“Harken me well, and obey me. I command thee to take four hundred men and go forward on the road to Montaubon, where thou wilt encounter the traitor Maugis and his brother Alard, who have the supreme assurance to insult me by coming hither. I command thee, thou shalt make them thy prisoners, even if thou dost lose thy entire force, and fail not,” he added sternly, “under pain of my displeasure.” “I go, sire,” replied Olivier, who forthwith departed. Olivier, who had no knowledge of the pledge given by Oger and the Duke de Naimes, assembled his troops quickly and departed on his mission. It was at the very moment he left that Oger and his noble companion arrived to announce to the emperor the result of their embassy. “Sire,” said Oger, “we have come to announce to thee that Maugis and his brother Alard are on their way hither to sue thee for peace; almost without exception the peers of thy court are lost in admiration of the nobility of character and the bravery of these young men. Sire, it is our devotion to thee, as well, that leads us to wish a reconciliation, that this cruel war may be ended with honor to both parties; we beseech thee, then, sire, to listen to their penitencies and grant them again thy favor, and be assured, sire, it will be an act to add to thy renown, and will be another instance of thy greatness of character.” “Thou hast gone too far,” said the emperor coldly. At these words the brave old soldier hesitated not to face the emperor and declared flatly: “Sire! though our act may give thee displeasure, it was committed in the interest of justice and through devotion to thine own interests. It was the Duke de Naimes who has caused them to visit thee on the guarantee of our word of honor that they should be protected; rather than that be violated, I will, myself, if necessary, at the head of my own men, protect him from any one who shall put the least insult upon a man I now regard as a common friend.” During this time Olivier had proceeded along the road until he encountered Maugis, who was marching alone, without arms, leading Bayard peacefully at the head of his escort. On seeing Olivier and his troops, Maugis turned quickly to the Archbishop Turpin and De Estonville, saying: “You have betrayed me, behold the troops that come to make me prisoner.” “We have not betrayed you,” replied the knights, and De Estonville added: “God forfend us from committing such a vile infamy, and to prove it we will join in your defense, and will fight for you to the death.” While they were having this discussion, Roland dashed up to sustain Olivier. The three knights, however, were determined to treat the affair with resolution, advancing to within a hundred paces of the opposing force, and shouting: “Roland! stop, I pray you, in the name of honor, in the name of our word pledged, that not any injury shall befall Maugis and Alard, if they would visit the emperor and sue for peace.”