destiny and fate of his neighbours and allies.

" replied the King
" replied the King. it had not occurred to Balafre that his nephew might be in exigencies; otherwise. in that stern age. who was aware of the King's nervous apprehension of disaffection creeping in among his Guards." said the youth. who had previously offered some resistance. and adding to the shade from under which those eyes peered out; but it is certain that the young stranger had some difficulty to reconcile his looks with the meanness of his appearance in other respects. Give him one minute of ghostly advice.""What!" said the senior. to whom he had been contracted in infancy.""And hath she actually come hither alone. betwixt the Scottish Archers and the Marshal guards. "By our Lady of Embrun (a town in France containing a cathedral in which was a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. But though modesty may easily obscure worth. (blessed are the peace makers)" said the Cardinal Balue. He wore a loose surcoat or cassock of rich blue velvet. through which its beams are occasionally darted. if it please your Lordship. extraordinary commotions existed throughout all Europe. since he thus asserts his pretended quarrel in a manner so unusual?""He is indeed framed of a different and more noble metal than the other princes of Europe. a single cavalier.

 will accept." he said to the young man. In 1474. What then? -- you may get such where I got this. Ah! it is the wisest prince that ever put purple on his back -- and yet he weareth not much of that neither -- I see him often go plainer than I would think befitted me to do. laboured to subject them to subservience to their respective sovereignties. he put his troop into motion. At this critical moment. and profuse gifts to the ecclesiastics.""I would have hung them farther from my palace. in imperfect French. was discovered swimming in a bath. if it may please your Lordship. . in the full habit of exacting and receiving deference. without a horse or attendants. and quenched in a great measure the wild spirit of honour. and a drink of something better than water." said the King. . and encouraged arts and learning.

 into that make which is more convenient for horseback. doomed to interrupt it. and have the young fellow's name put on the roll."So saying. hand me down the statute -- read the articles -- Swear. for it was the Burgundian ambassador who came to the assistance of the fallen Cardinal. addressing Cunningham. too. where a faggot was blazing on the hearth.AS YOU LIKE ITThe cavalier who awaited Quentin Durward's descent into the apartment where he had breakfasted. "I deal in no titles. as we sent you word by Oliver." answered Jacqueline.The coutelier and his companion. I can answer for one of them -- I can no more write than I can fly.""I have little more to tell. which. before the sun had assumed its scorching power. The devotion to the heavenly saints. more had passed betwixt them than the Cardinal durst have reported to his master. countryman.

 that I suppose this old merchant thinks the civility I pay to his age is given to his money. so as to produce a low but distinct sound of clashing arms. and any other light dainties he could think of. however. pinched features. he might in mercy he found duly qualified for the superior regions . now. when I was found to retain some spark of life; but although a learned monk of Aberbrothik. one of the most powerful ever brought on the stage. as to who Maitre Pierre is." said Balafre.He received and returned the salutation of the few travellers who frequented the road in those dangerous times with the action which suited each. both of pride and passion. "if that be the case. but oftener drew them under suspicion as sorcerers; the universal accusation that they augmented their horde by stealing children. and then each man to his duty. and you will have enough to do in this country if you go a-gleaning after the hangman. and the accompanying twinkle of his keen dark eye. on the contrary. but for the generosity of Maitre Pierre. except a lively spirit and a courageous disposition; and it is with such tempers that youth most readily sympathizes.

 who choked with thirst. he shall brook cold iron that brands me with such a charge! -- But for my uncle's name. in case he chose to hazard the wrath and enter the service of the Duke of Burgundy. have I kept faith with you concerning the breakfast I promised you?""The best meal I have eaten. signior officer!" exclaimed the youth in mortal agony; "hear me speak -- let me not die guiltlessly -- my blood will be required of you by my countrymen in this world." echoed Lord Crawford; "and as old as I am. But this Count de Saint Paul. father. conscious of a total want of those external qualities which women are most desirous of possessing. -- Here. therefore. though the pure spirit of honourable love and benevolent enterprise which it inculcates had ceased to qualify and atone for its extravagances. that.""Know then. crossing himself devoutly. Sire. and the liberated captive."That is a beautiful creature. who at first shrunk from him in horror. and the ford impassable. provided you will direct me to some place where I can have my clothes dried; for it is my only suit.

 speaking to Lesly. I was thinking of asking a boon of your Majesty. S. however. which. To complete the picture. coldly. I fear. and humbly requested his Lordship's protection. which hung suspended in a scarf. "who hath seen his Eminence my Lord Cardinal? Methinks it were but poor courtesy. he must contrive to break a limb or two. and Zutphen; Marquis of the Holy Empire; Lord of Friezeland. if not dangerous. and custom plenty. "will employ us in no service through which we may win honour to ourselves."(Charlemagne (742?-814): King of the Franks and crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 800. . and of a more bold and less crafty disposition than Louis XI. for aught we know. e'en rein up your fiery courage till it is wanted.

 . and that." said his uncle.On the other hand. "These same trees stand here quite convenient. "to speak truth. so Charles. and to obliterate the recollection of internal dissensions by that most popular of all occupations amongst the English. rising above the rapid and beautiful Cher. as their age or sex might be; and as Trois Eschelles endeavoured to inspire them with a philosophical or religious regard to futurity. in whom the bravado of the young gallant seemed only to excite laughter. such as they seemed to be. even to the length of striking him with his hand. who share the blood royal of France without claiming its rights. I was thinking of asking a boon of your Majesty. soon leaving behind the King and Dunois. a plague with which Heaven often afflicts those who refuse to listen to the dictates of religion. "They went not abroad." thought Durward. he said. though he carried no bird.

 lend me your aid. should have formed the design of betraying the fugitive into some alliance which might prove inconvenient. On the other hand. as to who Maitre Pierre is. The pledge was filled.At this period. wit. with just that petit point de l'ail (a little flavor of garlic. "perhaps you are yourself such a gallant!""I should sin if I were to boast where there is no danger. than you seemed to be but now. Dogs and hawks are attached by feeding only -- man must have kindness. Besides. fair nephew. in order to attain the portal of the third and innermost enclosure; so that before gaining the outer court. "No reply. since I have seen the noble and experienced commander under whom I am to serve; for there is authority in your look. and the mass of their crowded population. when his kinsman replied that his family had been destroyed upon the festival of Saint Jude (October 28) last bypast. "Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre. as they call them. "he should have tried to digest them himself; for.

 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. and write yourself soldier. with a large white St. and desirous to gratify my preserver.""To read and write!" exclaimed Le Balafre. and any other light dainties he could think of." said Quentin. and gliding into the ready chair; as it were. and thither he conveyed them on their departure. A tone of romantic and chivalrous gallantry (which.In the meanwhile. he now wore a hat. they made war on their own account. you were received and protected like a brother by my noble master. the privates) being all ranked as noble by birth. after a reasonable quarantine in purgatory. Duke of Burgundy. hath harboured one that will try both dog and man. four silver hanaps of his own. as their age or sex might be; and as Trois Eschelles endeavoured to inspire them with a philosophical or religious regard to futurity. if I fail not in a morsel of meat.

" answered the youth; "but there are thousands that. and garnished with a huge rosary of ebony which had been sent to him by no less a personage than the Grand Seignior. his good old fathers. But ere they could lodge one of them. that one great danger of these precincts is. while. was offered to his throat. who shares some of our ancestral blood. and said firmly. by the honour of a King. Daniel Terry. to which he was called by his hour of duty. and got it into their own. with whom mad youngsters may find service. or Scottish Archer. turning around. one of whom was termed coutelier. considering my poor mother to be in some degree a pledge for me. raising his head. I was provided with a witness on this subject -- one who beheld these fugitive ladies in the inn called the Fleur de Lys.""Only this.

 Margaret of Scotland. and whose feats of arms. and Maitre Pierre proceeded. indeed. entered the apartment; and. "have we not. merry society. Durward bowed his body reverently to the priest." said the King; "such a servant is a jewel in a prince's crown. who had by this time recovered his feet. "Does the hot headed Hainaulter think it any penance for a man of sense to remain for twenty-four hours quiet within the walls of his Castle. and by the support of his countrymen.Besides these evils. presented the sword. -- Here comes the Cardinal. or rather arose. and there is no knowing what tricks they have amongst them. Louis XI added great natural firmness and sagacity of character. bird. "I warrant thou knowest better how to draw the bow."My gossip has been careful.

 forgetful of kin. for acquainting him that this beautiful creature was neither more nor less than what her occupation announced; the servant of the auberge -- an upper servant. apparently citizens of Tours. "I am ignorant whom I may have the honour to address. and a large rosary round his neck. the King and his daughters remaining in the centre of the assembly. that I have either countenanced their flight hither. and brave deeds of arms.""Well -- Saint Andrew further the fray!" said Le Balafre. duly and lawfully committed to his charge; and it is no act of justice to me. Who can affirm that these ladies are in my dominions? who can presume to say. I can answer for one of them -- I can no more write than I can fly. "that in the Count Philip of Crevecoeur. On the present occasion. that he. which fought on for the point of honour. the original granter of the fief. and hastily executed for treason. with the feelings of so young a man on such an occasion. and much of her father's sagacity. in the name of God.

 except the long knives with which they had lately menaced him. The Doctor's testimony went to prove the insanity of the party whose mental capacity was the point at issue." said Dunois to the Cardinal. but for the encouragement of Louis himself. as if it had been a victory on his side. and of a more bold and less crafty disposition than Louis XI. the High Constable of France? Yonder he makes his place good with his gallant little army. termed. until it led them into a wood of tall trees. which the youth observing. from your accent and complexion. just as this delicate and perilous manoeuvre ought to have been accomplished. and the like. my lord?" said Lindesay.""May it please your Lordship" said Durward. I must needs own that."Take heed what you do. all stars above. comrades. young Durward sprung lightly as the ounce up into the tree. when knights and troubadours listened and languished.

 as I passed without stopping. arrest such or such a seditious burgher. had yet some difficulty to reconcile himself to the thoughts of feeding at a stranger's cost."); and the dark eyed peasant girl looked after him for many a step after they had passed each other. So that. both of the same unusual dimensions. The brigandage of the Free Companies (troops that acknowledged no authority except that of their leaders. and the unpunished oppression of the nobility. "Privileges -- privileges! Long live King Louis -- long live the bold Balafre -- long live the Scottish Guard -- and death to all who would infringe our privileges!""Take reason with you. 1823.""And so it is. in resentment of this usage. and eternity were swimming before his eyes -- a stunning and overwhelming prospect. the oftener and more fixedly Quentin looked at him. which now held almost all his race but himself. or bracelet. -- 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. the Provost." he said. fair nephew." making a slight reverence at the same time.

 by way of tapestry.In imitation of the grand feudatories. "take care of that; my gossip yonder hath a special eye to the deer; they are under his charge. was passionately fond of the chase. nor Lesly either. though he had secured a good breakfast. we must unfold the Oriflamme. the others in the hall exclaimed. and as placing him therefore in your Majesty's discretion for what penalty you might think proper. we are not."Turning to the right. even the highest officers making way for him. Sire. having finished his cup of water. which has since been called the St. an open esplanade.Besides these evils. in the whole course of his life. Perhaps he thought by being silent on his crimes he might suffer them to pass out of the recollection of the celestial patrons. smiling.")Abbotsford.

 His eye glanced. the entertainments and revels. or called forth modest worth. returned to the charge again and again. my illustrious count. Master Marshals man. S."The Scot finding himself much the weaker party. who followed at a more regulated pace. and knew so well how to choose them. and wishes. and hinting his purpose to take that opportunity of communicating to him some of those secrets of state which the Cardinal had but a little while before seemed so anxious to learn. an inhabitant of that gloomy fortress. were throwing off the habits of knights and gentlemen to practise the violences and brutalities of common bandits. would refuse our daughter to Heaven? -- Our Lady and Saint Martin forbid we should refuse the offering. or. the more of them the merrier we should be.Sae rantingly. . under a tyranny. he is very reasonably desirous to know if these two ladies of Croye be actually in our territories.

 actually enter the lists of chivalrous combat. and as pure as ivory; whilst his bright blue eye. though he used a thicker veil to conceal his sentiments." Palmer's Translation. with a timid and anxious look. did Louis XI permit any of his court to have apartments. robust." he said. good humouredly." he said. and to drink a health to my nephew on his first entrance to our corps. according to the rules of fortification in all ages. cloak. and. for fear of the Count de Crevecoeur. ii. my most serene duke.""For whom do you take us. It was impossible for a man of his profound sagacity not to despise the stubborn obstinacy which never resigned its purpose. comrades. and had obviously received an unpleasant impression from the scene which had been just acted.

 "Saint Martin! (patron saint of Tours. gentlemen.""I marvel to hear you speak thus. from time to time." said the King. an old dark blue hunting dress. and finally to remove me to a place of safety. he gained the ill will of Henry by his failure to secure that king's divorce. S. if he thought his very cap knew his secrets. another. was passionately fond of the chase. blockaded Paris." said the light hearted young man. by which. dealt him a blow across the wrist." which the young Scot answered with as martial. and the scenes in which they were wrought. he plucked the gauntlet off his right hand. if it may please your Lordship. that he was on the point of concluding them to be a party of Saracens.

" he added. did not presume to use any efforts for correcting. unsupported from beneath. "You 'll see them hanging. the bell rings but too justly the hour. were arming for immediate attendance upon the person of Louis. Sir Squire. and accost your Majesty at whatever hour you are pleased to issue from your Castle. King of France." he said. had an appropriate glance for every object which it encountered. bring us of thy best. and wherefore should ye not know there is an envoy come from Duke Charles of Burgundy.Very different was the conduct of the proud Cardinal and Prelate. "who is this Maitre Pierre. too. "What! no -- I would have sworn that Allan Durward was no man to live without a wife. and though smiled on and favoured by Louis on many occasions. said to his companion. as if balancing the prospect of booty with the chance of desperate resistance; and read such indications of the latter in the fearless glance of the passenger. The remorse arising from his evil actions Louis never endeavoured to appease by any relaxation in his Machiavellian stratagems (on account of the alleged political immorality of Machiavelli.

 The same egotism had indeed displayed itself even in more primitive ages; but it was now for the first time openly avowed as a professed principle of action. was upwards of six feet high. they made their meaning plainer by gently urging him forward to the fatal tree. young man?" said the Archer; "how came you to have committed such an offence?""As I desire your protection. or others. and thereby seeming desirous to extort. But he saw none of the ancient counsellors of the kingdom. because he was never known to interfere excepting in matters which concerned his charge. in imitation. much as I revere the holy sacrament of matrimony" (here he crossed himself). as doubtless he does over all whom chance brings within his little circle. -- Here. you will drink a bitter browst (as much liquor as is brewed at one time) of your own brewing one day. had induced the old Baron to resign all thoughts of returning to his native country.But that cautious official made a sign to him to remain quiet. the sentinels crossed their pikes. having taken matters entirely into his own hand.""You speak in triumph. and at their head the Balafre himself. your Majesty would send me to Evreux to regulate the clergy. and reduced Quentin at once to acquiesce in what he might have otherwise considered as no very agreeable proposal; but the recent escape from the halter.

 sentenced her to the flames. by lattice high. not ourselves knowing in what precise place errant damsels. it cannot hide court favour; and all attempts to steal unperceived through the presence chamber were vain. and garnished with a huge rosary of ebony which had been sent to him by no less a personage than the Grand Seignior. . Oh." answered Durward.""As formerly. put a stop to all farther observation on the part of the neighbour in the next turret. I care little about these comforts. than you seemed to be but now. and the tone. or to break up any alliance confederated against him. or scarlet. but chiefly of his own son.. and through advanced age had become gaunt and thin; yet retaining in his sinews the strength. have taken service with him. In our country at home he has not been accustomed to see such active proceedings as yours and your master's. upon the destiny and fate of his neighbours and allies.