much aftoniÛied, and appointed a day to meet and confer on the fubjeft. They met at the eaftle of Aury, half way between Touloufe and Carcaflbne, when the following converfation paffed on the means of gaining per million from the count de Foix to march through his territories : € I wonder,* faid fir William, * very much, that neither the king of France" nor his council have written to him, to obtain liberty for us to march quietly through Foix and Beam. You muft go to him, fir Walter, and amicably explain how we are fent by the king of France to continue our march peaceably, and to pay for whatever we may want ; for you muft know, that the count de ' Foix is fo powerful, that he can, if he pleafe, fhut up the paf- ' fage, and force us to go round by Arragon, which would be too long, and much againft us. In truth, I know not of whom he is fufpicious, nor why he has thus ftrengthened his towns and caftlesr nor if he have formed any connexion with the duke of Lancafter j but I beg of you to go thither, apd learn the truth of what we have heard/ € I will willingly do fo,' replied fir Walter ; and the two knights, having dined together, took leave of each other, and departed different ways : fir Wil-liam de Lignac returned to Touloufe, and fir Walter de Paffac, attended by only forty horfe, crofled the Garonne at St. Thibaut, where he met fir Menant de Noailles, who entertained him handfomely. Sir .Walter afked, where he could find the count de Foix. He replied, ê At Orthès/ - Ydfu VHL O • The m