keth the Lady Lesolie._]

Then Elose said: "Lady, there is in this castle a knight who loveth thee
a very great deal, and this knight is exceedingly noble and of very
great skill at arms, and he is a king's son, and he is a knight of King
Arthur's court, and he is a knight of the Round Table. So great is the
love of this knight for thee that thou mightest demand anything of him.
Now it appeareth to me that since thou hast lost the knight who was our
champion, thou wouldst do well to call upon this knight to defend thee.
And if in good time thou shouldest choose him for thy lord, then it
would be much to thy pride and greatly to the joy of this land."

Now all this while the lady had been regarding Elose very steadfastly,
and when the maiden ended she said: "Who is this knight, and what is his
name and his degree?" Elose said: "Lady, thou hast heard of him a great
many times, for he is Sir Ewaine, the son of King Uriens of Gore and of
Queen Morgana le Fay." Then the lady said in a very strange voice:
"Elose, it is wonderful that a knight so famous as this should have been
in our castle and yet we knew nothing thereof. Now tell me, when was it
he came hither?" Then Elose was confused and said: "Lady, he hath only
been here a little while, for he did but come this morning."

Then the Lady Lesolie smiled very curiously, and she said: "Bring that
knight hither, that I may see him and speak with him." Then straightway
Elose went to where Sir Ewaine was. And Elose said: "Sir Ewaine, arise
and come with me, for my lady would have speech with thee."

So Sir Ewaine arose and went forth with Elose, and Elose brought him to
where the Lady Lesolie was. And Elose introduced Sir Ewaine to the Lady
Lesolie, and Sir Ewaine paid great homage to her for he beheld that she
was very wonderfully beautiful. The lady looked at Sir Ewaine very
steadily, and by and by she said, "Elose, this knight hath not the
appearance of one who is a traveller new arrived from a journey; rather
he appeareth like one who is fresh and well-bedight."

Then at first Elose was confused and wist not where to look. Then
presently the lady said: "Elose, I believe this was the knight who slew
Sir Sagron."

Then Elose looked very steadily into the lady's face, and anon she spake
boldly and without fear, and she said: "Well, lady, what then? So much
the better for thee if this knight overcame Sir Sagron, who was the best
knight in all this land. For if this knight