“But a man, wherefore I would save him alive.”
“Nay, Fool, o' thy folly be wise and seek ye safety instead. Would'st peril thy body for a thief?”
“Verily, dame, even as I did for a Witch.”
Now, here the old woman scowled and mumbled and cracked her finger-bones angrily. But the beauteous young maid viewed Jocelyn with bright, approving eyes:
“But, Fool,” cried she, “O wondrous Fool, wilt adventure thyself in cause so desperate?”
“Blithely, fair lady!”
“But, alas! the guards be many and thou but one—”
“Nay!” cried a voice:
“For thou may'st see
That two are we!”
And forth of the dark opening in the wall strode Lobkyn Lollo the Dwarf, his great, spiked club on brawny shoulder. Jocelyn viewed the monstrous little man in awed wonder; but beholding his mighty girth and determined aspect, wonder changed to kindliness; quoth he: