"
"You might have been certain by this time, surely. I like Welshmen about
the place, and I was giving you credit for finding me a good one. Whence
comes he?"
Now it was on Berthun's tongue to say that he thought that Curan came
from the marshland, yet clinging to his own thoughts of what he was. He
did not at all believe that he came from that refuge of thralls. But he
must seem certain unless he was to be laughed at again.
So he said, "He comes from the marsh-country."
"Does he speak Welsh?"
"I have heard him do so to the market people, if he happened to meet a
Briton there."
"Why, then, of course he is Welsh: and here have I found out in two
minutes what you have taken I do not know how long to think about. Go
to, Berthun; you grow slow of mind with good living."
The king chuckled, and Berthun bowed humbly; but now the steward was
determined to say no more than he was obliged in answer to more
questions. Also he began to hope that Alsi would ask nothing about the
clothes this man of his wore, else he would be well laughed at for
spending his money on a stranger.
But Alsi seemed pleased with himself, or else with what he had heard,
and went on.
"Has this Curan friends in the town?"
"None, lord, so far as I know."
"Let me tell you that you may know a man's friends by the company he
keeps.
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