Matilda; and now returning, he went boldly up to the Duke, whom no one
else dared approach, and said:

"Why, my liege, seek to conceal what is already known--what ere the
eve will be in the mouths of all? You are troubled that Edward is
dead, and that Harold, violating his oath, has seized the English
realm."

"Truly," said the Duke mildly, and with the tone of a meek man much
injured; "my dear cousin's death, and the wrongs I have received from
Harold, touch me nearly."

Then said Fitzosborne, with that philosophy, half grave as became the
Scandinavian, half gay as became the Frank: "No man should grieve for
what he can help--still less for what he cannot help. For Edward's
death, I trow, remedy there is none; but for Harold's treason, yea!
Have you not a noble host of knights and warriors? What want you to
destroy the Saxon and seize his realm? What but a bold heart? A
great deed once well begun, is half done. Begin, Count of the
Normans, and we will complete the rest."

Starting from his sorely tasked dissimulation; for all William needed,
and all of which he doubted, was the aid of his haughty barons; the
Duke raised his head, and his eyes shone out.

"Ha, sayest thou so! then, by the Splendour of God, we will do this
deed. Haste thou--rouse hearts, nerve hands--promise, menace, win!
Broad are the lands of England, and generous a conqueror's hand. Go
and prepare all my faithful lords for a council, nobler than ever yet
stirred the hearts and strung the hands of the sons of Rou."