augment rapidly, and the eyes of each who added to it were eagerly directed to Quentin, with a stare which expressed much interest and curiosity, mingled with a certain degree of respect.

At length he now formed the centre of a considerable crowd, which yet yielded before him while he continued to move forward; while those who followed or kept pace with him, studiously avoided pressing on him, or impeding his motions. Yet his situation was too embarrassing to be long endured, without making some attempt to extricate himself, and to obtain some explanation.

Quentin looked around him, and fixing upon a jolly, stout-made, respectable man, whom, by his velvet cloak and gold chain, he concluded to be a burgher of eminence, and perhaps a magistrate, he asked him, "Whether he saw any thing particular in his appearance, to attract public attention in a degree so unusual? or whether it was the ordinary custom of the people of Liege thus to throng around strangers who chanced to visit their city?"

"He has avowed it, he has avowed it !" said Rouslaer and Pavillon, turning to the assembled burghers in attitudes of congratulation, with waving arms, extended palms, and large round faces radiating with glee. "He hath avowed himself an Archer of Louis's Guard-of Louis, the guardian of the liberties of Liege!"

A general shout and cry now arose from the multitude, in which were mingled the various sounds of Long live Louis of France! Long live the Scottish Guard! Long live the valiant Archer! Our liberties, our privileges, or death! No imposts! Long live the valiant Boar of Ardennes! Down with Charles of Burgundy! and confusion to Bourbon and his bishopric!"

Half-stunned by the noise, which began anew in one quarter so soon as it ceased in another, rising and falling like the billows of the sea, and augmented by thousands of voices which roared in chorus from distant streets and market-places, Quentin had yet time to form a conjecture concerning the meaning of the tumult, and a plan for regulating his own conduct.

"Surely not, good seignior," answered the burgher; "the Liegeois are neither so idly curious as to practise such a custom, nor is there any thing in your He had forgotten that, after his skirmish with dress or appearance, saving that which is most wel- Orleans and Dunois, one of his comrades had, at come to this city, and which our townsmen are both Lord Crawford's command, replaced the morion, delighted to see, and desirous to honour." cloven by the sword of the latter, with one of the "This sounds very polite, worthy sir," said Quen-steel-lined bonnets, which formed a part of the protin; "but by the Cross of Saint Andrew, I cannot even guess at your meaning."

"Your oath, sir," answered the merchant of Liege, as well as your accent, convinces me that we are right in our conjecture."

per and well-known equipment of the Scotch Guards. That an individual of this body, which was always kept very close to Louis's person, should have appeared in the streets of a city, whose civil discontents had been aggravated by the agents of that King, was "By my patron Saint Quentin!" said Durward, "I naturally enough interpreted by the burghers of am farther off from your meaning than ever." Liege into a determination on the part of Louis "There again now," rejoined the Liegeois, look-openly to assist their cause; and the apparition of an ing, as he spoke, most provokingly, yet most civilly, individual archer was magnified into a pledge of impolitic and intelligent."It is surely not for us to see mediate and active support from Louis-nay, into an that which you, worthy seignior, deem it proper to assurance that his auxiliary forces were actually enconceal. But why swear by Saint Quentin, if you tering the town at one or other, though no one could would not have me construe your meaning? We distinctly tell which, of the city-gates. know the good Count of Saint Paul, who lies there at present, wishes well to our cause.'

On my life," said Quentin, "you are under some delusion-I know nothing of Saint Paul." "Nay, we question you not," said the burgher; "although, hark ye-I say, hark in your ear-my name is Pavillon."

And what is my business with that, Seignior Pavillon?" said Quentin.

"Nay, nothing-only methinks it might satisfy you that I am trustworthy-Here is my colleague Rouslaer, too."

Rouslaer advanced, a corpulent dignitary, whose fair round belly, like a battering-ram, "did shake the press before him," and who, whispering caution to his neighbour, said, in a tone of rebuke-"You forget, good colleague, the place is too open-the seignior will retire to your house or mine, and drink a glass of Rhenish and sugar, and then we shall hear more of our good friend and ally, whom we love with all our honest Flemish hearts."

"I have no news for any of you," said Quentin, impatiently; "I will drink no Rhenish; and I only desire of you, as men of account and respectability, to disperse this idle crowd, and allow a stranger to leave your town as quietly as he came into it.'

'Nay, then, sir," said Rouslaer, "since you stand so much on your incognito, and with us, too, who are men of confidence, let me ask you roundly, wherefore wear you the badge of your company if you would remain unknown in Liege?"

"What badge, and what order?" said Quentin; "you look like reverend men and grave citizens, yet, on my soul, you are either mad yourselves, or desire to drive me so."

"

Sapperment!" said the other burgher, "this youth would make Saint Lambert swear! Why, who wear bonnets with the Saint Andrew's cross and fleur-de-lys, save the Scottish Archers of King Louis's Guards?"

"And supposing I am an Archer of the Scottish Guard, why should you make a wonder of my wearing the badge of my company?" said Quentin, impatiently.

To remove a conviction so generally adopted, Quentin easily saw was impossible-nay, that any attempt to undeceive men so obstinately prepossessed in their belief, would be attended with personal risk, which, in this case, he saw little use of incurring. He there fore hastily resolved to temporize, and to get free the best way he could; and this resolution he formed while they were in the act of conducting him to the Stadthouse, where the notables of the town were fast assembling, in order to hear the tidings which he was presumed to have brought, and to regale him with a splendid banquet.

In spite of all his opposition, which was set down to modesty, he was on every side surrounded by the donors of popularity, the unsavoury tide of which now floated around him. His two burgomaster friends, who were Schoppen, or Syndics of the city, had made fast both his arms. Before him, Nikkel Blok, the chief of the butcher's incorporation, hastily summoned from his office in the shambles, brandished his death-doing axe, yet smeared with blood and brains, with a courage and grace which brantwein alone could inspire. Behind him came the tall, lean, raw-boned, very drunk, and very patriotic figure of Claus Hammerlein, president of the mystery of the workers in iron, and followed by at least a thousand unwashed artificers of his class. Weavers, nailers, ropemakers, artisans of every degree and calling, thronged forward to join the procession from every gloomy and narrow street. Escape seemed a desperate and impossible adventure.

In this dilemma, Quentin appealed to Rouslaer, who held one arm, and to Pavillon, who had secured the other, and who were conducting him forward at the head of the ovation, of which he had so unexpectedly become the principal object. He hastily acquainted them "with his having thoughtlessly adopted the bonnet of the Scottish Guard, on an accident having occurred to the head-piece in which he had proposed to travel; he regretted that, owing to this circumstance, and the sharp wit with which the Liegeois drew the natural inference of his quality and the purpose of his visit, these things had been

publicly discovered; and he intimated, that, if just now conducted to the Stadthouse, he might unhappily feel himself under the necessity of communicating to the assembled notables certain matters, which he was directed by the King to reserve for the private ears of his excellent gossips, Meinheers Rous-disdaining alike to betray any person who had reposed laer and Pavillon of Liege."

This last hint operated like magic on the two citizens, who were the most distinguished leaders of the insurgent burghers, and were, like all demagogues of their kind, desirous to keep every thing within their own management, so far as possible. They therefore hastily agreed that Quentin should leave the town for the time, and return by night to Liege, and converse with them privately in the house of Rouslaer, near the gate opposite to Schonwaldt. Quentin hesitated not to tell them, that he was at present residing in the Bishop's palace, under pretence of bearing dispatches from the French Court, although his real errand was, as they had well conjectured, designed to the citizens of Liege; and this tortuous mode of conducting a communication, as well as the character and rank of the person to whom it was supposed to be intrusted, was so consonant to the character of Louis, as neither to excite doubt nor surprise.

Almost immediately after this éclaircissement was completed, the progress of the multitude brought them opposite to the door of Pavillon's house, in one of the principal streets, but which communicated from behind with the Maes, by means of a garden, as well as an extensive manufactory of tan-pits and other conveniences for dressing hides; for the patriotic burgher was a felt-dresser, or currier.

While the boat was rowed up the sluggish waters of the Maes, and passed the defences of the town, Quentin had time enough to reflect what account he ought to give of his adventure in Liege, when he re turned to the Bishop's palace of Schonwaldt; and confidence in him, although by misapprehension, or to conceal from the hospitable Prelate the mutinous state of his capital, he resolved to confine himself to so general an account as might put the Bishop upon his guard, while it should point out no individual to his vengeance.

He was landed from the boat, within half a mile of the castle, and rewarded his rowers with a guilder, to their great satisfaction. Yet, short as was the space which divided him from Schonwaldt, the castlebell had tolled for dinner, and Quentin found, moreover, that he had approached the castle on a different side from that of the principal entrance, and that to go round would throw his arrival considerably later. He, therefore, made straight towards the side that was nearest him, as he discerned that it presented an embattled wall, probably that of the little garden already noticed, with a postern opening upon the moat, and a skiff moored by the postern, which might serve, he thought, upon summons, to pass him over. As he approached, in hopes to make his entrance this way, the postern opened, a man came out, and, jumping into the boat, made his way to the farther side of the moat, and then with a long pole, pushed the skiff back towards the place where he had embarked. As he came near, Quentin discerned that this person was the Bohemian, who, avoiding him, as was not difficult, held a different path towards Liege, and was presently out of his ken.

Here was new subject for meditation. Had this vagabond heathen been all this while with the Ladies of Croye, and for what purpose should they so far have graced him with their presence? Tormented with this thought, Durward became doubly determined to seek an explanation with them, for the purpose at once of laying bare the treachery of Hayraḍdin, and announcing to them the perilous state in which their protector, the Bishop, was placed, by the mutinous state of his town of Liege.

It was natural that Pavillon should desire to do the honours of his dwelling to the supposed envoy of Louis, and a halt before his house excited no surprise on the part of the multitude; who, on the contrary, greeted Meinheer Pavillon with a loud vivat, as he ushered in his distinguished guest. Quentin speedily laid aside his remarkable bonnet, for the cap of a felt-maker, and flung a cloak over his other apparel. Pavillon then furnished him with a passport to pass the gates of the city, and to return by night or day as should suit his convenience; and, lastly, committed him to the charge of his daughter, As Quentin thus resolved, he entered the castle by a fair and smiling Flemish lass, with instructions the principal gate, and found that part of the family how he was to be disposed of, while he himself has who assembled for dinner in the great hall, including tened back to his colleague, to amuse their friends at the Bishop's attendant clergy, officers of the housethe Stadthouse, with the best excuses which they hold, and strangers below the rank of the very first could invent for the disappearance of King Louis's nobility, were already placed at their meal. A seat at envoy. We cannot, as the footman says in the play, the upper end of the board, had, however, been reservrecollect the exact nature of the lie which the Bel-ed beside the Bishop's domestic chaplain, who welwethers told the flock; but no task is so easy as that of imposing upon a multitude whose eager prejudices have more than half done the business, ere the impostor has spoken a word.

The worthy burgess was no sooner gone, than his plump daughter, Trudchen, with many a blush, and many a wreathed smile, which suited very prettily with lips like cherries, laughing blue eyes, and a skin transparently pure, escorted the handsome stranger through the pleached alleys of the Sieur Pavillon's garden, down to the water-side, and there saw him fairly embarked in a boat, which two stout Flemings, in their trunk-hose, fur caps, and many-buttoned jerkins, had got in readiness with as much haste as their low-country nature would permit.

As the pretty Trudchen spoke nothing but German, Quentin, no disparagement to his loyal affection to the Countess of Croye,-could only express his thanks by a kiss on those same cherry lips, which was very gallantly bestowed, and accepted with all modest gratitude; for gallants with a form and face like our Scottish Archer, were not of every-day occurrence among the bourgeoisie of Liege.*

The adventure of Quentin at Liege may be thought over strained, yet it is extraordinary what slight circumstances will influence the public mind in a moment of doubt and uncertainty. Most readers must remember, that, when the Dutch were on the point of rising against the French yoke, their zeal for liberation received a strong impulse from the landing of a person in a British volunteer-uniform, whose presence, though that of a private individual, was received as a guarantee of succours from England.

comed the stranger with the old college jest of, Sero venientibus ossa, while he took care so to load his plate with dainties, as to take away all appearance of that tendency to reality, which in Quentin's country, is said to render a joke either no joke, or at best an unpalatable one.t

In vindicating himself from the suspicion of illbreeding, Quentin briefly described the tumult which had been occasioned in the city by his being discovered to belong to the Scottish Archer-guard of Louis, and endeavoured to give a ludicrous turn to the narrative by saying, that he had been with difficulty extricated by a fat burgher of Liege and his pretty daughter.

But the company were too much interested in the story to taste the jest. All operations of the table were suspended while Quentin told his tale; and when he had ceased, there was a solemn pause, which was only broken by the Major-Domo saying, in a low and melancholy tone, "I would to God that we saw those hundred lances of Burgundy!"

"Why should you think so deeply on it?" said Quentin-"You have many soldiers here, whose trade is arms; and your antagonists are only the rabble of a disorderly city, who will fly before the first flutter of a banner with men-at-arms arrayed beneath it."

"You do not know the men of Liege," said the Chaplain, "of whom it may be said, that, not even excepting those of Ghent, they are at once the fierc↑ "A sooth boord (true joke] is no boord," says the Scot.

When Durward descended with his new friend into the garden, the latter seemed a terrestrial philosopher, entirely busied with the things of the earth; while the eyes of Quentin, if they did not seek the heavens, like those of an astrologer, ranged at least all around the windows, balconies, and especially the turrets, which projected on every part from the inner front of the old building, in order to discover that which was to be his cynosure.

est and the most untameable in Europe. Twice has | cony-window, or similar coign of vantage," as at the Duke of Burgundy chastised them for their re- the hostelry of the Fleur-de-Lys, near Plessis, or the peated revolts against their Bishop, and twice hath Dauphin's tower, within that Castle itself. Isabelle he suppressed them with much severity, abridged seemned still destined, wherever she made her abode, their privileges, taken away their banners, and estab- to be the Lady of the Turret. lished rights and claims to himself, which were not before competent over a free city of the Empire-Nay, the last time he defeated them with much slaughter near Saint Tron, where Liege lost nearly six thousand men, what with the sword, what with those drowned in the flight; and, thereafter, to disable them from farther mutiny, Duke Charles refused to enter at any of the gates which they had surrendered, but, beating to the ground forty cubits breadth of their city wall, marched into Liege as a conqueror, with While thus employed, the young lover heard with visor closed, and lance in rest, at the head of his chi- total neglect, if indeed he heard at all, the enumeravalry, by the breach which he had made. Nay, well tion of plants, herbs, and shrubs, which his reverend were the Liegeois then assured, that, but for the in- conductor pointed out to him; of which this was tercession of his father, Duke Philip the Good, this choice, because of prime use in medicine; and that Charles, then called Count of Charalois, would more choice for yielding a rare flavour to pottage; have given their town up to spoil. And yet, with all and a third, choicest of all, because possessed of no these fresh recollections, with their breaches unre- merit but its extreme scarcity. Still it was necessary paired, and their arsenals scarcely supplied, the sight to preserve some semblance at least of attention; of an Archer's bonnet is sufficient again to stir them which the youth found so difficult, that he fairly wishto uproar. May God amend all! but I fear there willed at the devil the officious naturalist and the whole be bloody work between so fierce a population and so vegetable kingdom. He was relieved at length by the fiery a Sovereign; and I would my excellent and striking of a clock, which summoned the Chaplain to kind master had a see of lesser dignity and more safe- some official duty. ty, for his mitre is lined with thorns instead of ermine. This much I say to you, Seignior stranger, to make you aware, that, if your affairs detain you not at Schonwaldt, it is a place from which each man of sense should depart as speedily as possible. I apprehend that your ladies are of the same opinion; for one of the grooms who attended them on the route, has been sent back by them to the Court of France with letters, which, doubtless, are intended to announce their going in search of a safer asylum."

CHAPTER XX.

THE BILLET.

Go to-thou art made, if thou desirest to be so-If not, let me see thee still the fellow of servants, and not fit to touch Fortune's fingers.-Twelfth Night.

The reverend man made many unnecessary apologies for leaving his new friend, and concluded by giving him the agreeable assurance, that he might walk in the garden till supper, without much risk of being disturbed.

"It is," said he, "the place where I always study my own homilies, as being most sequestered from the resort of strangers. I am now about to deliver one of them in the chapel, if you please to favour me with your audience.-I have been thought to have some gift-But the glory be where it is due!"

Quentin excused himself for this evening, under pretence of a severe headach, which the open air was likely to prove the best cure for; and at length the well-meaning priest left him to himself.

It may well be imagined, that in the curious inspection which he now made, at more leisure, of every window or aperture which looked into the garden, WHEN the tables were drawn, the Chaplain, who those did not escape which were in the immediate seemed to have taken a sort of attachment to Quen- neighbourhood of the small door by which he had tin Durward's society, or who perhaps desired to ex- seen Marthon admit Hayraddin, as he pretended, to tract from him farther information concerning the the apartment of the Countesses. But nothing stirred meeting of the morning, led him into a withdrawing or showed itself, which could either confute or conapartment, the windows of which, on one side, pro- firm the tale which the Bohemian had told, until it jected into the garden; and as he saw his compa- was becoming dusky; and Quentin began to be sennion's eye gaze rather eagerly upon the spot, he pro-sible, he scarce knew why, that his sauntering so long posed to Quentin to go down and take a view of the in the garden might be subject of displeasure or suscurious foreign shrubs with which the Bishop had en-picion. riched his parterres.

Quentin excused himself, as unwilling to intrude, and therewithal communicated the check which he had received in the morning. The Chaplain smiled, and said, "That there was indeed some ancient prohibition respecting the Bishop's private garden; but this," he added, with a smile, "was when our reverend father was a princely young prelate of not more than thirty years of age, and when many fair ladies frequented the Castle for ghostly consolation. Need there was," he said, with a downcast look, and a smile, half simple and half intelligent, "that these ladies, pained in conscience, who were ever lodged in the apartments now occupied by the noble Canoness, should have some space for taking the air, secure from the intrusion of the profane. But of late years," he added, "this prohibition, although not formally removed, has fallen entirely out of observance, and remains but as the superstition which lingers in the brain of a superannuated gentleman-usher. If you please," he added, "we will presently descend, and try whether the place be haunted or no."

Nothing could have been more agreeable to Quentin than the prospect of a free entrance into the garden, through means of which, according to a chance which had hitherto attended his passion, he hoped to communicate with, or at least obtain sight of, the object of his affections, from some such turret or bal

Just as he had resolved to depart, and was taking what he had destined for his last turn under the windows which had such attraction for him, he heard above him a slight and cautious sound, like that of a cough, as intended to call his attention, and to avoid the observation of others. As he looked up in joyful surprise, a casement opened a female hand was seen to drop a billet, which fell into a rosemary bush that grew at the foot of the wall. The precaution used in dropping this letter, prescribed equal prudence and secrecy in reading it. The garden, surrounded, as we have said, upon two sides, by the buildings of the palace, was commanded, of course, by the windows of many apartments; but there was a sort of grotto of rock-work, which the Chaplain had shown Durward with much complacency. To snatch up the billet, thrust it into his bosom, and hie to this place of secrecy, was the work of a single mănute. He there opened the precious scroll, and lessed, at the same time, the memory of the Monks of Aberbrothick, whose nurture had rendered him capable of deciphering its contents.

The first line contained the injunction, "Read this in secret,"-and the contents were as follows: "What your eyes have too boldly said, mine have perhaps too rashly understood. But, unjust persecution makes its victims bold, and it were better to throw myself on the gratitude of one, than to remain

the object of pursuit to many. Fortune has her | the worthy Bishop? This was a matter to be closely throne upon a rock; but brave men fear not to climb. If you dare do aught for one that hazards much, you need but pass into this garden at prime to-morrow, wearing in your cap a blue-and-white feather; but expect no farther communication. Your stars have, they say, destined you for greatness, and disposed you to gratitude.-Farewell-be faithful, prompt, and resolute, and doubt not thy fortune." Within this letter was enclosed a ring with a table diamond, on which were cut, in form of a lozenge, the ancient arms of the House of Croye

And again the same faithful history made the King tempest; the winds and the waves rose with such a of Hongrie himself avouch,

"I have yknown many a page

Come to be Prince by marriage."

So that, upon the whole, Quentin generously and magnanimously reconciled himself to a line of conduct on the Countess's part, by which he was likely to be so highly benefited.

But this scruple was succeeded by another doubt, harder of digestion. The traitor Hayraddin had been in the apartments of the ladies, for aught Quentin knew, for the space of four hours, and, considering the hints which he had thrown out, of possessing an influence of the most interesting kind over the fortunes of Quentin Durward, what should assure him that this train was not of his laying? and if so, was it not probable that such a dissembling villain had set it on foot to conceal some new plan of treachery -perhaps to seduce Isabelle out of the protection of VOL. IV. 2 Y

He sprung from bed, and looked from the win- I made a vow to act at once with modesty, courage, dow of his apartment; but it opened into the garden, and activity. and on that side all was quiet, though the opening of the casement made him still more sensible, from the shouts which reached his ears, that the outside of the castle was beleagured and assaulted, and that by a numerous and determined enemy. Hastily collecting his dress and arms, and putting them on with such celerity as darkness and surprise permitted, his attention was solicited by a knocking at the door of his chamber. As Quentin did not immediately answer, the door, which was a slight one, was forced open from without, and the intruder, announced by his peculiar dialect to be the Bohemian, Hayraddin Maugrabin, entered the apartment. A phial, which he held in his hand, touched by a match, produced a dark flash of ruddy fire, by means of which he kindled a lamp, which he took from his bosom.

"The horoscope of your destinies," he said energetically to Durward, without any farther greeting, now turns upon the determination of a minute.' "Caitiff!" said Quentin, in reply," there is treachery around us; and where there is treachery, thou

must have a share in it."

At the opposite door, which led to the ladies' apartments, upon a low signal made by Hayraddin, appeared two women, muffled in the black silk veils which were then, as now, worn by the women in the Netherlands. Quentin offered his arm to one of them, who clung to it with trembling eagerness, and indeed hung upon him so much, that had her weight been greater, she must have much impeded their retreat. The Bohemian, who conducted the other female, took the road straight for the postern which opened upon the moat, through the garden wall, close to which the little skiff was drawn up, by means of which Quentin had formerly observed Hayraddin himself retreating from the castle.

As they crossed, the shouts of storm and successful violence seemed to announce that the castle was in the act of being taken; and so dismal was the sound in Quentin's ears, that he could not help swearing aloud, "But that my blood is irretrievably devoted to the fulfilment of my present duty, I would back to the wall, take faithful part with the hospitable Bishop, and silence some of those knaves whose throats are full of mutiny and robbery!"

You are mad," answered Maugrabin-"I never betrayed any one but to gain by it-and wherefore The lady, whose arm was still folded in his, pressed should I betray you, by whose safety I can take more it lightly as he spoke, as if to make him understand advantage than by your destruction? Hearken for a that there was a nearer claim on his chivalry than moment, if it be possible for you, to one note of rea- the defence of Schonwaldt; while the Bohemian exBon, ere it is sounded into your ear by the death-shot claimed, loud enough to be heard, "Now, that I call of ruin. The Liegeios are up-William de la Marck right Christian frenzy, which would turn back to with his band leads them-Were there means of re-fight, when love and fortune both demand that we sistance, their numbers, and his fury, would overcome should fly.-On, on-with all the haste you can make them; but there are next to none. If you would-Horses wait us in yonder thicket of willows." save the Countess and your own hopes, follow me, in the name of her who sent you a table-diamond, with three leopards engraved on it!"

"Lead the way," said Quentin, hastily-" In that name I dare every danger!"

"As I shall manage it," said the Bohemian, "there is no danger, if you can but withhold your hand from strife which does not concern you; for, after all, what is it to you whether the Bishop, as they call him, slaughters his flock, or the flock slaughters the shepherd?-Ha! ha! ha! Follow me, but with caution and patience; subdue your own courage, and confide in my prudence-and my debt of thankfulness is paid, and you have a Countess for your spouse.Follow me.

"There are but two horses," said Quentin, who saw them in the moonlight.

"All that I could procure without exciting suspicion--and enough, besides," replied the Bohemian. "You too must ride for Tongres ere the way becomes unsafe-Marthon will abide with the women of our horde, with whom she is an old acquaintance. Know, she is a daughter of our tribe, and only dwelt among you to serve our purpose as occasion should fall."

Marthon!" exclaimed the Countess, looking at the veiled female with a shriek of surprise; "is not this my kinswoman?"

Only Marthon," said Hayraddin-" Excuse me that little piece of deceit. I dared not carry off both the Ladies of Croye from the Wild Boar of Ardennes." "Wretch !" said Quentin, emphatically-" but it is Lady Hameline."

Hameline," whispered the lady, in a disturbed voice, " hangs on thy arm, to thank thee for her rescue."

Ha! what!-How is this?" said Quentin, extricating himself from her hold, and with less gentleness than he would at any other time have used towards a female of any rank-" Is the Lady Isabelle then left behind!-Farewell-farewell."

"I follow," said Quentin, drawing his sword; "but the moment in which I detect the least sign of treach-not-shall not be too late-I will back to rescue the ery, thy head and body are three yards separate!" Without more conversation, the Bohemian, seeing that Quentin was now fully armed and ready, ran down the stairs before him, and winded hastily through various side-passages, until they gained the little garden. Scarce a light was to be seen on that side, scarce any bustle was to be heard; but no sooner had Quentin entered the open space, than the noise on the opposite side of the castle became ten times more stunningly audible, and he could hear the various war-cries of "Liege! Liege! Sanglier! Sanglier!" shouted by the assailants, while the feebler cry of "Our Lady for the Prince Bishop!" was raised in a faint and faltering tone, by those of the Prelate's soldiers who had hastened, though surprised and at disadvantage, to the defence of the walls.

As he turned to hasten back to the castle, Hayraddin laid hold of him-" Nay, hear you-hear you— you run upon your death! What the foul fiend did you wear the colours of the old one for ?--I will never trust blue and white silk again. But she has almost as large a dower-has jewels and gold-hath pretensions, too, upon the earldom."

While he spoke thus, panting on in broken sentences, the Bohemian struggled to detain Quentin, who at length laid his hand on his dagger, in order to

But the interest of the fight, notwithstanding the martial character of Quentin Durward, was indifferent to him in comparison of the fate of Isabelle of Croye, which, he had reason to fear, would be a dread-extricate himself. ful one, unless rescued from the power of the disso- Nay, if that be the case," said Hayraddin, unlute and cruel freebooter, who was now, as it seemed, loosing his hold, "go-and the devil, if there be one, bursting the gates of the castle. He reconciled him- go along with you!"-And, soon as freed from his self to the aid of the Bohemian, as men in a desperate hold, the Scot shot back to the castle with the speed illness refuse not the remedy prescribed by quacks of the wind. and mountebanks, and followed across the garden, with the intention of being guided by him until he should discover symptoms of treachery, and then piercing him through the heart, or striking his head from his body. Hayraddin seemed himself conscious that his safety turned on a feather-weight, for he forbore, from the moment they entered the open air, all his wonted gibes and quirks, and seemed to have

Hayraddin then turned round to the Countess Hameline, who had sunk down on the ground, between shame, fear, and disappointment.

"Here has been a mistake," he said; "up, lady, and come with me--I will provide you, ere morning comes, a gallanter husband than this smockfaced boy; and if one will not serve, you shall have twenty.'

The Lady Hameline was as violent in her pas