In order not to incommode the king with dust, he was left to march almost alone.

To the left of him were the Dukes of Burgundy and Berry, some paces in front, conversing together.

The Duke of Orleans, the Duke of Bourbon, Sire de Coney, and some others were also in front, forming another group.

Behind were Sires de Navarre, de Bar, d'Albret, d'Artois, and many others in one pretty large troop.

They rode along in this order, and had just entered the great forest of Le Mans, when all at once there started from behind a tree by the road-side a tall man, with bare head and feet, clad in a common white smock, who, dashing forward and seizing the king's horse by the bridle, cried, 'Go no farther; thou art betrayed!' [Illustration: '"Thou art betrayed."'-- --26] The men-at-arms hurried up immediately, and striking the hands of the fellow with the butts of their lances, made him let go the bridle.