him farewell there; and or they
parted he said: "Meseems I have with me now some deal of the foreseeing
of Katherine my wife, and in my mind it is that we shall yet see thee
at Wulstead and Upmeads, and thou no less famous than now thou art.
This is my last word to thee." Therewith they parted, and Ralph rode
his ways.

He came on his way-leader about a bowshot from the gate and they
greeted each other: the said guide was clad no otherwise than
yesterday: he had saddle-bags on his horse, which was a strong black
roadster: but he was nowise armed, and bore but a satchel with a case
of knives done on to it, and on the other side a fiddle in its case.
So Ralph smiled on him and said: "Thou hast no weapon, then?" "What
need for weapon?" said he; "since we are not of might for battle. This
is my weapon," said he, touching his fiddle, "and withal it is my field
and mine acre that raiseth flesh-meat and bread for me: yea, and whiles
a little drink."

So they rode on together and the man was blithe and merry: and Ralph
said to him: "Since we are fellows for a good while, as I suppose,
what shall I call thee?" Said he, "Morfinn the Minstrel I hight, to
serve thee, fair lord. Or some call me Morfinn the Unmanned. Wilt
thou not now ask me concerning that privy word that I had for thy
ears?" "Yea," said Ralph reddening, "hath it to do with a woman?"
"Naught less," said Morfinn. "For I heard of thee asking many
questions thereof in Goldburg, and I said to myself, now may I, who am
bound for Utterness, do a good turn to this fair young lord, whose face
bewrayeth his heart, and telleth all men that he is kind and bounteous;
so that there is no doubt but he will reward me well at once for any
help I may give him; and also it may be that he will do me a good turn
hereafter in memory of this that I have done him."

"Speak, wilt thou not," said Ralph, "and tell me at once if thou hast
seen this woman? Be sure that I shall reward thee." "Nay, nay, fair
sir," said Morfinn; "a woman I have seen brought captive to the House
of Utterbol. See thou to it if it be she whom thou seekest."

He smiled therewith, but now Ralph deemed him not so debonnaire as he
had at first, for there was mocking in the smile; therefore he was
wroth, but he refrained him and said: "Sir Minstrel, I wot not why thou
hast come with a tale in thy mouth and it will not out of it: lo you,
will this open the doors of speech to thee" (and he reached his han