Lo you, Stephen, this is the Child of Upmeads, whom belike thou hast
heard of; and if thou wilt take me into the chamber of thy tower,
I will tell thee things of him that thou wottest not."
Stephen turned to Ralph and made obeisance to him and said:
"Fair Sir, there are tales going about concerning thee, some whereof
are strange enow, but none of them ill; and I deem by the look
of thee that thou shalt be both a stark champion and a good lord;
and I deem that it shall be my good luck, if I see more of thee,
and much more. Now if thou wilt, pass on with thine other fellows
to the Flower de Luce, and leave this my old fellow-in-arms with me,
and he shall tell me of thy mind; for I see that thou wouldest
have somewhat of us; and since, I doubt not by the looks of thee,
that thou wilt not bid us aught unknightly, when we know thy will,
we shall try to pleasure thee."
"Yea, Lord Ralph," said Roger, "thou mayest leave all
the business with me, and I will come to thee not later than
betimes to-morrow, and let thee wot how matters have sped.
And methinks ye may hope to wend out-a-gates this time otherwise
than thou didest before."
So Ralph gave him yeasay and thanked the man-at-arms and rode
his ways with the others toward the Flower de Luce, and whereas
the sun was but newly set, Ralph noted that the booths were gayer
and the houses brighter and more fairly adorned than aforetimes.
As for the folk, they were such that the streets seemed full of
holiday makers, so joyous and well dight were they; and the women
like to those fair thralls whom he had seen that other time,
saving that they were not clad so wantonly, however gaily.
Pages:
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658