their master biddeth, not staying to ask if it be lawful or unlawful.
And that the more because whoso is a free man there, house and head
must he hold on the tenure of bow and sword, and his life is like to
be short if he hath not sworn himself to the service of some tyrant
of a castle or a town."

"Yea, master Clement," said Ralph, "these be no peaceful lands
whereto thou art bringing us, or very pleasant to dwell in."

"Little for peace, but much for profit," said Clement;
"for these lands be fruitful of wine and oil and wheat, and neat
and sheep; withal metals and gems are dug up out of the mountains;
and on the other hand, they make but little by craftsmanship,
wherefore are they the eagerer for chaffer with us merchants;
whereas also there are many of them well able to pay for what
they lack, if not in money, then in kind, which in a way is better.
Yea, it is a goodly land for merchants."

"But I am no merchant," said Ralph.

"So it is," said Clement, "yet thou desireth something;
and whither we are wending thou mayst hear tidings that shall
please thee, or tidings that shall please me. To say sooth,
these two may well be adverse to each other, for I would not have
thee hear so much of tidings as shall lead thee on, but rather I
would have thee return with me, and not throw thy young life away:
for indeed I have an inkling of what thou seekest, and meseems
that Death and the Devil shall be thy faring-fellows."

Ralph held his peace, and Clement said in a cheerfuller voice: