The flattered peasant replied, that was nothing to the taste of it when spread with fresh-churned butter; and to prove her words, she brought him some in a little covered saucer. After taking this, the idiot declared that this was living butter, not to be excelled by butter of the White Week itself;[4] and to give greater force to his words, he poured over his crust all that the saucer contained. But the satisfaction of the farmer’s wife prevented her from noticing this; and she added to what she had already given him a lump of dripping left from the Sunday soup.
Peronnik praised every mouthful more and more, and swallowed every thing as if it had been water from a spring; for it was very long since he had made so good a meal.
The farmer’s wife went and came, watching him as he ate, and adding from time to time sundry scraps, which he took, making each time the sign of the cross.
Whilst thus employed in recruiting himself, behold a knight appeared at the house-door, and addressing himself to the woman, asked her which was the road to Kerglas castle.
“Heavens! good gentleman,” exclaimed the farmer’s wife, “are you going there?”
“Yes,” replied the warrior; “and I have come from a land so distant for this purpose, that I have been travelling night and day these three months to get so far on my way.”
“And what are you come to seek at Kerglas?” asked the Breton woman.
“I am come in quest of the golden basin and the diamond lance.”
“These two are, then, very valuable things?” asked Peronnik.
“They are of more value than all the crowns on earth,” replied the stranger; “for not only will the golden basin produce instantaneously all the dainties and the wealth one can desire, but it suffices to drink therefrom to be healed of every malady; and the dead themselves are raised to life by touching it with their lips. As to the diamond lance, it kills and overthrows all that it touches.”