Riding on once more, the Red Cross Knight and his companion next draw
near to a glittering castle, whose stones seem covered with gold.
Fidessa, who is familiar with this place, invites the knight to enter
there with her; and Georgos, unaware of the fact that this is the
stronghold of Pride, not only consents, but pays respectful homage to
the mistress of the castle, Queen Lucifera, whose attendants are
Idleness, Gluttony, Lechery, Envy, Avarice, and Wrath. It is while
sojourning in this castle that the Red Cross Knight one day sees
Sansjoi (Joyless) snatch from his dwarf the shield won from Sansfoi.
Angered by this deed of violence, Georgos draws his sword, and he
would have decided the question of ownership then and there had not
Lucifera decreed he and his opponent should settle their quarrel in
the lists on the morrow. During the ensuing night, Duessa secretly
informs Sansjoi that the Red Cross Knight is his brother's slayer and
promises that, should he defeat his opponent, she will belong to him
forever. On the morrow, in the midst of much feudal pomp, the
chivalrous duel takes place, and--although Duessa, fancying Sansjoi is
about to win, loudly cheers him--the Red Cross Knight finally
triumphs. Planting his foot upon his foe, Georgos would have ended
Sansjoi's life had not Duessa enveloped her protégé in a cloud dense
enough to hide him from his conqueror. After vainly seeking some trace
of his vanished opponent, the Red Cross Knight is proclaimed victor,
and goes back to the castle to nurse the wounds he has received.

Meanwhile Duessa steals into the deserted lists, removes the pall of
cloud which envelops Sansjoi, and tenderly confides him to the Queen
of Night, who bears him down to Hades, where Aesculapius heals his
wounds. His victor, the Red Cross Knight, has not entirely recovered
from this duel, when the dwarf rushes into his presence to report that
while prowling around the castle he discovered a frightful dungeon,