It needed, however, four visits to each castle before they could be sure that the captive was not there; for the song had to be sung on each side.
Sometimes they would cheat themselves with the thought that they heard an answering voice; but it was not until the end of the fourth week, when singing outside the castle of Diernstein, that a full rich voice, when Blondel ceased, sang out the second stanza of the poem.

With difficulty Blondel and Cuthbert restrained themselves from an extravagant exhibition of joy.

They knew, however, that men on the prison wall were watching them as they sat singing, and Blondel, with a final strain taken from a ballad of a knight who, having discovered the hiding-place of his lady love, prepared to free her from her oppressors, shouldered his lute, and they started on their homeward journey.
There was no delay now.

At times they sang indeed at castles; but only when their store was exhausted, for upon these occasions Blondel would be presented with a handsome goblet or other solid token of the owner's approval, and the sale of this at the next city would take them far on their way.

They thought it better not to pass through France, as Philip, they knew, was on the watch to prevent any news of King Richard reaching England.