Have you fooled me ?---Or is your science true, and do you truly report it? "Your Majesty will forgive me if I reply to you,' said Martius Galeotti," that time only-time and the event, will convince incredulity. It suits ill the place of confidence which I have held at the council-table of the renowned conqueror, Matthias Corvinus of Hungary-nay, in the cabinet of the Emperor himself-to reiterate assurances of that which I have advanced as true. If you will not believe me, I can but refer to the course of events. A day, or two days' patience, will prove or disprove what I have averred concerning the young Scot; and I will be contented to die on the wheel, and have my limbs broken joint by joint, if your Majesty have not advantage, and that in a most important degree, from the dauntless conduct of that Quentin Durward. But if I were to die under such tortures, it would be well your Majesty should seek a ghostly father; for, from the moment my last groan is drawn, only twenty-four hours will remain to you for confession and penitence." Louis continued to keep hold of Galeotti's robe as he led him towards the door, and pronounced as he opened it, in a loud voice, "To-morrow we'll talk more of this. Go in peace, my learned father-Go in peace--Go in peace!" He repeated these words three times; and, still afraid that the Provost-Marshal might mistake his purpose, he led the Astrologer into the hall, holding fast his robe, as if afraid that he should be torn from him, and put to death before his eyes. He did not unloose his grasp until he had not only repeated again and again the gracious phrase, "Go in peace," but even made a private signal to the Provost-Marshal, to enjoin a suspension of all proceedings against the person of the Astrologer. Thus did the possession of some secret information, joined to audacious courage and readiness of wit, save Galeotti from the most imminent danger; and thus was Louis, the most sagacious as well as the most vindictive amongst the monarchs of the period, cheated of his revenge by the influence of superstition upon a selfish temper, and a mind to which, from the consciousness of many crimes, the fear of death was peculiarly terrible. THE RECUSANT [From " Old Mortality" (1816), by In the year 1679 a wappen-schaw, or feudal assembly for the purpose of engaging in sports and military display, is held in Clydesdale, according to the law by which the Stuarts, after the Restoration, sought to annihilate the Puritan spirit. Such musters were very unpopular with the Covenanters, one of whom, Mause Headrigg, has kept her son, Cuddie, from attendance on his feudal mistress, Lady Margaret Bellenden, with the excuse that he is ill, but really on religious grounds. The goose-boy, placed in her retinue instead of the ploughman, Cuddie, has brought indignity upon Lady Bellenden and her grand-daughter, Edith, from his lack of horsemanship. She therefore comes to Mause's cottage to vent her anger upon the prime cause of the disgrace. THERE was an air of consciousness about old Mause, as she rose from her wicker chair in the chimney-nook, not with the cordial alertness of visage which used, on other occasions, to express the honour she felt in the visit of her lady, but with a certain solemnity and embarrassment, like an accused party on his first appearance in presence of his judge, before whom he is, nevertheless, determined to assert his innocence. Her arms were folded, her mouth primmed into an expression of respect, mingled with obstinacy, her whole mind apparently bent up to the solemn interview. With her best curtsey to the ground, and a mute motion of reverence, Mause pointed to the chair, which, on former occasions, Lady Margaret (for the good lady was somewhat of a gossip) had deigned to occupy for half an hour sometimes at a time, hearing the news of the county and of the borough. But at present her mistress was far too indignant for such condescension. She rejected the mute invitation with a haughty wave of her hand, and drawing herself up as she spoke, she uttered the following interrogatory in a tone calculated to overwhelm the culprit. "" 'Is it true, Mause, as I am informed by Harrison, Gudyill, and others of my people, that you hae taen it upon you, contrary to the faith you owe to God, and the king, and to me, your natural lady and mistress, to keep back your son frae the wappenschaw, held by the order of the sheriff, and to return his armour and abulyiements at a moment when it was impossible to find a suitable delegate in his stead, whereby the barony of Tillietudlem, baith in the person of its mistress and indwellers, has incurred sic a disgrace and dishonour as hasna befa'en the family since the days of Malcolm Canmore.? Mause's habitual respect for her mistress was extreme; she hesitated, and one or two short coughs expressed the difficulty she had in defending herself. I am sure my leddy-hem, hem !-I am sure I am sorry-very sorry that ony cause of displeasure should hae occurred-but my son's illness "" Dinna tell me of your son's illness, Mause! Had he been sincerely unweel, ye would hae been at the Tower by daylight to get something that wad do him gude; there are few ailments that I havena medical recipes for, and that ve ken fu' weel." O ay, my leddy! I am sure ye hae wrought wonderful cures; the last thing ye sent Cuddie e'en wrought like a charm." 66 Why, then, woman, did ye not apply to me, if there was ony real need?-but there was none, ye fause-hearted vassal that ye are !" "Your leddyship never ca'd me sic a word as that before. Ohon! that I suld live to be ca'd sae," she continued, bursting into tears, and me a born servant o' the house o' Tillietudlem! I am sure they belie baith Cuddie and me sair, if they said he wadna fight ower the boots in blude for your leddyship and Miss Edith, and the auld Tower-ay suld he, and I would rather see him buried beneath it, than he suld gie way-but thir ridings and wappenschawings, my leddy, I hae nae broo o' them ava. I can find nae warrant for them whatsoever." Nae warrant for them?" cried the high-born dame. "Do ye na ken, woman, that ye are bound to be liege vassals in all hunting, hosting, watching, and warding, when lawfully summoned thereto in my name ? Your service is not gratuitous. I trow ye hae land for it.-Ye're kindly tenants; hae a cothouse, a kale-yard, and a cow's grass on the common. -Few hae been brought farther ben, and ye grudge your son suld gie me a day's service in the field? "Na, my leddy-na, my leddy, it's no that," exclaimed Mause, greatly embarrassed, "but ane canna serve twa maisters; and, if the truth maun e'en come out, there's Ane abune whase commands I maun obey before your leddyship's. I am sure I would put neither king's nor kaisar's, nor ony earthly creature's, afore them.' How mean ye by that, ye auld fule woman ?— D'ye think that I order onything against conscience?" "I dinna pretend to say that, my leddy, in regard to your leddyship's conscience, which has been brought up, as it were, wi' prelatic principles; but ilka ane maun walk by the light o' their ain; and mine," said Mause, waxing bolder as the conference became animated, "tells me that I suld leave a'-cot, kale-yard, and cow's grass-and suffer a', rather than Nae broo o' them, No inclination for them. Kale, Cabbage. Ben, In. |