Now there were many pieces of the true cross, of which Louis possessed two.

Upon one of these he held the oath to be binding and inviolate; it was known as the Cross of Victory.

Upon the other his oath was less sacred, and the sin of perjury was venial.
I stood near the throne, and, suspecting Louis of fraud, made bold to inquire:-- "Most humbly I would ask Your Majesty, is this the Cross of Victory ?" The king examined the piece of wood resting on the cushion and said:-- "By Saint Andrew, My Lord Cardinal, you have committed an error.

You have brought me the wrong piece." The Cross of Victory was then produced, with many apologies and excuses for the mistake, and the oath was taken while Mary's tiny hand rested on the relic beside King Louis' browned and wrinkled talon.

When the ceremony was finished, the king turned to Mary and said:-- "Whom will Your Highness select for a husband ?" "My father sometime had treaty with Duke Frederick of Styria, looking to my marriage with his son Maximilian, and I shall ratify the compact." Max was about to speak, but I plucked him by the sleeve.
* * * * * Now I shall hasten to the end.