Part 25 (1/2)
It flashed across me that he might have found out who I was, however, and wanted to speak of the old trouble.
”Well,” he said at last, growing yet redder, ”the Lady Elfrida is angry that her name has been coupled with yours pretty much lately.”
He stopped with a long breath, and I knew what he was driving at.
”She has told me as much herself already,” I said solemnly.
He heaved a sigh of relief.
”But she did not tell me that,” he said in a puzzled sort of way.
”Well, it must not go on, or--or else, that is, I shall have to see that it does not.”
”The worst of it is that I cannot help it,” said I. ”Did the lady ask you to speak to me of the matter?”
”Why, no; she did not. Only, I thought that some one must. Of course, I mean that I will fight you if it goes on.”
”Of course,” I said. ”But I can in no wise stop it. Do you know how it began?”
”Not altogether. How was it?”
”Really, that you had better ask some one else,” I said, keeping a grave face. ”I think that it would have been fairer to me to have done so first. But if there was any real blame to me, do you think that the ealdorman would have been glad to see me just now? I think that it was plain that he was so.”
”I am an owl,” Erpwald said. ”Of course, he would not have been.
But did you come to see the ealdorman, or the lady?”
”Why, both of them, of course. I have known them for years.”
He looked relieved when he heard that, and I thought that he must be badly smitten already.
”Well, I will go and ask the ealdorman all about it,” he said.
”Where shall I find you in an hour's time?”
”In my quarters,” I answered; ”but, of course, if you want to fight me you will have to send a friend to talk to me.”
”I will send the ealdorman himself.”
”Best not, for he is the man who is charged with the stopping of these affairs if he hears of them. Any atheling you meet will help you in such a matter. It is an honour to be asked to do so. But don't ever ask me to be your second if you have another affair, for I also have to hinder these meetings if I can.”
”Is there any one else I must not ask?” he said in a bewildered way.
”Best not ask the abbot,” I said, and I could not help smiling.
”Now you are laughing at me, and that is too bad. How am I to know your court ways?”
”Well, you will not have to fight me unless you really want to pick a quarrel. So it does not matter. Get to the bottom of the question, and then come and talk it over, and we will see what is to be done.”
He nodded and left me, and I had a good chuckle over the whole business. It was not likely that Elfrida had set him on me, in the least; but I suppose he had heard some jest of her father's, who was one of those who will work anything that pleases them to the last.