The invitation was cordially accepted, and, having
given him directions by which their lodgings could
be found, the two friends took their leave and returned
home.
A CITY MERCHANT
“Assuredly it is well that you should go,”
Sir Ralph said, when his son had repeated the conversation
they had had with the trader. “I know not
the name, for indeed I know scarce one among the citizens;
but if he trades with Venice and Genoa direct he must
be a man of repute and standing. It is always
well to make friends; and some of these city traders
could buy up a score of us poor knights. They
are not men who make a display of wealth, and by their
attire you cannot tell one from another, but upon
grand occasions, such as the accession or marriage
of a monarch, they can make a brave show, and can
spend sums upon masques and feastings that would well-nigh
pay a king’s ransom. After a great victory
they will set the public conduits running with wine,
and every varlet in the city can sit down at banquets
prepared for them and eat and drink his fill.
It is useful to have friends among such men.
They are as proud in their way as are the greatest
of our nobles, and they have more than once boldly
withstood the will of our kings, and have ever got
the best of the dispute.”
“What shall we put on, sir,” Albert asked
his father the next morning, “for this visit
to Master Gaiton?”
“You had better put on your best suits,”
the knight said; “it will show that you have
respect for him as a citizen, and indeed the dresses
are far less showy than many of those I see worn by
some of the young nobles in the streets.”
“And what is the young lady like?” Aline
asked her brother.
“Methinks she is something like you, Aline,
and is about the same age and height; her tresses
are somewhat darker than yours; methinks she is somewhat
graver and more staid than you are, as I suppose befits
a maiden of the city.”
“I don’t think that you could judge much
about that, Albert,” his mother said, “seeing
that, naturally, the poor girl was grievously shaken
by the events of the evening before, and would, moreover,
say but little when her father was conversing with
two strangers. What thought you of her, Edgar?”
“I scarce noticed her, my lady, for I was talking
with her father, and so far as I remember she did
not open her lips after being introduced to us.
I did not notice the resemblance to your daughter that
Albert speaks of, but she seemed to me a fair young
maid, who looked not, I own, so heavy as she felt
when I carried her.”
“That is very uncourteous, Master Edgar,”
Dame Agatha laughed; “a good knight should hold
the weight of a lady to be as light as that of a down
pillow.”
“Then I fear that I shall never be a true knight,”
Edgar said, with a smile. “I have heard
tales of knights carrying damsels across their shoulder
and outstripping the pursuit of caitiffs, from whom
she had escaped. I indeed had believed them,
but assuredly either those tales are false or I have
but a small share of the strength of which I believed
myself to be possessed; for, in truth, my arm and shoulder
ached by the time I reached the hostelry more than
it has ever done after an hour’s practice with
the mace.”
