"Sir," she said, "I will give you knighthood, that you may have authority among men." Gilbert was taken unawares. He bowed his head in silence, and knelt upon both knees instead of on one only, placing his open hands together. The Queen stood with her left hand on the hilt of the great sword, and she made the sign of the cross with her right. Gilbert also crossed himself, and so did the Lady Anne, and she knelt at the Queen's left, for it was a very solemn rite. Then Eleanor spoke. "Gilbert Warde, inasmuch as you are about to receive the holy order of knighthood at my hands without preparation, consider first whether you are in any mortal sin, lest that be an impediment." "On the honour of my word, I have no mortal sin upon my soul," answered Gilbert. "Make, then, the promises of knighthood. Promise before Almighty God that you will lead an honest and a clean life." "I will so live, God helping me." "Promise that to the best of your strength you will defend the Christian faith against unbelievers, and that you will suffer death, and a cruel death, but not deny the Lord Jesus Christ." "I will be faithful to death, so God help me." "Promise that you will honour women, and protect them, and shield the weak, and at all times be merciful to the poor, preferring before yourself all those who are in trouble and need." "I will, by God's grace." "Promise that you will be true and allegiant to your liege sovereign." "I promise that I will be true and allegiant to my liege Queen and Lady, Maud of England, and to her son and Prince, Henry Plantagenet, and thereof your Grace is witness." "And between my hands, as your liege sovereign's proxy, lay your hands." Gilbert held out his joined hands to the Queen, and she took them between her palms, while Anne of Auch held the great sword, still kneeling. "I put my hands between the hands of my Lady, Queen Maud of England, and I am her man," said Gilbert Warde. But Eleanor's touch was like ice, and she trembled a little. Then she took the sword of Aquitaine and held it up in her right hand, though it was heavy, and she spoke holy words. "Gilbert Warde, be a true knight in life and death! 'Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things'--and do them, and for them live and die." When she had spoken, she laid the sword flat upon his left shoulder, and let it linger a moment, and then lifted it and touched him twice again, and sheathed the long blade. "Sir Gilbert, rise!"