But now as they rode, slowly because of the crowd, up Petergate, they heard a cry of one beside them, as of a man astonished but joyful; so Ralph drew rein, and turned thither whence the cry came, and Ursula saw a man wide-shouldered, grey-haired, blue-eyed, and ruddy of countenance—­a man warrior-like to look on, and girt with a long sword.  Ralph lighted down from his horse, and met the man, who was coming toward him, cast his arms about his neck, and kissed him, and lo, it was Richard the Red.  The people round about, when they saw it, clapped their hands, and crowded about the two crying out:  “Hail to the friends long parted, and now united!” But Richard, whom most knew, cried out:  “Make way, my masters! will ye sunder us again?” Then he said to Ralph:  “Get into thy saddle, lad; for surely thou hast a tale to tell overlong for the open street.”

Ralph did as he was bidden, and without more ado they went on all toward that hostelry where Ralph had erst borne the burden of grief.  Richard walked by Ralph’s side, and as he went he said:  “Moreover, lad, I can see that thy tale is no ill one; therefore my heart is not wrung for thee or me, though I wait for it a while.”  Then again he said:  “Thou doest well to hide her loveliness in war-weed even in this town of peace.”

Ursula reddened, and Richard laughed and said:  “Well, it is a fair rose which thou hast brought from east-away.  There will be never another couple in these parts like you.  Now I see the words on thy lips; so I tell thee that Blaise thy brother is alive and well and happy; which last word means that his coffer is both deep and full.  Forsooth, he would make a poor bargain in buying any kingship that I wot of, so rich he is, yea, and mighty withal.”

Said Ralph:  “And how went the war with Walter the Black?”

Even as he spake his face changed, for he bethought him over closely of the past days, and his dream of the Lady of Abundance and of Dorothea, who rode by him now as Ursula.  But Richard spake:  “Short is the tale to tell.  I slew him in shock of battle, and his men craved peace of the good town.  Many were glad of his death, and few sorrowed for it; for, fair as his young body was, he was a cruel tyrant.”

Therewith were they come to the hostel of the Lamb which was the very same house wherein Ralph had abided aforetime; and as he entered it, it is not to be said but that inwardly his heart bled for the old sorrow.  Ursula looked on him lovingly and blithely; and when they were within doors Richard turned to the Sage and said:  “Hail to thee, reverend man! wert thou forty years older to behold, outworn and forgotten of death, I should have said that thou wert like to the Sage that dwelt alone amidst the mountains nigh to Swevenham when I was a little lad, and fearsome was the sight of thee unto me.”

The Sage laughed and said:  “Yea, somewhat like am I yet to myself of forty years ago.  Good is thy memory, greybeard.”