“But suppose that he thanks the king for the gift. Both he and the king will be wroth with me.”
“Not Curan, when he has once got the things on; and as for >Alsi, he will take the thanks to himself, and chuckle to think that the mistake has gained him credit for a good deed that he never did.”
“Hush, comrade, hush!” said Berthun quickly; “naught but good of the king!”
“I said naught ill. But if Woden or Frey, or whoever looks after good deeds, scores the mistake to Alsi as well, it will be the first on the count of charity that—”
But at this Berthun rose up in stately wise.
“I may not listen to this. To think that here in the guardroom I should hear such—”
“Sit down, comrade,” said Eglaf, laughing, and pulling the steward into his seat again. “Well you know that I would be cut to pieces for the king tomorrow if need were, and so I earn free speech of him I guard. If I may not say what I think of him to a man who knows as much of him as I, who may?”
“I have no doubt that the king would clothe Curan if I asked him,” said Berthun stiffly, but noways loth to take his seat again.
“But it is as much as your place is worth to do it. I know what you would say.”
Berthun laughed.