"I marvel thou sleepest so soundly! Thou art the first knave, I trow,
that hast welcomed these walls with so loud a clarion."
"And what should ail the well-earned slumbers of Ralph Newcome? His
sleep may be as sound as some of those, mayhap, that have softer beds
and gayer clothing."
"But the gallows, man!--Hast had no glimpse of the noose in thy night
visions?"
"Peradventure the hemp is not sown that shall make my collar. When the
hangsman comes, 'tis time enough to wake; so, I pray thee, bereave not a
poor man of the only solace the rich cannot purchase from him."
"Thou art a plain-spoken varlet, and I would but ask thy master's name
and condition. Answer me straight--no equivocation, no shuffling or
evasion shall serve thee; 'tis a stale device now, and will not avail."
"And who art thou, friend, that hast such a greedy appetite for men's
names, thou canst not rest a-bed for the craving of thy stomach?"
"I am the abbot, and thou a prisoner in this good house. Fearful odds,
methinks, for the strife."
"Now hark thee, most reverend abbot, my name thou knowest at a
peradventure: but for the name of my master, as thou callest him, seeing
it be a notable secret, thou mightest as well go ask his goshawk yonder,
who, I guess, continues an unworthy prisoner as well as myself.
Pages:
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300