"Stone will not burn," said Arthur. "But God has punished her."
But as they thus conversed, Manassen came to the court and told the king of his adventure, delivering to him Morgan's message.
"Then the witch has tricked me!" cried the king, in a tone of vexation. "I might have known it, had I been wise. A kind sister she is, indeed! But my turn will come. Treachery and magic may succeed for a time, but honor must win in the end."
Yet despite the king's awakened distrust, he nearly fell a victim to his sister's vile enchantments. For on the succeeding morning there came a damsel to the court from Morgan le Fay, bearing with her the richest mantle that had ever been seen there. It was set so full of precious stones that it might almost have stood alone, and some of them were gems worth a king's ransom.
"Your sister sends you this mantle," said the bearer. "That she has done things to offend you she knows and is sorry for; and she desires that you shall take this gift from her as a tribute for her evil thoughts. What else can be done to amend her acts she will do, for she bitterly regrets her deeds of wickedness."
The mantle pleased the king greatly, though he made but brief reply as he accepted it from the hand of the messenger.
At that perilous moment there came to him the damsel Nimue, who had so recently helped him in his dire need.
"Sir, may I speak with you in private?" she asked the king.
"What have you to say?" he replied, withdrawing from the throng.
"It is this. Beware that you do not put on this mantle, and that no knight of yours puts it on, till you know more. The serpent does not so soon lose its venom. There is death in the mantle's folds. At least do this: before you wear it, command that she who brought it shall put it on."