Some soldiers were dicing at a table, some drinking, some brawling over the matter of the late tumult, but all stopped and looked at me.
"A new face, and, by St.Andrew, a fair one!" said a voice in the accent of my own country.
"But she has mighty big feet; belike she is a countrywoman of thine," quoth a French archer; and my heart sank within me as the other cast a tankard at his head.
"Come, my lass," cried another, a Scot, with a dice-box in his hand, catching at my robe as I passed, "kiss me and give me luck," and, striking up my basket of linen, so that the wares were all scattered on the floor, he drew me on to his knee, and gave me a smack that reeked sorely of garlic.

Never came man nearer getting a sore buffet, yet I held my hand.

Then, making his cast with the dice, he swore roundly, when he saw that he had thrown deuces.
"Lucky in love, unlucky in gaming.

Lug out your losings," said his adversary with a laugh; and the man left hold of my waist and began fumbling in his pouch.

Straightway, being free, I cast myself on the floor to pick up the linen, and hide my face, which so burned that it must have seemed as red as the most modest maid might have deemed seemly.
"Leave the wench alone; she is new come, I warrant, and has no liking for your wantonness," said a kind voice; and, glancing up, I saw that he who spoke was one of the gentlemen who had ridden with the Maiden from Vaucouleurs.