"Then shall we need him and use him some day. Let him go scot
free and do better another bout. There is thy boon granted
for thee, knight; and another day thou mayst ask something more.
And now shall David have a care of thee. And when we come
to Utterbol we shall see what is to be done with thee."
Then Ralph rose up and thanked him, and David came forward,
and led him to his tent. And he was wheedling in his ways to him,
as if Ralph were now become one who might do him great good
if so his will were.
But the Lord went back again into the Tower.
As to the Lady, she abode in her pavilion amidst many fears and desires,
till Agatha entered and said: "My Lady, so far all has gone happily."
Said the Lady: "I deemed from the noise and the cry that he was doing well.
But tell me, how did he?" "My Lady," quoth Agatha, "he knocked our folk
about well-favouredly, and seemed to think little of it."
"And Joyce," said the Lady, "how did she?" "She looked a queen,
every inch of her, and she is tall," said Agatha: "soothly some
folk stared on her, but not many knew of her, since she is but new
into our house. Though it is a matter of course that all save
our new-come knight knew that it was not thou that sat there.
And my Lord was well-pleased, and now he hath taken her by the hand
and led her into the Tower."
The Lady reddened and scowled, and said: "And he... did he come anigh her?"
"O yea," said Agatha, "whereas he stood before my Lord a good while,
and then kneeled to him to pray pardon for one of our men who had
done ill in the tilting: yea, he was nigh enough to her to touch
her had he dared, and to smell the fragrance of her raiment.
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