The duke, upon this, unsheathed his own sword and sprang upon Lothaire, his knights threw themselves upon the suite of the prince, and the _mêlée_ became general. The great audience-chamber rang with sounds of blows, oaths, shouts, and the cries of the wounded and dying. [Illustration: THE HAUNTED BATTLEFIELD.] Prince Lothaire was everywhere, his sword seemed invincible, a man fell at every stroke. Even when the Duke d’Aigremont appeared before him he barely resisted the furious onward rush of Lothaire and fell back staggering and wounded from a terrible stroke of his sword. But quickly recovering, in his turn he struck down the prince with all his force, and such was his fury he did not leave the mangled remains until he had cut off the head of his opponent. Meantime in battle around them the men of the prince had fought bravely, although greatly outnumbered. Of the one hundred men composing the suite, only twenty remained alive, and these, seeing the fall of their chief commander, surrendered. The infuriated duke ordered all but ten of them to be killed, and these he made swear solemnly that they would carry the remains of the prince back to Paris. “Tell him, thy master,” said he, “that here is the body of thy son. Be assured I shall not wait idly for thee to come and succor it.” The ten knights having given their word to report these words faithfully, put the remains of Lothaire in a chariot and departed sorrowfully homeward. In the meantime, Charlemagne, much disquieted at not receiving news of his son, openly manifested his fears. The sinister presentiments he had had made him think his son was dead, then in an access of rage he made the most terrible threats against the Duke d’Aigremont. “I will go,” said he, “at the head of an army and reduce him to the most cruel extremities.” Those surrounding him endeavored to calm him and convince him that it would be impossible for the Duke d’Aigremont to be capable of so infamous an action. “If ever,” cried the Duke d’Aymon, “the Duke d’Aigremont has committed such a crime, he should be served with a startling vengeance. Who among us would refuse you support? For me, sire! and my four sons, count on our loyalty and courage.” “I am deeply moved by thy fidelity, my good Aymon,” replied the king. “Many affairs have so occupied me that I have not yet seen thy four brave sons. Do thou present them to me on the morrow that I may arm them in a style befitting their high rank.”