That comforted Master Richard a little--that the man should say _Amen_
to his praise of Jesu Christ, so he asked him who he was and what he did
there.

The young man said nothing to that, but asked him instead how he did,
and his voice was so smooth and tender that Master Richard was further
encouraged.

"I do far better than our Lord did," he answered. "He had none to
minister to Him."

It seemed that the young man was moved at that, for he hid his face in
his hands a moment.

Then he began to pity Master Richard, saying that it was a shame that he
had been so evilly treated, and that Master-Lieutenant should smart for
it if it ever came to his grace's ears. But he said this so strangely
that Master Richard was astonished.

"And how does the King do?" he asked.

"The King is at the point of death," said the young man solemnly.

"It is no more than the point then," said Master Richard confidently,
"and a point that will not pierce him, else what of the passion that he
must suffer?"

The young man seemed to look on him very steadily and earnestly at that.

"Why do you look at me like that?" he asked him. "I have done nothing to