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ness, had been more infortunate and luckless even than the sickness was; for in the interval, betwixt the time in which he quitted last this chamber and that of his arrival at St. Bertin's Abbey, had departed from this world the only persons in it who -as I believe-might have afforded any sure instruction of the heben chest and its

contents.

I have not lightly spoken this, my Liege, endeavouring to assot your Grace with idle notions. On our journey hither, I did much commune with Lord Robert, of this manthis friar John. His answers to my queries greatly gave me to believe that it was he, who guided him unto the cell, though how he came acquainted with the secret cavity-to me unknown-within it, am I unable to inform your Grace; yet may I say that friar John, having been in habits of strict fellowship with my late chaplain, may—I speak it but as probable-may from him have heard of it; nor do I deem it idle to suppose that he, my chaplain, may-without an ill intention-have

given to friar John facility to lead the Count of Artois to that chamber.

:

Now, my good Lord, it was some eight or ten days previous to the Count's arrival, that this my chaplain died and it hath since been found that 'twas but shortly after this, that friar John was murdered.—This it is, my Liege, which striketh me as strange in the affair."

Whatever might have been Louis' sensations during the time of the last address, he had acquired as sufficient a command over his countenance as enabled him to disguise them. -He betrayed not the slightest emotion; and when the Abbot had ended, he replied, in a tone of voice which savoured much of mockery :

"His Reverence then doth deem it strange that these two persons should at the same, or nearly the same point of time be called from life! I know not wherefore-seeing that matters of more wonderment do fortune dailyhe should so muse at this. Yet, grant that it be strange, what proveth it?-Doth it testify

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XXXIV.

nation at the insolence answered the Abbotpon himself the diser part of the council him, and above all ward indifference with

regard all that was rtois scarcely affordary time to end his

-I do beseech you ning ear to that I ad to tell is told;

eat it? I hoped,

turning to the

that either of those monks was he who gave yon casket to my Lord of Artois ?—Or shewing this, doth it likewise shew that its contents were written by the one whose writing they pretend to be?-Who told the reverend Father that?—I say not that 'tis probable or is, — Yet, what strong proof exists that he, whose cause he hath so eloquently pleaded, did not himself buy o'er the monk, or some one else, to place yon chest within its hiding place? I say not-mean not that this is,Yet, can he prove 'tis not?-My good Lord Abbot, certes, in clear and clerkly language, hath set forth his meaning; yet do I not addeem its argument so close and good as all the Sire of Artois' friends must wish it were."

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