Yet, even then, he could not believe Constance was
guilty. He carried her before the king to be judged. This king, Alla,
was very tender and good, and when he saw Constance standing in the
midst of the people, with her frightened eyes looking appealing from
one to another like a wounded deer who is chased to its death, his
heart was moved with pity.
The governor and all his people told how Constance had loved the
murdered lady, and what holy words she had taught. All except the real
murderer, who kept declaring she was the guilty one, believed her
innocent.
The king asked her, "Have you any champion who could fight for you?"
At this Constance, falling on her knees, cried out that she had no
champion but God, and prayed that He would defend her innocence.
"Now," cried the king, "bring the holy book which was brought from
Brittany by my fathers, and let the knight swear upon it that the
maiden is guilty."
So they brought the book of the Gospels, and the knight kissed it, but
as soon as he began to take the oath he was felled down as by a
terrible blow, and his neck was found broken and his eyes burst from
his head.
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