“Ralph Motherson,” quoth Ralph, knitting his brow.  Said the captain “And whither wilt thou?” Said Ralph, “On mine own errands.”  “Thou answerest not over freely,” quoth the captain.  Said Ralph, “Then is it even; for thou askest freely enough.”  “Well, well,” said the captain, grinning in no unfriendly wise, “thou seemest a stout lad enough; and as to my asking, it is my craft as captain of the North Gate:  but now tell me friendly, goest thou to any kinsman or friend in the Burg?”

Then Ralph’s brow cleared and he said, “Nay, fair sir.”  “Well then,” said the captain, “art thou but riding straight through to another gate, and so away again?” “Nay,” said Ralph, “if I may, I would abide here the night over, or may-happen longer.”  “Therein thou shalt do well, young man,” said the captain; “then I suppose thou wilt to some hostelry? tell me which one.”

Said Ralph, “Nay, I wot not to which one, knowing not the town.”  But Roger close by him spake and said:  “My lord shall go to the Flower de Luce, which is in the big square.”

“Truly,” said the captain, “he goes to a good harbour; and moreover, fair sir, to-morrow thou shalt see a goodly sight from thine inn; thou mayst do no better, lord.  But thou, carle, who art thou, who knowest the inside of our Burg so well, though I know thee not, for as well as I know our craftsmen and vavassors?”

Then Roger’s words hung on his lips awhile, and the knight bent his brow on him, till at last he said, “Sir Captain, I was minded to lie, and say that I am this young knight’s serving-man.”  The captain broke in on him grimly, “Thou wert best not lie.”

“Yea, sir,” quoth Roger, “I deemed, as it was on my tongue’s end, that thou wouldst find me out, so I have nought to do but tell thee the very sooth:  this it is:  I am a man made masterless by the thieves of the Dry Tree.  From my land at Hampton under Scaur have I been driven, my chattels have been lifted, and my friends slain; and therefore by your leave would I ride in the host of the Burg, that I may pay back the harm which I had, according to the saw, ‘better bale by breeding bale.’  So, lord, I ask thee wilt thou lend me the sword and give me the loaf, that I may help both thee, and the Burg, and me?”

The captain looked at him closely and sharply, while the carle faced him with open simple eyes, and at last he said:  “Well, carle, thou wert about to name thyself this young knight’s serving-man; be thou even so whiles he abideth in the Burg; and when he leaveth the Burg then come back to me here any day before noon, and may be I shall then put a sword in thy fist and horse between thy thighs.  But,” (and he wagged his head threateningly at Roger) “see that thou art at the Flower de Luce when thou art called for.”