Part 3 (1/2)

”Unless the demons themselves step next out of h.e.l.l, little Odille, our children will see nothing that could surpa.s.s what is happening now. As I said to you, the crimes of Fredegonde are as naught beside Brunhild's.

If you only knew what is going on at this very hour in the magnificent castle of Chalon-on-the-Saone, where the old Queen--the daughter, wife and mother of kings--holds her own great-grandchildren under her tutelage--but no--I dare not--my lips refuse to narrate the shocking incidents--”

”Ronan is right. Shocking things, that language is unable to render, take place to-day in the castle of Queen Brunhild,” replied Loysik with a shudder; but turning to his brother he proceeded to say: ”Ronan, out of respect for these young families, out of respect for humanity at large, break off your narrative at where you now are.”

”You are right, Loysik; I am bound to stop before the impossibility of narrating the misdeeds of Queen Brunhild, who, nevertheless, is one of G.o.d's creatures, and belongs to the human species.”

At that moment one of the monk laborers approached Loysik and notified him that someone was knocking at the outer gate of the monastery, and that a voice from without announced a message from the bishop of Chalon and from Queen Brunhild.

CHAPTER V.

THE a.s.sAULT.

The name of the female fiend who then ruled Burgundy p.r.o.nounced at that moment, produced a profound sensation among the a.s.sembled colonists.

They were amazed, and a vague sense of apprehension ran over the a.s.sembly.

”A message from the bishop and the Queen?” repeated Loysik rising and proceeding to the outward gate. ”That is strange. The punt is tied every evening on this side of the river, and the watchers have imperative orders not to cross the stream at night. The messenger must have taken a boat at Noisan and rowed up the river.”

With these thoughts running in his mind the superior of the community approached the ma.s.sive gate bolted from within. Several monks bearing torches followed the venerable head of their establishment. Ronan, the Master of the Hounds, and several other colonists also accompanied Loysik. He made a sign. The heavy gate was unbolted and turned upon its hinges. It exposed to view, brightly lighted by the moon, the archdeacon and Gondowald, the Queen's chamberlain. Behind them the armed men stood ranged in single file, casqued, cuira.s.sed, their bucklers on their arms, lances in hand, and swords by their sides.

”There is some treachery in this,” said Loysik in a low voice to Ronan; and turning to one of the monks he asked: ”Who is keeping watch to-night at the lodge of the punt?”

”The two priests--they volunteered to take the places of the two brothers whose turn it was to mount guard to-night.”

”I see it all,” replied Loysik with bitterness, and stepping forward he addressed the archdeacon, who had also stepped forward but stopped at the threshold of the gate together with Gondowald, while their escort of soldiers remained where they were posted.

”Who are you? What do you want?” he demanded.

”My name is Salvien, archdeacon of the church of Chalon and nephew of the venerable Sidoine, bishop of this diocese. I am the bearer of orders from your spiritual chief.”

”And I, Gondowald, chamberlain of our glorious Queen Brunhild, am commissioned by her to give the bishop's envoy my own and my men's support.”

”Here is a letter for you from my uncle,” said the archdeacon handing a parchment to Loysik. ”I wish you to inform yourself of its contents.”

”My years have made my eyes too weak to read; one of my brothers will read the letter aloud to me.”

”The letter may contain secret matters,” observed the archdeacon; ”I recommend to you that you have it read in a low voice.”

”We keep no secrets here from one another--read aloud, brother.”

And Loysik pa.s.sed the missive to one of the members of the community, who proceeded to do as ordered by his superior.

The letter was to the effect that Sidoine, bishop of Chalon, inst.i.tuted his archdeacon Salvien as abbot of the monastery of Charolles, wis.h.i.+ng thereby to put an end to the scandals and enormities that for so many years afflicted Christianity by the example of this community; the same was thenceforth to be rigorously subject to the rules of St. Benoit, as were almost all the other monasteries of Gaul. The lay monks who, by their virtue and humble submission to the orders of their new abbot, should merit the favor, the entirely Christian favor, would be allowed to enter the clergy and become Roman monks. Furthermore, by virtue of the seventh canon of the council of Orleans, held two years previous (in the year 611), and which decreed that ”the owners.h.i.+p of the domains, lands, vineyards, slaves and cattle, that may be donated to a parish, shall be vested in the bishop,” all the goods of the monastery and of the colony, which, properly speaking, const.i.tute the parish of Charolles, were thenceforth to be vested in the bishop of Chalon, who commissioned his nephew, archdeacon Salvien, to administer said goods.

The prelate closed his missive with an order to his beloved son in Christ, Loysik, to proceed upon the spot to the city of Chalon, and there receive the reproof of his bishop and spiritual father, and humbly undergo the punishment or penance that was to be inflicted upon him.

Finally, seeing that it might happen that brother Loysik, listening to some diabolical suggestion, might commit the enormity of contemning the orders of his spiritual father, the n.o.ble Gondowald, chamberlain of the glorious Queen Brunhild, was commissioned by the ill.u.s.trious princess to cause the orders of the bishop of Chalon to be carried out, by force, if need be, through the armed men that he would carry with him.

Hardly had the monk laborer finished reading the missive than Gondowald added with a haughty and threatening air:

”I, the chamberlain of the glorious Queen Brunhild, our very excellent and very redoubtable mistress, am commissioned by her to inform you that if you and yours should have the audacity to disobey the orders of the bishop, as may happen, judging from the insolent murmurs that I have just heard, I shall have you and the most recalcitrant of your fellows tied to the tails of the horses of my riders, and shall thus take you to Chalon, quickening your steps with the shafts of our lances over your backs.”