You, Martin, can wait without, entering on the instant if I call.

Tell Zachary to bid them prepare a meal of bread and meat, with a flagon of wine, or a pot of good ale, which I may offer to this traveller, should he need refreshment." She was standing in the banqueting hall, on the very spot where Hugh had kneeled at their parting, when the swarthy fellow, soldierly, yet somewhat of a dare-devil, entered.
Most certainly he was on his best behaviour.

He doffed his cap at first sight of her, advanced a few paces, then stood still, bowing low; came forward a few more paces, then bowed again.
She spoke.
"You wished to see my husband, Friend, and speak with him?
He is away and hardly can return before five days, at soonest.

Is your business with Sir Hugh such as I can pass on to him for you, by word of mouth ?" She hoped those bold, dark eyes did not perceive how she glowed to speak for the first time, to another, of Hugh as her husband.
He answered, and his words were blunt; his manner, frank and soldierly.
"Most noble Lady, failing the Knight, whom I have ridden far to find, my business may most readily be told to you.
"Years ago, on a Syrian battle-field it was my good fortune, in the thick of the fray, to find myself side by side with Sir Hugh d'Argent.
The Infidels struck me down; and, sorely wounded, I should have been at their mercy, had not the noble Knight, seeing me fall, wheeled his horse and, riding back, hewn his way through to me, scattering mine assailants right and left.

Then, helping me to mount behind him, galloped with me back to camp.