"There will be three horses with you? Horses are the devil at sea, lords. Let us say two silver pennies for each of you, a penny for your servant and three pennies each for the horses."
There was a bustle at the inn-door, and the landlord entered, escorting a bluff giant of a man whose ruddy face was flushed with haste.
"What's this?" bellowed the giant. "Did I hear this Italian knave—or Cypriot or whatever he calls himself—asking three pennies each for horses? To Rouen, said you? Marry, but the man is as dishonest as he looks! Now, I——"
The swart shipman scowled at him.
"I will take your horses for two pennies each, lords," he offered.
"That is more like it," said the giant. "But I am an Englishman, mark you, and I will take you all, bag and baggage, horses and man, to Rouen for ten silver pennies in hand at Rouen quayside."
The swart shipman pushed forward.
"Heed him not, lords," he shouted. "I will take you for nine pennies!"
"You are too eager," said Hugh haughtily.
"Eager, say you? Marry, lord, I am but eager to do what I may for the rescue of the Holy Sepulchre and——"