lish people bring the
punishment on their own heads, I am not inclined to throw down the
gauntlet in their cause, and must e'en do my duty and carry out the
orders of the master whose bread I eat," said Leslie.

Nigel did not reply, but he felt more than ever determined not to take
service on shore, however tempting the offers he might receive. Leslie
told him that of late years, throughout France, many hundreds, nay,
thousands of persons, after being broken on the wheel, or having had
their tongues cut out, or being tortured in some other way, had been
burnt at the stake for their religious opinions; but that,
notwithstanding, the Protestants increased in numbers, and that, for his
part, though himself a faithful son of the Church, he thought that a
wiser plan might have been adopted.

"For my part, I believe that had not the Pope and the priests and monks
interfered, and worked up some of our fanatic nobles and the ignorant
populace to persecute their fellow-countrymen, they might have lived
together on friendly terms; and, for the life of me, I cannot see why
people should not be allowed to worship God according to the dictates of
their consciences," added the shrewd Scotchman, with a shrug of his
shoulders.

Nigel, who had only heard rumours of such proceedings, felt his blood
boil with indignation, and instinctively touching the hilt of his sword,
he vowed that he was ready to do battle in the cause of justice and
humanity. His kinsman, who saw the act, smiled; and divining his
thoughts, said, "Let me advise you to avoid interference in quarrels not
your own, unless you receive a due recompense in pay, and then the less
you trouble yourself about the rights of the case the better. Come
along. The first thing we are to do is to look out for your steed.
Honest Jacques Cochut will supply you with one which will bear you from
one end of France to the other, and an attendant to bring the animal
back. It will be more economical than purchasing a horse, unless you
have a long journey to make."

Nigel accompanied his friend to the stables of Jacques Cochut, to whom
Leslie was well known. A strong and active steed was soon engaged, with
the promise that it should be ready at the door of the hostelry at an
early hour next morning.

Leslie, leaving Nigel at the Angel inn, returned to his duty at the
palace, while the latter, having ordered his supper, retired to his room
to think over the events of the day.

It