"Ah, Louis, Louis! would to God thou wert as faithful a monarch as thou art a merry companion! I cannot but think often on the jovial time we used to spend together."
"You may bring it back when you will," said Louis; "I will grant you as fair terms as for very shame's sake you ought to ask in my present condition, without making yourself the fable of Christendom; and I will swear to observe them upon the holy relique which I have ever the grace to bear about my person, being a fragment of the true cross."
Here he took a small golden reliquary, which was suspended from his neck next to his shirt by a chain of the same metal, and having kissed it devoutly, continued –
"Never was false oath sworn on this most sacred relique, but it was avenged within the year."
"Yet," said the Duke, "it was the same on which you swore amity to me when you left Burgundy, and shortly after sent the Bastard of Rubempré to murder or kidnap me."
"Nay, gracious cousin, now you are ripping up ancient grievances," said the King; "I promise you, that you were deceived in that matter. – Moreover, it was not upon this relique which I then swore, but upon another fragment of the true cross which I got from the Grand Seignior, weakened in virtue, doubtless, by sojourning with infidels. Besides, did not the war of the Public Good break out within the year; and was not a Burgundian army encamped at Saint Dennis, backed by all the great feudatories of France; and was I not obliged to yield up Normandy to my brother? – O God, shield us from perjury on such a warrant as this!"
"Well, cousin," answered the Duke; "I do believe thou hadst a lesson to keep faith another time. – And now for once, without finesse and doubling, will you make good your promise, and go with me to punish this murdering La Marck and the Liegeois?"
"I will march against them," said Louis, "with the Ban, and Arrière-Ban of France, and the Oriflamme displayed."
"Nay, nay," said the Duke, "that is more than is needful, or maybe advisable. The presence of your Scottish Guard, and two hundred choice lances, will serve to show that you are a free agent. A large army might" –
"Make me so in effect, you would say, my fair cousin?" said the King. "Well, you shall dictate the numbers of my attendants."