he might be that had done what the queen said, his pulse and the
beating of his heart for the swink endured could not yet have had time
to abate, he silently, beginning at one end of the gallery, fell to
feeling each one's breast, to know if his heart beat high. Although
every other slept fast, he who had been with the queen was not yet
asleep, but, seeing the king come and guessing what he went seeking,
fell into such a fright that to the beating of the heart caused by the
late-had fatigue, fear added yet a greater and he doubted not but the
king, if he became aware of this, would put him to death without
delay, and many things passed through his thought that he should do.
However, seeing him all unarmed, he resolved to feign sleep and await
what he should do. Agilulf, then, having examined many and found none
whom he judged to be he of whom he was in quest, came presently to the
horsekeeper and feeling his heart beat high, said in himself, 'This is
the man.' Nevertheless, an he would have nought be known of that which
he purposed to do, he did nought to him but poll, with a pair of
scissors he had brought with him, somewhat on one side of his hair,
which they then wore very long, so by that token he might know him
again on the morrow; and this done, he withdrew and returned to his
own chamber. The culprit, who had felt all this, like a shrewd fellow
as he was, understood plainly enough why he had been thus marked;
wherefore he arose without delay and finding a pair of shears, whereof
it chanced there were several about the stables for the service of the
horses, went softly up to all who lay in the gallery and clipped each
one's hair on like wise over the ear; which having done without being
observed, he returned to sleep. When the king arose in the morning, he
commanded that all his household should present themselves before him,
or ever the palace-doors were opened; and it was done as he said.
Then, as they all stood before him with uncovered heads, he began to
look that he might know him whom he had polled; but, seeing the most
part of them with their hair clipped after one and the same fashion,
he marvelled and said in himself, 'He whom I seek, for all he may be
of mean estate, showeth right well he is of no mean wit.' Then, seeing
that he could not, without making a stir, avail to have him whom he
sought, and having no mind to incur a great shame for the sake of a
paltry revenge, it pleased him with one sole word