ur, who acted as the Marshal of the Duke's
household, "subjects of Burgundy, and must do our duty as such. Our
hopes and prayers, and our efforts, will not be wanting to bring about
peace and union between your Majesty and our liege Lord. Meantime, we
must obey his commands. These other lords and knights will be proud to
contribute to the convenience of the illustrious Duke of Orleans, of
the brave Dunois, and the stout Lord Crawford. I myself must be your
Majesty's chamberlain, and bring you to your apartments in other guise
than would be my desire, remembering the hospitality of Plessis. You
have only to choose your attendants, whom the Duke's commands limit to
six."

"Then," said the King, looking around him, and thinking for a moment--"I
desire the attendance of Oliver le Dain, of a private of my Life Guard
called Balafre, who may be unarmed if you will--of Tristan l'Hermite,
with two of his people--and my right royal and trusty philosopher,
Martius Galeotti."

"Your Majesty's will shall be complied with in all points," said the
Count de Crevecoeur. "Galeotti," he added, after a moment's inquiry,
"is, I understand, at present supping in some buxom company, but he
shall instantly be sent for; the others will obey your Majesty's command
upon the instant."

"Forward, then, to the new abode, which the hospitality of our cousin
provides for us," said the King. "We know it is strong, and have only to
hope it may be in a corresponding degree safe."

"Heard you the choice which King Louis has made of his attendants?" said
Le Glorieux to Count Crevecoeur apart, as they followed Louis from the
hall.

"Surely, my merry gossip," replied the Count. "What hast thou to object
to them?"

"Nothing, nothing--only they are a rare election!--A panderly barber--a
Scottish hired cutthroat--a chief hangman and his two assistants, and
a thieving charlatan.--I will along with you, Crevecoeur, and take
a lesson in the degrees of roguery, from observing your skill in
marshalling them. The devil himself could scarce have summoned such a
synod, or have been a better president amongst them."

Accordingly, the all licensed jester, seizing the Count's arm
familiarly, began to march along with him, while, under a strong guard,
yet forgetting no semblance of respect, he conducted the King towards
his new apartment.

[The historical facts attending this celebrated interview are expounded
and enlarged upon in this chapter. Agents sent by Lo