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THE THIRD BOOK 63 doves fly toward me and settle on my hand, and one of them was white, and the other black." And Leo said to the priest: May the Lord be kind as the day is holy. For we ask you to give us some food; for the fourth day is dawning since we have tasted bread and meat." He hid the slaves, and gave them bread soaked in wine, and went away to matins. The barbarian followed them, asking for the boys a second time, but he was deceived by the priest, and he went back. For the priest had an old friendship with the blessed Gregory. Then the youths, after refreshing their strength with food, and remaining two days in the home of the priest, departed, and thus they came to the holy Gregory. The bishop rejoiced at seeing them, and wept on the neck of Attalus his nephew ; he set Leo free from the yoke of slavery with all his family, and gave him land of his own, on which he Hved a free man with his wife and children all the days of his life. [16. Sigivald, duke of Auvergne, is miraculously punished for taking church property. 17. Seven successive bishops of Tours are mentioned, one of them, Leo, being "a, man of energy and skill in the building of wooden structures."] 18. While queen Clotilda was staying at Paris, Childebert saw that his mother loved with especial affection the sons of Chlodo- mer, whom we have mentioned above, and being envious and fear- ful that they would have a share in the kingdom -through the favor of the queen, he sent secretly to his brother king Clothar, saying : Our mother keeps our brother's sons with her, and wishes them to be kings. You must come swiftly to Paris, where we will take counsel together and discuss what ought to be done about them, whether their hair shall be cut and they be treated Hke the rest of the common people, or whether we shall kill them and divide our brother's kingdom between ourselves equally." And Clothar was very glad at these words, and came to Paris. Now Childebert had spread the report among the people that the kings were meet- ing for the purpose of raising the little ones to the throne. And when they met, they sent to the queen, who was then dwelling in the city, saying: "Send the little ones to us, that they may be raised to the throne." And she rejoiced, not knowing their treachery, and giving the boys food and drink, she sent them say- ing : "I shall not think that I have lost my son, if I see you occupy