As the king uttered these words, amazement and consternation filled the hearts of the Flemings, who now saw themselves in the trap against which Diederik die Vos had warned them; but as Count Guy made no motion to rise, they too remained on their knees. The king went on:
"A vassal that traitorously takes arms against his king and liege lord has forfeited his fief; and he that holds with the enemies of France has forfeited his life. You have disobeyed the commands of your sovereign; you have made common cause with Edward of England, our enemy, and with him levied war against us; by all which misdeeds and treasons you have justly forfeited your life. Nevertheless, we will not hastily put in execution such our righteous doom, but will still further take time for consideration thereupon; to which end we have determined that you and those of your nobles who have abetted you in your contumacy, be held in safe keeping till such time as, in our wisdom, we may come to a final resolution concerning you."
But now Charles de Valois, filled with equal grief and astonishment at what he had just heard, came forward, and thus addressed the king:
“My liege! you know with what zeal and fidelity I have ever served you, even as if I had been the lowest of your subjects, and none can say that treachery or falsehood has ever sullied with one spot the shield of Charles de Valois. And now it is you, my liege, that are, for the first time, putting shame upon my honor—upon your brother's honor I Will you make me a traitor? Shall your brother have to hide his head under the reproach of a false knight? Remember, sire, that Guy of Flanders came to your court under a safe conduct from me, and that you make me a liar if you do not respect it."
The Count de Valois had gradually grown excited as he spoke; and such power was there in his flashing eyes that Philip was on the very point of recalling his sentence. Himself regarding honor and good name as a knight's most precious treasure, he felt in his inmost heart the pain that he was inflicting upon his faithful brother. Meanwhile the Flemings had risen, and were listening anxiously to the pleading of their advocate, while the bystanders awaited the result motionless and terrorstruck.
But Queen Joanna gave her husband no time to answer for himself. Fearing lest her prey should escape her, and jealous of her brother-in-law's interference, she passionately exclaimed: "Messire de Valois! how can you dare to stand up in defense of the enemies of France, and so make yourself a partner in their treasons? This is not the first time, moreover, that you have taken it upon you to oppose the king's good pleasure."
"Madame," retorted Charles sharply, "it ill beseems you to couple such a word as treason with the name of your husband's brother. Shall I stand by in silence and allow you to bring infamy upon my name; and so have it said of me that it was Charles de Valois that beguiled the hapless Guy of Flanders to his destruction? No, by Heaven! so shall it not be. And I ask you, Philip, my prince and brother, will you allow the blood of St. Louis to be dishonored in me? Shall this be the reward of all my faithful services?"
It was easily seen that the king was interceding with Joanna, and pressing her to consent to a mitigation of the sentence; but she, in her implacable hatred against the Flemings, scornfully refused to listen; while, at the words of Charles de Valois, a scarlet glow of fury overspread her countenance. Suddenly she exclaimed:
"Ho, guards! Let the king be obeyed! Take the traitors, one and all!"
At this command the royal guards filled the hall, through all the various doors that led into it. The Flemish knights allowed themselves to be made prisoners without resistance, which they well saw could avail them nothing, as they were at once unarmed, outnumbered, and surrounded.
One of the bodyguard approached the old Count, and laid his hand upon his shoulder, saying:
“My lord Count, I arrest you in the king's name."
The Count of Flanders looked him sadly in the face; then turned toward Robert and sighed out, "My poor, poor son!"
Robert meanwhile stood motionless, but with restless eye, amid the French knights, whose looks were now curiously bent upon him. Suddenly, as though an invisible hand had touched him with a magic wand, a convulsive shiver passed over his whole frame; all his muscles strained convulsively, and lightning seemed to flash from his eyes; then, springing forward like a lion upon his prey, he cried, with a voice that made the very rafters shake:
"Villain! do you dare in my presence to lay an ignoble hand upon my father's shoulder? There you shall leave that hand, or I die the death!"
And with these words he wrested the weapon from the hand of a halberdier, and dashed forward. A general cry of alarm was heard, and the French knights drew their swords, for at first they were in fear for the lives of the king and queen. This fear, however, was soon over; for Robert's blow was struck. As he had said, he had done; the hand which had ventured to touch his father lay, with the arm belonging to it, upon the ground, and a stream of blood flowed from the mangled stump.
The guards crowded round
