“Thank thee. Who was Amadis de Gaul?”
“Hero of the oldest Spanish poem.”
“Right!” said the knight, stroking his beard. “And who was Oriana?”
“Heroine of the same story; more particularly, daughter of Lisuarte, King of England.”
“Thou didst reprove me for swearing by the Palmerins; who were they?”
“Famous knights, who founded chivalry by going about slaying dragons, working charities, and overthrowing armies of heathen, for the Mother’s sake.”
“Excellently answered, by my troth! I will have to lead thee into deeper water. Pass we the stories of Ruy Diaz, and Del Carpio, and Pelayo. I will even grant that thou hast heard of Hernan Gonzales; but canst thou tell in how many ballads his prowess hath been sung?”
Olmedo was silent.
“Already!” cried Alvarado, exultant. “Already! By the cross on my sword, I have heard of thirty. But to proceed. Omitting Roland, and Roncesvalles, and the brethren of the Round Table, canst thou tell me of the Seven Lords of Lares?”
“No. But there is a Lord of whom I can tell thee, and of whom it will be far more profitable for thee to inquire.”