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point of time at which Robert, returning from his interview with the King, happened to enter that part of the plain where the encampment faced towards the town of Auray.

The first thing which he beheld was the English forces, driven back and pursued by the enemy: but retreating in good order, and, still making a show of resistance, sometimes flying across the plain quickly as their horses could set foot to ground; at others, wheeling round to revenge themselves on such of the foe as pressed too closely on them.

Robert, perceiving his party to be thus sorely beset, pricked into the midst of it, in order to afford what aid he might with his little troop; but had not long arrived when, from the opposite side of the camp, he heard the royal naccaire or kettle-drum, sounding a retreat, and immediately afterwards found that there was a suspension of arms on the part of the enemy, who were retreating to their own quarters.

This was ordered by the King; who, having been forced to take a rather longer circuit than Robert, had reached the camp after him, and

only arrived at that instant: when, finding that, as the English retreated, he had nothing more to fear from them, and being, for reasons which the reader may guess, unwilling to injure them more than should be necessary for the safety of his own troops, had forbid pursuit. This, however, did not happen until an arrow had struck d'Artois, and wounded him in the neck.

It was not known whence the arrow came; perhaps, indeed, it might have been a random shot, but must, however, have been discharged by a foot soldier, as, taking a direction upward, it struck him in that crevice of the armour which is formed by the junction of the gorget with the left hand vambrace, and entered the lower part of the cheek bone. The wound was neither deep nor dangerous, the point, only, of the arrow having entered, its impetus not being great enough to force it further, though sufficient to break one of its barbs; so without much pain or difficulty he plucked it out, and cast it

away.

What was to be next done now became a

question of consideration; but it was soon decided to follow up the original plan of endeavouring to retake Le Conquet.

"So! my Lord of Artois," said de Mauny to him, as they rode along side by side, and as soon as a release from the enemy afforded him time to do so; "it seems me, then, you have not fortuned to fall upon the quarry. Your arms and accoutrements and those of your troop," he continued, casting his eyes around on them, "are just as trimly looking and as bright, and sheen as when you quitted us-not hacked and hewed, bedevilled and bedaubed with blood and mud like ours-Look !-How chanceth this?-you saw them not?"

"I will answer all your queries at some future season, de Mauny," the Count replied, "but at the present my heart is far too heavy, and my soul too full of grief, to hold much converse with you on such matters-or, indeed," he added, "on any others. I pray you pardon me."

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"Sooth! my good lord," replied the Lady de Montfort, who was also riding at his side, "you do indeed seem overcharged with trouble

and fatigue, and to lack some of your wonted quickness and ah!" she continued, pointing to his corselet, stained with blood-" see, Messire Manny-see, your friend hath received a sore wound, and bleedeth! — Stay, let me bind it up."

"Oh no, no, please you, lady," Robert answered, "it is a very nothing, a mere scratch, which hath already ceased to bleed. See," he continued, pointing to the place, "the blood is clotted and floweth not!"

"Well then, my lord," the Countess rejoined, "if it be truly as you say, and as, in truth, it seemeth, let us leave thought of it until we reach Le Conquet, into which—we having the fortune that I promise me-we shall soon march our troops, and where we shall find good lodging, and fair damsels to wait on us renowned knights and warriors! who deliver them from the gripe of their churlish jailors, and to dress the wounds we get in their service. In truth, my lord, need is I bring you acquainted with one of these,-one who came to me-but I will tell you more of this hereafter.-She is a prodigy, I may

say, of wisdom for her age; and is withal so meek, so modest, so gentle, and unassuming, that-and this, too, without seeming to aim at it—she winneth to her the hearts of all mankind.” "Ah!" muttered Manny to himself, "thatthat is just what my Emily was wont to do."

"How whispered you then to yourself about Emily, Messire Walter?" enquired the Countess, laughing. "No mischief, I trust?-See you speak naught 'gainst her honour; for if you do, I-who sith my late transformation into a Knight, do hold me bound to uphold the fair sex-shall call you to most strict account, and make you prove your words in fight; or else gainsay them, and own yourself a false, disloyal man, to have aspersed such loveliness!"

"I cry you mercy, Sir Champion," replied Manny in the same tone of raillery. "I spoke no treason 'gainst the Lady Emily, and did only say she seemed by your account to have those very qualities which I once met with in another Emily, who, alas!-who was also beautiful and wise."

"Well, be it so.-I grant your Emily was beautiful and wise, but do maintain that my

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