Ralph reddened at his word, and the other looked at him steadily as he
spoke, so that Ralph deemed that he mistrusted him: he deemed moreover
that three or four of the others looked hard at him as they went
towards the door, while Roger stood somewhat smiling, and humming a
snatch of an old song.

But when the other guests had left the hostelry, Roger left his
singing, and turned to Ralph and said: "Master, meseems that they
mistrust us, and now maybe is that peril that I spake of nigher than I
deemed when we came into the Burg this morning. And now I would that
we were well out of the Burg and in the merry greenwood again, and it
repents me that I brought thee hither."

"Nay, good fellow," quoth Ralph, "heed it not: besides, it was me, not
thee, that they seemed to doubt of. I will depart hence to-morrow
morning no worser than I came, and leave thee to seek thy fortune here;
and good luck go with thee."

Roger looked hard at him and said: "Not so, young lord; if thou goest
I will go with thee, for thou hast won my heart, I know not how: and I
would verily be thy servant, to follow thee whithersoever thou goest;
for I think that great deeds will come of thee."

This word pleased Ralph, for he was young and lightly put faith in
men's words, and loved to be well thought of, and was fain of good
fellowship withal. So he said: "This is a good word of thine, and I
thank thee for it; and look to it that in my adventures, and the reward
of them thou shalt have thy due share. Lo here my hand on it!"

Roger took his hand, yet therewith his face seemed a little troubled,
but he said nought. Then spoke Ralph: "True it is that I am not fain
to take the wages of the Burg; for it seems to me that they be hard
men, and cruel and joyless, and that their service shall be rather
churlish than knightly. Howbeit, let night bring counsel, and we will
see to this to-morrow; for now I am both sleepy and weary." Therewith
he called the chamberlain, who bore a wax light before him to his
chamber, and he did off his raiment and cast himself on his bed, and
fell asleep straightway, before he knew where Roger was sleeping,
whether it were in the hall or some place else.

CHAPTER 15

How Ralph Departed From the Burg of the Four Friths

Himseemed he had scarce been asleep a minute ere awoke with a sound of
someone saying softly, "Master, master, awake!" So he sat up and
answered softly in his turn: "Who is it? what is amis