and striding through the apartment in extreme perturba-tion, " I am weary of this greatness which makes enemies of brothers, and yields one scarce a grave at last." The head of the countess was bent low over her sleeping child : and the duke continued, "I sometimes wish I were an eremite, and unless thy clear wit can devise some expe- ^ dient by which I can obtain my rightful inheritance, and chastise the vanity of this presumptuous Rufus, I am re-solved upon a pilgrimage." " Thou saidst Lanfranc assisted William : our uncle Odo hates Lanfranc," said Adela. Robert caught at the suggestion. " My sister, I thank thee,",he exclaimed eagerly. "Thou hast made me king. I will to Normandy, and summon my trusty squires to council. Simon of Huntingdon, Hugh of Norfolk, and William of Durham, are already disaffected and ready for revolt. " Odo shall head the conspiracy in England." Full of his new project the duke hurried away, scarce-ly waiting for the pecuniary aid, with which the countess, who knew the impoverished state of his finances, hastened to furnish him. The well-concerted scheme, of the conspirators failed, through the characteristic indolence and procrastination of Robert. Odo effected an inglorious escape from England, and the rebel earls gladly made terms with the king. Many of the insurgents repaired to Normandy, and suffered the confiscation of their estates ; and while the Countess of Blois daily expected a summons to attend Robert's corona-tion, she was surprised by intelligence that William had crossed the sea with a numerous army, and by menaces, bribery or fraud, had obtained possession of almost every fortress, on the right bank of the Seine. The barons who held lands under both brothers, labored to effect a reconciliation through the mediation of the French monarch. Robert still reckoning upon the liberal aid of his sister ' and her wealthy lord, resisted all overtures of peace ; but ADELA. 69