nought which is not, and yet which may not be-and therefore, ere I passed the barrier of my Hold, I swore unto myself that, should the charge be proved, I would without a struggle render back unto their rightful Lord the lands of Artois, and thus make atonement for the crime of her whose bounty fixed them

on me.

My Lord of Artois !—prove this charge, we will be friends!-fail in't, and we again must meet, but never more may part till either Heaven have venged the falsehood of the accuser, or reaved me of the breath wherewith I now defy him."

Otho ceased to speak, and during the whole of the succeeding scene remained silently bending forward on the bench and listening with the utmost attention to each syllable that was uttered.

After a pause of some moments, Robert addressed the King, and informed him of the measures he had so unsuccessfully pursued to discover the friar who had possessed him of the casket.

The minds of all present were so intent on this detail, that they gave no heed to the Count of Flanders; had they done so, they might have perceived that he sat uneasily on his chair, that he often changed his position, and was frequently abstracted. This indeed was scarcely noted, except by the Abbot and Robert himself, who, whilst speaking, often turned his eyes towards him, he now having an indefinable suspicion-one for which he could not perhaps, even to himself, render a valid reason-that Louis was the person who had caused the friar to be assassinated.

When the Prior's letter was produced and read, Louis' embarrassment became still more apparent. He rose-reseated himself-rose again and desired to see the scroll; he took, read and handed it to some one else—again begged to look at it; and, in fine, evinced all that confusion of manner which may be supposed of one who felt he had had more to do in the business than he chose to avow.

After all, this might be nothing-at all events it proved nothing. He soon recovered,

himself and such temporary perplexity might have arisen from circumstances unconnected with the letter. How unreasonable to suppose that, from mere hatred to Robert and the desire of keeping him from his heritage, the Count of Flanders should contrive a murder, which murder would, if discovered, call down upon his head the severest censures of the Church, and also cover him with public infamy. Both the Abbot and Robert felt the reasonableness of this argument, and though they by no means dismissed suspicion, they neither of them thought it advisable to urge it at the present moment.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE Prior's letter passed successively through the hands of all present; each made some remark. The Seigneur de Marigni was the first who took upon himself to address the

Count of Artois.

'There is here spoken of," he said, holding the letter in his hand, "a certain scroll, which the good Prior says was found beside the corse : and this, he thinks, may chance to fling some light upon the matter. Have you thus thought, my Lord, and therefore kept it? If so, I pray you hand it to me.”

"My Lord Abbot," said Robert, addressing him, "you did think fit to save that paper from the flames-with your good licence now"----

"Behold!" the Abbot replied, holding it out to him. Robert delivered the writing to Marigni, who after having glanced over it“There is nought to be deciphered here,” he said, returning it.

"Thus did I too say and think," replied

66

Robert, when I first saw and would have rent it as a useless scrawl. It was the reverend Abbot who bade me keep it, saying it might chance to render me good service. Since then I have, methinks, deciphered something. If I mistake not, this is the signature of the Lord of Flanders. I knew not," he continued, turning towards Louis with an ironical smile, “I knew not, Seigneur, till this scroll did so instruct me, you were on such strict terms of friendship with poor monks who tramp the country round in quest of food, or wherewithal to purchase it. Chance is I did mistake,-Own you this for your writing,

Sire?"

Louis seemed to start at these words; however he took the paper and looked at it. Had it originally contained treason or blasphemy,