“Thou speakest not the truth,” said the king. “Therefore, go quickly again and do my bidding; and as thou art dear to me, spare not, but throw the sword in.”
Then Sir Bedivere returned again, and took the sword in his hand. But when he looked at it he thought it a sin and a shame to throw away so noble a sword. And so, after he had hidden it again, he came back and told the king that he had been at the water and had done his bidding.
“What sawest thou there?” said the king.
And there came an arm and a hand above the water.
“Sir,” he said, “I saw nothing but the waves lapping on the beach, and the water rising and falling among the reeds.”
“Ah, traitor untrue,” said King Arthur, “now thou hast betrayed me twice. Who would have thought that thou, who hast been so near and dear to me and art called a noble knight, would betray me for the riches of the sword? But now go again quickly, for I am chilled with cold, and my life is in danger through thy long delay. And if thou dost not do my bidding, and I ever see thee again, I will slay thee with my own hands; for thou, for the sake of my rich sword, would see me dead.”