Of women four of them were young and goodly, and Ralph looked at them closely;
but they were naught like to the woman of his quest.
Now this cheaping irked Ralph sorely, as was like to be, whereas,
as hath been told, he came from a land where were no thralls,
none but vavassors and good yeomen: yet he abode till all was done,
hansel paid, and the thralls led off by their new masters.
Then Clement led him up to the merchant, to whom he gave the sele
of the day, and said: "Master, this is the young knight of whom
I told thee, who deemeth that a woman who is his friend hath
been brought to this market and sold there, and if he might,
he would ransom her."
The merchant greeted Ralph courteously, and bade him and Clement
come into his house, where they might speak more privily.
So did they, and he treated them with honour, and set wine and
spices before them, and bade Ralph say whatlike the woman was.
Ralph did so, and wondered at himself how well and closely he could
tell of her, like as a picture painted. And, moreover, he drew forth
that piece of her gown which he had come on by the Mid-Mountain House.
So when he had done, the merchant, who was a man sober of aspect and somewhat
slow of speech, said: "Sir, I believe surely that I have seen this damsel,
but she is not with me now, nor have I sold her ever; but hither was she
brought to be sold by a man of the mountain folk not very many days ago.
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