him called him by his name, ejaculating, "Help! help! for the sake of
the blessed Virgin!"

Quentin turned his head and beheld a maiden, who with her family had
aided him to escape with Isabelle, dragged forcibly along by a French
soldier.

"Wait for me but one moment!" he exclaimed to De la Marck, and sprang to
extricate the girl from her dangerous situation.

"I wait no man's pleasure," said De la Marck, flourishing his mace and
beginning to retreat.

"You shall wait mine, though, by your leave," said Balafré; "I will not
have any nephew baulked." So saying, he instantly assaulted De la Marck
with his two-handed sword.

Quentin was obliged to take the defenceless maiden to her father's
house, and in the meantime the King and the Duke of Burgundy entered the
city on horseback, and ditched orders to stop the sack of the city. When
the terrified town was restored to some moderate degree of order, Louis
and Charles proceeded to hear the claims which respected the County of
Croye and its fair mistress. Doubt and mystery involved the several
pretensions of those who claimed the merit of having dispatched the
murderer of the bishop, for the rich reward promised brought death to
all who were arrayed in De la Marck's resemblance.

In the midst of conflicting claims Crawford pressed forward into the
circle, dragging Le Balafré after him. "Away with your hoofs and hides,
and painted iron!" cried Crawford. "No one, save he who slew the Boar,