Scarcely knowing why he did so, Walter threw himself down among some low brushwood and watched the approaching figure.

When he came near he recognized the face, and saw, to his surprise, that it was a knight who had but the day before stopped at the armourer's shop to have two rivets put in his hauberk.

He had particularly noticed him because of the arrogant manner in which he spoke.

Walter had himself put in the rivets, and had thought, as he buckled on the armour again, how unpleasant a countenance was that of its wearer.

He was a tall and powerful man, and would have been handsome had not his eyes been too closely set together; his nose was narrow, and the expression of his face reminded Walter of a hawk.