To-morrow Red Gui doth hale ye to his Castle o' the Rock, there to die all
five for his good pleasure, as is very fitting and proper, so be merry
whiles ye may. Meantime, behold here another rogue, a youngling imp. So is
five become six, and six may laugh louder than five, methinks, so laugh
your best."
Then Ranulph o' the Keys sighed, closed the great door and went his way,
leaving the new captive to their mercies. Fair he was and slender, and of
a timid seeming, for now he crouched against the wall, his face hid 'neath
the hood of ragged mantle; wherefore the "saintly" three incontinent
scowled upon him, roared at him and made a horrid clashing with their
fetters:
"Ha, blood and bones!" cried Rick the Ploughman. "What murderous babe art
thou to go unshackled in presence o' thy betters?"
"Aye, forsooth," growled Will the Tanner, "who 'rt thou to come hither
distressing the last hours o' we poor, perishing mortals? Discourse, lest I
bite the heart o' thee!"
"Pronounce, imp!" roared Gurth the Dyer, "lest I tear thy liver!"
"Sit ye, here beside me, youth," said Jocelyn, "and presently thou shalt
know these tearers of livers and biters of hearts for lambs of innocence
and doves of gentleness--by their own confessions.
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