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The Little Duke by Charlotte Mary Yonge
page 60 of 151 (39%)
on the faith of a King."

"As a King--as a Christian, it is true!" said Louis. "Here, my boy!
Wherefore shrink from me? What have I done, that you should fear me?
You have been listening to evil tales of me, my child. Come hither."

At a sign from the Count de Harcourt, Sir Eric led Richard forward,
and put his hand into the King's. Louis took him to the window,
lifted him upon the sill, and stood there with his arm round him,
upon which the shout, "Long live Richard, our little Duke!" arose
again. Meantime, the two Centevilles looked in wonder at the old
Harcourt, who shook his head and muttered in his own tongue, "I will
do all I may, but our force is small, and the King has the best of
it. We must not yet bring a war on ourselves."

"Hark! he is going to speak," said Osmond.

"Fair Sirs!--excellent burgesses!" began the King, as the cries
lulled a little. {11} "I rejoice to see the love ye bear to our
young Prince! I would all my subjects were equally loyal! But
wherefore dread me, as if I were come to injure him? I, who came but
to take counsel how to avenge the death of his father, who brought me
back from England when I was a friendless exile. Know ye not how
deep is the debt of gratitude I owe to Duke William? He it was who
made me King--it was he who gained me the love of the King of
Germany; he stood godfather for my son--to him I owe all my wealth
and state, and all my care is to render guerdon for it to his child,
since, alas! I may not to himself. Duke William rests in his bloody
grave! It is for me to call his murderers to account, and to cherish
his son, even as mine own!"
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