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Chapter V
ButSirBalinwasrightheartilyreceived,andtakentoachamber,wheretheyunarmedhim,anddressedhiminrichrobes,ofanycolourthathechose,andtoldhimhemustlayasidehissword.This,however,herefused,andsaid,“Itisthecustomofmycountryforaknighttokeephisswordeverwithhim;andifImaynotkeepithere,Iwillforthwithdepart.”Thentheygavehimleavetowearhissword.Sohewenttothegreathall,andwassetamongknightsofrankandworship,andhisladybeforehim.
Soonhefoundmeanstoaskonewhosatnearhim,“IstherenothereaknightwhosenameisGarlon?”
“Yonderhegoeth,”saidhisneighbour,“hewiththatblackface;heisthemostmarvellousknightalive,forheridethinvisibly,anddestroyethwhomhewill.”
“Ah,well,”saidBalin,drawingalongbreath,“isthatindeedtheman?Ihaveaforetimeheardofhim.”
Thenhemusedlongwithinhimself,andthought,“IfIshallslayhimhereandnow,Ishallnotescapemyself;butifIleavehim,peradventureIshallnevermeetwithhimagainatsuchadvantage;andifhelive,howmuchmoreharmandmischiefwillhedo!”
Butwhilehedeeplythought,andcasthiseyesfromtimetotimeuponSirGarlon,thatfalseknightsawthathewatchedhim,andthinkingthathecouldatsuchatimeescaperevenge,hecameandsmoteSirBalinonthefacewiththebackofhishand,andsaid,“Knight,whydostthousowatchme?beashamed,andeatthymeat,anddothatwhichthoucamestfor.
