An hour later they stood within the walls of Westminster city, and
Hilarius, amazed and weary, clung close to Martin's side. Around
him he saw russet-clad archers, grooms, men on horseback, pedlars,
pages, falconers, scullions with meats, gallant knights, gaily
dressed ladies; it was like a tangled dream. The gabled fronts of
the houses were richly blazoned or hung with scarlet cloth; it was
a shifting scene of colour, life, and movement, and to Hilarius'
untutored eyes, wild confusion. Outside the taverns clustered all
sorts and conditions of men, drinking, gossiping, singing, for the
day's work was done. In the courtyard of the "Black Boar" a
chained bear padded restlessly to and fro, and Hilarius crossed
himself anxiously--was the devil about to beset him under all
guises at once? He raised a fervent Ora pro me to St Benedict as
he hurried past. A string of pack-horses in the narrow street sent
folk flying for refuge to the low dark doorways, and a buxom wench,
seeing the pretty lad, bussed him soundly. This was too much, only
the man in him stayed the indignant tears. "Martin, Martin!" he
cried; but the minstrel was on his own ground now, and was hailed
everywhere with acclamations, and news given and demanded in a
breath. Hilarius, shrinking, aghast, his ears scourged with rough
oaths and rude jests, his eyes offended by the easy manners round
him, his cheek hot from the late salute, took refuge under a low
archway, and waited with anxious heart until the minstrel should
have done with the crowd.

Martin did not forget him.

"Hola, lad!" he cried, "see how they welcome the King's bird back
to his cage! As for thee, thou hast gone straight to thy cot like