Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-15
MAEUOT COCQUIEL;
o r, TRIAL BY BATTLE

OR, TRIAL BY BATTLE.
In the reign ofPhilippe the Good, Duke
of Burgundy and the Court of Hainault,
or, more precisely, in the year one thou
sand four hundred and f,rty-two, the
neighborhood of Tournay in France was
ravaged by a gang of cut-throats, who
contrived to set the gend 'armes of the
court completely at defiance.
The very evening of the day on which
the burgomaster, Van Robec, accompanied
by the magistrates and principal citizens,
left Tournay for the purpose of obtaining
an audience of the duke respecting these
outrages, a cavalier presented himself at
one of the gates of the town. and demand
ed entrance. According to the custom of
those troubled times. he alighted from
horseback, and followed to the guard
house the soldier whose duty it was to ar
rest his further progress. The new arri-
val was doubtless in possession of an eff
clent passport of some kind or other; for
he had scarcely entered, when the officer
of the guard motioned the gate-keeper to
allow him to proceed, wishing him good
night at the same time, and treating him
with the utmost Difference. 1t might be
eleven O'Clock at night, and the moon
illuminated the turrets of the houses and
the steeples of the town, whose vast shad-
ows stretched out at full length, and as
sumed thousand fantastic forms as thew
fell massively on the neighboring build
ings. All seemed buried in profound
slumber-at least, the silence which pre-
vailed gave good reason TO suppose SO.
Nevertheless, in one of the streets which
led from behind one Of the lozenged win
dows of the burgomaster Van Robec's
house. Its owner had departed to the
dukes camp with a heavy heart at the
thought of leavinghi daughter alone with
the aged governess. who would be power
less to preserve her from the assiduities
of the gallants who ceaselessly passed and
repassed before the house. 1t is true that
Jeanne was soon tomarry cavalier whom
her father had authorised to pay her court
which he never failed to do every even
ing-and that this cavalier, who was
known by the name of Philippe du Gar
din, kept sufficient watch over his bride
to intimidate those who were tempted to
approach her.
Philippe had been an hour in company
with Jeannse, when the cavalier, of whom
we have spoken, entered the street OBJ
serving ring fixed in the wall Of
neigaboring hostelry, he fastened his
horse to it, and moved towards the house
of Van Robec, before which he placed him
self under the shadow of the front screen
of MERGERS shop. There, with his eve
constantly fixed upon the illumincd win
dow, this man watched his prey. His
hand convulsively grasped the pummel
OF his sword, which he drew from the
scabbard whenever he perceived that a
slight degree of movement was taking
place within the house. ut last the
streetdoor opened; and Philippe, after
having left kiss upon the forehead of
his bride, proceeded homeward The
cavalier, quitting his retreat, advanced
towards him.
Halt, my gentleman" he said, Il
am not mistaken. You are Philippe du
Gardin, the betrothed husband of the
young girl from whom you have just
parted -
g Before replying, allow me to ask who
you are, and with what object you put
that question % said Philippe q do
not know you, l have never seen YOU:
consequently, | have no business with
you. Leave me-"
''Oh, no" returned the assailant. a
have not Travelled couple of leagues Oh
purpose to find you, to return without
calling you to account for your insults
"InSults!"
" Yes, my dainty primrose" replied
the cavalier g 1t was only yesterday
that | heard of your visits to the Dame
de Beautroid, and you perceive I have not
been slow in
1.-The Dame de Beaufroid ~ exclaimed
Philippe, with emotion.
Yes, young man. The Dame de
Beaufroid, with whom | am in love, and
whom | mean to keep myself, You un-
derstand 2"
Your mistress! !" shouted the youth,
drawing his sword. Your mistress.
1t is falsem
"a liar, am II" cried the cavalier
coolly, placing himself in the attitude of
defence before Philippe. PRAY, are your
visits to that lady lies?"
No" replied the youth.
"And those tender letters which have
discovered, and which have informed HE
that, while you are paying court to her,
you come here to marry borgecise 2"
"Those letters are true, but all the rest
is false"
"The lady is mine; and, as ] do not