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him； scarce more than a bow…shot away； the Golden House now gilded
again and reddened by the setting sun。 And even therewith came a
gay image toward him； flashing back the level rays from gold and
steel and silver； and lo！ there was come the King's Son。 They met
presently； and the King's Son turned to go beside him； and said
merrily： 〃I give thee good even； my Lady's Squire！ I owe thee
something of courtesy； whereas it is by thy means that I shall be
made happy； both to…night； and to…morrow； and many to…morrows； and
sooth it is； that but little courtesy have I done thee hitherto。〃
His face was full of joy； and the eyes of him shone with gladness。
He was a goodly man； but to Walter he seemed an ill one； and he
hated him so much； that he found it no easy matter to answer him；
but he refrained himself； and said： 〃I can thee thank； King's Son；
and good it is that someone is happy in this strange land。〃
〃Art thou not happy then； Squire of my Lady？〃 said the other。
Walter had no mind to show this man his heart； nay； nor even a
corner thereof； for he deemed him an enemy。 So he smiled sweetly
and somewhat foolishly； as a man luckily in love； and said： 〃O yea；
yea； why should I not be so？ How might I be otherwise？〃
〃Yea then；〃 said the King's Son； 〃why didst thou say that thou wert
glad someone is happy？ Who is unhappy； deemest thou？〃 and he looked
on him keenly。
Walter answered slowly： 〃Said I so？ I suppose then that I was
thinking of thee； for when first I saw thee； yea； and afterwards；
thou didst seem heavy…hearted and ill…content。〃
The face of the King's Son cleared at this word； and he said： 〃Yea；
so it was； for look you； both ways it was： I was unfree； and I had
sown the true desire of my heart whereas it waxed not。 But now I am
on the brink and verge of freedom； and presently shall my desire be
blossomed。 Nay now； Squire； I deem thee a good fellow； though it
may be somewhat of a fool； so I will no more speak riddles to thee。
Thus it is： the Maid hath promised me all mine asking； and is mine；
and in two or three days； by her helping also； I shall see the world
again。〃
Quoth Walter； smiling askance on him： 〃And the Lady？ what shall she
say to this matter？〃
The King's Son reddened； but smiled falsely enough； and said： 〃Sir
Squire； thou knowest enough not to need to ask this。 Why should I
tell thee that she accounteth more of thy little finger than of my
whole body？ Now I tell thee hereof freely； first； because this my
fruition of love； and my freeing from thralldom； is； in a way； of
thy doing。 For thou art become my supplanter； and hast taken thy
place with yonder lovely tyrant。 Fear not for me！ she will let me
go。 As for thyself； see thou to it！ But again I tell thee hereof
because my heart is light and full of joy； and telling thee will
pleasure me； and cannot do me any harm。 For if thou say： How if I
carry the tale to my Lady？ I answer； thou wilt not。 For I know
that thine heart hath been somewhat set on the jewel that my hand
holdeth； and thou knowest well on whose head the Lady's wrath would
fall； and that would be neither thine nor mine。〃
〃Thou sayest sooth；〃 said Walter； 〃neither is treason my wont。〃
So they walked on silently a while； and then Walter said： 〃But how
if the Maiden had nay…said thee； what hadst thou done then？〃
〃By the heavens！〃 said the King's Son fiercely； 〃she should have
paid for her nay…say； then would I〃 But he broke off； and said
quietly； yet somewhat doggedly： 〃Why talk of what might have been？
She gave me her yea…say pleasantly and sweetly。〃
Now Walter knew that the man lied； so he held his peace thereon； but
presently he said： 〃When thou art free wilt thou go to thine own
land again？〃
〃Yea；〃 said the King's Son； 〃she will lead me thither。〃
〃And wilt thou make her thy lady and queen when thou comest to thy
father's land？〃 said Walter。
The King's Son knit his brow； and said： 〃When I am in mine own land
I may do with her what I will； but I look for it that I shall do no
otherwise with her than that she shall be well…content。〃
Then the talk between them dropped； and the King's Son turned off
toward the wood； singing and joyous； but Walter went soberly toward
the house。 Forsooth he was not greatly cast down； for besides that
he knew that the King's Son was false； he deemed that under this
double tryst lay something which was a…doing in his own behalf。 Yet
was he eager and troubled； if not down…hearted； and his soul was
cast about betwixt hope and fear。
CHAPTER XX： WALTER IS BIDDEN TO ANOTHER TRYST
So came he into the pillared hall； and there he found the Lady
walking to and fro by the high…seat； and when he drew nigh she
turned on him； and said in a voice rather eager than angry： 〃What
hast thou done； Squire？ Why art thou come before me？〃
He was abashed； and bowed before her and said： 〃O gracious Lady；
thou badest me service； and I have been about it。〃
She said： 〃Tell me then； tell me； what hath betided？〃
〃Lady；〃 said he； 〃when I entered the thicket of thy swooning I found
there no carcase of the lion； nor any sign of the dragging away of
him。〃
She looked full in his face for a little； and then went to her
chair； and sat down therein； and in a little while spake to him in a
softer voice； and said： 〃Did I not tell thee that some enemy had
done that unto me？ and lo！ now thou seest that so it is。〃
Then was she silent again； and knit her brows and set her teeth； and
thereafter she spake harshly and fiercely： 〃But I will overcome
her； and make her days evil； but keep death away from her； that she
may die many times over； and know all the sickness of the heart；
when foes be nigh； and friends afar； and there is none to deliver！〃
Her eyes flashed； and her face was dark with anger； but she turned
and caught Walter's eyes； and the sternness of his face； and she
softened at once； and said： 〃But thou！ this hath little to do with
thee； and now to thee I speak： Now cometh even and night。 Go thou
to thy chamber； and there shalt thou find raiment worthy of thee；
what thou now art； and what thou shalt be； do on the same； and make
thyself most goodly； and then come thou hither and eat and drink
with me； and afterwards depart whither thou wilt； till the night has
worn to its midmost； and then come thou to my chamber； to wit；
through the ivory door in the gallery above； and then and there
shall I tell thee a thing； and it shall be for the weal both of thee
and of me； but for the grief and woe of the Enemy。〃
Therewith she reached her hand to him； and he kissed it； and
departed and came to his chamber； and found raiment therebefore rich
beyond measure； and he wondered if any new snare lay therein： yet
if there were； he saw no way whereby he might escape it； so he did
it on； and became as the most glorious of kings； and yet lovelier
than any king of the world。
Sithence he went his way into the pillared hall； when it was now
night； and without the moon was up； and the trees of the wood as
still as images。 But within the hall shone bright with many
candles； and the fountain glittered in the light of them； as it ran