“I want more than food and shelter from weather. I want freedom—and the knowledge that not only tomorrow, but the next day and the next will find me secure in the same place.” “You shudder at the thought of existence in these Vaults. They would provide shelter, food, drink, warmth—and complete safety under my guardianship.”

“Among wild men and animals, crime and dirt?”

“Do you hope even to cross the harbour up there safely—To find at once the clean friendly home you seek in a land racked with war and a dozen internal strifes?”

“Frankly, Holy Kaselm, I don’t want to be so near the Temple and the Court, to feel them pressing down upon me from above. I am eternally grateful for what you have done this evening. But you tell me your finger is in a thousand plots—and I know you are far too intelligent to worry about using me as a pawn in any of them.”

Seeing that I realize him to be ruthless, he didn’t try to press or reassure me, thus merely worrying me further. I am beginning to prize him properly only now.

“I’ll find you a boatman who’ll take you to some little secluded place of safety, far from here,” he said. “Wrap your cloak closer. At least you’ll be fed soon.”

I followed him away, down another passage.

Presently a man emerged from a side-turning. He looked at me but saw Kaselm and saluted. “Wait, Guts,” said Kaselm. “Your boat is leaving tonight? How soon?”

“The wind is blowing from the convenient fourth of the world, and the tide will be right in less’n an hour.”

“Have you room for a passenger?”

Guts looked at me. “Her?—She’ll fit in.”

“We’ll discuss terms and wherefores over a meal,” said Kaselm, but it was quite settled. Guts now grunted and led us along farther till we came to a leather curtain which he lifted. Kaselm’s arm round me guided me into a big, smoky, pungent, dark cavern, crimson and gold fires roaring gustily; and, sitting round eating and drinking with crude concentration which left little time for speech but wasn’t exactly noiseless, a whole crowd of ruffians, their giant shadows dovetailing with the flames, Guts, Kaselm and I sat down in a group which made room for us. Someone handed Guts three sizzling chops which he evened between us. Various people saluted Kaselm. Almost at once I felt great warmth soothe the long anxiety of my very bones. I sneezed, yawned found in my eyes tears of weariness so intense it was voluptuous.

Kaselm supported my shoulders with one arm, set a goblet to my lips. The wine was very harsh, my head swam and my inside burned beautifully.

While I sleepily busied myself digging kidney out of my chop (and getting rather muzzy with wine as well as sleepiness) Kaselm and Guts had a long quiet conversation.