"Such a diamond," said Sir Torre, "is fit for a queen, and not for a simple girl."
Sir Lancelot smiled to himself. He was sure that he should win the diamond. Then he meant to give it with the eight others to Queen Guinevere. He spoke kindly, however, to the beautiful Elaine.
"In truth, this fair maiden is fit to be a queen."
Then Elaine lifted her eyes and looked at him. He was twice as old as she was. His face was cut and scarred with wounds which he had received in battle, but as she looked at him, she loved him, and felt that she would continue to love him till the day of her death.
They went into the great hall where a supper was laid. Sir Lancelot talked of King Arthur and his goodness and all his glorious deeds. Elaine thought that even Arthur could not be so brave as this wonderful lord. All night long she dreamed of him. In the morning she rose early and went down in the courtyard where Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine were mounting their horses.
"Fair lord," she said boldly to Sir Lancelot, "will you wear my token in your helmet?"
"Fair maiden, I have never worn favor nor token for any lady in the tournaments. This is well known to be my custom."
"But if you wear my token," she said, "there will be far less likelihood of your being known by your fellow knights."
"That is very true, my child," he said. "Bring it to me. What is it?"
She held it out to him; it was a red sleeve embroidered with pearls. Sir Lancelot bound it in his helmet and said:
"I have never done so much before for any maiden."
[Illustration: _"She staid near it all day long in the turret"_]
Then he and Sir Lavaine bade Elaine farewell, and the beautiful maiden ran up to the tower of the castle and watched them from the window for a long time. When they were out of sight she asked the old dumb servant to carry Sir Lancelot's shield to the tower. It was a large shield of silver, with three lions emblazoned upon it in gold and blue, but its polished surface was covered with dents and scratches. Elaine knelt before it, and made a story for each scratch and mark, picturing to herself the contests in which the good shield had taken part. For many weeks she stayed near it all day long in the turret, watching for Sir Lancelot and her brother to return.