galaad told mrs. whitaker about his mother elaine , who was flighty and no better than she should have been and something of a witch to boot ; and his grandfather , king pelles , who was well-meaning although at best a little vague ; and of his youth in the castle of bliant on the joyous isle ; and his father , whom he knew as `` le chevalier mal fet , '' who was more or less completely mad , and was in reality lancelot du lac , greatest of knights , in disguise and bereft of his wits ; and of galaad 's days as a young squire in camelot .