by a breach; so that unless they merited mercy by an immediate surrender, they all risked being put to the sword.

Finding them not now so ready as heretofore to listen to his arguments, he next essayed casting suspicion on the Countess's report, by sayingthus in order at all events to gain time-that perhaps she might have been deceived, and have mistaken the Genoese fleet for that of England.

"Let any one," exclaimed the Countess, "who doubteth mine assertion, mount up upon the tower, and verify its truth."

There needed no further permission. With eager gladness an hundred of the band rushed crowding forward through the portal, and, speedily as hope could carry them, ascended the winding staircase to the summit of the tower. The fleet was fast approaching before a prosperous gale, which bore it directly towards the harbour. Too distant as yet to have its banners perceived by the observers, it was still near enough to be distinguished, by its general appearance, as English. A glad, triumphant shout of many voices, mingled into one, was heard above.

"The English!—our generous friends!-victory!-no surrender!-long life to our Lady Jeanne!" was shouted forth to rejoice the hearts of all below, saving the hearts of those who had been traitors.

The Bishop now finding that Hennebon could scarcely be longer considered as a safe residence for himself, and that he might think himself in good fortune if suffered to 'scape from it unscathed, approached the Countess humbly beseeching her permission to quit the citadel, and join a party on whose side a solemn promise of surrender having been made-it was, he said, his opinion that justice now lay.

During the time he was uttering this, Jeanne, leaning upon a long oaken staff which she held clasped in both hands, continued stedfastly looking in his countenance, without moving a feature of her own; and when he had ended, replied:

"Go, Sir! and with you go your meet companion-Shame! Well is't that I who bear a helmet on my brow, do reverence more the Church's tonsure, than do you who wear it.— That clerkly stole, albeit it hide not guilt, doth

purchase its immunity. This tell your brother, and thereto add, that he and I will speak anon of matters. He hath not taken on him holy orders. He solely hath disgraced-no, not himself-his name. Begone, Sir! Go ye," she continued, fixing her eyes on two henchmen she saw standing by-" Go, and conduct your traitor to the gates."

The plume of white feathers fixed upon her helmet following the inclination of her neck, bent slightly forward, as she haughtily nodded to the Bishop in token of dismission.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE Countess's next concern was to prepare for the good accommodation of her friends: so ordering the hall and other chambers to be hung with tapestry, she again ascended the tower, to feast her eyes with gazing upon the fleet of her liberators; who, having doubled Le Cap de l'Orient, and entered the little bay into which the Blavel empties itself, were now pulling their vessels up against the stream, with a strength and velocity which promised a speedy termination to the labour.

In less than an hour's time, the large sweeps were heard rattling on the decks as the rowers shipped them, and then prepared to disembark. Seeing this, Jeanne, accompanied by all the Barons, Knights, and Ladies in the castle,

as also by the inhabitants of the town, proceeded towards the quay: when accosting the Count of Artois and de Mauny, she embraced them and their companions several times, one after the other, like a brave and noble lady.— "Vint baiser Messire Gaultier de Mauny et ses compagnons les uns après les aultres, deux fois ou trois, comme une vaillante dame." An ex

pression used by Froissart, and which, as SaintePélaye remarks, well serves to denote the manners of the age.

Thus then the long-expected succour had at last arrived in harbour: but there yet remained much to be done ere Jeanne would be placed in peaceable possession of the contested province.

Every one on board being worn out with fatigue, it was necessary for all of them to have a few hours of repose before entering on fresh labours.

On the following day, as de Mauny and his companions were going over the castle, in order to instruct themselves in its localities, and then judge how best they might defend the place and