The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-10

"ouentin Durward" is one of tn, most simply constructed novels of Sil around its central spring of action ani containing little to distract the atten, ton from the hero or from the on. great adventure, Quentin Durwsrd'i deed. almost the whole time of tn, novel Is compressed into -tne short pc riod required for this episode.
 Although the story Is thus more eas fly followed than in many others oI Scott's greatest novels. there Is nt lack of the research and insight int history that make all of scott's work so marvellous. Although Quentin Is thu of the book is Louis xI. A fascinating and, on the whole. an impartial ant true portrait of this strange King II left to the world here as an importan thor has taken large liberties in places to all of which he calls attention IT painstaking footnotes.
 The murder of Louis de Bourbon the Wild Boar of Ardennes. did not oc cur during the instruction of Liegt described in the story, although there out preclpItately. while Louis was wis. iting the Burgundian Duke, who seized on the royal person, as the story mar. rates. But the Bishop was not killed ter that the citizens of Liege betrayed him to the Wild Boar, who killed him with his own hand and exposed him naked in the market place. - dians or the French. ae was Sehead. ed in Utrecht by order of Max1milian Emperor of Austria, in 14s5, three years after the Bishops death.
 Gross of St. Andrew. nephew! ] would have known thee. boy, had ] met thee in the landes of Bordeaux marching there like a crane on a pair of stilts Unbuckie your Scottish news Give us the news of Glen Houlakln.''
 Alas! my dear uncle. Glen HoulaISin has been harried by the ogilvles. My mother, my father and my two uncles and my two elder brothers and seven of my kinsmen and the harper and the tasker and some six more of our people were killed in defending the castle, and there Is not a burning hearth or a standing stone in all Glen Houlakin.' ?
 Gross of St. Andrewl That Is what they call an onslaught. Ay these og- ilvies were ever but sorry neighbor to Glen Houlakin. An evil chance 1t was but fate of war. fate of war"
 With that the speaker took a deep draught of wine and shook his head with much solemnity.
 He was splendidly armed and dress ed with gorget. armpieces and gaunt- lets of the finest steel inlaid with siI- yer. while his shirt of mail was bright as frost. Over 1t fell a surcoat of rich blue velvet. open at the sides. with a St. Andrews Cross embroidered on both back and front In silver. Hose of mail and shoes of steel protected his neither limbs. A broad, strong poniard called the Mercy of God" hung by his right side. In one hand he held b huge sword.
 His face was no less martial than his dress and equally striking, though not on account of its beauty. A great and ghastiy scar made a seam that be- gan at his forehead, passed close to his right eye. laid bare the cheek bone and descended to the tip of the ear. IL had fastened on him the name Le Bal afre. by which title he was known far better than by his name of Ludovic L.esly.
 His apparel. and particularly his headdress, which was a steel-lined Scottish bonnet surmounted by a tuft of feathers. proclaimed him as one of the gentlemen of the Archers of the Scottish Body Guard who surrounded Louis xI of France and who were bet ter trusted by him than were any of his own French nobles.
 Sumptuously mounted. equipped and paid, ranking high in honor and birth and in constant and familiar attend ance on the monarch, these Scottish mercenaries, loyal and brave as Hons were of immense importance in the eyes of all France and even of all Flu rope Each was served by squire, a valet, a page and two yeomen; and the cadets of the best Scotch families were often sent to France to serve under some friend or relative already in the guard to wait for preferment.
 The young man with whom Le Bala- ire was speaking had come to France with such a purpose. Ills smart blue bonnet with a single sprig of holly and an eagles feather stamped him as one from Scotland. He was fair haired and blue eyed, strikingly handsome in face and person, with an air that ex- pressed at once lightness of heart. Kindness and determined resolution.
 Yet presently when his uncle shook a heavy gold chain that he wore ana told the lad lad that he, too, could win wealth and honor at the court of Louis, Quentin Durward hesltated and asked if 1t were not true that the French King kept but a mean state and won his victories more by policy than war like deeds
 You speak like a giddy child" said Le Balafre. Look you. If the King
 
 what Oliver can do better than any peer. is not France the gainer? But hark to the bell of St. Martin's must hasten back to my post. Fare we'll Make much of yourself and to- tomorrow morning present yourself at the drawbridge and ask for me Take heed that you step not off the beaten path in approaching the portal. There are such snares and snap-traps beset with scythe blades as may cost you a limb. Farewell!"
 The gigantic man-at-arms swung himself heavily to the back of his huge horse and galloped out of the inn yard forgetting to pay for his wine a shortness of memory habituaI to him, which the awed innkeeper did not pre- sume to collect Quentin watched him soberly as he spurred toward the dark and multiplied turrets of the immense castle of Plelssisles- Tours, resmark- able ven in those turbulent times for the extreme care with which it was defended and fortified.
 When his uncle disappeared from his view, Quentin strolled thought fully along the bank of the stream. AL though he had been taught to consider war as the only serious occupation of a gentleman. and had learned to en- dure stubbornly and retaliate fercely yet he had been taught a rude chival- ry and even courtesy to the foe. Tn addition, he had been favored with the unusual advantage of an education, and learned monks had instilled in him a keen sense of the duties owed to hu- manity-a sense that was rare in that fifteenth century except among a few of the most noble and distinguished knights.