objects beyond it, except the formal observance of a careless devotion,
relieved by an occasional debauch with brother Boniface, his comrade and
confessor. Had his genius been of a more extended character, he would probably
have been promoted to some important command, for the King, who knew every
soldier of his body-guard personally, reposed much confidence in Balafré's
courage and fidelity; and, besides, the Scot had either wisdom or cunning enough
perfectly to understand, and ably to humour, the peculiarities of that
sovereign. Still, however, his capacity was too much limited to admit of his
rising to higher rank, and though smiled on and favoured by Louis on many
occasions, Balafré continued a mere Life-guards-man, or Scottish Archer.
    Without seeing the full scope of his uncle's character, Quentin felt shocked
at his indifference to the disastrous extirpation of his brother-in-law's whole
family, and could not help being surprised, moreover, that so near a relative
had not offered him the assistance of his purse, which, but for the generosity
of Maitre Pierre, he would have been under the necessity of directly craving
from him. He wronged his uncle, however, in supposing that this want of
attention to his probable necessities was owing to avarice. Not precisely
needing money himself at that moment, it had not occurred to Balafré that his
nephew might be in exigencies; otherwise, he held a near kinsman so much a part
of himself, that he would have provided for the weal of the living nephew, as he
endeavoured to do for that of his deceased sister and her husband. But whatever
was the motive, the neglect was very unsatisfactory to young Durward, and he
wished more than once he had taken service with the Duke of Burgundy before he
quarrelled with his forester. »Whatever had then become of me,« he thought to
himself, »I should always have been able to keep up my spirits with the
reflection, that I had, in case of the worst, a stout back-friend in this uncle
of mine. But now I have seen him, and, woe worth him, there has been more help
in a mere mechanical stranger, than I have found in my own mother's brother, my
countryman and a cavalier! One would think the slash, that has carved all
comeliness out of his face, had let at the same time every drop of gentle blood
out of his body.«
    Durward now regretted he had not had an opportunity to mention Maitre Pierre
to Le Balafré, in the hope of obtaining