The forgiveness that Charlemagne had solemnly accorded the duke had, it seems, created a profound jealousy in the hearts of many of the courtiers, one of whom in particular regarded his noble action simply as an act of cowardice. He was jealous of the emperor and jealous of the duke. His cowardly mind prompted him to dishonor the former and get rid of the latter, if he could only contrive some means to attack him, for he was possessed of considerable force and had great courage besides. He decided that to disgrace him would be the better plan. This is why he then proceeded to represent insinuatingly to the emperor that he had been hasty and inconsiderate in his pardon of the princes, even though they had taken a new oath of fidelity. There could be no doubt that it was their plan to surround the king when a favorable opportunity came with a force he could not resist. This traitor further represented to the king that allowing himself to be so encompassed by these princes was an inconsistent act amounting to temerity and that it would have been infinitely better to have immediately gotten rid of them in some indirect manner than to allow them an opportunity to form new relations in the royal army. This tempter also worked on the royal mind by bringing up past injuries, and he cunningly brought up the cruel death of Lothaire, until he felt certain of obtaining, if not an order, at least a tacit consent to the carrying out of his evil designs. That was what came about. This villainous plotter was Ganelon, who, after this preliminary poisoning of the emperor’s mind, completed his work by going to him accompanied by three other knights, when all three represented to the emperor that if the Duke d’Aigremont was allowed to come to Paris with an army he might do so with one double the strength he had promised, which would surely compromise his security; it being the intention of the duke, they were sure, to raise the standard of revolt at the first opportunity. “In effect, sire!” said Ganelon, “it would be quite easy to sow discord in an army composed of different peoples. Prejudices could be created by exciting one against the other until a conflict would be precipitated that would endanger the crown itself.” “Sire,” said another knight, “to prevent such a dire disaster, there is only one way.” “And that is,” queried the now thoroughly enraged emperor. “To stop his coming and to take him dead or alive and punish him for having violated his new oath,” cried Ganelon. “S’ death! I find it ill favors me to believe this,” exclaimed Charlemagne with darkened brow, “D’Aigremont swore to me his fidelity and that he should violate it a second time is impossible.” “But sire!” urged Ganelon, “consider the safety of your majesty and that of the state.”