No thought had the boy of the oddness of the monk's words, nor of his
questions. Nor of the fact that the monk seemed to be there present.
Somehow, the whole of it took on some great purport. Allan stopped
not to wonder, which the two things the monk mentioned were uppermost
in his mind but straightway made reply.

"Strange monk, I think and dream of the Holy Grail. And think too of
Yosalinde, sister to my Lord Percival. And of naught else so much. But
pray you, holy father, who are you?

"Truth, lad. As to who I am or as to where I come, know you this. I
come to you from that same place as do all dreams.

"Aye lad. Dreaming and fancying shall ever be yours. These son, shall
bring you the visions of tomorrow and many another day.

"I have come to tell you this, lad. But two years or more and you
shall start in earnest on your search for the Grail. And whether you
find the same, I shall not and cannot say, for the finding depends on
you. The way shall be hard, youth of many dreams, though you will have
help and guidance, too. But the great inspiration for it all shall
come to you from the second of these, your two big thoughts.

"I sought you many a day, lad. Merlin has sounded the message for me
to all the knights of Britain. Once before, years ago, I came to find
the likely seeker for the Grail and thought that I had found him. Yet
did the crucible's test find some alloy and so I had need to come
again.

"Then," said Allan but barely comprehending, "you are none other than