can show the tusks!"

He flung on the floor the bloody head, easily known as that of De la
Marck, and which was instantly recognised by all who had seen him.

"Crawford," said Louis, "I trust it is one of my faithful Scots who has
won this prize?"

"It is Ludovic Lesly, Sire, whom we call Le Balafré," replied the old
soldier.

"But is he noble?" said the Duke. "Is he of gentle blood? Otherwise our
promise is void."

"I will warrant him a branch of the tree of Rother, as noble as any
house in France or Burgundy," said Crawford.

"There is then no help for it," said the Duke; "and the fairest and
richest heiress in Burgundy must be the wife of a rude mercenary
soldier."

"May it please your Majesty, and your grace," said Crawford. "I must
speak for my countryman and old comrade. He hath acted by my advice and
resigns his claim to him by whom the Wild Boar was actually brought to
bay, who is his maternal nephew, and is of the House of Durward,
descended from that Allan Durward who was High Steward of Scotland."

"Nay, if it be young Durward," said Crèvecoeur; "there is nothing more
to be said. I have much reason to believe your Grace will find her more
amenable to authority than on former occasions. But why should I grudge