Outside the door waits Gymbert, as if on guard, alone.
"All goes well.

Have you sounded yon Frank ?" she says.
"He is no Frank, but a Wessex thane and a hired man of Carl's; moreover, he is Ethelbert's friend." "Fool!" she says.

"How far went you with him?
What does he know--or suspect ?" "Naught," answers Gymbert stiffly.
And with that he tells her what passed between us.
"Come to me tomorrow early," Quendritha says, and goes her way.
But we slept in peace, deeming all well.

Only Erling, sleeping armed across my door, was restless, for the cold eyes of the queen seem to be on him in his dreams..