From some cause or other he seemed to think this an excellent joke, for
he almost shrieked with laughter as we went along; but by this time we
had reached the castle. Challenge, and counter-challenge, and we passed
the outermost gate and began to go through some of the courts, in which
stood lime trees here and there, growing green tenderly with that
Maytime, though the north wind bit so keenly.

How strange again! as I went farther, there seemed no doubt of it; here
in the aftertime came that pool, how I knew not; but in the few moments
that we were riding from the outer gate to the castle-porch I thought so
intensely over the probable cause for the existence of that pool, that
(how strange!) I could almost have thought I was back again listening to
the oozing of the land-springs through the high clay banks there. I was
wakened from that before it grew too strong, by the glare of many
torches, and, dismounting, found myself in the midst of some twenty
attendants, with flushed faces and wildly sparkling eyes, which they were
vainly trying to soften to due solemnity; mock solemnity I had almost
said, for they did not seem to think it necessary to appear really
solemn, and had difficulty enough apparently in not prolonging
indefinitely the shout of laughter with which they had at first greeted
me. "Take the holy Father to my Lord," said one at last, "and we will go
with him."

So they led me up the stairs into the gorgeously-furnished chamber; the
light from the heavy waxen candles was pleasant to my eyes after the
glare and twisted red smoke of the pine-torches; but all the essences
scattered about the chamber were not enough to conquer the fiery breath
of those about me.