“The form of the Templar quivered with rage.  But his armor was split from helm to gorget—­his horse bleeding and staggering with pain and terror, and certain destruction could be his only fate, if he continued the combat.

“’I yield to thy conditions, but when we meet again in fair field, I shall dictate the terms of surrender!’

“The black champion lifted, as if she had been an infant, the charming Zelica from the Templar’s saddle-bow, and bore her senseless form to the unhorsed knight.  The Templar rode slowly and sullenly away in the direction of the hills of Palestine, and I have never seen him since.  It is reported that he has returned to France, and having renounced the oaths of his order, travels in the guise of a simple knight, doing deeds that dishonor chivalry, and render him universally odious.  The dark mailed warrior has remained in Palestine for a long period, doing mighty deeds of valor, and sustaining the cause of Christ with his powerful arm; but he left the Holy Land about the time of my departure, and is now on his way home, to share the laurels bestowed upon the valiant defenders of the faith.”

The palmer ceased.  All eyes were still bent upon him, and all looked sorry that his tale had closed so soon.

“When did you leave the knight of the black armor?” asked the beautiful Joan, crimsoning to the temples as she put the simple question.

“It was above six months since, when I saw him at Constantinople.  He was on the eve of departure for France with his retinue.”

The fair girl blushed still more brightly, and reclining within the cushions of her splendid chair, remained silent and thoughtful during the remainder of the evening.

CHAPTER II.

While the pilgrim was engaged in his recital, one of the guests at the head of the festal board had listened with peculiar eagerness.  He was a knight, tall and finely limbed, and attired with pointed elegance and taste.  His pourpoint was barred with gold, and deep fringes of the same precious metal adorned its borders.  His face was swarthy from exposure, though classical in contour, and eminently handsome in expression.  His lips curled proudly, his nostrils were thin, and in every feature might be traced the unmistakable tokens of pride and sensuality.  His seat was by the side of Joan, and he was assiduous in his efforts to please her-performing for her all those knightly devoirs which the gallant age of chivalry required.

The eye of the palmer had more than once, during his narration, been fastened upon this handsome knight, with incomprehensible significance, and particularly as he spoke of the attempt of the Templar to ride over the prostrate champion of Zelica, did his large orbs cast upon the richly attired guest a look of mingled scorn and anger, which, had it been observed by the host or the other guests, would have tasked the skill of the greatest Odipus among them to divine.