approached,
and having confidence in his companion, Aurelian fell asleep by the
wayside, leaving the beggar to watch.
Several hours passed before he awoke. When he did so it was to find, to
his intense alarm, that his companion had vanished and his wallet had
gone, and with it the gold which it contained and Clotilde's precious
ring. In dismay Aurelian hurried to the city, reached his home, and sent
his servants in all directions in search of the thievish mendicant, whom
he felt sure had sought some lurking-place within the city walls.
His surmise was correct. The fellow was found and brought to him, the
wallet and its valuable contents being recovered intact. What was to be
done with the thief? Those were not days of courts and prisons. Men
were apt to interpret law and administer punishment for themselves.
Culprits were hung, thrashed, or set at liberty. Aurelian weighed the
offence and decided on the just measures of retribution. The culprit, so
says the chronicle, was soundly thrashed for three days, and then set
free.
Having thus settled this knotty question of law, Aurelian continued his
journey until Clovis was reached, told him what he had seen and what
heard, and gave him Clotilde's ring and message. Clovis was alike
pleased with the favorable report of his messenger and with the
judicious advice of the maiden. He sent a deputation at once to
Gondebaud, bidding the envoys to make no delay either in going or
returning, and to demand of Gondebaud the hand of his niece in
marriage.
They found Gondebaud, and found him willing. The request of the
powerful Clovis was not one to be safely refused, and the Burgundian
king was pleased with the idea of gaining his friendship, by giving him
his niece in marriage. His consent gained, the deputation offered him a
denier and a sou, according to the marriage customs of the Franks, and
espoused Clotilde in the name of Clovis. Word was at once sent to
Clovis of their success, and without delay the king's council was
assembled at Châlons, and preparations made for the marriage.
Meanwhile, news startling to Clotilde had reached Geneva. Aridius was
on his way back. He had arrived at Marseilles, and was travelling with
all speed towards Burgundy. The alarmed woman, in a fever of
impatience, hastened the departure of the Franks, seemingly burning
with desire to reach the court of the king, really cold with fear at the
near approach of the shrewd Aridius, whose counsel she greatly
dreaded. Her nervous haste expedited matters. Gondebaud formally
transferred her to the Franks, with valuable gifts which he sent as a
marriage portion, and the cortege set out, Clotilde in a covered carriage,
her attendants and escort on horseback. And thus slowly moved away
this old-time marriage-train.
But not far had they left the city behind them when Clotilde's
impatience with their slow movement displayed itself. She had kept
herself advised. Aridius was near at hand. He might reach Geneva that
very day. Calling to her carriage the leaders of her escort, she said,--
"Good sirs, if you hope to take me into the presence of your lord, you
must find me better means of speed than this slow carriage. Let me
descend, mount on horseback, and then away as fast as we may. Much I
fear that, in this carriage, I shall never see Clovis, your king."
Learning the reason of her haste, they did as requested, and mounted on
one of their swiftest steeds, Clotilde swept onward to love and
vengeance, leaving the lumbering carriage to follow with her female
attendants at its slow will.
She was none too soon. Not long had she left her uncle's court before
Aridius reached it. Gondebaud, who had unbounded respect for and
confidence in him, received him joyfully, and said, after their first
greetings,--
"I have just completed a good stroke of policy. I have made friends
with the Franks, and given my niece Clotilde to Clovis in marriage."
"You have?" exclaimed Aridius, in surprise and alarm. "And you deem
this a bond of friendship? To my poor wit, Gondebaud, it is a pledge of
perpetual strife. Have you forgotten, my lord, that you killed Clotilde's
father and drowned her mother, and that you cut off the heads of her
brothers and threw their bodies into a well? What think you this woman
is made of? If she become powerful, will not revenge be her first and
only thought? She is not far gone; if you are wise you will send at once
a troop in swift pursuit, and bring her back. She is but one, the Franks
are many. You will find it easier to bear the wrath of one person than
for you and yours to be perpetually at
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