"As a true Norman knight serving God and the Church against all infidels."
"Well spoken, lad. But it needs many years and one must learn much to be a good knight. It is not easy work."
"I know that, Sir Galahad. But I shall not count the years for I am still young."
More questions the knight asked the lad and he made eager though respectful answer. It was apparent that he had thought of it for many a day. But Sir Galahad said never a word to him of the reason for his questions and left the lad without knowledge of his purpose.
But the next day he spoke to Sir Guilbert and gave him answer.
"I should like the youth as my page. He is the kind I could well use. And I promise you that he shall come back to you so that neither you nor his mother shall have reason to be other than proud of him. He will be of great help to me when I reach Rome for I purpose to journey there, I know naught of the tongue."
"Have you told the lad, as yet?" the father asked.
"I thought it best that either you or your lady speak first with him and then will I."
"That is a gracious deed on your part, my knight. And if it bears fruit or not, I shall indeed be in your debt."
"Not so, Sir Guilbert. For the boy will but have such chance as I was given by Sir Percival when I was even younger than he."