Why, man, I found them fastened on him myself;
and there was odd staving and stickling to make them 'ware haunch!' Their
mouths were full of the flex, for I pulled a piece of the garment from
their jaws. I warrant thee that when they brought him to ground, thou
fledst like a frighted pricket."
"And as for Gregory's gigantic paynim," said Fabian, "why, he lies yonder
in the guard-room, the very size, shape, and colour of a spider in a
yewhedge."
"It is false!" said Gregory; "Colbrand the Dane was a dwarf to him."
"It is as true," returned Fabian, "as that the Tasker is to be married on
Tuesday to pretty Margery. Gregory, thy sheet hath brought them between a
pair of blankets."
"I care no more for such a gillflirt," said the Jester, "than I do for
thy leasings. Marry, thou hop-o'-my-thumb, happy wouldst thou be could
thy head reach the captive baron's girdle."
"By the Mass," said Peter Lanaret, "I will have one peep at this burly
gallant;" and leaving the buttery, he went to the guard-room where Gaston
St. Clere was confined. A man-at-arms, who kept sentinel on the strong
studded door of the apartment, said he believed he slept; for that after
raging, stamping, and uttering the most horrid imprecations, he had been
of late perfectly still.
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