"How—a blind man?" gasped the Bailiff, "a blind man's monies, say'st thou? Nay messire, in very truth."
"Search him, Roger."
Hereupon Roger, having straightway choked him to silence with the one hand full soon had found the money with the other, and thereafter, he loosed the Bailiff that he might get his breath again; the which he no sooner had done than he fell to prayers and humble entreaties:
"Sir knight—right noble sir, sure thou wilt not take thus from a woeful wight all that he hath."
"Nay," answered Beltane, "I take only from my lord Duke's Steward and Bailiff of the Marches. And now," said he, turning upon the small, round man, "thou hast marked me well, how say you, Pardoner?"
"First, most truly potent, wise, yet very youthful, noble sir, that for all the world and all the glory thereof I would not anger thee."
"Hast good eyes, Pardoner, and art quick to heed."
"Nay, dull am I, sweet lord, aye, dull forsooth and slow beyond belief."
"Would'st know me again? could'st bear my likeness in thy memory?"
"Never, lord. Never, O never! I swear it by the toe of the blessed
Didymus, by the arm of Saint Amphibalus thrice blessed, by—"