Dedinz la clauson qu’i es
     Son las mazos dels borges . . .

On went the exulting voice after the new rhymes, gayer and yet more gay. Li Chastel d’Amors has twelve linked verses, and King Richard, wound up in their music, sang them all.  When at last he had stopped, he said, ‘Now, Gurdun, what do you want here?’

Gilles came a step or two of his way, and so again a step or two, and so again, by jerks.  When he was so near that it was to be seen what he had in his right hand, the King got up.  Gilles saw that he had light fetters on his ankles which could not stop his walking.  Richard folded his arms.

‘Oh, Gurdun,’ he said, ‘what a fool you are.’

Gurdun vented a sob of rage, and flung himself forward at his enemy.  He was a shorter man, but very thickset, with arms like steel.  He had a knife, rage like a thirst, he was free.  Richard, as he came on, hit him full on the chin, and sent him flying.  Gurdun picked himself up again, his mouth twitching, his eyes so small as to be like slits.  Knife in hand he leaned against the wall to fetch up his breath.

‘Well,’ said Richard, ‘Have you had enough?’

‘Yes, you wolf,’ said Gurdun, ‘I shall wait till it is dark.’

‘I think it may suit you better,’ was the King’s comment as he sat down on the bed.  Gurdun squatted by the wall, watching him.  After about an hour of humming airs to himself Richard lay full length, and in a short time Gilles ascertained that he was asleep.  This brought tears into the man’s eyes; he began to cry freely.  Virgin Mary!  Virgin Mary! why could he not kill this frozen devil of a king?  Was there a race in the world which bred such men, to sleep with the knife at the throat?  He rose to his feet, went to look at the sleeper; but he knew he could not do his work.  He ranged the room incessantly, and at every second or third turn brought up short by the bed.  Sometimes he flashed up his long knife; it always stayed the length of his arm, then flapped down to his flank in dejection.  ‘If he wakes not I must go away.  I cannot do it so,’ he told himself, as finally he sat down by the wall.  It grew dusk.  He was tired, sick, giddy; his head dropped, he slept.  When he woke up, as with a snort he did, it was inky dark.  Now was the time, not even God could see him now.  He turned himself about; inch by inch he crept forward, edging along by the bed’s edge.  Painfully he got on his knees, threw up his head.  ‘Jehane, my robbed lost soul!’ he howled, and stabbed with all his might.  King Richard, cat-like behind him, caught him by the hair, and cuffed his ears till they sang.