And, in that way too, he came before the Lady Margaret and his grandmother, the Princess Rohtraut, as well as Sir Bertram of Lyonesse, in his armour of state. He seemed to survey them for a space through the opening of his helmet. This he had kept closed in riding through the city for fear any friend of the Knights of Cullerford and Haltwhistle should by chance be in those streets and aim an arrow at him from a window or from behind a buttress. Then he pushed up the visor. Stern he always looked when his face was framed in iron, but so stern as he looked that day the Lady Margaret considered that she had never seen him. He had broad, level eyebrows of brown, a pointed nose, firm lips and a determined chin. The Lady Margaret knew that he had a pleasant smile but he showed none of it then, and he paid no attention either to her or to the Cornish knight. His grandmother regarded him with a keen, hostile glance, and with his eyes set upon hers he advanced grimly towards her. His short dagger was girt around him, but he had no sword. So, in that shining harness, he knelt before that old lady on the second step. He lifted up his hands and said: "Madam, Princess and my Granddam, to whom I owe great honour...." "That is a good beginning, by Our Lady," the Princess said. "I would not so soon have come to you," he continued in firm tones, "but that you sent me your commands." "Well, this grows better and better," the old woman said. "It is neither out of lack of duty, nor of due awe and natural affection, that I had not the sooner come," the Young Lovell said. "That passes me!" the Princess cried out. "By Our Lady, I do not understand that speech." The Young Lovell who towered on high when he stood, and was tall enough though he knelt, appeared like a great hound, attacked by this fierce little woman as by a savage lap-dog. "Madam and gentle Princess," he said slowly, "I cannot easily say what I would say, for no man would say it easily." "Then you are on a fool’s errand," the Princess said, "for a wise man can say most things." She considered him for a moment and then said jeeringly: "If you had business in the town, stiff grandson of mine, say you had business: if you were gone after wenches, lie about it. But I care very little. I sent for you to have your news; so leave the complimenting and give me that." "Madam and gentle Princess," he began again, though the old lady grunted and mumbled. "I did not come before because I sought assoilment." "What is assoilment?" she asked. He answered briefly: "Pardon for sin, witting and unwitting." "Well, get on," she said impatiently. "Lacking that assoilment," he said, "I did not know if I were a fit knight to come into your presence." "Why, I am an old horse," she said, "and not to be frightened by a dab of pitch. If you never showed yourself but after confession you might live in a cave, or so it was in my time."