"You laugh!" cried the fool, in a hollow voice. "Well, you are wrong to laugh. This alliance can alone save you from the ruin that threatens you--you, and your house, and all that is yours. At this very moment my armies are advancing--they are innumerable--they cover the earth. What can you do against me? You will be conquered, destroyed, or reduced to slavery, as you have already been during many ages; for I, Luitprand, King of Austrasia and Polynesia, have resolved all shall return to the ancient order of things. Remember!" Here the fool solemnly raised his finger. "Remember what happened before!--You were beaten!--And we, the old races of the North--we put our foot on your necks. We laid the heaviest stones on your backs, to build our strong castles, and our subterranean prisons. We harnessed you to our carts--you were before us as the straw before the hurricane. Remember, remember, Triboque--and tremble!" "I remember very well," said Hullin, still laughing; "but we took our revenge--you know." "Yes, yes," interrupted the fool, with a frown; "but that time is past. My warriors are more numerous than the leaves of the forest; and your blood flows like the water of the brooks. You! I know you--I have known you during more than a thousand years!" "Bah!" was Hullin's reply. "Yes, it is this hand, do you hear--this hand that subdued you, when we arrived for the first time in the midst of your forests!--it bowed your head beneath the yoke, and it will bow it again! Because you are brave, you think yourselves for ever masters of this country and of all France. Well, well, you are wrong! We have shared your country, and will share it again. We will restore Alsace and Lorraine to Germany, Brittany and Normandy to the men of the North, and Flanders and the South to Spain. We will make a little kingdom of France round Paris--quite a little kingdom, with a descendant of the old race at your head, and you shall not stir any more--you shall be very quiet. He! he! he!" and Yégof laughed. Hullin, who knew very little of history, was surprised that the fool should know so many names. "Bah! have done, Yégof," said he, "and take a little soup to warm your stomach." "I do not ask for your soup--I ask of you this girl in marriage--the handsomest in my States. Give her to me willingly, and I will raise you to the steps of my throne; if not, my armies will take her by force, and you shall not have the honour of having given her to me." As he spoke, the unhappy man regarded Louise with a look of profound admiration. "How lovely she is!" said he; "I destine her to the highest honours. Rejoice, young girl, rejoice--you shall be queen of Austrasia!" "Listen, Yégof," said Hullin: "I am much flattered by your offer--it proves that you appreciate beauty! That is very right; but my daughter is already betrothed to Gaspard Lefévre."