公爵哈哈大笑。“克雷维格，”他说道，“你惧内的结果使你的夫人变得很有点目空一切的派头——不过这不关我的事。拿张椅子来让那位头脑单纯的姑娘坐下吧。对于她我不但毫无敌意，而且我打算给予她最高的恩宠和荣誉。请坐吧，小姐。你可以从容不迫地给我们讲讲究竟是什么魔鬼迷住了你的心窍，使你逃离故土，当上了一个冒险女郎。”
伊莎贝尔断断续续地十分痛苦地坦白她出走的原因。她说，由于她坚决不同意勃艮第公爵为她定的婚事，她便萌生了去法国宫廷寻求保护的念头。
“而且是取得法国国王本人的保护，”查尔斯说道，“关于这一点你肯定是满有把握的吧？”
“我的确认为自己满有把握，”伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐说道，“否则我就不会采取这样一个决定性的步骤了。”这时查尔斯公爵带着一种不可名状的苦笑望望路易，而国王的表情则不为所动，只是嘴唇显得比平常略微苍白。“至于路易王究竟打算如何接待我们，”伯爵小姐停顿片刻之后继续说道，“那么这些几乎完全是我那倒霉的姑妈哈梅琳女士讲给我听的，而她的看法又是以一个坏人的保证和暗示为依据的。后来我发现，他们都是世界上最邪恶的奸人，最无信义的歹徒。”接着她又简短地介绍了玛尔松和海拉丁•毛格拉宾的一些奸诈表现，并补充说，她“毫不怀疑，毛格拉宾的哥哥，即最先指使她们逃跑的，一个名叫扎迈特的人，有胆量干出任何奸恶的勾当，甚至有可能未经允许冒充路易工的代理人”。
伯爵小姐接着简短地谈到她和她姑母从离开勃艮第的领土开始，到索恩瓦尔德被攻陷，直到最后向克雷维格伯爵投诚的整个经过。当她断断续续地作完了这个简短的叙述之后，全场鸦雀无声。勃艮第公爵低着两道狠狠的浓眉望着地面，仿佛在寻找一个可以借以泄愤的把柄，却找不到任何能使自己满意的、言之成理的借口。“比如说鼹鼠吧，”最后他抬起头来说道，“我们明明意识到它在走动，我们却根本无法对它进行跟踪。但绝不能因此说，它没有在我们脚底下的黑暗地道里窜来窜去。我倒想请路易王说说：要是这两位仕女不是接受他邀请去法国宫廷的，他干吗要把她们安顿在他的宫廷里住下？”
“好堂弟，我并没有怎么招待她们，”国王回答道，“出于怜悯，我的确私下接待过她们，但一旦有机会我便把她们送往列日，置于已故主教的保护下，因为他是你的盟友，也比我和其他世俗的君主更懂得（愿上帝保佑他在天之灵！）如何既能给逃亡者应有的保护，又能照顾到作为一个君王对两位在逃的仕女所属的盟邦承担的义务。我想大胆地问这位小姐：我对她们的接待是否热情，是否反而使她们后悔不该来我的宫廷避难？”
“非但不热情，”伯爵小姐回答道，“反而使我怀疑，陛下究竟是否真正发出过自称您的代表的那个人向我们保证过的邀请。因为，设若他们果真是按您的吩咐行事，那么陛下对待我们的态度与作为一个国王、骑士和贵族应有的态度就很不相容。”
伯爵小姐说着把眼睛转过去盯着国王，样子像是想表达某种责备之意，但路易的心胸早已准备好接受这一类的攻击。他不但不感到冒犯，反而慢慢挥动着伸开的双手，环顾四周，像是得意地吁请在座的达官贵人们注意，伯爵小姐的回答为他的无辜提供了证据。
勃艮第向他瞟了一眼，似乎想表明，固然在某种程度上他已无话可说，但他仍然远远未被说服。这时他突然转过身来对伯爵小姐说道：“亲爱的小姐，我看你在这篇流浪记里完全忘了谈你的某些奇遇——嘿，就脸红了吗？——比如，某某骑士从森林里钻出来，暂时打破了你的宁静等等。嗯，我已听说过那个事了。我有可能很快对此作出某种决定——路易王，请您说说看，给这位流浪的特洛伊的海伦，或克罗伊埃的海伦，找一个合适的对象，好让她别再挑起君王之间的不和，岂不是件好事吗？”
虽然路易王意识到公爵下一步就会提出何种不快的建议，但他还是对他的话沉着地作出了默默同意的表示。然而，被逼得走投无路的伯爵小姐却顿时恢复了勇气。她松开了她一直倚靠着的克雷维格伯爵夫人的手臂，带着胆怯而尊严的神态走上前来跪在公爵的宝座前，对他说道：“高贵的勃艮第公爵，我的君主。我承认我不该不得您的恩准擅自摆脱您的管辖，并将十分恭顺地接受您愿意给我的任何惩罚。我将我的田产和城堡理所当然地交给您支配，只求您出于您自己的善心，也看在我已故父亲的分上，容许我这克罗伊埃家族的最后子嗣从其巨大的产业中适当留下一点生活费，好让我能在一所修道院里度过我的余生。”
“陛下，这年轻人对我的请求您有何看法？”
“我看是出于一种圣洁而谦卑的动机，”国王说道，“无疑是基于一种无法抗拒或反对的善意。”
“自卑的必升为高，”查尔斯说道，“起来吧，伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐——我替你作出的安排，要比你给你自己作的安排好得多。我既不想没收你的产业，也不想减损你的荣誉。相反，我想使二者都大大得到增添。”
“哎呀，我的大人，”伯爵小姐继续跪着说道，“比起失宠于殿下，我更害怕的正是您这种好心的关怀，因为它迫使我——”
“勃艮第的圣乔治哟！”查尔斯公爵说道，“难道我的意志可以任意违反，我的命令可以任意反对吗？听我说吧，我的臣仆，你先起来，暂时退出去，等我有时间考虑你的问题我就会作出最后的决定。那时，该死的奴才呀，要么你得服从，要么你得倒霉。”
尽管听到这个严峻的回答，伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐仍旧跪在他的脚旁。她的这一固执很可能会促使他当场说出更严酷无情的话来，幸好克雷维格伯爵夫人深谙公爵的脾气，赶紧把她扶起来，领着她走了出去。
这时昆丁•达威特被召了进来。他十分洒脱地走到国王和公爵面前。这种不卑不亢的洒脱既与腼腆拘谨迎然不同，也与鲁莽无礼毫不相干。这在一个出身高贵、有教养的年轻人身上显得十分得体。具体说来，就是这年轻人既能在要求表现尊敬之处表现尊敬，且又不为对方显赫的地位而弄得晕头转向、手足失措。他舅父事先已把苏格兰卫士的服装拿来让他重新穿上。他的脸色、面貌和风度都与他这华丽的外表异常相称，而且他年纪轻轻也赢得了在场的大臣们的好感。更有利的一点是没有任何人会轻易相信，聪明的路易王竞挑选这么一个年轻人充当他搞阴谋诡计的心腹。如同其他场合一样，路易王这一回也由于自己在代理人的年龄和地位方面作出了别人绝没料到的独特选择，而占了很大的便宜。在听到公爵的命令和国王赞同的表示之后，昆丁开始汇报他伴随两位克罗伊埃仕女前往列日近郊所作的长途旅行，并预先介绍了路易工要他把她们两人平安地护送到主教住地所作的指示。
“那么，你按照我的指示去做了？”
“是的，陛下。”那苏格兰人回答道。
“你遗漏了一个情节，”公爵说道，“你们在森林里遭到两个流浪骑士的袭击。”
“要叫我回忆或提到这样一件小事，似乎很不得体。”年轻人天真地红着脸说道。
“要叫我忘掉这件事也很不应该，”奥尔良公爵说道，“这年轻人在执行任务时很勇敢，他这种维护自己信誉的表现将使我永远难忘。好射手，等这事了结后倒我房里来吧。你将看到我并没有忘记你的英勇行为，看到你既勇敢，又很谦逊，我感到很高兴。”
“欢迎你也到我房里来，”杜洛瓦说道，“我该偿还你一个钢盔。我已经搞到了一个，准备送给你。”昆丁向二位贵人低低鞠了一躬，又继续接受审问。应公爵之命，他取出他接到过的有关旅途注意事项的书面指示。
“卫士，你不折不扣地照这些指示去做了吗？”公爵问道。
“请大人鉴谅，我并没有如此，”昆丁回答道，“大人高兴的话，您可以发现这个指示是命令我在纳穆尔附近渡过马埃斯河，而我却继续沿河左岸行进，因为这是通向列日最近的也是最安全的路线。”
“你干吗要这么更改路线？”公爵问道。
“因为我开始对向导的忠诚感到怀疑。”昆丁回答道。
“你注意回答我下面要问你的问题，”公爵说道，“你得如实回答，不用害怕冒犯谁。假如你回答时胆敢敷衍了事或避重就轻，我就要把你拴在一根铁链上从市场的高塔上吊下来，让你折磨好几个小时才得一死！”
整个大厅顿时鸦雀无声。公爵给这年轻人一段他认为必要的时间，以让他考虑一下当前的处境。最后他要达威特回答：他的向导是谁？是谁给他提供的向导，为什么他会对这向导产生怀疑？昆丁•达威特对第一个问题作的回答是讲出了那个波希米亚人海拉丁•毛格拉宾的名字。针对第二个问题，他回答说，向导是特里斯顿•勒尔米特推荐的。回答第三个问题时他提到在纳穆尔附近的圣方济寺院发生的情况，谈到那波希米亚人如何被赶出寺院，而由于他怀疑此人表现，又如何跟踪，发现了他和威廉•德拉马克的德国长矛手约会，并偷听到他们计划拦路劫持受他保护的两位仕女。
“听着，”公爵说道，“我再次提醒你，你的生命完全取决于你是否诚实。我问你：这两个坏蛋有没有提到他们突袭护送人员、劫走两位仕女的计划是根据这位国王——我指的是在座的这位法国路易王——的授意？”
“要是这两个可耻的坏蛋真这么讲了，”昆丁回答道，“那我就真不知该如何看待他们的话，因为国王亲自交待给我的命令与他们所讲的恰好相反。”
路易一直在全神贯注地认真倾听昆丁讲的话。当他听完他作出的回答后，就像顿时去掉了压在胸口的一个沉重的石块，不禁深深地舒了一口气。公爵又显出一副愠怒而窘急的样子。他回到原先指控的问题上来，更严密地讯问昆丁：根据这些人的秘密谈话，他是否认为他们所策划的阴谋得到国王的赞同？
“我想再说一遍，我没有听到任何东西使我有根据说这种话，”年轻人答道。尽管他内心里确信路易王参与了海拉丁的阴谋，但他认为在这个问题上提出自己的怀疑是违反忠诚宣誓的。“我想再说一遍，假如我真听到这些人作出这种供认，那么和国王亲自给我的指示相权衡，我也不会给他们的证词任何分量。”
“你是一个忠实的信使，”公爵带着嘲讽的口气说道，“不过我可以大胆地说，要不是以后的事态发展证明你那公牛般愚顽的耿耿忠心给国王帮了个大忙，你遵从他那个指示本会使他大失所望，而叫你大吃苦头。”
“大人，我不懂您的意思，”昆丁•达威特说道，“我只知道我的主人路易王派我去护送两位仕女，而无论在去索恩瓦尔德的路上，还是在以后发生的事件当中，我都按照指示去做。我理解国王的指示是正大光明的，因此我也正大光明地执行他的指示。要是这些指示属于不同的性质，那它们就和我达威特的名字或苏格兰的国籍完全不相称了。”
“骄傲得像个苏格兰人。”查尔斯说道。尽管他对达威特回答的语气感到失望，但还不至于不公正地责怪他胆大无礼。“射手，你听我问你下一个问题：根据索恩瓦尔德逃来的难民报告，叛民曾前呼后拥地带着你在列日街头游行，而正是他们后来残杀了他们的世俗君主和宗教领袖。你说你是根据什么指示这样做的？叛民杀害主教之后，我发表了什么演说，申明你在这群刚犯下滔天大罪的歹徒当中，要以路易王特使的身份自告奋勇行使领导权？”
“我的大人，”昆丁说道，“有许多人可以作证，我并没有在列日城冒充法国特使。这个身份是那些喧闹的市民们硬要强加给我的。我所能作的任何否认他们都拒绝相信。我设法从城里逃走之后，就把事情的经过告诉了主教的官吏，建议他们注意城堡的安全，这样做本可以防范第二天晚上发生的灾祸和惨剧。在危急的关头我的确利用了误加于我的那个身份给予我的威望来拯救伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐，保护我自己的生命，并在可能范围内遏制那通过可怕的残杀已变得疯狂的杀人欲望。我要重申，并以生命担保坚持这一重申：法国国王并没有给过我任何有关列日市民的使命，更不用说给过我煽动他们进行反叛的指示。最后我要说，即使我的确利用了误加给我的特使身份，那么其性质完全类似在紧急关头抓起一块盾牌来保护自己，来捍卫自己和别人的生命，而不问盾牌上刻印的纹章是否使我有权这样做。”
“就这一点而论，”克雷维格无法继续保持沉默，大声说道，“做过我的旅伴和囚徒的这位年轻人的确表现得既有勇气又有头脑。他这样做自然不能作为路易王的罪证。”
在周围坐着的贵族们中间响起了一阵表示赞同的低语声。这声音在路易王听起来固然悦耳，但在查尔斯听来却相当刺耳。他愤怒地用眼睛向四周一扫。这么多高级藩臣和聪明的谋臣普遍表示出的这种情绪未必能阻止他屈从于自己暴烈和专横的性格。所幸的是德贡明预见到这一危险，突然宣布列日城派来的纹章官求见公爵，才防止了危机的爆发。
“织布匠和铁匠派来的纹章官？”公爵大声说道，“好吧，立即传他进来。圣母在上，我将通过这个纹章官进一步了解派他来的老板们有何计划和意图，以填补这位年轻的苏格兰籍法国武士所不愿告诉我的情况！”
Chapter 33 The Herald
Ariel. -- Hark! they roar. Prospero. Let them be hunted soundly.
THE TEMPEST
There was room made in the assembly, and no small curiosity evinced by those present to see the herald whom the insurgent Liegeois had ventured to send to so haughty a Prince as the Duke of Burgundy, while in such high indignation against them. For it must be remembered that at this period heralds were only dispatched from sovereign princes to each other upon solemn occasions; and that the inferior nobility employed pursuivants, a lower rank of officers at arms. It may be also noticed, in passing, that Louis XI, an habitual derider of whatever did not promise real power or substantial advantage, was in especial a professed contemner of heralds and heraldry, "red, blue, and green, with all their trumpery," to which the pride of his rival Charles, which was of a very different kind, attached no small degree of ceremonious importance.
The herald, who was now introduced into the presence of the monarchs, was dressed in a tabard, or coat, embroidered with the arms of his master, in which the Boar's Head made a distinguished appearance, in blazonry, which in the opinion of the skilful was more showy than accurate. The rest of his dress -- a dress always sufficiently tawdry -- was overcharged with lace, embroidery, and ornament of every kind, and the plume of feathers which he wore was so high, as if intended to sweep the roof of the hall. In short, the usual gaudy splendour of the heraldic attire was caricatured and overdone. The Boar's Head was not only repeated on every part of his dress, but even his bonnet was formed into that shape, and it was represented with gory tongue and bloody tusks, or in proper language, langed and dentated gules, and there was something in the man's appearance which seemed to imply a mixture of boldness and apprehension, like one who has undertaken a dangerous commission, and is sensible that audacity alone can carry him through it with safety. Something of the same mixture of fear and effrontery was visible in the manner in which he paid his respects, and he showed also a grotesque awkwardness, not usual amongst those who were accustomed to be received in the presence of princes.
"Who art thou, in the devil's name?" was the greeting with which Charles the Bold received this singular envoy.
"I am Rouge Sanglier," answered the herald, "the officer at arms of William de la Marck, by the grace of God, and the election of the Chapter, Prince Bishop of Liege."
"Ha!" exclaimed Charles, but, as if subduing his own passion, he made a sign to him to proceed.
"And, in right of his wife, the Honourable Countess Hameline of Croye, Count of Croye, and Lord of Bracquemont."
The utter astonishment of Duke Charles at the extremity of boldness with which these titles were announced in his presence seemed to strike him dumb; and the herald conceiving, doubtless, that he had made a suitable impression by the annunciation of his character, proceeded to state his errand.
"Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum (I announce to you a great joy)," he said; "I let you, Charles of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders, to know, in my master's name, that under favour of a dispensation of our Holy Father of Rome, presently expected, and appointing a fitting substitute ad sacra (to the sacred office), he proposes to exercise at once the office of Prince Bishop, and maintain the rights of Count of Croye."
The Duke of Burgundy, at this and other pauses in the herald's speech, only ejaculated, "Ha!" or some similar interjection, without making any answer; and the tone of exclamation was that of one who, though surprised and moved, is willing to hear all that is to be said ere he commits himself by making an answer. To the further astonishment of all who were present, he forbore from his usual abrupt and violent gesticulations, remaining with the nail of his thumb pressed against his teeth, which was his favourite attitude when giving attention, and keeping his eyes bent on the ground, as if unwilling to betray the passion which might gleam in them.
The envoy, therefore, proceeded boldly and unabashed in the delivery of his message. "In the name, therefore, of the Prince Bishop of Liege, and Count of Croye, I am to require of you, Duke Charles, to desist from those pretensions and encroachments which you have made on the free and imperial city of Liege, by connivance with the late Louis of Bourbon, unworthy Bishop thereof."
"Ha," again exclaimed the Duke.
"Also to restore the banners of the community, which you took violently from the town, to the number of six and thirty -- to rebuild the breaches in their walls, and restore the fortifications which you tyrannically dismantled -- and to acknowledge my master, William de la Marck, as Prince Bishop, lawfully elected in a free Chapter of Canons, of which behold the proces verbal."
"Have you finished?" said the Duke.
"Not yet," replied the envoy. "I am farther to require your Grace, on the part of the said right noble and venerable Prince, Bishop, and Count, that you do presently withdraw the garrison from the Castle of Bracquemont, and other places of strength, belonging to the Earldom of Croye, which have been placed there, whether in your own most gracious name, or in that of Isabelle, calling herself Countess of Croye, or any other, until it shall be decided by the Imperial Diet whether the fiefs in question shall not pertain to the sister of the late Count, my most gracious Lady Hameline, rather than to his daughter, in respect of the jus emphyteusis (a permanent tenure of land upon condition of cultivating it properly, and paying a stipulated rent; a sort of fee farm or copyhold)."
"Your master is most learned," replied the Duke.
"Yet," continued the herald, "the noble and venerable Prince and Count will be disposed, all other disputes betwixt Burgundy and Liege being settled, to fix upon the Lady Isabelle such an appanage as may become her quality."
"He is generous and considerate," said the Duke, in the same tone.
"Now, by a poor fool's conscience," said Le Glorieux apart to the Count of Crevecoeur, "I would rather be in the worst cow's hide that ever died of the murrain than in that fellow's painted coat! The poor man goes on like drunkards, who only look to the ether pot, and not to the score which mine host chalks up behind the lattice."
"Have you yet done?" said the Duke to the herald.
"One word more," answered Rouge Sanglier, "from my noble and venerable lord aforesaid, respecting his worthy and trusty ally, the most Christian King."
"Ha!" exclaimed the Duke, starting, and in a fiercer tone than he had yet used; but checking himself, he instantly composed himself again to attention.
"Which most Christian King's royal person it is rumoured that you, Charles of Burgundy, have placed under restraint contrary to your duty as a vassal of the Crown of France, and to the faith observed among Christian Sovereigns. For which reason, my said noble and venerable master, by my mouth, charges you to put his royal and most Christian ally forthwith at freedom, or to receive the defiance which I am authorized to pronounce to you."
"Have you yet done?" said the Duke.
"I have," answered the herald, "and await your Grace's answer, trusting it may be such as will save the effusion of Christian blood."
"Now, by Saint George of Burgundy!" said the Duke, but ere he could proceed farther, Louis arose, and struck in with a tone of so much dignity and authority that Charles could not interrupt him.
"Under your favour, fair cousin of Burgundy," said the King, "we ourselves crave priority of voice in replying to this insolent fellow. -- Sirrah herald, or whatever thou art, carry back notice to the perjured outlaw and murderer, William de la Marck, that the King of France will be presently before Liege, for the purpose of punishing the sacrilegious murderer of his late beloved kinsman, Louis of Bourbon; and that he proposes to gibbet De la Marck alive, for the insolence of terming himself his ally, and putting his royal name into the mouth of one of his own base messengers."
"Add whatever else on my part," said Charles, "which it may not misbecome a prince to send to a common thief and murderer. -- And begone! -- Yet stay. -- Never herald went from the Court of Burgundy without having cause to cry, Largesse! -- Let him be scourged till the bones are laid bare."
"Nay, but if it please your Grace," said Crevecoeur and D'Hymbercourt together, "he is a herald, and so far privileged."
"It is you, Messires," replied the Duke, "who are such owls as to think that the tabard makes the herald. I see by that fellow's blazoning he is a mere impostor. Let Toison d'Or step forward, and question him in your presence."
In spite of his natural effrontery, the envoy of the Wild Boar of Ardennes now became pale; and that notwithstanding some touches of paint with which he had adorned his countenance. Toison d'Or, the chief herald, as we have elsewhere said, of the Duke, and King at arms within his dominions, stepped forward with the solemnity of one who knew what was due to his office, and asked his supposed brother in what college he had studied the science which he professed.
"I was bred a pursuivant at the Heraldic College of Ratisbon," answered Rouge Sanglier, "and received the diploma of Ehrenhold (a herald) from that same learned fraternity."
"You could not derive it from a source more worthy," answered Toison d'Or, bowing still lower than he had done before; "and if I presume to confer with you on the mysteries of our sublime science, in obedience to the orders of the most gracious Duke, it is not in hopes of giving, but of receiving knowledge."
