Walker, the yeoman, soon had completed his work. Thereupon he made his way into the forest to find him, who was best friend of his, to get advice as to what to do. He, whom he sought, was none other than our old friend Gouvernail, who, of course, was not far from Sir Tristram, his master. Though he had long since severed fealty to King Mark, Sir Tristram had returned near unto the court because of the love he bore one of the damsels who was in it. It was Walker who had carried the messages Gouvernail had brought from his master to this same lady. Walker soon came to the hiding place of his friend. "What ho?" asked Gouvernail. "What brings you here at this unseemly hour?" "I need your advice," replied Walker. "My poor head carries too great a muddle." "You come to one who can offer but poor solace there," replied Gouvernail. "If it were trusty arm, good club or something belike, you could well come to me. But speak, what troubles you?" So Walker told him. Except that at first he made no mention of names. "Keep you from it," advised Gouvernail. "It is the business of your betters and not of your meddling." "Yet had Sir Percival done this thing for my father, and if he would, he could have thought the same,--that it was not his affair but an affair of hind or yeoman." "Is this Percival, he who is of King Arthur's court?" asked Gouvernail. "Aye," replied Walker, nodding his head. "Do you know him?" "Somewhat. Who else is there?" he further questioned, now interested. "Sir Launcelot, Sir Neil and some others." "Did they speak of a boy being there?" "I do not remember. Yet I seem to recall that they did," replied Walker. "I will help you. Come," and Gouvernail took his friend but a little way to where Sir Tristram was lodging. Sir Tristram seated himself and listened to the two. He understood at once. "When did King Mark say that he would start with his men?" he asked Walker. "In three hours, Sir Knight," the man answered. "Good. Let us be off. Good Gouvernail, get you my mail ready for I would don it." Within the half hour Sir Tristram with the two yeomen were on their way to meet Sir Percival and Sir Launcelot. So, strangely, they who sought him, were to find him come among them. CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Weasel's Nest "Greeting, good knights," he announced. "I am Sir Tristram." Nothing could have thrown Sir Launcelot's party into greater astonishment. And yet no news could have been pleasanter. "Right glad are we to see you, Sir Tristram, since we have sought you for a great number of days. I am Sir Launcelot. Here is Sir Percival." And so this knight announced them all. The two knights, Sir Tristram on the one hand, Sir Launcelot, on the other, observed each other. Each of them found much to like in the other. Then and there was the beginning of a friendship that was to last until the day of Sir Tristram's death. After the first few moments, had passed, Sir Tristram came to the reason for his coming among them.