litic purpose to serve. It will be difficult for King Louis to
continue to aver so boldly that he knew' not of the Ladies of Croye's
having escaped from France, since they were escorted by one of his own
Life guard.--And whither, Sir Archer, was your retreat directed?"

"To Liege, my lord," answered the Scot, "where the ladies desired to be
placed under the protection of the late Bishop."

"The late Bishop!" exclaimed the Count of Crevecoeur, "is Louis of
Bourbon dead?--Not a word of his illness had reached the Duke.--Of what
did he die?"

"He sleeps in a bloody grave, my lord--that is, if his murderers have
conferred one on his remains."

"Murdered!" exclaimed Crevecoeur again.--"Holy Mother of Heaven!--young
man, it is impossible!"

"I saw the deed done with my own eyes, and many an act of horror
besides."

"Saw it! and made not in to help the good Prelate!" exclaimed the Count,
"or to raise the castle against his murderers?--Know'st thou not
that even to look on such a deed, without resisting it, is profane
sacrilege?"

"To be brief, my lord," said Durward, "ere this act was done, the castle
was stormed by the bloodthirsty William de la Marck, with help of the
insurgent Liegeois."

"I am struck with thunder," said Crevecoeur. "Liege in
insurrection!--Schonwaldt taken!--the Bishop murdered--Messenger of
sorrow, never did one man unfold such a packet of woes!--Speak--knew you
of this assault--of this insurrection--of this murder?--Speak--thou art
one of Louis's trusted Archers, and it is he that has aimed this painful
arrow.--Speak, or I will have thee torn with wild horses!"

"And if I am so torn, my lord, there can be nothing rent out of me,
that may not become a true Scottish gentleman: I know no more of these
villainies than you--was so far from being partaker in them, that I
would have withstood them to the uttermost, had my means in a twentieth
degree equalled my inclination. But what could I do?--they were
hundreds, and I but one. My only care was to rescue the Countess
Isabelle, and in that I was happily successful. Yet, had I been near
enough when the ruffian deed was so cruelly done on the old man, I
had saved his gray hairs, or I had avenged them, and as it was, my
abhorrence was spoken loud enough to prevent other horrors."

"I believe thee, youth," said the Count, "thou art neither of an age nor
nature to be trusted with such bloody work, however well fitted to be
the squire of dames. But alas