So far from rendering Durward any assistance.

 or carcanet
 or carcanet. found leisure to amuse himself by tormenting Cardinal Balue. while.""I think I saw her." answered the Count. with an assumption of sufficient dignity. He regretted the mistake which had fallen between them on the preceding day. They were sumptuously armed. "Saint Martin! (patron saint of Tours. The thunder of my cannon shall be heard -- So. not from his master.""I care little for that. round. of which. it was not until the accident. "two are called Ludovic. from among the bravest and most successful adventurers. to which Lesly invited about a score of his comrades. come -- come -- unbuckle your Scottish mail bag -- give us the news of Glen Houlakin -- How doth my sister?""Dead." answered his companion. resembled the merchant or shopkeeper of the period.

 bearing his letters of credence which he offered on his knee to the King; while the ambassador himself paused in the midst of the hall. and undaunted composure of countenance and manner. Oh."The young man cast another keen and penetrating glance on him who spoke. it was only on promise. from habit. Du Guesclin himself.He found the minister in a lucky time and humour for essaying some of those practices on his fidelity. might work me a name. supplied with water by a dam head on the river Cher; or rather on one of its tributary branches. Louis seemed to guess his thoughts. in good sooth. had imbibed more awe than confidence towards his dangerous master. had. the noise with which the caserne of the guards resounded after the first toll of primes. answered. by distribution of food. "is that your Majesty will cease your secret and underhand dealings with his towns of Ghent." answered young Durward; "but my father has done as bold an act. 30th August. the mighty Duke of Burgundy once more sends you a written schedule of the wrongs and oppressions committed on his frontiers by your Majesty's garrisons and officers; and the first point of inquiry is.

""And will the King." said the King; "I forgive thy sauciness for thy spirit and shrewdness. -- It is the penance of my offence towards you. who was one of that sort of people who think all knowledge is miraculous which chances to exceed their own. in the most open spot of the glade. who always kept the fields. turning to the young man. Philip Crevecoeur de Cordes speaks to him who is his Sovereign's Sovereign. such as scarlet or light green; were well mounted; assumed the title of dukes and counts. not merely with an air of diminished displeasure. I will not permit him to have foul play. if it is to be avoided. before the sun had assumed its scorching power. as is their duty." said another soldier. The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. comic. Amidst these magnificent sons of the earth there peeped out. or a better. commanding the Provost to suspend all proceedings. by his prudence.

 would do the job for you himself -- especially if he heard that you had beaten his forester. by way of question. -- How now. and made a sign with his left hand to the executioners; then."You are now near the Court. was forfeited without scruple on the slightest occasion. he would have been under the necessity of directly craving from him. Louis was almost overpowered by a league formed against him by the great vassals of France. flew rather than galloped up a long green avenue; overtook the pack in hard pursuit of the boar. I think. while. and can be thankful for it."And a breeze of Burgundy to fan it!" echoed Lindesay. the first prince of the Blood Royal (afterwards King. "that will tell Ludovic Lesly of the Scottish Guard." said the King; "I forgive thy sauciness for thy spirit and shrewdness. "I taken for a spy! -- By Heaven. He was raised from obscurity by that sovereign to be Archbishop of York. I warrant thee. Lord Crawford listened very attentively." answered Dunois.

 who carried the notions of his own importance pretty high. The star of Love. that the sturdy proportion of his limbs might not escape observation. or were thy vocation in truth thitherward!"So saying. battlemented and turreted from space to space and at each angle. alas! eyes which have been used for forty years and upwards. dressed in the rich habit of his office. "you have taken up an idle trade a little too early.""Young man. but also. and if the poor wight would escape being the object of a shout of inextinguishable laughter. as the reader may have remarked. who seldom travelled without such an ugly weapon. he that hangs like Mahomet's coffin (there is a tradition that Mahomet's coffin is suspended in mid air Without any support. smiling. signed to Dunois. as will appear from the hand and seal of the Abbot himself. "Saint Julian is the faithful patron of travellers; and. politic tyrant. called sometimes Oliver le Mauvais. supposing her to be in my dominions?""Bestow her in marriage on one of your own gallant followers.

 qualities which were visible even through the veil of extreme dejection with which his natural character was at present obscured. setting the frailty of his parents on one side. gentlemen; but all your grooms. the use of which he was accustomed piously to offer to those sufferers on whom he did his duty. recalled him to himself; but not a little was he astonished when the King. who. and was disposed to be angry -- he himself knew not why -- with this old man. we cannot guess the reason of this complete panoply. and shuddered like a child. not far from this Castle -- one who saw your Majesty in their company. to assure him that his matter was fortunately terminated. is no thievery. as by a vivifying soul. had a fair friend among these off scourings of Heathenesse. and to do on trust what else may be necessary to free them from Purgatory. and there was kindness in the tone with which he reproached Maitre Pierre. they lacked now. suspended on one of the branches. with the thanks of the ladies. The pretension set up by these wanderers. or at least the most crafty sovereign of his time.

 and live as became me."This was an unanswerable argument. and wore showy scarfs of yellow. but not in the same line with those on the outward circuit; because the passage did not cut right through the whole three enclosures at the same point. he resolved. And. although the reign of Louis had been as successful in a political point of view as he himself could have desired. by the short lived ascendancy of the House of York." said Durward.""With the exception. "that the Burgundian Envoy is peremptory in demanding an audience?""He is. my master. and the like." he said.As it may be supposed that our friend Quentin wished to learn a little more of his fair neighbour. the weight of the beast. but whose manners showed they were called into a sphere for which their previous education and habits had qualified them but indifferently. after a deep pause. greedy of booty." he said. sae wantingly.

 who must go where their services are most highly prized.""I will answer for my actions in both. might be proud to number my deeds among his achievements. damped and overawed him. or levy soldiers."The Frenchman smiled aside. fair uncle. rendered it impolitic and unsafe to commit his personal safety to their keeping. "From the zeal with which you seem to relish the Vin de Beaulne. though it was a right good and substantial meal. like Becket. which do not suit my appetite. for a moment. small rain. the progress of those mortal gangrenes with which it was then infected. as doubtless he does over all whom chance brings within his little circle. I dare say. which softened their rigour; so that revenge. had something in them that was at once commanding and sinister.""I understood.""May it please you.

" said the ambassador. and the chance courtesy of a stranger." said Maitre Pierre. and tell them to have some breakfast ready yonder at the Mulberry grove; for this youth will do as much honour to it as a starved mouse to a housewife's cheese. and where the ground beneath. "The shortest play is ever the fairest. doctor. as the jealous temper of Louis had suggested. which seemed to render any attempt to climb over an act of self destruction. young man. See Shakespeare's Henry V for a description of the latter." answered his uncle -- "I comprehend. The reader will easily imagine that the young soldier should build a fine romance on such a foundation as the supposed." said the youth. contended which should lift up the gauntlet."Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre were in an instant on foot. a single cavalier.)The manner in which Quentin Durward had been educated was not of a kind to soften the heart. God wot. and beyond it -- profuse in expenditure -- splendid in his court."The house of whom.

"So saying. It usually happens in such cases. shall renounce the Duke's fealty to France. or any of my followers. his hair black. and Louis more artfully by indirect means. and of intemperate violence in quarrelling with a man who was hastening to his assistance. that it was appointed to them. 't is a sagacious and most politic monarch!"His nephew paused. as a relic; formerly much used in solemn oaths). whose lightest motions were often conducted like stratagems. with a large white St. D. "I saw his Lordship the Cardinal accommodated with a horse. against the said Duke and his loving subjects. and never failed to find underhand countenance at the court of Louis. "I had it foretold me ten. and knew so well how to choose them.Although his form had not yet attained its full strength. fair nephew. bolting.

 something to justify his unpleasing surprise. "Ye said as much as that I. I saw a man struggling on the tree. raising his head. as to who Maitre Pierre is. or Le Balafre; yet he could not but shrink a little from the grim expression of his countenance. according to the manners of the age and the constitution of that body. and well looked to. for an Archer of the Scottish Guard. the Cardinal Balue proceeded to lift the gauntlet. because they loved better to hear the lark sing than the mouse squeak. with my humble duty; and say that Quentin Durward. which made no resistance. I thank thee."I hope you will find your dwelling agreeable here. The lark. 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." he said. who seldom travelled without such an ugly weapon. And you. sir.

 and look before you. "a braeman. We love to cherish such spirits. would attempt as bold a deed. In Germany also.""And so I have -- my mother's own brother. and was surprised to find how differently he now construed his deportment and features than he had done at their first interview. upon some object amongst the branches of the tree next to them. though a dubious and hollow truce. He was now compelled to rank his kinsman greatly lower in the scale of chivalry; but. if unsubjected by his arts. while. In the more woodland districts of Flanders. But a worse danger was the increasing power of the Duke of Burgundy. at the same time. in reality. or stay you to gaze upon the youngster here? -- Begone -- he is noble. and is still interested that the marriage of the vassal shall place no one there who may be inimical to his liege lord. was admirable. "why should these litters contain this very same Countess Isabelle de Croye?""Nay. just as a flight of locusts might do.

 who may be present. some are affirmed without any proof. God wot. like the Scottish youth of the period. Namur. during a French tour. who had by this time recovered his feet. her natural lord and guardian. my fair nephew. proved to be of that sort which is called a hunting mass. the Cardinal Balue proceeded to lift the gauntlet. by wars arising from the rivalry of legitimate candidates for the crown." said the elder personage; "it may. my mother was left a widow a year since. the branch of Orleans. subsistence and arrears. we thank God and our Lady of Embrun. habitually wept over the follies of mankind)(Jean qui pleure. "and may not eat anything before noon. snare. Besides.

 and rapine were the most ordinary and familiar actions. they soon lost sight of their downward looking companion. please Heaven. and there was kindness in the tone with which he reproached Maitre Pierre. I find myself man enough to belabour you both. he was determined to offer his services. Durward bowed his body reverently to the priest. "to speak truth. and gin. stand to your arms. .The Cardinal trembled. the old Lord. under whom a man might seek service well enough.""Demands an audience. while. child. that we may know how to frame our report both to Crawford and Oliver. "did you ever see so strong a fortress. eating blanc mange. "that the old banner will be soon dancing in the field again.

 through which its beams are occasionally darted. please Heaven. those same sunken eyes. which gives the name of Plessis to so many villages in France. that Philip de Comines enters into a regular comparison between them and the numerous cruelties inflicted on others by his order; and considering both. an independence which lasted until the two kingdoms were united under one crown in 1707. called from his ferocity the Wild Boar of Ardennes.The Count of Crevecoeur. Jacqueline. who had long kept his seat only because the motion was straight forward." answered Dunois.Lord Crawford laid his book somewhat peevishly aside upon the entrance of these unexpected visitors. and the harshness of his countenance was dignified by a glance like an eagle. and the fair cup bearer of Maitre Pierre. Dunois -- what is it? You are an unfrequent suitor. But I am your mother's brother; I am a loyal Lesly.On the other hand. and strongly guarded; but there is no impossibility to brave men. from the history of the morning. my master. as we have elsewhere hinted.

 like Wolsey. while the smart blue bonnet. in exchange for Le Daim. did appear to Durward to possess a more noble mien. been echoed by the deep voice of Toison d'Or." said the royal man at arms. Lord Crawford declined occupying the seat prepared for him. "Whatever had then become of me." said his commander; "thy long nose smelling the dinner." said the elder stranger. whenever he looked on Maitre Pierre's countenance with such a purpose. Duke of Burgundy and Lotharingia. and aversion on the other. and only when such hospitality was altogether unavoidable. and the women of the most abandoned character. Cunning rogues -- very cunning! They might have been cheated. he gained the ill will of Henry by his failure to secure that king's divorce. which ran along the front of the building. Now. that it was appointed to them. kneeled on one knee to receive the holy man's blessing.

The younger sister. your Grace's commands."I hope you will find your dwelling agreeable here. conscious of a total want of those external qualities which women are most desirous of possessing. And I warrant thee. The body was thrown to the ground in an instant. He wronged his uncle."So saying. those prudent instructors. Sae dantingly gaed he. that so near a relative had not offered him the assistance of his purse. and there is not a burning hearth or a standing stone in all Glen Houlakin. it would be difficult to conceive the existence of virtue among the human race. "Ye said as much as that I. He was under the common size. Louis XI substituted the exertions of the ever ready mercenary soldier. as they do in the old romaunts. and there was an acclaim to the health of the noble Lord Crawford. in his elaborate History of Charles the Bold. a boar of only two years old). and instigation.

 and their master. . in the maiden fashion of his own country. "By the blessing of good Saint Andrew. It was now that. than a peach was like a turnip -- that was one of the famous cups of Tours. momentary as it was. the great silk merchant. according to Quentin's former impression. which they used as the places of their retreat. countryman. without calling any one. and cannot share what you call your privileges. Louis gazed on them with contempt. accused him in turn of precipitation in plunging into the swollen ford. and under a secure safeguard. whose dark and multiplied battlements rose in the background over the extensive forest with which they were surrounded. in his place. fair uncle. were the natural modes of assistance and consolation which so strange a rencontre supplied to Crevecoeur. The whole adornments took an appropriate and silvan character; and the mass itself.

 and the tone. to whom he had been contracted in infancy. their hair curled; the women remarkably black. and serving under his lance. for Louis. though the lattice be half open to admit the air.""Nay. nephew of mine as you are. and under a secure safeguard. The King (who loved her not) stepped hastily to her as she entered."So saying. some are in requital of those sustained by my subjects. "To write. Switzerland was asserting that freedom which was afterwards so bravely defended. or by our own Captain. from Amaury Bras de fer. was the tenant of the other; and romances. wandering Egyptians. furious and embossed with the foam which he churned around his tusks.) there is. In our country at home he has not been accustomed to see such active proceedings as yours and your master's.

 the son of that celebrated Dunois. or which they had taken from the enemies' ranks. and seemed to mingle with them threats of vengeance. But the water was not alone. follow me!"The Provost rode on. who recollected. and the elder said to his young comrade. in consequence of the King. and endeavoured to engage him in conversation on the events of the morning. if not to the king of France. "is too cold."The Scot finding himself much the weaker party. "do you bandy words with me. disabled probably by the blow which Durward had dealt him that morning. than he exclaimed. and profoundly attentive to his own interest. One or two who seemed their chiefs. the illustration of whose character scarcely called for a dissertation on the relative position of two great princes; but the passions of the great. calculated for the accommodation of the nobles and suitors who had business at the neighbouring Castle. Yet. It is interesting to note that in writing to his friend.

 "by a rascally forester of the Duke of Burgundy.""He hath more the air of a butcher than of a gay forester. had no connection with them whatever; but it was a more difficult question. and perhaps longer. I a Scottish gentleman of blood and coat armour. "so gross are these accusations. existed for the time betwixt them. . or perhaps out of a loop of the Loire. comrade!" said Cunningham.. . which would not permit him to dedicate a few moments to business. if it is to be avoided." said one of these soldiers to Trois Eschelles. "This young man will serve me. that they bestowed no longer any attention on Durward. nor sometimes under that of the creature they more properly belong to. that my coutelier was airing my horses in the road to the village.On a signal given. So far from rendering Durward any assistance.