His companion again smiled, and turning his back on the Castle, which, he observed, they had approached a little too nearly, he led the way again into the wood, by a more broad and beaten path than they had yet trodden. "This," he said, "leads us to the village of Plessis, as it is called, where you, as a stranger, will find reasonable and honest accommodation. About two miles onward lies the fine city of Tours, which gives name to this rich and beautiful earldom. But the village of Plessis, or Plessis of the Park, as it is sometimes called, from its vicinity to the royal residence, and the chase with which it is encircled, will yield you nearer, and as convenient hospitality."
"I thank you, kind master, for your information," said the Scot; "but my stay will be so short here, that if I fail not in a morsel of meat, and a drink of something better than water, my necessities in Plessis, be it of the park or the pool, will be amply satisfied."
"Nay," answered his companion, "I thought you had some friend to see in this quarter."
"And so I have – my mother's own brother," answered Durward; "and as pretty a man, before he left the braes of Angus, as ever planted brogue on heather."
"What is his name?" said the senior; "we will enquire him out for you; for it is not safe for you to go up to the Castle, where you might be taken for a spy."
"Now, by my father's hand!" said the youth, "I taken for a spy! – By Heaven, he shall brook cold iron that brands me with such a charge! – But for my uncle's name, I care not who knows it – it is Lesly. Lesly – an honest and noble name."
"And so it is, I doubt not," said the old man; "but there are three of the name in the Scottish Guard."
"My uncle's name is Ludovic Lesly," said the young man.
"Of the three Leslies," answered the merchant, "two are called Ludovic."
"They call my kinsman Ludovic with the Scar," said Quentin. – "Our family names are so common in a Scottish house, that where there is no land in the case, we always give a to-name."
"A nom de guerre, I suppose you to mean," answered his companion; "and the man you speak of, we, I think, call Le Balafré, from that scar on his face – a proper man and a good soldier. I wish I may be able to help you to an interview with him, for he belongs to a set of gentlemen whose duty is strict, and who do not often come out of garrison, unless in the immediate attendance on the King's person. – And now, young man, answer me one question. I will wager you are desirous to take service with your uncle in the Scottish Guard. It is a great thing, if you propose so; especially as you are very young, and some years' experience is necessary for the high office which you aim at."
"Perhaps I may have thought on some such thing," said Durward, carelessly; "but if I did, the fancy is off."
"How so, young man?" said the Frenchman, something sternly – "Do you speak thus of a charge which the most noble of your countrymen feel themselves emulous to be admitted to?"
"I wish them joy of it," said Quentin, composedly. – "To speak plain, I should have liked the service of the French King full well; only, dress me as fine, and feed me as high as you will, I love the open air better than being shut up in a cage or a swallow's nest yonder, as you call these same grated pepper-boxes. Besides," he added, in a lower voice, "to speak truth, I love not the Castle when the covin-tree[3] bears such acorns as I see yonder."
"I guess what you mean," said the Frenchman; "but speak yet more plainly."
"To speak more plainly, then," said the youth, "there grows a fair oak some flight-shot or so from yonder Castle – and on that oak hangs a man in a grey jerkin, such as this which I wear."
"Ay and indeed!" said the man of France – "Pasques-dieu! see what it is to have youthful eyes! Why, I did see something, but only took it for a raven among the branches. But the sight is no way strange, young man; when the summer fades into autumn, and moonlight nights are long, and roads become unsafe, you will see a cluster of ten, ay of twenty such acorns, hanging on that old doddered oak. – But what then? – they are so many banners displayed to scare knaves; and for each rogue that hangs there, an honest man may reckon that there is a thief, a traitor, a robber on the highway, a pilleur and oppressor of the people, the fewer in France. These, young man, are signs of our Sovereign's justice."
"I would have hung them farther from my palace, though, were I King Louis," said the youth. – "In my country, we hang up dead corbies where living corbies haunt, but not in our gardens or pigeon-houses. The very scent of the carrion – faugh – reached my nostrils at the distance where we stood."
"If you live to be an honest and loyal servant of your Prince, my good youth," answered the Frenchman, "you will know there is no perfume to match the scent of a dead traitor."
"I shall never wish to live till I lose the scent of my nostrils or the sight of my eyes," said the Scot. – "Show me a living traitor, and here are my hand and my weapon; but when life is out, hatred should not live longer. – But here, I fancy, we come upon the village; where I hope to show you that neither ducking nor disgust have spoiled mine appetite for my breakfast. So, my good friend, to the hostelrie, with all the speed you may. – Yet, ere I accept of your hospitality, let me know by what name to call you."
"Men call me Maitre Pierre," answered his companion. – "I deal in no titles. A plain man, that can live on mine own good – that is my designation."
"So be it, Maitre Pierre," said Quentin, "and I am happy my good chance has thrown us together; for I want a word of seasonable advice, and can be thankful for it."
While they spoke thus, the tower of the church, and a tall wooden crucifix, rising above the trees, showed that they were at the entrance of the village.
But Maitre Pierre, deflecting a little from the road, which had now joined an open and public causeway, said to his companion, that the inn to which he intended to introduce him stood somewhat secluded, and received only the better sort of travellers.
"If you mean those who travel with the better-filled purses," answered the Scot, "I am none of the number, and will rather stand my chance of your flayers on the highway, than of your flayers in the hostelrie!"
"Pasques-dieu!" said his guide, "how cautious your countrymen of Scotland are! An Englishman, now, throws himself headlong into a tavern, eats and drinks of the best, and never thinks of the reckoning till his belly is full. But you forget, Master Quentin, since Quentin is your name, you forget I owe you a breakfast for the wetting which my mistake procured you – It is the penance of my offence towards you."
"In truth," said the light-hearted young man, "I had forgot wetting, offence, and penance and all. I have walked my clothes dry, or nearly so, but I will not refuse your offer in kindness; for my dinner yesterday was a light one, and supper I had none. You seem an old and respectable burgess, and I see no reason why I should not accept your courtesy."
The Frenchman smiled aside, for he saw plainly that the youth, while he was probably half famished, had yet some difficulty to reconcile himself to the thoughts of feeding at a stranger's cost, and was endeavouring to subdue his inward pride by the reflection, that, in such slight obligations, the acceptor performed as complaisant a part as he by whom the courtesy was offered.
Note 3
The large tree in front of a Scottish castle, was sometimes called so. It is difficult to trace the derivation; but at that distance from the castle, the laird received guests òf rank, and thither he convoyed them on their departure.