Sir Squire,"
addressing Quentin, "reach me my wood knife--it has dropt from the
sheath beside the quarry there. Ride on, Dunois--I follow instantly."

Louis, whose lightest motions were often conducted like stratagems, thus
gained an opportunity to ask Quentin privately, "My bonny Scot, thou
hast an eye, I see. Canst thou tell me who helped the Cardinal to a
palfrey?--Some stranger, I should suppose; for, as I passed without
stopping, the courtiers would likely be in no hurry to do him such a
timely good turn."

"I saw those who aided his Eminence but an instant, Sire," said Quentin;
"it was only a hasty glance, for I had been unluckily thrown out, and
was riding fast to be in my place; but I think it was the Ambassador of
Burgundy and his people."

"Ha," said Louis. "Well, be it so. France will match them yet."

There was nothing more remarkable happened, and the King, with his
retinue, returned to the Castle.

CHAPTER X: THE SENTINEL

Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth?

THE TEMPEST

I was all ear,
And took in strains that might create a soul
Under the ribs of death.

COMUS

Quentin had hardly reached his little cabin, in order to make some
necessary changes in his dress, when his worthy relation required to
know the full particulars of all that had befallen him at the hunt.

The youth, who could not help thinking that his uncle's hand was
probably more powerful than his understanding, took care, in his reply,
to leave the King in full possession of the victory which he had seemed
desirous to appropriate. Le Balafre's reply was a boast of how much
better he himself would have behaved in the like circumstances, and it
was mixed with a gentle censure of his nephew's slackness in not making
in to the King's assistance, when he might be in imminent peril. The
youth had prudence, in answer, to abstain from all farther indication
of his own conduct, except that, according to the rules of woodcraft, he
held it ungentle to interfere with the game attacked by another hunter,
unless he was specially called upon for his assistance. The discussion
was scarcely ended, when occasion was afforded Quentin to congratulate
himself for observing some reserve towards his kinsman. A low tap at the
door announced a visitor--it was presently opened, and Oliver Dain, or
Mauvais, or Diable, for by all these names he was known, entered the
apartment.

This able but most un