At that laugh--and it sounded not like my own, even to myself--the man writhed, and besought me again for mercy.

But I had no mind to kill him, and a thought crossed me.
"Matelgar bade you slay me," I said, "that I know.

Tell me why he has sought my life and I will spare you." "Master," said the man hastily, "I knew not whom I was to slay.

Matelgar bade me follow Gurth yonder, and smite whom he smote." "It would have mattered not--you would have slain me as well as any other." "Nay, master," the man said earnestly, "that would I not." "You lie," I answered curtly enough; "like master like man.

Tell me what I bade you." "Truly I lie not, Heregar," cried he, "for I love my mistress over well to harm you." Now at that mention of Alswythe the blood rushed into my face, for I had held her false with the rest, and this seemed to say otherwise, unless the plot had been hidden from such as this man.