An expression of fear passed over the countenances of all present; they regarded Diederik with anxious curiosity. The latter meanwhile filled a goblet with wine, drank it off, and then proceeded:
"That will give me courage; and in truth I wanted it. Listen, then, and forgive your faithful servant Die Vos that it is from his mouth you hear such news. You are all in hopes of being graciously received by the king, and not without reason, for he is a generous prince. The day before yesterday he found pleasure in the thought of showing himself magnanimous; but then he was not, as now, possessed by evil spirits."
"What is it you say?" cried his hearers in astonishment; "is the king so afflicted?"
"Sir Diederik," said Robert sharply, "a truce to your flowers of rhetoric; you have something serious to tell us—that I can see, but it does not seem to come readily from your lips."
"You have said the truth, Lord Robert," answered Diederik; "hear, then, my news, which it sadly grieves me to have to bring: Joanna of Navarre and Enguerrand de Marigny are at Compiegne!
These names had a terrible effect on all the company, who, as if suddenly struck dumb, bowed their heads without speaking a word. At last the young William lifted up his hands, and cried despairingly:
"Heavens! the cruel Joanna and Enguerrand de Marigny! oh, my poor sister! my father, we are lost!"
"Well, then, now you understand," said Diederik; "those are the evil spirits which possess the good prince. You see, most noble Count, that your servant Diederik was not so far wrong, when he warned you at Wynandael against this trap."
"Who told you that the queen is at Compiegne?" asked the Count, as though he still thought the matter doubtful.
"My own eyesight," answered Diederik. "Ever fearing some underhand work (for I put no trust in their double-tongued speeches), I kept on the watch, with eyes and ears both wide open. I have seen Joanna of Navarre, seen her face, and heard her voice. My faith and honor on the truth of what I tell you."
"What Diederik tells us is doubtless the truth," said Walter of Lovendeghem; "Joanna is certainly at Compiegne, for he pledges his honor that it is so; and she will as certainly use every effort to destroy our hopes from the king, with whom her influence is, heaven knows, only too great. The best we can do is to consider with all speed how to get out of the trap; when we are prisoners, it will be too late."
The effect of this intelligence upon the old Count was such as to depress him even to despair. His position was so dangerous that he could find no outlet from it; escape seemed impossible, for they were in the very heart of the king's territories, or at least too far from Flanders to have any hope of safety in flight. Robert de Bethune chafed like a lion in the toils, and cursed the journey which had thus delivered him bound hand and foot into the power of his enemies.
Thus for a while they sat in gloomy silence—the Count disconsolate and uncertain what to do, and the eyes of all the rest fixed on him. Suddenly a servant of the court appeared at the door of the chamber, and cried with a loud voice:
"Messire de Nogaret, with a message from the king."
A sudden movement sufficiently evinced the anxiety felt by the Flemings at this startling announcement. Messire de Nogaret was the accustomed and well-known instrument of the king's secret commands; and they all supposed that he was now come with an armed force to arrest them. Robert de Bethune drew his sword from the sheath, and laid it before him on the table. The other knights grasped the hilts of their swords, and looked fixedly at the door; in which position they still were when Messire de Nogaret entered, who, courteously bowing to the knights, turned to Count Guy, and thus addressed him:
"Count of Flanders! My gracious king and master requires of you to appear before him tomorrow, an hour before noon, and there publicly to ask pardon of him for your transgression. The arrival of our most gracious queen has hastened this command. She has herself interceded in your behalf with her royal consort, and I have it in command from her to assure you of the satisfaction your submission gives her. To-morrow, then, gentlemen! Forgive me that I leave you hastily; their majesties are waiting for me, and I can not stay. The Lord have you in His keeping!"
And with this greeting he left the room.
"Thanks be to Heaven, gentlemen!" exclaimed Count Guy; "the king is gracious to us: now we may go to rest with hearts at ease. You have heard his majesty's commands; be pleased to hold yourselves in readiness to obey them."
The knights now recovered their spirits once more. They conversed for some time upon the alarm Diederik had given them, and the happy result which seemed now to await their expedition; while a goblet of wine was emptied to the health of their aged Count.
As they were separating for the night, Diederik took Robert's hand, and in a suppressed voice said to him:
"Farewell, my friend and master! yes, farewell; for I fear it will be long before my hand shall again press yours. But remember that your servant Diederik will ever stand by you and comfort you, in whatsover land—in whatsoever dungeon your lot may be cast."
Robert saw a tear glisten in Diederik's eye which told him how deeply his faithful friend was moved.
"I understand you, Diederik," he whispered in reply: "what you fear is what I too foresee. But there is no escape left now. Farewell, then, till better days."
"Gentlemen," pursued Diederik, turning to the company and speaking aloud, "if you have any commands to your friends
