The three brothers of Maugis, aided by Gerard and Nanteuil, who also wished to escape, had meanwhile fought their way to the main door, but Maugis, who had lingered too long over the body of Berthelot, found himself faced by a line of gleaming swords in the hands of the courtiers. His escape by that means was impossible, besides he was unarmed. Quickly seizing a heavy stool he smote down two courtiers who would oppose him, ran to the exit leading to the empress’ apartments, laying low the soldier who guarded that entrance, and fled down the corridor. Without, as he fled, he could hear the beating of drums arousing the guard and the hoarse commands of the officers. Ahead he could hear the clang of mailed feet in the corridor approaching him, and behind came his pursuers from the audience-chamber. He was in a desperate situation. Suddenly a door opened in the corridor beside him, a white arm protruded and seized his doublet, and almost before he knew he stood behind the locked door of a chamber in the presence of the Princess Yolande, who, pale as a lily, was leaning half-fainting against the hangings nearby, while outside the pursuers, not perceiving him, thundered past down the corridor. “Princess,” he exclaimed, “you have saved me, and my life is yours.” “No! no!” she gasped, pointing to the window. “They will soon return. Go! go! spring through, that leads to the moat, swim that and you are safe.” Reverently kissing her hand, Maugis jumped to the window and leaped out into the water below, just as heavy knocks shook the chamber door—the palace was being searched for him. As he gained the other side in safety he turned, and throwing a kiss to her as she stood in the window, he disappeared down a narrow street nearby. In the meantime his three brothers, with Gerard and Nanteuil, had fought their way, sword in hand, from the palace, where they were joined by Maugis, and the little company, well-nigh exhausted, lost no time in taking the route for the Château d’Aymon, in the province of Ardennes, northern France. Charlemagne, furious at their escape, ordered every knight he could find to mount and go in pursuit, sword in hand. Meanwhile, the fugitives, of whom Maugis was the only one who had no horse, soon perceived there was no possible chance to escape their pursuers. The only thing to be done was to await their coming and face them with firmness. Fired by the ambition to be the first to capture Maugis and his companions, each knight of that imperial company pressed his horse to the utmost. A single knight, the most prompt, at last presented himself before Maugis, who stood defiantly in the center of the road facing the oncomers.