There was another pause, when the young Scot, with a view of still farther investigating the character and purpose of this suspicious guide, asked Hayraddin, Whether it was not true that his people, amid their ignorance, pretended to a knowledge of futurity, which was not given to the sages, philosophers, and divines, of more polished society?" "We pretend to it," said Hayraddin, "and it is with justice." "How can it be, that so high a gift is bestowed on so abject a race?" said Quentin. "Can I tell you?" answered Hayraddin-"Yes, I may indeed; but it is when you shall explain to me why the dog can trace the footsteps of a man, while man, the nobler animal, hath not power to trace those of the dog. These powers, which seem to you so wonderful, are instinctive in our race. From the lines on the face and on the hand, we can tell the future fate of those who consult us, even as surely as you know from the blossom of the tree in spring, what fruit it will bear in the harvest." "I doubt of your knowledge, and defy you to the proof." "Defy me not, Sir Squire," said Hayraddin Maugrabin-"I can tell you, that, say what you will of your religion, the Goddess whom you worship rides in this company.' "Peace!" said Quentin, in astonishment; "on thy life, not a word farther, but in answer to what I ask thee.-Canst thou be faithful?" "I can-all men can," said the Bohemian. "But wilt thou be faithful ?" "Wouldst thou believe me the more should I swear it?" answered Mangrabin, with a sneer. Thy life is in my hand," said the young Scot. "Strike, and see whether I fear to die," answered the Bohemian. "Will money render thee a trusty guide?" demanded Durward. "If I be not such without it, No," replied the heathen. "Then what will bind thee?" asked the Scot. Kindness," replied the Bohemian. "Shall I swear to show thee such, if thou art true guide to us on this pilgrimage ?" "No," replied Hayraddin, "it were extravagant waste of a commodity so rare. To thee I am bound already." "How!" exclaimed Durward, more surprised than ever. "Remember the chestnut-trees on the banks of the Cher! The victim, whose body thou didst cut down, was my brother, Zamet, the Maugrabin." "It is all the better," said Quentin to himself, his spirit rising with the apprehended difficulties of his situation; "that lovely young lady shall owe all to me.-What one hand-ay, and one head can do,methinks I can boldly count upon. I have seen my father's house on fire, and he and my brothers lying dead amongst the flames-I gave not an inch back, but fought it out to the last. Now I am two years older, and have the best and fairest cause to bear me well, that ever kindled mettle within a brave man's bosom." Acting upon this resolution, the attention and activity which Quentin bestowed during the journey, had in it something that gave him the appearance of ubiquity. His principal and most favourite post was of course by the side of the ladies; who, sensible of his extreme attention to their safety, began to converse with him in almost the tone of familiar friendship, and appeared to take great pleasure in the naivete, yet shrewdness, of his conversation. But Quentin did not suffer the fascination of this intercourse to interfere with the vigilant discharge of his duty. If he was often by the side of the Countesses, labouring to describe to the natives of a level country the Grampian mountains, and, above all, the beauties of Glen-houlakin,-he was as often riding with Hayraddin, in the front of the cavalcade, questioning him about the road, and the resting-places, and recording his answers in his mind, to ascertain whether upon cross-examination he could discover any thing like meditated treachery. As often again he was in the rear, endeavouring to secure the attachment of the two horsemen, by kind words, gifts, and promises of additional recompense, when their task should be accomplished. In this way they travelled for more than a week, through by-paths and unfrequented districts, and by circuitous routes, in order to avoid large towns. Nothing remarkable occurred, though they now and then met strolling gangs of Bohemians, who respected them, as under the conduct of one of their tribe,straggling soldiers, or perhaps banditti, who deemed their party too strong to be attacked, or parties of the Marechaussée, as they would now be termed, whom Louis, who searched the wounds of the land with steel and cautery, employed to suppress the disorderly bands which infested the interior. These last suffered them to pursue their way unmolested, by virtue of a pass-word, with which Quentin had been furnished for that purpose by the King himself. Their resting-places were chiefly the monasteries, most of which were obliged by the rules of their foun "And yet," said Quentin, "I find you in correspond-dation to receive pilgrims, under which character the ence with those very officers by whom your brother was done to death; for it was one of them who directed me where to meet with you-the same, doubtless, who procured yonder ladies your services as a guide.' "What can we do?" answered Hayraddin, gloomily-"These men deal with us as the sheep-dogs do with the flock; they protect us for a while, drive us hither and thither at their pleasure, and always end by guiding us to the shambles." Quentin had afterwards occasion to learn that the Bohemian spoke truth in this particular, and that the Provost-guard, employed to suppress the vagabond bands by which the kingdom was infested, entertained correspondence among them, and forbore, for a certain time, the exercise of their duty, which always at last ended in conducting their allies to the gallows, This is a sort of political relation between thief and officer, for the profitable exercise of their mutual professions, which has subsisted in all countries, and is by no means unknown to our own. Durward, parting from the guide, fell back to the rest of the retinue, very little satisfied with the character of Hayraddin, and entertaining little confidence in the professions of gratitude which he had personally made to him. He proceeded to sound the other two men who had been assigned him for attendants, and he was concerned to find them stupid, and as unfit to assist him with counsel, as in the rencounter they had shown themselves reluctant to use their weapons. ladies travelled, with hospitality, and without any troublesome inquiries into their rank and character, which most persons of distinction were desirous of concealing while in the discharge of their vows. The pretence of weariness was usually employed by the Countesses of Croye, as an excuse for instantly retiring to rest, and Quentin, as their Major Domo, arranged all that was necessary betwixt them and their entertainers, with a shrewdness which saved I them all trouble, and an alacrity that failed not to excite a corresponding degree of good-will on the part of those who were thus sedulously attended to. One circumstance gave Quentin peculiar trouble, which was the character and nation of his guide; who, as a heathen, and an infidel vagabond, addicted besides to occult arts, (the badge of all his tribe,) was often looked upon as a very improper guest for the holy resting-places at which the company usually haited, and was not in consequence admitted within even the outer circuit of their walls, save with extreme reluctance. This was very embarrassing; for, on the one hand, it was necessary to keep in good humour a man who was possessed of the secret of their expedition; and on the other, Quentin deemed it indispensable to maintain a vigilant though secret watch on Hayraddin's conduct, in order that, as far as might be, he should hold no communication with any one without being observed. This of course was impossible, if the Bohemian was lodged without the precincts of the convent at which they stopped, and Durward could not help thinking that Hayraddin QUENTIN DURWARD. was desirous of bringing about this latter arrangement; for, instead of keeping himself still and quiet in the quarters allotted to him, his conversation, tricks, and songs, were at the same time so enter taining to the novices and younger brethren, and so unedifying in the opinion of the seniors of the fraternity, that, in more cases than one, it required all the authority, supported by threats, which Quentin could exert over him, to restrain his irreverent and untimeous jocularity, and all the interest he could make with the Superiors, to prevent the heathen hound from being thrust out of doors. He succeeded, however, by the adroit manner in which he apologized for the acts of indecorum committed by their attendant, and the skill with which he hinted the hope of his being brought to a better sense of principles and behaviour, by the neighbourhood of holy relics, consecrated buildings, and, above all, of men dedicated to religion. Nevertheless, to render you, who seem an ingenuous Scot, "or the Wild Boar of Ardennes ?" "And he is a prince, by all report, likely to keep such a vow," said Quentin; "so the men of Liege will probably beware how they give him occasion." "It were to be so hoped," said the Prior; "and such are the prayers of the godly in the land, who would not that the blood of the citizens were poured forth like water, and that they should perish, even as utter castaways, ere they make their peace with Heaven. Also the good Bishop labours night and day to preserve peace, as well becometh a servant of the altar; for it is written in holy scripture, Beati pacifici. But"-here the good Prior stopped, with a deep sigh. Quentin modestly urged the great importance of which it was to the ladies whom he attended, to have some assured information respecting the internal state of the country, and what an act of Christian charity it would be, if the worthy and reverend ther would enlighten them upon that subject. "It is one," said the Prior, "on which no man speaks with willingness; for those who speak evil of the powerful, etiam in cubiculo, may find that a winged thing shall carry the matter to his ears.bution. both with a reasonable force of good soldiers and | men-at-arms. This William de la Marck was bred in his household, and bound to him by many benefits. But he gave vent, even in the court of the Bishop, to his fierce and blood-thirsty temper, and was expelled thence for a homicide, committed on one of the Bishop's chief domestics. From thenceforward, being banished from the good Prelate's presence, he hath been his constant and unrelenting foe; and now, I grieve to say, he hath girded his loins, and strengthened his horn against him." "You consider, then, the situation of the worthy Prelate as being dangerous?" said Quentin, very anxiously. "Alas! my son," said the good Franciscan, "what or who is there in this weary wilderness, whom we may not hold as in danger? But Heaven forefend, I should speak of the reverend Prelate as one whose peril is imminent. He has much treasure, true counsellors, and brave soldiers; and, moreover, a messenger who passed hither to the eastward yesterday, saith that the Duke of Burgundy hath dispatched, upon the Bishop's request, an hundred men-at-arms to his assistance. This reinforcement, with the retinue belonging to each lance, are enough to deal with William de la Marck, on whose name be sorrow!Amen." At this crisis their conversation was interrupted by the Sacristan, who, in a voice almost inarticulate with anger, accused the Bohemian of having practised the most abominable arts of delusion among the younger brethren. He had added to their nightly meal cups of a heady and intoxicating cordial, of ten times the strength of the most powerful wine, under which several of the fraternity had succumbed,and indeed, although the Sacristan had been strong to resist its influence, they might yet see, from his inflamed countenance and thick speech, that even he, the accuser himself, was in some degree affected by this unhallowed potation. Moreover, the Bohemian had sung songs of worldly vanity and impure pleasures; he had derided the cord of Saint Francis, made jest of his miracles, and termed his votaries fools and lazy knaves. Lastly, he had practised palmistry, and foretold to the young Father Cherubin, that he was beloved by a beautiful lady, who should make him father to a thriving boy. The Father Prior listened to these complaints for some time in silence, as struck with mute horror by their enormous atrocity. When the Sacristan had concluded, he rose up, descended to the court of the convent, and ordered the lay brethren, on pain of the worst consequences of spiritual disobedience, to beat Hayraddin out of the sacred precincts, with their broom-staves and cart-whips. This sentence was executed accordingly, in the presence of Quentin Durward, who, however vexed at the occurrence, easily saw that his interference would be of no avail. The discipline inflicted upon the delinquent, notwithstanding the exhortations of the Superior, was more ludicrous than formidable. The Bohemian ran hither and thither through the court, amongst the clamour of voices, and noise of blows, some of which reached him not, because purposely misaimed; others, sincerely designed for his person, were eluded by his activity; and the few that fell upon his back and shoulders, he took without either complaint or reply. The noise and riot was the greater, that the inexperienced cudgel-players, among whom Hayraddin ran the gauntlet, hit each other more frequently than they did him; till at length, desirous of ending a scene which was more scandalous than edifying, the Prior commanded the wicket to be flung open, and the Bohemian, darting through it with the speed of lightning, fled forth into the moonlight. During this scene, a suspicion which Durward had formerly entertained, recurred with additional strength. Hayraddin had, that very morning, promised to him more modest and discreet behaviour than he was wont to exhibit, when they rested in a convent on their journey; yet he had broken his engagement, and had been even more offensively obstreperous than usual. Something probably lurked under this; for whatever were the Bohemian's deficiencies, he lacked neither sense, nor, when he pleased, self-command; and might it not be probable that he wished to hold some communication, either with his own horde or some one else, from which he was debarred in the course of the day, by the vigilance with which he was watched by Quentin, and had recourse to this stratagem in order to get himself turned out of the convent? No sooner did this suspicion dart once more through Durward's mind, than, alert as he always was in his motions, he resolved to follow his cudgelled guide, and observe (secretly if possible) how he disposed of himself. Accordingly, when the Bohemian fled, as already mentioned, out at the gate of the convent, Quentin, hastily explaining to the Prior the necessity of keeping sight of his guide, followed in pursuit of him. CHAPTER XVII. THE ESPIED SPY. What, the rude ranger? and spied spy ?—hands offYou are for no such rustics. BEN JONSON's Tale of Robin Hood. WHEN Quentin sallied from the convent, he could mark the precipitate retreat of the Bohemian, whose dark figure was seen in the far moonlight, flying with the speed of a flogged hound quite through the street of the little village, and across the level meadow tha: lay beyond. “ My friend runs fast," said Quentin to himself; "but he must run faster yet, to escape the fleetest foot that ever pressed the heather of Glen-houlakin." Being fortunately without his cloak and armour, the Scottish mountaineer was at liberty to put forth a speed which was unrivalled in his own glens, and which, notwithstanding the rate at which the Bohemian ran, was likely soon to bring his pursuer up with him. This was not, however, Quentin's object; for he considered it more essential to watch Hayraddin's motions, than to interrupt them. He was the rather led to this, by the steadiness with which the Bohemian directed his course; and which continuing, even after the impulse of the violent expulsion had subsided, seemed to indicate that his career had some more certain goal for its object than could have suggested itself to a person unexpectedly turned out of good quarters when midnight was approaching, to seek a new place of repose. He never even looked behind him; and consequently Durward was enabled to follow him unobserved. At length the Bohemian having traversed the meadow, and attained the side of a little stream, the banks of which were clothed with alders and willows, Quentin observed that he stood still, and blew a low note on his horn, which was answered by a whistle at some little distance. "This is a rendezvous," thought Quentin; "but how shall I come near enough to overhear the import of what passes? the sound of my steps, and the rustling of the boughs through which I must force my passage, will betray me, unless I am cautious-I will stalk them, by Saint Andrew, as if they were Glenisla deer-they shall learn that I have not conned woodcraft for nought. Yonder they meet, the two shadows-and two of them there are odds against me if I am discovered, and if their purpose be unfriendly, as is much to be doubted. And then the Countess Isabelle loses her poor friend!-Well-and he were not worthy to be called such, if he were not ready to meet a dozen in her behalf.-Have I not crossed swords with Dunois, the best knight in France, and shall I fear a tribe of yonder vagabonds? -Pshaw-God and Saint Andrew to friend, they will find me both stout and wary." Thus resolving, and with a degree of caution taught him by his sylvan habits, our friend descended into the channel of the little stream, which varied in depth, sometimes scarce covering his shoes, sometimes coming up to his knees, and so crept along, his form concealed by the boughs overhanging the bank, and his steps unheard amid the ripple of the water. (We have ourselves, in the days of yore, thus approached the nest of the wakeful raven.) In this manner, the "Poz tausend!" said the soldier, "we are as strong Scot drew near unperceived, until he distinctly heard and stronger; but we hear of a hundreds of the lances the voices of those who were the subject of his obser- of Burgund, das ist, see you,-five men to a lance vation, though he could not distinguish the words. do make five hundreds, and then hold me the devil, Being at this time under the drooping branches of a they will be fainer to seek for us, than we to seek for magnificent weeping willow, which almost swept the them; for der Bischoff hath a goot force on footingsurface of the water, he caught hold of one of its ay indeed!" boughs, by the assistance of which, exerting at once much agility, dexterity, and strength, he raised himself up into the body of the tree, and sat, secure from discovery, among the central branches. You must then hold to the anibuscade at the Cross of the Three Kings, or give up the adventure," said the Bohemian. "Geb up-geb up the adventure of the rich bride for noble hauptman-Teufel! I will charge through hell first.-Mein soul, we will be all princes and hertzogs, whom they call dukes, and we will hab a snab at the wein-kellar, and at the mouldy French crowns, and it may be at the pretty garces too, when He with de beard is weary on them." "The ambuscade at the Cross of the Three Kings then still holds ?" said the Bohemian. in on them, and they are ours.' "Ay; but I promised this piece of necessary villany only on one condition," said Hayraddin.-"I will not have a hair of the young man's head touched. If you swear this to me, by your Three dead Men of Cologne, I will swear to you, by the Seven Night Walkers, that I will serve you truly as to the rest. And if you break your oath, the Night Walkers shall wake you seven nights from your sleep, between night and morning, and, on the eighth, they shall strangle and devour you.' From this situation he could discover that the per-our son with whom Hayraddin was now conversing was one of his own tribe, and, at the same time, he perceived, to his great disappointment, that no approximation could enable him to comprehend their language, which was totally unknown to him. They laughed much; and as Hayraddin made a sign of skipping about, and ended by rubbing his shoulder with his hand, Durward had no doubt that he was "Mein Got, ay, you will swear to bring them relating the story of the bastinading which he had there; and when they are on their knees before the sustained previous to his escape from the convent. cross, and down from off their horses, which all men On a sudden, a whistle was again heard in the dis-do, except such black heathens as thou, we will make tance, which was once more answered by a low tone or two of Hayraddin's horn. Presently afterwards, a tall, stout, soldierly-looking man, a strong contrast in point of thewes and sinews to the small and slender-limbed Bohemians, made his appearance. He had a broad baldric over his shoulder, which sustained a sword that hung almost across his person; his hose were much slashed, through which slashes was drawn silk or tiffany, of various colours; they were tied by at least five hundred points or strings, made of ribbon, to the tight buff-jacket which he wore, and the right sleeve of which displayed a silver boar's head, the crest of his Captain. A very small hat sat jauntily on one side of his head, from which descended a quantity of curled hair, which fell on each side of a broad face, and mingled with as broad a beard, about four inches long. He held a long lance in his hand; and his whole equipment was that of one of the German adventurers, who were known by the name of lanzknechts, in English, spearmen, who constituted a formidable part of the infantry of the period. These mercenaries were, of course, a fierce and rapacious soldiery, and having an idle tale current among themselves, that a lanzknecht was refused admittance into heaven on account of his vices, and into hell on the score of his tumultuous, mutinous, and insubordinate disposition, they manfully acted as if they neither sought the one, nor eschewed the other. "Donner and blitz!" was his first salutation, in a sort of German-French, which we can only imperfectly imitate, "Why have you kept me dancing in attendance dis dree nights?" "I could not see you sooner, Meinherr," said Hayraddin, very submissively;," there is a young Scot, with as quick an eye as the wild-cat, who watches my least motions. He suspects me already, and, should he find his suspicion confirmed, I were a dead man on the spot, and he would carry back the women into France again." "Was henker!" said the lanzknecht; "we are three -we will attack them to-morrow, and carry the women off without going farther. You said the two valets were cowards-you and your comrade may manage them, and the Teufel sall hold me, but I match your Scots wild-cat." "You will find that foolhardy," said Hayraddin; "for, besides that we ourselves count not much in fighting, this spark hath matched himself with the best knight in France, and come off with honour-I have seen those who saw him press Dunois hard enough." "Hagel and sturmwetter! It is but your cowardice that speaks," said the German soldier. "I am no more a coward than yourself," said Hayraddin; "but my trade is not fighting. If you keep the appointment where it was laid, it is well-if not, I guide them safely to the Bishop's Palace, and Wilham de la Marck may easily possess himself of them there, provided he is half as strong as he pretended week since." "} a But, donner and hagel, what need you be so curious about the life of this boy, who is neither your bloot nor kin?" said the German. "No matter for that, honest Heinrick; some men have pleasure in cutting throats, some in keeping them whole-So swear to me, that you will spare him life and limb, or, by the bright star Aldeboran, this matter shall go no further-Swear, and by the Three Kings, as you call them, of Cologne-I know you care for no other oath." "Du bist ein comische man," said the lanzknecht, "I swear" "Not yet," said the Bohemian-"Faces about, brave lanzknecht, and look to the east, else the Kings may not hear you." The soldier took the oath in the manner prescribed, and then declared that he would be in readiness, observing the place was quite convenient, being scarce five miles from their present leaguer, "But, were it not making sure work to have a fahnlein of riders on the other road, by the left side of the inn, which might trap them if they go that way?" The Bohemian considered a moment, and then answered, "No-the appearance of their troops in that direction might alarm the garrison of Namur, and then they would have a doubtful fight, instead of assured success. Besides, they shall travel on the right bank of the Maes, for I can guide them which way I will; for, sharp as this same Scottish mountaineer is, he hath never asked any one's advice, save mine, upon the direction of their route.-Undoubtedly, I was assigned to him by an assured friend, whose word no man mistrusts till they come to know him a little." "Hark ye, friend Hayraddin," said the soldier, "I I would ask you somewhat.-You and your bruder were, as you say yourself, gross sternen-deuter, that is, star-lookers and geister-seers-Now, what henker was it made you not foresee him, your bruder Zamet, to be hanged?" "I will tell you, Heinrick," said Hayraddin ;-"If I could have known my brother was such a fool as to tell the counsel of King Louis to Duke Charles of Burgundy, I could have foretold his death as sure as I can foretell fair weather in July. Louis hath both ears and hands at the Court of Burgundy, and Charles's counsellors love the chink of French gold as well as thou dost the clatter of a wine-pot.-But fare thee well, and keep appointment-I must await my early Scot a bow-shot without the gate of the den of the Ilazy swine yonder, else will he think me about some excursion which bodes no good to the success of his | his embracing the office with ready glee and devojourney.' "Take a draught of comfort first," said the lanzknecht, tendering him a flask,-"but I forget; thou art beast enough to drink nothing but water, like a vile vassal of Mahound and Termagund." "Thou art thyself a vassal of the wine-measure and the flagon," said the Bohemian,-"I marvel not that thou art only trusted with the bloodthirsty and violent part of executing what better heads have devised. He must drink no wine, who would know the thoughts of others, or hide his own. But why preach to thee, who hast a thirst as eternal as a sand-bank in Arabia?-Fare thee well.-Take my comrade Tuisco with thee-his appearance about the monastery may breed suspicion." The two worthies parted, after each had again pledged himself to keep the rendezvous at the Cross of the Three Kings. Quentin Durward watched until they were out of sight, and then descended from his place of concealment, his heart throbbing at the narrow escape which he and his fair charge had made if, indeed, it could yet be achieved-from a deep-laid plan of villany. Afraid, on his return to the monastery, of stumbling upon Hayraddin, he made a long detour, at the expenseof traversing some very rough ground, and was thus enabled to return to his asylum on a different point from that by which he left it. tion, they had, in the same spirit, permitted him to kiss both their hands on that confidential and honourable appointment. Nay, he thought that the hand of the Countess Isabelle, one of the best formed and most beautiful to which true vassal ever did such homage, trembled when his lips rested on it a moment longer than ceremony required, and that some confusion appeared on her cheek and in her eye as she withdrew it. Something might come of all this; and what brave man, at Quentin Durward's age, but would gladly have taken the thoughts which it awakened, into the considerations which were to determine his conduct?. This point settled, he had next to consider in what degree he was to use the further guidance of the faithless Bohemian. He had renounced his first thought of killing him in the wood, and if he took another guide, and dismissed him alive, it would be sending the traitor to the camp of William de la Marck, with intelligence of their motions. He thought of taking the Prior into his counsels, and requesting him to detain the Bohemian by force, until they should have time to reach the Bishop's castle; but, on reflection, he dared not hazard such a proposition to one who was timid both as an old man and a friar, who held the safety of his convent the most important object of his duty, and who trembled at the mention of the Wild Boar of Ardennes. On the route, he communed earnestly with himself At length Durward settled a plan of operation, on concerning the safest plan to be pursued. He had which he could the better reckon, as the execution restformed the resolution, when he first heard Hayraddin ed entirely upon himself; and, in the cause in which avow his treachery, to put him to death so soon as he was engaged, he felt himself capable of every the conference broke up, and his companions were at thing. With a firm and bold heart, though cona sufficient distance; but when he heard the Bohe-scious of the dangers of his situation, Quentin might mian express so much interest in saving his own life, be compared to one walking under a load, of the he felt it would be ungrateful to execute upon him, in weight of which he is conscious, but which yet is not its rigour, the punishment his treachery had deserved. beyond his strength and power of endurance. Just He therefore resolved to spare his life, and even, if as his plan was determined, he reached the conpossible, still to use his services as a guide, under vent. such precautions as should ensure the security of the precious charge, to the preservation of which his own life was internally devoted. But whither were they to turn-the Countesses of Croye could neither obtain shelter in Burgundy, from which they had fled, nor in France, from which they had been in a manner expelled. The violence of Duke Charles in the one country, was scarcely more to be feared than the cold and tyrannical policy of King Louis in the other. After deep thought, Durward could form no better or safer plan for their security, than that, evading the ambuscade, they should take the road to Liege by the left hand of the Maes, and throw themselves, as the ladies originally designed, upon the protection of the excellent Bishop. That Prelate's will to protect them could not be doubted, and, if reinforced by this Burgundian party of men-at-arms, he might be considered as having the power. At any rate, if the dangers to which he was exposed from the hostility of William de la Marck, and from the troubles in the city of Liege, appeared imminent, he would still be able to protect the unfortunate ladies until they could be despatched to Germany with a suitable escort. Upon knocking gently at the gate, a brother, considerately stationed for that purpose by the Prior, opened it, and acquainted him that the brethren were to be engaged in the choir till daybreak, praying Heaven to forgive to the community the various scandals which had that evening taken place among them. The worthy friar offered Quentin permission to attend their devotions; but his clothes were in such a wet condition, that the young Scot was obliged to decline the opportunity, and request permission, instead, to sit by the kitchen fire, in order to his attire being dried before morning; as he was particularly desirous that the Bohemian, when they should next meet, should observe no traces of his having been abroad during the night. The friar not only granted his request, but afforded him his own company, which fell in very happily with the desire which Durward had to obtain information concerning the two routes which he had heard mentioned by the Bohemian in his conversation with the lanzknecht. The friar, intrusted upon many occasions with the business of the convent abroad, was the person in the fraternity best qualified to afford him the information he requested, but observed, that, as true pilgrims, it became the To sum up this reasoning-for when is a mental duty of the ladies whom Quentin escorted, to take the argument conducted without some reference to self-road on the right side of the Maes, by the Cross of the ish considerations?-Quentin imagined that the death Kings, where the blessed relics of Caspar, Melchior, or captivity to which King Louis had, in cold blood, and Balthasar, (as the Catholic Church has named consigned him, set him at liberty from his engage- the eastern Magi who came to Bethlehem with their ments to the crown of France; which, therefore, it offerings,) had rested as they were transported to was his determined purpose to renounce. The Bishop Cologne, and on which spot they had wrought many of Liege was likely, he concluded, to need soldiers, miracles. and he thought that, by the interposition of his fair friends, who now, especially the elder Countess, treated him with much familiarity, he might get some command, and perhaps might have the charge of conducting the Ladies of Croye to some place more safe than the neighbourhood of Liege. And, to conclude, the ladies had talked, although almost in a sort of jest, of raising the Countess's own vassals, and, as others did in those stormy times, fortifying her strong castle against all assailants whatever; they had jestingly asked Quentin, whether he would accept the perilous office of their Seneschal; and, on Quentin replied, that the ladies were determined to observe all the holy stations with the utmost punctuality, and would certainly visit that of the Cross, either in going to or returning from Cologne, but they had heard reports that the road by the right side of the river was at present rendered unsafe by the soldiers of the ferocious William de la Marck. "Now may Heaven forbid," said Father Francis, "that the Wild Boar of Ardennes should again make his lair so near us!-Nevertheless, the broad Maes will be a good barrier betwixt us, even should it so chance." |