When many years had passed, death came to the great Emperor. He was laid at rest in the cathedral vault, not far from the spot he loved so well.
Strangers visiting Aix-la-Chapelle are told not to visit the magic pool by moonlight. At the mystic hour when Turpin dropped the ring into the quiet waters, the spell recovers all its former powers. Accordingly, should any one visit it at that time, his longing heart would always lead him back to the charmed spot, however far away he might be wandering in the wide world.
CHARLEMAGNE’S GENEROSITY
Charlemagne had had a new palace built for him in a beautiful spot near the Rhine. When it was completed he went to visit it. The first night that he slept in the palace, a very strange incident occurred. An angel came and stood by his bedside.
“Arise,” it seemed to say to him, “arise, go forth and enter secretly the house of Arnot.”
The Emperor was so astonished at this command that he did not know what to do. He could scarcely believe that such an order could come from an angel, so he did not move, but the command was repeated, and then repeated again.
When the angel commanded him the third time to go and enter secretly the house of Arnot, he arose, went quietly to his stable, saddled his horse himself, and rode silently out into the darkness, in the direction of the home of Arnot, one of his most trusted ministers.
As he was going along the dark way thoughtfully, he heard someone approaching, and he soon perceived that it was a knight clad in dark armor. Charlemagne could think of no good mission upon which a man could be riding at such an hour; so he challenged the man.