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Charles flew into a great rage on hearing of the attempts to which his god-child had, more than once, nearly fallen a victim.
“By Joyeuse! he who touches my god-child is a bold man. Tell me, Mitaine, have you no indication to give me which might put us on the track of this devourer of babes?”
“None, my lord; the monster appears and disappears as if by magic.”
“Well, be he fay, ogre, or vampire, I swear to Heaven I will deliver him into your hands. But until it is in our power to hang, draw, and quarter him, how shall we distinguish this monster, who wishes to devour you, by name?”
“Let us call him Croquemitaine!”
“So be it. Well, then, Croquemitaine shall be hanged: take my word for it.”
In the year 777 Charlemagne celebrated Easter at Nimègue.