 her own exclusive ear the sweet sounds
which she created. There came, perhaps, a little feeling of personal vanity to
mingle with these consolatory reflections. If, as he shrewdly suspected, there
was a beautiful dark-tressed damsel inhabitant of the one turret, he could not
but be conscious that a handsome, young, roving, bright-locked gallant, a
cavalier of fortune, was the tenant of the other; and romances, those prudent
instructors, had taught his youth, that if damsels were shy, they were yet
neither void of interest nor of curiosity in their neighbour's affairs.
    Whilst Quentin was engaged in these sage reflections, a sort of attendant or
chamberlain of the inn informed him that a cavalier desired to speak with him
below.
 

                                 Chapter Fifth

                                The Man-at-Arms.

 Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
 Seeking the bubble reputation
 Even in the cannon's mouth.
                                                                 As You Like It.
 
The cavalier who awaited Quentin Durward's descent into the apartment where he
had breakfasted, was one of those of whom Louis XI. had long since said that
they held in their hands the fortune of France, as to them were intrusted the
direct custody and protection of the royal person.
    Charles the Sixth had instituted this celebrated body, the Archers, as they
were called, of the Scottish Body-guard, with better reason than can generally
be alleged for establishing round the throne a guard of foreign and mercenary
troops. The divisions which tore from his side more than half of France,
together with the wavering and uncertain faith of the nobility who yet
acknowledged his cause, rendered it impolitic and unsafe to commit his personal
safety to their keeping. The Scottish nation was the hereditary enemy of the
English, and the ancient, and, as it seemed, the natural allies of France. They
were poor, courageous, faithful - their ranks were sure to be supplied from the
superabundant population of their own country, than which none in Europe sent
forth more or bolder adventurers. Their high claims of descent, too, gave them a
good title to approach the person of a monarch more closely than other troops,
while the comparative smallness of their numbers prevented the possibility of
their mutinying, and becoming masters where they ought to be servants.
    On the other hand, the French monarchs made it their policy to conciliate
the affections of this select band of foreigners, by allowing them honorary
privileges and ample pay, which last most of them disposed of with military
profusion in supporting their supposed rank. Each of them ranked as a gentleman
in place and honour;
