But now, look you,
fair sir, my company ariseth from table; so I bid thee a good night.
And I give thee a good rede along with the good wish, to wit,
that thou ask not too many questions in this city concerning its foemen:
for here is the stranger looked upon with doubt, if he neither will take
the wages of the Burg for battle, nor hath aught to sell."
Ralph reddened at his word, and the other looked at him steadily
as he spoke, so that Ralph deemed that he mistrusted him:
he deemed moreover that three or four of the others looked
hard at him as they went towards the door, while Roger stood
somewhat smiling, and humming a snatch of an old song.
But when the other guests had left the hostelry, Roger left
his singing, and turned to Ralph and said: "Master, meseems
that they mistrust us, and now maybe is that peril that I spake
of nigher than I deemed when we came into the Burg this morning.
And now I would that we were well out of the Burg and in the merry
greenwood again, and it repents me that I brought thee hither."
"Nay, good fellow," quoth Ralph, "heed it not: besides, it was me,
not thee, that they seemed to doubt of. I will depart hence to-morrow
morning no worser than I came, and leave thee to seek thy fortune here;
and good luck go with thee."
Roger looked hard at him and said: "Not so, young lord; if thou goest
I will go with thee, for thou hast won my heart, I know not how:
and I would verily be thy servant, to follow thee whithersoever thou goest;
for I think that great deeds will come of thee.
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