``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