"Nay. But tarry not without, sir puppet knight. The sharp wind doth penetrate keenly to my twisted bones. Come thou inside, ... I'll have a groom to bestow thy horse for the night." "Get you out of the cold and send him here. I but wish the animal baited, Zenas. I'll not tarry the night." In a few minutes the hostler appeared from behind the tavern, received instructions as to the care of the horse, and relieved the young knight of the reins; Sir Richard then opened the door and stepped inside. "Ah ha! with a golden patch upon the eye, by my faith!" growled the hunchback as the young knight seated himself upon the high-backed bench beside the chimney-place. "Methinks, sir puppet knight, that I've often seen that self same color." Zenas stationed himself with his back to the blaze, where he stood, rubbing his hands together and laughing shrilly. "You have seen it. Certes you have seen it!" observed Sir Richard quietly. "Yea--Zenas, and I mean to bear away the maiden to whom it once belonged, I give you true warrant upon that." He arose as he spoke, with his hand resting menacingly upon the hilt of his sword. Without a word Zenas thereupon clapped together his hands; three men, armed at every point, came instantly into the room. Three blades were unsheathed, flashing in the firelight. "Not so fast, puppet knight; ... I pray you, not so fast," whispered the hunchback with an uncanny leer and stretching out toward Sir Richard his enormously long arms. "Wilt treat with me quietly now, or shall I have the guards at you for a dangerous interloper? Say the word, sir puppet knight, say the word," he hissed between his teeth. "More good men there are where these came from, an these be not enough to truss thee up and render thee harmless." "Send the men away," said Sir Richard sullenly. "I'll treat with you." "Tell me then," resumed Zenas, when the guards had betaken themselves at his command through the door, "hast ever seen this maid whom thou art thus eager to rescue?" The young knight pondered deeply before committing himself to an answer. It would be obviously improper, he thought, to explain the manner in which the cutting of velvet had come into his possession. But he concluded that a portion of the truth would answer as well as a whole falsehood, so---- "In truth, I have never seen the maid," he replied accordingly. "Well, thou shalt see her.... Yea--and thou shalt have her! Even this night, ... now, ... an it be thy wish, sir puppet knight," said Zenas, apparently in a transport of glee. "She hath been fair eating her heart out to be gone. But mayhap thou wouldst first down a flitch of bacon and a tankard or so of stum? A full belly for a hard task, I tell thee! Belike 'twould embolden thee for the work in hand." "Nor sup nor drink will I taste till I have the maiden beside me," Sir Richard declared. "Wait, ... I'll fetch her to thee," Zenas said, and thereupon went out of the room, muttering and laughing.