We will send Nectabanus to dismiss this Knight of the Standard to his post; and we ourselves will grace him on some future day, to make amends for his wild-goose chase.

He is, I warrant, but lying perdu in some neighbouring tent." "By my crown of lilies, and my sceptre of a specially good water-reed," said Nectabanus, "your Majesty is mistaken, He is nearer at hand than you wot--he lieth ensconced there behind that canvas partition." "And within hearing of each word we have said!" exclaimed the Queen, in her turn violently surprised and agitated.

"Out, monster of folly and malignity!" As she uttered these words, Nectabanus fled from the pavilion with a yell of such a nature as leaves it still doubtful whether Berengaria had confined her rebuke to words, or added some more emphatic expression of her displeasure.
"What can now be done ?" said the Queen to Edith, in a whisper of undisguised uneasiness.
"That which must," said Edith firmly.

"We must see this gentleman and place ourselves in his mercy." So saying, she began hastily to undo a curtain, which at one place covered an entrance or communication.
"For Heaven's sake, forbear--consider," said the Queen--"my apartment--our dress--the hour--my honour!" But ere she could detail her remonstrances, the curtain fell, and there was no division any longer betwixt the armed knight and the party of ladies.

The warmth of an Eastern night occasioned the undress of Queen Berengaria and her household to be rather more simple and unstudied than their station, and the presence of a male spectator of rank, required.
This the Queen remembered, and with a loud shriek fled from the apartment where Sir Kenneth was disclosed to view in a compartment of the ample pavilion, now no longer separated from that in which they stood.