Of another embassy from Sir Folko de Montfaucon. The first gleams of the morning-red had scarcely appeared over the hills on the eastern sea-shore, when Gabrielle and Blanchefleur were already awake and dressed, and stood at their veranda (that was entwined with vine-branches and shadowed with myrtle), watching for the appearance of the Chevalier de Montfaucon. They were now the more anxious that he should come, since during the night their minds had been so confused by strange visions, that they began afterwards to doubt whether the adventure of the preceding day, with the falcon and the rose-coloured parchment, had not been all but a dream! However, not long after they had taken their place at the window, a pleasant concert was heard of cymbals, horns, and flutes, which seemed approaching by a road that wound through a level meadow towards the palace. Looking thitherward, they perceived that a squadron of Moorish horsemen were approaching as the van-guard; then followed many camels and sumpter-horses, loaded with merchandize, covered also with blue velvet cloth, richly fringed. Hereupon, Blanchefleur and Gabrielle joyfully recognised the colours of the Montfaucon arms, and smiled on each other with increasing confidence. Thereafter came the musicians,--a full band, with many instruments, of which the metal parts were composed only of the purest silver and gold: the joints moreover and keys were ornamented with diamonds and emeralds. At last appeared the lord and master of this grand procession. He was mounted on a very beautiful mule, so richly covered with embroidered drapery that the feet only were visible from the ground, and the large dark eyes rolled within a casement of gold adornments. The noble chevalier himself was attired in blue and gold silk so richly and magnificently, that one could not well say whether he was dressed like a Moor or a Christian. Moreover he sat on a sumpter-saddle like a woman, with a guitar in his hand, on which he seemed to play, though but few notes were heard; for the music that was made by his attendants was far too loud to permit such gentle sounds to reach the listener’s ears. By the light which gleamed in his eyes, however, one could perceive that he played somewhat that to his own mind was very delightful; and this happened just as he first caught sight of Gabrielle behind the vine-interwoven veranda.