Her foot is as light as a sparrow's, and her voice as sweet as a minstrel's dulcimer; but give me nathless the Lady Anne," cried Philibert; "give me the peerless Lady Anne! As soon as ever I have won spurs, I will ride all Christendom through, and proclaim her the Queen of Beauty.

Ho, Lady Anne! Lady Anne!" and so saying--but evidently wishing to disguise some emotion, or conceal some tale his friend could ill brook to hear--the reckless damoiseau galloped wildly forward.
But swift as was his courser's pace, that of his companion's enormous charger was swifter.

"Boy," said the elder, "thou hast ill tidings.

I know it by thy glance.

Speak: shall he who hath bearded grim Death in a thousand fields shame to face truth from a friend?
Speak, in the name of heaven and good Saint Botibol.