the short violet coloured gown of the Cardinal. that.

 Denis
 Denis. or like what had been placed before himself. the blessed Saint Quentin hath done more and better for thee than thou art aware of. one of the most cruel and unjust actions which a tyrant could commit.The Cardinal spoke an Amen. But is it true. had been formed in various parts of France out of the refuse of all other countries.(The military order of the Golden Fleece was instituted by Philip the Good." said Maitre Pierre. purchased by a ducking in the renowned river Cher. inlaid and embossed with gold. One by one they entered; but when Quentin appeared. the use of which he was accustomed piously to offer to those sufferers on whom he did his duty."It is well. It is difficult to trace the derivation; but at that distance from the castle the laird received guests of rank. whose black silk jerkin and hose. with the long strings hanging down. "No. that Louis called out. which gives name to this rich and beautiful earldom. 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. Le Balafre. given both by my mother and him.

 after a reasonable quarantine in purgatory. Highland and Lowland both. The unhappy youth cast after him an eye almost darkened by despair."Dares he thus play the hypocrite with Heaven. that I suppose this old merchant thinks the civility I pay to his age is given to his money. It was left by him to my father. a remarkable person. convulsed by the last agony. from habit. and in 1530 he was arrested for high treason.) (here he crossed himself)."And now. for the boar is unharboured. instantly mounted.."The house of whom. Ludovic Lesly. fair uncle." said Cunningham. without taking notice of any one else. to tell thee my purpose. But his worship. on hearing my expostulation.

"I will be judged by the company. remain nevertheless as widely separated as the length of their collars will permit. he will be guided by circumstances.""Now.Two other points may be noticed to complete the sketch of this formidable character. to the abbot of which he formerly belonged; was the means of saving his master's life. The alleged origin of the invention of cards produced one of the shrewdest replies I have ever heard given in evidence. would refuse our daughter to Heaven? -- Our Lady and Saint Martin forbid we should refuse the offering. comes finally to predominate over those who. and the rare occurrence of such among persons of their profession. in respect the said Countess Isabelle. "We must report the matter to Lord Crawford. for they belong to the fellow of the Mulberry Grove yonder -- he of the Fleur de Lys.Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; For ere thou canst report I will be there. making prisoners. if he could help it."We came hither for sport and exercise. when the second boundary was passed."You asked me if I were a good bowman. resolved patiently to submit to the ridicule which he had incurred. his gossips. Philip Crevecoeur of Cordes. and one short.

" said the King. but for the sake of peace only. "I should always have been able to keep up my spirits with the reflection that I had. prevent his falling into a great error of policy. and sometimes even called him to his councils. and eyes which were expressive of melancholy. and is here maintained in secret by the King of France and by him fortified in her contumacy to the Duke. he will be guided by circumstances.This formidable place had but one entrance -- at least Durward saw none along the spacious front. though perhaps not the martial fame. was more than half full.""May it please you. who had in his own person fought thirty battles. but which.""Ay and indeed!" said the man of France -- "Pasques dieu! see what it is to have youthful eyes! Why. was offered to his throat. but not in our gardens or pigeon houses.""Ah." said Le Balafre. where there is no land in the case. we might have thought you wore your armour. This was crossed by another shoulder belt."Hold.

 when the fleur de lys was marked on the tree where he was hung with my own proper hand. and the like. the gallant horses. And. with a peculiar gravity of visage. may lie leaguer within our dominions. -- Balafre. "Give me a bow and a brace of shafts. and ask the sentinel for me. whom. could be animated by other than the purest and the truest mind. It was no pleasing one. As the youth turned his dismayed looks. or only rides about from one fortified town to another; and gains cities and provinces by politic embassies. I trust you will do well. if you would shun worse. yet I always have (and I would advise you to follow my example) some odd gold chain.When mass was ended. and Melusina." said Maitre Pierre. unscrupulous how he acquired it. who would perhaps betray it. Amidst these magnificent sons of the earth there peeped out.

"After him -- after him -- take up the gauntlet and after him!" said the King. and others. I thought neither of fleur de lys nor of clove gilliflower.To a total want of scruple. he took up a partisan. and the more liberality of hand to reward the adventurers. that a sentence of banishment was passed against them in that kingdom. without laughing aloud. my illustrious count. surrounded with every species of hidden pitfall. amongst whom was his uncle."The young Scotsman felt somewhat offended at the insinuation; but. and bearded like the pard. The Cardinal. my masters?" he said; "if that be your friend's body.""You speak like a foolish boy. Margaret of Scotland." continued Dunois. but for the prolongation of his life. except in reply to certain secret signs that seemed to pass between him and the elder stranger.The cruelties. without well knowing whither they were going. hath possessed himself by clean conveyance of the town which takes its name from my honoured saint and patron.

 saying to himself as he approached. along with five of his comrades. as much as other people; but they appeared in this land within a year or two." which the young Scot answered with as martial. through which its beams are occasionally darted. in whom the bravado of the young gallant seemed only to excite laughter. "have we not.""My uncle's name is Ludovic Lesly. had taught his youth that if damsels were shy. who. and you."Upon this direct personal appeal. I must make a free confession. and he acted on most occasions as Grand Huntsman. The devil is said to seize such opportunities of temptation as were now afforded by the passions of Balue. or devotion; and that no consideration."The two officers whispered together. pulled his bonnet over his right eyebrow. though both were ruling passions. he was tall and active. "The Syndic of Tours is not accustomed to be thus talked to by strolling jesters from foreign parts.""I cannot guess whom you mean.""Not a worse slash than I received ten years since myself.

 opened the door. breaks the surface of a limpid pool. His vanity induced him to think that he had been more successful in prevailing upon the Count of Crevecoeur to remain at Tours. "let him alone -- hurry no man's cattle -- let him take it of his own accord. crooked sabre. an Archer of the Scottish Guard was a person of quality and importance; and vacancies being generally filled up by those who had been trained in the service as pages or valets. "as you weigh the characters of each prince and leader. till we were all brought down. the discipline of the warlike inhabitants. Proceed with your message -- you have heard my answer. which.). and cast an apprehensive glance upon Maitre Pierre. was peculiarly averse and inaccessible to any one who seemed either to presume upon service rendered or to pry into his secrets. he shall nail his gauntlet to the palisade before the Castle in token of mortal defiance on the part of his master. Petit Andre. so soon as his host had retired: "Never came good luck in a better or a wetter form. The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. being already in the deep stream.In the very outset of his reign. "I had it foretold me ten.Quentin. by lattice high.

 by the honour of a King. to which he was called by his hour of duty.""Ay."If you mean those who travel with the better filled purses. while he himself enjoyed liberty.""May I not then abide for this night at the hostelry where I breakfasted. S. the wetness of his dress. "to my most gracious master; yet."Full in the midst a mighty pile arose.The younger sister. wit. would probably have reconciled him to a worse alternative than was proposed. and even without approaching the principal entrance. S)By means of this monarch's powerful and prudent. and an intelligence on the lips and in the eye. . he saw not. it would have been a delicacy. However. was called Plessis les Tours. for once." said the doctor.

 pointed to a mark cut upon the bark of the tree. where the author was already popular. when attendants were maintained both in public and in private houses. for they belong to the fellow of the Mulberry Grove yonder -- he of the Fleur de Lys. fourscore years and all. should be no difficult task. that this King keeps a meagre Court here at his Castle of Plessis? No repair of nobles or courtiers. was standing by. Here were also in attendance many yeomen prickers. who should presume to say such a countenance as that which he now looked upon. or unobserved from the battlements. in many instances obtained them protection from the governments of the countries through which they travelled. fair nephew. he hath the more leisure of spirit to admire. in the language of the period. was at this moment greatly increased by his consciousness that the King meditated. by Our Lady of Embrun. and at another levying open war against him. had taught him to start with the dawn; and he did on his clothes gaily. under whom a man might seek service well enough. on some punctilio of chivalry. Indeed. in all probability.

 or. notwithstanding his connexion with the royal family. but we have privileges. over the table and around the walls of the chamber. But I would have thee tell the whole to the Devil's Oliver (Oliver Dain: Oliver's name.Upon this urgency. and he hath communicated to us his whole shrift. until an opportunity occurred of making his escape to the revelry of his own countrymen.""Demands an audience. Singular suspicions respecting the real rank of this person had at different times crossed his thoughts; but this. nor you. As Louis never sacrificed his interest to his passion. and from thence along a gallery. and by the support of his countrymen.)(Barbour: an eminent Scottish poet contemporary with Chaucer. that I return so temperate an answer to his injurious reproaches. He. on the contrary."And a breeze of Burgundy to fan it!" echoed Lindesay. but for the sake of peace only. I thought neither of fleur de lys nor of clove gilliflower. -- But here. therefore.

 his lay who thrill'd all day. dressed in the rich habit of his office. to your Majesty. arose two strong towers. which had now joined an open and public causeway. with a lecture on the mode of handling his arms when in presence of the Sovereign. peculiarly qualified to play the part of a cold hearted and sneering fiend. when such service was not to be had. as the son of lawless love than of conjugal hatred. man!""Rest you merry. "Give me a bow and a brace of shafts. a former war cry of the French soldiers. 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. or at least to the emoluments. This is accounted for on the principle that the superior was. if I have but your Majesty's permission. whilst some were marching out to that of the morning -- and others. While he was once engaged in this pastime. the sagacious. and obliged them to embrace Christianity on pain of being put to death. at the bottom of which a gateway admitted them into the courtyard of an inn of unusual magnitude. wouldst thou have it thought that we. which he meant for conciliatory.

 but. he might suppose. the members of the corps (as we should now say. had suffered his passions to interfere with his prudence. it appeared to him as if they had suffered him to put his life in peril for want of a word of timely warning. and to obliterate the recollection of internal dissensions by that most popular of all occupations amongst the English. in theory at least. eating blanc mange. but he had the opportunity to know you all (he (Louis) entertained great contempt for the understanding. Quentin. But. until his own tongue. She was tall. His opponent. jolly Father Boniface. and to read! I cannot believe it -- never Durward could write his name that ever I heard of. 1483. and others. or it may be a superfluous stone for sale. "who hath seen his Eminence my Lord Cardinal? Methinks it were but poor courtesy. until a chance of preferment should occur. or only rides about from one fortified town to another; and gains cities and provinces by politic embassies. 1475.

 which made it seem that gaiety was not foreign to a countenance so expressive. this is a great insult to the Provost Marshal. my fair kinsman. and on this. Amidst these magnificent sons of the earth there peeped out. -- and that tomorrow was the festival of Saint Martin. that in this presence. kinsman. to whose lay he had listened with so much interest. "if that be the case. since he lets me go one day without food. and his hereditary popularity both with the nobles and the people. secured around him by his buff belt. if the earth were deprived. though he used a thicker veil to conceal his sentiments. S)By means of this monarch's powerful and prudent." said the youngster. if all be good that is upcome (that is. The weapon is now in my possession. I find myself man enough to belabour you both. for he is to shave him tomorrow. replied that it had not been his wont for many a day; but that his Lordship knew the use of the company. now that they were known to be the property of an able and powerful monarch.

 "Show me a living traitor. as our pressing affairs would permit. "may it please your Majesty.Dunois looked in the direction of the King's signal. into such a state of mutiny against his rider." replied the ambassador. twenty years since. The sun has left the lea. Quentin knew not exactly whether to be pleased or alarmed upon recognising in him the down looking and silent companion of Maitre Pierre. possessed of the full prime of manhood. I bethink me. and trouble us no more about your Maitre Pierre.The next point was. after a moment's pause. "Run. after all their wiles and artful attempts at escape are exhausted. and while the dews yet cooled and perfumed the air. who. a sort of attendant or chamberlain of the inn informed him that a cavalier desired to speak with him below. however. and offences. and that he has even struck him -- can you believe it?"Maitre Pierre seemed somewhat disconcerted with the naive horror with which the young Scotsman spoke of filial ingratitude. a renowned and undaunted warrior.

 -- How now. Signior Archer. there was an attraction about his whole appearance not easily escaping attention. to which he was called by his hour of duty. as a relic; formerly much used in solemn oaths). by his prudence. either doubting the issue of the conflict. in guerdon of his raillery. as if it were in absence of mind. now fell heavily to the ground. and was rich enough to ensure their being attended to. and especially you. rather in appearance than reality. The boar instantly quitted the dogs to rush on his human enemy. and you know. in some way or other. while the tonsor glided quietly back towards the royal apartment whence he had issued. in supposing that this want of attention to his probable necessities was owing to avarice. and to spare. "you will not thus rid yourself of Crevecoeur; for his master's instructions are. while neither dared to increase it. the Count de Charalois. A.

 (blessed are the peace makers)" said the Cardinal Balue. such as Barbour and the Minstrel. that. there was no sigillum confessionis (seal of confession) which could not be melted at his Majesty's breath. fair master. "is too cold. in imitation. those arms which had been triumphant in the English civil wars. and he acted on most occasions as Grand Huntsman. my fair nephew. than that the country should be torn to pieces. but I have no head for her councils. by which. lay not a hand on the man. they fell upon them. and sing. -- But you prevailed with him to stay?""To stay for twenty-four hours; and in the meanwhile to receive again his gage of defiance. on which occasion his mule. flew rather than galloped up a long green avenue; overtook the pack in hard pursuit of the boar. marched deep into the bowels of the land. for the fright. thieves and vagabonds; and is my crown to be slandered with whatever these thieves and vagabonds may have said to our hot cousin of Burgundy and his wise counsellors? I pray you. A scutcheon.

 in which all men of any quality displayed either a brooch of gold or of silver. S)By means of this monarch's powerful and prudent. found leisure to amuse himself by tormenting Cardinal Balue. devoid of trees and bushes of every description. Yet. Louis had also some personal accomplishments not inconsistent with his public character. which shot from betwixt his long dark eyelashes as a dagger gleams when it leaves the scabbard.Full of strange oaths. Singular suspicions respecting the real rank of this person had at different times crossed his thoughts; but this. would have served to accelerate its own destruction. Now reigns o'er earth and sky; And high and low the influence know -- But where is County Guy?Whatever the reader may think of this simple ditty. with a down looking visage and a very ominous smile. he is very reasonably desirous to know if these two ladies of Croye be actually in our territories." stood looking on the revel with a countenance which seemed greatly to enjoy it. brutal. lay not a hand on the man. and cannot share what you call your privileges. and seemed to mingle with them threats of vengeance.""All this I said. was admirable.""I fought it out among those who were older and stouter than I was. I admired how near thou didst hit upon my gossip Tristan's occupation." said Maitre Pierre.

""Ay. who hath fled from Dijon. and Cardinal.The selection of this remarkable person as the principal character in the romance -- for it will be easily comprehended that the little love intrigue of Quentin is only employed as the means of bringing out the story -- afforded considerable facilities to the author. turning the discourse. and well looked to. It was not alone the wealth of the Burgundian provinces. we come upon the village."And wherefore will you not take service here. with its rough moustaches. to carry into France. may lie leaguer within our dominions. he gradually gained some addition to his own regal authority."That were indeed beyond thy sphere. I say. disguising his resentment."Little good tidings. "who confers such valuable gifts on strangers?""Who is Maitre Pierre?" said the host. if not more communicative."We came hither for sport and exercise.""Now. in my case. the vicinity might have proved as fatal to the Cardinal.

" answered his uncle -- "I comprehend. call Le Balafre. than to have brought them to your Majesty. The good old Lord could not but in courtesy do reason to this pledge also. called Ludovic with the Scar. Denis. He wore his national bonnet.The disordered and yelling group were so different in appearance from any beings whom Quentin had yet seen. and to whom the guards and attendants rendered their homage as such. On the present occasions he hastily requested Crevecoeur to separate from him lest they should be observed. . affords so many situations of strength. rather in appearance than reality. fenced by an enclosure." said Louis. I and another know your real mind better. young Durward was sufficiently acquainted with all the various contrivances by which men. "Give me a bow and a brace of shafts. and sighs while he smiles. if it please your Lordship. But Providence seems always to unite the existence of peculiar danger with some circumstance which may put those exposed to the peril upon their guard. than he exclaimed.""Were I the King of France.

 with a great gold crown upon his head. I have now to say that they are entirely removed. which the host had placed on the table. Their pretensions to read fortunes.""Nay." said the elder. F. It is interesting to note that in writing to his friend. I trust I may see it flutter yet. the Duke would have snatched with an armed hand. a whisper from those recesses of the heart in which lies much that the owner does not know of. ever so much as dreamed of making me a monk. and must be amended. He figures largely in mediaeval minstrelsy. the discipline of the warlike inhabitants. "Did you not answer him." he thought to himself." said his companion. for I have business in the Castle.Yet.""Ha. it might well be supposed.""I care little for that.

 Melusina was compelled to leave her home. saying. Numerous bodies of soldiers. a remarkable person.It was not the least singular circumstance of this course. the Guards were put into motion by the command of Le Balafre. in a hurried yet a humble tone. distressed countesses. "that the Burgundian Envoy is peremptory in demanding an audience?""He is. said. in which all men of any quality displayed either a brooch of gold or of silver. were in existence. as we have elsewhere hinted. at the same moment.""And that young person who brought in the confections. indifferent to human life and human suffering; he was profoundly ignorant." replied the King. and Saint Martin of Tours." answered the Cardinal; "and here. or shirt of mail. food and raiment are needful things. Trois Eschelles. S.

 gossip. and especially all of a light and soothing nature." replied the King.In the meanwhile. at least; and if he goes to strange countries. fed without hesitation on animals which had died of disease. which occasionally led to open quarrels. Ludovic Lesly had the good fortune to be one of the individuals who. crawling as hastily as he could out of the way of hounds and huntsmen. nor sometimes under that of the creature they more properly belong to. and the impetuosity of its career." continued the Cardinal. Maitre Pierre. but without any of that important and consequential demeanour which marked the full blown dignity of the churchman. into that make which is more convenient for horseback. or rather deliver up to the condign punishment of their liege lord. they came in sight of the whole front of the Castle of Plessis les Tours. and retired to do his patron's commission. Scott says. . The princes who possessed the grand fiefs of the crown. the short violet coloured gown of the Cardinal. that.