THE PROSCRIBED. 26 t 



poet who feels, that, the poet who translates ; a suffering prophet, 

 and some Levite at prayers. They passed in silence, and without 

 saluting-. 



" Did you notice how he whistled him on?" cried the sergeant, 

 the instant that the steps of the two strangers ceased to be dis- 

 tinguishable on the beach. " Can it be any thing but a devil with 

 his page ?" 



" Ouf !" puffed Jacqueline, " I was suffocating. I never exa* 

 mined them so closely before. What a misfortune for us poor wo- 

 men that the demon can take such a lovely countenance T' 



" Yes, but throw a little holy water over him," cried Tirechair, 

 " and thou wilt see him changed into a toad. I'll go and tell all to 

 the officially." 



On hearing these words, the lady raised herself from the reverie 

 into which she had been plunged, and looked towards the sergeant, 

 who was already investing himself with his blue and red coat of office. 



" Where are you running to ?" she asked. 



"Just to inform Justice that we are harbouring sorcerers; 

 truly in our own defence." 



The unknown smiled. 



" I am the Countess Mahaut ;" said she, rising with a dignity 

 which set the astonished sergeant all panting. " Take care how you 

 cause the slightest trouble to your inmates. Honour most especially 

 the elder. I have seen him in the presence of the king, your master, 

 who received him courteously. You must be ill advised indeed if 

 you cause him the least embarrasment. As to my sojourn in your 

 house, let not a whisper of it pass your lips if you wish to live in 

 peace." 



The Countess was silent and sunk again into meditation. She 

 soon raised her head, made a sign to Jacqueline, and both ascended 

 to the chamber of the young man. The beautiful Countess looked 

 at the bed, the bright wooden chairs, the coffer, the tapestry, and 

 the table, with a feeling of happiness resembling that of an exile who 

 contemplates on his return from banishment the clustering roofs of 

 his native town, seated at the foot of a hill. 



" If thou hast not deceived me," said she to Jacqueline, " I 

 promise thee a hundred golden crowns." 



" Look here, Madam," replied the hostess, " the poor dear 

 angel is free from all distrust, and see, here is all his wealth !" 



And, while so saying, Jacqueline opened one of the table-drawers 

 and pointed out some parchments. 



" Oh, God of mercy and goodness !" cried the Countess, seizing 

 upon a contract which immediately attracted her attention, and where 

 she read : Gothofredas comes Gantiacus! She let the parchment 

 fall, passed her hand over her forehead ; and feeling, doubtless, that 

 she was compromising herself by suffering her emotion to be seen 

 by Jacqueline, recovered her composure. 



" 1 am satisfied!" said she. 



And descending, she quitted the house. The sergeant and his 

 wife placed themselves on the threshold of their door, and saw her 

 take the way to the port. A boat was moored almost close to it 



M.M. No. 9. 2 L 



