Iamanimpoverishedwretch——theverygaberdineIwearisborrowedfromReubenofTadcaster。’’
　　TheTemplarsmiledsourlyashereplied，``Beshrewtheeforafalse-heartedliar！’’andpassingonward，asifdisdainingfartherconference，hecommunedwithhisMoslemslavesinalanguageunknowntothebystanders。ThepoorIsraeliteseemedsostaggeredbytheaddressofthemilitarymonk，thattheTemplarhadpassedontotheextremityofthehallereheraisedhisheadfromthehumbleposturewhichhehadassumed，sofarastobesensibleofhisdeparture。Andwhenhedidlookaround，itwaswiththeastonishedairofoneatwhosefeetathunderbolthasjustburst，andwhohearsstilltheastoundingreportringinginhisears。
　　TheTemplarandPriorwereshortlyaftermarshalledtotheirsleepingapartmentsbythestewardandthecupbearer，eachattendedbytwotorchbearersandtwoservantscarryingrefreshments，whileservantsofinferiorconditionindicatedtotheirretinueandtotheothergueststheirrespectiveplacesofrepose。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　TobuyhisfavourIextendthisfriendship：
　　Ifhewilltakeit，so；ifnot，adieu；
　　And，formylove，Iprayyouwrongmenot。
　　_MerchantofVenice_。
　　AsthePalmer，lightedbyadomesticwithatorch，pastthroughtheintricatecombinationofapartmentsofthislargeandirregularmansion，thecupbearercomingbehindhimwhisperedinhisear，thatifhehadnoobjectiontoacupofgoodmeadinhisapartment，thereweremanydomesticsinthatfamilywhowouldgladlyhearthenewshehadbroughtfromtheHolyLand，andparticularlythatwhichconcernedtheKnightofIvanhoe。
　　Wambapresentlyappearedtourgethesamerequest，observingthatacupaftermidnightwasworththreeaftercurfew。Withoutdisputingamaximurgedbysuchgraveauthority，thePalmerthankedthemfortheircourtesy，butobservedthathehadincludedinhisreligiousvow，anobligationnevertospeakinthekitchenonmatterswhichwereprohibitedinthehall。``Thatvow，’’saidWambatothecupbearer，``wouldscarcesuitaserving-man。’’
　　Thecupbearershruggeduphisshouldersindispleasure。
　　``Ithoughttohavelodgedhiminthesolerechamber，’’
　　saidhe；``butsinceheissounsocialtoChristians，e’enlethimtakethenextstalltoIsaactheJew’s——Anwold，’’
　　saidhetothetorchbearer，``carrythePilgrimtothesoutherncell——
　　Igiveyougood-night，’’headded，``SirPalmer，withsmallthanksforshortcourtesy。’’
　　``Good-night，andOurLady’sbenison，’’saidthePalmer，withcomposure；andhisguidemovedforward。
　　Inasmallantechamber，intowhichseveraldoorsopened，andwhichwaslightedbyasmallironlamp，theymetasecondinterruptionfromthewaiting-maidofRowena，who，sayinginatoneofauthority，thathermistressdesiredtospeakwiththePalmer，tookthetorchfromthehandofAnwold，and，biddinghimawaitherreturn，madeasigntothePalmertofollow。Apparentlyhedidnotthinkitpropertodeclinethisinvitationashehaddonetheformer；for，thoughhisgestureindicatedsomesurpriseatthesummons，heobeyeditwithoutanswerorremonstrance。
　　Ashortpassage，andanascentofsevensteps，eachofwhichwascomposedofasolidbeamofoak，ledhimtotheapartmentoftheLadyRowena，therudemagnificenceofwhichcorrespondedtotherespectwhichwaspaidtoherbythelordofthemansion。Thewallswerecoveredwithembroideredhangings，onwhichdifferent-colouredsilks，interwovenwithgoldandsilverthreads，hadbeenemployedwithalltheartofwhichtheagewascapable，torepresentthesportsofhuntingandhawking。
　　Thebedwasadornedwiththesamerichtapestry，andsurroundedwithcurtainsdyedwithpurple。Theseatshadalsotheirstainedcoverings，andone，whichwashigherthantherest，wasaccommodatedwithafootstoolofivory，curiouslycarved。
　　Nofewerthanfoursilvercandelabras，holdinggreatwaxentorches，servedtoilluminatethisapartment。
　　YetletnotmodernbeautyenvythemagnificenceofaSaxonprincess。Thewallsoftheapartmentweresoillfinishedandsofullofcrevices，thattherichhangingsshookinthenightblast，and，indespiteofasortofscreenintendedtoprotectthemfromthewind，theflameofthetorchesstreamedsidewaysintotheair，liketheunfurledpennonofachieftain。Magnificencetherewas，withsomerudeattemptattaste；butofcomforttherewaslittle，and，beingunknown，itwasunmissed。
　　TheLadyRowena，withthreeofherattendantsstandingatherback，andarrangingherhairereshelaydowntorest，wasseatedinthesortofthronealreadymentioned，andlookedasifborntoexactgeneralhomage。ThePilgrimacknowledgedherclaimtoitbyalowgenuflection。
　　``Rise，Palmer，’’saidshegraciously。``Thedefenderoftheabsenthasarighttofavourablereceptionfromallwhovaluetruth，andhonourmanhood。’’
　　Shethensaidtohertrain，``Retire，exceptingonlyElgitha；IwouldspeakwiththisholyPilgrim。’’
　　Themaidens，withoutleavingtheapartment，retiredtoitsfurtherextremity，andsatdownonasmallbenchagainstthewall，wheretheyremainedmuteasstatues，thoughatsuchadistancethattheirwhisperscouldnothaveinterruptedtheconversationoftheirmistress。
　　``Pilgrim，’’saidthelady，afteramoment’spause，duringwhichsheseemeduncertainhowtoaddresshim，``youthisnightmentionedaname——Imean，’’
　　shesaid，withadegreeofeffort，``thenameofIvanhoe，inthehallswherebynatureandkindreditshouldhavesoundedmostacceptably；andyet，suchistheperversecourseoffate，thatofmanywhoseheartsmusthavethrobbedatthesound，I，only，dareaskyouwhere，andinwhatcondition，youlefthimofwhomyouspoke?——Weheard，that，havingremainedinPalestine，onaccountofhisimpairedhealth，afterthedepartureoftheEnglisharmy，hehadexperiencedthepersecutionoftheFrenchfaction，towhomtheTemplarsareknowntobeattached。’’
　　``IknowlittleoftheKnightofIvanhoe，’’answeredthePalmer，withatroubledvoice。``I
　　wouldIknewhimbetter，sinceyou，lady，areinterestedinhisfate。Hehath，Ibelieve，surmountedthepersecutionofhisenemiesinPalestine，andisontheeveofreturningtoEngland，whereyou，lady，mustknowbetterthanI，whatishischanceofhappiness。’’
　　TheLadyRowenasigheddeeply，andaskedmoreparticularlywhentheKnightofIvanhoemightbeexpectedinhisnativecountry，andwhetherhewouldnotbeexposedtogreatdangersbytheroad。Onthefirstpoint，thePalmerprofessedignorance；onthesecond，hesaidthatthevoyagemightbesafelymadebythewayofVeniceandGenoa，andfromthencethroughFrancetoEngland。
　　``Ivanhoe，’’hesaid，``wassowellacquaintedwiththelanguageandmannersoftheFrench，thattherewasnofearofhisincurringanyhazardduringthatpartofhistravels。’’
　　``WouldtoGod，’’saidtheLadyRowena，``hewereheresafelyarrived，andabletobeararmsintheapproachingtourney，inwhichthechivalryofthislandareexpectedtodisplaytheiraddressandvalour。ShouldAthelstaneofConingsburghobtaintheprize，IvanhoeisliketoheareviltidingswhenhereachesEngland——Howlookedhe，stranger，whenyoulastsawhim?Haddiseaselaidherhandheavyuponhisstrengthandcomeliness?’’
　　``Hewasdarker，’’saidthePalmer，``andthinner，thanwhenhecamefromCyprusinthetrainofCur-de-Lion，andcareseemedtositheavyonhisbrow；butIapproachednothispresence，becauseheisunknowntome。’’
　　``Hewill，’’saidthelady，``Ifear，findlittleinhisnativelandtoclearthosecloudsfromhiscountenance。
　　Thanks，goodPilgrim，foryourinformationconcerningthecompanionofmychildhood——
　　Maidens，’’shesaid，``drawnear——offerthesleepingcuptothisholyman，whomIwillnolongerdetainfromrepose。’’
　　Oneofthemaidenspresentedasilvercup，containingarichmixtureofwineandspice，whichRowenabarelyputtoherlips。ItwasthenofferedtothePalmer，who，afteralowobeisance，tastedafewdrops。
　　``Acceptthisalms，friend，’’continuedthelady，offeringapieceofgold，``inacknowledgmentofthypainfultravail，andoftheshrinesthouhastvisited。’’
　　ThePalmerreceivedtheboonwithanotherlowreverence，andfollowedEdwinaoutoftheapartment。
　　IntheanteroomhefoundhisattendantAnwold，who，takingthetorchfromthehandofthewaiting-maid，conductedhimwithmorehastethanceremonytoanexteriorandignoblepartofthebuilding，whereanumberofsmallapartments，orrathercells，servedforsleepingplacestothelowerorderofdomestics，andtostrangersofmeandegree。
　　``InwhichofthesesleepstheJew?’’saidthePilgrim。
　　``Theunbelievingdog，’’answeredAnwold，kennelsinthecellnextyourholiness——StDunstan，howitmustbescrapedandcleansedereitbeagainfitforaChristian！’’
　　``AndwheresleepsGurththeswineherd?’’saidthestranger。
　　``Gurth，’’repliedthebondsman，``sleepsinthecellonyourright，astheJewonthattoyourleft；
　　youservetokeepthechildofcircumcisionseparatefromtheabominationofhistribe。YoumighthaveoccupiedamorehonourableplacehadyouacceptedofOswald’sinvitation。’’