The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-10

 banquetng hall, where De la Marck, with l a huge boar's skin over his shoulder and the grinning, ghastly head of the mon ster over his head, sat in the Bishops throne drinking to the victory with his wild men, while the purghers of Liege terrified now that they realized to what an ally they had delivered themselves, sat among his roaring soldiery, trembling and pale.
 As the Syndic and his party entered the Bishop of Liege was dragged in through another door and brought before the Wild Boar, who had drunk himself 1 into a rage. The prelate faced his enemy with undismayed, calm dignity. He drew himself up to his noble height and held his white head erect like the Prince that he was. With a clear, unfaltering voice he defed De la Marcl- and recounted his crimes to him, raised his bloody finger At that sign a butcher of Liege, in- structed beforehand, struck the Bishop dead with cleaver
 The men of Liege. rebelious as they were chemically, had not dreamed of so horrible a sacrilege as murdering their Bishop. They could not restrain outcries of cxecration. Immediately the voice of De la Marck outroared them: up, my boar's brood! Show these Flemish pork CTS your tusksi''
 Everyone of his followers started up at the command and seized citizen With one hand while the other fiourished dagger In that terrible instance Quentin Durward saw chance to turn the epi- sode to account. Luck had brought hln near Carl Eberson, whom he knew by re- pute as son of De la Marek and as the one creature in the world whom the mon ster loved. The Scot clutched the lad, held his dirk to the boys throat and cried: .sIs that the gamer?
 His voice rang through the hall. De la Marck yelled: Hold! Hoid It was but jestr'
 Quick to seize the advantage Durward stepped forward, dragging the lad and stood where all could see his Arohers apparel q am from King Louis or France" cried he, and at the words silence fell on the assemblage. am here to observe your proceedings ana l see that you conduct yourselves as heath ems rather than Christians. Charles of Burgundy will demand bloody reckon ing for this nights work, and If you wish assistance from France l counsel that you men of Liege return instantly To your own city. If there is any obstructop to your departure denounce those who oner if as foes to my master, Louis of France.
 William de la Marck's eyes grew red with rage, but he saw in the faces Of his own followers that which made even him hesitate They knew that there was no hope for them if Louis did not make good his secret promise to help. He permitted the Liegians to leave the castle without opposition, and before that dawn Quentin was riding with the countess toward Peronne to throw themselves on the mercy of the Duke of Burgundy, which was the only possible action In their emergency.
 The swift events of the past few days has now brought the two together so
 D1A n O world The division that had existed be- tween the almost royal rank of the count ess and the rank of the Scotchman had heen all but dissolved by the mutual dan ger in which they were then ridlng. The penniless condition of the youth, Whose only revenue lay in his sword, was no longer inferior to that of Isabelle, who eInew thai the least she could expect would be that her great estates would De forfeited under the feudal law If she per sisted in refusing to wed the Duke choice. as she was determined to do.
 Not that they spoke of love. Quentin was too chivalous and modest 10 presume on the attitude Of lsapeiie, wnieh .oiu him that he was not indifferent 10 her. They did not speak: but they thought, and each was subtly conscious of the oth- CTS reflections.
 Thus they entered Peronne to hear strange news. Just before their arrlval there had come a guest WHo was piop- ablv the least expected man that ever came to visit the Duke of Burgundy. I,ol,is xI. himself, induced partly by his deep statecraft, partly by his superstitious belief in omens and astrology, had thrust his head into the lions mouth, willing to r,sk all to placate the Duke at that criti-, cal time and confident in his ability to ca iole the headstrong but not very strong headed soldier.
 Despite the Burgundian rulers hatred of his eel-like cousin, despite the fact that he had sent him a challenge, he felt forced not only to be hospitable to his ,ndesired guest but to show him the re- sncct due from a vassal to a king, though he intermingled extremely plain speaking with his observance of courtly form.
 Louis, playing desperate game as he well knew, called to his aid all the great resources of mind at once profound and cunning He met Duke Charles on his own ground with coarse jest and laugh. He smoothed away deep hurts with a smile and promise. He bribed the Bur p,,ndian court under it's rulers nose and won himself adherents. In fact he would have departed with the honors of the game had 1t not been for that which he could not foresee.