The bright sally on the part of the count redoubled the laughter and hilarity of the leudes. "It is true I am only skin and bones," answered the old man seeking to soften his master's heart; "I am quite weak--please spare me the pain, my good seigneur." "Listen--if you do not on the spot extinguish your torch between your knees, I shall have my men seize you and extinguish the torch in your throat--take your choice, quickly!" A fresh explosion of hilarity proved to the old Gaul that he had no mercy to expect from the Franks. He looked down weeping upon his frail and tremulous legs, and yielding to one last ray of hope he addressed the clerk in suppliant accents: "My good father in God--in the name of charity--do intercede in my behalf with my good seigneur count!" "Seigneur, I ask grace for the poor old man." "Clerk! Does the slave belong to me--yes or not? Am I his master--yes or not?" "He belongs to you, noble seigneur." "Can I dispose of my slave at my pleasure, and chastise him as I may choose?" "My noble seigneur, it is your right." "Very well, then! I want him to extinguish the torch between his knees; if not, by the great St. Martin! I shall extinguish it myself in his throat!" "Oh, my good father in God--do intercede again for me! I beg you!" "My good son," said the clerk with unction to the slave, "we must accept with resignation the trials that heaven sends us." "Will you have done!" cried the count again smiting the table with the handle of his _scramasax_. "We have had words enough--take your choice--either your knees or your throat for an extinguisher! Do you hesitate--" "No, no, seigneur, I obey--" And it was a very comical scene for the Franks. By the faith of a Vagre, there was truly cause for laughter. With tears rolling down his cheeks, the poor old Gaul first approached the burning torch to his trembling knees; the instant the flame touched him he quickly withdrew it again. But the count, who, with both his hands upon his paunch swollen with food and drink, was roaring with laughter and, like the rest of the leudes, shook with mirth, again smote the table violently with the handle of his _scramasax_. The slave understood the signal. With trembling hands he again drew the torch close to his icy knees, and assayed to put a quick end to the torture; he parted his legs a little and then brought them twice quickly and convulsively together so as to extinguish the flame between his knees. He succeeded in this, but not without emitting a piercing cry of pain; such was the pang he suffered that the old man fell over upon his back and lay on the floor deprived of consciousness.