And if he must needs ride into the desert, and cast himself away
in the mountains, so be it. But whatever he hath a mind to,
let none hinder him, but further him rather; hearest thou? take
him with thee."
Then was Ralph overflowing with thanks, but the Lord heeded him naught,
but looked askance at him and sourly. And he rose up withal, and led
the damsel by the hand into another chamber; and she minced in her gait
and leaned over to the Lord and spake softly in his ear and laughed,
and he laughed in his turn and toyed with her neck and shoulders.
But the great men turned and went their ways from the Tower,
and Ralph went with Otter and was full of glee, and as merry
as a bird. But Otter looked on him, and said gruffly:
"Yea now, thou art like a song-bird but newly let out of his cage.
But I can see the string which is tied to thy leg, though thou
feelest it not."
"Why, what now?" quoth Ralph, making as though he were astonished.
"Hearken," said Otter: "there is none nigh us, so I will speak straight out;
for I love thee since the justing when we tried our might together.
If thou deemest that thou art verily free, ride off on the backward
road when we go forward; I warrant me thou shalt presently meet
with an adventure, and be brought in a captive for the second time."
"How then," said Ralph, "hath not the Lord good will toward me?"
Said Otter: "I say not that he is now minded to do thee a mischief
for cruelty's sake; but he is minded to get what he can out of thee.
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