"Listen well, my lord, for I place much stress on my directions
being carried out exactly in this matter."

"Every detail shall be observed," replied Sir John, "I am very
punctilious."

"Well, then, if I am killed," insisted Roland, laying his hand
upon his second's shoulder, to impress his directions more firmly
on his memory, "you must not permit any one to touch my body,
which is to be placed in a leaden coffin without removing the
garments I am wearing; the coffin you will have soldered in your
presence, then inclosed in an oaken bier, which must also be
nailed up in your presence. Then you will send it to my mother,
unless you should prefer to throw it into the Rhone, which I
leave absolutely to your discretion, provided only that it be
disposed of in some way."

"It will be no more difficult," replied the Englishman, "to take
the coffin, since I am to deliver your letter."

"Decidedly, my lord," said Roland, laughing in his strange way.
"You are a capital fellow. Providence in person brought us together.
Let us start, my lord, let us start!"

They left Roland's room; Sir John's chamber was on the same floor.
Roland waited while the Englishman went in for his weapons. He
returned a few seconds later, carrying the box in his hand.

"Now, my lord," asked Roland, "how shall we reach Vaucluse? On