320 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE.

defend the right. Boniface and Dandolo had urged the im- portance of having with them " the rightful heir." The very existence of Isaac seems to have been ignored. Perhaps even there were doubts whether he still lived. If he did he vas blind, and by a well-recognized practice could not be emperor. The sentiment of chivalry to help the weak against the strong, the oppressed against the oppressor, had been roused, but al- ways in favor of Alexis and not of his father. In a night all this was changed. The oppressor had fled. The Crusaders learned that one who had been oppressed far more than the youth among them had been brought out from his dungeon, and was now occupying the throne of w^hich he had been wrongfully deprived. Tlie first order was to arm, the first thought probably to snatch the prize out of the hands of Isaac. Reflection, however, soon convinced the party of Philip that this could not be done at once. For the moment they would have to acquiesce in the settlement which had been arrived at. The simple-minded Crusaders would be unable to find fault with the citizens for placing the father of Alexis on the throne, of which he undoubtedly was, according to Western notions, the rightful occupant. The only pretext for remaining in Constantinople would henceforward be that they w^ished to be paid according to their bargain. Isaac had sent word, says Yillehardouin, that he w-as willing to ratify the promises that had been made by his son. Boniface was probably unwilling to allow Alexis to escape Deputation from liis influence, but replied that the heir to the [[on'eSs throne would not be permitted to enter the city un- uie city. ^jj these promises had been formally confirmed by the father. Accordingly Yillehardouin himself and Matthew of Montmorency, chosen to represent the Crusaders, with two Venetians, were sent to convey a reply to this effect to Isaac. At the gate of the city the messengers dismounted, and passed through a lane guarded on each side by Warings, les Anglois et les J)anois^t tlieir axes, to the palace of Blachern. When they entered they saw before them Isaac and his wife, the sis- ter of the King of Hungary. The messengers, after being re- ceived with every honor, told the emperor that they wished to