his beckoning there came forth one of Sir Brian's henchmen.

"Tell your master, Sir Gareth waits outside the gates and would
bespeak him."

But when Sir Brian was given the message, he did not deign to answer
in person, instead, he sent one of his knights in answer to the call.

"Sir Knight," addressed Sir Gareth, "I seek the master of this castle.
Are you he?"

"Nay, but then Sir Brian deems it not fit for him to answer all calls.
Such business as you may have, I doubt not, I may quickly dispose with
and so not keep you from your journey."

"I seek a youth, companion of ours, who had strayed from us and who
mayhap, has met with foul adventure. His name is Breunor le Noire. Do
you or the knight who is your master here know aught of him?" So spoke
Sir Gareth disdaining the insolence in the tone of the other.

"It may be that we do. Wait you here, while I make return to the
castle to find the answer for you."

Therewith the knight left them to stand in front of the castle gates
and made his own way back to the house.

"He is an ill bred knave," said Allan hotly. "To think that such as he
holds knighthood."

"Knighthood," said the ex-kitchen boy, "is merely a cloak. And I find,