The Story of Viteau

taying his time with his family, and at Viteau no one knew that he had left the castle. At last, Barran, somewhat provoked that the boy should so deliberately disobey his orders,—for he

he messengers went hurriedly home, accompanied by Raymond, to tel

e else than at Viteau, and that Raymond could confer as well as any one else with Barran, regarding the immediate steps

as possible, to the estates of the knight from the South, for it had been thought very likely that this knight had been prevented in some way from stopping at Viteau, and that he had taken Louis

left the knight's company to ride on by himself, as none could doubt, to his mother's house, the poor lady was completely overw

veyed him, were questions not easy to answer. That a band of cotereaux might then be in the forest, within ten or fifteen miles of Viteau, was not at all improbable; but to find out their hiding-place, and, also, to find them in it, would certainly be difficult t

t with any force; for he was sure that, if the boy had been captured by cotereaux, their only object was to get a ransom for him, and that they would soon be heard from. Under t

ared almost ridicu

this chateau, and carry off the other boy. By the plans you lay, there will be mor

ntess defenseless, good Sir

d, in peace or war, as many a knight of good renown; but this is something too prudent. In these

inican monk, but he had not thought it well to speak of the matter now, when the minds of every one were so occupied with the present great trouble.

come to our houses to carry us away, but

wered his voice and continued: "Has the Countess brought upon herself the censure of the priests, b

re bowed

; "but, surely, we need have no great fe

that he feared and a

idered dangerous; but this was such a very serious matter that it caused him great anxiety and even

Inquisition. Even if she should be found entirely innocent, which is not likely, the trial itself is

he force of men and arms that I can bring together, to defend m

me better way to avert the evil than by force of arms, which, indeed, would amount to very little, I fe

t he would not give his hand. Nothing could induce him to leave the chateau

han he had at first anticipated, set out as soon as possible, at the head of a large body of followers, some of whom were expert in al

, and made careful search for paths, or any traces of the passage of men through the undergrowth. Several well-marked paths were soon discovered, and along the most promis

the road. To be sure, the forest, in every direction, would be searched in time, but if the Count's party

ole the Countess until Louis should be brought back, and, therefore, Raymond reluctantly remained at Viteau. He loved his mother, and was always willing to do anything that would please

rching party, Raymond came down into the grounds of the chateau

the house he

these men to be idling here. We might leave my mother with her ladies, and a

r him, Raymond saw, coming up from the lower part o

er in her affliction, and I do not think another one is needed now, especially not this man, who does not belo

id the squire, "she sh

oor. In a few moments the monk appeared, and with a slight motion of the head, but not a w

ick at heart on account of the loss of her young

rother Anselmo, "that is the grea

ard. "She needs rest, and

" said the monk, "to forbid my entran

act as its mistress, and I say that no one shall disturb her this nigh

astised for such presumptuous words; and as for you, Squire

t they please, in her name. I might come to be asked for my purse, in the name of the Church; and that I would not give up, any

ngry. Shaking his fist at

on, what power the Church gives me." And then, with

dislike that monk. He is always asking my mot

ur back. There is yet time, and the plan I think of will be the better one. I can not trust the men to stand against the pri

, in surprise. "It is t

nard, hurrying away. "Be speedy

THREATENS BERN

hastily equip themselves for an expedition, and to gather together, mounted, inside the north gate. Then he went upstairs to the apartments of the Countess, and asked to sp

ess then desired the ladies who were with her to retire to another room, and the squire, in as few words as possible, but very earnestly and forcibly, told her of her gr

spare him this wretched story, and, if we do not start quickly for Barran's castle, where you will find present safety,

ot be here to meet the

Countess did not hesitate, b

Have horses prepared for myself and my three ladies.

and began to make rapid pr

mpanied by Bernard and the men-at-arms, they rode out of the north gate. An elderly man, who acted as senescha

ertaken, and then the squire, without entering into expl

eat perplexity, riding up to his mother. "It is strange

f her younger son had overwhelmed her with grief, this new peril to her whole fa

would ever be told in this fair land; but I can not tell it to y

ers, excepting the squire and his mother, supposed that this

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