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heard Lady Blanche cry：
〃Oh； my hawk！〃 I looked round to see that the falcon on her wrist had
in some way loosed itself； or been loosed； and being hooded； had
fallen to the ground where one of the dogs was trying to catch and
kill it。 Now there was great confusion； the eyes of all being fixed
upon the hawk and the dog； in the midst of which the lady Blanche very
quietly turned her head； and lifting her hand as though to see how the
hawk had fallen from it； with a swift movement laid her fingers
against her lips and threw a kiss to me。
As swiftly I bowed back and went on my way with a beating heart。 For a
few moments I was filled with joy； since I could not mistake the
meaning of this signalled kiss。 Then came sorrow like an April cloud；
since my wound which was in the way of healing was all re…opened。 I
had begun to forget the lady Blanche； or rather by an effort of the
will； to thrust her from my thought； as my confessor had bidden me。
But now on the wings of that blown kiss thither she had flown back
again； not to be frighted out for many a day。
That night I slept at an inn at Tonbridge； a comfortable place where
the host stared at the gold piece from the bag which I tendered in
payment； and at first would not take what was due to him out of it；
because it bore the head of some ancient king。 However； in the end a
merchant of Tonbridge who came in for his morning ale showed him that
it was good； so that trouble passed。
About two in the afternoon I came to Southwark； a town that to me
seemed as big as Hastings before it was burned； where was a fine inn
called the Tabard at which I stopped to bait my horses and to take a
bite and drink of ale。 Then I rode on over the great Thames where
floated a multitude of ships and boats； crossing it by London Bridge；
a work so wonderful that I marvelled that it could be made by the hand
of man； and so broad that it had shops on either side of the roadway；
in which were sold all sorts of merchandise。 Thence I inquired my way
to Cheapside； and came there at last thrusting a path through a
roaring multitude of people； or so it seemed to me who never before
had seen so many men and women gathered together； all going on their
way and； it would appear； ignorant of each other。
Here I found a long and crowded thoroughfare with gabled houses on
either side in which all kinds of trades were carried on。 Down this I
wandered； being cursed at more than once because my pack mare； growing
frightened； dragged away from me and crossed the path of carts which
had to stop till I could pull her free。 After the third of these
tangles I halted by the side of the footway behind a wain with barrels
on it； and looked about me bewildered。
To my left was a house somewhat set back from the general line that
had a little patch of garden ground in front of it in which grew some
untended and thriftless…looking shrubs。 This house seemed to be a
place of business because from an iron fastened to the front of it
hung a board on which was painted an open boat； high at the prow and
stern； with a tall beak fashioned to the likeness of a dragon's head
and round shields all down the rail。
While I was staring at this sign and wondering emptily what kind of a
boat it was and of what nation were the folk who had sailed in her； a
man came down the garden path and leaned upon the gate； staring in
turn at me。 He was old and strange…looking； being clad in a rusty gown
with a hood to it that was pulled over his head； so that I could only
see a white； peaked beard and a pair of brilliant black eyes which
seemed to pierce me as a shoemaker's awl pierces leather。
〃What do you； young man；〃 he asked in a high thin voice； 〃cumbering my
gate with those nags of yours？ Would you sell that mail you have on
the pack…horse？ If so I do not deal in such stuff； though it seems
good of its kind。 So get on with it elsewhere。〃
〃Nay； sir；〃 I answered； 〃I have naught to sell who in this hive of
traders seek one bee and cannot find him。〃
〃Hive of traders！ Truly the great merchants of the Cheap would be
honoured。 Have they stung you； then； already； young bumpkin from the
countryside； for such I write you down？ But what bee do you seek？
Stay； now； let me guess。 Is it a certain old knave named John Grimmer；
who trades in gold and jewels and other precious things and who； if he
had his deserts； should be jail？〃
〃Aye； aye； that's the man；〃 I said。
〃Surely he also will be honoured；〃 exclaimed the old fellow with a
cackle。 〃He's a friend of mine and I will tell him the jest。〃
〃If you would tell me where to find him it would be more seasonable。〃
〃All in good time。 But first； young sir； where did you get that fine
armour？ If you stole it； it should be better hid。〃
〃Stole it！〃 I began in wrath。 〃Am I a London chapman？〃
〃I think not； though you may be before all is done； for who knows what
vile tricks Fortune will play us？ Well； if you did not steal it；
mayhap you slew the wearer and are a murderer； for I see black blood
on the steel。〃
〃Murderer！〃 I gasped。
〃Aye； just as you say John Grimmer is a knave。 But if not； then
perchance you slew the French knight who wore it on Hastings Hill； ere
you loosed the three arrows at the mouth of the cave near Minnes
Rock。〃
Now I gaped at him。
〃Shut your mouth； young man； lest those teeth of yours should fall
out。 You wonder how I know？ Well； my friend John Grimmer； the
goldsmith knave； has a magic crystal which he purchased from one who
brought it from the East； and I saw it in that crystal。〃
As he spoke； as though by chance he pushed back the hood that covered
his head； revealing a wrinkled old face with a mocking mouth which
drooped at one corner； a mouth that I knew again； although many years
had passed since I looked upon it as a boy。
〃You are John Grimmer！〃 I muttered。
〃Yes； Hubert of Hastings； I am that knave himself。 And now tell me；
what did you do with the gold piece I gave you some twelve summers
gone？〃
Then I was minded to lie； for I feared this old man。 But thinking
better of it； I answered that I had spent it on a dog。 He laughed
outright and said：
〃Pray that it is not an omen and that you may not follow the gold
piece to the dogs。 Well； I like you for speaking the truth when you
are tempted to do otherwise。 Will you be pleased to shelter for a
while beneath the roof of John Grimmer； the merchant knave？〃
〃You mock me； sir；〃 I stammered。
〃Perhaps； perhaps！ But there's many a true word spoken in jest； for if
you do not know it now you will learn it afterwards that we are all
knaves； each in his own fashion； who if we do not deceive others； at
least deceive ourselves； and I perhaps more than most。 Vanity of
vanities！ All is vanity。〃
Then； waiting for no reply； he drew a silver whistle from under his
dusty robe and blew it； whereonso swiftly that I marvelled whether
he were waitinga stout…built serving man appeared to whom he said：
〃Take these horses to the stable and treat them as though they were my
own。 Unload the pack beast； and when it has been cleaned； set the mail
and the other gear upon it in the room that has been made ready for
this young master； Hubert of Hastings； my nephew。〃
Without a word the man led off the horses。
〃Be not afraid；〃 chuckled John Grimmer； 〃for though I am a knave； dog
does not eat dog and what is yours is safe with me and those who serve
me。 Now enter；〃 and he led the way into the house； opening the iron…
studded oak door with a key from his pouch。
Within was a shop where I saw precious things such as furs and gold
ornaments lying about。
〃The crumbs to catch the birds； especially the ladybirds；〃 he said
with a sweep of his hand； then took me through the shop into a passage
and thence to a room on the right。 It was not a large room but more
wonderfully furnished than any I had ever seen。 In the centre was a
table of black oak with cunningly carved legs； on which stood cups of
silver and a noble centre piece that seemed to be of gold。 From the
ceiling； too； hung silver lamps that already had been lit； for the
evening was closing in； and gave a sweet smell。 There was a hearth
also with what was rare； a chimney； upon which burned a little fire of
logs； while the walls were hung with tapestries and broidered silks。
Whilst I stared about me； my uncle took off his cloak beneath which he
was clothed in some rich but rather threadbare stuff； only retaining
the velvet skullcap that he wore。 Then he bade me do the same； and
when I had laid my outer garment aside； looked me all over in the
lamplight。
〃A proper young man；〃 he muttered to himself； 〃and I'd give all I have
to be his age and like him。 I suppose those limbs and sinews of his
came from his father； for I was ever thin and spare； as was my father
before me。 Nephew Hubert； I have heard all the tale of your dealings
with the Frenchmen； on whom be God's curse； at Hastings yonder； and I
say that I am proud of you； though whether I shall stay so is another
matter。 Come hither。〃
I obeyed； and taking me by my curling hair with his delicate hand； he
drew down my head and kissed me on the brow； muttering； 〃Neither chick
nor child for me and only thi