“War has always been my life.  This has now lasted nearly four years, and my sword has not been idle.  The Hussites and the Calixtans[2] have felt it.”

At these words Erard, who was sitting beside the bed of the chevalier, rose and went to a window, at the farther end of the room.

“I had spent some weeks with my family, when I learned that the enemy was approaching, and that one of their principal chiefs had just joined them.  This chief was the Lion.”

Erard, rising.  Grandpapa, perhaps it was——.

“Be silent, my son,” said Gottfried.

“Our camps had been in sight of each other two days,” continued Theobald, “when we decided at last to attack them; and last evening the combat took place.

“It had lasted more than three hours, when I caused a retreat to be sounded, in order to suspend, if possible, the conflict, and myself to terminate the day by a single combat with the most valiant of the enemy’s chieftains.

“Our troops stopped, retired, and I challenged the Lion, who, without delay, left the ranks and advanced alone to meet me.” (Gottfried leans against a table, and rests his head on his hand.)

He was a man younger than myself, and of noble appearance.  His sword was attached to a scarf of silver and azure, and from beneath his casque, the visor of which was raised, escaped curls of light hair.

“Grandpapa!” exclaimed Erard, running towards Gottfried, “was it not—?”

“Be quiet, Erard,” said his grandfather, ordering him to sit down.  “Should a child interrupt an older person who is speaking?”

“This chevalier,” resumed Theobald, “advanced towards me, who had also left the ranks, and when all was ready, stopped his horse, and said to me, mildly, but with a deep and manly voice, ’Jesus has shed his blood for us:  why would you shed mine?  I will defend myself,’ added he, pulling down his visor and holding out his shield, ’but I will not strike.’”

“These words affected me, I confess, and I was on the point of withdrawing, when, fixing my eyes on the shield which he presented, I saw that golden chalice.”

“It was he! yes, it was he!” exclaimed Erard, sobbing and flying from the room.

“This boy,” said Theobald, “is still a child, and the idea of bloodshed inspires him with fear.”

“Ah!” said Gottfried, “his father is also in the army, and this narrative gives him anxiety on his account.  You did not then spare this warrior?”

“I have told you:  the sight of the chalice awoke my fury, and exclaiming, Defend thyself, I took my sword with both hands, and with a single blow dashed aside his shield and cleft his helmet.

“But my sword broke; and at the moment when the Lion fell——­”

Gottfried, with terror.  Did Arnold then fall?  Was Arnold killed?