"Do ye also lodge here?" he asked the Saxons.
Herebald affected to be uncertain.
"Surely it were better that ye do so," urged Richard Wood, "that we may
search the town and the ships together on the morrow."
"Nay," put in Bernulf. "We lodge not here. I do know a cheaper place;
and we be not Normans that we have money to waste."
Richard Wood frowned. "Speak not against the Normans," he said. "The
king is a Norman."
"Oh, ay," answered Bernulf, indifferently. And then he added with
determination in his tone, "We lodge not here."
Herebald now drew Richard Wood aside.
"Heed him not," he said, "lest he turn surly on our hands and get us
into trouble. I will go with him elsewhere to lodge, and to-morrow morn
will I bring him back to help thee on thy search."
"Thou art not so sad a knave as he," returned Richard Wood, "and I
thank thee. See that ye both come, and that right early."
Herebald reiterated his promise to do so, and then went away with
Bernulf, while Richard Wood followed his men into the bar, where they
were already drinking.
"What meanest thou, Bernulf? Why wouldst thou not lodge here?" asked
Herebald as they rode along.
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