The queen passed by Marsillus stopped her _cortege_, and bade her dismount, saying, “This is our best of friends. You owe it to him that we shall remain under that Spanish sky which you love so much. Embrace him for the love of us all.” “With all my heart,” said the Sultana. “I wish you also, Sir Ganelon, to bear to your wife from me these bracelets, which are the finest in my possession. Neither the Pope at Rome nor the Emperor at Aix-la-Chapelle can boast anything to equal them among all their treasures.” All vied in paying the Count attention, and in loading him with the most precious gifts. . The same evening Ganelon returned to the French camp, accompanied by presents and hostages for the Emperor. Three days later, at early dawn, Ganelon and his escort arrived at Charlemagne’s quarters. “So you have returned,” said Charles. “Have you sped well with your mission?” “Sire, you have nothing more to do here! The gallant King Marsillus is altogether your devoted liegeman. Behold the treasures he sends you, as a guarantee of others yet more valuable. See, too, the hostages whom I have chosen, thirty in number, all of them of the noblest rank. In a month the King of the Saracens will visit you at the French Court to receive baptism, together with all his nobles and knights.” “You could not bring me more welcome news, and I rejoice greatly that I chose you for the mission. Before long _you_ will have reason to rejoice at it too!” His audience concluded, Ganelon retired with his nephew Pinabel, to whom he wished to reveal the real state of the case. It happened that Mitaine preceded them into the stable, towards which the traitor took his way, and knowing the hate the count bore to Roland, her friend, she was curious to hear him speak openly. She therefore crept up in the manger, and hid herself among the hay in the rack. [Illustration: 251] This second Judas, going up to his horse, began to talk as follows:--