They signalized their disfavor by loud murmurs, but King Yon weakly gave way to the perfidious counsel for delay. Saying with a show of decision: “We will allow the subject to rest until the morrow,” and thereupon arose from his throne terminating the sitting. The old knight, who had been so outspoken in favor of the brothers, smote the hilt of his sword with anger until it rang. This was the signal for a chorus of dissent from the assembled soldiers, which ominous sound greeted the ears of the departing monarch without avail though the test of his will was to be strained to very near to the breaking; he was about to commit an act utterly at variance with the nobility of character he had heretofore shown; and in the moral ruin not only were those whom he loved about to be involved, but he himself was to perish in the disaster. The delay the perplexed monarch granted gave the Abbé Gorieux, Godefroy and other malcontents of the court an opportunity they were not slow to avail themselves of. That night a secret conference was held in the private library of the king, at which the abbé was the spokesman. Said he: “Your majesty, the hesitancy you show in deciding this matter does credit to your noble impulses; it is without doubt true that these young men have rendered you great service, they came boldly and skillfully to your rescue, when you were in need of succor, and you have the right to be grateful to them; but, sire, you owe a duty to your people and to your country far paramount to all personal considerations. In your gratitude you have rewarded these knights in a princely manner, you have generously fulfilled your obligations to them, but in so doing you have caused a danger to threaten your kingdom, your people, and your royal person, which there is but one way to avert. Where now lies your duty? Is it in the suicidal policy of resistance against the overmastering strength of Charlemagne? in which there is nothing but certain ruin to all concerned; the overthrow of your kingdom, pillage, flames and death for your unfortunate subjects. Then, sire, how can you hesitate? Resist, and all these misfortunes come upon you and your people; accede to Charlemagne’s demand and you sacrifice the few to save the many.” “How can I do this?” questioned the hesitating monarch; “you forget my oath.” “I do not forget thine oath, sire,” sternly continued the abbé; “I can assure thee, in virtue of my holy office, that God will hold thee absolved from an oath that will cost such dire misfortune to thy country. Thy oath to thy people and thy kingly duty hath by far the greater demand upon thee.”