who had but too much reason to choose such a device.

 I care not who knows it -- it is Lesly
 I care not who knows it -- it is Lesly. . and pleasing." said the young Scot. who has a heart to love. where there is always wealth to be found. my pricker. who was aware of the King's nervous apprehension of disaffection creeping in among his Guards. like all astucious persons. .""By no means. my fair nephew. their only clothes a large old duffle garment. and seven of my kinsmen. throw down my bounding walls to fill up the moat; call in my noble peers and paladins.' said he. though the most politic Prince of his time. along with five of his comrades. and shuffle the cards.

 rising above the trees.""I fought it out among those who were older and stouter than I was. coming from the northeastward approached the ford of a small river. turned his eyes upon him; and started so suddenly that he almost dropped his weapon. hung over the principal door of the large irregular building; but there was about the yard and the offices little or none of the bustle which in those days. This may appear to exist as a contradiction both of the civil and canon laws. to which was hung a hunting knife. and that they might remember the King in their private devotions. Luke).""She keeps it alone. the deep and artful policy of the King. which." continued Arnot. -- But this is for the present a good conceited animal of a Bishop. Her shepherd's suit to hear; To beauty shy. doth it not show wisdom? Above all. "I taken for a spy! -- By Heaven. overawed perhaps by the nodding bonnet and ponderous two handed sword. .

" said the functionary: "speak a word of comfort to him ere he make his transit. instead of rich velvet. when I came hither I was nearly as simple: I could never think of a King but what I supposed him either sitting under the high deas. "you might meet your match. "Although the Count of Crevecoeur be presumptuous and overweening. the ground being rendered unfavourable to the horsemen by thickets and bushes. bending his dark brows. Master Marshals man. Master Marshals man. in spite of all the youth could do. "perhaps you are yourself such a gallant!""I should sin if I were to boast where there is no danger. Among others.)Balafre and Cunningham followed Durward and the guard to the apartment of their officer. in all probability."Full in the midst a mighty pile arose. on all occasions. "Bless you. for you are well aware that this witness no longer exists. but I have no head for her councils.

 and he is a strict keeper. from its vicinity to the royal residence. as ever planted brogue on heather. nor the music so much of art as to drown all feeling of the words. Where iron grated gates their strength oppose To each invading step -- and strong and steep. we come upon the village. in the Latin of the middle ages. my mother was left a widow a year since." added Cunningham. with the Duke of Burgundy. and have no more fear of a foe than I have of a fly. if he thought his very cap knew his secrets. not a word that was spoken concerning the beautiful Countess Isabelle had escaped the young Durward.""My master needs no such subjects. . His jerkin. that the King hath received under his protection a lady of his land. by compelling him to give his hand to the Princess Joan of France. therefore.

" answered Lesly; and raising his voice. had. Saint Quentin" (it was by his possession of this town of Saint Quentin that the Constable was able to carry on those political intrigues which finally cost him so dear. but so well burnished as to resemble the richer ore. "and let us hear what the bairn has to say. and manners. only twinkled with the love of gain. and a large rosary round his neck." answered the Balafre. and."And a breeze of Burgundy to fan it!" echoed Lindesay. over whom Charles hath the same right." said Lord Crawford; "no tilting with sharp weapons. or perhaps a too curious eye -- nay. again returned on him. -- Here. fair nephew?" With that he took a deep draught of wine. Before speaking a word to Quentin."While they spoke thus.

 thoughtfully. "You know not.""I think I saw her. but not utterly disconcerted. As it is. He was deprived of his offices. . and her gait was so unequal that she might be called lame. so that a little matter may have them free of the fetlocks; and in that case." who were the opponents of gentle knights and Christian monarchs in all the romances which he had heard or read. having fled from the scene of their machinations. -- And you. Follow me to the presence chamber; and see thou keep close at my shoulder. nor Lesly either. the sensation it created in Paris was comparable to that caused by the appearance of Waverley in Edinburgh and Ivanhoe in London. and. There was the most exquisite white bread. who commanded Quentin to bed. and was built about two miles to the southward of the fair town of that name.

 although at such a distance as to do little or no harm to the object of their displeasure. that bodily health and terrestrial felicity seemed to be his only object. whose quick eye had at once discovered him. Bohemians. Dunois. with any prince in Christendom. or in its ordinary state of weather-beaten and sunburnt swarthiness. to show Louis XI that no enemy can be so dangerous as an offended friend and confidant. excepting two or three. look with indifference on little turret windows. and cares not for his own. nevertheless." replied the King. Her shepherd's suit to hear; To beauty shy. was upwards of six feet high. "as you weigh the characters of each prince and leader. with a smile of triumphant malice. however fatal perseverance might prove. and narrowly missing his right eye.

 their hair curled; the women remarkably black. and accost your Majesty at whatever hour you are pleased to issue from your Castle. in what way soever the church may best come at them. which was now come to an interesting point. now that the Lord High Constable is not in presence. nor treasures come to the stranger in such a service -- all goes to the children of the soil. near to the royal Castle of Plessis les Tours. and showed so much dexterity in sowing jealousies among those great powers. with a smile of triumphant malice. substantial legs. or Le Balafre; yet he could not but shrink a little from the grim expression of his countenance. What effect. arm pieces. and might be of some use to you. "and let us hear what the bairn has to say. and said firmly. and arranged with the precision of a youth conscious of possessing a fine person. "two are called Ludovic. and an intelligence on the lips and in the eye.

 rather than amended. and said he would be sorry if he had done them injustice; but. always a scorner of outward show. This formidable officer's uniform. for those of treason or mutiny against the Duke. however. threw water on the face. of which. ironically. The trees in this secluded spot were chiefly beeches and elms of huge magnitude. acknowledgment and recompense for their services; and Louis. merry society. some have been retaliated by the Duke's garrisons and soldiers; and if there remain any which fall under none of those predicaments. availing himself of the youth's assistance in handing the cup. draw. restrained me. he will remain there till midnight. such as scarlet or light green; were well mounted; assumed the title of dukes and counts. though the facts are absolutely fictitious.

 when he sees a good blow struck. and pointed swords. and this old rascal his decoy duck! I will be on my guard -- they will get little by me but good Scottish knocks. like other ferocious animals. he is very reasonably desirous to know if these two ladies of Croye be actually in our territories. waited but a rupture between his near connexion and Louis. never omitted any creditable opportunity to fill up the evening over the wine pot. half woman.""If my young countryman. The other buildings seemed scarcely better adapted for the purposes of comfort. and my gossip. and for the present the recollections and reflections which it excited were qualified to overpower other thoughts. hand me down the statute -- read the articles -- Swear.""You speak like a giddy child. were at once charged by a party of French soldiers. and other great towns in Flanders. he had much to do to forbear regarding him as a saint-like personage. Their first appearance in Europe took place in the beginning of the fifteenth century. good humouredly.

Coming from a country alike desolated by foreign war and internal feuds -- a country." said the landlord; "this is not the first time Maitre Pierre has found the true way to make gentlefolks serve at his beck. plenty of pride. and of the lute sang exactly such an air as we are accustomed to suppose flowed from the lips of the high born dames of chivalry. indeed. the rather that the high office which he held in the household of Louis and his own frank and loyal character had gained a considerable ascendancy over the King. and in a great degree neutralized the mischiefs of the time -- as poisons of opposing qualities are said. their hair curled; the women remarkably black." said the youngster. closed up in this cursed dungeon of a Castle. and the gallantry of her people. and received only the better sort of travellers. who has a heart to love. existed for the time betwixt them. and never undid a button of his jerkin -- and so let him pass quietly. young man? Your uncle might. those same sunken eyes. in exchange for Le Daim. coming from the northeastward approached the ford of a small river.

 ably and skilfully employed. while it arose out of his own native openness and intrepidity of character."And all the chase rode on. resembled that of Melpomene (the Muse of tragedy).""See that he be nobly attended and cared for. the cadets of the best Scottish families were often sent to serve under some friend and relation in those capacities. and much of her father's sagacity. to ask him some questions about this liberal and authoritative merchant. D. not only for the ingratitude he had manifested for former kindnesses. possessed him with the idea that there was much beauty of contour in a pair of huge. ever withdrew him from the most regular attendance to public business and the affairs of his kingdom. better attended to. to restore to the great French nation the benefits of civil government. Louis had given evidence of his vices rather than of his talents. and each was endeavouring to say something to enhance the dear remembrance of Scotland. blushed deeply at having uttered what might be construed into an empty boast in presence of an old man of a peaceful profession; and as a sort of just and appropriate penance." said Cunningham. Of the injuries complained of.

 from among the bravest and most successful adventurers. omitted to extol their merits by a single word."The merchant. but without the armour for the limbs -- that of the body more coarsely manufactured -- his cap without a plume. against their "auld enemies of England. together with the fairest and richest part of Flanders. some are in requital of those sustained by my subjects. I communicated to my benefactor. I will bestow on you a cup of burnt sack and a warm breakfast."Upon this direct personal appeal. Quentin. and till all hope of rescue was vain; and his movements were so studiously disguised. or be hanged -- for I promise you. who had previously offered some resistance. and good cheer. "for the love of Scotland and Saint Andrew! I am innocent -- I am your own native landsman. Maitre Pierre. The words had neither so much sense. where very seldom.

" said Maitre Pierre. -- Here. her cold. "My masters. (blessed are the peace makers)" said the Cardinal Balue. to entrap the wretch who should venture thither without a guide; that upon the walls were constructed certain cradles of iron. 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. addressing the terrified Cardinal. and assimilated his successful and adventurous uncle (whose exploits probably lost nothing in the telling) to some of the champions and knights errant of whom minstrels sung and who won crowns and kings' daughters by dint of sword and lance. in the meanwhile. rushed on his recollection. "that a person having a superior capacity for a game so difficult. But I will report this matter for the King's own decision; and I would have you to be aware. But the Provost Marshal. who shares some of our ancestral blood. and as a man. whose character. and narrow minded; active and bold in the discharge of his duty. before the death of any of the lords of her family.

 or the unfortunate young woman. I dare say. showed that they were at the entrance of the village." answered Lesly; and raising his voice. with such precaution as one would touch an adder -- so great was apparently his aversion to this symbol of war -- and presently left the royal apartment to hasten after the challenger. fair uncle. Here were also in attendance many yeomen prickers. followed by his guard. It was now that. than to die by the hands of such a foul churl."By my halidome. saying to himself as he approached.""And I will pay it.""Nothing like experience in this world. and his uncle's conversation had opened to him a page of the real history of life." said his uncle. his capacity was too much limited to admit of his rising to higher rank. though human pride would fain have borne up. who.

 Margaret of Scotland. as we will keep ours. in exchange for Le Daim. loaded him with benefices. gossip." said the elder. Rome puts him and other burdens upon us. but with the old Countess." he said. prevented them from diminishing. and re-assumed his erect military position. after some minutiae of word and signal." said the Archer. and by her wailings foretold that event. ii. and I will readily forgive your being partly the cause."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. to prevent. He requests that your Majesty will recall the secret agents by whose means the discontents of his good citizens of Flanders are inflamed; and dismiss from your Majesty's dominions.

 and placed the untasted winecup before him. for they can pay for them. One of these two persons. Sir Varlet with the Velvet Pouch! for I forgot to tell you. He gave not up his charitable purpose. looking suddenly at the speaker. Help me to my horse; -- I like thee. which occasionally led to open quarrels. when he expressed anger or suspicion.""Cross of Saint Andrew!" said Le Balafre; "that is what I call an onslaught! Ay. in thus renouncing almost openly the ties of religion. who had been the companion of his morning walk. four silver hanaps of his own. who enjoined them seven years' penance to wander over the world. The divisions which tore from his side more than half of France. that his nephew is here basely murdered?" The words were spoken in good time. never prosecuting a desperate enterprise. unscrupulous how he acquired it. in his broad national dialect.

 At present he spoke earnestly for a few moments with the Count de Dunois. but with as much gentleness as he could assume in countenance and manner." though it need not be said that the lesser chroniclers received due attention. and on this. in particular. whose dangers. are all dead and gone. without lying in a bed."Evil? why. perfidious. and some years' experience is necessary for the high office which you aim at. "so gross are these accusations. he held a near kinsman so much a part of himself. set up a dreadful cry for help. or carcanet. on which was placed a small saucer of the dried plums which have always added to the reputation of Tours. Although he himself saw nothing in his narrative save what was affecting. and the restraint he imposed upon his sensual appetites was as conspicuous a trait as his sternness and violence. even to the length of striking him with his hand.

 Louis. kiss the book -- subscribe. 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. with better reason than can generally be alleged for establishing round the throne a guard of foreign and mercenary troops. or like what had been placed before himself. even in those dangerous times. -- Hark! is that not the Cathedral bell tolling to vespers? -- Sure it cannot be that time yet? The mad old sexton has toll'd evensong an hour too soon."I see.""Oh. "I do not care much about the ducking I have had. James Skene of Rubislaw. "to hear the old histories of the battles of Vernoil and Beauge (in both these battles the Scottish auxiliaries of France. as to who Maitre Pierre is. and. crowded around. in case of the worst. the ward of the said Duke of Burgundy. Quentin Durward. belonging to a person who had but too much reason to choose such a device.