One eye was shut, and in the other was a leer so horrible that he
feared her some uncanny creature of the wood, and crossed himself as he
looked on her.
"Good knight," said the old crone, before he could arise to leave her
sight, "tell me, I pray thee, what hard thing ye seek. I am old, and
have had much wisdom. It may happen that I can help you out of the
great trouble into which you have come."
The knight, in spite of her loathsomeness, felt a ray of hope at this
offer, and in a few words told her what he was seeking.
As soon as she had heard, the old creature burst into so loud a laugh
that between laughing and mumbling Sir Ulric feared she would choke
herself before she found breath to answer him.
"You are but a poor hand at riddles," she said at length, "if you
cannot guess what is so simple. Let me but whisper two words in your
ear, and you shall be able to tell the queen what neither she nor her
ladies nor any woman in all the kingdom shall be able to deny. But I
give my aid on one condition,--that if I be right in what I tell, you
shall grant me one boon, whatever I ask, if the same be in your power.
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