"I laugh because it reminds me of the swindling baldrics and necklaces with which your grandfather Clovis one day rewarded his accomplices after they dispatched the two Ragnacaires. The Vagre will return in order to receive the twenty gold sous promised to him, instead of which a hundred blows will be bestowed upon him with an iron bar." "Determined men are rare. If the Vagre carries his part of the affair to a successful issue, then my four brothers will be dead before the week is over--their death insures the success of my projects. It is to your interest as well as mine that we avail ourselves of the Vagre. So it is understood that you will spare his life." "But what about the bishop, who has come to enjoy the sight of the bandit's death? He will not consent to let the fellow free." "Cautin will console himself over the Vagre's escape by seeing the bishopess roast, and the hermit-laborer hang." "But suppose the Vagre promises to commit the murder but fails in carrying out his part of the bargain?" "And the twenty gold sous that he will surely expect to receive after the murder is committed?" "You are right--his cupidity will drive him to the deed and insure his return. But how is his flight to be connived at?" "You can convene your _mahl_ within two hours. The culprits can be tried and sentenced at one session." "Yes, that can all be done." "To-day the trial and sentence--to-morrow the execution. Between now and to-morrow we have the night left. You will have the Vagre led out of the _ergastula_ after dark, and taken to Spatachair, one of my favorites. Leave the rest to me. To-morrow we shall say to the bishop: 'The Vagre has fled'--why do you laugh, Count Neroweg?" "At that Vagre who will be thinking that he is to gain twenty gold sous, and who will receive instead a hundred blows with an iron bar, and then be quartered." "As you see, count, your vengeance will lose nothing by the arrangement, while it will insure the success of our plans. Unless I could speedily find a fourth determined man, as the Vagre, there would always be a brother left who might lay claim to my father's kingdom. Answer, are we agreed upon the Vagre's flight?" "Yes, yes--we are agreed." "Accordingly your _mahl_ is to be convened within two hours in order to proceed to the trial." "Within two hours it will be in session." "Adieu, Neroweg, count of the city of Clermont--but duke to be of Touraine, and one of the richest and most powerful seigneurs, made such by the friendship of Chram, King of all Gaul, after the death of his father and all his brothers! Adieu!" CHAPTER VI. THE BEAR OF MONT-DORE.