In the end I made her drink a cup of wine with me, but her hand shook so much that she spilled the cup and the rich red wine ran down her breast, staining the whiteness of her robe, whereat some women among the company murmured, thinking it a bad omen.  At length with a kiss I tore myself away, for I could bide no longer and the horses were waiting presently.  So I was riding for the docks as fast as the storm would suffer, with tiles from the roofs, and when we were clear of these the torn-off limbs of trees hurtling round me.  Kari, I should say, would have accompanied me, but I took a serving-man, bidding Kari bide where he was in the house in case he might be of service.

At last we came safely to the docks where I found all as my cargo-master had described.  The ship Blanche was in great peril and dragging every minute towards a pierhead which, if she struck, would stave her in and make an end of her.  The men, too, were still feasting in the inn with their wharfside trollops, and some of them half drunk.  I spoke to them, showing them their shame, and saying that if they would not come, I and my man would take a boat and get aboard alone and this upon my wedding day.  Then they hung their heads and came.

We won to the ship safely though with much toil and danger, and there found the master almost crazed with fear and doubt of the issue, and the man with him injured by a falling block.  Indeed, this poor captain clung to the rail, watching the cable as it dragged the anchor and fearing every moment lest it should part.

The rest is soon told.  We got out two more anchors and did other things such as sailors know, to help in such a case.  When all was as safe as it could be made, I and my man and four sailors started for the quay, telling the master that I would return upon the morrow.  The wind and current aiding us, we landed safe and sound and at once I rode back to Cheapside.

Now, though it is short to tell, all this had taken a long while, also the way was far to ride in such a storm.  Thus it came about that it was nigh to ten o’clock at night when, thanking God, I dismounted at the gate of my house and bade the servant take the horses to the stable.  As I drew near the door, it opened, which astonished me and, as the light within showed, there stood Kari.  What astonished me still more, he had the great sword, Wave-Flame, in his hand, though not drawn, which sword he must have fetched from where it was kept with the French knight’s armour and the shield that bore three arrows as a cognizance.

Laying his finger on his lips he shut the door softly, then said in a low voice: 

“Master, there is a man up yonder with the lady.”

“What man?” I asked.

“That same lord, Master, who came here with her once before to buy jewels and borrow gold.  Hearken.  The feast being finished the guests went away at fall of night, but the wife-lady withdrew herself into the chamber that is called sun-room (the solar), that up the stairs, which looks out on the street.  About one hour gone there came a knock at the door.  I who was watching, opened, thinking it was you returned, and there stood that lord.  He spoke to me, saying: