.
    The lofty houses, - the stately, though narrow and gloomy streets, - the
splendid display of the richest goods and most gorgeous armour in the warehouses
and shops around, - the walks crowded by busy citizens of every description,
passing and repassing with faces of careful importance or eager bustle, - the
huge wains, which transported to and fro the subjects of export and import, the
former consisting of broad cloths and serge, arms of all kinds, nails and
iron-work, while the latter comprehended every article of use or luxury,
intended either for the consumption of an opulent city, or received in barter,
and destined to be transported elsewhere, - all these objects combined to form
an engrossing picture of wealth, bustle, and splendour, to which Quentin had
been hitherto a stranger. He admired also the various streams and canals, drawn
from and communicating with the Maes, which, traversing the city in various
directions, offered to every quarter the commercial facilities of
water-carriage, and he failed not to hear a mass in the venerable old Church of
Saint Lambert, said to have been founded in the eighth century.
    It was upon leaving this place of worship that Quentin began to observe,
that he, who had been hitherto gazing on all around him with the eagerness of
unrestrained curiosity, was himself the object of attention to several groups of
substantial-looking burghers, who seemed assembled to look upon him as he left
the church, and amongst whom arose a buzz and whisper, which spread from one
party to another; while the number of gazers continued to augment rapidly, and
the eyes of each who added to it were eagerly directed to Quentin, with a stare
which expressed much interest and curiosity, mingled with a certain degree of
respect.
    At length he now formed the centre of a considerable crowd, which yet
yielded before him while he continued to move for ward; while those who followed
or kept pace with him studiously avoided pressing on him, or impeding his
motions. Yet his situation was too embarrassing to be long endured, without
making some attempt to extricate himself, and to obtain some explanation.
    Quentin looked around him, and fixing upon a jolly, stout-made, respectable
man, whom, by his velvet cloak and gold chain, he concluded to be a burgher of
eminence, and perhaps a magistrate, he asked him, »Whether he saw anything
particular in his appearance, to attract public attention in a degree so
unusual? or whether it was the ordinary custom of the people of Liege thus to
throng around strangers who chanced to visit their city?
