"You are right," said the Countess Isabelle, in her usual manner, "and I, who have the advantage of your unhesitating devotion, have done you foul and ungrateful wrong. But oh, my unhappy kinswoman! and the wretch Marthon, who enjoyed so much of her confidence, and deserved it so little -- it was she that introduced to my kinswoman the wretched Zamet and Hayraddin Maugrabin, who, by their pretended knowledge of soothsaying and astrology, obtained a great ascendancy over her mind, it was she who, strengthening their predictions, encouraged her in -- I know not what to call them -- delusions concerning matches and lovers, which my kinswoman's age rendered ungraceful and improbable. I doubt not that, from the beginning, we had been surrounded by these snares by Louis of France, in order to determine us to take refuge at his Court, or rather to put ourselves into his power, after which rash act on our part, how unkingly, unknightly, ignobly, ungentlemanlike, he hath conducted himself towards us, you, Quentin Durward, can bear witness. But, alas! my kinswoman -- what think you will be her fate?"
Endeavouring to inspire hopes which he scarce felt, Durward answered that the avarice of these people was stronger than any other passion, that Marthon, even when he left them, seemed to act rather as the Lady Hameline's protectress, and in fine, that it was difficult to conceive any object these wretches could accomplish by the ill usage or murder of the Countess, whereas they might be gainers by treating her well, and putting her to ransom.
To lead the Countess Isabelle's thoughts from this melancholy subject, Quentin frankly told her the treachery of the Maugrabin, which he had discovered in the night quarter near Namur, and which appeared the result of an agreement betwixt the King and William de la Marck. Isabelle shuddered with horror, and then recovering herself said, "I am ashamed, and I have sinned in permitting myself so far to doubt of the saints' protection, as for an instant to have deemed possible the accomplishment of a scheme so utterly cruel, base, and dishonourable, while there are pitying eyes in Heaven to look down on human miseries. It is not a thing to be thought of with fear or abhorrence, but to be rejected as such a piece of incredible treachery and villainy, as it were atheism to believe could ever be successful. But I now see plainly why that hypocritical Marthon often seemed to foster every seed of petty jealousy or discontent betwixt my poor kinswoman and myself, whilst she always mixed with flattery, addressed to the individual who was present, whatever could prejudice her against her absent kinswoman. Yet never did I dream she could have proceeded so far as to have caused my once affectionate kinswoman to have left me behind in the perils of Schonwaldt, while she made her own escape."
"Did the Lady Hameline not mention to you, then," said Quentin, "her intended flight?"
"No," replied the Countess, "but she alluded to some communication which Marthon was to make to me. To say truth, my poor kinswoman's head was so turned by the mysterious jargon of the miserable Hayraddin, whom that day she had admitted to a long and secret conference, and she threw out so many strange hints that -- that -- in short, I cared not to press on her, when in that humour, for any explanation. Yet it was cruel to leave me behind her."
"I will excuse the Lady Hameline from intending such unkindness," said Quentin, "for such was the agitation of the moment, and the darkness of the hour, that I believe the Lady Hameline as certainly conceived herself accompanied by her niece, as I at the same time, deceived by Marthon's dress and demeanour, supposed I was in the company of both the Ladies of Croye: and of her especially," he added, with a low but determined voice, "without whom the wealth of worlds would not have tempted me to leave."
Isabelle stooped her head forward, and seemed scarce to hear the emphasis with which Quentin had spoken. But she turned her face to him again when he began to speak of the policy of Louis, and, it was not difficult for them, by mutual communication, to ascertain that the Bohemian brothers, with their accomplice Marthon, had been the agents of that crafty monarch, although Zamet, the elder of them, with a perfidy peculiar to his race, had attempted to play a double game, and had been punished accordingly. In the same humour of mutual confidence, and forgetting the singularity of their own situation, as well as the perils of the road, the travellers pursued their journey for several hours, only stopping to refresh their horses at a retired dorff, or hamlet, to which they were conducted by Hans Glover, who, in all other respects, as well as in leaving them much to their own freedom in conversation, conducted himself like a person of reflection and discretion.
Meantime, the artificial distinction which divided the two lovers (for such we may now term them) seemed dissolved, or removed, by the circumstances in which they were placed, for if the Countess boasted the higher rank, and was by birth entitled to a fortune incalculably larger than that of the youth, whose revenue lay in his sword, it was to be considered that, for the present, she was as poor as he, and for her safety, honour, and life, exclusively indebted to his presence of mind, valour, and devotion. They spoke not indeed of love, for though the young lady, her heart full of gratitude and confidence, might have pardoned such a declaration, yet Quentin, on whose tongue there was laid a check, both by natural timidity and by the sentiments of chivalry, would have held it an unworthy abuse of her situation had he said anything which could have the appearance of taking undue advantage of the opportunities which it afforded them. They spoke not then of love, but the thoughts of it were on both sides unavoidable, and thus they were placed in that relation to each other, in which sentiments of mutual regard are rather understood than announced, and which, with the freedoms which it permits, and the uncertainties that attend it, often forms the most delightful hours of human existence, and as frequently leads to those which are darkened by disappointment, fickleness, and all the pains of blighted hope and unrequited attachment.
It was two hours after noon, when the travellers were alarmed by the report of the guide, who, with paleness and horror in his countenance, said that they were pursued by a party of De la Marck's Schwarzreiters. These soldiers, or rather banditti, were bands levied in the Lower Circles of Germany, and resembled the lanzknechts in every particular, except that the former acted as light cavalry. To maintain the name of Black Troopers, and to strike additional terror into their enemies, they usually rode on black chargers, and smeared with black ointment their arms and accoutrements, in which operation their hands and faces often had their share. In morals and in ferocity these Schwarzreiters emulated their pedestrian brethren the Lanzknechts.
("To make their horses and boots shine, they make themselves as black as colliers. These horsemen wear black clothes, and poor though they be, spend no small time in brushing them. The most of them have black horses, . . . and delight to have their boots and shoes shine with blacking stuff, their hands and faces become black, and thereof they have their foresaid name." . . . Fynes Morrison's Itinerary. -- S.)
On looking back, and discovering along the long level road which they had traversed a cloud of dust advancing, with one or two of the headmost troopers riding furiously in front of it, Quentin addressed his companion: "Dearest Isabelle, I have no weapon left save my sword, but since I cannot fight for you, I will fly with you. Could we gain yonder wood that is before us ere they come up, we may easily find means to escape."
"So be it, my only friend," said Isabelle, pressing her horse to the gallop, "and thou, good fellow," she added, addressing Hans Glover, "get thee off to another road, and do not stay to partake our misfortune and danger."
The honest Fleming shook his head, and answered her generous exhortation, with Nein, nein! das geht nicht (no, no! that must not be), and continued to attend them, all three riding toward the shelter of the wood as fast as their jaded horses could go, pursued, at the same time, by the Schwarzreiters, who increased their pace when they saw them fly. But notwithstanding the fatigue of the horses, still the fugitives being unarmed, and riding lighter in consequence, had considerably the advantage of the pursuers, and were within about a quarter of a mile of the wood, when a body of men at arms, under a knight's pennon, was discovered advancing from the cover, so as to intercept their flight.
"They have bright armour," said Isabelle, "they must be Burgundians. Be they who they will, we must yield to them, rather than to the lawless miscreants who pursue us."
A moment after, she exclaimed, looking on the pennon, "I know the cloven heart which it displays! It is the banner of the Count of Crevecoeur, a noble Burgundian -- to him I will surrender myself."
Quentin Durward sighed, but what other alternative remained, and how happy would he have been but an instant before, to have been certain of the escape of Isabelle, even under worse terms? They soon joined the band of Crevecoeur, and the Countess demanded to speak to the leader, who had halted his party till he should reconnoitre the Black Troopers, and as he gazed on her with doubt and uncertainty, she said, "Noble Count -- Isabelle of Croye, the daughter of your old companion in arms, Count Reinold of Croye, renders herself, and asks protection from your valour for her and hers."
"Thou shalt have it, fair kinswoman, were it against a host -- always excepting my liege lord, of Burgundy. But there is little time to talk of it. These filthy looking fiends have made a halt, as if they intended to dispute the matter. -- By Saint George of Burgundy, they have the insolence to advance against the banner of Crevecoeur! What! will not the knaves be ruled? Damian, my lance! -- Advance banner! -- Lay your spears in the rest! -- Crevecoeur to the Rescue!"
Crying his war cry, and followed by his men at arms, he galloped rapidly forward to charge the Schwarzreiters.
你现在叫我跑，
我就会竭力去做不可能做到的事。
并且定能做到。
只要你一动身，
我就会怀着一颗炽热的心跟你走，
做我自己也不明白要做的事。
《儒略•凯撒》
虽然快乐、惧怕、疑虑、焦急以及其他种种激情混杂在一起使得那年轻人内心百感交集，但前夜实在是精疲力竭，以至他酣睡不醒，直到第二天很迟的时候才睁开眼睛。这时，他那可敬的主人走了进来，眉目间显示出不安的样子。
他坐在客人床边，就已婚的人处理家务的责任，特别是已婚男子在和妻子意见分歧时有必要保持的夫权和优势进行了一番长时间的复杂的议论。昆丁有些焦虑地听他讲着，因为他明白，做丈夫的也像别的一些好战分子一样，有时喜欢唱唱“荣归吾主”的祝捷歌，来掩饰自己的失败，而不是庆祝自己的胜利。他赶忙决定更仔细地摸摸底，看是怎么回事，便说了一句：“希望我们的到来没有给善良的女主人带来麻烦。”
“带来麻烦！不，不，”那市长口答说，“没有哪个女人会像‘梅布尔妈妈’那样好客，那样随时作好接待客人的准备。她总是乐意看到朋友们的到来，为他们安排好清洁的卧室，做好丰盛的饭食，而且吃饭和睡觉时都忘不了给他们带来上帝的祝福。世界上没有哪个女人像她那么殷勤好客。美中不足的是她脾气有点特别。”
“总而言之，是我们住在这儿使她不愉快？”那苏格兰人说道，接着便从床上跳下来，赶忙穿上衣服，“只要我敢肯定伊莎贝尔小姐已经从昨夜的恐怖中恢复过来，可以动身出发的话，我们就不会多停留片刻来增加你们的麻烦。”
“别这样说，”巴维翁讲道，“这话正是那小姐自己对‘梅布尔妈妈’说的。我真希望你看到她说话时脸上泛出的红晕——迎着寒风溜冰去市场卖牛奶的姑娘也远比不上她脸色那么红润。我想，我亲爱的老伴‘梅布尔妈妈’可能有点忌妒哩。”
“伊莎贝尔小姐离开卧室了吗？”那年轻人问道，一边更快地继续他的盥洗。
“是的，”巴维翁回答道，“她正急不可待地等你去见她，好决定你们走哪条路——既然你们两人都坚决要走。不过，我想你们总会吃完早饭再走吧？”
“你怎么不早点对我说呢？”达威特不高兴地说道。
“别急，别急，”那行会主席说，“你看你这么慌张。我真不该这么早就告诉你。假如你有耐心听我讲的话，我还有点事想悄悄对你说哩。”
“尊贵的先生，尽快地说吧。我洗耳恭听。”
“那好吧，”市长继续讲道，“我只想告诉你这么一点，那就是我的特鲁德珍把那美丽的小姐看得像自己的姊妹一样，很舍不得和她分手。她要求你们化化装，因为城里谣传说有两位克罗伊埃仕女穿着朝圣的服装旅行，还有一名法国苏格兰近卫军的卫士陪伴她们。据说其中一位仕女在昨晚我们离开后被一个波希米亚人带进了索恩瓦尔德堡。这个波希米亚人对威廉•德拉马克告发说，你并没有给他，也没给列日市民带什么讯，而是你拐走了年轻的伯爵小姐，做你的情妇，带她私奔。这些话都是今早从索思瓦尔德堡传出来的。我和我的一些同事都听说了。他们也不知道该给我出个什么主意。虽然我们都认为威廉•德拉马克无论对主教还是对我们都做得有点过分，但大家都深信他骨子里还是个好人——当然是指他清醒的时候——而他也是这个世界上能领导我们反抗勃艮第公爵的惟一领袖。说实在的，照目前情况来看，我自己也认为我们得和他搞好关系，因为我们已经走得太远，无法后退了。”
“你女儿的建议很好。”昆丁说道。他不想对他进行任何指责或劝告，因为他知道这些都无法动摇这位可敬的市长根据他同伴们的偏见以及他妻子的意愿作出的决定。“你女儿的忠告不错——我们得化装，而且得马上走。我想我们能信赖你为我们保守必要的秘密，并给我们提供逃跑的手段吧？”
“不成问题，不成问题。”那诚实的市民说道。由于他对自己这种有失体面的表现不很满意，所以他也很想找到某种途径来表示歉意。“我忘不了你昨晚救了我的命。一是给我解开了那该死的铠甲，二是帮我渡过了那更为糟糕的困境。当时那野猪和他的猪秽简直像魔鬼，不像人。所以我将对你绝对忠实，就像我们世界上第一流的刀匠说的那样，犹如刀柄对刀刃那样忠实。你准备好了，就跟我来一下。你将看到我能为你作的安排。”
那行会主席领着他从卧室走到他处理商务的账房。他闩上门，小心敏锐地望望四周，然后打开挂毯后面一个穹形的暗室。里面藏有好几个铁柜。他打开了其中一个装满了钱币的柜子，任随昆丁取出他和他女伴一路上必须花的钱。
昆丁离开普莱西时领的钱已快花光，所以他毫不犹豫地拿了两百盾钱币。这样才大大减轻了巴维翁的内疚。他把这主动接济客人的事情看作是对自己违背主人留客这一原则的补偿，而根据种种考虑，他在很大程度上是不得不如此的。
小心翼翼地锁好他的宝库之后，这位可敬的弗兰德人便把客人带进客厅。在客厅里昆丁看见伯爵小姐已打扮成一个中产阶级家庭的弗兰德少女模样。虽然昨夜的遭遇留下的影响还使她有些苍白，但她的身体和精神都显得十分活跃。只有特鲁德珍一个人在客厅里，细心周到地帮助伯爵小姐完成每个细节，并教给她与服装打扮相适应的姿态。伯爵小姐把手伸给昆丁。当他恭敬地吻了她的手之后，她对他说道：“昆丁先生，我们得离开我们这儿的朋友，否则我就会把我父亲死后一直跟踪着我的一部分灾难转嫁给他们。要是你没有对救助一个不幸的人感到厌倦的话，请你也换上装束跟我走。”
“我！我会讨厌当你的随从？！不，你就是走到天涯海角，我也要跟着你，保护你！不过，你——你这样做身体吃得消吗？经过昨晚的恐怖，你还能够——”
“别叫我再想起那些事，’伯爵小妞说道，“我只记得一些恶梦般的模糊不清的东西。那善良的主教逃出来了吗？”
“我想他应该自由了。”昆丁说道。他看到巴维翁像要讲述那个恐怖事件，便赶忙使了个眼色叫他别开口。
“我们能去找他吗？他有没有聚集一些人马？”那少女问道。
“他只寄希望于天堂，”那苏格兰人回答说，“不过，不管你去哪儿，我都会站在你身边做你忠实的向导和保镖的。”
“让我们考虑考虑吧！”伊莎贝尔说道。停了片刻她又补充了一句：“我最好是进修道院。不过我担心修道院挡不住想要迫害我的人。”
“哼！哼！”那行会主席说道，“我可不赞成你去列日地区的任何一个修道院，因为那‘阿登内斯野猪’一般说来是个勇敢的魁首。可靠的盟友，对列日城也抱有善意，但他脾气粗暴，把寺院、修道院、女修道院等等很不放在眼里。人们说经常有一二十个修女——我是说，修女这一类的人——跟随他的部队行军。”
“达威特先生，你马上准备动身吧。”伊莎贝尔打断他说，“我能依靠的只有你的忠诚了。”
昆丁和行会主席一走出房门，伊莎贝尔便立刻向格特鲁德详细打听有关道路等等情况；他头脑非常清醒，而且问得十分恰当，以至那行会主席的女儿不禁叫了起来：“小姐，我真佩服你！我听人谈到过男子的坚定。但在我看来，你的坚定却超过了几人。”
“是逼出来的，’伊莎贝尔回答道，“我的朋友，环境逼迫人去发明，也逼迫人产生勇气。不久以前，我看到一个小伤口淌血还会晕倒过去。但如今我已见过我周围可说是血流成河，但我还是保持了我的镇定和清醒的头脑。别以为这是件容易的事。”她把一只颤抖的手搁在格特鲁德胳膊上，仍然以一种坚定的声音继续说道，“我的内心世界就像遭到千万个敌人包围的城堡，只有最坚强的决心才能每时每刻抵挡住各方面敌人的袭击。要是我的处境稍好一点——要不是我意识到我逃脱一种比死亡更可怕的命运的惟一机会就在于保持清醒和镇定——格特鲁德哟，我会马上投入你的怀抱，让我破碎的心灵用泪雨尽情倾泻出悲痛和恐惧，来舒解我这快要爆裂的心胸！”
“小姐，可别这样，”那深表同情的弗兰德姑娘说道，“鼓起勇气，多作祷告，把自己托付给上帝保佑吧！说真的，如果上帝派遣使者来拯救垂危的人们，那么那位勇敢大胆的年轻绅士一定是上帝派来拯救你的。我也有个意中人，”她羞得满脸通红，“你可别告诉我父亲，我已经吩咐我的汉斯•格洛弗在东门口等你们，并告诉他，除非他带信来说，已经平安地带领你们离开了这个地方，否则就休想再来见我。”
年轻的伯爵小姐只能通过亲吻来表达她对这坦率善良的城市姑娘的感激。那姑娘也深情地拥抱了她，并微笑着补充说：“哼，要是两个少女加上她们忠实的骑士都不能使一次化装出逃得以成功的话，那这个世界真和往常大不一样了。”
这句话有一部分内容使得伯爵小姐苍白的面孔又染上了红晕，而由于昆丁的突然出现，这害羞的脸色更是有增无减。他打扮得完全像个纨绔子弟，穿着一套弗兰德讲究的礼服。这是彼得为了表示他对年轻的苏格兰人的好感十分乐意地分给他穿的。他还保证说，要是人们把他比牛皮更厉害地鞣来鞣去，他们也发现不出足以暴露两个年轻人身份的破绽。“梅布尔妈妈”忙着找来了两匹强壮的马。其实她对伯爵小姐及其随从并无恶意。她不过想使自己的家避免窝藏他们而带来的危险。她十分满意地看到他们上马出发。在这之前，她已告诉他们，彼得将领他们朝东门的方向走，但不会明显地和他们打招呼，所以他们得留心看着他。
客人一走，“梅布尔妈妈”便利用这个机会对特鲁德珍就阅读恋爱小说的愚蠢进行了一次长时间的、具有现实意义的说教。她说阅读这些小说的结果，使得宫廷爱好虚荣的仕女们不去老实地学习家务活，而是在一个无聊的扈从、放荡的仆役，或某个浪荡的外国射手的陪伴下骑马周游列国，这样既大大地危害了她们的健康，消耗了她们的资财，也无可挽回地损害了她们的名誉。
格特鲁德静静地听着，没作回答。不过，考虑到她的性格，她究竟能不能由此得出她母亲指望她作出的有现实意义的结论，则很值得怀疑。
让我们回过头来看看那两个出门的旅客吧。他们穿过人群来到了东城门。幸好人们都在忙于谈论时事和谣传，没注意这对外表颇为寻常的年轻人。他们依靠巴维翁以他同事卢斯拉尔的名义为他们搞到的通行证通过了守城的岗哨，然后与彼得•盖斯勒尔简短而友好地交换了良好的祝愿，表示惜别。他们没走多远便看到有个健壮的年轻人骑着一匹灰马向他们赶来。他马上自我介绍说他就是特鲁德珍•巴维翁的骑士汉斯•格洛弗。这年轻人长有一副漂亮的弗兰德人的面孔；固然不是绝顶聪明的样子，但给人一种快活爽朗、又并不机灵过头的印象。不过，就伯爵小姐难免产生的一种看法来说，似乎他给那慷慨大方的特鲁德珍作骑士稍稍逊色了点。看来他很希望表示出他非常赞同他的女友对他们怀抱的好感。他客气地向他们敬了个礼，然后用弗兰德语问伯爵小姐，她想叫他领着走哪一条路。
“你领我去最靠近布拉邦特边境的某个城市吧。”她说道。
“这么说，你已经决定了你的目的地？”昆丁骑到前面和伊莎贝尔并排走着，用向导所不懂的法语问道。
“是的，”年轻的小姐回答说，“因为，我目前的处境既然如此，那么即使最后的归宿是可怕的监狱，我也不能照我现在这个样子继续走下去，因为这对我十分不利。”
“监狱！”昆丁叫道。
“是的，我的朋友，是监狱。不过我会留意不让你也落进监狱的。”
“别讲我——别考虑我，”昆丁说道，“我只想看到你平安无事，我自己的事是不值得操心的。”
