behind him.

So at the period which our narrative now covers there had grown from a
whispering into a more or less certainty and belief that a man had
come who would find the Holy Grail again for Britain and so add honor
and fame to England. And therewith there was great wonderment as to
whether the finder would be of the court of Northgalis, or of
Northumberland, or of Cornwall, or of Arthur's court.

Pentecost was but a few days away. Now on this day the good King
Arthur with Launcelot, Percival and Merlin, the wizard, made the round
of the sieges or seats of the Round Table, each of which held a name,
for on this Pentecost to come, there were to be many new knights made
and place must be found for them.

So then here and there the places were assigned. Now they came to the
last of the places.

"What new knight shall be placed here?" asked the King. "It seems to
us that this place his been empty this long time."

"This," answered Merlin, "is the Siege Perilous. Here no one shall sit
until four hundred and fifty four years after the passion of the
Lord."

Now then Sir Launcelot make quick reckoning.

"In the name of God," he made haste to say, "then should this siege be
filled on this Pentecost day that comes."