Meanwhile, Maugis, habited as a pilgrim, convinced himself that the occult knowledge he possessed and had reluctantly used when pursued to the last extremity by Charlemagne, was the gift of Satan, rather than the strange manifestations of natural laws, whose workings were unknown at this period, except to the occult wisdom of the East, had determined to abandon all warlike actions, and by devoting himself to prayer and meditation, seek atonement in them for the terrible faults against God he had committed; but this was not to be, as events subsequently proved. Having at last arrived in view of the holy city, Jerusalem, then in possession of the infidels, and before which the Christian army was encamped, laying siege thereto—an army composed of noble knights, assembled from all parts of Europe, who thought that they had been called to redeem the sacred city from the sacrilegious possession of the Saracens, to the glory of God, and the insurance of their own souls to an eternity in Paradise. The first occupation of Maugis was to prepare himself an humble abode in a secluded spot within view of the holy city, where he could give himself up to prayer and meditation undisturbed. It chanced one day, that on going to a spring nearby to procure water, he encountered a Christian knight, who studied his face with interest for a long time and then said to him: “Permit me, holy father, if I be not committing an indiscretion, to ask who you are; something tells me that beneath that sacred habit you are hiding a brave warrior; as for myself, I am the Comte de Rance.” “My lord,” responded Maugis, “while I have no motive for hiding my name, I must have your word that the disclosure I make shall be in confidence. I am Maugis of Montaubon, eldest son of the Duke d’Aymon. I had incurred the anger of Charlemagne in keeping a neutrality in a war between him and my relative. For that reason he pursued me from that day, without ceasing, until recently we made peace, when he pardoned my brothers and all my relatives, on the condition that I should leave for the holy land, making the pilgrimage to expiate my faults and the promise that I would stay until he recalled me.” At these words Count de Rance sprang from his horse, and falling on his knee before him, said: “By thy deeds, sir knight, thou hast proved thyself to be one of the most noble men the world hath known. Surely thy duty to God at this most critical juncture in our affairs, when our arms against the Saracens seem to prevail not, lies not in prayer, but in warlike deeds, which thou hast proved thyself so fitted to perform. I tender thee my homage and faith and supplicate thee to command me and mine. There be other noble knights who will gladly accept thy leadership.”