ather Aimeri, asking for aid. Then march upon the Saracens, and
rescue the captives that are in their hands before they are carried
across the sea.'

'Heavens!' cried William, 'has the world ever seen so wise a lady?'

'Let no one turn you from your road,' she went on. 'At the news of
your distress Ermengarde of Pavia, whom may God bless, and Aimeri with
the white beard, and all the Barons that are your kin, will fly to
your help. Their numbers are as the sands of the sea.'

'But how shall I make them believe in what has befallen us?' answered
William. 'Gibourc, sweetheart, in France they would hold any man mad
who brought such a message. If I do not go myself I will send nobody,
and go myself I will not, for I will not leave you alone again for all
the gold in Pavia.'

'Sir, you must go,' said Gibourc, weeping. 'I will stay here with my
ladies, of whom there are plenty, and each will place a helmet on her
head, and hang a shield round her neck, and buckle a sword to her
side, and with the help of the Knights whom you have delivered we
shall know how to defend ourselves if the Unbelievers should seek to
take the city by assault.'

William's heart bounded at her words; he took her in his arms, and
promised that he himself would go, and more, that he would never lie
soft nor eat delicately nor kiss the cheek of any lady, however fair,
till he returned again to Orange.

Thus William Short Nose set forth and the next day passed through
Orleans. There he met with his brother Ernaut, who had ridden home
from escorting King Louis back to Paris. Ernaut promised his help and
that of his father and brothers, but counselled William to go to Laon,
where a great feast would be held and many persons would be assembled.
The Count followed Ernaut's counsel, but refused the troop of Knights
and men-at-arms which Ernaut offered him, liking rather to ride alone.

He made his entrance into Laon on Sunday, and the people laughed at
him and made jests on his tall thin horse; but William let them laugh,
and rode on until he reached the Palace. There he alighted under an
olive tree, and, fastening his horse to one of the branches, took off
his helmet and unbuckled his breastplate. The people stared as they
passed by, but nobody spoke to him.

Someone told the King that a strange man without a squire or even a
man-at-arms was sitting before the Palace under an olive tree. The
King's face grew dark as he heard their tale, for he loved t