"I sing to those whom I sing to," said the gleeman. "Shall I sing you another song?" and Wulnoth nodded—
"Ay, for even a song may drive away gloom, friend," he said. "Sing, if thou wilt sing without hope of reward."
"Nay, then I cannot sing, for I look for great reward," was the answer he received. "But I know that I shall obtain that reward, so now listen to my song."
Then he struck the harp again, and he sang, and Wulnoth opened his mouth in surprise, for the song was of him, and his love for Edgiva, and his finding of the Lord; and the Wanderer started up when the music ceased, and he cried—
"By that Lord Whom thou hast said that I serve, thou knowest far too much, my friend; for there are but two who knew of this, and one is by my side."
"And the other stands before thee, Wanderer," came the voice of the King. And at that the two started up bewildered—
"Alfred!" they cried. And the gleeman answered—
"Even so, my friends. Now, you two tarry here, for I am content. If ye, who know me well, fail to recognize me, there is little fear that my foes will do so."
"But where goest thou, O King?" they asked. And he answered that he was going to the camp of the Danes. But at that the two looked grave, for of a truth the danger was great, and did the King fail in deceiving the foe, there would be no more mercy for him than there had been for Edmund of East Anglia.