"He that saved me is nothing the like of this."
"And yet," said Jocelyn slyly, "'tis thus he hath been named ere now!"
"Nay, Fool, indeed he that saved me was tall and seemly man, very fierce
and strong in fight, but to me wondrous gentle--in truth, something
timorous, and, 'spite rusty mail, spake and looked like a noble knight."
"Then forsooth, lady, thy champion is no comrade of mine, for he is but a
poor rogue, ill-beseen, ill-kempt, ill-spoken, ill-mannered and altogether
ill, save only that he is my friend--"
"And thou speakest ill of thy ill friend, the which is ill in thee--ill
Fool!" and the fair Melissa rose.
"And pray, lady, didst learn thy preserver's name?"
"Indeed, for I asked him."
"And it was--?"
"Pertinax!" she sighed.
"Pertinax!" said Jocelyn, both in the same moment; the dark-browed Melissa
sat down again.
"So thy comrade and--he are one, Fool?"
"Indeed, lady. Yet here we have him, on the one hand, a man noble and
seemly, and, on the other, a poor rogue, hook-nosed, ill-beseen, ill--"
"'Tis thou hast miscalled him, Fool!" said she, frowning.
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