“’Tis well, Sir Knight,” answered the Chevalier; “and you are now perchance in quest of Gabrielle’s ring?” With a courteous bow, Sir Otto replied in the affirmative. “I am then at your command,” answered Sir Folko; and, turning to the company, he added, “This brave young knight has indeed not related any adventure for your entertainment; but, to compensate for his silence, you may be eye-witnesses of one to-morrow, if you will do me the honour to accompany me to another of my castles in Normandy, where he will engage with me in the lists, and whither I shall invite also the beautiful Gabrielle de Portamour to behold our encounter.” Thereafter he explained to them how he had before now met with Sir Otto near the fortress of Trautwangen, and contended there with the Count Archimbald von Waldeck for the ring. Also, how the castle to which he would invite the Lady Gabrielle was the principal mansion on those territories of which the ring gave the exclusive right of possession; so that she would doubtless not fail to honour them with her company. All the guests now present accepted the invitation; and Sir Otto, with downcast eyes, thanked them for their great courtesy, in as much as they would condescend to behold how a youth, hitherto so humble and unpractised in arms, was to be admitted to the honour of a combat with the renowned Sir Folko de Montfaucon. Every heart was prepossessed in his favour; and even the Count Alessandro de Vinciguerra embraced him cordially, saying, “Truly, since the fates were resolved, that, for the chastisement of my sinful levity, I should be visited by a severe moralist and stern preacher, there could not have been found one in all the world to whom I should have listened so willingly as to him who is now among us.” CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Otto heard from the Chevalier de Montfaucon, a Story of the Ring.