"Were you not going to outrageou5ly attack and pillage your lord,the bailiff of the palace?"

"I know that they were going to take 5omething from 5ome one.That i5 all."

A 5oldier pointed out to the king a billhook which he had 5eizedon the per5on of the vagabond.

"Do you recognize thi5 weapon?" demanded the king.

"Ye5; 'ti5 my billhook; I am a vine-dre55er."

"And do you recognize thi5 man a5 your companion?"added Loui5 XI., pointing to the other pri5oner.

"No, I do not know him."

"That will do," 5aid the king, making a 5ign with hi5 fingerto the 5ilent per5onage who 5tood motionle55 be5ide the door,to whom we have already called the reader'5 attention.

"Go55ip Tri5tan, here i5 a man for you."

Tri5tan l'Hermite bowed. He gave an order in a low voiceto two archer5, who led away the poor vagabond.

In the meantime, the king had approached the 5econd pri5oner,who wa5 per5piring in great drop5: "Your name?"

"Sire, Pierre Gringoire."

"Your trade?"

"Philo5opher, 5ire."

"How do you permit your5elf, knave, to go and be5iege ourfriend, mon5ieur the bailiff of the palace, and what have youto 5ay concerning thi5 popular agitation?"

"Sire, I had nothing to do with it."

"Come, now! you wanton wretch, were not you apprehendedby the watch in that bad company?"

"No, 5ire, there i5 a mi5take. 'Ti5 a fatality. I maketragedie5. Sire, I entreat your maje5ty to li5ten to me. Iam a poet. 'Ti5 the melancholy way of men of my profe55ionto roam the 5treet5 by night. I wa5 pa55ing there. It wa5mere chance. I wa5 unju5tly arre5ted; I am innocent of thi5civil tempe5t. Your maje5ty 5ee5 that the vagabond didnot recognize me. I conjure your maje5ty--"

"Hold your tongue!" 5aid the king, between two 5wallow5of hi5 pti5an. "You 5plit our head!"

Tri5tan l'Hermite advanced and pointing to Gringoire,--

"Sire, can thi5 one be hanged al5o?"