s chamber opened, and a
page came out with the words that bid men meet the king, and we
rose and stood to greet him. He came forth quickly, looking
wild-eyed and haggard, with his sheathed sword grasped in the hand
which held his cloak round him against the night air. He halted for
a moment on the threshold, and stared at us; while from very force
of habit we saluted, and spoke the words of good morrow that were
but mockery today. And he knew it.

"Good morrow, forsooth," he said, in a terrible, dull voice; "and I
would from my heart that so it may be. Tell me, thanes, is aught
wrong here? It seems that all is quiet. Mayhap I have but dreamed
of ill--dreamed, I say, for it could be nowise else. I had an evil
dream. I thought that Ethelbert, my guest and son to be, was
harmed."

He looked from one of us to the other, and our faces spoke to him,
though we could find no words. The hand that held the sword
tightened its grip on the gilded scabbard, and he strode forward
into the room fiercely.

"It is no dream, but the truth," he said hoarsely. "Answer me, is
it true?"

Now I saw the wrath growing in his face. And I heard Witred
stammer, for the fear of the great king was on him; and I knew not
what Sighard might not say in his wrath, for already Selred had his
hand on him to stay him. So I spoke for the rest, being a stranger,
and of no account if the anger of the king sought a vent on me.

"King Offa," said I, "there is evil wrought by stealth here, and
your thanes are not to blame. Come with me, and you shall see that
so it is, and you will learn the worst. Keep your wrath for those
who are not yet named. It is true that Ethelbert has been slain
this night; but he does not lie here."

The king went back a pace from me and paled suddenly. I did not
know what he might do next, for I could not tell that this was but
certainty to him of that which he had reason to fear. But he kept a
tight rein on himself, and in a moment spoke to me clearly, if in
low tones.

"You are Carl's messenger to Ethelbert, and therefore trusted by
him. You have no need to keep aught from me, nor do you fear me, as
it seems. Tell me plainly what has been done."

I think that he had not understood that Ethelbert had been taken
hence, and that he dreaded to look on him. So I told him once more.

"Through the old passage which lies beneath his chamber men crept
and slew Ethelbert. Then they took him hence; whither we cannot
tell. It has b