But Elliot was right coy, hiding herself from me, who watched warily, till one day, when my master was abroad, I had the fortune to find her alone in the chamber, putting spring flowers in a very fair vessel of glass.

I made no more ado, but coming in stealthily, I caught her boldly about the body, saying-- "Yield you, rescue or no rescue, and strive not against me, lest you slay a wounded man-at-arms." For very fear, as I believe, lest she might stir my wound again, she was still as a bird that lies in your hands when once you have caught it.

And all that passes of kiss and kind word between happy lovers passed between us, till I prayed of her grace, that I might tell her father how things stood, for well I had seen by his words and deeds that he cherished me as a son.

So she granted this, and we fell to devising as to what was to be in days to come.

Lackland was I, and penniless, save for my pay, if I got it; but we looked to the common fortune of young men-at-arms, namely, spoil of war and the ransom of prisoners of England or Burgundy.