surely whatever thy peril may be here, it is
nought to that which awaited thee at Hampton."

"Nay, but what is the peril?" said Ralph. Quoth Roger, "If thou wilt
become their man and enter into their host, there is none; for they
will ask few questions of so good a man-at-arms, when they know that
thou art theirs; but if thou naysay that, it may well be that they will
be for turning the key on thee till thou tellest them what and whence
thou art." Ralph answered nought, thinking in his mind that this was
like enough; so he rode on soberly, till Roger said:

"Anyhow, thou mayst turn the cold shoulder on me if thou wilt. Yet
were I thee, I would not, for so it is, both that I can help thee, as I
deem, in time to come, and that I have helped thee somewhat in time
past."

Now Ralph was young and could not abide the blame of thanklessness; so
he said, "Nay, nay, fellow, go we on together to the Flower de Luce."

Roger nodded his head and grumbled somewhat, and they made no stay
except that now and again Ralph drew rein to look at goodly things in
the street, for there were many open booths therein, so that the whole
street looked like a market. The houses were goodly of building, but
not very tall, the ways wide and well-paved. Many folk were in the
street, going up and down on their errands, and both men and women of
them seemed to Ralph stout and strong, but not very fair of favour.
Withal they seemed intent on their business, and payed little heed to
Ralph and his fellow, though he was by his attire plainly a stranger.

Now Ralph sees a house more gaily adorned than most, and a sign hung
out from it whereon was done an image of St. Loy, and underneath the
same a booth on which was set out weapons and war-gear exceeding
goodly; and two knaves of the armourer were standing by to serve folk,
and crying their wares with "what d'ye lack?" from time to time. So he
stayed and fell to looking wistfully at the gleam and glitter of those
fair things, till one of the aforesaid knaves came to his side and said:

"Fair Sir, surely thou lackest somewhat; what have we here for thy
needs?" So Ralph thought and called to mind that strong little steel
axe of the man whom he had slain yesterday, and asked for the sight of
such a weapon, if he might perchance cheapen it. And the lad brought a
very goodly steel axe, gold-inlaid about the shaft, and gave him the
price thereof, which Ralph deemed he might compass; so he brought round