But now she rose to her feet.
"And I also ask, in the name of the King of France, by what right do you intrude within the precincts of a lady's bower.

I bid you to leave me!" She pointed imperiously with her white finger to the black, oblong doorway, from which Malise's rude hand had dragged the covering flap to the ground.
But the churchman and his guide stood their ground.
Suddenly the Abbot reached a hand and took the sword on which the master armourer leaned.

With its point he drew a wide circle upon the rich carpets which formed the floor of the pavilion.
"William Douglas," he said, "I command you to come within this circle, whilst in the right of my holy office I exorcise that demon there who hath so nearly beguiled you to your ruin." The lady laughed a rich ringing laugh.
"These are indeed high heroics for so plain and poor an occasion.

I need not to utter a word of explanation.

I am a lady travelling peaceably under escort of an ambassador of France, through a Christian country.