Meanwhile, within the castle matters of interest were occurring. For Gringamore was brother to the Lady Lioness, and had stolen the dwarf at her request, that she might learn from him who Beaumains really was. The dwarf, under threat of imprisonment for life, thus answered,—
"I fear to tell his name and kindred. Yet if I must I will say that he is a king's son, that his mother is sister to King Arthur, and that his name is Sir Gareth of Orkney. Now, I pray you, let me go to him again, for he will have me in spite of you, and if he be angry, he will work you much rack and ruin."
"As for that," said Gringamore, "it can wait. Let us go to dinner."
"He may well be a king's son," said Linet to her sister, "for he is the most courteous and long-suffering man I ever met. I tried him with such reviling as never lady uttered before, but he bore it all with meek and gentle answers. Yet to armed knights he was like a lion."
As they thus talked, the challenge of Beaumains rang loud from the castle court. Then Gringamore called loudly to him from a window,—
"Cease your boasting, Gareth of Orkney, you will not get your dwarf again."
"Thou coward knight," cried Beaumains. "Bring him here, and do battle with me. Then if you can win him, keep him."
"So I will when I am ready. But you will not get him by loud words."
"Do not anger him, brother," said Lioness. "I have all I want from the dwarf, and he may have him again. But do not let him know who I am. Let him think me a strange lady."
"Very well," said Gringamore; "if that is your wish, he can have the dwarf." Then he went down to the court and said,—