"Be hushed, Ludovic," said Crawford; "ye are an ass, my friend, and ken not the blessing Heaven has sent you in this braw callant.-And now tell me, Quentin, my man, hath the King any advice of this brave, christian, and manly resolution of yours? for, poor man, he hath need, in his strait, to ken what he has to reckon upon. Had he but brought the whole brigade of Guards with him!—But God's will be done -Kens he of your purpose, think you?"

"I really can hardly tell," answered Quentin; "but I assured his learned astrologer, Martius Galeotti, of my resolution to be silent on all that could injure the King with the Duke of Burgundy. The particulars which I suspect, I will not (under your favour) communicate even to your lordship; and to the philosopher I was, of course, far less willing to unfold myself."

"Ha! ha!"-answered Lord Crawford-" Oliver did indeed tell me that Galeotti prophesied most stoatly concerning the line of conduct you were to hold; and I am truly glad to find he did so on better authority than the stars.'

"He prophesy!" said Le Balafré, laughing; "the stars never told him that honest Ludovic Lesly used to help yonder wench of his to spend the fair ducats he flings into her lap.',

"Hush! Ludovic," said his captain, "hush! thou beast, man!-If thou dost not respect my gray hairs, because I have been e'en too much of a routier myself, respect the boy's youth and innocence, and let us have no more of such unbecoming daffing."

something in all this, which, by my honour, I do not understand. The Countess Isabelle of Croye!-an interview with a lady of her birth, blood, and possessions!-and thou, a raw Scottish lad, so certain of carrying thy point with her? Thou art either strangely confident, my young friend, or else you have used your time well upon the journey. But, by the Cross of Saint Andrew! I will move Crevecoeur in thy behalf; and, as he truly fears that Duke Charles may be provoked against the King to the extremity of falling foul, I think it likely he may grant thy request, though, by my honour, it is a comical one!" So saying, and shrugging up his shoulders, the old Lord left the apartment, followed by Ludovic Lesly, who forming his looks on those of his principal, endeavoured, though knowing nothing of the cause of his wonder, to look as mysterious and important as Crawford himself.

In a few minutes Crawford returned, but without his attendant Le Balafré. The old man seemed in singular humour, laughing and chuckling to himself in a manner which strangely distorted his stern and rigid features, and at the same time shaking his head, as at something which he could not help condemning, while he found it irresistibly ludicrous. My certes, countryman," said he, "but you are not blate-you will never lose fair lady for faint heart! Crevecœur swallowed your proposal as he would have done a cup of vinegar, and swore to me roundly, by all the saints in Burgundy, that were less than the honour of princes and the peace of kingdoms at stake, you should never see even so much as the print of the Countess Isabelle's foot on the clay. Were it not that that he meant to break a lance for the prize himself. Perhaps he thinks of his nephew, the County Stephen. A Countess!--would no less serve you to be minting at?-But come along-your interview with her must be brief-But I fancy you know how to make the most of little time-ho! ho! ho!-By my faith, I can hardly chide thee for the presumption, I have such a good will to laugh at it!""

"Your honour may say your pleasure," answered Ludovic Lesly; "but, by my faith, second-sighted Saunders Souplejaw, the town-souter of Glen-houla-he had a dame, and a fair one, I would have thought kin, was worth Galeotti, or Gallipotty, or whatever ye call him, twice told, for a prophet. He foretold that all my sister's children would die some day; and he foretold it in the very hour that the youngest was born, and that is this lad Quentin-who, no doubt will one day die, to make up the prophecy-the more is the pity-the whole curney of them is gone but himself. And Saunders foretold to myself one day, that I should be made by marriage, which doubtless will also happen in due time, though it hath not yet come to pass-though how or when, I can hardly guess, as I care not myself for the wedded state, and Quentin is but a lad. Also, Saunders predicted"

Nay," said Lord Crawford, "unless the prediction be singularly to the good Ludovice; for those, I must cut you short, my you and I must now leave your nephew, with prayers to Our Lady to strengthen him in the good mind he is in; for this is a case in which a light word might do more mischief than all the Parliament of Paris could mend.-My blessing with you, my lad; and be in no hurry to think of leaving our body, for there will be good blows going presently in the eye of day, and no ambuscade.'

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And my blessing too, nephew," said Ludovic Lesly; "for, since you have satisfied our most noble captain, I also am satisfied, as in duty bound."

Stay, my lord," said Quentin, and led Lord Crawford a little apart from his uncle. "I must not forget to mention, that there is a person besides in the world, who, having learned from me these circumstances, which it is essential to King Louis's safety should at present remain concealed, may not think that the same obligation of secrecy, which attaches to me as the King's soldier, and as having been relieved by his bounty, is at all binding on

her.

"On her replied Crawford; nay, if there be a woman in the secret, the Lord ha' mercy, for we are all on the rocks again!"

With a brow like scarlet, at once offended and disconcerted by the blunt inferences of the old soldier, and vexed at beholding in what an absurd light his passion was viewed by every person of experience, Durward followed Lord Crawford in silence to the Ursuline convent, in which the Countess was lodged, and in the parlour of which he found the Coung de Crèvecœur."

So, young gallant," said the latter, sternly, "you must see the fair companion of your romantic expedition once more, it seems?"

ly;

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Yes, my Lord Count," answered Quentin, firmand what is more, I must see her alone." That shall never be," said the Count de Crèvecœur.-" Lord Crawford, I make you judge. This young lady, the daughter of my old friend and companion in arms, the richest heiress in Burgundy, has confessed a sort of a-what was I going to say?—in short, she is a fool, and your man-at-arms here a presumptuous coxcomb-In a word, they shall not meet alone."

"Then will I not speak a single word to the Countess in your presence," said Quentin, much delighted. "You have told me much that I did not dare, presumptuous as I may be, even to hope.”

་་

You

Ay, truly said, my friend," said Crawford. have been imprudent in your communications; and, since you refer to me, and there is a good stout grating across the parlour, I would advise you to trust to it, and let them do the worst with their tongues. What, man! the life of a King, and many thousands besides, is not to be weighed with the chance of two young things whilly-whawing in ilk other's ears for a minute?"

"Do not suppose so, my lord," replied Durward, "but use your interest with the Count of Crevecœur to permit me an interview with the Countess Isabelle of Croye, who is the party possessed of my secret, So saying, he dragged off Crèvecœur, who followand I doubt not that I can persuade her to be as si-ed very reluctantly, and cast many angry glances at lent as I shall unquestionably myself remain, concering whatever may incense the Duke against King Louis."

The old soldier mused for a long time-looked up to the ceiling, then down again upon the floor-then shook his head,-and at length said, "There is

the young Archer as he left the room.

In a moment after, the Countess Isabelle entered on the other side of the grate, and no sooner saw Quentin alone in the parlour, than she stopped short, and cast her eyes on the ground for the space of half a minute. "Yet why should I be ungrateful," she

said, "because others are unjustly suspicious?-My | der accusation. They must esteem him innocent, friend-my preserver, I may almost say, so much until direct and sufficient proof shall demonstrate his have I been beset by treachery-my only faithful and guilt. Now, what does not consist with your own constant friend!" certain knowledge, should be proved by other evidence than your report from hearsay."

Surely not," said Durward; "but let your evidence concerning Louis be confined to what you yourself positively know to be truth; and when you mention what others have reported, no matter how credibly, let it be as reports only, and beware of "My Lord of Crawford," said the Burgundian, "to pledging your own personal evidence to that, which, anticipate such evil is the sure way to give occasion though you may fully believe, you cannot personally to it. Obey the orders of your royal master, and give know to be true. The assembled Council of Bur- no pretext for violence by taking hasty offence, and gundy cannot refuse to a Monarch the justice, which you will find that the day will pass over more in my country is rendered to the meanest person un-smoothly than you now conjecture."

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE INVESTIGATION.

Me rather had, my heart might feel your love,
Than my displeased eye see your courtesy.
Up, cousin, up-your heart is up, I know,
Thus high at least-although your knee-

state were erected under the same canopy, that for the King being raised two steps higher than the one which the Duke was to occupy; about twenty of the chief nobility sat, arranged in due order, on either hand of the chair of state; and thus, when both the Princes were seated, the person for whose trial, as it might be called, the council was summoned, held the highest place, and appeared to preside in it.

It was perhaps to get rid of this inconsistency, and the scruples which might have been inspired by it, that Duke Charles, having bowed slightly to the royal chair, bluntly opened the sitting with the following words:

King Richard II. Ar the first toll of the bell, which was to summon the great nobles of Burgundy together in council, with the very few French peers who could be present on the occasion, Duke Charles, followed by a part of his train, armed with partisans and battle-axes, entered the Hall of Herbert's Tower, in the Castle of Pe- "My good vassals and counsellors, it is not unronne. King Louis, who had expected the visit, arose known to you what disturbances have arisen in our and made two steps towards the Duke, and then re- territories, both in our father's time, and in our own, mained standing with an air of dignity, which, in spite from the rebellion of vassals against superiors, and of the meanness of his dress, and the familiarity of his subjects against their princes. And lately, we have ordinary manners, he knew very well how to assume had the most dreadful proof of the height to which when he judged it necessary. Upon the present import- these evils have arrived in our case, by the scandalous ant crisis, the composure of his demeanour had an flight of the Countess Isabelle of Croye, and her aunt evident effect upon his rival, who changed the abrupt the Lady Hameline, to take refuge with a foreign and hasty step with which he entered the apartment, power, thereby renouncing their fealty to us, and ininto one more becoming a great vassal entering the ferring the forfeiture of their fiefs; and in another presence of his Lord Paramount. Apparently the more dreadful and deplorable instance, by the sacriDuke had formed the internal resolution to treat legious and bloody murder of our beloved brother and Louis, in the outset at least, with the formalities due ally the Bishop of Liege, and the rebellion of that to his high station; but at the same time it was evi- treacherous city, which was but too mildly punished dent, that, in doing so, he put no small constraint for the last insurrection. We have been informed that upon the fiery impatience of his own disposition, and these sad events may be traced, not merely to the inwas scarce able to control the feelings of resentment, constancy and folly of women, and the presumption and the thirst of revenge, which boiled in his bosom. of pampered citizens, but to the agency of foreign Hence, though he compelled himself to use the out-power, and the interference of a mighty neighbour, ward acts, and in some degree the language, of cour- from whom, if good deeds could merit any return in tesy and reverence, his colour came and went rapidly kind, Burgundy could have expected nothing but the -his voice was abrupt, hoarse, and broken-his limbs most sincere and devoted friendship. If this should shook, as if impatient of the curb imposed on his mo- prove truth," said the Duke, setting his teeth, and tions-he frowned and bit his lip until the blood came-pressing his heel against the ground, "what consiand every look and movement showed that the most deration shall withhold us-the means being in our passionate prince who ever lived, was under the power-from taking such measures, as shall effectudominion of one of his most violent paroxysms of ally, and at the very source, close up the main spring, fury. from which these evils have yearly flowed on us?"

The King marked this war of passion with a calm and untroubled eye; for, though he gathered from the Duke's looks a foretaste of the bitterness of death, which he dreaded alike as a mortal and a sinful man, yet he was resolved, like a wary and skilful pilot, neither to suffer himself to be disconcerted by his own fears, nor to abandon the helm, while there was a chance of saving the vessel by adroit pilotage. Therefore, when the Duke, in a hoarse and broken tone, said something of the scarcity of his accommodations, he answered with a smile, that he could not complain, since he had as yet found Herbert's Tower a better residence than it had proved to one of his ancestors. They told you the tradition then?" said Charles --"Yes-here he was slain-but it was because he refused to take the cowl, and finish his days in a monastery."

"The more fool he," said Louis, affecting unconcern, since he gained the torment of being a martyr, without the merit of being a saint."

"I come," said the Duke, "to pray your Majesty to attend a high council, at which things of weight are to be deliberated upon concerning the welfare of France and Burgundy. You will presently meet them -that is, if such be your pleasure"

"Nay, my fair cousin," said the King, "never strain courtesy so far, as to entreat what you may so boldly command-To council, since such is your Grace's pleasure. We are somewhat shorn of our train," he added, looking upon the small suite that arranged themselves to attend him-"but you, cousin, must shine out for us both."

Marshalled by Toison d'Or, chief of the heralds of Burgundy, the Princes left the Earl Herbert's Tower, and entered the castle yard, which Louis observed was filled with the Duke's body-guard and men-at-arms, splendidly accoutred, and drawn up in martial array. Crossing the court, they entered the Council-hall, which was in a much more modern part of the building than that of which Louis had been the tenant, and, though in disrepair, had been hastily arranged for the solemnity of a public council. Two chairs of

The Duke had begun his speech with some calmness, but he elevated his voice at the conclusion; and the last sentence was spoken in a tone which made all the counsellors tremble, and brought a transient fit of paleness across the King's cheek. He instantly recalled his courage, however, and addressed the council in his turn, in a tone evincing so much ease and composure, that the Duke, though he seemed desirous to interrupt or stop him, found no decent opportunity to do so.

"Nobles of France and of Burgundy," he said, "Knights of the Holy Spirit and of the Golden Fleece! since a King must plead his cause as an accused person, he cannot desire more distinguished judges, than the flower of nobleness, and muster and pride of chivalry. Our fair cousin of Burgundy hath but darkened the dispute between us, in so far as his courtesy has declined to state it in precise terms. I, who have no cause for observing such delicacy, nay, whose condition permits me not to do so, crave leave to speak more precisely. It is to Us, my lordsto Us, his liege Lord, his kinsman, his ally, that unhappy circumstances, perverting our cousin's clear judgment and better nature, have induced him to apply the hateful charges of seducing his vassals from their allegiance, stirring up the people of Liege to revolt, and stimulating the outlawed William de la Marck to commit a most cruel and sacrilegious murder. Nobles of France and Burgundy, I might truly appeal to the circumstances in which I now stand, as being in themselves a complete contradiction of such an accusation; for is it to be supposed, that, having the sense of a rational being left me, I should have thrown myself unreservedly into the power of the Duke of Burgundy, while I was practising treachery against him, such as could not fail to be discovered, and which, being discovered, must place me, as I now stand, in the power of a justly exasperated prince? The folly of one who should seat himself quietly down to repose on a mine, after he had lighted the match which was to cause instant explosion, would have been wisdom compared to

"My lord, my lord," said Charles, breaking in so soon as the King paused, " for your being here at a time so unluckily coinciding with the execution of your projects, I can only account by supposing, that those who make it their trade to impose on others, do sometimes egregiously delude themselves. The engineer is sometimes killed by the springing of his own petard. For what is to follow, let it depend on the event of this solemn inquiry.-Bring hither the Countess Isabelle of Croye!"

As the young lady was introduced, supported on the one side by the Countess of Crèvecœur, who had her husband's commands to that effect, and on the other by the Abbess of the Ursuline convent, Charles exclaimed, with his usual harshness of voice and manner," Soh! sweet Princess-you, who could scarce find breath to answer us when we last laid our just and reasonable commands on you, yet have had wind enough to run as long a course as ever did hunted doe-what think you of the fair work you have made between two great Princes, and two mighty countries, that have been like to go to war for your baby face?"

The publicity of the scene, and the violence of Charles's manner, totally overcame the resolution which Isabelle had formed, of throwing herself at the Duke's feet, and imploring him to take possession of her estates, and permit her to retire into a cloister. She stood motionless, like a terrified female in a storm, who hears the thunder roll on every side of her, and apprehends, in every fresh peal, the bolt which is to strike her dead. The Countess of Crèvecœur, a woman of spirit equal to her birth, and to the beauty which she preserved even in her matronly years, judged it necessary to interfere. "My Lord Duke," she said, "my fair cousin is under my protection. I know better than your Grace how women should be treated, and we will leave this presence instantly, unless you use a tone and language more suitable to our rank and sex."

The Duke burst out into a laugh. "Crèvecœur," he said, "thy tameness hath made a lordly dame of thy Countess; but that is no affair of mine. Give a seat to yonder simple girl, to whom, so far from feeling enmity, I design the highest grace and honour.Sit down, mistress, and tell us at your leisure what fiend possessed you to fly from your native country, and embrace the trade of a damsel adventurous."

With much pain, and not without several interruptions, Isabelle confessed, that, being absolutely determined against a match proposed to her by the Duke

There was a pause while the Countess had continued her story, which she prosecuted, though very briefly, from the time she left the territories of Burgundy, in company with her aunt, until the storming of Schonwaldt, and her final surrender to the Count of Crèvecoeur. All remained mute after she had finished her brief and broken narrative, and the Duke of Burgundy bent his fierce dark eyes on the ground, like one who seeks for a pretext to indulge his pasThe mole," he said at sion, but finds none sufficiently plausible to justify himself in his own eyes. length, looking upwards, "winds not his dark subterranean path beneath our feet the less certainly, that we, though conscious of his motions, cannotabsolutely trace them. Yet I would know of King Louis, wherefore he maintained these ladies at his Court, had they not gone thither by his own invitation."

"I did not so entertain them, fair cousin," answered the King. "Out of compassion, indeed, I received them in privacy, but took an early opportunity of placing them under the protection of the late excellent Bishop, your own ally, and who was (may God assoil him!) a better judge than I, or any secular prince, how to reconcile the protection due to fugitives, with the duty which a king owes to his ally from whose dominions they have fled. I boldly ask this young lady, whether my reception of them was cordial, or whether it was not, on the contrary, such as made them express regret that they had made my Court their place of refuge?"

"So much was it otherwise than cordial," answered the Countess, "that it induced me, at least, to doubt how far it was possible that your Majesty should have actually given the invitation of which we had been assured, by those who called themselves your agents; since, supposing them to have proceeded only as they were duly authorized, it would have been hard to reconcile your Majesty's conduct with that to be expected from a king, a knight, and a gentleman.",

The Countess turned her eyes to the King as she spoke, with a look which was probably intended as a reproach, but the breast of Louis was armed against all such artillery. On the contrary, waving slowly his expanded hands, and looking around the circle, he seemed to make a triumphant appeal to all present, upon the testimony borne to his innocence in the Countess's reply.

Burgundy, meanwhile, cast on him a look which seemed to say, that if in some degree silenced, he was as far as ever from being satisfied, and then said abruptly to the Countess," Methinks, fair mistress, in this account of your wanderings, you have forgot all mention of certain love-passages-So, ho! blushing already?-Certain knights of the forest, by whom your quiet was for a time interrupted. Well-that incident hath come to our ear, and something we may presently form out of it.-Tell me, King Louis, were it not well, before this vagrant Helen of Troy, or of

Croye, set more Kings by the ears, were it not well | Duke of Orleans. "This youth discharged his comto carve out a fitting match for her?".

King Louis, though conscious what ungrateful proposal was likely to be made next, gave a calm and silent assent to what Charles said; but the Countess herself was restored to courage by the very extremity of her situation. She quitted the arm of the Countess of Crèvecœur, on which she had hitherto leaned, came forward timidly, yet with an air of dignity, and, kneeling before the Duke's throne, thus addressed him :"Noble Duke of Burgundy, and my liege Lord; I acknowledge my fault in having withdrawn myself from your dominions without your gracious permission, and will most humbly acquiesce in any penalty you are pleased to impose. I place my lands and castles at your rightful disposal, and pray you only of your own bounty, and for the sake of my father's memory, to allow the last of the line of Croye, out of her large estate, such a moderate maintenance as may find her admission into a convent for the remainder of her life."

"What think you, Sire, of the young person's petition to us?" said the Duke, addressing Louis.

"As of a holy and humble motion," said the King, "which doubtless comes from that grace which ought not to be resisted or withstood."

"The humble and lowly shall be exalted," said Charles. "Arise, Countess Isabelle-we mean better for you than you have devised for yourself. We mean neither to sequestrate your estates, nor to abase your honours, but, on the contrary, will add largely to both."

"Alas! my lord," said the Countess, continuing on her knees, it is even that well-meant goodness which I fear still more than your Grace's displeasure, since it compels me"

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Saint George of Burgundy!" said Duke Charles, "is our will to be thwarted, and our commands disputed, at every turn? Up, I say, minion, and withdraw for the present-when we have time to think of thee, we will so order matters, that, Teste-Saint-Gris! you shall either obey us, or do worse."

Notwithstanding this stern answer, the Countess Isabelle remianed at his feet, and would probably, by her pertinacity, have driven him to say upon the spot something yet more severe, had not the Countess of Crevecoeur, who better knew that Prince's humour, interfered to raise her young friend, and to conduct her from the hall.

Quentin Durward was now summoned to appear, and presented himself before the King and Duke with that freedom, distant alike from bashful reserve and intrusive boldness, which becomes a youth at once well-born and well-nurtured, who gives honour where it is due, but without permitting himself to be dazzled or confused by the presence of those to whom it is to be rendered. His uncle had furnished him with the means of again equipping himself in the arms and dress of an Archer of the Scottish Guard, and his complexion, mien, and air, suited in an uncommon degree his splendid appearance. His extreme youth, too, prepossessed the counsellors in his favour, the rather that no one could easily believe that the sagacious Louis would have chosen so very young a person to become the confidant of political intrigues; and thus the King enjoyed, in this as in other cases, considerable advantage from his singular choice of agents, both as to age and rank, where such election seemed least likely to be made. At the command of the Duke, sanctioned by that of Louis, Quentin commenced an account of his journey with the Ladies of Croye to the neighbourhood of Liege, premising a statement of King Louis's instructions, which were, that he should escort them safely to the castle of the Bishop. And you obeyed my orders accordingly?" said the King.

46

"I did, Sire," replied the Scot.

"You omit a circumstance," said the Duke. "You were set upon in the forest by two wandering knights."

"It does not become me to remember or to proclaim such an incident," said the youth, blushing ingenuously.

But it doth not become me to forget it," said the

mission manfully, and maintained his trust in a man-
ner that I shall long remember.-Come to my apart-
ment, Archer, when this matter is over, and thou
shalt find I have not forgot thy brave bearing, while
I am glad to see it is equalled by thy modesty."
"And come to mine," said Dunois. "I have a
helmet for thee, since I think I owe thee one." Quen-
tin bowed low to both, and the examination was re-
sumed. At the command of Duke Charles, he pro-
duced the written instructions which he had received
for the direction of his journey.

"Did you follow these instructions literally, soldier?" said the Duke.

"No, if it please your Grace," replied Quentin. "They directed me, as you may be pleased to observe, to cross the Maes near Namur; whereas I kept the left bank, as being both the nigher and the safer road to Liege."

"And wherefore that alteration?" said the Duke. "Because I began to suspect the fidelity of my guide," answered Quentin.

"Now mark the questions I have next to ask thee," said the Duke. "Reply truly to them, and fear nothing from the resentment of any one. But if you palter or double in your answers, I will have thee hung alive in an iron chain from the steeple of the market-house, where thou shalt wish for death for many an hour ere he come to relieve you !"

There was a deep silence ensued. At length, having given the youth time, as he thought, to consider the circumstances in which he was placed, the Duke demanded to know of Durward, who his guide was, by whom supplied, and wherefore he had been led to entertain suspicion of him? To the first of these questions, Quentin Durward answered, by naming Hayraddín Maugrabin, the Bohemian; to the second, that the guide had been recommended by Tristan l'Hermite; and in reply to the third point, he mentioned what had happened in the Franciscan convent, near Namur; how the Bohemian had been expelled from the holy house; and how, jealous of his behaviour, he had dogged him to a rendezvous with one of William de la Marck's lanzknechts, where he overheard them arrange a plan for surprising the ladies who were under his protection.

Now, hark thee," said the Duke, "and once more remember thy life depends on thy veracity, did these villains mention their having this King's-I mean this very King Louis of France's authority, for their scheme of surprising the escort, and carrying away the ladies ?"

"If such infamous fellows had said so," replied Quentin, "I know not how I should have believed them, having the word of the King himself to place in opposition to theirs."

Louis, who had listened hitherto with most earnest attention, could not help drawing his breath deeply, when he heard Durward's answer, in the manner of one from whose bosom a heavy weight has been at once removed. The Duke again looked disconcerted and moody; and, returning to the charge, questioned Quentin still more closely, whether he did not understand, from these men's private conversation, that the plots which they meditated had King Louis's sanction?

"I repeat, that I heard nothing which could authorize me to say so," answered the young man, who, though internally convinced of the King's ac cession to the treachery of Hayraddin, yet held it contrary to his allegiance to bring forward his own suspicions on the subject; "and if I had heard such men make such an assertion, I again say, that I would not have given their testimony weight against the instructions of the King himself."

"Thou art a faithful messenger," said the Duke, with a sneer; "and I venture to say, that in obeying the King's instructions, thou hast disappointed his expectations in a manner that thou mightst have smarted for, but that subsequent events have made thy bull-headed fidelity seem like good service."

I understand you not, my lord," said Quentin Durward; "all I know is, that my master King Louis sent me to protect these ladies, and that I did