l, and his armour rattled upon him.

But the King sat bolt upright in his chair and stared Ralph's face; and
the warriors and lords and merchants fell back from Ralph and stood in
an ordered rank on either side of him and bent their heads before him.
None spoke till the King said in a hoarse voice, but lowly and
wheedling: "Tell us, fair Sir, what is it that we can do to pleasure
thee?"

"King," said Ralph, "I am not here to take gifts but to give them
rather: yet since thou biddest me I will crave somewhat of thee, that
thou mayst be the more content: and moreover the giving shall cost
thee nothing: I crave of thee to give me life and limb and freedom for
the poor folk whom I saw led down the hall by thy tipstaves, even now.
Give me that or nothing." The King scowled, but he spake: "This is
indeed a little gift of thee to take; yet to none else save thee had I
given it."

Therewith he spake to a man beside him and said: "Go thou, set them
free, and if any hurt hath befallen them thy life shall answer for it.
Is it enough, fair Sir, and have we thy goodwill?" Ralph laughed for
joy of his life and his might, and he answered: "King, this is the
token of my goodwill; fear naught of me." And he turned to his men, and
bade them bright forth the gift of Goldburg and open it before the
King; and they did so. But when the King cast eyes on the wares his
face was gladdened, for he was a greedy wolf, and whoso had been close
to his mouth would have heard him mutter: "So mighty! yet so wealthy!"
But he thanked Ralph aloud and in smooth words. And Ralph made
obeisance to him again, and then turned and went his ways down the
hall, and was glad at heart that he had become so mighty a man, for all
fell back before him and looked on him with worship. Howbeit he had
looked on the King closely and wisely, and deemed that he was both
cruel and guileful, so that he rejoiced that he had spoken naught of
Ursula, and he was minded to keep her within gates all the while they
abode at Cheaping-Knowe.

When he came to the hostel he called his men-at-arms together and asked
them how far they would follow him, and with one voice they said all
that they would go with him whereso he would, so that it were not
beyond reason. 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 al