The Story of Viteau

ad any dislike for monks or priests in general. He had as high an opinion of the member

n the city of Toulouse that terrible tribunal of the Romish Church known as the Holy Inquisition. Here persons suspected of holding opinions in opposition to the doctrines taught by the Church were tried, often subjected to tortures in order to induc

the family, nor had he anything to do with the education of the boys. There was some particular reason for his visits to the chateau, and of this the household at large knew nothing; but

chateau, but he could not be certain that he was right. So he kept his ideas to

of which was covered with soft rushes, for there were no carpets in those days. There was an abundance of furniture, but it was stiff

ntly very fond of her children, and they were equally fond of her. She had a book in her hand when the boys entered (it should be remembe

such a long, long time,—"Mother, I wish you would write a letter to the Count de Barran, and ask him to

is absurd idea on the part of a boy who was going to begin life as a page, but who

d Louis. "I suppose I shall not see that bird fly,—at l

for I knew it would fill your head so full that there would be no room for anything el

," said Louis, drawing him

s mother, "to learn to be a page,

e room grew dark, and there was no treasure that Louis could take with him

rs going on at that time, there was always danger from robbers. All over France, and in many other parts of Europe, there were well-organized bands of men who made a re

o as not to wake his brother. Then he stole softly down to a room in the lower part of the building, where he knew Bernard kept the falcon he was training.

he hood. As Louis approached the falcon, it turned its head quickly towards him and slightly raised its wings. This threatening gesture made the boy hesitate; he did not want to be bitten or scratched. Drawing back, and looking about him, he saw a cloth lying upon a bench. Seizing this,

om the chateau, he sat down, carefully uncovered the head of the falcon, and clapped over it the little hood. Then he threw aside the cloth, and set the bird upon his wrist, where it p

t on its perch, and no one will be any the worse for it. If I meet Bernard, as I go back, I shall not care. I shall have had my bit of falcon

iscover, and he was not to be content with such game as they. If he had had dogs with him, or knew how himself to arouse the birds from their covers, he might have had a chance to send his falcon after a

a little copse a short distance beyond the spot where Louis stood. Our young hunter knew that falcons chased hares, and such small

ared in the copse. Louis did not know that hawks or falcons were not always trained to chas

robable, it did not see, the falcon rose into the

for itself," thought Louis, "

higher each moment. Louis now became anxious for it to come down, so that he could try again in some other place to scare

and, after rising to a great height, it flew aw

so dismal as the last tinkle of the little bell on the falcon's leg, nor see anything so s

w tears came into his eyes. But he was a sturdy boy in mind and body, and he did not cry m

" he said to himself, "but I hope they will

ep, and there was soon so much hurry and bustle, in the preparation for the departure of

nd servants of the chateau, Louis set forth for the castle of Barran. He rode his mother's palfrey, a small and gent