"Sir, tell me his name," answered Robert, "and I will find means to speak to him so privily that the marriage shall be made." "Certes, Robert," returned the knight, "meseems thou art very desirous that my daughter shall be wedded." "Sir," quoth Robert, "you speak truly, for it is full time." "Robert," said the knight, "since thou art so hot to carol at her wedding, she shall soon enough be married if thou accord thereto." "Certes, sir," said Robert, "right willingly will I consent thereto." "To that you pledge your word?" demanded the knight. "Truly, sir, yes," answered Robert. "Robert, thou hast served me very faithfully, and ever have I found thee skilled and true. Such as I am, that thou hast made of me; for by thine aid at the tourneys have I gained five hundred pounds of rent. 'Twas but a short time since that I had but five hundred; whereas now I have one thousand pounds from rent of land. This, therefore, I owe to thee, and I acquit me of my debt by giving thee my fair daughter, so thou art willing to take her at my hand." "Ah, sir," cried Robert, "for the pity of God, say not thus. I am too low a man to snatch at so high a maiden, nor dare I pretend to one so rich and gracious as my demoiselle, since there is no knight in all the realm, whate'er his breeding, who would not count it honour to be her lord." "Robert, know of a surety that never shall knight of this country call her his; but I will bestow her on thee, if thou refusest her not, and for her dowry shall she bring thee four hundred pounds from rent of my lands." "Ah, sir," said Robert, "you are pleased to make a mock of me." "Robert," said the knight, "be assured this is no jest." "Ah, sir, neither my lady nor her mighty kin will endure to consent thereto." "Robert," said the knight, "this matter concerns none of them. Hold, I give thee my glove, and I invest thee with four hundred pounds of my land, and this is my warrant for the delivery thereof." "Sir," said Robert, "I will not refuse so goodly a gift, since it is given with so true a heart." "Robert," replied the knight, "the grant is sealed." So the knight granted him his glove, and invested him with rights in that fair maiden and her land. Thus they passed upon their ways until it fortuned that this knight returned to his own house. When he was entered therein, his wife--that comely dame--received him right sweetly, and said-- "Husband, for the love of God, give thought at this time to the marriage of our maid." "Dame," said her lord, "thou hast spoken so often of this matter that I have trothed her already." "Sir," inquired the lady, "to whom?" "Certes, dame, I have pledged her to a man who will ever be loyal and true. I have given her to Robert, my squire." "To Robert! Alas the day," quoth the lady. "Robert is but a naked man, nor is there a knight, however noble, in all this realm who would not have taken her gladly. Certainly Robert shall have none of her."