Peter of Peterborough, whose
treasures he had given to the Danes. And he argued stoutly with St. Peter
and with his own conscience, that the means sanctify the end, and that he
had done it all for the best.
"If thou wilt help me out of this strait, and the rest, blessed Apostle, I
will give thee--I will go to Constantinople but what I will win it--a
golden table twice as fine as those villains carried off, and one of the
Bourne manors--Witham--or Toft--or Mainthorpe--whichever pleases thee
best, in full fee; and a--and a--"
But while Hereward was casting in his mind what gewgaw further might
suffice to appease the Apostle, he was recalled to business and
common-sense by hearing the two old hags talk to each other in French.
His heart leapt for joy, and he forgot St. Peter utterly.
"Well, how have you sped? Have you seen the king?"
"No; but Ivo Taillebois. Eh! Who the foul fiend have you lying there?"
"Only an English brute. He cannot understand us. Talk on: only don't wake
the hog. Have you got the gold?"
"Never mind."
Then there was a grumbling and a quarrelling, from which Hereward
understood that the gold was to be shared between them.
"But it is a bit of chain. To cut it will spoil it."
The other insisted; and he heard them chop the gold chain in two.
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