midst a migh

ed gates their

ng step-and st

ls arose, the f

rtress roll'd the

le air the warde

NYM

s Tours, which, even in those dangerous times, when the great found themselves obliged to reside within places o

elevation, an open esplanade, devoid of trees and bushes of every description, excepting one gigantic and half withered old oak. This space was left open, according to the

enclosure rising higher than the first, and being built so as to command the exterior defence in case it wa

e of its tributary branches. In front of the second enclosure, he said, there ran another fosse, and a third, both of the same unusual dimensions, was led between the second and the innermost inclosure. The verge, both of the outer and inner circuit of this triple moa

e same unpleasant feeling which we experience on looking at a blind man. The other buildings seemed scarcely better adapted for the purposes of comfort, for the windows opened to an inner and enclosed courtyard; so that the whole external front looked much more like that of a prison than a palace. The reigning King had even increased this effect; for, desirous that the additions w

d third bounding wall, but not in the same line with those on the outward circuit; because the passage did not cut right through the whole three enclosures at the same point, but, on the contrary, those who entered had to proceed nearly thirty yards betwixt the first and second wall, exposed, if their purpose were hostile, to missiles from both; and again, when the second boundary was passed, they

ard was sufficiently acquainted with all the various contrivances by which men, in that stern age, endeavoured to secure their dwellings; but he frankly owned to his companion, that he did not think it had been in t

e thither without a guide; that upon the walls were constructed certain cradles of iron, called swallows' nests, from which the sentinels, who were regularly posted there, could without being exposed to any risk, take deliberate aim at any who should attempt to enter without the proper signal or password of the day;

of youthful curiosity, the wetness of his dress. His eye glanced, and his colour mounted to his cheek like that of a daring man who me

who could do such a feat?" sa

uth; "but there are thousands that, in a

r, "perhaps you are yo

danger," answered young Durward; "but my father has

ithal in the attempt; for the Scottish Archers of King Louis's Life Guards stand se

down my bounding walls to fill up the moat; call in my noble peers and paladins, and live as became me, amid breaking of lances in galla

he said, "leads us to the village of Plessis, as it is called, where you, as a stranger, will find reasonable and honest accommodation. About two miles onward lies the fine city of Tours, which gives name to this rich and beaut

short here, that, if I fail not in a morsel of meat, and a drink of something better than

n, "I thought you had some f

retty a man, before he left the braes of Angus [hills and moors of A

e him out for you; for it is not safe for you to go

e shall brook cold iron that brands me with such a charge!-But for my uncle'

the old man; "but there are three

s Ludovic Lesly,"

answered the merchant,

r family names are so common in a Scottish house, that, where t

s face-a proper man, and a good soldier. I wish I may be able to help you to an interview with him, for he belongs to a set of gentlemen whose duty is strict, and who do not often come out of garrison, unless in the immediate attendance on the King's person.-And now, yo

such thing," said Durward, carelessl

, "Do you speak thus of a charge which the most noble of y

fine and feed me as high as you will, I love the open air better than being shut up in a cage or a swallow's nest yonder, as you call these same gra

ifficult to trace the derivation; but at that distance from the castle the lai

said the Frenchman; "bu

fair oak some flight shot or so from yonder Castle-and on that

es into autumn, and moonlight nights are long, and roads become unsafe, you will see a cluster of ten, ay of twenty such acorns, hanging on that old doddered oak.-But what then?-they are so many banners displayed to scare knaves; an

my country, we hang up dead corbies where living corbies haunt, but not in our gardens or pigeon

nce, my good youth," answered the Frenchman, "you will kno

ut when life is out, hatred should not live longer.-But here, I fancy, we come upon the village, where I hope to show you that neither ducking nor disgust have spoiled mi

nion. "I deal in no titles. A plain man, that c

py my good chance has thrown us together; for I want a

a tall wooden crucifix, rising above the trees, s

and public causeway, said to his companion that the inn to which he intended to int

the Scot, "I am none of the number, and will rather stand my chance o

, eats and drinks of the best, and never thinks of the reckoning till his belly is full. But you forget, Master Quentin, since Quentin i

lothes dry, or nearly so, but I will not refuse your offer in kindness; for my dinner yesterday was a light one, and s

reconcile himself to the thoughts of feeding at a stranger's cost, and was endeavouring to subdue his inward pride by the ref

ther unavoidable, did Louis XI permit any of his court to have apartments. A scutcheon, bearing the fleur de lys, 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, when attendants were maintained both in public and in private hous

ntrance, lifted the latch of a side door, and led the way into a large room, where a

Scot. "You must be cold, and I have commanded a fire; yo

jour with a reverence-but in no respect showed any part of the p

aid Maitre Pierre, "to orde

les of a comfortable meal, omitted to extol their merits by a single word. And yet the breakfast merited such eul