"This boy," said Theobald, "is still a child, and the idea of bloodshed inspires him with fear."
"Ah!" said Gottfried, "his father is also in the army, and this narrative gives him anxiety on his account. You did not then spare this warrior?"
"I have told you: the sight of the chalice awoke my fury, and exclaiming, Defend thyself, I took my sword with both hands, and with a single blow dashed aside his shield and cleft his helmet.
"But my sword broke; and at the moment when the Lion fell----"
Gottfried, with terror. Did Arnold then fall? Was Arnold killed?
"So perish all who hate the Holy Church! (Gottfried conceals his face in his hands.) But as soon as I had struck him, his soldiers precipitated themselves upon ours, and five of their chevaliers threw themselves upon me and surrounded me. I had no arms: I had laid down my lance to combat with the Lion, and my sword was broken. I could yet, with the fragment that remained, repulse and strike down three men; but I was alone, my people were themselves surrounded, and I saw that I must perish. It was then that I fled. (O, how I regret it! But the cowards! they did not give me even a sword!) Yes, I fled towards the forest, hoping to find there a branch with which I could arm and defend myself; but my horse stumbled over the roots, in consequence of which I fell and fainted.
"The rest you know. I owe my life to you; and you have taken care of me like a father."
"Arnold is then dead!" cried Gottfried, without perceiving that the chevalier had finished his narrative.
"Do not regret it," replied Theobald. "He was an enemy of our faith; one of those ferocious Taborites,[[3]] who deny the Holy Father and demolish sacred places."
"And it was you," continued Gottfried, "it was you yourself who struck him, when he refused to draw his sword against you!"