But when
thou pratest of thy honors, thou dost but enrage them. Wilt thou give
me thy word to be silent?"
"Nay, that will I not," retorted Walter Skinner. "I be as good a man as
thou, and not a bear in leading. When I will to speak, I speak; whether
it be of the king's matters or my own."
"Thou hast said," returned Richard Wood, rising. "In the morning I hire
three men-at-arms from Hubert le Falconer for myself. Pursue thou the
chase as seemeth thee best. We hunt no more in company."
With the first morning light the men-at-arms mounted their horses
and rode toward Doncaster, Richard Wood rode north to seek his needed
men-at-arms from Hubert le Falconer, and only Walter Skinner was left
horseless and breakfastless in the vale. He had no mind to remain
there in that condition, and so betook himself to the nearest priory,
confident that, in the king's name, he could there procure both food
and a horse, and perhaps a leech to ease his wounded face.
Hugo and Humphrey were also early astir, the serving-man performing his
morning tasks with such a particularly cheerful air that Hugo smiled
and inquired, "Hadst thou a dream last night?"
"Ay," answered Humphrey, in triumph.
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