descended in trepidation to the court-yard, ran to Amaury, and
uttered a cry of grief on recognizing Charlot. "It is Huon of
Bordeaux," said the traitor Amaury, "who has massacred your son before
it was in my power to defend him." Charlemagne, furious at these words,
seized a sword, and flew to the apartment of the two brothers to plunge
it into the heart of the murderer of his son. Duke Namo stopped his
hand for an instant, while Charles told him the crime of which Huon was
accused. "He is a peer of the realm," said Namo, "and if he is guilty,
is he not here in your power, and are not we peers the proper judges to
condemn him to death? Let not your hand be stained with his blood." The
Emperor, calmed by the wisdom of Duke Namo, summoned Amaury to his
presence. The peers assembled to hear his testimony, and the traitor
accused Huon of Bordeaux of having struck the fatal blow without
allowing Charlot an opportunity to defend himself, and though he knew
that his opponent was the Emperor's eldest son.

The Abbot of Cluny, indignant at the false accusation of Amaury,
advanced, and said, "By Saint Benedict, sire, the traitor lies in his
throat. If my nephew has slain Charlot it was in his own defence, and
after having seen his brother wounded by him, and also in ignorance
that his adversary was the prince. Though I am a son of the Church,"
added the good Abbot, "I forget not that I am a knight by birth. I
offer to prove with my body the lie upon Amaury, if he dares sustain
it, and I shall feel that I am doing a better work to punish a disloyal
traitor, than to sing lauds and matins."

Huon to this time had kept silent, amazed at the black calumny of
Amaury; but now he stepped forth, and, addressing Amaury, said:
"Traitor! darest thou maintain in arms the lie thou hast uttered?"
Amaury, a knight of great prowess, despising the youth and slight
figure of Huon, hesitated not to offer his glove, which Huon seized;
then, turning again to the peers, he said: "I pray you let the combat
be allowed me, for never was there a more legitimate cause." The Duke
Namo and the rest, deciding that the question should be remitted to the
judgment of Heaven, the combat was ordained, to which Charlemagne
unwillingly consented. The young Duke was restored to the charge of
Duke Namo, who the next morning invested him with the honors of
knighthood, and gave him armor of proof, with a white shield. The Abbot
of Cluny, delighted to find in his nephe