Beside him stood Morfinn bowed down with fear and not daring
to look either at the Lord or at Ralph. Wherefore he knew
for certain that when he had called him traitor even now,
that it was no more than the very sooth, and that he had fallen
into the trap; though how or why he wotted not clearly.
Well then might his heart have fallen, but so it was, that when
he looked into the face of this Lord, the terror of the lands,
hatred of him so beset his heart that it swallowed up fear in him.
Albeit he held himself well in hand, for his soul was waxing,
and he deemed that he should yet do great deeds, therefore he
desired to live, whatsoever pains or shame of the passing day
he might suffer.
Now this mighty lord spake, and his voice was harsh and squeaking,
so that the sound of it was worse than the sight of his face;
and he said: "Bring the man forth, that I may see him."
So they brought up Ralph, till he was eye to eye with the Lord,
who turned to Morfinn and said: "Is this thy catch, lucky man?"
"Yea," quavered Morfinn, not lifting his eyes; "Will he do, lord?"
"Do?" said the lord, "How can I see him when he is all muffled up in steel?
Ye fools! doff his wargear."
Speedily then had they stripped Ralph of hauberk, and helm, and arm
and leg plates, so that he stood up in his jerkin and breeches,
and the lord leaned forward to look on him as if he were cheapening
a horse; and then turned to a man somewhat stricken in years,
clad in scarlet, who stood on his other hand, and said to him:
"Well, David the Sage, is this the sort of man? Is he goodly enough?"
Then the elder put on a pair of spectacles and eyed Ralph curiously
a while, and then said: "There are no two words to be said about it;
he is a goodly and well-fashioned a young man as was ever sold.
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