Now will I wake him, apparel him, pour for him, feed him, and then will we

Hie us to the mart by the Tabard inn in Southwark and — be pleased to rise,

my liege! — he answereth not — what ho, my liege! — of a truth must I

Profane his sacred person with a touch, sith his slumber is deaf to speech.

What!'

He threw back the covers — the boy was gone!

He stared about him in speechless astonishment for a moment; noticed for the

first time that his ward's ragged raiment was also missing, then he began to

Rage and storm, and shout for the inn-keeper. At that moment a servant

Entered with the breakfast.

'Explain, thou limb of Satan, or thy time is come! 'roared the man of war, and

Made so savage a spring toward the waiter that this latter could not find his

tongue, for the instant, for fright and surprise. 'Where is the boy?'

In disjointed and trembling syllables the man gave the information desired.

'You were hardly gone from the place, your worship, when a youth came

running and said it was your worship's will that the boy come to you straight,

At the bridge-end on the Southwark side. I brought him thither; and when he

Woke the lad and gave his message, the lad did grumble some little for being

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disturbed 'so early,' as he called it, but straightway trussed on his rags and