“I beg Your Grace not to ask me to disclose my identity at this time,” said Max.  “I am willing, should you insist upon knowing who I am, to tell it privately in Your Grace’s ear; but I am travelling incognito with my friend, Sir Karl de Pitti, and I beg that I may remain so.  My estate is neither very great nor very small, but what it is I desire for many reasons not to divulge.  These reasons in no way touch Burgundy, and I am sure Your Grace will not wish to intrude upon them.  Within a month, perhaps within a few days, I will enlighten you.  If you will permit me to remain in Peronne, I will communicate my reasons to you personally; if I leave, I will write to Your Grace.  I give my parole that I will, within a month, surrender myself to Your Lordship, if you are not satisfied, upon hearing my explanations, that my word is that of an honorable knight, and my station one worthy of Your Grace’s respect.  I hope my Lord d’Hymbercourt and my good friend Castleman will stand as hostages for me in making this pledge.”

Both men eagerly offered their persons and their estates as hostages, and the duke, turning to the captain of the guard, said:—­

“Remove the manacles from these knights.”

The chains were removed, and the duke, coming down to the last step of the dais, looked into Max’s face.

Max calmly returned the fierce gaze without so much as the faltering of an eyelid.

“All step back save this young man,” ordered the duke, extending his open palm toward the courtiers.

We all fell away, but the duke said:—­

“Farther back, farther back, I say!  Don’t crowd in like a pack of yokels at a street fight!”

Charles was acting under great excitement.  I was not sure that it was not anger since his mien looked much like it.  I did not know what was going to happen, and was in an agony of suspense.  Anything was possible with this brutish duke when his brain was crazed with passion.

All who had been near the ducal throne moved back, till no one was within ten yards of Charles save Max.  The duke wore a dagger and a shirt of mail; Max wore neither arms nor armor.  After the courtiers stepped back from the throne a deep, expectant hush fell upon the room.  No one could guess the intentions of this fierce, cruel duke, and I was terribly apprehensive for Max’s safety.  Had Max been armed, I should have had no fear for him at the hands of the duke or any other man.

Charles stepped from the dais to the floor beside Max, still gazing fixedly into his face.  The men were within four feet of each other.  The silence in the room was broken only by the heavy breathing of excited courtiers.  The duke’s voice sounded loud and harsh when he spoke to Max, and his breath came in hoarse gusts:—­

“You are accused, Sir Knight, by credible witnesses of intent to murder me.  For such a crime it is my privilege to kill you here and now with my own hand.  What have you to say?”