“Do you mean to say that you think Griffin in league with these—­ outlaws, as one may suppose them?” said Alsi, with wrath and more else written in twitching mouth and crafty eyes.

“I would not have said that,” Ragnar answered, looking in some surprise at the king, “it had never come into my head.  But I will say that as the Ermin Street is straight as an arrow, and he was in full sight of us, he might have spurred his horses to our help, whereas he never quickened his pace till he saw that the outlaws, or whoever they were, had gone.  I put this as a complaint to you.”

“These men seem to have scared you, at least,” sneered the king.

Ragnar flushed deeply.

“For the princess—­yes.  It is not fitting that a man who is in charge of so precious a lady should hold back in danger, even of the least seeming, as did Griffin.  And I told him so.”

Now I thought that Alsi would have been as angry with Griffin as was the earl, and that he would add that he also would speak his mind to him, hut instead of that he went off in another way.

“It was a pity that a pleasant journey with a fair companion was thus broken in upon.  But it was doubtless pleasant that the lady should see that her kinsman was not unwilling to draw sword for her.  A pretty little jest this, got up between Griffin and yourself, and such as a young man may be forgiven for playing.  I shall hear Goldberga complain of honest Griffin presently, and now I shall know how to answer her.  Ay, I will promise him the like talking to that you gave him, and then we three will laugh over it all together.”

And with that the king broke into a cackle of laughter, catching hold of the earl’s arm in his glee.  And I never saw any man look so altogether bewildered as did Ragnar.

“Little jest was there in the matter, lord king, let me tell you,” he said, trying to draw his arm away.

“Nay, I am not angry with you, kinsman; indeed, I am not.  We have been young and eager that bright eyes should see our valour ourselves ere now,” and he shook his finger at the earl gaily.  “I only wonder that you induced that fiery Welshman to take a rating in the hearing of the princess quietly.”

“What I had to say to him I said apart.  I will not say that he did take it quietly.”

“Meaning—­that you had a good laugh over it;” and Alsi shook the earl’s arm as in glee.  “There now, you have made a clean breast, and I am not one to spoil sport.  Go and meet Goldberga at the gates, and bring her to me in state, and you shall be lodged here, if you will.  Quite right of you to tell me this, or Griffin would have been in trouble.  But I must not have the lady scared again, mind you.”

He turned quickly away, then, with a sort of stifled laugh, as if he wanted to get away to enjoy a good jest, and left Ragnar staring speechless at him as he crossed the high place and went through the private door.