"The same, as I think," said De Comines; "he was made prisoner along with the Countess, travelling almost alone together."
"Now, our Lord and our Lady, and Monseigneur Saint Martin, and Monseigneur Saint Julian, be praised every one of them!" said the King, "and all laud and honour to the learned Galeotti; who read in the stars that this youth's destiny was connected with mine! If the maiden be so attached to him as to make her refractory to the will of Burgundy, this Quentin hath indeed been rarely useful to me."
"I believe, my lord," answered the Burgundian, "according to Crevecoeur's report, that there is some chance of her being sufficiently obstinate; besides, doubtless, the noble Duke himself, notwithstanding what your Majesty was pleased to hint in way of supposition, will not willingly renounce his fair cousin, to whom he has been long engaged."
"Umph!" answered the King -- "but you have never seen my daughter Joan. -- A howlet, man! -- an absolute owl, whom I am ashamed of! But let him be only a wise man, and marry her, I will give him leave to be mad par amours for the fairest lady in France. -- And now, Philip, have you given me the full map of your master's mind?"
"I have possessed you, Sire, of those particulars on which he is at present most disposed to insist. But your Majesty well knows that the Duke's disposition is like a sweeping torrent, which only passes smoothly forward when its waves encounter no opposition; and what may be presented to chafe him info fury, it is impossible even to guess. Were more distinct evidence of your Majesty's practices (pardon the phrase, when there is so little time for selection) with the Liegeois and William de la Marck to occur unexpectedly, the issue might be terrible. -- There are strange news from that country -- they say La Marck hath married Hameline, the elder Countess of Croye."
"That old fool was so mad on marriage that she would have accepted the hand of Satan," said the King; "but that La Marck, beast as he is, should have married her, rather more surprises me."
"There is a report also," continued De Comines, "that an envoy, or herald, on La Marck's part, is approaching Peronne; this is like to drive the Duke frantic with rage -- I trust that he has no letters or the like to show on your Majesty's part?"
"Letters to a Wild Boar!" answered the King. -- "No, no, Sir Philip, I was no such fool as to cast pearls before swine. -- What little intercourse I had with the brute animal was by message, in which I always employed such low bred slaves and vagabonds that their evidence would not be received in a trial for robbing a hen roost."
"I can then only further recommend," said De Comines, taking his leave, "that your Majesty should remain on your guard, be guided by events, and, above all, avoid using any language or argument with the Duke which may better become your dignity than your present condition."
"If my dignity," said the King, "grow troublesome to me -- which it seldom doth while there are deeper interests to think of -- I have a special remedy for that swelling of the heart. -- It is but looking into a certain ruinous closet, Sir Philip, and thinking of the death of Charles the Simple; and it cures me as effectually as the cold bath would cool a fever. -- And now, my friend and monitor, must thou be gone? Well, Sir Philip, the time must come when thou wilt tire reading lessons of state policy to the Bull of Burgundy, who is incapable of comprehending your most simple argument. -- If Louis of Valois then lives, thou hast a friend in the Court of France. I tell thee, my Philip, it would be a blessing to my kingdom should I ever acquire thee; who, with a profound view of subjects of state, hast also a conscience, capable of feeling and discerning between right and wrong. So help me our Lord and Lady, and Monseigneur Saint Martin, Oliver and Balue have hearts as hardened as the nether millstone; and my life is embittered by remorse and penances for the crimes they make me commit. Thou, Sir Philip, possessed of the wisdom of present and past times, canst teach how to become great without ceasing to be virtuous."
"A hard task, and which few have attained," said the historian; "but which is yet within the reach of princes who will strive for it. Meantime, Sire, be prepared, for the Duke will presently confer with you."
Louis looked long after Philip when he left the apartment, and at length burst into a bitter laugh. "He spoke of fishing -- I have sent him home, a trout properly tickled! -- And he thinks himself virtuous because he took no bribe, but contented himself with flattery and promises, and the pleasure of avenging an affront to his vanity! -- Why, he is but so much the poorer for the refusal of the money -- not a jot the more honest. He must be mine, though, for he hath the shrewdest head among them. Well, now for nobler game! I am to face this leviathan Charles, who will presently swim hitherward, cleaving the deep before him. I must, like a trembling sailor, throw a tub overboard to amuse him. But I may one day find the chance of driving a harpoon into his entrails!"
(If a ship is threatened by a school of whales, a tub is thrown into the sea to divert their attention. Hence to mislead an enemy, or to create a diversion in order to avoid a danger.)
(Scott says that during this interesting scene Comines first realized the great powers of Louis, and entertained from this time a partiality to France which allured him to Louis's court in 1472. After the death of Louis he fell under the suspicion of that sovereign's daughter and was imprisoned in one of the cages he has so feelingly described. He was subjected to trial and exiled from court, but was afterwards employed by Charles VIII in one or two important missions. He died at his Castle of Argenton in 1509, and was regretted as one of the most profound statesmen, and the best historian of his age.)
我们的主意游移不定，就像一只飘荡的小船，
在水流逐角的漩涡中不停地旋转。
《古老的戏剧》
如果说路易度过的这一夜充满了焦虑和不安，那么，勃艮第公爵度过的这一夜则更是辗转反侧，难以入眠。
按照当时的惯例，他那两位最得宠的主要谋臣——丹伯古和德贡明也在他的卧室里就寝，睡榻就设在公爵的床铺旁边。他们这晚的陪伴比以往任何时候都更为必要，因为悲伤、愤怒、复仇的欲望以及荣誉感在他心中相互交织（这迫使他目前不能对路易下手）。公爵内心十分矛盾，就像一座爆发的火山，正在喷射出混有各种成分的燃烧的熔浆。他不愿解衣就寝，而是在感情激烈爆发中度过了整整一夜。在他爆发的时候，他对两个随从不断地胡说一阵，讲得既快又含糊不清，以致他们真担心他会神经错乱。他讲的内容不外乎是遇害的列日主教的美德，特别是他的善良。他回忆起他们之间充满互信互爱的种种往事，越想越伤心，最后竟悲痛得泣不成声，倒在床上。然后他又从床上跳了起来，发泄另一种更暴烈的感情。他在房里匆匆地踱来踱去，说出一串串语无伦次的恐吓话，以及更语无伦次的复仇誓言。他一边顿着脚，一边按他习惯的做法，祈求圣乔治•安德鲁，以及一切被视为神圣的亡灵作证：他将对德拉马克和列日市民，以及作为总后台的这个人以牙还牙——这后一个誓言对象要比前两个说得更含糊一些，显然针对的是国王本人。有一次公爵表示，他决心派人去把路易王的兄弟——和他关系最恶劣的诺曼底公爵请到这里来，迫使这被国的国王交出王位或放弃最宝贵的一部分王权以及某些附属的特权。
第二天，他也是整天整夜在暴风雨般激动不宁的思虑中，或者说在感情迅速地交替变化中度过的。他寝不安席，食不甘味，总之，表现得就像一个愤怒得快要发狂的人。最后他还是逐步平静下来，有时还和他的两位大臣商量。然而总是拟议的多，什么也决定不下来。贡明告诉我们说，有一次信使已骑上马，准备出发去邀请诺曼底公爵。要是果成事实，那么被囚禁的法国国王就会像在类似情况下常见的那样，提前走进自己的坟墓。
另一些时候，查尔斯像是把满腔的愤怒都发泄光了，便面孔严峻而呆板地坐着，似乎在考虑采取他还不能下定决心的某种果断行动。毫无疑问，只要陪伴公爵的谋臣有哪个稍作点阴险的暗示，都有可能促使他铤而走险。然而，考虑到作为国王和至高无上的君主所具有的神圣权威，考虑到集体的信誉以及公爵本人的信誉（既然路易把自己的人身安危听任公爵支配，公爵就受到信誉的约束），勃艮第的贵族们几乎一致主张采取温和的办法。丹伯古和德贡明利用晚上的时间不时委婉而大胆地提出一些看法，而在第二天早晨，人们头脑比较冷静的时候，克雷维格和别的一些大臣也都跑来推销一些同样的见解。他们之所以为路易王如此热心地说情，也许不完全是出于无私的动机。正如我们提到过的，许多人都已经得到了国王的好处，而另一些人则在法国具有田产和权益，使他们多少受到他的影响。而国王来佩隆时用四匹骡子驮的珠宝，经过这些外交活动之后，也肯定轻了不少。
第三天康波•巴索伯爵带着他那用意大利人处理问题的头脑，走来向查尔斯献策。公爵最初大发雷霆的那个时刻他没有在场，这对路易王说来是很幸运的一点。他一到，公爵便宣布枢密会议正式开始，以考虑在当前这个特殊的紧要关头应采取何种对策。
在这个会上康波•巴索借用旅人、毒蛇和狐狸的寓言来阐述自己的看法。他提醒公爵注意：既然一个死敌碰巧把它的命运置于自己的支配之下，就应当把它一脚踩死。公爵暴烈的性格也曾一再促使他产生过类似的想法。听他这么一说，自然高兴得眼睛炯炯发光。见此情况，德贡明急忙陈辞说，路易可能实际上并没有直接参与索恩瓦尔德的流血惨剧，也许他能提出证据澄清对自己的指控。说不定他还能为他在公爵及其盟友的领土上阴谋搞鬼造成的混乱作出别的一些补偿。而如果对国王人身采取暴力行动，则肯定会给法国和勃艮第带来一系列极其不幸的后果，其中很值得担心的是英国人会利用必然产生的混乱和纷争重新占领诺曼底和吉耶尼，并使得惟一可以依靠的法国和勃艮第为对付共同仇敌而建立的联盟费了许多周折才得以结束的可怕战争继续下去。最后他坦白地表示，他并不是想使路易获得无条件释放。不过，他认为公爵应利用他目前的处境在两国之间签订一个公正的条约，要求他作出保证，以使他今后难以背信弃义，破坏勃艮第的国内和平。丹伯古、克雷维格以及其他一些大臣也都表示不赞成康波•巴索提出的暴力解决办法。他们都认为，签订条约的方式要比有损勃艮第信誉和破坏待客原则的暴力行动更能带来持久的利益，对勃艮第说来也更为光荣。
公爵倾听这些争论时浓眉紧锁，前额皱成一块，眼睛呆滞地望着地面。然而，当克雷维格也接着说，他不相信路易事先知道索恩瓦尔德发生的暴行或参与共谋时，查尔斯突然抬起头向这位谋臣狠狠盯了一眼，大声说道：“克雷维格，难道你也听到了法国金币在你耳朵里丁当响吗？我想它大概就像圣•丹尼斯教堂的钟声那样使我的谋臣们听来悦耳——谁敢说弗兰德这些仇杀不是路易煽动起来的？”
“我贤明的君主，”克雷维格说道，“我这人的手一贯习惯于和钢刀打交道，而不习惯于和金币打交道。至于说路易，我不仅认为他应对煽动弗兰德的骚乱承担罪责，而且不久前我还在他的满朝文武面前指控他背信弃义，并以您的名义向他提出挑战。不过，尽管他的阴谋诡计无疑是造成这些骚动的根本原因，我却并不认为是他下令杀害的主教。我甚至有理由相信，他派出的一名特使还对此公开表示抗议。要是殿下愿意见他的话，我可以把这人叫来。”
“我很愿意见他，”公爵说道，“圣乔治在上，难道你不相信，做事公正是我一贯的愿望？即使是在盛怒之下，人们也知道我是一个正直、公道的裁判。我愿亲自去见法国国王——我愿亲自去控诉他给我们造成的损失，并向他提出我们要求得到的赔偿。如果真查明他与这个谋杀无关，要弥补别的罪过就好办得多。如果证实他的确有罪，那么叫他在某个偏僻的寺院过过忏悔的生活，谁能说这不是给他一个咎由自取的、极其宽大的发落？谁，”他火冒三丈地补充说道，“谁又敢指责我，即使我给他一个更直接、更迅速的报复？好吧，你就陪我一道去见他。我将在午前十一点去城堡，并将详细地订出一些条款，要他同意签署，否则当心他的脑袋！别的一些条款得看查出的证据如何。现在我宣布散会。我得换换衣服，因为穿这身衣服地去觐见那位最最贤明的君主未免很不合适。”
公爵带着极为怨忿和辛辣的表情重重地说出“最最贤明的君主”这几个字，一边站了起来，大步走出了议事厅。
“路易的安全，甚至勃艮第的荣誉就在此一举。”丹伯古对克雷维格和德贡明说道，“德贡明，你赶快到城堡去一趟——你比克雷维格和我都能说会道一些。你告诉路易，风暴即将来临——他将知道如何应付局面。但愿那个卫士说的话总不致加剧目前的形势。鬼知道给他的是什么样的秘密使命”
“那年轻人看来很勇敢，”克雷维格说道，“而且他的精明和谨慎也远远超过他的年龄，从他对我的谈话看来，他极不愿意触及国王的品德——就像不愿触及国王所侍奉的撒旦的品德。我想他在公爵面前也会如此。我得去找他和克罗伊埃伯爵小姐。”
“伯爵小姐！你不是告诉我们，你把她留在圣布里杰特的女修道院里了吗？”
“不错。不过么，”伯爵说道，“按照公爵的命令，我已经赶紧派人护送她来佩隆。她没法步行也没法骑马，只好坐轿子。由于她姑母哈梅琳女士下落不明，同时自己的命运也笼罩着阴影，目前她感到十分痛苦。说实在的，她犯的是抗命之罪，因为她想擅自摆脱君王的保护，而查尔斯公爵又是世界上最认真看待自己君权的一位君主。”
年轻的伯爵小姐已落在查尔斯手中这一消息给路易的思想增加了新的刺激。他意识到，要是她讲清促使她和哈梅琳女士来到佩隆的一系列幕后勾当，她就有可能供出他通过处死扎迈特•毛格拉宾原已销毁的一些证据。他也清楚地知道，要是证实他的确干扰了勃艮第公爵的权益，查尔斯便会有了动机和借口来充分利用他目前的困境。
路易十分焦急地和德贡明谈到这些问题，因为这人机敏的政治才能要比克雷维格粗犷的军人气质和丹伯古封建贵族的高傲派头更适合他的口味。
“贡明好友，”他对这位未来的史臣说道，“那些带兵的大老粗进不了我的密室，而只能手持矛戟站在前室守卫。他们的一双手的确可以供我使用。不过，要是哪位国王不把这些大老粗的脑袋瓜子拿来抵挡敌人的刀剑和大槌，而是用来商量大事，那他就和一个不给老婆戴项圈而戴套狗索的傻瓜相去无几。只有和你菲利普这种人在一起，君王们才可以放心商量枢密大事，并道出他们心灵深处的秘密，因为你们生来具有透过事物表面看问题的敏锐头脑。”
德贡明既然头脑机敏，听到欧洲这位最聪明的君主对自己的赞扬自然心领神会，无法掩饰内心的高兴。路易也意识到自己已经在对方身上产生了一些良好印象。
“但愿我能有你这样一个臣仆，”他继续说道，“更恰当地说，但愿我配得上有你这样一个臣仆！果真如此，我的处境就不会如此倒霉。不过，要是我能设法得到你这样一个有经验的政治家的帮助，我也未必对这种处境感到遗憾。”
德贡明说，他的才能尽管有限，但他愿倾其所能为这位最讲基督之道的国王陛下服务。当然，他对自己的君主勃艮第•查尔斯的忠诚亦毋庸置疑。
“我怎么会诱使你背叛你的君王呢？”路易颇动感情地说道，“哎呀！我自己不正是因为过分信赖自己臣属的忠心才遭致危险的么？对我来说，维护臣属对君王的忠心是最神圣不过的事，因为我现在的安全就全靠忠君意识来维系。菲利普•德贡明，你要继续为勃艮第的查尔斯尽忠。你能为他尽忠的最好办法就是促成勃艮第和法国路易王之间圆满的妥协。你这样做就会对我们两个君王都尽忠，而其中至少有一个会对你感激不尽。我听说你在宫廷的职务还比不上一个猎鹰大臣。这样一来，欧洲最聪明的谋士就被降低到一个饲养和医治老鹰的下等人水平，甚至连他们还不如！法国领土宽广，国王有的是黄金。我的朋友，这种不公平的现象真是太不像样。请容许我设法纠正纠正吧。纣正的手段就近在眼前——请允许我把它送给你。”
国王拿出沉甸甸的一袋钱币。然而，德贡明这人的情感要比当时大多数朝臣的更为细腻，他谢绝了这个赏赐。他说他对自己君主的慷慨十分满意，并向路易保证说，他为他效劳的意愿并不会因为是否接受他给的赏赐而有所不同。
“你真是个独特的人！”国王大声说道，让我拥抱你这当代惟一的既能干又不受贿的朝臣吧！智慧比黄金更值得羡慕。请相信我，菲利普，在这紧要关头，我信赖你的善良胜过我信赖许多接受过我的礼物的人给我的贿赂来的援助。我想，你不会劝告你的主人滥用这个机会——坦白地说，是我自己的愚蠢给他提供的这个机会吧。”
“我的主人决不会滥用它，”那历史学家回答说，“但肯定会利用它。”
“怎么利用，利用到什么程度？”路易问道，“我还不至于愚蠢到指望不付给一笔赎金就能脱身——但我希望这是一笔合理的赎金——无论在巴黎、在普莱西，还是在佩隆，我都愿意接受合乎理智的要求。”
“不过，陛下请恕我直言，”德贡明对答道，“在巴黎或普莱西，理智是用轻柔的声音说话，因此并不是总能得到陛下的倾听——在佩隆，她可是用强迫的话筒说话，她的声音是威严的。”
“你太爱用比喻了，”路易用无法抑制的愠怒表情说道，“贡明先生，我是个愚钝的人。我求你别用比喻，开门见山地说吧！你的公爵到底提出了什么要求？”
“陛下，我并没有被授权给你带来任何条件，”德贡明说道，“公爵很快就会讲明他的意图。不过，有某些东西在我看来会作为条件提出来，陛下应该做好心理准备。比如说，最终割让索姆河上这几个城市。”
“这我已经料到了。”路易说道。
“还有，您必须和列日市民以及威廉•德拉马克断绝关系。”
“非常愿意，就像我愿与地狱和撒旦断绝关系。”
“还需要通过抵押人质，让出军事要地等安排作出充分的保证，即法国今后将不再在弗兰德人当中挑起叛乱。”
“这可有点新鲜，”国王回答道，“一个藩属竟然要求自己的君主作出保证。不过，这也不计较算了。”
“您得给公爵的盟友，亦即您自己那位卓越的兄弟，一个适当独立的领地——诺曼底或香槟省。陛下，您知道公爵很爱您的家族。”
“好得很，”路易回答说，“我的老天爷！他打算把他们都封为国王哩。你想暗示的都完了吗？”
“还没完哩，”那谋臣回答道，“肯定还会求您今后不再像您近来所做的那样，烦扰布立塔尼公爵，而且不再反对他以及别的王公蒙上帝之恩享有的开发财源和称王称爵的权利。”
“一句话，想把我的藩臣一个个都变成国王。菲利普先生，你想把我变成一个弑弟的罪人吗？你该记得我兄弟查尔斯吧——他刚当上吉耶尼的公爵便夭折了——再说，把这些最富饶的省份都割让掉以后，除了在兰斯涂上圣油，在高高的华盖下面进餐以外，我这查里曼的后裔和代表还剩得了什么呢？”
“请您放心，我们会给孤处高位的陛下提供一个伴侣，”菲利普•德贡明说道，“勃艮第公爵尽管目前还不要求独立称王，但他今后很想摆脱向法国国王表示恭顺和服从的要求——他的意图是想把他公爵的冠冕加上个皇帝的弧圈，上面再放上一个地球，以表示他拥有独立的领土。”
“勃艮第的公爵既是法国一名宣过誓的藩臣，”路易说着站了起来，表明他感情无比激动，“他怎敢，怎敢向自己的君主提出这种条件？要知道，按照任何一种欧洲法律，这都能使他丧失自己的封地！”
“要对他执行剥夺封地的判决是困难的，”德贡明冷静地对答道，“陛下知道，甚至在帝国范围内，对封建法律的严格执行业已过时。君主和藩臣都在尽他们的力量和可能的机会以改变其相互的地位。陛下影响和煽动公爵在弗兰德的臣民，这就给公爵的行为找到了开脱的理由——假定他坚持要求扩大他的独立自主，以使法国将来找不到继续进行干预的借口。”
“贡明，贡明！”路易说着又站了起来，沉思般地在室内踱来踱去，似乎陷入了沉思之中，“这真是战败者可悲这一名言的一个可怕教训！你总不至于说，公爵将坚持所有这些苛刻条件吧？”
“至少我希望陛下能讨论所有这些条件。”
“不过，要有节制，德贡明，我认为胜利者要想取得终极的利益，就有必要表现克制。这你比别人知道得更清楚。”
“请陛下宽恕我的冒昧，在我看来，输的一方总是最喜欢赞美克制的美德，而赢的一方却更看重能使他乘机捞它一把的审慎。”
“好吧，让我考虑考虑，”国王回答说，“不过，至少你已经把公爵苛刻的要求讲到头了吧？不可能再有了吧？要是真像你皱着眉头所暗示的，还有什么的话，那么，除开我的王冠以外，还能是什么呢？再说，假如前面提出的要求都答应了的话，我的王冠也就失去了一切光彩！”
“陛下，”德贡明说道，“还需提到的是一件在某种程度上——甚至在很大程度上——可由公爵自行决定的事。不过他想请陛下也参与其事，因为说实话，它与陛下关系密切。”
“老天爷！”国王不耐烦地喊道，“是什么事？你快说吧，菲利普先生——是要我把女儿送给他作妃子，还是叫我蒙受别的侮辱？”
“陛下，不是什么侮辱，而是陛下的侄儿，鼎鼎大名的奥尔良公爵——”
“哼！”国王大声说道。但德贡明不理会他的打断继续说道：
“——已向克罗伊埃家族的伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐求婚，公爵希望陛下也能像他那样，同意他们的婚事，并和他一道赠与这对高贵的夫妻一块封地。和伯爵小姐自己的封地加在一起，法国王室的嗣子便能拥有一块体面的采邑。”
“办不到！办不到！”国王愤激地说道，最近几天一直竭力压抑着的感情终于爆发了出来。他狂乱而急速地踱来踱去，这与他一贯表现出的镇定形成了强烈的对比。“办不到！办不到！让他们把剪刀拿来，把我的头发剪得像教区供养的白痴一样好了！反正我和傻于已经相差无几了。让他们叫寺院或坟墓向我张开大口好了！让他们用炽热的烙铁烧灼我的眼睛——用斧于劈我，用乌头毒我好了——但我绝不能让奥尔良毁弃他和我女儿的婚约。只要我女儿还活着，就绝不能让他改娶别的女人！”
“陛下，”德贡明继续说道，“您先别一个心眼地反对提出的这个条件。您最好先想想，您自己是无力阻挡这事的。任何聪明人看到岩石要垮，都不会徒劳地去阻止它的倒塌。”
“不过勇者至少愿在它底下找到自己的坟墓。德贡明，你想想这样一个婚姻会给我的王国带来多么重大的损失——带来彻底的毁灭。你想想我只有一个赢弱的男孩，而这个奥尔良就是我的第二继承人——你想想，教堂已经同意他俩的结合，因为它能十分圆满地把我们家族两个系脉的利益连系在一起。想想这一切，也想想这婚姻曾是我一生最得意的计划——我曾为它筹谋，为它斗争，为它担心，为它祈祷——并为它犯了罪过。菲利普•德贡明，我决不会善罢甘休的！考虑考虑吧，伙计！请你在我陷于绝境时同情同情我。你敏捷的头脑可以为我迅速地想出一个替代这一牺牲的办法。你知道，
Chapter 31 The Interview
Hold fast thy truth, young soldier. -- Gentle maiden, Keep you your promise plight -- leave age its subtleties, And gray hair'd policy its maze of falsehood, But be you candid as the morning sky, Ere the high sun sucks vapours up to stain it.
THE TRIAL
On the perilous and important morning which preceded the meeting of the two Princes in the Castle of Peronne, Oliver le Dain did his master the service of an active and skilful agent, making interest for Louis in every quarter, both with presents and promises; so that when the Duke's anger should blaze forth, all around should be interested to smother, and not to increase, the conflagration. He glided like night, from tent to tent, from house to house, making himself friends, but not in the Apostle's sense, with the Mammon of unrighteousness. As was said of another active political agent, "his finger was in every man's palm, his mouth was in every man's ear;" and for various reasons, some of which we have formerly hinted at, he secured the favour of many Burgundian nobles, who either had something to hope or fear from France, or who thought that, were the power of Louis too much reduced, their own Duke would be likely to pursue the road to despotic authority, to which his heart naturally inclined him, with a daring and unopposed pace.
Where Oliver suspected his own presence or arguments might be less acceptable, he employed that of other servants of the King; and it was in this manner that he obtained, by the favour of the Count de Crevecoeur, an interview betwixt Lord Crawford, accompanied by Le Balafre, and Quentin Durward, who, since he had arrived at Peronne, had been detained in a sort of honourable confinement. Private affairs were assigned as the cause of requesting this meeting; but it is probable that Crevecoeur, who was afraid that his master might be stirred up in passion to do something dishonourably violent towards Louis, was not sorry to afford an opportunity to Crawford to give some hints to the young Archer, which might prove useful to his master.
