"Ho! stand there!" shouted a hoarse voice. "Who art thou—some masterless rascal, I'll declare."
Barring his progress stood a huge man-at-arms, resting his gauntleted hands upon a massive battle-axe.
"Methought the castle was free to all this day," replied the lad.
"This part only to the principal guests of the Lord of Malevereux," announced the soldier. "Now, rascal, what would'st thou?"
"My foster-brother Pierre told me that within I could see the dungeons."
"If thou wilt see the dungeons, take heed lest the dungeons keep thee, vaurien," replied the man, laughing. "Now, hence, ere I lay this stick about thy back."
Discomfited, Geoffrey rejoined the crowd of revellers. He felt that his plan was doomed to failure, since the prison quarters were evidently in a remote and strictly-guarded portion of the castle.
Just then his quick ear caught a fragment of the conversation between two of the guests.
"... and after the joust what happens, gossip?"
"I know not of a certainty, but 'tis said that Sir Yves hath promised to set the English knight in the lists."