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the end of the street。 The crowd； seeing one or two of their number
knocked down by the horses and trampled on； and some others pressed
against the sides of the horses and nearly suffocated； took the wiser
course of retreating to their homes。
〃Make room for the king's justice！〃 cried Tristan。 〃What are you doing
here？ Do you want to be hanged too？ Go home； my friends； go home； your
dinner is getting burnt。 Hey！ my good woman； go and darn your
husband's stockings； get back to your needles。〃
Though such speeches showed that the grand provost was in good humor；
they made the most obstreperous fly as if he were flinging the plague
upon them。
At the moment when the first movement of the crowd took place； Georges
d'Estouteville was stupefied at seeing； at one of the windows of the
hotel de Poitiers； his dear Marie de Saint…Vallier； laughing with the
count。 She was mocking at HIM； poor devoted lover； who was going to
his death for her。 But perhaps she was only amused at seeing the caps
of the populace carried off on the spears of the archers。 We must be
twenty…three years old； rich in illusions； able to believe in a
woman's love； loving ourselves with all the forces of our being；
risking our life with delight on the faith of a kiss； and then
betrayed； to understand the fury of hatred and despair which took
possession of Georges d'Estouteville's heart at the sight of his
laughing mistress； from whom he received a cold and indifferent
glance。 No doubt she had been there some time； she was leaning from
the window with her arms on a cushion； she was at her ease； and her
old man seemed content。 He； too； was laughing； the cursed hunchback！ A
few tears escaped the eyes of the young man； but when Marie de Saint…
Vallier saw them she turned hastily away。 Those tears were suddenly
dried； however； when Georges beheld the red and white plumes of the
page who was devoted to his interests。 The count took no notice of
this servitor； who advanced to his mistress on tiptoe。 After the page
had said a few words in her ear； Marie returned to the window。
Escaping for a moment the perpetual watchfulness of her tyrant； she
cast one glance upon Georges that was brilliant with the fires of love
and hope； seeming to say：
〃I am watching over you。〃
Had she cried the words aloud； she could not have expressed their
meaning more plainly than in that glance； full of a thousand thoughts；
in which terror； hope； pleasure； the dangers of their mutual situation
all took part。 He had passed； in that one moment； from heaven to
martyrdom and from martyrdom back to heaven！ So then； the brave young
seigneur； light…hearted and content； walked gaily to his doom；
thinking that the horrors of the 〃question〃 were not sufficient
payment for the delights of his love。
As Tristan was about leaving the rue du Murier； his people stopped
him； seeing an officer of the Scottish guard riding towards them at
full speed。
〃What is it？〃 asked the provost。
〃Nothing that concerns you；〃 replied the officer； disdainfully。 〃The
king has sent me to fetch the Comte and Comtesse de Saint…Vallier；
whom he invites to dinner。〃
The grand provost had scarcely reached the embankment leading to
Plessis； when the count and his wife； both mounted； she on her white
mule； he on his horse； and followed by two pages； joined the archers；
in order to enter Plessis…lez…Tours in company。 All were moving
slowly。 Georges was on foot； between two guards on horseback； one of
whom held him still by the leathern thong。 Tristan； the count； and his
wife were naturally in advance； the criminal followed them。 Mingling
with the archers； the young page questioned them； speaking sometimes
to the prisoner； so that he adroitly managed to say to him in a low
voice：
〃I jumped the garden wall and took a letter to Plessis from madame to
the king。 She came near dying when she heard of the accusation against
you。 Take courage。 She is going now to speak to the king about you。〃
Love had already given strength and wiliness to the countess。 Her
laughter was part of the heroism which women display in the great
crises of life。
In spite of the singular fancy which possessed the author of 〃Quentin
Durward〃 to place the royal castle of Plessis…lez…Tours upon a height；
we must content ourselves by leaving it where it really was； namely on
low land； protected on either side by the Cher and the Loire； also by
the canal Sainte…Anne； so named by Louis XI。 in honor of his beloved
daughter； Madame de Beaujeu。 By uniting the two rivers between the
city of Tours and Plessis this canal not only served as a formidable
protection to the castle； but it offered a most precious road to
commerce。 On the side towards Brehemont； a vast and fertile plain； the
park was defended by a moat； the remains of which still show its
enormous breadth and depth。 At a period when the power of artillery
was still in embryo； the position of Plessis； long since chosen by
Louis XI。 for his favorite retreat； might be considered impregnable。
The castle； built of brick and stone； had nothing remarkable about it；
but it was surrounded by noble trees； and from its windows could be
seen； through vistas cut in the park （plexitium）； the finest points of
view in the world。 No rival mansion rose near this solitary castle；
standing in the very centre of the little plain reserved for the king
and guarded by four streams of water。
If we may believe tradition； Louis XI。 occupied the west wing； and
from his chamber he could see； at a glance the course of the Loire；
the opposite bank of the river； the pretty valley which the Croisille
waters； and part of the slopes of Saint…Cyr。 Also； from the windows
that opened on the courtyard； he saw the entrance to his fortress and
the embankment by which he had connected his favorite residence with
the city of Tours。 If Louis XI。 had bestowed upon the building of his
castle the luxury of architecture which Francois I。 displayed
afterwards at Chambord； the dwelling of the kings of France would ever
have remained in Touraine。 It is enough to see this splendid position
and its magical effects to be convinced of its superiority over the
sites of all other royal residences。
Louis XI。； now in the fifty…seventh year of his age； had scarcely more
than three years longer to live； already he felt the coming on of
death in the attacks of his mortal malady。 Delivered from his enemies；
on the point of increasing the territory of France by the possessions
of the Dukes of Burgundy through the marriage of the Dauphin with
Marguerite； heiress of Burgundy （brought about by means of Desquerdes；
commander of his troops in Flanders）； having established his authority
everywhere； and now meditating ameliorations in his kingdom of all
kinds； he saw time slipping past him rapidly with no further troubles
than those of old age。 Deceived by every one； even by the minions
about him； experience had intensified his na