The Story of Viteau

subside pretty soon, the day being so bright and everybody in such good spirits,—he felt quite proud to see himself at the head of such a goodly company,

n as they had left the neighborhood of the Chateau de Viteau, and had entered the forest through which ran their road for the greater part of the journey, he made Louis ride about the middle of

ON THEIR WAY TO

the end of the afternoon Louis and his tra

alls of the castle itself. Outside there were boy-pages running on various errands, or standing about, watching other people and neglecting their own business; and there were squires, men-at-arms, and archers who were lounging in the shade, or busily at work rubbing up a piece of armor, or putting a point on an arrow-head or on a blunted lance. Here and there was a knight not clad in armor, but in fine silk and embroidered cloth, looking at horses which were being led about the inclosure by varlets or inferior serving-men, who generally were dressed in clothes of dirty leather. Two barefooted monks, one of them holding the

till outside, seemed to be doing the same inside; there was a clatter of metal and wooden dishes in the dining-hall, where the servants were preparing supper; and, in a room opening into the great hall, a tall knight sat upon a stool, with a little harp on his knee, sing

man, with an ugly but good-humore

said to a knight with a great brown beard, who stood beside him,

ther,' good sir," said Louis quickly, looking up i

e above his fellow-knights. If you become his equal, my little fellow, I shall be very proud. An

said the brown-bearded knight; "but you may have to w

ran. "Good blood must soon make

nds among the other pages, all of whom were sons of well-born people. These boys had come to the castle to receive the only education they would ever have. Louis did not at first very much like to wait upon the knights and ladies

they liked to be waited upon by a page who was so good-humored and quick. The Count de Barran was

d with De Barran about his new page. Between this girl and Louis a friendship soon sprang up. Agnes was a year older than he, and she knew so much of castle-life, and of the

ich overlooked the court-yard, our young friend Louis, with an enormous battle-ax over hi

re you doing with that great ax, a

he armorer's shop, to be shar

it seems sharp enough now. And as to you, you look as if you were goi

o a body of horsemen who were just riding out of the gate. They had dogs with

ng herons? Is that what t

nt to go," said Louis.

see how you can hate them. I love to see them swooping about, s

falcon, first making her promise that she would never repeat it to any one. He told it all in a straightforward way, and finished by explaining how the sight of the hunters made him think of his

ight," said Agnes. "You ought to give yo

o know where I am to

ught for

as to what you want with it, I can tell him, with truth, that you want to

uld give me one?" asked Lo

ained falcons, and he could spare one easily enough

his little daughter, who asked him for a falcon, a well-trained and good one, which could hunt h

planation. But when Count Hugo, who was a very indulgent father, and who had also quit

t to desire gifts; but, as he wants it for his brother, who is in a station to use it, it shows a generous disposition, and he shall have it." A

t back to Orion, here, who will feed and take care of it until the boy has an opportunity of se

she had covered with a scarf, to keep its talons from hurting her, Louis was overwhel

and when Louis had run to find Count Hugo, and had thanked him for his kindness, t

NES, AND

e it to him myself. I want him to have it

t," said Agnes. "He is s

going to use him for two days? It will take at the

you must not travel to your mother's house alone.

his impatience for three whole days before an opportunity of making his journey offered itself. Then a knight from the s

bsence so soon; but, as it was represented that there was good reason for the j

he present dwelling-places of these robbers, or cotereaux, as they were called. There were several classes of

at supper would soon be ready, and this was a comforting thing to him, for he was very hungry. The supper which was served to him was of plain food, but he had enough, and the bed he slept on, a

eaux to know that they took prisoners almost always for the purpose of making money out of them, and not to do them useless harm. If he had been an older and a deeper thinker, he would, probably, have thought o

men had straggled a good deal after they had turned into the new road, and Louis was not missed for an hour or two. Then, when his absence was discovered, the knight sent three men after him, wi

y slightly, and cared very little about. So, after riding five or six miles, they agreed to halt until nearly night, and ride back to their party at the top of their speed, and report that they had overtaken Louis, and had accompanied hi

r man, with a pike in his hand, appeared on the right, while several others came out from behind some bushes on the left. The tall man wore a cuirass, or body-armor, of steel rings linked closely together, which had probably once been bright and shining, bu

eak. He had often seen such persons as these among the serfs and var

ep from the road, do you hear? I am going hom

hould be pleased to have your company ourselves

ashing, although they were full of te

tle man, and this little horse, and this very