"I count him my better, Sir Knight," replied Gouvernail.

"This fool would overpraise me and lead you to expect overmuch," said
Walker. I will do my best if you will but try me."

"That I shall," replied the knight. And thereupon the two, Gouvernail
and Walker, fell back a little way and came to Allan who was glad of a
chance to talk to Gouvernail. And as they rode forward the boy
listened to some of the tales and some of the doings of Sir Tristram.

Now in the front there rode, the two, Sir Tristram and Sir Launcelot
and with them Sir Dagonet.

"Truly, I often wonder, good Dagonet, wherefore they call you a fool,"
spoke Sir Launcelot. "Here comes this thought of yours that could come
only from the wisest man or the greatest fool. Often, I wonder which
you are."

"Yet good Launcelot, since I am I, I know which of these I am. What
sooth, what matters it, which you and all of these," and Sir Dagonet
pointed to the others with them, "which you think me? If it pleases
all of you, it pleases me to be a fool. Howsoever, it is ill wind
that does not blow some good and here we have Sir Tristram who is not
in Ireland though I had reason for believing him there."

"Faith, friend, and I had but decided that I would journey henceward
within two days," replied Sir Tristram wonderingly.

"See you then, Launcelot. I made but a fool's guess. Had I been a