So they arrayed them for departure on the morrow, and were to ride
out of gates about mid-morning. So wore the day to evening;
but ere the night was old came a man asking for Ralph, as one who would
have a special alms of him, a poor man by seeming, and evilly clad.
But when Ralph was alone with him, the poor man did him to wit
that for all his seeming wretchedness he was but disguised,
and was in sooth a man of worship, and one of the Porte. Quoth he:
"I am of the King's Council, and I must needs tell thee a thing of the King:
that though he was at the first overawed and cowed by the majesty of thee,
a Friend of the Well, he presently came to himself, which was but ill;
so that what for greed, what for fear even, he is minded to send men to
waylay thee, some three leagues from the town, on your way to the mountains,
but ye shall easily escape his gin now I have had speech of thee;
for ye may take a by-road and fetch a compass of some twelve miles,
and get aback of the waylayers. Yet if ye escape this first ambush,
unless ye are timely in riding early tomorrow it is not unlike that he shall
send swift riders to catch up with you ere ye come to the mountains.
Now I am come to warn thee hereof, partly because I would not have
so fair a life spilt, which should yet do so well for the sons of Adam,
and partly also because I would have a reward of thee for my warning
and my wayleading, for I shall show thee the way and the road.
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