"Ah, traitor!" cried Sir Lancelot, "I shall overcome you yet."
At that Sir Malgrace shut the trapdoor hastily, as if he were afraid that Sir Lancelot could leap up ten feet in the air. That one look, however, cost the wicked knight dear, for the daughter of the porter saw him shutting the trapdoor, and was curious to know who was in the dungeon. So at night she opened the trapdoor and let herself down by a rope.
When she saw Sir Lancelot she was very sorry for him. He offered her much money if she would free him. At last she said:
"I will do it for love of Queen Guinevere and not for money."
She let him climb up by the rope, and took him out of the courtyard. He was so sick that he went to a hermit's hut and rested for several days. When next Sir Malgrace looked into the dungeon he heard no movement. Then he rejoiced greatly, for he thought Sir Lancelot was dead.
When the eighth day had come, all the knights of the Round Table assembled in the tournament field and waited for Sir Lancelot to appear. They all thought he would surely come. But Sir Malgrace rode jauntily about the field. Many of the knights wondered at his courage, not knowing the reason for his confidence.
The herald blew his trumpet once, but Sir Lancelot did not appear; twice, and still he did not come. Then up started several knights and begged the king to let them fight instead of Sir Lancelot.
"He has been trapped," they said, "or he would be here."
While the king was hesitating whom to choose, in rode Sir Lancelot. He dashed up to Sir Malgrace.
"Here I am, traitor," he said. "Now do your worst."