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ly incensed against youso much so； that they were almost ready to tear me to pieces for being absent at this juncture。 They say that you are keeping the child prisoner in his own Castle and that they will have him restored if they tear it down to the foundations。〃
〃You are a true man； a loyal manyou understand my good intentions；〃 said Louis； trembling； for the Normans were extremely dreaded。 〃You would not bring the shame of rebellion on your town and people。 Advise meI will do just as you counsel mehow shall I appease them？〃
〃Take the child； lead him to the window； swear that you mean him no evil； that you will not take him from us；〃 said Bernard。 〃Swear it on the faith of a King。〃
〃As a Kingas a Christian； it is true！〃 said Louis。 〃Here； my boy！ Wherefore shrink from me？ What have I done； that you should fear me？ You have been listening to evil tales of me； my child。 Come hither。〃
At a sign from the Count de Harcourt； Sir Eric led Richard forward； and put his hand into the King's。 Louis took him to the window； lifted him upon the sill； and stood there with his arm round him； upon which the shout； 〃Long live Richard； our little Duke！〃 arose again。 Meantime； the two Centevilles looked in wonder at the old Harcourt； who shook his head and muttered in his own tongue； 〃I will do all I may； but our force is small； and the King has the best of it。 We must not yet bring a war on ourselves。〃
〃Hark！ he is going to speak；〃 said Osmond。
〃Fair Sirs！excellent burgesses！〃 began the King； as the cries lulled a little。 ｛11｝ 〃I rejoice to see the love ye bear to our young Prince！ I would all my subjects were equally loyal！ But wherefore dread me； as if I were come to injure him？ I； who came but to take counsel how to avenge the death of his father； who brought me back from England when I was a friendless exile。 Know ye not how deep is the debt of gratitude I owe to Duke William？ He it was who made me Kingit was he who gained me the love of the King of Germany； he stood godfather for my sonto him I owe all my wealth and state； and all my care is to render guerdon for it to his child； since； alas！ I may not to himself。 Duke William rests in his bloody grave！ It is for me to call his murderers to account； and to cherish his son； even as mine own！〃
So saying； Louis tenderly embraced the little boy； and the Rouennais below broke out into another cry； in which 〃Long live King Louis；〃 was joined with 〃Long live Richard！〃
〃You will not let the child go？〃 said Eric； meanwhile； to Harcourt。
〃Not without provision for his safety； but we are not fit for war as yet； and to let him go is the only means of warding it off。〃
Eric groaned and shook his head； but the Count de Harcourt's judgment was of such weight with him； that he never dreamt of disputing it。
〃Bring me here；〃 said the King； 〃all that you deem most holy； and you shall see me pledge myself to be your Duke's most faithful friend。〃
There was some delay； during which the Norman Nobles had time for further counsel together； and Richard looked wistfully at them； wondering what was to happen to him； and wishing he could venture to ask for Alberic。
Several of the Clergy of the Cathedral presently appeared in procession； bringing with them the book of the Gospels on which Richard had taken his installation oath； with others of the sacred treasures of the Church； preserved in gold cases。 The Priests were followed by a few of the Norman Knights and Nobles； some of the burgesses of Rouen； and； to Richard's great joy； by Alberic de Montemar himself。 The two boys stood looking eagerly at each other； while preparation was made for the ceremony of the King's oath。
The stone table in the middle of the room was cleared； and arranged so as in some degree to resemble the Altar in the Cathedral； then the Count de Harcourt； standing before it； and holding the King's hand； demanded of him whether he would undertake to be the friend； protector； and good Lord of Richard； Duke of Normandy； guarding him from all his enemies； and ever seeking his welfare。 Louis； with his hand on the Gospels； 〃swore that so he would。〃
〃Amen！〃 returned Bernard the Dane； solemnly； 〃and as thou keepest that oath to the fatherless child； so may the Lord do unto thine house！〃
Then followed the ceremony； which had been interrupted the night before； of the homage and oath of allegiance which Richard owed to the King； and； on the other hand； the King's formal reception of him as a vassal； holding； under him； the two dukedoms of Normandy and Brittany。 〃And；〃 said the King； raising him in his arms and kissing him； 〃no dearer vassal do I hold in all my realm than this fair child； son of my murdered friend and benefactorprecious to me as my own children； as so on my Queen and I hope to testify。〃
Richard did not much like all this embracing； but he was sure the King really meant him no ill； and he wondered at all the distrust the Centevilles had shown。
〃Now； brave Normans；〃 said the King； 〃be ye ready speedily； for an onset on the traitor Fleming。 The cause of my ward is my own cause。 Soon shall the trumpet be sounded； the ban and arriere ban of the realm be called forth； and Arnulf； in the flames of his cities； and the blood of his vassals； shall learn to rue the day when his foot trod the Isle of Pecquigny！ How many Normans can you bring to the muster； Sir Count？〃
〃I cannot say； within a few hundreds of lances；〃 replied the old Dane； cautiously； 〃it depends on the numbers that may be engaged in the Italian war with the Saracens； but of this be sure； Sir King； that every man in Normandy and Brittany who can draw a sword or bend a bow； will stand forth in the cause of our little Duke； ay； and that his blessed father's memory is held so dear in our northern home； that it needs but a message to King Harold Blue…tooth to bring a fleet of long keels into the Seine； with stout Danes enough to carry fire and sword； not merely through Flanders； but through all France。 We of the North are not apt to forget old friendships and favours； Sir King。〃
〃Yes； yes； I know the Norman faith of old；〃 returned Louis； uneasily； 〃but we should scarcely need such wild allies as you propose； the Count of Paris； and Hubert of Senlis may be reckoned on； I suppose。〃
〃No truer friend to Normandy than gallant and wise old Hugh the White！〃 said Bernard； 〃and as to Senlis； he is uncle to the boy； and doubly bound to us。〃
〃I rejoice to see your confidence；〃 said Louis。 〃You shall soon hear from me。 In the meantime I must return to gather my force together； and summon my great vassals； and I will； with your leave； brave Normans； take with me my dear young ward。 His presence will plead better in his cause than the finest words； moreover； he will grow up in love and friendship with my two boys； and shall be nurtured with them in all good learning and chivalry； nor shall he ever be reminded that he is an orphan while under the care of Queen Gerberge and myself。〃
〃Let the child come to me； so please you； my Lord the King；〃 answered Harcourt； bluntly。 〃I must hold some converse with him； ere I can reply。〃
〃Go then； Richard；〃 said Louis； 〃go to your trusty vassalhappy are you in possessing such a friend； I hope you know his value。〃
〃Here then； young Sir；〃 said the Count； in his native tongue； when Richard had crossed from the King's side； and stood beside him； 〃what say you to this proposal？〃
〃The King is very kind；〃 said Richard。 〃I am sure he is kind； but I do not like to go from Rouen； or from Dame Astrida。〃
〃Listen； my Lord；〃 said the Dane； stooping down and speaking low。 〃The King is resolved to have you away； he has with him the best of his Franks； and has so taken us at unawares； that though I might yet rescue you from his hands； it would not be without a fierce struggle； wherein you might be harmed； and this castle and town certainly burnt； and wrested from us。 A few weeks or months； and we shall have time to draw our force together； so that Normandy need fear no man； and for that time you must tarry with him。〃
〃Must Iand all alone？〃
〃No； not alone； not without the most trusty guardian that can be found for you。 Friend Eric； what say you？〃 and he laid his hand on the old Ba