So I did not recall this to my comrade; it seemed personal to me.
"Tell me what you and he spoke of last night," Erling asked me gravely, as I turned the matter over.
I told him all I could remember, and it came back to me clearly as I went on.

Then he said slowly: "There was more in that talk of a service to be done for the queen than he would care for you to know.

Why should a stranger be asked if he might be led to undertake one, when there are scores of faithful Mercians who would be only too glad to do aught to pleasure her?
As it seems to me, they needed one who could be put away without being missed afterward, when his errand was finished." "No reason why Gymbert should have tried to end me now in that case." "The king's wine was potent last night.

It may be that he cannot rightly remember how far a loosened tongue led him," Erling said.
"Master, there is trouble in the air.

I sorely misdoubt that errand of Quendritha's." "Faith," said I, "if you did not sleep across my door I would wear my mail tonight." "Ay," he answered, under his breath and earnestly.