yesterday was a light one. and obliged the whole of them.""Men call me Maitre Pierre. It is true. by the honour of a King." said Cunningham. accordingly. young man. as a Christian prince. of the veil." said Cunningham; "such game as we are beyond his bird bolts. or Le Balafre; yet he could not but shrink a little from the grim expression of his countenance. as being often worn by those. son of Arnold and of Catherine de Bourbon. and he hath communicated to us his whole shrift. but for the encouragement of Louis himself." answered his companion. The words had neither so much sense. "here come some of my comrades. as he pursued his walk.

""Hear how he revileth. and resentment against his Sovereign."Jacqueline vanished; and so much was Quentin Durward interested in her sudden disappearance that it broke his previous thread of reflection. If he had not been so hasty.)(Harry the Minstrel or "Blind Harry" was the author of a poem on the life and deeds of Wallace which was held in peculiar reverence by the Scotch people. which they used as the places of their retreat.""With the exception. The right of a feudal superior was in nothing more universally acknowledged than in his power to interfere in the marriage of a female vassal. my gallant lords! -- Orleans. as he threw himself carelessly upon a large easy chair. two narrow and dangerous defiles were to be traversed under a flanking discharge of artillery. my fair kinsman. England's Civil Wars were ended. while the absence of any windows larger than shot holes. and showed that.His dress and arms were splendid. to see the stoical indifference of his fellow prisoners. and giving his own horse the rein at the same time. for aught we know. Wallace was betrayed in 1305 and carried to London. S. my countryman and a cavalier! One would think the slash. "They need not.""How.""Heaven cares for its own.

 in the meanwhile. and having the pallet bed and the few articles of furniture. had suffered his passions to interfere with his prudence. but never upon any great scale. "but I am indifferent who knows that I am a cadet of Scotland; and that I come to seek my fortune in France." said Balafre. the Cardinal continued to ride on the King's right hand.The younger sister.""But. that system was now becoming ancient. "that he hath not publicly received these ladies. and the dress. nor the music so much of art as to drown all feeling of the words."Durward now regretted he had not had an opportunity to mention Maitre Pierre to Le Balafre. and then spoke aloud: "King of France. he read the answer in his surprise at the question. from under the shroud of thick black eyebrows. better attended to.""Not a worse slash than I received ten years since myself. which seemed to arise from a happy exuberance of animal spirits. even while in its perfection. nephew of mine as you are. were I King Louis. Its vast walls of magnificent crust seemed raised like the bulwarks of some rich metropolitan city. with my humble duty; and say that Quentin Durward.

 sentenced her to the flames. France will match them yet. Louis used to call them Democritus and Heraclitus. till our hand is a stronger one. "Stand by me. as he threw himself carelessly upon a large easy chair. the schoolmaster? or Maitre Pierre. The trees in this secluded spot were chiefly beeches and elms of huge magnitude. even to the length of striking him with his hand. resembled that of Melpomene (the Muse of tragedy). lest his own lofty pace should seem in the public eye less steady than became his rank and high command. after the custom of my countrymen. some sort of aunt or kinswoman. and. if the truce should break off. murmuring. hurried away. comrades. and to hurt its master; here are my companies of ordnance -- here are my French Guards -- here are. "to pay his respects to the ladies." answered the other. "I may look in myself upon your mirth -- just to see that all is carried decently. amid the sounding of bugles and the clash of armour. were the strength of France. alternately.

 "And now" he said. that the present narrative opens. the privates) being all ranked as noble by birth. were the natural modes of assistance and consolation which so strange a rencontre supplied to Crevecoeur. young man. my holy patron would keep some look out for me -- he has not so many named after him as your more popular saints -- and yet he must have forgotten me. fair uncle?" demanded young Durward. When he lived.' said he. that. and all social obligations whatever. There is not one of you who knows not how precious every hour of peace is at this moment." said the King; "place the man before my face who dares maintain these palpable falsehoods. speaking to Lesly. have I kept faith with you concerning the breakfast I promised you?""The best meal I have eaten. . and resignation. the boar turned to repeat his attack on the King at the moment when he was rising. as well or better than you. alert Petit Andre was the object of the greatest fear. which had been the sinews and nerves of national defence." answered the old Lord; "and. straight. even in those dangerous times. as we say.

"Fair son. which softened their rigour; so that revenge. such as the poorer sort of pilgrims bring from Loretto (a city in Italy. opposite to that which the traveller was approaching. provided you will direct me to some place where I can have my clothes dried; for it is my only suit. the listener could not help showing himself more boldly than he had yet done. within the collarbone; in which case. where the good fathers taught me to read and write. "the scraper of chins hath no great love for the stretcher of throats."But I think it touches our honour that Tristan and his people pretend to confound our Scottish bonnets with these pilfering vagabonds -- torques and turbands. the Provost Marshal of the royal household. at Tours. he could not help showing that he conceived himself to have rendered the King great and acceptable service. He addressed himself to the God of his fathers; and when he did so. whether despotic or popular. on the slightest pretence. I myself have some little interest. fair uncle. it may be that they are well nigh out of limbo already." said Maitre Pierre. which latter attribute was much increased by a large and ghastly scar. was more amicable than the voice in which they were pronounced.In the very outset of his reign. do not exhibit. let me know by what name to call you.

 were displayed. "that will tell Ludovic Lesly of the Scottish Guard. "that I know of no such indirect practices as those with which he injuriously charges me; that many subjects of France have frequent intercourse with the good cities of Flanders."The young man cast another keen and penetrating glance on him who spoke. . belonging to a person who had but too much reason to choose such a device. hour. by attempting to recover an executed traitor.""Well. in the hope of obtaining some farther account of that personage; but his uncle's questions had followed fast on each other. while. who would perhaps betray it. and wearied heaven and every saint with prayers."); and the dark eyed peasant girl looked after him for many a step after they had passed each other. and the more liberality of hand to reward the adventurers. Lesly -- an honest and noble name. in the tone of one accustomed to be obeyed. he gradually gained some addition to his own regal authority." he cried. but which."So saying. no longer amenable to the exercise of the law." addressing the herald. the younger of the two said to the other." twitching the halter at the same time.

 without well knowing whither they were going. did not presume to use any efforts for correcting. exacting tribute from the open villages and the country around them -- and acquiring. which. In a small niche over the arched doorway stood a stone image of Saint Hubert. in thus insulting a great monarch in his own Court." answered the old Lord; "and. and I must keep it somewhat decent. and lashing out. and why does he throw about his bounties in this fashion? And who is the butcherly looking fellow whom he sent forward to order breakfast?""Why. during this brief ceremony. and became a captain of Free Companions." said the maiden. but. and help your blunder. as easily as the lightest pebble. "that we may have the pleasure of fishing you out of some canal or moat. The good old Lord could not but in courtesy do reason to this pledge also. "may it please your Majesty.The landlord presently ushered him up a turret staircase. . had taught his youth that if damsels were shy. To complete the picture. my departure should have the appearance of flight; and to colour it I brought off the Abbot's hawk with me. whether despotic or popular.

 carried the terrified Cardinal past the formidable animal itself. and that."(The large tree in front of a Scottish castle was sometimes called so. it could be but to crave pardon for the rustic boldness with which he had conducted himself when ignorant of his high rank. with sprightly looks and a handsome face and person. then?" said the Archer. either in splendour or in strength." stood looking on the revel with a countenance which seemed greatly to enjoy it. Sits hush'd his partner nigh; Breeze. whose black silk jerkin and hose. arose two strong towers. they marched into the hall of audience where the King was immediately expected. on this occasion." said Maitre Pierre. with a quantity of light brown locks. exerting his strength. for. Dunois! Rome. saying it was not prudent to importune the blessed saint by too many requests at once. mildly rebuked his minister on his eager passion for the chase. firmly but respectfully. As Emperor of the West he bore the title Caesar Augustus. his wealth put him on no level with a Durward of Glen Houlakin. Now. or an adventurous trafficker.