ancelot
was ever proud of him. 'Twas he that knighted my young brother Gareth,
brave and hearty, noble of mind and goodly of look! He would have stood
with Lancelot against the king himself, so greatly he loved him. And
thou--thou foul-mouth!--thou tellest me that Lancelot hath slain him!
Begone from my sight, thou split-tongue!'

'Nevertheless, Sir Gawaine,' said the man, rising, 'Sir Lancelot slew
them both in his rage. As he would--saving your presence--have slain
you had you stood between him and the queen at the stake.'

At these words, stubbornly spoken in spite of the furious looks of Sir
Gawaine, the knight realised that the man was speaking the truth.

His look was fixed on the face of the knave, and rage and grief filled
his eyes as he grasped the fact that his beloved brother was really
slain. Then the blood surged into his face, and he dashed away.

Men started to see the wild figure of Sir Gawaine rushing through the
passages, his eyes bloodshot, his face white. At length he dashed into
the presence of the king. Arthur stood sorrowing amidst his knights,
but Sir Gawaine rushed through them and faced the king.

'Ha! King Arthur!' he cried, half breathless, but in a great wild
voice, 'my good brother, Sir Gareth, is slain, and also Sir Gaheris! I
cannot bear the thought of them slain. It cannot be true! I cannot
believe it!'

'Nay, nor can any think upon it,' said the king, 'and keep from
weeping.'

'Ay, ay,' said Sir Gawaine in a terrible voice, 'there shall be
weeping, I trow, and that erelong. Sir, I will go see my dead brothers.
I would kiss them ere they be laid in earth.'

'Nay, that may not be,' said the king gently. 'I knew how great would
be thy sorrow, and that sight of them would drive thee mad. And I have
caused them to be interred instantly.'

'Tell me,' said Gawaine, and men marvelled to see the wild look in his
eyes and to hear the fierce voice, 'is it truth that Sir Lancelot slew
them both?'

'It is thus told me,' said the King, 'that in his fury Sir Lancelot
knew not whom he smote.'

'But, man,' thundered Sir Gawaine, 'they bare no arms against him!
Their hearts were with him, and young Gareth loved him as if--as if
Lancelot was his own brother.'

'I know it, I know it,' replied King Arthur. 'But men say they were
mingled in the thick press of the fight, and Lancelot knew not friend
from foe, but struck down all that stood between him and the queen.'

For a space Sir Gawaine