drew down my head and kissed me on the brow； muttering； 〃Neither chick
nor child for me and only this one left of the ancient blood。 May he
do it honour。〃
Then he motioned to me to be seated and rang a little silver bell that
stood upon the table。 As in the case of the man without； it was
answered instantly from which I judged that Master Grimmer was well
served。 Before the echoes of the bell died away a door opened； the
tapestry swung aside； and there appeared two most comely serving
maids； tall and well…shaped both of them； bearing food。
〃Pretty women； Nephew； no wonder that you look at them；〃 he said when
they had gone away to fetch other things； 〃such as I like to have
about me although I am old。 Women for within and men for without； that
is Nature's law； and ill will be the day when it is changed。 Yet
beware of pretty women； Nephew； and I pray you kiss not those as you
did the lady Blanche Aleys at Hastings； lest it should upset my
household and turn servants into mistresses。〃
I made no answer； being confounded by the knowledge that my uncle
showed of me and my affairs； which afterwards I discovered he had； in
part at any rate； from the old priest； my confessor； who had written
to commend me to him； telling my story and sending the letter by a
King's messenger； who left for London on the morrow of the Burning。
Nor did he wait for any； for he bade me sit down and eat； plying me
with more meats than I could swallow； all most delicately dressed；
also with rare wines such as I had never tasted； which he took from a
cupboard where they were kept in curious flasks of glass。 Yet as I
noted； himself he ate but little； only picking at the breast of a fowl
and drinking but the half of a small silver goblet filled with wine。
〃Appetite； like all other good things； for the young；〃 he said with a
sigh as he watched my hearty feasting。 〃Yet remember； Nephew； that if
you live to reach it； a day will come when yours will be as mine is。
Vanity of vanities； saith the preacher； all is vanity！〃
At length； when I could eat no more； again he rang the silver bell and
those fair waiting girls dressed alike in green appeared and cleared
away the broken meats。 After they were gone he crouched over the fire
rubbing his thin hands to warm them； and said suddenly：
〃Now tell me of my sister's death and all the rest of your tale。〃
So as well as I was able I told him everything from the hour when I
had first sighted the French fleet on board my fishing…boat to the
end。
〃You are no fool；〃 he said when I had finished； 〃who can talk like any
clerk and bring things that have happened clearly to the listener's
eye； which I have noted few are able to do。 So that's the story。 Well；
your mother had a great heart； and she made a great end； such an one
as was loved of our northern race； and that even I； the old merchant
knave； desire and shall not win； who doubtless am doomed to die a
cow's death in the straw。 Pray the All…Father Odinnay； that is
heresy for which I might burn if you or the wenches told it to the
priestspray God； I mean； that He may grant you a better； as He did
to old Thorgrimmer； if the tale be true； Thorgrimmer whose sword you
wear and have wielded shrewdly； as that French knight knows in hell
to…day。〃
〃Who was Odin？〃 I asked。
〃The great god of the North。 Did not your mother tell you of him？ Nay；
doubtless she was too good a Christian。 Yet he lives on； Nephew。 I say
that Odin lives in the blood of every fighting man； as Freya lives in
the heart of every lad and girl who loves。 The gods change their
names； but hush！ hush！ talk not of Odin and of Freya； for I say that
it is heresy； or pagan； which is worse。 What would you do now？ Why
came you to London？〃
〃Because my mother bade me and to seek my fortune。〃
〃Fortunewhat is fortune？ Youth and health are the best fortune；
though； if they know how to use it； those who have wealth as well may
go further than the rest。 Also beauteous things are pleasant to the
sight and there is joy in gathering them。 Yet at the last they mean
nothing； for naked we came out of the blackness and naked we return
there。 Vanity of vanities； all is vanity！〃
CHAPTER IV
KARI
Thus began my life in London in the house of my uncle； John Grimmer；
who was called the Goldsmith。 In truth； however； he was more than
this； since not only did he fashion and trade in costly things； he
lent out moneys to interest upon security to great people who needed
it； and even to the king Richard and his Court。 Also he owned ships
and did much commerce with Holland； France； yes； and with Spain and
Italy。 Indeed； although he appeared so humble； his wealth was very
large and always increased； like a snowball rolling down a hill；
moreover； he owned much land； especially in the neighbourhood of
London where it was likely to grow in value。
〃Money melts；〃 he would say； 〃furs corrupt with moth and time； and
thieves break in and steal。 But landif the title be goodremains。
Therefore buy land； which none can carry away； near to a market or a
growing town if may be； and hire it out to fools to farm； or sell it
to other fools who wish to build great houses and spend their goods in
feeding a multitude of idle servants。 Houses eat； Hubert； and the
larger they are； the more they eat。〃
No word did he say to me as to my dwelling on with him； yet there I
remained； by common consent； as it were。 Indeed on the morrow of my
coming a tailor appeared to measure me for such garments as he thought
I should wear； by his command； I suppose； as I was never asked for
payment； and he bade me furnish my chamber to my own liking； also
another room at the back of the house that was much larger than it
seemed； which he told me was to be mine to work in； though at what I
was to work he did not say。
For a day or two I remained idle； staring at the sights of London and
only meeting my uncle at meals which sometimes we ate alone and
sometimes in the company of sea…captains and learned clerks or of
other merchants； all of whom treated him with great deference and as I
soon guessed； were in truth his servants。 At night； however； we were
always alone and then he would pour out his wisdom on me while I
listened； saying little。 On the sixth day； growing weary of this
idleness； I made bold to ask him if there was aught that I could do。
〃Aye； plenty if you have a mind to work；〃 he answered。 〃Sit down now；
and take pen and paper and write what I shall tell you。〃
Then he dictated a short letter to me as to shipping wine from Spain；
and when it was sanded； read it carefully。
〃You have it right；〃 he said； seeming pleased； 〃and your script is
clear if boyish。 They taught you none so ill yonder at Hastings where
I thought you had only learned to handle ropes and arrows。 Work？ Yes；
there is plenty of it of the more private sort which I do not give to
this scribe or to that who might betray my secrets。 For know；〃 he went
on in a stern voice； 〃there is one thing which I never pardon； and it
is betrayal。 Remember that； nephew Hubert； even in the arms of your
loves； if you should be fool enough to seek them； or in your cups。〃
So he talked on； and while he did so went to an iron chest that he
unlocked； and thence drew out a parchment roll which he bade me take
to my workroom and copy there。 I did so； and found that it was an
inventory of his goods and estates； and oh！ before I had done I wished
that there were fewer of them。 All the long day I laboured； only
stopping for a bite at noon； till my head swam and my fingers ached。
Yet as I did so I felt proud； for I guessed that my uncle had set me
this task for two reasons： first； to show his trust in me； and；
secondly； to acquaint me with the state of his possessions； but as it
were in the way of business。 By nightfall I had finished and checked
the copy which with the original I hid in my robe when the green…robed
waiting maid summoned me to eat。
At our meal my uncle asked me what I had seen that day and I replied
naught but figures and crabbed writingand handed him the parchments
which he compared item by item。
〃I am pleased with you；〃 he said at last； 〃for heresofar I find but a
single error and that is my fault； not yours； also you have done two
days' work in one。 Still； it is not fit that you who are accustomed to
the open air should bend continually over deeds and inventories。
Therefore； to…morrow I shall have another task for you； for like
yourself your horse needs exercise。〃
And so he had； for with two stout servants riding with me and guiding
me； he sent me out of London to view a fair estate of his upon the
borders of the Thames and to visit his tenants there and make report
of their husbandry； also of certain woods where he proposed to fell
oak for shipbuilding。 This I did； for the servants made me known to
the tenants； and got back at night…fall； able to tell him all which he
was glad to learn； since it seemed that he had not seen this estate
for five long years。
On another day he sent me to visit ships in which goods of his were
being laden at the wharf； and on another took me with him to a sale of
fu