whose sincerity on the present occasion he so strongly doubted,
yet had no difficulty in acting the hearty landlord towards a facetious guest;
and so the want of reciprocity in kinder feelings between them, was supplied by
the tone of good fellowship which exists between two boon companions, - a tone
natural to the Duke from the frankness, and, it might be added, the grossness of
his character, and to Louis, because, though capable of assuming any mood of
social intercourse, that which really suited him best was mingled with grossness
of ideas, and of caustic humour in expression.
    Both Princes were happily able to preserve, during the period of a banquet
at the town-house of Peronne, the same kind of conversation, on which they met
as on a neutral ground, and which, as Louis easily perceived, was more available
than any other to keep the Duke of Burgundy in that state of composure which
seemed necessary to his own safety.
    Yet he was alarmed to observe, that the Duke had around him several of those
French nobles, and those of the highest rank, and in situations of great trust
and power, whom his own severity or injustice had driven into exile; and it was
to secure himself from the possible effects of their resentment and revenge,
that (as already mentioned) he requested to be lodged in the Castle or Citadel
of Peronne, rather than in the town itself.50 This was readily granted by Duke
Charles, with one of those grim smiles, of which it was impossible to say
whether it meant good or harm to the party whom it concerned.
    But when the King, expressing himself with as much delicacy as he could, and
in the manner he thought best qualified to lull suspicion asleep, asked, whether
the Scottish Archers of his Guard might not maintain the custody of the Castle
of Peronne during his residence there, in lieu of the gate of the town which the
Duke had offered to their care, Charles replied, with his wonted sternness of
voice, and abruptness of manner, rendered more alarming by his habit when he
spoke, of either turning up his mustaches, or handling his sword or dagger, the
last of which he used frequently to draw a little way, and then return to the
sheath,51 - »Saint Martin! No, my liege. You are in your vassal's camp and city
- so men call me in respect to your Majesty - my castle and town are yours, and
my men are yours; so it is indifferent whether my men-at-arms or the Scottish
Archers guard either the outer gate