Now scarce were they gone when I got me to my feet, whereat the landlord, Roger, did the like:
"What's to do?" he questioned, glancing yearningly from me to the rusty sword.
"Why now," says I, counting out my reckoning, "bide you here—for your good wife's sake."
"Aye, do now, Roger!" she pleaded. "'Twould be ruination to us!"
"Moreover," says I, reaching for my cudgel, "they are but two, so bide you here." Then I stepped forth of the tavern and very soon came up with the two fellows, their prisoner walking betwixt them meekly enough. But, as I approached, they halted all three.
"And what be you after?" demanded the surly fellow.
"You!"
"And what d'ye want of us—hey?"
"Your prisoner!"
"Ha! And what for him?"