"
"Ye have indeed come too late," said the prince, "seeing that the
prize is about to be awarded; yet I doubt not that one of these
gentlemen will run a course for the sake of honor with this
cavalier of France."
"And as to the prize, sire," quoth Sir Nigel, "I am sure that I
speak for all when I say this French knight hath our leave to
bear it away with him if he can fairly win it."
"Bear word of this to your master," said the prince, "and ask him
which of these five Englishmen he would desire to meet. But
stay; your master bears no coat-armor, and we have not yet heard
his name."
"My master, sire, is under vow to the Virgin neither to reveal
his name nor to open his vizor until he is back upon French
ground once more."
"Yet what assurance have we," said the prince, "that this is not
some varlet masquerading in his master's harness, or some caitiff
knight, the very touch of whose lance might bring infamy upon an
honorable gentleman?"
"It is not so, sire," cried the squire earnestly. "There is no
man upon earth who would demean himself by breaking a lance with
my master.
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