The room was perhaps cleaner than an English one would have been, but it was reeking with heat and odours, and the forest-bred youth was unwilling to enter, but Fulford and two or three Badgers greeted him noisily and called on him to partake of the supper they had ready prepared.
“No, sir knight, I thank you,” said Stephen. “I am bound for my quarters, I came but to thank you for your goodness to me, and to bid you farewell.”
“And how as to thy pledge to join us, young man?” demanded Fulford sternly.
“I gave no pledge,” said Stephen. “I said I would consider of it.”
“Faint-hearted! ha! ha!” and the English Badgers translated the word to the Germans, and set them shouting with derision.
“I am not faint-hearted,” said Stephen; “but I will not break mine oath to my master.”
“And thine oath to me? Ha!” said Fulford.
“I sware you no oath, I gave you no word,” said Stephen.
“Ha! Thou darest give me the lie, base prentice. Take that!”
And therewith he struck Stephen a crushing blow on the head, which felled him to the ground. The host and all the company, used to pot-house quarrels, and perhaps playing into his hands, took little heed; Stephen was dragged insensible into another room, and there the Badgers began hastily to divest him of his prentice’s gown, and draw his arms into a buff coat.