Chapter 25 - Page 2

him, and took him into
his service. It seemed to Duke Namo, and all the elder knights, as
if they saw in him Ogier himself, as he was when a youth; and this
resemblance won for the lad their kind regards. Even Charlot at
first seemed to be fond of him, though after a while the resemblance
to Ogier which he noticed had the effect to excite his hatred.
Baldwin was attentive to Charlot, and lost no occasion to be
serviceable. The Prince loved to play chess, and Baldwin, who played
well, often made a party with him.
One day Charlot was nettled at losing two pieces in succession; he
thought he could, by taking a piece from Baldwin, get some amends
for his loss; but Baldwin, seeing him fall into a trap which he had
set for him, could not help a slight laugh, as he said,
"Check-mate." Charlot rose in a fury, seized the rich and heavy
chess-board, and dashed it with all his strength on the head of
Baldwin, who fell, and died where he fell.
Frightened at his own crime, and fearing the vengeance of the
terrible Ogier, Charlot concealed himself in the interior of the
palace. A young companion of Baldwin hastened and informed Ogier of
the event. He ran to the chamber, and beheld the body of his child
bathed in blood, and it could not be concealed from him that Charlot
gave the blow. Transported with rage, Ogier sought Charlot through the
palace, and Charlot, feeling safe nowhere else, took refuge in the
hall of Charlemagne, where he seated himself at table with Duke Namo
and Salomon, Duke of Brittany. Ogier, with sword drawn, followed him
to the very table of the Emperor. When a cupbearer attempted to bar
his way, he struck the cup from his hand and dashed the contents in
the Emperor's face. Charles rose in a passion, seized a knife, and
would have plunged it into his breast, had not Salomon and another
baron thrown themselves between, while Namo, who retained his
ancient influence over Ogier, drew him out of the room. Foreseeing the
consequences of this violence, pitying Ogier, and in his heart
excusing him, Namo hurried him away before the guards of the palace
could arrest him, made him mount his horse, and leave Paris.
Charlemagne called together his peers, and made them take an oath to
do all in their power to arrest Ogier, and bring him to condign
punishment. Ogier on his part sent messages to the Emperor, offering
to give himself up on condition that Charlot should be punished for
his atrocious crime. The Emperor would listen to no conditions, and
went in pursuit of Ogier at the head of a large body of soldiers.
Ogier, on the other hand, was warmly supported by many knights, who
pledged themselves in his defence. The contest raged long, with no
decisive results. Ogier more than once had the Emperor in