“Who are you?” demanded the duke, speaking to me.

“I am Sir Karl de Pitti,” I replied.  “Your Grace may know my family; we are of Italy.  It was once my good fortune to serve under your father and yourself.  My young friend is known as Sir Maximilian du Guelph.”

“He is known as Guelph, but who is he?” demanded Charles.

“That question I may not answer, my lord,” said I, speaking in the Walloon tongue.

“You shall answer or die,” returned the duke, angrily.

“I hope my Lord of Burgundy will not be so harsh with us,” interrupted Max, lifting his head and speaking boldly.  “We have committed no crime, and do not know why we have been arrested.  We beg that we may be told the charge against us, and we would also know who makes the charge.”

“Count Calli,” said the duke, beckoning that worthy knight, “come forward and speak.”

Calli came forward, knelt to the duke, and said: 

“I, my lord, charge these unknown men as being Swiss spies and assassins, who seek to murder Your Grace and to betray Burgundy.”

“You lie, you dog,” cried Max, looking like an angry young god.  “You lie in your teeth and in your heart.  My Lord of Burgundy, I demand the combat against this man who seeks my life by treachery and falsehood.  I waive my rank for the sweet privilege of killing this liar.”

“My Lord Duke,” I exclaimed, interrupting Max, “if my Lord d’Hymbercourt is in presence, I beg that I may have speech with him.”

Hymbercourt stepped to my side, and the duke signified permission to speak.

“My Lord d’Hymbercourt,” said I, turning to my friend, “I beg you to tell His Grace that we are not spies.  I may not, for reasons well known to you, give you permission to inform His Grace who my young companion is, and I hope my Lord of Burgundy will be satisfied with your assurance that we are honest knights who wish only good to this land and its puissant ruler.”

“Indeed, my Lord Duke, I was right,” answered Hymbercourt.  “Again I offer my person and my estates as hostages for these men.  They are not spies.  They are not of Switzerland, nor are they friends to the Swiss; neither are they enemies of Burgundy.  I doubt not they will gladly join Your Lordship in this war against the cantons.  These knights have been arrested to gratify revenge for personal injury received and deserved by this traitorous Count Calli.”

“It is false,” cried Campo-Basso.

“It is true—­pitifully true, my lord,” returned Hymbercourt.  “This young knight was at the moat bridge near Castleman’s House under the Wall talking with a burgher maid, Fraeulein Castleman.  Count Calli stole upon them without warning and insulted the maiden.  My young friend knocked down the ruffian, and, in the conflict that ensued, broke Calli’s arm.  Your Grace may have seen him carrying it in a sling until within the last forty-eight hours.