“My brothers, it is useless; I cannot, though it is possible I might release Renaud by my secret powers. Thou shouldst remember that I have made a solemn oath before God and man to utterly abandon and forever give them up; not only have I made this sacred oath before man, but I did solemnly pledge my knightly word and honor to my wife, Yolande, that I would forget, disuse, and put by those early teachings of the secret art forever and forever. To break my oath to God would be a sacrilege condemning me to eternal punishment, and to break my oath to Yolande would so dishonor me that I could never face my kind again.” “What if Yolande would absolve thee of thine oath?” asked Alard. “Then should I be left to face my oath to God.” “Then Renaud must perish,” cried Richard. “Even so,” responded Maugis sadly. Realizing that further pleadings were in vain, the brothers sought the tender Yolande, and told her of the terrible position of their cousin. Much as she feared occult things, as did every one at that period, the fate of Renaud appealed strongly to her sympathies; to feel that any means of rescue should be used to preserve him from a horrible death at the stake caused her to throw aside her scruples and fears; and flying to the side of Maugis, she added her pleadings to those of the others, and so, overcome by them all, he finally yielded his consent, sadly depressed, though confident he could save his cousin. It was midnight in the camp of Charlemagne; the tent where Renaud slept calmly was silent; two knights remained on watch at the door; the rest were reposing in sleep on their arms, ready to spring up from the slightest alarm. A shadowy figure now appeared on the scene, gliding noiselessly toward the door; though they looked directly at it the guard saw it not, and when the shape glided toward them and lifted its shadowy hand in front of their faces, they, too, joined their comrades in slumber, sinking under a deep hypnotic spell. It was the work of a moment for the shadow to glide within the tent and set Renaud free, and a few moments later, unharmed and undiscovered, he was on his way toward the castle of Montaubon. Maugis, however, felt that he had not completed his work. Charlemagne had that night visited his prisoner to assure himself that he was well guarded, and had then retired; determined, however, to remain awake, he resisted his desire to sleep until near midnight, and then so anxious was he for revenge that he arose and gave orders that preparations should be made for the execution at daybreak.