Quentin Durward

music be? i' the

TE

s al

rains that mig

e ribs o

O

necessary changes in his dress, when his worthy relation required t

d with a gentle censure of his nephew's slackness in not making in to the King's assistance, when he might be in imminent peril. The youth had prudence, in answer, to abstain from all farther indication of his own conduct, except that, according to the rules of woodcraft, he held it ungentle to interfere with the game attacked by another hunter, unless h

hich, while couching in seeming slumber, or gliding through the apartment with slow, stealthy, and timid steps, is now engaged in watching the hole of some unfortunate mouse, now in rubbing herself w

excellent conduct of his young kinsman in the chase that day, which, he observed, had attracted the King's particular attention. He here paused for a reply; and, with his eyes fixed on the ground, save just when once or twice they stole upwards to take a side glance at Quentin, he hea

e; for how could my great hill of a Flemish dray horse keep up with his Majesty's Norman runner? I am sure I spu

of the head to one side, may be either interpreted as a mute assent to what is said, or as a cautious deprecation of farther prosecution of the subject. It was a keener, more scrutinizing glance, whic

tance in honourable pastimes, when they can aid themselves without it. We hold that a Prince in a hunting field must take h

rendered to every one. I wonder whence he hath caught the gift; I never could give a reason for anything I have ever

king at him from under his eyelids, "what might your re

rs, beggars, and cripples. He has been especially venerated in England and Scotland], I kn

ad, doubtless, to learn that his Majesty is so far from being displeased with your ne

e in great surprise-"select

er, in a mild but decided tone; "the King hath

eason?" said Balafre. "Why doth

resumption to form a conjecture, it may be his Majesty hath work to do, fitter for a youth like your nephew, than for an experienced warrior like

ver? The inner guards of the Castle have ever been mounted by those

y's pleasure," said Oliver, "and

s not even a free Archer, being only

t half an hour since, and enrolled him among the Guard. Have the

is nephew's dress, and giving him directions for his conduct under arms, but was unable to refrain from

guard over the popinjays and Indian peacocks, which the Venetian ambassador had lately presented to the King-it could be nothing else; an

s and language of his conductor, which he suspected must, in some cases at least, be interpreted by contraries, as soothsayers are said to discover the interpretation of dreams. He could not but hug himself on having observed strict secrecy on the events of th

ined the name of Archers, the Scottish Guard very early substituted firearms for the long bow,

nor the malignant feelings which it engenders entered into his honest meditations, there was yet a sense of wounded or

a hearty cup; then took his seat, half reclining, on the great oaken settle; and having once again slowly shaken his head, received so much apparent benefit from th

cret doors and at unexpected points, into a large and spacious latticed gallery, which, from its breadth, might have been almost termed a hall, hung with tapestry more ancient than beautiful, and with a very few of the hard, cold, ghastly looking pictures, belonging to the first dawn of the arts which preceded their spl

dark ages: and Louis XI, as one of his successors

nd. His history may be rea

ors around could have been offended at the elevation of his voice, or as if he had feared to awaken the echo

of my watch?" answered Quenti

ed?" replied Oliver, wit

which when necessary it was discharged) at the embers of a wood fire, which was expiring in the huge hall chim

by his Majesty's command, young man," added Oliver, "and you will not be long here without knowing wherefore you are summoned. Meantime your walk extends along this gallery. You are permitted to stand still while you list, but on no account to s

away from him with that noiseless gliding step which was pecul

to contend with, unless these grim old representatives of humanity should start into life

nvent in which he had found shelter after the death of his father-allowing in his own mind, that, but for the change of a novice's frock for the rich military dress wh

r, and other pithy sonnets and lays which appertained to the history of his distant native country, and particularly of the district to which he belonged. This wore away a considerable space of time, and it was now more than two hours past noon when Quentin was reminded by his appetite that the good fathers of Aberbrothick, however

tary walk betwixt these two entrances, which formed the boundary of his duty, he was startled by a strain of music which was suddenly waked near one of those doors, and which, at least in his imagination, was a combination of the same lute and voice by which he had been enchanted on the preceding day. All the dreams of yesterday morning, so much weakened by the agitating circumstances which he had sinc

verie during the intervals of fascination. He could not doubt, from the report of his uncle's comrades and the scene which had passed in the presence chamber that morning, that the siren who thus delighted his ears, was not, as he had profanely supposed, the daughter or kinswoman of a base Cabaretier [inn keeper], but the same disguised and distressed Countess for whose cause kings and princes were now about to buckle on armour, and put l

elf, saw, with shame and fear, that he had, in his reverie, permitted Louis himself-entering probably by some secret

med, which prompts a brave man to resist an attempt to disarm him, he had aggravated, by a personal struggle with the King, the displeasure produced by the negligence with which he had performed his duty upon guard;

that caustic severity which would have made him a despot in private conversation, and he always seemed to enjoy the pain which he inflicted on occasions like the present. But

e Provost Marshal than greeted with such a

appetite is a wolf," he continued; "and I will save thee from one wild beast as thou didst me from another; th

," replied Durward, "o

tion now is, not of thy dinner, but of my own. I admit to my table this day, and in strict privacy, the Cardinal Balue and

As the King was in no haste to proceed, Quentin at length ve

y loaded weapon," said Louis; "and if t

n this guarded castle

r history has shown that treason can creep into an auger hole.-Treason excluded by guards! Oh, t

honour," answere

ls, she wears the beard of our counsellors, the smiles of our courtiers, the crazy laugh of our jesters-above all, she lies hid under the friendly air of a reconciled enemy. Louis of Orleans trusted John of Burgundy-he was murdered in the Rue Barbette. John of Burgundy trusted the fa

uentin, "your Majesty's

int Paul indeed"-here he paused, as if he thought he had said a word too much, but resumed, laughing, "our brother-in-law, James

afe conduct, after several acts of rebellion, visited James the Second in the Castle of Stirling. The k

so please your Highness.-It was

ell, let it be Stirling-the name is nothing to the purpose. But I meditate no injury to these men-

at the signal," sai

give thee full leave. From such as thou art,

y having occasion to distrust this Burgundian, I marvel that you

and inevitable. When I walk boldly up to a surly mastiff, and caress him, it is ten to one I soothe him to good temper; if I show fear of him, he flies on me and rends me. I will be thus far frank with

ad himself entered, saying, as he showed it him, "He who would thrive at Court must know the private wickets and concealed

as the only article in the chamber which had in the slightest degree the appearance of royalty. Behind this cupboard, and completely hidden by it, was the post which Louis assigned to Quentin Durward; and after having ascertained, by going to different parts of the room, that he was invisible from all q

offices immediately connected with the King's person, and who now appeared, attended by two old men, who were the only assistants or waiters at the royal table. So s

he had done the high honour to admit to his table were the very persons in whom he could most unreservedly confide, and whom he was, most willing to honour. Nothing could be more dignified, and, at the same time, more courteous than his demeanour. While all around him, including even his own dress, was far beneath the splendour which the petty princes of the kingdom displayed

n instant; but the glance conveyed so much doubt and hatred towards his guests, such a peremptory injunction on Quentin to be watchful in attendance, and prompt in execution, that no room was left for doubting that the

hich had occurred during his own exile in the territories of Burgundy, and inquired respecting all the nobles with whom he had been then familiar, as if that period ha

old Louis of Valois, as simple and plain as any of his Parisian badauds [idlers]. But I directed them to make some better cheer than ordinary for you, Sir Count, for I know your Burgundian proverb, 'Mieux vault bon repas que bel habit' [a good meal is better than a beautiful coat. (Present spelling is vaut.)]; and therefore I bid them h

t le boisso

is the bever

cousin.-Oliver, replenish yon golden cup with Vin de Rheims, and give it to the Count on yo

g," said the Cardinal, with the lowly mien

ady hand," said Louis. "But which side do you espouse in th

" said the Cardinal, "and re

glided from the subject and added, "But you prefer the Auvernat, because it is so noble a wine it endures not w

"that all national quarrels could be as pleasan

gard. It is not to every one that we would part with it. It belonged of yore to that terror of France, Henry V of England, and was taken when Rouen was reduced, and those islanders expelled from Normandy by the joint arms of

s remarks, always shrewd and caustic, and often actually witty, were seldom good natured, and the anecdotes with which he illustrated them were often more humorous than delicate; but in no one word, syllable

most similar collections of the age. S.]; while the smooth churchman laughed at every jest and enhanced every ludicrous idea, without exhibiting any shame at expressions which made the rustic young

animation to the jest, and zest to the tale. As he approached, he saw an equal change in his countenance. The light of assumed vivacity had left the King's eyes, the smile had deserted his face, and h

nstant-yonder table affords the means; I will then instruct thee in thy fa

s seat, covered his brow wi