is
hood was about to leave the church.

'Beau Sire, a word with you. I am the kinsman and attendant of the
Scottish King's sisters.'

'Ah! one of them is to be married. My steward is with me. It is to him
you should speak of her wardrobe,' said Jaques Coeur, an impatient look
stealing over his keen but honest visage.

'It is not of Duke Sigismund's betrothed that I would speak,' returned
the Scottish knight; 'it is of her sister.'

Jaques Coeur's dark eyes cast a rapid glance, as of one who knew not who
might lurk in the recesses of a twilight cathedral.

'Not here,' he said, and he led Sir Patrick away with him down the
aisle, out into the air, where a number of odd little buildings
clustered round the walls of the cathedral, even leaning against it,
heedless of the beauty they marred.

'By your leave, Father,' he said, after exchanging salutations with a
priest, who was just going out to say his morning's mass, and leaving
his tiny bare cell empty. Here Sir Patrick could incredulously tell
his story, and the merchant could only sigh and own that he feared that
there was every reason to believe that the intention was real. Jaques
Coeur, religiously, was shocked at the idea, and, politically, wished
the Dauphin to make a more profitable alliance. He whispered that the
sooner the lady was out of reach the better, and even offered to advance
a loan to facilitate the journey.

There followed a consultation in the securest place that could be
devised, namely, in the antechamber where Sir Patrick and Lady Drummond
slept to guard their young princesses, in the palace at Tours, Jean,
Eleanor, and Madame de Ste. Petronelle having a bedroom within.

Sir Patrick's view was that Jean might take her leave in full state
and honour, leaving Eleanor to marry her Duke in due time; but the girl
shuddered at this. 'Oh no, no; he would call himself my brother for the
nonce and throw me into some convent! There is nothing for it but to
make it impossible. Sir Patie, fetch Geordie, and tell him, an' he loves
me, to wed me on the spot, and bear me awa' to bonnie Scotland. Would
that I had never been beguiled into quitting it.'

'Geordie Douglas! You were all for flouting him a while ago,' said
Eleanor, puzzled.

'Dinna be sae daft like, Elleen, that was but sport, and--and a maid may
not hold herself too cheap! Geordie that followed me all the way from
home, and was sair hurt for me, and freed me from yon awsome castle. Oh,
coul