weakness; and took to his bed, from which it 942-954 seemed he never could be enabled to rise. It would have been a moral miracle if Louis and Gerberga had not speculated eagerly upon the probable consequences of Richard's death. Louis received important advantages from Richard's life. The Normans were held fast by the grip which Louis had upon Richard, and, Richard dying, that resulting security would be lost.On the other hand, if Richard did die, then there would be an end of Norman sovereignty, and Louis would obtain his full intent, without the discomfort of committing any act which conscience might whisper to be a crime. Louis therefore, in conjunction with Gerberga-or, far more probably, Gerberga taking the lead-formed a scheme of which the developement, reserved for the Capets, exercised in future ages a most powerful effect upon the French Monarchy-the creation of appanages.Three sons already had Louis by Gerberga, and she was promising more. According to the principles hitherto prevailing in the Carlovingian Monarchy, the rights of primogeniture were never exclusive; the younger branches had some provision. But there was no longer stuff enough to continue the system of partition; the morsel was too scanty to be divisible. The less they would have to share, the more fiercely they would dispute; a quarrel between Lothaire and 944-945 944-945 Richard's 942-954 his brothers for the city of Laon would extinguish the dynasty. Supposing, however, that Normandy should escheat to the crown by Richard's death without issue, an event, which humanly Louis and speaking seemed to be almost inevitable, then and determine in such case, could not the universal aspiration of death con sidered certain, Gerberga that Nor become an for a Son of France. mandy shall the Normans, that their country should be preappanage served as one State under one Ruler, be rendered subservient to the best interests of France? A son of Louis and Gerberga might become their Duke, and the Normans be allowed to retain the show of independence within their own borders, without impairing the stability of the French Monarchy. The symptoms of Richard's danger became more threatening-doleful were the lamentations of his attendants; and Osmond never departed from the scene of sadness-so soon to be closed by the young Prince's death. Meanwhile the King and the Queen were absorbed in joyful expectations. They treated the reversion as indefeasible; as for Gerberga she could not enjoy a moment's tranquillity until the glad intelligence should be brought to her,incessant were her inquiries at the sufferer's door -is he only dying? All the French fully participated in the belief that Richard was about to breathe his last. What possible reason could they have to doubt the fact, or deem that the debility was feigned?-Nor was the debility 944-945 feigned-no artifice could have blanched Rich- 942-954 ard's rosy hue or wasted his comely frame. Yet though the whole was a sham, the symptoms were real, the results of resolute self-denial. Osmond's hint, "make yourself ill," was spiritedly and patiently carried out by Richard; he "made himself ill" in right earnest, stinting himself of food, and denying himself his needful rest; and so he persevered until the continued abstinence brought on positive danger;-he was clemmed by self-imposed vigils and starvation. The sorrow of the sick room had filled the Palatial Castle with hilarity, and the King's grand banquet, celebrated on the evening when Richard seemed to be at his last gasp, was the public manifestation of this feeling. All Laon, so to speak, had been bidden to the feast, the Streets and Places were deserted. Whether as guests, or as attendants, or as spectators, all the inhabitants had been drawn away by the festivity. During the progress of Richard's illness the Warders had gradually relaxed in their diligence, and now, if Richard had not actually expired, he was as good as dead, and therefore, joining the general merriment, they relieved themselves from their duty altogether. escape The auspicious moment had arrived, and Richard's Osmond seized it. Brief were his and Richard's from Laon. orisons invoking the help of Saint Leonard, the captive's Liberator-and ere King Louis and 942-954 Queen Gerberga had risen from the board, Osmond and his precious charge were safely 944-945 lodged in Couci Tower.-The commemoration of the feat is found in the symbolical bearing, the wings displayed, the honoured heraldry of the Cent-villes family; and if we enquire how the escape was effected, we shall be told, that Osmond adopted the very device through which Ogiva rescued the infant Louis. He had wrapped the boy in a truss of forage, and thus conveying him into the stable, both mounted the horse,— and off § 18. Couci was reached speedily, where the discreet Châtelain gladly received the young Richard into his care. Osmond continued coursing on to Senlis, where he arrived before the grey of the morning. The sudden apparition of Osmond exhausted by anxiety and fatigue appalled Count Bernard; but the feelings of surprize and alarm were speedily and joyfully removed by the information of the rescue. Who was to be their champion? There was but one, Duke Hugh.Soon as the morning broke did old Bernard de Senlis consequently bestride his courser, and accompanied by the smallest number of attendants, ride straight forward to Hugh-le-Grand at Paris. Bernard did not however make more haste than good speed, for he bethought himself as he journeyed, how he must deal with his crafty Liege 944-945 protection lord. Abstractedly from the general condition 942–954 of those times, that no man trusted his brother, there was a special reason why the Count of Richard Senlis needed to be cautious when treating with under the the son of King Robert. Bernard suspected that, of Bernard efficient as Hugh-le-Grand's aid would be in supporting the cause of the legitimate Norman Duke, it would not be a superfluous caution to protect the young Prince against such a Protector. Should young Richard's enlargement produce no better effect than an exchange between the Tower of Laon and Duke Hugh's Palace at Paris, small would be the gain. We now enter into a strange and complicated series of intrigues amply detailed, yet blindly told. The confused narrative of the communications which ensued between the parties concerned, is however in some degree elucidated by the subsequent events, and, acting like impatient visitors, who, provoked by the intricacy of a garden maze, force their way through the quickset walls, we shall at length arrive at the sought-for centre of the labyrinth, the entire emancipation of Normandy,—that most important passage in the annals of the French, slurred over by their historians, and blurred by the garrulous eloquence of the Norman Herodotus. Negotia tween Ber The conversation with Hugh-le-Grand was tions beopened by Bernard de Senlis. He commenced by nard de a few politic ambages, or,-to speak more plainly, and on -lies. What the Count professed to seek was behalf. Senlis and Richard's |