But I must go before the house is beset." "Keep the gold for your service," I said, "for I think that the silver penny has saved me." So he thanked me, and crept away easily enough.

I suppose that Edric's men had no orders that had made provision for trouble with me of this sort, and that they hardly knew what had happened.

But it was likely that they would send word to Edric directly, when they began to be sure that something had gone amiss.

They tried the door again, but without much heart.

My men wanted to throw it open and charge out on them, but I would not suffer it.