lothes
from all the backs in the lands you now rule."

Louis thought a moment, and then turned to Simon, who, glowing inwardly,
leapt to his feet.

"Yes, Sire!"

Louis looked startled at Simon's vehemence. "I will write two letters
for you to take to Perugia. One for the reigning pope, who, I pray, will
still be Pope Urban. In that I will give my permission for the Count of
Anjou to accept the crown the pope has offered him and to make war on
Manfred."

He stopped, sighed, and shook his head.

Turning to his brother, he said, "I do this with great sorrow and
misgiving, Charles, but I fear I have no choice."

The Count of Anjou said nothing, but Simon saw his chest rapidly rising
and falling with excitement.

"Should God take Pope Urban, Simon, you will hold the letter, sealed,
until a new pope is elected and then give it to him. The other letter,
in the event Pope Urban dies, will be for Cardinal de Verceuil. You
mentioned that Manfred might try to influence the election of the next
pope. Fourteen out of twenty-one cardinals are French, and if they vote
together, they can elect a pope. I shall recommend a candidate they can
unite behind. Again, I do not like to do this, because a king should not
interfere in the election of a pope. Should Pope Urban live to read the
first letter, you will not give the second letter to Cardinal de
Verceuil, but will burn it, still sealed, and see that not a trace
remains."

Charles shrugged. "The Hohenstaufen did it again and again."

"They _tried_ to do it," said Louis, "and that is one reason that they
and the popes are such enemies. But I do it for the same reason I allow
you to go to Italy, Charles. To prevent a greater calamity and to
accomplish a greater good."

"And who will your choice for pope be, brother?"

Louis stood up. "I do not want to compromise myself even more by letting
that be known. I will write the name in my letter, and the letter will
be sealed."

He stood up. "If you defeat Manfred, may God have mercy on you, Charles.
You will be a king in your own right, and you will know what it is to
have to make decisions like this."

Simon felt sure that making royal decisions would never be the agony for
Charles that it was for Louis.

Charles stood up, too, then dropped to his knee and pressed his forehead
against his brother's pale hand. "God bless you, Louis. I promise you,
this is one decision you will always be happy to have made."

_I will always