"I will not be the one to try to
unravel it. Let us away to the king and say what we have seen."
"Ay, and brave his wrath by so doing," returned De Kellaw; "for, since
he cannot lay hands on those that have disappointed him, he will lay
hands on us that bring him word of the matter. To be near to the king,
if thou be not a liar or a cajoler, is to stand in a dangerous place."
"Yea," answered De Skirlaw, "thou art right; but we needs must return.
So let us set out."
While the king raged, Walter Skinner, left behind at Newark in charge
of the bailiff, had speedily recovered his complacency.
"I have seen the king and spoken with him," he thought. "True, he did
laugh right insultingly in my face, but that may be the way of kings;
and even so will I laugh in the face of Richard Wood when next I see
him, for he hath no hope of preferment and seeketh only his money
reward. Therefore is he a base cur and fit only to be laughed to
scorn."
When the scullions served him his dinner in the room where he was held
prisoner, he looked upon them haughtily, and bade them mind what they
did and how they did it.
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