'"Let my men go without hurt, and I will confess my treason against the
King," said Fulke.

'"Now, why has he grown so tender of his men of a sudden?" said Hugh to
me; for Fulke had no name for mercy to his men. Plunder he gave them,
but pity, none.

'"Té! Té!" said De Aquila. "Thy treason was all confessed long ago by
Gilbert. It would be enough to hang Montgomery himself."

'"Nay; but spare my men," said Fulke; and we heard him splash like a
fish in a pond, for the tide was rising.

'"All in good time," said De Aquila. "The night is young; the wine is
old; and we need only the merry tale. Begin the story of thy life since
when thou wast a lad at Tours. Tell it nimbly!"

'"Ye shame me to my soul," said Fulke.

'"Then I have done what neither King nor Duke could do," said De Aquila.
"But begin, and forget nothing."

'"Send thy man away," said Fulke.

'"That much can I do," said De Aquila. "But, remember, I am like the
Danes' King; I cannot turn the tide."

'"How long will it rise?" said Fulke, and splashed anew.