Erling sat where I could see him, below the salt; and I went to my own place on the dais, as before.

There were not many thanes present at first, and Offa never appeared at all; and the meal was silent, and carelessly ordered, for the whole course of the great household had been set awry by the word of heavy rumour which had flown from man to man.
As the time went on a few more thanes came in and sat them down with few words, and those curt, and mostly of question as to where such and such a friend was.

And soon it grew plain that man by man the guests of Offa were leaving him and the palace.
Maybe that was mostly because there had come an end of that for which they had gathered, but there were words spoken which told me that many who might have stayed left because of the shame of the deed which had been wrought.

The great name of Offa was no cloak for that.

Few spoke to me as I sat and ate, though many seemed as if they would like to do so but were ashamed.