by her relatives in deep mourning like herself, who demanded justice upon the murderer.

The Queen promised that right should be done.

A herald, a secretary, and the Dauphin of Auvergne were sent off to the Duke of Burgundy, and found him surrounded by his army— that is to say, by those of his duchy and county of Burgundy, of Flanders, of Artois and the marches of Picardy, who had assembled in great numbers and noble apparel!

[NOTE. To him was also come his brother-in-law, the Count of Hainault, with many noble persons of his counties of Holland, Zealand, Ostrevant, and other places. There were knights and squires to the number of about twelve hundred basnets, and two thousand wellappointed men on foot. Also the Count of Mars and the Scots were with the host, which was furthermore furnished with a vast number of chariots containing provisions and munitions of war. The Princes of Hainault and Burgundy had assembled the army for the purpose of succouring Bishop John of Liège, who was besieged at Maestricht by the turbulent commons of the former city.]

III.

THE MESSENGER FROM THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY COMES TO THE CASTLE OF BORSELLEN.

WHEN the braying of the trumpet without and of the emulous animal within the court was concluded, old Hans had had time to unbar the gate and give admission to the personages who had signified their presence by sound of horn. First there came a little old man that was so nearly being a hunchback it was a wonder to think how he had escaped. He rode gallantly, his hand on his hip, looking at the porter and all the castle windows for heads to greet him; he was placed in a very large saddle on the back of a huge, raw-boned, white-nosed bay horse, with enormous legs and the hair hanging in ringlets at the fetlock. The mane and tail of the steed were decorated likewise with ribbons, the rider wore a dingy chaperon of red velvet, cocked on one side of his old withered yellow face; his hair was thin and grey, but parted down the middle accurately, and falling on his shoulders in a curler; the sleeves of his coat were scolloped and hung a yard from his elbows, and on his spindle legs were a pair of poulaine shoes that dangled at least two feet beyond the stirrup. He it was who had been playing the horn: it hung at his waist by a chain, and near it was a dagger and a purse; a sword hung by this warrior's side, and a mace was placed at his saddle.

Behind this gentleman came a lad on a little horse, bearing on his arm a helmet surmounted by a huge crest of a Saracen's head, almost of the natural size, and he was followed by a squire, a servant, a stout weather-beaten fellow, that was mounted on a tolerable hack, and was leading a mule which carried the knight's luggage and armour. The page had a bag, too, at his saddle, which contained, as afterwards was found, the knight's library and his harp.

Make way for my lord of Burgundy's ambassador!' cried the little knight in a cracked voice.

'Ha! It is old Castel-Sarrasin,' said John of Borsellen, who was by this time away from his cups, and staring from the hall window. Go down, Franck, and hold his stirrup, and make him welcome.'

'Welcome, welcome, Messire Tristan,' shouted out John from

the window; 'you come in good time, for the capons are smoking hot.'

Franck went out, cap in hand, to receive the visitor; but the knight examined him very fiercely, and haughtily folded his arms across his breast, said a few words, and, much to Jehan's surprise, his brother came blushing back into the hall again and said, Messire Tristan de Castel-Sarrasin greets Messire de Borsellen, and says that he comes to him with missives from his liege the Duke of Burgundy, which Messire Jehan of Borsellen should receive as befits.' So, growling and cursing, Jehan was obliged to leave the hot capon, and to come down to the court with half a dozen of his people, and to help Messire Tristan to alight; which done, the newcomer produced a letter from his bosom, that Messire Jehan received on one knee.

'Your poor servant Tristan of Castel-Sarrasin is the humblest knight of Christendom,' said the little warrior, and would never think of ceremonials with such a famous gentleman as Messire Jehan, his old friend; but, as ambassador from the Duke's Grace of Burgundy, I must claim all the honours that are done to him, and which I beg this worthy company to witness.'

'Well, Messire Tristan, they are rendered heartily; and now will it please you to enter and dine? Meanwhile, I shall send for a clerk to examine the letters,' said Jehan.

The knight made no ado, but accepted the invitation, bidding his groom look to Roderick and himself, and leaning upon the arms of Franck, as they went up the stairs: he pronounced Franck to be a gracious damoisel, and the lad looked with awe and wonder at the Prince's envoy with his strange fantastical figure and garb, and his strutting, dignified manner.

On entering the room he greeted the ladies with a solemn stare which made Isabeau giggle and her mother blush; and when, without further apology, he seated himself in Jehan's own chair, Franck looked as much stricken with wonder as if the end of the world was come; and as Jehan, far from resenting the insult or annihilating the little creature, actually brought him a silver basin and water to wash, Franck finished by thinking the new guest was one of the greatest men in the world. Instead of using the napkin that was offered to him, the little man waved his long lean fingers to and fro gracefully in the air, staring at the ladies all the while. Franck had heard from his brother that such was the mode at Court; though Jehan, more simple in his ways, either