edly, I would not have you be quite sane like other men," she
repeated. "It would seem that you have somehow blundered through long
years, preserving always the ignorance of a child, and the blindness of
a child. I cannot understand how this is possible; nor can I keep from
smiling at your high-flown notions; and yet,--I envy you, Raimbaut."

Thus the afternoon passed, and the rule of Prince Guillaume was made
secure. His supper was worthily appointed, for Guillaume loved color
and music and beauty of every kind, and was on this, the day of his
triumph, in a prodigal humor. Many lackeys in scarlet brought in the
first course, to the sound of exultant drums and pipes, with a blast of
trumpets and a waving of banners, so that all hearts were uplifted, and
Guillaume jested with harsh laughter.

But Raimbaut de Vaquieras was not mirthful, for he was remembering a
boy whom he had known of very long ago. He was swayed by an odd fancy,
as the men sat over their wine, and jongleurs sang and performed tricks
for their diversion, that this boy, so frank and excellent, as yet
existed somewhere; and that the Raimbaut who moved these shriveled
hands before him, on the table there, was only a sad dream of what had
never been. It troubled him, too, to see how grossly these soldiers
ate, for, as a person of refinement, an associate of monarchs, Sire
Raimbaut when the dishes were passed picked up his meats between the
index- and the middle-finger of his left hand, and esteemed it infamous
manners to dip any other fingers into the gravy.

Guillaume had left the Warriors' Hall. Philibert was drunk, and half
the men-at-arms were snoring among the rushes, when at the height of
their festivity Makrisi came. He plucked his master by the sleeve.

A swarthy, bearded Angevin was singing. His song was one of old Sire
Raimbaut's famous canzons in honor of Belhs Cavaliers. The knave was
singing blithely:

_Pus mos Belhs Cavaliers grazitz_
_E joys m'es lunhatz e faiditz,_
_Don no m' venra jamais conortz;_
_Fer qu'ees mayer l'ira e plus fortz--_

The Saracen had said nothing. He showed a jeweled dagger, and the
knight arose and followed him out of that uproarious hall. Raimbaut
was bitterly perturbed, though he did not know for what reason, as
Makrisi led him through dark corridors to the dull-gleaming arras of
Prince Guillaume's apartments. In this corridor was an iron lamp swung
from the ceiling, and now, as this lam