But they entered it along with men bringing wares into the town,
and none heeded them much, till they came to the very gate,
on the further side of a moat that was both deep and clean;
but as now the bridge was down and the portcullis up, so that the
market-people might pass in easily, for it was yet early in the day.
But before the door on either side stood men-at-arms well weaponed,
and on the right side was their captain, a tall man with bare
grizzled head, but otherwise all-armed, who stopped every one whom
he knew not, and asked their business.
As Ralph came riding up with Roger beside him, one of the guard laid his spear
across and bade them stand, and the captain spake in a dry cold voice:
"Whence comest thou, man-at-arms?" "From the Abbey of St. Mary at Higham,"
said Ralph. "Yea," said the captain, smiling grimly, "even so I
might have deemed: thou wilt be one of the Lord Abbot's lily lads."
"No I am not," quoth Ralph angrily. "Well, well," said the captain,
"what is thy name?"
"Ralph Motherson," quoth Ralph, knitting his brow. Said the captain
"And whither wilt thou?" Said Ralph, "On mine own errands."
"Thou answerest not over freely," quoth the captain.
Said Ralph, "Then is it even; for thou askest freely enough."
"Well, well," said the captain, grinning in no unfriendly wise,
"thou seemest a stout lad enough; and as to my asking, it is my
craft as captain of the North Gate: but now tell me friendly,
goest thou to any kinsman or friend in the Burg?"
Then Ralph's brow cleared and he said, "Nay, fair sir.
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