Then spake the castellan, and said: No harm hath befallen the Lady
Birdalone; but whiles she hath been somewhat ailing of late, and it
is like that she wotteth not what is toward, and keepeth her chamber
now, for it is yet betimes in the morning.
As he spake, came thrusting a man through the throng, eager and pale-
faced; who but the chaplain; and he said: He would not let me speak,
this fool; I cannot choose my time. Lords, I bear evil tidings and
an ugly welcome home. The Lady Birdalone is in peril, and she is not
in the castle; I wot not where she is. Ye must send armed men to
seek her out.
Thereat fell the silence of woe upon the throng; but Arthur ran
forward on the priest with drawn sword, and cried out: I misdoubt me
that thou art a traitor; speak! or I will slay thee here and now. If
I be a traitor, quoth Leonard, I shall tell thee in little while what
ye must do to undo my treason, if there be yet time thereto; so slay
me not till ye have heard, and then do what ye will with me.
But Baudoin put Arthur aside, and said: Refrain thee a little, fair
brother, else shall words tumble over each other and we shall know
nothing clear.
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