tan's letter excited. Duke Philip had calculated well in reckoning it a remedy against the wayward and angry moods of his many guests. It was by management like this he acquired his endearing surname. And never was he more popular in his court than on this night, which he had the address to convert from one of various disagreeable and untoward disputes, into one of broad merriment and general good hu

mour.

CHAPTER X.

THE following day was the sixth of the festivities instituted by Philip in honour of his guests; and being by public notification the last, it was determined on all hands to make it one of super-extra enjoyment. The warlike movements that were to commence on the morrow left little chance of a speedy renewal of such scenes, in which many of those then present could never hope to partake; and though few men like to encourage presentiments of ill, all grasp eagerly at present pleasures, as if each was instinctively forewarned that he was to be fate's first victim.

The earliest business of the morning, after Philip's accustomed exercises, and the despatch of breakfast, was a sporting party (in the heathy lands or wolds around the castle) of rather a mixed nature; for hawking, and coney-shooting with the cross-bow, were to be diversified by bustard-hunting, with some greyhounds of a peculiar breed trained to that long-since exploded species of chace.

Nothing could be more brilliant than the opening burst of the cortége, as the gates of the castle park were thrown wide, and the whole cavalcade appeared to the dazzled eyes of the inhabitants of Hesdin. The long train of huntsmen, falconers, and dogs, the sounding horns, the glittering liveries, the soldier-guards, the goodly company of dames and cavaliers, each lady on her gaily caparisoned palfrey, each knight accoutred for the chace, and falcon on wrist, the sounding of rings and bells, the clatter of hoofs, the mirthful conversation, and the joyous laugh--all helped to hide full many

a corrosive care, and combined to raise at once

the admiration and the envy of the happilyignorant and uninitiated lookers-on.

- Duke Philip, with all his apparent devotion to the English countess, whose palfrey seemed to make one with his own, so closely did he ride beside her, had nevertheless an anxious, if not a timid glance for almost every one of the suspected individuals of his suite. With a perhaps wise policy, but at any rate with innate selfconfidence, he had resolved to have about him, and close to his person, all whose designs he thought he had most reason to fear. He felt, that under the surveillance of his own quick eye they were less likely to have opportunity for working him evil. He reckoned much on the imposing effect of his grandeur; and, like all actively courageous men, he felt more composure in drawing close to danger than in contemplating its distant chance. Besides these motives, or sensations, Duke Philip was too cautious to neglect giving notice of his suspicions to some

of those followers whom he knew he could trust; for it is a mortifying reflection for virtuous greatness, that even the worst tyrants (and Philip certainly was not one of them) have had in all times attached and devoted followers.

In

this manner every individual " pricked" by William le Begue, was placed under the peculiar espionage of one of the duke's chosen confident's. The Milan knight, for instance, was entrusted to Hugo de Bourg, a Burgundian lord; Vrank Van Borselen to John Vilain, the captain of the guard; and Spalatro, the posturemaster, to Jacob Wonters, Philip's first armourer by trade, and his trustiest bravo on necessity.

The sports went merrily on. The day was bright and mild, the game plenty, the dogs fleet, the falcons keen. Many partridges were struck down by their talons at the very feet of the fair dames, who had no qualms for the cruel joys of sporting, any more than for the bloody contests of the tournay. Pheasants, too, the sacred birds of chivalry when smoking on