None would dare to counterfeit this seal, save one who was weary
of life, and longed for torments."
Said Ralph, smiling: "Thou seest, Master Clement, that there must
be a parting betwixt us, and that this man's coming furthers it:
but were he or were he not, yet the parting had come. And wert thou
not liefer that it should come in a way to pleasure and aid me, than that
thou shouldst but leave me behind at Goldburg when thou departest:
and I with naught done toward the achieving my quest, but merely
dragging my deedless body about these streets; and at last, it may be,
going on a perilous journey without guiding or safe-conduct?"
"Yea, lad," said Clement, "I wotted well that thou wouldst take
thine own way, but fain had I been that it had been mine also."
Then he pondered a while and said afterwards: "I suppose that thou
wilt take thy servant Bull Shockhead with thee, for he is a stout
man-at-arms, and I deem him trusty, though he be a wild man.
But one man is of little avail to a traveller on a perilous road,
so if thou wilt I will give leave and license to a half score
of our sergeants to follow thee on the road; for, as thou wottest,
I may easily wage others in their place. Or else wouldst thou
ask the Queen of Goldburg to give thee a score of men-at-arms;
she looked to me the other day as one who would deny thee few
of thine askings."
Ralph blushed red, and said: "Nay, I will not ask her this.
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