And even therewith came a gay image toward him, flashing back the level rays from gold and steel and silver; and lo! there was come the King's Son.

They met presently, and the King's Son turned to go beside him, and said merrily: "I give thee good even, my Lady's Squire! I owe thee something of courtesy, whereas it is by thy means that I shall be made happy, both to-night, and to-morrow, and many to-morrows; and sooth it is, that but little courtesy have I done thee hitherto." His face was full of joy, and the eyes of him shone with gladness.

He was a goodly man, but to Walter he seemed an ill one; and he hated him so much, that he found it no easy matter to answer him; but he refrained himself, and said: "I can thee thank, King's Son; and good it is that someone is happy in this strange land." "Art thou not happy then, Squire of my Lady ?" said the other.
Walter had no mind to show this man his heart, nay, nor even a corner thereof; for he deemed him an enemy.

So he smiled sweetly and somewhat foolishly, as a man luckily in love, and said: "O yea, yea, why should I not be so?
How might I be otherwise ?" "Yea then," said the King's Son, "why didst thou say that thou wert glad someone is happy?
Who is unhappy, deemest thou ?" and he looked on him keenly.
Walter answered slowly: "Said I so?
I suppose then that I was thinking of thee; for when first I saw thee, yea, and afterwards, thou didst seem heavy-hearted and ill-content." The face of the King's Son cleared at this word, and he said: "Yea, so it was; for look you, both ways it was: I was unfree, and I had sown the true desire of my heart whereas it waxed not.

But now I am on the brink and verge of freedom, and presently shall my desire be blossomed.