easure had gone far; and thence he had gone
to another good town where he had the best of markets for his newly
cheapened wares, and had brought more there, such as he deemed handy to
sell, and so had gone on from town to town, and had ever thriven, and
had got much wealth: and so at last having heard tell of Whitwall as
better for chaffer than all he had yet seen, he and other chapmen had
armed them, and waged men-at-arms to defend them, and so tried the
adventure of the wildwoods, and come safe through.

Then at last came the question to Ralph concerning his adventures, and
he enforced himself to speak, and told all as truly as he might,
without telling of the Lady and her woeful ending.

Thus they gave and took in talk, and Ralph did what he might to seem
like other folk, that he might nurse his grief in his own heart as far
asunder from other men as might be.

So they rode on till it was even, and came to Whitwall before the
shutting of the gates and rode into the street, and found it a fair and
great town, well defensible, with high and new walls, and men-at-arms
good store to garnish them.

Ralph rode with his brother to the hostel of the chapmen, and there
they were well lodged.

CHAPTER 13

Richard Talketh With Ralph Concerning the Well at the World's End.
Concerning Swevenham

On the morrow Blaise went to his chaffer and to visit the men of the
Port at the Guildhall: he bade Ralph come with him, but he would not,
but abode in the hall of the hostel and sat pondering sadly while men
came and went; but he heard no word spoken of the Well at the World's
End. In like wise passed the next day and the next, save that Richard
was among those who came into the hall, and he talked long with Ralph
at whiles; that is to say that he spake, and Ralph made semblance of
listening.

Now as is aforesaid Richard was old and wise, and he loved Ralph much,
more belike than Lord Blaise his proper master, whereas he had no mind
for chaffer, or aught pertaining to it: so he took heed of Ralph and
saw that he was sad and weary-hearted; so on the sixth day of their
abiding at Whitwall, in the morning when all the chapmen were gone
about their business, and he and Ralph were left alone in the Hall, he
spake to Ralph and said: "This is no prison, lord." "Even so," quoth
Ralph. "Nay, if thou doubtest it," said Richard, "let us go to the
door and try if they have turned the key and shot the bolt on us."
Ralph smiled f