"And how knowest thou of Sir Thomas?"
"I am not what I seem," replied the scullion. "Wert thou sound in thy
wits I would have said naught to thee, because then thou wouldst not
have been here; but I like not to see one infirm of intellect run into
calamity."
"And dost thou say of me that I be not sound in my wits?" demanded
Walter Skinner, indignantly.
"Why, thou art either unsound of wit or a knave," was the calm
response. "Only fool or knave doeth dirty work for another, even though
that other be the king. And now, if thou wilt escape, I will help thee
to it."
"I have had great toils," said Walter Skinner, with a manner which
would have been ponderous in a man twice his size. "I have met a
hedgehog. I have lost two horses. I have been planted in the mire like
a rush. I have now come hither on a wind-broken and spring-halt horse,
for which I did pay a price to a thief. And now thou sayest that for
all this which I have undergone in the service of the king I shall have
not preferment but a dungeon or death."
"Yea," was the calm rejoinder, "I say it; for where is the young lord?
Knowest thou?"
"Nay," answered Walter Skinner, slowly.
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