"As for my horse, I wot not what is become of him."
"And wherefore did thy men-at-arms play thee false?" demanded Richard
Wood.
"Softly!" replied Walter Skinner, his small, cracked voice more cracked
than usual. "Ask me not so many questions if thou wouldst not see me
dead before thee."
Richard Wood regarded him sternly. "Thou must be moonstruck," he said
at length. "When ever heard any one of a man dying of the questions
asked of him?"
"Thou mistakest my meaning," returned Walter Skinner, a trace of his
pomposity returning. "Thou askest me questions. If I answer thee false,
I lie. If I answer thee true, I die. And truly, death were not much
worse than this lacerated face of mine."
"Why, how now!" demanded Richard Wood. "How camest thy face lacerated?"
"One Master Hedgehog of this forest hath paid me his attentions too
closely."
For a moment Richard Wood was silent. Then he said: "Answer me truly. It
behooveth me to know the truth in this matter. Why did thy men-at-arms
leave thee?"
"I did but let fall the king's purpose toward the young lord, and name
his father, De Aldithely, and they fell off from me as I had been
myself a murderer.
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