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So she pleaded, hiding her own thoughts, until Solita answered her, and said:

“God help me, but he shall go to Broye!”

Much ado had the Princess Joceliande to hide her joy for the success of her device; but Solita, poor lass! had neither eyes nor thoughts for her. Forthwith she rose to her feet, and quickly gat her to the hall, lest her courage should fail, before that she had accomplished her resolve. But when she came near to the Sieur Rudel, blithely he smiled at her and called “Solita, my wife.” It seemed to her that words so sweet had never as yet been spoken since the world began, and all her strength ebbed from her, and she stood like one that is dumb, gazing piteously at her husband. Again Rudel called to her, but no answer could she make, and she turned and fled sobbing to the chamber of the princess.

“I could not speak,” she said; “my lips were locked, and Rudel holds the key.”

But the princess spoke gently and craftily, bidding her take heart, for that she herself would go with her and second her words; and taking Solita by the hand, she led her again to the hall.

This time Solita made haste to speak first. “Rudel,” she said, “no honour can I bring to you, but only foul disgrace, and that is no fit gift from one who loves you. Therefore, from this hour I hold you quit of your promise and pray you to undertake this mission and set forth for Broye.”

But the Sieur Rudel would hearken to nothing of what she said.

“No foul disgrace can come to me,” he cried, “but only if I prove false to you and lose your love. My promise I will keep, and all the more for that I see the Princess Joceliande hath set you on to this.”

But Solita protested that it was not so, and that of her own will and desire she released him, for the longing to sacrifice herself for her dear lord’s sake grew upon her as she thought upon it. Yet he would not consent.

“My word I passed to you when you were a maid, and shall I not keep it now that you are a wife?” he cried.

“Wife?” cried the princess, “you are his wife?” And she roughly gripped Solita’s wrist so that the girl could not withhold a cry.

“In truth, madame,” replied the Sieur Rudel, “even last night, in this hall, Solita and I were married by the good abbot, and therefore I will not leave her while she lives.”

Still Joceliande would not believe it, bethinking her that the Sieur Rudel had hit upon the pretence as a device for his enlargement; but Solita showed to her the ring which the abbot had taken from the finger of her lord and placed upon hers, and then the princess knew that of a surety they were married, and her hatred for Solita burned in her blood like fire.

But no sign she gave of what she felt, but rather spoke with greater softness to them both, bidding them look forward beyond the first delights of love, and behold how all their years to come were the price they needs must pay.

Now, while they were yet debating each with other, came Sir Broyance into the hall, and straightway the princess called to him and begged him to add his prayers to Solita’s. But he answered:

“That, madame, I will not do, for, indeed, the esteem I have for the Sieur Rudel is much increased, and I hold it no cowardice that he should refuse a kingdom for his wife’s sake, but the sweetest bravery. And therefore it was that I broke off my plea last night and sought not to persuade him.”

At that Rudel was greatly rejoiced, and said:

“Dost hear him, Solita? Even he who most has need of me acquits me of disgrace. Truly I will never leave thee while I live.”