My errand was a strange one to earn a benediction.
"Be off with you," he said with an impatient laugh.

"A man must pick his words in talking with you." A gesture of his hand dismissed me.

I went on board and watched him standing on the quay as Thomas Lie steered us out of harbour and laid us so as to catch the wind.

As we moved, the King turned and began to mount the hill.
We moved, but slowly.

For an hour we made way.