“Go and take some rest,” said he to Erard and the domestics, “and may our God and Saviour keep your souls while his goodness gives you sleep!”

Erard embraced his grandfather, Ethbert and Matthew bent before him respectfully, and Gottfried remained alone, in silence, near the bed, which was lighted by a little lamp, through a curtain which concealed it.

“You have saved me!” said the chevalier to the old man, when all was quiet in the house.  “May the Holy Virgin recompense you.”

“It is then one of our enemies!” said Gottfried to himself, as he heard this prayer.  “O God!” said he in his heart, “make thy charity to abound in me!”

“I am your friend,” replied the old man, affectionately, “and God himself has granted me the blessing of being useful to you.  But, I pray you, remain silent, and, if possible, sleep a few moments.”

Gottfried needed to collect his thoughts, and to ask God for his Spirit of peace and love.  He had already supposed, at sight of the chevalier’s shield, that he belonged to the army of the enemy; but he had just received the certainty of it, and “perhaps, perhaps,” said he to himself, “I have before me one who may have killed my son!”

The old man therefore spent the moments not employed beside the chevalier in praying to God and in reading his gospel of grace.

The knight slept peacefully towards morning, and on awaking showed that he was refreshed.  “If it were not,” said he, “for my bruised limb, I would ask for my arms.  O, why am I not at the head of my men?”

Gottfried sighed, and as he gave the warrior some drink, said, in a low voice, “Why do men hate and kill each other, invoking the name of Him who died to save them?”

“But,” exclaimed the warrior, in a deep voice, “are those who despise and fight against the holy Church Christians?”

At this moment Erard half opened the door, and showed his pretty curly head, saying, “Grandpapa, has the wounded man been able to sleep?  I have prayed God for him.”

“Much obliged, my child,” said the chevalier, extending his hand to him.  “Come! do not fear; approach.  O, how you resemble my second son!  What is your age and name?”

“I am called Erard,” replied the child, giving his hand to the chevalier, “and I shall soon be nine years old.”

“That is also the age of my Rodolph,” pursued the chevalier.  “Alas! they will think me dead!  Those villains! those cowards!  Did they not see that I had no lance, and that my sword was broken?”

“Go, my child,” said Gottfried.  “Let the table and the books be prepared, I will soon come and pray to God with you.  Call all the servants.”

“Will you also pray for me?” asked the chevalier, “If you will, pray also for my dear Hildegarde and our five children.  O, when shall my eyes see them again?”

“Is it long since you left them?” asked Gottfried.

“It is a week,” replied the chevalier, with firmness.  “I learned that the intrepid Arnold——­”