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to propitiate； to win by the most intense devotion。 All now must； however； turn upon the Duke of Burgundy； without whose sanction Madame of Hainault would be afraid to act openly。
The Duke was expected at Paris for the Whitsuntide festival； which was to be held with great state。 The custom was for the Kings of France to feast absolutely with all Paris； with interminable banquet tables； open to the whole world without question。 And to this Henry had conformed on his first visit to the city； but he had learnt that the costly and lavish feast had been of very little benefit to the really distressed； who had been thrust aside by loud…voiced miscreants and sturdy beggars； such as had no shame in driving the feeble back with blows； and receiving their own share again and again。
By the advice of Dr。 Bennet； his almoner； he was resolved that this should not happen again； that the feast should be limited to the official guests； and that the cost of the promiscuous banquet should be distributed to those who really needed it； and who should be reached through their parish priests and the friars known to be most charitable。
Dr。 Bennet； as almoner； with the other chaplains； was to arrange the matter； and horrible was the distress that he discovered in the city； that had for five…and…twenty years been devastated by civil fury； as well as by foreign wars； and famines； pestilences； murders； and tyrannies had held sway； so as to form an absolute succession of reigns of terror。 The poor perished like flies in a frost； the homeless orphans of the parents murdered by either faction roamed the streets； and herded in the corners like the vagrant dogs of Eastern cities； and meantime； the nobles and their partisans revelled in wasteful pomp。
Scholar as he was； Dr。 Bennet was not familiar enough with Parisian ways not to be very grateful for aid from Esclairmonde in some of his conferences； and for her explanations of the different tastes and needs of French and English poor。
What she saw and heard； on the other hand； gave form and purpose to her aspirations。 The Dutch Sisters of St。 Bega； the English Bedeswomen of St。 Katharine； were sorely needed at Paris。 They would gather up the sufferers； collect the outcast children； feed the hungry； follow with balm wherever a wound had been。 To found a Beguinage at Paris seemed to her the most befitting mode of devoting her wealth； and her little admirer； Alice； gave up her longing desire that the foundation should be in England； when she learned that； as the wife of Nevil； her abode was likely to be in France as long as that country required English garrisons。
To the young heiress of Salisbury； her own marriage； though close at hand； seemed a mere ordinary matter compared with Esclairmonde's Beguinage； to her the real romance。 Never did she see a beggar crouching at the church door； without a whisper to herself that there was a subject for the Beguines； and； tender…hearted as she was； she looked quite gratified at any lamentable tale which told the need。
If Esclairmonde had a climax to her visions of her brown…robed messengers of mercy； it was that the holy Canon of St。 Agnes should be induced to come and act the part of master to her bedeswomen； as did Master Kedbesby at home。
She had even dared to murmur her design to Dr。 Bennet； and when he； under strict seal of secrecy； had sounded King Henry； the present real master of Paris； he reported that the tears had stood in the King's eyes for a moment； as he said； 'Blessings on the maiden！ Should she be able to do this for this city； I shall know that Heaven hath indeed sent a blessing by my arms！'
For one brief week； Esclairmonde and Alice were very happy in this secret hope； but at the end of that time the Bishop of Therouenne appeared。 Esclairmonde had ventured to hope that the King's influence； and likewise the fact that her intention was not to enrich one of the regular monastic orders； might lead him to lend a favourable ear to her scheme； but she was by no means prepared to find him already informed of the affair of the Dance of Death； and putting his own construction on it。
'So； my fair cousin； this is the end of your waywardness。 The tokens were certainly somewhat strong； but the young gentleman's birth being equal to yours； after the spectacle you have presented； your uncle of St。 Pol； and I myself； must do our utmost to obtain the consent of the Duke of Burgundy。'
'Monseigneur is mistaken；' said Esclairmonde。
'Child； we will have no more folly。 You have flown after this young Scot in a manner fitted only for the foolish name your father culled for you out of his books of chivalry。 You have given a lesson to the whole Court and city on the consequences of a damsel judging for herself； and running a mad course over the world； instead of submitting to her guardians。'
'The Court understands my purpose as well as you do； Monseigneur。'
'Silence； Mademoiselle。 Your convent obstinacy is ended for ever now； since to send you to one would be to appear to hide a scandal。'
'I do not wish to enter a convent；' said Esclairmonde。 'My desire is to dedicate my labour and my substance to the foundation of a house here at Paris； such as are the Beguinages of our Netherlands；'
The Bishop held up his hands。 He had never heard of such lunacy and it angered him； as such purposes are wont to anger worldly…hearted men。 That a lady of Luxemburg should have such vulgar tastes as to wish to be a Beguine was bad enough； but that Netherlandish wealth should be devoted to support the factious poor of Paris was preposterous。 Neither the Duke of Burgundy； nor her uncle of St。 Pol； would allow a sou to pass out of their grasp for so absurd a purpose； the Pope would give no licenseabove all to a vain girl； who had helped a wife to run away from her husbandfor new religious houses； and； unless Esclairmonde was prepared to be landless； penniless； and the scorn of every one； for her wild behaviour； she must submit； bon gre； mal gre； to become the wife of the Scottish prince。
'Landless and penniless then will I be； Monseigneur；' said Esclairmonde。 'Was not poverty the bride of St。 Francis？'
The Bishop made a growl of contempt； but recollecting himself； and his respect for the saint； began to argue that what was possible for a man； a mere merchant's son； an inspired saint besides； was not possible to a damsel of high degree； and that it was mere presumption； vanity； and obstinacy in her to appeal to such a precedent。
There was something in this that struck Esclairmonde； for she was conscious of a certain satisfaction in her plan of being the first to introduce a Beguinage at Paris； and that she was to a certain degree proud of her years of constancy to her high purpose； and she looked just so far abashed that the uncle saw his advantage； and discoursed on the danger of attempting to be better than other people； and of trying to vapour in spiritual heights； to all of which she attempted no reply； till at last he broke up the interview by saying； 'There； then； child； all will be well。 I see you are coming to a better mind。'
'I hope I am； Monseigneur；' she replied； with lofty meekness； 'but scarcely such as you mean。'