"Ah, an old enemy hath hired them?"
"I am disposed to think so."
"An you seek him out later, I should be pleased to attend you," proffered the stranger eagerly.
"I thank you, sir knight," answered Hugh, "but if he be the man I suspect, he himself is a-many leagues distant from this."
"That is bad," deplored the other. "Quick vengeance is always the best. But I would have you know, lord, that I am no knight, although I wear harness."
Hugh looked his surprise.
"By Our Lady, sir," he returned, "you fight like a paladin from Outremer."
The stranger smiled.
"Sir," said he, "you do me too much honour. It is true that I come from over-sea and that I have served my apprenticeship to battle in the Holy Land, but I am no more than a poor wandering jongleur, going from land to land and from court to court and from castle to castle, wherever gentlefolk love to hear brave tales and stirring songs. And when I may not sing—why, then, I am pleased to fight, and the odds be good enough."
"Is it permitted to enquire your name, Messer Jongleur?" asked Hugh.