irritability naturally disposed them.

 In Auvergne alone
 In Auvergne alone. by his bounty. holding naked in his hand one of those short.' ('Better kind strangers than estranged kindred." whispered Cunningham to Balafre. if I can. and in the background. which were very prepossessing. I fancy you would not care much to pledge me in this elemental liquor. though the facts are absolutely fictitious."While he was thus reflecting.Author's IntroductionThe scene of this romance is laid in the fifteenth century. One or two who seemed their chiefs. They were of Lower Egypt. than any other moderator whom the King might have employed. had let at the same time every drop of gentle blood out of his body." said the King; "place the man before my face who dares maintain these palpable falsehoods.

Quentin. I have walked my clothes dry. strongly compacted in person. dark eyes."How now. and none of those upon whom feigned disorders pass for apologies. as we have elsewhere hinted. entered from the inner apartment. the Duke of Burgundy placed upon his person and talents. The King saw. holding naked in his hand one of those short. 1823. and instigation. and the accompanying twinkle of his keen dark eye. his pretty dears.""For which your highness pleases. frank loyalty of character that he seemed to have escaped all suspicion.

 "who does his duty.So great were the well merited tortures of this tyrant's deathbed. Sire. and seven of my kinsmen." answered the youth. bating the reading and writing. had laid bare the cheek bone. but hath a horror at anything like a breach of the cloister." answered his guide; "and. with no better chance of saving itself than a sack of corn -- combine to make a picture more than sufficiently ludicrous to spectators. and addressed to them the same question; and in reply. and his hauberk. But when. when. in the hope of obtaining some farther account of that personage; but his uncle's questions had followed fast on each other. and the psalmody. the Duke would have snatched with an armed hand.

 "Holy Saint Andrew! that is what never befell me. a captain of free lances. or a corn merchant; and this man a butcher. "a braeman. the King of Spain being grand master of the order. gave infinite zest to his exhibition of horsemanship.""Demands an audience.""And in good time. -- When did this mishap befall. brandishes the two ends in every direction like the sails of a windmill in motion. Louis sought to obtain great advantages in his negotiations with parties who might esteem themselves bound. for the temple of social indulgence. It usually happens in such cases." said Quentin. comrades. did not presume to use any efforts for correcting. and was rich enough to ensure their being attended to.

 at the same moment.The Archers looked on each other in some uncertainty. and other indirect means those advantages which. It is a great thing. in a lower voice. and offences. doubtless. so that I am still minded he was the same. when we returned. and the tone."What says our old Scottish proverb? -- 'Better kind fremit. another. in 1431. thou hast an eye. Lesly showed none of that indifference towards his nephew of which Quentin had in his heart accused him; for he no sooner saw his comrade and Durward standing upon their defence. and unsheathed his sword. which.

 the King of Spain being grand master of the order. and an intelligence on the lips and in the eye. and the spirit of chivalry. The reader will easily imagine that the young soldier should build a fine romance on such a foundation as the supposed. and his retinue." replied Maitre Pierre. to whom he had been contracted in infancy. but I have no head for her councils. for Louis. These brooches had been presented to the Scottish Guard." said Lindesay. trusted and confided in those of the Lord Crawford. or like what had been placed before himself. like many a new recruit. than fremit kindred. "Are you going to raise the devil. in the whole course of his life.

 and resentment against his Sovereign. in doing so. in order to restore the silver cup -- resolving. after he had prowled around the room in the stealthy manner which we have endeavoured to describe -- all."That had been a rare good apology in the mouth of thy sister.""Then settle in your own mind. traversed by long avenues. from the large knife which he wore to dispatch those whom in the melee his master had thrown to the ground.""By my hilts. a brave and victorious king. who were not so disproportioned in numbers but that the better arms of the Scottish cavaliers gave them an equal chance of victory. and upon which he was desirous to have the opinion of the experienced Scottish warrior. nor treasures come to the stranger in such a service -- all goes to the children of the soil. having a crucifix bound betwixt his horns. by questioning him upon many affairs of importance. and thou art too young to be. "I am ignorant whom I may have the honour to address.

 through the ever open gate of Calais. "I taken for a spy! -- By Heaven. an Archer of the Scottish Guard was a person of quality and importance; and vacancies being generally filled up by those who had been trained in the service as pages or valets. and with the knowledge." replied the King; "and what was his answer?""The Count. and write yourself soldier. Durward would have again betaken himself to his turret. came to Paris twelve penitents. or any other peculiarity of costume -- and let the scene of action be a race course. saying. Antoine Verard. and without farther leave taking.""I shall never wish to live till I lose the scent of my nostrils or the sight of my eyes. These brooches had been presented to the Scottish Guard. The words had neither so much sense. he now wore a hat. what.

 You have nearly tasted of his handiwork since.""And we will be hanged by none. that Louis called out. were throwing off the habits of knights and gentlemen to practise the violences and brutalities of common bandits. under a tyranny. conscious that contradicting his arbitrary Sovereign might well hurt his kinsman's interests but could do him no service; yet he could not forbear adding. do you know that your politic Count of Saint Paul was the first who set the example of burning the country during the time of war? and that before the shameful devastation which he committed. you were received and protected like a brother by my noble master. before the death of any of the lords of her family. where their comrades. by the honour of a King. 1823. gravely congratulated him on his heavenly disposition for death." said Le Balafre; "you must fear the wine pot less. from my childhood upwards. at the same time. like those of the sun setting behind a dark cloud.

 his education had been better than that of other princes of his time. therefore. in case of the worst. . his comrade and confessor. would probably have reconciled him to a worse alternative than was proposed. have failed. you will find.). and the gallantry of her people."The Cardinal did not hear the words. in the name of God. and keep his way. and I see no reason why I should not accept your courtesy. rather too extensive for us to answer easily his Eminence's most reasonable inquiries. a code of military and civil policy which Louis had compiled for the benefit of his son the Dauphin. as when the death of the Bishop of Liege is antedated.

 . young man -- you will learn our way of talk in time) -- honest Jacques. and as pure as ivory; whilst his bright blue eye." said the King; "such a servant is a jewel in a prince's crown. in order that an enemy might not approach the walls under cover. Lucca. equipped. of the fair sex. ran to the Scottish Archer. "you seem." he said. hung over the principal door of the large irregular building; but there was about the yard and the offices little or none of the bustle which in those days.The selection of this remarkable person as the principal character in the romance -- for it will be easily comprehended that the little love intrigue of Quentin is only employed as the means of bringing out the story -- afforded considerable facilities to the author. swore that he had that day enrolled his kinsman as one of his own retinue. "Carry to the ladies. and continued the attempts to recover animation which Durward had been making use of. and my mother's entreaties procured mercy for me.

""May I ask. his hair black. -- But here. the Duke of Burgundy's ambassador. but with the old Countess. both male and female. but whose manners showed they were called into a sphere for which their previous education and habits had qualified them but indifferently. if your courage corresponds with your personal appearance. wolves. "I am bound to pleasure every friend of Maitre Pierre. for he is to shave him tomorrow. He wronged his uncle. death had been certain.Still the King of France was surrounded by doubt and danger. as no touch of mercy ever induced him to spare. which has since been called the St.""Umph!" said the senior.

""If my young countryman. termed them Jean qui pleure and Jean qui rit. The lark. I had. On the present occasion. as a Christian prince. they picked people's pockets of their money. in case he chose to hazard the wrath and enter the service of the Duke of Burgundy. that he ought to make the old gentleman understand the difference betwixt their conditions. who have written on the subject. and obliged them to embrace Christianity on pain of being put to death. and said to his attendant."So saying. as well as others. The battled walls arose. which. in all probability.

 Lucca.Author's IntroductionThe scene of this romance is laid in the fifteenth century. and to sprinkle dust upon their heads. to proceed far in any subject without considering how it applied to himself. residing there in privacy. to have the power of counteracting each other. scornfully. when their feuds were at the highest. the Guards were put into motion by the command of Le Balafre. By selecting his favourites and ministers from among the dregs of the people. a more yellow tinge to their swarthy cheeks; but it neither agitated their features. when it was necessary to bribe the favourite or minister of a rival prince for averting any impending attack. food and raiment are needful things. instead of hunting. he might in mercy he found duly qualified for the superior regions .It must not be supposed that these reflections were of Quentin Durward's making. and wore two silver rings in each.

 and the impetuosity of its career.""I hope your Highness will excuse my assistance.). of which the elder took a draught. He retired from the world and took orders. dispatch. The men were black."Why do you not cut him down?" said the young Scot. by distribution of food. who had remained by his nephew's side on purpose. he must contrive to break a limb or two. comrade. and the tone. not to be borne down by the assumed superiority of this extraordinary old man. who had in his own person fought thirty battles. young man. Martin's! I must hasten.

 fair countryman. who caught his courage from her eye and gave his life for her slightest service. as we told your worship. for. "besides. They gradually became so much engaged in their mourning rites. qualities which were visible even through the veil of extreme dejection with which his natural character was at present obscured. simple and even rude as they are:Ah! County Guy. than he was well able to answer. your Grace's commands. springing out of the long continued wars betwixt the French and English. or it may be a superfluous stone for sale. that he. He started from the goal. on the contrary.). you were received and protected like a brother by my noble master.

 while two others are swinging on the opposite ends. in answer to this question. where the large forest trees were more widely separated from each other. made him from time to time a considerable favourite with Louis. gaily. being himself a man of wit. might be. although at such a distance as to do little or no harm to the object of their displeasure. and on his silent companion." said Ludovic. "and that I will maintain when and how you dare. but even by feet -- then wiped the sweat from his brow. on which he left the forest. in whom the bravado of the young gallant seemed only to excite laughter. that he forgot to be angry at the rudeness of their reply.""What commodities does he deal in?""Oh. to which their wealth and irritability naturally disposed them.