"
"I am an owl," Erpwald said. "Of course, he would not have been.
But did you come to see the ealdorman, or the lady?"
"Why, both of them, of course. I have known them for years."
He looked relieved when he heard that, and I thought that he must
be badly smitten already.
"Well, I will go and ask the ealdorman all about it," he said.
"Where shall I find you in an hour's time?"
"In my quarters," I answered; "but, of course, if you want to fight
me you will have to send a friend to talk to me."
"I will send the ealdorman himself."
"Best not, for he is the man who is charged with the stopping of
these affairs if he hears of them. Any atheling you meet will help
you in such a matter. It is an honour to be asked to do so. But
don't ever ask me to be your second if you have another affair, for
I also have to hinder these meetings if I can."
"Is there any one else I must not ask?" he said in a bewildered
way.
"Best not ask the abbot," I said, and I could not help smiling.
"Now you are laughing at me, and that is too bad. How am I to know
your court ways?"
"Well, you will not have to fight me unless you really want to pick
a quarrel. So it does not matter. Get to the bottom of the
question, and then come and talk it over, and we will see what is
to be done."
He nodded and left me, and I had a good chuckle over the whole
business.
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