sions, as she was vain and weak in her understanding. Like many other persons, she went tolerably well through the ordinary duties of life; but in a crisis like the present, she was entirely incapable of doing aught, save pouring forth unavailing lamentations, and accusing Hayraddin of being a thief, a base slave, an impostor, a murderer.

"Call me Zingaro," returned he, composedly, "and you have said all at once.'

"Monster! you said the stars had decreed our union, and caused me to write-O wretch that I was!" exclaimed the unhappy lady..

CHAPTER XXI.

THE SACK.

The gates of mercy shall be all shut up,
And the flesh'd soldier, rough and hard of heart,
In liberty of bloody hand shall range,

With conscience wide as hell.-Henry V.

THE surprised and affrighted garrison of the Castle of Schonwaldt had, nevertheless, for some time, made good the defence of the place against the assailants; but the immense crowds which, issuing from the city of Liege, thronged to the assault like bees, distracted their attention, and abated their courage.

And so they had decreed your union," said Hayraddin, had both parties been willing-but think you the blessed constellations can make any one wed against his will?-I was led into error with your accursed Christian gallantries, and fopperies of ribands and favours-and the youth prefers veal to beef, I think-that's all.-Up and follow me; and take notice, I endure neither weeping nor swooning." "I will not stir a foot," said the Countess, obsti-tachment to the Bishop's person, drew around him, nately.

By the bright welkin, but you shall, though!" exclaimed Hayraddin. 'I swear to you, by all that ever fools believed in, that you have to do with one, who would care little to strip you naked, bind you to a tree, and leave you to your fortune!"

"Nay," said Marthon, interfering, "by your favour, she shall not misused. wear a knife as well as you, and can use it-She is a kind woman, though a fool. And you, madam, rise up and follow us-Here has been a mistake; but it is something to have saved life and limb. There are many in yonder castle would give all the wealth in the world to stand where we do now.

As Marthon spoke, a clamour, in which the shouts of victory were mingled with screams of terror and despair, was wafted to them from the Castle of Schonwaldt.

There was also disaffection at least, if not treachery, among the defenders; for some called out to surrender, and others, deserting their posts, tried to escape from the castle. Many threw themselves from the walls into the moat, and such as escaped drowning, flung aside their distinguishing badges, and saved themselves by mingling among the motley crowd of assailants. Some few, indeed, from atand continued to defend the great keep, to which he had fled; and others, doubtful of receiving quarter, or from an impulse of desperate courage, held out other detached bulwarks and towers of the extensive building. But the assailants had got possession of the courts and lower parts of the edifice, and were busy pursuing the vanquished, and searching for spoil, while one individual, as if he sought for that death from which all others were flying, endeavoured to force his way into the scene of tumult and horror, under apprehensions still more horrible to his ima gination, than the realities around were to his sight and senses. Whoever had seen Quentin Durward that fatal night, not knowing the meaning of his conduct, had accounted him a raging madman; whoever had appreciated his motives, had ranked him nothing beneath a hero of romance.

Approaching Schonwaldt on the same side from "Hear that, lady!" said Hayraddin, "and be which he had left it, the youth met several fugitives thankful you are not adding your treble pipe to yon-making for the wood, who naturally avoided him as der concert. Believe me, I will care for you honestly, and the stars shall keep their words, and find you a good husband."

an enemy, because he came in an opposite direction from that which they had adopted. When he came nearer, he could hear, and partly see, men dropping Like some wild animal, exhausted and subdued by from the garden-wall into the castle fosse, and others terror and fatigue, the Countess Hameline yielded who seemed precipitated from the battlements by herself up to the conduct of her guides, and suffered the assailants. His courage was not staggered, even herself to be passively led whichever way they for an instant. There was not time to look for the would. Nay, such was the confusion of her spirits boat, even had it been practicable to use it, and it and the exhaustion of her strength, that the worthy was in vain to approach the postern of the garden, couple, who half bore, half led her, carried on their which was crowded with fugitives, who ever and discourse in her presence without her even under-anon, as they were thrust through it by the pressure standing it. behind, fell into the moat which they had no means of crossing.

"I ever thought your plan was folly," said Marthon. "Could you have brought the young people together, indeed, we might have had a hold on their gratitude, and a footing in their castle. But what chance of so handsome a youth wedding this old fool?"

Avoiding that point, Quentin threw himself into the moat, near what was called the little gate of tho castle, and where there was a drawbridge, which was still elevated. He avoided with difficulty the fatal grasp of more than one sinking wretch, and, swimming to the drawbridge, caught hold of one of the chains which was hanging down, and, by a great exertion of strength and activity, swayed himself out of the water, and attained the platform from which the bridge was suspended. As with hands and knees he struggled to make good his footing, a lanzknecht, with his bloody sword in his hand, made towards him, and raised his weapon for a blow, which must have been fatal.

"How now, fellow!" said Quentin, in a tone of authority-"Is that the way in which you assist a comrade?-Give me your hand."

"Rizpah," said Hayraddin, "you have borne the name of a Christian, and dwelt in the tents of those besotted people, till thou hast become a partaker in their follies. How could I dream that he would have made scruples about a few years, youth or age, when the advantages of the match were so evident? And thou knowest, there would have been no moving yonder coy wench to be so frank as this coming Countess here, who hangs on our arms as dead a weight as a wool-pack. I loved the lad too, and would have done him a kindness to wed him to this old woman, was to make his fortune: to unite him to Isabelle, were to have brought on him De la The soldier in silence, and not without hesitation, Marck, Burgundy, France, every one that challen- reached him his arm, and helped him upon the platges an interest in disposing of her hand. And this form, when without allowing him time for reflection, silly woman's wealth being chiefly in gold and jew- the Scot continued in the same tone of commandels, we should have had our share. But the bow-To the western tower, if you would be rich-the string has burst, and the arrow failed. Away with her-we will bring her to William with the Beard. By the time he has gorged himself with wassail, as is his wont, he will not know an old Countess from a young one. Away, Rizpah-bear a gallant heart. The bright Aldeboran still influences the destinies of the Children of the Desert!"

Priest's treasury is in the western tower."

These words were echoed on every hand: "To the western tower-the treasure is in the western tower!" And the stragglers who were within hearing of the cry, took, like a herd of raging wolves, the direction opposite to that which Quentin, come life, come death, was determined to pursue.

'Bearing himself as if he were one, not of the con- | Lady Isabelle's name, at first gently, then more quered, but of the victors, he made a way into the loudly, and then with an accent of despairing emgarden, and pushed across it, with less interruption phasis; but no answer was returned. He wrung than he could have expected; for the cry of "To the his hands, tore his hair, and stamped on the earth western tower!" had carried off one body of the as- with desperation. At length, a feeble glimmer of light, sailants, and another was summoned together, by which shone through a crevice in the wainscoting of war-cry and trumpet sound, to assist in repelling a a dark nook in the bedroom, announced some recess desperate saily, attempted by the defenders of the or concealment behind the arras. Quentin hasted Keep, who had hoped to cut their way out of the to examine it. He found there was indeed a concealcastle, bearing the Bishop along with them. Quen-ed door, but it resisted his hurried efforts to open it. tin, therefore, crossed the garden with an eager step Heedless of the personal injury he might sustain, he and throbbing heart, commending himself to those rushed at the door with his whole force and weight heavenly powers which had protected him through of his body; and such was the impetus of an effort the numberless perils of his life, and bold in his de- made betwixt hope and despair, that it would have termination to succeed, or leave his life in this despe- burst much stronger fastenings. rate undertaking. Ere he reached the garden, three men rushed on him with levelled lances, crying, "Liege, Liege!"

Putting himself in defence, but without striking, he replied, France, France, friend to Liege!".

He thus forced his way, almost headlong, into a small oratory, where a female figure, which had been kneeling in agonizing supplication before the holy image, now sunk at length on the floor, under the new terrors implied in this approaching tumult. He hastily raised her from the ground, and, joy of joys! it was she whom he sought to save-the Countess Isabelle. He pressed her to his bosom-he conjured her to awake-entreated her to be of good cheer -for that she was now under the protection of one who had heart and hand enough to defend her against in-armies.

Vivat France!" cried the burghers of Liege, and passed on. The same signal proved a talisman to avert the weapons of four or five of La Marck's followers, whom he found straggling in the garden, and who set upon him, crying, "Sanglier!"

In a word, Quentin began to hope, that his character as an emissary of King Louis, the private stigator of the insurgents of Liege, and the secret supporter of William de la Marck, might possibly bear him through the horrors of the night.

On reaching the turret, he shuddered when he found the little side-door, through which Marthon and the Countess Hameline had shortly before joined him, was now blockaded with more than one dead body.

Two of them he dragged hastily aside, and was stepping over the third body, in order to enter the portal, when the supposed dead man laid hand on his cloak, and entreated him to stay and assist him to rise. Quentin was about to use rougher methods than struggling to rid himself of this untimely obstruction, when the fallen man continued to exclaim, "I am stifled here, in mine own armour!-I am the Syndic Pavillon of Liege! If you are for us, I will enrich you if you are for the other side, I will protect you; but do not do not leave me to die the death of a smothered pig!"

In the midst of this scene of blood and confusion, the presence of mind of Quentin suggested to him, that this dignitary might have the means of protecting their retreat. He raised him on his feet, and asked him if he was wounded.

་་

Not wounded-at least I think not"-answered the burgher; "but much out of wind."

"Sit down then on this stone, and recover your breath," said Quentin; "I will return instantly." "For whom are you?" said the burgher, still detaining him.

"For France for France," answered Quentin, studying to get away.

"What! my lively young Archer?" said the worthy Syndic. Nay, if it has been my fate to find a friend in this fearful night, I will not quit him, I promise you. Go where you will, I follow; and, could I get some of the tight lads of our guildry together, I might be able to help you in turn; but they are all squandered abroad like so many pease.-Õh, it is a fearful night!"

"Durward!" she said, as she at length collected herself, "is it indeed you?-then there is some hope left. I thought all living and mortal friends had left me to my fate-Do not again abandon me!"

"Never-never!" said Durward. "Whatever shall happen-whatever danger shall approach, may I forfeit the benefits purchased by yonder blessed sign, if I be not the sharer of your fate until it is again a happy one!"

Very pathetic and touching, truly," said a rough, broken, asthmatic voice behind-" A love affair, I see; and, from my soul, I pity the tender creature, as if she were my own Trudchen."

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You must do more than pity us," said Quentin, turning towards the speaker: "you must assist in protecting us, Meinheer Pavillon. Be assured this lady was put under my especial charge by your ally the King of France; and, if you aid me not to shelter her from every species of offence and violence, your city will lose the favour of Louis of Valois. Above all, she must be guarded from the hands of William de la Marck."

'That will be difficult," said Pavillon, "for these schelms of lanzknechts are very devils at rummaging out the wenches; but I'll do my best-We will to the other apartment, and there I will consider-It is but a narrow stair, and you can keep the door with a pike, while I look from the window, and get together some of my brisk boys of the currier's guiidry of Liege, that are as true as the knives they wear in their girdles.-But first undo me these clasps

for I have not worn this corslet since the battle of Saint Tron; and I am three stone heavier since that time, if there be truth in Dutch beam and scale."

The undoing of the iron enclosure gave great relief to the honest man, who, in putting it on, had more considered his zeal to the cause of Liege, than his capacity of bearing arms. It afterwards turned out, that being, as it were, borne forward involuntarily, and hoisted over the walls by his company as they thronged to the assault, the magistrate had been carried During this time, he was dragging himself on after here and there, as the tide of attack and defence flowQuentin, who, aware of the importance of securing ed or ebbed, without the power, latterly, of even utterthe countenance of a person of such influence, slack-ing a word; until, as the sea casts a log of driftwood ened his pace to assist him, although cursing in his heart the encumbrance that retarded him.

At the top of the stair was an anteroom, with boxes and trunks, which bore marks of having been rifled, as some of the contents lay on the floor. A lamp, dying in the chimney, shed a feeble beam on a dead or senseless man, who lay across the hearth. Bounding from Pavillon, like a greyhound from his keeper's leash, and with an effort which almost overthrew him, Quentin sprung through a second and a third room, the last of which seemed to be the bedroom of the Ladies of Crove. No living mortal was to be seen in either of them. He called upon the

ashore in the first creek, he had been ultimately thrown down in the entrance to the ladies of Croye's apartments, where the encumbrance of his own armour, with the superincumbent weight of two men slain in the entrance, and who fell above him, might have fixed him down long enough, had he not been relieved by Durward.

The same warmth of temper which rendered Hermann Pavillon a hotheaded and intemperate zealot in politics, had the more desirable consequence of

gundy, Charles the Bold, when Count of Charalois, in which the people of Liege were defeated with great slaughter.

Fought by the insurgents of Liege against the Duke of Bur

making him, in private, a good-tempered, kind-hearted man, who, if sometimes a little misled by vanity, was always well-meaning and benevolent. He told Quentin to have an especial care of the poor pretty yung frau; and, after this unnecessary exhortation, began to holla from the window, "Liege, Liege, for the gallant skinners' guild of curriers !"

One or two of his immediate followers collected at the summons, and at the peculiar whistle with which it was accompanied, (each of the crafts having such a signal among themselves,) and, more joining them, established a guard under the window from which their leader was bawling, and before the postern-door.

"But the bridges of this castle are up, master," said Geislaer-"the gates locked, and guarded by these lanzknechts: and, if we were to try to force our way, these fellows, whose every day business is war, might make wild work of us, that only fight of a holyday."

"But why has he secured the gates?" said the alarmed burgher; "or what business hath he to make honest men prisoners?"

"I cannot tell-not I," said Peter. "Some noise there is about the Ladies of Croye, who have escaped during the storm of the Castle. That first put the Man with the Beard beside himself with anger, and now he's beside himself with drink also."

Matters seemed now settling into some sort of tran- The Burgomaster cast a disconsolate look towards quillity. All opposition had ceased, and the leaders Quentin, and seemed at a loss what to resolve upon. of the different classes of assailants were taking Durward, who had not lost a word of the conversameasures to prevent indiscriminate plunder. The tion, which alarmed him very much, saw nevergreat bell was tolled, as summons to a military theless that their only safety depended on his precouncil, and its iron tongue communicating to Liege serving his own presence of mind, and sustaining the the triumphant possession of Schonwaldt by the in-courage of Pavillon. He struck boldly into the consurgents, was answered by all the bells in that city; versation, as one who had a right to have a voice in whose distant and clamorous voices seemed to cry, the deliberation.-"I am ashamed," he said, "MeinHail to the victors! It would have been natural, that heer Pavillon, to observe you hesitate what to do on Meinheer Pavillon should now have sallied from his this occasion. Go boldly to William de la Marck, fastness; but, either in reverent care of those whom and demand free leave to quit the castle, you, your he had taken under his protection, or perhaps for the lieutenant, your squire, and your daughter. He can better assurance of his own safety, he contented him- have no pretence for keeping you prisoner." self with despatching messenger on messenger, to command his lieutenant, Peterkin Geislaer, to attend him directly.

Peterkin came at length, to his great relief, as being the person upon whom, on all pressing occasions, whether of war, politics, or commerce, Pavillon was most accustomed to repose confidence. He was a stout, squat figure, with a square face, and broad black eyebrows, that announced him to be opinionative and disputatious, an advice-giving countenance, so to speak. He was endued with a buff jerkin, wore a broad belt and cutlass by his side, and carried a

halberd in his hand.

"Peterkin, my dear lieutenant," said his commander, "this has been a glorious day-night, I should say I trust thou art pleased for once?"

"I am well enough pleased that you are so," said the doughty lieutenant; "though I should not have thought of your celebrating the victory, if you call it one, up in this garret by yourself, when you are wanted in council."

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'But am I wanted there?" said the Syndic. Ay, marry are you, to stand up for the rights of Liege, that are in more danger than ever," answered the Lieutenant.

"Pshaw, Peterkin," answered his principal, "thou art ever such a frampold grumbler"

"Grumbler? not I," said Peterkin; "what pleases other people, will always please me. Only I wish we have not got King Stork, instead of King Log, like the fabliau that the Clerk of Saint Lamberts used to read us out of Meister's Esop's book."

"I cannot guess your meaning, Peterkin," said the Syndic.

"For me and my lieutenant-that is myself and Peter ?-good-but who is my squire?" "I am, for the present," replied the undaunted Scot.

"You!" said the embarrassed burgess; "but are you not the envoy of King Louis of France?" "True, but my message is to the magistrates of Liege-and only in Liege will I deliver it.-Were I to acknowledge my quality before William de la Marck, must I not enter into negotiation with him? ay, and, it is like, be detained by him. You must get me secretly out of the Castle in the capacity of your

squire.

"Good-my squire; but you spoke of my daughter-my daughter is, I trust, safe in my house in Liege where I wish her father was, with all my heart and soul."

"This lady," said Durward, "will call you father while we are in this place."

And for my whole life afterwards," said the Countess, throwing herself at the citizen's feet, and clasping his knees.-"Never shall the day pass in which I will not honour you, love you, and pray for you as a daughter for a father, if you will but aid me in this fearful strait-O, be not hard-hearted! think your own daughter may kneel to a stranger, to ask him for life and honour-think of this, and give me the protection you would wish her to receive!"

In troth," said the good citizen, much moved with her pathetic appeal-"I think, Peter, that this pretty maiden hath a touch of our Trudchen's sweet look, I thought so from the first; and that this brisk youth here, who is so ready with his advice, is somewhat like Trudchen's bachelor-I wager a groat, Peter, that this is a true-love matter, and it is sin not to further it."

"Why then, I tell you, Master Pavillon, that this Boar, or Bear, is like to make his own den of Schon-a waldt, and 'tis probable to turn out as bad a neighbour to our town as ever was the old Bishop, and worse. Here has he taken the whole conquest in his own hand, and is only doubting whether he should be called Prince or Bishop;-and it is a shame to see how they have mishandled the old man among them."

"I will not permit it, Peterkin" said Pavillon, bustling up; "I disliked the mitre, but not the head that wore it. We are ten to one in the field, Peterkin, and will not permit these courses."

Ay, ten to one in the field, but only man to man in the castle; besides that Nikkel Blok the butcher, and all the rabble of the suburbs, take part with William de la Marck, partly for saus and braus, (for he has broached all the ale-tubs and wine-casks,) and partly for old envy towards us, who are the craftsmen, and have privileges."

"Peter," said Pavillon, "we will go presently to the city. I will stay no longer in Schonwaldt."

"It were a shame and sin both," said Peter, a goodnatured Fleming, notwithstanding all his self-conceit; and as he spoke, he wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jerkin.

"She shall be my daughter, then," said Pavillon, "well wrapped up in her black silk veil; and if there are not enough of true-hearted skinners to protect her, being the daughter of their Syndic, it were pity they should ever tug leather more.-But hark ye,questions must be answered-How if I am asked what should my daughter make here at such an onslaught ?"

What should half the women in Liege make here when they followed us to the Castle?" said Peter; "they had no other reason, sure, but that it was just the place in the world that they should not have come to.-Our yung frau Trudchen has come a little farther than the rest-that is all."

"Admirably spoken," said Quentin: "only be bold, and take this gentleman's good counsel, noble Mein

heer Pavillon, and, at no trouble to yourself, you will do the most worthy action since the days of Charlemagne. Here, sweet lady, wrap yourself close in this veil," (for many articles of female apparel lay scattered about the apartment,)—" be but confident, and a few minutes will place you in freedom and safety.-Noble sir," he added, addressing Pavillon, set forward."

"Hold-hold-hold a minute," said Pavillon, "my mind misgives me! This De la Marck is a fury; a perfect boar in his nature as in his name; what if the young lady be one of those of Croye?-and what if he discover her, and be addicted to wrath ?"

21

"And if I were one of those unfortunate women,' said Isabelle, again attempting to throw herself at his feet, "could you for that reject me in this moment of despair? Oh, that I had been indeed your daughter, or the daughter of the poorest burgher!"

Not so poor-not so poor neither, young we pay as we go," said the citizen.

tive demons, rejoicing after some accomplished triumph over the human race, than of mortal beings, who had succeeded in a bold design. An emphatic tone of mind, which despair alone could have inspired, supported the assumed courage of the Countess Isabelle; undaunted spirits, which rose with the extremity, maintained that of Durward; while Pavillon and his Lieutenant made a virtue of necessity, and faced their fate like bears bound to a stake, which must necessarily stand the dangers of the course.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE REVELLERS.

Cade. Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford!
Dick. Here, sir.

Cade. They fell before thee like sheep and oxen; and thou lady-behavedst thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own slaughterhouse.-Second Part of King Henry VI

"Forgive me, noble sir,"-again began the unfortunate maiden.

"Not noble, nor sir neither," said the Syndic; "a plain burgher of Liege, that pays bills of exchange in ready guilders.-But that is nothing to the purpose. -Well, say you be a countess, I will protect you nevertheless."

"You are bound to protect her, were she a duchess," said Peter, "having once passed your word."

"Right, Peter, very right," said the Syndic; "it is our old Low Dutch fashion, ein wort, ein man; and now let us to this gear.-We must take leave of this William de la Marck; and yet I know not, my mind misgives me when I think of him; and were it a ceremony which could be waved, I have no stomach go through it."

to

Were you not better, since you have a force together, make for the gate and force the guard?" said Quentin.

But with united voice, Pavillon and his adviser exclaimed against the propriety of such an attack upon their ally's soldiers, with some hints concerning its rashness, which satisfied Quentin that it was not a risk to be hazarded with such associates. They resolved, therefore, to repair boldly to the great hall of the castle, where, as they understood, the Wild Boar of Ardennes held his feast, and demand free egress for the Syndic of Liege and his company, a request too reasonable, as it seemed, to be denied. Still the good Burgomaster groaned when he looked on his companions, and exclaimed to his faithful Peter,'See what it is to have too bold and too tender a heart! Alas! Perkin, how much have courage and humanity cost me! and how much may I yet have to pay for my virtues, before Heaven makes us free of this damned Castle of Schonwaldt!"

As they crossed the courts, still strewed with the dying and dead, Quentin, while he supported Isabelle through the scene of horrors, whispered to her courage and comfort, and reminded her that her safety depended entirely on her firmness and presence of mind.

"Not on mine-not on mine," she said, "but on yours-on yours only.-O, if I but escape this fearful night, never shall I forget him who saved me! One favour more only, let me implore at your hand, and I conjure you to grant it, by your mother's fame and your father's honour!"

What is it you can ask that I could refuse?" said Quentin, in a whisper.

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"Plunge your dagger in my heart," said she, rather than leave me captive in the hands of these monsters.'

THERE Could hardly exist a more strange and horrible change than had taken place in the castle-hall of Schonwaldt since Quentin had partaken of the noontide meal there; and it was indeed one which painted, in the extremity of their dreadful features, the miseries of war-more especially when waged by those most relentless of all agents, the mercenary soldiers of a barbarous age-men who, by habit and profession, had become familiarized with all that was cruel and bloody in the art of war, while they were devoid alike of patriotism and of the romantic spirit of chivalry.

Instead of the orderly, decent, and somewhat formal meal, at which civil and ecclesiastical officers had, a few hours before, sat mingled in the same apartment, where a light jest could only be uttered in a whisper, and where, even amid superfluity of feasting and of wine, there reigned a decorum which almost amounted to hypocrisy, there was now such a scene of wild and roaring debauchery, as Satan himself, had he taken the chair as founder of the feast, could scarcely have improved.

At the head of the table sat, in the Bishop's throne and state, which had been hastily brought thither from his great council-chamber, the redoubted Boar of Ardennes himself, well deserving that dreaded name, in which he affected to delight, and which he did as much as he could think of to deserve. His head was unhelmeted, but he wore the rest of his ponderous and bright armour, which indeed he rarely laid aside. Over his shoulders hung a strong surcoat, made of the dressed skin of a huge wild boar, the hoofs being of solid silver, and the tusks of the same. The skin of the head was so arranged, that, drawn over the casque, when the Baron was armed, or over his bare head, in the fashion of a hood, as he often affected when the helmet was laid aside, and as he now wore it, the effect was that of a grinning, ghastly monster; and yet the countenance which it overshadowed scarce required such horrors to improve those which were natural to its ordinary expression.

The upper part of De ia Marck's face, as Nature had formed it, almost gave the lie to his character; for though his hair, when uncovered, resembled the rude and wild bristles of the hood he had drawn ove it, yet an open, high, and manly forehead, broad rud dy cheeks, large, sparkling, light-coloured eyes, and a nose hooked like the beak of the eagle, promised something valiant and generous. But the effect of these more favourable traits was entirely overpowered by his habits of violence and insolence, which, joined to debauchery and intemperance, had stamped upon the features a character inconsistent with the rough gallantry which they would otherwise have exhibited. The former had, from habitual indulgence, swoln the muscles of the cheeks, and those around the eyes, in particular the latter; evil practices and habits had dimmed the eyes themselves, reddened the part of them that should have been white, and given the whole face a hideous likeness of the monster, which it was the terrible Baron's pleasure to reAs they approached the hall, the yells of acclama- semble. But from an odd sort of contradiction, De tion, and bursts of wild laughter, which proceeded la Marck, while he assumed in other respects the apfrom it, seemed rather to announce the revel of fes-pearance of the Wild Boar, and even seemed pleased

Quentin's only answer was a pressure of the young Countess's hand, which seemed as if, but for terror, it would have returned the caress. And, leaning on ner youthful protector, she entered the fearful hall, preceded by Pavillon and his Lieutenant, and followed by a dozen of the Kurschenschaft, or skinner's trade, who attended, as a guard of honour, on the Syndic.

QUENTIN DURWARD.

Iwith the name, yet endeavoured, by the length and growth of his beard, to conceal the circumstance that had originally procured him that denomination. This was an unusual thickness and projection of the mouth and upper jaw, which, with the huge projecting side teeth, gave that resemblance to the bestial creation, which, joined to the delight that De la Marck had in haunting the forest so called, originally procured for him the name of the Boar of Ardennes. The beard, broad, grisly, and uncombed, neither concealed the natural horrors of the countenance, nor dignified its brutal expression.

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moonbeam, threw on the castle-floor an uncertain shadow, which dubiously, yet fearfully, intimated the nature of the substance that produced it.

mouth to mouth in this tumultuous meeting, he enWhen the Syndic Pavillon was announced from deavoured to assume, in right of his authority and influence, an air of importance and equality, which a glance at the fearful object at the window, and at the wild scene around him, rendered it very difficult for him to sustain, notwithstanding the exhortations of Peter, who whispered in his ear, with some perturbation, "Up heart, master, or we are but gone men!"

well as he could, in a short address, in which he comThe Syndic maintained his dignity, however, as plimented the company upon the great victory gained by the soldiers of De la Marck and the good citi

have brought down the game at last, quoth my lady's "Ay," answered De la Marck, sarcastically, "we brach to the wolf-hound. But ho! Sir Burgomaster, you come like Mars, with beauty by your side. Who is this fair one?-Unveil, unveil-no woman calls her beauty her own to-night."

It only remains to say, of the better class of burghers who were associated with William de la Marck's soldiers in this fearful revel, that the wan faces and anxious mien of the greater part, showed that they "Nay, I mean no treason against their defunct maeither disliked their entertainment, or feared their jesties," said De la Marck; "only bishop I am detercompanions; while some of lower education, or a mined to be. A prince both secular and ecclesiastical, nature more brutal, saw only in the excesses of the having power to bind and loose, will best suit a band soldier a gallant bearing, which they would willingly of reprobates such as you, to whom no one else would imitate, and the tone of which they endeavoured to give absolution.-But come hither, noble Burgomaster catch so far as was possible, and stimulated them--sit beside me, when you shall see me make a vaselves to the task, by swallowing immense draughts cancy for my own preferment.-Bring in our predeof wine and schwarzbier-indulging a vice which cessor in the holy seat." at all times was too common in the Low Countries. The preparations for the feast had been as disor-cusing himself from the proffered seat of honour, A bustle took place in the hall, while Pavillon, exderly as the quality of the company. The whole of placed himself near the bottom of the table, his folthe Bishop's plate-nay, even that belonging to the lowers keeping close behind him, not unlike a flock service of the Church, for the Boar of Ardennes re- of sheep which, when a stranger dog is in presence, garded not the imputation of sacrilege was mingled may be sometimes seen to assemble in the rear of an with black-jacks, or huge tankards made of leather, old belwether, who is, from office and authority, judgand drinking horns of the most ordinary description. ed by them to have rather more courage than themOne circumstance of horror remains to be added selves. Near the spot sat a very handsome lad, a and accounted for; and we willingly leave the rest natural son, as was said, of the ferocious De la Marck, of the scene to the imagination of the reader. Amidst and towards whom he sometimes showed affection, the wild license assumed by the soldiers of De la and even tenderness. The mother of the boy, a beauMarck, one who was excluded from the table, (a tiful concubine, had perished by a blow dealt her by lanzknecht, remarkable for his courage and for his the ferocious leader in a fit of drunkenness or jealdaring behaviour during the storm of the evening,) ousy; and her fate had caused her tyrant as much rehad impudently snatched up a large silver goblet, and morse as he was capable of feeling. His attachment carried it off, declaring it should atone for his loss of to the surviving orphan might be partly owing to the share of the feast. The leader laughed till his these circumstances. Quentin, who had learned this sides shook at a jest so congenial to the character of point of the leader's character from the old priest, the company; but when another, less renowned, it planted himself as close as he could to the youth in would seem, for audacity in battle, ventured on using question; determined to make him, in some way or the same freedom, De la Marck instantly put a check other, either a hostage or a protector, should other to a jocular practice, which would soon have cleared means of safety fail them. his table of all the more valuable decorations.-"Ho! by the spirit of the thunder!" he exclaimed, "those who dare not be men when they face the enemy, must not pretend to be thieves among their friends. What! thou frontless dastard, thou-thou who didst wait for opened gate and lowered bridge, when Conrade Horst forced his way over moat and wall, must thou be malapert?-Knit him up to the stanchions of the hall-window!-He shall beat time with his feet, while we drink a cup to his safe passage to the devil." ge to th The doom was scarce sooner pronounced than accomplished; and in a moment the wretch wrestled out his last agonies, suspended from the iron bars. His body still hung there when Quentin and the others entered the hall, and intercepting the pale