legs, flung him on to the blazing
fire, and turned for another victim, but they had all fled.

At daybreak they went to William to complain of the death of their
chief, and to pray for vengeance on his murderer. If the Count would
not forbid him the kitchen, not a morsel of food would they cook. But
William only laughed at their threats, and said, 'Beware henceforth
how you meddle with Rainouart, or it will cost you dear. Did I not
forbid anyone to mock at him, and do you dare to disobey my orders?
Lady Gibourc, take Rainouart to your chamber, and keep him beside
you.'

So the Countess went to the kitchen to look for Rainouart and found
him sitting on a bench, his head leaning against his staff. She sat
down by him and said graciously, 'Brother, come with me. I will give
you my ermine pelisse and a mantle of marten, and we will have some
talk together.'

'Willingly,' answered Rainouart, 'the more as I can hardly keep my
hands off these low-born scoundrels.'

He followed Gibourc to her room, and then she questioned him about
himself and the days of his childhood.

'Have you brothers or sisters?' asked she.

[Illustration: THE LADY GIBOURC WITH RAINOUART IN THE KITCHEN]

'Yes,' he answered, 'beyond the sea I have a brother who is a King,
and a sister who is more beautiful than a fairy,' and as he spoke
he bent his head. Something in her heart told Gibourc that this might
be her brother, but she only asked again, 'Where do you come from?'

'Lady,' he replied, 'I will answer that question the day I come back
from the battle which William shall have won, thanks to my aid.'

Gibourc kept silence, but she opened a chest and drew from it a white
breastplate that had belonged to the Emir Tournefer, her uncle, which
was so finely wrought that no sword could pierce it. Likewise a helmet
of steel and a sword that could cut through iron more easily than a
scythe cuts grass. 'My friend,' she said, 'buckle this sword to your
left side. It may be useful to you.' Rainouart took the sword and drew
it from its scabbard, but it seemed so light that he threw it down
again. 'Lady,' he cried, 'what good can such a plaything do me? But
with my staff between my hands there is not a Pagan that can stand up
against me, and if one escapes then let Count William drive me from
his door.'

At this Gibourc felt sure this was indeed her brother, but she did not
yet like to ask him more questions, and in her joy and wonder she
began to weep