jealousy with
which their duty was performed, they marched into the hall of audience, where
the King was immediately expected.
    New as Quentin was to scenes of splendour, the effect of that which was now
before him rather disappointed the expectations which he had formed of the
brilliancy of a Court. There were household officers, indeed, richly attired;
there were guards gallantly armed, and there were domestics of various degrees:
But he saw none of the ancient counsellors of the kingdom, none of the high
officers of the crown, heard none of the names which in those days sounded an
alarum to chivalry; saw none either of those generals or leaders, who, possessed
of the full prime of manhood, were the strength of France, or of the more
youthful and fiery nobles, those early aspirants after honour, who were her
pride. The jealous habits - the reserved manners - the deep and artful policy of
the King, had estranged this splendid circle from the throne, and they were only
called around it upon certain stated and formal occasions, when they went
reluctantly, and returned joyfully, as the animals in the fable are supposed to
have approached and left the den of the lion.
    The very few persons who seemed to be there in the character of counsellors,
were mean-looking men, whose countenances sometimes expressed sagacity, but
whose manners showed they were called into a sphere for which their previous
education and habits had qualified them but indifferently. One or two persons,
however, did appear to Durward to possess a more noble mien, and the strictness
of the present duty was not such as to prevent his uncle communicating the names
of those whom he thus distinguished.
    With the Lord Crawford, who was in attendance, dressed in the rich habit of
his office, and holding a leading staff of silver in his hand, Quentin, as well
as the reader was already acquainted. Among others who seemed of quality, the
most remarkable was the Count de Dunois, the son of that celebrated Dunois,
known by the name of the Bastard of Orleans, who, fighting under the banner of
Jeanne d'Arc, acted such a distinguished part in liberating France from the
English yoke. His son well supported the high renown which had descended to him
from such an honoured source; and, notwithstanding his connection with the royal
family, and his hereditary popularity both with the nobles and the people,
Dunois had, upon all occasions, manifested such an open, frank loyalty of
character, that he seemed to have escaped all suspicion, even on the part of the
jealous Louis, who loved to see