If you will permit me
to remain in Peronne, I will communicate my reasons to you personally;
if I leave, I will write to Your Grace. I give my parole that I will,
within a month, surrender myself to Your Lordship, if you are not
satisfied, upon hearing my explanations, that my word is that of an
honorable knight, and my station one worthy of Your Grace's respect. I
hope my Lord d'Hymbercourt and my good friend Castleman will stand as
hostages for me in making this pledge."
Both men eagerly offered their persons and their estates as hostages,
and the duke, turning to the captain of the guard, said:--
"Remove the manacles from these knights."
The chains were removed, and the duke, coming down to the last step of
the dais, looked into Max's face.
Max calmly returned the fierce gaze without so much as the faltering of
an eyelid.
"All step back save this young man," ordered the duke, extending his
open palm toward the courtiers.
We all fell away, but the duke said:--
"Farther back, farther back, I say! Don't crowd in like a pack of yokels
at a street fight!"
Charles was acting under great excitement. I was not sure that it was
not anger since his mien looked much like it. I did not know what was
going to happen, and was in an agony of suspense. Anything was possible
with this brutish duke when his brain was crazed with passion.
All who had been near the ducal throne moved back, till no one was
within ten yards of Charles save Max.
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