CHAPTER III.
THE ROYAL FAMILY.
The reading of the papal epistle was interrupted at this point by thenoise of many children's laughter that proceeded from the contiguouschamber. Almost immediately thereupon the three younger brothers ofSigebert, who was then absent on the journey to Germany, rushed in,followed by their governesses. The little ones ran to theirgreat-grandmother. Childebert, the eldest of the three, was ten years ofage; Corbe nine, and Merovee, the youngest, six. The poor children, bornof a father who was almost worn out, even before adolescence, throughall manner of early excesses, were delicate, frail, dreamy, and painfulto behold. Even their mirth had a saddening effect. Their cheeks werehollow, they were sicklied over by a pallor that betrayed ill health,and that rendered their eyes exceptionally large and weird. Their longhair, the symbol of Frankish royalty, fell thin upon their shoulders.They wore short dalmaticas of gold and silver thread. The governessesrespectfully bent their knees at the entrance of the hall and remainedat the door, while the children ran forward and surrounded theirgreat-grandmother. Childebert remained standing near her; Corbe andMerovee, the two youngest, climbed upon her knees, as she said to them:
"You seem to be in good spirits this morning, my dear children! What isthe reason of your joy?"
"Grandmother, it is our brother Corbe, who made us laugh."
"What did Corbe do that was so funny?"
"He plucked all the feathers off his white turtle dove--and shescreeched so--she screeched--"
"And you laughed--you laughed--you little imps!"
"Yes, grandmother, but our little brother Merovee wept."
"Did he laugh so hard that he cried?"
"Oh, no; I wept because the bird bled."
"And I thereupon told Merovee: 'You have no courage, if blood frightensyou! And when we go to battle, will you weep there also at the sight ofblood?'"
"And while Corbe was saying so to Merovee, I took a knife and cut thedove's head off. Oh, I am not afraid of blood; not I; and when I am abig man I shall go to war, not so grandmother?"
"Ah, children! You know not what you are wishing. It is easy to amuseyourselves cutting off the heads of doves, without feeling obliged someday to go to war. To make war means to ride day and night, sufferhunger, heat and cold, to sleep under tents, and what is worst of all,run the risk of being wounded and killed, all of which causes greatpain. Is it not far better, dear children, to promenade quietly in acart or a litter, to lie down in a soft bed, eat dainties, have fun allday long, and please your whims? The blood of royal families is tooprecious a thing to expose it recklessly, my pretty little kinglets. Youhave your leudes to go to war and fight the enemy in battle, yourservants to kill the people who may displease or offend you; yourpriests to order the people to obey you. So, you see, all you have to dois to amuse yourselves, to enjoy the delights of life, happy childrenthat you are, having nothing to say but 'I will.' Do you understandthese words well, my dear little ones? Answer, Childebert, you being theeldest and therefore most intelligent."
"Oh, yes, grandmother; I am no more anxious than other people to go towar in search of lance-thrusts; I prefer to amuse myself, and do what Iplease. But why, then, did our brother Sigebert go away on horseback,followed by armed men, and accompanied by Warnachaire?"
"Your brother is ailing; the physicians have advised letting himundertake a long trip for the good of his health."
"Will he be back soon?"
"To-morrow, perhaps--perhaps even to-day."
"Oh, so much the better, grandmother! So much the better! His place willnot then be empty in our room--we miss him--"
"Be not too glad on that score, my little kinglets. Henceforth, Sigebertwill inhabit his own royal mansion, he will have his own servants andhis separate room. Oh, he will be like a little man!"
"But he is only one year older than I!"
"Oh, oh! In a year you also will be a little man, my little Childebert,"replied Brunhild exchanging a diabolical glance with Chrotechilde; "youwill then also have your royal establishment and your separateroom--your chamberlains, your equerries, your slaves, all of themsubmissive to your every whim, like dogs to the switch."
"Oh, how I would like to be a year older, so as to have all those thingsthat you promise me!"
"And so would I like to see you older--and Corbe also--and also Merovee,I would like to see you all of the age of Sigebert."
"Patience, madam," said Chrotechilde again exchanging infernal glanceswith Brunhild; "patience; it will all come about--but what noise is thatin the large hall? I hear numerous steps approaching--it must beseigneur Warnachaire!"