like a leaping-on stone saw a tall man, goodly of presence, black bearded,
clad in scarlet; and this was the merchant; and by him were two of his knaves
and certain weaponed men who had brought their wares to the cheaping.
And some of these were arrayed like those foemen of the mountains.
There was a half score and three of these chattels to be sold, who stood up
one after other on the stone, that folk might cheapen them. The cheaping was
long about, because they that had a mind to buy were careful to know what they
were buying, like as if they had been cheapening a horse, and most of them
before they bid their highest had the chattels away into the merchant's booth
to strip them, lest they should buy damaged or unhandsome bodies; and this
more especially if it were a woman, for the men were already well nigh naked.
Of women four of them were young and goodly, and Ralph looked at them closely;
but they were naught like to the woman of his quest.

Now this cheaping irked Ralph sorely, as was like to be, whereas,
as hath been told, he came from a land where were no thralls,
none but vavassors and good yeomen: yet he abode till all was done,
hansel paid, and the thralls led off by their new masters.
Then Clement led him up to the merchant, to whom he gave the sele
of the day, and said: "Master, this is the young knight of whom
I told thee, who deemeth that a woman who is his friend hath
been brought to this market and sold there, and if he might,
he would ransom her."

The merchant greeted Ralph courteously, and bade him and Clement
come into his house, where they might speak more privily.
So did they, and he treated them with honour, and set wine and
spices before them, and bade Ralph say whatlike the woman was.
Ralph did so, and wondered at himself how well and closely he could
tell of her, like as a picture painted. And, moreover, he drew forth