Champagne, and Sancho had also received from Beren-garia a chaplet in honor of his knightly achievements. But the first in honor as in place, was the warrior who had per-sonated Bichard. "When, however, he laid aside his vizor, to receive the well-won laurel as leader of the victors, the multitude discovered that the hero whom they had greeted with such enthusiastic applause was Count Raiinond of Toulouse, and new bursts of acclamations rent the air, while the marshals, and squires, and heralds, forgetting for a moment their duties, gathered round the throne of Love and Beauty to interchange congratulations with the gratified count. In the general excitement no one had noticed the en-trance of a knight adventurous, one ' oi those wandering cavalierswho,toperfectthemselvesinfeatsof arms, travelled from province to province, challenging the skill of all comers in chivalrous combat. The appearance of this knight-errant was such as attracted all eyes. He was mounted on a bay horse of spirit and mettle that hardly yielded to the strong rein ; his helmet was surmounted with a crest of the figure of a red hound, while his erect form shielded in brown armor, and the firmness with which he maintained his seat gave him the appearance of a bronze statue, borne along in the procession. Disregarding the indications that the fortunes of the day were already de-cided, the stranger knight rode directly to the pavilion em-blazoned with the arms of Bichard, and struck his spear with such force upon the shield, as to summon at once the attendants to duty. "Whom have we here?" exclaimed Sancho, with a hearty laugh. " By our Lady, Count Baimond, this day's sun shall not set till the heathen hound on the crest of yon crusading knight hath bit the dust. Fardieu, I almost envy thee thy good fortune to tilt against so fair a foe." The interest which this new-comer gave to the flagging sports was evinced by the eager inquiries and hurried whispers that went round among the spectators. A breathless silence ensued, as Count Baimond couched his lance and started BERENGARIA OF NAVARRE. 207