red the King.

So peace was made, the Queen was fetched, and they all sat down to a
great feast. In this manner the pride of the King was broken.

But when one man is shifty and another is hasty, wrath is not apt to
slumber long, and treaties of peace are easier made than kept. When
the feast was over William pressed King Louis to prepare an army at
once; but the King would bind himself to nothing. "We will speak of it
again," said he; "I will tell you to-morrow whether I will go or not."

At this William grew red with rage, and holding out a wand he said to
the King, "I give you back your fief. I will take nothing from you,
and henceforth will neither be your friend nor your vassal."

"Keep your fief," said Ernaut to his brother, "and leave the King to do
as he will. I will help you and my brothers also, and between us we
shall have twenty thousand men to fight with any Saracens we shall
find."

"You speak weak words," cried Aimeri; "he is Seneschal of France, and
also her Standard Bearer; he has a right to our help." And Alix
approved of his saying, and the Queen likewise. The King saw that none
were on his side and dared refuse no longer. "Count William, for love
of you I will call together my army, and a hundred thousand men shall
obey your commands. But I myself will not go with you, for my kingdom
needs me badly."

"Remain, Sire," answered William, "I myself will lead the host." And
the King sent out his messengers, and soon a vast army was gathered
under the walls of Laon.

PART VIII.

It was on one of these days, when the Count stood in the great hall,
that there entered from the kitchen a young man whom he had never seen
before. The youth, whose name was Rainouart, was tall, strong as a
wild boar, and swift as a deer. The scullions and grooms had played
off jests upon him during the night, but had since repented them
sorely, for he had caught the leaders up in his arms and broken their
heads against the walls.

The rest, eager to avenge their comrades' death, prepared to overcome
him with numbers, and in spite of his strength it might have gone ill
with Rainouart had not Aimeri de Narbonne, hearing the noise, forbade
more brawling.

Count William was told of the unseemly scuffle, and asked the King who
and what the young man was who could keep at bay so many of his
fellows. "I bought him once at sea," said Louis, "and paid a hundred
marks for him. They pretend that he is the son of