Now, when the old woman had thus cherished their hurts, Jocelyn would
fain have given her money, but she mumbled and mowed and cracked her
finger-joints and shook grey head.
"Not so, good Fool!" she croaked, "for I do know thee for that same gentle
Motley did save me from Black Lewin--a murrain seize him! So now will I
save thee--behold!" So saying she set bony hand to wall; and lo! in the
wall yawned a square opening narrow and dark, whence issued a cold wind.
"Begone, thou brave merryman!" quoth she. "Yonder safety lieth; this
darksome way shall carry thee out beneath the city wall!"
"Gramercy, thou kindly Witch!" said Jocelyn. "Yet first must I to the
watch-house beside the gate for one Robin that lieth 'prisoned there."
"How, Fool, dost mean Robin-a-Green that is to hang?"
"In truth!"
"But Rob o' the Green is outlawed, banned o' Church, a very rogue!"
"But a man, wherefore I would save him alive."
"Nay, Fool, o' thy folly be wise and seek ye safety instead. Would'st peril
thy body for a thief?"
"Verily, dame, even as I did for a Witch.
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