Three days had elapsed since Brunhild fell into the power of Clotaire II. The sun had crossed the zenith. A man with a long white beard, clad in a hooded brown robe, and mounted upon a mule was following the road, upon which, escorted by the armed men of her mortal foe, and leading behind her a mob that rent the air with execrations, Brunhild had shortly before ridden to the village of Ryonne. The venerable old man was Loysik. He had escaped death by reason of the Queen's precipitate departure from the castle. One of the young brothers of the community accompanied the old monk on foot, guiding his mule by the bridle. From the opposite direction, a warrior, armed cap-a-pie, was climbing on horseback the rough road that Loysik was at the same time slowly descending with his mule. When the Frank had come within a few paces of the old man, the latter opened up a conversation with him: "Are you of King Clotaire's suite?" "Yes, holy man." "Is he still at the village of Ryonne?" "Yes; he will be there till this evening.--I am to ride ahead and prepare his lodgings on the route." "Is Duke Roccon among the seigneurs who accompany the King?" "Yes, monk; Duke Roccon is with the King." "Is it true, as I hear, that Queen Brunhild has been taken prisoner and carried to King Clotaire, who has also captured her grandchildren?" "That is all old news. Where do you come from that you do not know what has happened?" "I come from Chalon.--What did the King do with his prisoner and her grandchildren?" "The steep ascent has taken the wind out of my horse and he needs a little rest. So I shall tell you what has happened--all the more willingly, seeing that it is a good augury to meet a priest, especially a monk, at the start of a journey." "Do let me know, I beg you; what has been done with Brunhild and her grandchildren?" "There were only three of the children captured on the banks of the Saone. The fourth, Childebert, could be found nowhere.--Was he killed in the melee?--Did he escape?--No one can tell.--" "And the other three?" "The eldest and the second one were killed." "In the battle?" "No--no.--They were killed in the village--yonder. The King had them killed under his own eyes, in order to be certain of their death; he wanted to obviate having them turn up some day, and demand their kingdom back from him. But it is said that the King granted his life to the third.--I think he was wrong in that.--But what ails you, holy father; you seem to shiver. To be sure, the morning is rather chilly." "And what became of Queen Brunhild?" "She arrived at the village with a magnificent escort! A veritable triumphal march! Dung for incense, and hootings for acclamation!" "I suppose the King ordered her to be put to death immediately upon her arrival?" "No; she is still alive." "Did Clotaire have mercy upon her?"