Chapter 21 - Page 2

received, accompanied with rich presents, left Bordeaux with regret,
and, on their return, represented to Charlemagne that the young Duke
Huon seemed born to tread in the footsteps of his brave father,
informing him that in three months the young princes of Guienne
would present themselves at his court.
The Duchess employed the short interval in giving her sons her
last instructions. Huon received them in his heart, and Girard gave as
much heed to them as could be expected from one so young.
The preparations for their departure having been made, the Duchess
embraced them tenderly, commending them to the care of Heaven, and
charged them to call, on their way, at the celebrated monastery of
Cluny, to visit the Abbot, the brother of their father. This Abbot,
worthy of his high dignity, had never lost an opportunity of doing
good, setting an example of every excellence, and making virtue
attractive by his example.
He received his nephews with the greatest magnificence; and, aware
how useful his presence might be to them with Charlemagne, whose
valued counsellor he was, he took with them the road to Paris.
When Amaury learned what reception the two deputies of Charlemagne
had received at Bordeaux, and the arrangements made for the visit of
the young princes to the Emperor's court, he suggested to Charlot to
give him a troop of his guards, with which he proposed to lay wait for
the young men in the wood of Montlery, put them to death, and
thereby give the prince Charlot possession of the duchy of Guienne.
A plan of treachery and violence agreed but too well with
Charlot's disposition. He not only adopted the suggestion of Amaury,
but insisted upon taking a part in it. They went out secretly, by
night, followed by a great number of attendants, all armed in black,
to lie in ambuscade in the wood where the brothers were to pass.
Girard, the younger of the two, having amused himself as he rode
by flying his hawk at such game as presented itself, had ridden in
advance of his brother and the Abbot of Cluny. Charlot, who saw him
coming, alone and unarmed, went forth to meet him, sought a quarrel
with him, and threw him from his horse with a stroke of his lance.
Girard uttered a cry as he fell; Huon heard it, and flew to his
defence, with no other weapon than his sword. He came up with him, and
saw the blood flowing from his wound. "What has this child done to
you, wretch?" he exclaimed to Charlot. "How cowardly to attack him
when unprepared to defend himself!" "By my faith," said Charlot, "I
mean to do the same by you. Know that I am the son of Duke Thierry
of Ardennes, from whom your father, Sevinus, took three castles; I
have sworn to avenge him, and I defy you." "Coward," answered Huon, "I
know well the