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Rh passing his fingers through his hair with the same perplexed expression as before.

'This is untoward, Sir Tristram,' he said at last. 'And I scarce know in what words to make it clear to you, and to your fair wife, and to Sir Nigel Loring, and to these other stranger knights. My tongue is a blunt one, and fitter to shout word of command than to clear up such a matter as this, of which I can myself understand little. This, however, I know, that my wife is come of a very sainted race, whom God hath in His wisdom endowed with wondrous powers, so that Tiphaine Raquenel was known throughout Brittany ere ever I first saw her at Dinan. Yet these powers are ever used for good, and they are the gift of God and not of the devil, which is the difference betwixt white magic and black.'

'Perchance it would be as well that we should send for Father Stephen,' said Sir Tristram.

'It would be best that he should come,' cried the Hospitaller.

'And bring with him a flask of holy water,' added the knight of Bohemia.

'Not so, gentlemen,' answered Sir Bertrand. 'It is not needful that this priest should be called, and it is in my mind that in asking for this ye cast some slight shadow or slur upon the good name of my wife, as though it were still doubtful whether her power came to her from above or below. If ye have indeed such a doubt I pray that you will say so, that we may discuss the matter in a fitting way.'

'For myself,' said Sir Nigel, 'I have heard such words fall from the lips of this lady that I am of opinion that there is no woman, save only one, who can be in any way compared to her in beauty and in goodness. Should any gentleman think otherwise, I should deem it great honour to run a small course with him, or debate the matter in whatever way might be most pleasing to him.'

'Nay, it would ill become me to east a slur upon a lady who is both my guest and the wife of my comrade-in-arms,' said the Seneschal of Villefranche. 'I have perceived also