"We are strong enough to beat the proud Scots twice over, if it be your pleasure," said one of these soldiers to Trois Eschelles.
But that cautious official made a sign to him to remain quiet, and addressed the Scottish Archer with great civility. "Surely, sir, this is a great insult to the Provost Marshal, that you should presume to interfere with the course of the King's justice, duly and lawfully committed to his charge; and it is no act of justice to me, who am in lawful possession of my criminal. Neither is it a well meant kindness to the youth himself, seeing that fifty opportunities of hanging him may occur, without his being found in so happy a state of preparation as he was before your ill advised interference."
"If my young countryman," said the Scot, smiling, "be of opinion I have done him an injury, I will return him to your charge without a word more dispute."
"No, no! -- for the love of Heaven, no!" exclaimed Quentin. "I would rather you swept my head off with your long sword -- it would better become my birth, than to die by the hands of such a foul churl."
"Hear how he revileth," said the finisher of the law. "Alas! how soon our best resolutions pass away! -- he was in a blessed frame for departure but now, and in two minutes he has become a contemner of authorities."
"Tell me at once," said the Archer, "what has this young man done."
"Interfered," answered Trois Eschelles, with some earnestness, "to take down the dead body of a criminal, when the fleur de lys was marked on the tree where he was hung with my own proper hand."
"How is this, young man?" said the Archer; "how came you to have committed such an offence?"
"As I desire your protection," answered Durward, "I will tell you the truth as if I were at confession. I saw a man struggling on the tree, and I went to cut him down out of mere humanity. I thought neither of fleur de lys nor of clove gilliflower, and had no more idea of offending the King of France than our Father the Pope."
"What a murrain had you to do with the dead body, then?" said the Archer. "You 'll see them hanging, in the rear of this gentleman, like grapes on every tree, and you will have enough to do in this country if you go a-gleaning after the hangman. However, I will not quit a countryman's cause if I can help it. -- Hark ye, Master Marshals man, you see this is entirely a mistake. You should have some compassion on so young a traveller. In our country at home he has not been accustomed to see such active proceedings as yours and your master's."
"Not for want of need of them, Signior Archer," said Petit Andre, who returned at this moment. "Stand fast, Trois Eschelles, for here comes the Provost Marshal; we shall presently see how he will relish having his work taken out of his hand before it is finished."
"And in good time," said the Archer, "here come some of my comrades."
Accordingly, as the Provost Tristan rode up with his patrol on one side of the little bill which was the scene of the altercation, four or five Scottish Archers came as hastily up on the other, and at their head the Balafre himself.
Upon this urgency, 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, than he exclaimed, "Cunningham, I thank thee. -- Gentlemen -- comrades, lend me your aid. -- It is a young Scottish gentleman -- my nephew -- Lindesay -- Guthrie -- Tyrie, draw, and strike in!"
There was now every prospect of a desperate scuffle between the parties, who were not so disproportioned in numbers but that the better arms of the Scottish cavaliers gave them an equal chance of victory. But the Provost Marshal, either doubting the issue of the conflict, or aware that it would be disagreeable to the King, made a sign to his followers to forbear from violence, while he demanded of Balafre, who now put himself forward as the head of the other party, what he, a cavalier of the King's Bodyguard, purposed by opposing the execution of a criminal.
"I deny that I do so," answered the Balafre. "Saint Martin! (patron saint of Tours, Lucca, and of penitent drunkards. He was greatly honoured in the Middle Ages.) there is, I think, some difference between the execution of a criminal and a slaughter of my own nephew!"
"Your nephew may be a criminal as well as another," said the Provost Marshal; "and every stranger in France is amenable to the laws of France."
"Yes, but we have privileges, we Scottish Archers," said Balafre, "have we not, comrades?"
"Yes, yes," they all exclaimed together. "Privileges -- privileges! Long live King Louis -- long live the bold Balafre -- long live the Scottish Guard -- and death to all who would infringe our privileges!"
"Take reason with you, gentlemen cavaliers," said the Provost Marshal; "consider my commission."
"We will have no reason at your hand," said Cunningham; "our own officers shall do us reason. We will be judged by the King's grace, or by our own Captain, now that the Lord High Constable is not in presence."
"And we will be hanged by none," said Lindesay, "but Sandie Wilson, the auld Marshals man of our ain body."
"It would be a positive cheating of Sandie, who is as honest a man as ever tied noose upon hemp, did we give way to any other proceeding," said the Balafre. "Were I to be hanged myself, no other should tie tippet about my craig."
"But hear ye," said the Provost Marshal, "this young fellow belongs not to you, and cannot share what you call your privileges."
"What we call our privileges, all shall admit to be such," said Cunningham.
"We will not hear them questioned!" was the universal cry of the Archers.
"Ye are mad, my masters," said Tristan l'Hermite. "No one disputes your privileges; but this youth is not one of you."
"He is my nephew," said the Balafre, with a triumphant air.
"But no Archer of the Guard, I think," retorted Tristan l'Hermite.
The Archers looked on each other in some uncertainty.
"Stand to it yet, comrade," whispered Cunningham to Balafre. "Say he is engaged with us."
"Saint Martin! you say well, fair countryman," answered Lesly; and raising his voice, swore that he had that day enrolled his kinsman as one of his own retinue. This declaration was a decisive argument.
"It is well, gentlemen," said the Provost Tristan, who was aware of the King's nervous apprehension of disaffection creeping in among his Guards. "You know, as you say, your privileges, and it is not my duty to have brawls with the King's Guards, if it is to be avoided. But I will report this matter for the King's own decision; and I would have you to be aware, that, in doing so, I act more mildly than perhaps my duty warrants."
So saying, he put his troop into motion, while the Archers, remaining on the spot, held a hasty consultation what was next to be done. "We must report the matter to Lord Crawford, our Captain, in the first place, and have the young fellow's name put on the roll."
"But, gentlemen, and my worthy friends and preservers," said Quentin, with some hesitation, "I have not yet determined whether to take service with you or no."
"Then settle in your own mind," said his uncle, "whether you choose to do so, or be hanged -- for I promise you, that, nephew of mine as you are, I see no other chance of your 'scaping the gallows."
This was an unanswerable argument, and reduced Quentin at once to acquiesce in what he might have otherwise considered as no very agreeable proposal; but the recent escape from the halter, which had been actually around his neck, would probably have reconciled him to a worse alternative than was proposed.
"He must go home with us to our caserne," said Cunningham; "there is no safety for him out of our bounds, whilst these man hunters are prowling."
"May I not then abide for this night at the hostelry where I breakfasted, fair uncle?" said the youth -- thinking, perhaps, like many a new recruit, that even a single night of freedom was something gained.
"Yes, fair nephew," answered his uncle, ironically, "that we may have the pleasure of fishing you out of some canal or moat, or perhaps out of a loop of the Loire, knit up in a sack for the greater convenience of swimming -- for that is like to be the end on't. The Provost Marshal smiled on us when we parted," continued he, addressing Cunningham, "and that is a sign his thoughts were dangerous."
"I care not for his danger," said Cunningham; "such game as we are beyond his bird bolts. But I would have thee tell the whole to the Devil's Oliver (Oliver Dain: Oliver's name, or nickname, was Le Diable, which was bestowed on him by public hatred, in exchange for Le Daim, or Le Dain. He was originally the King's barber, but afterwards a favourite counsellor. S.), who is always a good friend to the Scottish Guard, and will see Father Louis before the Provost can, for he is to shave him tomorrow."
"But hark you," said Balafre, "it is ill going to Oliver empty handed, and I am as bare as the birch in December."
"So are we all," said Cunningham. "Oliver must not scruple to take our Scottish words for once. We will make up something handsome among us against the next payday; and if he expects to share, let me tell you, the payday will come about all the sooner."
"And now for the Chateau," said Balafre; "and my nephew shall tell us by the way how he brought the Provost Marshal on his shoulders, that we may know how to frame our report both to Crawford and Oliver."
他去时，气势喧嚣，神态威武，
来到绞架下，将身一跃，跳了一圈舞！
《古老的民谣》
昆丁•达威特所受的并不是一种可以改善道德情操，使人心地善良的教育。由于培养和训练，他和他家庭的其他成员已习惯于把狩猎看作是种娱乐，把战争看作他们惟一的正业，而他们生活的意义便是顽强地忍受，然后狠狠地报复那使他们家族濒于灭亡的世仇。然而在报仇雪耻当中也混杂着一种原始的骑士精神，甚至于以礼待人，从而软化了他们内心的残忍。因此，他们在进行正义的复仇行动的同时，也依然适当地考虑人道和宽厚的原则。那位可敬的老修道士对达威特的教导，或许由于在长期患病的逆境中要比在健康和顺利时更易于接受，自然使他更深切地意识到自己应宽厚为怀。考虑到人们当时的愚昧和对军人生涯普遍怀有的偏爱以及他自己所受的教育，这年轻人确实要比其他人更清醒地意识到军人的职责。
回想起和舅父的会面，他既感到为难又深党失望。他本来抱着很大的希望，因为，通信在当时虽然不可能，但有时一位香客。一个冒险商人或伤残的士兵会把莱斯利的英名带到格兰一呼拉金。所有这些人都赞扬莱斯利在法国国王托付给他的平凡任务中表现出的无畏的勇气与成就。昆丁的想像力也曾按自己的方式描绘出他舅父的形象，把他过着冒险生涯的成功的舅父（人们转述时也许完整无缺地表现了他的赫赫战功）看作是靠刀剑赢得皇冠，当上驸马，为游吟诗人所歌颂的游侠勇士。但现在他却不得不承认他只是个低等骑士。然而，由于他为尊敬父母及其亲属的感情所蔽，又受到他早年对舅父的好感的影响，再加缺乏经验，而且深情地怀念着过世的母亲，他自然看不见他母亲这惟一的兄弟所扮演的真实角色——一个普通的雇佣兵，与助长着法国动荡形势的许多雇佣兵并没多少差别。
勒巴拉弗雷虽然不是一味残忍成性，但他对人的生命和痛苦却漠不关心。他十分无知，不择手段地贪图胜利品，挥霍无度以满足他的私欲。只顾自己利益和需要的习性已使他变成了世界上最自私的动物之一。正如读者所注意到的，他不可能深入地思考任何问题而不考虑这对自己有无好处，或者，像人们所说的那样，不把自我摆进去。不过，他并不是本着以黄金律为准则的思想感情，而是十分不同的。此外，他的职责和乐趣的狭窄范围已逐渐限制了他的思想和愿望，并在很大程度上熄灭了曾激励过自己青春的荣誉感和建功立业的欲望。总而言之，巴拉弗雷是个厉害的兵痞，无情、自私、心地狭隘；他积极而大胆地执行自己的任务，除了对国王忠贞不贰，并偶尔和他的朋友兼忏悔师波尼法斯师兄厮混以外，就不承认有更多的人生目的。要是他有更多的才能，也许他本会被提拔担任一个重要的指挥官，因为熟悉每个卫士的国王很信任巴拉弗雷的勇气和忠诚，何况这苏格兰人既有足够的聪明，也有足够的狡黠，充分懂得国王的特殊嗜好，并能够迎合他。然而他的才能毕竟有限，无法高升，尽管在许多场合下他都受到路易王的垂青和宠幸，巴拉弗雷仍然只是一个保镖，或如人们所说的苏格兰射手。
昆丁没有看出舅父为人的全貌，自不免对他听到妹夫全家罹难后表现出的冷漠而感到吃惊。此外也使他感到诧异的是，像他这样一个近亲竟没给他一点金钱帮助。要不是皮埃尔老爷的慷慨，他本会迫不得已直接向他请求接济。不过，把疏忽了外甥的燃眉之急归咎于舅父的贪婪也是对他的冤枉。巴拉弗雷自己既然不缺钱，也就没想到他外甥会急需钱。否则像他那样看重自己的亲戚的人，定会像为他死去的妹妹和妹夫的幸福竭尽心力那样，也会为活着的外甥尽力而为。不过，不管原因和动机如何，年轻的达威特对这一疏忽很不满意。他不止一次地后悔，他没有在他和护林官吵架以前留在勃艮第为公爵服役。“那时，不管我处境如何，”他思量道，“我一想到万不得已我还有舅舅这么一个为我撑腰的亲属，我就能打起精神。如今我算是见到了他。去他的，连我亲娘的胞兄，一个同乡、骑士给我的帮助还不及一个陌生的工匠。人们有理由认为，那一刀固然砍掉了他全部的美貌，同时也使他血液中的一切高贵品质丧失殆尽！”
达威特后悔他没有机会向勒巴拉弗雷提到皮埃尔老爷，以便获得对他的进一步了解。当时他舅舅接二连三地向他提问，而图尔城圣马丁教堂大钟的报时声突兀地打断了他们的相遇。他回想道，那老头固然外表固执乖戾，言语尖酸刻薄，但举动却慷慨大方。像这样一个陌生人的确抵得上一个冷冰冰的亲戚——“我们苏格兰的格言是怎么说来着？”——“宁要善良的陌生人，不要疏远的亲戚。”我将去找他。既然他如店主所说是个有钱人，我想要找到他也并不费事。他至少会出些好主意来指点我。如果他也像许多有钱人那样经常出国，我想做他的保镖也会像为路易王一样富于冒险性。
昆丁这样想着时，在潜意识里，或在藏匿着自己也不愿承认的秘密的内心深处，有个声音悄然响起：也许那塔楼里的少女，那纱巾和诗琴的女主人会和他一道参加那冒险的旅行。
这苏格兰青年人正这样思索着，只见迎面走来了两个神情庄重的人，一望便知是图尔城的市民。他以年轻人对长辈应有的尊敬脱下帽子毕恭毕敬地请求他们带他到皮埃尔老爷家里去。
“好小子，带你到谁家里去？”其中一个老人说道。
“到皮埃尔老爷家去，他是一个大丝绸商，那边公园里的桑树都是他种的。”达威特说道。
“年轻人，”挨他稍近的那位对他说道，“你未免过早地从事一种无聊的行业。”
“而你也选错了人作为你欺诈的对象。”离他较远的那个更为粗鲁地说道，“图尔的市政官是不习惯让外来的流浪小丑这么对他讲话的。”
看到一个简单而有礼貌的问题竟然无缘无故地冒犯了两个体面的绅士，昆丁十分吃惊，对他们粗鲁的回答也忘了表示愤慨，只是呆望着他们的背影，眼见他们加快步子离去，不时还回过头来看看他，似乎想尽快摆脱他可能带来的危害。
接着他又碰到一群修整葡萄藤的人，他又向他们打听这事。他们反问他究竟是要找当校长的皮埃尔老爷，还是当木匠师傅的皮埃尔老爷，抑或是当法警的皮埃尔老爷？当然还有半打别的皮埃尔老爷。但所有这些人都和他要找的对不上号。于是这伙农民便指责他是在无理取闹，并扬言要把他打翻在地，以作为椰榆他们的报复。年长的那个农民在他们当中或许有些威望，总算功住他们不要动手。
“瞧他讲的话和他那小丑帽子，”他说，“你们就知道他是个外来的江湖骗子。有些人说他们是魔术师，算命的，另一些人叫他们变戏法的，等等。谁也不知道他们肚于里有些什么鬼名堂。我就听说有个人和骗子打赌，赌他在一个穷人的葡萄园里吃葡萄直至胀破肚皮。结果他吃了足以装一车的葡萄，却连一个扣子也不用解来松松衣服。我们最好悄悄放开他。他走他的，我们走我们的。朋友，要是你想避免更不愉快的事，那么看在上帝分上，也看在马尔穆梯埃圣女和图尔圣马丁分上，悄悄走开，别再为你的皮埃尔老爷劳神了。谁知道呢？它很可能是个魔鬼的别名。”
苏格兰人发现自己远不是他们的对手，不吭声地走掉才是上策。那几个农民以为他有耍弄巫术和吞噬葡萄的本领，起先还畏惧地想躲开他，等他走了一段距离之后，勇气倍增，先是对他吼叫和咒骂，后来竟用石头助威，尽管相距很远，对他们厌恶的对象已不能造成危害。昆丁一边继续往前走，一边寻思，要么是他自己着了魔，要么都兰城的人是最愚蠢、野蛮。最不友好的法国农民。他观察到的另一起事件也不见得有助于消除他的这一看法。
在那湍急而美丽的谢尔河上游一个小山坡上，正好在他走着的这条小径的前方，有两三株栗子树构成了一个美妙的小树林。旁边呆立着三四个农民，眼睛朝上，显然是在凝望近旁的树枝间悬挂着的某个东西。即使是最微小的好奇的冲动也往往会打破年轻人的沉思，正像手上随意掷出的一块卵石也会打破一潭清水的宁静。昆丁加快步伐，轻捷地踏上那个小山坡，正好赶上那引人注目的可怕镜头——原来那是一个挂在树枝上，进行着垂死挣扎的男人身体。
“你们干吗不割断绳索救他下来？”那随时准备像保护自己遭受侵害的荣誉那样挺身而出减轻别人痛苦的年轻人说道。其中有个农民面孔粘土般苍白，充满恐惧地向他指指树上刻着的一个记号。正像税务官所熟悉的某些符咒般的刻痕看来颇像一只“宽箭”，这个记号则像一朵“百合花”。年轻的达威特既不懂得也不在意这符号的含义，便将身一纵，轻轻跳到树上，从袋子里取出高原居民或森林里的人少不了的工具——那信得过的“黑刀”。他觉察出了情况的紧迫，便叫底下的人接住那人的躯体，同时一刀割断了绞索。
然而旁观者并没有支持他这个人道的举动。他们根本没给达威特任何帮助，而像为他卤莽的行动感到惊恐，不约而同地四处逃散，仿佛害怕仅仅当个旁观者也会被说成无法无天的帮凶。那人的躯体既然没有被在底下的人抱住，便沉沉地跌落在地上。昆丁立刻跳下树来，但他气恼地发现那人已经断了气。他还不想就此放弃希望。他松开套在那可怜人脖子上的绞索，解开上衣，把水洒在他脸上，并采取了另一些常用的急救办法。
正在这时，周围忽然响起一阵喧哗声，人们用他听不懂的语言七嘴八舌地在讲话。他还来不及顾盼一下，就已经被几个着奇装异服的男人和女人围住。有两只胳膊粗暴地一把将他抱住，同时一把出鞘的尖刀对准了他的喉咙。
“你这埃布利斯的白人奴才！”一个男人以不地道的法语说道，“你谋杀了他，还要抢劫他吗？好在我们把你抓住了。得让你受到惩罚。”
顿时周围的人都拔出了刀。那凶狠狰狞的面孔，朝他怒目而视，带着一副狼要扑羊的表情。
年轻的苏格兰人的勇气和镇静使他摆脱了危险。“我的老爷们，你们是什么意思？”他说道，“如果这人是你们的朋友，那你们要知道，我刚才纯粹是以慈悲为怀把他救下来的，你们最好是想法救活他，而不要错待一个救了他性命的陌生人。”
这时，几个妇女已接过那硬邦邦的躯体，把达威特一直在进行的急救继续做下去。不过，同样没有什么效果。她们只好放弃了徒劳的抢救，用她们东方人的表情尽情地抒发悲痛。妇女们一边呼天喊地，一边扯着她们长长的黑发。男人们则像在撕他们的衣服，往自己头上撒灰。最后他们已完全沉浸于悼念仪式中，而不再注意达威特的存在。根据情况来判断，他们也已相信他是无辜的。本来他最聪明的做法肯定是从这些野蛮人身边走开，让他们自行其是。但他是在临危不惧的教育下长大的，同时也难免感到年轻人那种急切的好奇心的诱惑。
这个男男女女混在一起的奇异的人群，戴着头巾和帽子；这些帽子，总的看来，更像他自己戴的无边帽，而不像普通法国人带的那种法国帽。有几个男人有着鬈曲的黑胡须。他们的脸孔也都差不多黑得像非洲人。一两个像是他们首领的人脖子上耳朵上都带着俗丽的银首饰，披着黄色、红色或淡绿色的肩巾，而腿和胳膊却是裸露着的。这伙人总的说来外表都显得肮脏可怜。达威特看到他们带的武器只有他们刚才用来威胁过他的长刀。但一个样于灵活的年轻人则佩带着一把短弯刀或称摩尔刀。这个年轻人经常把手放在刀柄上，比其余的人更纵情地表达自己的悲拗，在悲恸中还似乎夹杂着复仇的恫吓。
这个哭叫着的乱糟糟的人群与昆丁过去见到过的在外表上迥然不同，他几乎想断言，他们是一伙阿拉伯人，是他听说过或读过的小说中描写过的，专与高贵的骑士和基督教君主作对的“异教鹰犬”。他正想离开这个危险的人群，忽然听见马队奔跑的声音。这伙假想的阿拉伯人刚把同伴的躯体抬在肩上，立刻受到了一队法国骑兵的袭击。
这一突如其来的幽灵般的袭击使得哀悼者的恸哭变成了恐惧的尖叫。他们顿时把尸体扔在地上。周围的人则表现出动作的高度灵巧，有的想往马肚子底下钻，以躲避对准着他们的长矛。长矛手一个个大声喊道：“打倒这些可恶的异教蠢贼——抓住只管杀——把他们都像畜生一样捆起来——像戳狼一样戳死他们！”
喊声自然伴随着相应的暴行。然而逃跑者如此敏捷，而树丛和灌木林又使得地形对骑士不利，结果只有两人被擒。有一个进行了一番抵抗，就是那佩刀的年轻人。昆丁也似乎被命运之神选来作为箭靶子。几个兵一齐动手把他抓住。他们不顾他的抗议，用绳子把他捆绑起来。抓他的人的动作十分熟练和敏捷，说明他们在捕人方面早已不是新手。
