Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Interrogation

I would rather feel your warmth with my heart, I don't want to see your salute with my eyes. Arise, brother, arise; though you bend your knees, I know, You have a rising ambition, at least Rise to the height of my crown. Richard II As soon as he heard the bell calling for the great nobles of Burgundy and the very few French nobles who could attend the meeting, Duke Charles, followed by some guards armed with halberds and axes, walked into the hall of the Herbert Tower of Peron Castle. .King Louis had expected that the Duke would come to see him.Then he got up, took two steps forward to meet him, and stood still with a dignified expression.Despite his shabby clothes and casual demeanor, he also knew how to assume a commanding presence when necessary.His calm demeanor had a noticeable effect on his opponent at this critical juncture.In fact, as soon as the Duke stepped in, he changed his abrupt and hasty pace, making it more suitable for a big vassal to visit the suzerain.Evidently the duke had secretly resolved to treat Louis, at least initially at least at first, with the courtesy due to a king, but in so doing it was evident that he had repressed his irascible nature quite a bit, but It is still difficult to control the anger and desire for revenge that boils in his chest.Therefore, although he forced himself to appear respectful and courteous on the surface of his behavior and speech, his face flushed and paled, his voice was abrupt, hoarse, and not smooth, and his hands and feet were trembling. It seems to indicate that he cannot bear the suppression imposed on his actions.His brows were furrowed, and his lips were almost bleeding from biting.Every movement and expression of the duke showed that the most violent prince in the world was under the sway of his strongest rage.

The king watched the Duke's violent emotional conflict with serene and serene eyes.Though he read in the duke's countenance the threat of death which a guilty man dreads most, yet he resolved, like an alert and skilled helmsman, that he should never be alarmed so long as there was any hope of saving the sailboat by deft steering. , and never give up the helm.Therefore, when the duke spoke in a hoarse and excited voice of the poorer conditions of his housing, he replied with a smile that he had no reason to complain, since he himself had so far lived in Herbert's Tower better than he had been here. An ancestor who lived had a better fate.

So they've told you the legend?Yes, Charles said, he was killed here, but it was because he didn't want to be a monk and spend the rest of his life in a monastery. What a fool, said Louis, with feigned indifference, that he had received the punishment of a martyr without the fame of a saint. I have come to invite your majesty to a high meeting, said the duke, at which important questions concerning the interests of France and Burgundy will be discussed.You have to attend at once I mean, if it pleases you, please Say no more, my good cousin, said the king, don't be too polite to call a request what you may boldly command.Since this is His Highness's will, I will go to the meeting.My retinue, however, seems a little short, he added, looking at the few who were about to follow him, but, cousin, your splendid retinue is more than enough to honor us both.

In Burgundy Chief Herald Officer Twasson.Under the escort of Dole, the two kings left Herbert's tower and came to the courtyard of the castle.Louis saw that there was a mighty procession of the duke's well-armed guards and warriors.Through the courtyard they came to the council chamber.This part of the building where the chamber is located is more modern than the tower where Louis once lived.Although it is also in disrepair, after a hasty arrangement, it can meet the needs of grand gatherings.Under the same canopy were two chairs, the king's being two steps higher than the duke's.On both sides of these two chairs sat in a certain order about twenty main members of the nobility.When the kings were seated one after another, the person who could be called the subject of trial sat the highest, as if he was the presiding officer of the meeting.

Perhaps in order to dispel this contradictory impression and the misgivings that might have arisen in the minds of the people, Duke Charles, after bowing slightly to the King at the imperial banquet, opened the meeting with the following speech to those present: My good vassals and counselors, you all know that, whether in my father's life or now, there have been frequent riots in my domain, where the vassals rebelled and the subjects rebelled.Recent events are a worrying illustration of how far this evil has grown.One was the ignominious flight of the Countess of Croyer and her aunt, Mme. Hamelin, and their oath of allegiance to me, thereby losing their fiefs.A still more terrible and sad event was the bloody and blasphemous massacre of my dear brother and ally, the Bishop of Liege, while the treacherous city of Liege broke out in rebellion for the last ineffective punishment.I have received information that these mishaps are due not only to the follies and infidelities of women, and the audacity of petty bourgeois appeasement, but to the instigation of foreign agents and the intervention of a powerful neighbour.Good deeds should be rewarded with good deeds, and Burgundy was counting on the sincerest and most loyal friendship from its neighbor.But unfortunately it all turned out to be true.Rubbing his heels on the ground vigorously, the Duke said through gritted teeth, "In that case, what can stop us, not to mention that we have all means at our disposal to take effective measures to stop at the root this main source of disaster that pours on us every year?"

The Duke began his speech relatively calmly, but at the end his voice rose again.The tone in which he uttered these last words made all the ministers shudder, and made King Louis' cheeks pale for a moment.But King Louis at once regained his courage, and addressed the assembly in a tone of perfect composure.Although the Duke seemed eager to interrupt him, he couldn't find a decent reason.Here's what he said: Nobles of France and Burgundy!Knights of the Holy Spirit and the Golden Fleece!Since I, as king, must defend myself as a defendant, I do not think I could find a more eminent judge than those present who are the cream of the nobility and the pride of the knights.My dear cousin's polite reluctance to state the matter had the effect of obscuring our quarrel.I have no face-saving reason for cryptic speaking, nor do my circumstances permit me to do so, so I beg you to allow me to be more explicit.Gentlemen, the misfortune which has occurred has clouded my cousin's clear judgment, and his good nature, and has driven him to accuse me of accusing his sovereign, his kinsmen, and his allies, of insincerely inducing his vassals to betray their allegiance to him. The oath of Liège, incited the citizens of Liege to revolt, and instigated that lawless and blasphemous William.Delamarch committed the great crime of murdering the bishop.Gentlemen of France and Burgundy here, I may well point out that my present situation itself completely disproves the charges against me.For, as long as I have a semblance of reason, how can I conceive that I am playing tricks on the Duke of Burgundy, and at the same time placing my personal safety at his mercy without reservation?You know, such intrigues cannot go undetected, and if they were discovered, they would inevitably expose me, as my present situation shows, to the arbitrary disposition of a prince who is rightly angry.In this way, my intelligence is not as good as a fool who ignites the fuse of the mine and sits on the mine to rest!I have no doubt that the criminals and villains who have committed these heinous crimes in Thornwald have been abusing my name but I have not given them the right to do so.How can I be responsible for this?If two foolish women, out of some emotional discontent, come to my court and ask for my protection, can it be said that I ordered them to do so?After investigation, it can be found that since my honor and chivalry will not allow me to send them back as prisoners. I tried to come as close as possible to this, and sent them to Liege, and entrusted them to our venerable Bishop, may his dead Holy Spirit rest in peace, and here Louis looked very distressed, and wiped his eyes with his handkerchief. I must say, The bishop to whom I entrusted himself was a member of my own family, and more closely related to the Burgundian family; Yu acted temporarily as their protector and as a mediator between them and their sovereign.I must say, therefore, that my brother Burgundy, according to his hasty view of the matter, raised me undue doubts upon the only circumstances which could be explained by the most just and honorable motives.Furthermore, I must say that I have come to my brother with a feeling of friendship and confidence.It is impossible to adduce the slightest credible evidence in support of those unfounded charges against me which have prompted him to change his friendly attitude towards me, to turn his banquet hall into a court of law, and his guest room into a prison.

My lord, my lord, as soon as the king had finished speaking, the duke interrupted, and as to the unfortunate coincidence of your arrival and the execution of the plan, I can only give one explanation: a person who specializes in deceiving others Sometimes you can fool yourself too.Sappers were also sometimes killed by mines he had planted himself.How about going on, let's watch this solemn interrogation and answer it. Biography Chroyer.Countess Isabel! At that moment the young countess entered, assisted by Countess Krevig and the Abbess of Ursuline, who had been ordered by her husband to look after her.On seeing her, Charles exclaimed, in his customary stern voice: "Hey, pretty princess!"The last time I gave you my legitimate orders, you answered me as if you were going to die.But you fly away like a doe being chased, what do you think of your good deeds that almost caused two great kings, two neighboring powers to fight for your baby?

Isabel had resolved to run and kneel before the Duke as soon as she saw him, begging him to confiscate her property and let her live in a monastery, but in the face of this public scene and the Duke's brutal attitude, her original resolution suddenly evaporated.She stood transfixed like a woman frightened by a storm, hearing thunder everywhere, and fearing that each new bolt of lightning would bring her a deadly strike.Countess Krevig was of noble birth, and she was as beautiful as ever.The brave middle-aged woman now felt that it was necessary for her to intervene.My lord, she said, my niece is under my protection, and I know better than my lord how to treat women.Unless you use language that is more appropriate to who we are and our gender, we're going to be out of here.

The Duke laughed.Krevig, he said, your wife has become quite defiant as a result of your guilt, but that's none of my business.Get a chair for that simple girl to sit on.Not only do I have no hostility towards her, but I intend to bestow on her the highest grace and honor.Please sit down, miss.You can tell us at your leisure what the devil has possessed your mind, made you flee your native land, and become an adventurous girl. Isabelle made intermittent and painful confessions of her reasons for leaving.She said that because of her resolute disapproval of the marriage proposed for her by the Duke of Burgundy, she had the idea of ​​going to the French court to seek protection.

And it was protected by the King of France himself, Charles said, you must be quite sure about this, right? I do think I am quite sure, said the Countess Isabel, or I would not have taken such a decisive step.At this time, Duke Charles looked at Louis with an indescribable wry smile, while the king's expression remained unmoved, except that his lips were slightly paler than usual.As to how King Louis intends to receive us, continued the countess after a moment's pause, it was almost entirely my unfortunate aunt, Lady Hamelin, who told me, and her opinion was based on the assurances and hints of a bad person. Based on.I later found out that they were the most wicked villains and most dishonest gangsters in the world.Then she gave a brief introduction to Marson and Heradine.and adding that she had no doubt that Mao Grabin's brother, a man named Zamet who had first ordered their escape, would have the audacity to commit any treachery, It was even possible to pose as an agent of King Louis without permission.

The countess went on to tell briefly the whole story of her and her aunt from the time when she and her aunt left the territory of Burgundy, to the fall of Thornwald, and finally to the surrender to Count Krevig.After she finished this brief narrative intermittently, the audience fell silent.The Duke of Burgundy looked down at the ground with two fierce thick eyebrows, as if he was looking for an excuse to vent his anger, but he couldn't find any reasonable excuse that could satisfy him.Take the mole, for example, he said at last, looking up, we were aware that it was moving, but we could not follow it at all.But by no means does that mean that it doesn't scurry around in the dark places beneath our feet.I would like King Louis to say: If these two ladies had not accepted his invitation to the French court, why did he install them at his court? Good cousin, I did not entertain them very much, replied the king, I did receive them in private out of pity, but I sent them to Liege as soon as I could, and placed them under the protection of the late bishop, because he Is your ally, and knows better than me and other secular monarchs (may God bless his spirit in heaven!) How to give the fugitives the protection they deserve, and take care of the allies of the two fugitive ladies as a king obligations.I would like to boldly ask this young lady: Is my hospitality to them warm, and does it make them regret that they should not come to my court for refuge? Far from being enthusiastic, replied the countess, it makes me wonder whether your majesty has really extended the invitation that the man who claims to be your representative has promised us.For, if they do do what you bid, your Majesty's treatment of us is quite incompatible with that of a king, a knight, and a nobleman. The countess turned her eyes to the king as she spoke, as if she wanted to express some kind of reproach, but Louis's heart was already ready to accept this type of attack.Instead of being offended, he slowly waved his outstretched hands and looked around, as if triumphantly calling the attention of the dignitaries present. The countess' answer provided evidence of his innocence. The Grand Duke of Burgundy shot him a sideways glance, as if to show that, though he was somehow at a loss for words, he was still far from convinced.At this time, he suddenly turned around and said to the countess: "My dear lady, I think you have completely forgotten to mention some of your adventures in this wandering story, are you blushing?"For example, a certain knight came out of the forest and temporarily broke your tranquility and so on.Well, I've heard about that.I may soon make some decision on this, King Louis, tell me, and find a suitable object for this wandering Helen of Troy, or Helen of Croiers, so that she will not provoke Isn't discord between kings a good thing? King Louis calmly and tacitly assented to what he said, though aware of what unpleasant proposals the duke was about to make next.However, the countess, who was cornered, suddenly regained her courage.She let go of the Countess Krevig's arm on which she had been leaning, and with timid dignity she came forward and knelt before the duke's throne, saying to him: Noble Duke of Burgundy, my lord. .I acknowledge that I do not deserve to be freed from your dominion without your permission, and will accept with all humility any punishment you will inflict on me.I place my lands and castles at your rightful disposal, and only beg you, for your own kindness, and for my late father's sake, to allow me, the last of the Croyles, A modest amount of living expenses was left in the estate, so that I could spend the rest of my life in a monastery. Sire, what do you think of this young man's request? From a holy and humble motive, I see, said the king, no doubt from a kindness that cannot be resisted or opposed. The low self-esteem will be exalted, Charles said, get up, Countess Isabel, I have arranged for you much better than you have arranged for yourself.I have no desire to confiscate your estate, nor to detract from your honor.Instead, I wanted to greatly augment both. "Alas, my lord," continued the countess, kneeling, "I am more afraid of your kind attention than of falling into favor with your highness, because it compels me to O Saint George of Burgundy!Duke Charles said, can my will be violated at will, and my orders can be opposed at will?Listen to me, my servant, you get up first and withdraw temporarily, and I will make the final decision when I have time to consider your question.Then, bloody minion, you're either obedient or wretched. In spite of this stern answer, Countess Isabel knelt at his feet.Her obstinacy might well prompt him to speak harsher words on the spot, but Countess Krevig, who knew the Duke's temper well, quickly helped her up and led her out. At this time Quentin.Darwilt was called in.He walked very freely before the king and the duke.This kind of freedom and ease, which is neither humble nor overbearing, is completely different from shyness and restraint, and has nothing to do with recklessness.It was quite decent for a young man of high birth and culture.Specifically, the young man was able to show respect where it was called for, without being dazed and overwhelmed by the eminence of the other party.His uncle had brought him the Scottish Guards uniform beforehand for him to wear again.His complexion, features, and manners all befitted his splendid appearance, and his young age won the favor of the ministers present.The more advantageous point is that no one will easily believe that the wise King Louis has chosen such a young man to be his confidant in his intrigues.On this occasion, as on other occasions, King Louis had had the great advantage of having made a unique choice of age and position as regards his surrogate, which no one else had expected.After hearing the Duke's order and the king's approval, Quentin began to report on the long journey he had made with the two Ladies of Croix to the outskirts of Liege, and introduced in advance that King Louis asked him to escort them safely to the Instructions given by the bishop's residence. So, you followed my instructions? Yes, Your Majesty.replied the Scot. You have left out a plot, said the duke, that you were attacked in the forest by two wandering knights. It seems inappropriate to ask me to recall or refer to such a trivial incident.The young man blushed innocently and said. It is not right for me to forget it, said the Duke of Orléans. The young man was brave in the execution of his mission, and I will never forget this display of his honor.Good Sagittarius, come to my room when this is over.You will see that I have not forgotten your heroism, and I am glad to see you are both brave and humble. You are welcome to my room too, said Duroy, and I owe you a helmet.I've got one and I'm going to give it to you.Quentin bowed low to the two nobles, and continued to be interrogated.At the Duke's order, he drew out the written instructions he had received concerning the precautions for the journey. Guard, have you followed these instructions to the letter?asked the duke. Forgive me, my lord, for I am not, replied Quentin, and, if your lord is pleased, you will find that the order was for me to cross the Maes near Namur, while I continued on the left bank of the river, because this It is the shortest and safest route to Liege. Why did you change course like this?asked the duke. Because I began to doubt the loyalty of the guide.Quentin replied. Pay attention to answer the questions I am going to ask you next, the Duke said, and you must answer truthfully, without fear of offending anyone.If you dare to be perfunctory or evasive in your answer, I will hang you on a chain from the tower of the market, and torture you for hours before you die! The whole hall was suddenly silent.The duke gave the young man the time he thought necessary to consider his situation.Finally he asked Darwilt to answer: Who is his guide?Who provided him with the guide, and why did he have doubts about the guide?Quentin.Davelt's answer to the first question was to tell the Bohemian Hyradine.Mao Grabin's name.To the second question, he replied that the guide was Triston.Recommended by Lermitre.In answer to the third question he referred to what had happened at the Franciscan monastery near Namur, how the Bohemian had been driven out of the monastery, and how he had been followed, since he suspected the man's behavior, and found Him and William.Delamach's German spearmen date and overhear their plan to stop by two ladies under his protection. Listen, said the duke, I remind you again that your life depends entirely on your honesty.I ask you: did these two scoundrels mention that their plan to raid the escort and take the two ladies was at the behest of this king, I mean this King Louis of France here? If these two disgraceful wretches really say so, replied Quentin, I don't know what to think of them, for the king's own orders to me are just the opposite of what they say. Louis had been listening attentively to what Quentin had to say.After he finished listening to his answer, it was as if a heavy stone was immediately removed from his chest, and he couldn't help but let out a deep breath of relief.The duke looked sullen and embarrassed again.He returned to the question of the original charge, and questioned Quentin more closely: from the secret conversations of these men, did he think that the conspiracy they planned had the king's approval? I want to repeat that I have heard nothing to justify me in saying that, replied the young man.Although he was convinced in his heart that King Louis was involved in Hyradin's plot, he considered it a breach of the oath of loyalty to raise his doubts on the matter.I want to say again, that if I had heard such confessions from these men, I would not have given any weight to their testimony, weighed against the instructions given to me by the king himself. You are a faithful messenger, said the duke sarcastically, but I may venture to say that you would have obeyed his instructions were it not for subsequent developments which proved to be of great service to the king with your bull-headed devotion. It will disappoint him and make you suffer. My lord, I do not understand you, Quentin.Davelt said, I only know that my master King Louis sent me to escort the two ladies, and whether on the way to Thornwald or in the event that happened later, I did as directed.I understand that the king's instructions are aboveboard, so I also carry out his instructions aboveboard.Had these instructions been of a different nature, they would have been wholly incompatible with my Dawilt name or my Scotch nationality. Proud as a Scot.Charles said.Although he was disappointed by the tone of Darwilt's answer, it was not enough to unjustly accuse him of audacity.Now, Sagittarius, let me ask you the next question: according to the reports of refugees from Thornwald, the rebels marched you through the streets of Liege, and it was they who later killed their secular monarchs and religious leader.Under what instructions do you say you did this?What speech did you make after the rebels murdered the bishop, declaring that you, as King Louis' emissary, would volunteer to lead among these thugs who had just committed a heinous crime? My lord, said Quentin, there are many who can testify that I did not pretend to be the French envoy at Liege.This identity was imposed upon me by those boisterous townspeople.Any denial I could make they refused to believe.When I managed to escape from the city, I told the bishop's officers what had happened, and advised them to take care of the castle, which would have prevented the misfortune and tragedy of the next night.I did, in the critical moment, use the prestige which had been mistakenly assigned to me, to save Countess Isabel, to preserve my own life, and to curb, as far as possible, the murderous lust which had been made insane by terrible carnage.I repeat, and stand by it with my life: the King of France has not given me any mission concerning the citizens of Liege, let alone instructions to incite them to rebellion.Let me conclude by saying that, even if I did take advantage of the envoy status which was mistakenly added to me, it would be of exactly the same nature as grabbing a shield in an emergency to protect myself, to defend my own life and the lives of others, regardless of whether the arms engraved on the shield are used to protect myself or others. I have the right to do so. On this point, Krevig could not remain silent, exclaiming that the young man who had been my traveling companion and prisoner had indeed shown both courage and intelligence.Naturally, his doing so cannot be used as evidence against King Louis. There was a murmur of approval among the nobles sitting around.It sounded pleasant to King Louis, but harsh to Charles.He glanced around angrily.Such sentiments, common to so many high-ranking vassals and wise counselors, did not necessarily prevent him from yielding to his violent and imperious nature.Fortunately, De Gongming foresaw this danger, and suddenly announced that the herald officer sent by Liege City asked to see the Duke, which prevented the outbreak of the crisis. A herald from the weavers and blacksmiths?Well, said the Duke loudly, let him in at once.By the Holy Mother, I will learn more about the plans and intentions of the masters who sent him through this heraldry, so as to fill the situation that the young Scotch-French warrior will not tell me!