Thus, boldly and rejoicingly, he continued to walk up and down before the altar; and when the distant pale image once more seemed to repeat her signals, he only bowed his head, made a graceful salutation with his sword, and pointed to his armour, indicating that he durst not leave his duty. At length the light and fragrance of the morning came to him through the lofty windows; he heard the key turn in the massive door-lock, and Sir Hugh stepped into the chapel. CHAPTER VI. How Sir Otto departed from his father’s castle. The old and the young knight greeted each other with a grave and melancholy demeanour. Sir Hugh then went to the high altar, lifted up the armour, and began to assist his son in bracing it on. The youth could hardly bring himself to receive service from hands so deeply honoured; but he knew the rules of knighthood, and therefore said not a word, whilst his father adjusted the cuirass, the corslet, the cuisses, finally set the helmet on his head, and even knelt down in order to buckle on his golden spurs. Both of them expressed wonder on finding that the sword-scabbard, which the old man had brought with him, now fitted exactly, so that the weapon could be drawn out and replaced without trouble, though heretofore this had been impossible. “It seems almost,” said Sir Hugh, “as if this old friend had seen service during the night. There must be a notch more or less on the blade!” At these words Otto thought with horror on his encounter with the skeleton; and as they passed by the gigantic coat of mail by which it was covered, he could not help turning a shy and involuntary glance on the figure. Sir Hugh observed this, and said,--“Has _he_ then disturbed you in the night? At this I should not wonder. Such at least would have been his conduct when living.” Otto made no answer, but gazed wistfully on the strange fashion of the armour, which in the morning light appeared more than ever remarkable. His attention was especially attracted by two vulture’s wings rising and protruding from the helmet, which, during the night, he had mistaken for great horns. At present the figure was indeed more frightful than it had been even in the night; and he called to mind certain marvellous stories, which his father had long ago told him, of a horrible man who wore vulture’s wings on his helmet.