Chapter 31 Chapter Thirty-One

Young guard, hold fast your honesty, gentle girl, Keep your vows of love and let old men play their tricks, Let the gray-haired strategist make complicated lies, But be like the morning sky The sky unsullied by the mist absorbed by the rising sun, Keep your simplicity. "test" The day before the meeting of the two kings at Peron Castle, Oliver.Dan took advantage of this ill-fated and critical morning to act as a lively and competent agent in his master's active service.Through gifts and promises, he went about winning hearts and minds for Louis, so that when the Duke's temper flared up, those around him would be more concerned with calming him than adding fuel to it.Like a nocturnal wanderer he slipped from camp to camp, from house to house, making connections and making friends, but not with the unjust God of Wealth, as the apostle said.As it was said of another active political agent, his fingers were in everyone's palms and his mouth was in everyone's ears.For various reasons, some of which we have hinted at, he managed to gain the favor of many Burgundian nobles.These men either hoped to gain something from France, or feared to lose something from France; or they considered that, if Louis' power was too weakened, their duke would continue without hindrance to the tyrannical despotism so well suited to his nature.

If Oliver worried that the other party would not see him or listen to his lobbying, he used other servants of the king to work.It was in accordance with this arrangement that he managed, with the help of Earl Krevig, to have the Duke of Crawford, accompanied by Le Balafrey, see Quentin Crawford, who had been under some sort of house arrest since his arrival in Peron.Da Wilt.The reason for the meeting is to discuss private matters.It may be that Crevig, fearing some unseemly violence against Louis in his master's wrath, was willing to give Crawford an opportunity to hint to the young guard in favor of King Louis.

The meeting between the two fellow Scots was naturally very cordial and touching. You're a very good young man,' said Crawford, stroking Darwilt's head affectionately like an old grandfather to a grandson, and you're really lucky, as if you were born with a lucky hood . And it's all because he's achieved the status of a Scottish striker at such a young age.My good nephew, said Le Balafrey, I never used to be as public as you, because I did not leave school until I was twenty-five, and I ceased to be a page. Ludvik, you looked ugly as a page, like a hill, said the old captain of the guard, with a beard like a baker's shovel and a back like that hunchbacked old man named Wallace.

I'm afraid, said Quentin, looking down at the ground, that I won't enjoy this dignified title long, for I intend to resign from the guard. LeBalaffrey was almost stupefied with astonishment, and Crawford's old face showed displeasure.At last Le Balafrey found a word to say.Resign!Forsake your place in the Scottish Guards!This is really never dreamed of.Even if I want to be the governor of France, I can't bear to give up my current position! Come on, Ludwick, said Crawford, the young man knows how to play the wind and the rudder better than our old-fashioned ones.His travels must have furnished him with some valuable information against King Louis.He intends to turn to Burgundy and use this information to inform Duke Charles so that he can make money.

If so, said Le Baraffrey, I would kill him with my own hands, even if he were my own nephew! Good uncle, you must first ask me if I deserve this punishment?Quentin replied, As for you, Grand Duke Crawford, what I want to tell you is that I am not a person who tells stories and likes to inform.And neither interrogation nor torture could make me confess what I occasionally knew in King Louis' service against him because my oath of allegiance required me to keep it secret.But I no longer want to serve him, because, besides the danger of fighting the enemy, I must also suffer the danger of being ambushed by my friends.

My lord, if he hates ambushes, I reckon he's lost.Said the blunt Le Barafrey sadly to the Duke of Crawford, I have been ambushed thirty times myself, and I believe I am twice as many ambushed by others, for the king likes to fight Use ambush tactics. Ludwick, that's true, Duke Crawford replied, but shut up, I think I know this stuff better than you. My lord, by the Holy Mother, may you be so, Ludvik replied, but it really hurts me to think that my nephew should be afraid of an ambush. Young man, said Crawford, I can kind of guess what you mean.You've come across a trap on the king's route, and you think it's reasonable to say it was planned by the king, don't you?

I was in danger of falling into a trap while on the king's quest, but I was fortunate enough to avoid it.As for your Majesty's innocence in this matter, I just leave it to God and his own conscience to answer that question.He fed me when I was hungry, and took me in when I was wandering in a foreign land.I would never have charged him with a possibly unjust charge at a time of adversity, for that, after all, I had heard from the worst. My dear child, you are like my own!Crawford hugged him and said, The way you look at things really shows you are a Scot through and through!When you see your friend suffering, you don't think about the old bad things, and only think about his good.

Now that Lord Crawford has embraced my nephew, Ludwick.Leslie said, I'll hug him too but I want you to know that knowing the meaning of an ambush is as important to a soldier as a priest is saying a prayer. Shut up, Ludwick, said Crawford, you're an ass who doesn't understand the good news God has for you through this fine boy.Well, my good Quentin, tell me, does the king know of your bold and faithful resolution, which is in the way of Christ?For, poorly, in his present predicament he badly needed to know what he could count on for his support.If only he had brought the whole guard with him!However, we have to obey God's will, you think, does he know your intention?

I really have no way of knowing, Quentin replied, but I have no idea about the learned astrologer Matthias.Gariotti said, I am determined to conceal any circumstance that would cause the Duke of Burgundy to do harm to King Louis.As for the concrete facts of my suspicions, I will not even tell you (forgive me), let alone the philosopher. ha!Very good!No wonder, said Crawford, that Oliver told me that Gagliotti predicted with great certainty the attitude you would take.I am glad that it turned out that he was not based on some astrology, but on more reliable facts. He will prophesy!Le Balafrey laughed and said that the astrology never told him, honest Ludwik.Leslie used to help his mistress spend the gold he gave her!

Shut up, Ludvik, said the captain, you're a rough man!If you don't respect me, the white-haired old man, because I'm a looser myself, then you have to respect this innocent young man.Let's stop talking about this nonsense. You can say what you like, Ludvik.Leslie replied, but, to be honest, our visionary Saunders, the cobbler of Glen-Hurakin,Subregio, as a prophet, is worth two Gallotis or Galliotti (or whatever he calls it).This man prophesied that all of my sister's children would one day die.And he made this prophecy exactly on the day her youngest son was born.This refers to the doll Quentin.He will surely die one day too, to fulfill the true sin of this prophecy, especially since their entire family is dead.Sanders also prophesied to me one day that I would make my fortune through marriage.Of course, when the time comes, there will always be marriage; although it has not yet become a fact, although when and how, I can't guess, because I don't want to marry myself, and Quentin is still young.Additionally, Sanders predicted

Say no more, good Ludvik, said the Grand Duke Crawford, I must interrupt you.It seems that your prophecy is irrelevant.You and I must leave immediately.Pray to the Holy Mother, may your nephew be firm in his determination, because if one word is careless at the moment, it will cause trouble that even the entire Paris Congress cannot remedy.My dear boy, I bless you.Don't be too busy thinking about breaking away from our guard.You know, there will be many battles to be fought soon, and they will be fought openly, not secretly. Good nephew, I also wish you well, Ludvik.said Leslie, since you have satisfied our most noble captain of the guard, I should be satisfied too. Wait a minute, my lord, said Quentin, pulling the Grand Duke Crawford aside from his uncle, and I must say to you that there is one more man in this world who has passed from me Learned some circumstances which are at present strictly confidential and vital to the safety of King Louis.As the king's guard, I am bound by his favor and relief to keep his secrecy, but she may not think that I have such obligations and constraints. a woman!Crawford replied, If a woman knows the secret, then, God forbid, we've hit a dead end again! My lord, please don't think so, Davelt replied, please use your relationship with Earl Krevig to ask him to allow me to see Chroyer.Miss Isabel was the one who held the secret I knew.I believe I can persuade her to keep as close a secrecy as I do on matters which might excite the duke against King Louis. The old captain of the guard pondered for a long time.He looked up at the ceiling, then down at the ground, then shook his head again, and finally said: To be honest, there's something in it that really doesn't make sense to me.To and Chloe.Countess Isabel wants to meet a lady of her birth, blood, and fortune!And you, a Scottish wild doll, are so sure of convincing her?Young friends, either you are overconfident, or you are good at using your time while traveling.But, by St. Andrew's Cross, I'll lobby Krevig for you.He does fear that the Duke of Charles's irritation with the king will be carried to the point of recklessness, and I think he may grant your request.But, in good conscience, what a ridiculous request! After saying that, the old Grand Duke shrugged his shoulders and walked out.Ludvik who followed him.Leslie imitated the Superior's expression; though he did not know the reason for Crawford's astonishment, he tried to look as mysterious and dignified as he did. Crawford returned a few minutes later without his entourage, Le Baraffrey.The old man looked very happy.He laughed so much that it distorted his stern face; he shook his head as if he couldn't help dissenting from something he thought was quite absurd.My fellow countryman, said he, you are not bad, you never lose a beauty to cowardice!Krevig reluctantly agreed to your request as if he had drunk a glass of vinegar.He swears to me, by all the saints of Burgundy, that if it were not for the honor of kings and the peace of kingdoms, you would never see Isabel's footprints in the ground again.If he hadn't got a wife of his own, and she was very pretty, I thought he was going to compete for the lady by fighting.Perhaps he was thinking of his nephew Count Stephen.Find a Countess!Can't you just set your goals a little lower?You do it.You can only see her for a short time, but I think you know how to make the most of this short time. To be honest, I can't blame you for your arrogance. I just feel that things are funny in good faith! Quentin was annoyed and embarrassed at the frank speculations made by the old captain of the guard, and annoyed to see that all those who had passed thought his love absurd.His forehead was flushed, and he silently followed Grand Duke Crawford to the Ursuline convent where the countess was.Met Count Krevig in the drawing room. Merry boy, said Krevig sternly, it seems that you will not be reconciled to seeing the beautiful companion of your romantic travels again? Yes, my lord, Quentin replied firmly, and besides, I must see her alone. That's not right, said Lord Krevig, Lord Crawford, I beg your judgment.This young lady is the daughter of my old friend and comrade-in-arms, and heir to the wealthiest estate in Burgundy.She actually confessed something to me, what should I say?Anyway, she's a big fool, and you samurai are a smug bum.In a word, they cannot be allowed to meet alone. I didn't say a word to the lady in your presence, Quentin said happily, although I don't know the heights of the sky and the earth, what you just told me is beyond my imagination. That's the truth, my friend, said Crawford, what you said was careless.Since you asked me to judge, my opinion is that this strong iron bar that runs across the living room can be used.You can rest assured that the big deal is letting them babble over the fence!Man, isn't the fate of a king, plus the lives of thousands of ordinary people, worth the chance of two people whispering in each other's ears for a minute? As he spoke, he dragged Krevig out.The count followed him with great reluctance, turning his head repeatedly to cast angry glances at the young guard as he left the drawing room. Miss Isabel was presently on the other side of the fence.Seeing Quentin alone in the reception room, she immediately stopped and looked down at the ground for about half a minute.Why should I be ungrateful because of other people's random suspicions?She said, My friend, my protector, I may almost call you, for with so many dangers around me, my only true and sure friend! As she spoke, she stretched her hand through the iron bars, letting him grasp it.He kissed her hand wildly, tears streaming down it.She just said: Quentin, if we ever meet again, I won't let you do such a foolish thing. Recalling that Quentin had protected her from so many dangers, and indeed he was her only faithful and ardent protector, I think my dear readers, including some countesses and heir ladies, would forgive The act of degrading her. At last the countess withdrew her hand, took a step back from the bars, and asked Dawiert with embarrassment what help he wanted from her.The old Scotch lord who came to see me with my uncle Crevig just now said to me that you are in trouble and would like me to do you a favor, if it be a reasonable request, she said, as long as poor Isabel is in Anything that can be agreed without compromising obligations and honor is not a problem.Of course you can't expect too much from someone with very limited abilities like me.ah!Don't be so rash, don't say anything, she added, looking timidly around, don't say anything that will hurt us if we hear it! Don't worry, noble lady, said Quentin sadly, in a place like this, I can't possibly forget the distance that fate has placed between us, to condemn you to that haughty kinsman.Although you are the person I most sincerely admire, I also know that I am not as rich and powerful as they are, but I am not necessarily as noble as them.Let things be a thing of the past like dreams in the night!But though it is a dream, it will take the place of reality and remain in my heart forever. do not talk!do not talk!Isabelle whispered, for your sake and mine, stop talking about such things.You better tell me: what do you want me to do? Forgive someone, Quentin replied, someone who has turned against you for selfish purposes. I think I have forgiven all my enemies, replied Isabel, O Dawilt!With your courage and composure, what dreadful situations have I been through under your protection!The bloody massacre in that hall, the good bishop, until yesterday I knew more or less some of the horrors that I didn't see with my own eyes although I was there Don't think of it any more, said Quentin; he saw the blush that had just come on her face when they talked quickly turn to a death-like paleness, and you should always look ahead, like men on a perilous path, Don't look back.Hear me, if you would have made known King Louis the insidious and cunning politician, that would have done you all justice; but if you now accuse him of encouraging your flight, or even plotting to get you into Delamark would have killed or deposed the king, or at least would have made the ongoing war between France and Burgundy very cruel. As long as it can be avoided, these disasters will never be caused because of me.Countess Isabel said, what's more, even though revenge was once a strong desire in my heart, as long as you ask, I will give up this idea.Shall I rather remember King Louis's hatred for me than your invaluable help to me?But what should I do?If I were called before my lord, the Duke of Burgundy, I must either keep silent, or tell the truth.The former means contempt for the duke; and as for lying, I think you do not wish me to. Of course, Darwilt said, but you can limit your testimony about King Louis to what you know for sure to be true.When you refer to something rumored by others, no matter how credible, you can only call it a rumor; and never give yourself as a witness to something that you believe in, but you can't personally prove it to be true.The civil and military courts of Burgundy would not, of course, refuse to give to a king the justice which would have been given to the humblest trial in Scotland.Unless there is sufficient and direct evidence of his guilt, they will have to acquit him.You should know that anything you do not know for sure can only be confirmed through other circumstantial evidence, not rumors you have heard. I see what you mean.Countess Isabel said. I want to make my point clearer.Quentin said, and he went on to give several examples to explain.But at this moment the big bell of the monastery suddenly rang. This is the signal for us to break up forever!The countess said, Darwilt, don't forget me, I will never forget you and your loyal help She couldn't go on any more, and just held out her hand again.He kissed it again and again.I don't know what's going on: when she tried her best to retract her hand, she took a step forward and pressed against the iron fence tightly.Feeling encouraged, Quentin kissed her on the lips goodbye.The young lady didn't blame him, maybe time didn't allow it.Craig and Crawford, though unable to hear what they were saying, had been hiding to watch their movements.At this moment, both of them rushed in.The former was furious, while the latter laughed loudly while dragging him. go back to your room!go back to your room!the Count called to Isabel.Hearing this cry, the young lady put down her veil and hurried back.I think you'll have to be locked up in a cell and given you bread and water to live on.And you ignorant gentleman, I think, when the interests of the king and the country are no longer intermingled with your kind, you will always taste the punishment for your daring, if you dare to put your beggar eyes do not talk!do not talk!Enough is enough, it's time to collect it!Said the old Grand Duke, Quentin, I order you not to answer back, and go back to your place at once to Mr. Earl Krevig, who has no reason to be so slighted by you.Now that he is gone, I must say, he is Quentin.Dawilt was as noble as a king, but not as rich, as the Spaniards say.He was of high birth, like myself, and I am the patriarch of our family.Come on, buddy!Don't talk about punishment to us. My lord, my lord, said Krevig impatiently, these foreign mercenaries are notoriously arrogant.Since you are their leader, you should condemn them, not encourage them. My lord, answered Crawford, I have commanded my guard for fifty years, and I have never needed a Frenchman or a Burgundian to teach me.As long as I have my command, I intend to continue to do so, by your care. Well, well, my lord, said Krevig, I did not mean to offend your dignity.Your nobility and advanced age entitle you to a little tantrum.As for these two young people, I would also like to let go of the past.But I have to be careful not to let them meet again. This kind of thing has nothing to do with the salvation of your soul, Krevig, it is best not to worry about it, the old Grand Duke said with a smile, as the saying goes, it is difficult to stop the meeting of two mountains, not to mention life, love, and two Can a living person with legs command two legs to walk?Crevig, what an emotional kiss!I think it's a powerful omen. You're trying to make me lose my temper again, said Krevig, but I don't want you to take advantage of me.listen!The bell rang, calling us to the castle. It was going to be a dreadful gathering, the consequences of which God alone foreknowledges. I can foretell the end, said the old Grand Duke of Scotch, that if force be used against the king, he will not fall alone, and the thing will not be unvenged, even if surrounded by enemies, and his friends outnumbered. .I regret that, because of his categorical order, I could not take measures in advance to meet such an outcome. Grand Duke Crawford, said the Vicar of Burgundy, to forewarn against such a disaster is sure to bring about it.Obey His Majesty's orders, don't get angry rashly to give people an excuse to use force, and you will find that today will be smoother than you guess at the moment.