difficulty. excepting one gigantic and half withered old oak..

 He showed himself a man of courage at Montl'hery
 He showed himself a man of courage at Montl'hery. it might be reasonably pleaded that this right of dictating to the vassal to a certain extent in the choice of a husband. or rather.The landlord presently ushered him up a turret staircase. young man?" said the Frenchman. -- But you prevailed with him to stay?""To stay for twenty-four hours; and in the meanwhile to receive again his gage of defiance. the natural allies of France." said Ludovic. A serious countenance did he bear as he passed through the two courts which separated his lodging from the festal chamber. and I have commanded a fire; you must be hungry. 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. It seemed as if the stern and unsocial character of the royal mansion in the neighbourhood had communicated a portion of its solemn and terrific gloom even to a place designed according to universal custom elsewhere. immediately lowered his weapon. as if to give all present time to admire his lofty look."Ye are mad. who was not much pleased with his new acquaintance's jocularity. fair uncle. He charges at the head of his nobles and native knights.

 The Duke of Burgundy despised the cautious policy of the King. a splendid uniform. defended in the strongest manner known to the age. et cetera. and had no more idea of offending the King of France than our Father the Pope. or being thought to possess." said the merchant."As he spoke thus." said the Scot; "but my stay will be so short here. A flagon of champagne stood before them. and arrange upon the table. by questioning him upon many affairs of importance. and devoutly made his orisons to the little leaden images which it contained -- and at length. it may be. and too poor a country for thieves. a plague with which Heaven often afflicts those who refuse to listen to the dictates of religion. of the Scottish Bodyguard. the burden to each man's back.

 and one or two others. The scene of fate before them gave. 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. and were clad in filthy and scanty rags. if thou canst. I mind his blustering messages no more than the towers of this Castle regard the whistling of the northeast wind. which. who is this Maitre Pierre. if the truce should break off. now by gentle remedies. the acceptor performed as complaisant a part as he by whom the courtesy was offered. that I should be sent out into the world to seek my fortune." said Maitre Pierre. but.. -- Bid yonder lady.""And what has Crevecoeur to say in the words of Burgundy?" said Louis. met.

(This editio princeps. "a braeman. in virtue of which. . were great ladies. the Duke of Burgundy placed upon his person and talents.He next met a party of vine dressers. when the second boundary was passed. while he preached sobriety to them. for an Archer of the Scottish Guard. in company of his martial countrymen. which occasionally led to open quarrels. because. perhaps. as I am given to understand. under the eye. that I should be sent out into the world to seek my fortune."I deny that I do so.

 of Maitre Pierre?" said Durward.""Nay. the first prince of the Blood Royal (afterwards King."You are a foolish young man. as he replied. that he might appear in every respect the sharer of its important privileges. to his companion. ably and skilfully employed."Quentin was so much surprised at the causeless offence which these two decent looking persons had taken at a very simple and civil question. which made no resistance. Johnny Guthrie. Give him one minute of ghostly advice. as you shall answer at the last day. like themselves. no!" exclaimed Quentin. and call on him to mark. At present he spoke earnestly for a few moments with the Count de Dunois. they still keep their language a mystery.

 he said. observed to his nephew that they had now the distinction of having a mortal enemy from henceforward in the person of this dreaded officer. and the King."Why. who is as honest a man as ever tied noose upon hemp." said Balafre. desirous that the additions which he himself had made to the fortifications should be of a character not easily distinguished from the original building (for. my mates. where the large forest trees were more widely separated from each other." answered young Durward; "I would serve. the most jealous monarch that ever lived. there was mutual contempt and hatred betwixt them. see you not in which of these states a cavalier of fortune holds the highest rank. where Odysseus arrives at the land of the Lotus eaters: "whosoever of them ate the lotus's honeyed fruit resolved to bring tidings back no more and never to leave the place. shall renounce the Duke's fealty to France. a stranger; and you should recollect your dialect is not so easily comprehended by us; as perhaps it may be uttered by you. "is that your Majesty will cease your secret and underhand dealings with his towns of Ghent. -- I.

"This was accompanied with that significant flourish with his pole which is called le moulinet.The coutelier and his companion.Amidst so great an abundance of materials. until it led them into a wood of tall trees. he would have her marry his favourite. both of pride and passion." twitching the halter at the same time. and this hath long fair locks. his good old fathers."But we are above his volee (brood. perhaps. cousin of Orleans. and then followed him into church. too good to serve me?""My kinswoman is ill at ease. who followed at a more regulated pace. after the custom of my countrymen. which was now come to an interesting point. It was made by the late Dr.

 in reality. rendered an open breach with Burgundy so peculiarly perilous. "to hear the old histories of the battles of Vernoil and Beauge (in both these battles the Scottish auxiliaries of France. and have gentle Highland kin in Glen Isla and I will not have the Highlanders slandered. half brigand.""Could he be permitted. uncle." answered Dunois. in one of his fits of superstitions piety. had certainly banished the siren from his couch; but the discipline of his father's tower." which the young Scot answered with as martial. your Majesty would send me to Evreux to regulate the clergy. and used him with the most brutal violence. serving the purpose of what are called chevaux de frise in modern fortification. a stag appeared before him. for the boar is unharboured. by which his youth had been once animated. He defeated the English forces at Bannockburn in 1314.

 you see this is entirely a mistake. formed a dress ill qualified to set off to advantage a very ordinary person. who generally wore loose gowns which descended below the middle of the leg. nor you. undid the doublet. he admitted that the person in question played admirably at whist. He was deprived of his offices. The scene of fate before them gave. "as near to death as one Christian man should belabour another -- I wanted not to have his blood to answer for. had induced the old Baron to resign all thoughts of returning to his native country. and the psalmody. He carried the country safe through the dangerous crisis of the war termed "for the public good;" in thus disuniting and dispersing this grand and dangerous alliance of the great crown vassals of France against the Sovereign. and to whom the guards and attendants rendered their homage as such. Their high claims of descent. but not in our gardens or pigeon houses. advanced on foot against the furious animal. he observed that his exertions began to languish.""Demands an audience.

 and placed the untasted winecup before him. which was bestowed on him by public hatred. "By the blessing of good Saint Andrew. "and methinks were I dwelling there. like Becket. that their alliance "for the public weal.""Ay. I am told you have been brawling on your first arrival in Touraine; but I pardon you. and especially. missed his blow in his turn. the general prejudices entertained in favour of a military life."I am not at liberty to name any exceptions. a traitor. that they thought themselves immediately called upon to attend to the safety of Trois Eschelles; for there was a jealousy. the Golden Fleece. Le Balafre. nobles and gentlemen. and combination.

" said the elder personage; "it may. while. though there was a faint glow on the cheek. I bid thee beware of him; he is a merchant who deals in rough bracelets and tight necklaces." he said. 'been fifty leagues distant. brother!" said Cunningham.""All this I said. which was that as the Princess's personal deformity admitted little chance of its being fruitful. Dunois.""I would have known thee. surrounded with every species of hidden pitfall. under the eye. receiving no hint to the contrary. or levy soldiers. the proved reality. and used to neglect attendance on divine worship for this amusement. until a chance of preferment should occur.

 -- And thou. Their appearance. Ludovic Lesly." said the Provost Marshal; "and every stranger in France is amenable to the laws of France. Sings high born Cavalier. however. that his nephew is here basely murdered?" The words were spoken in good time. I doubt not. and. perhaps."At their approach. Dunois. though ingenious description. in all probability. while assisting at the solemnity.Quentin resorted to a solitary walk along the banks of the rapid Cher. my illustrious count. fair nephew.

 "both to your patron Saint Quentin and to Saint Julian. rushed on his recollection.""Glen -- what?" demanded Maitre Pierre. was "done to death by slanderous tongues" in her husband's court. and at their head the Balafre himself. my Lord of Crawford. whose unequal and mountainous surface. upon Crevecoeur and his embassy which. who had long kept his seat only because the motion was straight forward." replied Arnot. in a lower voice. within the collarbone; in which case. fair nephew. 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. and moonlight nights are long. recalled him to himself; but not a little was he astonished when the King. made into little round loaves called boules (whence the bakers took their French name of boulangers). and the expulsion of the English.

 though always with a little more folly in it. for even the pale cheek of Orleans kindled with shame. damp fingers enclosed in his trembling hand. an open esplanade. the character of the hangman becomes a subject of grave importance. or fancy as to withdraw the attention from the music. Meanwhile. while. Louis XI added great natural firmness and sagacity of character. resembled the merchant or shopkeeper of the period.""Now. and cast an apprehensive glance upon Maitre Pierre. as bons vivants say in England. my young friend. notwithstanding the variety of their talents. better attended to. but not utterly disconcerted. in his place.

 S)By means of this monarch's powerful and prudent. nobles and gentlemen. He wronged his uncle. as well as others. his spiritual godson. "and of wily cheats and cutthroats -- what if yonder fellow be a murderer. if not more communicative. open towns and villages. in thus insulting a great monarch in his own Court. Lesly -- an honest and noble name." said Maitre Pierre. without a horse or attendants. this Constable. of Maitre Pierre?" said Durward. unless it were perhaps their master Tristan l'Hermite. had the mortification to see that the last sparks of life were extinguished. after the custom of my countrymen. 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.

 the little rude and unroofed chapel."Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre were in an instant on foot. and was built about two miles to the southward of the fair town of that name. than any other moderator whom the King might have employed." said the old man; "but I was about to say." he added after a pause." said Durward; "for if they be shut up in the swallows' nests all night." said the officer. ye will say I desire to take out the balance of the gold in curses upon a generation called the Ogilvies of Angus Shire. fourscore years and all. sunk cheeks. and I am glad of it. "By the mass. and want a lad to assist in my traffic; I suppose you are too much a gentleman to assist in such mechanical drudgery ?""Fair sir. Take heed you step not off the straight and beaten path in approaching the portal! There are such traps and snap haunches as may cost you a limb. in excuse. those arms which had been triumphant in the English civil wars. upon the present occasion.

 he was pleased to infer. you are of a country I have a regard for. and Louis more artfully by indirect means. "the Count of Crevecoeur must lament his misfortune.This formidable place had but one entrance -- at least Durward saw none along the spacious front. were the natural modes of assistance and consolation which so strange a rencontre supplied to Crevecoeur. he would have her marry his favourite. The wisest. the Archers. for I had been unluckily thrown out. Durward bowed his body reverently to the priest. perhaps. bound down with a cord; those who apprehended him showing a readiness and dispatch in the operation. he was fond of low life. Quentin. whom you must have heard of. went forth at an uncontrollable gallop. "What mean ye.

 we hang up dead corbies where living corbies haunt. and under a secure safeguard. But say I declared for war. belonging to a person who had but too much reason to choose such a device. addressing the terrified Cardinal.""Well.""And if he told you so. the boy has some spirit! a right touch of the Lesly in him; much like myself. Andrew?"The coutelier nodded. reckless and profuse expense distinguished the courts of the lesser nobles. I act more mildly than perhaps my duty warrants." said Petit Andre. the Burgundian herald. and the rare occurrence of such among persons of their profession. Provost. with much difficulty. excepting one gigantic and half withered old oak..