CHAPTER XXXIV.

BURNING with indignation at the insolence with which Louis had answered the Abbotthe insinuation cast upon himself—the disposition which the greater part of the council evinced to side against him, and above all enraged at the cool outward indifference with which Philip seemed to regard all that was passing,—the Count of Artois scarcely afforded his enemy the necessary time to end his speech, when he replied :—

My Sovereign Liege!-I do beseech you lend a patient and a listening ear to that I have to say. The tale I had to tell is told; I cannot add to, need I repeat it? I hoped, Lords"-he continued, turning to the

my

assembly in general—“ I should have thought it also, that so many a long year of pure unblemished character would have been to me a guard and guarantee against the foul aspersions of yon ill-speaking Lord. I hoped”— he again addressed the King personally-" my Liege, I should have thought it too, that so many a long year of faithful service as I have passed, so many an act of love and―pardon me, Sire-of friendship as I have shewn and done, had not been so wholly cast away, as that your Grace, unmoved, should suffer this to be. My Liege!-there is some secret and insidious foe doth come betwixt your Grace's love and me.-Who is this?-Ay! knew I to demean myself in fit and proper guise,—could I but stoop to use the fawning courtier's lowly phrase and humble tone, and worm and wind myself into men's thoughts and confidence, and creep into their hearts, perchance I long ago had learned this;-as 'tis, I neither know, nor care to know. If Philip of Valois have ought to urge against me-let him declare it openly; openly will I answer it. 'Tis not for

me to sue for that which is my due-for gratitude, nor will I ever."

The fire which had long lain smouldering in the King's bosom now broke forth.

"'Tis too much-Vassal!" he said, rising from his seat," aside, my Lords," he continued, motioning apart with his hand the rest who, following his example, started up and then closed tumultuously around him. Let me behold the one who beards me thus.My Lord of Artois! you do forget you, Sir, -Know you in whose presence you now Bethink you, Sir, you do address your Lord-your Sovereign! Shall a vassal thus bespeak me!"

stand?

"My Liege," replied the Count, not softening the tone of his voice, but speaking with an abated vehemence, " methinks this minding me of vassalage is most uncalled for. That I address my Sovereign I know—I am my Sovereign's vassal-I am not his serf."

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Hence, Sir, begone!" exclaimed the King,

"I'll hear no more-your looks speak dis

obedience, and your words are full of threatenings-Leave my presence."

"Oh, my most gracious Sovereign!" said the Abbot, going to, and addressing the King in a tone of voice so low as not to be overheard,"Hear me I beseech-I do implore it, hear me! That the noble Count of Artois hath not, in speaking to your Grace, preserved that equal temperament of mind which, had he been ruled by me, he would have kept, I not gainsay; but he hath been-so seemeth it at least to him-much wronged; so please you then, my Liege, forget this fault, or lay it not to him, but to the grief which overpowered his

reason."

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Shall

" "Tis well said, holy Father, you do well the duty of your calling thus to counsel peace; yet, my Lord, preach obedience too. Majesty be flouted thus? Must I-in mine own palace too-be subject to a madman's freaks!"

"Oh, my Liege," the Abbot answered, "the like will not occur again; 'twas but the fiery

impulse of an unguarded moment which took him unawares. Please, your Grace, forbid not that I chide him."

With these words the Abbot, without waiting the King's reply, left him, and going up to the Count of Artois,-" You do much harm yourself”—he said, addressing him in the same low tone of voice in which he had spoken to the King-" You do much harm yourself and your cause, my Lord, to strike this heat into his Grace; be still, I pray you, use towards your Sovereign some of that patience which you but just now craved that he would have for you. Thus to enrage him is to undo yourself, to lend a licence to his anger 'gainst you, and give authority to the ill imaginings of the many here who do wish you harm."

"Please you, my Liege," Robert said, "my Lord the Abbot doth tell me I am wrong to take so much to heart the words the Sire of Flanders lately uttered; and said I did bespeak me with an undue arrogance unto your Grace. If it be thus, my Liege, and I have misdemeaned myself, I do entreat your Grace