es of
their rank, addressed them, and inquired if the Dukes Namo and Salomon
were still residing at the Emperor's court. At this question the barons
looked at one another in amazement; and one of the eldest said to the
rest, "How much this knight resembles the portrait of my grand-uncle,
Ogier the Dane." "Ah! my dear nephew, I am Ogier the Dane," said he;
and he remembered that Morgana had told him that he was little aware of
the flight of time during his abode with her.

The barons, more astonished than ever, concluded to conduct him to the
monarch who then reigned, the great Hugh Capet.

The brave Ogier entered the palace without hesitation; but when, on
reaching the royal hall, the barons directed him to make his obeisance
to the King of France, he was astonished to see a man of short stature
and large head, whose air, nevertheless, was noble and martial, seated
upon the throne on which he had so often seen Charlemagne, the tallest
and handsomest sovereign of his time.

Ogier recounted his adventures with simplicity and affectedness. Hugh
Capet was slow to believe him; but Ogier recalled so many proofs and
circumstances, that at last he was forced to recognize the aged warrior
to be the famous Ogier the Dane.

The king informed Ogier of the events which had taken place during his
long absence; that the line of Charlemagne was extinct; that a new
dynasty had commenced; that the old enemies of the kingdom, the
Saracens, were still troublesome; and that at that very time an army of
those miscreants was besieging the city of Chartres, to which he was
about to repair in a few days to its relief. Ogier, always inflamed
with the love of glory, offered the service of his arm, which the
illustrious monarch accepted graciously, and conducted him to the
queen. The astonishment of Ogier was redoubled when he saw the new
ornaments and head-dresses of the ladies; still, the beautiful hair
which they built up on their foreheads, and the feathers interwoven,
which waved with so much grace, gave them a noble air that delighted
him. His admiration increased when, instead of the old Empress Bertha,
he saw a young queen who combined a majestic mien with the graces of
her time of life, and manners candid and charming, suited to attach all
hearts. Ogier saluted the youthful queen with a respect so profound
that many of the courtiers took him for a foreigner, or at least for
some nobleman brought up at a distance from Paris, who retain