[Sidenote:  Malagigi’s stratagem.] Unnoticed, the beggars threaded their way through the city of Paris and came to the palace.  There a great tournament was to be held, and the emperor had promised to the victor of the day the famous steed Bayard.  To stimulate the knights to greater efforts by a view of the promised prize, the emperor bade a groom lead forth the renowned steed.  The horse seemed restive, but suddenly paused beside two beggars, with a whinny of joy.  The groom, little suspecting that the horse’s real master was hidden under the travel-stained pilgrim’s robe, laughingly commented upon Bayard’s bad taste.  Then Malagigi, the second beggar, suddenly cried aloud that his poor companion had been told that he would recover from his lameness were he only once allowed to bestride the famous steed.  Anxious to witness a miracle, the emperor gave orders that the beggar should be placed upon Bayard; and Renaud, after feigning to fall off through awkwardness, suddenly sat firmly upon his saddle, and dashed away before any one could stop him.

As for Malagigi, having wandered among the throng unheeded, he remained in Paris until evening.  Then, making his way into the prison by means of the necromantic charm “Abracadabra,” which he continually repeated, he delivered the other sons of Aymon from their chains.  He next entered the palace of the sleeping emperor, spoke to him in his sleep, and forced him, under hypnotic influence, to give up the scepter and crown, which he triumphantly bore away.

[Treachery of Iwo.] When Charlemagne awoke on the morrow, found his prisoners gone, and realized that what had seemed a dream was only too true, and that the insignia of royalty were gone, he was very angry indeed.  More than ever before he now longed to secure the sons of Aymon; so he bribed Iwo, with whom the brothers had taken refuge, to send them to him.  Clarissa suspected her father’s treachery, and implored Renaud not to believe him; but the brave young hero, relying upon Iwo’s promise, set out without arms to seek the emperor’s pardon.  On the way, however, the four sons of Aymon fell into an ambuscade, whence they would scarcely have escaped alive had not one of the brothers drawn from under his robe the weapons Clarissa had given him.

The emperor’s warriors, afraid of the valor of these doughty brethren now that they were armed, soon withdrew to a safe distance, whence they could watch the young men and prevent their escape.  Suddenly, however, Malagigi came dashing up on Bayard, for Clarissa had warned him of his kinsmen’s danger, and implored him to go to their rescue.  Renaud immediately mounted his favorite steed, and brandishing Flamberge, which his uncle had brought him, he charged so gallantly into the very midst of the imperial troops that he soon put them to flight.