“Pardon me, dame, but perhaps you can give me hospitality for the night,” he said.
“Alas! sir, we have but little,” she replied. “This house has been allowed to go to ruin since its son and heir quitted it.”
As she ceased speaking a young damsel descended the broken stone steps, and after regarding Morvan for a moment burst into tears.
“How now, maiden,” said Morvan, “wherefore do you weep?”
“Alas, Seigneur,” replied the maiden, “I have a brother who left us ten years ago to lead the life of a warrior, and every time that I see a youth about his age I feel myself compelled to weep.”
“Tell me, my child,” said Morvan, “have you no other brother?”
“None in the world, Sir Knight.”
“And your mother, what of her?”
“Alas! sir, she too is gone. There is no one but myself and my old nurse in the house. My poor mother died of grief when my brother rode off to become a knight.”
On hearing these words Morvan was deeply affected.