"Thou art frightened, worthy bailiff," he said. "But do thou only put a
brave front on it and all may yet go well. Be careful to say and ever
repeat that the man was mad, and not only mad, but cunning, and so hath
made off, leaving his horse behind him."
The bailiff responded with a grateful look. "Thou art ever kind, my
lord," he said. "And mayhap the man is dead. If he knew not the way, he
may be dead, or caught by robbers. I will say that he may be dead also,
and I hope he may be."
CHAPTER XVII
On the morning when Hugo and Humphrey were to start, the canon summoned
them to his presence, and his face was grave. "I have but now learned,"
he said, "that the king is at Clipstone Palace. When the knaves thou
didst leave stunned in the fen discover it also, they will at once
repair thither, and that maketh a new complication of troubles. Let us
consult together. I include the serving-man because he is such a
valiant compeller." And the canon, forgetting his gravity, laughed
heartily. And again he laughed. Then he grew grave again. "Pardon me,"
he said to Hugo; "but one may laugh so seldom in these troublous times.
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