ls, and I will, with your leave, brave Normans, take
with me my dear young ward. His presence will plead better in his cause
than the finest words; moreover, he will grow up in love and friendship
with my two boys, and shall be nurtured with them in all good learning
and chivalry, nor shall he ever be reminded that he is an orphan while
under the care of Queen Gerberge and myself."

"Let the child come to me, so please you, my Lord the King," answered
Harcourt, bluntly. "I must hold some converse with him, ere I can
reply."

"Go then, Richard," said Louis, "go to your trusty vassal--happy are you
in possessing such a friend; I hope you know his value."

"Here then, young Sir," said the Count, in his native tongue, when
Richard had crossed from the King's side, and stood beside him, "what say
you to this proposal?"

"The King is very kind," said Richard. "I am sure he is kind; but I do
not like to go from Rouen, or from Dame Astrida."

"Listen, my Lord," said the Dane, stooping down and speaking low. "The
King is resolved to have you away; he has with him the best of his
Franks, and has so taken us at unawares, that though I might yet rescue
you from his hands, it would not be without a fierce struggle, wherein
you might be harmed, and this castle and town certainly burnt, and
wrested from us. A few weeks or months, and we shall have time to draw
our force together, so that Normandy need fear no man, and for that time
you must tarry with him."

"Must I--and all alone?"

"No, not alone, not without the most trusty guardian that can be found
for you. Friend Eric, what say you?" and he laid his hand on the old
Baron's shoulder. "Yet, I know not; true thou art, as a Norwegian
mountain, but I doubt me if thy brains are not too dull to see through
the French wiles and disguises, sharp as thou didst show thyself last
night."

"That was Osmond, not I," said Sir Eric. "He knows their mincing tongue
better than I. He were the best to go with the poor child, if go he
must."

"Bethink you, Eric," said the Count, in an undertone, "Osmond is the only
hope of your good old house--if there is foul play, the guardian will be
the first to suffer."

"Since you think fit to peril the only hope of all Normandy, I am not the
man to hold back my son where he may aid him," said old Eric, sadly.
"The poor child will be lonely and uncared-for there, and it were hard he
should not have one faithful comrade and friend with him