When the angel again disappeared the trembling monarch raised himself in bed, sorely troubled at the difficulty of his situation.  That he, so rich, so powerful that he wanted for nothing, should be asked to go out in the dead of night and steal his neighbour’s goods, like any of the common robbers whom he was wont to punish so severely!  No! the thing was preposterous.  Some fiend had appeared in angelic form to tempt him.  And again his weary head sank in his pillow.  Rest, however, was denied him.  For a third time the majestic being appeared, and in tones still more stern demanded his obedience.

“If thou be not a thief,” said he, “ere yonder moon sinks in the west, then art thou lost, body and soul, for ever.”

The Emperor could no longer disbelieve the divine nature of the message, and he arose sadly, dressed himself in full armour, and took up his sword and shield, his spear and hunting-knife.  Stealthily he quitted his chamber, fearing every moment to be discovered.  He imagined himself being detected by his own court in the act of privily leaving his own palace, as though he were a robber, and the thought was intolerable.  But his fears were unfounded; all—­warders, porters, pages, grooms, yea, the very dogs and horses—­were wrapped in a profound slumber.  Confirmed in his determination by this miracle—­for it could be nothing less—­the Emperor saddled his favourite horse, which alone remained awake, and set out on his quest.

It was a beautiful night in late autumn.  The moon hung like a silver shield in the deep blue arch of the sky, casting weird shadows on the slopes and lighting the gloom of the ancient forests.  But Charlemagne had no eye for scenery at the moment.  He was filled with grief and shame when he thought of his mission, yet he dared not turn aside from it.  To add to his misery, he was unacquainted with the technicalities of the profession thus thrust upon him, and did not quite know how to set about it.

For the first time in his life, too, he began to sympathize with the robbers he had outlawed and persecuted, and to understand the risks and perils of their life.  Nevermore, he vowed, would he hang a man for a trifling inroad upon his neighbour’s property.

As he thus pursued his reflections a knight, clad from head to foot in coal-black armour and mounted on a black steed, issued silently from a clump of trees and rode unseen beside him.

Charlemagne continued to meditate upon the dangers and misfortunes of a robber’s life.

“There is Elbegast,” said he to himself; “for a small offence I have deprived him of land and fee, and have hunted him like an animal.  He and his knights risk their lives for every meal.  He respects not the cloth of the Church, it is true, yet methinks he is a noble fellow, for he robs not the poor or the pilgrim, but rather enriches them with part of his plunder.  Would he were with me now!”

His reflections were suddenly stopped, for he now observed the black knight riding by his side.