sixty thousand double florins, and I would willingly have quitted him for ten thousand.’ And all the barons also marvelled greatly. ‘Am I then at liberty?’ said the gallant Bertrand. And Chandos asked him whence the money should come. ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘I have good friends, as I shall find, I am certain.’ ‘By my faith,’ said Chandos, ‘I am much rejoiced therefore, and if you have need of my help, thus much I say, I will lend you ten thousand.’ ‘Sir,’ said Bertrand, ‘I thank you. But before I seek anything of you I will try the people of my own country.’ The news of this matter went through the city of Bordeaux. There you might see all persons, great and small, citizens, and artisans of all sorts, run towards the mansion of the Prince to see Bertrand. And when the Prince’s knights saw the people assemble thus, and knew the cause of their coming, they brought the said Bertrand to lean out at a window, who laughed heartily at the matter. And when the commoners saw him from a distance, they said, ‘He is a downright enemy! cursed be the hour that he escapes alive. He has done much evil, and will do worse.’ And others said, ‘Have we idled and yawned, and run away from our business, to look at such a squire as this? May God bless him not! for he is an ugly fellow, and unable to pay the ransom at which he is valued.’ ‘Whence should he draw it?’ said others; ‘he will never pay a single penny of his own, but will pilfer it through the broad land.’ And those who knew Bertrand better said to them, ‘Now argue not so much in using such words, for there is no better knight in the world, and none that better knows how to make war. And there is no castle, however strong, however high the rock on which it stands, that would not soon surrender if he went thither to assault it: and, throughout the kingdom of France, there is no man nor woman, however poor, who would not contribute, if he needed it, rather than that he should remain in prison.”[131] [Illustration] CHAPTER IV. Tyranny of Cambyses, terminating in madness—of Caligula—of the Emperor Paul.