's justice, when it has visited any of
their accursed race. Dismount, my children, and do your office briskly.«
    Trois-Eschelles and Petit-André were in an instant on foot, and Quentin
observed that they had each, at the crupper and pommel of his saddle, a coil or
two of ropes, which they hastily undid, and showed that, in fact, each coil
formed a halter, with the fatal noose adjusted, ready for execution. The blood
ran cold in Quentin's veins, when he saw three cords selected, and perceived
that it was proposed to put one around his own neck. He called on the officer
loudly, reminded him of their meeting that morning, claimed the right of a
free-born Scotsman, in a friendly and allied country, and denied any knowledge
of the persons along with whom he was seized, or of their misdeeds.
    The officer whom Durward thus addressed scarce deigned to look at him while
he was speaking, and took no notice whatever of the claim he preferred to prior
acquaintance. He barely turned to one or two of the peasants who were now come
forward, either to volunteer their evidence against the prisoners, or out of
curiosity, and said gruffly, »Was yonder young fellow with the vagabonds?«
    »That he was, sir, an it please your noble Provostship,« answered one of the
clowns; »he was the very first blasphemously to cut down the rascal whom his
Majesty's justice most deservedly hung up, as we told your worship.«
    »I'll swear by God, and Saint Martin of Tours, to have seen him with their
gang,« said another, »when they pillaged our métairie.«
    »Nay, but, father,« said a boy, »yonder heathen was black, and this youth is
fair; yonder one had short curled hair, and this hath long fair locks.«
    »Ay, child,« said the peasant, »and perhaps you will say yonder one had a
green coat and this a grey jerkin. But his worship, the Provost, knows that they
can change their complexions as easily as their jerkins, so that I am still
minded he was the same.«
    »It is enough that you have seen him intermeddle with the course of the
King's justice, by attempting to recover an executed traitor,« said the officer.
- »Trois-Eschelles and Petit-André, despatch.«
    »Stay, signior officer!« exclaimed the youth, in mortal agony - »hear me
speak - let
