The Knight took no heed of this; but turned to the ancient warrior and said: “Hath he spoken truth so far?”
“Yea, Sir Aymer,” quoth Oliver; “And now meseems I know him better than he knoweth me.”
Therewith he turned to Ralph and said: “How fareth Long Nicholas, my lord?”
Ralph reddened again: “He is well,” said he.
Then said the Knight: “Is the young man of a worthy house, Oliver?”
But ere the elder could speak, Ralph brake in and said: “Old warrior, I bid thee not to tell out my name, as thou lovest Nicholas.”
Old Oliver laughed and said: “Well, Nicholas and I have been friends in a way, as well as foes; and for the sake of the old days his name shall help thee, young lord.” Then he said to his Knight: “Yea, Sir Aymer, he is of a goodly house and an ancient; but thou hearest how he
