e forepart of the dead horse, in
a prison between the two gates, while the hinder part of the horse was
outside. And Sir Owen saw that his death must be very near, for already
he saw one of the soldiers who were guarding the gate run after the
knight to the castle, as if for orders to slay him.

Looking through the inner gate, he saw a narrow street facing him, with
booths and little houses on each side; and coming towards him he beheld
a maiden, small but beautiful, with black curling hair and a circlet of
gold upon her forehead; and she was of high rank, for she wore a dress
of yellow satin, and on her feet were shoes of speckled leather.

She stopped when but a few steps from the gate where the soldiers stood
watching Sir Owen; and he saw that her eyes were bent fixedly upon the
blue stone which lay on the knight's breast. And he saw that, in the
darkness of his prison, it shone with a fierce blue flame.

He looked up and saw the maiden's eyes bent on his, and he seemed to
hear the voice of the maiden speaking to him, as clearly as if she
stood beside him. In these words she spoke:

'Take that stone which is on thy breast, and hold it tightly in the
palm of one hand. And as thou concealest it, so will it conceal thee.
Thus wilt thou be able to pass unseen between the bars of the portcullis.
And I will wait for thee on the horseblock yonder, and thou wilt be
able to see me, though I cannot see thee. Therefore, come and place thy
hand on my shoulder, and I shall know that thou art come. And then thou
must accompany me to the place where I shall hide thee.'

He saw the maiden turn away and go up the street, and Sir Owen did as
the voice had bidden him. And looking down he saw nothing of himself,
although he could see the soldiers looking in, and he saw the surprise
and then the horror on their faces, as they realised that they had seen
him spirited away before their eyes.

Sir Owen passed between them and rejoined the maiden, as she had bidden
him. He went with her, still invisible, and she led him to a small
house, and in it was a large and beautiful chamber, all painted with
gorgeous colours, and well furnished. And there she gave him food, and
he rested securely until late in the afternoon.

Then, as he looked out of the window upon the wall of the castle, which
towered dark and high above him, he heard a clamour and sounds of a
mourning coming from it. He asked the maiden the cause of it.

'They are administ