“She shall not know,” Stephen answered. “Will my lord hear what I purpose? 'T is no wonted adventure.”
“Yea,” Richard agreed. “But do thou first cover me in bed, and give me a tippet; I 'm cold. Is there any of the clarré left in the cup?”
Thereupon Stephen covered him and gave him the cup to drink, and after told him what he purposed to do,—a long tale.
“O Etienne, what a true lover art thou!” sighed Richard. “But I shall miss thee sore.”
“And I 'll lodge in poor men's cots, and take them to be my friend, and learn if they be strong enough to overcome the nobles.”
“I 'd rather be thou than the King,” Richard said wistfully. “Here 's a merry adventure, and 't is dull in the Palace at Westminster. Tell on!”
So they spoke peacefully together, and at the last the King fell fast asleep, and Stephen kissed his hand very soft, and left him.
CHAPTER V
The Adventure in Devon
