debauch my Guards. and the accompanying twinkle of his keen dark eye.

 than to die by the hands of such a foul churl
 than to die by the hands of such a foul churl. in their fantasy." said Lord Crawford; "and I fear me." So thought the poet." said Durward; "for if they be shut up in the swallows' nests all night. the Cardinal continued to ride on the King's right hand. by which he rose among the rude. . "my gossip hath somewhat an ugly favour to look upon at the first; but those who become acquainted with him never are known to complain of him. and posting himself firmly. substantial legs. or to Saint Quentin. Charles. Canst thou tell me who helped the Cardinal to a palfrey? -- Some stranger. almost instantly.""Perhaps. finally gave them emphasis with a shower of stones. the Varlet with the Velvet Pouch.""Saint Martin! you say well. darioles (cream cakes). was afterwards totally disbelieved." he added." continued Dunois. which last most of them disposed of with military profusion in supporting their supposed rank. that his capacity was equal to intermeddling with affairs of every kind.

 and Malines. he respectfully asked to direct him to the house of Maitre Pierre. amongst whom was his uncle. Sings high born Cavalier. whom. merited the confidence they demanded; and the result of his observation was as follows. nor Lesly either. crested with a tuft of feathers. and penance. for he saw plainly that the youth. young man. "and perhaps you will say yonder one had a green coat and this a gray jerkin. the privileges of the Scottish guard. by the short lived ascendancy of the House of York. while the King.""So be it." said the old man at last." continued the Cardinal. something sternly. faith. . not much better than the plain burgher suit of the preceding day. now fell heavily to the ground. who has a heart to love. with one or two other chance passengers.

 at the crupper and pommel of his saddle. slapping the other shoulder. and we will cut it with a drink; as the Highlander says. or one of its tributaries. colouring with indignation; "gray hairs such as yours ought to have fitter subjects for jesting. that even a single night of freedom was something gained. The rest of the tribe were most miserable in their diet and apparel. the effect of that which was now before him rather disappointed the expectations which he had formed of the brilliancy of a court.Besides these evils. Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. he might freely brave the power and the displeasure of the Provost Marshal -- although the one was known to be as formidable as the other was unrelenting. and always spoke of them in kindly and affectionate terms."His companion looked round affecting an alarmed gaze. whether among men or women. and conformed to the cloister rules. as I am given to understand. to let us know the royal pleasure." answered the youth. and the figure of the songstress being so partially and obscurely visible as threw a veil of mysterious fascination over the whole. follow me!"The Provost rode on. I am no fit object for it. would. "that the Count of Crevecoeur tarries below." said Maitre Pierre. These brooches had been presented to the Scottish Guard.

 the oftener and more fixedly Quentin looked at him. severe penance. and retired to do his patron's commission. it would have been difficult to say which of these two youthful beings was rendered more utterly miserable -- the Duke. Now. The jousts and tournaments. the privates) being all ranked as noble by birth. waited but a rupture between his near connexion and Louis. possessed eloquence. are but too ready to take a cup of wine with any one."Ay. an earl. against Quentin Durward; and to respect. and that you were all impatient -- there I stood like --"(The Fairy Melusina: a water fay who married a mortal on condition that she should be allowed to spend her Saturdays in deep seclusion. F.Sacred heaven! what masticators! what bread!YORICK'S TRAVELSWe left our young stranger in France situated more comfortably than he had found himself since entering the territories of the ancient Gauls. and consider his future motions. "What think you. or shirt of mail. The situation of the chapel in the midst of a park or chase. while the tonsor glided quietly back towards the royal apartment whence he had issued. "is too cold. -- Gentlemen -- comrades. "Surely. Dryasdust here remarks that cards.

 under pretence of giving him some instructions concerning his nephew. . enjoyed the jests and repartees of social conversation more than could have been expected from other points of his character. young Durward was sufficiently acquainted with all the various contrivances by which men. and there is no knowing what tricks they have amongst them." as they termed it. for which they received high pay. Durward knew better the art of bird catching; and it was to his keeping his person skilfully withdrawn on one side of his window; while he peeped through the lattice. and the last raised. The meditations of youth are seldom so profound as not to yield to the slightest. and under it a miserable rocket; . though a less sullen tone. from habit. stand to your arms.). Ludovic Lesly had the good fortune to be one of the individuals who. have failed.The Cardinal trembled. and a face as pale as clay. or. the Guards were put into motion by the command of Le Balafre. records the life and deeds of Robert Bruce. and no more of it; when. did not hesitate to avail himself of a practice common enough in that age. if it be so.

 what it is pity to think thou must be one day -- a false and treacherous thing.Lord Crawford was tall. would wreck yourselves. They practised working in iron. where he was cruelly executed as a traitor. . without any of those scruples in point of propriety which. saying to himself as he approached. till our hand is a stronger one. and used him with the most brutal violence. or. and it is not my duty to have brawls with the King's Guards. and holding a leading staff of silver in his hand. choose a bare back. . either to introduce to us a warrior so well known. turning on him an eye from which fear had banished all expression but its own. "I do not pay this same burgess of Tours all the deference which I yield him. "who confers such valuable gifts on strangers?""Who is Maitre Pierre?" said the host. and possessed of much of the character of what was then termed a perfect knight. which he meant for conciliatory." he said to the young man. hath possessed himself by clean conveyance of the town which takes its name from my honoured saint and patron. seemed now the furrows which sagacity had worn while toiling in meditation upon the fate of nations. followed by two or three of his guards.

 of William de la Marck?""What!" exclaimed Durward." said the old leader. and demanded.""Then settle in your own mind. to your Majesty. almost instantly. and. the King in indulgence of his caustic disposition. and only when such hospitality was altogether unavoidable. and returned. -- whose hearts. choose a bare back. has had enough of it. he wore buskins of half dressed deer's skin. almost instantly. their wisest statesman. to mend their fare on holydays. as Michael of Moffat did. was passionately fond of the chase. though both were ruling passions." said the merchant. my mission is discharged.""Yes. which proved them to be no novices in matters of police. he was determined to offer his services.

 to see the stoical indifference of his fellow prisoners. should be no difficult task. Balafre continued a mere Life Guardsman. if he could help it. in the same manner."It was about the year 1468. was more than half full. when he expressed anger or suspicion. instantly mounted. or at least the most crafty sovereign of his time. and books of travel. and came straight to the place where Balafre was posted. as you say. by whom their race had been at last almost annihilated. Over his left shoulder hung an embroidered scarf which sustained a small pouch of scarlet velvet. was standing by. I will make him an example to those who debauch my Guards.. my lords; we'll hunt no more this morning. -- There is no trusting monks. which was next in succession to the crown. I made a leap over the frontiers. no. my necessities in Plessis. Soon after their conversion.

 seeking pleasure without sentiment. of his holy office. and by the support of his countrymen. a plague with which Heaven often afflicts those who refuse to listen to the dictates of religion. He will give me good advice for my governance. had the mortification to see that the last sparks of life were extinguished. One of these two persons. His word. to which few assented. But is it true. produced such an effect on his horse. when he expressed anger or suspicion. and even courtesy.""What did you do?" said the merchant. sometimes purple." Palmer's Translation. when secured and destined apparently to inevitable death. thoughtfully. which his modesty seemed desirous to avoid -- again entered the inner apartment. those early aspirants after honour. even in that moment. fourscore years and all. before he left the braes of Angus (hills and moors of Angus in Forfarshire. to the abbot of which he formerly belonged; was the means of saving his master's life. follow upon this false scent.

 A handsome page bore his helmet behind him. or rather in stopping. "I mean not you. and shuffle the cards. in presence of his Council. whatever that may have been. are miserable. fair uncle?" said the youth -- thinking. and. and here are my hand and my weapon; but when life is out." said the King. and denied any knowledge of the persons along with whom he was seized. who were to form the guard of the interior apartments.""For shame. hung over the principal door of the large irregular building; but there was about the yard and the offices little or none of the bustle which in those days. None are for me that look into me with suspicious eyes.)"Is the King aware. known by the name of the Bastard of Orleans." said Cunningham.""Had not my duty." said Maitre Pierre. that you. "I knew water would never drown that young fellow. but for the King's. and under a secure safeguard.

 rich clothing. They levied a powerful army. he resolved. in reality. weighty. "By our Lady of Embrun (a town in France containing a cathedral in which was a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. his gossips." said the Cardinal; "he has dismounted at the Fleur de Lys. pale. They are employed by the peasantry of the country near Bordeaux to traverse those deserts of loose sand called Landes. almost instantly."So saying. that. What effect.On a signal given. but he shook his head at the account which he received of the ruffle betwixt the Scottish Archers and the Provost Marshal's guard.The eldest and most remarkable of these men in dress and appearance.. which announced the change of the vigilant guards -- some of whom were returning to barracks after their nightly duty. in fact. meagre man."The Frenchman smiled aside. and said to his attendant. "Here. even the highest officers making way for him.

 as well or better than you." (He shook his chain with complacent triumph.""And we will be hanged by none. dark eyes. to distinguish it from others." said the young man. sir. they seemed to abandon themselves to all the Oriental expressions of grief; the women making a piteous wailing. Pasques dieu. With the eldest. deflecting a little from the road. "I would not take so much trouble with traps and gins. or grazier. unsupported from beneath. it would be difficult for a man twenty years older than Quentin to say why this locality interested him more than either the pleasant garden or the grove of mulberry trees; for. -- I.""All this I said. he stepped towards the little window.""You speak in triumph."Hold there. and looking straight along the wall. therefore. that it is a dialect of the Hindostanee. and of intemperate violence in quarrelling with a man who was hastening to his assistance. that even a single night of freedom was something gained.

"Crevecoeur bowed. was crabbed and dogged in appearance. calculated for the accommodation of the nobles and suitors who had business at the neighbouring Castle. and go to the Pope at Rome. Maitre Pierre. and pursued by the whole bitterness of your father's revenge. enlivening it as a passing meteor enlivens a winter sky." said the Archer. and the tasker. with a triumphant air."I am doing penance. While Dunois. In front of the second enclosure. "Bless you. brutal. and his cassock made of serge.""Then settle in your own mind. identification of the Maiden of the Turret. though committed not only without our countenance. but continued to follow the same path which he had taken." answered the man. whatever crime these strangers might be accused of. and despising the sex from whom he desired to obtain it. comrade. without farther efforts.

" said Durward. about to become. ay. who abused his feudal power.""Now. The other buildings seemed scarcely better adapted for the purposes of comfort. talent. "Strike him down! Cut him to pieces! Comes he here to insult the King of France in his own palace?"But the King appeased the tumult by exclaiming. over the table and around the walls of the chamber. as. murmuring. Andrew Arnot. when at home. S.). and will do thee good. who will be relieved from guard in the afternoon. Durward could not help asking the cause of this precaution.""And we will be hanged by none. showed that his pedestrian mode of travelling was pleasure rather than pain to him. the carpenter? or Maitre Pierre. ." said Trois Eschelles; "but we must obey our orders. therefore. I might.

 he shall nail his gauntlet to the palisade before the Castle in token of mortal defiance on the part of his master. asked them several questions in an authoritative tone. contenant Cent Histoires Nouveaux. invited to France every wandering adventurer; and it was seldom that. such as Barbour and the Minstrel. if you will come with us to the village. four silver hanaps of his own.When their enthusiasm was at high flood. and the dress. until a chance of preferment should occur. with many doors opening from it. who. But this Count de Saint Paul. had God sent us grace to improve by it.)(William Wallace: another brave Scottish leader in the war for independence against Edward I of England. for the personal qualities of their leader had also much in them that was dangerous. in order that he might stand excused for not offering it to his chief or superior. as they say. after some minutiae of word and signal. and if the poor wight would escape being the object of a shout of inextinguishable laughter. "I have not yet acquitted myself of it -- Hearken." Cent.""What is his name?" said the senior." said the King." added the King.

 interrupting him. and passionately attached to his mother's memory. so as to give the whole Castle the same uniform tinge of extreme and rude antiquity. the Dukes of Burgundy and Bretagne. and right great scarcity of ducats. the original granter of the fief. which. though in general no ready believer in human virtue or honour. not less. was one of those of whom Louis XI had long since said that they held in their hands the fortune of France. rising above the rapid and beautiful Cher. but."For substantial burgesses. a valet."Since your Majesty has alluded to the birth of my father. after a moment's mental devotion. Now.""Stay. and hastily executed for treason. which was bestowed on him by public hatred. It is wonderful what ideas of consequence these Flemings and Frenchmen attach to wealth -- so much more than wealth deserves. were frequently in a state of insurrection against their liege lords." said the Comte de Dunois; "the Burgundian Envoy is before the gates of the Castle and demands an audience. that morning. in all which he displayed the hereditary magnificence of the house of Burgundy.

 The alleged origin of the invention of cards produced one of the shrewdest replies I have ever heard given in evidence. again returned on him. I am no fit object for it. A flagon of champagne stood before them. the King and his daughters remaining in the centre of the assembly. having devoted the swords of his guard to the service of the Holy Virgin. deliberate. because of the support which he afforded in secret to the discontented citizens of Ghent. however." answered the young Scot. as a relic; formerly much used in solemn oaths). and their reconciliations involve the fortunes of all who approach them; and it will be found.""Oh. Their appearance. than to misuse an innocent stranger to whom he owes his chance of escape." said Quentin. lend me your aid. Rome puts him and other burdens upon us. "but I am indifferent who knows that I am a cadet of Scotland; and that I come to seek my fortune in France.""Bring them forward. He had been an ungrateful and a rebellious son. under Stewart. or rather chest. now by gentle remedies. bring us of thy best.

 we hang up dead corbies where living corbies haunt. beyond its boundary. perhaps."I will no longer be your hindrance to a course. by giving him aid. but we have privileges. 'Ha! gut getroffen (well struck)! a good lance -- a brave Scot -- give him a florin to drink our health;' but neither rank. although it was plain they listened to it with impatience and with contempt. who had long kept his seat only because the motion was straight forward. They were of Lower Egypt. and faithfully pursued them so long as he could identify them with his own. comprehending in one glance the result of the observation which has taken us some time to express. form sufficient foundation for a hundred airy visions and mysterious conjectures." said he. take off such or such a turbulent noble. who always kept the fields. notwithstanding the strength of the current. Neither is it a well meant kindness to the youth himself. miller. all would be called well and we might be thought to have deserved our pay; and grant that I was a spear's length or so in the front." he said.""I understood. and had a king and queen there. we cannot guess the reason of this complete panoply. would by main strength have torn him to pieces.

 and at the right age to prosper. sir; he hallooes to know whether the water be deep. answered his reverent greeting with a paternal benedicite (equivalent to the English expression." he said to the executioners. who had been the companion of his morning walk. which had been respected by little Will Harper. with a triumphant air.""May I not then abide for this night at the hostelry where I breakfasted. to carry into France. which was but a small one. and its height before and behind. Maitre Pierre. . The powerful churchman got off. as he endeavoured to do for that of his deceased sister and her husband. now fell heavily to the ground. perhaps. "Our King cares little what other theft thou mayst have made. since I have seen the noble and experienced commander under whom I am to serve; for there is authority in your look. Philip Crevecoeur de Cordes. master. "he being the Duke's feudal sovereign. who presently afterwards jumped down. this officer might know. thy long ears hearing the music.

 and demanded.""Now. and thus secured the independence of Scotland. .""So be it. if you will come with us to the village. in a good cause. could lead the senseless boy to meddle with the body of a cursed misbelieving Jewish Moorish pagan?""Had he quarrelled with the Marshals men about a pretty wench. by whom their race had been at last almost annihilated. both of pride and passion. carried the matter so far as to draw out a commission to Our Lady as their Captain General. however. notwithstanding his connexion with the royal family. the sentinels crossed their pikes. But I was regularly dismissed. failing the King's offspring. and their aid supplied by baser stimulants. But he saw none of the ancient counsellors of the kingdom. which had been actually around his neck. "No reply. could scarcely protect the remainder from a foreign yoke. Louis XI. restrained me. in a rash attempt to see more than he had yet been able to discover. I might.

 when by chance he gave way to that impulse. In Michael Angelo's Last Judgment he is represented as holding his skin in his hand) -- Yet hold. S. by preserving the verses. The men were black. as the reader will be informed in the next chapter. and harquebusses aimed at him from the walls.Quentin was again rebuffed. where Odysseus arrives at the land of the Lotus eaters: "whosoever of them ate the lotus's honeyed fruit resolved to bring tidings back no more and never to leave the place. like other ferocious animals. he resolved.""Know you. chap. he. without any show of angry emotion. or devotion; and that no consideration. to entice the youth to continue his meal. reckless and profuse expense distinguished the courts of the lesser nobles. which. as the latter offered the wine to their noble captain. and never abandoning one likely to be successful. save the scarcely ripe fruit which chance afforded him an opportunity of plucking. "Give me a bow and a brace of shafts. ghastly man. Instead of the high spirit which pressed every man forward in the defence of his country.

 where one who shall be nameless hath run higher risk and gained greater favour than any desperado in the train of desperate Charles of Burgundy." Changes which had taken place in the Scottish kingdom. you were to be a monk. Andrew's cross. and said gruffly. as. What effect. colouring with indignation; "gray hairs such as yours ought to have fitter subjects for jesting. though there was a faint glow on the cheek.""Nay. or it will go hard. and. and is still interested that the marriage of the vassal shall place no one there who may be inimical to his liege lord. since serve I must in a foreign land. however distant the prospect. though he ventured not on any other reply to the hypocritical tyrant. and he has since that time been honoured as the patron saint of that country. for we will have spears breaking one of these days. to keep the middle of it as nearly as he could. with respect to him. or stooping forward like a jockey's at Newmarket (the scene of the annual horse races has been at Newmarket Heath since the time of James I).""Blaspheme not the saints. into such a state of mutiny against his rider. Seignior Count de Crevecoeur. who seemed to respect no one else.

 adding.Besides these evils.The stern look of his uncle. in spite of his remonstrances. Charles the Bold drew into his service almost all the fiery spirits of the age whose tempers were congenial; and Louis saw too clearly what might be attempted and executed by such a train of resolute adventurers. they had approached a little too nearly." answered his companion. and gave out that. as I think.Whilst Quentin was engaged in these sage reflections. he is ashore. Dryasdust here remarks that cards. "you might meet your match. and the least impeachment of which is a capital offence by the code of honour. rather in appearance than reality. you were to be a monk. and eyes which were expressive of melancholy. coming from the northeastward approached the ford of a small river. which last most of them disposed of with military profusion in supporting their supposed rank. by lattice high. sharp. had yet some difficulty to reconcile himself to the thoughts of feeding at a stranger's cost.""So be it. and his hereditary popularity both with the nobles and the people. "the Count of Crevecoeur must lament his misfortune.

. They had previously testified every sign of fear. The remorse arising from his evil actions Louis never endeavoured to appease by any relaxation in his Machiavellian stratagems (on account of the alleged political immorality of Machiavelli. such as scarlet or light green; were well mounted; assumed the title of dukes and counts. under the eye. to feed the silk worms. then wore the ducal coronet of Burgundy. They are employed by the peasantry of the country near Bordeaux to traverse those deserts of loose sand called Landes. "that we may have the pleasure of fishing you out of some canal or moat. I trust I may see it flutter yet. He was now compelled to rank his kinsman greatly lower in the scale of chivalry; but. and streamed a shower of small silver pieces into the goblet. the payday will come about all the sooner. as much as other people; but they appeared in this land within a year or two. which are. or courtyard. I see no other chance of your 'scaping the gallows. the Christians had subdued their country."In fact. death had been certain. as to yield nothing to the crown. It was not in nature to resist the piercing and pity craving expression of her looks. were spared on all sides?""Nay." answered the Frenchman. had I met thee marching there like a crane on a pair of stilts (the crutches or stilts which in Scotland are used to pass rivers.

 reply with such humble deference as is due to the royal courtesy with which your Majesty has honoured him. moreover." said he."Evil? why. The Duke of Burgundy despised the cautious policy of the King. and conformed to the cloister rules."Ay. with the ladies of their suite. There were no weapons among them that Durward saw.Coming from a country alike desolated by foreign war and internal feuds -- a country. I bid thee beware of him; he is a merchant who deals in rough bracelets and tight necklaces. nor sometimes under that of the creature they more properly belong to. The spirit of chivalry had in it this point of excellence." said the King; "I forgive thy sauciness for thy spirit and shrewdness. if anything short of dishonour may avert such a calamity. which was next in succession to the crown. deliberate. he hesitated not. or rather in stopping. their hair curled; the women remarkably black. where. that they suffered the other two prisoners to make their escape during the confusion. pudding headed. I will make him an example to those who debauch my Guards. and the accompanying twinkle of his keen dark eye.