he was about to afflict his master, or that of an executioner standing with his knife suspended over his victim, deferring his blow until he should discover where it would be most sensibly felt. In Guarine's mind, prejudiced, perhaps, by the previous opinion he had entertained, the latter sentiment so decidedly predominated, that he longed to raise his staff, and strike down to the earth the servant, who seemed thus to enjoy the protracted sufferings of their common master. At length a convulsive movement crossed the brow of the Constable, and Guarine, when he beheld a sardonic smile begin to curl Vidal's lip, could keep silence no longer. Vidal," he said, "thou art a". "A bearer of bad tidings," said Vidal, interrupting him, "therefore subject to the misconstruction of every fool who cannot distinguish between the author of harm, and him who unwillingly reports it.' "To what purpose this delay?" said the Constable. "Come, Sir Minstrel, I will spare you a pang-Eveline has forsaken and forgotten me?" The minstrel assented by a low inclination. Hugo de Lacy paced a short turn before the stone monument, endeavouring to conquer the deep emotion which he felt. "I forgive her," he said. "Forgive, did I say?-Alas! I have nothing to forgive. She used but the right I left in her hand-yes-our date of engagement was out-she had heard of my lossesmy defeats the destruction of my hopes-the expenditure of my wealth; and has taken the first opportunity which strict law afforded, to break off her engagement with one bankrupt in fortune and fame. Many a maiden would have done-perhaps in prudence should have done-this;-but that woman's name should not have been Eveline Berenger." He leaned on his esquire's arm, and for an instant laid his head on his shoulder with a depth of emotion which Guarine had never before seen him betray, and which, in awkward kindness, he could only attempt to console by bidding his master "be of good courage -he had lost but a woman.' "This is no selfish emotion, Pailip," said the Constable, resuming self-command. "I grieve less that she has left me than that she has misjudged me-that she has treated me as the pawnbroker does his wretched creditor, who arrests the pledge as the very moment elapses within which it might have been relieved. Did she then think that I in my turn would have been a creditor so rigid ?—that I, who, since I knew her, scarce deemed myself worthy of her when I had wealth and fame, should insist on her sharing my diminished and degraded fortunes? How little she ever knew me, or how selfish must she have supposed my misfortunes to have made me! But be it so-she is gone, and may she be happy. The thought that she disturbed me shall pass from my mind; and I will think she has done that which I myself, as her best friend, must in honour have advised." So saying, his countenance, to the surprise of his attendants, resumed its usual firm composure. "I give you joy," said the esquire, in a whisper to the minstrel; your evil news have wounded less deeply than, doubtless, you believed was possible." Alas!" replied the minstrel, "I have others and worse behind." This answer was made in an equivocal tone of voice, corresponding to the peculiarity of his manner, and like that seeming emotion of a deep but very doubtful character. "Eveline Berenger is then married," said the Constable; "and, let me make a wild guess,-she has not abandoned the family, though she has forsaken the individual-she is still a Lacy? ha?-Dolt that thou art, wilt thou not understand me? She is married to Damian de Lacy-to my nephew?" The effort with which the Constable gave breath to this supposition formed a strange contrast to the constrained smile to which he compelled his features while he uttered it. With such a smile a man about to drink poison might name a health, as he put the fatal beverage to his lips. "No, no," he replied quickly, "not married, perhape, but engaged--troth-plighted. Wherefore not? The date of her old affiance was out, why not enter into a new engagement?" "The Lady Eveline and Sir Damian de Lacy are not affianced that I know of," answered his attendant. This reply drove De Lacy's patience to extremity. "Dog! dost thou trifle with me!" he exclaimed: "Vile wire-pincher, thou torturest me! Speak the worst at once, or I will presently make thee minstrel to the household of Satan." Calm and collected did the minstrel reply,-" The Lady Eveline and Sir Damian are neither married nor affianced, my lord. They have loved and lived together-par amours." Dog, and son of a dog," said De Lacy, "thou liest!" And, seizing the minstrel by the breast, the exasperated baron shook him with his whole strength. But great as that strength was, it was unable to stagger Vidal, a practised wrestler, in the firm posture which he had assumed, any more than his master's wrath could disturb the composure of the minstrel's bearing. "Confess thou hast lied," said the Constable, releasing him, after having effected by his violence no greater degree of agitation than the exertion of human force produces upon the Rocking Stones of the Druids, which may be shaken, indeed, but not displaced. Were a lie to buy my own life, vea, the lives of all my tribe," said the minstrel, "I would not tell one. But truth itself is ever termed falsehood when it counteracts the train of our passions." Hear him, Philip Guarine, hear him!" exclaimed the Constable, turning hastily to his squire: "He tells me of my disgrace of the dishonour of my houseof the depravity of those whom I have loved the best in the world-he tells me of it with a calm look, an eye composed, an unfaltering tongue.-Is this can it be natural? Is De Lacy sunk so low, that his dishonour shall be told by a common strolling minstrel, as calmly as if it were a theme for a vain ballad? Perhaps thou wilt make it one, ha!" as he concluded, darting a furious glance at the minstrel. "Perhaps I might, my lord," replied the minstrel, were it not that I must record therein the disgrace of Renault Vidal, who served a lord without either patience to bear insults and wrongs, or spirit to revenge them on the authors of his shame." "Thou art right, thou art right, good fellow," said the Constable, hastily; "it is vengeance now alone which is left us-And yet upon whom !" As he spoke, he walked shortly and hastily to and fro; and, becoming suddenly silent, stood still and wrung his hands with deep emotion. "I told thee," said the minstrel to Guarine, "that my muse would find a tender part at last. Dost thou remember the bull fight we saw in Spain ?-A thousand little darts perplexed and annoyed the noble animal, ere he received the last deadly thrust from the lance of the Moorish cavalier." "Man, or fiend, be which thou wilt," replicd Guarine, "that can thus drink in with pleasure, and contemplate at your ease, the misery of another, I bid thee beware of me! Utter thy cold-blooded taunts in some other ear; for if my tongue be blunt, I wear a sword that is sharp enough." "Thou hast seen me among swords," answered the minstrel, "and knowest how little terror they have for such as I am." Yet as he spoke he drew off from the esquire. He had, in fact, only addressed him in that sort of fulness of heart, which would have vented itself in soliloquy if alone, and now poured itself out on the nearest auditor, without the speaker being entirely conscious of the sentiments which his speech excited. Few minutes had elapsed before the Constable of Chester had regained the calm external semblance with which, until this last dreadful wound, he had borne all the inflictions of fortune. He turned to"No, my lord-not married," answered the min-wards his followers, and addressed the minstrel with strel, with an emphasis on the word, which the Constable knew how to interpret. his usual calmness, "Thou art right, good fellow," he said, "in what thou saidst to me but now, and I forgive thee the taunt which accompanied thy good counsel. Speak out, in God's name, and speak to one prepared to endure the evil which God hath sent him. Certes, a good knight is best known in battle, and a Christian in the time of trouble and adversity." The tone in which the Constable spoke seemed to produce a corresponding effect upon the deportment of his followers. The minstrel dropped at once the cynical and audacious tone in which he had hitherto seemed to tamper with the passions of his master; and in language simple and respectful, and which even approached to sympathy, informed him of the evil news which he had collected during his absence. It was indeed disastrous. The refusal of the Lady Eveline Berenger to admit Monthermer and his forces into her castle, had of course given circulation and credence to all the calumnies which had been circulated to her prejudice, and that of Damian de Lacy; and there were many who, for various causes, were interested in spreading and supporting these slanders. A large force had been sent into the country to subdue the insurgent peasants; and the knights and nobles despatched for that purpose, failed not to avenge to the uttermost, upon the wretched plebeians, the noble blood which they had spilled during their temporary triumph. The high-spirited entreaties of Eveline, unbent by adversity and want, gradually lost effect on the defenders of the castle; and proposals for surrender were urged and discussed by a tumultuary council, into which not only the inferior officers, but many of the common men, had thrust themselves, as in a period of such general distress as unlooses all the bonds of discipline, and leaves each man at liberty to speak and act for himself. To their surprise, in the midst of their discussions, Damian de Lacy, arisen from the sick-bed to which he had been so long confined, appeared among them, pale and feeble, his cheek tinged with the ghastly look which is left by long illness-he leaned on his page Amelot. "Gentlemen," he said, "and soldiers--yet why should I call you either?-Gentlemen are ever ready to die in behalf of a lady-soldiers hold life in scorn compared to ther honour." "Out upon him! out upon him!" exclaimed one of the soldiers, interrupting him; "he would have us, who are innocent, die the death of traitors, and be hanged in our armour over the walls, rather than part with his leman." The followers of the unfortunate Wenlock were infected with the same persuasion. Blamed by many for a hasty and cowardly surrender of a post which might have been defended, they endeavoured to vindicate themselves by alleging the hostile demonstrations of De Lacy's cavalry as the sole cause of their prema-head, do not suppose that Damian de Lacy would ture submission. These rumours, supported by such interested testimony, spread wide and far through the land; and, joined to the undeniable fact that Damian had sought refuge in the strong castle of Garde Doloureuse, which was now defending itself against the royal arms, animated the numerous enemies of the house of De Lacy, and drove its vassals and friends almost to despair, as men reduced either to disown their feudal allegiance, or renounce that still more sacred fealty which they owed to their sovereign. At this crisis they received intelligence that the wise and active monarch by whom the sceptre of England was then swayed, was moving towards that part of England, at the head of a large body of soldiers, for the purpose, at once of pressing the siege of the Garde Doloureuse, and, completing the suppression of the insurrection of the peasantry, which Guy Monthermer had nearly accomplished. "Peace, irreverent slave!" said Damian, in a voice like thunder, "or my last blow shall be a mean one aimed against such a caitiff as thou art.-And you," he continued, addressing the rest,-"you, who are shrinking from the toils of your profession, because if you persist in a course of honour, death may close them a few years sooner than it needs must-you, who are scared like children at the sight of a death's desire to shelter himself at the expense of those lives which you hold so dear. Make your bargain with King Henry. Deliver me up to his justice, or his severity; or, if you like it better, strike my head from my body, and hurl it, as a peace-offering, from the walls of the castle. To God, in his good time, will I trust, for the clearance of mine honour. In a word, surrender me, dead or alive, or open the gates and permit me to surrender myself. Only, as ye are men, since I may not say better of ye, care at least for the safety of your mistress, and make such terms as may secure HER safety, and save yourselves from the dishonour of being held cowardly and perjured caitiffs in your graves." Methinks the youth speaks well and reasonably," said Wilkin Flammock. "Let us e'en make a grace of surrendering his body up to the King, and assure thereby such terms as we can for ourselves and the lady, ere the last morsel of our provision is con "I would hardly have proposed this measure," said, or rather mumbled, Father Aldrovand, who had recently lost four of his front teeth by a stone from a sling-" yet, being so generously offered by the party principally concerned, I hold with the learned scholiast, Volenti non fit injuria." In this emergency, and when the friends and de-sumed." pendants of the House of Lacy scarcely knew which hand to turn to, Randal, the Constable's kinsman, and, after Damian, his heir, suddenly appeared amongst them, with a royal commission to raise and command such followers of the family as might not desire to be involved in the supposed treason of the Constable's delegate. In troublesome times, men's Priest and Fleming," said the old banner-man, vices are forgotten, provided they display activity, Ralph Genvil, "I see how the wind stirreth you; but courage, and prudence, the virtues then most required; you deceive yourselves if you think to make our young and the appearance of Randal, who was by no means master, Sir Damian, a scape-goat for your light lady. deficient in any of these attributes, was received as a Nay, never frown nor fume, Sir Damian; if you know good omen by the followers of his cousin. They not your safest course, we know it for you.-Followquickly gathered around him, surrendered to the royal ers of De Lacy, throw yourselves on your horses, and mandate such strong holds as they possessed, and, to two men on one, if it be necessary-we will take this vindicate themselves from any participation in the al- stubborn boy in the midst of us, and the dainty squire leged crimes of Damian, they distinguished them-Amelot shall be prisoner too, if he trouble us with his selves, under Randal's command, against such scat tered bodies of peasantry as still kept the field, or lurked in the mountains and passes; and conducted themselves with such severity after success, as made the troops even of Monthermer appear gentle and clement in comparison of those of De Lacy, Finally, with the banner of his ancient house displayed, and five hundred good men assembled under it, Randal appeared before the Garde Doloureuse, and joined Henry's camp there. peevish opposition. Then let us make a fair sally upon the siegers. Those who can cut their way through will shift well enough; those who fall, will be provided for." A shout from the troopers of Lacy's band, approved this proposal. Whilst the followers of Berenger expostulated in loud and angry tone, Eveline, summoned by the tumult, in vain endeavoured to appease it; and the anger and entreaties of Damian were equally lost on his followers. To each and either the answer was the same. The castle was already hardly pressed, and the few defenders, disabled by wounds, watching, and priva- Have you no care of it-Because you love par tion, had now the additional discouragement to see amours, is it reasonable you should throw away your isplayed against their walls the only banner in Eng-life and ours?" So exclaimed Genvil to De Lacy; And, under which they had hoped forces might be and in softer language, but with equal obstinacy, the ustered for their aid, followers of Raymond Berenger refused on the present occasion to listen to the commands or prayers of his daughter. Wilkin Flammock had retreated from the tumult, when he saw the turn which matters had taken. He left the castle by a sally-port, of which he had been intrusted with the key, and proceeded without observation or opposition to the royal camp, where he requested access to the Sovereign. This was easily obtained, and Wilkin speedily found himself in the presence of King Henry. The monarch was in his royal pavilion, attended by two of his sons, Richard and John, who afterwards swayed the sceptre of England with very different auspices. "How now?-What art thou?" was the royal question. "An honest man, from the castle of the Garde Doloureuse." "Thou mayest be honest," replied the Sovereign, "but thou comest from a nest of traitors." "Such as they are, my lord, it is my purpose to put them at your royal disposal; for they have no longer the wisdom to guide themselves, and lack alike prudence to hold out, and grace to submit. But I would first know of your grace to what terms you will admit the defenders of yonder garrison?" "To such as kings give to traitors," said Henry, sternly-"sharp knives and tough cords." "Nay, my gracious lord, you must be kinder than that amounts to, if the castle is to be rendered by my means; else will your cords and knives have only my poor body to work upon, and you will be as far as ever from the inside of the Garde Doloureuse." crossbow and mangonel were busy on the former occasions, and it is like they will be silent now." "Peace, Richard," said the King; "your words, aimed at thy brother's honour, pierce my heart!John, thou hast thy boon as concerns the castle; for this unhappy young lady, we will take her in our own charge.-Fleming, how many men wilt thou undertake to admit ?" Ere Flammock could answer, a squire approached Prince Richard, and whispered in his ear, yet so as to be heard by all present, "We have discovered that some internal disturbance, or other cause unknown, has withdrawn many of the warders from the castle walls, and that a sudden attack might" "Dost thou hear that, John ?" exclaimed Richard. "Ladders, man-get ladders, and to the wall. How I should delight to see thee on the highest round-thy knees shaking-thy hands grasping convulsively, like those of one in an ague fit-all air around thee, save a baton or two of wood-the moat below-half-a-dozen pikes at thy throat". 'Peace, Richard, for shame, if not for charity!" said his father, in a tone of anger, mingled with grief. "And thou, John, get ready for the assault." "As soon as I have put on my armour, father," answered the Prince; and withdrew slowly with a visage so blank as to promise no speed in his preparations. His brother laughed as he retired, and said to his squire, "It were no bad jest, Alberick, to carry the place ere John can change his silk doublet for a steel one." The King looked at him fixedly. "Thou knowest," So saying, he hastily withdrew, and his father exhe said, "the law of arms. Here, provost-marshal, claimed in paternal distress, "Out, alas! as much too stands a traitor, and yonder stands a tree." hot as his brother is too cold; but it is the manlier "And here is a throat," said the stout-hearted Flem-fault.-Gloucester," said he to that celebrated earl, ing, unbuttoning the collar of his doublet. By mine honour," said Prince Richard, "a sturdy and faithful yeoman! It were better send such fellows their dinner, and then buffet it out with them for the castle, than to starve them as the beggarly Frenchmen famish their hounds." "Peace, Richard," said his father; "thy wit is over green, and thy blood over hot, to make thee my counsellor here.-And you, knave, speak you some reasonable terms, and we will not be over strict with thee." "First, then," said the Fleming, "I stipulate full and free pardon for life, limb, body and goods, to me, Wilkin Flammock, and my daughter Rose." "A true Fleming," said Prince John; "he takes care of himself in the first instance." "His request," said the King, "is reasonable.What next?" "Safety, in life, honour, and land, for the demoiselle Eveline Berenger." "How, Sir Knave!" said the the King, angrily, "is it for such as thou to dictate to our judgment or clemency in the case of a noble Norman lady? Confine thy mediation to such as thyself; or rather render us this castle without farther delay; and be assured thy doing so will be of more service to the traitors within, than weeks more of resistance, which must and shall be bootless." The Fleming stood silent, unwilling to surrender without some specific terms, yet half convinced, from the situation in which he had left the garrison of the Garde Doloureuse, that his admitting the King's forces would be perhaps, the best he could do for Lady Eveline. "I like thy fidelity, fellow," said the King, whose acute eye perceived the struggle in the Fleming's bosom; "but carry not thy stubbornness too far. Have we not said we will be gracious to yonder offenders as far as our royal duty will permit?" "take sufficient strength, and follow Prince Richard to guard and sustain him. If any one can rule him, it must be a knight of thy established fame. Alas! alas! for what sin have I deserved the affliction of these cruel family feuds!" "Be comforted, my lord," said the chancellor, who was also in attendance. "Speak not of comfort to a father, whose sons are at discord with each other, and agree only in their disobedience to him!" Thus spoke Henry the Second, than whom no wiser, or, generally speaking, more fortunate monarch, ever sat upon the throne of England; yet whose life is a striking illustration, how family dissensions can tarnish the most brilliant lot to which Heaven permits humanity to aspire; and how little gratified ambition, extended power, and the highest reputation in war and in peace, can do towards curing the wounds of domestic affliction. The sudden and fiery attack of Richard, who hastened to the escalade at the head of a score of followers, collected at random, had the complete effect of surprise; and having surmounted the walls with their ladders, before the contending parties within were almost aware of the assault, the assailants burst open the gates, and admitted Gloucester, who had hastily followed with a strong body of men-at-arms. The garrison, in their state of surprise, confusion, and disunion, offered but little resistance, and would have been put to the sword, and the place plundered, had not Henry himself entered it, and by his personal exertions and authority, restrained the excesses of the dissolute soldiery. The King conducted himself, considering the times and the provocation, with laudable moderation. He contented himself with disarming and dismissing the common soldiers, giving them some trifle to carry them out of the country, lest want should lead them to form themselves into bands of robbers. The offiAnd, royal father," said Prince John, interposing, cers were more severely treated, being for the greater "I pray you let me have the grace to take first posses-part thrown into dungeons, to abide the course of the sion of the Garde Doloureuse, and the wardship or forfeiture of the offending lady.' pray you also, my royal father, to grant John's boon," said his brother Richard, in a tone of mockery. "Consider, royal father, it is the first desire he hath shown to approach the barriers of the castle, though we have attacked them forty times at least. Marry, law. In particular, imprisonment was the lot of Damian de Lacy, against whom, believing the various charges with which he was loaded, Henry was so highly incensed, that he purposed to make him an example to all false knights and disloyal subjects. To the Lady Eveline Berenger he assigned her own apartment as a prison, in which she was honourably attended by Rose and Alice but guarded with the utmost strictness. It was generally reported that her demesnes would be declared a forfeiture to the crown, and bestowed, at least in part, upon Randal de Lacy, who had done good service during the siege. Her person, it was thought, was destined to the seclusion of some distant French nunnery, where she might at leisure repent her of her follies and her rashness. Father Aldrovand was delivered up to the discipline of his convent, long experience having very effectually taught Henry the imprudence of infringing on the privileges of the church; although, when the King first beheld him with a rusty corslet clasped over his frock, he with difficulty repressed the desire to cause him to be hanged over the battlements, to preach to the ravens. knife. There was grief on the Constable's features deep grief-but without the expression of abase ment or prostration, which usually accompanies it; anger and shame were there-but they were both of a noble character, seemingly excited by his bride and nephew's transgressing the laws of allegiance, honour, and virtue, rather than by the disgrace and damage which he himself sustained thro' their crime. The minstrel was so much astonished at this change of deportment, from the sensitive acuteness of agony which attended the beginning of his narrative, that he stepped back two paces, and gazing on the Constable with wonder mixed with admiration, er claimed, "We have heard of martyrs in Palestine, but this exceeds them!" "Wonder not so much, good friend," said the Constable, patiently; 'it is the first blow of the lance or mace which pierces or stuns—those which follow are little felt."* "Think, my lord," said Vidal, "all is lost-love, dominion, high office, and bright fame so late à chief among nobles-now a poor palmer!" With Wilkin Flammock, Henry held much conference, particularly on the subject of manufactures and commerce; on which the sound-headed, though bluntspoken Fleming, was well qualified to instruct an intelligent monarch. "Thy intentions," he said, "shall not be forgotten, good fellow, though they have been "Wouldst thou make sport with my misery?" said anticipated by the headlong valour of my son Richard, Hugo, sternly; "but even that comes of course bewhich has cost some poor caitiff's their lives-Richard hind my back, and why should it not be endured loves not to sheathe a bloodless weapon. But thou when said to my face?-Know, then, minstrel, and and thy countrymen shall return to thy mills yonder, put it in song if you list, that Hugo De Lacy, having with a full pardon for past offences, so that you med-lost all he carried to Palestine, and all which he left dle no more with such treasonable matters.' "And our privileges and duties, my liege?" said Flammock. Your Majesty knows well we are vassals to the lord of this castle, and must follow him in battle." "It shall no longer be so," said Henry; "I will form a community of Flemings here, and thou, Flammock, shalt be Mayor, that thou mayst not plead feudal obedience for a relapse into treason.' "Treason, my liege!" said Flammock, longing, yet scarce venturing, to interpose a word in behalf of Lady Eveline, for whom, despite the constitutional coolness of his temperament, he really felt much interest-"I would that your Grace but justly knew how many threads went to that woof." 'Peace, sirrah!-meddle with your loom," said Henry; and if we deign to speak to thee concerning the mechanical arts which thou dost profess, take it for no warrant to intrude farther on our privacy." The Fleming retired, rebuked, and in silence; and the fate of the unhappy prisoners remained in the King's bosom. He himself took up his lodging in the castle of the Garde Doloureuse, as a convenient station for sending abroad parties to suppress and extinguish all the embers of rebellion; and so active was Randal de Lacy on these occasions, that he appeared daily to rise in the King's grace, and was gratified with considerable grants out of the domains of Berenger and Lacy, which the King seemed already to treat as forfeited property. Most men considered this growing favour of Randal as a perilous omen, both for the life of young De Lacy, and for the fate of the unfortunate Eveline. CHAPTER XXX. A vow, a vow-I have a vow in Heaven. Shall I bring perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice.-Merchant of Venice. THE Conclusion of the last chapter contains the tidings with which the minstrel greeted his unhappy master, Hugo de Lacy; not indeed with the same detail of circumstances with which we have been able to invest the narrative, but so as to infer the general and appalling facts, that his betrothed bride, and beloved and trusted kinsman, had leagued together for his dishonour-had raised the banner of rebellion against their lawful sovereign, and, failing in their audacious attempt, had brought the life of one of them, at least, into the most imminent danger, and the fortunes of the House of Lacy, unless some instant remedy could be found, to the very verge of ruin. Vidal marked the countenance of his master as he spoke, with the same keen observation which the chirurgeon gives to the progress of his dissecting at home, is still lord of his own mind; and adversity can no more shake him, than the breeze which strips the oak of its leaves can tear up the trunk by the roots." "Now, by the tomb of my father," said the minstrel, rapturously, "this man's nobleness is too much for my resolve!" and stepping hastily to the Consta ble, he kneeled on one knee, and caught his hand more freely than the state maintained by men of De Lacy's rank usually permitted. "Here," said Vidal, "on this hand-this noble hand-I renounce" But ere he could utter another word, Hugo de Lacy, who, perhaps, felt the freedom of the action as an intrusion on his fallen condition, pulled back his hand, and bid the minstrel, with a stern frown, arise, and remember that misfortune made not De Lacy fit personage for a mummery. Renault Vidal rose rebuked. "I had forgot," he said, "the distance between an Armorican violer and a high Norman baron. I thought that the same depth of sorrow, the same burst of joy, levelled, for a moment at least, those artificial barriers by which men are divided. But it is well as it is. Live within the limits of your rank, as heretofore within your donjon tower and your fosses, my lord, undisturbed by the sympathy of any mean man like me. I, too, have my duties to discharge." And now to the Garde Doloureuse," said the baron, turning to Philip Guarine "God knoweth how well it deserveth the name!-there to learn, with our own eyes and ears, the truth of these woful tidings.— Dismount, minstrel, and give me thy palfrey-I would, Guarine, that I had one for thee-as for Vidal, his attendance is less necessary. I will face my foes, or my misfortunes, like a man-that be assured of, violer; and look not so sullen, knave-I will not forget old adherents." "One of them, at least, will not forget you, my lord," replied the minstrel, with his usual dubious tone of look and emphasis. But just as the Constable was about to prick forwards, two persons appeared on the path, mounted on one horse, who, hidden by some dwarf-wood, had * Such an expression is said to have been used by Mandrin the celebrated smuggler, while in the act of being broken upon the wheel. This dreadful punishment consists in the execu tioner, with a bar of iron, breaking the shoulder bones, arms, thigh bones, and legs of the criminal, taking his alternate sides. The punishment is concluded by a blow across the breast, called the coup de grace, because it removes the sufferer from his agony. When Mandrin received the second blow over the left shoulder bone, he laughed. His confessor the quired the reason of demeanour so unbecoming his situation. "I only laugh at my own folly, my father," answered Mandrin, after the nervous system had been completely deranged by the "who could suppose that sensibility of pain should continge first blow." "What!-to Damian, his nephew?" exclaimed the Constable, in a harsh and hasty tone. come very near them without being perceived. They | task, and said, "Ha, dame! what would you with were male and female; and the man, who rode fore- him?" most, was such a picture of famine, as the eyes of the "A great deal, good palmer, an I could light on pilgrims had scarce witnessed in all the wasted lands him; for his lands and offices are all to be given, it's through which they had travelled. His features, natu-like, to that false thief, his kinsman." rally sharp and thin, had disappeared almost entirely among the uncombed gray beard and hairs with which they were overshadowed; and it was but the glimpse of a long nose, that seemed as sharp as the edge of a knife, and the twinkling sparkle of his gray eyes, which gave any intimation of his lineaments. His leg, in the wide old boot which enclosed it, looked like the handle of a mop left by chance in a pail-his arms were about the thickness of riding-rods-and such parts of his person as were not concealed by the tatters of a huntsman's cassock, seemed rather the appendages of a mummy than a live man. The female who sat behind this spectre exhibited also some symptoms of extenuation; but being a brave jolly dame naturally, famine had not been able to render her a spectacle so rueful as the anatomy behind which she rode. Dame Gillian's check (for it was the reader's old acquaintance) had indeed lost the rosy hue of good cheer, and the smoothness of complexion which art and easy living had formerly substituted for the more delicate bloom of youth; her eyes were sunken, and had lost much of their bold and roguish lustre; but she was still in some measure herself, and the remnants of former finery, together with the tight-drawn scarlet hose, though sorely faded, showed still a remnant of coquettish pre tension. So soon as she came within sight of the pilgrims, she began to punch Raoul with the end of her ridingrod. "Try thy new trade, man, since thou art unfit for any other-to the good men-to them-crave their charity." "Beg from beggars ?"-muttered Raoul; "that were hawking at sparrows, dame.", "Lord, how you startle me, sir!" said Gillian; then continued, turning to Philip Guarine, "Your friend is a hasty man, belike." "It is the fault of the sun he has lived under so long," said the squire; "but look you answer his questions truly, and he will make it the better for you." Gillian instantly took the hint. "Was it Damian de Lacy you asked after?-Alas! poor young gentleman! no offices or lands for him-more likely to have a gallows-cast, poor lad--and all for naught, as I am a true dame. Damian!-no, no, it is not Damian nor damson neither-but Randal Lacy, that must rule the roast, and have all the old man's lands, and livings, and lordships." What?" said the Constable--" before they know whether the old man is dead or no?-Methinks that were against law and reason both." 66 Ay, but Randal Lacy has brought about less likely matters. Look you, he hath sworn to the King that they have true tidings of the Constable's death-ay, and let him alone to make them soothfast enough, if the Constable were once within his danger." "Indeed!" said the Constable. "But you are forging tales on a noble gentleman. Come, come, dame, you say this because you like not Randal Lacy." "Like him not!-And what reason have Í to like him, I trow?" answered Gillian. "Is it because he seduced my simplicity to let him into the castle of the Garde Doloureuse-ay, oftener than once or twice either-when he was disguised as a pedlar, and told him all the secrets of the family, and how the boy "It will bring our hand in use, though," said Gil-Damian, and the girl Eveline, were dying of love lian; and commenced, in a whining tone," God love with each other, but had not courage to say a word you, holy men, who have had the grace to go to the of it, for fear of the Constable, though he were a Holy Land, and, what is more, have had the grace to thousand miles off?-You seem concerned, worthy come back again; I pray, bestow some of your alms sir-may I offer your reverend worship a trifling sup upon my poor old husband, who is a miserable object, from my bottle, which is sovereign for tremor cordis as you see, and upon one who has the bad luck to be and fits of the spleen?" his wife-Heaven help me!" "Peace, woman, and hear what I have to say," said the Constable, laying his hand upon the bridle of the horse-"I have present occasion for that horse, and". "By the hunting-horn of St. Hubert, but thou gettest him not without blows!" answered the old huntsman. A fine world it is, when palmers turn horse-stealers." "Peace, fellow!" said the Constable, sternly,-"I say I have occasion presently for the service of thy horse. Here be two gold bezants for a day's use of the brute; it is well worth the fee-simple of him, were he never returned." "But the palfrey is an old acquaintance, master," said Raoul;" and if perchance" "Out upon your if and perchance both," said the dame, giving her husband so deterinined a thrust as well nigh pushed him out of the saddle. "Off the horse! and thank God and this worthy man for the help he has sent us in extremity. What signifies the palfrey, when we have not enough to get food either for the brute or ourselves? not though we would eat grass and corn with him, like King Somebody, whom the good father used to read us to sleep about." "A truce with your prating, dame," said Raoul, offering his assistance to help her from the croupe; but she preferred that of Guarine, who, though advanced in years, retained the advantage of his stout sodierly figure. "I humbly thank your goodness," said she, as, (having first kissed her,) the squire set her on the ground. And, pray, sir, are ye come from the Holy Land?-Heard ye any tidings there of him that was Constable of Chester?" De Lacy, who was engaged in removing the pilLion from behind the saddle, stopped short in his "No, no," ejaculated De Lacy-"I was but grieved with the shooting of an old wound. But dame, I warrant me this Damian and Eveline, as you call them, became better, closer friends, in time?" "They!-not they indeed, poor simpletons!" answered the dame; "they wanted some wise counsellor to go between and advise them. For, look you, sir, if old Hugo be dead, as is most like, it were more natural that his bride and his nephew should inherit his lands, than this same Randal, who is but a distant kinsman, and forsworn caitiff to boot.-Would you think it, reverend pilgrim, after the mountains of gold he promised me?-When the castle was taken, and he saw I could serve him no more, he called me old beldame, and spoke of the beadle and the cucking-stool. -Yes, reverend sir, old beldame and cucking-stool were his best words, when he knew I had no one to take my part, save old Raoul, who cannot take his own. But if grim old Hugh bring back his weatherbeaten carcass from Palestine, and have but half the devil in him which he had when he was fool enough to go away, Saint Mary, but I will do his kinsman's office to him!" There was a pause when she had done speaking. "Thou say'st at length exclaimed the Constable, "that Damian de Lacy and Eveline love each other, yet are unconscious of guilt, or falsehood, or ingratitude to me-I would say, to their relative in Palestine?" "Love, sir!-in troth and so it is-they do love each other," said Gillian; "but it is like angels-or like lambs--or like fools, if you will; for they would never so much as have spoken together, but for a prank of that same Randal Lacy's." "How!" demanded the Constable "a prank of Randal's ?-What motive had he that these two should meet?" "Nay, their meeting was none of his seeking; but |