Sir Dinadan helped him to remove his armor, and said:
“My noble mother has insisted that Sir Bleoberis shall not fight with you, and the Baron has yielded to her wish.”
“How can I thank you?” exclaimed Miss Baffin.
Sir Dinadan looked at her as if he would like to tell her how, if he dared venture. But he only said:
“I deserve no thanks. My mother is upon your side and that of your father. She asks me to bring him to her.”
The Baron was with his wife, and Sir Bleoberis stood before them.
“Sir Bamn,” said the Baron, “Lady Bors insists that you are innocent of any wrong-doing; and Sir Bleoberis, seeing that you are unskilled, has resolved not to have a combat with you. I am willing to pardon you upon one condition: that you find my daughter and bring her back to me.”
“That I should be willing to try to do under any circumstances,” said the Professor. “I regret her loss very deeply. But, you see, I know nothing of the country. I am afraid I should not discover her if I should go alone.”
“I will go with you,” said Sir Bleoberis.
“That is first-rate,” said the Professor. “Give me your hand.”
“We will keep your daughter in the castle as a hostage,” said the Baron. “When you return with Ysolt you shall have the Lady Tilly, and Sir Bleoberis shall have Ysolt.”
“I am profoundly grateful,” replied Sir Bleoberis, bowing.
“My dear,” said the Professor to Miss Baffin, “does the arrangement suit you?”
“I must stay whether I wish to or not,” replied Miss Baffin. “But I shall worry about you every moment while you are gone.”
“Sir Dinadan may be able to soothe her,” said Sir Bleoberis, with a smile.
“I think I could, if I were allowed to try,” insinuated Sir Agravaine.
“I charge Sir Dinadan and his noble parents with the task,” said the Professor.
The entire party, with the exception of Sir Agravaine, then returned to the castle, so that the Professor could make ready for the journey.
Professor Baffin politely declined to wear the armor of Sir Dinadan upon the journey. He packed a few things in a satchel, and putting his revolver in his pocket, he bade adieu to his daughter and the members of the Baron’s family. Mounting his horse by the side of Sir Bleoberis, who rode in full armor, the two trotted briskly out through the woods to the roadway, which ran by not far from the castle.