"Don't be worried, and don't say anything," said Tirant. "But who is that with you? If he's of the lineage of Brittany, have him come here." "Yes, my lord," said Hippolytus. "It's the viscount." He called him, and when the viscount saw Tirant he was amazed at the adventure and at everything he had said to them during the time they had not recognized him. "Let's not waste words," said Tirant. "Hurry and take me away from here." Together they lifted him in their arms and took him out of the garden and closed the gate. Then they carried him to his lodging and lay him under the portico. "I'm in more pain than I've ever felt before," said Tirant. "Of all the times I've been wounded and near death, my body has never felt so much pain. I'll need to have doctors without the emperor knowing about it." "My lord," said Hippolytus, "may I give you some advice? You are so badly hurt that it can't be kept hidden, especially with the disturbance in the palace. Mount your horse if you can, my lord, and let's go to the palaces of Bellestar where your horses are. We'll make everyone think that your horse fell on you and broke your leg " The viscount answered: "It's true, my cousin and lord, Hippolytus is right. Otherwise the emperor will certainly hear about it. I would be happy if, after you're cured and we've accomplished our aims, we returned to our lands." "My lord viscount," said Tirant, "this is no time to talk about these things, but you, Hippolytus, have them bring the animals here secretly, and bring the horse with the smoothest gait." Let us return to the princess. Plaerdemavida stayed out on the roof until she saw them carry Tirant away. Then she went into the room where the princess was with the duchess and all the ladies. The empress was astonished that there should be such a great uproar in the palace over a rat, and sitting on her bed she said: "Do you know the best thing for us to do, ladies? Since the palace is calmed down again, let's go back to sleep." The princess called Plaerdemavida and whispered to her, asking where Tirant was. "My lady, he's gone," said Plaerdemavida, "and he's in great pain." But she did not dare tell her that he had a broken leg, or what he had said. She was very pleased that they had not seen or found him. The empress got up, and Widow Repose said: "It would be a good idea, my lady, to tell your daughter to sleep with you, so that if the rat came back it wouldn't frighten her even more." The empress answered: "What the Widow says is true. Come, my child: you will sleep better with me than by yourself." "No, my lady. Let Your Excellency go on: the duchess and I will sleep together. Don't spend a bad night on my account." The empress said: "Come with me. I'm getting cold standing here." "My lady, since you insist," said the princess, "you go on, and I'll come soon." The empress left, telling her to come right away. The princess turned to the Widow and said angrily: