"But wherefore?" said the King.
"For reason, sire, that your body is but an empty vessel."
"Empty of what, Sir Hugh?"
"Sire, of Christianity and of baptism."
"Hugh," said he, "think not hardly of me because of this. You are in my hand, and if you do the thing that I require of you, what man is there to blame you greatly when you return to your own realm. I seek this grace of you, rather than of another, because you are the stoutest and most perfect knight that ever I may meet."
"Sire," said he, "I will show you what you seek to know, for were it but the will of God that you were a christened man, our chivalry would bear in you its fairest flower."
"Hugh," said he, "that may not be."
Thereupon Sir Hugh made ready all things necessary for the making of a knight; and having trimmed the hair and beard of the King in seemly fashion, he caused him to enter within a bath, and inquired—
"Sire, do you understand the meaning of this water?"