Odin lives in the blood of every fighting man, as Freya lives in
the heart of every lad and girl who loves. The gods change their names,
but hush! hush! talk not of Odin and of Freya, for I say that it is
heresy, or pagan, which is worse. What would you do now? Why came you to
London?"

"Because my mother bade me and to seek my fortune."

"Fortune--what is fortune? Youth and health are the best fortune,
though, if they know how to use it, those who have wealth as well may go
further than the rest. Also beauteous things are pleasant to the sight
and there is joy in gathering them. Yet at the last they mean nothing,
for naked we came out of the blackness and naked we return there. Vanity
of vanities, all is vanity!"

CHAPTER IV

KARI

Thus began my life in London in the house of my uncle, John Grimmer,
who was called the Goldsmith. In truth, however, he was more than this,
since not only did he fashion and trade in costly things; he lent out
moneys to interest upon security to great people who needed it, and
even to the king Richard and his Court. Also he owned ships and did much
commerce with Holland, France, yes, and with Spain and Italy. Indeed,
although he appeared so humble, his wealth was very large and always
increased, like a snowball rolling down a hill; moreover, he owned much
land, especially in the neighbourhood of London where it was likely to
grow in value.

"Money melts," he would say, "furs corrupt with moth and time, and
thieves break in and steal. But land--if the title be good--remains.
Therefore buy land, which none can carry away, near to a market or a
growing town if may be, and hire it out to fools to farm, or sell it
to other fools who wish to build great houses and spend their goods in
feeding a multitude of idle servants. Houses eat, Hubert, and the larger
they are, the more they eat."

No word did he say to me as to my dwelling on with him, yet there I
remained, by common consent, as it were. Indeed on the morrow of my
coming a tailor appeared to measure me for such garments as he thought
I should wear, by his command, I suppose, as I was never asked for
payment, and he bade me furnish my chamber to my own liking, also
another room at the back of the house that was much larger than it
seemed, which he told me was to be mine to work in, though at what I was
to work he did not say.

For a day or two I remained idle, staring at the sights of London
and only meeting my uncle at meals