infidels."

"Well spoken, lad. But it needs many years and one must learn much to
be a good knight. It is not easy work."

"I know that, Sir Galahad. But I shall not count the years for I am
still young."

More questions the knight asked the lad and he made eager though
respectful answer. It was apparent that he had thought of it for many
a day. But Sir Galahad said never a word to him of the reason for his
questions and left the lad without knowledge of his purpose.

But the next day he spoke to Sir Guilbert and gave him answer.

"I should like the youth as my page. He is the kind I could well use.
And I promise you that he shall come back to you so that neither you
nor his mother shall have reason to be other than proud of him. He
will be of great help to me when I reach Rome for I purpose to journey
there, I know naught of the tongue."

"Have you told the lad, as yet?" the father asked.

"I thought it best that either you or your lady speak first with him
and then will I."

"That is a gracious deed on your part, my knight. And if it bears
fruit or not, I shall indeed be in your debt."

"Not so, Sir Guilbert. For the boy will but have such chance as I was