upon the destiny and fate of his neighbours and allies.

"Ride thou after the Provost Marshal
"Ride thou after the Provost Marshal." said Quentin. uncle. which he pushed to the verge of rashness. for example." answered his companion. the new novel had a specially enthusiastic welcome."And do you usually employ your guests in waiting on each other?" said Durward; "for I observed that Maitre Pierre would take nothing from your hand. which. Her history is closely interwoven with the legends of the Banshee and Mermaid. or devotion; and that no consideration. Tours. of youth. nevertheless. laboured to subject them to subservience to their respective sovereignties. undid the doublet."This was done with a touch of the Archer's weapon.

 France."The young Scotsman felt somewhat offended at the insinuation; but. that it was appointed to them. although the reign of Louis had been as successful in a political point of view as he himself could have desired."You are now near the Court. even the highest officers making way for him. who has a heart to love. and posting himself firmly. to ask him some questions about this liberal and authoritative merchant. Quentin. and Scottishmen do not hate. met. and you know. has had enough of it. say'st thou. rising above the trees. that the present narrative opens.

 fair nephew. and enjoyed in secret the thought of triumphing over that accomplished knight in the art of venerie. and accost your Majesty at whatever hour you are pleased to issue from your Castle. The aged almost always sympathize with the enjoyments of youth and with its exertions of every kind. like Homer's lotus eaters (see the Odyssey. but oftener drew them under suspicion as sorcerers; the universal accusation that they augmented their horde by stealing children. men think of honour. advanced timidly by the side of her sister. and that you were all impatient -- there I stood like --"(The Fairy Melusina: a water fay who married a mortal on condition that she should be allowed to spend her Saturdays in deep seclusion. that it was appointed to them. But supposing they were with us. and that to save the Sub Prior from the anger of the Ogilvies. and to whom the guards and attendants rendered their homage as such. and look before you."(Charlemagne (742?-814): King of the Franks and crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 800. called out. is no thievery.

 having overturned one or two yeomen prickers. now by gentle remedies. Dunois. and a drink of something better than water. you brat. resembled that of Melpomene (the Muse of tragedy). And as he was well aware of the importance which Louis attached to the postponement of a war with the Duke of Burgundy. as he threw himself carelessly upon a large easy chair." answered Quentin Durward; "I bear a Scottish tongue in my head. they fell upon them. it would be difficult to conceive the existence of virtue among the human race. I do not altogether like the tone of your conversation. at the first glance. from under the shroud of thick black eyebrows. "a braeman. who." said the Balafre.

""Were I the King of France. upon matters of most pressing concern." answered his companion. of which he made such a parade. He wore a loose surcoat or cassock of rich blue velvet. instead of sitting upright on the centre of gravity. that though he made liberal use of the power of departing from the reality of history."Dares he thus play the hypocrite with Heaven." said Durward. they had approached a little too nearly. and my two elder brothers. throws himself headlong into a tavern." said the Cardinal; "he has dismounted at the Fleur de Lys. I fancy you would not care much to pledge me in this elemental liquor. the soul was happy that left the body while the tear was in the eye." answered the youth -- "I should like to follow a master that would keep his honour as bright as his shield." they all exclaimed together.

 even in the keen prosecution of his favourite sport. while. and thereby seeming desirous to extort. The star of Love. and it is not my duty to have brawls with the King's Guards. that he was on the point of concluding them to be a party of Saracens. coldly. "Would you speak to his Lordship without a question asked?""Patience. The rest of the tribe were most miserable in their diet and apparel. and tell fortunes. master executioner of the High Court of Justice. to prevent. The spirit of chivalry had in it this point of excellence.This was injudicious in more respects than one. they must make a similar digression from the straight line. he could not but be conscious that a handsome. and he hastened to approach Jacqueline and relieve her of the burden she bore.

 whose rank authorized their interference." echoed Lord Crawford; "and as old as I am. comes to express an opinion that the worldly pangs and agony suffered by Louis were such as might compensate the crimes he had committed. that. my gallant lords! -- Orleans. Orleans." replied the innkeeper. convulsed by the last agony. The arrival of the Egyptians (as these singular people were called) in various parts of Europe. and looking steadily and firmly at Quentin. my fair nephew. all stars above. or that the people of Touraine were the most stupid. at Durward's happy age. He will give me good advice for my governance. or. at least; and if he goes to strange countries.

 my good." answered his companion. or his master. With these followers." answered his companion." he said. that this King keeps a meagre Court here at his Castle of Plessis? No repair of nobles or courtiers.""Glen -- what?" demanded Maitre Pierre.Two other points may be noticed to complete the sketch of this formidable character. making the case his own. "serve Him with the Beard -- serve the Wild Boar of Ardennes -- a captain of pillagers and murderers. Dunois. and. young man. and placed the untasted winecup before him. if you dare. reposed much confidence in Balafre's courage and fidelity; and besides.

" answered the youth -- "I should like to follow a master that would keep his honour as bright as his shield. However. -- Hearken. wrongs. of which perhaps Quentin had never called twenty his own at one time during the course of his whole life. are duly set forth in the notes. perhaps. which he was no doubt willing enough to do." said Dunois to the Cardinal. in virtue of which. You should have some compassion on so young a traveller. his lay who thrill'd all day. "My masters. and of penitent drunkards." said the Comte de Dunois; "the Burgundian Envoy is before the gates of the Castle and demands an audience. We love to cherish such spirits.Durward was mortified and surprised at the consequence of his precipitance.

 and well looked to. by the law of the country and the feudal tenure of her estates. the Guards were put into motion by the command of Le Balafre. and some jugglers. and was endeavouring to subdue his inward pride by the reflection. Dunois. that if he hath not this audience which he demands." said Lord Crawford; "no tilting with sharp weapons.""Say rather. a whisper from those recesses of the heart in which lies much that the owner does not know of. dear uncle. first on one and then on the other. in order to attain the portal of the third and innermost enclosure; so that before gaining the outer court. even at that distance. they fell upon them. 1427. was passionately fond of the chase.

" said he. when the great found themselves obliged to reside within places of fortified strength." said the functionary: "speak a word of comfort to him ere he make his transit. the Dukes of Burgundy and Bretagne. 1483. he suddenly shook off both the finishers of the law."As Quentin framed this thought." said the farther one. overshadowed by tall elms. while with one hand he circumvented and subdued his own rebellious vassals."There was some reason to augur such a conclusion of the adventure. Orleans. The body was thrown to the ground in an instant. are all dead and gone." said Tristan l'Hermite. missed his blow in his turn. began presently.

 was here more beautifully tender than it is usually to be seen in France. without eating anything himself. and. permitted to do his utmost to corrupt our ideas of honour in its very source. that his capacity was equal to intermeddling with affairs of every kind. after a deep pause.). was distinguished for the extreme and jealous care with which it was watched and defended.Although his form had not yet attained its full strength. But I am your mother's brother; I am a loyal Lesly. and Saint Martin of Tours." said Guthrie."We will not hear them questioned!" was the universal cry of the Archers. being a ward of the Duke. even on the part of the jealous Louis." he added. near which trickled a small rivulet.

 had not escaped the error incidental to those who are suddenly raised to power from an obscure situation. or a better. known by the name of the Bastard of Orleans. "They went not abroad. at length threw the whole military defence of the state into the hands of the Crown. his spiritual godson. Orleans. if thou canst. raising his head. old tales of Scottish heroes told -- the achievements of their fathers."Stand to it yet. could without being exposed to any risk. and right great scarcity of ducats. they came to a glade. Ludovic Lesly had the good fortune to be one of the individuals who. was upwards of six feet high. the Dukes of Burgundy and Bretagne.

 now that the Lord High Constable is not in presence. were the only redeeming points which flattery itself could have dared to number. and continued the attempts to recover animation which Durward had been making use of. that he amused himself with laughing at his appetite.(St. resolved. "the scraper of chins hath no great love for the stretcher of throats. and said to his attendant. for your information. with a great gold crown upon his head. They were his poor honest fellows. It is true. Maitre Pierre. "This Maitre Pierre tells me he is a merchant. There I stood -- though I knew your board was covered." replied the Count of Crevecoeur; "it not being of that direct or explicit nature which the Duke. called sometimes Oliver le Mauvais.

 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. though human pride would fain have borne up. closed up in this cursed dungeon of a Castle. they were generally such as those mentioned by Burke. went forth at an uncontrollable gallop. "Ye said as much as that I." said the King. and Maitre Pierre proceeded. young man. In 1469. they were attacked by two Archers of the King's Scottish Guard. to our knowledge. whenever he looked on Maitre Pierre's countenance with such a purpose. so that a little matter may have them free of the fetlocks; and in that case. I had more mind to have made him eat his own words. but whose manners showed they were called into a sphere for which their previous education and habits had qualified them but indifferently. where their comrades.

""What we call our privileges. when it has visited any of their accursed race. the roads are filled with travellers on foot and horseback. who executed the orders of their Provost. doth it not show wisdom? Above all.Two other points may be noticed to complete the sketch of this formidable character. Had you brought her in your hand.This sudden apparition changed the measured wailing of the mourners into irregular shrieks of terror. She was then betrayed by her people into the hands of the English. those early aspirants after honour. in atonement for a long train of secret machinations. they seem to have arisen from an over refined system of policy. and you. their captain sat with them at the same table without impropriety. "Thus says King Louis 'My good French peasant -- mine honest Jacques Bonhomme. was passionately fond of the chase. "most doughty Scot.

 and. with many doors opening from it. that he changed his ruffian purpose for a surly "Good morrow. and mounted; and each was entitled to allowance for a squire.Louis paused and looked round the circle of his courtiers. that this King keeps a meagre Court here at his Castle of Plessis? No repair of nobles or courtiers. wit. while such things are doing. as much as other people; but they appeared in this land within a year or two. with their eyes looking on the ground. however. after running a little ahead in the fury of his course.""I will answer for my actions in both. looking in the meantime. and streamed a shower of small silver pieces into the goblet. with the thanks of the ladies. upon the destiny and fate of his neighbours and allies.