Now as to Squire Simon, whether the devil helped him, or his luck,or were it his own cunning and his, horse's stoutness, we wot not; but inany case he fell not in with Ralph Longshanks and Anthony Green, butrode as far and as fast as his horse would go, and then lay down in thewild-wood; and on the morrow arose and went his ways, and came in theeven to the Castle of the Uttermost March, and went on thence the morrowafter on a fresh horse to Oakenham. There he made no delay but wentstraight to the High House, and had privy speech of the Earl Marshal; andhim he told how he had smitten Christopher, and, as he deemed, slain him.The Earl Marshal looked on him grimly and said: "Where is the ringthen?"
"I have it not," said Simon. "How might I light down to take it, whenthe seven sons were hard on us?" And therewith he told him all the tale,and how he had risen to slay Christopher the even before; and how he hadfound out after that the youngling had become guest and fosterling of thefolk of the Tofts; and how warily Christopher had ridden, so that he,Simon, had had to do his best at the last moment. "And now, Lord," quothhe, "I see that it will be my luck to have grudging of thee, or even worse itmay be; yea, or thou wilt be presently telling me that I am a liar and neverstruck the stroke: but I warrant me that by this time Jack of the Toftsknoweth better, for I left my knife in the youngling's breast, and belike hewotteth of my weapons. Well, then, if thou wilt be quit of me, thou hastbut to forbear upholding me against the Toft folk, and then am I gonewithout any to-do of thee."