The hall was full to overflowing when the prisoner entered it,
and all marvelled at the brightness of his face. The king
inquired if he had any excuse to plead for the high treason he
had committed by striking the heir to the throne, and, if so, to
be quick in setting it forth. With a low bow the youth made
answer in a clear voice:

'O my lord and gracious king, and you, nobles and wise men of the
land, I leave my cause without fear in your hands, knowing that
you will listen and judge rightly, and that you will suffer me to
speak to the end, before you give judgment.

'For four years, you, O king, had been married to the queen and
yet had no children, which grieved you greatly. The queen saw
this, and likewise that your love was going from her, and thought
night and day of some plan that might put an end to this evil. At
length, when you were away fighting in distant countries, she
decided what she would do, and adopted in secret the baby of a
poor quarryman, sending a messenger to tell you that you had a
son. No one suspected the truth except a priest to whom the queen
confessed the truth, and in a few weeks she fell ill and died,
leaving the baby to be brought up as became a prince. And now, if
your highness will permit me, I will speak of myself.'

'What you have already told me,' answered the king, 'is so
strange that I cannot imagine what more there is to tell, but go
on with your story.'

'One day, shortly after the death of the queen,' continued the