turned to free it, while she did so flashing at me one of her
sweet looks such as I remembered well.

Kari followed to the door and watched them mount their horses at the
gate, then he searched the ground with his eyes.

"What was it hooked her cloak?" I asked.

"A dream, or the air, Master, for there is nothing else to which it
could have hung. Those who would throw spears behind them must first
turn round."

"What think you of those two, Kari?"

"I think that they will not pay for your jewel, but perhaps this was but
a bait upon the hook."

"And what more, Kari?"

"I think that the lady is very fair and false, and that the great lord's
heart is as black as are his eyes. Also I think that they are dear to
each other and well matched. But it seems that you have met them both
before, Master, so you will know better about them than your slave."

"Yes, I have met them," I answered sharply, for his words about Blanche
angered me, adding, "I have noted, Kari, that you have never a good word
for any one whom I favour. You are jealous-natured, Kari, especially of
women."

"You ask, I answer," he replied, falling into broken English, as was his
fashion when moved, "and it is true that those who have much love, are
much jealous. That is a fault in my people. Also I love not women. Now
I go make another piece for that which Master give the lady. Only this
time it all snake and no heart."

He went, taking the tray of jewels with him, and I, too, went to the
eating-room to think.

How strange was this meeting. I had never forgotten the lady Blanche,
but in a sense I had lived her memory down and mindful of my uncle's
counsel, had not sought to look upon her again, for which reason I kept
away from Hastings where I thought that I should find her. And now here
she was in London and in my house, brought thither by fate. Nor was that
all, since those blue eyes of hers had re-lighted the dead fires in my
heart and, seated there alone, I knew that I loved her; indeed had never
ceased to love her. She was more to me than all my wealth, more than
anything, and alas! between us there was still a great gulf fixed.

She was not wed, it was true, but she was a highly placed lady, and I
but a merchant who could not even call myself a squire, or by law wear
garments made of certain stuffs which I handled daily in my trade. How
might that gulf be crossed?

Then as I mused there rose in my mind a memory of certain sayings of my
wi