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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b60e991 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #55532 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55532) diff --git a/old/55532-0.txt b/old/55532-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bead55c..0000000 --- a/old/55532-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5167 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Viteau, by Frank Richard Stockton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Story of Viteau - -Author: Frank Richard Stockton - -Release Date: September 12, 2017 [EBook #55532] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF VITEAU *** - - - - -Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Barry Abrahamsen and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - THE STORY OF VITEAU - -[Illustration: RAYMOND, LOUIS, AND THE PAGE RETURN TO VITEAU.] - - THE - - STORY OF VITEAU - - BY - - FRANK R. STOCKTON - - AUTHOR OF "A JOLLY FELLOWSHIP," "THE FLOATING PRINCE," ETC. - - _ILLUSTRATED_ - - NEW YORK - CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS - 1907 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - COPYRIGHT 1884 - BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - -RAYMOND, LOUIS AND THE PAGE RETURN TO VITEAU, (Frontispiece.) - -BERNARD, RAYMOND AND LOUIS MEET THE MONK, 9 - -LOUIS AND BERNARD ON THEIR WAY TO DEBARRAN'S CASTLE, 20 - -LOUIS, AGNES, AND THE FALCON, 29 - -LOUIS FINDS ONE OF THE HIGHWAYMEN A GOOD-NATURED FELLOW, 41 - -BERNARD TEACHING RAYMOND THE USE OF THE LONG SWORD, 50 - -BROTHER ANSELMO THREATENS BERNARD AND RAYMOND, 60 - -THE COUNTESS SENT FOR JASTO AND THANKED HIM WARMLY, 93 - -A SMALL WINDOW WAS OPENED, 97 - -AGNES TELLS RAYMOND AND LOUIS OF HER PLAN, 109 - -SIR HUGO AND SIR CHARLES CHARGE THE ROBBERS, 120 - -THE FLIGHT OF THE COUNTESS, 132 - -MICHOL WELCOMES THE COUNTESS, 136 - -AGNES MAKES A PLEA FOR THE MOTHER OF RAYMOND AND LOUIS, 141 - -THE ROBBERS IN THE OLD WOMAN'S COTTAGE, 160 - -THE ROBBERS IN THE HALLWAY WERE FORCED INTO THE COURT-YARD, 178 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - The Story of Viteau. - - - CHAPTER I. - - -BY the side of a small stream, which ran through one of the most -picturesque portions of the province of Burgundy, in France, there sat, -on a beautiful day in early summer, two boys, who were brothers. - -They had been bathing in the stream, and now, having dressed, they were -talking together on the bank. - -Raymond, the elder, was about fourteen years old, and his brother Louis -was some eighteen months younger. In form and feature, and in general -disposition and character, they were not unlike many of the boys of our -day, and yet these two young fellows lived more than six hundred years -ago. They were dressed in simple tunics, one green, one brown, and wore -short breeches, dark-colored stockings, and rather clumsy shoes. - -The two brothers were very busily engaged in conversation, for they had -a great deal to say to each other, and not much time to say it in. On -the next day Louis was going away from home, to be gone a long, long -time. - -Raymond and Louis were the sons of the Countess of Viteau, whose chateau -stood on a little eminence about half a mile away. Their father, the -Count of Viteau, had been one of the most steadfast adherents and -supporters of the Duke of Burgundy, in his endeavors to maintain the -independence of his dukedom against the claims of the French crown, and -had fallen in one of the battles between the Duke's followers and the -army of the Regent, Queen Blanche, who, in those days, ruled France in -the name of her son, the young King, Louis IX., afterward known as Louis -the Just, or St. Louis. - -The Duke's forces had been defeated, Burgundy had been compelled to -acknowledge the supremacy of the French crown, and peace reigned in the -kingdom. - -The widowed Countess of Viteau now found herself the sole protector and -guardian of her two boys. Fortunately, she had a large estate, but even -this added to her cares and responsibilities, and rendered her less able -to attend to what she had intended should be the aim and business of her -life—the education of her sons. - -Education, in those days, did not mean what it does now. The majority of -the people, even of the upper classes, were not educated at all, some of -the lords and barons being unable to write their names. Printing had not -been invented; all books were in manuscript, and were scarce and -valuable. Most of the learning, such as it was, had been, for a long -time, confined to the monks and priests; but, in the era in which our -two boys lived, people had begun to give more attention to general -education, and there were schools in some of the large cities which were -well attended, and where the students of that day were taught grammar, -logic, rhetoric, music, arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy, although -their studies in most of these branches were not carried very far. The -school of Paris was one of the most celebrated of these institutions. - -The Countess of Viteau was among the few ladies of the time who really -cared for an education beyond that which included the small number of -accomplishments then considered necessary to persons of high position. -When quite a young woman, she had learned all that the priests, one or -more of whom generally lived in her father's house, could teach her, and -afterward, when her sons were old enough, she made it her personal -business to attend to their studies. Some things she taught them -herself, and, for other branches, she employed such men of -knowledge—almost always members of some order of the clergy—as could be -obtained. - -But now the time had arrived when the customs of the day demanded that -one of her sons, at least, should leave her to receive an education of -another sort, and her younger boy was to be sent away to the castle of -the Count de Barran, an old friend and fellow-soldier of her husband, to -be taught, as most of the boys of his station were taught, the arts and -usages of knighthood and chivalry. Raymond would also be a knight, but -his mother wished him to be more than that. He would succeed to the rank -and estate of his father, and she hoped that he would not only be a -nobleman and a soldier, but a scholar. When he should leave her to go to -the school at Paris,—and it was for this school that she was now -endeavoring to prepare him,—he would live with one of his relatives, by -whom he would be instructed in the noble duties of chivalry. His mother -felt sure that his studies at the school and his knightly exercises -would not interfere with each other. - -"Only one more day," said Raymond, "and then it will seem so strange -here without you, Louis." - -"But it will be ever so much stranger for me," said Louis, "for I shall -be without everybody. I have never seen a single soul of the castle -people, excepting the Count de Barran, and it is so long since he was -here that I have almost forgotten him. He was a big, stout man, and -that's all I know about him." - -"You might as well have never seen him," said Raymond, "for he is not -stout, and he is not big. He's a tall, thin man, and, I think, a kind -one. But I expect you soon will know everybody." - -"Or they will know me," said Louis, "which will be the same thing. I -know I shall have lively times. Let me see: For a year and a half I -shall be a page. There must be ever so many ways for the pages, -especially if there are a good many of us, to have royal fun. And then, -when I am fourteen, I shall be a squire. I think I shall not like that -so much, excepting for the fighting part." - -"Fighting!" exclaimed his brother. "You'll have none of that." - -"Oh yes, but I shall have," returned Louis. "Barran has always been -fighting, ever since I heard of him; and if he does his duty by me, he -is bound to take me with him to the wars." - -"But the wars are all over," said Raymond. "You know that as well as I -do." - -"Oh, there'll be more," said Louis, laughing. "There is sure to be -trouble of some kind before I'm fourteen. And, if there are any wars, -you must come to them. It won't do to be spending all your time here, -with priests and books." - -"Priests and books!" exclaimed Raymond. "I don't expect to spend half my -time with them. I shall ride and fence, and tilt and hunt quite as much -as you will, or even more, I doubt not. But I can do all that, and be a -scholar too." - -"I'd like well enough to be a scholar," said Louis, "if it were not so -much trouble. Just to learn to write, like the monks who make our books, -must take years! I tell you, Raymond, it would be time wasted for me." - -"No doubt of that," said his brother, laughing. "You would never have -the patience to write out all the pages of a book, even if you could do -it so well that people could read it. If you can do so much as write me -a letter from the castle, to tell me how you find things there, and what -happens to you, I shall be glad enough." - -"I never did write a letter," said Louis, "but I feel quite sure that I -could do it. The trouble would be for you to read it." - -"That's true;" said Raymond, "but I will do my best to read, if you will -do your best to write." - -"Did not our mother tell you to ask me this?" said Louis, turning -towards his brother with a smile. - -"She did," answered Raymond. - -"I thought it sounded like her," said Louis. "She greatly wants me to -read and write; and, for her sake, and yours, too, Raymond, I'll try a -letter. But is not that Bernard, over in the field?" - -"Yes, it is," said Raymond. "He is training a young falcon for me." - -"For you!" cried Louis, jumping up. "I did not know that. Let us go down -to him." - -"I did not know it, either," said his brother, rising, "until yesterday. -Bernard is going to teach me to fly the bird as soon as it is trained." - -"And I am going away to-morrow," cried Louis. "It is too bad!" - -The boys now ran down to the field, where a tall, broad-shouldered man, -dressed in a short, coarse jacket of brown cloth, with tight breeches of -the same stuff, was walking towards them. He bore on his left hand a -large falcon, or goshawk, a bird used in that day for hunting game of -various kinds. - -"Ho, Bernard!" cried Louis, "how is it I never heard that you were -training that bird? I should have liked to watch you all the time." - -"That is the reason you were not told," said Bernard, who had been the -squire of the late Count, and was now a well-trusted member of the -household of Viteau. - -"If you had known what I was about," he continued, "you would have done -nothing but watch me, and therefore it was that your good mother told me -to keep the matter from you. It takes a long time and a world of trouble -to train a hawk, especially one that was nearly full-grown when caught, -as this one was. Those taken from their nests are far easier to manage." - -"But he is trained now, isn't he?" said Louis. "Why not try him to-day? -Just one flight, good Bernard, for, you know, I shall be gone to-morrow. -We can easily find a heron, or a pheasant, or something he can go -after." - -"No, no, my boy," said the squire; "this bird is not yet ready to cast -off for a free flight. Why, it was only last week that I ceased using -the long string with which I brought him back when I wanted him; and, -ever since, I have been very careful to have a lure which should be so -tempting that he would be certain to come down to it, no matter how high -he might soar. See, here is the one I used to-day. He has eaten from it -the whole breast of a pigeon." - -With this he showed the boys his "lure," which was a rude figure of a -bird, the body made of cloth, with the head, talons, and wings of a real -bird, and to which had been attached a piece of some kind of meat of -which the falcon is fond. By being thus accustomed to find something -good to tear and eat when called to his master, the bird gradually -learned to obey the call whenever he heard it. - -[Illustration: BERNARD, RAYMOND, AND LOUIS MEET THE MONK.] - -Raymond was quite willing to wait until the hawk was thoroughly trained, -before testing him in actual sport; but Louis, very naturally, made -great complaint. To-day was his last chance. Bernard, however, was firm, -and so they walked towards the chateau, the hooded bird still perched -upon the squire's wrist. - -Just as the three, now busily talking of Louis' future life at the -castle of the Count de Barran, were about entering a little gate in the -lower part of the grounds which surround the house, there came out of -the gate a monk wearing a long, dark, and rather dirty gown, and walking -with his eyes fixed upon the ground, as if deeply engaged in thought. He -seemed scarcely to perceive the boys or the squire, as he passed them. - -"I shall be glad to be free from those long-gowned folk," said Louis, as -they entered the grounds. "No more priests' lessons for me. I shall have -knights and soldiers for my teachers." - -"All very fine," said Bernard, "but you will have other things to do -besides learning how to be a knight and soldier. You will serve your -masters and your mistresses at table, clean armor, hold stirrups, and do -everything else they ask of you." - -"Oh yes," said Louis; "but that will be only while I am a page. In a -year and a half all that will be over." - -"A year and a half seems to me like a long time," said Raymond; "but -time always passes quickly with Louis." - -This remark was made to Bernard, but the squire did not appear to hear -it. He was looking back through the gate at the departing monk. - -"If I only knew that _he_ was never coming back," he said to himself, "I -would not much care what else happened." - -And then he followed the boys up to the chateau. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - -THE good squire did not make his inhospitable remark in regard to the -monk because he had any dislike for monks or priests in general. He had -as high an opinion of the members of the clergy as any one, but he had a -very strong dislike for this particular prior. To understand his reasons -for this feeling, we must know that, not very long before the period at -which our story begins, and soon after the Queen Regent had conquered -the rebellious provinces, and so consolidated the kingdom, there was -established in the city of Toulouse that terrible tribunal of the Romish -Church known as the Holy Inquisition. Here persons suspected of holding -opinions in opposition to the doctrines taught by the Church were tried, -often subjected to tortures in order to induce them to confess the -crimes with which they were charged, and punished with great severity if -found guilty. This inquisition was under the charge of the Dominican -friars, of which order the man who had just passed out of the little -gate was a member. - -For several weeks the frequent visits of this prior to the Countess of -Viteau had given a great deal of uneasiness to Bernard. The man was not -one of the regular religious instructors of the family, nor had he -anything to do with the education of the boys. There was some particular -reason for his visits to the chateau, and of this the household at large -knew nothing; but the fact of his being a Dominican, and therefore -connected with the Inquisition, made him an unpleasant visitor to those -who saw his comings and goings, but who did not know their object. - -Squire Bernard thought that he knew why this Brother Anselmo came so -often to the chateau, but he could not be certain that he was right. So -he kept his ideas to himself, and did no more than hope that each visit -of the friar might be the last. - -When the two brothers entered the chateau, they went directly to their -mother's apartments. They found her in a large room, the floor of which -was covered with soft rushes, for there were no carpets in those days. -There was an abundance of furniture, but it was stiff and heavy, and on -the walls there hung various pieces of tapestry, of silk or wool, most -of which the good lady had embroidered herself. - -The Countess of Viteau was a woman of about thirty-five years of age, -and of a sweet but dignified appearance and demeanor. She was evidently -very fond of her children, and they were equally fond of her. She had a -book in her hand when the boys entered (it should be remembered that she -was one of the very few ladies of that day who read books), but she laid -it down, and drew her sons to her, one on each side. - -"Mother," said Louis, as she leaned over to kiss the young fellow who -was to leave her the next day for such a long, long time,—"Mother, I -wish you would write a letter to the Count de Barran, and ask him to -have me taught falconry as soon as possible, and also to get me a hawk -of my own, and have him trained." - -"What put that into your head?" asked his mother, who could not help -smiling at this absurd idea on the part of a boy who was going to begin -life as a page, but who expected to enter at once into the sports and -diversions of the grown-up nobility. - -"It was Raymond's falcon that made me think of it," said Louis. "I -suppose I shall not see that bird fly,—at least, not for ever so -long,—and so I want one of my own." - -"I did not intend you should know anything about Raymond's falcon," said -his mother, "for I knew it would fill your head so full that there would -be no room for anything else. But we will not talk of falcons now. I -have a great deal to say to my little boy——" - -"Not so very little either," said Louis, drawing himself up to his full -height. - -"Who is going away," continued his mother, "to learn to be a page, a -squire, and a Christian knight." - -We need not know what she said to him, but the three were together until -the room grew dark, and there was no treasure that Louis could take with -him which could be so valuable as the motherly advice he received that -afternoon. - -Louis was to start for Barran's castle in the forenoon of the next day, -and was to be accompanied by Bernard and a small body of archers, for, -although there were no wars going on at that time, there was always -danger from robbers. All over France, and in many other parts of Europe, -there were well-organized bands of men who made a regular business of -pillaging travelers on the highways. So it was necessary that Louis -should have with him enough men to defend him against an attack by these -brigands. - -Very early in the morning,—earlier than any one else in the chateau, -excepting a few servants,—Louis arose and dressed himself. He did this -very quietly, so as not to wake his brother. Then he stole softly down -to a room in the lower part of the building, where he knew Bernard kept -the falcon he was training. The door of this room was shut, but not -locked, and Louis slipped in without waking the squire, who slept -soundly in a chamber just across the passage-way. - -He closed the door, and looking around the room, into which a little -light came from a small, high window, he soon perceived the falcon -sitting on a wooden perch, in a corner. The bird was unhooded, but was -tied by the leg, with a short cord, to the perch. On a small table near -by lay the hood. As Louis approached the falcon, it turned its head -quickly towards him and slightly raised its wings. This threatening -gesture made the boy hesitate; he did not want to be bitten or -scratched. Drawing back, and looking about him, he saw a cloth lying -upon a bench. Seizing this, he quickly threw it over the bird, untied -the cord, and, muffling with the cloth a little bell which was fastened -to one of the falcon's legs, Louis snatched up the hood from the table, -and, with the bird under his arm, he hurried out of the room, carefully -closing the door behind him. - -Out-of-doors, he quickly made his way to the little gate at the bottom -of the grounds, and, through this, passed out into the road. When he -reached a spot where he could not be seen from the chateau, he sat down, -carefully uncovered the head of the falcon, and clapped over it the -little hood. Then he threw aside the cloth, and set the bird upon his -wrist, where it perched contentedly, although not finding it quite so -firm a support as the strong hand of Bernard. While wearing the hood, -which completely covered its eyes, it would not attempt to fly. - -"Now, then," said he to himself, "I shall try what this fine bird can -do; and when I have had an hour's sport, I shall take it back and put it -on its perch, and no one will be any the worse for it. If I meet -Bernard, as I go back, I shall not care. I shall have had my bit of -falconry, and he can have his falcon. There must be herons, or some kind -of birds, down in that field by the wood, where we saw Bernard -yesterday." - -When Louis reached the field, he gazed eagerly into the air and all -about him for some flying creature, after which he could send his falcon -in chase. But nothing, excepting a few small birds, could he discover, -and he was not to be content with such game as they. If he had had dogs -with him, or knew how himself to arouse the birds from their covers, he -might have had a chance to send his falcon after a long-legged heron, or -a pheasant; but no large bird chose to make its appearance, and poor -Louis began to think that he would lose the one chance he had of seeing -Raymond's falcon in pursuit of its prey. - -Suddenly, from under some bushes near the edge of the wood, a large hare -leaped out, and went jumping across an open space towards a little copse -a short distance beyond the spot where Louis stood. Our young hunter -knew that falcons chased hares, and such small animals, as well as -winged game, and he instantly jerked the hood from the head of his bird, -and cast it off toward the flying hare. - -But, to his amazement, the falcon did not pursue the hare, which, in a -few moments, disappeared in the copse. Louis did not know that hawks or -falcons were not always trained to chase both hares and birds, and that -this one had been accustomed to fly after winged game only. - -Instead of swooping upon the hare, which, it is probable, it did not -see, the falcon rose into the air, and began to soar around in a great -circle. - -"Perhaps it will see some game for itself," thought Louis, "and that -will do just as well." - -But the falcon did not appear to be in pursuit of anything. It only flew -around and around, apparently rising higher and higher each moment. -Louis now became anxious for it to come down, so that he could try again -in some other place to scare up some game, and he began to whistle and -call, as he had heard the falconers do when they wished their birds to -descend. - -But the falcon paid no attention to his calls, and, after rising to a -great height, it flew away to the south, and presently was lost to -sight. - -Poor Louis was overwhelmed with grief. It seemed to him that he could -never hear anything so dismal as the last tinkle of the little bell on -the falcon's leg, nor see anything so sad as the dark speck which he -watched until it appeared to melt away into the distant sky. - -For some minutes Louis stood gazing up into the air, and then he hung -his head, while a few tears came into his eyes. But he was a sturdy boy -in mind and body, and he did not cry much. He slowly turned, and, with -the hood of the falcon in his hand, went back to the house. - -"If they ask me about it, I shall tell them," he said to himself, "but I -hope they will not find it out just as I am starting away." - -It was yet quite early when Louis reached his room, where he found his -brother still asleep, and there was soon so much hurry and bustle, in -the preparation for the departure of the little expedition, that the -absence of the falcon did not seem to have been discovered. - -After a prolonged leave-taking, and a great many tears from his mother -and brother, and from many of the retainers and servants of the chateau, -Louis set forth for the castle of Barran. He rode his mother's palfrey, -a small and gentle horse, and was followed by quite a train of archers -and men-at-arms, headed by the trusty Bernard. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER III. - -WHEN the first pain caused by the separation from his dear mother and -brother began to subside in Louis' heart,—and it must be admitted that -it began to subside pretty soon, the day being so bright and everybody -in such good spirits,—he felt quite proud to see himself at the head of -such a goodly company, and greatly wished that they would fall in with -some enemy, so that he might have a little conquering to tell about when -he should reach his future home. But no enemy was met, and, if a fight -had taken place, it is not likely that the boy would have been able to -boast of his part in it, for Bernard was very careful of his young -charge, and as soon as they had left the neighborhood of the Chateau de -Viteau, and had entered the forest through which ran their road for the -greater part of the journey, he made Louis ride about the middle of the -little procession, while he himself went a short distance in advance, -looking carefully about him for the first signs of robbers, or any one -else who might be likely to dispute their passage. [Illustration: LOUIS -AND BERNARD ON THEIR WAY TO DE BARRAN'S CASTLE.] - -But no such persons were met, and towards the end of the afternoon Louis -and his train rode into the court-yard of the castle. - -The moment that he entered the great gates, the quick eye of the boy -perceived that he had come to a place very different from his mother's -chateau. He had supposed there would be a difference, but had never -imagined it would be so great. There were a good many serving-people, of -various ranks and orders, at Viteau. There were ladies in attendance on -his mother; and sometimes there were knights and other visitors, whose -diversions had made what Raymond and Louis had considered a very gay -time; but there never had been anything like the lively scenes which met -the eye of our young friend, both in the court-yard and in the halls of -the castle itself. Outside there were boy-pages running on various -errands, or standing about, watching other people and neglecting their -own business; and there were squires, men-at-arms, and archers who were -lounging in the shade, or busily at work rubbing up a piece of armor, or -putting a point on an arrow-head or on a blunted lance. Here and there -was a knight not clad in armor, but in fine silk and embroidered cloth, -looking at horses which were being led about the inclosure by varlets or -inferior serving-men, who generally were dressed in clothes of dirty -leather. Two barefooted monks, one of them holding the bridle of a -donkey, with a bag thrown across his back, were talking together near -the gate. Some people were laughing, some were talking, some were -calling to others at a distance, and some were hammering; the horses -were making a good deal of noise with their feet; a man was blowing a -horn, which he had begun to blow as soon as Louis entered the gates, and -which was intended, it appeared, as a general announcement that somebody -had arrived who was a friend, and had been admitted freely. All -together, there was more noise, and moving about, and standing still, -and lying down, than Louis had ever seen, at one time, before. - -Inside the castle there was not so much bustle; but knights and ladies, -the first generally dressed much more finely, and with more show of -color and ornament than their female companions, were to be seen here -and there. The pages who were not running about or standing still -outside, seemed to be doing the same inside; there was a clatter of -metal and wooden dishes in the dining-hall, where the servants were -preparing supper; and, in a room opening into the great hall, a tall -knight sat upon a stool, with a little harp on his knee, singing one of -the romantic songs which were so much liked in those days, and -accompanying his voice with a steady "tum-tum" on the harp-strings. -Around him were several knights and ladies, some sitting and some -standing, and all listening, with much satisfaction, to his song. - -The Count de Barran, a tall, spare man, with an ugly but good-humored -face, gave Louis a kindly welcome. - -"He is the son of Raymond de Viteau, my old brother-at-arms," he said to -a knight with a great brown beard, who stood beside him, "and I shall -try to make of him as good a knight as his—as I can." - -"You were going to say 'as good a knight as his father,' good sir," said -Louis quickly, looking up into Barran's face. "Do you think I cannot be -that?" - -"That will depend upon yourself," said the master of the castle. "Your -father was brave and noble above his fellow-knights. If you become his -equal, my little fellow, I shall be very proud. And now I shall send you -to my sister, the Lady Clemence, who will see that you are taken care -of." - -"The boy's quickness of wit comes out well, even now," said the -brown-bearded knight; "but you may have to wait for the bravery and the -honor to show themselves." - -"Not long, I hope," replied Barran. "Good blood must soon make some -sign, if he has it in him." - -The next day Bernard and his train returned to Viteau, with many -messages from Louis, and the life of the boy, as the youngest page in -the castle, fairly commenced. In a few days he began to understand his -duties, and to make friends among the other pages, all of whom were sons -of well-born people. These boys had come to the castle to receive the -only education they would ever have. Louis did not at first very much -like to wait upon the knights and ladies at table, and to find himself -expected to serve so many people in so many ways; but he soon became -used to these things, especially when he saw other boys, whom he knew to -be just as good as he was, doing what he was expected to do. - -He had a bright, interesting face, and he soon became a favorite, -especially among the ladies, for they liked to be waited upon by a page -who was so good-humored and quick. The Count de Barran was not married, -and his sister, the Lady Clemence, was at the head of domestic affairs -in his castle. - -The only very young person among the visitors at the castle was a little -girl named Agnes, the motherless daughter of Count Hugo de Lanne, the -brown-bearded man who had talked with De Barran about his new page. -Between this girl and Louis a friendship soon sprang up. Agnes was a -year older than he, and she knew so much of castle-life, and of the -duties of a page, that she became one of his best instructors. She was a -lively, impulsive girl; and this was the reason, no doubt, why she and -Louis got on so well together. - -One morning, as Agnes was passing through an upper hall, she saw, -standing at a window which overlooked the court-yard, our young friend -Louis, with an enormous battle-ax over his shoulder. As she approached, -he turned from the window, out of which he had been looking. - -"What in the world," she cried, "are you doing with that great ax, and -what makes you look so doleful?" - -"I am taking the ax down to the armorer's shop, to be sharpened and -polished," he said. - -"It is too big a thing for you to be carrying about," said Agnes, "and -it seems sharp enough now. And as to you, you look as if you were going -somewhere to cut your head off with it. What is the matter with you?" - -"That is the matter," said Louis, turning again to the window, and -pointing to a body of horsemen who were just riding out of the gate. -They had dogs with them, and several of them carried each a hooded -falcon perched upon his wrist. - -"Did you want to go hunting herons? Is that what troubles you?" asked -Agnes. - -"No, indeed; I don't want to go," said Louis. "I hate to see falcons." - -"What did you look at them for, then?" asked Agnes. "But I don't see how -you can hate them. I love to see them swooping about, so lordly, in the -air. Why do not you like them as well as I do?" - -Moved by a strong desire to share his secret with some one, Louis, after -a little hesitation, finally put the battle-ax on the floor, and told -Agnes the whole story of the loss of his brother's falcon, first making -her promise that she would never repeat it to any one. He told it all in -a straightforward way, and finished by explaining how the sight of the -hunters made him think of his poor brother, who could not go hawking for -ever so long. Indeed, he did not know that Bernard would be willing to -get another hawk and take all the trouble of training it. He might be -very angry. - -"I think it's easy enough to make that right," said Agnes. "You ought to -give your brother another hawk, already trained." - -"I would like much to know where I am to get it," said Louis. - -Agnes thought for a moment. - -"My father will give you one," she said, "if I ask him. If he questions -me as to what you want with it, I can tell him, with truth, that you -want to give it to your brother, who has no falcon, and who needs one -very much." - -"Do you really think he would give me one?" asked Louis, with -brightening face. - -"I am sure of it," said Agnes. "He has plenty of trained falcons, and he -could spare one easily enough. I will ask him, as soon as he comes back -to-day." - -Accordingly, when Count Hugo returned from his hawking expedition that -afternoon, he was met by his little daughter, who asked him for a -falcon, a well-trained and good one, which could hunt hares as well as -birds, and which would be sure to come back to its master whenever it -was called. - -Of course such a request as this excited some surprise, and required a -good deal of explanation. But when Count Hugo, who was a very indulgent -father, and who had also quite a liking for Louis, heard what was to be -done with the bird, he consented to give it. - -"If he wanted it for himself," he said, "I should not let him have it, -for a page has no need of falcons, and a boy of the right spirit ought -not to desire gifts; but, as he wants it for his brother, who is in a -station to use it, it shows a generous disposition, and he shall have -it." And calling to one of his falconers to bring him a hawk, he handed -it to Agnes, and told her that she should herself give it to her young -friend. - -"He and you can look at it for a quarter of an hour," said the Count, -"and then he must bring it back to Orion, here, who will feed and take -care of it until the boy has an opportunity of sending it to his -brother. Don't take its hood off, and keep your fingers well clear of -its beak." - -When Agnes appeared with the falcon unsteadily perched on her two small -fists, which she had covered with a scarf, to keep its talons from -hurting her, Louis was overwhelmed with delight. He was sure that this -was a much finer bird than the one he had lost. - -When the falcon had been sufficiently admired, and had been returned to -its keeper, and when Louis had run to find Count Hugo, and had thanked -him for his kindness, the question arose between the two young friends: -How was he to be carried to Raymond? - -[Illustration: LOUIS, AGNES, AND THE FALCON.] - -"If I had any way of riding there, I'd take it to him myself. I want him -to have it just as soon as he can get it," said Louis. - -"I can lend you my jennet," said Agnes. "He is small, but can travel -far." - -"You will lend him!" cried Louis. "And are you not going to use him for -two days? It will take at the very least two days to go to Viteau and -come back." - -"I may not ride him for a week," said Agnes. "But you must not travel to -your mother's house alone. You must wait until some company is going -that way." - -Louis would have been willing to start off by himself, but he knew he -would not be allowed to do so; and he had to curb his impatience for -three whole days before an opportunity of making his journey offered -itself. Then a knight from the south was leaving the castle, with a -small train, and as they would pass near Viteau, Louis was allowed to -accompany them. - -The Count de Barran was not pleased that his new page should ask for -leave of absence so soon; but, as it was represented that there was good -reason for the journey, and as the Lady Clemence urged the boy's -request, he was allowed to go. - -So, early one morning Louis started away, the gayest of his company, his -little Spanish steed were evidently the present dwelling-places of these -robbers, or _cotereaux_, as they were called. There were several classes -of highwaymen, or brigands, in France at this time, and of these the -_cotereaux_ were, probably, the most numerous. - -There were fires built in various places about the open space in which -the huts had been erected, and there were a good many men around the -fires. A smell of cooking meat made Louis feel sure that supper would -soon be ready, and this was a comforting thing to him, for he was very -hungry. The supper which was served to him was of plain food, but he had -enough, and the bed he slept on, at the back part of the Captain's hut, -was nothing but a lot of dry leaves and twigs, with a coarse cloth -thrown over it; but Louis was very tired, and it was not long before he -was sound asleep. - -He was much troubled, of course, at the thought of going to bed in this -way, in the midst of a band of robbers, but he was not afraid that they -would do him any injury, for he had heard enough about these _cotereaux_ -to know that they took prisoners almost always for the purpose of making -money out of them, and not to do them useless harm. If he had been an -older and a deeper thinker, he would, probably, have thought of the harm -which might be done to him in case no money could be made by overtaken. -He expected to be pursued, for he knew the knight and his men would not -allow him to go off by himself if it could be prevented. - -So he galloped on, his falcon tightly grasping the saddle-bow, and he -himself turning around every few minutes, to see if he were followed. -But he saw no horsemen riding after him. The knight's men had straggled -a good deal after they had turned into the new road, and Louis was not -missed for an hour or two. Then, when his absence was discovered, the -knight sent three men after him, with instructions to bring him back, or -to escort him to Viteau, in case they found him near that place. It was -supposed, of course, that he had slipped away, so as to get home as soon -as possible. - -The men did not like the job at all, for they feared they would not be -able to return until after dark to the chateau where their party was to -spend the night, and they did not fancy traveling at night for the sake -of a boy they knew very slightly, and cared very little about. So, after -riding five or six miles, they agreed to halt until nearly night, and -ride back to their party at the top of their speed, and report that they -had overtaken Louis, and had accompanied him to a spot within sight of -his mother's chateau. This story was believed by the knight from the -south, who had no very clear idea as to the distance of Viteau from the -forks of the road; and no further thought was given to the young page. - -As for Louis, he kept madly on his way. His horse was strong and fleet, -but it was beginning to flag a little in its pace, when, suddenly, it -stopped short. A tall man stood in front of it, and in a moment had -seized the panting animal by the bridle. Another man, with a pike in his -hand, appeared on the right, while several others came out from behind -some bushes on the left. The tall man wore a cuirass, or body-armor, of -steel rings linked closely together, which had probably once been bright -and shining, but which was now very rusty and old. He wore no other -armor, and his clothes seemed torn and soiled. The whole party, indeed, -as Louis, with open mouth and eyes, glanced quickly around him,—too much -startled to speak,—seemed to be a very rusty set of fellows. - -Louis did not long remain silent. Indeed, he was the first one to speak. -He had often seen such persons as these among the serfs and varlets at -the castle, and he had been accustomed to respect from them. - -"Ho there!" he cried, "move out of my way. Step from the road, do you -hear? I am going home to my mother's chateau, and I am in a hurry." - -"Your mother can wait," said the tall man. "We should be pleased to have -your company ourselves to-night. So do not be angry. You can not go on." - -"I believe," cried Louis, his eyes flashing, although they were full of -tears, "that you are a set of robbers." - -"That is true," said the other, "and this little man, and this little -horse, and this very fine falcon, are our booty." - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - -LOUIS did not submit readily to his captors. At first he was angry; then -he cried, and when some of the men laughed at him for being a baby he -got angry again, and told them they were a band of cowards to set upon -him in this way,—a dozen men on one boy,—and that if they wanted to rob -him they might do it and go about their business. He did not care; he -could walk home. - -"No, no, my valiant page," said the leader of the robbers; "we don't -want you to walk and we don't want you to go home. We shall take you -with us now, and we will see about the robbing afterward." - -And with this he turned the little horse around, and led him, by a path -which Louis had passed without noticing it, into the depths of the -forest. On the way, the robber asked his young prisoner a great many -questions regarding his family, his connections, and his present -business in riding thus alone through the forest roads. To these -questions Louis was ready enough to give answer, for it was not his -nature to conceal anything, unless he thought it absolutely necessary. -Indeed, he was quite proud of the opportunity thus afforded him of -talking about the rank and importance of his mother, and of dwelling -upon the great power and warlike renown of the nobleman under whom he -served. - -"They will not let me stay here long, you may be sure of that," said -Louis. "As soon as they hear that you have carried me off, they will -take me away from you." - -"I hope so, indeed," said the robber, laughing; "and if I had not -thought that they would take you from me, I should not have taken the -trouble to capture you." - -"Oh, I know what you mean," said the boy. "You expect them to ransom -me." - -"I most certainly do," replied the other. - -"But they will not do it," cried Louis. "They will come with soldiers -and take me from you!" - -"We shall see," returned the robber. - -It was almost dark when, by many winding and sometimes almost invisible -paths through the forest, the party reached a collection of rude huts, -which his capture; but this matter did not enter his mind. He went to -sleep with the feeling that what he wanted now was a good night's rest, -and that, in some way or other, all would be right on the morrow. - -Michol, the captain of the band, was very plain-spoken, the next -morning, in telling Louis his plans in regard to him. "I know well," he -said, "that your mother is able to pay a handsome ransom for you, and, -if she is so hard-hearted that she will not do it, I can depend on -Barran. He will not let a page from his castle pine away in these woods, -for the sake of a handful of gold." - -"My mother is not hard-hearted," said Louis, "and I am not going to pine -away, no matter how long you keep me. Do you intend to send to my mother -to-day?" - -"Not so soon as that," replied Michol. "I shall let her have time to -feel what a grievous thing it is to have a son carried away to the heart -of the forest, where she can never find him, and where he must stay, -month after month and year after year, until she pays his worthy captors -what she thinks the boy is worth." - -"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Louis. "If you will give me my horse -and my falcon, which your men have taken from me, and will let me have -again my dagger, I will go to Viteau, myself, and tell my mother about -the ransom; and I promise you that she will send you all the money she -can afford to spend for me in that way. And, if there is no one else to -bring it,—for our men might be afraid to venture among so many -robbers,—I shall bring it myself, on my way back to Barran's castle. I -am not afraid to come." - -"I am much pleased to hear that, my boy," said Michol, "but I do not -like your plan. When I am ready, I shall send a messenger, and no one -will be afraid to bring me the money, when everything is settled. But -one thing you can do. If you have ever learned to write,—and I have -heard that the Countess of Viteau has taught her sons to be -scholars,—you may write a letter to your mother, and tell her in what a -doleful plight you find yourself, and how necessary it is that she -should send all the money that I ask for. Thus she will see that you are -really my prisoner, and will not delay to come to your assistance. One -of my men, Jasto, will give you a pen and ink, and something to write -your letter on. You may go, now, and look for Jasto. You will know him -by his torn clothes and his thirst for knowledge." - -"Torn clothes!" said Louis, as he walked away. "They all have clothes of -that kind. And, as for his thirst for knowledge, I can not see how I am -to find out that. I suppose the Captain wanted to give me something to -do, so as to keep me from troubling him. I am not going to look for any -Jasto. If I could find my horse, and could get a chance, I should jump -on him and gallop away from these fellows." - -Louis wandered about among the huts, peering here and there for a sight -of Agnes's little jennet. But he saw nothing of him, for the animal had -been taken away to another part of the forest, to keep company with -other stolen horses. And even if he had been able to mount and ride away -unobserved, it would have been impossible for Louis to find his way -along the devious paths of the forest to the highway. More than this, -although he seemed to be wandering about in perfect liberty, some of the -men had orders to keep their eyes upon the boy, and to stop him if he -endeavored to penetrate into the forest. - -"Ho, there!" said a man, whom Louis suddenly met, as he was walking -between two of the huts, "are you looking for anything? What have you -lost?" - -"I have lost nothing," said Louis, deeming it necessary to reply only to -the last question. - -"I thought you lost your liberty yesterday," said the other, "and, -before that, you must have lost your senses, to be riding alone on a -road, walled in for miles and miles by trees, bushes, and brave -_cotereaux_. But, of course, I did not suppose that you came here to -look for either your liberty or your senses. What is it you want?" - -Louis had no intention of telling the man that he was looking for his -horse, and so, as he felt obliged to give some answer, he said: - -"I was sent to look for Jasto, so that I could write a letter to my -mother." - -"Jasto!" exclaimed the man. "Well, my young page, if you find everything -in the world as easily as you found Jasto, you will do well. I am Jasto. -And do you know how you came to find me?" - -"I chanced to meet you," said Louis. - -"Not so," said the other. "If I had not been looking for you, you never -would have found me. Things often happen in that manner. If what we are -looking for does not look for us, we never find it. But what is this -about your mother and a letter? Sit down here, in this bit of shade, and -make these things plain to me." - -Louis accepted this invitation, for the sun was beginning to be warm, -and he sat down by the man, at the foot of a tree. - -"I do not believe you are Jasto," he said, looking at his companion. -"Your clothes are not torn. I was told to look for a man with torn -clothes." - -[Illustration: LOUIS FINDS ONE OF THE HIGHWAYMEN A GOOD-NATURED FELLOW.] - -"Torn clothes!" exclaimed the other. "What are you talking of? Not torn? -Why, boy, my clothes are more torn and are worse torn and have staid -torn longer than the clothes of any man in all our goodly company. But -they have been mended, you see, and that is what makes them observable -among so many sadly tattered garments." - -Louis looked at the coarse jerkin, breeches, and stockings of the man -beside him. They were, certainly, torn and ripped in many places, and -the torn places were of many curious shapes, as if the wearer had been -making a hurried journey through miles of bramble bushes; but all the -torn places were carefully mended with bright-red silk thread, which -made them more conspicuous than if they had not been mended at all. - -"I see that they have been torn," said Louis, "but they are not torn -now." - -"A great mistake, my good sir page—a great mistake," said the other; -"once torn, always torn. If my clothes are mended, that but gives them -another quality. Then they have two qualities. They are torn and they -are mended. If one's clothes are torn, the only way to have clothes that -are not torn is to have new ones. Think of that, boy, and make no rents -in yourself nor in your clothes. Although mending can be done very -well," he added, looking complacently at his breeches, "the evil of it -is, though, that it always shows." - -"I could mend better than that," said Louis. - -"That is to be hoped; it is truly to be hoped," said the other, "for you -have had better chances than I. This red silk, left in our hands by a -fair lady, who was taking it to waste it in embroidery in some friend's -castle, was all the thread I had for my mending. Now, you could have all -things suitable for your mending, whether of clothes or of mind or of -body, if it should so happen that you should have rents in any of these. -But tell me, now, about your letter." - -"There is nothing to tell," said Louis, "excepting that your Captain -wishes me to write a letter to my mother, urging her to send good ransom -for me, and that he said you could give me pen and ink and something to -write upon." - -"Pen and ink are well enough," said the man, who, as Louis now believed, -was really Jasto, "for I can make them. But something to write on is a -more difficult matter to find. Paper is too scarce, and parchment costs -too much; and so there is none of either in this company. But I shall -see to it that you have something to write on when you are ready to -write. It strikes me that the chief trouble will be to put together the -three things—the pen and the ink and the something to write on—in such a -manner as to make a letter of them. Did you ever write a letter?" - -"Not yet. But I know how to do it," said Louis; and, as he spoke, he -remembered how he had promised his brother to write a letter to him. He -was now going to send a letter to Viteau, but under what strange -circumstances it would be written! If he were at the castle, Agnes would -help him. He wished he had thought of asking her, weeks ago, to help -him. - -"I have written a letter myself," said Jasto, "but before I had written -it I trembled to say I could do it. And I was a grown man, and had -fought in three battles. But pages are bolder than soldiers. Would you -like to hear about my letter?" - -"Indeed I should," said Louis, anxious to listen to anything which might -give him a helping hint regarding the duty he had taken upon himself. - -"Well, then," said Jasto, stretching out his legs, "I shall tell you -about my letter. It was just before——" - -"Jasto!" rang out a voice from the opposite side of the inclosure formed -by the huts. - -"There!" cried Jasto, jumping to his feet, "that is the Captain. I must -go. But you sit still, just where you are, and when I come back, which -will be shortly, I shall tell you about my letter." - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - -WE must now go back to the Chateau de Viteau, and see what has happened -there since the departure of Louis for his new home. Of course, the boy -was greatly missed by his mother and brother, but Raymond soon found -himself so busy that he had not time enough to grieve very much over the -absence of his old playmate. In order to prepare himself for the school -at Paris he was obliged to study diligently, and in order that he might -make a good appearance at the house of his cousin, with whom he was to -live, Bernard insisted on his employing nearly all his leisure time in -out-door exercises and knightly accomplishments. Hawking was postponed -for the present, for, after the loss of Raymond's falcon was discovered, -Bernard declared that he had not the heart to train another one -immediately, even if a good bird could be easily obtained, which was not -the case. - -Very little was said about the disappearance of the falcon. Raymond, his -mother, and the squire each had a suspicion that Louis had had something -to do with it; but no one of them mentioned it to either of the others. -Each hoped the suspicion was unfounded, and therefore said nothing about -it. - -While Raymond was busy with his studies and his manly exercises, the -mind of Bernard, even while giving the boy the benefit of his knowledge -of the management of horses and the use of arms, was occupied with a -very serious matter. - -As has been said before, the Countess of Viteau was one of the very few -ladies in France who was fairly educated, and who took an interest in -acquiring knowledge from books. This disposition, so unusual at that -time, together with her well-known efforts to have her sons educated, -even giving a helping hand herself whenever she found that she was -qualified to do so, had attracted attention to her, and many people -began to talk about her, as a woman who gave a great deal of time to -useless pursuits. Why should a lady of her rank—these people said—wish -to read books and study out the meaning of old manuscripts, as if she -were of no higher station than a poor monk? If there were anything in -the books and parchments which she ought to know, the priests would tell -her all about it. - -But the Countess thought differently, and she kept on with her reading, -which was almost entirely confined to religious works, and in this way -she gradually formed some ideas about religious matters which were -somewhat different from those taught at that time by the Church of Rome, -or, at least, from those taught by the priests about her. She saw no -harm in her opinions, and did not hesitate to speak of them to the -priests who came to the chateau from a neighboring monastery, and even -to argue in favor of them. - -The priests, however, did see harm in the ideas of the Countess, simply -because, in those days, people had very narrow and bigoted ways of -thinking in regard to religious affairs, and it was generally thought -that any person having an opinion differing, even very little, from what -was taught by the monks and priests, was doing a wicked thing to persist -in such an opinion after he had been told it was wrong. - -For this reason, when the priests who had charge of the religious -services at Viteau found that their arguments made no impression on the -Countess, who was able to answer them back in such a way that they could -find nothing more to say on their side of the question, they reported -the state of affairs to some of the higher officers of the Church, and, -in due time, a man was sent to Viteau to find out exactly what its -mistress did think, and why she was so wicked as to think it. - -The person who was sent was the Dominican monk, Brother Anselmo, who was -met by the two boys and Bernard, on the occasion when we first made -their acquaintance. Brother Anselmo was a quiet-spoken man, making no -pretensions to authority or to superior knowledge; and the Countess -talked with him and answered his questions freely and unsuspectingly. -She knew he was a Dominican, and she knew he had come to the -neighborhood of Viteau on purpose to talk with her on certain religious -subjects; but this did not surprise her, as she supposed all good people -were just as much interested in these subjects as she was; but she had -no idea that he was connected with the Inquisition at Toulouse. - -Bernard, the squire, however, knew well who he was, and it troubled him -greatly to know it. - -Some weeks after the Dominican had begun to make his almost daily visits -to Viteau, he came, one day, accompanied by another monk, who did not -enter the grounds, but who remained outside the little gate, waiting for -his companion to return. - -Bernard noticed the monk waiting outside, and thinking that this unusual -occurrence had something suspicious about it, he followed Brother -Anselmo when he left the chateau, and, as he rejoined his fellow monk, -the squire slipped quietly up to the wall and listened to what they said -to each other. In this case, Bernard did not consider that he was doing -a very improper thing. He feared that danger threatened the household of -Viteau, and that these two monks were the persons through whom the evil -would come. Therefore, he believed that it was his duty to employ every -possible means of averting this danger; and he listened with all his -ears. - -What he heard was very little. The two monks stood silent a few moments, -and then the one who had been waiting said something in a low voice, -which Bernard could not hear. To this Brother Anselmo answered: "We have -done all we can. I think it is a case for the Holy Inquisition." - -And then the two walked off together. - -Bernard now knew that his fears were correct. His beloved mistress, on -account of some of her religious opinions, was in danger of being -carried a prisoner to Toulouse, there to be tried before the officers of -the Inquisition. He had no doubt that her opinions, whatever they were, -were entirely correct, for he had a great respect for her religious -knowledge, and he felt sure she knew more than the monks who came to the -chateau, but he well understood that, if she should be put on trial, and -if the doctrines she believed to be true were found to differ, in the -least point, from those taught by the priests, she would be considered -guilty of heresy, and perhaps be put to death. - -The squire went away from the wall a very sad man. He was certain that -no one at the chateau but himself knew of the danger of its mistress, -and he felt that it rested on him to take some immediate steps to save -her, if that were possible. - -As he approached the house, Bernard met Raymond, who was coming to take -some lessons from him in the use of the long sword. The good squire -never threw so much energy and good-will into his lessons as he did that -day. - -"If he has to fight for his mother," he said to himself, "I want him to -fight well." - -[Illustration: BERNARD TEACHING RAYMOND THE USE OF THE LONG SWORD.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - -FOR some days after the departure of Louis for his mother's chateau, -none of his friends had the least idea of his unfortunate situation. At -the castle it was supposed that he was overstaying his time with his -family, and at Viteau no one knew that he had left the castle. At last, -Barran, somewhat provoked that the boy should so deliberately disobey -his orders,—for he had told him to return promptly,—and knowing that his -mother could always furnish him an escort, sent messengers to Viteau, -demanding that Louis should immediately come back with them. - -This, of course, caused great consternation at the chateau, and the -messengers went hurriedly home, accompanied by Raymond, to tell the news -that Louis had not yet been seen at his mother's house. - -The Countess wished Bernard to go with the messengers, but this he -refused to do, urging that his place could be nowhere else than at -Viteau, and that Raymond could confer as well as any one else with -Barran, regarding the immediate steps which should be taken to find out -what had become of Louis, and to rescue him from any danger he might -have fallen into. - -The Countess spent the time, during Raymond's absence, in tears and -prayers. When he returned, there came with him a small troop of -well-armed men, which Barran had sent to press on, as rapidly as -possible, to the estates of the knight from the South, for it had been -thought very likely that this knight had been prevented in some way from -stopping at Viteau, and that he had taken Louis on with him, intending -to send him back at some convenient opportunity. That the boy should -have been lost, in any way, from the company of the southern knight, -Barran did not consider possible. - -This belief of a man so sensible as Barran partially comforted the -Countess; but when the troop returned, and told how Louis had left the -knight's company to ride on by himself, as none could doubt, to his -mother's house, the poor lady was completely overwhelmed with grief, and -thus she remained until Barran arrived at Viteau, for which place he -started as soon as he heard the news. - -Vigorous measures were now taken for a search after Louis. It was -generally agreed that he must have been captured by robbers, for there -was no other danger which was likely to befall him on the road; but what -robbers had taken him, and to what place they had conveyed him, were -questions not easy to answer. That a band of _cotereaux_ might then be -in the forest, within ten or fifteen miles of Viteau, was not at all -improbable; but to find out their hiding-place, and, also, to find them -in it, would certainly be difficult tasks. The forests of that time -spread over such a vast extent of country, and were so dense, and in -many places so apparently pathless, that to find anything so carefully -hidden as a robber's camp would be a matter almost as much of chance as -of skill and design. - -Barran privately declared that, if it were not for the Countess, who -seemed almost overcome with grief, he would quietly wait a few days -before attempting to penetrate the forest with any force; for he was -sure that, if the boy had been captured by _cotereaux_, their only -object was to get a ransom for him, and that they would soon be heard -from. Under the circumstances, however, Count de Barran saw that it -would be necessary to take immediate action, and Bernard was very active -in pushing forward the most warlike preparations. - -Some of these appeared almost ridiculous to the Count. - -"How now, Squire?" he said. "One might think that we expected the -rascals to attack this chateau, and carry off the other boy. By the -plans you lay, there will be more cross-bows and lances left at Viteau -than we shall carry with us into the forest." - -"I should not leave the Countess defenseless, good Sir Count," replied -the squire. - -"I know you are a good man and a brave soldier, Bernard," said Barran, -"and as much to be trusted, in peace or war, as many a knight of good -renown; but this is something too prudent. In these times the -_cotereaux_ do not come out of their holes to our chateaux and castles -to carry us away." - -Bernard hesitated before making answer to this speech. He had intended -informing Barran of his recent discoveries in regard to the visits of -the Dominican monk, but he had not thought it well to speak of the -matter now, when the minds of every one were so occupied with the -present great trouble. However, he knew that it would be necessary to -give the reasons for the peculiar measures he advocated, and so he said, -in a low but impressive tone: - -"No, good Sir Count, the _cotereaux_ do not come to our houses to carry -us away, but the officers of the Holy Inquisition do." - -"What means that?" cried Barran, turning pale; and then, on a warning -signal from the squire, he lowered his voice and continued: "Has the -Countess brought upon herself the censure of the priests, by her strange -ideas about the saints? I have heard of them. Tell me quickly, is that -what you mean?" - -The squire bowed his head. - -"This is, indeed, grievous," said Barran; "but, surely, we need have no -great fears. Tell me, quickly, what has happened?" - -Then Bernard told all that he feared and all that he had heard. - -Barran was not easily frightened. Indeed, he was too apt to sneer at -things which other people considered dangerous; but this was such a very -serious matter that it caused him great anxiety and even fear, when he -heard of the peril to which the wife of his dear old friend was likely -to be exposed. - -"This must not be allowed," he said. "We can not suffer that gentle lady -to be taken from us by the Inquisition. Even if she should be found -entirely innocent, which is not likely, the trial itself is something I -cannot think of for a moment. And yet what is to be done? We can not -fight the Church." - -"No, Sir Count," said Bernard, "but I shall be here, with all the force -of men and arms that I can bring together, to defend my lady, and if the -Church fights me, I shall do my best battle." - -"And you shall not do battle alone, my good Bernard," said Barran; "but -it may be that we shall find some better way to avert the evil than by -force of arms, which, indeed, would amount to very little, I fear me, in -the end. But now we must give our hearts and hands to the finding of -this poor, foolish boy." - -Bernard was perfectly willing to give his heart to the finding of Louis, -but he would not give his hand. Nothing could induce him to leave the -chateau, where he insisted upon being left with a moderate force of -well-armed men. - -Barran, with several knights from his castle, for whom he had sent when -he found that there would, probably, be more work to be done than he had -at first anticipated, set out as soon as possible, at the head of a -large body of followers, some of whom were expert in all kinds of -wood-craft, and as capable as any men could be of finding out the paths -of beasts or human beings in the depths of the woods. - -The party quickly made its way along the road down which Louis must have -ridden; and, a few miles below the place where the road forked, turned -into the woods, to the west, and made careful search for paths, or any -traces of the passage of men through the undergrowth. Several -well-marked paths were soon discovered, and along the most promising of -these Barran and his men pushed their way, sometimes separating, in -various directions, and then coming together again, until they had -penetrated far into the forest. - -Unfortunately for the success of their search, the camp of the -_cotereaux_ was in the woods to the east of the road. To be sure, the -forest, in every direction, would be searched in time, but if the -Count's party should keep on in the way it was going, it would be long -before it could find the huts of Captain Michol. - -Raymond stayed at the chateau with his mother. He much wished to join -the Count's party in the search for his brother, but Barran told him -that it was his duty to try to comfort and console the Countess until -Louis should be brought back, and, therefore, Raymond reluctantly -remained at Viteau. He loved his mother, and was always willing to do -anything that would please or benefit her, but, in this case, he thought -that she, being safe at home, did not need him nearly so much as his -poor brother, who probably was suffering in captivity, no one knew -where. - -On the evening of the second day after the departure of the searching -party, Raymond came down into the grounds of the chateau. His mother was -asleep, and he came out for a little exercise. - -Not far from the house he met the squire. - -"Bernard," said Raymond, "I think it is a foolish thing for you and me -and all these men to be idling here. We might leave my mother with her -ladies, and a man or two, and go, the rest of us, to help scour the -woods to find dear Louis." - -Just at this moment, and before Bernard could answer him, Raymond saw, -coming up from the lower part of the grounds, the Dominican monk, -Brother Anselmo. - -"What does that man want, Bernard?" he exclaimed. "There have been two -priests here to-day, to console my mother in her affliction, and I do -not think another one is needed now, especially not this man, who does -not belong to our monastery and who keeps himself a stranger to me. My -mother is asleep, and should not be disturbed." - -"If she is asleep," said the squire, "she shall not be disturbed." - -He then walked back to the house, closely followed by Raymond, and stood -in the entrance door. In a few moments the monk appeared, and with a -slight motion of the head, but not a word, stepped forward to pass in. -But the squire stood stoutly before him, and stopped him. - -"My lady, the Countess," he said, "is weary and sick at heart on account -of the loss of her young son. She is sleeping now and can not be -disturbed." - -"If she is sick at heart," said Brother Anselmo, "that is the greater -reason why I should see her." - -"It can not be," said Bernard. "She needs rest, and no one must disquiet -her." - -"What right have you, Squire Bernard," said the monk, "to forbid my -entrance? Are you the master of this house?" - -"No," said Raymond, stepping forward, "but I am, when my mother can not -act as its mistress, and I say that no one shall disturb her this night. -Two priests have been here to-day, and I know she expects no others." - -"Boy," said Brother Anselmo, "stand aside! You should be chastised for -such presumptuous words; and as for you, Squire, I command you, in the -name of the Church, to let me pass." - -"I honor the Church as much as any man," said Bernard, "but I do not -believe that she grants to her priests the right to ask what they -please, in her name. I might come to be asked for my purse, in the name -of the Church; and that I would not give up, any more than I shall give -up my right to protect my mistress, the Countess, in this, her first -hour of sleep and rest for many days." - -Brother Anselmo was very angry. Shaking his fist at the sturdy squire, -he cried: - -"Stupid blunderer! You shall see, and that right soon, what power the -Church gives me." And then, without another word, he turned and walked -rapidly away. - -"What does he mean?" asked Raymond. "I greatly dislike that monk. He is -always asking my mother questions which trouble her much to answer." - -Bernard made no reply, but stood for a moment in deep thought. Then he -said to himself: "An hour to the monastery, and an hour back. There is -yet time, and the plan I think of will be the better one. I can not -trust the men to stand against the priests. Raymond! Run now, and have -your horse saddled and bridled, and ride out of the upper gate, and wait -for me in the road." - -"Why so?" cried Raymond, in surprise. "It is too late for exercises." - -"I can not answer now," said Bernard, hurrying away. "Be speedy and I -will tell you on the road." - -[Illustration: BROTHER ANSELMO THREATENS BERNARD AND RAYMOND.] - -Raymond, much amazed, but feeling quite sure that the squire had some -good reason for this strange proceeding, ran to get his horse, while -Bernard ordered the men-at-arms to hastily equip themselves for an -expedition, and to gather together, mounted, inside the north gate. Then -he went upstairs to the apartments of the Countess, and asked to speak -with one of her ladies. The Countess, who was only lightly dozing on a -couch, heard the squire's voice, and, instantly rising, called to him to -know what news he brought. - -Bernard advanced within the door-way, and in a hurried voice told his -lady that the news he brought was of great import, but that he must tell -it to her alone. The Countess then desired the ladies who were with her -to retire to another room, and the squire, in as few words as possible, -but very earnestly and forcibly, told her of her great danger, of the -threats of the Dominican monk, and of the fact that he had heard, that -day, of the arrival of a body of men, well-armed, at the neighboring -monastery. - -"In an hour or so," he said, "these men will be here, I greatly fear me. -Raymond is already on the road, for I wished to spare him this wretched -story, and, if we do not start quickly for Barran's castle, where you -will find present safety, it may happen that weeks and months may pass -before you will have news of Louis, even if he should be found -to-morrow." - -"You mean that I may not be here to meet the news?" the lady said. - -Bernard bowed his head. The Countess did not hesitate, but came to a -decision at once. - -"I shall be ready," she said, "in a very short time. Have horses -prepared for myself and my three ladies. We must hasten to Raymond, if -he be alone on the road." - -She then called her ladies, and began to make rapid preparations for the -journey. - -The horses were scarcely ready when the ladies made their appearance in -the court, and, in a few minutes, accompanied by Bernard and the -men-at-arms, they rode out of the north gate. An elderly man, who acted -as seneschal, or keeper of the establishment, was left, with the -ordinary servants and vassals, in charge of the chateau. - -Raymond, riding slowly up and down the road, was soon overtaken, and -then the squire, without entering into explanations, urged his party -onward as swiftly as possible. - -"What is the meaning of all this?" cried Raymond, in great perplexity, -riding up to his mother. "It is stranger than any of the old tales the -women used to tell me." - -The Countess was a lady of strong mind and body, and although the -unknown fate of her younger son had overwhelmed her with grief, this new -peril to her whole family had thoroughly aroused her, and she was riding -steadily and swiftly onward. - -"It is a strange tale," she said—"stranger far than any I thought would -ever be told in this fair land; but I can not tell it to you, my boy, -until our journey's end. Then you shall hear it all." - -So Raymond, with the rest, rode on, and he, with all the others, -excepting the squire and his mother, supposed that this long night-ride -had something to do with the rescue of Louis. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - -LOUIS sat for a long time, in the bit of shade by the tree, before Jasto -returned; but, when that learned man at last made his appearance, he -merely remarked that the Captain had kept him longer than he had -supposed he would, and, after that, he had to look for a quill, of which -to make a pen. - -"It is not an easy thing to get the right kind of quill for a pen, you -must know," he said, as he took his seat by Louis, and began to scrape -the lower end of a long quill with a broad, sharp knife which he took -from his belt. "A crow-quill will do very well, or even a quill from a -hawk; but I like a long one, like this, which came from a heron's wing, -nailed up in one of our houses. And he who nailed it up never dreamed of -the benefit that a quill from that wing would bring to our good -company." - -"What benefit?" asked Louis. - -"The benefit that comes from the money your mother will send us when she -reads your letter." - -"Oh!" said Louis. - -"And while I make this pen," continued his companion, "I shall tell you -the story of my letter." - -"Yes, indeed," cried Louis; "I should rather have that than the pen—at -least, just now." - -"That is a bad choice, for the pen is to give you liberty, and the story -will not do that. However, there is a lesson in the story, and you shall -have it. It was just before one of the battles between Queen Blanche and -the Duke of Burgundy. I was a soldier then, in the service of a good -knight; and although I was not his squire, but a simple man-at-arms, -ready to fight on horse or on foot, or not to fight at all, just as the -case might be, still I was a better man than the squire—for he could not -write, any more than his master could. So, just before the battle, the -knight sent for me, and, said he, 'Jasto, I have heard that you are a -wise fellow and can write, and I want you to write me a letter.' He knew -I could write, because I had told him so, and had told all my companions -so, for this I found I must do, otherwise they would never be aware of -it; for, not knowing how to write themselves, how could they comprehend -that I knew? 'I want to send a messenger back to my castle,' said my -good knight, 'and I want him to carry a straight and fair message, which -he can not do if I send it by word of mouth. So you must write what I -wish to say in a letter to my seneschal, and the messenger shall carry -it.' With that, he showed me a little piece of parchment that he had -with him, and a phial of ink and a pen, and he bade me sit down and -write what he told me to say. I liked not this haste, which gave me no -time for study and preparation, and I told him, with due respect, that I -could not write unless I had a table on which to lay my parchment. -Whereupon he made a man with a cuirass get down on all-fours before me, -so that on this man's steel back I could write as on a table. My master -then told me to write how that, knowing the enemy would soon reach the -spot where we then lay, and feeling the want of a stronger force, he -desired his seneschal to send him five more men, and five horses, with -arms and all things needful, and also to send therewith a new casque -which he expected from the armorer, and a long sword which hung up in -the great hall, and divers other things, of which I wot not now. When I -came to write down all this, I found myself sorely troubled, for you -must know that to write a letter requires a knowledge of many things. -One must know what letters are needed for a word, what order to put them -in, and how to make them. - -"Some words need a good many letters, and if the letters in a word are -not the right letters, and are not set in a befitting order, it will be -of no use for any man, even the most learned scholar, to try to tell -what that word is. So I soon found that for many of the words I could -not remember the letters, and of those letters I did remember there were -some that I could not make, for I had forgotten their shape. But I would -not tell my master that, for it would have been a sorrowful thing to -have fallen from my high place as the most learned person in our -company, not to speak of the punishment I might have expected. So I -wrote on, making the best words I could devise with the letters at my -command, and urging my master to repeat every sentence, so that I should -be sure to get it straight and fair; and in that way I learned the whole -letter by heart, and read it to him, when I had finished it, so that he -was greatly gratified. 'Let me see the letter, my good Jasto,' said he; -and when he looked at it, he said, 'The words seem very much like each -other'—which was the truth, indeed, for most of them had the same -letters in them, measured out in very much the same measurement. 'But it -all looks simple enough,' he went on to say, 'and I greatly desire that -I could read it, but that is beyond my powers.' And then he made his -mark, which his seneschal well knew, and the letter was done. - -"Thereupon he called for a messenger to take it in all haste to his -castle, but I told him that he could have no better messenger than I -should be, because, having writ the letter, I could read it to the -person to whom it was sent, if it should so be that he could not read it -himself. 'But old Hubert can read, else I would not send him a letter,' -said my lord. But I answered that, if he had never seen my writing, it -might be so strange to him that it would take much time for him to -understand the proper slope and indication of the letters, and so the -re-enforcements might be sorely hindered in their coming. Therefore it -was that I was sent, and I so saved my life; for, shortly after, the -battle came off, and, if I had been there, I know I should have been -killed, as most of my knight's men were. But I was safe in the castle, -and when I went back with the men and the horses and the armor, I met my -lord coming to his castle, and right glad was he to see me with my -company, for he was in such sore plight that he was even afraid of -thieves, although there were but few of them to be met with then, being -mostly in the wars. And therefore, I, being fresh and unwounded, took -the lead among the men-at-arms, and felt high in my lord's favor, and -this was far better than being able to scratch off a poor letter that -could be read." - -"But what said the seneschal to your letter?" asked Louis. - -"Oh, nought at all," answered Jasto. "I read it to him out of my head, -and showed him his master's mark." - -"But did you not feel, all the time, that you were a great trickster and -cheat?" said the free-spoken Louis. - -"No more than I do now," answered Jasto, "coming here to help you with -your letter to your mother, and telling you a story with a moral to it, -showing how arduous a thing it is to write a letter, so that you may be -ready for your difficulties when they come upon you. And now this pen is -done, and it ought to be, for I have put a score of nibs to it, and -there is not enough quill left for another one. It may be blunt, but it -will make a mark." - -"And what am I to write on?" asked Louis. - -"I'll find that and the ink this afternoon," said Jasto, "but now I -smell dinner." - -In the afternoon, Jasto mixed up a black compound with some water, so as -to make an ink,—rather thick and gritty, to be sure, but good enough for -its purpose,—and he produced a piece of parchment, completely written -over on one side. This writing he proceeded to obliterate, as far as -possible, by rubbing it with a piece of pumice-stone. - -Louis was impatient, and suggested that he might mark out the words on -one side and go on writing on the other; but Jasto would not hear to -this, for it would argue too great poverty on the part of the -_cotereaux_ to send a letter on the back of another, and so he rubbed -and rubbed, and talked, and came and went, until it was nearly dark, and -so the letter was postponed until the next day. - -On the morrow, however, Jasto refused to produce the writing materials, -because there was to be a grand expedition of the band, which would -require nearly all the men; and Michol had said that Louis must be taken -along, as he did not wish to leave him behind, guarded only by the few -men who would stay at the camp. - -"That's a pretty way to do!" exclaimed Louis. "Suppose I should be -killed in this expedition, what will your captain say to my mother then? -I am not afraid to go, but I do not want to be taken for a robber, and -be shot with an arrow, or have my head cut off." - -"Be not afraid," said Jasto, laughing. "The enemy will not hurt you, if -you keep out of the way. You are to be under my special keeping, and I -will warrant that the foe shall not kill you." - -Early in the morning, nearly the whole of Captain Michol's force, some -armed with lances, some with bows and arrows, and others with long -knives, or swords of various descriptions, set out, on foot, for a march -through the forests. Louis went with them, closely accompanied by Jasto, -who never lost sight of him. - -On the way, the good-humored robber, who seemed to be of a better class -than most of his companions, using more correct language, and behaving -himself better in every way, informed Louis of the object of the -expedition. About eight or ten miles to the east of the camp of the -_cotereaux_ there was a chateau, almost as strongly fortified as a -castle, the owner of which possessed a great number of hogs. These -animals, until within a few days previous, had been confined within -close bounds, for fear that they should be stolen. But as no -evil-disposed persons had been seen for a long time in the neighborhood, -the whole herd had been let out into the adjacent woods, where they -would thrive much better, during the hot weather, than in their former -quarters. Michol had been informed that these hogs were ranging through -the woods, under the charge of two or three men, and he was now going to -try to capture as many of them as possible. He took his large force, not -because he expected any opposition from the keepers of the hogs, but -because a great many men would be needed to surround and capture the -animals, many of which would be lost if the herd should be allowed to -scatter itself through the forest. - -As they walked along, Louis thought that it was a great pity that the -first foray he ever set out upon should be an expedition, in time of -peace, to steal pigs; but he considered it wise not to say what was in -his mind, for it was the business of these men to steal pigs, or -anything else they could lay their hands on,—even boys and borrowed -jennets,—and they might not fancy his finding fault with them. He was -not afraid of Jasto, with whom he had become very friendly and -communicative; but many of the other men looked like fellows whom it -would not be at all pleasant to offend. So he went along with the -company, and made no objections until he had walked five or six miles -through the forest, when he informed Jasto that he was getting very -tired, and that he hoped they would soon come to the end of their -journey, so that he could sit down and rest. - -"As for that," said Jasto, "the end of your journey will soon come, if -the signs ahead of us mean anything. Some of our foremost fellows have -come back, and I think they are telling the Captain that the herd is not -far ahead of us. And if that be so, it will make our work easier, for -the herdsmen will be far from home and can not call for help. You and I -will not go up to the field of battle, but will be posted outside, with -here and there another brave fellow, to arrest any of the enemy who may -take to flight in our direction. So keep up a brave pair of legs for a -little while longer, and then you shall have your rest." - -Sure enough, in less than a quarter of an hour Jasto received orders to -wait with Louis, at the end of a small path through the underbrush, -while the rest of the force spread themselves out widely through the -forest. Before long a great noise of squealing and shouting was heard in -the distance. - -"We have come upon them," said Jasto, "and many a good meal of pork -shall we have this year." - -"I hope the poor herdsmen are not getting killed," said Louis. - -"Have no fear for them," replied Jasto; "they will run away the moment -they see one of us. And as they can not bring help, there will be no -Christian blood shed. Look out there! Stand close behind me! Hear you -that?" - -Louis plainly heard something rushing through the bushes, and in a -moment a pig, about half-grown, dashed along the path toward them. When -he saw Jasto, he stopped for an instant, and then made a rush, -endeavoring to pass him. But the robber was too quick to allow that, and -he stooped and seized the scampering porker by the hind leg. In an -instant, Jasto was jerked upon his back, still however, holding fast to -the struggling pig. - -[Illustration] - -Louis shouted in laughter, and he enjoyed the fun so much that it was -some moments before he considered that the shouting and wriggling Jest -probably wanted his assistance. He then ran up, and, taking hold of the -other hind leg of the prisoner, enabled Jasto to get up, and to tie the -pig's legs together with a strong cord which he had in his pocket. - -"There, now," cried Jasto, with a very red face, "the rest of the pork -will be ready to cook or salt down, but this fellow I shall take home to -fatten. He is too lean and lively for good eating now." - -In less than half an hour the rest of the company appeared, walking in a -long line, some of the men bearing each a slaughtered pig, while here -and there two fellows carried a larger animal between them. Jasto threw -his prize across his shoulders, and, although there was a good deal of -struggling on the part of the pig, his captor held him firmly, and -carried him thus throughout the whole long tramp back to the camp. - -When he reached the huts, Jasto immediately set to work to make a rude -pen of stakes and poles, in which he shut up his pig, which was to be -thoroughly fattened before sharing the fate of his brethren who had been -slain in the forest. - -Louis was a very tired boy when he found himself again in the camp, and -he slept until a late hour the next morning; but, as soon as he had had -his breakfast and felt fully awake, he went to hunt up Jasto, so that he -could begin his letter. - -But he found that individual, his well-mended and red-lined clothes -exchanged for an indescribably wretched suit, busily engaged, with a -large portion of his comrades, in cutting up and curing, in various -ways, the pork which had been brought in the day before. The band had so -much hog-flesh on hand that they hardly knew what to do with all of it, -and they were so busy for several days that Jasto had no time to give to -Louis and his literary labors. - -But, as soon as the pork business was finished and Jasto was at liberty, -Louis set to work in earnest to write his letter to his mother. - -Jasto prepared the parchment, nearly obliterating the writing on one -side of it, and, the ink and pen being ready, the work began, and a very -important work it seemed to be. Louis, of course, was anxious that his -first letter to his mother should be a good one, well spelled and well -expressed; Jasto continually suggested forcible and high-sounding -sentences, containing words which neither Louis nor he could spell; the -Captain came several times to the place where the writing was going on, -to insist on certain terms of ransom being clearly stated; and nearly -all the men in the band straggled up, one or two at a time, to know how -the letter was coming on, and to hear Louis read what he had already -written. It was a document of great interest to every one of the -robbers, for, if it should succeed in its purpose, it would bring a -large sum of money to the band. - -At last, after much labor and consultation, Louis finished the letter -just as the sun was setting, and as one of the men called out that the -evening meal—which that day consisted principally of fresh pork—was -ready. - -Louis laid his letter, the last words of which were scarcely dry, upon -the ground, putting a stone upon it to keep it from blowing away, and -ran to get his supper. While he and the rest of the company were busily -eating, Jasto's pig broke out of the pen, and, seeing the parchment -letter under the tree, devoured it without the slightest hesitation. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - -WHEN Barran had searched the forest on the western side of the highway -for nearly three days, and had found no traces of the _cotereaux_, he -was obliged to return to Viteau, before entering the woods to the east, -to obtain a fresh supply of provisions. He was utterly astounded, of -course, when he heard of the flight of the Countess, with nearly all her -household; but he was still more surprised, and very much alarmed, when -the seneschal told him that, in an hour or so after the departure of the -Countess and her party, the chateau had been visited by a large body of -armed men, accompanied by several priests, among whom was Brother -Anselmo. These men were admitted because the presence of the priests was -a token that they were friends, but they behaved very strangely after -they entered. One of them demanded to see the Countess, and when he was -told that she had gone away to look for her son, as the seneschal -supposed she had gone, he ordered the other men to search the chateau -from top to bottom, evidently believing not a word that was told him. - -But after every room and every part of the house and grounds had been -ransacked, and when it was found that the Countess was really not in the -chateau, and that her ladies, and almost all her attendants, as well as -the horses in her stables, had gone away, the search was given up, and, -after a great deal of talking among themselves, and a great deal of -severe questioning of the seneschal and the other servants of the house -who had been left behind, the unpleasant visitors departed. - -What they wanted, and why they came, the seneschal did not know, any -more than he knew why the Countess had left. But Barran was not long in -divining the truth. He felt certain that the men with the priests were -officers of the Inquisition, and that the Countess had heard of their -intended visit, and had escaped from the chateau. Whether or not she was -then really out of their power, he did not know; but, as he hoped that -her destination was his own castle, the Count determined to hasten home -as fast as he could. - -After a brief halt for rest and food, Barran, with all his men, hastened -back to his castle, where, to his great delight, he found the Countess -safe from her pursuers. - -But the relief and satisfaction of the poor lady at her present security -was entirely overbalanced by the news that her son had not been found. -She was in such grief that Barran had not the heart to tell her of the -visit of the Inquisitors. He assured her that he would immediately begin -the search of the forests on the other side of the road; but, before he -started the next day, he held an earnest consultation with Bernard and -with Count de Lanne, who was taken into confidence in this most -important matter, in regard to the measures to be adopted should the -officers of the Inquisition follow the Countess to the castle. - -Nothing was agreed upon, excepting that Bernard declared that she should -never be given up, so long as life remained in his body; but Barran -considered it necessary that he himself should be at home, in case the -Inquisitors should come to the castle; and so, after conducting his men -to the forest, and instructing them as to the manner in which they -should proceed, he returned to the castle, where he remained quietly, -without informing the Countess of his presence. - -He would have been glad to assist in the search for Louis, for whose -safety he was very anxious, but he regarded the mother's position as one -which required his personal attention much more than did that of the -son. He would have told her everything, and have urged her to leave -France, if possible; but he knew she could not be induced to take a step -of the kind until she had seen her son, or had had definite news of him, -and so he deemed it unwise to say any thing about the Inquisitors as -long as he felt sure that she would go no farther to escape from them. -She asked no questions, for her mind seemed entirely occupied by the -loss of her boy. - -She would not allow Raymond to go with the searching party, for fear she -should in some way lose him also; and this troubled her eldest son -greatly until she told him, as she had promised, of the danger with -which she was threatened, and which had caused her to leave her home. - -This information had a powerful effect upon Raymond. It seemed to make -him several years older. At first he scarcely could believe that there -were people in the world who could wish to punish his dear mother for -believing what she thought right about religious matters; but when he -heard how so many persons had been cruelly tried and punished by the -Inquisition for saying and thinking no more than his mother had said and -thought, he saw what peril she was in; and he determined, like Bernard, -that he would never leave her until she should be safe from all her -dangers. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - -WHEN Captain Michol heard of the fate of the letter,—and there could be -no doubt as to what that fate was, for the pig was found rooting around -the spot where the parchment had been left, evidently searching for -something else good to eat,—he was very angry. He knew that there was no -more parchment in the camp, nor anything else on which a proper letter -could be written, and he did not know when or where he could procure any -material of the kind. He had made all his arrangements to send the -letter, which had now been too long delayed, to Viteau the next day; and -this disappointment enraged him very much. He ordered Jasto's pig to be -instantly slaughtered, and he told Louis that he would cut off one of -his ears and send that to his mother, and then, if a handsome ransom did -not soon arrive, he would cut off the other one and send it also. - -Whether or not the Captain was in earnest in making this threat is not -to be known; but it frightened Louis greatly, and he determined that the -morning should not find him in the power of a man who would do such -terrible things, and he made up his mind to escape that night, no matter -what might afterward happen to him. - -Accordingly, when Jasto was fast asleep, poor little Louis slipped -quietly past him and made his way into the forest. He pushed blindly -through the thickets and undergrowth, not knowing in what direction he -was going—only anxious to get away as far as possible from the cruel -Captain. It was very dark, and he frequently came violently against a -tree, or stumbled over tangled vines and bushes, scratching his hands -and face and bruising his body; but he still pressed on, wherever he -could push himself through the bushes. When daylight should appear he -hoped to be able to make his way to the high road, and, once there, he -felt sure he could walk to Viteau. - -But, after hours of toilsome and painful struggling through the pathless -underbrush, he found that, even by the increasing light, he could not -discover, although he searched diligently, any sign or indication of a -passage through the thicket. He even climbed a tree, but could see -nothing except trees and bushes—the latter extending, in what seemed -like impenetrable masses, in every direction. - -Almost tired to death, he sat down at the foot of the tree he had -climbed, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. He slept for hours, and -it was after noon when he was awakened by some one laughing very close -to him. - -Louis opened his eyes with a start, and there was Jasto, who at that -moment laughed again. The boy sprang up with a cry, and was about to -plunge into the bushes, but the robber seized him by the arm. - -"No, no, my good Sir Page," said Jasto. "Don't lead me over any more -such wretched ways as you have led me this morning. I've had enough of -them." - -"Oh, Jasto!" cried Louis, "you are not going to take me back?" - -"I don't know," said the robber, "what I shall do with you, but I -certainly shall not take you back the way you came. Where you crept -under the bushes, I had to break through them. I never saw such a fellow -for hiding. How do you suppose I found you?" - -"I don't know," said Louis. - -"I found you," said Jasto, "by not looking for you. The rest of our -men—and nearly all of them turned out to search for you, when we found -you had run away—scattered themselves about in all directions, to see if -they could catch a glimpse of _you_. I did nothing of that kind. I knew -that if a boy like you were to crouch under a thick bush, I could not -see him. So I looked for little bits of blue silk from a pair of trunk -hose, and little shreds of purple cloth from a tunic that I knew of. I -saw a bit of the silk on some briers when I started out, and I knew I -should find more. I lost your track many times, but every now and then a -bit of rag on a thorn would encourage me; and so, at last, I came up to -the gallant young page who was marking his way with pieces of silk and -costly cloth. It made me laugh to think how truly these rags had led me -to him." - -"I am glad, Jasto," said Louis, "that you found me, and not one of the -other men. I don't believe you will make me go back to the Captain to -have one of my ears cut off. You will show me the way to go home, and I -promise you, if you will do that, that my mother will send you a good -sum of money, quite as much as she would have sent to the Captain if she -had got my letter and had ransomed me." - -"I am not sure about that," said Jasto, "but I have been thinking over -the matter, and it may be that I shall not take you back to our camp. I -have a kindly feeling for you, Sir Page. First, because I think you are -a lad of spirit, as I used to be; and second, because my pig ate your -letter, and so brought your trouble on you. Therefore, I feel bounden to -help you out of it. But, if I send you to your mother, she may forget my -sole share in your rescue and return, and may send the ransom-money to -our company, when it will be so divided and shared, and measured into -parts, that I shall get very little of it. So I think I shall take you -to your mother, and then I shall get all the ransom myself, and not be -obliged to share it with any one. And I am sure the good lady, your -mother, will give more to him who brings you back than to him who has -merely carried you away." - -"Indeed would she!" cried Louis, more than delighted at the prospect of -being taken directly to his home. - -"Well, then," said Jasto, "take you this piece of bread, which I put in -my pocket before I set out this morning, and when you have eaten it, you -will be strong enough, mayhap, to go on to your mother's chateau, though -it is still a good distance from here; and I promise you that I shall -not lead you through such rough ways as you led me. But we must be -careful, for, if we meet any of my good comrades, there will be an end -of our plan." - -When Louis had finished eating,—and, coarse and hard as the bread was, -he devoured every morsel, for it was his breakfast and his dinner,—the -two started off for Viteau. Louis supposed that they would try to reach -the main road as soon as possible; but Jasto assured him that he had no -idea of doing that, for the woods would be occupied, at various points -along the road, by the _cotereaux_, who would expect the fugitive boy to -take the highway as soon as he could find it. Instead of that, Jasto -intended to slyly make his way, through the woods, to the nearest point -to Viteau, and then to strike across the country to the chateau. - -Jasto was an expert and experienced woodsman, and he found paths where -Louis would never have imagined they could exist; and with great care -and caution, and frequent halts for outlook and listening, he led the -boy through the devious mazes of the forest, without meeting one of his -comrades. About dark they reached the edge of the forest, and then they -cautiously made their way to the chateau, where they arrived late in the -night. - -It would be hard to express the consternation of Louis—and that of Jasto -was almost as great—at finding that the Countess had gone away; that -Barran had been there that day, returning from a search for his lost -page, but had almost immediately set out for his castle, and that a body -of strange men, accompanied by priests, had been searching the house for -his mother only the night before. - -Poor Louis, who could not imagine what all this meant, and who was -bewildered and astounded at seeing the happy home he had always known -deserted by every one excepting the seneschal and a few servants, -desired nothing so much as to go immediately to his mother. But this -Jasto would not have allowed, had it been possible, for the boy was -nearly exhausted by fatigue and want of food. After some supper had been -prepared for the two travelers, and Louis had eaten as much as Jasto -thought good for him, the robber accompanied his young companion to the -room he had been used to occupy with his brother Raymond, and, after -seeing him safely in bed, lay down on the floor across the door-way, and -went to sleep himself. It was evident that he intended to take good care -that Louis should not leave him this time until he had conducted him -into his mother's presence. - -The seneschal was rather surprised at the actions of this man, who -announced himself as a friend to the boy, and one who had saved him from -the robbers who had captured him; but, as he and Louis seemed on very -friendly terms, the old man made no objection to anything that Jasto -said or did. - -In the morning, Louis insisted upon an early start for Barran's castle; -but, although Jasto was now perfectly willing to go, he was afraid to do -so, for there was no other road but the one which led through the woods, -and on that he certainly would be seen by some of the _cotereaux_, who -would keep the road under constant watch. To make his way with the boy -through the woods on the west of the road would be almost impossible, -for he was not familiar with that part of the forest, and did not know -the paths; and Louis would of a certainty be tired out long before he -could reach the castle, which was distant almost a day's journey for a -horse. - -But fortune favored him, for, after he had spent most of the day in -endeavoring to impress these things on the mind of the impatient Louis, -and in making efforts to find some one who would be willing to go to the -castle and inform the Countess of her son's arrival at Viteau, there -came to the chateau a party of horsemen who had been sent by Barran to -see if anything had been heard from the boy at his home, the party in -the eastern woods, having, so far, met no traces of his captors. - -The course was now easy enough, and the next day Barran's men set out -for the castle, taking with them the happy Louis and Jasto, who felt no -fear of capture by his former comrades now that he was escorted by a -body of well-armed men. - -The scene at the castle, when Louis arrived was a joyous one. The -Countess forgot all her troubles and fears about herself, in her great -happiness for the return of her son; and even Raymond ceased to think, -for a time, of his mother's danger, so glad was he to see his dear -brother again. Every one at the castle, indeed, was in a state of great -delight, for Louis was a general favorite, and few persons had expected -to see him again. - -Among the most joyful of his welcomers was Agnes. She listened to his -story with the greatest eagerness, and, when he began to lament that he -had lost her horse, she exclaimed: - -"We don't think much about horses, my father and I, when we are afraid -that we have lost boys. It is easy enough to get another Jennet, and, -before many years, this one would have been too small for me. Do you -think he is in a comfortable place?" - -"I don't know," answered Louis. "I did not see where they took him." - -"At any rate," said the girl, promptly, "the thieves can not ride him in -the forest, and so he will not be worn out by hard work. But we won't -talk about him any more. And your brother's new falcon is gone, too, I -suppose." - -"Oh, yes," said Louis, ruefully. "But he will not grieve about that, for -he did not know he was going to have one. I thought of that a good many -times, when I was among the robbers. If he had been expecting it, things -would have been a great deal worse than they are now." - -"Of course he did not expect the bird," said the girl, "but he knows you -have lost it, for everybody was told that it was to carry him a new -falcon that you left the castle. But he never will scold you for not -bringing it, and so we need not say anything more about it. But he must -wonder that you were bringing him a falcon; for how could you know he -had none, when you left your mother's house before anything was said -about his bird having been lost? He must suspect you had something to do -with it." - -"Of course he does," said poor Louis. "I intended to tell him all about -it when I should give him the new falcon; but it will be harder to do it -now." - -"Don't you say a word about it," said Agnes, who was really a -kind-hearted girl, although she liked to talk about everything that was -on her mind. "I'll tell him myself. It will be easy enough for me to do -it, and I can tell him better than you can, anyway." - -She did tell Raymond all about it, dwelling with much earnestness on -Louis's sorrow for his fault, and his great desire to make amends for -it; but she found that Raymond cared very little about falcons. His mind -was occupied with weightier matters. - -[Illustration: THE COUNTESS SENT FOR JASTO AND THANKED HIM WARMLY.] - -"Louis is a good fellow and a true one," he said, "although he often -plays wild pranks, and the only reason I am sorry that he lost my bird -is that it caused him such danger, and all of us such grief." - -"I like Louis better than Raymond," said Agnes to herself. "Raymond -talks so much like a man, and he isn't half so glad as he ought to be, -now that his brother is saved from those dreadful robbers. If I were in -his place, I'd be singing and dancing all the time." - -The Countess sent for Jasto, and thanked him warmly and earnestly for -bringing her son to her, instead of taking him back to the _cotereaux_. - -"If I could do it now," she said, "I should reward you handsomely for -what you have done for me; but, as I left my chateau for this place very -suddenly, I have no money with me. However, as soon as I shall have -opportunity to send for some, I shall more than pay you for the trouble -you have taken. Meantime, as your conduct shows that you wish to leave -your companions and give up your evil ways, you can remain here, and I -shall see that you receive fair treatment and are well employed." And -then, with a few more gracious words, she dismissed him. - -This was all very pleasant, for the Countess spoke so sweetly and looked -so good that it greatly gratified Jasto to have her talk to him so -kindly, and thank him for what he had done; but still he was not -satisfied. He had expected to make a regular bargain about a ransom, and -hoped that Louis would have told his mother how much Michol was going to -charge for his return; but he found the boy had never mentioned the -matter, and he did not feel bold enough, in his first interview with the -Countess, to do it himself. He knew that he would be rewarded, but he -felt sure that a lady would have no idea of the proper sum to pay for a -page's ransom. If the pig had not eaten the letter her son had written, -she would have been astonished indeed. He would wait, and, when the -proper time came, he would let it be known that he expected ransom-money -just as much as if he had kept the boy in some secret spot, and had made -his mother send the sum required before her son was restored to her. -Meanwhile, he was perfectly willing to remain in the service of the good -Countess, and the first thing he asked for was a suit of clothes not -composed of patches sewn together with bright-red silk. And that he -received without delay. - -Now that Louis was safe at the castle, the minds of the Countess and her -friends were occupied with the great question of her safety. It was not -to be expected that the officers of the Inquisition would give up their -attempts to arrest the lady; and although Barran's castle and Barran's -forces might be strong enough to hold her securely and to drive back her -persecutors, a contest of this kind with the Church was something not to -be desired by the Count nor by his friends. Barran and Lanne were both -of the opinion that the safest refuge for the Countess would be England; -but a secret journey there would be full of hardships, and might compel -her to give up all her property, and to be separated from her sons. - -It was hard to decide what to do, and at any day the officers of the -Inquisition might appear at the gates of the castle. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER X. - -A FEW days after the arrival of Louis and Jasto at the castle of Barran, -the Countess found it necessary to send to Viteau for some clothing and -other things which were needed by herself and her ladies, for they had -brought very little with them in their hasty flight from the chateau. - -A trusty squire—not Bernard, for he would not leave his mistress for so -long a time as a day and night—was sent, with a small, but well-armed -body of men, to convey to the castle the property desired by the -Countess, and to give some orders to the seneschal in charge. When the -party reached the chateau, early in the evening, the squire was greatly -surprised to find that he could not enter. The gates were all closed and -barred securely, and no answer came to his calls and shouts to the -inmates. - -[Illustration: A SMALL WINDOW WAS OPENED.] - -At length, a small window in the principal gate was opened, and a man's -head, wearing a helmet with the visor down, appeared in the square -aperture. - -"Which of the varlets that we left here are you?" cried the angry -squire. "And what are you doing with the armor of the Countess on your -rascally head? Did you not know me when I called to you, and when are -you going to open this gate for us?" - -"I am not any man's varlet," said the person in the helmet, "and you did -not leave me here. I wear this helmet because I thought that some of -your impatient men might thrust at me with a spear, or shoot an arrow at -me when I should show my head. I did not know you when you called, for I -never heard your voice before, and I am not going to open the gate for -you at all." - -The squire sat upon his horse, utterly astounded at this speech, while -his men gathered around him, wondering what strange thing they next -would hear. - -"Who, then, are you?" cried the squire, when he had found his voice, -"and what are you doing here?" - -"I have no objection," said the other, "to make the acquaintance of any -man who wants to know me, and to tell him what I do, if it be, in any -way, his business. I am Michol, the captain of the good and true band of -_cotereaux_ who for some time past have lived in this forest, near by; -and what I am doing here is this: I am dwelling in this goodly chateau, -in peace and comfort, with my men." - -The squire turned and looked at his followers. - -"What think you," he said, "does all this mean? Is this a man gone -crazed?" - -"Not so," said the man with the helmet; "not so, my good fellow. I may -have done crazy deeds in by-gone days, but this is the most sane thing I -ever did in all my life. If you should care to hear the whole story, -straight and true,—and I should like much to tell it to you, that you -may take it to your mistress,—come closer and listen." - -The squire, anxious enough to hear, rode close to the gate; the men -crowded near him, and Michol, for it was really the captain of the -_cotereaux_, told his story. - -"I am going to make this tale a short one," he said, "so that you can -remember it, and tell it clearly, all of you. When the boy, son of the -Countess of Viteau, was stolen from us——" - -"Stolen!" ejaculated the squire. - -"Yes," said the other, "that is the word. We captured the youngster -fairly on the road, and held him for fitting and suitable ransom; and -before we had opportunity to acquaint his friends with his whereabouts, -and with the sum demanded for him, he was basely stolen by a traitor of -our company, and carried away from us, thus cheating us of what was our -fair and just reward." - -"Reward!" exclaimed the squire. "Reward for what?" - -"For treating him well and not killing him," said Michol, coolly. "When -I found out the base deed that had been done to us," he continued, "I -gathered all my men, together with another band of brave fellows, who -gladly joined us, and I came boldly here to demand the ransom for the -boy, and the body of the wretched villain who stole him away. And when I -found no boy, and no traitor, and no Countess, and no one in the whole -chateau but an old man and some stupid varlets, I blessed my happy -stars, and took possession of the whole domain. And this I shall hold, -occupy, and defend, until the Countess, its former mistress, shall send -to me one hundred silver marks, together with the person of the traitor -Jasto. When these shall have been fairly delivered to me, I shall -surrender the chateau, and honorably depart, with all my men." - -"You need expect nothing of that kind," cried the squire. "Count de -Barran and the good knights with him, when they hear this story, will -come down upon you and drive you out with all your men; and never a -piece of money, gold or silver, will you gain by this deed—unless, -indeed, it shall be such as you shall find here." - -"I shall have my money," replied Michol; "but until I hear that my just -demands are denied, I shall break no bars or locks to look for it. My -men and I will live merrily on the good stores of the Countess; but -while we hold this place as warranty for her son's ransom, we shall not -sack or pillage. But if your lord and his knights should come to drive -me out, they would find more good soldiers here than they can bring, for -in times of peace we are strong, and the lords of the land are weak, -unless, indeed, they keep retainers and men-at-arms for mere show and -ostentation. My men are well armed, too, for the Count of Viteau kept -his armory well furnished, as became a valiant knight and a leader of -fighting men. So, therefore, if Barran shall come to give us foul blows, -instead of fair words and just deeds, he will get blow for blow, and -harder blows, methinks, than he can strike; and if it should be, by -strange fortune, that he drive us out, he would drive us only from the -blazing ruins of this chateau.[A] All this I tell you, my good squire, -that you may tell it to Barran and the Countess. Think you you will -remember it?" - -Footnote A: - - Such was the lawlessness of the times, when people had to rely on - themselves for protection and defense, that a deed like the taking of - this chateau would probably meet with no immediate punishment, unless - it were inflicted by the injured owner or his friends. - -"Indeed will I," said the squire. "Such words can not easily be -forgotten. But then I truly think——" - -"No more of that!" interrupted Michol. "I do not care what you think. -Hear, remember, and tell. That is enough for you in this matter. And, -now, what brought you here? You did not come to bring word, good or bad, -to me?" - -"Indeed I did not," said the other, "for I knew not you were here. I -came, at the command of the Countess of Viteau, to get for her certain -garments and needful goods belonging to herself and ladies, which she -could not, with convenience, take with her to the castle, but which, I -suppose, if your tale be true, I shall go back without." - -"Not so," said Michol. "I war not on fair ladies, until they themselves -declare the war. You shall come in, and take away what your lady needs. -That is, if you fear not to enter alone." - -These words made the squire turn pale. He was afraid to trust himself, -alone, inside the walls of the chateau court-yard, but he was ashamed to -own it—ashamed that his own men should see his fear, or that Michol -should see it. And so, out of very cowardice and fear of mockery, he did -a thing which was exceedingly brave, and entered by the wicket in the -gate, which Michol opened for him. - -Inside the court and in the chateau, the squire saw, as Michol was very -glad to have him see, hundreds of _cotereaux_, well armed, and in a good -state of discipline, and he felt sure, at last, that the tale he had -been told was true. - -The articles he had been sent for were all delivered to him, and -properly packed by Michol's men for conveyance on the baggage-horses -that had been brought for the purpose. Then the goods were carried out, -and the squire was allowed to depart, without hurt or hindrance. - -Provisions were sent outside the gates for the squire and his men and -horses, and that night they bivouacked by the roadside. - -The next morning they rode back to Barran's castle, and the squire -delivered to the Countess the property he had been sent for, and told -the wonderful tale that the captain of the _cotereaux_ had instructed -him to tell. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - -THE news of the occupation of Viteau by a band of robbers, occasioned, -as well might be supposed, the greatest astonishment at the castle of -Barran. At first, every one, from the Lord of the castle to the lowest -varlet, was loud in favor of an immediate march upon the scoundrels, -with all the force that could be gathered together on the domain. But -after Barran had held a consultation with the Countess, Hugo de Lannes, -and the very sensible and prudent Bernard, he determined not to be too -hasty in this important matter. If the story of the squire who had been -sent to Viteau was true,—and there was no reason to doubt it,—it would -require every fighting man on the estates of the Count de Barran to make -up a force sufficiently strong to compel the _cotereaux_ to leave the -chateau; and if this force should not be large enough to completely -surround and invest the place, the captain of the robbers might make -good his threat of burning the chateau and retreating to the forest, -which he could probably reach in safety, if the retreat should be made -in the night. - -But, even if the Count had been able to raise men enough to make a -successful attack upon the _cotereaux_ at Viteau, he did not wish, at -this time, to strip his castle of all its defenders. If it should be -concluded that the Countess should endeavor to escape to England, a -tolerably strong party might be necessary to conduct her to the coast; -and if the officers of the Inquisition should appear at his gates, he -would like to be there with enough men to compel at least parley and -delay. - -It would, also, be difficult to hold the chateau, after it should be -taken, during this serious quarrel with the _cotereaux_. If the lady of -Viteau had been at home, she might have summoned many of her vassals to -her aid, but it was not to be supposed that these people would willingly -risk their lives, and expose their families to the vengeance of the -robbers, to defend a dwelling which its owner had deserted. - -It was, therefore, determined not to attempt, at present, to disturb the -_cotereaux_ at Viteau, who, as long as their demand for a ransom for -young Louis was not positively denied, would probably refrain from doing -any serious injury to the property. When the Countess should be in -safety, a force could be raised from some of the estates, and from -villages in the surrounding country, to thoroughly defeat the -_cotereaux_ and to break up their band. Suitable arrangements then could -be made to hold and defend the chateau until the Countess or her heirs -should come back to take possession. - -What was to be done for the unfortunate mother of Raymond and Louis, now -became again the great question. Flight to England, which, though a -Catholic country, was not under the power of the Inquisition, as were -France and some of the neighboring countries, would have been -immediately determined upon, had it not been for the great unwillingness -of the Countess to consent to separate herself from her sons. - -If she should leave France and take her children with her, her property -would probably be taken possession of by the Church or the Crown; -whereas, if her sons, under a proper guardian, should remain in France, -the estate would be considered to belong to them, for they had done -nothing to make them forfeit it; and everything could go on as usual, -until the friends of the Countess should have opportunity to represent -the matter to some of the high authorities of the Church. Then, if she -could be released from the prosecution by the Inquisition, she could -return in peace to her home. - -On the day after the squire's return from Viteau, and after it had been -decided to leave the _cotereaux_ in possession for the present, Raymond -and Louis, with Agnes, were sitting together at a window in one of the -great towers of the castle, talking of the proposed journey of the -Countess; Louis had been told the reason of her flight from Viteau, and, -of course, Agnes knew all about it. - -"If I were the Count de Barran," said Louis, very much in earnest, "I -should never make a lady, like our mother, run away to England, nor to -any other savage country, to get rid of her enemies. I should fill this -castle with soldiers and knights, and I'd defend her against everybody, -to the last drop of my blood. Wasn't Barran the brother-in-arms of our -father? And isn't he bound, by all his vows, to protect our mother, when -her husband isn't here on earth to do it himself?" - -"You don't look at things in the right way, Louis," said Raymond. "Of -course, the Count would defend our mother against all enemies, for he is -a brave and true knight; but we can not say that the priests and -officers of the Church are our enemies. Now, if Barran fights the people -of the Inquisition, he is fighting the Church, and no Christian knight -wants to do that." - -"I'd like to know what an enemy is," said Louis, "If he isn't a person -who wants to do you an injury; and that, it seems to me, is exactly what -these Inquisition people are trying to do to our mother. I shouldn't -care whether they belonged to the Church or not." - -"Oh, yes, you would," said Raymond, "if you had taken the vows of a -Christian knight. The Count will do everything he can to save our mother -from these people, but he will not want to fight and slay Church -officers, and his men-at-arms would not help him,—I heard Count de -Lannes say that,—for whoever should do such a thing would be -excommunicated by the Pope of Rome, and would be cast out from all -Christian fellowship and all hope of salvation. Our mother would not let -any one fight for her, when she should know that such things would -happen to him." - -"Bernard would fight for her," said Louis; "and so would I." - -"And so would I, as well you know," said his brother, "and so would the -Count and many another knight, if things came to the worst. They would -not stop to think what would happen afterward. But it would be a sad -thing to do. It would be much better for our mother to go away, than to -put her friends in such jeopardy of their souls. I have heard all this -talked about, and I know how hard a thing it is for the Count to send -our mother away. But one thing is certain: when she goes, I go with her. -I care not for the domain." - -"And I go too!" cried Louis. "Let the robbers and the priests divide -Viteau between them. I will not let my mother go among the barbarians -without me." - -"The English are not barbarians," said Raymond. "There are plenty of -good knights and noble ladies at the court of King Henry, and all over -the land, too, as I have read." - -"I thought they must be savages," said Louis, "because they have no -Inquisition. Surely, if England were a Christian land like France, there -would be an Inquisition there." - -Up to this time Agnes had been silent, eagerly listening to the -conversation of the boys. But now she spoke: - -"Louis and Raymond!" she cried, "I think it will be an awful, dreadful -thing for your poor mother to go to England; I don't care what sort of a -country it is, or who goes with her. Isn't there somebody who can make -these people stop their wicked doings without fighting them? Can't the -King do it?" - -"Of course he can," cried Louis. "The King can do anything." - -[Illustration: AGNES TELLS RAYMOND AND LOUIS OF HER PLAN.] - -"Perhaps he can," said Raymond. "I spoke to my mother about that this -morning, and asked her why Count de Barran did not go to the King and -beseech him to inquire into this matter, and to see why one of his -subjects—as good a Christian as any in the land—should be so persecuted. -She said I spoke too highly of her——" - -"Which you did not," cried Louis. - -"Indeed, I did not," continued Raymond. "And then she told me that the -mother of our King, Queen Blanche, who has more to do with the affairs -of France than her son himself, does not like Barran, who, with our -father, opposed her long with voice and sword, in the disputes between -Burgundy and the Crown. So it is that he could not go to ask a favor of -her son, for fear that it would do us more harm than good." - -"But is he the only person in the world?" cried Agnes. "Why can't -somebody else go? Why don't you go, Raymond, with Louis—and with me? Let -us all three go! We can tell the King what has happened, as well as any -one, and the Queen-Mother can not bear a grudge against any of us. Let -us go! My father will not say me nay." - -Louis agreed instantly to this glorious plan, and Raymond, after a -moment's thought, gave it a hearty assent. - -"We'll start by the dawn of day to-morrow," cried Agnes; and away she -ran to ask her father if she might mount a horse, and go with Louis and -Raymond to Paris, to see the King. - -Strange as it may seem, this wild plan of the children was received with -favor by their elders. Something must be done immediately, and the -Countess must either leave France, or some powerful aid must be asked -for. Measures had been taken to put the matter before some of the high -officials of the Church, but it was believed that they would first send -for Brother Anselmo and the priests, and would hear their story, before -interfering for the Countess; and, therefore, whatever help might be -expected in this direction, would probably be much delayed and come too -late. - -But if the King should desire it, the matter would be instantly -investigated, and that was all that the Countess and her friends -intended to ask. They felt sure that if some one, more competent and -less prejudiced than the two or three monks who had been incensed by -their failure to answer her arguments, should examine the charges -against her, it would be found that she believed nothing but what was -taught by the fathers of the Church, and believed in by all good people -who had read what the authors had written. - -And who could go with better grace to ask the help of the King—himself -young—than these three young people: two boys who would speak in behalf -of their mother, and the young girl, their friend, who might be able to -talk with the Queen-Mother, if there should be need of it? - -Count Hugo de Lannes readily agreed to take charge of the young -embassadors, if his daughter should be one of them. He was well known in -Paris, and could give them proper introduction and guarantee their -statements. Thus his assistance would be very great. - -It was agreed that by dawn the next morning, just as Agnes had said, the -party should start for Paris, and that, until its return, the Countess -should postpone her flight from France. - -And many earnest prayers were said that night, that nothing evil might -happen to the Countess while her two boys should be absent from her. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - -THE cavalcade, which started from the castle early the next morning, was -a gay and lively one, for everybody seemed to think that it would soon -return, with happy news. - -At the head rode Count de Lannes, and, at his side, Sir Charles de -Villars, a younger knight, visiting at the castle, who had volunteered -his services to help defend the party, should it be attacked on the way. - -Next came the three young people, each mounted on a small Arabian horse, -from the castle stables. After them came two women, in attendance on -Agnes; and then followed quite a long line of squires, pages, and -men-at-arms, with servants carrying the heavy armor of the two knights, -all mounted and armed. - -It was calculated that the journey to Paris would take about four days, -if they pressed on as fast as the strength of the horses and that of the -young riders would permit; and as it was desirable to be back as soon as -possible, they rode away at a good pace. - -Some distance in advance of the whole party were two men-at-arms, whose -duty it was, when passing through forests, or among rocks and hills, -where an enemy might be concealed, to give timely notice of any signs of -danger. The Count de Lannes did not expect any attack from robbers, for -he felt quite sure that the _cotereaux_ who had been in the neighborhood -were all engaged in the occupation of Viteau. - -But he did not know as much about the robber bands of Burgundy as he -thought. A short time before, there had come into the country, between -Barran's castle and Viteau, a company of _brabancois_—freebooters of -somewhat higher order than the _cotereaux_, who generally preferred to -be soldiers rather than thieves, but who, in times of peace, when no one -would hire them as soldiers, banded together, stopped travelers on the -highway, and robbed and stole whenever they had a chance. They were -generally better armed and disciplined, and therefore more formidable, -than the _cotereaux_, or the _routiers_, who were robbers of a lower -order than either of the other two. - -These _brabancois_, when Michol was making up his force with which to -seize and hold the chateau of Viteau, offered to join him, but he -declined their proposition, believing that he had men enough for his -purpose, and not wishing, in any case, to bring into the chateau a body -of fellows who might, at any time, refuse to obey his rule, and endeavor -to take matters into their own hands. - -The captain of the band of _brabancois_, when he found that he would not -be allowed to take part in the ransom speculation at Viteau, moved up -nearer the castle of Barran, and sent one of his men, dressed like a -common varlet or servant, to take service with the Count, as an -assistant in the stables and among the horses. In this occupation he -would learn of the intended departure of any party from the castle, and -could give his leader such information as he could manage to pick up -about the road to be taken, and the strength and richness of the -company. - -So it was that, on the night of the day on which the expedition to Paris -was determined upon, and after orders had been given to have the -necessary horses ready early the next morning, this fellow got away from -the castle, and told his captain all he knew about the party—who were to -go and which way they were going. - -It was not likely that the company under the charge of Count de Lannes -would carry much money, or valuable baggage of any sort, and, therefore, -the enterprise of waylaying these people on the road did not appear very -attractive to the leader of the robbers, until he heard that Louis, and -Jasto, who was to go with the boy as servant, were to be of the party. -Then he took a great interest in the matter. If he could capture Louis, -he could interfere with Michol in getting the ransom he demanded, and so -force himself, in this way, into partnership with the prudent captain of -the _cotereaux_; and if he could take Jasto, of whose exploits he had -heard, he felt sure that Michol would pay a moderate ransom to get -possession of that traitor to his cause and his companions. - -Therefore, principally to capture, if possible, these two important and -perhaps profitable personages, the band of robbers set out before -daylight, and took a good position for their purpose on that road to -Paris. - -It was nearly noon when the cavalcade of our friends entered a wide and -lonely forest, where the road was thickly overgrown, on each side, with -bushes and clambering vines. It was an excellent place for an ambuscade, -and here the _brabancois_ were ambuscaded. - -Count Hugo de Lannes was a prudent man, and he proceeded slowly, on -entering the forest, giving orders to his scouts to be very careful in -looking out for signs of concealed marauders. - -He also called up the men who carried the heavy armor, and he and Sir -Charles proceeded to put on their helmets and their coats of mail, so as -to be ready for anything which might happen during their passage through -the forest. - -They were prepared none too soon, for the scouts came riding back, just -as Count Hugo had exchanged his comfortable cap, or bonnet, for his iron -head-covering, with the news that men were certainly concealed in the -woods some hundred yards ahead. - -Quickly the two knights, with the assistance of their squires, finished -putting on their armor, and each hung his battle-ax at his saddle-bow. -Their long swords they wore at all times when riding. Then Count Hugo, -turning, gave rapid orders for the disposition of his force. - -Part of the men-at-arms, all ready for battle, drew up before the young -travelers, and part took their place in their rear. On either side of -each of the boys, and of Agnes and her women, rode a soldier in mail, -holding his shield partly over the head of his charge. Thus each of -these non-combatants was protected by two shields, and by the bodies of -two mail-clad men, from the arrows which might be showered upon them -should a fight take place. - -All these arrangements were rapidly made, for the men of the party were -well-trained soldiers, and then Count Hugo and Sir Charles rode forward -to see what they could see. - -They saw a good deal more than they expected. As they went around a -slight bend in the road, they perceived, a short distance ahead, three -mounted men in armor, drawn up across the road. Behind them were a -number of other men, with spears and pikes. And in the woods, on either -side, were a number of archers, who, though they could not be seen, made -their presence known by a flight of arrows, which rattled briskly on the -armor of our two horsemen, and then fell harmless to the ground. - -If this volley and this brave show of force were intended to intimidate -the travelers, and to cause them to fall back in confusion, it did not -have the desired effect. - -Turning to their squires, who followed close behind them, the two -knights called for their lances, and when, almost at the same instant, -these trusty weapons were put into their hands, they set them in rest, -and, without a moment's hesitation, charged down upon the three -horsemen. - -Count Hugo was an old soldier, and had been in many a battle, where, -fighting on the side of the Crown, he had met in combat some of the -bravest soldiers of France and many of the finest knights of England, -whom King Henry III. had sent over to aid the provinces which were -resisting Queen Blanche; and Sir Charles, although a younger man, had -met and conquered many a stout knight in battle and in tournament. - -Therefore, although the _brabancois_ horsemen were good, strong -soldiers, and well armed, and although all three of them put themselves -in readiness to receive the charge of the knights, they could not -withstand or turn aside the well-directed lances of these veteran -warriors, and two of them went down at the first shock, unhorsed and -helpless. - -The other man, reining back his horse a little way, charged furiously on -Count Hugo, who was nearest him; but the latter caught the end of his -lance on his shield, and then, dropping his own lance, he seized his -battle-ax, rose in his stirrups, and brought the ponderous weapon down -upon the ironclad head of his assailant, with such a tremendous whang -that he rolled him off his horse at the first crack. - -Upon this, both knights were attacked at once by the spearsmen and other -men on foot, but so completely and strongly were the Count and Sir -Charles clad in their steel mail that their opponents found no crevice -or unguarded spot through which their rapidly wielded weapons could -penetrate. - -But the knights gave them little time to try the strength of their -armor, for whirling their battle-axes over their heads, and followed by -their squires, they charged through the whole body of the foot-soldiers, -and then, turning, charged back again, driving the _brabancois_ right -and left into the woods. - -Meantime, all had not been quiet in the rear. The captain of the -robbers, as soon as he had seen the knights engaged with his picked men, -had come out of the woods with a strong force of his followers on foot, -and had made a vigorous attack on our young travelers and their -attendants. - -Here the fighting was general and very lively. Arrows flew; swords, -spears, and shields rattled and banged against each other; horses reared -and plunged; the women screamed, the men shouted, and Raymond and Louis -drew the small swords they wore, and struggled hard to throw themselves -into the middle of the fight. - -But this was of no use. Their mailed and mounted guardians pressed them -closely on either side, and protected them from every blow and missile. - -Little Agnes was as pale as marble. Every arrow, as it struck against -the shields and armor about her, made her wink and start, but she sat -her horse like a brave girl, and made no outcry, though her women filled -the air with their screams. - -There were so many of the _brabancois_, and they directed their attacks -with such energy on the one point, that it seemed for a time as if they -certainly must get possession of one or all of the children. Three men -had pulled aside the horse of Louis's protector on the left, and others -were forcing themselves between the soldier and the boy, with the -evident intention of dragging the latter from his horse. - -But the fight at the head of the line was over sooner than the captain -of the robbers expected it would be. His men had scarcely reached -Louis's side when Count Hugo and Sir Charles came charging back. - -Straight down each side of the road they came. Their own men, seeing -them come, drew up in a close column along the middle of the road, and -before the _brabancois_ knew what was going to happen, the two knights -were upon them. Standing up in their stirrups, and dealing tremendous -blows with their battle-axes as they dashed along, they rode into the -robbers on each side of the road, cutting them down, or making them -wildly scatter into the woods. As the knights passed, some of the -men-at-arms left their line and, rushing into the woods, drove their -enemies completely off the field. - -[Illustration: SIR HUGO AND SIR CHARLES CHARGE THE ROBBERS.] - -At least they supposed that this was the case; but, when Count Hugo and -Sir Charles had turned and had ridden back to the young people and the -women, and were anxiously inquiring if any of them had been injured -during the affray, a cry from Louis directed everybody's attention to a -new fight, which was going on at the rear of the line. - -"Jasto!" cried Louis. "They are taking Jasto!" - -The boy had happened to look back, and saw his friend of the -robber-camp, whose horse had been killed, struggling on foot with four -men, one of whom was the captain of the _brabancois_. They were, -apparently, endeavoring to drag him into the bushes; Jasto, who was a -very stout fellow, was holding back manfully, but the others were too -strong for him, and were forcing him along. No one of the Count's party -was near, except a few men who had charge of the baggage horses, and -these were too busy with their frightened animals to take any notice of -the re-appearance of some of the robbers. - -"Help him!" cried Louis. "Don't let them take Jasto away!" - -Count Hugo turned, as he heard the boy's cry, but little Agnes was close -by his side, trying to get her arms around his iron neck, and several -horsemen were crowded up near him, so that he could not clearly see what -was going on in the rear. A few of the men-at-arms saw the affair, and -rode toward the scene of the unequal contest, but Jasto would certainly -have been dragged into the thicket before they could have reached him. - -Sir Charles, however, was sitting on his horse, on the outside of the -group around the children, and when he heard the alarm and saw the -struggle, he immediately galloped to the rear. He did not know who Jasto -was, but he saw that one man was contending with four others, whom he -perceived, by their appearance and arms, to be members of the robber -band. As he rode, he put his hand on his long sword to draw it, but he -instantly saw that, if he struck at any one in that twisting and -writhing knot of men, he would be as likely to kill the Count's follower -as one of the robbers; and so he dashed up, and seized Jasto by the -collar with his mailed hand. Then, reining in his horse vigorously, he -suddenly backed. The jerk he gave in this way was so powerful that it -almost pulled Jasto out of the hands of his captors. He was so far -released, indeed, that, had the right hand of Sir Charles been free, he -would have been able to cut down the robbers. - -But as he still held Jasto in his iron grasp, and prepared to back -again, the robber captain, seeing that, in a moment, his captive would -be torn from him, and infuriated by the idea that he would lose -everything, even the chance of some ransom-money from the captain of the -_cotereaux_, drew from his belt a great, heavy knife, almost as long as -a sword and very broad, and with this terrible weapon aimed a blow at -Jasto's head. - -"Traitor!" he cried. "If I can't take you, you can take that!" - -But Jasto did not take anything of the kind; for, at the instant that -the robber made the blow, two arrows from the archers, who were coming -up, and who saw that the only chance of saving Jasto was a quick shot, -struck the robber captain in the side of the head, and the knife dropped -harmlessly by Jasto's side, while the robber fell back dead. Instantly -the other _brabancois_ took to their heels, and Sir Charles released the -red and panting Jasto. - -"Heigho!" cried the knight. "Surely I cannot mistake that round face and -those stout legs! This must be Jasto; my old follower and man of -learning! Why, good letter writer, I knew not what had become of you, -and I have often missed you sorely." - -Jasto recognized his old master, and, indeed, he had recognized him as -soon as he had seen him in Barran's castle, but he had not wished to -make himself known, fearing that Sir Charles might interfere in some way -with his plan of demanding a reward for the return of Louis. Now, he -would have spoken, but he was too much exhausted and out of breath to -say a word. He merely panted and bobbed his head, and tried to look -grateful for his deliverance. - -"No need of speaking now," said the knight, laughing. "When the breath -comes back into your body, I will see you again, and hear your story. -And, I doubt not, I shall soon have need to call on you to use your pen -and ink for me. If we stay long in Paris, I surely shall so need you." - -But now orders were given to form into line and move onward, and Sir -Charles galloped up to his place by Count Hugo. The order of marching -was taken up as before, and the party, leaving the dead and wounded -_brabancois_ to be cared for by their companions, who were doubtless -hiding in the forest near by, rode cautiously on until they cleared the -woods, and then they proceeded on their way as rapidly and comfortably -as possible. But few of the men-at-arms had been wounded, and none -seriously. - -The two boys and Agnes were in high good spirits as they galloped along. -Agnes was proud of her father's bravery and warlike deeds, and Raymond -and his brother were as excited and exultant as if they had won a -victory themselves. Louis would have ridden back to see if his friend -Jasto had been injured, but this was not allowed. He was told that the -man was safe and sound, and had to be satisfied with that assurance. - -As for Jasto himself, he rode silently among the baggage men, having -been given a horse captured from the _brabancois_. - -For once in his life, he was thoroughly ashamed of himself, and two -things weighed upon his mind. In the midst of his struggles with the -robbers, and when he had felt certain that they would overpower him and -take him back to Michol, by whom he would be cruelly punished and -perhaps slain, he had heard that shrill young voice calling for help for -Jasto. - -"And yet," he said to himself, "I am following that boy about and -keeping in his company, solely that I may, some day, have the chance of -claiming pay for freeing him from the _cotereaux_, to which bad company -I should have gone back this day if it had not been for him. For had he -not called for help none would have come to me. I owe him my freedom -now, and as he is worth surely twice as much as I am, I will charge his -friends but half the sum I had intended. And I shall think about the -other half. But a poor man must not let his gratitude hinder his -fortune. I shall think of that too. - -"But as for Sir Charles, who has saved my life to-day, and who was ever -of old a good master to me, I shall never deceive him more. I shall -either tell him boldly that I can not write a letter any more than he -can himself, or I shall learn to read and write. And that last is what I -shall surely do, if I can find monk or clerk to teach me and he ask not -more pay than I have money." - -With these comforting resolutions Jasto's face brightened up, and -raising his head, as if he felt like a man again, he left the company of -the baggage, and rode forward among the men-at-arms. - -That night our travelers rested in a village, and the next day they came -to the river Yonne, along the banks of which their road lay for a great -part of the rest of their journey. - -They passed through Sens, a large town, in which there lived a bishop, -to whom their errand might have been made known had not there been -reason to fear that such an application might injure the cause of the -Countess more than it would benefit it, and then they crossed the Seine -and passed through Melun and several small towns and villages; and, late -in the afternoon of the fourth day, they rode into Paris, with dusty -clothes and tired horses, but with hearts full of hope. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - -IT must not be supposed that the officers of the Inquisition and the -monks of the monastery which, as has been mentioned before, stood a few -miles from Viteau, were all this time ignorant of the fact that, when -the Countess of Viteau fled from her home, she took refuge in the castle -of the Count de Barran. - -It was not many days before this was known at the monastery. But the -officers had returned to Toulouse to report their failure to secure the -person for whom they had been sent; and the monk who was dispatched with -the information that the Countess had not fled the country, as was at -first supposed, but had taken refuge within a day's ride of Viteau, had -a long journey to make to the south of France; while the party which was -immediately dispatched by the Inquisition to the castle of Barran had a -long journey to make back to him. - -But it finally came, and it was a different party from that which had -been sent before. It was larger; it contained many more armed men, and -it was under the control of a leader who would not give up the pursuit -of the Countess simply because he should fail to find her in the first -place in which he sought her. - -About the time that the Count de Lannes and our young friends entered -Paris, the expedition from the Inquisition at Toulouse reached the great -gate of the castle of Barran. - -This visit threw the Count, and those of his household who understood -its import, into a state of despair almost as great as if it had not -been daily feared and expected ever since the Countess had come to the -castle. - -The Count did not know what to do. He had thought the matter over and -over, but had never been able to make up his mind as to what his course -would be in case the officers should appear while the Countess remained -in his castle. He felt that he could not give up this lady, the wife of -his old brother-in-arms, who had come to him for protection; but he -could not fight the company that was now approaching, for such an act -would have been considered the same thing as fighting Christianity -itself. - -He was in a sad state of anxiety as he went to the gate to meet, in -person, these most unwelcome visitors; and he wished many times, as he -crossed the court-yard, that he had yielded to his first impulse and had -insisted that the Countess should fly to England while there was yet -time. - -All that the Count de Barran could do was to detain the officers as long -as possible at the gate, and to endeavor to induce them to consent to a -friendly council before taking any steps to arrest the Countess. If they -would do this, he hoped to prevail upon them to remain at the castle, -with the lady really under their watch and guard, until news should -arrive from Paris. - -But the good squire Bernard acted in a very different way. He did not -believe in parleying, nor in councils. Ever since he had come to the -castle he had expected this visit, and he had always been ready for it. - -In five minutes from the time that he had seen the officials approaching -the castle,—and his sharp eyes had quickly told him who they were,—the -Countess and her women, the squire himself, and the men-at-arms who had -come with them from Viteau, were in their saddles; and, leaving the -castle by a lower gate, were galloping along a forest road as fast as -their horses' legs would carry them. - -The leader of the party from the Inquisition would not parley, and he -would listen to no talk of councils. He showed his credentials, and -demanded instant entrance; and as soon as he was inside the court-yard, -he posted some of his men at every gate. - -If the men at the lower gate had put their ears to the ground, they -might have heard the thud of horses' feet as the Countess and her party -hurried away into the depths of the forest. - -The main body of the officers then entered the castle, and the leader -demanded to be conducted to the Countess of Viteau. The Count de Barran -did not accompany him and his men as they mounted the stairs, but, -downcast and wretched, he shut himself in a lower room. - -In a very short time, however, the sound of running footsteps and a -general noise and confusion brought him quickly into the great hall, and -there he learned that the Countess was not in her apartments, and that -the Inquisitors were looking for her all over the castle. He instantly -imagined the truth, and a little inquiry among his people showed him -that he was right, and that the Countess had been carried off by -Bernard. - -"A trusty and noble fellow!" said Barran to himself, almost laughing -with delight at this sudden change in the state of affairs. "But what -will he do? So small a party, unprepared for a long journey, could not -get out of the country, and these people here, as soon as they find that -the Countess has really gone, will make pursuit in every direction. And -if they overtake her it will be all the worse for the poor, poor lady." - -Barran was right. When the Inquisitors had made a rapid but thorough -search of the castle, and when the angry leader had examined some of the -servants and had become convinced that the Countess had again fled, -almost from under the very hands of her pursuers, he sent out parties of -his horsemen on every road leading from the castle, with orders to -thoroughly search the surrounding country, and to make all possible -inquiries of persons by whom the fugitives might have been seen. The -leader himself remained at the castle, to receive reports and to send -out fresh horsemen in any direction which might seem necessary. It was -impossible that a lady like the Countess could have the strength and -endurance to ride so far that his tough and sturdy men-at-arms could not -overtake her. And if she took refuge in any house, castle, or cottage, -he would be sure to find her. - -The party of soldiers which left the lower gate of the castle and took -the road through the forest were mounted on swift, strong horses, and -the Countess and her company were only a few miles ahead of them. - -The squire Bernard did not keep long upon the road he had first taken. -He knew that the officers would probably pursue him this time, and he -had seen that their body was composed of many well-mounted men. So he -felt that he must bring into play, not only the fleetness of his horses, -but his knowledge of the country, if he hoped to escape the soldiers who -would be sent after him. - -Bernard did know the country very well. He had been born in this part of -Burgundy, and had, in youth and manhood, thoroughly explored these -forests, not only after deer and other game, but in expeditions with his -master and Barran against parties of _cotereaux_ and other thieves who -at various times had been giving trouble in the neighborhood. - -About four miles from the castle Bernard turned sharply to the left, and -rode into what, in the rapidly decreasing daylight, the Countess thought -to be the unbroken forest. But it was in reality a footway wide enough -for a horse and rider, and along this narrow path, in single file, the -party pursued its way almost as rapidly as on the open road. - -They had been riding northward; now they turned to the west, and in a -half hour or so they turned again, and went southward, through a road -which, though overgrown and apparently disused, was open and wide enough -for most of its length to allow two persons to ride abreast. - -[Illustration: THE FLIGHT OF THE COUNTESS.] - -They went more slowly now, for it was quite dark; but the squire led the -way, and they kept steadily on all night. - -At daybreak they reached what seemed to be the edge of the wood, and -Bernard ordered a halt. Bidding the rest of the company remain concealed -among the trees, he dismounted and cautiously made his way out of the -forest. - -Creeping along for a short distance into the open country, he mounted a -little hill and carefully surveyed the surrounding fields and plains. -Feeling certain that none of their enemies were near at hand in the flat -country before them, Bernard went back to the woods, got on his horse, -and, turning to the Countess, he said: - -"Now, my lady, we must make a rapid dash, and in a quarter of an hour we -shall be at our journey's end." - -Without a word the Countess—who had put herself entirely into her -faithful squire's care, and who had found early in the ride that he -wished to avoid answering any questions in regard to their -destination—followed Bernard out of the forest, and the whole party -began a wild gallop across the fields. - -For a few minutes they rode in silence, as they had been riding for the -greater part of the night, and then the Countess suddenly called out: - -"Bernard! Oh, Bernard! Where are we going? That is Viteau!" - -"Yes," shouted back the squire. "That is Viteau, and, by your leave, we -are going there. For you, it is the safest place in France." - -"But the _cotereaux_! The _cotereaux_!" cried the Countess. "It is -filled with those wicked men!" - -"I hope it is yet filled with _cotereaux_," cried the squire, still -galloping on; "for it is those fellows who will make it safe for you. -Fear them not, fair lady. They want only your money, and as long as they -have a good hope of that they will not harm you nor yield you up to any -claimant." - -The Countess answered not a word; but very pale, and trembling a little, -she rode on, and in a very short time the party drew up before the great -gate of Viteau. - -"Open!" cried Bernard, "open to the Countess of Viteau!" - -Receiving no immediate answer, Bernard shouted again: - -"Open! Open quickly! It is the lady of this chateau who asks admittance. -She is pursued! Open quickly!" - -There was now heard inside a sound of running and calling, and in a few -minutes the head of Michol appeared at the window in the gate. -Perceiving that his visitors were but three ladies and half a dozen men, -all looking very tired and anxious to enter, and recognizing Bernard, -whom he had seen several times and with whose position in the household -of Viteau he was quite familiar, he concluded that he could run no risk, -and might do himself much good, by admitting the little party; and he -therefore ordered the gate to be opened and bade the Countess ride in. - -The moment the fugitives had entered the court, and the gate had been -closed behind them, Bernard sprang from his horse exclaiming: - -"Now, at last, I can breathe at ease." - -The Countess, although a good deal frightened at her peculiar situation, -could not help smiling at this speech, considering that they were -surrounded by a great crowd of armed men, known to have in their number -some of the most notorious robbers in the country, and who were crowding -into the court to see the visitors, although keeping, by command of -their captain, at a respectful distance. - -Bernard now approached Michol, and with the utmost frankness, concealing -nothing, he told him all about the troubles of the Countess and why she -had fled to his protection. - -"As your object," said the squire, "is the payment of the ransom, for -which you have taken this chateau as security, you will not wish to -injure that lady by whom you expect the money to be collected and paid. -And, if I mistake not, until the ransom is paid to you, you will not -allow that lady to be taken out of your possession and keeping." - -"You are a shrewd man, and a knowing one," said Michol, with a smile, -"and have judged my temper well. And yet," he said, lowering his voice, -"you must have terribly feared those Inquisitors, to bring that lady -here." - -"Fear them!" said the squire in a voice still lower than the captain's. -"Indeed did I fear them. Do you know that they would begin her trial -with the torture?" - -Even the rough bandit gave a little shudder as he heard these words, and -looked at the gentle lady before him. - -[Illustration: MICHOL WELCOMES THE COUNTESS.] - -Advancing to her, and removing the steel cap he wore, he said: - -"Fair lady, you are welcome, as far as I have power to bid you welcome, -to this chateau. Your apartments have not been molested nor disturbed, -and you can take immediate possession of them, with your attendants. And -you may feel assured that here you may rest in safety from all attacks -of enemies of any sort, unless they come in numbers sufficient to -overcome my men and carry these strong defenses. And I promise you that -when the matters of ransom shall be settled between us, I and my men -will march away from your estates, leaving no damage nor injury behind -us, excepting your loss of what we have consumed and used for our -support and defense." - -"Impudent varlet!" said Bernard to himself. "Your hungry rascals have -fattened on the possessions of the Countess, and yet you talk in a tone -as large and generous as if you gave to her what was your own." - -"Sir," said the Countess to Michol, "I accept your offer of protection -until I receive tidings of some sort from my lord the King." - -"You shall certainly have it, fair dame," said Michol. "My men and I -will never stand and be robbed, be the robber who he may." - -The Countess bowed her head, and, without having heard all of this -remark, rode up to the chateau and entered with her party. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - -AS soon as possible on the day after the arrival of his party in Paris, -the Count de Lannes made arrangements for an interview between his young -ambassadors and the King. - -The seneschal of the palace, to whom Count Hugo was known, gave -permission to Raymond, Louis, and Agnes, with their proper attendants, -to seek the young King in the woods of Vincennes, where, on fine days, -he generally walked with some of his courtiers, after the daily -religious services which he always attended. In after years, when he -managed the affairs of his kingdom without interference from Queen -Blanche, and managed them, too, in such a way as to win for himself the -reputation of being the most just and honorable ruler that France or -Europe had ever known, Louis the Ninth used to hold regular audiences in -these beautiful woods, where those of his subjects who desired to -petition him or speak with him could do so with very little ceremony. -And even now the young King generally saw the few persons who asked -audience of him in this place, which was already becoming his favorite -promenade. - -Louis, at the time of our story, was about twenty-two years old, but he -had been married at nineteen, and was crowned when he was but twelve. -His mother, who had been governing the country so long, still continued -to do so, and also governed her son and his wife, as if they had been -small children. She did not even allow them to see each other, excepting -at such times as she thought fit. - -This may have been all very well for the nation, for Queen Blanche was a -wise and energetic woman, although very bigoted in regard to religious -affairs, but it must have greatly fretted the soul of the young monarch, -whose crown was like an expensive toy given to a child, but put up on a -high shelf, where he might look at it and call it his own, but must not -touch it. - -The Count de Lannes knew of all this, but he thought it well that his -young people should address themselves to the King, who, being a young -person himself, and of a very kind disposition, would be apt to -sympathize with them and to take an interest in their unusual mission. -Not being much occupied with state or other affairs, it might happen -that he would give his mind to this matter; and if he could do nothing -himself he might interest his mother, who could do something. - -It was a bright and pleasant day when Raymond, Louis, and Agnes, -followed by a lady and a page, with Jasto a little farther behind, and -Count Hugo and Sir Charles bringing up the rear at quite a distance, -were conducted to the King, who was seated under a large tree, with -three or four of his noble attendants standing around him. - -When the three children approached him, and bent down on their knees -before him, as they had been told they must do, the King gave them a -smile of welcome, and bade them stand. - -"And now, my little friends," he said, "what is it you would have of -me?" - -[Illustration: AGNES MAKES A PLEA FOR THE MOTHER OF RAYMOND AND LOUIS.] - -Raymond was a straightforward, honest boy, not backward to speak when he -should do so, and it had been arranged that he should be the spokesman. -But he had never seen a king, even a young one, and his heart failed -him. He looked at Louis, who, though bold enough, could not think of -anything but the astounding fact, which had suddenly struck upon his -mind, that this king was not old enough to be of any good to them. He -looked as young as some of the pages at the castle. The silence was a -little embarrassing, and both boys looked at Agnes. She did not want to -speak first, although she doubtless expected to say something on the -subject, but she presently saw she would have to begin, and so, with a -little flush on her face, she addressed the King: - -"May it please you, sire," she said, "we have come to speak to you about -the mother of these two boys, who is the Countess of Viteau and is in -great trouble. We came to you because, as you are the King of France, -you can have the wicked business stopped instantly, until some good -persons can look into it; and if we went to any of the bishops or the -people of the Church, they would take a long time to think about it, and -the poor lady might suffer dreadfully before they would do a thing." - -"I should gladly help you, my fair little lady," said the young King, -with a smile; "but, on my kingly honor, I can not imagine what you would -have me do. What is the wicked business, and what have bishops to do -with it? Bishops are lofty personages for such young people as you to -deal with." - -"They are not so lofty as kings," remarked Louis, as the thought came -into his mind—although, indeed, he was not impressed with the loftiness -of any king present. - -"You are right," said the King. "Some kings are loftier than bishops. -But come, one of you, explain your errand, that I may know how a poor -king can be more expeditious than a great bishop." - -As the ice was now broken, and as Raymond knew that he could tell the -story better than either of the others, he began it, and laid the whole -matter, very clearly and fully, before the King, who listened to the -statement and to the petition for his interference with much attention -and interest. - -"It is a sad, sad tale," he said, when he had heard it all; "but I see -not what action the King can take in a matter which belongs entirely to -the Church, and is subject to the ecclesiastical laws which extend over -France and all Christian countries. In such things, like my lowest -subject, I am but an humble follower of our holy fathers, who know what -is good for our souls." - -"But it is her body, sire," exclaimed Agnes. "Think how she may suffer -before they find out about her soul! We are not afraid for her soul." - -The young King smiled again, although he evidently did not think it -proper to smile about such subjects. - -"My fair child," said he, putting his hand on Agnes's head, "you seem to -take this matter as greatly to heart as if the lady was your own -mother." - -"My own mother is dead," said Agnes, "and I fear that I ought to be glad -of that, for she, too, was a pious lady, and knew how to read; and all -these things might have been done to her had she lived to see this day." - -The King's face grew serious at this, and he was silent for a few -moments. But presently, turning to Raymond, he said: - -"Then what you would have me do is to request these proceedings to be -stopped, until some learned and pious man, with mind not prejudiced in -this affair, shall examine into your mother's belief, and shall see if -there be cause or need that she be tried by the Inquisition?" - -"That is all, good sire," said Raymond. "That is all we ask." - -"I will lay this matter before my royal mother, the Queen," said the -King, "for she has far more knowledge of such subjects, and far more -influence with our clergy, than I have, and I fear me not that what you -desire will be readily obtained. It is a fair and reasonable request you -make, and I am right well pleased you came to me to make it. So be -comforted, my little friends. I will speak with the Queen this very day -in your behalf." - -With this he rose, and with a smile and a little wave of the hand -dismissed his young petitioners. They were about to step back, when -Jasto, who had been gradually getting nearer and nearer to the central -group, so that he had heard all that had been said, pulled Louis by the -end of his doublet, and whispered in his ear: - -"Ask if you shall come again, or if you may go home with the good news." - -Then Louis advanced a little, and spoke up quickly, asking the question. - -"Come to-morrow an hour earlier than this time," said the King, who -evidently was much interested in the matter,—the more so, perhaps, -because so little kingly business was submitted to him,—"and you shall -hear exactly what will be done, and who shall be sent to catechise the -Countess." He then walked away, and the children rejoined their elder -companions. - -When Sir Charles heard of the suggestion made by Jasto, he slapped him -on the shoulder and said to him: - -"You were always a good fellow, Jasto, with ideas suitable to the -occasion, both to speak and to write down with ink. Now I shall be able -to see this great city of Paris, which I have not visited for ten long -years." - -And with minds relieved, and with the fresh and eager curiosity of young -people who had never seen a city before, our three friends accompanied -Sir Charles on a sight-seeing tour through Paris. The capital of France -was nothing like so large and wonderful as the Paris of to-day, but it -contained, among other public edifices, that great building, the Louvre, -which still stands, and which was then used, not only as a residence for -the King, but as a prison. There were also beautiful bridges across the -Seine, which runs through the city; the streets were paved, and there -were shops; there were many people, some going one way and some -another—some attending to their business, and some taking their ease, -with their families, in front of their houses; gayly dressed knights -were prancing through the streets on their handsome horses; ladies were -gazing from windows; artisans were at work in their shops, and, -altogether, the sights and delights of the Paris of 1236 produced upon -these three children very much the same effect that the Paris of 1883 -would have produced upon them had they lived in our day. - -A little before the appointed time, the next day, Raymond, Louis, and -Agnes, accompanied as at the previous interview, were in the woods of -Vincennes, and advanced to the spot where they were to meet the King. - -In about a quarter of an hour, the young monarch made his appearance, -walking quite rapidly, and followed by several attendants. There was -much less ceremony observed in those days between royal personages and -their subjects than at present, and the King walked straight up to our -three friends and spoke to them. - -"I am sorry," he said, "that I have not performed for you all the good -offices which you asked, and which I should gladly have performed. But -the Queen, who understands these important matters better than myself, -assures me that it would be an action unbefitting royalty to interfere -in this emergency which you have brought before me. It is a matter with -which the clergy and its appointed institutions have to do, and with -which the King can not meddle without detriment to Christianity, and to -the proper power and influence of the Church. Whatever ought to be done, -in order that the Countess of Viteau shall be justly treated in this -matter, will, as I am earnestly assured, be done. And with this," he -continued, after a moment's hesitation, "we ought all to be satisfied; -ought we not? It was to discover the truth, and to uphold and support -good Christians, that the Inquisition was established, and it is not -fitting that the King or the nobility of France should doubt or fear the -justice of its actions and decisions." - -At these words, Agnes burst into tears; Louis, too, began to sob, and -Raymond stood pale and trembling. Count Hugo and Sir Charles, perceiving -that something unhappy had occurred, drew near their young charges, -while the courtiers about the King exchanged looks of compassion, as -they gazed upon the sorrowful children. - -"There is but one thing, then, to do," exclaimed Raymond, half turning -away. "We must fly to England." - -"What?" exclaimed the King; "to England! Fly? What means that?" - -"In England," said Louis, his voice half-choked with tears, "the King -does not allow——" - -At this point Raymond gave his brother such a pull by the arm that he -instantly stopped speaking, to turn around and see what was the matter, -and then Raymond spoke: - -"My Lord King," he said, "we must now make our way with our mother to -England, because there we shall be safe from the power of the -Inquisition. It may be that its trials may be just and right, but we -have heard something of the horrible tortures that its prisoners have to -bear, to prove whether they will tell the truth or not; and, while I -live, my mother, my own dear mother, shall never be dragged from her -home and be made to go through such a trial. I would kill her first -myself." - -"And so would I," cried Louis, "if Raymond were dead!" - -"Oh, boys!" exclaimed Agnes, imploringly, "do not say such horrible -things!" - -The King, apparently, had not heard these latter remarks. For a moment -he seemed in troubled thought, and then he said, half to himself: - -"Can it be that a noble lady, and a pious one, I doubt not, must flee my -dominions, to take refuge with Henry of England, because, as it appears, -she is persecuted by enemies, and threatened with the rigors of the -Inquisition, which, whatever they be, may perhaps well frighten the -souls of a gentle dame and these poor children!" - -"And they could not certainly save themselves by flight, sire," said the -courtiers, "for the Pope could doubtless order them to be apprehended -and remanded to these shores." - -"Is there, then, no place to which we can fly?" cried little Agnes. "For -I am going, too. Father and I will go." - -The young King made no reply. He stood, silent and pale. Then, stepping -forward a little, his head held very high, and his eyes sparkling, he -said: - -"Do not fly to any land. Leave not France. You are as safe here as in -any spot on earth. Go back to your mother, my brave youth, and tell her -that her own King will protect her from needless molestation, and will -give that opportunity she asks for to show her true faith and sound -belief. I will desire, as a favor to myself, that the Inquisition shall -cease its action against this lady until some wise and learned members -of our clergy, whom I will send to her to inquire into this matter, -shall give their fair and well-considered opinion of it. And now," said -he, turning to his courtiers, his face flushed with youthful pride, "I -feel more like a king of France than I ever felt before." - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - -THE leader of the officers of the Inquisition was not long in -discovering the retreat of the Countess. He was greatly assisted by the -monks of the monastery near Viteau, who suspected, from what had been -said by some of the _cotereaux_ who occasionally found it necessary to -go outside of the chateau court-yard, that something of importance had -occurred at Viteau. By careful inquiries they soon found out that the -Countess was there, and reported the fact to the chief officer at his -headquarters at Barran's castle. - -The Count, on the contrary, did not know where the Countess of Viteau -had gone. She and Bernard had thought it best not to inform him of her -place of refuge, and Barran had not endeavored to discover this place, -deeming it unsafe for any one in the castle to know where she was, so -long as her pursuers were with him. He knew by the actions of his -unwelcome visitors that she had not been captured, but he never imagined -that she was in her own chateau of Viteau. - -Early on the morning of the second day after that on which Count Hugo -and his party started on their return from Paris, bearing the happy news -that the King had consented to interfere in behalf of the Countess, and -that one or two well-qualified persons were, as soon as possible, to -visit her at the castle of Barran to give her an opportunity of properly -representing her case, the Inquisitors appeared at Viteau. - -Viteau, although not exactly a castle, was, like all the residences of -the upper classes in those days, a strongly defended place. It had a -wall around the court-yard, and its numerous towers and turrets and -little balconies were constructed to accommodate and protect a large -number of archers and cross-bow men. - -Therefore it was that Robert de Comines, the leader of the Inquisitorial -party, thought it well to have a strong body of men with him in case it -became necessary to force his way into the chateau. - -First posting soldiers at every entrance to the grounds, Comines marched -to the great gate and demanded admittance. Michol, who had received -notice that a large body of men was approaching, and who felt quite sure -that he knew who they were, gave some orders to his under-officers and -hastened to the gate. - -"Who may you be?" said Michol from the window in the gate, "and why come -you here? These gates open, now, to no visitors, friends or foes." - -Comines did not see fit to state the object of his visit, nor to exhibit -his authority, and without answering Michol's questions, he asked -another. - -"Are you the captain of the robbers who have seized upon this chateau?" -he said. - -"I am the captain of the good and valiant _cotereaux_, who hold this -chateau and its belongings as a warranty for a just and righteous debt," -answered Michol. "Have you aught to say to me concerning the matter?" - -"I have something to say to you," replied Comines, "which you will do -well to hear, and that speedily. Open the gate and let me enter." - -"If you wish to speak with me," answered Michol, "I am ready to hear -what you have to say. But you need not enter, fair sir. I will come out -to you." - -"No, no!" cried the other. "I must go in. Open the gate!" - -"That will I, gladly," said Michol, "but it must be for me to go out and -not for you to come in. This is not my dwelling, nor are these my lands. -I meet my friends and foes in the forest and on the road." - -At these words the gates were thrown open, and Michol rushed out, -followed by nearly all his men, who had been closely massed behind him -while he spoke. The _cotereaux_ were in such a large and solid body that -they completely filled the gateway and forced back Comines and his men, -who vainly endeavored to maintain their ground before the gate. - -Comines shouted and threatened, and his followers manfully struggled -with the robbers, who surged like a great wave from the gate; but it was -of no use. Out came the _cotereaux_, and backward were forced Comines's -men, until all the robbers, excepting those who were left to guard the -other gates, and some archers who were posted on certain of the towers, -had rushed into the road, and the gates had been locked behind them. - -The sudden confusion had been so great that, at first, the two leaders -could not find each other. At length they met in the middle of the road, -and the men of each party disengaged themselves from one another as -rapidly as possible, and gathered in two confronting bodies, each behind -its leader. - -"Here am I. What would you have?" said Michol. - -"Thief and leader of thieves!" cried the enraged Comines. "Do you -suppose that I want you! You shall feel the power of the Church in your -own person for this violence. Know that I am an officer of the Holy -Inquisition, with all due authority and warrant to carry out my purpose, -and that I come to apprehend and take before our high tribunal the -person of the Countess of Viteau, who is behind those walls. Now that -you know my errand, stand back and let me enter." - -"That will I not," said Michol, firmly. "Whatever your errand and your -authority, you come too late. The Countess of Viteau is now my prisoner. -I hold her and this chateau as security for the payment of ransom-money -justly due me; and I will give her up to no man until that ransom shall -be paid. Whatever warrant you may have, I know well that you have none -to take from me my prisoner." - -"Rascal!" cried Comines, "who would show a warrant to a thief? Will you -open that gate to me?" - -"No," said Michol, "I will not." - -"Then take that for my authority!" said Comines, drawing his sword as he -spoke, and making a sudden thrust at the robber leader. - -Michol had no sword, but in his right hand he bore a mace or club with a -heavy steel or iron head. This was a weapon generally used by knights on -horseback, but Michol was a tall, strong fellow, and he carried it with -ease. Stepping quickly aside as Comines thrust at him, he swung his mace -in the air, and brought it down upon his adversary's head with such -rapidity and force that it knocked him senseless to the ground. - -This blow was followed, almost instantly, by a general conflict. As none -of Comines's men were mounted, their horses having been left at the -monastery, and as they did not number half as many as the -_cotereaux_,—who were, indeed, in much stronger force than Comines and -the monks had imagined,—the fight was not a long one. The robbers soon -overpowered their opponents, killing some, causing others to make a -disorderly flight, and taking a number of prisoners. - -The latter were carefully robbed,—not an article of value, not a weapon, -nor piece of armor being left on their persons,—and then they were set -free to carry away their wounded and dead comrades. - -Michol sent a detachment of his men to attack the soldiers who had been -placed outside of the other entrances to the chateau; and when these had -been routed and the battle-field in front of the great gate had been -cleared of enemies, dead and alive, the robber captain entered the -court-yard with his men, and the gates were locked and barred behind -him. - -Bernard, the squire, had been watching the combat from a high tower. - -"I knew," he said to himself, when it was over, "that this was the only -place in France where the Countess would be safe. For none but a pack of -thieves would have dared to fight those who came to capture her." - -The Countess was greatly agitated when she heard of the affair, for she -knew nothing of it until it was over. She was glad and thankful that her -pursuers had been defeated in their object, but she thought it was a -terrible thing to have had an actual conflict with them. - -Her good squire did his best to make matters look as well as possible. - -"You must remember, my lady," said he, "that the fight was not within -our walls, and that none of us took part in it. And, I trow, we shall -not soon see again those men from Toulouse; for the leader of them has -been grievously disabled, and it will be many a day before he will again -desire to carry off anybody." - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - -THE Countess of Viteau now became very anxious to learn, as soon as -possible, the result of her embassy to the King, and she also wished her -sons to know where she was. She consulted with her squire, Bernard, in -regard to the matter; and they concluded that it would be better, if the -travelers brought bad news, and the young King had refused to interfere -in behalf of the Countess, that Raymond and Louis should know the place -of her refuge before any of their party could reach Barran's castle, and -that they should immediately join her, when, with them, she should fly -the country without delay or further consultation with any one. - -She had determined at last that, if she should be obliged to leave her -country, she would take her boys with her, and let the Count de Barran -and her other friends do the best they could in regard to her estates. -She had money enough in her possession to provide for the expenses of a -journey to England, but she did not consider, when making her plans, -that the captain of the _cotereaux_ would require his claims paid before -he would let her go. Bernard thought of this, but he said nothing and -hoped for the best. - -Michol also was quite anxious to know what had been done at Paris, for -the news would influence in a great degree the terms of his demands for -ransom money. - -On the day after the attack of Comines had been repulsed, it was -considered that Count de Lannes and his party might be expected to be -nearing the end of their homeward journey, and it was determined to send -a page, accompanied by one of Michol's men, to intercept the travelers -and to convey a note to Raymond from his mother. - -The main road from Paris through Burgundy ran within twelve or fifteen -miles of Viteau, and Count Hugo might therefore be met, while yet more -than half a day's journey from the castle. - -The page's companion knew all the roads and by-ways of the surrounding -country, and they reached in good time the high road from Paris, but -after waiting there all day and making inquiries at various cottages -near by, they saw nothing and heard no news of the Count and his -company. - -After dark they returned to Viteau, as they had been told to do, for it -was known that Count Hugo would not travel by night, and before daylight -the next morning they set out again. - -The long watch of the previous day had wearied the restless soul of the -robber, and he declared to the page, as they rode along, that they would -have another day to wait upon the dusty highway, for he had been to -Paris and he knew how long it would take the Count's party to go and -return, and that they could not be reasonably expected that day. - -"See you that cottage down there in the little glade below us?" he said -to the page, a little after sunrise. "There live an old woman and two -louts, her sons. They are poor creatures, but they make wine good enough -to sell; at least, a month or so ago, when I and a half-dozen of my -comrades stopped at their cottage to eat and rest, that is what they -told me they did with it. We found their wine good to drink,—which can -not be said of all wine that is good enough to sell,—and we drank many a -full horn of it, and what we did not drink we poured over her floor, so -that her house should smell of good cheer." - -"That was a wasteful thing to do," said the page, "and must have cost -you a goodly sum." - -"Cost us!" laughed the robber. "How could it cost us anything when we -had no money? And now, look you, we have more time than we shall know -what to do with, and I am going down there for some wine to cheer us -through the day. Ride you slowly on, and I will overtake you before you -have gone half a mile." - -So saying, the robber turned from the road, and dashed down into the -glade. Reaching the cottage, he tied his horse by the door, and, -entering, demanded of the old woman, who was cooking something over a -little fire, that she should bring him some of her good wine, and plenty -of it, too, for he wanted some to drink and some to carry away. - -The old woman looked at him for a moment, and then went out and brought -a jug of wine and a drinking-horn. - -When the robber had sat down on a rough stool, and had begun to drink, -she went out for some wood for her fire. But instead of picking up dry -sticks, she ran to a small field where her sons were working. - -"Come quickly!" she said. "One of the cowardly thieves who drank and -wasted our wine, a while ago, and struck me in the face when I asked for -pay, is in the cottage now, drinking and robbing us again. There were -many of them then, and you could do nothing. Now there is only one. Come -quickly!" - -[Illustration: THE ROBBER IN THE OLD WOMAN'S COTTAGE.] - -Without a word, the young men, still carrying the heavy hoes they had -been using, ran to the house, and rushing into the room where the robber -was still seated on his stool, engaged in drinking his second horn of -wine, they attacked him with their hoes. - -The _coterel_ sprang from his seat, and drew the heavy sword which hung -at his belt, but, in an instant, it was knocked from his hand, and he -was belabored over the head and shoulders by the hoes of the angry young -peasants. If he had not worn an iron cap, which was his only piece of -armor, he probably would have been killed. As it was, he was glad to -plunge out of the door and run for the woods. The two young men pursued -him, but he was a faster runner than they, and his legs were not -injured. So, wounded and bruised, and very sorry that he had thought -about the old woman's wine, he left them behind, and disappeared among -the thick undergrowth of the neighboring forest. His pursuers returned -to the cottage and set loose the robber's horse. - -"The wicked thief shall not creep back," they said, "to do us further -injury, and then jump on his horse and fly." - -And they threw stones at the horse until he had galloped up to the road -and out of sight. - -The page, who had been urged by his mistress to lose no time in reaching -the high road, for fear that her sons might pass before he got there, -rode on and on, looking back continually for his companion, but never -stopping. Reaching a place where they had made a short cut, the day -before, he tried to find it, got into the woods and lost his way. A -wood-cutter set him straight, but when he reached the Paris road, it was -long past noon, and he was dreadfully afraid that Count de Lannes's -party had gone by. - -Inquiries of some peasants, who lived not far from the road, made him -almost sure that his fears were correct, for they had noticed two -companies of horsemen go by, and they thought that there were some young -people with one of them. Still, he waited and watched, and wondered why -the _coterel_ did not come, until nightfall, and then he set out to -return to Viteau. Without his robber companion,—whom, by the way, he -never saw again, for the fellow was afraid to return to his captain, -having lost his horse,—it was quite impossible for him to find his way -back in the dark, and in less than an hour he was hopelessly lost. -Finding no wood-cutter, or any one else, who could show him his way, he -wandered about until he and his horse were tired out, and then they -spent the rest of the night under a tree. - -The page was quite right when he supposed that Count Hugo's party had -passed along the high road before he reached it. The travelers had -pressed on vigorously during their homeward journey, and meeting with no -hindrances,—of _brabancois_, or anything else,—they rode into the gates -of Barran's castle before nightfall of the day on which the page had -missed them. - -As soon as they had entered the court-yard, the two boys sprang from -their horses and ran to the great door of the castle. But here they were -met by the Count de Barran, who, with outstretched arms, stopped them as -they were hurrying to their mother's apartments, and, as gently as he -could, told them,—with Agnes and her father, who had now come up,—the -story of the visit of the Inquisitors and the flight of the Countess. - -The poor boys were almost overcome by this entirely unlooked-for and -dreadful news. They had hurried back, excited and happy with the good -tidings they were bringing their mother, only to find that she had -utterly disappeared, and no one could tell them whether she was safe, or -had fallen into the hands of her persecutors. Louis burst into tears, -and fell on the neck of his brother, who folded him in his arms, and, -without a word, the two boys stumbled up the stairs, and were seen no -more that night. - -Early the next morning, Raymond and Louis, still with pale and -tear-stained faces, but unable to remain quiet any longer, came down to -the stables, and, ordering two horses to be saddled, mounted them, and -rode away to look for their mother. - -If any of their elders had known of their intention, they would not have -been allowed to go. This they well knew, and so they hurried away before -any one but the servants of the castle was awake. They felt that they -hated the Count de Barran for having let their mother go away, without -knowing where she could be found or heard from, and they wished to have -nothing more to do with him. And they had come to the belief that no one -but themselves could do anything for their mother now, and that they -must ride the whole world over until they had found her. - -Each was armed with sword and dagger, and they had some money with them -to buy food. As to plans, they had made only one, and that was to ride -so far that day that Barran would not be likely to find them and bring -them back; and then they would make inquiries, and come to some decision -as to which direction they should go in their mournful search. - -The sun was about two hours' high, and they had ridden quite a long -distance, when they saw coming toward them on the road a boy upon a -horse. In a moment they recognized their mother's page, and he as soon -knew them. The three young fellows rushed together, and began -clamorously to ask questions. The page being only one against two was -soon obliged to surrender in this question conflict, and to give answers -to his eager young masters. - -When Raymond and Louis heard that their mother was at Viteau, they asked -nothing more, but giving a shout of joy, turned their horses' heads -toward their old home, for they were on a road leading directly thereto, -which the page had at last found. - -Onward and onward the three galloped, much to the weariness of their -poor horses, and some hours before nightfall they reached Viteau, where -they were readily admitted by Michol, who gave Raymond and Louis even a -more eager welcome than that with which he had opened the gates to their -mother. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - -NOW that he had not only the Countess of Viteau, but her two sons, under -his control and in his power, Michol became very anxious to settle the -matter of the ransom-money which he intended to demand for his -prisoners, as he considered them. - -He set one of his new men, who happened to be a truer scribe than Jasto, -at work to write a carefully-worded paper, to be sent to Count de -Barran, and in it he stated the terms on which he would release the -Countess and her sons and retire, with his men, from Viteau. - -The Countess, now happy in the possession of her sons, and having the -good news from the King, was very desirous to start immediately for the -castle of the Count de Barran, where she expected the priests from Paris -would soon arrive. She was greatly surprised and disappointed when she -found that Michol would not let her go until the ransoms had been paid; -and the two boys were very angry, and wanted to go down and demand that -Michol should instantly order the gates to be opened to them. But their -mother restrained them. They were now in the power of these robbers, and -they must be prudent. - -Michol, having understood that the Countess was not herself prepared to -pay any money, had prudently determined to transact his business with -Barran alone. He was very glad, however, to have her write a letter -requesting the Count to pay the ransoms demanded, promising to return -the money when she again took charge of her estates and business -affairs, and urging him to use all possible haste in settling the matter -with the captain of the _cotereaux_. - -This letter, with the one from Michol, was sent to the Count the day -after the arrival of Raymond and Louis at Viteau, and it gave the people -at the castle the first news of the whereabouts of the Countess, and -also relieved them from the new anxiety caused by the departure of the -boys, for whom search was at that time being made. - -But while these news gladdened the hearts and relieved the minds of the -Count de Barran and his friends, the terms of Michol's letter vexed them -exceedingly, and threatened to embarrass them very much. The wily robber -knew that there were urgent reasons why the Countess should, as soon as -possible, be at liberty to attend to private affairs, and therefore he -greatly increased the demands he had before determined to make. - -Not only did he require the payment of the amount originally fixed as -the ransom for Louis, but he asked a very large sum for the release of -the Countess; quite as much for Raymond's ransom; a smaller sum for -Bernard; and a good price for his so-called services in taking care of -the chateau, and protecting its inmates. - -Beside all this, he demanded that Jasto, the man who had deserted him, -should be delivered to him for punishment. - -Although Count de Barran was a rich nobleman, the total amount named in -this letter was far more money than he had in his possession at the -time; and far more, too, than the Countess could afford to repay him, if -he had had it to send to Michol. Still, although he was very much -annoyed and provoked by the impudent demands of the robber captain, he -said that there was nothing to be done but to accede to them; for the -Countess must be released, and that instantly. Not only was it -positively necessary for her to be at the castle when the priests from -Paris arrived (for it was not at all likely that they would be willing -to go to Viteau and trust themselves among a gang of thieves), but he -was afraid that, if the terms of Michol were resisted, or even disputed, -he might be provoked to do some injury to the Countess or her sons in -order to hasten the payment of the ransoms. Such conduct was not -uncommon among these thieves. For these reasons, he would endeavor to -raise the money and pay it, as soon as possible. - -Sir Charles was very indignant at that portion of the letter relating to -Jasto. He had been very glad to regain his old servant, who had left him -on account of a quarrel with a squire, and who, according to his own -account, had been obliged to join the _cotereaux_ because he could find -nothing else to do; and he stoutly declared that he would not reward -Jasto's good action in bringing Louis to his mother by delivering him to -the vengeance of the scoundrel, Michol. - -As this determination would make it useless to send the money to Viteau, -if Michol insisted on the surrender of Jasto, Barran sent a message, in -great haste, to the captain of the _cotereaux_, to inquire if he would -be willing to take a ransom for Jasto, and also to ask if he would -release the Countess and her company on the payment of half of the total -sum demanded, and be content to remain at Viteau until the rest should -be paid. - -To this Michol sent a very short answer, in which he declared that he -would accept no terms for the release of his prisoners but the delivery -of Jasto and the payment of the entire sum named in his letter. - -The messengers who brought this answer also brought the news of the -fight with the Inquisition people. - -Such startling intelligence as this produced a great effect upon the -mind of Barran, as it showed him to what length the robber captain was -willing to go, in order to secure the possession of his prisoners and -the payment of their ransoms; and he set out that very day, accompanied -by his chief seneschal and other attendants, to visit some of his -estates, and also some small towns at no great distance, and there -endeavor to collect the money needed. The Jasto question, he thought, -must be settled as best it could be. His safety must not interfere with -that of the Countess. - -As for Count Hugo, he would have nothing to do with this business. He -utterly disapproved of paying the exorbitant sums demanded by Michol, or -indeed any money at all, for the release of a noble lady and her sons, -whom the rascals had no right whatever to hold or to ask ransom for. If -this money should be paid, he said, it would show all the thieves and -outlaws of the country that the nobles of France were willing to pay -them enormous sums for any ladies and high-born children that they might -steal. Heretofore, they expected vengeance if they attempted anything of -the kind, but now they would expect such deeds to make them rich. To be -sure, this case was a peculiar one; but never, he declared, as a knight -of Christendom, would he submit to the vile exactions of a common robber -like Michol. - -And little Agnes cried, and wandered about moaning, and wished she was a -man. What she would have done if she had been a man she did not know, -but certainly she could do nothing as a little girl, or even as a -grown-up woman. - -Jasto, when he was told what his old master had said in regard to him, -retired into a remote part of the castle where he could not be easily -found, and diligently occupied his time with some writing materials -which he had brought from Paris. - -"I must e'en make haste and learn to be a true scribe," he said to -himself, "for if my master finds me out, he may be only too willing to -toss me into the jaws of the _cotereaux_. So, hard will I work at this -alphabet and this little book of words, and keep a sharp eye and ear -open for any change in Sir Charles's mind about his good man Jasto. It -will be a doughty man-at-arms and a vigilant who delivers me to Michol." - -Not long after the Count de Barran had started on his money-raising -errand, Count Hugo set out on a little journey to the monastery, a few -miles from Viteau, where the wounded Comines and other disabled members -of the Inquisitorial force were said to be still lying. He wished to -find out whether orders had been received to cease attempts to arrest -the Countess, and also to discover the exact truth, as far as possible, -about the fight with the _cotereaux_ and the strength of Michol's -forces. - -As he was going into what might prove a dangerous neighborhood, he took -with him a body of about thirty-five horsemen, all completely clad in -armor, of which there were many suits in the castle, and all well armed. -Some of these men were his own retainers, and others belonged to the -retinue of Sir Charles, who did not accompany his friend, as Count Hugo -thought it well that some knight should remain at the castle, from which -nearly all the visitors had now departed. - -When Count Hugo de Lannes reached the monastery, he found that Comines -was too much injured to speak or think about the affair in which he had -been engaged, but he learned from the monks that no recent message had -arrived for Comines, and he also heard how the _cotereaux_ had robbed -him of his clothes and armor, and had even taken, it was supposed, all -his papers of authority from the Inquisition. - -From this information, Count Hugo felt sure that the Countess need be -under no fear of trouble from the Inquisitors before the message to -desist from further action should reach them. Comines, although he had -excellent surgical and medical attention from the monks, would not -recover for some time; and none of the other members of his party would -be likely to attempt to carry off a noble lady through a great part of -France, without being able to show any warrant for their proceedings. - -It had been late in the day when Count Hugo arrived at the monastery, -and it was quite dark when, after his party had been furnished with a -good supper by the monks, he took leave of his entertainers. - -He did not take the straight road back to the castle, but struck off -toward Viteau. His men traveled slowly by the light of the stars. Some -time before they reached the chateau, a halt was ordered by a small -wood; and there Count Hugo had a ladder made. - -Two straight young saplings, which were easily selected by the men, -whose eyes were now accustomed to the dim light, were hewn down for the -uprights of the ladder, and slight notches were cut into them at -suitable distances for the rounds. These were made of short, strong -pieces of other saplings, quickly cut into proper lengths, and were -fastened to the uprights by strong leathern thongs, of which one of the -men had brought a number tied to his saddle. - -When this rude ladder was finished, one horseman took it by one end, -another took it by the other, and the cavalcade proceeded. - -Reaching Viteau,—which they did not approach by the front, but on the -southern side,—the horses were tied at some distance from the -court-yard, and left in charge of several of the soldiers, while the -other men, carrying the ladder, quietly made their way to the side-wall -of the court. There had been a moat on the outside of this wall, but -after the wars were over, and the Count de Viteau had died, this moat -had been allowed to go dry, and so Count Hugo and his men were able to -walk up to the wall and set their ladder against it. The Count, with -three or four followers, then got over the wall, and when they were in -the court-yard they cautiously moved toward the great gate. They -encountered no one, for, although the _cotereaux_ preserved moderately -good discipline, they did not keep a very strict guard at night, -expecting no attack from any quarter. - -Arriving at the gate, the Count found there one sentry fast asleep. This -fellow was quickly seized and bound, with a scarf over his mouth; and -the gate being opened, the remainder of the Count's force, which had -been ordered around to the front, was noiselessly admitted. - -The whole body then proceeded to the chateau, where a dim light could be -seen shining through a wide crack at the door of the principal entrance. -This crack, which was between the edge of the door and its casement, -showed that one bolt was the only fastening which the robbers had -thought it necessary to use in securing this entrance; and when the -Count had made himself certain of this fact, he signaled to a tall man -who carried a great battle-ax, apparently brought for use in a case like -this, and motioned to him to use his weapon on the fastening of the -door. - -Two tremendous blows, which resounded through the house, shattered the -bolt, and the door was immediately dashed open. - -Count Hugo, who had carefully made all his plans, rushed in, with four -men at his heels, and hurried up the stair-way which led to the -apartments of the Countess and her sons. There were hanging-lamps in the -halls, and he knew the house quite well. - -At the top of the stairs he encountered Bernard, who slept outside of -the door of his mistress's apartments, and who, aroused by the noise and -seeing five armed men coming up the stairs, had sprung to his feet and -seized his sword, prepared to do his best for the defense of the -Countess and her boys. But when Count Hugo raised his visor and spoke to -him, the brave but frightened squire immediately recognized him as a -friend. - -"Stay here!" cried the Count, "with these four men. Guard the stair-way. -Let no one go up or down!" And, with these words, he dashed alone down -into the great hallway, where the sounds of fighting and of calls to -arms were heard, and threw himself into the combat that was going on -between his men and a dozen or so of the robbers who had rushed to the -door-way when they heard the noise of the ax. - -But there was not much fighting inside the chateau. Most of the -_cotereaux_ lodged in the lower part of the house approached from the -outside by various doors, or in the outhouses and stables, and the -court-yard was now filled with these, hastily armed to repel the -intruders. - -The robbers in the hallway were soon forced into this court-yard, and -into the midst of the _cotereaux_ Count Hugo, with the whole body of his -followers, now boldly plunged. Such attacks as these, made by one or two -knights with a few attendants against a much greater force, were very -popular in those days of chivalry. For, whether the rash onslaught were -successful or not, the glory was the same. And if the safety or honor of -a lady happened to be concerned, the unequal combat was the more -attractive to the knights. For a lady in those days was often the cause -of a knight's fiercest battles and the subject of nearly all his songs. -These combats, however, were not always quite so unequal as they seemed, -for a knight clad from head to foot in armor was more than equal to -three or four soldiers not so well guarded by steel plates and rings. - -The Count's men, as has been said before, each wore a complete suit of -armor, while the _cotereaux_, although much better protected in this way -than most men of their class, were none of them completely dressed in -mail. This, with the darkness of the night and the suddenness of the -combat, gave the attacking party great advantage. - -As they had been instructed, the Count's men scattered themselves among -their opponents, shouting the battle-cry of De Lannes, and striking -furiously right and left. This gave the _cotereaux_ the idea that their -enemies were in much greater number than they really were,—and half a -dozen of these mailed warriors sometimes banding together and rushing -through the throng gave the idea of re-enforcements,—while the horses -outside, hearing the noises of clattering steel and the cries of the -combatants, neighed and snorted, and their attendants shouted, making -the robbers suppose there were other forces beyond the walls. - -The Countess and her sons were, of course, quickly aroused by the din -and turmoil below, and Raymond and Louis rushed to the door, where they -were met by Bernard, who told them all he knew, and that was that Count -Hugo de Lannes had come to the chateau with a lot of soldiers and was -fighting the _cotereaux_. - -The Countess knew not what to think of this most unexpected occurrence, -and hastily dressed herself to be ready for whatever might happen, while -the two boys, throwing on their clothes and seizing their swords, -endeavored to rush down-stairs and join in the conflict. But this -Bernard and the men on the stair-way prevented, and the boys were -obliged to be contented with listening to the sounds of battle and with -seeing what little they could discern from the upper windows. - -Meanwhile, the struggle raged fiercely below, the crowd of combatants -surging from one side to the other of the court. It was not long, -however, before the _cotereaux_ began to be demoralized by the fierce -and wild attacks of their mailed antagonists. Michol had been killed, -and there was no one to command and rally them. Some of them, being hard -pressed and finding the great gate open, rushed wildly through and were -lost in the outer darkness; and before long the main body of the -_cotereaux_, finding that many of their companions were retreating -through the gate, were seized with a panic and a desire to fly while -they had the opportunity. - -[Illustration: THE ROBBERS IN THE HALLWAY WERE SOON FORCED INTO THE -COURT-YARD.] - -A great rush was therefore soon made for the gate, out of which the -_cotereaux_ pushed and crowded—even carrying with them in their rush -some of the Count's men who were fighting in their midst. - -This flight was precisely what Count Hugo had wished to bring about. It -would have been impossible for him to conquer and subdue so many men -with his small number of followers. But he had purposely left the great -gate open, and hoped by this sudden and determined onslaught in the dark -to throw the _cotereaux_ into disorder, and thus be able to drive them -from the chateau. - -Accordingly, he massed his men as quickly as he could, and, making a -circuit of the court, drove before him every straggling _coterel_, and -then, following the retreating robbers through the gates, pursued their -straggling forces through bushes and fields as far as they could be -seen. Then calling his men together, and ordering the horses to be -brought into the court-yard, Count Hugo hastened back to the chateau, -and the great gate was shut and bolted behind them. With torch and -lantern every part of the chateau was now searched, and none of the -_cotereaux_, excepting the killed and wounded, having been found -therein, the Count pronounced his victory complete, and proceeded up the -stairs to the apartments of the Countess. - -Day had now dawned, and the victorious Count Hugo was received by the -boys and their mother with the greatest thankfulness and delight. -Bernard had already told them of the rout of the _cotereaux_, but they -could not understand why the attack had been made, when they had -expected a peaceful settlement of the affair by the payment of the -ransoms. - -But when the Count explained the matter to them, and told the Countess -what an enormous sum the robber captain had demanded for their release, -and told Louis that the surrender and probable execution of Jasto was -included in the terms, they did not wonder when he went on to say that -his mind could not endure the idea of submitting to such outrageous and -unjustifiable demands from a common thief of the roads, and that he had -therefore resolved to strike a bold stroke to give them their liberty -without payment or cowardly submission. It is true that if this attack -had failed the safety of the Countess and her boys would have been -endangered; but as it did not fail, nothing was said upon this point. - -But the Count gave them little time for thanks or wonderment. As soon as -the necessary preparations could be made and the signs of conflict -removed from the court-yard, he sent the Countess and her party -rejoicing on their way to the castle of Barran. Although the _cotereaux_ -had not actually pillaged the chateau, it was impossible for such rude -and disorderly men to live there for any length of time without causing -a good deal of injury to the house and surroundings, making Viteau an -unfit place for a lady to reside in. - -Accordingly, with a few of the Count's men-at-arms as an escort,—for no -danger was now apprehended on the road,—the Countess went to the castle, -not, as before, flying wildly from her pursuers, but journeying -pleasantly along in company with her sons and attendants. Bernard, who -now no longer feared to leave his mistress, remained behind to attend to -the renovation and repairs of the chateau, and to make it fit for the -return of its mistress. None of Count Hugo's men had been killed and but -few injured in the fight, for they had protected themselves in the -darkness from attack from each other by continually shouting the -battle-cry of De Lannes, and the _cotereaux_ had not been able to make -much impression upon their heavy armor. - -The Count now determined, with the main body of his soldiers, to follow -up the attack upon the _cotereaux_—to penetrate, if possible, to their -camp, and to destroy it entirely, and to drive the remnant of this band -of thieves from the forests about Viteau. - -Therefore he also remained at the chateau, which he intended making his -basis of operations in the projected campaign of extermination against -the remaining _cotereaux_. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - -BARRAN was much delayed in his endeavors to obtain the money necessary -for the ransoms, and he found a great deal of difficulty in collecting -it at all at such short notice. And wearied with his unpleasant and -annoying task, and with his mind full of doubts and anxieties regarding -the obstacles and complications that might yet arise from the probable -refusal of Sir Charles to surrender Jasto, he rode into his castle the -day after the arrival of the Countess. - -His astonishment and delight upon finding the Countess and her family -safe within his walls, and on hearing that Viteau was free from every -robber and in the possession of its rightful owner, and that for all -this no ransom or price of any kind was to be paid, can well be -imagined. And when he and the Countess talked the matter over, it became -evident to the lady that to repay the Count the sums he intended to -advance—which payment she most certainly would have made—would have -impoverished her for years. - -All was now happiness and satisfaction at the castle, but no one was -happier or better satisfied than the ex-robber, Jasto. Now that his -enemy, Michol, was dead, he felt that his own life was safe; for it -would be no longer necessary to sacrifice him for the good of others. He -sat down in a corner of the court-yard, and thought the matter over. - -"As to that ransom," he said to himself, "which was due me for returning -the boy Louis to his sorrowing mother, I must make some proper -settlement about it. Half of it I remitted when the boy saved me from -the hands of the bloody-minded _brabancois_, and one-half of what was -left I took off when these good people gave back to me again my brave -and noble master, Sir Charles. And now that that great knight, Sir Hugo -de Lannes, has killed Michol and saved my life, I do remit what is left, -which is only a quarter of the whole sum—after all, hardly equal to the -benefit received; for when a man's life is in danger as much from his -friends as his enemies, it is a very great benefit, indeed, to have it -saved. But, as I have no money with which to make up the balance, I will -e'en call the account settled, and so it is." - -As Jasto took so much credit to himself for this generous determination, -it was not to be expected he should keep the matter secret, and he -therefore communicated it to Louis the first time he saw the boy, giving -him in careful detail his reasons for what he had intended to do, and -what he had done. - -All this Louis very soon told to his mother; and the Countess, -remembering that she had promised Jasto a reward, and feeling a little -ashamed that it had passed out of her mind, took the hint which Jasto -had undoubtedly intended to throw out, and sent him a sum of money -which, if used with ordinary economy, would make it unnecessary for him -ever again to wear a suit of clothes resembling a map of a country with -the counties and departments marked out with borderlines of red silk. - -A week afterward, when Jasto left the castle with Sir Charles, his -education had progressed sufficiently to enable him, with the assistance -of his alphabet and his little manuscript book, to write a short and -simple message so that it could be read. But he intended to persevere in -his studies until he had become as good a scribe as his master formerly -supposed him to be. - -By the aid of some deserters from the band of _cotereaux_, who came over -to him when they found out his object, Count Hugo soon discovered the -encampment of the robbers, which he utterly destroyed, and then, -following them to their several retreats, succeeded in breaking up their -organization and in driving them from that part of the country. - -He then returned to the castle of Barran, where he was most warmly -welcomed by everybody, and where his little daughter Agnes was prouder -of her brave father than she had ever been before. - -In a few weeks, the Count de Lannes found himself obliged to return to -his own castle, which lay several days' journey to the west; and he and -Agnes took a regretful leave of all their dear friends, the little girl -shedding tears of heartfelt sorrow as she shook her handkerchief for the -last time to the boys and their mother, who stood watching her departure -from the battlements. - -"I wonder," said Louis, "if we shall ever see them again." - -Nothing was said for a moment, and then his mother remarked: "I -think—that is, I have reason to believe—that we shall soon see the Count -and his daughter again." - -"Why do you think so, mother?" asked Raymond. - -The Countess did not answer him immediately, and just then they were -joined by the Count de Barran, and no more was said on the subject. - -The Countess did not remain much longer at the castle. As soon as the -squire Bernard had restored her chateau to its former orderly condition, -she bade good-bye to her kind entertainer and friend, and departed with -her boys for her own home. - -Nothing had been heard of the priests who were to be sent from Paris, -but there might be many good reasons for their delay; and arrangements -were made for a courier to be sent to Viteau as soon as they should -arrive at the castle. The Countess would have been happy to have had her -suspense in regard to this unfortunate affair set permanently at rest, -but she knew the Inquisitorial party had gone back to Toulouse as soon -as their leader was able to accomplish the journey; and having been -assured of the protection of her King, she felt safe from unjust -prosecution. - -On the morning after their arrival at Viteau, Louis, who was gladly -wandering all about the house and grounds, went into a little room on -the lower floor which was opposite the sleeping apartment of the squire -Bernard. Here, by the light of a small window near the ceiling, he saw, -upon a perch in one corner of the room, a falcon, secured by a string -which was tied to its leg. Louis threw the door wide open in order to -get a better light, and narrowly examined the bird. - -"Why, Bernard!" he cried to the squire, who just then entered the room, -"this looks exactly like the falcon I took from this very perch the -morning of the day I first went to De Barran's castle." - -"Of course it looks like it," said the squire, "for it is the same -falcon." - -"The same falcon!" exclaimed Louis. "And on the same perch! Why, that is -a miracle!" - -"It is no miracle at all," answered Bernard; "it is a very simple thing -when you come to know all about it. After the rascally _cotereaux_ had -been driven out of this place, I found the falcon fastened to this -perch, and, by marks I had filed upon his beak, I knew him for the same -bird I had trained for your brother Raymond. Of course, I was -astonished; but, on thinking the matter over, I supposed that this must -be the bird which the robbers had stolen from you, and that, bringing it -with them when they came here to live,—the rascally scoundrels!—they -naturally put it in this room, which they could see had been planned and -fitted for the keeping of falcons. Looking into the matter still -further, I asked Orion, the chief falconer of Count Hugo, who was one of -the men he had brought here with him, what kind of bird it was he had -given to you when the Count desired that you should have one. Orion then -told me it was a falcon which had come to him only the day before. He -had been out hawking with his master, and was bringing down to him by -means of a lure a falcon that had made an unsuccessful flight, when a -strange hawk made its appearance and also answered his call, and came -down to the lure. Knowing it to be a falcon which had been lost by some -hunter, and to be a well-trained bird, he seized and hooded it and took -it home with him. The next day, when he was ordered to give a bird to a -boy, he much preferred to part with this one, which he had just found, -to giving away any of the falcons he had reared and trained himself. And -this is the whole of the matter." - -"You may think it a very simple story," said Louis, "but I think it is -wonderful. I am ever so glad to have the falcon back again; and just -think, Bernard, if it had not been for my losing that bird, ever so many -troubles would not have happened, and those wicked thieves would never -have come to this chateau!" - -The squire agreed that this was true, but he thought more than he said. -He thought that if Louis's kind heart had not been anxious to repair the -injury done his brother, he would not have been captured by the -_cotereaux_; and that, if he had not been captured by the _cotereaux_, -no ransom would have been demanded for him; and if no ransom had been -demanded, the robbers never would have seized upon Viteau to enforce -their claims; and if they had not been at Viteau, there would have been -no place of refuge for the Countess when flying from the Inquisitors; -and that, instead of the happiness which was now so general at the -chateau, all might have been misery. But he said nothing of this to -Louis, for he thought it not right that boys should take to themselves -too much credit for what they might do. - -But although contentment seemed to reign at Viteau, this was not really -the case. True, the chateau had been completely renovated, and all -traces of its occupation by the _cotereaux_ had been removed; but the -Countess could not forget that it had been the abode of thieves, and -that bloody and violent deeds had so lately taken place before its gates -and within its very court-yard. Then, too, she felt that she must soon -be separated from her boys. Raymond must go to school at Paris, and -Louis must return to his duties as the page of the Count de Barran. And -this separation seemed a very different thing to her now from what it -did before these troubles came upon her. - -Louis was particularly discontented. "I do not want to go back to -Barran," he said to his brother. "I do not believe he is a true knight." - -"What!" cried Raymond, in surprise. "You should not speak thus, Louis. -No man has ever said such a thing of the Count de Barran." - -"I suppose not," said Louis, "but I am a boy, and I can say it. He stood -still and did nothing when our mother had to fly for her life from his -castle; and he wanted to buy us away from the thieves, instead of coming -and taking us boldly, as a true knight should. Count Hugo is a different -kind of a knight." - -"But you should not forget," said Raymond, "how kind and generous the -Count de Barran has always been to us. He worked in his own way for our -mother's good." - -"Oh, yes," said Louis, "I shall not forget that; but I do not want to go -back to him." - -Matters were in this condition when, one beautiful day in autumn, Count -Hugo came again to Viteau. This time he did not clamber over the wall, -but rode in bravely at the front gate. He was not followed by a body of -steel-clad soldiers, but he brought his daughter Agnes, with her -attendants, and a company of followers in gay and bright array. He did -not come to conquer, but he came because he had been conquered. He came -to ask the lovely Countess of Viteau to be his wife. - -A few weeks after this, when the days were becoming clear and frosty, -there was a wedding at Viteau. There were many guests; there was -feasting, and music, and great joy. Little Agnes had now a mother, and -Raymond and Louis a brave and noble father. - -And when the wedding was over, the Countess rode away with her husband -to his castle of De Lannes, and her two boys went with her—Raymond, -because it was on his road to Paris, and Louis, because he was to be -taught to be a knight by Count Hugo, who had admired and loved the boy -almost from the first time he had seen him. - -The priests from Paris never came to catechise the Countess. The truth -was, that the young King was not so much of a king as he had supposed -himself to be; for his mother, Queen Blanche, was not willing that the -crown should interfere in any way with the operations of the -Inquisition, and had not consented that the priests should be sent to -the castle of Barran. But as it became known that the King had taken an -interest in the matter, and as it was probably considered unwise to -bring a religious prosecution against the wife of the Count de -Lannes,—who was not only a powerful nobleman, but a warm supporter of -both Church and state, and who was also known to have punished and -exterminated the band of _cotereaux_ who had attacked the Inquisitorial -party,—the matter was suffered to drop, and nothing more was ever heard -of it. - -Viteau was left in charge of Bernard, who would faithfully administer -its affairs until Raymond should be of age to come and take possession -of the establishment and the estates. - -And now, as our friends have left the chateau, with whose varying -fortunes we have, for a time, been interested, we will leave it also; -and the story of Viteau is told. - - - - - THE END. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - NEW AND STANDARD - BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS - - ------------------------------------ - - =MR. SETON'S FAMOUS ANIMAL BOOKS= - - ------------------ - - =ANIMAL HEROES= - -With 200 or more Illustrations by the author. Square 12mo, $1.75 _net_ -(postage extra). - -This new book of animal stories is a companion volume in appearance and -spirit to "Wild Animals I Have Known" and "Lives of the Hunted," but it -differs from these two books in a few important particulars. Domestic -animals are the heroes of four or five of the stories, and the end of -most of these heroes is not a tragic but a happy one. Written and -illustrated with all the charm and expert knowledge of Mr. Seton, these -more cheerful adventures give a happier and more vivid idea than his -former works of the life and adventures of the domestic animals we know, -as well as of the unknown wild ones. - - - =WILD ANIMALS I HAVE KNOWN= - - With 200 Illustrations by the author. 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FROST - - Each attractively illustrated. 12mo, $1.50. - -"Mr. Frost has succeeded admirably in his attempt to make the doughty -knights and fair ladies of ancient days seem distinct and interesting to -the boys and girls of our own time."—_Public Opinion._ - - FAIRIES AND FOLK OF IRELAND - THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE - THE COURT OF KING ARTHUR - THE WAGNER STORY BOOK - - ------------------------------------ - - Charles Scribner's Sons New York - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - ● Transcriber's Notes: - ○ Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected. - ○ Typographical errors were silently corrected. - ○ Inconsistant hyphenation was corrected (courtyard/court-yard, - bright-red/bright red, out-door/outdoor, high road/high-road, - ransom money/ransom-money, hall-way/hallway, robber-captain/robber - captain) - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of Viteau, by Frank Richard Stockton - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF VITEAU *** - -***** This file should be named 55532-0.txt or 55532-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/5/3/55532/ - -Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Barry Abrahamsen and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Story of Viteau - -Author: Frank Richard Stockton - -Release Date: September 12, 2017 [EBook #55532] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF VITEAU *** - - - - -Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Barry Abrahamsen and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='lol0004' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0004.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>RAYMOND, LOUIS, AND THE PAGE RETURN TO VITEAU.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div> - <h1 class='c001'>THE STORY OF VITEAU</h1> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>COPYRIGHT 1884</div> - <div>BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c003'><a href='#lol0004'><span class='sc'>Raymond, Louis and the Page return to Viteau</span>, (Frontispiece.)</a></p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0017'><span class='sc'>Bernard, Raymond and Louis meet the Monk</span>,</a> 9</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0031'><span class='sc'>Louis and Bernard on their way to DeBarran's Castle</span>,</a> 20</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0041'><span class='sc'>Louis, Agnes, and the Falcon</span>,</a> 29</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0054'><span class='sc'>Louis finds one of the Highwaymen a good-natured fellow</span>,</a> 41</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0066'><span class='sc'>Bernard teaching Raymond the use of the long sword</span>,</a> 50</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0078'><span class='sc'>Brother Anselmo threatens Bernard and Raymond</span>,</a> 60</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0112'><span class='sc'>The Countess sent for Jasto and thanked him warmly</span>,</a> 93</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0118'><span class='sc'>A small window was opened</span>,</a> 97</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0132'><span class='sc'>Agnes tells Raymond and Louis of her plan</span>,</a> 109</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0146'><span class='sc'>Sir Hugo and Sir Charles charge the Robbers</span>,</a> 120</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0160'><span class='sc'>The flight of the Countess</span>,</a> 132</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0166'><span class='sc'>Michol welcomes the Countess</span>,</a> 136</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0172'><span class='sc'>Agnes makes a plea for the mother of Raymond and Louis</span>,</a> 141</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0194'><span class='sc'>The Robbers in the Old Woman's Cottage</span>,</a> 160</p> - -<p class='c004'><a href='#lol0214'><span class='sc'>The Robbers in the hallway were forced into the Court-yard</span>,</a> 178</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c005'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>The Story of Viteau.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER I.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>BY the side of a small stream, which ran through one -of the most picturesque portions of the province -of Burgundy, in France, there sat, on a beautiful day -in early summer, two boys, who were brothers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They had been bathing in the stream, and now, -having dressed, they were talking together on the -bank.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Raymond, the elder, was about fourteen years old, -and his brother Louis was some eighteen months -younger. In form and feature, and in general disposition -and character, they were not unlike many of the -boys of our day, and yet these two young fellows lived -more than six hundred years ago. They were dressed -in simple tunics, one green, one brown, and wore short -breeches, dark-colored stockings, and rather clumsy -shoes.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The two brothers were very busily engaged in conversation, -for they had a great deal to say to each -other, and not much time to say it in. On the next -day Louis was going away from home, to be gone a -long, long time.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Raymond and Louis were the sons of the Countess -of Viteau, whose chateau stood on a little eminence -about half a mile away. Their father, the Count of -Viteau, had been one of the most steadfast adherents -and supporters of the Duke of Burgundy, in his endeavors -to maintain the independence of his dukedom -against the claims of the French crown, and had fallen -in one of the battles between the Duke's followers and -the army of the Regent, Queen Blanche, who, in those -days, ruled France in the name of her son, the young -King, Louis IX., afterward known as Louis the Just, -or St. Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Duke's forces had been defeated, Burgundy had -been compelled to acknowledge the supremacy of the -French crown, and peace reigned in the kingdom.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The widowed Countess of Viteau now found herself -the sole protector and guardian of her two boys. Fortunately, -she had a large estate, but even this added to -her cares and responsibilities, and rendered her less able -to attend to what she had intended should be the aim -and business of her life—the education of her sons.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Education, in those days, did not mean what it does -now. The majority of the people, even of the upper -classes, were not educated at all, some of the lords -and barons being unable to write their names. Printing -had not been invented; all books were in manuscript, -and were scarce and valuable. Most of the learning, -such as it was, had been, for a long time, confined to -the monks and priests; but, in the era in which our -two boys lived, people had begun to give more attention -to general education, and there were schools -in some of the large cities which were well attended, -and where the students of that day were taught grammar, -logic, rhetoric, music, arithmetic, geometry, and -astronomy, although their studies in most of these -branches were not carried very far. The school of -Paris was one of the most celebrated of these institutions.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess of Viteau was among the few ladies -of the time who really cared for an education beyond -that which included the small number of accomplishments -then considered necessary to persons of -high position. When quite a young woman, she had -learned all that the priests, one or more of whom -generally lived in her father's house, could teach her, -and afterward, when her sons were old enough, she -made it her personal business to attend to their -studies. Some things she taught them herself, and, -for other branches, she employed such men of knowledge—almost -always members of some order of the -clergy—as could be obtained.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But now the time had arrived when the customs -of the day demanded that one of her sons, at least, -should leave her to receive an education of another -sort, and her younger boy was to be sent away to the -castle of the Count de Barran, an old friend and -fellow-soldier of her husband, to be taught, as most -of the boys of his station were taught, the arts and -usages of knighthood and chivalry. Raymond would -also be a knight, but his mother wished him to be -more than that. He would succeed to the rank and -estate of his father, and she hoped that he would -not only be a nobleman and a soldier, but a scholar. -When he should leave her to go to the school at -Paris,—and it was for this school that she was now -endeavoring to prepare him,—he would live with one -of his relatives, by whom he would be instructed in -the noble duties of chivalry. His mother felt sure -that his studies at the school and his knightly exercises -would not interfere with each other.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Only one more day," said Raymond, "and then -it will seem so strange here without you, Louis."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But it will be ever so much stranger for me," -said Louis, "for I shall be without everybody. I -have never seen a single soul of the castle people, -excepting the Count de Barran, and it is so long -since he was here that I have almost forgotten him. He -was a big, stout man, and that's all I know about him."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You might as well have never seen him," said -Raymond, "for he is not stout, and he is not big. -He's a tall, thin man, and, I think, a kind one. But -I expect you soon will know everybody."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Or they will know me," said Louis, "which will -be the same thing. I know I shall have lively -times. Let me see: For a year and a half I shall -be a page. There must be ever so many ways for -the pages, especially if there are a good many of -us, to have royal fun. And then, when I am fourteen, -I shall be a squire. I think I shall not like -that so much, excepting for the fighting part."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Fighting!" exclaimed his brother. "You'll have -none of that."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh yes, but I shall have," returned Louis. "Barran -has always been fighting, ever since I heard of -him; and if he does his duty by me, he is bound -to take me with him to the wars."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But the wars are all over," said Raymond. "You -know that as well as I do."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh, there'll be more," said Louis, laughing. -"There is sure to be trouble of some kind before -I'm fourteen. And, if there are any wars, you must -come to them. It won't do to be spending all your -time here, with priests and books."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Priests and books!" exclaimed Raymond. "I -don't expect to spend half my time with them. I -shall ride and fence, and tilt and hunt quite as much -as you will, or even more, I doubt not. But I can -do all that, and be a scholar too."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I'd like well enough to be a scholar," said -Louis, "if it were not so much trouble. Just to -learn to write, like the monks who make our books, -must take years! I tell you, Raymond, it would be -time wasted for me."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No doubt of that," said his brother, laughing. -"You would never have the patience to write out all -the pages of a book, even if you could do it so -well that people could read it. If you can do so -much as write me a letter from the castle, to tell -me how you find things there, and what happens -to you, I shall be glad enough."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I never did write a letter," said Louis, "but I -feel quite sure that I could do it. The trouble -would be for you to read it."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That's true;" said Raymond, "but I will do my -best to read, if you will do your best to write."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Did not our mother tell you to ask me this?" -said Louis, turning towards his brother with a smile.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"She did," answered Raymond.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I thought it sounded like her," said Louis. -"She greatly wants me to read and write; and, for -her sake, and yours, too, Raymond, I'll try a letter. -But is not that Bernard, over in the field?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Yes, it is," said Raymond. "He is training a -young falcon for me."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"For you!" cried Louis, jumping up. "I did not -know that. Let us go down to him."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I did not know it, either," said his brother, rising, -"until yesterday. Bernard is going to teach me to -fly the bird as soon as it is trained."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And I am going away to-morrow," cried Louis. -"It is too bad!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>The boys now ran down to the field, where a tall, -broad-shouldered man, dressed in a short, coarse -jacket of brown cloth, with tight breeches of the -same stuff, was walking towards them. He bore on -his left hand a large falcon, or goshawk, a bird used -in that day for hunting game of various kinds.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Ho, Bernard!" cried Louis, "how is it I never -heard that you were training that bird? I should have -liked to watch you all the time."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That is the reason you were not told," said Bernard, -who had been the squire of the late Count, and was now -a well-trusted member of the household of Viteau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If you had known what I was about," he continued, -"you would have done nothing but watch me, and -therefore it was that your good mother told me to -keep the matter from you. It takes a long time -and a world of trouble to train a hawk, especially -one that was nearly full-grown when caught, as this -one was. Those taken from their nests are far -easier to manage."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But he is trained now, isn't he?" said Louis. -"Why not try him to-day? Just one flight, good -Bernard, for, you know, I shall be gone to-morrow. -We can easily find a heron, or a pheasant, or something -he can go after."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No, no, my boy," said the squire; "this bird is -not yet ready to cast off for a free flight. Why, -it was only last week that I ceased using the long -string with which I brought him back when I -wanted him; and, ever since, I have been very careful -to have a lure which should be so tempting -that he would be certain to come down to it, no -matter how high he might soar. See, here is the -one I used to-day. He has eaten from it the whole -breast of a pigeon."</p> - -<p class='c007'>With this he showed the boys his "lure," which -was a rude figure of a bird, the body made of -cloth, with the head, talons, and wings of a real bird, -and to which had been attached a piece of some -kind of meat of which the falcon is fond. By being -thus accustomed to find something good to tear and -eat when called to his master, the bird gradually -learned to obey the call whenever he heard it.</p> -<div id='lol0017' class='figcenter id003'> -<img src='images/lol0017.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BERNARD, RAYMOND, AND LOUIS MEET THE MONK.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Raymond was quite willing to wait until the hawk -was thoroughly trained, before testing him in actual -sport; but Louis, very naturally, made great complaint. -To-day was his last chance. Bernard, however, was -firm, and so they walked towards the chateau, the -hooded bird still perched upon the squire's wrist.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Just as the three, now busily talking of Louis' -future life at the castle of the Count de Barran, -were about entering a little gate in the lower part -of the grounds which surround the house, there came -out of the gate a monk wearing a long, dark, and -rather dirty gown, and walking with his eyes fixed -upon the ground, as if deeply engaged in thought. -He seemed scarcely to perceive the boys or the -squire, as he passed them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I shall be glad to be free from those long-gowned -folk," said Louis, as they entered the grounds. -"No more priests' lessons for me. I shall have -knights and soldiers for my teachers."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"All very fine," said Bernard, "but you will have -other things to do besides learning how to be a -knight and soldier. You will serve your masters -and your mistresses at table, clean armor, hold stirrups, -and do everything else they ask of you."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh yes," said Louis; "but that will be only while -I am a page. In a year and a half all that will -be over."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"A year and a half seems to me like a long -time," said Raymond; "but time always passes -quickly with Louis."</p> - -<p class='c007'>This remark was made to Bernard, but the squire -did not appear to hear it. He was looking back -through the gate at the departing monk.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If I only knew that <i>he</i> was never coming back," -he said to himself, "I would not much care what -else happened."</p> - -<p class='c007'>And then he followed the boys up to the chateau.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER II.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>THE good squire did not make his inhospitable -remark in regard to the monk because he had -any dislike for monks or priests in general. He -had as high an opinion of the members of the clergy -as any one, but he had a very strong dislike for -this particular prior. To understand his reasons for -this feeling, we must know that, not very long before -the period at which our story begins, and soon -after the Queen Regent had conquered the rebellious -provinces, and so consolidated the kingdom, there -was established in the city of Toulouse that terrible -tribunal of the Romish Church known as the Holy -Inquisition. Here persons suspected of holding opinions -in opposition to the doctrines taught by the -Church were tried, often subjected to tortures in -order to induce them to confess the crimes with -which they were charged, and punished with great -severity if found guilty. This inquisition was under -the charge of the Dominican friars, of which order -the man who had just passed out of the little gate -was a member.</p> - -<p class='c007'>For several weeks the frequent visits of this prior -to the Countess of Viteau had given a great deal -of uneasiness to Bernard. The man was not one of -the regular religious instructors of the family, nor -had he anything to do with the education of the -boys. There was some particular reason for his -visits to the chateau, and of this the household at -large knew nothing; but the fact of his being a -Dominican, and therefore connected with the Inquisition, -made him an unpleasant visitor to those who -saw his comings and goings, but who did not know -their object.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Squire Bernard thought that he knew why this -Brother Anselmo came so often to the chateau, but -he could not be certain that he was right. So he -kept his ideas to himself, and did no more than -hope that each visit of the friar might be the last.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When the two brothers entered the chateau, they -went directly to their mother's apartments. They -found her in a large room, the floor of which was -covered with soft rushes, for there were no carpets -in those days. There was an abundance of furniture, -but it was stiff and heavy, and on the walls -there hung various pieces of tapestry, of silk or -wool, most of which the good lady had embroidered -herself.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess of Viteau was a woman of about -thirty-five years of age, and of a sweet but dignified -appearance and demeanor. She was evidently very -fond of her children, and they were equally fond of -her. She had a book in her hand when the boys -entered (it should be remembered that she was one -of the very few ladies of that day who read books), -but she laid it down, and drew her sons to her, -one on each side.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Mother," said Louis, as she leaned over to kiss -the young fellow who was to leave her the next -day for such a long, long time,—"Mother, I wish -you would write a letter to the Count de Barran, -and ask him to have me taught falconry as soon as -possible, and also to get me a hawk of my own, -and have him trained."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What put that into your head?" asked his -mother, who could not help smiling at this absurd -idea on the part of a boy who was going to begin -life as a page, but who expected to enter at once into -the sports and diversions of the grown-up nobility.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"It was Raymond's falcon that made me think of -it," said Louis. "I suppose I shall not see that bird -fly,—at least, not for ever so long,—and so I want -one of my own."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I did not intend you should know anything -about Raymond's falcon," said his mother, "for I -knew it would fill your head so full that there -would be no room for anything else. But we will -not talk of falcons now. I have a great deal to -say to my little boy——"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Not so very little either," said Louis, drawing himself -up to his full height.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Who is going away," continued his mother, "to -learn to be a page, a squire, and a Christian knight."</p> - -<p class='c007'>We need not know what she said to him, but -the three were together until the room grew dark, -and there was no treasure that Louis could take -with him which could be so valuable as the motherly -advice he received that afternoon.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis was to start for Barran's castle in the forenoon -of the next day, and was to be accompanied -by Bernard and a small body of archers, for, although -there were no wars going on at that time, -there was always danger from robbers. All over -France, and in many other parts of Europe, there -were well-organized bands of men who made a regular -business of pillaging travelers on the highways. So it -was necessary that Louis should have with him enough -men to defend him against an attack by these brigands.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Very early in the morning,—earlier than any one -else in the chateau, excepting a few servants,—Louis -arose and dressed himself. He did this very quietly, -so as not to wake his brother. Then he stole softly -down to a room in the lower part of the building, -where he knew Bernard kept the falcon he was -training. The door of this room was shut, but not -locked, and Louis slipped in without waking the -squire, who slept soundly in a chamber just across -the passage-way.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He closed the door, and looking around the room, -into which a little light came from a small, high window, -he soon perceived the falcon sitting on a wooden -perch, in a corner. The bird was unhooded, but -was tied by the leg, with a short cord, to the perch. -On a small table near by lay the hood. As Louis -approached the falcon, it turned its head quickly -towards him and slightly raised its wings. This -threatening gesture made the boy hesitate; he did -not want to be bitten or scratched. Drawing back, -and looking about him, he saw a cloth lying upon -a bench. Seizing this, he quickly threw it over the -bird, untied the cord, and, muffling with the cloth a -little bell which was fastened to one of the falcon's -legs, Louis snatched up the hood from the table, -and, with the bird under his arm, he hurried out -of the room, carefully closing the door behind him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Out-of-doors, he quickly made his way to the little -gate at the bottom of the grounds, and, through -this, passed out into the road. When he reached a -spot where he could not be seen from the chateau, -he sat down, carefully uncovered the head of the -falcon, and clapped over it the little hood. Then he -threw aside the cloth, and set the bird upon his -wrist, where it perched contentedly, although not finding -it quite so firm a support as the strong hand of -Bernard. While wearing the hood, which completely -covered its eyes, it would not attempt to fly.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Now, then," said he to himself, "I shall try what -this fine bird can do; and when I have had an -hour's sport, I shall take it back and put it on its -perch, and no one will be any the worse for it. If -I meet Bernard, as I go back, I shall not care. I -shall have had my bit of falconry, and he can have -his falcon. There must be herons, or some kind of -birds, down in that field by the wood, where we saw -Bernard yesterday."</p> - -<p class='c007'>When Louis reached the field, he gazed eagerly into -the air and all about him for some flying creature, -after which he could send his falcon in chase. But -nothing, excepting a few small birds, could he discover, -and he was not to be content with such game -as they. If he had had dogs with him, or knew -how himself to arouse the birds from their covers, -he might have had a chance to send his falcon after -a long-legged heron, or a pheasant; but no large -bird chose to make its appearance, and poor Louis -began to think that he would lose the one chance -he had of seeing Raymond's falcon in pursuit of its -prey.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Suddenly, from under some bushes near the edge -of the wood, a large hare leaped out, and went -jumping across an open space towards a little copse -a short distance beyond the spot where Louis stood. -Our young hunter knew that falcons chased hares, -and such small animals, as well as winged game, -and he instantly jerked the hood from the head of -his bird, and cast it off toward the flying hare.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But, to his amazement, the falcon did not pursue -the hare, which, in a few moments, disappeared in -the copse. Louis did not know that hawks or falcons -were not always trained to chase both hares -and birds, and that this one had been accustomed -to fly after winged game only.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Instead of swooping upon the hare, which, it is -probable, it did not see, the falcon rose into the air, -and began to soar around in a great circle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Perhaps it will see some game for itself," thought -Louis, "and that will do just as well."</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the falcon did not appear to be in pursuit of -anything. It only flew around and around, apparently -rising higher and higher each moment. Louis -now became anxious for it to come down, so that -he could try again in some other place to scare up -some game, and he began to whistle and call, as he -had heard the falconers do when they wished their -birds to descend.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the falcon paid no attention to his calls, and, -after rising to a great height, it flew away to the -south, and presently was lost to sight.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Poor Louis was overwhelmed with grief. It seemed -to him that he could never hear anything so dismal -as the last tinkle of the little bell on the falcon's -leg, nor see anything so sad as the dark speck -which he watched until it appeared to melt away -into the distant sky.</p> - -<p class='c007'>For some minutes Louis stood gazing up into the -air, and then he hung his head, while a few tears -came into his eyes. But he was a sturdy boy in -mind and body, and he did not cry much. He -slowly turned, and, with the hood of the falcon in -his hand, went back to the house.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If they ask me about it, I shall tell them," he -said to himself, "but I hope they will not find it -out just as I am starting away."</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was yet quite early when Louis reached his -room, where he found his brother still asleep, and -there was soon so much hurry and bustle, in the -preparation for the departure of the little expedition, -that the absence of the falcon did not seem to have -been discovered.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After a prolonged leave-taking, and a great many -tears from his mother and brother, and from many -of the retainers and servants of the chateau, Louis -set forth for the castle of Barran. He rode his -mother's palfrey, a small and gentle horse, and was -followed by quite a train of archers and men-at-arms, -headed by the trusty Bernard.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER III.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>WHEN the first pain caused by the separation -from his dear mother and brother began to -subside in Louis' heart,—and it must be admitted -that it began to subside pretty soon, the day being -so bright and everybody in such good spirits,—he -felt quite proud to see himself at the head of such -a goodly company, and greatly wished that they -would fall in with some enemy, so that he might -have a little conquering to tell about when he should -reach his future home. But no enemy was met, and, -if a fight had taken place, it is not likely that the -boy would have been able to boast of his part in -it, for Bernard was very careful of his young charge, -and as soon as they had left the neighborhood of -the Chateau de Viteau, and had entered the forest -through which ran their road for the greater part -of the journey, he made Louis ride about the middle -of the little procession, while he himself went -a short distance in advance, looking carefully about -him for the first signs of robbers, or any one else -who might be likely to dispute their passage.</p> -<div id='lol0031' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0031.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>LOUIS AND BERNARD ON THEIR WAY TO DE BARRAN'S CASTLE.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>But no such persons were met, and towards the -end of the afternoon Louis and his train rode into -the court-yard of the castle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The moment that he entered the great gates, the -quick eye of the boy perceived that he had come -to a place very different from his mother's chateau. -He had supposed there would be a difference, but -had never imagined it would be so great. There -were a good many serving-people, of various ranks -and orders, at Viteau. There were ladies in attendance -on his mother; and sometimes there were -knights and other visitors, whose diversions had made -what Raymond and Louis had considered a very -gay time; but there never had been anything like -the lively scenes which met the eye of our young -friend, both in the court-yard and in the halls of -the castle itself. Outside there were boy-pages running -on various errands, or standing about, watching -other people and neglecting their own business; and -there were squires, men-at-arms, and archers who -were lounging in the shade, or busily at work rubbing -up a piece of armor, or putting a point on an -arrow-head or on a blunted lance. Here and there -was a knight not clad in armor, but in fine silk -and embroidered cloth, looking at horses which were -being led about the inclosure by varlets or inferior -serving-men, who generally were dressed in clothes -of dirty leather. Two barefooted monks, one of them -holding the bridle of a donkey, with a bag thrown -across his back, were talking together near the gate. -Some people were laughing, some were talking, some -were calling to others at a distance, and some were -hammering; the horses were making a good deal of -noise with their feet; a man was blowing a horn, -which he had begun to blow as soon as Louis entered -the gates, and which was intended, it appeared, -as a general announcement that somebody had arrived -who was a friend, and had been admitted freely. All -together, there was more noise, and moving about, -and standing still, and lying down, than Louis had -ever seen, at one time, before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Inside the castle there was not so much bustle; -but knights and ladies, the first generally dressed -much more finely, and with more show of color and -ornament than their female companions, were to be -seen here and there. The pages who were not running -about or standing still outside, seemed to be -doing the same inside; there was a clatter of metal -and wooden dishes in the dining-hall, where the servants -were preparing supper; and, in a room opening -into the great hall, a tall knight sat upon a -stool, with a little harp on his knee, singing one -of the romantic songs which were so much liked in -those days, and accompanying his voice with a steady -"tum-tum" on the harp-strings. Around him were -several knights and ladies, some sitting and some -standing, and all listening, with much satisfaction, to -his song.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Count de Barran, a tall, spare man, with an -ugly but good-humored face, gave Louis a kindly -welcome.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"He is the son of Raymond de Viteau, my old -brother-at-arms," he said to a knight with a great -brown beard, who stood beside him, "and I shall -try to make of him as good a knight as his—as -I can."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You were going to say 'as good a knight as -his father,' good sir," said Louis quickly, looking up -into Barran's face. "Do you think I cannot be -that?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That will depend upon yourself," said the master -of the castle. "Your father was brave and noble -above his fellow-knights. If you become his equal, -my little fellow, I shall be very proud. And now I -shall send you to my sister, the Lady Clemence, -who will see that you are taken care of."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"The boy's quickness of wit comes out well, even -now," said the brown-bearded knight; "but you may -have to wait for the bravery and the honor to show -themselves."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Not long, I hope," replied Barran. "Good blood -must soon make some sign, if he has it in him."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next day Bernard and his train returned to -Viteau, with many messages from Louis, and the life -of the boy, as the youngest page in the castle, -fairly commenced. In a few days he began to -understand his duties, and to make friends among the -other pages, all of whom were sons of well-born people. -These boys had come to the castle to receive -the only education they would ever have. Louis did -not at first very much like to wait upon the knights -and ladies at table, and to find himself expected to -serve so many people in so many ways; but he soon -became used to these things, especially when he saw -other boys, whom he knew to be just as good as -he was, doing what he was expected to do.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He had a bright, interesting face, and he soon became -a favorite, especially among the ladies, for they -liked to be waited upon by a page who was so -good-humored and quick. The Count de Barran was -not married, and his sister, the Lady Clemence, was -at the head of domestic affairs in his castle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The only very young person among the visitors at -the castle was a little girl named Agnes, the -motherless daughter of Count Hugo de Lanne, the -brown-bearded man who had talked with De Barran -about his new page. Between this girl and Louis -a friendship soon sprang up. Agnes was a year -older than he, and she knew so much of castle-life, -and of the duties of a page, that she became -one of his best instructors. She was a lively, impulsive -girl; and this was the reason, no doubt, -why she and Louis got on so well together.</p> - -<p class='c007'>One morning, as Agnes was passing through an -upper hall, she saw, standing at a window which -overlooked the court-yard, our young friend Louis, -with an enormous battle-ax over his shoulder. As -she approached, he turned from the window, out of -which he had been looking.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What in the world," she cried, "are you doing -with that great ax, and what makes you look so -doleful?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am taking the ax down to the armorer's shop, -to be sharpened and polished," he said.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"It is too big a thing for you to be carrying -about," said Agnes, "and it seems sharp enough -now. And as to you, you look as if you were -going somewhere to cut your head off with it. -What is the matter with you?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That is the matter," said Louis, turning again -to the window, and pointing to a body of horsemen -who were just riding out of the gate. They had -dogs with them, and several of them carried each a -hooded falcon perched upon his wrist.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Did you want to go hunting herons? Is that -what troubles you?" asked Agnes.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No, indeed; I don't want to go," said Louis. -"I hate to see falcons."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What did you look at them for, then?" asked -Agnes. "But I don't see how you can hate them. -I love to see them swooping about, so lordly, in -the air. Why do not you like them as well as I do?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>Moved by a strong desire to share his secret with -some one, Louis, after a little hesitation, finally put -the battle-ax on the floor, and told Agnes the whole -story of the loss of his brother's falcon, first making -her promise that she would never repeat it to any -one. He told it all in a straightforward way, and -finished by explaining how the sight of the hunters -made him think of his poor brother, who could not -go hawking for ever so long. Indeed, he did not -know that Bernard would be willing to get another -hawk and take all the trouble of training it. He -might be very angry.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I think it's easy enough to make that right," -said Agnes. "You ought to give your brother -another hawk, already trained."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I would like much to know where I am to get -it," said Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Agnes thought for a moment.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"My father will give you one," she said, "if I -ask him. If he questions me as to what you want -with it, I can tell him, with truth, that you want -to give it to your brother, who has no falcon, and -who needs one very much."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Do you really think he would give me one?" -asked Louis, with brightening face.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am sure of it," said Agnes. "He has plenty -of trained falcons, and he could spare one easily -enough. I will ask him, as soon as he comes back -to-day."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Accordingly, when Count Hugo returned from his -hawking expedition that afternoon, he was met by -his little daughter, who asked him for a falcon, a -well-trained and good one, which could hunt hares -as well as birds, and which would be sure to come -back to its master whenever it was called.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Of course such a request as this excited some -surprise, and required a good deal of explanation. -But when Count Hugo, who was a very indulgent -father, and who had also quite a liking for Louis, -heard what was to be done with the bird, he consented -to give it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If he wanted it for himself," he said, "I should -not let him have it, for a page has no need of falcons, -and a boy of the right spirit ought not to -desire gifts; but, as he wants it for his brother, -who is in a station to use it, it shows a generous -disposition, and he shall have it." And calling to -one of his falconers to bring him a hawk, he handed -it to Agnes, and told her that she should herself -give it to her young friend.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"He and you can look at it for a quarter of an -hour," said the Count, "and then he must bring it -back to Orion, here, who will feed and take care -of it until the boy has an opportunity of sending it -to his brother. Don't take its hood off, and keep -your fingers well clear of its beak."</p> - -<p class='c007'>When Agnes appeared with the falcon unsteadily -perched on her two small fists, which she had covered -with a scarf, to keep its talons from hurting -her, Louis was overwhelmed with delight. He was -sure that this was a much finer bird than the one -he had lost.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When the falcon had been sufficiently admired, -and had been returned to its keeper, and when -Louis had run to find Count Hugo, and had thanked -him for his kindness, the question arose between the -two young friends: How was he to be carried to -Raymond?</p> -<div id='lol0041' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/lol0041.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>LOUIS, AGNES, AND THE FALCON.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"If I had any way of riding there, I'd take it to -him myself. I want him to have it just as soon -as he can get it," said Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I can lend you my jennet," said Agnes. "He is -small, but can travel far."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You will lend him!" cried Louis. "And are -you not going to use him for two days? It will -take at the very least two days to go to Viteau -and come back."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I may not ride him for a week," said Agnes. -"But you must not travel to your mother's house -alone. You must wait until some company is going -that way."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis would have been willing to start off by -himself, but he knew he would not be allowed to -do so; and he had to curb his impatience for three -whole days before an opportunity of making his -journey offered itself. Then a knight from the south -was leaving the castle, with a small train, and as -they would pass near Viteau, Louis was allowed to -accompany them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Count de Barran was not pleased that his -new page should ask for leave of absence so soon; -but, as it was represented that there was good reason -for the journey, and as the Lady Clemence urged -the boy's request, he was allowed to go.</p> - -<p class='c007'>So, early one morning Louis started away, the -gayest of his company, his little Spanish steed -were evidently the present dwelling-places of these -robbers, or <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, as they were called. There -were several classes of highwaymen, or brigands, in -France at this time, and of these the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> were, -probably, the most numerous.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There were fires built in various places about the -open space in which the huts had been erected, -and there were a good many men around the fires. -A smell of cooking meat made Louis feel sure that -supper would soon be ready, and this was a comforting -thing to him, for he was very hungry. The -supper which was served to him was of plain food, -but he had enough, and the bed he slept on, at the -back part of the Captain's hut, was nothing but a -lot of dry leaves and twigs, with a coarse cloth -thrown over it; but Louis was very tired, and it -was not long before he was sound asleep.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He was much troubled, of course, at the thought -of going to bed in this way, in the midst of a band -of robbers, but he was not afraid that they would -do him any injury, for he had heard enough about -these <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> to know that they took prisoners -almost always for the purpose of making money out -of them, and not to do them useless harm. If he -had been an older and a deeper thinker, he would, -probably, have thought of the harm which might be -done to him in case no money could be made by -overtaken. He expected to be pursued, for he knew -the knight and his men would not allow him to go -off by himself if it could be prevented.</p> - -<p class='c007'>So he galloped on, his falcon tightly grasping the -saddle-bow, and he himself turning around every few -minutes, to see if he were followed. But he saw -no horsemen riding after him. The knight's men -had straggled a good deal after they had turned -into the new road, and Louis was not missed for -an hour or two. Then, when his absence was discovered, -the knight sent three men after him, with -instructions to bring him back, or to escort him to -Viteau, in case they found him near that place. It -was supposed, of course, that he had slipped away, -so as to get home as soon as possible.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The men did not like the job at all, for they -feared they would not be able to return until after -dark to the chateau where their party was to spend -the night, and they did not fancy traveling at night -for the sake of a boy they knew very slightly, and -cared very little about. So, after riding five or six -miles, they agreed to halt until nearly night, and -ride back to their party at the top of their speed, -and report that they had overtaken Louis, and had -accompanied him to a spot within sight of his -mother's chateau. This story was believed by the -knight from the south, who had no very clear idea -as to the distance of Viteau from the forks of the -road; and no further thought was given to the young -page.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As for Louis, he kept madly on his way. His -horse was strong and fleet, but it was beginning to -flag a little in its pace, when, suddenly, it stopped -short. A tall man stood in front of it, and in a -moment had seized the panting animal by the bridle. -Another man, with a pike in his hand, appeared on -the right, while several others came out from behind -some bushes on the left. The tall man wore a -cuirass, or body-armor, of steel rings linked closely -together, which had probably once been bright and -shining, but which was now very rusty and old. -He wore no other armor, and his clothes seemed -torn and soiled. The whole party, indeed, as Louis, -with open mouth and eyes, glanced quickly around -him,—too much startled to speak,—seemed to be a -very rusty set of fellows.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis did not long remain silent. Indeed, he -was the first one to speak. He had often seen -such persons as these among the serfs and varlets -at the castle, and he had been accustomed to respect -from them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Ho there!" he cried, "move out of my way. -Step from the road, do you hear? I am going home -to my mother's chateau, and I am in a hurry."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Your mother can wait," said the tall man. "We -should be pleased to have your company ourselves -to-night. So do not be angry. You can not go on."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I believe," cried Louis, his eyes flashing, although -they were full of tears, "that you are a set of -robbers."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That is true," said the other, "and this little -man, and this little horse, and this very fine falcon, -are our booty."</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER IV.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_4_0_7 c003'>LOUIS did not submit readily to his captors. At -first he was angry; then he cried, and when some -of the men laughed at him for being a baby he -got angry again, and told them they were a band -of cowards to set upon him in this way,—a dozen -men on one boy,—and that if they wanted to rob -him they might do it and go about their business. -He did not care; he could walk home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No, no, my valiant page," said the leader of the -robbers; "we don't want you to walk and we don't -want you to go home. We shall take you with us -now, and we will see about the robbing afterward."</p> - -<p class='c007'>And with this he turned the little horse around, -and led him, by a path which Louis had passed -without noticing it, into the depths of the forest. -On the way, the robber asked his young prisoner a -great many questions regarding his family, his connections, -and his present business in riding thus -alone through the forest roads. To these questions -Louis was ready enough to give answer, for it was -not his nature to conceal anything, unless he thought -it absolutely necessary. Indeed, he was quite proud -of the opportunity thus afforded him of talking about -the rank and importance of his mother, and of -dwelling upon the great power and warlike renown -of the nobleman under whom he served.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"They will not let me stay here long, you may -be sure of that," said Louis. "As soon as they -hear that you have carried me off, they will take -me away from you."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I hope so, indeed," said the robber, laughing; -"and if I had not thought that they would take -you from me, I should not have taken the trouble -to capture you."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh, I know what you mean," said the boy. -"You expect them to ransom me."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I most certainly do," replied the other.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But they will not do it," cried Louis. "They -will come with soldiers and take me from you!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"We shall see," returned the robber.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was almost dark when, by many winding and -sometimes almost invisible paths through the forest, -the party reached a collection of rude huts, which -his capture; but this matter did not enter his mind. -He went to sleep with the feeling that what he -wanted now was a good night's rest, and that, in -some way or other, all would be right on the morrow.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Michol, the captain of the band, was very plain-spoken, -the next morning, in telling Louis his plans -in regard to him. "I know well," he said, "that -your mother is able to pay a handsome ransom for -you, and, if she is so hard-hearted that she will not -do it, I can depend on Barran. He will not let a -page from his castle pine away in these woods, for -the sake of a handful of gold."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"My mother is not hard-hearted," said Louis, -"and I am not going to pine away, no matter how -long you keep me. Do you intend to send to my -mother to-day?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Not so soon as that," replied Michol. "I shall -let her have time to feel what a grievous thing it -is to have a son carried away to the heart of the -forest, where she can never find him, and where he -must stay, month after month and year after year, -until she pays his worthy captors what she thinks -the boy is worth."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Louis. "If you -will give me my horse and my falcon, which your -men have taken from me, and will let me have -again my dagger, I will go to Viteau, myself, and -tell my mother about the ransom; and I promise -you that she will send you all the money she can -afford to spend for me in that way. And, if there -is no one else to bring it,—for our men might be -afraid to venture among so many robbers,—I shall -bring it myself, on my way back to Barran's castle. -I am not afraid to come."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am much pleased to hear that, my boy," said -Michol, "but I do not like your plan. When I -am ready, I shall send a messenger, and no one -will be afraid to bring me the money, when everything -is settled. But one thing you can do. If -you have ever learned to write,—and I have heard -that the Countess of Viteau has taught her sons -to be scholars,—you may write a letter to your -mother, and tell her in what a doleful plight you -find yourself, and how necessary it is that she should -send all the money that I ask for. Thus she will -see that you are really my prisoner, and will not -delay to come to your assistance. One of my men, -Jasto, will give you a pen and ink, and something -to write your letter on. You may go, now, and -look for Jasto. You will know him by his torn -clothes and his thirst for knowledge."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Torn clothes!" said Louis, as he walked away. -"They all have clothes of that kind. And, as for -his thirst for knowledge, I can not see how I am to -find out that. I suppose the Captain wanted to -give me something to do, so as to keep me from -troubling him. I am not going to look for any -Jasto. If I could find my horse, and could get a -chance, I should jump on him and gallop away from -these fellows."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis wandered about among the huts, peering -here and there for a sight of Agnes's little jennet. -But he saw nothing of him, for the animal had -been taken away to another part of the forest, to -keep company with other stolen horses. And even -if he had been able to mount and ride away unobserved, -it would have been impossible for Louis to -find his way along the devious paths of the forest -to the highway. More than this, although he seemed -to be wandering about in perfect liberty, some of -the men had orders to keep their eyes upon the -boy, and to stop him if he endeavored to penetrate -into the forest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Ho, there!" said a man, whom Louis suddenly -met, as he was walking between two of the huts, -"are you looking for anything? What have you -lost?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I have lost nothing," said Louis, deeming it -necessary to reply only to the last question.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I thought you lost your liberty yesterday," said -the other, "and, before that, you must have lost your -senses, to be riding alone on a road, walled in for -miles and miles by trees, bushes, and brave <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>. -But, of course, I did not suppose that you came -here to look for either your liberty or your senses. -What is it you want?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis had no intention of telling the man that he -was looking for his horse, and so, as he felt obliged -to give some answer, he said:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I was sent to look for Jasto, so that I could -write a letter to my mother."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Jasto!" exclaimed the man. "Well, my young -page, if you find everything in the world as easily -as you found Jasto, you will do well. I am Jasto. -And do you know how you came to find me?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I chanced to meet you," said Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Not so," said the other. "If I had not been -looking for you, you never would have found me. -Things often happen in that manner. If what we -are looking for does not look for us, we never find -it. But what is this about your mother and a -letter? Sit down here, in this bit of shade, and make -these things plain to me."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis accepted this invitation, for the sun was -beginning to be warm, and he sat down by the man, -at the foot of a tree.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I do not believe you are Jasto," he said, looking -at his companion. "Your clothes are not -torn. I was told to look for a man with torn -clothes."</p> -<div id='lol0054' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0054.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>LOUIS FINDS ONE OF THE HIGHWAYMEN A GOOD-NATURED FELLOW.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"Torn clothes!" exclaimed the other. "What are -you talking of? Not torn? Why, boy, my clothes -are more torn and are worse torn and have staid -torn longer than the clothes of any man in all our -goodly company. But they have been mended, you -see, and that is what makes them observable among -so many sadly tattered garments."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis looked at the coarse jerkin, breeches, and -stockings of the man beside him. They were, certainly, -torn and ripped in many places, and the torn -places were of many curious shapes, as if the wearer -had been making a hurried journey through miles -of bramble bushes; but all the torn places were -carefully mended with bright-red silk thread, which -made them more conspicuous than if they had not -been mended at all.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I see that they have been torn," said Louis, -"but they are not torn now."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"A great mistake, my good sir page—a great -mistake," said the other; "once torn, always torn. -If my clothes are mended, that but gives them -another quality. Then they have two qualities. -They are torn and they are mended. If one's clothes -are torn, the only way to have clothes that are not -torn is to have new ones. Think of that, boy, and -make no rents in yourself nor in your clothes. -Although mending can be done very well," he added, -looking complacently at his breeches, "the evil of it -is, though, that it always shows."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I could mend better than that," said Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That is to be hoped; it is truly to be hoped," -said the other, "for you have had better chances -than I. This red silk, left in our hands by a fair -lady, who was taking it to waste it in embroidery -in some friend's castle, was all the thread I had for -my mending. Now, you could have all things suitable -for your mending, whether of clothes or of -mind or of body, if it should so happen that you -should have rents in any of these. But tell me, -now, about your letter."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"There is nothing to tell," said Louis, "excepting -that your Captain wishes me to write a letter to -my mother, urging her to send good ransom for -me, and that he said you could give me pen and -ink and something to write upon."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Pen and ink are well enough," said the man, -who, as Louis now believed, was really Jasto, "for -I can make them. But something to write on is a -more difficult matter to find. Paper is too scarce, -and parchment costs too much; and so there is none -of either in this company. But I shall see to it -that you have something to write on when you are -ready to write. It strikes me that the chief trouble -will be to put together the three things—the pen -and the ink and the something to write on—in such -a manner as to make a letter of them. Did you -ever write a letter?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Not yet. But I know how to do it," said Louis; -and, as he spoke, he remembered how he had promised -his brother to write a letter to him. He was -now going to send a letter to Viteau, but under -what strange circumstances it would be written! If -he were at the castle, Agnes would help him. He -wished he had thought of asking her, weeks ago, -to help him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I have written a letter myself," said Jasto, "but -before I had written it I trembled to say I could -do it. And I was a grown man, and had fought -in three battles. But pages are bolder than soldiers. -Would you like to hear about my letter?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Indeed I should," said Louis, anxious to listen -to anything which might give him a helping hint -regarding the duty he had taken upon himself.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Well, then," said Jasto, stretching out his legs, -"I shall tell you about my letter. It was just before——"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Jasto!" rang out a voice from the opposite side -of the inclosure formed by the huts.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"There!" cried Jasto, jumping to his feet, "that -is the Captain. I must go. But you sit still, just -where you are, and when I come back, which will -be shortly, I shall tell you about my letter."</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER V.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>WE must now go back to the Chateau de Viteau, -and see what has happened there since the -departure of Louis for his new home. Of course, -the boy was greatly missed by his mother and brother, -but Raymond soon found himself so busy that he -had not time enough to grieve very much over the -absence of his old playmate. In order to prepare -himself for the school at Paris he was obliged to -study diligently, and in order that he might make a -good appearance at the house of his cousin, with -whom he was to live, Bernard insisted on his employing -nearly all his leisure time in out-door exercises -and knightly accomplishments. Hawking was -postponed for the present, for, after the loss of Raymond's -falcon was discovered, Bernard declared that -he had not the heart to train another one immediately, -even if a good bird could be easily obtained, -which was not the case.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Very little was said about the disappearance of -the falcon. Raymond, his mother, and the squire -each had a suspicion that Louis had had something -to do with it; but no one of them mentioned it to -either of the others. Each hoped the suspicion was -unfounded, and therefore said nothing about it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>While Raymond was busy with his studies and his -manly exercises, the mind of Bernard, even while -giving the boy the benefit of his knowledge of the -management of horses and the use of arms, was -occupied with a very serious matter.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As has been said before, the Countess of Viteau -was one of the very few ladies in France who was -fairly educated, and who took an interest in acquiring -knowledge from books. This disposition, so unusual -at that time, together with her well-known efforts to -have her sons educated, even giving a helping hand -herself whenever she found that she was qualified to -do so, had attracted attention to her, and many -people began to talk about her, as a woman who -gave a great deal of time to useless pursuits. Why -should a lady of her rank—these people said—wish -to read books and study out the meaning of -old manuscripts, as if she were of no higher station -than a poor monk? If there were anything in the -books and parchments which she ought to know, -the priests would tell her all about it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the Countess thought differently, and she kept -on with her reading, which was almost entirely confined -to religious works, and in this way she gradually -formed some ideas about religious matters which -were somewhat different from those taught at that -time by the Church of Rome, or, at least, from those -taught by the priests about her. She saw no harm -in her opinions, and did not hesitate to speak of -them to the priests who came to the chateau from -a neighboring monastery, and even to argue in favor -of them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The priests, however, did see harm in the ideas -of the Countess, simply because, in those days, people -had very narrow and bigoted ways of thinking in -regard to religious affairs, and it was generally -thought that any person having an opinion differing, -even very little, from what was taught by the monks -and priests, was doing a wicked thing to persist in -such an opinion after he had been told it was wrong.</p> - -<p class='c007'>For this reason, when the priests who had charge -of the religious services at Viteau found that their -arguments made no impression on the Countess, -who was able to answer them back in such a way -that they could find nothing more to say on their -side of the question, they reported the state of affairs -to some of the higher officers of the Church, and, -in due time, a man was sent to Viteau to find out -exactly what its mistress did think, and why she -was so wicked as to think it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The person who was sent was the Dominican -monk, Brother Anselmo, who was met by the two -boys and Bernard, on the occasion when we first -made their acquaintance. Brother Anselmo was a -quiet-spoken man, making no pretensions to authority -or to superior knowledge; and the Countess -talked with him and answered his questions freely -and unsuspectingly. She knew he was a Dominican, -and she knew he had come to the neighborhood -of Viteau on purpose to talk with her on certain -religious subjects; but this did not surprise her, as -she supposed all good people were just as much -interested in these subjects as she was; but she -had no idea that he was connected with the Inquisition -at Toulouse.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard, the squire, however, knew well who he -was, and it troubled him greatly to know it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Some weeks after the Dominican had begun to -make his almost daily visits to Viteau, he came, -one day, accompanied by another monk, who did not -enter the grounds, but who remained outside the -little gate, waiting for his companion to return.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard noticed the monk waiting outside, and -thinking that this unusual occurrence had something -suspicious about it, he followed Brother Anselmo -when he left the chateau, and, as he rejoined his -fellow monk, the squire slipped quietly up to the -wall and listened to what they said to each other. -In this case, Bernard did not consider that he was -doing a very improper thing. He feared that danger -threatened the household of Viteau, and that these -two monks were the persons through whom the -evil would come. Therefore, he believed that it was -his duty to employ every possible means of averting -this danger; and he listened with all his ears.</p> - -<p class='c007'>What he heard was very little. The two monks -stood silent a few moments, and then the one who -had been waiting said something in a low voice, -which Bernard could not hear. To this Brother -Anselmo answered: "We have done all we can. I -think it is a case for the Holy Inquisition."</p> - -<p class='c007'>And then the two walked off together.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard now knew that his fears were correct. -His beloved mistress, on account of some of her -religious opinions, was in danger of being carried -a prisoner to Toulouse, there to be tried before the -officers of the Inquisition. He had no doubt that -her opinions, whatever they were, were entirely correct, -for he had a great respect for her religious -knowledge, and he felt sure she knew more than -the monks who came to the chateau, but he well -understood that, if she should be put on trial, and -if the doctrines she believed to be true were found -to differ, in the least point, from those taught by -the priests, she would be considered guilty of heresy, -and perhaps be put to death.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The squire went away from the wall a very sad -man. He was certain that no one at the chateau -but himself knew of the danger of its mistress, and -he felt that it rested on him to take some immediate -steps to save her, if that were possible.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As he approached the house, Bernard met Raymond, -who was coming to take some lessons from -him in the use of the long sword. The good squire -never threw so much energy and good-will into his -lessons as he did that day.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If he has to fight for his mother," he said to -himself, "I want him to fight well."</p> -<div id='lol0066' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0066.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BERNARD TEACHING RAYMOND THE USE OF THE LONG SWORD.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER VI.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>FOR some days after the departure of Louis for -his mother's chateau, none of his friends had the -least idea of his unfortunate situation. At the castle -it was supposed that he was overstaying his time -with his family, and at Viteau no one knew that -he had left the castle. At last, Barran, somewhat -provoked that the boy should so deliberately disobey -his orders,—for he had told him to return promptly,—and -knowing that his mother could always furnish -him an escort, sent messengers to Viteau, demanding -that Louis should immediately come back with them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This, of course, caused great consternation at the -chateau, and the messengers went hurriedly home, -accompanied by Raymond, to tell the news that -Louis had not yet been seen at his mother's house.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess wished Bernard to go with the -messengers, but this he refused to do, urging that -his place could be nowhere else than at Viteau, -and that Raymond could confer as well as any one -else with Barran, regarding the immediate steps -which should be taken to find out what had become -of Louis, and to rescue him from any danger he -might have fallen into.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess spent the time, during Raymond's -absence, in tears and prayers. When he returned, -there came with him a small troop of well-armed -men, which Barran had sent to press on, as rapidly -as possible, to the estates of the knight from the -South, for it had been thought very likely that this -knight had been prevented in some way from stopping -at Viteau, and that he had taken Louis on -with him, intending to send him back at some convenient -opportunity. That the boy should have been -lost, in any way, from the company of the southern -knight, Barran did not consider possible.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This belief of a man so sensible as Barran partially -comforted the Countess; but when the troop -returned, and told how Louis had left the knight's -company to ride on by himself, as none could doubt, -to his mother's house, the poor lady was completely -overwhelmed with grief, and thus she remained until -Barran arrived at Viteau, for which place he started -as soon as he heard the news.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Vigorous measures were now taken for a search -after Louis. It was generally agreed that he must -have been captured by robbers, for there was no -other danger which was likely to befall him on the -road; but what robbers had taken him, and to what -place they had conveyed him, were questions not -easy to answer. That a band of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> might -then be in the forest, within ten or fifteen miles of -Viteau, was not at all improbable; but to find out -their hiding-place, and, also, to find them in it, would -certainly be difficult tasks. The forests of that time -spread over such a vast extent of country, and were -so dense, and in many places so apparently pathless, -that to find anything so carefully hidden as a robber's -camp would be a matter almost as much of -chance as of skill and design.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Barran privately declared that, if it were not for -the Countess, who seemed almost overcome with -grief, he would quietly wait a few days before -attempting to penetrate the forest with any force; -for he was sure that, if the boy had been captured -by <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, their only object was to get a ransom -for him, and that they would soon be heard from. -Under the circumstances, however, Count de Barran -saw that it would be necessary to take immediate -action, and Bernard was very active in pushing -forward the most warlike preparations.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Some of these appeared almost ridiculous to the -Count.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"How now, Squire?" he said. "One might think -that we expected the rascals to attack this chateau, -and carry off the other boy. By the plans you lay, -there will be more cross-bows and lances left at -Viteau than we shall carry with us into the forest."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I should not leave the Countess defenseless, good -Sir Count," replied the squire.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I know you are a good man and a brave soldier, -Bernard," said Barran, "and as much to be trusted, -in peace or war, as many a knight of good renown; -but this is something too prudent. In these times -the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> -do not come out of their holes to our -chateaux and castles to carry us away."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard hesitated before making answer to this -speech. He had intended informing Barran of his -recent discoveries in regard to the visits of the -Dominican monk, but he had not thought it well to -speak of the matter now, when the minds of every -one were so occupied with the present great trouble. -However, he knew that it would be necessary to -give the reasons for the peculiar measures he advocated, -and so he said, in a low but impressive tone:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No, good Sir Count, the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> do not come -to our houses to carry us away, but the officers of -the Holy Inquisition do."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What means that?" cried Barran, turning pale; -and then, on a warning signal from the squire, he -lowered his voice and continued: "Has the Countess -brought upon herself the censure of the priests, by -her strange ideas about the saints? I have heard -of them. Tell me quickly, is that what you mean?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>The squire bowed his head.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"This is, indeed, grievous," said Barran; "but, surely, -we need have no great fears. Tell me, quickly, -what has happened?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>Then Bernard told all that he feared and all that -he had heard.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Barran was not easily frightened. Indeed, he was -too apt to sneer at things which other people considered -dangerous; but this was such a very serious -matter that it caused him great anxiety and even -fear, when he heard of the peril to which the wife -of his dear old friend was likely to be exposed.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"This must not be allowed," he said. "We can -not suffer that gentle lady to be taken from us by -the Inquisition. Even if she should be found -entirely innocent, which is not likely, the trial itself -is something I cannot think of for a moment. And -yet what is to be done? We can not fight the -Church."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No, Sir Count," said Bernard, "but I shall be -here, with all the force of men and arms that I can -bring together, to defend my lady, and if the Church -fights me, I shall do my best battle."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And you shall not do battle alone, my good -Bernard," said Barran; "but it may be that we -shall find some better way to avert the evil than -by force of arms, which, indeed, would amount to -very little, I fear me, in the end. But now we must -give our hearts and hands to the finding of this -poor, foolish boy."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard was perfectly willing to give his heart to -the finding of Louis, but he would not give his -hand. Nothing could induce him to leave the -chateau, where he insisted upon being left with a -moderate force of well-armed men.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Barran, with several knights from his castle, for -whom he had sent when he found that there would, -probably, be more work to be done than he had at -first anticipated, set out as soon as possible, at the -head of a large body of followers, some of whom -were expert in all kinds of wood-craft, and as -capable as any men could be of finding out the -paths of beasts or human beings in the depths of -the woods.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The party quickly made its way along the road -down which Louis must have ridden; and, a few -miles below the place where the road forked, turned -into the woods, to the west, and made careful search -for paths, or any traces of the passage of men -through the undergrowth. Several well-marked paths -were soon discovered, and along the most promising -of these Barran and his men pushed their way, -sometimes separating, in various directions, and then -coming together again, until they had penetrated far -into the forest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Unfortunately for the success of their search, the -camp of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> was in the woods to the -east of the road. To be sure, the forest, in every -direction, would be searched in time, but if the -Count's party should keep on in the way it was -going, it would be long before it could find the huts -of Captain Michol.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Raymond stayed at the chateau with his mother. -He much wished to join the Count's party in the -search for his brother, but Barran told him that it -was his duty to try to comfort and console the -Countess until Louis should be brought back, and, -therefore, Raymond reluctantly remained at Viteau. -He loved his mother, and was always willing to do -anything that would please or benefit her, but, in -this case, he thought that she, being safe at home, -did not need him nearly so much as his poor -brother, who probably was suffering in captivity, no -one knew where.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the evening of the second day after the -departure of the searching party, Raymond came -down into the grounds of the chateau. His -mother was asleep, and he came out for a little -exercise.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Not far from the house he met the squire.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Bernard," said Raymond, "I think it is a foolish -thing for you and me and all these men to be -idling here. We might leave my mother with her -ladies, and a man or two, and go, the rest of us, -to help scour the woods to find dear Louis."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Just at this moment, and before Bernard could -answer him, Raymond saw, coming up from the -lower part of the grounds, the Dominican monk, -Brother Anselmo.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What does that man want, Bernard?" he exclaimed. -"There have been two priests here to-day, to console -my mother in her affliction, and I do not think -another one is needed now, especially not this man, -who does not belong to our monastery and who -keeps himself a stranger to me. My mother is -asleep, and should not be disturbed."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If she is asleep," said the squire, "she shall not -be disturbed."</p> - -<p class='c007'>He then walked back to the house, closely followed -by Raymond, and stood in the entrance door. -In a few moments the monk appeared, and with a -slight motion of the head, but not a word, stepped -forward to pass in. But the squire stood stoutly -before him, and stopped him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"My lady, the Countess," he said, "is weary and -sick at heart on account of the loss of her young -son. She is sleeping now and can not be disturbed."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If she is sick at heart," said Brother Anselmo, -"that is the greater reason why I should see her."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"It can not be," said Bernard. "She needs rest, -and no one must disquiet her."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What right have you, Squire Bernard," said the -monk, "to forbid my entrance? Are you the master -of this house?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No," said Raymond, stepping forward, "but I -am, when my mother can not act as its mistress, -and I say that no one shall disturb her this night. -Two priests have been here to-day, and I know she -expects no others."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Boy," said Brother Anselmo, "stand aside! You -should be chastised for such presumptuous words; -and as for you, Squire, I command you, in the name -of the Church, to let me pass."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I honor the Church as much as any man," said -Bernard, "but I do not believe that she grants to -her priests the right to ask what they please, in her -name. I might come to be asked for my purse, in -the name of the Church; and that I would not -give up, any more than I shall give up my right -to protect my mistress, the Countess, in this, her -first hour of sleep and rest for many days."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Brother Anselmo was very angry. Shaking his -fist at the sturdy squire, he cried:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Stupid blunderer! You shall see, and that right -soon, what power the Church gives me." And then, -without another word, he turned and walked rapidly -away.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What does he mean?" asked Raymond. "I greatly -dislike that monk. He is always asking my mother -questions which trouble her much to answer."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard made no reply, but stood for a moment -in deep thought. Then he said to himself: "An -hour to the monastery, and an hour back. There -is yet time, and the plan I think of will be the -better one. I can not trust the men to stand against -the priests. Raymond! Run now, and have your -horse saddled and bridled, and ride out of the upper -gate, and wait for me in the road."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Why so?" cried Raymond, in surprise. "It is -too late for exercises."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I can not answer now," said Bernard, hurrying -away. "Be speedy and I will tell you on the road."</p> -<div id='lol0078' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0078.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BROTHER ANSELMO THREATENS BERNARD AND RAYMOND.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Raymond, much amazed, but feeling quite sure -that the squire had some good reason for this -strange proceeding, ran to get his horse, while Bernard -ordered the men-at-arms to hastily equip -themselves for an expedition, and to gather together, -mounted, inside the north gate. Then he went -upstairs to the apartments of the Countess, and -asked to speak with one of her ladies. The -Countess, who was only lightly dozing on a couch, -heard the squire's voice, and, instantly rising, called -to him to know what news he brought.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard advanced within the door-way, and in a -hurried voice told his lady that the news he brought -was of great import, but that he must tell it to her -alone. The Countess then desired the ladies who -were with her to retire to another room, and the -squire, in as few words as possible, but very earnestly -and forcibly, told her of her great danger, of -the threats of the Dominican monk, and of the fact -that he had heard, that day, of the arrival of a body -of men, well-armed, at the neighboring monastery.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"In an hour or so," he said, "these men will be -here, I greatly fear me. Raymond is already on the -road, for I wished to spare him this wretched story, -and, if we do not start quickly for Barran's castle, -where you will find present safety, it may happen -that weeks and months may pass before you will -have news of Louis, even if he should be found -to-morrow."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You mean that I may not be here to meet the -news?" the lady said.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard bowed his head. The Countess did not -hesitate, but came to a decision at once.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I shall be ready," she said, "in a very short -time. Have horses prepared for myself and my -three ladies. We must hasten to Raymond, if he -be alone on the road."</p> - -<p class='c007'>She then called her ladies, and began to make -rapid preparations for the journey.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The horses were scarcely ready when the ladies -made their appearance in the court, and, in a few -minutes, accompanied by Bernard and the men-at-arms, -they rode out of the north gate. An elderly -man, who acted as seneschal, or keeper of the establishment, -was left, with the ordinary servants and -vassals, in charge of the chateau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Raymond, riding slowly up and down the road, -was soon overtaken, and then the squire, without -entering into explanations, urged his party onward as -swiftly as possible.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What is the meaning of all this?" cried Raymond, -in great perplexity, riding up to his mother. -"It is stranger than any of the old tales the women -used to tell me."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess was a lady of strong mind and -body, and although the unknown fate of her -younger son had overwhelmed her with grief, this -new peril to her whole family had thoroughly -aroused her, and she was riding steadily and swiftly -onward.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"It is a strange tale," she said—"stranger far than -any I thought would ever be told in this fair land; -but I can not tell it to you, my boy, until our -journey's end. Then you shall hear it all."</p> - -<p class='c007'>So Raymond, with the rest, rode on, and he, with -all the others, excepting the squire and his mother, -supposed that this long night-ride had something to -do with the rescue of Louis.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER VII.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_4_0_7 c003'>LOUIS sat for a long time, in the bit of shade -by the tree, before Jasto returned; but, when -that learned man at last made his appearance, he -merely remarked that the Captain had kept him -longer than he had supposed he would, and, after -that, he had to look for a quill, of which to make -a pen.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"It is not an easy thing to get the right kind of -quill for a pen, you must know," he said, as he took -his seat by Louis, and began to scrape the lower -end of a long quill with a broad, sharp knife which -he took from his belt. "A crow-quill will do very -well, or even a quill from a hawk; but I like a -long one, like this, which came from a heron's wing, -nailed up in one of our houses. And he who -nailed it up never dreamed of the benefit that a -quill from that wing would bring to our good -company."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What benefit?" asked Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"The benefit that comes from the money your -mother will send us when she reads your letter."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh!" said Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And while I make this pen," continued his -companion, "I shall tell you the story of my letter."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Yes, indeed," cried Louis; "I should rather have -that than the pen—at least, just now."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That is a bad choice, for the pen is to give you -liberty, and the story will not do that. However, -there is a lesson in the story, and you shall have -it. It was just before one of the battles between -Queen Blanche and the Duke of Burgundy. I was -a soldier then, in the service of a good knight; -and although I was not his squire, but a simple -man-at-arms, ready to fight on horse or on foot, or -not to fight at all, just as the case might be, still -I was a better man than the squire—for he could -not write, any more than his master could. So, just -before the battle, the knight sent for me, and, said -he, 'Jasto, I have heard that you are a wise fellow -and can write, and I want you to write me a letter.' -He knew I could write, because I had told him so, -and had told all my companions so, for this I found -I must do, otherwise they would never be aware of -it; for, not knowing how to write themselves, how -could they comprehend that I knew? 'I want to -send a messenger back to my castle,' said my good -knight, 'and I want him to carry a straight and -fair message, which he can not do if I send it by -word of mouth. So you must write what I wish -to say in a letter to my seneschal, and the messenger -shall carry it.' With that, he showed me a little -piece of parchment that he had with him, and a -phial of ink and a pen, and he bade me sit down -and write what he told me to say. I liked not -this haste, which gave me no time for study and -preparation, and I told him, with due respect, that I -could not write unless I had a table on which to -lay my parchment. Whereupon he made a man -with a cuirass get down on all-fours before me, so -that on this man's steel back I could write as on -a table. My master then told me to write how -that, knowing the enemy would soon reach the spot -where we then lay, and feeling the want of a -stronger force, he desired his seneschal to send him -five more men, and five horses, with arms and all -things needful, and also to send therewith a new -casque which he expected from the armorer, and a -long sword which hung up in the great hall, and -divers other things, of which I wot not now. When -I came to write down all this, I found myself sorely -troubled, for you must know that to write a letter -requires a knowledge of many things. One must -know what letters are needed for a word, what -order to put them in, and how to make them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Some words need a good many letters, and if -the letters in a word are not the right letters, and -are not set in a befitting order, it will be of no -use for any man, even the most learned scholar, to -try to tell what that word is. So I soon found -that for many of the words I could not remember -the letters, and of those letters I did remember there -were some that I could not make, for I had forgotten -their shape. But I would not tell my master -that, for it would have been a sorrowful thing to -have fallen from my high place as the most learned -person in our company, not to speak of the punishment -I might have expected. So I wrote on, -making the best words I could devise with the -letters at my command, and urging my master to -repeat every sentence, so that I should be sure to -get it straight and fair; and in that way I learned -the whole letter by heart, and read it to him, when -I had finished it, so that he was greatly gratified. -'Let me see the letter, my good Jasto,' said he; and -when he looked at it, he said, 'The words seem -very much like each other'—which was the truth, -indeed, for most of them had the same letters in -them, measured out in very much the same measurement. -'But it all looks simple enough,' he went -on to say, 'and I greatly desire that I could read -it, but that is beyond my powers.' And then he -made his mark, which his seneschal well knew, and -the letter was done.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Thereupon he called for a messenger to take it -in all haste to his castle, but I told him that he -could have no better messenger than I should be, -because, having writ the letter, I could read it to the -person to whom it was sent, if it should so be -that he could not read it himself. 'But old Hubert -can read, else I would not send him a letter,' said -my lord. But I answered that, if he had never -seen my writing, it might be so strange to him that -it would take much time for him to understand the -proper slope and indication of the letters, and so -the re-enforcements might be sorely hindered in their -coming. Therefore it was that I was sent, and I -so saved my life; for, shortly after, the battle came -off, and, if I had been there, I know I should have -been killed, as most of my knight's men were. But -I was safe in the castle, and when I went back -with the men and the horses and the armor, I met -my lord coming to his castle, and right glad was -he to see me with my company, for he was in such -sore plight that he was even afraid of thieves, -although there were but few of them to be met -with then, being mostly in the wars. And therefore, -I, being fresh and unwounded, took the lead among -the men-at-arms, and felt high in my lord's favor, -and this was far better than being able to scratch -off a poor letter that could be read."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But what said the seneschal to your letter?" -asked Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh, nought at all," answered Jasto. "I read it -to him out of my head, and showed him his master's -mark."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But did you not feel, all the time, that you were -a great trickster and cheat?" said the free-spoken -Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No more than I do now," answered Jasto, -"coming here to help you with your letter to your -mother, and telling you a story with a moral to it, -showing how arduous a thing it is to write a -letter, so that you may be ready for your difficulties -when they come upon you. And now this pen is -done, and it ought to be, for I have put a score -of nibs to it, and there is not enough quill left for -another one. It may be blunt, but it will make a -mark."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And what am I to write on?" asked Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I'll find that and the ink this afternoon," said -Jasto, "but now I smell dinner."</p> - -<p class='c007'>In the afternoon, Jasto mixed up a black compound -with some water, so as to make an ink,—rather -thick and gritty, to be sure, but good enough -for its purpose,—and he produced a piece of parchment, -completely written over on one side. This -writing he proceeded to obliterate, as far as possible, -by rubbing it with a piece of pumice-stone.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis was impatient, and suggested that he might -mark out the words on one side and go on writing -on the other; but Jasto would not hear to this, -for it would argue too great poverty on the part -of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> to send a letter on the back -of another, and so he rubbed and rubbed, and -talked, and came and went, until it was nearly -dark, and so the letter was postponed until the -next day.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the morrow, however, Jasto refused to produce -the writing materials, because there was to be a -grand expedition of the band, which would require -nearly all the men; and Michol had said that Louis -must be taken along, as he did not wish to leave -him behind, guarded only by the few men who -would stay at the camp.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That's a pretty way to do!" exclaimed Louis. -"Suppose I should be killed in this expedition, -what will your captain say to my mother then? I -am not afraid to go, but I do not want to be -taken for a robber, and be shot with an arrow, or -have my head cut off."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Be not afraid," said Jasto, laughing. "The -enemy will not hurt you, if you keep out of the -way. You are to be under my special keeping, -and I will warrant that the foe shall not kill you."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Early in the morning, nearly the whole of Captain -Michol's force, some armed with lances, some with -bows and arrows, and others with long knives, or -swords of various descriptions, set out, on foot, for -a march through the forests. Louis went with them, -closely accompanied by Jasto, who never lost sight -of him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the way, the good-humored robber, who -seemed to be of a better class than most of his -companions, using more correct language, and behaving -himself better in every way, informed Louis -of the object of the expedition. About eight or ten -miles to the east of the camp of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> -there was a chateau, almost as strongly fortified as -a castle, the owner of which possessed a great -number of hogs. These animals, until within a few -days previous, had been confined within close bounds, -for fear that they should be stolen. But as no evil-disposed -persons had been seen for a long time in -the neighborhood, the whole herd had been let out -into the adjacent woods, where they would thrive -much better, during the hot weather, than in their -former quarters. Michol had been informed that -these hogs were ranging through the woods, under -the charge of two or three men, and he was now -going to try to capture as many of them as possible. -He took his large force, not because he expected -any opposition from the keepers of the hogs, but -because a great many men would be needed to -surround and capture the animals, many of which -would be lost if the herd should be allowed to -scatter itself through the forest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As they walked along, Louis thought that it was -a great pity that the first foray he ever set out -upon should be an expedition, in time of peace, to -steal pigs; but he considered it wise not to say -what was in his mind, for it was the business of -these men to steal pigs, or anything else they could -lay their hands on,—even boys and borrowed jennets,—and -they might not fancy his finding fault -with them. He was not afraid of Jasto, with whom -he had become very friendly and communicative; -but many of the other men looked like fellows -whom it would not be at all pleasant to offend. -So he went along with the company, and made no -objections until he had walked five or six miles -through the forest, when he informed Jasto that he -was getting very tired, and that he hoped they -would soon come to the end of their journey, so -that he could sit down and rest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"As for that," said Jasto, "the end of your journey -will soon come, if the signs ahead of us mean -anything. Some of our foremost fellows have come -back, and I think they are telling the Captain that -the herd is not far ahead of us. And if that be -so, it will make our work easier, for the herdsmen -will be far from home and can not call for help. -You and I will not go up to the field of battle, -but will be posted outside, with here and there -another brave fellow, to arrest any of the enemy -who may take to flight in our direction. So keep -up a brave pair of legs for a little while longer, -and then you shall have your rest."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Sure enough, in less than a quarter of an hour -Jasto received orders to wait with Louis, at the end -of a small path through the underbrush, while the -rest of the force spread themselves out widely through -the forest. Before long a great noise of squealing -and shouting was heard in the distance.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"We have come upon them," said Jasto, "and -many a good meal of pork shall we have this year."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I hope the poor herdsmen are not getting killed," -said Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Have no fear for them," replied Jasto; "they will -run away the moment they see one of us. And as -they can not bring help, there will be no Christian -blood shed. Look out there! Stand close behind -me! Hear you that?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis plainly heard something rushing through -the bushes, and in a moment a pig, about half-grown, -dashed along the path toward them. When -he saw Jasto, he stopped for an instant, and then -made a rush, endeavoring to -pass him. But the robber -was too quick to allow that, -and he stooped and seized -the scampering porker by the -hind leg. In an instant, Jasto -was jerked upon his back, still -however, holding fast to the -struggling pig.</p> -<div class='figcenter id005'> -<img src='images/lol0093.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Louis shouted in laughter, and he enjoyed the -fun so much that it was some moments before he -considered that the shouting and wriggling Jest -probably wanted his assistance. He then ran up, -and, taking hold of the other hind leg of the prisoner, -enabled Jasto to get up, and to tie the pig's -legs together with a strong cord which he had in -his pocket.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"There, now," cried Jasto, with a very red face, -"the rest of the pork will be ready to cook or salt -down, but this fellow I shall take home to fatten. -He is too lean and lively for good eating now."</p> - -<p class='c007'>In less than half an hour the rest of the company -appeared, walking in a long line, some of the men -bearing each a slaughtered pig, while here and there -two fellows carried a larger animal between them. -Jasto threw his prize across his shoulders, and, -although there was a good deal of struggling on -the part of the pig, his captor held him firmly, and -carried him thus throughout the whole long tramp -back to the camp.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When he reached the huts, Jasto immediately set -to work to make a rude pen of stakes and poles, -in which he shut up his pig, which was to be -thoroughly fattened before sharing the fate of his -brethren who had been slain in the forest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis was a very tired boy when he found himself -again in the camp, and he slept until a late hour -the next morning; but, as soon as he had had his -breakfast and felt fully awake, he went to hunt up -Jasto, so that he could begin his letter.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But he found that individual, his well-mended and -red-lined clothes exchanged for an indescribably -wretched suit, busily engaged, with a large portion -of his comrades, in cutting up and curing, in various -ways, the pork which had been brought in the day -before. The band had so much hog-flesh on hand -that they hardly knew what to do with all of it, -and they were so busy for several days that Jasto -had no time to give to Louis and his literary -labors.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But, as soon as the pork business was finished -and Jasto was at liberty, Louis set to work in -earnest to write his letter to his mother.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Jasto prepared the parchment, nearly obliterating -the writing on one side of it, and, the ink and pen -being ready, the work began, and a very important -work it seemed to be. Louis, of course, was anxious -that his first letter to his mother should be a good -one, well spelled and well expressed; Jasto continually -suggested forcible and high-sounding sentences, -containing words which neither Louis nor he could -spell; the Captain came several times to the place -where the writing was going on, to insist on certain -terms of ransom being clearly stated; and nearly all -the men in the band straggled up, one or two at -a time, to know how the letter was coming on, -and to hear Louis read what he had already written. -It was a document of great interest to every -one of the robbers, for, if it should succeed in its -purpose, it would bring a large sum of money to -the band.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At last, after much labor and consultation, Louis -finished the letter just as the sun was setting, and -as one of the men called out that the evening meal—which -that day consisted principally of fresh pork—was -ready.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis laid his letter, the last words of which were -scarcely dry, upon the ground, putting a stone upon -it to keep it from blowing away, and ran to get -his supper. While he and the rest of the company -were busily eating, Jasto's pig broke out of the pen, -and, seeing the parchment letter under the tree, -devoured it without the slightest hesitation.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>WHEN Barran had searched the forest on the -western side of the highway for nearly three -days, and had found no traces of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, -he was obliged to return to Viteau, before entering the -woods to the east, to obtain a fresh supply of provisions. -He was utterly astounded, of course, when -he heard of the flight of the Countess, with nearly -all her household; but he was still more surprised, -and very much alarmed, when the seneschal told him -that, in an hour or so after the departure of the -Countess and her party, the chateau had been visited -by a large body of armed men, accompanied by -several priests, among whom was Brother Anselmo. -These men were admitted because the presence of -the priests was a token that they were friends, but -they behaved very strangely after they entered. One -of them demanded to see the Countess, and when -he was told that she had gone away to look for -her son, as the seneschal supposed she had gone, -he ordered the other men to search the chateau -from top to bottom, evidently believing not a word -that was told him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But after every room and every part of the house -and grounds had been ransacked, and when it was -found that the Countess was really not in the chateau, -and that her ladies, and almost all her attendants, -as well as the horses in her stables, had gone -away, the search was given up, and, after a great -deal of talking among themselves, and a great deal -of severe questioning of the seneschal and the other -servants of the house who had been left behind, the -unpleasant visitors departed.</p> - -<p class='c007'>What they wanted, and why they came, the seneschal -did not know, any more than he knew why -the Countess had left. But Barran was not long in -divining the truth. He felt certain that the men -with the priests were officers of the Inquisition, and -that the Countess had heard of their intended visit, -and had escaped from the chateau. Whether or not -she was then really out of their power, he did not -know; but, as he hoped that her destination was -his own castle, the Count determined to hasten home -as fast as he could.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After a brief halt for rest and food, Barran, with -all his men, hastened back to his castle, where, to -his great delight, he found the Countess safe from -her pursuers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the relief and satisfaction of the poor lady -at her present security was entirely overbalanced by -the news that her son had not been found. She -was in such grief that Barran had not the heart to -tell her of the visit of the Inquisitors. He assured -her that he would immediately begin the search of -the forests on the other side of the road; but, -before he started the next day, he held an earnest -consultation with Bernard and with Count de Lanne, -who was taken into confidence in this most important -matter, in regard to the measures to be adopted -should the officers of the Inquisition follow the -Countess to the castle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Nothing was agreed upon, excepting that Bernard -declared that she should never be given up, so long -as life remained in his body; but Barran considered -it necessary that he himself should be at home, in -case the Inquisitors should come to the castle; and -so, after conducting his men to the forest, and -instructing them as to the manner in which they -should proceed, he returned to the castle, where he -remained quietly, without informing the Countess of -his presence.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He would have been glad to assist in the search -for Louis, for whose safety he was very anxious, -but he regarded the mother's position as one which -required his personal attention much more than did -that of the son. He would have told her everything, -and have urged her to leave France, if possible; but -he knew she could not be induced to take a step of -the kind until she had seen her son, or had had -definite news of him, and so he deemed it unwise to -say any thing about the Inquisitors as long as he -felt sure that she would go no farther to escape from -them. She asked no questions, for her mind seemed -entirely occupied by the loss of her boy.</p> - -<p class='c007'>She would not allow Raymond to go with the -searching party, for fear she should in some way lose -him also; and this troubled her eldest son greatly -until she told him, as she had promised, of the danger -with which she was threatened, and which had -caused her to leave her home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This information had a powerful effect upon Raymond. -It seemed to make him several years older. -At first he scarcely could believe that there were -people in the world who could wish to punish his -dear mother for believing what she thought right -about religious matters; but when he heard how so -many persons had been cruelly tried and punished -by the Inquisition for saying and thinking no more -than his mother had said and thought, he saw what -peril she was in; and he determined, like Bernard, -that he would never leave her until she should be -safe from all her dangers.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER IX.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>WHEN Captain Michol heard of the fate of the -letter,—and there could be no doubt as to -what that fate was, for the pig was found rooting -around the spot where the parchment had been left, -evidently searching for something else good to eat,—he -was very angry. He knew that there was no -more parchment in the camp, nor anything else on -which a proper letter could be written, and he did -not know when or where he could procure any -material of the kind. He had made all his arrangements -to send the letter, which had now been too -long delayed, to Viteau the next day; and this -disappointment enraged him very much. He ordered -Jasto's pig to be instantly slaughtered, and he told -Louis that he would cut off one of his ears and -send that to his mother, and then, if a handsome -ransom did not soon arrive, he would cut off the -other one and send it also.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Whether or not the Captain was in earnest in -making this threat is not to be known; but it -frightened Louis greatly, and he determined that the -morning should not find him in the power of a man -who would do such terrible things, and he made up -his mind to escape that night, no matter what might -afterward happen to him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Accordingly, when Jasto was fast asleep, poor little -Louis slipped quietly past him and made his way -into the forest. He pushed blindly through the -thickets and undergrowth, not knowing in what direction -he was going—only anxious to get away as far -as possible from the cruel Captain. It was very dark, -and he frequently came violently against a tree, or -stumbled over tangled vines and bushes, scratching -his hands and face and bruising his body; but he -still pressed on, wherever he could push himself through -the bushes. When daylight should appear he hoped -to be able to make his way to the high road, and, -once there, he felt sure he could walk to Viteau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But, after hours of toilsome and painful struggling -through the pathless underbrush, he found that, even -by the increasing light, he could not discover, although -he searched diligently, any sign or indication of a -passage through the thicket. He even climbed a -tree, but could see nothing except trees and bushes—the -latter extending, in what seemed like impenetrable -masses, in every direction.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Almost tired to death, he sat down at the foot of -the tree he had climbed, and in a few minutes was -fast asleep. He slept for hours, and it was after noon -when he was awakened by some one laughing very -close to him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis opened his eyes with a start, and there was -Jasto, who at that moment laughed again. The boy -sprang up with a cry, and was about to plunge into -the bushes, but the robber seized him by the arm.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No, no, my good Sir Page," said Jasto. "Don't -lead me over any more such wretched ways as you -have led me this morning. I've had enough of them."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh, Jasto!" cried Louis, "you are not going to -take me back?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I don't know," said the robber, "what I shall do -with you, but I certainly shall not take you back -the way you came. Where you crept under the -bushes, I had to break through them. I never saw -such a fellow for hiding. How do you suppose I -found you?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I don't know," said Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I found you," said Jasto, "by not looking for you. -The rest of our men—and nearly all of them turned -out to search for you, when we found you had run -away—scattered themselves about in all directions, to -see if they could catch a glimpse of <i>you</i>. I did -nothing of that kind. I knew that if a boy like you -were to crouch under a thick bush, I could not see -him. So I looked for little bits of blue silk from -a pair of trunk hose, and little shreds of purple cloth -from a tunic that I knew of. I saw a bit of the silk -on some briers when I started out, and I knew I -should find more. I lost your track many times, -but every now and then a bit of rag on a thorn -would encourage me; and so, at last, I came up to -the gallant young page who was marking his way -with pieces of silk and costly cloth. It made me laugh -to think how truly these rags had led me to him."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am glad, Jasto," said Louis, "that you found -me, and not one of the other men. I don't believe -you will make me go back to the Captain to have -one of my ears cut off. You will show me the way -to go home, and I promise you, if you will do that, -that my mother will send you a good sum of money, -quite as much as she would have sent to the Captain -if she had got my letter and had ransomed me."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am not sure about that," said Jasto, "but I have -been thinking over the matter, and it may be that -I shall not take you back to our camp. I have a -kindly feeling for you, Sir Page. First, because I -think you are a lad of spirit, as I used to be; and -second, because my pig ate your letter, and so brought -your trouble on you. Therefore, I feel bounden to -help you out of it. But, if I send you to your -mother, she may forget my sole share in your rescue -and return, and may send the ransom-money to our -company, when it will be so divided and shared, -and measured into parts, that I shall get very little -of it. So I think I shall take you to your mother, -and then I shall get all the ransom myself, and not -be obliged to share it with any one. And I am sure -the good lady, your mother, will give more to him -who brings you back than to him who has merely -carried you away."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Indeed would she!" cried Louis, more than -delighted at the prospect of being taken directly to -his home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Well, then," said Jasto, "take you this piece of -bread, which I put in my pocket before I set out -this morning, and when you have eaten it, you will -be strong enough, mayhap, to go on to your mother's -chateau, though it is still a good distance from here; -and I promise you that I shall not lead you through -such rough ways as you led me. But we must be -careful, for, if we meet any of my good comrades, -there will be an end of our plan."</p> - -<p class='c007'>When Louis had finished eating,—and, coarse and -hard as the bread was, he devoured every morsel, -for it was his breakfast and his dinner,—the two started -off for Viteau. Louis supposed that they would -try to reach the main road as soon as possible; but -Jasto assured him that he had no idea of doing that, -for the woods would be occupied, at various points -along the road, by the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, who would expect the -fugitive boy to take the highway as soon as he could -find it. Instead of that, Jasto intended to slyly make his -way, through the woods, to the nearest point to Viteau, -and then to strike across the country to the chateau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Jasto was an expert and experienced woodsman, -and he found paths where Louis would never have -imagined they could exist; and with great care and -caution, and frequent halts for outlook and listening, -he led the boy through the devious mazes of the -forest, without meeting one of his comrades. About -dark they reached the edge of the forest, and then -they cautiously made their way to the chateau, where -they arrived late in the night.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It would be hard to express the consternation of -Louis—and that of Jasto was almost as great—at -finding that the Countess had gone away; that -Barran had been there that day, returning from a -search for his lost page, but had almost immediately -set out for his castle, and that a body of strange -men, accompanied by priests, had been searching the -house for his mother only the night before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Poor Louis, who could not imagine what all this -meant, and who was bewildered and astounded at -seeing the happy home he had always known -deserted by every one excepting the seneschal and a -few servants, desired nothing so much as to go immediately -to his mother. But this Jasto would not have -allowed, had it been possible, for the boy was nearly -exhausted by fatigue and want of food. After some -supper had been prepared for the two travelers, and -Louis had eaten as much as Jasto thought good for -him, the robber accompanied his young companion -to the room he had been used to occupy with his -brother Raymond, and, after seeing him safely in -bed, lay down on the floor across the door-way, and -went to sleep himself. It was evident that he -intended to take good care that Louis should not -leave him this time until he had conducted him -into his mother's presence.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The seneschal was rather surprised at the actions -of this man, who announced himself as a friend to the -boy, and one who had saved him from the robbers -who had captured him; but, as he and Louis seemed -on very friendly terms, the old man made no objection -to anything that Jasto said or did.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In the morning, Louis insisted upon an early start -for Barran's castle; but, although Jasto was now -perfectly willing to go, he was afraid to do so, for -there was no other road but the one which led -through the woods, and on that he certainly would be -seen by some of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, who would keep the -road under constant watch. To make his way with -the boy through the woods on the west of the road -would be almost impossible, for he was not familiar -with that part of the forest, and did not know the -paths; and Louis would of a certainty be tired out -long before he could reach the castle, which was -distant almost a day's journey for a horse.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But fortune favored him, for, after he had spent most -of the day in endeavoring to impress these things on -the mind of the impatient Louis, and in making -efforts to find some one who would be willing to go -to the castle and inform the Countess of her son's -arrival at Viteau, there came to the chateau a party -of horsemen who had been sent by Barran to see if -anything had been heard from the boy at his home, -the party in the eastern woods, having, so far, met no -traces of his captors.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The course was now easy enough, and the next -day Barran's men set out for the castle, taking with -them the happy Louis and Jasto, who felt no fear of -capture by his former comrades now that he was -escorted by a body of well-armed men.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The scene at the castle, when Louis arrived was a -joyous one. The Countess forgot all her troubles and -fears about herself, in her great happiness for the -return of her son; and even Raymond ceased to -think, for a time, of his mother's danger, so glad was -he to see his dear brother again. Every one at the -castle, indeed, was in a state of great delight, for -Louis was a general favorite, and few persons had -expected to see him again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Among the most joyful of his welcomers was -Agnes. She listened to his story with the greatest -eagerness, and, when he began to lament that he had -lost her horse, she exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"We don't think much about horses, my father and -I, when we are afraid that we have lost boys. It is -easy enough to get another Jennet, and, before many -years, this one would have been too small for me. -Do you think he is in a comfortable place?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I don't know," answered Louis. "I did not see -where they took him."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"At any rate," said the girl, promptly, "the thieves -can not ride him in the forest, and so he will not -be worn out by hard work. But we won't talk about -him any more. And your brother's new falcon is -gone, too, I suppose."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh, yes," said Louis, ruefully. "But he will not -grieve about that, for he did not know he was going -to have one. I thought of that a good many times, -when I was among the robbers. If he had been -expecting it, things would have been a great deal -worse than they are now."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Of course he did not expect the bird," said the -girl, "but he knows you have lost it, for everybody -was told that it was to carry him a new falcon that -you left the castle. But he never will scold you for -not bringing it, and so we need not say anything more -about it. But he must wonder that you were bringing -him a falcon; for how could you know he had -none, when you left your mother's house before anything -was said about his bird having been lost? He -must suspect you had something to do with it."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Of course he does," said poor Louis. "I intended -to tell him all about it when I should give him the -new falcon; but it will be harder to do it now."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Don't you say a word about it," said Agnes, who -was really a kind-hearted girl, although she liked to -talk about everything that was on her mind. "I'll tell -him myself. It will be easy enough for me to do it, -and I can tell him better than you can, anyway."</p> - -<p class='c007'>She did tell Raymond all about it, dwelling with -much earnestness on Louis's sorrow for his fault, and -his great desire to make amends for it; but she found -that Raymond cared very little about falcons. His -mind was occupied with weightier matters.</p> -<div id='lol0112' class='figcenter id006'> -<img src='images/lol0112.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE COUNTESS SENT FOR JASTO AND THANKED HIM WARMLY.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"Louis is a good fellow and a true one," he said, -"although he often plays wild pranks, and the only -reason I am sorry that he lost my bird is that it -caused him such danger, and all of us such grief."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I like Louis better than Raymond," said Agnes to -herself. "Raymond talks so much like a man, and -he isn't half so glad as he ought to be, now that his -brother is saved from those dreadful robbers. If I -were in his place, I'd be singing and dancing all the -time."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess sent for Jasto, and thanked him -warmly and earnestly for bringing her son to her, -instead of taking him back to the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If I could do it now," she said, "I should reward -you handsomely for what you have done for me; -but, as I left my chateau for this place very suddenly, -I have no money with me. However, as soon as I -shall have opportunity to send for some, I shall more -than pay you for the trouble you have taken. Meantime, -as your conduct shows that you wish to leave -your companions and give up your evil ways, you -can remain here, and I shall see that you receive fair -treatment and are well employed." And then, with a -few more gracious words, she dismissed him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This was all very pleasant, for the Countess spoke -so sweetly and looked so good that it greatly gratified -Jasto to have her talk to him so kindly, and thank -him for what he had done; but still he was not -satisfied. He had expected to make a regular bargain -about a ransom, and hoped that Louis would have -told his mother how much Michol was going to -charge for his return; but he found the boy had never -mentioned the matter, and he did not feel bold -enough, in his first interview with the Countess, to -do it himself. He knew that he would be rewarded, -but he felt sure that a lady would have no idea of -the proper sum to pay for a page's ransom. If the -pig had not eaten the letter her son had written, she -would have been astonished indeed. He would wait, -and, when the proper time came, he would let it be -known that he expected ransom-money just as much -as if he had kept the boy in some secret spot, and -had made his mother send the sum required before -her son was restored to her. Meanwhile, he was -perfectly willing to remain in the service of the -good Countess, and the first thing he asked for was -a suit of clothes not composed of patches sewn -together with bright-red silk. And that he received -without delay.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Now that Louis was safe at the castle, the minds -of the Countess and her friends were occupied with -the great question of her safety. It was not to be -expected that the officers of the Inquisition would -give up their attempts to arrest the lady; and although -Barran's castle and Barran's forces might be strong -enough to hold her securely and to drive back her -persecutors, a contest of this kind with the Church -was something not to be desired by the Count nor -by his friends. Barran and Lanne were both of the -opinion that the safest refuge for the Countess would -be England; but a secret journey there would be -full of hardships, and might compel her to give up -all her property, and to be separated from her sons.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was hard to decide what to do, and at any day -the officers of the Inquisition might appear at the -gates of the castle.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER X.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>A FEW days after the arrival of Louis and Jasto -at the castle of Barran, the Countess found it -necessary to send to Viteau for some clothing and -other things which were needed by herself and her -ladies, for they had brought very little with them in -their hasty flight from the chateau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>A trusty squire—not Bernard, for he would not leave -his mistress for so long a time as a day and night—was -sent, with a small, but well-armed body of men, -to convey to the castle the property desired by the -Countess, and to give some orders to the seneschal -in charge. When the party reached the chateau, -early in the evening, the squire was greatly surprised -to find that he could not enter. The gates were all -closed and barred securely, and no answer came to -his calls and shouts to the inmates.</p> - -<div id='lol0118' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0118.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>A SMALL WINDOW WAS OPENED.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>At length, a small window in the principal gate was -opened, and a man's head, wearing a helmet with the -visor down, appeared in the square aperture.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Which of the varlets that we left here are you?" -cried the angry squire. "And what are you doing -with the armor of the Countess on your rascally -head? Did you not know me when I called to you, -and when are you going to open this gate for us?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am not any man's varlet," said the person in the -helmet, "and you did not leave me here. I wear -this helmet because I thought that some of your -impatient men might thrust at me with a spear, or -shoot an arrow at me when I should show my head. -I did not know you when you called, for I never -heard your voice before, and I am not going to open -the gate for you at all."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The squire sat upon his horse, utterly astounded -at this speech, while his men gathered around him, -wondering what strange thing they next would hear.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Who, then, are you?" cried the squire, when he -had found his voice, "and what are you doing here?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I have no objection," said the other, "to make -the acquaintance of any man who wants to know me, -and to tell him what I do, if it be, in any way, his -business. I am Michol, the captain of the good and -true band of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> who for some time past have -lived in this forest, near by; and what I am doing here -is this: I am dwelling in this goodly chateau, in -peace and comfort, with my men."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The squire turned and looked at his followers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What think you," he said, "does all this mean? -Is this a man gone crazed?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Not so," said the man with the helmet; "not so, -my good fellow. I may have done crazy deeds in -by-gone days, but this is the most sane thing I ever -did in all my life. If you should care to hear the -whole story, straight and true,—and I should like -much to tell it to you, that you may take it to your -mistress,—come closer and listen."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The squire, anxious enough to hear, rode close -to the gate; the men crowded near him, and Michol, -for it was really the captain of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, told his -story.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am going to make this tale a short one," he said, -"so that you can remember it, and tell it clearly, all of -you. When the boy, son of the Countess of Viteau, -was stolen from us——"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Stolen!" ejaculated the squire.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Yes," said the other, "that is the word. We -captured the youngster fairly on the road, and held -him for fitting and suitable ransom; and before we -had opportunity to acquaint his friends with his -whereabouts, and with the sum demanded for him, he -was basely stolen by a traitor of our company, and -carried away from us, thus cheating us of what was -our fair and just reward."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Reward!" exclaimed the squire. "Reward for -what?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"For treating him well and not killing him," said -Michol, coolly. "When I found out the base deed -that had been done to us," he continued, "I gathered -all my men, together with another band of brave -fellows, who gladly joined us, and I came boldly -here to demand the ransom for the boy, and the body -of the wretched villain who stole him away. And -when I found no boy, and no traitor, and no Countess, -and no one in the whole chateau but an old man and -some stupid varlets, I blessed my happy stars, and -took possession of the whole domain. And this I -shall hold, occupy, and defend, until the Countess, -its former mistress, shall send to me one hundred -silver marks, together with the person of the traitor -Jasto. When these shall have been fairly delivered -to me, I shall surrender the chateau, and honorably -depart, with all my men."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You need expect nothing of that kind," cried the -squire. "Count de Barran and the good knights with -him, when they hear this story, will come down upon -you and drive you out with all your men; and never a -piece of money, gold or silver, will you gain by this deed—unless, -indeed, it shall be such as you shall find here."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I shall have my money," replied Michol; "but -until I hear that my just demands are denied, I shall -break no bars or locks to look for it. My men and -I will live merrily on the good stores of the Countess; -but while we hold this place as warranty for her son's -ransom, we shall not sack or pillage. But if your lord -and his knights should come to drive me out, they -would find more good soldiers here than they can -bring, for in times of peace we are strong, and the -lords of the land are weak, unless, indeed, they keep -retainers and men-at-arms for mere show and ostentation. -My men are well armed, too, for the Count of -Viteau kept his armory well furnished, as became -a valiant knight and a leader of fighting men. So, -therefore, if Barran shall come to give us foul blows, -instead of fair words and just deeds, he will get blow -for blow, and harder blows, methinks, than he can -strike; and if it should be, by strange fortune, that -he drive us out, he would drive us only from the -blazing ruins of this chateau.<a id='rA' /><a href='#fA' class='c008'><sup>[A]</sup></a> All this I tell you, -my good squire, that you may tell it to Barran and -the Countess. Think you you will remember it?"</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='fA'> -<p class='c007'><a href='#rA'>A</a>. Such was the lawlessness of the times, when people had -to rely on themselves for protection and defense, that a deed -like the taking of this chateau would probably meet with no -immediate punishment, unless it were inflicted by the injured -owner or his friends.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"Indeed will I," said the squire. "Such words can -not easily be forgotten. But then I truly think——"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No more of that!" interrupted Michol. "I do not -care what you think. Hear, remember, and tell. -That is enough for you in this matter. And, now, -what brought you here? You did not come to bring -word, good or bad, to me?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Indeed I did not," said the other, "for I knew not -you were here. I came, at the command of the -Countess of Viteau, to get for her certain garments -and needful goods belonging to herself and ladies, -which she could not, with convenience, take with her -to the castle, but which, I suppose, if your tale be -true, I shall go back without."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Not so," said Michol. "I war not on fair ladies, -until they themselves declare the war. You shall -come in, and take away what your lady needs. That -is, if you fear not to enter alone."</p> - -<p class='c007'>These words made the squire turn pale. He was -afraid to trust himself, alone, inside the walls of the -chateau court-yard, but he was ashamed to own it—ashamed -that his own men should see his fear, or -that Michol should see it. And so, out of very -cowardice and fear of mockery, he did a thing which -was exceedingly brave, and entered by the wicket in -the gate, which Michol opened for him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Inside the court and in the chateau, the squire saw, -as Michol was very glad to have him see, hundreds -of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, well armed, and in a good state of discipline, -and he felt sure, at last, that the tale he had -been told was true.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The articles he had been sent for were all delivered -to him, and properly packed by Michol's men for -conveyance on the baggage-horses that had been -brought for the purpose. Then the goods were -carried out, and the squire was allowed to depart, -without hurt or hindrance.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Provisions were sent outside the gates for the squire -and his men and horses, and that night they bivouacked -by the roadside.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The next morning they rode back to Barran's castle, -and the squire delivered to the Countess the property -he had been sent for, and told the wonderful tale -that the captain of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> had instructed him -to tell.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER XI.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>THE news of the occupation of Viteau by a band -of robbers, occasioned, as well might be supposed, -the greatest astonishment at the castle of Barran. At -first, every one, from the Lord of the castle to the -lowest varlet, was loud in favor of an immediate march -upon the scoundrels, with all the force that could be -gathered together on the domain. But after Barran -had held a consultation with the Countess, Hugo de -Lannes, and the very sensible and prudent Bernard, he -determined not to be too hasty in this important -matter. If the story of the squire who had been sent -to Viteau was true,—and there was no reason to -doubt it,—it would require every fighting man on the -estates of the Count de Barran to make up a force -sufficiently strong to compel the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> to leave -the chateau; and if this force should not be large -enough to completely surround and invest the place, -the captain of the robbers might make good his threat -of burning the chateau and retreating to the forest, -which he could probably reach in safety, if the retreat -should be made in the night.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But, even if the Count had been able to raise men -enough to make a successful attack upon the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> -at Viteau, he did not wish, at this time, to strip his -castle of all its defenders. If it should be concluded -that the Countess should endeavor to escape to England, -a tolerably strong party might be necessary to conduct -her to the coast; and if the officers of the Inquisition -should appear at his gates, he would like to be -there with enough men to compel at least parley and -delay.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It would, also, be difficult to hold the chateau, after -it should be taken, during this serious quarrel with -the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>. If the lady of Viteau had been at -home, she might have summoned many of her vassals -to her aid, but it was not to be supposed that these -people would willingly risk their lives, and expose -their families to the vengeance of the robbers, to defend -a dwelling which its owner had deserted.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was, therefore, determined not to attempt, at -present, to disturb the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> at Viteau, who, as -long as their demand for a ransom for young Louis -was not positively denied, would probably refrain from -doing any serious injury to the property. When the -Countess should be in safety, a force could be raised -from some of the estates, and from villages in the -surrounding country, to thoroughly defeat the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> -and to break up their band. Suitable arrangements -then could be made to hold and defend the chateau -until the Countess or her heirs should come back to -take possession.</p> - -<p class='c007'>What was to be done for the unfortunate mother -of Raymond and Louis, now became again the great -question. Flight to England, which, though a Catholic -country, was not under the power of the Inquisition, -as were France and some of the neighboring countries, -would have been immediately determined upon, -had it not been for the great unwillingness of the -Countess to consent to separate herself from her -sons.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If she should leave France and take her children -with her, her property would probably be taken possession -of by the Church or the Crown; whereas, if -her sons, under a proper guardian, should remain in -France, the estate would be considered to belong to -them, for they had done nothing to make them forfeit -it; and everything could go on as usual, until the -friends of the Countess should have opportunity to -represent the matter to some of the high authorities -of the Church. Then, if she could be released from -the prosecution by the Inquisition, she could return -in peace to her home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the day after the squire's return from Viteau, -and after it had been decided to leave the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> -in possession for the present, Raymond and Louis, -with Agnes, were sitting together at a window in one -of the great towers of the castle, talking of the proposed -journey of the Countess; Louis had been told -the reason of her flight from Viteau, and, of course, -Agnes knew all about it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If I were the Count de Barran," said Louis, very -much in earnest, "I should never make a lady, like -our mother, run away to England, nor to any other -savage country, to get rid of her enemies. I should -fill this castle with soldiers and knights, and I'd defend -her against everybody, to the last drop of my blood. -Wasn't Barran the brother-in-arms of our father? -And isn't he bound, by all his vows, to protect our -mother, when her husband isn't here on earth to do -it himself?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You don't look at things in the right way, Louis," -said Raymond. "Of course, the Count would defend -our mother against all enemies, for he is a brave and -true knight; but we can not say that the priests and -officers of the Church are our enemies. Now, if Barran -fights the people of the Inquisition, he is fighting -the Church, and no Christian knight wants to do that."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I'd like to know what an enemy is," said Louis, -"If he isn't a person who wants to do you an injury; -and that, it seems to me, is exactly what these Inquisition -people are trying to do to our mother. I shouldn't -care whether they belonged to the Church or not."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh, yes, you would," said Raymond, "if you had -taken the vows of a Christian knight. The Count -will do everything he can to save our mother from -these people, but he will not want to fight and slay -Church officers, and his men-at-arms would not help -him,—I heard Count de Lannes say that,—for whoever -should do such a thing would be excommunicated -by the Pope of Rome, and would be cast out from -all Christian fellowship and all hope of salvation. -Our mother would not let any one fight for her, -when she should know that such things would happen -to him."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Bernard would fight for her," said Louis; "and so -would I."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And so would I, as well you know," said his -brother, "and so would the Count and many another -knight, if things came to the worst. They would not -stop to think what would happen afterward. But it -would be a sad thing to do. It would be much better -for our mother to go away, than to put her friends in -such jeopardy of their souls. I have heard all this -talked about, and I know how hard a thing it is for -the Count to send our mother away. But one thing -is certain: when she goes, I go with her. I care not -for the domain."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And I go too!" cried Louis. "Let the robbers -and the priests divide Viteau between them. I will -not let my mother go among the barbarians without -me."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"The English are not barbarians," said Raymond. -"There are plenty of good knights and noble ladies -at the court of King Henry, and all over the land, -too, as I have read."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I thought they must be savages," said Louis, -"because they have no Inquisition. Surely, if England -were a Christian land like France, there would be an -Inquisition there."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Up to this time Agnes had been silent, eagerly -listening to the conversation of the boys. But now -she spoke:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Louis and Raymond!" she cried, "I think it will -be an awful, dreadful thing for your poor mother to -go to England; I don't care what sort of a country -it is, or who goes with her. Isn't there somebody -who can make these people stop their wicked doings -without fighting them? Can't the King do it?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Of course he can," cried Louis. "The King can -do anything."</p> -<div id='lol0132' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0132.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>AGNES TELLS RAYMOND AND LOUIS OF HER PLAN.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"Perhaps he can," said Raymond. "I spoke to my -mother about that this morning, and asked her why -Count de Barran did not go to the King and beseech -him to inquire into this matter, and to see why one -of his subjects—as good a Christian as any in the -land—should be so persecuted. She said I spoke too -highly of her——"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Which you did not," cried Louis.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Indeed, I did not," continued Raymond. "And -then she told me that the mother of our King, Queen -Blanche, who has more to do with the affairs of France -than her son himself, does not like Barran, who, with -our father, opposed her long with voice and sword, in -the disputes between Burgundy and the Crown. So it -is that he could not go to ask a favor of her son, for -fear that it would do us more harm than good."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But is he the only person in the world?" cried -Agnes. "Why can't somebody else go? Why don't -you go, Raymond, with Louis—and with me? Let -us all three go! We can tell the King what has -happened, as well as any one, and the Queen-Mother -can not bear a grudge against any of us. Let us go! -My father will not say me nay."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis agreed instantly to this glorious plan, and -Raymond, after a moment's thought, gave it a hearty -assent.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"We'll start by the dawn of day to-morrow," cried -Agnes; and away she ran to ask her father if she -might mount a horse, and go with Louis and Raymond -to Paris, to see the King.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Strange as it may seem, this wild plan of the children -was received with favor by their elders. Something -must be done immediately, and the Countess must -either leave France, or some powerful aid must be -asked for. Measures had been taken to put the -matter before some of the high officials of the Church, -but it was believed that they would first send for -Brother Anselmo and the priests, and would hear -their story, before interfering for the Countess; and, -therefore, whatever help might be expected in this -direction, would probably be much delayed and come -too late.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But if the King should desire it, the matter would -be instantly investigated, and that was all that the -Countess and her friends intended to ask. They felt -sure that if some one, more competent and less -prejudiced than the two or three monks who had been -incensed by their failure to answer her arguments, -should examine the charges against her, it would be -found that she believed nothing but what was taught -by the fathers of the Church, and believed in by all -good people who had read what the authors had -written.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And who could go with better grace to ask the -help of the King—himself young—than these three -young people: two boys who would speak in behalf -of their mother, and the young girl, their friend, who -might be able to talk with the Queen-Mother, if there -should be need of it?</p> - -<p class='c007'>Count Hugo de Lannes readily agreed to take -charge of the young embassadors, if his daughter -should be one of them. He was well known in Paris, -and could give them proper introduction and guarantee -their statements. Thus his assistance would be very -great.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was agreed that by dawn the next morning, just -as Agnes had said, the party should start for Paris, -and that, until its return, the Countess should postpone -her flight from France.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And many earnest prayers were said that night, that -nothing evil might happen to the Countess while her -two boys should be absent from her.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER XII.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>THE cavalcade, which started from the castle early -the next morning, was a gay and lively one, for -everybody seemed to think that it would soon return, -with happy news.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At the head rode Count de Lannes, and, at his -side, Sir Charles de Villars, a younger knight, visiting -at the castle, who had volunteered his services -to help defend the party, should it be attacked on the -way.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Next came the three young people, each mounted -on a small Arabian horse, from the castle stables. -After them came two women, in attendance on Agnes; -and then followed quite a long line of squires, pages, -and men-at-arms, with servants carrying the heavy -armor of the two knights, all mounted and armed.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was calculated that the journey to Paris would -take about four days, if they pressed on as fast as -the strength of the horses and that of the young -riders would permit; and as it was desirable to be -back as soon as possible, they rode away at a good -pace.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Some distance in advance of the whole party were -two men-at-arms, whose duty it was, when passing -through forests, or among rocks and hills, where an -enemy might be concealed, to give timely notice of -any signs of danger. The Count de Lannes did not -expect any attack from robbers, for he felt quite sure -that the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> who had been in the neighborhood -were all engaged in the occupation of Viteau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But he did not know as much about the robber -bands of Burgundy as he thought. A short time -before, there had come into the country, between -Barran's castle and Viteau, a company of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span>—freebooters -of somewhat higher order than the -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, who generally preferred to be soldiers rather -than thieves, but who, in times of peace, when no one -would hire them as soldiers, banded together, stopped -travelers on the highway, and robbed and stole whenever -they had a chance. They were generally better -armed and disciplined, and therefore more formidable, -than the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, or the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>routiers</i></span>, who were robbers -of a lower order than either of the other two.</p> - -<p class='c007'>These <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span>, when Michol was making up his -force with which to seize and hold the chateau of -Viteau, offered to join him, but he declined their proposition, -believing that he had men enough for his -purpose, and not wishing, in any case, to bring into -the chateau a body of fellows who might, at any time, -refuse to obey his rule, and endeavor to take matters -into their own hands.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The captain of the band of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span>, when he -found that he would not be allowed to take part in -the ransom speculation at Viteau, moved up nearer the -castle of Barran, and sent one of his men, dressed like -a common varlet or servant, to take service with the -Count, as an assistant in the stables and among the -horses. In this occupation he would learn of the -intended departure of any party from the castle, and -could give his leader such information as he could -manage to pick up about the road to be taken, and -the strength and richness of the company.</p> - -<p class='c007'>So it was that, on the night of the day on which -the expedition to Paris was determined upon, and -after orders had been given to have the necessary -horses ready early the next morning, this fellow got -away from the castle, and told his captain all he knew -about the party—who were to go and which way they -were going.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was not likely that the company under the charge -of Count de Lannes would carry much money, or -valuable baggage of any sort, and, therefore, the enterprise -of waylaying these people on the road did not -appear very attractive to the leader of the robbers, -until he heard that Louis, and Jasto, who was to go -with the boy as servant, were to be of the party. Then -he took a great interest in the matter. If he could -capture Louis, he could interfere with Michol in getting -the ransom he demanded, and so force himself, in this -way, into partnership with the prudent captain of the -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>; and if he could take Jasto, of whose exploits -he had heard, he felt sure that Michol would pay a -moderate ransom to get possession of that traitor to his -cause and his companions.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Therefore, principally to capture, if possible, these -two important and perhaps profitable personages, the -band of robbers set out before daylight, and took -a good position for their purpose on that road to -Paris.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was nearly noon when the cavalcade of our friends -entered a wide and lonely forest, where the road was -thickly overgrown, on each side, with bushes and -clambering vines. It was an excellent place for an -ambuscade, and here the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span> were ambuscaded.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Count Hugo de Lannes was a prudent man, and he -proceeded slowly, on entering the forest, giving orders -to his scouts to be very careful in looking out for -signs of concealed marauders.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He also called up the men who carried the heavy -armor, and he and Sir Charles proceeded to put on -their helmets and their coats of mail, so as to be ready -for anything which might happen during their passage -through the forest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They were prepared none too soon, for the scouts -came riding back, just as Count Hugo had exchanged -his comfortable cap, or bonnet, for his iron head-covering, -with the news that men were certainly concealed -in the woods some hundred yards ahead.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Quickly the two knights, with the assistance of their -squires, finished putting on their armor, and each -hung his battle-ax at his saddle-bow. Their long -swords they wore at all times when riding. Then -Count Hugo, turning, gave rapid orders for the disposition -of his force.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Part of the men-at-arms, all ready for battle, drew -up before the young travelers, and part took their place -in their rear. On either side of each of the boys, and -of Agnes and her women, rode a soldier in mail, -holding his shield partly over the head of his charge. -Thus each of these non-combatants was protected by -two shields, and by the bodies of two mail-clad men, -from the arrows which might be showered upon them -should a fight take place.</p> - -<p class='c007'>All these arrangements were rapidly made, for the -men of the party were well-trained soldiers, and then -Count Hugo and Sir Charles rode forward to see -what they could see.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They saw a good deal more than they expected. -As they went around a slight bend in the road, they -perceived, a short distance ahead, three mounted men -in armor, drawn up across the road. Behind them -were a number of other men, with spears and pikes. -And in the woods, on either side, were a number of -archers, who, though they could not be seen, made -their presence known by a flight of arrows, which -rattled briskly on the armor of our two horsemen, -and then fell harmless to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If this volley and this brave show of force were -intended to intimidate the travelers, and to cause -them to fall back in confusion, it did not have the -desired effect.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Turning to their squires, who followed close behind -them, the two knights called for their lances, and -when, almost at the same instant, these trusty weapons -were put into their hands, they set them in rest, and, -without a moment's hesitation, charged down upon -the three horsemen.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Count Hugo was an old soldier, and had been in many -a battle, where, fighting on the side of the Crown, he -had met in combat some of the bravest soldiers of -France and many of the finest knights of England, -whom King Henry III. had sent over to aid the -provinces which were resisting Queen Blanche; and -Sir Charles, although a younger man, had met and -conquered many a stout knight in battle and in tournament.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Therefore, although the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span> horsemen were -good, strong soldiers, and well armed, and although -all three of them put themselves in readiness to -receive the charge of the knights, they could not -withstand or turn aside the well-directed lances of -these veteran warriors, and two of them went down -at the first shock, unhorsed and helpless.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The other man, reining back his horse a little -way, charged furiously on Count Hugo, who was -nearest him; but the latter caught the end of his -lance on his shield, and then, dropping his own lance, -he seized his battle-ax, rose in his stirrups, and -brought the ponderous weapon down upon the ironclad -head of his assailant, with such a tremendous -whang that he rolled him off his horse at the first -crack.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Upon this, both knights were attacked at once by -the spearsmen and other men on foot, but so completely -and strongly were the Count and Sir Charles -clad in their steel mail that their opponents found no -crevice or unguarded spot through which their rapidly -wielded weapons could penetrate.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the knights gave them little time to try the -strength of their armor, for whirling their battle-axes -over their heads, and followed by their squires, they -charged through the whole body of the foot-soldiers, -and then, turning, charged back again, driving the -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span> right and left into the woods.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Meantime, all had not been quiet in the rear. The -captain of the robbers, as soon as he had seen the -knights engaged with his picked men, had come out -of the woods with a strong force of his followers on -foot, and had made a vigorous attack on our young -travelers and their attendants.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Here the fighting was general and very lively. -Arrows flew; swords, spears, and shields rattled and -banged against each other; horses reared and plunged; -the women screamed, the men shouted, and Raymond -and Louis drew the small swords they wore, and -struggled hard to throw themselves into the middle -of the fight.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But this was of no use. Their mailed and mounted -guardians pressed them closely on either side, and -protected them from every blow and missile.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Little Agnes was as pale as marble. Every arrow, -as it struck against the shields and armor about her, -made her wink and start, but she sat her horse like a -brave girl, and made no outcry, though her women -filled the air with their screams.</p> - -<p class='c007'>There were so many of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span>, and they -directed their attacks with such energy on the one -point, that it seemed for a time as if they certainly -must get possession of one or all of the children. -Three men had pulled aside the horse of Louis's -protector on the left, and others were forcing themselves -between the soldier and the boy, with the -evident intention of dragging the latter from his -horse.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the fight at the head of the line was over -sooner than the captain of the robbers expected it -would be. His men had scarcely reached Louis's -side when Count Hugo and Sir Charles came -charging back.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Straight down each side of the road they came. -Their own men, seeing them come, drew up in a close -column along the middle of the road, and before the -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span> knew what was going to happen, the two -knights were upon them. Standing up in their stirrups, -and dealing tremendous blows with their battle-axes -as they dashed along, they rode into the robbers on -each side of the road, cutting them down, or making -them wildly scatter into the woods. As the knights -passed, some of the men-at-arms left their line and, -rushing into the woods, drove their enemies completely -off the field.</p> -<div id='lol0146' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0146.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>SIR HUGO AND SIR CHARLES CHARGE THE ROBBERS.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>At least they supposed that this was the case; but, -when Count Hugo and Sir Charles had turned and had -ridden back to the young people and the women, and -were anxiously inquiring if any of them had been -injured during the affray, a cry from Louis directed -everybody's attention to a new fight, which was going -on at the rear of the line.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Jasto!" cried Louis. "They are taking Jasto!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>The boy had happened to look back, and saw his -friend of the robber-camp, whose horse had been -killed, struggling on foot with four men, one of whom -was the captain of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span>. They were, apparently, -endeavoring to drag him into the bushes; Jasto, -who was a very stout fellow, was holding back manfully, -but the others were too strong for him, and were forcing -him along. No one of the Count's party was near, -except a few men who had charge of the baggage -horses, and these were too busy with their frightened -animals to take any notice of the re-appearance of some -of the robbers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Help him!" cried Louis. "Don't let them take Jasto -away!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>Count Hugo turned, as he heard the boy's cry, but -little Agnes was close by his side, trying to get her -arms around his iron neck, and several horsemen were -crowded up near him, so that he could not clearly see -what was going on in the rear. A few of the men-at-arms -saw the affair, and rode toward the scene of the -unequal contest, but Jasto would certainly have been -dragged into the thicket before they could have -reached him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Sir Charles, however, was sitting on his horse, on the -outside of the group around the children, and when he -heard the alarm and saw the struggle, he immediately -galloped to the rear. He did not know who Jasto -was, but he saw that one man was contending with -four others, whom he perceived, by their appearance -and arms, to be members of the robber band. As he -rode, he put his hand on his long sword to draw it, but -he instantly saw that, if he struck at any one in that -twisting and writhing knot of men, he would be as likely -to kill the Count's follower as one of the robbers; and -so he dashed up, and seized Jasto by the collar with his -mailed hand. Then, reining in his horse vigorously, he -suddenly backed. The jerk he gave in this way was -so powerful that it almost pulled Jasto out of the hands -of his captors. He was so far released, indeed, that, -had the right hand of Sir Charles been free, he would -have been able to cut down the robbers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But as he still held Jasto in his iron grasp, and prepared -to back again, the robber captain, seeing that, in -a moment, his captive would be torn from him, and -infuriated by the idea that he would lose everything, -even the chance of some ransom-money from the -captain of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, drew from his belt a great, -heavy knife, almost as long as a sword and very broad, -and with this terrible weapon aimed a blow at Jasto's -head.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Traitor!" he cried. "If I can't take you, you can -take that!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>But Jasto did not take anything of the kind; for, at the -instant that the robber made the blow, two arrows from -the archers, who were coming up, and who saw that the -only chance of saving Jasto was a quick shot, struck the -robber captain in the side of the head, and the knife -dropped harmlessly by Jasto's side, while the robber fell -back dead. Instantly the other <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span> took to their -heels, and Sir Charles released the red and panting -Jasto.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Heigho!" cried the knight. "Surely I cannot mistake -that round face and those stout legs! This must -be Jasto; my old follower and man of learning! Why, -good letter writer, I knew not what had become of you, -and I have often missed you sorely."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Jasto recognized his old master, and, indeed, he had -recognized him as soon as he had seen him in Barran's -castle, but he had not wished to make himself known, -fearing that Sir Charles might interfere in some way -with his plan of demanding a reward for the return of -Louis. Now, he would have spoken, but he was too -much exhausted and out of breath to say a word. He -merely panted and bobbed his head, and tried to look -grateful for his deliverance.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No need of speaking now," said the knight, laughing. -"When the breath comes back into your body, I -will see you again, and hear your story. And, I doubt -not, I shall soon have need to call on you to use your -pen and ink for me. If we stay long in Paris, I surely -shall so need you."</p> - -<p class='c007'>But now orders were given to form into line and -move onward, and Sir Charles galloped up to his place -by Count Hugo. The order of marching was taken -up as before, and the party, leaving the dead and -wounded <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span> to be cared for by their companions, -who were doubtless hiding in the forest near by, -rode cautiously on until they cleared the woods, and -then they proceeded on their way as rapidly and comfortably -as possible. But few of the men-at-arms had -been wounded, and none seriously.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The two boys and Agnes were in high good spirits as -they galloped along. Agnes was proud of her father's -bravery and warlike deeds, and Raymond and his -brother were as excited and exultant as if they had won -a victory themselves. Louis would have ridden back to -see if his friend Jasto had been injured, but this was not -allowed. He was told that the man was safe and sound, -and had to be satisfied with that assurance.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As for Jasto himself, he rode silently among the -baggage men, having been given a horse captured from -the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span>.</p> - -<p class='c007'>For once in his life, he was thoroughly ashamed of -himself, and two things weighed upon his mind. In -the midst of his struggles with the robbers, and when -he had felt certain that they would overpower him and -take him back to Michol, by whom he would be cruelly -punished and perhaps slain, he had heard that shrill -young voice calling for help for Jasto.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And yet," he said to himself, "I am following that -boy about and keeping in his company, solely that I may, -some day, have the chance of claiming pay for freeing -him from the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, to which bad company I should -have gone back this day if it had not been for him. For -had he not called for help none would have come to me. -I owe him my freedom now, and as he is worth surely -twice as much as I am, I will charge his friends but half -the sum I had intended. And I shall think about the -other half. But a poor man must not let his gratitude -hinder his fortune. I shall think of that too.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But as for Sir Charles, who has saved my life to-day, -and who was ever of old a good master to me, I shall -never deceive him more. I shall either tell him boldly -that I can not write a letter any more than he can -himself, or I shall learn to read and write. And that last -is what I shall surely do, if I can find monk or clerk to -teach me and he ask not more pay than I have money."</p> - -<p class='c007'>With these comforting resolutions Jasto's face brightened -up, and raising his head, as if he felt like a man -again, he left the company of the baggage, and rode -forward among the men-at-arms.</p> - -<p class='c007'>That night our travelers rested in a village, and the -next day they came to the river Yonne, along the -banks of which their road lay for a great part of the -rest of their journey.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They passed through Sens, a large town, in which -there lived a bishop, to whom their errand might have -been made known had not there been reason to fear -that such an application might injure the cause of the -Countess more than it would benefit it, and then they -crossed the Seine and passed through Melun and several -small towns and villages; and, late in the afternoon of -the fourth day, they rode into Paris, with dusty clothes -and tired horses, but with hearts full of hope.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>IT must not be supposed that the officers of the -Inquisition and the monks of the monastery which, -as has been mentioned before, stood a few miles from -Viteau, were all this time ignorant of the fact that, -when the Countess of Viteau fled from her home, -she took refuge in the castle of the Count de -Barran.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was not many days before this was known at the -monastery. But the officers had returned to Toulouse -to report their failure to secure the person for whom -they had been sent; and the monk who was dispatched -with the information that the Countess had not fled -the country, as was at first supposed, but had taken -refuge within a day's ride of Viteau, had a long journey -to make to the south of France; while the party -which was immediately dispatched by the Inquisition -to the castle of Barran had a long journey to make -back to him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But it finally came, and it was a different party from -that which had been sent before. It was larger; it -contained many more armed men, and it was under -the control of a leader who would not give up the -pursuit of the Countess simply because he should fail -to find her in the first place in which he sought her.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About the time that the Count de Lannes and our -young friends entered Paris, the expedition from the -Inquisition at Toulouse reached the great gate of the -castle of Barran.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This visit threw the Count, and those of his household -who understood its import, into a state of -despair almost as great as if it had not been daily -feared and expected ever since the Countess had come -to the castle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Count did not know what to do. He had -thought the matter over and over, but had never been -able to make up his mind as to what his course would -be in case the officers should appear while the Countess -remained in his castle. He felt that he could not -give up this lady, the wife of his old brother-in-arms, -who had come to him for protection; but he could -not fight the company that was now approaching, for -such an act would have been considered the same -thing as fighting Christianity itself.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He was in a sad state of anxiety as he went to the -gate to meet, in person, these most unwelcome visitors; -and he wished many times, as he crossed the court-yard, -that he had yielded to his first impulse and had -insisted that the Countess should fly to England while -there was yet time.</p> - -<p class='c007'>All that the Count de Barran could do was to detain -the officers as long as possible at the gate, and to -endeavor to induce them to consent to a friendly -council before taking any steps to arrest the Countess. -If they would do this, he hoped to prevail upon them -to remain at the castle, with the lady really under -their watch and guard, until news should arrive from -Paris.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the good squire Bernard acted in a very different -way. He did not believe in parleying, nor in -councils. Ever since he had come to the castle he -had expected this visit, and he had always been ready -for it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In five minutes from the time that he had seen the -officials approaching the castle,—and his sharp eyes -had quickly told him who they were,—the Countess -and her women, the squire himself, and the men-at-arms -who had come with them from Viteau, were in -their saddles; and, leaving the castle by a lower gate, -were galloping along a forest road as fast as their -horses' legs would carry them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The leader of the party from the Inquisition would -not parley, and he would listen to no talk of councils. -He showed his credentials, and demanded instant -entrance; and as soon as he was inside the court-yard, -he posted some of his men at every gate.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If the men at the lower gate had put their ears to -the ground, they might have heard the thud of horses' -feet as the Countess and her party hurried away into -the depths of the forest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The main body of the officers then entered the -castle, and the leader demanded to be conducted to the -Countess of Viteau. The Count de Barran did not -accompany him and his men as they mounted the -stairs, but, downcast and wretched, he shut himself -in a lower room.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In a very short time, however, the sound of running -footsteps and a general noise and confusion brought -him quickly into the great hall, and there he learned -that the Countess was not in her apartments, and that -the Inquisitors were looking for her all over the castle. -He instantly imagined the truth, and a little inquiry -among his people showed him that he was right, and -that the Countess had been carried off by Bernard.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"A trusty and noble fellow!" said Barran to himself, -almost laughing with delight at this sudden -change in the state of affairs. "But what will he do? -So small a party, unprepared for a long journey, could -not get out of the country, and these people here, -as soon as they find that the Countess has really -gone, will make pursuit in every direction. And if -they overtake her it will be all the worse for the poor, -poor lady."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Barran was right. When the Inquisitors had made -a rapid but thorough search of the castle, and when -the angry leader had examined some of the servants -and had become convinced that the Countess had -again fled, almost from under the very hands of her -pursuers, he sent out parties of his horsemen on every -road leading from the castle, with orders to thoroughly -search the surrounding country, and to make all -possible inquiries of persons by whom the fugitives -might have been seen. The leader himself remained -at the castle, to receive reports and to send out fresh -horsemen in any direction which might seem necessary. -It was impossible that a lady like the Countess could -have the strength and endurance to ride so far that -his tough and sturdy men-at-arms could not overtake -her. And if she took refuge in any house, castle, or -cottage, he would be sure to find her.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The party of soldiers which left the lower gate of -the castle and took the road through the forest were -mounted on swift, strong horses, and the Countess and -her company were only a few miles ahead of them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The squire Bernard did not keep long upon the -road he had first taken. He knew that the officers -would probably pursue him this time, and he had seen -that their body was composed of many well-mounted -men. So he felt that he must bring into play, not -only the fleetness of his horses, but his knowledge of -the country, if he hoped to escape the soldiers who -would be sent after him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard did know the country very well. He had -been born in this part of Burgundy, and had, in youth -and manhood, thoroughly explored these forests, not -only after deer and other game, but in expeditions -with his master and Barran against parties of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> -and other thieves who at various times had been -giving trouble in the neighborhood.</p> - -<p class='c007'>About four miles from the castle Bernard turned -sharply to the left, and rode into what, in the rapidly -decreasing daylight, the Countess thought to be the -unbroken forest. But it was in reality a footway wide -enough for a horse and rider, and along this narrow -path, in single file, the party pursued its way almost -as rapidly as on the open road.</p> - -<p class='c007'>They had been riding northward; now they turned -to the west, and in a half hour or so they turned -again, and went southward, through a road which, -though overgrown and apparently disused, was open -and wide enough for most of its length to allow two -persons to ride abreast.</p> - -<div id='lol0160' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0160.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE FLIGHT OF THE COUNTESS.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>They went more slowly now, for it was quite dark; -but the squire led the way, and they kept steadily on -all night.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At daybreak they reached what seemed to be the -edge of the wood, and Bernard ordered a halt. Bidding -the rest of the company remain concealed -among the trees, he dismounted and cautiously made -his way out of the forest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Creeping along for a short distance into the open -country, he mounted a little hill and carefully surveyed -the surrounding fields and plains. Feeling -certain that none of their enemies were near at hand -in the flat country before them, Bernard went back -to the woods, got on his horse, and, turning to the -Countess, he said:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Now, my lady, we must make a rapid dash, and -in a quarter of an hour we shall be at our journey's -end."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Without a word the Countess—who had put herself -entirely into her faithful squire's care, and who had -found early in the ride that he wished to avoid -answering any questions in regard to their destination—followed -Bernard out of the forest, and the -whole party began a wild gallop across the fields.</p> - -<p class='c007'>For a few minutes they rode in silence, as they had -been riding for the greater part of the night, and then -the Countess suddenly called out:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Bernard! Oh, Bernard! Where are we going? -That is Viteau!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Yes," shouted back the squire. "That is Viteau, -and, by your leave, we are going there. For you, it -is the safest place in France."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>! The <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>!" cried the -Countess. "It is filled with those wicked men!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I hope it is yet filled with <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>," cried the -squire, still galloping on; "for it is those fellows who -will make it safe for you. Fear them not, fair lady. -They want only your money, and as long as they -have a good hope of that they will not harm you -nor yield you up to any claimant."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess answered not a word; but very pale, -and trembling a little, she rode on, and in a very -short time the party drew up before the great gate of -Viteau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Open!" cried Bernard, "open to the Countess of -Viteau!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>Receiving no immediate answer, Bernard shouted -again:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Open! Open quickly! It is the lady of this -chateau who asks admittance. She is pursued! Open -quickly!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>There was now heard inside a sound of running -and calling, and in a few minutes the head of Michol -appeared at the window in the gate. Perceiving that -his visitors were but three ladies and half a dozen -men, all looking very tired and anxious to enter, -and recognizing Bernard, whom he had seen several -times and with whose position in the household of -Viteau he was quite familiar, he concluded that he -could run no risk, and might do himself much good, -by admitting the little party; and he therefore ordered -the gate to be opened and bade the Countess ride in.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The moment the fugitives had entered the court, -and the gate had been closed behind them, Bernard -sprang from his horse exclaiming:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Now, at last, I can breathe at ease."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess, although a good deal frightened at -her peculiar situation, could not help smiling at this -speech, considering that they were surrounded by a -great crowd of armed men, known to have in their -number some of the most notorious robbers in the -country, and who were crowding into the court to see -the visitors, although keeping, by command of their -captain, at a respectful distance.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard now approached Michol, and with the -utmost frankness, concealing nothing, he told him all -about the troubles of the Countess and why she had -fled to his protection.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"As your object," said the squire, "is the payment -of the ransom, for which you have taken this chateau -as security, you will not wish to injure that lady by -whom you expect the money to be collected and -paid. And, if I mistake not, until the ransom is paid -to you, you will not allow that lady to be taken out -of your possession and keeping."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You are a shrewd man, and a knowing one," said -Michol, with a smile, "and have judged my temper -well. And yet," he said, lowering his voice, "you -must have terribly feared those Inquisitors, to bring -that lady here."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Fear them!" said the squire in a voice still lower -than the captain's. "Indeed did I fear them. Do -you know that they would begin her trial with the -torture?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>Even the rough bandit gave a little shudder as he -heard these words, and looked at the gentle lady -before him.</p> - -<div id='lol0166' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0166.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>MICHOL WELCOMES THE COUNTESS.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Advancing to her, and removing the steel cap he -wore, he said:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Fair lady, you are welcome, as far as I have -power to bid you welcome, to this chateau. Your -apartments have not been molested nor disturbed, and -you can take immediate possession of them, with your -attendants. And you may feel assured that here you -may rest in safety from all attacks of enemies of any -sort, unless they come in numbers sufficient to overcome -my men and carry these strong defenses. And -I promise you that when the matters of ransom shall -be settled between us, I and my men will march away -from your estates, leaving no damage nor injury -behind us, excepting your loss of what we have consumed -and used for our support and defense."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Impudent varlet!" said Bernard to himself. "Your -hungry rascals have fattened on the possessions of -the Countess, and yet you talk in a tone as large and -generous as if you gave to her what was your own."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Sir," said the Countess to Michol, "I accept your -offer of protection until I receive tidings of some sort -from my lord the King."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You shall certainly have it, fair dame," said -Michol. "My men and I will never stand and be -robbed, be the robber who he may."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess bowed her head, and, without having -heard all of this remark, rode up to the chateau and -entered with her party.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_4_0_7 c003'>AS soon as possible on the day after the arrival -of his party in Paris, the Count de Lannes made -arrangements for an interview between his young -ambassadors and the King.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The seneschal of the palace, to whom Count Hugo -was known, gave permission to Raymond, Louis, and -Agnes, with their proper attendants, to seek the young -King in the woods of Vincennes, where, on fine days, -he generally walked with some of his courtiers, after -the daily religious services which he always attended. -In after years, when he managed the affairs of his -kingdom without interference from Queen Blanche, -and managed them, too, in such a way as to win for -himself the reputation of being the most just and -honorable ruler that France or Europe had ever -known, Louis the Ninth used to hold regular audiences -in these beautiful woods, where those of his subjects -who desired to petition him or speak with him could -do so with very little ceremony. And even now the -young King generally saw the few persons who asked -audience of him in this place, which was already -becoming his favorite promenade.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis, at the time of our story, was about twenty-two -years old, but he had been married at nineteen, -and was crowned when he was but twelve. His -mother, who had been governing the country so long, -still continued to do so, and also governed her son and -his wife, as if they had been small children. She did -not even allow them to see each other, excepting at -such times as she thought fit.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This may have been all very well for the nation, -for Queen Blanche was a wise and energetic woman, -although very bigoted in regard to religious affairs, -but it must have greatly fretted the soul of the young -monarch, whose crown was like an expensive toy -given to a child, but put up on a high shelf, where -he might look at it and call it his own, but must -not touch it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Count de Lannes knew of all this, but he -thought it well that his young people should address -themselves to the King, who, being a young person -himself, and of a very kind disposition, would be apt -to sympathize with them and to take an interest in -their unusual mission. Not being much occupied -with state or other affairs, it might happen that he -would give his mind to this matter; and if he could -do nothing himself he might interest his mother, -who could do something.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It was a bright and pleasant day when Raymond, -Louis, and Agnes, followed by a lady and a page, -with Jasto a little farther behind, and Count Hugo -and Sir Charles bringing up the rear at quite a distance, -were conducted to the King, who was seated -under a large tree, with three or four of his noble -attendants standing around him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When the three children approached him, and bent -down on their knees before him, as they had been -told they must do, the King gave them a smile of -welcome, and bade them stand.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And now, my little friends," he said, "what is it -you would have of me?"</p> - -<div id='lol0172' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0172.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>AGNES MAKES A PLEA FOR THE MOTHER OF RAYMOND AND LOUIS.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Raymond was a straightforward, honest boy, not -backward to speak when he should do so, and it had -been arranged that he should be the spokesman. But -he had never seen a king, even a young one, and his -heart failed him. He looked at Louis, who, though -bold enough, could not think of anything but the -astounding fact, which had suddenly struck upon his -mind, that this king was not old enough to be of any -good to them. He looked as young as some of -the pages at the castle. The silence was a little -embarrassing, and both boys looked at Agnes. She -did not want to speak first, although she doubtless -expected to say something on the subject, but she -presently saw she would have to begin, and so, with -a little flush on her face, she addressed the King:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"May it please you, sire," she said, "we have -come to speak to you about the mother of these two -boys, who is the Countess of Viteau and is in great -trouble. We came to you because, as you are the -King of France, you can have the wicked business -stopped instantly, until some good persons can look -into it; and if we went to any of the bishops or the -people of the Church, they would take a long time -to think about it, and the poor lady might suffer -dreadfully before they would do a thing."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I should gladly help you, my fair little lady," -said the young King, with a smile; "but, on my -kingly honor, I can not imagine what you would have -me do. What is the wicked business, and what have -bishops to do with it? Bishops are lofty personages -for such young people as you to deal with."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"They are not so lofty as kings," remarked Louis, -as the thought came into his mind—although, -indeed, he was not impressed with the loftiness of -any king present.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You are right," said the King. "Some kings are -loftier than bishops. But come, one of you, explain -your errand, that I may know how a poor king can -be more expeditious than a great bishop."</p> - -<p class='c007'>As the ice was now broken, and as Raymond knew -that he could tell the story better than either of the -others, he began it, and laid the whole matter, very -clearly and fully, before the King, who listened to the -statement and to the petition for his interference with -much attention and interest.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"It is a sad, sad tale," he said, when he had heard -it all; "but I see not what action the King can take -in a matter which belongs entirely to the Church, and -is subject to the ecclesiastical laws which extend over -France and all Christian countries. In such things, -like my lowest subject, I am but an humble follower -of our holy fathers, who know what is good for our -souls."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But it is her body, sire," exclaimed Agnes. "Think -how she may suffer before they find out about her -soul! We are not afraid for her soul."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The young King smiled again, although he evidently -did not think it proper to smile about such subjects.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"My fair child," said he, putting his hand on Agnes's -head, "you seem to take this matter as greatly to -heart as if the lady was your own mother."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"My own mother is dead," said Agnes, "and I -fear that I ought to be glad of that, for she, too, was -a pious lady, and knew how to read; and all these -things might have been done to her had she lived -to see this day."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The King's face grew serious at this, and he was -silent for a few moments. But presently, turning to -Raymond, he said:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Then what you would have me do is to request -these proceedings to be stopped, until some learned -and pious man, with mind not prejudiced in this -affair, shall examine into your mother's belief, and -shall see if there be cause or need that she be tried -by the Inquisition?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That is all, good sire," said Raymond. "That is -all we ask."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I will lay this matter before my royal mother, -the Queen," said the King, "for she has far more -knowledge of such subjects, and far more influence -with our clergy, than I have, and I fear me not that -what you desire will be readily obtained. It is a fair -and reasonable request you make, and I am right well -pleased you came to me to make it. So be comforted, -my little friends. I will speak with the Queen this -very day in your behalf."</p> - -<p class='c007'>With this he rose, and with a smile and a little -wave of the hand dismissed his young petitioners. -They were about to step back, when Jasto, who had -been gradually getting nearer and nearer to the -central group, so that he had heard all that had been -said, pulled Louis by the end of his doublet, and -whispered in his ear:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Ask if you shall come again, or if you may go -home with the good news."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Then Louis advanced a little, and spoke up quickly, -asking the question.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Come to-morrow an hour earlier than this time," -said the King, who evidently was much interested in -the matter,—the more so, perhaps, because so little -kingly business was submitted to him,—"and you -shall hear exactly what will be done, and who shall -be sent to catechise the Countess." He then walked -away, and the children rejoined their elder companions.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When Sir Charles heard of the suggestion made -by Jasto, he slapped him on the shoulder and said -to him:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You were always a good fellow, Jasto, with -ideas suitable to the occasion, both to speak and to -write down with ink. Now I shall be able to see this -great city of Paris, which I have not visited for ten -long years."</p> - -<p class='c007'>And with minds relieved, and with the fresh and -eager curiosity of young people who had never seen -a city before, our three friends accompanied Sir -Charles on a sight-seeing tour through Paris. The -capital of France was nothing like so large and -wonderful as the Paris of to-day, but it contained, -among other public edifices, that great building, the -Louvre, which still stands, and which was then used, not -only as a residence for the King, but as a prison. There -were also beautiful bridges across the Seine, which -runs through the city; the streets were paved, and -there were shops; there were many people, some -going one way and some another—some attending to -their business, and some taking their ease, with their -families, in front of their houses; gayly dressed -knights were prancing through the streets on their -handsome horses; ladies were gazing from windows; -artisans were at work in their shops, and, altogether, -the sights and delights of the Paris of 1236 produced -upon these three children very much the same effect -that the Paris of 1883 would have produced upon -them had they lived in our day.</p> - -<p class='c007'>A little before the appointed time, the next day, -Raymond, Louis, and Agnes, accompanied as at the -previous interview, were in the woods of Vincennes, -and advanced to the spot where they were to meet -the King.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In about a quarter of an hour, the young monarch -made his appearance, walking quite rapidly, and -followed by several attendants. There was much -less ceremony observed in those days between royal -personages and their subjects than at present, and -the King walked straight up to our three friends -and spoke to them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am sorry," he said, "that I have not performed -for you all the good offices which you asked, and -which I should gladly have performed. But the Queen, -who understands these important matters better than -myself, assures me that it would be an action unbefitting -royalty to interfere in this emergency which you -have brought before me. It is a matter with which -the clergy and its appointed institutions have to do, -and with which the King can not meddle without -detriment to Christianity, and to the proper power -and influence of the Church. Whatever ought to -be done, in order that the Countess of Viteau shall -be justly treated in this matter, will, as I am earnestly -assured, be done. And with this," he continued, -after a moment's hesitation, "we ought all to be -satisfied; ought we not? It was to discover the -truth, and to uphold and support good Christians, -that the Inquisition was established, and it is not -fitting that the King or the nobility of France should -doubt or fear the justice of its actions and decisions."</p> - -<p class='c007'>At these words, Agnes burst into tears; Louis, -too, began to sob, and Raymond stood pale and -trembling. Count Hugo and Sir Charles, perceiving -that something unhappy had occurred, drew near their -young charges, while the courtiers about the King -exchanged looks of compassion, as they gazed upon -the sorrowful children.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"There is but one thing, then, to do," exclaimed Raymond, -half turning away. "We must fly to England."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What?" exclaimed the King; "to England! Fly? -What means that?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"In England," said Louis, his voice half-choked -with tears, "the King does not allow——"</p> - -<p class='c007'>At this point Raymond gave his brother such a -pull by the arm that he instantly stopped speaking, -to turn around and see what was the matter, and then -Raymond spoke:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"My Lord King," he said, "we must now make -our way with our mother to England, because there -we shall be safe from the power of the Inquisition. -It may be that its trials may be just and right, but -we have heard something of the horrible tortures that -its prisoners have to bear, to prove whether they -will tell the truth or not; and, while I live, my -mother, my own dear mother, shall never be dragged -from her home and be made to go through such a -trial. I would kill her first myself."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And so would I," cried Louis, "if Raymond were -dead!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh, boys!" exclaimed Agnes, imploringly, "do -not say such horrible things!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>The King, apparently, had not heard these latter -remarks. For a moment he seemed in troubled -thought, and then he said, half to himself:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Can it be that a noble lady, and a pious one, I -doubt not, must flee my dominions, to take refuge -with Henry of England, because, as it appears, she is -persecuted by enemies, and threatened with the rigors -of the Inquisition, which, whatever they be, may -perhaps well frighten the souls of a gentle dame and -these poor children!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"And they could not certainly save themselves by -flight, sire," said the courtiers, "for the Pope could -doubtless order them to be apprehended and remanded -to these shores."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Is there, then, no place to which we can fly?" -cried little Agnes. "For I am going, too. Father -and I will go."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The young King made no reply. He stood, silent -and pale. Then, stepping forward a little, his head -held very high, and his eyes sparkling, he said:</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Do not fly to any land. Leave not France. You -are as safe here as in any spot on earth. Go back to -your mother, my brave youth, and tell her that her -own King will protect her from needless molestation, -and will give that opportunity she asks for to show -her true faith and sound belief. I will desire, as a -favor to myself, that the Inquisition shall cease its -action against this lady until some wise and learned -members of our clergy, whom I will send to her to -inquire into this matter, shall give their fair and -well-considered opinion of it. And now," said he, -turning to his courtiers, his face flushed with youthful -pride, "I feel more like a king of France than I -ever felt before."</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER XV.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>THE leader of the officers of the Inquisition was -not long in discovering the retreat of the Countess. -He was greatly assisted by the monks of the monastery -near Viteau, who suspected, from what had been said -by some of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> who occasionally found it -necessary to go outside of the chateau court-yard, -that something of importance had occurred at Viteau. -By careful inquiries they soon found out that the -Countess was there, and reported the fact to the chief -officer at his headquarters at Barran's castle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Count, on the contrary, did not know where -the Countess of Viteau had gone. She and Bernard -had thought it best not to inform him of her place of -refuge, and Barran had not endeavored to discover -this place, deeming it unsafe for any one in the castle -to know where she was, so long as her pursuers were -with him. He knew by the actions of his unwelcome -visitors that she had not been captured, but he never -imagined that she was in her own chateau of Viteau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Early on the morning of the second day after that -on which Count Hugo and his party started on their -return from Paris, bearing the happy news that the -King had consented to interfere in behalf of the -Countess, and that one or two well-qualified persons -were, as soon as possible, to visit her at the castle -of Barran to give her an opportunity of properly -representing her case, the Inquisitors appeared at -Viteau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Viteau, although not exactly a castle, was, like all -the residences of the upper classes in those days, a -strongly defended place. It had a wall around the -court-yard, and its numerous towers and turrets and -little balconies were constructed to accommodate and -protect a large number of archers and cross-bow men.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Therefore it was that Robert de Comines, the -leader of the Inquisitorial party, thought it well to -have a strong body of men with him in case it became -necessary to force his way into the chateau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>First posting soldiers at every entrance to the -grounds, Comines marched to the great gate and -demanded admittance. Michol, who had received -notice that a large body of men was approaching, and -who felt quite sure that he knew who they were, -gave some orders to his under-officers and hastened -to the gate.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Who may you be?" said Michol from the window -in the gate, "and why come you here? These gates -open, now, to no visitors, friends or foes."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Comines did not see fit to state the object of his -visit, nor to exhibit his authority, and without answering -Michol's questions, he asked another.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Are you the captain of the robbers who have -seized upon this chateau?" he said.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I am the captain of the good and valiant <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, -who hold this chateau and its belongings as a warranty -for a just and righteous debt," answered Michol. -"Have you aught to say to me concerning the matter?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I have something to say to you," replied Comines, -"which you will do well to hear, and that speedily. -Open the gate and let me enter."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"If you wish to speak with me," answered Michol, -"I am ready to hear what you have to say. But you -need not enter, fair sir. I will come out to you."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No, no!" cried the other. "I must go in. Open -the gate!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That will I, gladly," said Michol, "but it must -be for me to go out and not for you to come in. This -is not my dwelling, nor are these my lands. I meet -my friends and foes in the forest and on the road."</p> - -<p class='c007'>At these words the gates were thrown open, and -Michol rushed out, followed by nearly all his men, -who had been closely massed behind him while he -spoke. The <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> were in such a large and solid -body that they completely filled the gateway and -forced back Comines and his men, who vainly endeavored -to maintain their ground before the gate.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Comines shouted and threatened, and his followers -manfully struggled with the robbers, who surged like -a great wave from the gate; but it was of no use. -Out came the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, and backward were forced -Comines's men, until all the robbers, excepting those -who were left to guard the other gates, and some -archers who were posted on certain of the towers, -had rushed into the road, and the gates had been -locked behind them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The sudden confusion had been so great that, at -first, the two leaders could not find each other. At -length they met in the middle of the road, and the -men of each party disengaged themselves from one -another as rapidly as possible, and gathered in two -confronting bodies, each behind its leader.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Here am I. What would you have?" said -Michol.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Thief and leader of thieves!" cried the enraged -Comines. "Do you suppose that I want you! You -shall feel the power of the Church in your own person -for this violence. Know that I am an officer of the -Holy Inquisition, with all due authority and warrant -to carry out my purpose, and that I come to apprehend -and take before our high tribunal the person of the -Countess of Viteau, who is behind those walls. Now -that you know my errand, stand back and let me -enter."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That will I not," said Michol, firmly. "Whatever -your errand and your authority, you come too -late. The Countess of Viteau is now my prisoner. -I hold her and this chateau as security for the payment -of ransom-money justly due me; and I will give her -up to no man until that ransom shall be paid. Whatever -warrant you may have, I know well that you -have none to take from me my prisoner."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Rascal!" cried Comines, "who would show a warrant -to a thief? Will you open that gate to me?"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"No," said Michol, "I will not."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Then take that for my authority!" said Comines, -drawing his sword as he spoke, and making a sudden -thrust at the robber leader.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Michol had no sword, but in his right hand he bore -a mace or club with a heavy steel or iron head. This -was a weapon generally used by knights on horseback, -but Michol was a tall, strong fellow, and he -carried it with ease. Stepping quickly aside as Comines -thrust at him, he swung his mace in the air, and -brought it down upon his adversary's head with such -rapidity and force that it knocked him senseless to -the ground.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This blow was followed, almost instantly, by a -general conflict. As none of Comines's men were -mounted, their horses having been left at the monastery, -and as they did not number half as many as the -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>,—who were, indeed, in much stronger force -than Comines and the monks had imagined,—the -fight was not a long one. The robbers soon overpowered -their opponents, killing some, causing others -to make a disorderly flight, and taking a number of -prisoners.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The latter were carefully robbed,—not an article -of value, not a weapon, nor piece of armor being left -on their persons,—and then they were set free to -carry away their wounded and dead comrades.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Michol sent a detachment of his men to attack the -soldiers who had been placed outside of the other -entrances to the chateau; and when these had been -routed and the battle-field in front of the great gate -had been cleared of enemies, dead and alive, the -robber captain entered the court-yard with his men, -and the gates were locked and barred behind him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Bernard, the squire, had been watching the combat -from a high tower.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I knew," he said to himself, when it was over, -"that this was the only place in France where the -Countess would be safe. For none but a pack of -thieves would have dared to fight those who came -to capture her."</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess was greatly agitated when she heard -of the affair, for she knew nothing of it until it was -over. She was glad and thankful that her pursuers -had been defeated in their object, but she thought it -was a terrible thing to have had an actual conflict -with them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Her good squire did his best to make matters look -as well as possible.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You must remember, my lady," said he, "that -the fight was not within our walls, and that none -of us took part in it. And, I trow, we shall not soon -see again those men from Toulouse; for the leader -of them has been grievously disabled, and it will be -many a day before he will again desire to carry off -anybody."</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>THE Countess of Viteau now became very anxious to -learn, as soon as possible, the result of her embassy -to the King, and she also wished her sons to know -where she was. She consulted with her squire, Bernard, -in regard to the matter; and they concluded that it -would be better, if the travelers brought bad news, -and the young King had refused to interfere in behalf -of the Countess, that Raymond and Louis should -know the place of her refuge before any of their -party could reach Barran's castle, and that they -should immediately join her, when, with them, she -should fly the country without delay or further consultation -with any one.</p> - -<p class='c007'>She had determined at last that, if she should be -obliged to leave her country, she would take her -boys with her, and let the Count de Barran and her -other friends do the best they could in regard to her -estates. She had money enough in her possession to -provide for the expenses of a journey to England, -but she did not consider, when making her plans, -that the captain of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> would require his -claims paid before he would let her go. Bernard -thought of this, but he said nothing and hoped for -the best.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Michol also was quite anxious to know what had -been done at Paris, for the news would influence in -a great degree the terms of his demands for ransom -money.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the day after the attack of Comines had been -repulsed, it was considered that Count de Lannes -and his party might be expected to be nearing the -end of their homeward journey, and it was determined -to send a page, accompanied by one of Michol's men, -to intercept the travelers and to convey a note to -Raymond from his mother.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The main road from Paris through Burgundy ran -within twelve or fifteen miles of Viteau, and Count -Hugo might therefore be met, while yet more than -half a day's journey from the castle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The page's companion knew all the roads and -by-ways of the surrounding country, and they reached -in good time the high road from Paris, but after -waiting there all day and making inquiries at various -cottages near by, they saw nothing and heard no news -of the Count and his company.</p> - -<p class='c007'>After dark they returned to Viteau, as they had -been told to do, for it was known that Count Hugo -would not travel by night, and before daylight the -next morning they set out again.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The long watch of the previous day had wearied -the restless soul of the robber, and he declared to the -page, as they rode along, that they would have another -day to wait upon the dusty highway, for he had been -to Paris and he knew how long it would take the -Count's party to go and return, and that they could -not be reasonably expected that day.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"See you that cottage down there in the little glade -below us?" he said to the page, a little after sunrise. -"There live an old woman and two louts, her sons. -They are poor creatures, but they make wine good -enough to sell; at least, a month or so ago, when I -and a half-dozen of my comrades stopped at their -cottage to eat and rest, that is what they told me they -did with it. We found their wine good to drink,—which -can not be said of all wine that is good enough -to sell,—and we drank many a full horn of it, and -what we did not drink we poured over her floor, so -that her house should smell of good cheer."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"That was a wasteful thing to do," said the page, -"and must have cost you a goodly sum."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Cost us!" laughed the robber. "How could it -cost us anything when we had no money? And -now, look you, we have more time than we shall -know what to do with, and I am going down there -for some wine to cheer us through the day. Ride -you slowly on, and I will overtake you before you -have gone half a mile."</p> - -<p class='c007'>So saying, the robber turned from the road, and -dashed down into the glade. Reaching the cottage, -he tied his horse by the door, and, entering, demanded -of the old woman, who was cooking something over -a little fire, that she should bring him some of her -good wine, and plenty of it, too, for he wanted some -to drink and some to carry away.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The old woman looked at him for a moment, and -then went out and brought a jug of wine and a -drinking-horn.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When the robber had sat down on a rough stool, -and had begun to drink, she went out for some wood -for her fire. But instead of picking up dry sticks, -she ran to a small field where her sons were working.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Come quickly!" she said. "One of the cowardly -thieves who drank and wasted our wine, a while ago, -and struck me in the face when I asked for pay, is in -the cottage now, drinking and robbing us again. -There were many of them then, and you could do -nothing. Now there is only one. Come quickly!"</p> - -<div id='lol0194' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/lol0194.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE ROBBER IN THE OLD WOMAN'S COTTAGE.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Without a word, the young men, still carrying the -heavy hoes they had been using, ran to the house, -and rushing into the room where the robber was still -seated on his stool, engaged in drinking his second -horn of wine, they attacked him with their hoes.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>coterel</i></span> sprang from his seat, and drew the -heavy sword which hung at his belt, but, in an instant, -it was knocked from his hand, and he was belabored -over the head and shoulders by the hoes of the angry -young peasants. If he had not worn an iron cap, -which was his only piece of armor, he probably would -have been killed. As it was, he was glad to plunge -out of the door and run for the woods. The two -young men pursued him, but he was a faster runner -than they, and his legs were not injured. So, wounded -and bruised, and very sorry that he had thought about -the old woman's wine, he left them behind, and disappeared -among the thick undergrowth of the neighboring -forest. His pursuers returned to the cottage -and set loose the robber's horse.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"The wicked thief shall not creep back," they -said, "to do us further injury, and then jump on his -horse and fly."</p> - -<p class='c007'>And they threw stones at the horse until he had -galloped up to the road and out of sight.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The page, who had been urged by his mistress to -lose no time in reaching the high road, for fear that -her sons might pass before he got there, rode on and -on, looking back continually for his companion, but -never stopping. Reaching a place where they had -made a short cut, the day before, he tried to find it, -got into the woods and lost his way. A wood-cutter -set him straight, but when he reached the Paris road, -it was long past noon, and he was dreadfully afraid -that Count de Lannes's party had gone by.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Inquiries of some peasants, who lived not far -from the road, made him almost sure that his fears -were correct, for they had noticed two companies of -horsemen go by, and they thought that there were -some young people with one of them. Still, he waited -and watched, and wondered why the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>coterel</i></span> did not -come, until nightfall, and then he set out to return to -Viteau. Without his robber companion,—whom, by -the way, he never saw again, for the fellow was -afraid to return to his captain, having lost his horse,—it -was quite impossible for him to find his way back -in the dark, and in less than an hour he was hopelessly -lost. Finding no wood-cutter, or any one else, -who could show him his way, he wandered about -until he and his horse were tired out, and then they -spent the rest of the night under a tree.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The page was quite right when he supposed that -Count Hugo's party had passed along the high road -before he reached it. The travelers had pressed on -vigorously during their homeward journey, and meeting -with no hindrances,—of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span>, or anything else,—they -rode into the gates of Barran's castle before -nightfall of the day on which the page had missed -them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As soon as they had entered the court-yard, the -two boys sprang from their horses and ran to the -great door of the castle. But here they were met -by the Count de Barran, who, with outstretched arms, -stopped them as they were hurrying to their mother's -apartments, and, as gently as he could, told them,—with -Agnes and her father, who had now come -up,—the story of the visit of the Inquisitors and the -flight of the Countess.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The poor boys were almost overcome by this entirely -unlooked-for and dreadful news. They had hurried -back, excited and happy with the good tidings they -were bringing their mother, only to find that she had -utterly disappeared, and no one could tell them -whether she was safe, or had fallen into the hands of -her persecutors. Louis burst into tears, and fell on -the neck of his brother, who folded him in his arms, -and, without a word, the two boys stumbled up the -stairs, and were seen no more that night.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Early the next morning, Raymond and Louis, -still with pale and tear-stained faces, but unable to -remain quiet any longer, came down to the stables, -and, ordering two horses to be saddled, mounted them, -and rode away to look for their mother.</p> - -<p class='c007'>If any of their elders had known of their intention, -they would not have been allowed to go. This they -well knew, and so they hurried away before any one but -the servants of the castle was awake. They felt that -they hated the Count de Barran for having let their -mother go away, without knowing where she could be -found or heard from, and they wished to have nothing -more to do with him. And they had come to the belief -that no one but themselves could do anything for their -mother now, and that they must ride the whole world -over until they had found her.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Each was armed with sword and dagger, and they -had some money with them to buy food. As to plans, -they had made only one, and that was to ride so far that -day that Barran would not be likely to find them and -bring them back; and then they would make inquiries, -and come to some decision as to which direction they -should go in their mournful search.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The sun was about two hours' high, and they had -ridden quite a long distance, when they saw coming -toward them on the road a boy upon a horse. In a -moment they recognized their mother's page, and he as -soon knew them. The three young fellows rushed -together, and began clamorously to ask questions. The -page being only one against two was soon obliged to -surrender in this question conflict, and to give answers -to his eager young masters.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When Raymond and Louis heard that their mother -was at Viteau, they asked nothing more, but giving a -shout of joy, turned their horses' heads toward their old -home, for they were on a road leading directly thereto, -which the page had at last found.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Onward and onward the three galloped, much to the -weariness of their poor horses, and some hours before -nightfall they reached Viteau, where they were readily -admitted by Michol, who gave Raymond and Louis even -a more eager welcome than that with which he had -opened the gates to their mother.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>NOW that he had not only the Countess of Viteau, -but her two sons, under his control and in his -power, Michol became very anxious to settle the matter -of the ransom-money which he intended to demand for -his prisoners, as he considered them.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He set one of his new men, who happened to be a -truer scribe than Jasto, at work to write a carefully-worded -paper, to be sent to Count de Barran, and in it -he stated the terms on which he would release the -Countess and her sons and retire, with his men, from -Viteau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess, now happy in the possession of her -sons, and having the good news from the King, was very -desirous to start immediately for the castle of the Count -de Barran, where she expected the priests from Paris -would soon arrive. She was greatly surprised and disappointed -when she found that Michol would not let her -go until the ransoms had been paid; and the two boys -were very angry, and wanted to go down and demand -that Michol should instantly order the gates to be -opened to them. But their mother restrained them. -They were now in the power of these robbers, and -they must be prudent.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Michol, having understood that the Countess was -not herself prepared to pay any money, had prudently -determined to transact his business with Barran alone. -He was very glad, however, to have her write a letter -requesting the Count to pay the ransoms demanded, -promising to return the money when she again took -charge of her estates and business affairs, and urging -him to use all possible haste in settling the matter with -the captain of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This letter, with the one from Michol, was sent to -the Count the day after the arrival of Raymond and -Louis at Viteau, and it gave the people at the castle -the first news of the whereabouts of the Countess, -and also relieved them from the new anxiety caused -by the departure of the boys, for whom search was at -that time being made.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But while these news gladdened the hearts and -relieved the minds of the Count de Barran and his -friends, the terms of Michol's letter vexed them exceedingly, -and threatened to embarrass them very much. -The wily robber knew that there were urgent reasons -why the Countess should, as soon as possible, be at -liberty to attend to private affairs, and therefore he -greatly increased the demands he had before determined -to make.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Not only did he require the payment of the amount -originally fixed as the ransom for Louis, but he asked -a very large sum for the release of the Countess; quite -as much for Raymond's ransom; a smaller sum for -Bernard; and a good price for his so-called services in -taking care of the chateau, and protecting its inmates.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Beside all this, he demanded that Jasto, the man -who had deserted him, should be delivered to him for -punishment.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Although Count de Barran was a rich nobleman, the -total amount named in this letter was far more money -than he had in his possession at the time; and far -more, too, than the Countess could afford to repay -him, if he had had it to send to Michol. Still, although -he was very much annoyed and provoked by the impudent -demands of the robber captain, he said that there -was nothing to be done but to accede to them; for the -Countess must be released, and that instantly. Not -only was it positively necessary for her to be at the -castle when the priests from Paris arrived (for it was not -at all likely that they would be willing to go to Viteau -and trust themselves among a gang of thieves), but he -was afraid that, if the terms of Michol were resisted, -or even disputed, he might be provoked to do some -injury to the Countess or her sons in order to hasten -the payment of the ransoms. Such conduct was not -uncommon among these thieves. For these reasons, -he would endeavor to raise the money and pay it, as -soon as possible.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Sir Charles was very indignant at that portion of the -letter relating to Jasto. He had been very glad to -regain his old servant, who had left him on account of -a quarrel with a squire, and who, according to his own -account, had been obliged to join the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> because -he could find nothing else to do; and he stoutly -declared that he would not reward Jasto's good action -in bringing Louis to his mother by delivering him to -the vengeance of the scoundrel, Michol.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As this determination would make it useless to send -the money to Viteau, if Michol insisted on the surrender -of Jasto, Barran sent a message, in great haste, to -the captain of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, to inquire if he would be -willing to take a ransom for Jasto, and also to ask if -he would release the Countess and her company on -the payment of half of the total sum demanded, and -be content to remain at Viteau until the rest should -be paid.</p> - -<p class='c007'>To this Michol sent a very short answer, in which -he declared that he would accept no terms for the -release of his prisoners but the delivery of Jasto and -the payment of the entire sum named in his letter.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The messengers who brought this answer also -brought the news of the fight with the Inquisition -people.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Such startling intelligence as this produced a great -effect upon the mind of Barran, as it showed him to -what length the robber captain was willing to go, in -order to secure the possession of his prisoners and the -payment of their ransoms; and he set out that very -day, accompanied by his chief seneschal and other -attendants, to visit some of his estates, and also some -small towns at no great distance, and there endeavor -to collect the money needed. The Jasto question, he -thought, must be settled as best it could be. His safety -must not interfere with that of the Countess.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As for Count Hugo, he would have nothing to do -with this business. He utterly disapproved of paying -the exorbitant sums demanded by Michol, or indeed any -money at all, for the release of a noble lady and her -sons, whom the rascals had no right whatever to hold -or to ask ransom for. If this money should be paid, -he said, it would show all the thieves and outlaws of -the country that the nobles of France were willing to -pay them enormous sums for any ladies and high-born -children that they might steal. Heretofore, they expected -vengeance if they attempted anything of the -kind, but now they would expect such deeds to make -them rich. To be sure, this case was a peculiar one; -but never, he declared, as a knight of Christendom, -would he submit to the vile exactions of a common -robber like Michol.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And little Agnes cried, and wandered about moaning, -and wished she was a man. What she would have -done if she had been a man she did not know, but -certainly she could do nothing as a little girl, or even -as a grown-up woman.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Jasto, when he was told what his old master had -said in regard to him, retired into a remote part of -the castle where he could not be easily found, and diligently -occupied his time with some writing materials -which he had brought from Paris.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I must e'en make haste and learn to be a true -scribe," he said to himself, "for if my master finds me -out, he may be only too willing to toss me into the -jaws of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>. So, hard will I work at this -alphabet and this little book of words, and keep a -sharp eye and ear open for any change in Sir Charles's -mind about his good man Jasto. It will be a doughty -man-at-arms and a vigilant who delivers me to Michol."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Not long after the Count de Barran had started on -his money-raising errand, Count Hugo set out on a -little journey to the monastery, a few miles from -Viteau, where the wounded Comines and other disabled -members of the Inquisitorial force were said to be -still lying. He wished to find out whether orders had -been received to cease attempts to arrest the Countess, -and also to discover the exact truth, as far as possible, -about the fight with the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> and the strength -of Michol's forces.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As he was going into what might prove a dangerous -neighborhood, he took with him a body of about -thirty-five horsemen, all completely clad in armor, of -which there were many suits in the castle, and all well -armed. Some of these men were his own retainers, -and others belonged to the retinue of Sir Charles, -who did not accompany his friend, as Count Hugo -thought it well that some knight should remain at -the castle, from which nearly all the visitors had -now departed.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When Count Hugo de Lannes reached the monastery, -he found that Comines was too much injured -to speak or think about the affair in which he had -been engaged, but he learned from the monks that -no recent message had arrived for Comines, and he -also heard how the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> had robbed him of his -clothes and armor, and had even taken, it was supposed, -all his papers of authority from the Inquisition.</p> - -<p class='c007'>From this information, Count Hugo felt sure that -the Countess need be under no fear of trouble from -the Inquisitors before the message to desist from further -action should reach them. Comines, although he had -excellent surgical and medical attention from the -monks, would not recover for some time; and none -of the other members of his party would be likely to -attempt to carry off a noble lady through a great part -of France, without being able to show any warrant -for their proceedings.</p> - -<p class='c007'>It had been late in the day when Count Hugo -arrived at the monastery, and it was quite dark when, -after his party had been furnished with a good supper -by the monks, he took leave of his entertainers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He did not take the straight road back to the castle, -but struck off toward Viteau. His men traveled -slowly by the light of the stars. Some time before -they reached the chateau, a halt was ordered by a -small wood; and there Count Hugo had a ladder -made.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Two straight young saplings, which were easily -selected by the men, whose eyes were now accustomed -to the dim light, were hewn down for the uprights of -the ladder, and slight notches were cut into them at -suitable distances for the rounds. These were made -of short, strong pieces of other saplings, quickly cut -into proper lengths, and were fastened to the uprights -by strong leathern thongs, of which one of the men -had brought a number tied to his saddle.</p> - -<p class='c007'>When this rude ladder was finished, one horseman -took it by one end, another took it by the other, and -the cavalcade proceeded.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Reaching Viteau,—which they did not approach by -the front, but on the southern side,—the horses were -tied at some distance from the court-yard, and left in -charge of several of the soldiers, while the other men, -carrying the ladder, quietly made their way to the -side-wall of the court. There had been a moat on -the outside of this wall, but after the wars were over, -and the Count de Viteau had died, this moat had been -allowed to go dry, and so Count Hugo and his men -were able to walk up to the wall and set their ladder -against it. The Count, with three or four followers, -then got over the wall, and when they were in the -court-yard they cautiously moved toward the great -gate. They encountered no one, for, although the -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> preserved moderately good discipline, they -did not keep a very strict guard at night, expecting no -attack from any quarter.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Arriving at the gate, the Count found there one -sentry fast asleep. This fellow was quickly seized and -bound, with a scarf over his mouth; and the gate -being opened, the remainder of the Count's force, -which had been ordered around to the front, was noiselessly -admitted.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The whole body then proceeded to the chateau, -where a dim light could be seen shining through a -wide crack at the door of the principal entrance. -This crack, which was between the edge of the -door and its casement, showed that one bolt was -the only fastening which the robbers had thought it -necessary to use in securing this entrance; and when -the Count had made himself certain of this fact, he -signaled to a tall man who carried a great battle-ax, -apparently brought for use in a case like this, and -motioned to him to use his weapon on the fastening -of the door.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Two tremendous blows, which resounded through -the house, shattered the bolt, and the door was -immediately dashed open.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Count Hugo, who had carefully made all his plans, -rushed in, with four men at his heels, and hurried -up the stair-way which led to the apartments of the -Countess and her sons. There were hanging-lamps -in the halls, and he knew the house quite well.</p> - -<p class='c007'>At the top of the stairs he encountered Bernard, -who slept outside of the door of his mistress's apartments, -and who, aroused by the noise and seeing -five armed men coming up the stairs, had sprung -to his feet and seized his sword, prepared to do his -best for the defense of the Countess and her boys. -But when Count Hugo raised his visor and spoke -to him, the brave but frightened squire immediately -recognized him as a friend.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Stay here!" cried the Count, "with these four -men. Guard the stair-way. Let no one go up or -down!" And, with these words, he dashed alone -down into the great hallway, where the sounds of -fighting and of calls to arms were heard, and threw -himself into the combat that was going on between -his men and a dozen or so of the robbers who had -rushed to the door-way when they heard the noise -of the ax.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But there was not much fighting inside the chateau. -Most of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> lodged in the lower part of -the house approached from the outside by various -doors, or in the outhouses and stables, and the court-yard -was now filled with these, hastily armed to repel -the intruders.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The robbers in the hallway were soon forced into -this court-yard, and into the midst of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> -Count Hugo, with the whole body of his followers, -now boldly plunged. Such attacks as these, made by -one or two knights with a few attendants against a -much greater force, were very popular in those days -of chivalry. For, whether the rash onslaught were -successful or not, the glory was the same. And if -the safety or honor of a lady happened to be concerned, -the unequal combat was the more attractive -to the knights. For a lady in those days was often -the cause of a knight's fiercest battles and the subject -of nearly all his songs. These combats, however, -were not always quite so unequal as they seemed, -for a knight clad from head to foot in armor was -more than equal to three or four soldiers not so -well guarded by steel plates and rings.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Count's men, as has been said before, each -wore a complete suit of armor, while the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, -although much better protected in this way than most -men of their class, were none of them completely -dressed in mail. This, with the darkness of the night -and the suddenness of the combat, gave the attacking -party great advantage.</p> - -<p class='c007'>As they had been instructed, the Count's men -scattered themselves among their opponents, shouting -the battle-cry of De Lannes, and striking furiously -right and left. This gave the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> the idea that -their enemies were in much greater number than they -really were,—and half a dozen of these mailed warriors -sometimes banding together and rushing through -the throng gave the idea of re-enforcements,—while -the horses outside, hearing the noises of clattering -steel and the cries of the combatants, neighed and -snorted, and their attendants shouted, making the -robbers suppose there were other forces beyond the -walls.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess and her sons were, of course, quickly -aroused by the din and turmoil below, and Raymond -and Louis rushed to the door, where they were met -by Bernard, who told them all he knew, and that was -that Count Hugo de Lannes had come to the chateau -with a lot of soldiers and was fighting the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess knew not what to think of this most -unexpected occurrence, and hastily dressed herself to -be ready for whatever might happen, while the two -boys, throwing on their clothes and seizing their -swords, endeavored to rush down-stairs and join in -the conflict. But this Bernard and the men on the -stair-way prevented, and the boys were obliged to be -contented with listening to the sounds of battle and -with seeing what little they could discern from the -upper windows.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Meanwhile, the struggle raged fiercely below, the -crowd of combatants surging from one side to the -other of the court. It was not long, however, before -the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> began to be demoralized by the fierce -and wild attacks of their mailed antagonists. Michol -had been killed, and there was no one to command -and rally them. Some of them, being hard pressed -and finding the great gate open, rushed wildly through -and were lost in the outer darkness; and before long -the main body of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, finding that many of -their companions were retreating through the gate, -were seized with a panic and a desire to fly while -they had the opportunity.</p> - -<div id='lol0214' class='figcenter id007'> -<img src='images/lol0214.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE ROBBERS IN THE HALLWAY WERE SOON FORCED INTO THE COURT-YARD.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>A great rush was therefore soon made for the gate, -out of which the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> pushed and crowded—even -carrying with them in their rush some of the -Count's men who were fighting in their midst.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This flight was precisely what Count Hugo had -wished to bring about. It would have been impossible -for him to conquer and subdue so many men -with his small number of followers. But he had -purposely left the great gate open, and hoped by -this sudden and determined onslaught in the dark -to throw the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> into disorder, and thus be -able to drive them from the chateau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Accordingly, he massed his men as quickly as -he could, and, making a circuit of the court, drove -before him every straggling <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>coterel</i></span>, and then, following -the retreating robbers through the gates, -pursued their straggling forces through bushes and -fields as far as they could be seen. Then calling -his men together, and ordering the horses to be -brought into the court-yard, Count Hugo hastened -back to the chateau, and the great gate was shut -and bolted behind them. With torch and lantern -every part of the chateau was now searched, and -none of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, excepting the killed and -wounded, having been found therein, the Count pronounced -his victory complete, and proceeded up the -stairs to the apartments of the Countess.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Day had now dawned, and the victorious Count -Hugo was received by the boys and their mother -with the greatest thankfulness and delight. Bernard -had already told them of the rout of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, -but they could not understand why the attack had -been made, when they had expected a peaceful -settlement of the affair by the payment of the -ransoms.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But when the Count explained the matter to them, -and told the Countess what an enormous sum the -robber captain had demanded for their release, and -told Louis that the surrender and probable execution -of Jasto was included in the terms, they did -not wonder when he went on to say that his mind -could not endure the idea of submitting to such -outrageous and unjustifiable demands from a common -thief of the roads, and that he had therefore resolved -to strike a bold stroke to give them their -liberty without payment or cowardly submission. It -is true that if this attack had failed the safety of the -Countess and her boys would have been endangered; -but as it did not fail, nothing was said upon this -point.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But the Count gave them little time for thanks -or wonderment. As soon as the necessary preparations -could be made and the signs of conflict -removed from the court-yard, he sent the Countess -and her party rejoicing on their way to the castle -of Barran. Although the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> had not actually -pillaged the chateau, it was impossible for such rude -and disorderly men to live there for any length of -time without causing a good deal of injury to the -house and surroundings, making Viteau an unfit place -for a lady to reside in.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Accordingly, with a few of the Count's men-at-arms -as an escort,—for no danger was now apprehended -on the road,—the Countess went to the -castle, not, as before, flying wildly from her pursuers, -but journeying pleasantly along in company -with her sons and attendants. Bernard, who now -no longer feared to leave his mistress, remained -behind to attend to the renovation and repairs of -the chateau, and to make it fit for the return of -its mistress. None of Count Hugo's men had been -killed and but few injured in the fight, for they -had protected themselves in the darkness from attack -from each other by continually shouting the battle-cry -of De Lannes, and the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> had not been -able to make much impression upon their heavy -armor.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Count now determined, with the main body -of his soldiers, to follow up the attack upon the -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>—to penetrate, if possible, to their camp, -and to destroy it entirely, and to drive the remnant -of this band of thieves from the forests about -Viteau.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Therefore he also remained at the chateau, which -he intended making his basis of operations in the -projected campaign of extermination against the remaining -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c002'>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> -</div> -<p class='drop-capa0_2_0_7 c003'>BARRAN was much delayed in his endeavors to -obtain the money necessary for the ransoms, -and he found a great deal of difficulty in collecting -it at all at such short notice. And wearied with -his unpleasant and annoying task, and with his mind -full of doubts and anxieties regarding the obstacles -and complications that might yet arise from the -probable refusal of Sir Charles to surrender Jasto, -he rode into his castle the day after the arrival of -the Countess.</p> - -<p class='c007'>His astonishment and delight upon finding the -Countess and her family safe within his walls, and -on hearing that Viteau was free from every robber -and in the possession of its rightful owner, and -that for all this no ransom or price of any kind -was to be paid, can well be imagined. And when -he and the Countess talked the matter over, it -became evident to the lady that to repay the Count -the sums he intended to advance—which payment -she most certainly would have made—would have -impoverished her for years.</p> - -<p class='c007'>All was now happiness and satisfaction at the castle, -but no one was happier or better satisfied than -the ex-robber, Jasto. Now that his enemy, Michol, -was dead, he felt that his own life was safe; for -it would be no longer necessary to sacrifice -him for the good of others. He sat down in a -corner of the court-yard, and thought the matter -over.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"As to that ransom," he said to himself, "which -was due me for returning the boy Louis to his sorrowing -mother, I must make some proper settlement about -it. Half of it I remitted when the boy saved me -from the hands of the bloody-minded <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>brabancois</i></span>, and -one-half of what was left I took off when these good -people gave back to me again my brave and noble -master, Sir Charles. And now that that great knight, -Sir Hugo de Lannes, has killed Michol and saved my -life, I do remit what is left, which is only a quarter of -the whole sum—after all, hardly equal to the benefit -received; for when a man's life is in danger as much -from his friends as his enemies, it is a very great benefit, -indeed, to have it saved. But, as I have no money -with which to make up the balance, I will e'en call -the account settled, and so it is."</p> - -<p class='c007'>As Jasto took so much credit to himself for this -generous determination, it was not to be expected he -should keep the matter secret, and he therefore communicated -it to Louis the first time he saw the boy, -giving him in careful detail his reasons for what he -had intended to do, and what he had done.</p> - -<p class='c007'>All this Louis very soon told to his mother; and -the Countess, remembering that she had promised -Jasto a reward, and feeling a little ashamed that it had -passed out of her mind, took the hint which Jasto -had undoubtedly intended to throw out, and sent him -a sum of money which, if used with ordinary economy, -would make it unnecessary for him ever again to wear -a suit of clothes resembling a map of a country with -the counties and departments marked out with borderlines -of red silk.</p> - -<p class='c007'>A week afterward, when Jasto left the castle with -Sir Charles, his education had progressed sufficiently -to enable him, with the assistance of his alphabet and -his little manuscript book, to write a short and simple -message so that it could be read. But he intended to -persevere in his studies until he had become as good -a scribe as his master formerly supposed him to be.</p> - -<p class='c007'>By the aid of some deserters from the band of -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, who came over to him when they found -out his object, Count Hugo soon discovered the encampment -of the robbers, which he utterly destroyed, -and then, following them to their several retreats, succeeded -in breaking up their organization and in driving -them from that part of the country.</p> - -<p class='c007'>He then returned to the castle of Barran, where he -was most warmly welcomed by everybody, and where -his little daughter Agnes was prouder of her brave -father than she had ever been before.</p> - -<p class='c007'>In a few weeks, the Count de Lannes found himself -obliged to return to his own castle, which lay several -days' journey to the west; and he and Agnes took -a regretful leave of all their dear friends, the little -girl shedding tears of heartfelt sorrow as she shook -her handkerchief for the last time to the boys and -their mother, who stood watching her departure from -the battlements.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I wonder," said Louis, "if we shall ever see them -again."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Nothing was said for a moment, and then his -mother remarked: "I think—that is, I have reason -to believe—that we shall soon see the Count and his -daughter again."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Why do you think so, mother?" asked Raymond.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess did not answer him immediately, and -just then they were joined by the Count de Barran, -and no more was said on the subject.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The Countess did not remain much longer at the -castle. As soon as the squire Bernard had restored -her chateau to its former orderly condition, she bade -good-bye to her kind entertainer and friend, and departed -with her boys for her own home.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Nothing had been heard of the priests who were -to be sent from Paris, but there might be many good -reasons for their delay; and arrangements were made -for a courier to be sent to Viteau as soon as they -should arrive at the castle. The Countess would -have been happy to have had her suspense in regard -to this unfortunate affair set permanently at rest, but -she knew the Inquisitorial party had gone back to -Toulouse as soon as their leader was able to accomplish -the journey; and having been assured of the -protection of her King, she felt safe from unjust -prosecution.</p> - -<p class='c007'>On the morning after their arrival at Viteau, Louis, -who was gladly wandering all about the house and -grounds, went into a little room on the lower floor -which was opposite the sleeping apartment of the -squire Bernard. Here, by the light of a small window -near the ceiling, he saw, upon a perch in one corner -of the room, a falcon, secured by a string which was -tied to its leg. Louis threw the door wide open in -order to get a better light, and narrowly examined -the bird.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Why, Bernard!" he cried to the squire, who just -then entered the room, "this looks exactly like the -falcon I took from this very perch the morning of -the day I first went to De Barran's castle."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Of course it looks like it," said the squire, "for -it is the same falcon."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"The same falcon!" exclaimed Louis. "And on -the same perch! Why, that is a miracle!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>"It is no miracle at all," answered Bernard; "it is -a very simple thing when you come to know all about -it. After the rascally <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> had been driven out -of this place, I found the falcon fastened to this perch, -and, by marks I had filed upon his beak, I knew him -for the same bird I had trained for your brother Raymond. -Of course, I was astonished; but, on thinking -the matter over, I supposed that this must be the bird -which the robbers had stolen from you, and that, -bringing it with them when they came here to live,—the -rascally scoundrels!—they naturally put it in this -room, which they could see had been planned and -fitted for the keeping of falcons. Looking into the -matter still further, I asked Orion, the chief falconer -of Count Hugo, who was one of the men he had -brought here with him, what kind of bird it was he -had given to you when the Count desired that you -should have one. Orion then told me it was a falcon -which had come to him only the day before. He had -been out hawking with his master, and was bringing -down to him by means of a lure a falcon that had -made an unsuccessful flight, when a strange hawk -made its appearance and also answered his call, and -came down to the lure. Knowing it to be a falcon -which had been lost by some hunter, and to be a -well-trained bird, he seized and hooded it and took it -home with him. The next day, when he was ordered -to give a bird to a boy, he much preferred to part -with this one, which he had just found, to giving -away any of the falcons he had reared and trained -himself. And this is the whole of the matter."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"You may think it a very simple story," said -Louis, "but I think it is wonderful. I am ever so -glad to have the falcon back again; and just think, -Bernard, if it had not been for my losing that bird, -ever so many troubles would not have happened, and -those wicked thieves would never have come to this -chateau!"</p> - -<p class='c007'>The squire agreed that this was true, but he -thought more than he said. He thought that if -Louis's kind heart had not been anxious to repair the -injury done his brother, he would not have been -captured by the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>; and that, if he had not -been captured by the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span>, no ransom would -have been demanded for him; and if no ransom had -been demanded, the robbers never would have seized -upon Viteau to enforce their claims; and if they had -not been at Viteau, there would have been no place -of refuge for the Countess when flying from the -Inquisitors; and that, instead of the happiness which -was now so general at the chateau, all might have -been misery. But he said nothing of this to -Louis, for he thought it not right that boys should -take to themselves too much credit for what they -might do.</p> - -<p class='c007'>But although contentment seemed to reign at -Viteau, this was not really the case. True, the chateau -had been completely renovated, and all traces -of its occupation by the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> had been removed; -but the Countess could not forget that it had been -the abode of thieves, and that bloody and violent -deeds had so lately taken place before its gates and -within its very court-yard. Then, too, she felt that -she must soon be separated from her boys. Raymond -must go to school at Paris, and Louis must return -to his duties as the page of the Count de Barran. -And this separation seemed a very different thing to -her now from what it did before these troubles came -upon her.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Louis was particularly discontented. "I do not -want to go back to Barran," he said to his brother. -"I do not believe he is a true knight."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"What!" cried Raymond, in surprise. "You -should not speak thus, Louis. No man has ever said -such a thing of the Count de Barran."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"I suppose not," said Louis, "but I am a boy, and -I can say it. He stood still and did nothing when -our mother had to fly for her life from his castle; -and he wanted to buy us away from the thieves, -instead of coming and taking us boldly, as a true -knight should. Count Hugo is a different kind of a -knight."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"But you should not forget," said Raymond, "how -kind and generous the Count de Barran has always -been to us. He worked in his own way for our -mother's good."</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Oh, yes," said Louis, "I shall not forget that; but -I do not want to go back to him."</p> - -<p class='c007'>Matters were in this condition when, one beautiful -day in autumn, Count Hugo came again to Viteau. -This time he did not clamber over the wall, but rode -in bravely at the front gate. He was not followed by -a body of steel-clad soldiers, but he brought his -daughter Agnes, with her attendants, and a company -of followers in gay and bright array. He did not -come to conquer, but he came because he had been -conquered. He came to ask the lovely Countess of -Viteau to be his wife.</p> - -<p class='c007'>A few weeks after this, when the days were becoming -clear and frosty, there was a wedding at Viteau. -There were many guests; there was feasting, and -music, and great joy. Little Agnes had now a mother, -and Raymond and Louis a brave and noble father.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And when the wedding was over, the Countess -rode away with her husband to his castle of De -Lannes, and her two boys went with her—Raymond, -because it was on his road to Paris, and Louis, -because he was to be taught to be a knight by Count -Hugo, who had admired and loved the boy almost -from the first time he had seen him.</p> - -<p class='c007'>The priests from Paris never came to catechise -the Countess. The truth was, that the young King -was not so much of a king as he had supposed -himself to be; for his mother, Queen Blanche, was -not willing that the crown should interfere in any -way with the operations of the Inquisition, and had -not consented that the priests should be sent to the -castle of Barran. But as it became known that the -King had taken an interest in the matter, and as it -was probably considered unwise to bring a religious -prosecution against the wife of the Count de Lannes,—who -was not only a powerful nobleman, but a warm -supporter of both Church and state, and who was -also known to have punished and exterminated the -band of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>cotereaux</i></span> who had attacked the -Inquisitorial party,—the matter was suffered to drop, and nothing more -was ever heard of it.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Viteau was left in charge of Bernard, who would -faithfully administer its affairs until Raymond should -be of age to come and take possession of the -establishment and the estates.</p> - -<p class='c007'>And now, as our friends have left the chateau, with -whose varying fortunes we have, for a time, been -interested, we will leave it also; and the story of -Viteau is told.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c005'> - <div>THE END.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>NEW AND STANDARD</span></div> - <div>BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE</div> - <div>CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><b>MR. SETON'S FAMOUS ANIMAL BOOKS</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c010' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><b>ANIMAL HEROES</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>With 200 or more Illustrations by the author. Square 12mo, -$1.75 <i>net</i> (postage extra).</p> - -<p class='c007'>This new book of animal stories is a companion volume in -appearance and spirit to "Wild Animals I Have Known" -and "Lives of the Hunted," but it differs from these two books -in a few important particulars. Domestic animals are the -heroes of four or five of the stories, and the end of most of these -heroes is not a tragic but a happy one. Written and illustrated -with all the charm and expert knowledge of Mr. Seton, these -more cheerful adventures give a happier and more vivid idea than -his former works of the life and adventures of the domestic -animals we know, as well as of the unknown wild ones.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c011'> - <div><b>WILD ANIMALS I HAVE KNOWN</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>With 200 Illustrations by the author. Square l2mo, $2.00.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"It should be put with Kipling and Hans Christian Andersen as a -classic."—<i>Athenæum.</i></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><b>LIVES OF THE HUNTED</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>With over 200 Illustrations by the author. Square 12mo, -$1.75 <i>net</i>. -"The breadth of his sympathy is the finest charm of his work."—<span class='sc'>Agnes -Repplier.</span></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><b>MONARCH, THE BIG BEAR OF TALLAC</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>With numerous Drawings by the author. 12mo, $1.25 <i>net</i> -(postage, 12 cents).</p> - -<p class='c007'>"A fascinating account of a bear family."—<i>Providence Journal.</i></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><b>THE TRAIL OF THE SANDHILL STAG</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>With numerous Drawings by the author. Square 12mo, $1.50.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c011'> - <div><b>A NEW BOOK BY MRS. BURNETT</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c010' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>A LITTLE PRINCESS</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Being the Whole Story of Sara Crewe now told for the -First Time. Handsomely illustrated in colors by <span class='sc'>Ethel -Franklin Betts</span>. Royal 8vo, $2.00.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Miss Betts's illustrations, title-page and cover-design, will give great -distinction and beauty to this story by Mrs. Burnett, and will make -"A Little Princess" the leading holiday-book of the season for young -readers. The last paragraph of Mrs. Burnett's preface explains the origin -and scope of her new book: "After the play of 'A Little Princess' was -produced in New York, and so many children went to see it and liked -Becky and Lottie and Melchisidec, my publishers asked me if I could not -write Sara's story over again and put into it all the things and people who -had been left out before, and so I have done it, and when I began I found -there were actually pages and pages of things which had happened that had -never been put even into the play, so in this new 'Little Princess' I have -put in all that I have been able to discover."</p> - -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><b>W. A. FRASER'S ANIMAL STORIES</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c010' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><b>SA-ZADA TALES</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Illustrated by <span class='sc'>Arthur Heming</span>. 12mo, $1.50 <i>net</i> (postage -extra).</p> - -<p class='c007'>Since Mr. Fraser wrote his Mooswa Tales no such good stories of -animals have been published as in this new book. The tales of life and -adventure that the Tiger, the Panther, the Elephant, the Birds, and other -Animals tell each other arouse a vivid and absorbing interest in the mind -of either child or grown-up and make them unforgetable. The forty-eight -full-page illustrations by Mr. Heming, whose pictures have placed him at -the head of illustrators of his class, will make this a sumptuous and extraordinarily -attractive book.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><b>MOOSWA</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>and Others of the Boundaries</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Illustrated by <span class='sc'>Arthur Heming</span>. Crown 8vo, $2.00.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Takes its place at once beside the Jungle Book. A group of stories, -capitally told, of the lives and doings of the animals."—<i>Boston Herald.</i></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><b>THE OUTCASTS</b></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Illustrated by <span class='sc'>Arthur Heming</span>. Crown 8vo, $1.25 <i>net</i>.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"It has the freedom and mystery of that great unknown country up -toward the Arctic circle, and the fascination of animal existence."—<i>Chicago -Tribune.</i></p> -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>BOOKS BY HOWARD PYLE</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>THE STORY OF THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ROUND TABLE</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Royal 8vo, $2.50 <i>net</i> (postage extra). With many full-page -drawings and decorations by the author.</p> - -<p class='c007'>Mr. Pyle's new book is similar in scope, style, scheme of illustrations, -etc., to his "Story of King Arthur and His Knights," which had a great -success two years ago. It deals with the adventures of Launcelot, -Tristram, Percival, and the other chiefs of the various groups in King -Arthur's court in a manner at once spirited and poetic. As in the -earlier volume, the illustrations, both the full pages and the -decorative embellishments, with the author's cover-design and -title-page, lift the book into the class of holiday art works.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Illustrated by the author. Royal 8vo, $2.50 <i>net</i>.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire. Illustrated by the author. Royal 8vo, $3.00.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>BOOKS ILLUSTRATED IN COLORS</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c010' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>With 12 full-page illustrations and ornamental cover in colors. -By <span class='sc'>Jessie Willcox Smith</span>. Royal 8vo, $2.50.</p> - -<p class='c007'>This is the most important work which Miss Smith has ever accomplished, -a work which she has long been anxious to do and into which she has put -the highest expression of her great and charming talent for drawing -children. There are twelve pages in color, and a colored title-page and -cover, and innumerable pen and ink drawings. No more perfect and -individual interpretation of Stevenson's inimitable verses could be -imagined.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>POEMS OF CHILDHOOD</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>By EUGENE FIELD</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>With 8 full-page illustrations and ornamental cover in colors. -By <span class='sc'>Maxfield Parrish</span>. Royal 8vo, $2.50.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"His poems of childhood have gone home, not only to the hearts of -children, but to the heart of the country as well, and he is one of the -few contributors to that genuine literature of childhood which expresses -ideas from the standpoint of a child."—<i>The Outlook.</i></p> -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>THE AMERICAN NATURAL HISTORY</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>By WILLIAM T. HORNADAY</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>343 illustrations, 427 pages. $3.50 <i>net</i> (carriage extra)</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Here are the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the -fishes of the deep, described in clear, simple language, with -no ambiguity, and pictured in many cases by photographs -from life, in others by drawings of well-known animal painters. -We suspect that Mr. Hornaday's book will be the popular -natural history for a long time to come."—<i>New York Sun.</i></p> -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>STORIES OF FAMOUS SEA FIGHTS</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c010' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>By JESSIE PEABODY FROTHINGHAM</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>SEA WOLVES OF SEVEN SHORES</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Illustrated. 12mo, $1.20 <i>net</i> (postage extra)</p> - -<p class='c007'>"Every boy that loves a pirate will want to read 'Sea -Wolves of Seven Shores,' by Jessie Peabody Frothingham, -for all the famous pirates will be found here, besides some -not so well known."—<i>New York Sun.</i></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>SEA FIGHTERS FROM DRAKE TO FARRAGUT</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Illustrated. 12mo, $1.20 <i>net</i>.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"Exactly the present to give a clever boy who has the -boy's love for a brave adventure and likes to read of gallant -actions on sea and land."—<i>The Congregationalist.</i></p> - -<hr class='c010' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>TWELVE NAVAL CAPTAINS</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Illustrated. 12mo, $1.25.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"A capital collection of yarns.... She tells the story -of her heroes in an admirable tone of impartiality."—<i>The Academy.</i></p> -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>THE BEARD BOOKS FOR BOYS</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>By DANIEL C. BEARD</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Each profusely Illustrated by the author. Square 8vo, $2.00.</p> - -<p class='c007'>"To make a good book for boys, and more particularly a good book about -boys' sports, one needs to be a good deal of a boy himself. Mr. Beard -has just this qualification. He gets the boy's point of view, the boy's -sense of fun, the boy's love for what is new, ingenious, or -queer."—<i>The Outlook.</i></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c011'> - <div><span class='large'>THE JACK OF ALL TRADES</span></div> - <div>Or, New Ideas for American Boys</div> - <div class='c000'><span class='large'>THE OUT-DOOR HANDY BOOK</span></div> - <div>For Playground, Field, and Forest</div> - <div class='c000'><span class='large'>THE AMERICAN BOY'S HANDY BOOK</span></div> - <div>Or, What to Do and How to Do It</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>THE BEARD BOOKS FOR GIRLS</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>By LINA and ADELIA B. BEARD</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>With many Illustrations.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>HANDICRAFT AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>8vo, $1.60 <i>net</i> (postage, 16 cents).</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"It teaches how to make serviceable and useful things of all kinds out -of every kind of material. It also tells how to play and how to make -things to play with. The girl who gets this book will not lack for -occupation and pleasure."—<i>Chicago Evening Post.</i></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>WHAT A GIRL CAN MAKE AND DO</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>New Ideas for Work and Play</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>8vo, $1.60 <i>net</i>.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"It would be a dull girl who could not make herself busy and happy -following its precepts.... A most inspiring book for an active-minded -girl."—<i>Chicago Record-Herald.</i></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>THE AMERICAN GIRL'S HANDY BOOK</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Or, How to Amuse Yourself and Others</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>8vo, $2.00.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"It is a treasure which, once possessed, no practical girl would -willingly part with. It is an invaluable aid in making a home -attractive, comfortable, and refined."—<span class='sc'>Grace Greenwood.</span></p> -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c007'><span class='xlarge'>MRS. BURNETT'S FAMOUS BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE</span></p> - -<p class='c007'>New and Uniform Edition. Illustrated by <span class='sc'>Reginald B. -Birch</span>. Five volumes, 12mo, each $1.25.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><span class='large'>LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"Another charming child to add to our gallery of juvenile heroes and -heroines."—<span class='sc'>Louisa M. Alcott.</span></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>TWO LITTLE PILGRIMS' PROGRESS</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>"A strong, sweet, true book."—<span class='sc'>Mrs. Margaret E. Sangster.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>SARAH CREWE</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's, and Little Saint Elizabeth, and Other Stories</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><span class='large'>GIOVANNI AND THE OTHER</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Children Who Have Made Stories</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>"Stories beautiful in tone and style and color."—<span class='sc'>Kate Douglas Wiggin.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><span class='large'>PICCINO</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>And Other Child Stories</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c010' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>TREASURE ISLAND</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Illustrated, 12mo, $1.25.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>"Still the best tale of pirates and hidden treasure in the world."—<i>New York Times Review.</i></div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>FOUR STORIES BY W. H. FROST</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Each attractively illustrated. 12mo, $1.50.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>"Mr. Frost has succeeded admirably in his attempt to make the doughty -knights and fair ladies of ancient days seem distinct and interesting to -the boys and girls of our own time."—<i>Public Opinion.</i></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>FAIRIES AND FOLK OF IRELAND</div> - <div>THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE</div> - <div>THE COURT OF KING ARTHUR</div> - <div>THE WAGNER STORY BOOK</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c009' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>Charles Scribner's Sons New York</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - <ul class='ul_1 c005'> - <li>Transcriber's Notes: - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected. - </li> - <li>Typographical errors were silently corrected. - </li> - <li>Inconsistant hyphenation was corrected (courtyard/court-yard, bright-red/bright red, - out-door/outdoor, high road/high-road, ransom money/ransom-money, hall-way/hallway, - robber-captain/robber captain) - </li> - </ul> - </li> - </ul> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of Viteau, by Frank Richard Stockton - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF VITEAU *** - -***** This file should be named 55532-h.htm or 55532-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/5/3/55532/ - -Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Barry Abrahamsen and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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