“How could it prove otherwise,” answered the sea-monarch, “since they never had cause to doubt my word? Besides, Sir Folko de Montfaucon and the Lady Blanchefleur had never believed that you were a wicked enchanter; and had it not been, that he was severely wounded, and the damsel half killed with terror, they never would have left the castle. Gabrielle (for she also was present) and Sir Heerdegen were bitterly ashamed of the part they had taken against you; and, as he is an honourable and brave knight, he resolved to leave his sister with Gabrielle, and bound himself by a solemn vow, that from henceforth he would never rest until he had found you, and seen you reinstated in all your former happiness. Sir Folko would have sworn the same oath, for his friendship is unabated; but he and Don Hernandez, as soon as they are cured of their wounds, must ride into Spain, and fight against the Moors; for to that purpose they were already bound. The three fair damsels all joined, to beg that I would swear as Sir Heerdegen had done; but as I had already resolved that my life should be devoted to your service, until I had found you, I told them that vows were needless. So through the long winter I have travelled unceasingly, from land to land, and at length, with the blessing of God, have been successful. To-morrow, methinks, you would do well to throw aside your present wild attire; and as soon as you are once more like other men, to ride straight from hence to your beautiful bride, who is now along with Blanchefleur and Bertha, at a castle in a blooming valley of Gascony. Meanwhile I shall go to my old kingdom of the sea, for which, to say the truth, I have heartily longed; and so is ended the story which I came to tell you.” “But what then has become of the ring?” inquired Sir Otto; “for Gabrielle, as I know, had resolved to give it back to Sir Folko de Montfaucon.” “That difficulty has also vanished,” said the sea-monarch; “I believe that Gabrielle has it again in her possession; at least there are no disputes among them, and they live all happily together. During the absence of the Chevalier de Montfaucon in Spain, the Lady Blanchefleur, as I have already said, lives at her friend’s pleasant castle in Gascony, where she can receive frequent intelligence of her brother’s exploits and victories; the rest you will ere long hear from themselves, especially from your bride.” “No,” said Sir Otto, after a long pause, during which he seemed lost in mournful reflection; “I shall not so soon receive that intelligence from Gabrielle. You must know, Sir Arinbiorn, there is nothing in the wide world which is to me so intolerable as to be pitied; and should I go to them now, they would doubtless pity me for all that I have suffered. Therefore I shall never again come into their presence, until I can appear with a wreath of victory so bright and dazzling, that they shall not only pay to me the tribute of justice, but of admiration and wonder.”