I therefore got this fellow preferred to a bishopric, but I lost my flatterer by it; for he never afterwards said a civil thing to me.
"I never balked my imagination for the grossness of the reflection on the character of the greatest noble--nay, even the king himself; of which I will give you a very bold instance.

One day his simple majesty told me he believed I had so much power that his people looked on me as the king, and himself as my fool.
"At this I pretended to be angry, as with an affront.

'Why, how now ?' says the king; 'are you ashamed of being a king ?' 'No, sir,' says I, 'but I am devilishly ashamed of my fool.' "Herbert, earl of Vermandois, had by my means been restored to the favor of the Simple (for so I used always to call Charles).

He afterwards prevailed with the king to take the city of Arras from earl Baldwin, by which means, Herbert, in exchange for this city, had Peronne restored to him by count Altmar.

Baldwin came to court in order to procure the restoration of his city; but, either through pride or ignorance, neglected to apply to me.