"
"Well then," said the captain, "art thou but riding straight
through to another gate, and so away again?" "Nay," said Ralph,
"if I may, I would abide here the night over, or may-happen longer."
"Therein thou shalt do well, young man," said the captain;
"then I suppose thou wilt to some hostelry? tell me which one."
Said Ralph, "Nay, I wot not to which one, knowing not the town."
But Roger close by him spake and said: "My lord shall go to the Flower
de Luce, which is in the big square."
"Truly," said the captain, "he goes to a good harbour; and moreover,
fair sir, to-morrow thou shalt see a goodly sight from thine inn;
thou mayst do no better, lord. But thou, carle, who art thou,
who knowest the inside of our Burg so well, though I know thee not,
for as well as I know our craftsmen and vavassors?"
Then Roger's words hung on his lips awhile, and the knight bent
his brow on him, till at last he said, "Sir Captain, I was minded
to lie, and say that I am this young knight's serving-man."
The captain broke in on him grimly, "Thou wert best not lie."
"Yea, sir," quoth Roger, "I deemed, as it was on my tongue's end, that thou
wouldst find me out, so I have nought to do but tell thee the very sooth:
this it is: I am a man made masterless by the thieves of the Dry Tree.
From my land at Hampton under Scaur have I been driven, my chattels have
been lifted, and my friends slain; and therefore by your leave would I
ride in the host of the Burg, that I may pay back the harm which I had,
according to the saw, 'better bale by breeding bale.
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