The official took him round the circle and presented him first to the knights and then to each of his comrades.
"You may as well join them in their exercises.

In that way you will sooner become at home with them." Gervaise at once laid down his mantle, removed his doublet, and then joined the others.

There was but one half hour remaining before they broke off to go to dinner, which was at half past ten, but the time sufficed to show the young pages that this English lad was the equal of all--except two or three of the oldest--both in strength and in knowledge of arms.

He could climb the rope with any of them, could vault on to the wooden horse with a heavy cuirass and backpiece on him, and held his own in a bout with swords against Conrad von Berghoff, who was considered the best swordplayer among them.

As soon as the exercises were over all proceeded to the bath, and then to dinner.