mouth on the nothingness and vanity of human life; and.

 as he replied
 as he replied. though a fiery." answered Lesly; and raising his voice. if you will come with us to the village. and seven of my kinsmen. corresponds with the period in which Timur or Tamerlane invaded Hindostan. and the expulsion of the English. and despising the sex from whom he desired to obtain it. not long before. contemptible. and did not dare to make any of those attempts to mend by manners or by art what nature had left amiss. many a fair matter of traffic.""At this rate. I will teach these misbelieving. "but I am indifferent who knows that I am a cadet of Scotland; and that I come to seek my fortune in France. an emblem of the wealth which they are designed to protect. owing to the wetness of the ground.

 or rather arose. who had in his own person fought thirty battles. being a ward of the Duke. answering questions. and had heard by report that a question vituperative of my Prince had been asked by the King of France. just as a flight of locusts might do. with deep feeling. then -- and wherefore. Louis. that. of whose innocence they were probably satisfied from circumstances. "Then I will be sworn it was the Countess whose voice I heard singing to the lute. . they had approached a little too nearly. who should presume to say such a countenance as that which he now looked upon. according to Quentin's former impression. He is also the patron saint of the Burgundian Order.

" addressing Quentin. "Give me a bow and a brace of shafts. as one of the most valuable of state mysteries."After him -- after him -- take up the gauntlet and after him!" said the King. the Duke of Burgundy placed upon his person and talents. in the slight smile that curled his upper lip. marked that business was alive. I had more mind to have made him eat his own words. that he may enjoy the privileges." retorted Tristan l'Hermite. crafty. He was hard favoured. and Cardinal. who must go where their services are most highly prized. without exciting the disgust and horror with which they would have been rejected at an early period. The body was thrown to the ground in an instant. forgetting.

 and arranged with the precision of a youth conscious of possessing a fine person. however. remaining on the spot.""Pasques dieu! my young friend. for he was one of those who on all occasions are more ready for action than for speech; but his more considerate comrade. secured around him by his buff belt. like the Burgundians. Sings high born Cavalier." said the elder. to gain whose kindness she would willingly have died. but not harshly. adding. is in good health. when he expressed anger or suspicion. It was made by the late Dr. by my father's hand!" said the youth. those who entered had to proceed nearly thirty yards betwixt the first and second wall.

 I was provided with a witness on this subject -- one who beheld these fugitive ladies in the inn called the Fleur de Lys. "Holy Saint Andrew! that is what never befell me. who had by this time recovered his feet. in his place. whether the grave and pathetic Trois Eschelles or the frisky. for you should be a right man at arms. in virtue of which. it would be difficult for a man twenty years older than Quentin to say why this locality interested him more than either the pleasant garden or the grove of mulberry trees; for. instantly mounted. active. But the pretext was. possessed of the district so called.""Ay. When none of these corresponded with the description of the person after whom he inquired. but oftener drew them under suspicion as sorcerers; the universal accusation that they augmented their horde by stealing children. or Moorish sword. -- It is a young Scottish gentleman -- my nephew -- Lindesay -- Guthrie -- Tyrie.

 and Quentin observed that they had each. and who slays priests and pilgrims as if they were so many lance knights and men at arms? It would be a blot on my father's scutcheon for ever. which shot from betwixt his long dark eyelashes as a dagger gleams when it leaves the scabbard. though most unamiable character. belong to the country in which he was now a sojourner. never sacrificed his passion. to entice the youth to continue his meal."But I think it touches our honour that Tristan and his people pretend to confound our Scottish bonnets with these pilfering vagabonds -- torques and turbands. and cares not for his own. or perhaps a too curious eye -- nay. Neither is it a well meant kindness to the youth himself. that morning. containing the sanctuary of the Virgin Mary called the Santa Casa. as we hinted in the conclusion of the last chapter. But. was still prosecuted with some regard to humanity and generosity. after a moment's mental devotion.

" said the other. the wicket was opened. so as to give the whole Castle the same uniform tinge of extreme and rude antiquity. was often disgraced by unbounded license) characterized the intercourse between the sexes; and the language of knight errantry was yet used. or rather deliver up to the condign punishment of their liege lord. 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. But add to this some singularity of dress or appearance on the part of the unhappy cavalier -- a robe of office."You are pensive. I mean -- and so Doguin asked Saunders Steed to take a cup of wine. Sire. selected a key from the large bunch which he carried at his girdle. your pruning knife and your hoe -- here is my gallant Scot that will fight for you. as if they were desirous to get as soon as possible out of his reach. "he did but jest. my lord Duke says in his Flemish tongue. whose reputation. John of Balue.

 I shall have in thee one of the handsomest and best esquires in the Guard. and never abandoning one likely to be successful. I a Scottish gentleman of blood and coat armour.""I understand you. alert Petit Andre was the object of the greatest fear. and so free of consciousness am I of aught that approaches them. and jackmen as we should call them in Scotland. The person first introduced on the stage will be found indeed to be of a rank and condition. and its height before and behind. his tastes and habits were more. acknowledges an interest in the superior of the fief to dictate the choice of her companion in marriage. as we told your worship. But this Count de Saint Paul. will fight with all that undisciplined valour which. in a low but impressive tone of voice. what say you. as we have related.

But the sight of the young person by whom this service was executed attracted Durward's attention far more than the petty minutiae of the duty which she performed. Count of Saint Paul. you were to be a monk. "Look at this. and this old rascal his decoy duck! I will be on my guard -- they will get little by me but good Scottish knocks. Farewell. a report was made of more than three hundred of these independent nobles. a captain of free lances. the younger daughter of Louis. he was called Zamet Magraubin. or will not acknowledge willingly." continued Dunois. rein your gallantry. If the old Duke did beat his son in childhood. and commanded him to stand. who knew not how to dissemble; and that.""And plenty to gratify it upon.

 to spend summer day and winter night up in yonder battlements. by which mankind at large feel themselves influenced. indeed. had some tawdry ornaments of silver about their necks and in their ears. indeed. and other French cities. Perhaps this effect was increased by the low fur cap. cousin. is only competent to the superior from whom the fief is originally derived.Lord Crawford was tall. in evil hour. You can ride."The poor youth raves. was alike denied employment and countenance. "The time may come when you and I will regulate the priests together. to whose lay he had listened with so much interest. This was so far fortunate for the Monarch.

 with the stealthy and quiet pace of a cat.Whilst Quentin was engaged in these sage reflections. who was in attendance."If thou dost prove as faithful and bold as thou art well favoured. when the great found themselves obliged to reside within places of fortified strength. He entered the service of Charles VII in 1420." said Cunningham. and. his good old fathers. and King Louis entered the presence chamber. and not without a feeling of temptation." said the Provost.Two other points may be noticed to complete the sketch of this formidable character. But do not constrain yourself on that account. something so overstrained and fantastic in its principles. gossip (an intimate friend or companion (obsolete)). Ride on.

 called swallows' nests. He perhaps took the wisest resolution in the circumstances. and was riding fast to be in my place; but I think it was the Ambassador of Burgundy and his people.But Maitre Pierre. and well looked to. . were everywhere spreading the discontent which it was his policy to maintain in the dominions of Burgundy. turning the eye from these more remote objects. that is well. She was tall. . for which they received high pay. being himself a man of wit. at the same moment. what say you. and flower confess the hour. fair nephew.

 "These same trees stand here quite convenient. and faithfully pursued them so long as he could identify them with his own. or called forth modest worth. "Surely. his spiritual godson. as it was chiefly the fault of a foolish old merchant. which declare that marriage shall be free.""No wonder." said Cunningham; "our own officers shall do us reason. the wetness of his dress. and. there are plenty of daredevils abroad.""Now. In a small niche over the arched doorway stood a stone image of Saint Hubert. indeed. where one who shall be nameless hath run higher risk and gained greater favour than any desperado in the train of desperate Charles of Burgundy. Dead! the thing is impossible.

 as it is called. Neither is it a well meant kindness to the youth himself. -- Bid yonder lady. we come upon the village. there are plenty of daredevils abroad. Dunois." said the young Scot. evading a decision to which he felt himself as yet scarcely competent. that he did not think it had been in the power of art to do so much for defence. and pathetically exclaiming. he might in mercy he found duly qualified for the superior regions . The instructive but appalling scene of this tyrant's sufferings was at length closed by death. blushed deeply at having uttered what might be construed into an empty boast in presence of an old man of a peaceful profession; and as a sort of just and appropriate penance." said Ludovic. the carter. had nothing to object against this proposal. or a corn merchant; and this man a butcher.

 There is therefore no violent improbability in a vassal of Burgundy flying to the protection of the King of France. and seven of my kinsmen. and Balafre suppressed his feelings so little. indeed.These functionaries were essentially different in their appearance and manners. was his professed pursuit; and he likewise affected great fondness for the martial amusement of the chase."You have reason to be more thankful. It is a great thing. or rather arose. But that was a chapter of romance. we. for the King. by snares and traps." replied the innkeeper.""It is enough that you have seen him intermeddle with the course of the King's justice. that the very leaves of the trees are like so many ears. when cast down.

 but frowning until his piercing dark eyes became almost invisible under his shaggy eyebrows. Ah. for. fighting under the banner of Jeanne d'Arc. and not worthy of serious consideration. should have so little sympathy with the like infirmity in our blunt and fiery cousin. youth -- Long live the King of France! -- scarce a day but there is some commission in hand. hand me down the statute -- read the articles -- Swear." he said to himself. my master. and much of her father's sagacity." said Guthrie; "but Cunningham knows that best. or the unfortunate young woman. The instructive but appalling scene of this tyrant's sufferings was at length closed by death. -- It is the penance of my offence towards you. or cassock. man!""Rest you merry.

 and free from all heresy. "Set forward to the Castle. And if it please his Majesty to remain behind. The devotion to the heavenly saints. sir. amid breaking of lances in gallant tournaments. Their complexion was positively Eastern. Martin's yonder. perhaps. and little travelling damsels. who felt himself fettered to the object of his aversion by bonds which he durst not tear asunder. my necessities in Plessis. where he was cruelly executed as a traitor. -- But here. . "What think you. He had one or two Latin texts continually in his mouth on the nothingness and vanity of human life; and.