CHAPTER XVI.
The twelve peers, who really loved and admired the emperor, could not but accept his overtures. After a consultation they decided to return to the camp. Before doing so, however, they sent to Dordogne, under a strong escort, the cowardly Pinabel, with a message to Maugis that it was this man, with Ganelon, the latter having unfortunately escaped with the Abbé Gorieux, who had been the cause of all the trouble that had occurred, even to that very day, and they desired that Maugis should deal with him as he deemed best.
In due time, Pinabel, with his escort, arrived at Dordogne, and the traitor was cast into a dungeon until further orders.
When the twelve peers had arrived at the camp Charlemagne assembled them, and said:
“Noble lords! it is true I am too severe, nevertheless the sons of Aymon have been guilty of revolt against me, with their cousin Renaud. They certainly merit punishment. I have felt that I must have the satisfaction to have one at least expiate the fault of all. I feel that my position is just and right, therefore go thou,” said he to the Duke de Naimes and say to them, “that if one of them will yield his life in expiation of the faults of all, the rest shall receive full pardon and safety from dishonor, and be allowed to retain full possession of all their rights.”
The Duke de Naimes duly arrived at Dordogne and acquitted him of his message. The family were plunged into a stupor of consternation. Maugis alone retained his coolness.
“The demand of the emperor is just,” said he, “and for the sake of all must be acceded to.” Then turning calmly to the Duke de Naimes, he said:
“Go to Charlemagne and say to him that I will offer myself as a sacrifice for the good of mine. Tell him that to-morrow I will deliver myself up, and that I will release Richard de Normandie safe and sound.”
Yolande, grief-stricken, threw herself upon her husband’s neck, crying:
“Canst thou be so cruel, dear one? think, thy sons will be fatherless and my life a living death without thee.”
Maugis disengaged her arms and putting her aside, said gently:
“It is duty that calls me, I must obey.”
“Thou shalt not go, Maugis. I am the one to be sacrificed. Thou hast a wife and sons. I am alone!” cried Richard.
“Not so,” here interposed Alard. “It is I who will go.”
“No! no!” interposed Guichard. “I am the least of thee, my brothers, surely it is just that I should be the one to suffer.”
“This must not be so. No one shall go but me,” expostulated Renaud. “All these troubles came through my father’s fault; surely it is but justice that I should go.”
“Enough, dear friends; let this contention cease. It is decided. I will go. Let there be no more said.”
Then all the prayers of his wife and his sons were vain. Maugis would not renounce his intention, nothing could shake his resolution; but finally, becoming wearied of their tears and entreaties, he feigned to surrender to them, and proposed a plan for selecting the one who should be sacrificed in fulfillment of the conditions of the emperor.
“To-morrow,” said he, “at sunrise, we will all assemble in the grand square of the city, and putting our names on slips of paper, one shall be drawn in the presence of all the people, and in this way we shall designate who shall be delivered to Charlemagne.”
The following morning Maugis was nowhere to be found. He had disappeared, though diligent search was made for him. Yolande, distracted, went about asking all whom she met if they had seen her husband, but getting no news of him she thought then he must have gone to the imperial camp with the Duke de Normandie. Her fears making her desperate, she returned to the palace, and taking her two sons hastened along the road thither without an escort. She could not entertain the idea that Maugis should suffer alone. She had determined to die with him.
More prudent than Yolande, the brothers of Maugis assembled the troops, and followed by the people, started to the succor of Maugis, whom they thought to be in danger.
Meanwhile Maugis, Naimes, and the Duke Richard had arrived and presented themselves before the emperor, who could hardly restrain his agitation when he saw them. He greeted them warmly, and in his pleasure extended both hands to them. Then remembering that he was an emperor, he collected himself, and assuming a sternness that did not accord with his real feelings, he said to Maugis:
“You have fought against your emperor. You have merited death. You well know what is the punishment for such a great crime. It is the scaffold!”
“We know and we have come to plead with you for him!” cried Yolande at this moment, who had just arrived, and hastening forward with her two sons, threw herself at the feet of the emperor: “We ask your grace, sire, and if thou dost refuse we beseech thee to let us be punished with him.”
“And I!” cried the emperor, who could no longer conceal his emotion, “I love you all, because I am your second father. Maugis, I pardon thee, be relieved, but thou must expiate thy fault, for it is great. I decree that thou shalt sojourn in the holy land, for I know not how long; perhaps a year; but if thou art always as loyal and as brave as thou hast been, thou wilt return covered with glory and new laurels. Thou wilt abandon thy magic and the black arts, for the safety of thy soul, and glorify God by this expiation. As to thy wife and children, they shall be as my own. They shall never leave me, and I will this very day restore to them their rights and property. Bid thee farewell to thy family and thy brothers; go and God be with thee.”
Maugis, overcome with emotion, made his adieus to the emperor, and affectionately embraced Yolande, who swooned from her awful grief, and caressed his children. There was not a dry eye among the courtiers there assembled as he departed for Dordogne, accompanied by Richard de Normandie, who swore he would not leave him until he reached the port from which he sailed for Jerusalem.
Halfway to Dordogne he encountered his brothers, who were coming to his rescue with their troops, followed by the people, to whom he gave an account of what had happened, and they then retraced their steps with him to the city. He caused a flag of peace to be hoisted on the highest tower, and sent to the emperor his famous horse Bayard, as a gage of reconciliation. The brave demeanor, the resignation, and the lofty character displayed by Maugis appealed so strongly to all the peers and knights that everywhere they proclaimed their high admiration for him. Maugis asked the emperor what he should do with Pinabel, and he replied that he abandoned him entirely to Maugis to do with as he chose. And here the noble character of Maugis was again exhibited. Instead of destroying his perfidious enemy, all the vengeance he took was to provide him with a broken-down white horse and set him free, warning him on pain of death to leave the states of Charlemagne.
The next day Maugis embraced his brothers, commending his wife and children to them, took off his armor, and assuming the habit of a pilgrim did not even retain his sword, and set out on his journey; but they would not leave him, and with Richard de Normandie, accompanied him to the coast and saw him set sail for the holy land.