Quentin Durward

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XXXIV: THE EXECUTION

  I'll take thee to the good green wood, And make thine own hand choose the tree.

  OLD BALLAD

  "Now God be praised, that gave us the power of laughing, and makingothers laugh, and shame to the dull cur who scorns the office of ajester! Here is a joke, and that none of the brightest (though it mightpass, since it has amused two Princes), which hath gone farther than athousand reasons of state to prevent a war between France and Burgundy."

  Such was the inference of Le Glorieux, when, in consequence of thereconciliation of which we gave the particulars in the last chapter, theBurgundian guards were withdrawn from the Castle of Peronne, the abodeof the King removed from the ominous Tower of Count Herbert, and, to thegreat joy both of French and Burgundians, an outward show at least ofconfidence and friendship seemed so established between Duke Charlesand his liege lord. Yet still the latter, though treated with ceremonialobservance, was sufficiently aware that he continued to be the object ofsuspicion, though he prudently affected to overlook it, and appeared toconsider himself as entirely at his ease.

  Meanwhile, as frequently happens in such cases, whilst the principalparties concerned had so far made up their differences, one of thesubaltern agents concerned in their intrigues was bitterly experiencingthe truth of the political maxim that if the great have frequent needof base tools, they make amends to society by abandoning them to theirfate, so soon as they find them no longer useful.

  Thus was Hayraddin Maugrabin, who, surrendered by the Duke's officersto the King's Provost Marshal, was by him placed in the hands of his twotrusty aides de camp, Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre, to be dispatchedwithout loss of time. One on either side of him, and followed by a fewguards and a multitude of rabble--this playing the Allegro, that thePenseroso, [the mirthful and the serious. Cf. Milton's poems by thesenames.]--he was marched off (to use a modern comparison, like Garrickbetween Tragedy and Comedy) to the neighbouring forest; where, tosave all farther trouble and ceremonial of a gibbet, and so forth, thedisposers of his fate proposed to knit him up to the first sufficienttree.

  They were not long in finding an oak, as Petit Andre facetiouslyexpressed it, fit to bear such an acorn; and placing the wretchedcriminal on a bank, under a sufficient guard, they began theirextemporaneous preparations for the final catastrophe. At that moment,Hayraddin, gazing on the crowd, encountered the eyes of Quentin Durward,who, thinking he recognized the countenance of his faithless guide inthat of the detected impostor, had followed with the crowd to witnessthe execution, and assure himself of the identity.

  When the executioners informed him that all was ready, Hayraddin, withmuch calmness, asked a single boon at their hands.

  "Anything, my son, consistent with our office," said Trois Eschelles.

  "That is," said Hayraddin, "anything but my life."

  "Even so," said Trois Eschelles, "and something more, for you seemresolved to do credit to our mystery, and die like a man, without makingwry mouths--why, though our orders are to be prompt, I care not if Iindulge you ten minutes longer."

  "You are even too generous," said Hayraddin.

  "Truly we may be blamed for it," said Petit Andre, "but what of that?--Icould consent almost to give my life for such a jerry come tumble, sucha smart, tight, firm lad, who proposes to come from aloft with a grace,as an honest fellow should."

  "So that if you want a confessor--" said Trois Eschelles.

  "Or a lire of wine--" said his facetious companion.

  "Or a psalm--" said Tragedy.

  "Or a song--" said Comedy.

  "Neither, my good, kind, and most expeditious friends," said theBohemian. "I only pray to speak a few minutes with yonder Archer of theScottish Guard."

  The executioners hesitated a moment; but Trois Eschelles, recollectingthat Quentin Durward was believed, from various circumstances, to standhigh in the favour of their master, King Louis, they resolved to permitthe interview.

  When Quentin, at their summons, approached the condemned criminal, hecould not but be shocked at his appearance, however justly his doommight have been deserved. The remnants of his heraldic finery, rent totatters by the fangs of the dogs, and the clutches of the bipeds who hadrescued him from their fury to lead him to the gallows, gave him at oncea ludicrous and a wretched appearance. His face was discoloured withpaint and with some remnants of a fictitious beard, assumed for thepurpose of disguise, and there was the paleness of death upon his cheekand upon his lip; yet, strong in passive courage, like most of histribe, his eye, while it glistened and wandered, as well as thecontorted smile of his mouth, seemed to bid defiance to the death he wasabout to die.

  Quentin was struck, partly with horror, partly with compassion, ashe approached the miserable man; and these feelings probably betrayedthemselves in his manner, for Petit Andre called out, "Trip it moresmartly, jolly Archer.--This gentleman's leisure cannot wait for you, ifyou walk as if the pebbles were eggs, and you afraid of breaking them."

  "I must speak with him in privacy," said the criminal, despair seemingto croak in his accent as he uttered the words.

  "That may hardly consist with our office, my merry Leap the ladder,"said Petit Andre, "we know you for a slippery eel of old."

  "I am tied with your horse girths, hand and foot," said the criminal."You may keep guard around me, though out of earshot--the Archer is yourown King's servant. And if I give you ten guilders--"

  "Laid out in masses, the sum may profit his poor soul," said TroisEschelles.

  "Laid out in wine or brantwein, it will comfort my poor body," respondedPetit Andre. "So let them be forthcoming, my little crack rope."

  "Pay the bloodhounds their fee," said Hayraddin to Durward, "I wasplundered of every stiver when they took me--it shall avail thee much."

  Quentin paid the executioners their guerdon, and, like men of promise,they retreated out of hearing--keeping, however, a careful eye on thecriminal's motions. After waiting an instant till the unhappy man shouldspeak, as he still remained silent, Quentin at length addressed him,"And to this conclusion thou hast at length arrived?"

  "Ay," answered Hayraddin, "it required neither astrologer, orphysiognomist, nor chiromantist to foretell that I should follow thedestiny of my family."

  "Brought to this early end by thy long course of crime and treachery?"said the Scot.

  "No, by the bright Aldebaran and all his brother twinklers!" answeredthe Bohemian. "I am brought hither by my folly in believing that thebloodthirsty cruelty of a Frank could be restrained even by what theythemselves profess to hold most sacred. A priest's vestment would havebeen no safer garb for me than a herald's tabard, however sanctimoniousare your professions of devotion and chivalry."

  "A detected impostor has no right to claim the immunities of thedisguise he had usurped," said Durward.

  "Detected!" said the Bohemian. "My jargon was as good as yonder old foolof a herald's, but let it pass. As well now as hereafter."

  "You abuse time," said Quentin. "If you have aught to tell me, say itquickly, and then take some care of your soul."

  "Of my soul?" said the Bohemian, with a hideous laugh. "Think ye aleprosy of twenty years can be cured in an instant?--If I have a soul,it hath been in such a course since I was ten years old and more, thatit would take me one month to recall all my crimes, and another to tellthem to the priest!--and were such space granted me, it is five to one Iwould employ it otherwise."

  "Hardened wretch, blaspheme not! Tell me what thou hast to say, and Ileave thee to thy fate," said Durward, with mingled pity and horror.

  "I have a boon to ask," said Hayraddin; "but first I will buy it of you;for your tribe, with all their professions of charity, give naught fornaught."

  "I could well nigh say, thy gifts perish with thee," answered Quentin,"but that thou art on the very verge of eternity.--Ask thy boon--reservethy bounty--it can do me no good--I remember enough of your good officesof old."

  "Why, I loved you," said Hayraddin, "for
the matter that chanced on thebanks of the Cher; and I would have helped you to a wealthy dame.You wore her scarf, which partly misled me, and indeed I thought thatHameline, with her portable wealth, was more for your market penny thanthe other hen sparrow, with her old roost at Bracquemont, which Charleshas clutched, and is likely to keep his claws upon."

  "Talk not so idly, unhappy man," said Quentin; "yonder officers becomeimpatient."

  "Give them ten guilders for ten minutes more," said the culprit,who, like most in his situation, mixed with his hardihood a desire ofprocrastinating his fate, "I tell thee it shall avail thee much."

  "Use then well the minutes so purchased," said Durward, and easily madea new bargain with the Marshals men.

  This done, Hayraddin continued.--"Yes, I assure you I meant you well;and Hameline would have proved an easy and convenient spouse. Why, shehas reconciled herself even with the Boar of Ardennes, though his modeof wooing was somewhat of the roughest, and lords it yonder in his sty,as if she had fed on mast husks and acorns all her life."

  "Cease this brutal and untimely jesting," said Quentin, "or, once more Itell you, I will leave you to your fate."

  "You are right," said Hayraddin, after a moment's pause; "what cannotbe postponed must be faced!--Well, know then, I came hither in thisaccursed disguise, moved by a great reward from De la Marck, and hopinga yet mightier one from King Louis, not merely to bear the message ofdefiance which yon may have heard of, but to tell the King an importantsecret."

  "It was a fearful risk," said Durward.

  "It was paid for as such, and such it hath proved," answered theBohemian. "De la Marck attempted before to communicate with Louis bymeans of Marthon; but she could not, it seems, approach nearer to himthan the Astrologer, to whom she told all the passages of the journey,and of Schonwaldt; but it is a chance if her tidings ever reach Louis,except in the shape of a prophecy. But hear my secret, which is moreimportant than aught she could tell. William de la Marck has assembleda numerous and strong force within the city of Liege, and augments itdaily by means of the old priest's treasures. But he proposes not tohazard a battle with the chivalry of Burgundy, and still less to standa siege in the dismantled town. This he will do--he will suffer the hotbrained Charles to sit down before the place without opposition, andin the night, make an outfall or sally upon the leaguer with his wholeforce. Many he will have in French armour, who will cry, France, SaintLouis, and Denis Montjoye, as if there were a strong body of Frenchauxiliaries in the city. This cannot choose but strike utter confusionamong the Burgundians; and if King Louis, with his guards, attendants,and such soldiers as he may have with him, shall second his efforts, theBoar of Ardennes nothing doubts the discomfiture of the whole Burgundianarmy.--There is my secret, and I bequeath it to you. Forward or preventthe enterprise--sell the intelligence to King Louis, or to Duke Charles,I care not--save or destroy whom thou wilt; for my part, I only grievethat I cannot spring it like a mine, to the destruction of them all."

  "It is indeed an important secret," said Quentin, instantlycomprehending how easily the national jealousy might be awakened in acamp consisting partly of French, partly of Burgundians.

  "Ay, so it is," answered Hayraddin; "and now you have it, you would fainbegone, and leave me without granting the boon for which I have paidbeforehand."

  "Tell me thy request," said Quentin. "I will grant it if it be in mypower."

  "Nay, it is no mighty demand--it is only in behalf of poor Klepper, mypalfrey, the only living thing that may miss me.--A due mile south, youwill find him feeding by a deserted collier's hut; whistle to him thus"(he whistled a peculiar note), "and call him by his name, Klepper, hewill come to you; here is his bridle under my gaberdine--it is luckythe hounds got it not, for he obeys no other. Take him, and make much ofhim--I do not say for his master's sake,--but because I have placedat your disposal the event of a mighty war. He will never fail you atneed--night and day, rough and smooth, fair and foul, warm stables andthe winter sky, are the same to Klepper; had I cleared the gates ofPeronne, and got so far as where I left him, I had not been in thiscase.--Will you be kind to Klepper?"

  "I swear to you that I will," answered Quentin, affected by what seemeda trait of tenderness in a character so hardened.

  "Then fare thee well!" said the criminal. "Yet stay--stay--I would notwillingly die in discourtesy, forgetting a lady's commission.--Thisbillet is from the very gracious and extremely silly Lady of the WildBoar of Ardennes, to her black eyed niece--I see by your look I havechosen a willing messenger.--And one word more--I forgot to say, that inthe stuffing of my saddle you will find a rich purse of gold pieces,for the sake of which I put my life on the venture which has cost meso dear. Take them, and replace a hundred fold the guilders you havebestowed on these bloody slaves--I make you mine heir."

  "I will bestow them in good works and masses for the benefit of thysoul," said Quentin.

  "Name not that word again," said Hayraddin, his countenance assuming adreadful expression; "there is--there can be, there shall be--no suchthing!--it is a dream of priestcraft."

  "Unhappy, most unhappy being! Think better! let me speed for apriest--these men will delay yet a little longer. I will bribe them toit," said Quentin. "What canst thou expect, dying in such opinions, andimpenitent?"

  "To be resolved into the elements," said the hardened atheist, pressinghis fettered arms against his bosom; "my hope, trust, and expectation isthat the mysterious frame of humanity shall melt into the general massof nature, to be recompounded in the other forms with which she dailysupplies those which daily disappear, and return under differentforms--the watery particles to streams and showers, the earthy parts toenrich their mother earth, the airy portions to wanton in the breeze,and those of fire to supply the blaze of Aldebaran and his brethren.--Inthis faith have I lived, and I will die in it!--Hence! begone!--disturbme no farther!--I have spoken the last word that mortal ears shalllisten to."

  Deeply impressed with the horrors of his condition, Quentin Durward yetsaw that it was vain to hope to awaken him to a sense of his fearfulstate. He bade him, therefore, farewell, to which the criminal onlyreplied by a short and sullen nod, as one who, plunged in reverie,bids adieu to company which distracts his thoughts. He bent his coursetowards the forest, and easily found where Klepper was feeding. Thecreature came at his call, but was for some time unwilling to be caught,snuffing and starting when the stranger approached him. At length,however, Quentin's general acquaintance with the habits of the animal,and perhaps some particular knowledge of those of Klepper, which he hadoften admired while Hayraddin and he travelled together, enabled him totake possession of the Bohemian's dying bequest. Long ere he returnedto Peronne, the Bohemian had gone where the vanity of his dreadful creedwas to be put to the final issue--a fearful experience for one who hadneither expressed remorse for the past, nor apprehension for the future!