``Sir，andmostreverendfather，’’answeredMalvoisin，readily，``ourbrotherherepresenthathalreadysworntothetruthofhisaccusationinthehandofthegoodKnightConradedeMont-Fitchet；
andotherwiseheoughtnottobesworn，seeingthathisadversaryisanunbeliever，andmaytakenooath。’’
Thisexplanationwassatisfactory，toAlbert’sgreatjoy；forthewilyknighthadforeseenthegreatdifficulty，orratherimpossibility，ofprevailinguponBriandeBois-Guilberttotakesuchanoathbeforetheassembly，andhadinventedthisexcusetoescapethenecessityofhisdoingso。
TheGrandMaster，havingallowedtheapologyofAlbertMalvoisin，commandedtheheraldtostandforthanddohisdevoir。Thetrumpetsthenagainflourished，andaherald，steppingforward，proclaimedaloud，——``Oyez，oyez，oyez——HerestandeththegoodKnight，SirBriandeBois-Guilbert，readytodobattlewithanyknightoffreeblood，whowillsustainthequarrelallowedandallottedtotheJewessRebecca，totrybychampion，inrespectoflawfulessoineofherownbody；andtosuchchampionthereverendandvalorousGrandMasterherepresentallowsafairfield，andequalpartitionofsunandwind，andwhateverelseappertainstoafaircombat。’’Thetrumpetsagainsounded，andtherewasadeadpauseofmanyminutes。
``Nochampionappearsfortheappellant，’’saidtheGrandMaster。``Go，herald，andaskherwhethersheexpectsanyonetodobattleforherinthishercause。’’TheheraldwenttothechairinwhichRebeccawasseated，andBois-Guilbertsuddenlyturninghishorse’sheadtowardthatendofthelists，inspiteofhintsoneithersidefromMalvoisinandMont-Fitchet，wasbythesideofRebecca’schairassoonastheherald。
``Isthisregular，andaccordingtothelawofcombat?’’saidMalvoisin，lookingtotheGrandMaster。
``AlbertdeMalvoisin，itis，’’answeredBeaumanoir；
``forinthisappealtothejudgmentofGod，wemaynotprohibitpartiesfromhavingthatcommunicationwitheachother，whichmaybesttendtobringforththetruthofthequarrel。’’
Inthemeantime，theheraldspoketoRebeccaintheseterms：——``Damsel，theHonourableandReverendtheGrandMasterdemandsofthee，ifthouartpreparedwithachampiontodobattlethisdayinthybehalf，orifthoudostyieldtheeasonejustlycondemnedtoadeserveddoom?’’
``SaytotheGrandMaster，’’repliedRebecca，``thatImaintainmyinnocence，anddonotyieldmeasjustlycondemned，lestIbecomeguiltyofmineownblood。Saytohim，thatIchallengesuchdelayashisformswillpermit，toseeifGod，whoseopportunityisinman’sextremity，willraisemeupadeliverer；andwhensuchuttermostspaceispassed，mayHisholywillbedone！’’TheheraldretiredtocarrythisanswertotheGrandMaster。
``Godforbid，’’saidLucasBeaumanoir，``thatJeworPaganshouldimpeachusofinjustice！——
Untiltheshadowsbecastfromthewesttotheeastward，willwewaittoseeifachampionshallappearforthisunfortunatewoman。Whenthedayissofarpassed，letherpreparefordeath。’’
TheheraldcommunicatedthewordsoftheGrandMastertoRebecca，whobowedherheadsubmissively，foldedherarms，and，lookinguptowardsheaven，seemedtoexpectthataidfromabovewhichshecouldscarcepromiseherselffromman。Duringthisawfulpause，thevoiceofBois-Guilbertbrokeuponherear——itwasbutawhisper，yetitstartledhermorethanthesummonsoftheheraldhadappearedtodo。
``Rebecca，’’saidtheTemplar，``dostthouhearme?’’
``Ihavenoportioninthee，cruel，hard-heartedman，’’saidtheunfortunatemaiden。
``Ay，butdostthouunderstandmywords?’’
saidtheTemplar；``forthesoundofmyvoiceisfrightfulinmineownears。Iscarceknowonwhatgroundwestand，orforwhatpurposetheyhavebroughtushither——Thislistedspace——thatchair——thesefaggots——Iknowtheirpurpose，andyetitappearstomelikesomethingunreal——thefearfulpictureofavision，whichappalsmysensewithhideousfantasies，butconvincesnotmyreason。’’
``Mymindandsenseskeeptouchandtime，’’
answeredRebecca，``andtellmealikethatthesefaggotsaredestinedtoconsumemyearthlybody，andopenapainfulbutabriefpassagetoabetterworld。’’
``Dreams，Rebecca，——dreams，’’answeredtheTemplar；``idlevisions，rejectedbythewisdomofyourownwiserSadducees。Hearme，Rebecca，’’hesaid，proceedingwithanimation；``abetterchancehastthouforlifeandlibertythanyonderknavesanddotarddreamof。Mounttheebehindmeonmysteed——onZamor，thegallanthorsethatneverfailedhisrider。IwonhiminsinglefightfromtheSoldanofTrebizond——mount，Isay，behindme——inoneshorthourispursuitandenquiryfarbehind——anewworldofpleasureopenstothee——tomeanewcareeroffame。LetthemspeakthedoomwhichIdespise，anderasethenameofBois-Guilbertfromtheirlistofmonasticslaves！Iwillwashoutwithbloodwhateverblottheymaydaretocastonmyscutcheon。’’
``Tempter，’’saidRebecca，``begone！——Notinthislastextremitycanstthoumovemeonehair’s-breadthfrommyrestingplace——surroundedasIambyfoes，Iholdtheeasmyworstandmostdeadlyenemy——avoidthee，inthenameofGod！’’
AlbertMalvoisin，alarmedandimpatientatthedurationoftheirconference，nowadvancedtointerruptit。
``Haththemaidenacknowledgedherguilt?’’
hedemandedofBois-Guilbert；``orissheresoluteinherdenial?’’
``Sheisindeedresolute，’’saidBois-Guilbert。
``Then，’’saidMalvoisin，``mustthou，noblebrother，resumethyplacetoattendtheissue——Theshadesarechangingonthecircleofthedial——Come，braveBois-Guilbert——come，thouhopeofourholyOrder，andsoontobeitshead。’’
Ashespokeinthissoothingtone，helaidhishandontheknight’sbridle，asiftoleadhimbacktohisstation。
``Falsevillain！whatmeanestthoubythyhandonmyrein?’’saidSirBrian，angrily。Andshakingoffhiscompanion’sgrasp，herodebacktotheupperendofthelists。
``Thereisyetspiritinhim，’’saidMalvoisinaparttoMont-Fitchet，``wereitwelldirected——but，liketheGreekfire，itburnswhateverapproachesit。’’
TheJudgeshadnowbeentwohoursinthelists，awaitinginvaintheappearanceofachampion。
``Andreasongood，’’saidFriarTuck，``seeingsheisaJewess——andyet，bymineOrder，itishardthatsoyoungandbeautifulacreatureshouldperishwithoutoneblowbeingstruckinherbehalf！Wereshetentimesawitch，providedshewerebuttheleastbitofaChristian，myquarter-staffshouldringnoononthesteelcapofyonderfierceTemplar，erehecarriedthematteroffthus。’’
Itwas，however，thegeneralbeliefthatnoonecouldorwouldappearforaJewess，accusedofsorcery；
andtheknights，instigatedbyMalvoisin，whisperedtoeachother，thatitwastimetodeclarethepledgeofRebeccaforfeited。Atthisinstantaknight，urginghishorsetospeed，appearedontheplainadvancingtowardsthelists。Ahundredvoicesexclaimed，``Achampion！achampion！’’
Anddespitetheprepossessionsandprejudicesofthemultitude，theyshoutedunanimouslyastheknightrodeintothetiltyard，Thesecondglance，however，servedtodestroythehopethathistimelyarrivalhadexcited。Hishorse，urgedformanymilestoitsutmostspeed，appearedtoreelfromfatigue，andtherider，howeverundauntedlyhepresentedhimselfinthelists，eitherfromweakness，weariness，orboth，seemedscarceabletosupporthimselfinthesaddle。
Tothesummonsoftheherald，whodemandedhisrank，hisname，andpurpose，thestrangerknightansweredreadilyandboldly，``Iamagoodknightandnoble，comehithertosustainwithlanceandswordthejustandlawfulquarrelofthisdamsel，Rebecca，daughterofIsaacofYork；toupholdthedoompronouncedagainsthertobefalseandtruthless，andtodefySirBriandeBois-Guilbert，asatraitor，murderer，andliar；asIwillproveinthisfieldwithmybodyagainsthis，bytheaidofGod，ofOurLady，andofMonseigneurSaintGeorge，thegoodknight。’’
``Thestrangermustfirstshow，’’saidMalvoisin，``thatheisgoodknight，andofhonourablelineage。
TheTemplesendethnotforthherchampionsagainstnamelessmen。’’
``Myname，’’saidtheKnight，raisinghishelmet，``isbetterknown，mylineagemorepure，Malvoisin，thanthineown。IamWilfredofIvanhoe。’’
``Iwillnotfightwiththeeatpresent，’’saidtheTemplar，inachangedandhollowvoice。``Getthywoundshealed，purveytheeabetterhorse，anditmaybeIwillholditworthmywhiletoscourgeoutoftheethisboyishspiritofbravade。’’
``Ha！proudTemplar，’’saidIvanhoe，``hastthouforgottenthattwicedidstthoufallbeforethislance?RememberthelistsatAcre——rememberthePassageofArmsatAshby——rememberthyproudvauntinthehallsofRotherwood，andthegageofyourgoldchainagainstmyreliquary，thatthouwouldstdobattlewithWilfredofIvanhoe，andrecoverthehonourthouhadstlost！Bythatreliquaryandtheholyrelicitcontains，Iwillproclaimthee，Templar，acowardineverycourtinEurope——ineveryPreceptoryofthineOrder——unlessthoudobattlewithoutfartherdelay。’’
Bois-GuilbertturnedhiscountenanceirresolutelytowardsRebecca，andthenexclaimed，lookingfiercelyatIvanhoe，``DogofaSaxon！takethylance，andprepareforthedeaththouhastdrawnuponthee！’’
``DoestheGrandMasterallowmethecombat?’’
saidIvanhoe。
``Imaynotdenywhatthouhastchallenged，’’
saidtheGrandMaster，``providedthemaidenacceptstheeasherchampion。YetIwouldthouwertinbetterplighttodobattle。AnenemyofourOrderhastthoueverbeen，yetwouldIhavetheehonourablymetwith。’’
``Thus——thusasIam，andnototherwise，’’saidIvanhoe；``itisthejudgmentofGod——tohiskeepingIcommendmyself——Rebecca，’’saidhe，ridinguptothefatalchair，``dostthouacceptofmeforthychampion?’’
``Ido，’’shesaid——``Ido，’’flutteredbyanemotionwhichthefearofdeathhadbeenunabletoproduce，``IdoaccepttheeasthechampionwhomHeavenhathsentme。Yet，no——no——thywoundsareuncured——Meetnotthatproudman——whyshouldstthouperishalso?’’
ButIvanhoewasalreadyathispost，andhadclosedhisvisor，andassumedhislance。Bois-Guilbertdidthesame；andhisesquireremarked，asheclaspedhisvisor，thathisface，whichhad，notwithstandingthevarietyofemotionsbywhichhehadbeenagitated，continuedduringthewholemorningofanashypaleness，wasnowbecomesuddenlyverymuchflushed。
Theherald，then，seeingeachchampioninhisplace，upliftedhisvoice，repeatingthrice——_Faitesvosdevoirs，preuxchevaliers！_Afterthethirdcry，hewithdrewtoonesideofthelists，andagainproclaimed，thatnone，onperilofinstantdeath，shoulddare，byword，cry，oraction，tointerferewithordisturbthisfairfieldofcombat。TheGrandMaster，whoheldinhishandthegageofbattle，Rebecca’sglove，nowthrewitintothelists，andpronouncedthefatalsignalwords，_Laissezaller_。
Thetrumpetssounded，andtheknightschargedeachotherinfullcareer。TheweariedhorseofIvanhoe，anditsnolessexhaustedrider，wentdown，asallhadexpected，beforethewell-aimedlanceandvigoroussteedoftheTemplar。Thisissueofthecombatallhadforeseen；butalthoughthespearofIvanhoedidbut，incomparison，touchtheshieldofBois-Guilbert，thatchampion，totheastonishmentofallwhobehelditreeledinhissaddle，losthisstirrups，andfellinthelists。
Ivanhoe，extricatinghimselffromhisfallenhorse，wassoononfoot，hasteningtomendhisfortunewithhissword；buthisantagonistarosenot。Wilfred，placinghisfootonhisbreast，andthesword’spointtohisthroat，commandedhimtoyieldhim，ordieonthespot。Bois-Guilbertreturnednoanswer。
``Slayhimnot，SirKnight，’’criedtheGrandMaster，``unshrivenandunabsolved——killnotbodyandsoul！Weallowhimvanquished。’’
Hedescendedintothelists，andcommandedthemtounhelmtheconqueredchampion。Hiseyeswereclosed——thedarkredflushwasstillonhisbrow。
Astheylookedonhiminastonishment，theeyesopened——buttheywerefixedandglazed。Theflushpassedfromhisbrow，andgavewaytothepallidhueofdeath。Unscathedbythelanceofhisenemy，hehaddiedavictimtotheviolenceofhisowncontendingpassions。
``ThisisindeedthejudgmentofGod，’’saidtheGrandMaster，lookingupwards——``_Fiatvoluntastua！_’’
CHAPTERXLIV