The weapon is now in my possession.

S.] I will find out that man, which, methinks, should be no difficult task, since he is so wealthy as mine host bespeaks him.
He will give me good advice for my governance, at least; and if he goes to strange countries, as many such do, I know not but his may be as adventurous a service as that of those Guards of Louis." As Quentin framed this thought, a whisper from those recesses of the heart in which lies much that the owner does not know of, or will not acknowledge willingly, suggested that, perchance, the lady of the turret, she of the veil and lute, might share that adventurous journey.
As the Scottish youth made these reflections, he met two grave looking men, apparently citizens of Tours, whom, doffing his cap with the reverence due from youth to age, he respectfully asked to direct him to the house of Maitre Pierre.
"The house of whom, my fair son ?" said one of the passengers.
"Of Maitre Pierre, the great silk merchant, who planted all the mulberry trees in the park yonder," said Durward.
"Young man," said one of them who was nearest to him, "you have taken up an idle trade a little too early." "And have chosen wrong subjects to practise your fooleries upon," said the farther one, still more gruffly.

"The Syndic of Tours is not accustomed to be thus talked to by strolling jesters from foreign parts." Quentin was so much surprised at the causeless offence which these two decent looking persons had taken at a very simple and civil question, that he forgot to be angry at the rudeness of their reply, and stood staring after them as they walked on with amended pace, often looking back at him, as if they were desirous to get as soon as possible out of his reach.
He next met a party of vine dressers, and addressed to them the same question; and in reply, they demanded to know whether he wanted Maitre Pierre, the schoolmaster?
or Maitre Pierre, the carpenter?
or Maitre Pierre, the beadle?
or half a dozen of Maitre Pierres besides.

When none of these corresponded with the description of the person after whom he inquired, the peasants accused him of jesting with them impertinently, and threatened to fall upon him and beat him, in guerdon of his raillery.

The oldest amongst them, who had some influence over the rest, prevailed on them to desist from violence.
"You see by his speech and his fool's cap," said he, "that he is one of the foreign mountebanks who are come into the country, and whom some call magicians and soothsayers, and some jugglers, and the like, and there is no knowing what tricks they have amongst them.