youth distinguished for beauty, valor, generosity, enthu-siasm—" " I care not," said Adela, " though he were as beauti-ful as Absalom and wise as Solomon. There are two less distinguished chiefs, who possess far more interest for me than all the warriors in Italy." " Of those thou shalt hear anon," said Henry. " When this Bohemond was in Constantinople, the emperor sought to wiu his friendship." " Return not to Bohemond again," interrupted the coun-tess, " 'tis of Stephen and Robert I would hear." "Now, sister," said Henry, playfully, "thou knowest not what thou refusest. Will it not please thy woman's curiosity, to hear of the magnificent rooms of the Blaquer-nel, filled with stores of money and jewels, costly garments, and rich silks of unheard-of value, that Alexius gave Bohe-mond to secure his allegiance." " Nothing will please me," said Adela, " but to know what is the fortune of my husband." " And that will please thee well," said Henry, breaking into a playful laugh. " Stephen, triple Count of Blois, Chartres, and Champagne, the husband of my gifted sister," bowing to the countess, " son-in-law of William the Con-queror, father of earls, and I doubt not of kings, the most beautiful, accomplished, eloquent, and prudent man of the times, was chosen president of the council of chiefs." "Heaven bless thee for thy news," said Adela, in a transport of joy ; " and Robert ?" " Justifies his youthful soubriquet of ' unready.' He came last to the siege of Nice. His troops, however, were fresh and vigorous, and when he approached the city by the west, which position had been left for his encampment, he scanned, with a fearless eye, the double walls, defended by three hundred and fifty towers, filled with bowmen, and spearsmen of the most determined valor. He drew up the warriors of Normandy, with those of Blois and Chartres, and a band from Boulogne, where a great part of the peo-ple led by Walter the Penniless and Peter the Hermit had 90 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.