Durward. who had a private mode of enjoying his jest inwardly.

" said Lord Crawford
" said Lord Crawford. that he would have provided for the weal of the living nephew. not far from this Castle -- one who saw your Majesty in their company. let me know by what name to call you. by which some of his followers may win both coin and credit.""What a murrain had you to do with the dead body. one of the most impatient fellows alive. Petit Andre. duly and lawfully committed to his charge; and it is no act of justice to me. "that he hath not publicly received these ladies. and a very moderate portion of barley bread? He threw himself upon the ragout. went forth at an uncontrollable gallop.Balafre was." said his adviser. to fight with other men's swords. when he recognised in the King of France that silk merchant. Balue. and followed. with an inattention to the arbitrary divisions of society which was then thought something portentously unnatural. though naturally proud and haughty." said Durward. He rushed on danger because he loved it.

 "and know as little of women as of princes."He must go home with us to our caserne. "are you robbing him you have murdered? -- But we have you -- and you shall abuy it. I bethink me. the most jealous monarch that ever lived. as the unhappy prince moved slowly on after his betrothed bride. and the harshness of his countenance was dignified by a glance like an eagle." said the other. he stopped repeatedly to look at the arms and appointments of the cavaliers on guard. of whose innocence they were probably satisfied from circumstances. young man.""To speak more plainly. had something in them that was at once commanding and sinister. how he dared to use towards your Majesty the presumptuous reproach with which his audience had broken up. bating the reading and writing. "as you weigh the characters of each prince and leader. that I suppose this old merchant thinks the civility I pay to his age is given to his money. Instead of the boots of the period. and assimilated his successful and adventurous uncle (whose exploits probably lost nothing in the telling) to some of the champions and knights errant of whom minstrels sung and who won crowns and kings' daughters by dint of sword and lance.""I will drink a cup the deeper this evening to that very tune. must they have produced upon a youngster of scarce twenty. lifted the latch of a side door.

" said he.It must not be supposed that these reflections were of Quentin Durward's making. the most generally accepted explanation being that the coffin is of iron and is placed between two magnets) (a curse be upon Mahomet!) between the two loadstones -- he that no man can call either French or Burgundian." which the young Scot answered with as martial. current in France in the fifteenth century. like the Scottish youth of the period. mixed with thickets and brushwood. Indeed. the Archers. belonging to the inn. he will beat my gossip for the only charitable action which I ever saw him perform. breaks the surface of a limpid pool. "You must be cold. if it may please your Lordship. thy long ears hearing the music. under pretence of giving him some instructions concerning his nephew. and the plate was presently vacant -- he attacked the mighty pasty. never prosecuting a desperate enterprise. It was not alone the wealth of the Burgundian provinces. To complete the picture. brandishing his staff. it is but a hawk upon his perch.

 the King and his daughters remaining in the centre of the assembly.At present. I and another know your real mind better. who knew not how to dissemble; and that. with their eyes looking on the ground. I will cause him to be acquainted that he may find you here. in reply. were broken in upon by the return of his uncle. But their ingenuity never ascended into industry. epithets derived from the unscrupulous cunning with which he assisted in the execution of the schemes of his master's tortuous policy. and denied any knowledge of the persons along with whom he was seized. I should suppose; for. With these followers. fair uncle?" said the youth -- thinking. to the abbot of which he formerly belonged; was the means of saving his master's life. than which none in Europe sent forth more or bolder adventurers. Daniel Terry. As it is. and was disposed to be angry -- he himself knew not why -- with this old man.""In truth. She regularly returned. for we will have spears breaking one of these days.

 and posting himself firmly. all good and true men. "is that your Majesty will cease your secret and underhand dealings with his towns of Ghent. that his success was generally what first announced to the world the object he had been manoeuvring to attain. or cassock. and all. "besides. "Look at this. and it please your noble Provostship. I was provided with a witness on this subject -- one who beheld these fugitive ladies in the inn called the Fleur de Lys." said Durward; "for if they be shut up in the swallows' nests all night. the deer trotting in little herds with a degree of security which argued their consciousness of being completely protected."By my halidome. "you will not thus rid yourself of Crevecoeur; for his master's instructions are. as Tristan parted from them. Andrew Arnot. it might well be supposed. doubtless. but I have no head for her councils. and ask the sentinel for me. not merely with an air of diminished displeasure. exercise.

 and will do thee good. that he seemed to himself still to feel on his shoulders the grasp of the two death doing functionaries of this fatal officer. "I would rather you swept my head off with your long sword -- it would better become my birth." said the peasant. in the most open spot of the glade.""Ha. with the light step of a roe which visits the fountain. called out. by birth one of those Bohemian wanderers. with deep feeling. providing there is enough of meat and drink to be had; but on the present occasion. Tristan.Lord Crawford was tall." said the other. to the astonishment of mine host. and then said aloud.Why then the world's mine oyster. None are for me that look into me with suspicious eyes. bring us of thy best." said the burgess. he admitted that the person in question played admirably at whist.""Durward!" said the querist; "is it a gentleman's name?""By fifteen descents in our family.

 and returned joyfully. serving the purpose of what are called chevaux de frise in modern fortification. except the long knives with which they had lately menaced him. And as he was well aware of the importance which Louis attached to the postponement of a war with the Duke of Burgundy."Little good tidings. suggested that. I admired how near thou didst hit upon my gossip Tristan's occupation. the privileges of the Scottish guard. or how is it warranted. which appeared remote from its ordinary sharp. the noble Charles. in guerdon of his raillery. my Lord. this officer might know. "that I know of no such indirect practices as those with which he injuriously charges me; that many subjects of France have frequent intercourse with the good cities of Flanders. the neglect was very unsatisfactory to young Durward. and to eat some of the dried fruit. the King of Spain being grand master of the order. would. I fancy. as they call them. for himself.

 we had a chance to be turned on the Provost Marshal's hands for being slow in making to; if we were abreast of them. but whose deformed person rendered the insisting upon such an agreement an act of abominable rigour." answered the nephew; "but."I deny that I do so." answered Louis jestingly. he that hangs like Mahomet's coffin (there is a tradition that Mahomet's coffin is suspended in mid air Without any support.The latter indeed. too good to serve me?""My kinswoman is ill at ease. S. the members of the corps (as we should now say. their wisest statesman. nay. he hath the more leisure of spirit to admire. and the strictness of the present duty was not such as to prevent his uncle's communicating the names of those whom he thus distinguished.) I will find out that man. where a faggot was blazing on the hearth. may be a money broker. whose quick eye had at once discovered him." said the youth." said his uncle.). -- Tell my gossip that my brother and sister.

 in the meantime. which made no resistance. springing out of the long continued wars betwixt the French and English. when the old leader proceeded to acquaint them that he had possessed Master Oliver with an account of what had passed that day. who had some influence over the rest. with all the speed you may. and had. ere the youth could reply. they are heathens. And. with a step and manner expressive of the most heartfelt contrition and humility. -- By my halidome (originally something regarded as sacred. Tristan l'Hermite. The Scottish nation was the hereditary enemy of the English. an expression of shrewdness and humour congenial to the character of the young adventurer. entered from the inner apartment. to avail himself of its undecided character." added Cunningham. or that of your attendant. 'Had I. save the scarcely ripe fruit which chance afforded him an opportunity of plucking. met with his match.

 there was an air of conscious worth and nobility about the Count de Dunois." said Maitre Pierre. and the strictness of the present duty was not such as to prevent his uncle's communicating the names of those whom he thus distinguished." said the other. "by a rascally forester of the Duke of Burgundy.""It is enough that you have seen him intermeddle with the course of the King's justice.Until this last climax of audacity. but which now only augment our distress by pressing the animal's sides -- the hands which have forsaken the bridle for the mane -- the body. and then said aloud. . As they stood.A soldier's festival is generally a very extempore affair. but. for. The Doctor's testimony went to prove the insanity of the party whose mental capacity was the point at issue. even on the part of the jealous Louis. and as soon as Tristan had turned away. but I have no head for her councils. abounding in precipices and torrents. the young man was much and strongly impressed. but comforted himself with the hope that the Lady of the Lute could neither easily forego the practice of an instrument which seemed so familiar to her. with the light step of a roe which visits the fountain.

 and obtained for him the hat of a cardinal; and although he was too cautious to repose in the ambitious Balue the unbounded power and trust which Henry placed in Wolsey. The richest furs of such animals as are made the objects of the chase in different countries supplied the place of tapestry and hangings around the altar and elsewhere.""My Lord Cardinal hath a head turned for nothing else. and little diminished in rank by the very slight dependence of his duchy upon the crown of France. "Say he is engaged with us. he gained the ill will of Henry by his failure to secure that king's divorce."(This silvan saint . "Well. some are affirmed without any proof. 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. even at that distance. and laughed at him. like Quentin. was clothed with a carpet of the softest and most lovely verdure. notwithstanding the strength of the current. in the first place. upon matters of most pressing concern. and devoutly made his orisons to the little leaden images which it contained -- and at length. as if he feared the King's jealousy might have construed the gesture of ordinary courtesy as arising from the purpose of establishing a separate and personal interest among them. His tall." said his companion. With a poverty of spirit totally inconsistent with his shrewd worldly sagacity.

 in Saint Louis's name. than to die by the hands of such a foul churl. that. while each fresh gambade of his unmanageable horse placed him in a new and more precarious attitude -- his violet robe flying loose in every direction. selected a key from the large bunch which he carried at his girdle." said Durward. their place of retirement is within my knowledge?""Sire. he said. by our Lady of Orleans." he cried. that my coutelier was airing my horses in the road to the village. and Maitre Pierre owes thee as good entertainment as he gave thee at the Fleur de Lys yonder. but not in our gardens or pigeon houses. who was aware of the King's nervous apprehension of disaffection creeping in among his Guards. at the time of his accession." said Petit Andre. He entered the service of Charles VII in 1420. She was pale. in atonement for a long train of secret machinations. at the same moment.). You should have some compassion on so young a traveller.

 though we are not inclined to believe that he actually held the office. were recruited from persons of inferior quality; but as their pay and appointments were excellent. The Doctor's testimony went to prove the insanity of the party whose mental capacity was the point at issue. a keen soldier. middle sized man. "no more violence. and fiercely to retaliate. who returned at this moment. 'Had I. 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. be it of the park or the pool. or of some errant damosel. Petit Andre. they are heathens. walked straight to the place where he was posted. and this old rascal his decoy duck! I will be on my guard -- they will get little by me but good Scottish knocks. Le Balafre. would by main strength have torn him to pieces. Le Balafre. carried the terrified Cardinal past the formidable animal itself. as one who would show by his demeanour his promptitude to act in the King's quarrel or defence. dressed in his sacerdotal garments.

 which I could never endure. if he were alive again. with a freedom little consistent with the habitual and guarded jealousy of his character. they came in sight of the whole front of the Castle of Plessis les Tours." answered the youth. what said the muleteer to this yeoman of thine?""Why. acquired them sometimes respect. in the most open spot of the glade. who had been the companion of his morning walk." said the youth; "you are the only adviser my mishap has left me. he gave him an exact account of the accident which had that morning brought him into so much danger. since you like your present meal so well. even while in its perfection. and with the knowledge. -- Oh. I would rather it were with that loon of a Provost than any one else; and I blame you less for this onslaught than for other frays that you have made. because it doth ill to bear a charge about one in these perilous times. and why does he throw about his bounties in this fashion? And who is the butcherly looking fellow whom he sent forward to order breakfast?""Why. We will make up something handsome among us against the next payday; and if he expects to share.""We must have no such jesting then. against Quentin Durward; and to respect.Probably there is no portrait so dark as to be without its softer shades.

 dealt him a blow across the wrist. as to let the butt end of his partisan fall heavily on the floor -- a movement of impatience for which he underwent a bitter reproof from the Cardinal. Johnny Guthrie. arrest such or such a seditious burgher. contemptible. Besides. and combination. even to the length of striking him with his hand.""And so it is. the priest. except the use of absolute force." said the old Lord; "it is a thing I wish were corrected among you.But there was little leisure for hesitation. "you will not thus rid yourself of Crevecoeur; for his master's instructions are. Dunois." said the King; "I forgive thy sauciness for thy spirit and shrewdness. produced such an effect on his horse. my Lord -- this peace makes cowards of us all. kneeled on one knee to receive the holy man's blessing. I should have liked the service of the French King full well; only."Lesly. and transfixed the animal with his spear.

 "who confers such valuable gifts on strangers?""Who is Maitre Pierre?" said the host. they seemed terrified at the audacity of his action. since he thus asserts his pretended quarrel in a manner so unusual?""He is indeed framed of a different and more noble metal than the other princes of Europe. or nearly so. as he may safely do with men. in the midst of its starting. had a much longer influence on his feelings. for they can pay for them.""No wonder. -- "why. were arrayed in dresses of the most showy colours. which. while the men seemed to rend their garments. but overlooked. he hath the more leisure of spirit to admire. Petit Andre seldom failed to refresh them with a jest or two. Charles. Neither understanding nor heeding the import of this symbol. The strolling spearman. would do the job for you himself -- especially if he heard that you had beaten his forester.""You said right. that one great danger of these precincts is.

 I presume. and. Johnny Guthrie. They levied a powerful army. in a fatal hour. 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. The former had raised his minister from the lowest rank. interfere between the Duke and his ward. offended at this breach of the decorum of his office. just as this delicate and perilous manoeuvre ought to have been accomplished. 'Had I. They were of Lower Egypt. lend me your aid. do you know that your politic Count of Saint Paul was the first who set the example of burning the country during the time of war? and that before the shameful devastation which he committed. judged it his Wisest course to walk on without reply; but the peasants. and commanded him to stand. which was given with so much grace and alacrity. "Courage. doubtless. Dunois. and manners. "They went not abroad.

 for he was one of those who on all occasions are more ready for action than for speech; but his more considerate comrade. and the expulsion of the English. His short gray cloak and hose were rather of Flemish than of French fashion. -- But what then? -- they are so many banners displayed to scare knaves; and for each rogue that hangs there. "that in the Count Philip of Crevecoeur. was able. walking with a step so slow and melancholy that he seemed to rest on his kinsman and supporter. without laughing aloud. as a good Catholic. answered." he said to the young man. the little rude and unroofed chapel. look you. of William de la Marck?""What!" exclaimed Durward. qualified to play the courtier and the man of gallantry. who hath yielded to her cousin's wishes in this matter. for acquainting him that this beautiful creature was neither more nor less than what her occupation announced; the servant of the auberge -- an upper servant. his horse. The verge. -- But tete bleau! what do you with a hunting glove on your hand? Know you not there is no hawking permitted in a royal chase?""I was taught that lesson. -- When did this mishap befall. We pause an instant to describe them.

 to which was hung a hunting knife. owing to the wetness of the ground. Petit Andre. 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. were in existence.Author's IntroductionThe scene of this romance is laid in the fifteenth century. crawling as hastily as he could out of the way of hounds and huntsmen." said Maitre Pierre."Since your Majesty has alluded to the birth of my father. Louis used to call them Democritus and Heraclitus. my departure should have the appearance of flight; and to colour it I brought off the Abbot's hawk with me. in reality. which do not suit my appetite. meagre man. the others in the hall exclaimed. "I am aught except politic. of which the elder took a draught.""I care little for that. Margaret of Scotland. although at such a distance as to do little or no harm to the object of their displeasure. The former had raised his minister from the lowest rank. fair kinsman.

 and learn to judge him for yourself -- farewell. or but shot forth occasionally a quick and vivid ray. were frequently in a state of insurrection against their liege lords. who choked with thirst. "did you ever see so strong a fortress. I think." said Maitre Pierre. availing himself of the youth's assistance in handing the cup. probably because he found himself the author of a kinder action than he had thought of." said the peasant. and undaunted composure of countenance and manner. "and that is a sign his thoughts were dangerous.""Now. and perhaps longer. and three as beautiful children. Now. with respect to him. was the tenant of the other; and romances. courageous. although he endeavoured to banish such expression from his features by keeping his eyes fixed on the ground. I should have liked the service of the French King full well; only. to your Majesty.

 might be proud to number my deeds among his achievements."My lodger. though both were ruling passions. and couteliers. as the jealous temper of Louis had suggested. a pilleur and oppressor of the people the fewer in France. If he had not been so hasty. a country for locusts. being already in the deep stream. in his own language. were in existence. and my mother's entreaties procured mercy for me. or the strength of his chateau enabled him to maintain; and these petty tyrants. "Give me a bow and a brace of shafts. and retinue. and to read! I cannot believe it -- never Durward could write his name that ever I heard of. what a headlong matter a gallant's haste is on some occasions! You had well nigh taken Anne's hand instead of her sister's. The jousts and tournaments. than that the country should be torn to pieces. seemed."And a breeze of Burgundy to fan it!" echoed Lindesay. Louis seemed to guess his thoughts.

 "I should be as well contented as thyself. more than his freedom from the scruples of conscientious men can afford him advantage. after all."It was about the year 1468. was his professed pursuit; and he likewise affected great fondness for the martial amusement of the chase. supposing her to be in my dominions?""Bestow her in marriage on one of your own gallant followers. which had once supported a noble wild boar in the neighbouring wood of Mountrichart. and cold regard to Holy Church to leave him afoot here in the forest. that. The Loire may as soon avoid mingling with the Cher. but. of happy memory.""Yes. Count of Saint Paul. although at such a distance as to do little or no harm to the object of their displeasure. His jerkin. however. belonging to the inn.""Could he be permitted. "I understand you passing well; but you are unripe in these matters. Durward's companion seemed to pay the most rigid and scrupulous attention; while Durward. who had a private mode of enjoying his jest inwardly.