The Inquisitor’s Tale

The jongleur tells his story of running into the three children during their time at the market. He’s a keen observer, not only spotting William and Gwenforte where they’re in hiding, but correctly guessing all of the children’s feelings and identities. He also describes the thrill of the market: all the people of the neighboring villages come together here to buy and sell.

While the jongleur watches, the giant monk Michelangelo de Bologna appears, spots the children, and begins to chase them. In trying to escape him, Jeanne and Jacob find themselves running right into the hands of the knights led by Sir Fabian, who’s also been pursuing them. Jeanne and Jacob jump in the nearby River Oise, and the knights fish them out.

Here the jongleur pauses, demanding a mug of ale before he’ll finish the story of how he pursued the children and their captors. The narrator obliges.

The jongleur continues his story, telling how he fell in with the knights and the captive children by offering to entertain them. The knights like his bawdy songs and let him tag along. He observes a conversation between