On the stranger’s approach, Otto and Bertha exclaimed at the same moment,--“Good Heaven, there is the frightful knight, Sir Folko de Montfaucon!” During Gabrielle’s narrative, they had formed to themselves a lively picture of this victorious hero, to which the looks of the stranger guest now wonderfully corresponded. They had not been deceived; for Gabrielle suddenly became deadly pale, and the knight came up with great respect and formality, inquiring whether she had chosen the warrior, by whom he had just before been invited into the tent, for her champion, and if it would now be allowed him to try his fortune in combat in order to win back the ring? To this address Gabrielle made a sign in the affirmative, and Sir Archimbald interposed. “Sir Knight, although you are yet a stranger to me, yet it is my duty to inform you, that I am the Graf von Waldeck. My character is, perhaps, already known to you; and you have now free choice whether you will venture with me in the lists, or give up the ring in friendship and peace.” At these words a deep flush came over the cheeks of Sir Folko de Montfaucon, and his dark eyes gleamed like a distant thundercloud. However, he made a courteous bow, and said, in a mild voice,--“I know not, my Lord Count, if you will not think it beneath your dignity to conquer such a humble opponent as the Chevalier Folko de Montfaucon; but this much I can truly say, that the honour of contending with so renowned a knight as Count Archimbald von Waldeck would alone induce me to request the combat, even if there were not any other motive for our encounter.” “Shall we then enter the lists to-night?” said Sir Archimbald. “That must be decided by this noble damsel,” said Sir Folko; “perhaps from the fatigue of her journey it might not be convenient to her to look on our conflict this evening.” “Rather let it be to-day than to-morrow,” said Gabrielle, in an accent of haste and anxiety. Accordingly the Count went out to prepare the ground, having previously agreed with his opponent, that whoever should first be driven out of the ring, (by whatever cause this might happen,) should be looked upon as vanquished, and should be allowed no farther chance on this occasion; otherwise, however, they were to be allowed the right of contending with swords, after their fortune had been duly tried with the lance, according to the example given in the court of King Richard the Lion Heart.