Meanwhile, Sir Archimbald being employed without in making preparations for this tragical pastime, Folko had taken Gabrielle’s lute, seated himself with it at her feet, and begun gracefully to play with the strings. It was a pleasure to look on him in his dark-blue armour, finely inlaid and gleaming with gold, his dark-brown hair, upturned whiskers, smiling lips, and pearly teeth. As to Gabrielle, she fixed her eyes steadfastly on the ground, in silent impatience, and suffering all the agonies of suspense. Whoever had chanced to see these two, the knight and the lady, both clad in the same colours, and thus sitting together, would never have thought that there were any evil intentions betwixt them; but rather that the lady had made him a present of the fine blue and gold scarf which flowed over his broad shoulders, and that he was now thanking her for her courtesy by a love-melody on her lute. Such peace and tranquillity, however, were not of long continuance. Archimbald soon made his appearance, in a frightful guise, at the entrance of the tent; for he had now put on his helmet, with the visor closed, which represented the head of an eagle, with a great silver beak; to which strange headdress the rest of his armour so well corresponded, that he might have been looked on as a visitant front some fabulous land of hobgoblins and monsters. “All is ready,” said he; whereupon Folko started up, light as a feather, from his position at Gabrielle’s feet, laid away the lute with great care, where he had found it on the carpet, and with an elegant bow quitted the tent. Then Sir Archimbald offered the lady his arm, and led her out. Otto and Bertha followed, lost in astonishment, and scarce daring to believe in this realization of scenes such as had been known to them before only in their ballads and romances. When they came out of the tent, a bright-beaming light guided them to the ground that had been prepared by Sir Archimbald. A circle, wide enough for the attack and career of two horses, was enclosed by a double row of torches, whose red flames burned powerfully amid the calm darkness of the night, casting all distant objects into the blackest shade, while even the minutest flower or plant was visible in the circle. Archimbald led Gabrielle to a turf-seat, covered with a rich carpet, so placed, that she was directly opposite the middle of the enclosed ground, on which spot the two knights would meet in their fearful encounter. Near the lady were stationed Otto and Bertha, one on each side; and behind her were a numerous train of her own and Archimbald’s attendants. On the opposite side of the ring were visible, through the red torch-light, many strange figures in rich dresses, who were probably squires of Sir Folko de Montfaucon.