They were in a state of high excitement, jabbering excitedly round the fire. ‘D’ye see that fat old merchant dressed in sackcloth, crawling across the cobbles? I thought his eyes would pop from his head!’ Evidently they had witnessed the former rebels abasing themselves before the King at the Minster. ‘Ay. He had to lift his stomach up lest it scrape the cobbles.’ ‘D’you know what it all reminded me of? The old creeping to the Cross ceremony, at Easter!’ ‘Hey, Rafe, be careful where you say that, creeping to the Cross ain’t allowed now—’ ‘I was only saying —’ I lay, half listening as they prattled on. I did not want to go out and face them. Then I heard a familiar voice: it was Cowfold. ‘Hear about what the King said to the hunchback lawyer at Fulford?’ ‘Ay, one of the city clerks told me.’ I recognized the voice of Kimber, the young lawyer who had greeted me that first evening.
