Lambert of Limoux—"May heaven keep me from entertaining any jealousy towards you! As to me, my part is done. And to speak truly, the good bags of gold and the fine silver vessel that I captured at the sack of Beziers, and which are safely kept in my baggage, are, to my mind, preferable to all the domains of Albigeois. One can not carry home with him either lands or castles, and the chances of war are risky. But I hope that I shall have nothing more to fear from that quarter after the 10th of this month."
Hugues of Lascy—"What does that date signify?"
Lambert of Limoux—"The day after that date the forty days will have expired that are all a Crusader owes to a holy war. The forty days begin from the moment he sets foot upon the heretical land. After that he can ride with his men back to his own manor. And that is what I purpose to do—"
The confidential unbosoming on the part of the ex-Conservator of the High Privileges of Love is at this point interrupted by one of the equerries of the Count of Montfort, who comes running out of the neighboring chamber.
Hugues of Lascy—"Where are you running to in that way? What pressing business have you in hand?"
Equerry—"Oh, sire, the count is in great danger. He lies in the agony of death!"
Hugues of Lascy—"But only a short while ago he was resting calmly, and the fever had abated? What change has come over him?"
Equerry—"The count just woke up and is almost suffocated. I am running after Abbot Reynier by order of the countess. She wishes him to administer the extreme unction to the seigneur, and open for him the gates of paradise."
The equerry runs off on his errand, and is barely away when a soldier enters and says to Lambert of Limoux:
"Seigneur, I have brought to you the heretic of Lavaur, whom I was ordered to wait for at our advanced posts. He asks to be allowed to enter."