"O Heaven! His good angel must have spoken by his mouth! And what is it you have to do, my father?"
"I, with my nobles, must go to the King at Compiegne, and throw ourselves at his feet."
"And Queen Joanna?"
"The implacable Joanna of Navarre is at Paris, and Enguerrand de Marigny with her. Never was there a moment so favorable as this."
"The Lord grant that your hope may not deceive you! And when will you undertake this perilous expedition, my father?"
"The day after to-morrow Messire de Valois comes to Wynandael with his suite, and he will accompany us. I have called together those nobles who remained true to me in my misfortunes, in order to inform them of this matter. But your brother Robert comes not; how Is it that he has not yet returned to the castle?"
"Have you already forgotten his quarrel of this morning, my father? he has had to clear himself of the lie direct; of course he is with De Chatillon."
"You are right, William. I had forgotten that. This quarrel may do us harm; for Messire de Chatillon is powerful at the court of Philip the Fair."
In those times honor and good name were a knight's dearest possessions, and not the shadow of a reproach could he allow to pass upon them without a demand for instant reckoning; combats, therefore, were matters of daily occurrence, and excited but little attention.
Presently Guy rose, and said:
"There, I hear the bridge fall; doubtless my faithful nobles are already there. Come, let us go to the great hall."
And immediately they went out together, leaving the young Matilda alone, and took their way to the hall, where they were speedily joined by the Lords of Maldeghem, of Roode, of Courtrai, of Oudenarde, of Heyle, of Nevele, of Roubuis, Walter of Lovendeghem, with his two brothers, and several more, who came in one after the other, to the number of two-and-fifty in all. Some of them were already temporarily lodged in the castle, others had their possessions and residences in the neighboring plain.
All stood with uncovered head before their lord, anxiously awaiting the intelligence or command he might have to communicate. After keeping silence for some little time, Count Guy addressed them thus:
"My friends, it is well known to you that the true obedience with which I have ever followed the commands of my liege lord King Philip has been the cause of all my misfortunes. He it was that laid it upon me to call the city corporations to account for their government, which I therefore as a true subject and vassal desired and attempted to do. Then the city of Bruges refused me obedience, and my subjects rose against me. Afterward, when I went into France to do my homage to the king, he made me prisoner; and not only me, but my poor child, who was with me, and who still groans in the dungeons of the Louvre. All this you know; for you were the companions of your prince. Then, as became me, I sought to make good my right with arms; but fortune was against us, and the false Edward of England disregarded the bond we had entered into, and deserted us in our need. Now my land is confiscated; I am now the least among you, and your prince no more; another is now your lord."
"Not yet!" cried Walter of Lovendeghem; "when that day comes I break my sword forever. I know no other lord than the noble Guy of Dampierre."
"Sir Walter of Lovendeghem, your faithful attachment is truly gratifying to me; but hear me patiently to the end. Messire de Valois has overrun Flanders with his arms, and has now received it as a fief from his brother King Philip. Were it not for his magnanimity, I should not be with you here at Wynandael; for he it was that assigned me this pleasant abode. But this is not all; he has resolved to build up again the house of Flanders, and to set me once more on my father's seat. That is the matter which I have to speak of with you, my noble friends; for I need your help in it."
The astonishment of all present, who were listening with the deepest attention, reached its highest pitch at this announcement. That Charles de Valois should be willing to give up the land he had won and taken possession of seemed to them utterly incredible. They regarded the Count with looks that expressed all they felt; and after a short pause he resumed:
"My noble friends, I doubt not in the least your affection for me; therefore I speak in the full confidence that you will grant me this last request which I now make you; to-morrow I set out for France, to throw myself at the king's feet, and I desire to be accompanied by you, my faithful nobles."
All present answered, one after the other, that they were ready to accompany and stand by their
Count, where and when and in what way he would. All answered him except one, Diederik die Vos.
"Sir Diederik," asked the Count, "will you not go with us?"
"Surely, surely," answered he, thus personally appealed to, "the fox will go with you, were it to the mouth of hell. But I tell you, noble Count— forgive me, but I must have my say—I tell you, that one need be no fox to see where the trap lies here. What! after once having been caught in this way, will you run into the very same snare again? God grant that all may turn out well; but one thing I tell you, Philip the Fair shall not catch the fox."
"You judge and speak too lightly. Sir.Diederik," answered Guy; "we are to have a written safe conduct from Charles de Valois, and his honor is pledged for our free return to Flanders."
The Flemish
