burgs is
in arms against Clairette's fancy for those beggarly nursing Sisters; so
it drives him mad to hear her say she only succoured you for charity. He
thinks it a family disgrace, that can only be wiped off by marrying her
to you; and he would do it _bon gre, mal gre_, but that he waits to hear
what Burgundy will say. You have only to hold out, and she shall be
yours, if I hold her finger while you put on the ring. Only let us be
sure of Burgundy.'

This was not a very flattering way of obtaining a bride; but Malcolm was
convinced that when once married to Esclairmonde, his devotion would
atone to her for all that was unpleasant in obtaining her. At least, she
loved no one else; she had even allowed that she had once thought him
like-minded; she had formerly distinguished him; and nothing lay between
them but her scruples; and when they were overcome, by whatever means,
his idol would be his, to adore, to propitiate, to win by the most
intense devotion. All now must, however, turn upon the Duke of Burgundy,
without whose sanction Madame of Hainault would be afraid to act openly.

The Duke was expected at Paris for the Whitsuntide festival, which was to
be held with great state. The custom was for the Kings of France to
feast absolutely with all Paris, with interminable banquet tables, open
to the whole world without question. And to this Henry had conformed on
his first visit to the city; but he had learnt that the costly and lavish
feast had been of very little benefit to the really distressed, who had
been thrust aside by loud-voiced miscreants and sturdy beggars, such as
had no shame in driving the feeble back with blows, and receiving their
own share again and again.

By the advice of Dr. Bennet, his almoner, he was resolved that this
should not happen again; that the feast should be limited to the official
guests, and that the cost of the promiscuous banquet should be
distributed to those who really needed it, and who should be reached
through their parish priests and the friars known to be most charitable.

Dr. Bennet, as almoner, with the other chaplains, was to arrange the
matter; and horrible was the distress that he discovered in the city,
that had for five-and-twenty years been devastated by civil fury, as well
as by foreign wars; and famines, pestilences, murders, and tyrannies had
held sway, so as to form an absolute succession of reigns of terror. The
poor perished like flies in a frost; the