twelve workmen carding wool; he had the town business to
discharge; he sat upon the bench in the town hall and administered
justice to petty offenders. And here was he, torn from all this, and
consigned to a dungeon in the hold of a fierce marauding young "noble."

To the knight above Drogo paid his first visit on the following
day, and bowed low before Ralph of Herstmonceux.

"The fortune of war has made thee my captive, but knightly fare and
honourable treatment are awaiting thee, until the day when it
pleases thee to redeem thyself, and deprive us of the light of thy
presence."

"Thanks! For one whose lessons in chivalry were so abruptly broken
off, thou hast learnt thy language well. But just now it would be
more to the point if thou wilt tell me what it will cost me to get
out of thy den."

Drogo winced at the allusion to his expulsion from Kenilworth, and
charged fifty marks the more.

"We fix thy ransom at a hundred marks {29}."

"Why, it is a king's ransom!"

"And thou art fit to be a king."

"And what if I cannot pay it?"

"We shall feel it our unpleasant duty to hand thee over to the
royal justice, as one notoriously in league with the rebel barons."

"May I send a messenger to my castle?"

"At once. I will place my household at thy disposal."

"And the friar and the mayor; does my ransom include their
freedom?"

"By no means: every tub must stand on its own bottom."

"But they were my companions, travelling as it were, not being
fighting men, under my protection."

"Perhaps it would expedite matters if thou wouldst inform me on
what errand ye were all bent?"

Ralph was silent, and Drogo departed with the same ceremonious
politeness, laughing at it in his sleeve.

"Now for the burgher," said he.

A light shone in the dark prison beneath, and the mayor looked into
the face of his fierce young captor.

"What brought thee into my woods, fat beast?"

"I knew not they were thine, or I had perchance not intruded. Now
tell me, lord, at what price I may redeem my error, for I have a
wife and children, to say nothing of apprentices and workmen, who
long sore for me!"

"'When the cat's away the mice will play.'

"They will get on merrily without thee. One question thou must
answer before we let thee go: On what business came ye hither?"

The mayor hesitated.

"S'death, dost keep me waiting? We have a torture chamber close at
hand. Shall I summon the torturers? They will fit thy fat thum