and I, advantaging me of this, peeped underneath, and caught a glimpse of him. Besides, my Lord, the tone of his voice struck upon mine ear as having something in it peculiar; his accent spoke one bred in Flanders. Methinks, indeed, that were I again to meet him, and he should speak, I could scarce fail to recognise my man."

"Haste then, good Etienne-Quick! hie thee through every street in the neighbourhood of the palace, and see if thou canst find him : if so, bid him come here upon the instant. Fly. Yet hark! Etienne,-if he refuse to come, be sure thou quittest him not till thou hast ascertained the place where he doth lodge."

"Gracious Heaven!" said the Count, flinging himself down upon a couch when the boy had left the room, and covering his eyes with both his hands. "And is it really then, that after so many, many long lingering years of ever disappointed hope, thou now wilt cause the right appear and make the wrongers tremble!-Wilt thou now let me enter on mine

own!--Philip-my boy-my child-now then shall I see thee-see thee as thou oughtest to be, as I a thousand and a thousand times have longed to see thee, heading thy father's vassals-the descendants of thy grandsire's, and leading them against the foes of France. Jeanne-Oh, my love, what joy will this bring to thee! I must apprize thee of it."

He was just going to leave the room in quest of his Lady, when, recollecting himself, he checked his step.

"No, no, I am too full at present: I will send hither for her. Ho there! Who waiteth?"

of

A page entered. "Go tell the Lady Countess that I would have her presence here, and that I pray she use her best diligence to join me." Holy St. Mary! after so many years anxiousness-at last-at last to find myself in full possession of my right!—Matilda too, and Othelin-well well, I do forgive them! I will not damn myself each time that I repeat the words—Forgive us our trespasses, oh Lord! as we forgive them who sin against us. forgive them, may God forgive them too."

I do

"Oh, my beloved, I have not waited long, but have much longed to see thee. I would have come to thee in thine apartment and not have troubled thee to seek me here, but chose not that the household should observe that ought had moved me."

"How now then, Robert,-what is't?moved indeed! I do perceive thine eyes to be more lustrous than is usual-thy bosom heaves with agitation. What meaneth this?” "At last then, dearest Jeanne-right is, read!-'twas left some fifteen minutes past."

The Countess took the paper and cast her eyes over it-then re-commencing, seemed to study it more curiously. "Gracious Heavens! What is this I read! -- Matilda-the Countess Matilda of Burgundy; was she then capable of this! Your aunt!-Did she descend to rob

the orphan of his right!"

"Look you, my love, the words are most explicit there's no mistaking them; the

writer promises to instruct me in all things needful to enforce my right, when I shall see him at St. Omer."

The Countess looked again at the paper. "The scroll bears no signature!-Wherefore thus? 'Tis strange, how wilt thou hunt him out, when ignorant of his name?”

66

Doubtless he is ashamed-the caitiff!he may well be so-of the part which he hath acted in the business, and will not needlessly betray himself."

"Well, but how, being at St. Omer, shalt thou discover traces of a man whom thou hast never seen,-whose name thou knowest not, and of whose residence thou art entirely ignorant?" asked the Countess.

66

Why surely if he hath taken such pains to come to Paris from St. Omer, for the purpose of announcing he had something to tell me, it cannot be, but that, I going to St. Omer to obey the summons, he will take some occasion to make himself better known to me. Besides, I have just sent Etienne forth into the town to see if he can meet him, and if so to bring him to me."

"How dost thou propose acting in this

affair? What shall be thy first step towards possessing thyself of these papers, Robert?"

"Certes, shall I without delay go where the monk biddeth me-to St. Omer-where doubtless I shall not have rested many hours ere he will give me further notice."

"What day thinkest thou will be that of thy departure?”

"I would fain begin the journey to-morrow, but think it scarcely possible I should do so for two days hence. See these parchments— there is business which the King hath given me, of the greatest public import; I am tied till it be done, yet will I use mine utmost diligence."

"Thou wilt of course," said the Countess, but in a tone of voice evincing doubt, "make Philip a partner in this good news, and tell him of the luck which hath befallen us?"

"I think not, dearest, I shall say nought of this affair, until the document be really placed in my possession, and then we both will go to him to urge our claims."

But wherefore thus, Robert!" enquired the Countess, in a disapproving tone of voice.