gross and glaring injustice, as would draw down the scorn, indignation, and even perhaps more than that, the vengeful fury of all France, upon the heads of those who wrought it.

It must not, however, be supposed, that all who composed the council were adverse to his interests; there were some few - amongst whom may be enumerated the Count d'Alençon, the King's brother, and Guigne, Dauphin of Vienne-who were made glad, and who expressed pleasure at the good fortune which had befallen him.

Having drawn forth the parchments from the box, Robert held them in his hand, whilst he recounted, as succinctly as the nature of the case permitted, the manner in which they had fallen into his possession.

The first person to whom he delivered the documents for investigation, was the Count d'Alençon, who, looking them over with attention, handed them to the Constable de Creci, then standing at his right hand. In doing this, D'Alençon expressed satis

faction, that Fortune had at length declared herself on that side which he had always, he said, considered that of justice, and that the Count of Artois should now be enabled to claim, beyond all possibility of refusal, being put in possession of his ancestral domains.

Next to the Constable, the papers passed to the Dauphin of Vienne,-then to the Seigneur de Marigni-the son of that Enguerrard de Marigni, who had been executed about fourteen years before, in the reign of Louis the Tenth, for having attempted to compass the King's death, by means of melting an image of wax before a slow fire.

After Marigni had looked at them, he handed them to the Duke of Lorraine, and in this manner they passed, successively, through the hands of eight or ten persons, till they were, at last, given to the Count of Flanders, who seemed to look over them with a far more scrupulous attention to the writing, than any of the rest had bestowed on it, and who occupied more time in his investigation than they had done.

Having finished the perusal, he rolled them up together, and delivered them over to some one else: in doing which, it might have been seen, by any one closely observing him, that there was a slight elevation of his brow, accompanied by a scarcely perceptible smile upon his lip; however, he said nothing, but passing on the indentures, they were taken in turn by each person in the assembly.

The last to whom they chanced to come was the Count d'Evreux, who having, as well as the rest, satisfied his curiosity, rose to place them on the table, which he had just reached, and on which he was on the point of laying the parchments, when—as if a thought had suddenly struck him-Louis addressing him, requested that he might be again allowed to look over them; whereupon the other, foregoing his intention, delivered the packet into his

hands.

Louis again turned them over and over: first looking at the signatures, then examining the seals, then casting his eyes upon the chest, and so on, for some minutes, and every now

that Fimize bad at length declared

2 tons de wich he had always, he Duzsidered in of justice, and that the Court of Amus dould now be enabled to

Depono & possibility of refusal, being I possess on of his ancestral domains. Nent to the Constable, the papers passed the Dught of Vienne.-then to the fe Mangus—the son of that EnguerManem ab had been executed

Ten years before, in the reign of

Loms the Terth. for having attempted to compass the King's death, by means of melting an image of wax before a slow fire.

After Mamen had locked at them, he handed them to the Duke of Lorraine, and in this manner they passed, successively, through the hands of eight or ten persons, till they were, at last, given to the Count of Flanders, who seemed to look over them with a far more scrupulous attention to the writing, than any of the rest had bestowed on it, and who occupied more time in his investigation than they had done.