The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08

now il was lying upon It's side in the
courtyard. Sir Andrew and Goodwin
went out to see to the matter. and
there they found Georgios wringing
his hands, as only an Eastern mer-
chant can. and cursing in some foreign
tongue. Ttt@
Noble knights" h said, what am
to do? Already 1t is nearly dark, and
how ! shall find my way up yonder
steep hill l know not. AS for the prices
less broideries, l suppose they must
stay here for the night, since that
wheel cannot be mended till to-mor-
row
.'As you and your servant had best
do ALSO" said Sir Andrew kindly.
Come. man, do not grieve; we are used
to broken axles here in Essex, and you
and your servant may as well eat your
Christmas dinners at Steeple as In
Southminster."
II thank you, Sir knight; I thank
you But why should I. who am but
merchant. thrust myself upon your no.
bic company? Let me stop outside with
my man, Petros, and dine with your
servants in that barn, where / see they
are making ready their food"
by no MEANS" answered Sir An
drew. Leave your servant with my
people, who will look after him, and
come you into the hall, and tell me
some more of Cyprus till our Christ
mas meat is ready, which will be soon.
Fear not for your goods; they will be
placed under cover
''All unworthy as I am. obey" an
swered the polite Georgios. ''Petros. do
you understand? This noble lord gives
us hospitality for the night. His serv-
ants will show you where to eat and
sleep, and help you with your horses
The man, who, he explained, was q
Cypriote--a fisherman in summer and
muleteer in winter-bowed, and fix
ing his dark eyes upon those Of his
master, spoke in some foreign tongue.
You hear what he says. the silly fel-
low?" said Georgios. What? You
do not understand Greek-only Arabic?
Well. he asks me to give him money to
pay for his dinner and his nights lodg-
Ing. You must forgive him, for al
though he can speak your language.
he is but a simple peasant, and cannot
understand that any one may be lodged
and fed without payment. / will ex-
plain to him, the pig!" And explain he
did in shrill, high notes, of which no
one could understand a word. There,
Sir Knight, / do not think he will Of
fend you SO again. Ali look. He Is
walking off-he is sulky. Well, let him
alone, he will be back for his dinner,
the pig! Oh, the wet and the wind! A
Cypriote does not mind them in his
sheepskins. In which he will sleep even
in the snow
So, Georgios. still declaiming upon
the shortcomings of his. servant, they
went back into the hall. Here the
conversation soon turned upon other
matters, such as the differences be-
tween the ereeds of the Greek and
Latin churches subject upon which
ne seemed to be an expert-and the
rear or the Christians in Cyprus lest
Saiadin should attempt to capture that
island
AT length o'clock came. and
Georgios having first been taken to the
lavatory-it was but a stone trough
TO wash his hands. was led to the din
ner, or rather to the supper table.
which stood upon a dais in front Of
the entrance to the solar. Here places
were laid for six-Sir Andrew. his
nephews, Rosamund, the chaplain.
Matthew. who celebrated masses in
the church and ate at the hall on
feast days, and the Cypriote merchant
Georgios himself. Below the dais and
between 1t and the fire was another
table, at which were already gathered
twelve guests, being the chief tenants
OF Sir Andrew and the reeves OF his
outlying lands. On most days the SER
wants of the house. with the hunts
men, swineherds and others sat at
third table beyond the fire. But as
nothing could stop these from growing
drunk on good liquor at a feast, and
though many ladies thought little OF
II. there was no sin that Rosamund
hated so much as this, now their lord
sent them to eat and drink at their
ease in the barn, which stood in the
courtyard with its back to the moat.
When all had taken their seats the
chaplain said grace and the meal be-
gam. 1t was rude but very plentiful
First, borne in by the cook on wooden
platter, came a great Goldfish, whereof
he helped portions to each In turn, lay
irg them on their ''trenchers'-thatis is,
large slices of bread-whence they ate
them with the spoons that were given
to each. After the fish appeared the
meats, of which there were many
sorts, served on silver spits. THESE
included fowls. partridges, duck, and,
chief of all, great swan. that the
tenants greeted by Knocking their
horn mugs upon the table. after
which came the pastries and with
them the nuts and apples. For drink
ale was served at the lower table. On
this dais, however, they drank some
of the black wine which Wulf had
brought--thas is, except Sir Andrew
and Rosamund, the former because
he dared not and the latter because
she had always hated any drink but
water-a dislike that came to her.
doubtless, with her Eastern blood;
Thus they grew merry. for their
guest proved himself cheerful fell
low. who told them many stories OF
love and war, for he seemed to know
much OF loves and to have been in
sundry wars. At these even Sir An
drew forgetting his ailments and
forebodings, laughed, while Rosa
raund looked more beautiful than ever
in the gold-starred veil and the broid-
cred tunic which the brethren had
given her. listened to them. smiling
somewhat absently. At last the feast
drew toward its end, when suddenly.
as though struck by sudden recoi-
lection. Georgios exclaimed:
'aThe wine. The liquid amber from
Trooidos! had forgotten 1t. Noble
knight. have ! your leave to drawn"
Ave. excellent merchant" an
swered Sir Andrew. Certainly you
can draw your own wine."
So Georgios arose and took a large
Ill &c, ,rI<u ~