第83章

``Why，’’saidWamba，``anyourvalourbesodull，youwillpleasetolearnthatthosehonestfellowsbalanceagooddeedwithonenotquitesolaudable；asacrowngiventoabeggingfriarwithanhundredbyzantstakenfromafatabbot，orawenchkissedinthegreenwoodwiththereliefofapoorwidow。’’

``Whichofthesewasthegooddeed，whichwasthefelony?’’interruptedtheKnight。

``Agoodgibe！agoodgibe！’’saidWamba；

``keepingwittycompanysharpeneththeapprehension。

Yousaidnothingsowell，SirKnight，Iwillbesworn，whenyouhelddrunkenvesperswiththebluffHermit——Buttogoon。Themerry-menoftheforestsetoffthebuildingofacottagewiththeburningofacastle，——thethatchingofachoiragainsttherobbingofachurch，——thesettingfreeapoorprisoneragainstthemurderofaproudsheriff；or，tocomenearertoourpoint，thedeliveranceofaSaxonfranklinagainsttheburningaliveofaNormanbaron。Gentlethievestheyare，inshort，andcourteousrobbers；butitisevertheluckiesttomeetwiththemwhentheyareattheworst。’’

``Howso，Wamba?’’saidtheKnight。

``Why，thentheyhavesomecompunction，andareformakingupmatterswithHeaven。Butwhentheyhavestruckanevenbalance，Heavenhelpthemwithwhomtheynextopentheaccount！ThetravellerswhofirstmetthemaftertheirgoodserviceatTorquilstonewouldhaveawofulflaying——

Andyet，’’saidWamba，comingcloseuptotheKnight’sside，``therebecompanionswhoarefarmoredangerousfortravellerstomeetthanyonderoutlaws。’’

``Andwhomaytheybe，foryouhaveneitherbearsnorwolves，Itrow?’’saidtheKnight。

``Marry，sir，butwehaveMalvoisin’smen-at-arms，’’

saidWamba；``andletmetellyou，that，intimeofcivilwar，ahalfscoreoftheseisworthabandofwolvesatanytime。Theyarenowexpectingtheirharvest，andarereinforcedwiththesoldiersthatescapedfromTorquilstone。Sothat，shouldwemeetwithabandofthem，weareliketopayforourfeatsofarms——Now，Iprayyou，SirKnight，whatwouldyoudoifwemettwoofthem?’’

``Pinthevillainstotheearthwithmylance，Wamba，iftheyofferedusanyimpediment。’’

``Butwhatiftherewerefourofthem?’’

``Theyshoulddrinkofthesamecup，’’answeredtheKnight。

``Whatifsix，’’continuedWamba，``andweaswenoware，barelytwo——wouldyounotrememberLocksley’shorn?’’

``What！soundforaid，’’exclaimedtheKnight，``againstascoreofsuchrascailleasthese，whomonegoodknightcoulddrivebeforehim，asthewinddrivesthewitheredleaves?’’

``Nay，then，’’saidWamba，``Iwillprayyouforaclosesightofthatsamehornthathathsopowerfulabreath。’’

TheKnightundidtheclaspofthebaldric，andindulgedhisfellow-traveller，whoimmediatelyhungthebugleroundhisownneck。

``Tra-lira-la，’’saidhe，whistlingthenotes；``nay，Iknowmygamutaswellasanother。’’

``Howmeanyou，knave?’’saidtheKnight；

``restoremethebugle。’’

``Contentyou，SirKnight，itisinsafekeeping。

WhenValourandFollytravel，Follyshouldbearthehorn，becauseshecanblowthebest。’’

``Naybut，rogue，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``thisexceedeththylicense——Bewareyetampernotwithmypatience。’’

``Urgemenotwithviolence，SirKnight，’’saidtheJester，keepingatadistancefromtheimpatientchampion，``orFollywillshowacleanpairofheels，andleaveValourtofindouthiswaythroughthewoodasbesthemay。’’

``Nay，thouhasthitmethere，’’saidtheKnight；

``and，soothtosay，Ihavelittletimetojanglewiththee。Keepthehornanthouwilt，butletusproceedonourjourney。’’

``Youwillnotharmme，then?’’saidWamba。

``Itelltheeno，thouknave！’’

``Ay，butpledgemeyourknightlywordforit，’’

continuedWamba，asheapproachedwithgreatcaution。