In any case, he hath his kin and long descent full often
in his mouth, while I am but a gangrel body. Howbeit it
is all one, whereas whatso he or Otter bid any man to do,
he doeth it, but my bidding may be questioned at whiles.
And look you, lord, times are not ill, so wherefore should I
risk a change of days? Sooth to say, both these great lords
have done well by me."
Ralph laughed: "And better will they do, as thou deemest;
give thee Agatha, to wit?" "Yea, fair sir," quoth Redhead.
"No great gift, that seemeth to me, for thy valiancy,"
said Ralph; "she is guileful enough and loose enough for a worse
man than thee."
"Lord," said Redhead, "even of her thou shalt say what pleaseth thee;
but no other man shall say of her what pleaseth me not.
For all that is come and gone she is true and valiant, and none may
say that she is not fair and sweet enough for a better man than me;
and my great good luck it is that, as I hope, she looketh no further
for a better."
Ursula said: "Is it so, perchance, that now she is free
and hath naught to fear, she hath no need for guile?"
"Hail to thee for thy word, lady," quoth Redhead; and then
he was silent, glooming somewhat on Ralph.
But Ralph said: "Nay, my friend, I meant no harm, but I was wondering
what had befallen to bring you two so close together."
"It was fear and pain, and the helping of each other that wrought it,"
said Redhead. Said Ursula: "Good Captain, how was it that she escaped
the uttermost of evil at the tyrant's hands? since from all that I have heard,
it must needs be that he laid the blame on her (working for her mistress)
of my flight from Utterbol.
Pages:
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583