ct you. But will you not be pleased to swear
to the treaty just as it is written?"

"Yes, and I thank you for your good-will," said Louis, heartily.

"And will you not be pleased to come with me to Liege to help me punish
the treason committed against me by these Liegoise, all through you and
your journey hither? The bishop is your near relative of the house of
Bourbon."

"Yes, Paques-Dieu!" replied Louis; "and I am much astounded by their
wickedness. But let us begin by swearing this treaty; and then I will
start with as many or as few of my people as you please."

"My brother, the fox, is over-willing," may have been the thought that
passed through the duke's mind. "He is ready to lose his foot to get his
body out of the trap."

But whatever his thoughts, in action he took prompt measures to bind the
slippery king to his promise. From Louis's boxes was produced the cross
of St. Laud, claimed to be made of the wood of the true cross, and so
named because it was usually kept in the church of St. Laud, at Angers.
It was said to have belonged to Charlemagne, and Louis regarded it as
the most sacred of relics. On this the king swore to observe the treaty,
though it contained clauses to which he would not have assented under
other circumstances. The document was immediately signed. Louis, for the
first moment since learning of his almost fatal blunder, breathed at
ease. As for the second part of his promise, that of helping Charles to
punish the townsmen whom he had himself stirred to rebellion, it little
troubled his conscience--if he possessed any sentiment that could
properly be denominated by this name.

On the day after the signing of the treaty the two princes set out
together. Charles was followed by his army, Louis by his modest
body-guard, which had been augmented by three hundred men-at-arms, just
arrived from France. On the 27th of October [1468] they arrived at the
rebellious city. There seemed no trouble to get into it. No wall or
ditch surrounded it. The duke had previously deprived it of these
obstacles to his armies. But an obstacle remained in the people, who
could not easily be brought to believe that the king of France and the
Duke of Burgundy, those fire-and water-like potentates, were true
allies. The thing seemed impossible. Louis was their friend, and would
certainly strike for them. They made a sortie from the city, shouting,
"Hurrah for the king! Hurrah for France!"

To their consternation,