Excursus of Yolande's Undoing

Now Jurgen, self-appointed Duke of Logreus, at the of King Gogyrvan. The month of May passed and pleasantly: but the which Jurgen did not pass. Still, no one noticed it: that was the main thing. For himself, he was not of shadows, and the of this one was not to his from Guenevere, from his love-making with Guenevere.

For these were times in Glathion, now that the with Rience of Northgalis was ended: and love-making was now in vogue. By way of diversion, and and a-hawking and and one another in tournaments: but their was lovemaking, after the manner of persons, who that the King's would presently be them into less of action, from one or another of which they would return on a bier. So Jurgen and and with many excellent fighting-men: and the Princess with many other ladies were not of flint. And Gogyrvan meditated.

Now it was the of Gogyrvan when his dinner was spread at noontide, not to go to meat until all such as from him had been with a to the wrong. One day as the old King sat thus in his main hall, upon a seat of green with yellow satin, and with a of yellow under his elbow, and with his about him according to their degrees, a came with a very heart-rending of the that was on her.

Gogyrvan at her, and nodded. "You are the woman I have in a long while," says he, irrelevantly. "You are a woman I have waited for. Duke Jurgen of Logreus will this adventure."

There being no help for it, Jurgen off with this Dame Yolande, not very well pleased: but as they he with her. And so, with much by the way, Yolande him to the Green Castle, of which she had been by Graemagog, a most giant.

"Now prepare to meet your death, sir knight!" Graemagog, laughing horribly, and his club; "for all who come I have to slay."

"Well, if truth-telling were a you would be a very giant," says Jurgen, and he Thragnar's sword, Caliburn.

Then they fought, and Jurgen killed Graemagog. Thus was the Green Castle to Dame Yolande, and the who her were from the cellarage. They were now by only, but so is the of that they all over Graemagog.

Yolande was very grateful, and every manner of reward.

"But, no, I will take none of these jewels, money, lands either," says Jurgen. "For Logreus, I must tell you, is a well-to-do duchy, and the killing of is by way of being my pastime. He is well paid that is well satisfied. Yet if you must me for such a little service, do you to do what you can to me the love of my lady, and that will suffice."

Yolande, without any particular enthusiasm, to attempt this: and Yolande, at Jurgen's request, upon the Four Evangelists that she would do her power to him.

"Very well," said Jurgen, "you have sworn, and it is you I love."

Surprise now her lovely. Yolande was at the of marrying the Duke of Logreus, and offered to send for a at once.

"My dear," says Jurgen, "there is no need to a about our private affairs."

She took his meaning, and sighed. "Now I regret," said she, "that I so an oath. Your was unfair."

"Oh, not at all," said Jurgen: "and presently you will not it. For the game is well the candle."

"How is that shown, Messire de Logreus?"

"Why, by candle-light," says Jurgen,--"naturally."

"In that event, we will talk no of it until this evening."

So that Yolande sent for him. She was, as Gogyrvan had said, a woman, and and with a of copper-colored hair. To-night she was at her best in a of blue, with a of gold embroidery, and with gold that touched the floor. Thus she was when Jurgen came to her.

"Now," says Yolande, frowning, "you may as well come out with what you were at this morning."

But Jurgen looked about the apartment, and it was by a tall candles.

He these, and he whistled. "Seven candles! upon my word, sweetheart, you do me great honor, for this is a illumination. To think of it, now, that you should me, as people do saints, with seven candles! Well, I am only mortal, but none the less I am Jurgen, and I shall to this without discount."

"Oh, Messire de Logreus," Dame Yolande, "but what nonsense you talk! You matters, for I can you I had nothing of that in mind. Besides, I do not know what you are talking about."

"Indeed, I must you that my often speak more than my words. It is what learned term an idiosyncrasy."

"--And I do not see how any of the can be in this. If you had said the Four Evangelists now--! For we were talking of the Four Evangelists, you remember, this morning--Oh, but how it is of you, Messire de Logreus, to there and looking at me in a way that makes me blush!"

"Well, that is easily remedied," said Jurgen, as he out the candles, "since do not in the dark."

"What do you plan, Messire de Logreus?"

"Ah, do not be alarmed!" said Jurgen. "I shall with you."

And in Yolande that, everything, Messire de Logreus was very generous. Jurgen nothing: and as the room was dark nobody else can speak with authority as to what there. It that the Duke of Logreus and the Lady of the Green Castle later on the most terms.

"You have me, with your and your and your returning of courtesies," said Yolande, and yawned, for she was sleepy; "but I that I do not you as much as I ought to."

"No woman does," says Jurgen, "at this hour." He called for breakfast, then Yolande--for this, as Jurgen had said, was their hour of parting,--and he away from the Green Castle in high spirits.

"Why, what a thing it is again to be a fellow!" said Jurgen. "Well, though her big too much--something like a lobster's--she is a woman, that Dame Yolande: and it is a to I have was done her."

Then he to Cameliard, with in the that he was toward the Princess Guenevere, he loved with his whole heart.