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d ringing out again and again； in calls for their little Duke； and outcries against the Franks。 The windows were； however； so high； that nothing could be seen from them but the sky； and； like Richard； the old Baron de Centeville was almost beside himself with anxiety to know what force was gathered together； and what measures were being taken。 He opened the door； called to his son； and asked if he could tell what was passing； but Osmond knew as littlehe could see nothing but the black； cobwebbed； dusty steps winding above his head； while the clamours outside； waxing fiercer and louder； drowned all the sounds which might otherwise have come up to him from the French within the Castle。 At last； however； Osmond called out to his father； in Norse； 〃There is a Frank Baron come to entreat； and this time very humbly； that the Duke may come to the King。〃
〃Tell him；〃 replied Sir Eric； 〃that save with consent of the council of Normandy； the child leaves not my hands。〃
〃He says；〃 called back Osmond； after a moment； 〃that you shall guard him yourself； with as many as you choose to bring with you。 He declares on the faith of a free Baron； that the King has no thought of illhe wants to show him to the Rouennais without； who are calling for him； and threaten to tear down the tower rather than not see their little Duke。 Shall I bid him send a hostage？〃
〃Answer him；〃 returned the Baron； 〃that the Duke leaves not this chamber unless a pledge is put into our hands for his safety。 There was an oily…tongued Count； who sat next the King at supperlet him come hither； and then perchance I may trust the Duke among them。〃
Osmond gave the desired reply； which was carried to the King。 Meantime the uproar outside grew louder than ever； and there were new sounds； a horn was winded； and there was a shout of 〃Dieu aide！〃 the Norman war…cry； joined with 〃Notre Dame de Harcourt！〃
〃There； there！〃 cried Sir Eric； with a long breath； as if relieved of half his anxieties； 〃the boy has sped well。 Bernard is here at last！ Now his head and hand are there； I doubt no longer。〃
〃Here comes the Count；〃 said Osmond； opening the door； and admitting a stout； burly man； who seemed sorely out of breath with the ascent of the steep； broken stair； and very little pleased to find himself in such a situation。 The Baron de Centeville augured well from the speed with which he had been sent； thinking it proved great perplexity and distress on the part of Louis。 Without waiting to hear his hostage speak； he pointed to a chest on which he had been sitting； and bade two of his men…at…arms stand on each side of the Count； saying at the same time to Fru Astrida； 〃Now； mother； if aught of evil befalls the child； you know your part。 Come； Lord Richard。〃
Richard moved forward。 Sir Eric held his hand。 Osmond kept close behind him； and with as many of the men…at…arms as could be spared from guarding Fru Astrida and her hostage； he descended the stairs； not by any means sorry to go； for he was weary of being besieged in that turret chamber； whence he could see nothing； and with those friendly cries in his ears； he could not be afraid。
He was conducted to the large council…room which was above the hall。 There； the King was walking up and down anxiously； looking paler than his wont； and no wonder； for the uproar sounded tremendous thereand now and then a stone dashed against the sides of the deep window。
Nearly at the same moment as Richard entered by one door； Count Bernard de Harcourt came in from the other； and there was a slight lull in the tumult。
〃What means this； my Lords？〃 exclaimed the King。 〃Here am I come in all good will； in memory of my warm friendship with Duke William； to take on me the care of his orphan； and hold council with you for avenging his death； and is this the greeting you afford me？ You steal away the child； and stir up the rascaille of Rouen against me。 Is this the reception for your King？〃
〃Sir King；〃 replied Bernard； 〃what your intentions may be； I know not。 All I do know is； that the burghers of Rouen are fiercely incensed against youso much so； that they were almost ready to tear me to pieces for being absent at this juncture。 They say that you are keeping the child prisoner in his own Castle and that they will have him restored if they tear it down to the foundations。〃
〃You are a true man； a loyal manyou understand my good intentions；〃 said Louis； trembling； for the Normans were extremely dreaded。 〃You would not bring the shame of rebellion on your town and people。 Advise meI will do just as you counsel mehow shall I appease them？〃
〃Take the child； lead him to the window； swear that you mean him no evil； that you will not take him from us；〃 said Bernard。 〃Swear it on the faith of a King。〃
〃As a Kingas a Christian； it is true！〃 said Louis。 〃Here； my boy！ Wherefore shrink from me？ What have I done； that you should fear me？ You have been listening to evil tales of me； my child。 Come hither。〃
At a sign from the Count de Harcourt； Sir Eric led Richard forward； and put his hand into the King's。 Louis took him to the window； lifted him upon the sill； and stood there with his arm round him； upon which the shout； 〃Long live Richard； our little Duke！〃 arose again。 Meantime； the two Centevilles looked in wonder at the old Harcourt； who shook his head and muttered in his own tongue； 〃I will do all I may； but our force is small； and the King has the best of it。 We must not yet bring a war on ourselves。〃
〃Hark！ he is going to speak；〃 said Osmond。
〃Fair Sirs！excellent burgesses！〃 began the King； as the cries lulled a little。 ｛11｝ 〃I rejoice to see the love ye bear to our young Prince！ I would all my subjects were equally loyal！ But wherefore dread me； as if I were come to injure him？ I； who came but to take counsel how to avenge the death of his father； who brought me back from England when I was a friendless exile。 Know ye not how deep is the debt of gratitude I owe to Duke William？ He it was who made me Kingit was he who gained me the love of the King of Germany； he stood godfather for my sonto him I owe all my wealth and state； and all my care is to render guerdon for it to his child； since； alas！ I may not to himself。 Duke William rests in his bloody grave！ It is for me to call his murderers to account； and to cherish his son； even as mine own！〃
So saying； Louis tenderly embraced the little boy； and the Rouennais below broke out into another cry； in which 〃Long live King Louis；〃 was joined with 〃Long live Richard！〃
〃You will not let the child go？〃 said Eric； meanwhile； to Harcourt。
〃Not without provision for his safety； but we are not fit for war as yet； and to let him go is the only means of warding it off。〃
Eric groaned and shook his head； but the Count de Harcourt's judgment was of such weight with him； that he never dreamt of disputing it。
〃Bring me here；〃 said the King； 〃all that you deem most holy； and you shall see me pledge myself to be your Duke's most faithful friend。〃
There was some delay； during which the Norman Nobles had time for further counsel together； and Richard looked wistfully at them； wondering what was to happen to him； and wishing he could venture to ask