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not the more haste, he will beat my gossip for the only charitable action which I ever saw him perform, or attempt to perform, in the whole course of his life.' There was some reason to augur such a conclusion of the adventure, for the bonny Scot had already accosted the younger Samaritan, who was hastening to his assistance, with these ireful words-" Discourteous dog! why did you not answer when I called to know if the passage was fit to be attempted? May the foul fiend catch me, but I will teach you the respect due to strangers on the next occasion!"

This was accompanied with that significant flourish with his pole which is called le moulinet, because the artist, holding it in the middle, brandishes the two ends in every direction, like the sails of a windmill in motion. His opponent, seeing himself thus menaced, laid hand upon his sword, for he was one of those who on all occasions are more ready for action than for speech; but his more considerate comrade who came up, commanded him to forbear, and, turning to the young man, accused him in turn of precipitation in plunging into the swoln ford, and of intemperate violence in quarrelling with a man who was hastening to his assistance.

The young man, on hearing himself thus reproved by a man of advanced age and respectable appearance, immediately lowered his weapon, and said he would be sorry if he had done them injustice; but, in reality, it appeared to him as if they had suffered him to put his life in peril for want of a word of timely warning, which could be the part neither of honest men nor of good Christians, far less of respectable burgesses, such as they seemed to be. "Fair son,' said the elder person, you seem, from your accent and complexion, a stranger; and you should recollect your dialect is not so easily comprehended by us, as perhaps it may be uttered by you."

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much depressed on the forehead, 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 ineanness of his appearance in other respects. His cap, in particular, in which all men of any quality displayed either a brooch of gold or of silver, was ornamented with a paltry image of the Virgin, in lead, such as the poorer sort of pilgrims bring from Loretto.

His comrade was a stout-formed, middle-sized man, more than ten years younger than his companion, with a down-looking visage, and a very ominous smile, when by chance he gave way to that impulse, which was never, except in reply to certain secret signs that seemed to pass between him and the elder stranger. This man was armed with a sword and dagger; and underneath his plain habit, the Scotsman observed that he concealed a jazeran, or flexible shirt of linked mail, which, as being often worn by those, even of peaceful professions, who were called upon at that perilous period to be frequently abroad, confirmed the young man in his conjecture, that the wearer was by profession a butcher, grazier, or something of that description, called upon to be much abroad.

The young stranger, comprehending in one glance the result of the observation which has taken us some time to express, answered, after a moment's pause. "I am ignorant whom I may have the honour to address," making a slight reverence at the same time, "but I am indifferent who knows that I am a cadet of Scotland; and that I come to seek my fortune in France, or elsewhere, after the custom of my countrymen.”

Pasques-dieu! and a gallant custom it is," said the elder stranger. "You seem a fine young springald, and at the right age to prosper, whether among men or women. What say you? I am a merchant, and Well, father," answered the youth,, "I do not want a lad to assist in my traffic-I suppose you are care much about the ducking I have had, and I will too much a gentleman to assist in such mechanical readily forgive your being partly the cause, pro- drudgery?" vided you will direct me to some place where I can "Fair sir," said the youth, "if your offer be serioushave my clothes dried; for it is my only suit, and Ily made of which I have my doubts-I am bound to must keep it somewhat decent." thank you for it, and I thank you accordingly; but I fear I should be altogether unfit for your service." What!" said the senior, "I warrant thou knowFor substantial burgesses, unquestionably," said est better how to draw the bow, than how to draw a the youth; "or, hold-you, master, may be a money-bill of charges, canst handle a broadsword better broker, or a corn-merchant; and this man a butcher, than a pen-ha!" or grazier."

"For whom do you take us, fair son ?" said the elder stranger, in answer to this question.

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"I am, master," answered the young Scot, "a braeman, and therefore, as we say, a bowman. But besides that, I have been in a convent, where the good fathers taught me to read and write, and even to cipher."

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Pasques-dieu! that is too magnificent," said the merchant. By our lady of Embrun, thou art a prodigy, man!"

You have hit our capacities rarely," said the elder, smiling. My business is indeed to trade in as much money as I can; and my gossip's dealings are somewhat of kin to the butcher's. As to your accommodation, we will try to serve you; but I must first know who you are, and whither you are going; for, in these times, the roads are filled with travellers on foot and horseback, who have any Rest you merry, fair master," said the youth, who thing in their head but honesty and the fear of God." was not much pleased with his new acquaintance's The young man cast another keen and penetrating jocularity, "I must go dry myself, instead of standglance on him who spoke, and on his silent com-ing dripping here, answering questions." panion, as if doubtful whether they, on their part, merited the confidence they demanded; and the result of his observation was as follows.

The eldest, and most remarkable of these men, in dress and appearance resembled the merchant or shopkeeper of the period. His jerkin, hose, and cloak, were of a dark uniform colour, but worn so threadbare, that the acute young Scot conceived that the wearer must be either very rich or very poor, probably the former. The fashion of the dress was close and short-a kind of garments which were not then held decorous among gentry, or even the superior class of citizens, who generally wore loose gowns which descended below the middle of the leg. The expression of this man's countenance was partly attractive, and partly forbidding. His strong features, sunk cheeks, and hollow eyes, had, nevertheless, an expression of shrewdness and humour congenial to the character of the young adventurer. But then, those same sunken eyes, from under the shroud of thick black eyebrows, had something in them that was at once commanding and sinister. Perhaps this effect was increased by the low fur cap,

The merchant only laughed louder as he spoke, and answered, "Pasques-dieu! the proverb never failsfier comme un Ecossois-but come, youngster, you are of a country I have a regard for, having traded in Scotland in my time-an honest poor set of folks they are; and, if you will come with us to the village, will bestow on you a cup of burnt sack and a warm breakfast, to atone for your drenching. But, tetebleau! what do you with a hunting-glove on your hand? Know you not there is no hawking permitted in a royal chase ?"

"I was taught that lesson," answered the youth, "by a rascally forester of the Duke of Burgundy. I did but fly the falcon I had brought with me from Scotland, and that I reckoned on for bringing me into some note, at a heron near Peronne, and the rascally schelm shot my bird with an arrow."

"What did you do?" said the merchant. "Beat him," said the youngster, brandishing his staff, "as near to death as one Christian man should belabour another-I wanted not to have his blood to answer for."

"Know you," said the burgess, "that had you fallen

into the Duke of Burgundy's hands, he would have hung you up like a chestnut ?"

"Ay, I am told he is as prompt as the King of France for that sort of work. But, as this happened near Peronne, I made a leap over the frontiers, and laughed at him. If he had not been so hasty, I might perhaps have taken service with him."

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Pasques-dieu! my young friend," said his companion, "take care of that; my gossip yonder hath a special eye to the deer;, they are under his charge, and he is a strict keeper."

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"He hath more the air of a butcher, than of a gay "He will have a heavy miss of such a paladin as forester," answered Durward. "I cannot think yon you are, if the truce should break off," said the mer-hang-dog look of his belongs to any one who knows chant, and threw a look at his own companion, who the gentle rules of woodcraft." answered him with one of the downcast lowering Ah, my young friend," answered his companion, smiles, which gleamed along his countenance, enli-"my gossip hath somewhat an ugly favour to look vening it as a passing meteor enlivens a winter sky. upon at the first; but those who become acquainted The young Scot suddenly stopped, pulled his bon- with him, never are known to complain of him." net over his right eyebrow, as one that would not be Quentin Durward found something singularly and ridiculed, and said firmly, "My masters, and especial-disagreeably significant in the tone with which this ly you, sir, the elder, and who should be the wiser, was spoken; and looking suddenly at the speaker, you will find, I presume, no sound or safe jesting at thought he saw in his countenance, in the slight my expense. I do not altogether like the tone of your smile that curled his upper lip, and the accompanyconversation. I can take a jest with any man, and a ing twinkle of his keen dark eye, something to justify rebuke, too, from my elder, and say thank you, sir, if his unpleasing surprise. "I have heard of robbers," I know it to be deserved; but I do not like being borne he thought to himself, "and of wily cheats and cutin hand as if I were a child, when, God wot, I find throats-what if yonder fellow be a murderer, and myself man enough to belabour you both, if you pro- this old rascal his decoy-duck? I will be on my voke me too far." guard-they will get little by me but good Scottish knocks."

The eldest man seemed like to choke with laughter at the lad's demeanour-his companion's hand stole While he was thus reflecting they came to a glade, to his sword hilt, which the youth observing, dealt where the large forest trees were more wildly sepahim a blow across the wrist, which made him inca-rated from each other, and where the ground bepable of grasping it; while his companion's mirth was neath, cleared of underwood and bushes, was cloonly increased by the incident. "Hold, hold," he thed with a carpet of the softest and most lovely vercried, "most doughty Scot, even for thine own dear dure, which, screened from the scorching heat of the country's sake and you, gossip, forbear your mena- sun, was here more beautifully tender than it is cing look. Pasques-dieu! let us be just traders, and usually to be seen in France. The trees in this seset off the wetting against the knock on the wrist, cluded spot were chiefly beeches and elms of huge which was given with so much grace and alacrity.-magnitude, which rose like great hills of leaves into And hark ye, my young friend," he said to the young the air. Amidst these magnificent sons of the earth, man with a grave sternness, which, in spite of all the there peeped out, in the most open spot of the glade, youth could do, damped and overawed him, "no more a lowly chapel, near which trickled a small rivulet. violence. I am no fit object for it, and my gossip, as Its architecture was of the rudest and most simple you may see, has had enough of it. Let me know kind; and there was a very small lodge beside it, for the accommodation of a hermit or solitary priest, who remained there for regularly discharging the duty of the altar. In a small niche, over the arched doorway, stood a stone image of Saint Hubert, with the bugle-horn around his neck, and a leash of greyhounds at his feet. The situation of the chapel in the midst of a park or chase, so richly stocked with game, made the dedication to the Sainted Huntsman peculiarly appropriate.*

your name.

"I can answer a civil question civilly," said the youth;" and will pay fitting respect to your age, if you do not urge my patience with mockery. Since I have been here in France and Flanders, men have called me, in their fantasy, the Varlet with the Velvet Pouch, because of this hawk purse which I carry by my side; but my true name, when at home, is Quentin Durward."

"Durward!" said the querist; "is it a gentleman's name?"

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By fifteen descents in our family," said the young man; "and that makes me reluctant to follow any other trade than arms.'

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A true Scot! Plenty of blood, plenty of pride, and right great scarcity of ducats, I warrant thee.-Well, gossip," he said to his companion, "go before us, and tell them to have some breakfast ready yonder at the Mulberry grove; for this youth will do as much honour to it as a starved mouse to a house-wife's cheese. And for the Bohemian-hark in thy ear"

His comrade answered by a gloomy, but intelligent smile, and set forward at a round pace, while the elder man continued, addressing young Durward,-"You and I will walk leisurely forward together, and we may take a mass at Saint Hubert's Chapel in our way through the forest; for it is not good to think of our fleshly before our spiritual wants."

Durward, as a good Catholic, had nothing to object against this proposal, although he might probably have been desirous, in the first place, to have dried his clothes and refreshed himself. Meanwile, they soon lost sight of their downward-looking companion, but continued to follow the same path which he had taken, until it led them into a wood of tall trees, mixed with thickets and brushwood, traversed by long avenues, through which were seen, as through a vista, the deer trotting in little herds with a degree of security which argued their consciousness of being completely protected.

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You asked me if I were a good bowman," said the young Scot-"Give me a bow and a brace of

Towards this little devotional structure the old man directed his steps, followed by young Durward; and as they approached, the priest, dressed in his sacerdotal garments, made his appearance, in the act of proceeding from his cell to the chapel, for the discharge, doubtless, of his holy office. Durward bowed his body reverently to the priest, as the respect due to his sacred office demanded; whilst his companion, with an appearance of still more deep devotion, kneeled on one knee to receive the holy man's blessing, and then followed him into church, with a step and manner expressive of the most heartfelt contrition and humility.

The inside of the chapel was adorned in a manner adapted to the occupation of the patron-saint while on earth. The richest furs of such animals as are made the objects of the chase in different countries, supplied the place of tapestry and hangings around the altar and elsewhere, and the characteristic em

The chase, with its fortunes and its hazards, the business of so *Every vocation had, in the middle ages, its protecting saint. many, and the amusement of all, was placed under the direction of St. Hubert.

This sylvan saint was the son of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and, while in the secular state, was a courtier of King Pepin.He was passionately fond of the chase, and used to neglect attendance on divine worship for this amusement. While he was once engaged in this pastime, a stag appeared before him, having a crucifix bound betwixt his horns, and he heard a voice which menaced him with eternal punishment if he did not repent of his sins. He retired from the world and took orders, his wife having also retreated into the cloister. Hubert afterwards became Bishop of Marstrecht and Liege; and from his zeal in destroying remnants of idolatry, is called the Apostle of Ardennes and of Brabant. Those who were descended of his race were supposed to possess the power of curing persons bitten by mad dogs.

blazonments of bugles, bows, quivers, and other em- of this royal residence, extended, or rather arose, blems of hunting, surrounded the walls, and were though by a very gentle elevation, an open esplamingled with the heads of deer, wolves, and other nade, devoid of trees and bushes of every description, animals considered beasts of sport. The whole adorn- excepting one gigantic and half-withered old oak. ments took an appropriate and sylvan character; This space was left open, according to the rules of and the mass itself, being considerably shortened, fortification in all ages, in order that an enemy might proved to be of that sort which is called a hunting- not approach the walls under cover, or unobserved mass, because in use before the noble and powerful, from the battlements, and beyond it arose the Castle who, while assisting at the solemnity, are usually itself. impatient to commence their favourite sport. Yet, during this brief ceremony, Durward's companion seemed to pay the most rigid and scrupulous attention; while Durward, not quite so much occupied with religious thoughts, could not forbear blaming himself in his own mind, for having entertained suspicions derogatory to the character of so good and so humble a man. Far from now holding him as a companion and accomplice of robbers, he had much to do to forbear regarding him as a saint-like per

sonage.

When mass was ended, they retired together from the chapel, and the elder said to his young comrade, "It is but a short walk from hence to the village you may now break your fast with an unprejudiced conscience-follow me."

Turning to the right, and proceeding along a path which seemed gradually to ascend, he recommended to his companion by no means to quit the track, but, on the contrary, to keep the middle of it as nearly as he could. Durward could not help asking the cause of this precaution.

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You are now near the Court, young man," answered his guide; and, Pasques-dieu! there is some difference betwixt walking in this region and on your own healthy hills. Every yard of this ground, excepting the path which we now occupy, Is rendered dangerous, and wellnigh impracticable, by snares and traps, armed with scythe-blades, which shred off the unwary passenger's limb as sheerly as a hedge-bill lops a hawthorn-sprig-and calthrops that would pierce your foot through, and pit-falls deep enough to bury you in them for ever; for you are now within the precincts of the royal demesne, and we shall presently see the front of the Chateau."

Were I the King of France," said the young man, "I would not take so much trouble with traps and gins, but would try instead to govern so well, that no man should dare to come near my dwelling with a bad intent; and for those who came there in peace and good-will, why, the more of them the merrier we should be."

His companion looked around, affecting an alarmed gaze, and said, "Hush, hush, Sir Varlet with the Velvet Pouch! for I forgot to tell you, that one great danger of these precincts is, that the very leaves of the trees are like so many ears, which carry all which is spoken to the King's own cabinet."

"I care little for that," answered Quentin Durward; "I bear a Scottish tongue in my head, bold enough to speak my mind to King Louis's face, God bless him-and, for the ears you talk of, if I could see them growing on a human head, I would crop them out of it with my wood-knife."

CHAPTER III.

THE CASTLE.

Full in the midst a mighty pile arose,
Where iron-grated gates their strength oppose
To each invading step-and, strong and steep,
The battled walls arose, the fosse sunk deep.
Slow round the fortress roll'd the sluggish stream,
And high in middle air the warder's turrets gleam.
Anonymous.

WHILE Durward and his new acquaintance thus spoke, they came in sight of the whole front of the Castle of Plessis-les-Tours, which, even in those dangerous times, when the great found themselves obliged to reside within places of fortified strength, was distinguished for the extreme and jealous care with which it was watched and defended.

There were three external walls, battlemented and turreted from space to space, and at each angle, the second enclosure rising higher than the first, and being built so as to command the exterior defence in case it was won by the enemy; and being again, in the same manner, itself commanded by the third and innermost barrier. Around the external wall, as the Frenchman informed his young companion, (for, as they stood lower than the foundation of the wall, he could not see it,) was sunk a ditch of about twenty feet in depth, supplied with water by a damhead on the river Cher, or rather on one of its tributary branches. In front of the second enclosure, he said, there ran another fosse, and a third, both of the same unusual dimensions, was led between the second and the innermost enclosure. The verge, both of the outer and inner circuit of this triple moat, was strongly fenced with palisades of iron, serving the purpose of what are called chevaux-de-frise in modern fortification, the top of each pale being divided into a cluster of sharp spikes, which seemed to render any attempt to climb over an act of self-destruction.

From within the innermost enclosure arose the Castle itself, containing buildings of different periods, crowded around, and united with the ancient and grim-looking donjon-keep, which was older than any of them, and which rose, like a black Ethiopian giant, high into the air, while the absence of any windows larger than shot holes, irregularly disposed for defence, gave the spectator the same unpleasant feeling which we experience on looking at a blind man. The other buildings seemed scarcely better adapted for the purposes of comfort, for the windows opened to an inner and enclosed court-yard; so that the whole external front looked much more like that of a prison than a palace. The reigning King had even increased this effect; for, 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 like many jealous persons, he loved not that his suspicions should be observed,) the darkest-coloured brick and freestone were employed, and soot mingled with the lime, so as to give the whole Castle the same uniform tinge of extreme and rude antiquity.

This formidable place had but one entrance, at least Durward saw none along the spacious front except where, in the centre of the first and outward boundary, arose two strong towers, the usual defences of a gateway; and he could observe their ordinary accompaniments, portcullis and drawbridge-of which the first was lowered, and the last raised. Similar entrance-towers were visible on the second and third bounding wall, but not in the same line with those on the outward circuit; because the passage did not cut right through the whole three enclosures at the same point, but, on the contrary, those who entered had to proceed nearly thirty yards betwixt the first and second wall, exposed, if their purpose were hostile, to missiles from both; and again, when the second boundary was passed, they must make a similar disgression from the straight line, in order to attain the portal of the third and innermost enclosure; so that before gaining the outercourt, which ran along defiles were to be traversed under a flanking disthe front of the building, two narrow and dangerous charge of artillery, and three gates, defended in the strongest manner known to the age, were to be successively forced.

war and internal feuds,-a country, too, whose unComing from a country alike desolated by foreign From the verge of the wood where young Durward cipices and torrents, affords so many situations of equal and mountainous surface, abounding in prehalted with his companion, in order to take a view strength,-young Durward was sufficiently acquaint

ed with all the various contrivances by which men, in | up to the Castle, where you might be taken for a spy." that stern age, endeavoured to secure their dwellings; but he frankly owned to his companion, that he did not think it had been in the power of art to do so much for defence, where nature had done so little; for the situation, as we have hinted, was merely the summit of a gentle elevation ascending upwards from the place where they were standing.

"Now by my father's hand!" said the youth, "I taken for a spy!-By Heaven, he shall brook cold iron that brands me with such a charge!-But for my uncle's name, I care not who knows it-it is Lesly.— Lesly-an honest and noble name." "And so it is, I doubt not," said the old man; "but there are three of the name in the Scottish Guard." "My uncle's name is Ludovic Lesly," said the young man.

"Of the three Leslies," answered the merchant, two are called Ludovic."

"They call my kinsman Ludovic with the Scar," said Quentin.-"Our family names are so common in a Scottish house, that where there is no land in the case, we always give a to-name.".

To enhance his surprise, his companion told him that the environs of the Castle, except the single winding-path by which the portal might be safely approached, were, like the thickets through which they had passed, surrounded with every species of hidden pit-fall, snare, and gin, to entrap the wretch who should venture thither without a guide; that upon the walls were constructed certain cradles of iron, called swallows' nests, from which the sentinels, who were regularly posted there, could, without being ex-swered his companion; "and the man you speak of, posed to any risk, take deliberate aim at any who should attempt to enter without the proper signal or pass-word of the day; and that the Archers of the Royal Guard performed that duty day and night, for which they received high pay, rich clothing, and much honour and profit at the hands of King Louis. "And now tell me, young man," he continued, "did you ever see so strong a fortress, and do you think there are men bold enough to storm it?""

The young man looked long and fixedly on the place, the sight of which interested him so much, that he had forgotten, in the eagerness of youthful curiosity, the wetness of his dress. His eye glanced, and his colour mounted to his cheek like that of a daring man who meditates an honourable action, as he replied, 'It is a strong castle, and strongly guarded; but there is no impossibility to brave men."

"Are there any in your country who could do such a feat?" said the elder, rather scornfully.

"I will not affirm that," answered the youth; "but there are thousands that, in a good cause, would attempt as bold a deed."

"Umph!"-said the senior; "perhaps you are yourself such a gallant?"

A nom de guerre, I suppose you to mean," anwe, I think, call Le Balafré, from that scar on his face a proper man and a good soldier. I wish I may be able to help you to an interview with him, for he belongs to a set of gentlemen whose duty is strict, and who do not often come out of garrison, unless in the immediate attendance on the King's person.And now, young man, answer me one question. I will wager you are desirous to take service with your uncle in the Scottish Guard. It is a great thing, if you propose so; especially as you are very young, and some years' experience is necessary for the high office which you aim at."

"Perhaps I may have thought on some such thing," said Durward, carelessly; "but if I did, the fancy is off." "How so, young man?" said the Frenchman, something sternly "Do you speak thus of a charge which the most noble of your countrymen feel themselves emulous to be admitted to ?"

"I wish them joy of it," said Quentin, composedly, -"To speak plain, I should have liked the service of the French King full well; only, dress me as fine, and feed me as high as you will, I love the open air better than being shut up in a cage or a swallow's nest yonder, as you call these same grated pepper-boxes. Besides," he added, in a lower voice, to speak truth, I love not the Castle when the covin-tree* bears such acorns as I see yonder."

"I guess what you mean," said the Frenchman; "but speak yet more plainly."

"I should sin if I were to boast where there is no danger," answered young Durward; "but my father has done as bold an act, and I trust I am no bastard." "Well," said his companion, smiling, "you might meet your match, and your kindred withal, in the attempt; for the Scottish Archers of King Louis's Life- "To speak more plainly, then," said the youth, guards stand sentinels on yonder walls-three hun-"there grows a fair oak some flight-shot or so from dred gentlemen of the best blood in your country." yonder Castle-and on that oak hangs a man in a gray jerkin, such as this which I wear."

"And were I King Louis," said the youth, in reply, "I would trust my safety to the faith of the three Ay and indeed!" said the man of France-" Pashundred Scottish gentlemen, throw down my bound-ques-dieu! see what it is to have youthful eyes! Why, ing walls to fill up the moat, call in my noble peers and paladins, and live as became me, amid breaking of lances in gallant tournaments, and feasting of days with nobles, and dancing of nights with ladies, and have no more fear of a foe than I have of a fly.'

I did see something, but only took it for a raven among the branches. But the sight is no way strange, young man; when the summer fades into autumn, and moonlight nights are long, and roads become unsafe, you will see a cluster of ten, ay of twenty His companion again smiled, and turning his back such acorns, hanging on that old doddared oak.on the Castle, which, he observed, they had approach- But what then?-they are so many banners displayed a little too nearly, he led the way again into the ed to scare knaves; and for each rogue that hangs wood, by a more broad and beaten path than they there, an honest man may reckon that there is a thief, had yet trodden. "This," he said, "leads us to the a traitor, a robber on the highway, a pilleur and opvillage of Plessis, as it is called, where you, as a stran-pressor of the people, the fewer in France. These, ger, will find reasonable and honest accommodation. young man, are signs of our Sovereign's justice." About two miles onward lies the fine city of Tours, which gives name to this rich and beautiful earldom. But the village of Plessis, or Plessis of the Park, as it is sometimes called, from its vicinity to the royal residence, and the chase with which it is encircled, will yield you nearer and as convenient hospitality.'

"I thank you, kind master, for your information," said the Scot; "but my stay will be so short here, that if I fail not in a morsel of meat, and a drink of something better than water, my necessities in Plessis, be it of the park or the pool, will be amply satisfied." Nay," answered his companion, "I thought you had some friend to see in this quarter."

"And so I have my mother's own brother," answered Durward; "and as pretty a man, before he left the braes of Angus, as ever planted brogue on heather."

"What is his name?" said the senior; we will inquire him out for you; for it is not safe for you to go

"I would have hung them farther from my palace, though, were I King Louis," said the youth.-"In my country, we hang up dead corbies where living corbies haunt, but not in our gardens or pigeon-houses. The very scent of the carrion-faugh-reached my nostrils at the distance where we stood."

'If you live to be an honest and loyal servant of your Prince, my good youth," answered the Frenchman, "you will know there is no perfume to match the scent of a dead traitor."

"I shall never wish to live till I lose the scent of my nostrils or the sight of my eyes," said the Scot."Show me a living traitor, and here are my hand and my weapon; but when life is out, hatred should not live longer.-But here, I fancy, we come upon the vil

⚫ The large tree in front of a Scottish castle, was sometimes called so. It is difficult to trace the derivation; but at that distance from the castle, the laird received guests of rank, and thither he convoyed them on their departure.

lage; where I hope to show you that neither ducking | he continued to bring, and arrange upon the table, nor disgust have spoiled mine appetite for my break- the various articles of a comfortable meal, omitted to fast. So, my good friend, to the hostelrie, with all extol their merits by a single word. And yet the the speed you may. Yet, ere I accept of your hospi- breakfast merited such eulogiums as French hosts tality, let me know by what name to call you.' are wont to confer upon their regales, as the reader "Men call me Maitre Pierre," answered his compa- will be informed in the next Chapter. nion.-"I deal in no titles. A plain man, that can live on mine own good-that is my designation."

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"So be it, Maitre Pierre," said Quentin, "and I am happy my good chance has thrown us together; for I want a word of seasonable advice, and can be thankful for it."

While they spoke thus, the tower of the church, and a tall wooden crucifix, rising above the trees, showed that they were at the entrance of the village.

But Maitre Pierre, deflecting a little from the road, which had now joined an open and public causeway, said to his companion, that the inn to which he intended to introduce him stood somewhat secluded, and received only the better sort of travellers.

"If you mean those who travel with the betterfilled purses," answered the Scot, "I am none of the number, and will rather stand my chance of your flayers on the highway, than of your flayers in the hostelrie!"

CHAPTER IV.

THE DEJEUNER.

Sacred heaven! what masticators! what bread!

Yorick's Travels.

We left our young stranger in France situated more comfortably than he had found himself since entering the territories of the ancient Gauls. The breakfast, as we hinted in the conclusion of the last Chapter, was admirable. There was a pate de Perigord, over which a gastronome would have wished to live and die, like Homer's lotus-eaters, forgetful of kin, native country, and all social obligations whatever. Its vast walls of magnificent crust seemed raised like the bulwarks of some rich metropolitan city, an emblem of the wealth which they are designed to protect. There was a delicate ragout, with just that petit point de l'ail which Gascons love, and Scottishmen do not hate. There was, besides, a delicate ham, which had once supported a noble wild boar in the neighbouring wood of Mountrichart. There was the most exquisite white bread, made into little round loaves called boules, (whence the bakers took their French name of boulangers,) of which the crust was so inviting, that, even with water alone, it would have been a delicacy. But the water was not alone, for there was a flask of leather called bottrine, which contained about a quart of exquisite Vin de Beaulne. So many good things might have created appetite under the ribs of death. What effect, then, must they have produced upon a youngster of scarce twenty, who (for the truth must be told) had eaten The Frenchman smiled aside, for he saw plainly little for the two last days, save the scarcely ripe that the youth, while he was probably half famished, fruit which chance afforded him an opportunity of had yet some difficulty to reconcile himself to the plucking, and a very moderate portion of barleythoughts of feeding at a stranger's cost, and was en-bread? He threw himself upon the ragout, and the deavouring to subdue his inward pride by the reflec-plate was presently vacant-he attacked the mighty tion, that, in such slight obligations, the acceptor performed as complaisant a part as he by whom the courtesy was offered.

Pasques-dieu!" said his guide, "how cautious your countrymen of Scotland are! An Englishman, now, throws himself headlong into a tavern, eats and drinks of the best, and never thinks of the reckoning till his belly is full. But you forget, Master Quentin, since Quentin is your name, you forget I owe you a breakfast for the wetting which my mistake procured you-It is the penance of my offence towards you." "In truth," said the light-hearted young man, I had forgot wetting, offence, and penance and all. I have walked my clothes dry, or nearly so, but I will not refuse your offer in kindness; for my dinner yesterday was a light one, and supper I had none. You seem an old and respectable burgess, and I see no reason why I should not accept your courtesy."

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pasty, marched deep into the bowels of the land, and, seasoning his enormous meal with an occasional cup of wine, returned to the charge again and again, to the astonishment of mine host, and the amusement of Maitre Pierre.

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In the meanwhile they descended a narrow lane, overshadowed by tall elms, at the bottom of which a gateway admitted them into the court-yard of an The latter, indeed, probably because he found himinn of unusual magnitude, calculated for the accom-self the author of a kinder action than he had thought modation of the nobles and suitors who had business of, seemed delighted with the appetite of the young at the neighbouring Castle, where very seldom, and Scot; and when, at length, he observed that his only when such hospitality was altogether unavoid-exertions began to languish, endeavoured to stimulate able, did Louis XI. permit any of his Court to have him to new efforts, by ordering confections, darioles, apartments. A scutcheon, bearing the fleur-de-lys, and any other light dainties he could think of, to enhung over the principal door of the large irregular tice the youth to continue his meal. While thus building; but there was about the yard and the offices gaged, Maitre Pierre's countenance expressed a little or none of the bustle which in those days, when of good humour almost amounting to benevole attendants were maintained both in public and in which appeared remote from its ordinary sha. private houses, marked that business was alive, and caustic, and severe character. The aged almost alcustom plenty. It seemed as if the stern and unsocial ways sympathize with the enjoyments of youth, character of the royal mansion in the neighbourhood with its exertions of every kind, when the mi had communicated a portion of its solemn and ter- the spectator rests on its natural poise, and is rific gloom even to a place designed, according to disturbed by inward envy or idle emulation. universal custom elsewhere, for the temple of social indulgence, merry society, and good cheer.

Maitre Pierre, without calling any one, and even without approaching the principal entrance, lifted the latch of a side door, and led the way into a large room, where a fagot was blazing on the hearth, and arrangements made for a substantial breakfast.

"My gossip has been careful," said the Frenchman to the Scot-"You must be cold, and I have commanded a fire; you must be hungry, and you shall have breakfast presently."

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. "I expected a gentleman," said Maitre Pierre, "to order breakfast-Hath he done so ?"

In answer, the landlord only bowed; and while

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Quentin Durward also, while thus agreeably aployed, could do no otherwise than discover that he countenance of his entertainer, which he had at first found so unprepossessing, mended when it was seen under the influence of the Vin de Beaulne, and there was kindness in the tone with which he reproached Maitre Pierre, that he amused himself with laughing at his appetite, without eating any thing himself.

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"I am doing penance," said Maitre Pierre, d may not eat any thing before noon, save some comfiture and a cup of water.-Bid yonder lady," he added, turning to the innkeeper, "bring them hither to me."

The innkeeper left the room, and Maitre Pierre proceeded, Well, have I kept faith with you concerning the breakfast I promised you?"

"The best meal I have eaten," said the youth, " since I left Glen-houlakin."

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