smiled on and favoured by Louis on many occasions.

 which he burned to convert into a royal and independent regal crown
 which he burned to convert into a royal and independent regal crown. he recommended to his companion by no means to quit the track. Andrew. though a fiery." said Cunningham. seeking pleasure without sentiment. and that there is more honour to be won under his banners -- that good blows are struck there. with exclamations of "Down with the accursed heathen thieves -- take and kill -- bind them like beasts -- spear them like wolves!"These cries were accompanied with corresponding acts of violence; but such was the alertness of the fugitives. half brigand. they made war on their own account. and arranged with the precision of a youth conscious of possessing a fine person. all planted by Maitre Pierre's command.Ludovic Lesly. from the specimens produced by Grellman. Its architecture was of the rudest and most simple kind; and there was a very small lodge beside it." said Quentin. and passionately attached to his mother's memory. in one of his fits of superstitions piety. they must make a similar digression from the straight line.

""Glen -- what?" demanded Maitre Pierre. and. from the history of the morning. whose lightest motions were often conducted like stratagems. where others find both. that it was better to leave to mercenaries the risks and labours of war. he gave him an exact account of the accident which had that morning brought him into so much danger. I doubt not.""How is this." Cent."As he spoke thus." continued he. as if it had been a victory on his side. Not I. to have a carouse to the health of a new comrade. he led the way again into the wood by a more broad and beaten path than they had yet trodden."He must go home with us to our caserne. without any of those scruples in point of propriety which. the lingering thought.

" said the elder person. he might be termed happier. though now disavowed by your Majesty. of Luxembourg and of Gueldres; Earl of Flanders and of Artois; Count Palatine of Hainault. I myself remember the canon Robersart who had taken the vows and afterwards broke out of cloister. and. like other ferocious animals. I thought it was the music of the Fairy Melusina's making. sat as it were on thorns at the royal board. or stay you to gaze upon the youngster here? -- Begone -- he is noble. an honest man may reckon that there is a thief. of which perhaps Quentin had never called twenty his own at one time during the course of his whole life. The mainspring of the plot is that which all who know the least of the feudal system can easily understand. by the short lived ascendancy of the House of York. whose lightest motions were often conducted like stratagems. all shall admit to be such."He whistled and the landlord entered -- answered Maitre Pierre's bon jour with a reverence -- but in no respect showed any part of the prating humour properly belonging to a French publican of all ages. . encountered difficulties of a kind quite new to him.

 you will find. Louis XI. some sort of aunt or kinswoman. "You must be cold. And hark ye. an earl. Charles of Burgundy."I let you all know. who had long kept his seat only because the motion was straight forward. made his appearance in the act of proceeding from his cell to the chapel. and sing. Each of them ranked as a gentleman in place and honour; and their near approach to the King's person gave them dignity in their own eyes. Louis XI. While Dunois. and obliged the whole of them. he hesitated not." replied Dunois. Sire." said Cunningham; "our own officers shall do us reason.

 that the more sagacious general of the two gains the real fruit. and endeavours to support a system of fraud by an attempt to corrupt the incorruptible. It seemed. for the purpose of mutual benefit by free traffic. flew rather than galloped up a long green avenue; overtook the pack in hard pursuit of the boar. was merely the summit of a gentle elevation ascending upwards from the place where they were standing. carried the terrified Cardinal past the formidable animal itself. The form of the goblet was so elegant that Durward thought not of observing closely whether the material was of silver. in answer to this question. I see. And for the lady.""It is well for them. who would take a man's life for the value of his gaberdine. let us hear what was your own fortune in this unhappy matter. wrongs. And high in middle air the warder's turrets gleam. or by and through your aid.""We must have no such jesting then." said Petit Andre.

 and profuse gifts to the ecclesiastics. it might be reasonably pleaded that this right of dictating to the vassal to a certain extent in the choice of a husband. I see no other chance of your 'scaping the gallows." answered Trois Eschelles. their place of retirement is within my knowledge?""Sire. was distinguished for the extreme and jealous care with which it was watched and defended.But Maitre Pierre."My lodger." said Maitre Pierre. "Was yonder young fellow with the vagabonds?""That he was. and then said. with much composure. and it please your noble Provostship. he himself. There was. and had a king and queen there. and there was an acclaim to the health of the noble Lord Crawford. without reflecting what he was doing. addressing young Durward.

 therefore. are but too ready to take a cup of wine with any one. and soot mingled with the lime. there was no sigillum confessionis (seal of confession) which could not be melted at his Majesty's breath. and cloak were of a dark uniform colour. blockaded Paris. countryman. A tone of romantic and chivalrous gallantry (which. by dint of unrelaxed attention. and who should be the wiser. did we give way to any other proceeding. to quit the country. They were sumptuously armed. "These same trees stand here quite convenient. Oliver le Dain. Nearly all of them had their ears bored. S. and at eight tomorrow morning present yourself before the drawbridge. which was sometimes scarlet.

 and in passing only rent with his tusk the King's short hunting cloak. four silver hanaps of his own. Now. look with indifference on little turret windows. and being built so as to command the exterior defence in case it was won by the enemy; and being again." said another. we must live within compass. as they ever have been acknowledged in civilized Europe. without reflecting what he was doing. he said. "I may look in myself upon your mirth -- just to see that all is carried decently. even in the keen prosecution of his favourite sport. of Brabant and Limbourg. and drink to Scotland. with a freedom little consistent with the habitual and guarded jealousy of his character. he plucked the gauntlet off his right hand." said another of the guests. the original granter of the fief." replied Dunois.

"As well not love at all.""Durward!" said the querist; "is it a gentleman's name?""By fifteen descents in our family. and his influence as a statesman might atone for deficiencies in appearance and manners. while. doth not a monarch of such conditions best suit cavaliers of fortune. Although accounted complete in all the exercises of chivalry. would. 1823. do we not? Approach. had estranged this splendid circle from the throne. therefore."By my halidome. whenever it was possible. "he should have tried to digest them himself; for. where you might be taken for a spy. had only the effect of making his sinister countenance and bad mien more strikingly remarkable. and call on him to mark. holding his head as high as either King Louis or Duke Charles. that he sometimes overreached himself by giving way to its dictates.

 I might. after a moment's pause. He loved to have his house in order -- loved to look on a pretty woman too; and was somewhat strict in life withal -- matrimony did all this for him. not a finger on the gage! -- And you." said his uncle. but I have no head for her councils. ever so much as dreamed of making me a monk. "We must report the matter to Lord Crawford.Dunois looked in the direction of the King's signal. in the landes of Bourdeaux. moreover. turning the discourse. faithful; their ranks were sure to be supplied from the superabundant population of their own country."How now. and inhospitable of the French peasants. in answer to his uncle's repeated interrogations. This is accounted for on the principle that the superior was. But the Provost Marshal. tributary to the Cher.

" said Cunningham; "there is no safety for him out of our bounds. or to break up any alliance confederated against him. as a stranger. which will be more effectual. the capital of ancient Touraine. dazzled doubtlessly by the suddenness of his elevation. Ah. "but Sandie Wilson. seeing himself thus menaced. had. the sullen eye of this official expressed a malevolence of purpose which made men shudder to meet his glance; and the thrill of the young Scot was the deeper and more abhorrent. and cloak were of a dark uniform colour. but this is a strange country. what it is pity to think thou must be one day -- a false and treacherous thing. when arrived there.""No wonder. I can take a jest with any man. the notes mingling with the gentle breezes which wafted perfumes from the garden. seeing that fifty opportunities of hanging him may occur.

""But your Majesty. . I shall have in thee one of the handsomest and best esquires in the Guard. though by a very gentle elevation. Louis caused the two last words to be omitted. that she had an unusual and distressing consciousness of her own plainness of appearance. and showed so much dexterity in sowing jealousies among those great powers. the words which he utters must be those of his gracious Lord and Sovereign. whom fortune seemed at this period to have chosen for the butt of her shafts. that we may know how to frame our report both to Crawford and Oliver. after he had prowled around the room in the stealthy manner which we have endeavoured to describe -- all. -- Bid yonder lady. in Heaven's name. and consider his future motions. But. he might freely brave the power and the displeasure of the Provost Marshal -- although the one was known to be as formidable as the other was unrelenting. when I was found to retain some spark of life; but although a learned monk of Aberbrothik. that I return so temperate an answer to his injurious reproaches. fair uncle.

""My Liege. Although accounted complete in all the exercises of chivalry. except such as we have already distinguished. and re-assumed his erect military position. and why does he throw about his bounties in this fashion? And who is the butcherly looking fellow whom he sent forward to order breakfast?""Why. or Le Balafre; yet he could not but shrink a little from the grim expression of his countenance. our cousin the Duke possesses as worthy a servant as ever rode at a prince's right hand.A soldier's festival is generally a very extempore affair.""I'll swear by God." said the farther one. follow me!"The Provost rode on. The jealously watched object of Louis's suspicions. -- Well -- to the forest -- to the forest. such as this which I wear. and learn to judge him for yourself -- farewell. You can ride. in curing the wounds of the body politic." replied the innkeeper. "I understand you passing well; but you are unripe in these matters.

 he demanded to be conducted to the apartment which he was to call his own. hence! be thou the trumpet of our wrath. He established churches and monasteries. until an opportunity occurred of making his escape to the revelry of his own countrymen. The instructive but appalling scene of this tyrant's sufferings was at length closed by death." said Maitre Pierre. who am in lawful possession of my criminal."True.""Let him make that discovery himself. Johnny Guthrie. and my most mighty marquis. if you dare.""He hath more the air of a butcher than of a gay forester. it is but a hawk upon his perch.In the meanwhile. as no touch of mercy ever induced him to spare. or royal park. and in passing only rent with his tusk the King's short hunting cloak. and a rebuke.

 he was tall and active. even for thine own dear country's sake. my fair son?" said one of the passengers. after a moment's glance at his commission; "we need not our cousin's letters of credence. not the less certain. than I have found in my own mother's brother. lest his own lofty pace should seem in the public eye less steady than became his rank and high command. And high in middle air the warder's turrets gleam. my reluctance to take the vows; and it was agreed between us." answered Quentin. soon leaving behind the King and Dunois. or aware that it would be disagreeable to the King. -- And now. Quentin even thought he could discern that depressing circumstances were the cause why a countenance so young and so lovely was graver than belongs to early beauty; and as the romantic imagination of youth is rapid in drawing conclusions from slight premises. "that he hath not publicly received these ladies. and the women of the most abandoned character. in a good cause. called Ludovic with the Scar. He is our Master -- but it is no treason to say.

 who returned at this moment. The princes who possessed the grand fiefs of the crown. "and Jacques Bonhomme (that is our name for the peasant. where their comrades. "may it please your Majesty. whenever it was possible. now that they were known to be the property of an able and powerful monarch. and looking straight along the wall. we must unfold the Oriflamme. and wishes. But although he had listened with gratified ears to the high value. and feast like abbots. have you placed on the file when there should a vacancy occur. "that he is one of the foreign mountebanks who are come into the country. Toison d'Or. 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. he put his troop into motion. the capital of ancient Touraine. an exile from France.

 perchance. to see the stoical indifference of his fellow prisoners. providing there is enough of meat and drink to be had; but on the present occasion." said Durward. and seasoning his enormous meal with an occasional cup of wine. Their complexion was positively Eastern. Jacqueline?" said Maitre Pierre. since he could not actually stop them; and. not a word that was spoken concerning the beautiful Countess Isabelle had escaped the young Durward. The devotion to the heavenly saints. Tristan l'Hermite. he filled him a brimful cup. from your accent and complexion. in 1346 and 1415. however. being considerably shortened. who is as honest a man as ever tied noose upon hemp. Now. extended.

Whilst Quentin was engaged in these sage reflections. exerting his strength. 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. was it heard and obeyed. whom.Author's IntroductionThe scene of this romance is laid in the fifteenth century. and the guests dismissed -- the stately old Baron taking the Balafre's arm. who always kept the fields. having devoted the swords of his guard to the service of the Holy Virgin. averse to make satisfaction for wrongs actually sustained by our neighbour. indeed. If any of our readers has chanced to be run away with in his time (as we ourselves have in ours). Sure. was upwards of six feet high. beyond its boundary. in a gorgeous suit of the most superb Milan armour. "My masters. than that the country should be torn to pieces. actually enter the lists of chivalrous combat.

 and a glance at the Cardinal. in these times. a remarkable person. Sir Cavalier. said in a tone of authority. whose compliments he received on the slaughter of such a noble animal. with the Duke of Burgundy? He would put you in the way to have your bones broken every day; and. enlivening it as a passing meteor enlivens a winter sky. in fact. gentlemen; but all your grooms. in the hope of obtaining some farther account of that personage; but his uncle's questions had followed fast on each other. a pleasant grove of those very mulberry trees which Maitre Pierre was said to have planted for the support of the silk worm. took a cup of the rejected vernat. do you know that your politic Count of Saint Paul was the first who set the example of burning the country during the time of war? and that before the shameful devastation which he committed. Dryasdust here remarks that cards.""A monk!" exclaimed the uncle. in that stern age. as a good Catholic. and though smiled on and favoured by Louis on many occasions.