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XV . The Champion On the third day a crowd gathered in the field outside the walls of Templestowe . In the middle of the field there was a space for the combat , and at one end of it stood a pile of wood with a stake in the centre and a black chair beside it . Rebecca was led out and made to sit in the chair . She was dressed in white , and she was very pale , but she did not tremble . When she saw the wood that had been prepared for her death , she closed her eyes for a moment and prayed in silence . Then she looked up again , calmly , and waited . Bois - Guilbert sat on his great black horse at the other end of the field , in full armour . He looked tired and ill , and those who stood near him noticed that his face was as grey as ashes . The Grand Master sat in his high chair with the knights of the order around him . A herald stepped forward and cried in a loud voice , “ Here stands the good knight Sir Brian de Bois - Guilbert , ready to fight with any knight who will defend Rebecca of York , accused of witchcraft ! Let her champion come forward ! ” Nobody came , and the minutes passed slowly . The sun climbed higher in the sky , and the crowd began to whisper . Most of them believed that no Christian knight would fight for a Jewish woman accused of witchcraft , and some of them were sorry about it . Friar Tuck , who was standing among the crowd , said loudly that it was a shame to let such a young and lovely creature die without a single blow being struck for her . While they waited , Bois - Guilbert rode up to Rebecca’s chair and spoke to her in a low , hurried voice . “ Rebecca , can you hear me ? There is still time , if you jump up behind me on my horse . In one hour we could be far away , where nobody will be able to follow us . I will give up everything for you , my order , my name and my honour . ” “ Go away , ” said Rebecca . “ Even now , at the end , you cannot move me . You are my worst enemy , and I will not listen to you . ” Malvoisin came up and led the Templar back to his place . The judges had waited for two hours , and they began to say that it was time to light the fire . At that moment a single rider appeared on the plain , galloping towards the field . “ A champion , a champion ! ” shouted a hundred voices . In spite of everything , the crowd cheered as the knight rode in . But their hopes fell when they saw him more closely . His horse was so tired that it could hardly stand , and its sides were covered with sweat . The rider himself seemed hardly able to sit in the saddle . The herald asked him his name and his purpose . “ I am a good knight and a noble one , ” answered the stranger in a firm voice , “ and I have come to defend this lady , Rebecca , the daughter of Isaac of York . I say that the charge against her is false , and I will prove it with my body against the body of Sir Brian de Bois - Guilbert . ” “ The Temple does not fight against nameless men , ” said Malvoisin , “ so you must show us who you are . ” The knight raised his helmet and answered him . “ My name is better known than yours , Malvoisin , ” he said . “ I am Wilfred of Ivanhoe . ”
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